Bottlebrush and Myrtle twig canker caused by Neopestalotiopsis species: an emerging canker-causing group of fungi in Italy.

Pestalotioid fungi were isolated in pure culture from symptomatic plants of Callistemonlaevis, C.viminalis, Lumaapiculata (marketed as "Myrtusluma"), Myrtuscommunissubsp.tarentina, and M.communisvar.microphylla (M.communis 'Microphylla'), showing twig canker, dieback and defoliation. The isolates were identified to species by ITS, tef1 and tub2 sequences, which revealed the presence of six species of Neopestalotiopsis (N.camelliae-oleiferae, N.hispanica, N.iberica, N.rosae, N.rosicola, and N.zakeelii) and one species of Pestalotiopsis (P.biciliata). While most species were isolated only once or twice, the majority of isolates belonged to N.rosae (13) and N.hispanica (8). Pathogenicity was investigated by pathogenicity tests on all hosts, which confirmed the pathogenicity of all Neopestalotiopsis species on at least some of the hosts tested, while P.biciliata did not cause any disease symptoms. Neopestalotiopsishispanica and N.rosae caused symptoms in all hosts of the present study, while the other Neopestalotiopsis species tested showed no symptoms on Lumaapiculata.

Citral in lemon myrtle, lemongrass, litsea, and melissa essential oils suppress the growth and invasion of breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: Although cancer therapy suppresses recurrence and prolongs life, it may be accompanied by strong side effects; thus, there is a strong demand for the development effective treatments with fewer side effects. Cancer therapy using plant-derived essential oils is attracting attention as one promising method. This study investigated the antitumor effects of essential oil volatiles on breast cancer cells and identifies four essential oils that display antitumor activity. METHODS: Breast cancer cells were cultured in a 96-well plate, then one of twenty essential oils was added dropwise to the central well. The plate was incubated at 37 °C for 48 h and the effect of the volatile components of each essential oil on the surrounding breast cancer cell growth ability was examined using an MTT assay. Gas chromatography was used to investigate the concentration of the transpiration components that may affect cancer cells. RESULTS: Of the 20 essential oils, Lemongrass, Lemon myrtle, Litsea, and Melissa displayed strong anti-tumor effects. These essential oils inhibited the growth of nearby breast cancer cells, even when diluted more than 500-fold. The transpiration component of lemon Myrtle showed the strongest antitumor effect, but was the least cytotoxic to mononuclear cells in normal peripheral blood (PBMC). Each of these essential oils contained a very large amount of citral. The IC50 against breast cancer cells when citral was volatilized from each essential oil was 1.67 µL/mL for geranial and 1.31 µL/mL for neral. Volatilized citral alone showed strong anti-proliferation and infiltration-inhibiting effects. CONCLUSION: The transpiration components of Lemongrass, Lemon myrtle, Litsea, and Melissa are thought to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation due to their high levels of citral.

LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Identification and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Leaves of Australian Myrtles and Their Antioxidant Activities.

Phenolic compounds, present in plants, provide substantial health advantages, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which enhance cardiovascular and cognitive well-being. Australia is enriched with a wide range of plants with phytopharmacological potential, which needs to be fully elucidated. In this context, we analyzed leaves of aniseed myrtle (Syzygium anisatum), lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), and cinnamon myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia) for their complex phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS was applied for screening and characterizing these Australian myrtles' phenolic compounds and the structure-function relation of phenolic compounds. This study identified 145 and quantified/semi-quantified 27 phenolic compounds in these Australian myrtles. Furthermore, phenolic contents (total phenolic content (TPC), total condensed tannins (TCT), and total flavonoids (TFC)) and antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts from the leaves of Australian myrtles were quantified. Aniseed myrtle was quantified with the highest TPC (52.49 ± 3.55 mg GAE/g) and total antioxidant potential than other selected myrtles. Catechin, epicatechin, isovitexin, cinnamic acid, and quercetin were quantified as Australian myrtles' most abundant phenolic compounds. Moreover, chemometric analysis further validated the results. This study provides a new insight into the novel potent bioactive phenolic compounds from Australian myrtles that could be potentially useful for functional, nutraceutical, and therapeutic applications.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Fatty Acids, Phytosterols, and Volatiles from Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Fruit.

