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Melanoma is a highly malignant and serious form of skin cancer. In addition to the standard treatments, complementary approaches, including phytotherapy, are also used to alleviate symptoms and improve patient well-being. This study aims to investigate the anticancer effects of Gypsophila eriocalyx (GE), an endemic species from Türkiye, on melanoma cells. We set out to determine the efficacy of GE in inhibiting melanoma cell proliferation, migration, and growth, and to explore its underlying mechanisms.We examined the impact of GE on the proliferation of two melanoma cell lines, Malme-3M and SK-MEL-28, and assessed its developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos. Next, we evaluated GE’s influence on colony formation and wound healing in melanoma cells, as well as its ability to induce apoptosis and affect the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, by measuring pathway reporter activity and target gene expression.GE inhibited cell proliferation in melanoma cell lines at concentrations 104 to 488 times lower than those required for normal non-malignant L929 fibroblast cells. In zebrafish embryos, GE demonstrated developmental toxicity only at concentrations above 50 μg/mL. GE treatment significantly impaired the colony formation and wound healing abilities of melanoma cells, indicating reduced proliferation and migration. Moreover, GE induced apoptosis in melanoma cells and inhibited the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, as evidenced by decreased pathway reporter activity and target gene expression.This study highlights the potential of GE as a novel therapeutic agent in melanoma treatment by demonstrating its ability to inhibit tumor growth and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquisition of the pathogenicity plasmid pPATH that encodes a type III secretion system (T3SS) and effectors (T3Es) has likely led to the transition of a nonpathogenic bacterium into the tumorigenic pathogen Pantoea agglomerans. P. agglomerans pv. gypsophilae (Pag) forms galls on gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata) and triggers immunity on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), while P. agglomerans pv. betae (Pab) causes galls on both gypsophila and sugar beet. Draft sequences of the Pag and Pab genomes were previously generated using the MiSeq Illumina technology and used to determine partial T3E inventories of Pab and Pag. Here, we fully assembled the Pab and Pag genomes following sequencing with PacBio technology and carried out a comparative sequence analysis of the Pab and Pag pathogenicity plasmids pPATHpag and pPATHpab. Assembly of Pab and Pag genomes revealed a ~4 Mbp chromosome with a 55% GC content, and three and four plasmids in Pab and Pag, respectively. pPATHpag and pPATHpab share 97% identity within a 74% coverage, and a similar GC content (51%); they are ~156 kb and ~131 kb in size and consist of 198 and 155 coding sequences (CDSs), respectively. In both plasmids, we confirmed the presence of highly similar gene clusters encoding a T3SS, as well as auxin and cytokinins biosynthetic enzymes. Three putative novel T3Es were identified in Pab and one in Pag. Among T3SS-associated proteins encoded by Pag and Pab, we identified two novel chaperons of the ShcV and CesT families that are present in both pathovars with high similarity. We also identified insertion sequences (ISs) and transposons (Tns) that may have contributed to the evolution of the two pathovars. These include seven shared IS elements, and three ISs and two transposons unique to Pab. Finally, comparative sequence analysis revealed plasmid regions and CDSs that are present only in pPATHpab or in pPATHpag. The high similarity and common features of the pPATH plasmids support the hypothesis that the two strains recently evolved into host-specific pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquisition of the pathogenicity plasmid pPATH that encodes a type III secretion system (T3SS) and effectors (T3Es) has likely led to the transition of a non-pathogenic bacterium into the tumorigenic pathogen Pantoea agglomerans. P. agglomerans pv. gypsophilae (Pag) forms galls on gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata) and triggers immunity on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), while P. agglomerans pv. betae (Pab) causes galls on both gypsophila and sugar beet. Draft sequences of the Pag and Pab genomes were previously generated using the MiSeq Illumina technology and used to determine partial T3E inventories of Pab and Pag. Here, we fully assembled the Pab and Pag genomes following sequencing with PacBio technology and carried out a comparative sequence analysis of the Pab and Pag pathogenicity plasmids pPATHpag and pPATHpab. Assembly of Pab and Pag genomes revealed a ~4 Mbp chromosome with a 55% GC content, and three and four plasmids in Pab and Pag, respectively. pPATHpag and pPATHpab share 97% identity within a 74% coverage, and a similar GC content (51%); they are ~156 kb and ~131 kb in size and consist of 198 and 155 coding sequences (CDSs), respectively. In both plasmids, we confirmed the presence of highly similar gene clusters encoding a T3SS, as well as auxin and cytokinins biosynthetic enzymes. Three putative novel T3Es were identified in Pab and one in Pag. Among T3SS-associated proteins encoded by Pag and Pab, we identified two novel chaperons of the ShcV and CesT families that are present in both pathovars with high similarity. We also identified insertion sequences (ISs) and transposons (Tns) that may have contributed to the evolution of the two pathovars. These include seven shared IS elements, and three ISs and two transposons unique to Pab. Finally, comparative sequence analysis revealed plasmid regions and CDSs that are present only in pPATHpab or in pPATHpag. The high similarity and common features of the pPATH plasmids support the hypothesis that the two strains recently evolved into host-specific pathogens.

