This study performed a chemical characterization of Euphorbia officinarum and Euphorbia resinifera volatile and non-volatile aqueous extracts. It was also evaluated how extraction variables (extraction time and plant-to-solvent ratio, PSR) influenced the chemical composition and biological responses of the aqueous extracts of four populations of E. officinarum and one population of E. resinifera. The experimental results were fitted using second-order polynomial equations for all response variables. The volatiles (essential oils) were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed for quantification and component identification, by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. The volatile fraction of E. officinarum contained higher percentages of oxygenated monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids, whereas palmitic acid predominated in E. resinifera. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analyze the aqueous extract of both species and the tentatively annotated compounds included particularly flavonoids, coumarins, oxylipins, and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids. Two-way ANOVA and response surface methodology highlighted that PSR was generally the main factor affecting the measured responses, whereas the influence of extraction time was response- and population-dependent. In addition, Pearson correlation and principal component analyses showed that the in vitro biological activities were more dependent on phytochemical composition than on total phenolic content.
Secondary gene pools are important sources of valuable traits, such as disease resistance, which can be introgressed into crop plants by interspecific hybridization. However, combining different genomes may cause chromosomal abnormalities in later generations resulting in loss of traits or new traits. This study describes an introgression breeding program based on an interspecific cross between Ocimum basilicum var. basilicum ‘Bavires’ and O. tenuiflorum ‘Tulsi’. Eighty-two introgression lines were generated through successive backcrosses with the Genovese-type cultivar ‘Bavires’. F3BC4S plants were analyzed for 2C DNA content, chromosome number, and volatile organic compound composition. Flow cytometry showed that most individuals had 2C DNA contents between 4.8 and 5.2pg, corresponding to 52-54 chromosomes, though some had significantly higher 2C DNA contents corresponding to 56, 60, 63, 74, or 78 chromosomes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of leaves from 76 individuals identified 71 volatile compounds. Principal component analysis revealed that most volatile profiles clustered with ‘Bavires’, while some individuals showed profiles strongly associated with methyl chavicol, even exceeding that of ‘Tulsi’. A moderate negative correlation was found for 1,8‑cineole and β‑pinene, while 18 and 50 compounds showed only low or no correlations with 2C DNA content and chromosome number, respectively. Our results demonstrate that hybridizing O. basilicum var. basilicum with O. tenuiflorum is well-suited for introgression breeding, and that Genovese-type basil characteristics like scent can be restored through successive backcrosses.
Rosa damascena is a highly valued medicinal and aromatic plant with a global market worth several hundred million US dollars. Prized for its cut flowers, rose oil and rose water, modern scientific research has unravelled and reaffirmed its industrial and pharmacological potential. Scientific advances have unravelled the biosynthetic pathway genes, transcription factors and their regulation to understand the secondary metabolism of this plant. Efforts for characterizing its endophytic microbiomes have yielded invaluable insights into the plant as a holobiont and have provided microbial leads for growth promotion and biotic stress tolerance. Further, drug discovery investigations have highlighted the potential of several fractions and pure molecules from this plant as bioactive agents with applications in human health. Additionally, agrotechnologies and biotechnological approaches have been developed to enhance the growth and yield of this plant under the current climate change scenario. In this review article, we present a comprehensive view of the biology of R. damascena and modern aspects of its sustainable cultivation. Considering the emerging literature, it is imperative to adopt a holistic approach by applying modern knowledge of plant biology, plant-microbe interactions, and agrotechnological and biotechnological approaches for the sustainable cultivation of R. damascena. The mechanistic links between environmental gradients and secondary metabolite biosynthesis are poorly understood, postharvest handling protocols lack standardization across production regions, and the functional roles of the R. damascena microbiome in modulating essential oil quality remain underexplored. Future research should prioritize integrated multi-omics approaches, climate resilient cultivar development, and evidence based agrotechnologies to ensure the sustainable productivity and quality of this economically and medicinally important species.