BACKGROUND: Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a coastal Mediterranean aromatic medicinal plant rich in essential oil components, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Studies highlight the potential health benefits of myrtle bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. Since limited research exists on myrtle fruit's lipid fraction, the aim of this study was to apply supercritical CO2 extraction to obtain bioactive compounds from myrtle berries focusing on the fatty acids, sterols, and essential oils. METHODS: The optimization of the supercritical CO2 extraction of myrtle fruit using CO2 as solvent was carried out using the response surface methodology with Box-Behnken experimental design. The following conditions were tested: temperature (40, 50, and 60 °C), pressure (200, 300, and 400 bar), and flow rate (20, 30, and 40 g min-1) on the yield of lipid extract as well as on the yield of fatty acids, phytosterols, and volatiles present in the extract and constituting its bioactive potential. RESULTS: In the extracts examined, 36 fatty acids, 7 phytosterols, and 13 volatiles were identified. The average yield of the extract was 5.20%, the most abundant identified fatty acid was essential cis-linolenic acid (76.83%), almost 90% of the total phytosterols were ß-sitosterol (12,465 mg kg-1), while myrtenyl acetate (4297 mg kg-1) was the most represented volatile compound. The optimal process conditions obtained allow the formulation of extracts with specific compositions.

The therapeutic value of Myrtus communis L.: an updated review.

Myrtus communis L. (Family: Myrtaceae) is naturally found in the western part of Asia, Southern Europe, and North Africa. It has been reportedly applied in pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine, cosmetics, spices, and food. Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus were utilized to seek out relevant content concerning the therapeutic potential of M. communis. Subsequently, we conducted a review to identity noteworthy updates pertaining to M. communis. Myrtle berries, leaves, seeds, and essential oils are natural sources of several nutrients and bioactive compounds with marked health effects. The chemical analysis showed that M. communis contained oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, coumarins, saponosides, tannins, quinines, and anthraquinones. A pharmacological investigation revealed that M. communis possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimutagenic, immunomodulatory, dermatological, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal protective effects, among numerous other biological effects. This current review focused on the biochemical, pharmacological, therapeutic effects, and various biological activities of different parts of M. communis. It signifies that M. communis is a therapeutic plant with numerous applications in medicine and could be used as a drug isolate based on its safety and effectiveness.

Comprehensive analysis of annexin gene family and its expression in response to branching architecture and salt stress in crape myrtle.

BACKGROUND: Annexin (ANN) is calcium (Ca2+)-dependent and phospholipid binding protein family, which is involved in plant growth and development and response to various stresses. However, little known about ANN genes were identified from crape myrtle, an ornamental horticultural plant widely cultivated in the world. RESULTS: Here, 9 LiANN genes were identified from Lagerstroemia indica, and their characterizations and functions were investigated in L. indica for the first time. The LiANN genes were divided into 2 subfamilies. The gene structure, chromosomal location, and collinearity relationship were also explored. In addition, the GO annotation analysis of these LiANNs indicated that they are enriched in molecular functions, cellular components, and biological processes. Moreover, transcription factors (TFs) prediction analysis revealed that bHLH, MYB, NAC, and other TFs can interact with the LiANN promoters. Interestingly, the LiANN2/4/6-9 were demonstrated to play critical roles in the branching architecture of crape myrtle. Furthermore, the LiANN2/6/8/9 were differentially expressed under salt treatment, and a series of TFs regulating LiANN2/6/8/9 expression were predicted to play essential roles in salt resistance. CONCLUSIONS: These results shed light on profile and function of the LiANN gene family, and lay a foundation for further studies of the LiANN genes.