Gypsophila pilulifera Boiss. & Heldr., an endemic and endangered species is an economically important plant that has a potential used in medicine thank to the saponins it contains. It is also an ornamental plant. In this study, the production was carried out under in vitro conditions in order to protect and economically evaluate the species, which is in danger of extinction due to its distribution in a very narrow area open to anthropogenic effects. For this purpose, seed and shoot tip explants of G. pilulifera were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Explants were obtained from two different locations of the natural habitats of G. pilulifera and more plants were obtained in the tissue culture from both explant types taken from the 1st location. Propagation from seed gave better results, and 96.67% of the seeds cultured in hormone-free MS medium were germinated and rooted. The shoot tip showed lower regeneration in vitro than the seed explant. Especially the rooting percentage is quite low and the highest rooting and shoot formation was obtained in MS medium containing 2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L IAA. In this medium, 10.50 ±0.17 shoots were obtained per plant, and rooting (1.67 ±0.09 per plant) was also achieved only in this medium. Seedlings obtained in tissue culture continue to develop successfully in field conditions, and this method has been determined as a suitable method for ex-situ conservation and economically rapid production of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsophila pilulifera Boiss. & Heldr., an endemic and endangered species is an economically important plant that has a potential used in medicine thank to the saponins it contains. It is also an ornamental plant. In this study, the production was carried out under in vitro conditions in order to protect and economically evaluate the species, which is in danger of extinction due to its distribution in a very narrow area open to anthropogenic effects. For this purpose, seed and shoot tip explants of G. pilulifera were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Explants were obtained from two different locations of the natural habitats of G. pilulifera and more plants were obtained in the tissue culture from both explant types taken from the 1st location. Propagation from seed gave better results, and 96.67% of the seeds cultured in hormone-free MS medium were germinated and rooted. The shoot tip showed lower regeneration in vitro than the seed explant. Especially the rooting percentage is quite low and the highest rooting and shoot formation was obtained in MS medium containing 2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L IAA. In this medium, 10.50 ±0.17 shoots were obtained per plant, and rooting (1.67 ±0.09 per plant) was also achieved only in this medium. Seedlings obtained in tissue culture continue to develop successfully in field conditions, and this method has been determined as a suitable method for ex-situ conservation and economically rapid production of the species.

In the present work, foam and water extracts were obtained from Gypsophila root, which forms the foam part of the dessert known as kerebiç. The bioactive compounds of samples were analysed with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To determine their antioxidant properties, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method, cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) method, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, and total antioxidant activity method were performed. The pUC18 plasmid DNA was used to investigate the effect of the samples on the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In addition, the inhibitory properties of the samples against key enzymes (acetyl and butyryl-cholinesterases) involved in the pathogenesis of diseases were investigated. Based on the results of FT-IR analysis, terpenes and sugars were detected in the extracts. Based on the HPLC results, glucose, fructose, maleic acid, acetic acid, acetoin, and 2,3 butanediol were detected in the extracts. Antioxidant results showed that extracts had similar and moderate activities as compared to the standard antioxidants. It was observed that the extracts preserved the stable structure of pUC18 plasmid DNA, but could not remove the scavenging effect of peroxide. In addition, it was determined that the extracts showed a stronger inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl-cholinesterases (BChE) than galantamine, which was used as the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsophila is an ornamental plant whose flowers are economically important, which is cultivated in the Callejón de Huaylas valley-Ancash. Recently, cultivated Gypsophila fields have shown diseased plants characterized by stem base rot, which has been followed by a reduction in vigor and the collapse and death of plants. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to describe the symptomatology of the disease, identify the causative agent of the disease, and prove how effective fungicides and biological control agents (BCA) are in controlling the disease using in vitro and field experiments. To isolate the pathogen, symptomatic plant tissue samples were washed, cut into small pieces, disinfected in 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min, rinsed twice with sterilized water, and air-dried on paper towels. The samples were seeded on Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar media and incubated at 25 °C. A pathogenicity test was conducted in healthy Gypsophila seedlings, which were grown in a sterilized substrate, using mechanical inoculation on the stem base and agar disks colonized by the pathogen-mycelium. Then the pathogen was reisolated from symptomatic inoculated Gypsophila seedlings. The “poisoned medium” technique was used to conduct the in vitro fungicide test, while the “dual method” was used to conduct the bio controller’s test. The results of the pathogenicity test and in vitro and field experiments showed that Rhizoctonia solani is the causative agent of the stem base Gypsophila disease, and at both assayed doses, the fungicides Rovral, Benopoint, Parachupadera, Vitavax, and Homai completely inhibited the mycelial growth of R. solani. Moreover, the BCAs Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride showed higher in vitro growth rates than R. solani and completely colonized the pathogen-mycelium. Under field conditions, the incidence of the disease in field plots treated with T. harzianum was 12.5% lower than in the control treatment, which showed 51.28% incidence of the disease. In addition, Gypsophila plants harvested from plots treated with T. harzianum exhibited higher numbers of flower stalks per plant and a higher fresh weight compared to the control treatment.