Harvest month and time of day may alter the content, composition, and bioactivity of essential oils in medicinal plants. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal harvest month and time of day that enhance the content, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of essential oil obtained from Tetradenia riparia. Different harvest months (May, June, and July) and diurnal times (08:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00 h) were evaluated in 2021 and 2022. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS•+ assays. Essential oil content differed among the examined harvest months and times. In 2021, the highest contents were recorded in May (0.52% at 08:00 h and 0.51% at 11:00 h). In 2022, the highest contents were found in May and June, reaching 0.61% and 0.65% at 17:00 h. Chemical composition was impacted by both harvest month and time. In 2021, fenchone (13.52%) and α-cadinol (12.80%) predominated in June and July at 08:00 and 14:00 h, respectively. In 2022, caryophyllene oxide (18.54%) and 14-hydroxyhumulene (28.50%) predominated in May and July, respectively, at 17:00 h, whereas fenchone (25.10%) predominated in July at 08:00 h. The highest antioxidant activity was recorded at 14:00 h in May 2022 in the ABTS assay (1052.73 µg TE mg⁻¹ EO). In conclusion, harvest month and time determine essential oil content, composition, and antioxidant activity in T. riparia. May and June harvests favored higher essential oil content, whereas afternoon harvests increased antioxidant potential and profiles rich in terpenes. These data support commercial harvest scheduling for industrial applications.
Timely harvest and drying are critical postharvest parameters for cannabis production. Cannabis sativa grown outdoors in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, was subjected to two harvests, one week apart, to determine influence of initial moisture content on drying behavior and phytochemical stability. Two conventional air-dry methods, tray-drying and hang-drying, were evaluated in an industrial-sized facility under controlled conditions (15–25 °C temperature and 40–60% relative humidity). Real-time relative humidity monitoring tracked drying progression and identified end of the drying process. Irrespective of harvest or drying method, cannabis biomass exhibited a characteristic drying curve, with an exponential decline in moisture content, achieving ≤ 12% moisture content at 6 days. Higher initial moisture content in the second harvest, attributed to pre-harvest rainfall, significantly increased early-stage drying rates. Tray-drying exhibited a higher drying rate than hang-drying. Moisture diffusivity coefficients were low (4.1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹) for all drying conditions. Colorimetric analyses suggest that both tray and hang air-dried biomass display greater pigment degradation when compared to the same harvested biomass freeze-dried in a laboratory (used as a preservation reference). Harvest time significantly affected cannabinoid concentrations; cannabis inflorescence harvested one week later exhibited greater bioaccumulation of cannabigerolic acid, tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, total cannabigerol, and total tetrahydrocannabinol by 60.2%, 40.7%, 26.1%, 57.6%, and 26.3%, respectively. Tray and hang air-drying promoted partial decarboxylation, resulting in increased tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabigerol concentrations while maintaining high levels of their acidic precursors. Findings highlight key drying factors that are essential for ensuring consistent cannabis product quality for outdoor operations.
Agricultural productivity is increasingly constrained by climate change, water scarcity, and land degradation. These stresses disproportionately affect medicinal and aromatic plants, whose productivity is highly sensitive to environmental variability and remain relatively under-explored compared with staple food crops. Protected soilless cultivation offers a climate-resilient production strategy that enhances crop productivity, sustainability, and resource-use efficiency by enabling precise control of growing conditions and nutrition while minimizing climatic and biotic stresses. This crop production approach is particularly suited to high-value, environmentally sensitive medicinal crops such as saffron, where yield stability, input-use efficiency, and phytochemical quality are critically dependent on controlled growing environments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adaptability of saffron, a medicinal crop with great economic value, to soilless cultivation. The study examined the effect of various soil-based and soilless growing media on the leaf and corm parameters of saffron crop grown under various polytunnels and fungicide concentrations. Among the treatments tested, soilless media G3 (coco-peat, rockwool, and crushed silica sand) introduced with the F2 (0.36% carbendazim & mancozeb) fungicidal amendment under P1 (quonset polytunnel) growing environment exhibited the highest potential for successful soilless corm production. This outcome was demonstrated by the highest pooled corm yield value of 1823.37 g m−2 for this treatment. The findings of the study established soilless production of saffron corms as a suitable and sustainable alternative to traditional soil-based corm production under the protected growing conditions.