Bioactivity of Myrtus communis from the Montenegro coastline / Bioactividad de Myrtus communis del litoral de Montenegro

Although numerous studies have demonstrated the biomedical potential of Myrtus communis L., (Myrtaceae) data on myrt le from Montenegro are scarce. T o evaluate antioxidant, antimutagenic and antibacterial activity of myrtle methanolic extracts. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and enzyme inhibition. The strongest scavenging activity was towards DPPH radical ( 2,2 - diphenyl - 1 - picry lhydrazyl) (IC 50 1.69 - 2.25 mg/mL) and superoxide anion (IC 50 0.56 to 0.88 mg/mL), followed by high reducing power (428 - 472 mgAA/g.DE) and inhibition of XOD (IC 50 0.308 - 0.6261mg/mL). Antimutagenic activity was evaluated in reverse mutation assays with Esche richia coli WP2 oxyR mutant IC202 and deficient in the induction of antioxidant enzymes. The myrtle extracts strongly inhibited mutagenesis induced by t - BOOH, reaching 70% at the highest concentration applied. Antimicrobial activity was examined on eight different bacterial strains. Gram - positive bacteria, S. epidermis , S. aureus and M. flavus demonstrated the highest sensitivity towards extracts (MICs 4.5 - 9 mg/mL), but significantly lower towards essential oil (MIC 0.42 - 3.32 mg/mL).

Aunque numerosos estudios han demostrado el potencial biomédico de Myrtus communis L., (Myrtaceae), los datos sobre el mirto de Montenegro son escasos. E valuar la actividad antioxidante, antimutagéni ca y antibacteriana de extractos metanólicos de mirto. La actividad antioxidante se evaluó midiendo la actividad de eliminación de radicales libres, el poder reductor y la inhibición enzimática. La actividad secuestrante más fuerte fue hacia DPPH radical ( IC 50 1.69 - 2.25 mg/mL) y radicales de anión superóxido (IC 50 0.56 a 0.88 mg/mL), seguido de alto poder reductor (428 - 472 m gAA/g.DE) e inhibición de XOD (I C 50 0,308 - 0,6261 mg/m L ). La actividad antimutagénica se evaluó en ensayos de mutación inversa con Esche richia coli WP2 oxyR mutante IC202 y deficiente en la inducción de enzimas antioxidantes. Los extractos de mirto inhibieron fuertemente la mutagénesis inducida por t - BOOH, alcanzando el 70% a la mayor concentración aplicada. La actividad antimicrobiana se examinó en octo cepas bacterianas diferentes. Las bacterias grampositivas, S. epidermis , S. aureus y M. flavus demostraron la sensibilidad más alta hacia los extractos (MIC 4.5 - 9 mg/mL), pero significativamente más baja hacia el aceite esencial (MIC 0.42 - 3 .32 mg/mL). Los resultados muestran la gran perspectiva nutrafarmacéutica de la especie montenegrina Myrtus communis .

Efficacy of Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil as a Bio-Fungicide in Inhibiting Citrus Green Mould.

The effectiveness of lemon myrtle (LM) (Backhousia citriodora) essential oil (EO) was investigated to combat Penicillium digitatum by in vitro agar diffusion and vapour assay and in artificially infected oranges. The main constituent of LM EO was revealed as citral when analysed in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pure citral was also included in the experiment for comparison. The in vitro fungal growth was significantly inhibited by LM EO at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 µL per disc while complete growth inhibition by both the pure citral and LM EO occurred at 4 and 5 µL per disc. Inoculated fruits treated by dipping in 1000 µL L-1 LM EO solutions for 5, 10, 15, 30 and 120 s showed significantly lower fungal wounds compared to control. While longer dipping times led to some rind injuries, fruits with a 5 and 10 s dip were found free from any injury. The evaluation after dipping and storage confirmed that the fruits maintained the sensory attributes and were not compromised by the incorporation of the essential oil. The results of this study indicate that LM EO can be a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides for preserving the quality of citrus fruits during storage.

Chemo- and bio-informatics insight into anti-cholinesterase potentials of berries and leaves of Myrtus communis L., Myrtaceae: an in vitro/in silico study.