Effects of increased concentration of calcium chloride on growth and production of flavonoids in newly established shoot and callus Gypsophila glomerata cultures were studied. The highest impact of CaCl2 on the growth index was determined in callus cultures (GI = 0.92), while in shoot cultures calcium treatment reduced the amount of biomass (GI = 0.38). Total flavonoids in shoot cultures grown on MS medium and MS medium supplemented with double amount of CaCl2 were 0.36 mg/g d. w. In both callus cultures, 2 mg/g d. w. total flavonoids were quantified. Shoots and callus grown on non-modified media accumulated 0.02 mg/g d. w. quercetin derivatives. Unlike these, both shoots and callus grown on calcium-enriched media accumulated 0.03 and 0.05 mg/g d. w. of isorhamnetin derivatives. In vitro shoot cultures grown on MS medium enriched in twice the amount of CaCl2 accumulated the highest amount of saponarin (0.138 mg/mg d. w.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oil composition of Gypsophila turcica Hamzaoğlu, Gypsophila pinifolia Boiss. & Hausskn., G. tuberculosa Hub.-Mor., G. eriocalyx Boiss. and G. laricina Schreb. were analyzed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty six, fourty four, sixty six, forty one and sixty one compounds were identified in the essential oils of G. turcica, G. pinifolia, G. laricina, G. tuberculosa and G. eriocalyx respectively. The major components were determined hentriacontane (12.93 ± 0.4%), 1-octadecanol (8.97 ± 0.1%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (6.9 ± 0.09%) and pentacosane (6.63 ± 0.08%) in G. turcica oil, hexadecanoic acid (17.6 ± 0.4%), 1-tetradecanol (7.6 ± 0.1%) and phytol (5.63 ± 0.05%) in G. pinifolia oil, octacosane (6.83%), eicosanal (6.19%), triacontane (6.03%) and heneicosane (5.78%) for G. eriocalyx, hexadecanoic acid (25.3%, 27.0%) and hentriacontane (13.0%, 12.6%) for G. tuberculosa and G. laricina, respectively. Antibacterial activity of G. eriocalyx, G. tuberculosis and G. laricina were investigated against Gram negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria.

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The specific steppe flora of the Kaliakra Nature Reserve (08E1 Western-Pontic petrophytic steppes Natura 2000 habitat) is analyzed with regard to the pollination syndromes and breeding systems assessed respectively in terms of the functional morphology of blossoms and biological types of plants. The entomophilous pollination syndromes are classified. Plants with dish-bowl blossoms pollinated by small bees, flies and beetles are dominant. Next come the wind pollinated plants. A floristic analysis of the flora of Kaliakra Nature Reserve shows prevalence of Submediterranean geoelements over Euroasian, Euro-Mediterranean, Mediterranean, Pontian-Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian, Cosmopolitic, etc. in the area. This corresponds well to the dominance of the dish-bowl pollination syndrome. Also, the abundance of plants with wind pollination syndrome corresponds to the specific steppe flora and vegetation in the area. The analyses of functional blossom morphology only roughly predict pollinators. Each particular plant calls for detailed research. Adonis vernalis L., Gypsophila trichotoma Wend. Crithmum maritimum L. are presented as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several species of the Gypsophila genus are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, including gypsophytes of particular ecological, evolutionary and biochemical interest, and taxa that have undergone both sympatric and allopatric genetic differentiation. The niche shift among these taxa has been assessed using ecological niche modelling and ordination techniques, adopting a niche overlap approach to compare the similarity and equivalency of the ecological niches. We used the Maximum Entropy method to study the potential distribution of these taxa in different eras: the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Mid Holocene and the current conditions. We present evidence of niche shift during the speciation of G. bermejoi, with a strong niche overlap between the parental taxa (G. struthium subsp. struthium and G. tomentosa), yet both overlap much more weakly with the hybrid species. This phenomenon may be explained by genetic and epigenetic interactions, and it has been described in other species. We also studied the sister subspecies G. struthium subsp. struthium and G. struthium subsp. hispanica, with mostly allopatric distributions and with the Iberian System mountain range acting as a geographical barrier. The Iberian System and other mountain ranges may have favored differences in the climatic conditions on either side of the mountain range, which is consistent with an incipient process of bioclimatic ecological speciation. These results seem to indicate that niche shift can occur over very different timespans. In the case of G. bermejoi, speciation may have produced significant niche shifting in one or two generations due to its alloploid nature. By contrast, G. struthium subsp. struthium and G. struthium subsp. hispanica seem to have undergone a more gradual process of allopatric genetic differentiation driven by bioclimatic factors. Both these processes are relatively recent and they will have been strongly influenced by the climate change at the end of LGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The scarcely investigated plant Gypsophila elegans M.Bieb. was screened for triterpenes as novel transfection enhancer. • With a bioassay guided isolation strategy an highly active triterpenoid saponin (gypsophilosid A) was isolated and characterized. • gypsophilosid A enabled an efficient gene delivery of nucleic acids into the cytosol of Neuro-2A-cells. • The combination of suicide gene carrying nanoplexes together with gypsophilosid A imply the potential significance in future gene therapies. • The isolation of the potent gypsophilosid A contributes to the establishment of the recently described sapofection as a transfection method. Abstract