Aristotelia chilensis (maqui) is an endemic shrub of the Andean–Patagonian forests with berries of high antioxidant capacity. In this study, two wild populations in Chubut (Patagonia, Argentina) were characterized, evaluated foliage functional traits across phenological phases, and assessed fruit production over three years. The sites lie along a precipitation gradient: PNLA (1000 mm) and CAB (825 mm). At each site, four 100 m² plots were established and individuals recorded, and soil physicochemical properties were analyzed. In five female plants per plot, plant height, crown area (CA), and fruit production (2022–2024) were measured. In two plants per plot, phenology was recorded every 15 days during 2022–2023, and 16 leaves were sampled to determine leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), and chlorophyll content. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and mixed models. PNLA soils were more fertile, with higher organic carbon, nitrogen at depth, and exchangeable bases. Plants showed greater height and CA than those at CAB. Individual fruit production at PNLA exceeded CAB only in 2023, while yield per hectare did not differ between sites or years. SLA varied across phenological phases at both sites, with spring peaks followed by stabilization, highlighting the importance of sampling timing. Overall, the positive relationship between CA and fruit production provides a practical criterion to guide management practices. Additionally, SLA, leaf area, and chlorophyll content are useful indicators of physiological performance under contrasting conditions.
A multimodal analytical strategy was developed for origin discrimination and rapid prediction of representative phenolics in Magnolia officinalis cortex (MOC). Electronic eye (E-eye), Flash GC electronic nose (E-nose), and Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) were combined with chemometrics, machine learning, and feature-level data fusion. The results revealed distinct origin-related differences in color parameters, volatile characteristics, and overall near-infrared responses among MOC samples. PLS-DA models based on E-eye and E-nose revealed origin-related clustering trends. Origin-classification accuracy was further improved when preprocessed FT-NIR spectra were combined with BP and RBF models. For quantitative analysis, multisource fusion outperformed NIR-only model. Among the tested models, PLSR exhibited the best predictive performance for representative phenolics (R² = 0.9579, RMSE = 0.0036, MAE = 0.0027, RPD = 5.0885). Block-level contribution analysis further indicated that FT-NIR was the dominant information source, while color and E-nose provided complementary information. These findings indicate that the proposed multimodal strategy can support rapid authentication and quality-oriented selection of MOC raw materials in the medicinal and aromatic plant supply chain.
This study aimed to optimize the most common extraction parameters using Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) to maximize the recovery of phenolic content and the free radical scavenging activity DPPH from Pimpinella anisum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Laurus nobilis using response surface methodology (RSM). UAE was optimized for each plant using a Box–Behnken design, with ethanol/water ratio, extraction temperature, time, and ultrasonic power as independent variables. Therefore, the proportions of the three plant extracts in the mixture and to evaluate the interaction effects among these combinations. For maximum TPC, TFC, and DPPH free radical scaven ging activity, the optimized extraction conditions were as follows: for P. anisum, 50 °C extraction temperature, 20 min extraction time, 10% ethanol concentration, and 60% ultrasonic power; for R. officinalis, 25 °C extraction temperature, 51 min extraction time, 17% ethanol concentration, and 89% ultrasonic power; and for L. nobilis, 75 °C extraction temperature, 56 min extraction time, 4% ethanol concentration, and 74% ultrasonic power. The optimized mixture, consisting of 64.9% P. anisum, 13.8% R. officinalis, and 21.3% L. nobilis, exhibited high levels of TPC (34.37 mg GAE/g DW), TFC (130.34 mg CE/g DW), and percentage of inhibation of free radical scavenging activity DPPH (PI = 49.45%). HPLC-DAD analysis of the individual extracts revealed distinct phenolic profiles. L. nobilis was particularly rich in hydroxybenzoic acid (279.21 µg/g) and caffeic acid (261.88 µg/g), P. anisum was dominated by cinnamic acid (147.28 µg/g) and ferulic acid (100.48 µg/g), while R. officinalis exhibited a high content of gallic acid (96.66 µg/g). Compound-dependent interaction effects were observed within the mixture, with enhancement levels for epicatechin gallate (176.75 µg/g), rosmarinic acid (94.53 µg/g) and sinapic acid (36.02 µg/g), whereas other compounds showed additive or reduced levels relative to single extracts.
The lack of approved selective herbicides is the major obstacle to effective weed control and thus to the successful and economical production of coriander (Coriandrum sativum), an important food and medicinal plant. Field trials at two locations compared combinations of pendimethalin and aclonifen applied at pre- and post-emergence timings. The most effective program, pendimethalin (910 g a.i. ha⁻¹) followed by post-emergence aclonifen (900–1200 g a.i. ha⁻¹), reduced weed biomass by over 88% relative to the weedy control and increased coriander grain yield, without visible phytotoxicity. These results suggest that pendimethalin combined with aclonifen has promise for selective weed control in coriander. However, before any practical recommendations can be made, further multi-location studies are necessary to more accurately and reliably assess the extent of crop injury, while the quality and safety of coriander should also be evaluated.