BACKGROUND: Myrtus communis L. (MC) has been used in Mesopotamian medicine. Here, the cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitory potential of its methyl alcohol extracts has been investigated and computationally dissected. METHOD: The ChE inhibition has been measured based on usual Ellman's colorimetric method compared to a canonical ChE inhibitor, eserine. Through a deep text mining, the structures of phytocompounds (= ligands) of MC were curated from ChemSpider, PubChem, and ZINC databases and docked into protein targets, AChE (PDB 1EVE) and BChE (PDB 1P0I) after initial in silico preparedness and binding affinity (BA; kcal/mol) reported as an endpoint. The calculation of ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) features of phytocompounds were retrieved from SwissADME ( http://www.swissadme.ch/ ) and admetSAR software to predict the drug-likeness or lead-likeness fitness. The Toxtree v2.5.1, software platforms ( http://toxtree.sourceforge.net/ ) have been used to predict the class of toxicity of phytocompounds. The STITCH platform ( http://stitch.embl.de ) has been employed to predict ChE-chemicals interactions. RESULTS: The possible inhibitory activities of AChE of extracts of leaves and berries were 37.33 and 70.00%, respectively as compared to that of eserine while inhibitory BChE activities of extracts of leaves and berries of MC were 19.00 and 50.67%, respectively as compared to that of eserine. Phytochemicals of MC had BA towards AChE ranging from -7.1 (carvacrol) to -9.9 (ellagic acid) kcal/mol. In this regard, alpha-bulnesene, (Z)-gamma-Bisabolene, and beta-bourbonene were top-listed low toxic binders of AChE, and (Z)-gamma-bisabolene was a more specific AChE binder. Alpha-cadinol, estragole, humulene epoxide II, (a)esculin, ellagic acid, patuletin, juniper camphor, linalyl anthranilate, and spathulenol were high class (Class III) toxic substances which among others, patuletin and alpha-cadinol were more specific AChE binders. Among intermediate class (Class II) toxic substances, beta-chamigrene was a more specific AChE binder while semimyrtucommulone and myrtucommulone A were more specific BChE binders. CONCLUSION: In sum, the AChE binders derived from MC were categorized mostly as antiinsectants (e.g., patuletin and alpha-cardinal) due to their predicted toxic classes. It seems that structural amendment and stereoselective synthesis like adding sulphonate or sulphamate groups to these phytocompounds may make them more suitable candidates for considering in preclinical investigations of Alzheimer's disease.

Lagerstroemiastenophylla (Lythraceae), a new species from China.

Lagerstroemiastenophylla, a new species from southeastern Shaanxi Province and northwestern Hubei Province of China is described. Morphologically, L.stenophylla resembles L.subcostata, but it differs in having 4-angular, subalate branchlets, elliptic-lanceolate, or narrowly elliptic leaves, and relatively larger flowers.

Effects of preharvest chitosan-Myrtus communis essential oil composite and postharvest nanocellulose on quality of strawberry.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of preharvest chitosan-Myrtus communis essential oil composite (1.5 and 3.0 %) and postharvest nanocellulose (0.3 and 0.6 %) on the quality of strawberries. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis led to identification of 32 compounds in the Myrtus communis essential oil. The study showed that using CHS-ES composite coating for foliar application could increase the lifespan of the fruit by up to 24 days. This is because it increases the levels of components, such as phenol content (TPC) total flavonoids content (TFC) vitamin C, firmness and SSC. It also enhances the effectiveness of enzymes such, as glutathione peroxidase (GSH POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The use of CHS-ES treatments reduced the weight loss of fruits between 50 and 80 %, which is very important from the commercial point of view and maintaining nutritional properties, marketability and appearance. The microscopic analysis further revealed that using CHS-ES composite + nanocellulose coating produced a more continuous and uniform surface than the control. In general, this method is both safe and environmentally friendly while also proving to be effective, in preserving and enhancing the quality of strawberries.

In Planta Study Localizes an Effector Candidate from Austropuccinia psidii Strain MF-1 to the Nucleus and Demonstrates In Vitro Cuticular Wax-Dependent Differential Expression.