To this date, a number of different Gypsophila species from the family of Caryophyllaceae were phytochemically characterized and tested for diverse pharmacological effects. With Gypsophila elegans M. Bieb., we investigated a scarcely explored Gypsophila species, providing a number of potential transfection enhancing triterpene saponins, and so-called sapofection agents. So far triterpene saponins have not been isolated in Gypsophila elegans M.Bieb. Crude extracts from roots and seeds, as well as each purification step were tested for delivery modulation of gene-loaded nanoplexes into neuroblastoma cells. The application of the bioassay guided isolation strategy enabled the assessment of the most active Gypsophila compound, the bisdesmosidic triterpene saponin gypsophilosid A. Gypsophilosid A was isolated by chromatographic techniques, and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry and intense NMR-spectroscopy, using a variety of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments such as HSQC, HMBC, HQQC, TOCSY and NOESY. In neuroblastoma cells, gypsophilosid A increased the transfection efficiency of gene-nanoplexes up to 80% compared to 2% in the control group without saponin. Our results proved the successful applicability of the implemented methods to detect, isolate and identify saponins, which are biochemically active in terms of transfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects and possible mechanisms of oldhamianoside on the growth of human ovarian cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods: CCK-8 assay was applied to estimate the effect of oldhamianoside on cell proliferation inhibition in vitro. Nude mice bearing human ovarian SKOV3 xenograft tumors were treated with oldhamianoside to investigate the effects of compound administration on tumor growth in vivo. To further investigate the mechanisms of inhibition effects of oldhamianoside on ovarian cancer growth in vivo, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 in plasma from the mice were measured by ELISA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of angiogenesis- and/or apoptosis-related proteins. Results: We found that oldhamianoside treatment inhibited SKOV3 proliferation and growth both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 in plasma were markedly suppressed in oldhamianoside-treated mice. Additionally, oldhamianoside treatment inhibited the expression of VEGF and VEGFR2 and decreased the expression of caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Conclusion: Our data indicate that oldhamianoside has an obvious inhibition effect on SKOV3 proliferation, and the mechanisms might be related to inhibition of cell growth, apoptosis induction, and adjusting the inflammatory response and angiogenesis signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pantoea agglomerans, a widespread epiphytic bacterium, has evolved into a hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (hrp)‐dependent and host‐specific gall‐forming pathogen by the acquisition of a pathogenicity plasmid containing a type III secretion system (T3SS) and its effectors (T3Es). Pantoea agglomerans pv. betae (Pab) elicits galls on beet (Beta vulgaris) and gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata), whereas P. agglomerans pv. gypsophilae (Pag) incites galls on gypsophila and a hypersensitive response (HR) on beet. Draft genome sequences were generated and employed in combination with a machine‐learning approach and a translocation assay into beet roots to identify the pools of T3Es in the two pathovars. The genomes of the sequenced Pab4188 and Pag824‐1 strains have a similar size (∼5 MB) and GC content (∼55%). Mutational analysis revealed that, in Pab4188, eight T3Es (HsvB, HsvG, PseB, DspA/E, HopAY1, HopX2, HopAF1 and HrpK) contribute to pathogenicity on beet and gypsophila. In Pag824‐1, nine T3Es (HsvG, HsvB, PthG, DspA/E, HopAY1, HopD1, HopX2, HopAF1 and HrpK) contribute to pathogenicity on gypsophila, whereas the PthG effector triggers HR on beet. HsvB, HsvG, PthG and PseB appear to endow pathovar specificities to Pab and Pag, and no homologous T3Es were identified for these proteins in other phytopathogenic bacteria. Conversely, the remaining T3Es contribute to the virulence of both pathovars, and homologous T3Es were found in other phytopathogenic bacteria. Remarkably, HsvG and HsvB, which act as host‐specific transcription factors, displayed the largest contribution to disease development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsophila bermejoi G. López is an allopolyploid species derived from the parental G. struthium L. subsp. struthium and G. tomentosa L. All these plants are gypsophytes endemic to the Iberian Peninsula of particular ecological, evolutionary and biochemical interest. In this study, we present evidence of a possible repression on the process of G. bermejoi speciation by climatic factors. We modelled the ecological niches of the three taxa considered here using a maximum entropy approach and employing a series of bioclimatic variables. Subsequently, we projected these models onto the geographical space of the Iberian Peninsula in the present age and at two past ages: the Last Glacial Maximum and the mid-Holocene period. Furthermore, we compared these niches using the statistical method devised by Warren to calculate their degree of overlap. We also evaluated the evolution of the bioclimatic habitat suitability at those sites were the soil favors the growth of these species. Both the maximum entropy model and the degree of overlap indicated that the ecological behavior of the hybrid differs notably from that of the parental species. During the Last Glacial Maximum, the two parental species appear to take refuge in the western coastal strip of the Peninsula, a region in which there are virtually no sites where G. bermejoi could potentially be found. However, in the mid-Holocene period the suitability of G. bermejoi to sites with favorable soils shifts from almost null to a strong adaptation, a clear change