Polyporus umbellatus, a highly valued medicinal fungus, faces increasing challenges due to the scarcity of wild resources and frequent adulteration in commercial markets, which may compromise therapeutic efficacy and raise safety concerns. In this study, a species-specific nucleotide signature was developed using DNA mini-barcoding, based on a comparative analysis of the ITS2 region across 273 samples of P. umbellatus and related Polyporus species. A unique 31 bp signature (5′-GTGGATCGGCCTTTGGTGTGATAATTGTCTA-3′) was identified and applied to authenticate 26 batches of decoction pieces, 15 batches of powdered sclerotium, and 6 batches of processed products containing P. umbellatus. The results revealed adulteration in 5 batches of crude materials, while all other samples were confirmed as authentic. This method provides a reliable and efficient molecular tool for quality control and product traceability of P. umbellatus in both raw and processed forms, supporting its safe clinical use.
Medicinal plants, with their diverse range of active components and extensive pharmacological effects, serve as valuable raw materials for pharmaceuticals. However, factors such as low content of natural plant active ingredients, cumbersome extraction processes, and long maturation periods have restricted their application in the research and development of industrialized pharmaceutical production. Deciphering the biosynthetic pathways and molecular genetic mechanisms of medicinal ingredients in plants, and achieving their efficient production through pathway reconstruction, remains a key approach to overcoming the low yields and insufficient industrial scalability of natural products in traditional Chinese medicines. This article summarizes recent research progress on the biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites (SMs) in medicinal plants and their related regulatory genes. It outlines metabolic engineering methods for heterologous reconstruction of SMs biosynthetic pathways using chassis cells. It sorts out the molecular regulatory design strategies for the biosynthesis of common plant-derived medicinal natural products, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, using microbial chassis cells. Additionally, it comparatively analyzes the mechanisms and application progress of heterologous expression of SMs biosynthetic elements or genes using Escherichia coli (E.coil) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) as chassis cells. Furthermore, this review discusses the prospects for the research and development of medicinal component biosynthesis via pathway reconstruction. It aims to provide insights into chassis engineering and pathway optimization for the heterologous production of natural products from medicinal plants, and to promote the rational and efficient biosynthesis of natural pharmaceuticals by integrating multi-omics strategies and other emerging technologies.
In 2023-2024 while studying Origanum majorana plants at the central nursery of the Government Horticultural Farm, Mysuru, India, characteristic rust symptoms were observed on the leaves, including distinct rust pustules indicative of rust infection. Disease severity ranged from 5% to 12%. Representative infected plant samples were collected for detailed examination. Microscopic observations revealed features consistent with the genus Puccinia, and preliminary identification was based on these morphological characteristics. To confirm the pathogen identity, the nrITS region of three representative samples was amplified and sequenced. The resulting sequences were aligned and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. BLAST analysis showed the highest sequence similarity to reference sequences of Puccinia menthae. Further, pathogenicity assay was performed using a spore suspension resulted in disease development after 15-18 days post inoculation. The identity was confirmed after microscopic examination and comparison with the original description. Based on a combination of micro-morphological features and nrITS-based phylogeny, the rust pathogen was conclusively identified as Puccinia menthae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Puccinia menthae associated with Origanum majorana rust from India.
Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a vital culinary and medicinal crop valued for its sulfur-containing bioactive compounds, especially allicin. In the Sikkim Himalaya of India, garlic is traditionally grown under organic conditions, but the unavailability of high-yielding and resilient genotypes limits its bulb yield and bioactive content productivity. The objective of the study was to assess the genetic variability, yield potential, and agronomic features of 60 garlic genotypes collected from different agroecological zones in Sikkim for two years to identify superior clones for organic farming systems. Genetic factors, including genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variations, heritability, and genetic advance, were determined. G & times;E interaction and stability across two seasons were assessed using Eberhart and Russell's model, GGE biplots, and BLUP-based predictions. Significant genotypic variation was observed for bulb yield (mean: 117.5 q/ha; range: 28.61-284.69 q/ha) and clove weight (mean: 1.9 g; range: 0.44-7.39 g). High heritability in the broad sense (H2 = 97.71%) and genetic advance (GA = 101.15 %) for bulb yield indicated strong selection potential. Sequential path analysis revealed that clove weight and clove number had the highest direct effects on the yield. Clustering and PCA together grouped genotypes into distinct clusters. The selected genotypes (SG46, SG12, SG19) exhibited high bulb yield with favourable clove traits that may be associated with enhanced allicin precursor accumulation, which is essential for medicinal applications. The results illustrate the potential for the selection of promising garlic genotypes suitable for organic farming, with stable yields and health-promoting bioactive compounds, while highlighting the need for further multilocation evaluations.