Austropuccinia psidii is a biotrophic fungus that causes myrtle rust. First described in Brazil, it has since spread to become a globally important pathogen that infects more than 480 myrtaceous species. One of the most important commercial crops affected by A. psidii is eucalypt, a widely grown forestry tree. The A. psidii-Eucalyptus spp. interaction is poorly understood, but pathogenesis is likely driven by pathogen-secreted effector molecules. Here, we identified and characterized a total of 255 virulence effector candidates using a genome assembly of A. psidii strain MF-1, which was recovered from Eucalyptus grandis in Brazil. We show that the expression of seven effector candidate genes is modulated by cell wax from leaves sourced from resistant and susceptible hosts. Two effector candidates with different subcellular localization predictions, and with specific gene expression profiles, were transiently expressed with GFP-fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Interestingly, we observed the accumulation of an effector candidate, Ap28303, which was upregulated under cell wax from rust susceptible E. grandis and described as a peptidase inhibitor I9 domain-containing protein in the nucleus. This was in accordance with in silico analyses. Few studies have characterized nuclear effectors. Our findings open new perspectives on the study of A. psidii-Eucalyptus interactions by providing a potential entry point to understand how the pathogen manipulates its hosts in modulating physiology, structure, or function with effector proteins.

Sex Differences in the Bitterness Perception of an Aromatic Myrtle Bitter Liqueur and Bitter Compounds.

We evaluated sex differences in the perception of bitter compounds and an aromatic bitter herbal liqueur (Mirtamaro) obtained by the infusion of myrtle leaves/berries together with a mixture of Mediterranean herbs/plants as flavoring/bittering ingredients. In a healthy population (n = 231 participants), using bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses, significant sex differences emerged in quinine bitterness perception, with women showing a higher bitter taste intensity rating than men. Among all participants, 40 subjects (subpopulation) were randomly selected for the evaluation of sex differences in Mirtamaro gustatory and olfactory perception using a hedonic Likert-type scale. Women showed higher ratings in Mirtamaro aroma (odor intensity) and bitterness (taste intensity) perception than men, with a superior capacity to perceive/describe its sensory attributes. 1,8-Cineole and methyl chavicol were the main contributors to the bitter liqueur aroma. A significant correlation (r = 0.564, p < 0.01) between Mirtamaro odor pleasantness/taste pleasantness was observed in women, indicating a positive contribution of aromatic herbs to bitter taste acceptability. Moreover, a higher bitter intensity rating of 6-n-propylthiouracil was evidenced in women than men. Our results highlighted sex differences in bitter taste acuity and the role of aromatic herbs/plants in modulating bitter taste acceptance, which is useful information in the field of precision nutrition and medicine.

A review of the biological effects of Myrtus communis.

The World Health Organization stated that 1.6 million deaths worldwide were caused by contact with chemicals and toxins in 2019. In the same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that natural toxins caused 3960 deaths. Myrtus communis, also known as common Myrtle, is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. Myrtle has been traditionally used to treat diarrhea, inflammation, bleeding, headache, pulmonary and skin diseases. This review was performed to assess Myrtle's protective and therapeutic efficacy against various chemical, natural, and radiational noxious. Multiple databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Scopus were investigated without publication time limitation. Recent studies have demonstrated its potential as a protective agent against both natural and chemical toxins. One of Myrtle's most significant protective properties is its high antioxidant content. Studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of Myrtle can protect against harmful substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental toxins. Additionally, Myrtle has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the damage caused by long-term exposure to toxins. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of Myrtle have also proven effective in alleviating gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric ulcers.

Surveying potentially antagonistic fungi to myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) in Brazil: fungicolous Cladosporium spp.