in this tendency. These results suggest that the ecological niches of hybrid allopolyploids can be considerably different to those of their parental species, which may have evolutionary and ecologically relevant consequences. The data obtained indicate that certain bioclimatic variables may possibly repress the processes by which new species are formed. The difference in the ecological niche of G. bermejoi with respect to its parental species prevented it from prospering during the Last Glacial Maximum. However, the climatic change in the mid-Holocene period released this block and as such, it permitted the new species to establish itself. Accordingly, we favor a recent origin of the current populations of G. bermejoi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation, i.e., fragment size and isolation, can differentially alter patterns of neutral and quantitative genetic variation, fitness and phenotypic plasticity of plant populations, but their effects have rarely been tested simultaneously. We assessed the combined effects of size and connectivity on these aspects of genetic and phenotypic variation in populations of Centaurea hyssopifolia, a narrow endemic gypsophile that previously showed performance differences associated with fragmentation. We grew 111 maternal families sampled from 10 populations that differed in their fragment size and connectivity in a common garden, and characterized quantitative genetic variation, phenotypic plasticity to drought for key functional traits, and plant survival, as a measure of population fitness. We also assessed neutral genetic variation within and among populations using eight microsatellite markers. Although C. hyssopifolia is a narrow endemic gypsophile, we found substantial neutral genetic variation and quantitative variation for key functional traits. The partition of genetic variance indicated that a higher proportion of variation was found within populations, which is also consistent with low population differentiation in molecular markers, functional traits and their plasticity. This, combined with the generally small effect of habitat fragmentation suggests that gene flow among populations is not restricted, despite large differences in fragment size and isolation. Importantly, population's similarities in genetic variation and plasticity did not reflect the lower survival observed in isolated populations. Overall, our results indicate that, although the species consists of genetically variable populations able to express functional plasticity, such aspects of adaptive potential may not always reflect populations' survival. Given the differential effects of habitat connectivity on functional traits, genetic variation and fitness, our study highlights the need to shift the focus of fragmentation studies to the mechanisms that regulate connectivity effects, and call for caution on the use of genetic variation and plasticity to forecast population performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A espécie Gypsophila paniculata L., é conhecida popularmente como branquinha ou mosquitinho, pertence à família Caryophyllaceae e tem sido cultivada comercialmente como flor de corte. Sua propagação se dá através de mudas (estacas enraizadas). Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o pó de coco e a casca de arroz carbonizada, isolados ou em misturas como substratos visando um bom enraizamento de estacas de Gypsophila paniculata. O trabalho foi conduzido na Fazenda Plurinvest Agropecuária e Turismo Ltda, Trairi-CE. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualisado, sendo oito tratamentos e quatro repetições (10 estacas cada). Os tratamentos foram: pó de coco; pó de coco solarizado; pó de coco tratado com fungicida (Propamocarbe); pó de coco solarizado e tratado com fungicida; casca de arroz carbonizada; casca de arroz carbonizada tratada com fungicida; casca de arroz carbonizada + pó de coco solarizado; casca de arroz carbonizada + pó de coco solarizado e a mistura tratada com fungicida. Após 24 dias, em casa de vegetação com sombrite a 50% e sob irrigação por nebulização, foi avaliada matéria seca radicular (g), comprimento da maior raiz (cm) e comprimento da parte aérea (cm). Para as variáveis matéria seca da raiz, comprimento de raiz e comprimento de parte aérea, os substratos casca de arroz carbonizada (0,099 g; 5,50 cm e 6,2 cm respectivamente) e casca de arroz carbonizada + pó de coco solarizado (0,097 g; 5,40 cm e 6,1cm respectivamente) proporcionaram os melhores resultados na propagação vegetativa da Gypsophila paniculata.The species Gypsophila paniculata L., popularly known as baby's breath, branquinha or mosquitinho, belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family and has been grown commercially for sale as a cut flower. Its propagation is by means of rooted cuttings. The objective of this study was to evaluate coir dust and charred rice husks as substrates, both separate and in mixture, with an aim to the good rooting of Gypsophila paniculata cuttings. The work was caried out at the Fazenda Plurinvest Agropecuária e Turismo Ltda farm, located in Trairi, Ceará. The experimental design was completely randomized, with eight treatments and four replications (of 10 cuttings each). The treatments were: coir dust; solarised coir dust; coir dust treated with fungicide (Propamocarbe); solarised coir dust treated with fungicide; charred rice husks; charred rice husks treated with fungicide; charred rice husks and solarised coir dust; charred rice husks and solarised coir dust, the mixture treated with fungicide. After 24 days in a greenhouse in 50% shade and under irrigation by misting, the root dry-matter (g), longest root length (cm) and shoot length (cm) were evaluated. For the root dry-matter, root length and shoot length variables, the substrates of charred rice husks (0.099 g, 5.50 cm and 6.2 cm respectively) and charred rice husks with solarised coir dust (0.097 g, 5.40 cm and 6.1 cm respectively) gave the best results for the vegatative propagation of Gypsophila paniculata.

