Search

Pistacia lentiscus L., commonly known as the mastic tree or lentisk, is a woody Mediterranean plant revered for its ecological relevance as well as for its extensive ethnobotanical heritage. Historically, the fruits and the resin of P. lentiscus have been widely utilized in traditional medicine, underscoring its important role in local healing practices. Given these properties, this study explored an innovative approach to efficiently extract anthocyanins and flavonols from P. lentiscus oilcakes utilizing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) as an alternative to conventional solvent extraction. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) were used to identify and quantify the anthocyanins and flavonols, revealing the successful extraction of eight distinct anthocyanins and twenty flavonols. A Fractional Factorial Design (FFD) followed by a Box–Behnken design (BBD) were applied to optimize the yield of anthocyanins and flavonols. The optimal extraction conditions found were to be an extraction time of 15 min with 70% ethanol as the solvent and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 0.012 L g−1, which resulted in a maximum extraction yield of 19.78 mg g−1 dry extract for the Total Flavonol Content and over 25.4 mg g−1 dry extract for the Total Flavonol and Anthocyanin Content. By elucidating the optimal conditions for extracting anthocyanins and flavonol glycosides, this study opens promising avenues for utilizing P. lentiscus oilcake by-products, supporting sustainable practices, and advancing the valorization of Mediterranean bio-resources for health-promoting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global changes and growing demands have led to the development of new molecular approaches to improve crop physiological performances. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes, ubiquitous across various life kingdoms, stand out for their critical roles in plant photosynthesis and water relations. We hypothesize that the modulators of human CAs could affect plant physiology. Our research demonstrated that foliar treatments with a synthetic selenium-containing CA activator (Se-AMA) influenced the physiological performances of Arabidopsis thaliana. Se-AMA increased net photosynthesis (A + 31.7%) and stomatal conductance (gs + 48.2%) at 100 µM, with the most notable effects after 10 days of treatment. Se-AMA at 300 µM proved to be even more effective, boosting A and gs by 19.9% and 55.3%, respectively, already after 3 days of application. Morning treatment with Se-AMA at 300 µM enhanced photosynthetic performances throughout the day, suggesting that the positive effect of Se-AMA lasted for several hours. Additionally, Se-AMA increased water content in plants by 17.1%, suggesting that Se-AMA treatment may have improved plant water absorption and resource management. This effect might be linked to Se-AMA's role in modulating specific CA isoforms working with aquaporins. Although preliminary, these findings suggest that Se-AMA could enhance plant physiological performances under the conditions of non-limiting water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compacted soils in urban areas suffer from reduced porosity, impairing plant growth, water infiltration, and gas exchange, thus exacerbating other potential environmental issues. Amending soil with organic matter can reduce bulk density and increase permeability, thereby enhancing soil fertility and functionality. This study evaluated the effects of two organic soil amendments (i.e., chipped cork and municipal waste compost) on soil functionality and the physiology of Quercus ilex trees, following a soil compaction treatment. Five soil treatments were compared: control (no compaction and amendments), soil compaction without amendments, and compaction with amendments including cork, compost, or a combination of both. Soil and plant physiological responses were analyzed during the summer months, focusing on soil gas exchange, temperature, moisture, microbial respiration, enzymatic activity, leaf gas exchange, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, and maximum daily trunk shrinkage. The results showed that amended soils exhibited increased soil gas exchanges, lower temperatures, and higher microbial activity than non-amended compacted soils, thereby reducing the detrimental effects of soil compaction on plant physiology. These findings suggested that incorporating organic amendments into urban soils, especially those subjected to frequent trampling, could make them more resistant/resilient to compaction, supporting healthier green spaces and more sustainable urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry is the property of International Society of Arboriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Diabetes is a chronic and progressive disease associated with high blood glucose levels. Several co-morbidities arise from diabetes, the most common and severe one is diabetic neuropathy whose symptoms also include pain hypersensitivity. Currently, there are no effective therapies to counteract painful diabetic neuropathy or slow down the progression of the disease, and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully understood. Emerging data in recent decades have provided compelling evidence that the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chronic pain are different across the sexes. Interestingly, relevant differences have also been observed in the course and clinical presentation of painful diabetic neuropathy in humans. Here, we reviewed the current state of the art on sex differences in diabetic neuropathy, from animal models to clinical data. Comparing the output of both preclinical and clinical studies is necessary for properly orienting future choices in pain research, refining animal models, and interpreting clinical data. The identification of sex-specific mechanisms may help to develop more targeted therapies to counteract pain symptoms in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. syn. Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a Mediterranean aromatic species used both as an official herb and as a spice. Different cultivars may exhibit diverse phytochemical compositions, making a comprehensive chemical characterization pivotal for a targeted selection of valuable cultivars. This study aimed to characterize and compare the phenolic and terpene composition and content of leaf extracts of six Mediterranean rosemary cultivars: 'Alba', 'Arp' 'Ginger', 'Gorizia', 'Tuscan Blue', and 'Roseus'. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed a similar phenolic composition in all the cultivars, but quantitative differences were observed. The main compounds were carnosic acid derivatives, flavonoids (e.g., luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin glucosides), rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and other hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. The highest phenolic content was found in 'Alba', with a predominance of carnosic acid derivatives, whereas the lowest was found in 'Ginger' and 'Gorizia'. The GC-MS analysis evidenced quantitative differences among the cultivars. Particularly, 'Alba' contained the highest terpene content, whereas 'Arp' and 'Gorizia' showed the lowest values. Regarding the antioxidant activity, 'Alba' exhibited the highest values as regards phenols, while for terpenes, the highest ones were obtained for 'Ginger' and 'Tuscan Blue'. Significant Pearson correlations were obtained between the total phenol/terpene content and the antioxidant activity. The chemical characterization of these cultivars provides relevant information to produce the rosemary phytocomplexes, finding multiple industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Ozone (O3) is an oxidative pollutant that significantly threatens plant development and ecological dynamics. The present study explores the impact of O3 on Moringa (Moringa oleifera) ecotypes when exposed to ambient and elevated O3 levels. Elevated O3 concentrations resulted in significant reductions in total biomass for all ecotypes. Photosynthetic parameters, including stomatal conductance (gsto), CO2 assimilation (Pn), and carboxylation efficiency (K), decreased under elevated O3 in some ecotypes, indicating a detrimental effect on carbon assimilation. Nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) levels in roots varied among ecotypes, with significant reductions in starch content observed under elevated O3, suggesting a potential shift towards soluble sugar accumulation and reallocation for antioxidant defense. Secondary metabolite analysis revealed increased polyphenol production, particularly quercetin derivatives, under elevated O3 in specific ecotypes, highlighting their role in mitigating oxidative stress. Interestingly, the glucosinolate content also varied, with some ecotypes exhibiting increased levels, suggesting a complex regulatory mechanism in response to O3 exposure. The study underscores the intrinsic variability among Moringa ecotypes in response to O3 stress, emphasizing the importance of genetic diversity for adaptation. The findings indicate that Moringa's metabolic plasticity, including shifts in NSC and SM production, plays a crucial role in its defense mechanisms against O3‐induced oxidative stress. These insights are vital for optimizing the cultivation and utilization of Moringa in diverse environmental conditions, particularly in regions with elevated O3 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, with metropolitan areas particularly affected due to high emissions from human activities. Particulate matter (PMx) is among the most harmful pollutants to human health, being composed of a complex mixture of substances related to severe pulmonary conditions. Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating air pollution by capturing PMx, and it is essential to select plant species with a high capacity for PMx accumulation to effectively enhance air quality. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of two PMx quantification methods—light microscopy and filtration—which demonstrated a high correlation (R2 = 0.72), suggesting that both methods are reliable for assessing PMx accumulation on leaves. Light microscopy allowed for the visualization of PMx deposition, revealing the species warranting further analysis using the filtration method. Among the species analyzed, Euonymus japonicus, Ligustrum lucidum, Alnus glutinosa, Rubus ulmifolius, and Laurus nobilis demonstrated the highest total PMx accumulation, exceeding 50 µg cm−2, making them particularly valuable for air pollution mitigation. This study examined the correlation between leaf traits such as specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf dissection index (LDI), and leaf roundness and PMx accumulation across the 30 different plant species. A multiple linear regression analysis indicated that these leaf traits significantly influenced PMx accumulation, with SLA and LA showing negative correlations and leaf roundness exhibiting a positive correlation with PMx deposition. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of selecting plant species with specific leaf traits for effective air quality improvement in urban environments particularly in highly polluted areas, to enhance air quality and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major unresolved issue in treating pain is the paradoxical hyperalgesia produced by the gold-standard analgesic morphine and other opiates. We found that hyperalgesia-inducing treatment with morphine resulted in downregulation of the K(+)-Cl(-) co-transporter KCC2, impairing Cl(-) homeostasis in rat spinal lamina l neurons. Restoring the anion equilibrium potential reversed the morphine-induced hyperalgesia without affecting tolerance. The hyperalgesia was also reversed by ablating spinal microglia. Morphine hyperalgesia, but not tolerance, required μ opioid receptor-dependent expression of P2X4 receptors (P2X4Rs) in microglia and μ-independent gating of the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by P2X4Rs. Blocking BDNF-TrkB signaling preserved Cl(-) homeostasis and reversed the hyperalgesia. Gene-targeted mice in which Bdnf was deleted from microglia did not develop hyperalgesia to morphine. However, neither morphine antinociception nor tolerance was affected in these mice. Our findings dissociate morphine-induced hyperalgesia from tolerance and suggest the microglia-to-neuron P2X4-BDNF-KCC2 pathway as a therapeutic target for preventing hyperalgesia without affecting morphine analgesia.

(1) Background: Since new intraoral scanner (IOS) versions are introduced to the market and software continues to advance, there is an ongoing need to assess the accuracy of newer IOS models. (2) Methods: Four types of IOSs and one laboratory scanner (used as a reference) were used to scan an edentulous model with six parallel implants and their respective scan bodies, which were connected to each other. Using dedicated software, the distances between all scan bodies were calculated, generating a total of 540 measurements. Trueness (comparisons to the reference model) and precision (intragroup comparisons) were statistically compared with ANOVA and Tukey tests. (3) Results: When considering trueness values, statistically significant differences were observed between the tested scanner for all subgroups considered (p < 0.05). By contrast, no statistically significant differences were reported for precision values. (4) Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present in vitro study, it can be concluded that all tested IOSs were similar in terms of precision, while Trios and i700W yielded the worst trueness values. Nevertheless, increasing the measuring distance leads to a decrease in both trueness and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]