The myrtle rust (MR), caused by Austropuccinia psidii, is a worldwide threat to the cultivated and wild Myrtaceae. Originally from the neotropics, it has spread to North America, Africa, and Asia and has reached geographically isolated areas in the Pacific and Australasia. It is attacking native species in those new ranges and is still spreading and causing great concern for the damage caused to endemic Myrtaceae, and to the environment. Classical biological control is regarded as the most sustainable management option for mitigating such biological invasions. However, there are no examples of introductions of host-specific co-evolved natural enemies of plant pathogens, from their native range, as a management strategy for plant pathogens. In order to explore this neglected approach, a survey of potential fungal natural enemies of A. psidii was initiated recently in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil). Several purported mycoparasites have been collected from A. Psidii pustules formed on myrtaceous hosts. This included some isolates of dematiaceous fungi recognized as having a Cladosporium-like morphology. Here we present the results of the investigation aimed at elucidating their identity through a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Besides morphological and cultural features, molecular analyses using sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1) and actin (ACT) were performed. The combination of data generated is presented herein and placed all Cladosporium-like isolates in six species of Cladosporium, namely, Cladosporium angulosum, C. anthropophilum, C. bambusicola, C. benschii, C. guizhouense, and C. macadamiae. None of these have ever been recorded in association with A. psidii. Now, with the identification of these isolates at hand, an evaluation of biocontrol potential of these fungi will be initiated. In contrast with the ready finding of fungicolous (possibly mycoparasitic) fungi on MR in this study, no evidence of those was recorded from Australasia until now.

Identification and pathogenicity of Aurifilum species (Cryphonectriaceae, Diaporthales) on Terminalia species in Southern China.

The family of Cryphonectriaceae (Diaporthales) contains many important tree pathogens and the hosts are wide-ranging. Tree species of Terminalia were widely planted as ornamental trees alongside city roads and villages in southern China. Recently, stem canker and cracked bark were observed on 2-6 year old Terminalianeotaliala and T.mantaly in several nurseries in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China. Typical conidiomata of Cryphonectriaceae fungi were observed on the surface of the diseased tissue. In this study, we used DNA sequence data (ITS, BT2/BT1, TEF-1α, rpb2) and morphological characteristics to identify the strains from Terminalia trees. Our results showed that isolates obtained in this study represent two species of Aurifilum, one previously described species, A.terminali, and an unknown species, which we described as A.cerciana sp. nov. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that both A.terminali and A.cerciana were able to infect T.neotaliala and two tested Eucalyptus clones, suggesting the potential for Aurifilum fungi to become new pathogens of Eucalyptus.

Effect of myrtle leaves integration in sheep diet and its addition as powder on leg meat' oxidative stability, physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties during storage.

The synthetic antioxidant improved the shelf life of meat products; however, consumers start to reject them for health reason. For this, the natural antioxidants like Myrtle distillate leaves (MDL) could be an interesting alternative and potential natural antioxidant given their richness in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to test the effect of myrtle distillate leaves (MDL) as natural antioxidant in premortem phase as diet of cull ewes and in postmortem phase in form of powder added to deboned legs on meat' quality. All ewes received individually 500 g of hay and 750 g of concentrate for Control (C) group; for Myrt group, the concentrate was partially replaced (400 g) by pellets containing 30% MDL and 350 g concentrate. For each ewe, both legs were used for the experiment; one leg was treated with MDL powder and the other with Control. Meat from ewes' fed MDL presented better scores for red color, aftertaste and juiciness, than control group. Meat treated with MDL powder showed the highest values of total phenolic, α-tocopherol content and redness score with lower lipid oxidation (p < .05). The microbiological quality of meat was not affected by MDL. Myrtle distillate leaves could be used in different forms, in order to obtain higher meat product quality.

