Ursolic acid is a triterpenoid compound in the plant kingdom and has important biological functions. In this study, ursolic contents of nine herbs including Anethum graveolens (dill), Camellia sinensis L. (green tea), Lepidium sativum (garden cress), Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil), Petroselinum crispum (parsley), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Salvia (sage), Thymus vulgaris (thyme) Urtica d...

The tree Acacia dealbata is native to Australia but has become invasive in many parts of the world thanks its N-fixing capacity and allelopathic compounds present biomass. We conducted a pilot-scale study assess potential conversion A. biomass by vermicomposting via earthworm Eisenia andrei. flowering aerial was shredded placed vermireactor under greenhouse conditions for 56 days. vermicomposte...

The polymerase chain reaction was used to prepare gene-specific probes for several Lhc genes coding for chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins of cress (Lepidium sativum L.). Due to the presence of about 150 basepairs of the coding region, the isolated clones could be attributed to Lhc a3 (1 clone), Lhc b1 (5 clones), Lhc b2 (1 clone) and Lhc b3 (1 clone) genes. Probes prepared from the 3'non-coding ...

This paper presents an ecotoxicological evaluation of soil fertilized with biogas digestate (BD) or mining waste (MS). The study was performed under pot experiment conditions. BD was added at a dose of 1.5 and 3% to the soil. MS was applied at a dose of 10 and 20%. Samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment and after 180 and 360 days from the start of the study. In addition, a pa...

For a full estimation of the risk related with the presence of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment, the use of the current ecotoxicological methods may prove insufficient. In the study presented herein, various methods of assessment of ecotoxicity were applied to compare the phytotoxicity of three ENPs: nano-ZnO, nano-TiO2 and nano-Ni. The toxicity was assayed both for aqueous so...

In some species, a crucial role has been demonstrated for the seed endosperm during germination. The endosperm has been shown to integrate environmental cues with hormonal networks that underpin dormancy and seed germination, a process that involves the action of cell wall remodeling enzymes (CWREs). Here, we examine the cell wall architectures of the endosperms of two related Brassicaceae, Ara...

Cladospirone bisepoxide (1), a novel metabolite, was isolated from cultures of a fungus which was characterized as a coelomycete by the formation of pycnidia. By optimization of media and fermentation conditions, a titer of up to 1.5 g/liter on shake level and 1.16 g/liter on bioreactor scale could be achieved. The isolation of the compound was performed by solvent extraction of the culture bro...

Twelve essential oils from Mediterranean aromatic plants were tested for their phytotoxic activity, at different doses, against the germination and the initial radicle growth of seeds of Raphanus sativus, Lactuca sativa and Lepidium sativum. The essential oils were obtained from Hyssopus officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Majorana hortensis, Melissa officinalis, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum vul...