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A highly sensitive and accurate multiplex gas chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) technique is reported for indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid and salicylic acid. The optimized setup allows the routine processing and analysis of up to 60 plant samples of between 20 and 200 mg of fresh weight per day. The protocol was designed and the equipment used was chosen to facilitate implementation of the method into other laboratories and to provide access to state-of-the-art analytical tools for the acidic phytohormones and related signalling molecules. Whole-plant organ-distribution maps for indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid and salicylic acid were generated for Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. For leaves of A. thaliana, a spatial resolution of hormone quantitation down to approximately 2 mm2 was achieved.

The antimicrobial activity of plant oils and extracts has been recognized for many years. In this study the activity of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimum basilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus essential oils (EOs) distributed by Pollena Aroma (Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Poland) was investigated against a group of 183 clinical isolates of C. albicans and 76 isolates of C. glabrata. All of the oils exhibited both fungistatic and fungicidal activity toward C. albicans and C. glabrata isolates. The highest activity was observed for cinnamon oil, with MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) values in the range 0.002–0.125% (v/v). The MIC values of the rest of the oils were in the range 0.005% (or less) to 2.5% (v/v). In most cases MFC (Minimum Fungicidal Concentration) values were equal to MIC or twice as high. Additionally, we examined the mode of action of selected EOs. The effect on cell wall components could not be clearly proved. Three of the tested EOs (thyme, lemon, and clove) affected cell membranes. At the same time, thyme, cinnamon, and clove oil influenced potassium ion efflux, which was not seen in the case of lemon oil. All of the tested oils demonstrated the ability to inhibit the transition of yeast to mycelium form, but the effect was the lowest in the case of cinnamon oil.

The problems of the environment and human health related to the use of synthetic and broad-spectrum insecticides have increasingly motivated scientific research on different alternatives and among these, the use of green systems, such as essential oils, have been explored. Several species of the Apiaceae and Asteraceae families, aromatic herbs rich in secondary bioactive metabolites, are used in the industrial field for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food purposes. Different essential oils extracted from some species of these families have shown acute toxicity and attractive and/or repellent effects towards different insects. In our work, we investigated the toxic potential of Calendula incana subsp. maritima and Laserpitium siler subsp. siculum essential oils against four insect species, Sitophilus oryzae, Lasioderma serricorne, Necrobia rufipes, and Rhyzoperta dominica, which are common pests of stored products. The composition of both oils, extracted by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of the two plants, was evaluated by GC×GC-MS. Calendula incana subsp. maritima essential oil was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenoids, such as cubebol (35.39%), 4-epi-cubebol (22.99%), and cubenol (12.77%), while the Laserpitium siler subsp. siculum essential oil was composed mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons, such as β-phellandrene (42.16%), limonene (23.87%), and β-terpinene (11.80%). The toxicity Petri dish bioassays indicated that C. maritima oil killed a mean of 65.50% of S. oryzae and 44.00% of R. dominica adults, indicating a higher biocidal activity in comparison with L. siculum oil, while toward the other species, no significant differences in mortality were recorded. Calendula maritima oil could be, then, considered a promising candidate for further tests as an alternative biocide toward S. oryzae and R. dominica. The possibility that the relatively high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenoids in C. maritima essential oil determines its higher biocidal activity is discussed.

This research investigates the biochemical profile, antioxidant properties, and antigenotoxic activity of red seaweed (Gracilaria sp.) extract on micronuclei formation in peripheral blood erythrocytes of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to a methomyl-based pesticide. Results revealed a diverse phytochemical profile in the red seaweed extract, with the presence of alkaloids, triterpenoids, steroids, tannins, coumarins, terpenoids, quinine, phytosteroids, flavonoids, and phlobtannins. GC-MS analysis identified compounds such as Heptadecane, Neophytadine, Hexadecanoic acid, Oleic acid, and Adipic acid in the sample. The antioxidant activity exhibited a concentration-dependent response, demonstrating increased strength with higher extract concentrations. Antigenotoxic analysis indicated a significant reduction in micronuclei frequency in peripheral erythrocytes of tilapia. In conclusion, the research underscores the potential of red seaweed extract as a valuable natural resource with antioxidant properties and a mitigating effect on genotoxicity induced by pesticide exposure in aquatic organisms.

This research investigates the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial efficacy of Ipomoea pes-caprae extracts collected from Pantai Talang Siring Pamekasan, Madura. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins in the extracts, indicating their rich bioactive profile. Antioxidant activity assessed via the DPPH assay demonstrated concentration-dependent scavenging of free radicals, with methanol and ethanol extracts exhibiting superior activity compared to the aqueous extract. Antibacterial assays against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus revealed significant inhibitory effects, with methanol and ethanol extracts displaying greater potency than the aqueous extract. These findings underscore the potential of Ipomoea pes-caprae as a source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, warranting further investigation into its pharmacological applications and therapeutic potential. 

Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg.) is an herbaceous perennial plant which belongs to the Leguminosae family. This plant is well known for its use as a cover crop, but little information is available on the allelopathic potential of this legume. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the allelopathic effects of A. pintoi under various screening conditions and to analyze its potential allelochemicals using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In laboratory bioassays, aqueous extracts of A. pintoi powder exerted the average inhibition of the growth of Echinochloa crus-galli (55.1%), Oryza sativa (77.1%), and Vigna radiata (60.1%), respectively, of which the root lengths of the tested plants were the most suppressed. In greenhouse experiments, E. crus-galli was inhibited by 63.4% at 200 g/m2 of A. pintoi dried powder application. In field trials, A. pintoi also significantly reduced the growth of E. crus-galli and natural weeds. By incorporating a dose of 200 g/m2, the average inhibition of E. crus-galli was 43.9%, the dry weight of natural paddy weeds was 43.1%, and rice yield was simultaneously increased by 35%. The growth inhibitions of weeds and tested plants were proportional to the doses of A. pintoi applied and varied with the tested plant species. Among three different solvent extracts (methanol, hexane, and ethyl acetate), the hexane extract exerted the highest suppression against the growth of E. crus-galli and L. sativa by IC50 against root and shoot growth = 4.08 and 8.4 mg/mL and 1.7 and 1.54 mg/mL, respectively, followed by ethyl acetate extract, while the least effective was methanol extract. From those extracts, a total of 35 substances were detected by GC-MS analyses, including 14 newly identified constituents, such as phenolic acids, stearic acid, palmitic acid, fatty acids, pyranones, and benzofurans, which may be responsible for the herbicidal effects of A. pintoi. This study suggests that A. pintoi may be used as a source of bioherbicide to minimize the dependency on harmful synthetic herbicides and enhance rice yield.

Advancing understanding of the diverse properties of essential oils has spurred a significant increase in both their production and application. The current research aimed to study the chemical, physical, and antifungal characteristics of Vinca rosea leaves' essential oil compared to its extract. The leaf's essential oil and extract composition were examined using GC-MS and further tested for antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum and Bipolaris sorokiniana by poisoned food technique. 34 compounds were identified in leaves essential oil predominantly composed of butylated hydroxytoluene (32.74%). The methanolic extract showed the presence of alkaloids, mainly vindoline, and the non-polar extract showed the presence of cholesterol as the primary compound. The methanolic extract demonstrated stronger antifungal activity against F. graminearum, with ED 50 and ED 90 of 80 and 240 µg/mL, compared to the essential oil, which had higher ED 50 and ED 90 of 98 and 865 µg/mL, respectively. In the case of B. sorokiniana, ED 50 values of methanol extract, essential oil, and hexane extract were 76, 100, and >1000 µg/ml, respectively, and ED 90 were observed to be 290, 875, and >1000 µg/ml. Vinca rosea essential oil can potentially be used to develop natural antifungal agents. For the first time, the chemical composition of the essential oil of V. rosea cultivated in the Northern Indian region is being reported.

Polyunsaturated plant oils have gained great interest as monomers to produce biodegradable polymers obtained from renewable resources due to the limited existing sources of petroleum oil and environmental issues. Soybean oil was autoxidized by exposure to atomospheric oxygen at room temperature with or without the presence of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) 5–41 days. When the autoxidation process was catalyzed with Au NPs, the molecular weight of the oxidized oil was increased in 5 days. In contrast to this, without Au NPs, the oxidized oil was still a fluidized liquid. Autoxidized soybean oil polymer in toluene solution with gold NP showed a surface plasmon resonance at λₘₐₓ = 540 nm in a UV–VIS spectrometer and a fluorescence emission spectrum at λₘₐₓ = 450 nm, when it was irradiated at λₘₐₓ = 390 nm. The higher molecular weight of the polymeric oils was successively fractionated by the extraction from the solvent-non-solvent mixture CHCl₃/petroleum ether with the volume ratio of 5:15. Three polymeric oils fractions with different molecular weight (ca 1000, 4000, and 40,000 g/mol) were obtained. GC–MS analysis, ¹H-NMR and GPC techniques were used in the structural analysis of the fractionated polymeric oils.

Pergularia daemia is traditionally used to treat various ailments like anthelmintic, antipyretic and expectorant and to treat infantile diarrhoea, malarial intermittent fever, asthma, mental disorder, toothache and cold. In the present study leaf extracts of P. daemia was subjected to qualitative phytochemicals, GC-MS and FT-IR analysis. The quantitative analysis of the leaves showed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, carbohydrates, amino acids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. The GC-MS study of methanol extract revealed 16 compounds. Some major compounds identified are 9-Octadecenoic Acid (E), Cis- Vaccenic Acid, N-Hexadecanoic Acid, 1- Dimethyl (Butyl), Silyl Oxy Butane along with other minor constituents. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of 12 functional groups such as amines, alkanes, carbon dioxide and alkynes. The results suggested that P daemia contains significant photo components and can be used as a source for many pharmacological studies and a curative for various ailments.

Strawberries belonging to cultivar Clery (Fragaria x ananassa (Duchesne ex Weston)), cultivated in central Italy were subjected to a multi-methodological experimental study. Fresh and defrosted strawberries were exposed to different processing methods, such as homogenization, thermal and microwave treatments. The homogenate samples were submitted to CIEL*a*b* color analysis and Head-Space GC/MS analysis to determine the impact of these procedures on phytochemical composition. Furthermore, the corresponding strawberry hydroalcoholic extracts were further analyzed by HPLC-DAD for secondary metabolites quantification and by means of spectrophotometric in vitro assays to evaluate their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity. These chemical investigations confirmed the richness in bioactive metabolites supporting the extraordinary healthy potential of this fruit as a food ingredient, as well as functional food, highlighting the strong influence of the processing steps which could negatively impact on the polyphenol composition. Despite a more brilliant red color and aroma preservation, non-pasteurized samples were characterized by a lower content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity with respect to pasteurized samples, as also suggested by the PCA analysis of the collected data.