Essential oil of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) induces S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora F.Muell.) leaves, whether fresh or dried, are used traditionally in folk medicine to treat wounds, cancers, skin infections, and other infectious conditions. However, the targets and mechanisms related to anti-cancer effect of lemon myrtle are unavailable. In our study, we found that the essential oil of lemon myrtle (LMEO) showed anti-cancer activity in vitro, and we initially explored its mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the chemical compositions of LMEO by GC-MS. We tested the cytotoxicity of LMEO on various cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Network pharmacology was used also to analyze the targets of LMEO. Moreover, the mechanisms of LMEO were investigated through scratch assay, flow cytometry analysis, and western blot in the HepG2 liver cancer cell line. RESULTS: LMEO showed cytotoxicity on various cancer cell lines with values of IC50 40.90 ± 2.23 (liver cancer HepG2 cell line), 58.60 ± 6.76 (human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line), 68.91 ± 4.62 (human colon cancer HT-29 cell line) and 57.57 ± 7.61 µg/mL (human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell line), respectively. The major cytotoxic chemical constituent in LMEO was identified as citrals, which accounted for 74.9% of the content. Network pharmacological analysis suggested that apurinic/apyrimidinic endodeoxyribonuclease 1 (APEX1), androgen receptor (AR), cyclin-dependent kinases 1 (CDK1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), fatty acid synthase (FASN), epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), estrogen receptor 1 (ERα) and cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4) are potential cytotoxic targets of LMEO. These targets are closely related to cell migration, cycle and apoptosis. Notley, the p53 protein had the highest confidence to co-associate with the eight common targets, which was further confirmed by scratch assay, flow cytometry analysis, and western blot in the HepG2 liver cancer cell line. LMEO significantly inhibited the migration of HepG2 cells in time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, LMEO caused a S-phase blocking on HepG2 cells and promoted apoptosis in the meanwhile. Western blot results indicated that p53 protein, Cyclin A2 and Bax proteins were up-regulated, while Cyclin E1 and Bcl-2 proteins were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: LMEO showed cytotoxicity in various cancer cell lines in vitro. Pharmacological networks showed LMEO to have multi-component and multi-targeting effects that are related to inhibit migration of HepG2 cells, and affect cell cycle S-phase arrest and apoptosis through modulation of p53 protein.

Complete Genome of Rose Myrtle, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, and Its Population Genetics in Thai Peninsula.

Several parts of rose myrtle, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, exhibited profound antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, suggesting its potential in healthcare and cosmetics applications. During the past few years, the demand for biologically active compounds in the industrial sectors increased. Therefore, gathering comprehensive information on all aspects of this plant species is essential. Here, the genome sequencing using short and long reads was used to understand the genome biology of R. tomentosa. Inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers, and geometric morphometrics of the leaves of R. tomentosa collected across Thai Peninsula, were determined for population differentiation analysis. The genome size of R. tomentosa was 442 Mb, and the divergence time between R. tomentosa and Rhodamnia argentea, the white myrtle of eastern Australia, was around 15 million years. No population structure was observed between R. tomentosa on the eastern and western sides of the Thai Peninsula using the ISSR and SSR markers. However, significant differences in leaf size and shape of R. tomentosa were observed in all locations.

Seed Storage Physiology of Lophomyrtus and Neomyrtus, Two Threatened Myrtaceae Genera Endemic to New Zealand.

There is no published information on the seed germination or seed storage physiology of Lophomyrtus bullata, Lophomyrtus obcordata, and Neomyrtus pedunculata. This lack of information is hampering conservation efforts of these critically endangered species. This study investigated the seed morphology, seed germination requirements, and long-term seed storage methods for all three species. The impact of desiccation, desiccation and freezing, as well as desiccation plus storage at 5 °C, -18 °C, and -196 °C on seed viability (germination) and seedling vigour was assessed. Fatty acid profiles were compared between L. obcordata and L. bullata. Variability in storage behaviour between the three species was investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) by comparing thermal properties of lipids. L. obcordata seed were desiccation-tolerant and viability was retained when desiccated seed was stored for 24 months at 5 °C. L. bullata seed was both desiccation- and freezing-sensitive, while N. pedunculata was desiccation-sensitive. DSC analysis revealed that lipid crystallisation in L. bullata occurred between -18 °C and -49 °C and between -23 °C and -52 °C in L. obcordata and N. pedunculata. It is postulated that the metastable lipid phase, which coincides with the conventional seed banking temperature (i.e., storing seeds at -20 ± 4 °C and 15 ± 3% RH), could cause the seeds to age more rapidly through lipid peroxidation. Seeds of L. bullata, L. obcordata and N. pedunculata are best stored outside of their lipid metastable temperature ranges.