Türkiye is the homeland of many plant species as it is located in a region where three important gene centers intersect. The richness of the Turkish flora is also an important source for the utilization of plants with different purposes. Therefore, it is quite essential to cultivate the species in our flora and determine their usage possibilities in the ornamental plants sector both in terms of the ex-situ conservation of the species and their conversion into an economic value. In this study that was conducted between 2005 and 2008, the populations of Gypsophila (Gypsophila sp.) species distributed in the natural vegetation of Türkiye were studied in terms of their potential for usage as ornamental plants, and seed and herbarium specimens were collected from 118 different locations. In addition, some 11 natural Gypsophila populations obtained from the Center for Gene Sources of the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute were also evaluated in the study. The seeds were sown in the Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute in Antalya, and the seedlings obtained were transferred to the collection garden and examined in terms of some phenological-morphological characteristics (plant height, branching status, petal shape, petal size, and petal color). With the data obtained in the study, suggestions were made about in which area the species under examination could be utilized in the ornamental plants sector. Furthermore, the obtained materials can be used as breeding materials in future studies.

Gypsum soils are among the most restrictive and widespread substrates for plant life. Plants living on gypsum are classified as gypsophiles (exclusive to gypsum) and gypsovags (non-exclusive to gypsum). The former have been separated into wide and narrow gypsophiles, each with a putative different ecological strategy. Mechanisms displayed by gypsum plants to compete and survive on gypsum are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to compare the main chemical groups in the leaves of plants with different specificity to gypsum soils and to explore the ability of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analyzed with neural network (NN) modelling to discriminate groups of gypsum plants. Leaf samples of 14 species with different specificity to gypsum soils were analysed with FTIR spectroscopy coupled to neural network (NN) modelling. Spectral data were further related to the N, C, S, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg and ash concentrations of samples. The FTIR spectra of the three groups analyzed showed distinct features that enabled their discrimination through NN models. Wide gypsophiles stood out for the strong presence of inorganic compounds in their leaves, particularly gypsum and, in some species, also calcium oxalate crystals. The spectra of gypsovags had less inorganic chemical species, while those of narrow gypsum endemisms had low inorganics but shared with wide gypsophiles the presence of oxalate. Gypsum and calcium oxalate crystals seem to be widespread amongst gypsum specialist plants, possibly as a way to tolerate excess Ca and sulphate. However, other mechanisms such as the accumulation of sulphates in organic molecules are also compatible with plant specialization to gypsum. While gypsovags seem to be stress tolerant plants that tightly regulate the uptake of S and Ca, the ability of narrow gypsum endemisms to accumulate excess Ca as oxalate may indicate their incipient specialization to gypsum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gypsophila trichotoma Wend. (Caryophyllaceae) is a medicinal plant which is protected in Bulgaria by the Biodiversity Law. Previous studies have showed the presence of triterpene saponins, sterols, flavonoids, triterpens, etc. Objective: Gypsogenic acid, isolated from Gypsophila trichotoma roots, was evaluated for cytotoxic activity. Materials and Methods: The structure of the compound was elucidated by spectral methods. The cell survival fraction was determined by the MTT dye reduction assay, performed with some modifications. Results: Gypsogenic acid was tested in a panel of human tumor cell lines and was found to inhibit the proliferation of malignant cells. It was active against leukemic cells with lymphoid (SKW-3 and BV-173) or myeloid phenotype (HL-60, K-562, and LAMA-84), as well as against the EJ bladder carcinoma cell line. Bcr-Abl expressing myeloid cells (LAMA-84 and especially K-562) displayed lower sensitivity. HL-60/Dox cells were less sensitive to gypsogenic acid than the parent cell line, which shows that gypsogenic acid is probably a substrate of MRP-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virulence of the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans pv. gypsophilae ( Pag) on Gypsophila paniculata depends on a type III secretion system ( T3SS) and its effectors. The hypothesis that plant-derived indole-3-acetic acid ( IAA) plays a major role in gall formation was examined by disrupting basipetal polar auxin transport with the specific inhibitors 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid ( TIBA) and N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid ( NPA). On inoculation with Pag, galls developed in gypsophila stems above but not below lanolin rings containing TIBA or NPA, whereas, in controls, galls developed above and below the rings. In contrast, TIBA and NPA could not inhibit tumour formation in tomato caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The colonization of gypsophila stems by Pag was reduced below, but not above, the lanolin- TIBA ring. Following Pag inoculation and