Designing sustainable extraction processes is a key challenge for replacing conventional solvents with greener alternatives. Here, ethyl lactate (EL), a fully bio-based and biodegradable solvent, was evaluated for the targeted extraction of carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid from dried rosemary leaves. Extraction parameters were systematically investigated using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to identify the optimal conditions. ANN exhibited the highest predictive performance (ANN > RSM > GPR) and guided process optimization, yielding 2.90 +/- 0.05% w/w carnosic acid under 70 degrees C for 30 min. Comparative experiments with ethanol, conducted under literature optimized conditions, confirmed that EL achieved comparable performance, with carnosic acid purity of 18.4 +/- 0.11% w/w versus 19.21 +/- 0.5% w/w for ethanol, while mass yield was higher for ethanol (15.25 +/- 0.00%) than for EL (10.58 +/- 0.00%). Notably, the EL process reduced carbon emissions to 210 g CO2/g extract and maintained antioxidant stability in canola oil. These findings demonstrate that EL, combined with data-driven optimization, provides an efficient, and greener approach for industrial production of natural antioxidants, supporting resilient and environmentally responsible food ingredient.
Elwendia persica synonym Bunium persicum, a diploid perennial species of the Apiaceae family, is a high-value spice and medicinal plant endemic to the high-altitude cold desert regions of the Himalayas. Owing to increasing market demand, overexploitation, and propagation constraints, it is considered a species of conservation concern in the Himalayan region. This study presents the first comprehensive population structure analysis of 91 accessions of E. persica collected from the Western Himalayas of India using sequence specific genomic SSR markers, providing novel insights into the genetic diversity, differentiation, and population structure of this important Himalayan species. Population structure analysis classified the accessions into four distinct genetic populations. Population 1, comprising the fewest accessions, exhibited high genetic differentiation with the highest Fst value (0.6328) and low heterozygosity (H = 0.1552), indicating considerable genetic isolation. In contrast, Populations 2 and 3 showed comparatively higher genetic diversity and possessed a greater number of private alleles, while Population 4 displayed moderate diversity (H = 0.228). Overall genetic diversity indices revealed moderate diversity across the studied germplasm, with a mean expected heterozygosity (H) of 0.241 and Shannon’s information index (I) of 0.367. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 69% of the total genetic variation existed within populations, whereas 31% was present among populations, suggesting a structured yet interconnected gene pool. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) explained 30.13% of the total molecular variance through the first three axes. The study highlights the significance of conserving both genetically distinct and genetically diverse populations to preserve the complete genetic spectrum of E. persica for future breeding, climate resilience, and long-term adaptability. The findings provide a valuable molecular foundation for developing targeted conservation, germplasm management, and crop improvement strategies for this threatened but economically important Himalayan species.
Traditional Chinese medicinal materials (CMM) such as Trichosanthis Radix (TK), Poria (PC), and Puerariae lobatae Radix (PL) are widely used for their distinct therapeutic effects. However, due to their similar morphological characteristics, especially after being processed, these materials are often misidentified, which can lead to clinical inefficacy or adverse reactions. In this study, we developed a rapid and sensitive nucleic acid detection platform based on the CRISPR/Cas12a system combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to accurately distinguish TK, PC, and PL. Specific crRNAs targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of each species were designed and validated for their specificity and sensitivity. Compared to conventional DNA barcoding, the CRISPR/Cas12a assay demonstrated superior performance, particularly in detecting mixed or degraded samples. The platform successfully authenticated 32 commercial samples, including those with low DNA yield or failed PCR amplification, highlighting its robustness and practical applicability. This method offers a promising molecular diagnostic tool for the accurate identification of morphologically similar CMM and provides a foundation for improving quality control in traditional medicine.