TIBA treatment, the expression of hrp L (a T3SS regulator) and pag R (a quorum-sensing transcriptional regulator) decreased four-fold and that of pth G (a T3SS effector) two-fold after 24 h. Expression of PIN2 (a putative auxin efflux carrier) increased 35-fold, 24 h after Pag inoculation. However, inoculation with a mutant in the T3SS effector pth G reduced the expression of PIN2 by two-fold compared with wild-type infection. The results suggest that pth G might govern the elevation of PIN2 expression during infection, and that polar auxin transport-derived IAA is essential for gall initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil properties of the annual Gypsophila L. taxa of Turkey and their effects on plant morphology were investigated. The taxa studied were Gypsophila heteropoda Freyn & Sint., G. parva Barkoudah, G. elegans M.Bieb., G. bitlisensis Barkoudah, G. viscosa Murray, G. antari Post & Beauverd, G. muralis L., G. tubulosa (Jaub. & Spach) Boiss., G. confertifolia Hub.-Mor., and G. pilosa Hudson. The soils of the plant taxa were medium textured, sand or sandy-loam, saltless or a little salty, neutral, limy, rich in potassium and with very little phosphorous, and with medium levels of nitrogen and organic matter. G. antari, which had the greatest lime content, had the lowest number of leaves. G. muralis and G. tubulosa had the lowest saturation values and lime content but the greatest number of leaves. If the lime content increased, the development of roots decreased, and when the rate of sand increased, the development of roots increased. For G. muralis, phosphorus concentration, seed size, and salt content were negatively related to number of leaves. For G. tubulosa and G. antari, potassium and organic matter concentrations were negatively related to number of leaves. In G. muralis, salt content was positively related to calyx diameter and seed size. In G. confertifolia, organic matter content was positively correlated with height of the calyx, petal, and bract. It was observed that G. pilosa, G. bitlisensis, and G. viscosa species are also distributed in limeless steppe areas. The most important distribution areas of the species in Turkey are Sivas, Erzincan, Çankırı, Eskişehir, and Ankara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the antioxidant system responses of a xerophytic plant to salinity and drought, which were not elucidated before. Physiological and antioxidant responses of the xerophytic plant Gypsophila aucheri Boiss. were investigated under salinity (100 and 300 mM NaCl) and drought (withholding watering) treatment for 2 weeks in a controlled growth chamber. Besides growth responses (relative growth rate (RGR)), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and SOD and CAT isoenzymes activities were determined under stress conditions. Moreover, the level of lipid peroxidation was determined as thiobarbutiric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content. Tolerance of G. aucheri to salinity and drought was evaluated based on lipid peroxidation (oxidative damage) and RGR. According to the experiments, G. aucheri was found to be tolerant to drought and 100 mM NaCl and its antioxidant system was able to cope with oxidative stress under these conditions. However, 300 mM NaCl treatment had detrimental effects on plant growth and membrane integrity. Under this concentration, oxidative stress cannot be precluded in spite of increased SOD, POX, and APX activities. These data indicate that xerophytic G. aucheri is a moderate halophytic plant that uses an efficient antioxidant defence mechanism under salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: Alcohol abuse is one of the major causes of liver fibrosis, which shows a sharply increasing trend worldwide, yet effective therapeutic options for advanced alcohol fibrosis are limited. Recently we investigated the effect of anti-fibrosis by isoorientin-2″-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl (IOA) isolated from Gypsophila elegans. During the experiment, the model group received alcohol only, and treatment groups received the corresponding drugs plus alcohol respectively, while the normal control group received an equal volume of saline. Analysis at the end of 24-week experiments showed that IOA could significantly improve the liver function, as indicated by decreasing levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, IOA could effectively inhibit collagen deposition and reduce the pathological tissue damage. Research on mechanism showed that IOA was able to markedly reduce lipid peroxidation, recruit the anti-oxidative defense system, and induce HSC apoptosis by down-regulating bcl-2 mRNA, as well as inhibit the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor β1 proteins. In short, our results showed that IOA is effective in attenuating hepatic injury and fibrosis in the alcohol-induced rat model, which should be developed as a new drug to treat liver fibrosis and even cirrhosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gypsophila turcica Hamzaoğlu is described as a new species. The specimen was collected from gypsaceous hills, at an altitude between 1755 and 1835 m from Zara District (Sivas Province). The new species is similar to Gypsophila festucifolia Hub.-Mor. The differences between these 2 taxa are discussed. Moreover, Silene choruhensis Hamzaoğlu nom. nova should replace S. ispirensis A.P.Khokhr. 1997, which is an illegitimate name as a younger homonym of S. ispirensis Boiss. 1856. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is revision of morphological and systematical characters of the taxa in Macrorrhizaea Boiss. section of Gypsophila L. genus of Türkiye. Three species of Macrorrhizaea Boiss. section (G. muralis L.,G. tubulosa (Jaub.& Spach) Boiss. and G. confertifolia Hub.-Mor.) were selected as study material. All of the species have annual life formation. G. muralis is narrowly ranged, Euro-Siberian element. G. tubulosa is endemic, East Mediterranian element, and G. confertifolia is endemic, East Mediterranian element. Number of localities where the the specimens of species were collected are: G. muralis 3, G. tubulosa 7, G. confertifolia 5 and G. pilosa 26. For each species, about 70 morphological characters were examined, biometric datas were analysed statistically and the results were interpreted. In addition, a comparison between all of the findings and literatures was done. G. muralis which can be easily distinguished with very weak roots and delicate stems and grows only in Tekirdağ. Hair properties are very important for G. tubulosa. There are long glandular hairs on upper parts and short a-glandular hairs in under parts of the stem. Differentiating characters of G. confertifolia are their root lengths are generally longer than the stem lengths and capitat inflorescence. As a resut; systematical and morphological investigations were done on Gypsophila species of Macrorrhizaea section of Türkiye. 45 new characters for G. muralis, 36 new characters for G. tubulosa and 39 new characters for G. confertifolia were added to definitions of the species. 11 characters for G. muralis, 9 characters for G. tubulosa and 18 characters for G. confertifolia have been found as different from present literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of light quality on flowering time were investigated in Gypsophila paniculata, which is a long-day cut flower, and with Arabidopsis under long-day conditions with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Gypsophila paniculata plants were grown under natural daylight and flowering was controlled by long-day treatment with a weak LED light of a single color in the night. Flowering was promoted not by blue light, but by far-red light in G. paniculata, while flowering was promoted by both light colors in Arabidopsis. FT homologs of G. paniculata GpFT1 and GpFT2 were differentially expressed under long-day conditions with white light, suggesting that they play roles in flowering at different stages of reproductive development. GpFTs and FT gene expression was not induced by far-red light in G. paniculata or Arabidopsis. Instead, the expression of the SOC1 homolog of G. paniculata GpSOC1 and SOC1 was induced by far-red light in G. paniculata and Arabidopsis. Flowering was promoted by induction of FT and SOC1 expression with blue light in Arabidopsis, whereas GpFTs and GpSOC1 expression was low with blue light induction in G. paniculata. The relationship between flowering and the expression of FT and SOC1 in Arabidopsis was confirmed with ft and soc1 mutants. These results suggest that long-day conditions with far-red light promote flowering through SOC1 and its homologs, while the conditions with blue light do not promote flowering in G. paniculata, because of low expression of GpFTs and GpSOC1 in contrast to that in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant effect of saponarin, which is the main flavone isolated from Gypsophila trichotoma Wend., and its protection against cocaine hepatotoxicity were investigated in male Wistar rats. The animals were treated with cocaine (40 mg/kg i.p.) alone and also after 3 consecutive days of pretreatment with saponarin (80 mg/kg p.o.). After 18 hours the rats were sacrificed by decapitation. The production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activity of the following antioxidant enzymes: catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase were assessed in liver homogenate. Administered alone, cocaine induced significant hepatotoxicity manifested with GSH depletion and reduced antioxidant defences. Saponarin pretreatment, however, decreased cocaine toxicity both by increasing GSH levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. The results of this study proved the antioxidant activity of saponarin and its protective effect against cocaine-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, the paradigm that low toxicant doses often have stimulatory effects on plants has become widely accepted. At the same time, low toxicant doses of metal salts have been observed to inhibit the growth of the most vigorous seedlings of a population in vitro, although mean plant size has remained unaffected. We hypothesized that this kind of selective low-dose toxicity is not restricted to inorganic contaminants. We exposed annual plants (baby's breath Gypsophila elegans, purslane Portulaca oleracea, and duckweed Lemna minor) to 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-γ-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and 4-tert-octylphenol and lead acetate. As compared to unexposed G. elegans roots, 4-tert-octylphenol did not affect the mean root size of all seedlings, but it reduced the average length of roots longer than the 98th percentile. A comparable response was found in case of G. elegans roots treated with lead acetate beyond the 90th percentile. The average size of roots beyond the 90th percentile was decreased also when L. minor was exposed to lead acetate though the means of all roots were constant. P. oleracea seemed to be insensitive to selective toxicity. We conclude that selective toxicity at low doses should be considered in parallel with hormesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]