International Parasitic Plant Society

Welcome to the homepage of the International Parasitic Plant Society (IPPS). The IPPS is dedicated to advancing scientific research on parasitic plants. Our goals include increasing the understanding of these amazing plants, providing a platform for exchange among and beyond the scientific community as well as helping to decrease the crop damage inflicted by weedy parasitic plants.

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Cistanche tubulosa

Cuscuta reflexa

Cynomorium coccineum

Cytinus hypocistis

Viscum album

Phoradendron sp.

Orobanche hederae

Orobanche kochii

Conopholis americana

Pholisma arenarium

Lathraea clandestina (Purple toothwort)

Aphyllon californica

Arceuthobium oxicedrii

Buchnera americana

Striga hermonthica

Orobanche crenata

Pedicularis resupinata

Phelipanche aegyptiaca

Agalinis sp.

Castilleja sp.

Scybalium fungiforme (Balanophoraceae, Santalales)

Cuscuta campestris

Cuscuta monogyna

Phelipanche ramosa

Orobanche crenata

Cuscuta monogyna on Ziziphus spina-christi

Orobanche teucrii

Orobanche gracilis

Cuscuta gronovii

Euphrasia cf. salisburgensis

Castilleja cf. chromosa

Lindenbergia muraria

Rhinanthus cf. serotinus

Viscum cruciatum

Striga hermonthica on sorghum in a rhizotron

Boulardia macrolepis

Dasistoma macrophylla

Aeginetia indica on Setaria

Striga gesnerioides Indigo (Florida) strain

Lathraea squamaria

Cistanche phelypaea

Cistanche violacea

Orobanche minor on clover in Japan

Orobanche cumana on sunflower in Israel

Phelipanche nana on Oxalis pes-caprae

Orobanche crenata on pea near Gesher Haziv (ISR)

Orobanche pallidiflora

Orobanche bartlingii

Orobanche lutea

Orobanche alba

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Most recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications

on the Web

CHALLENGES IN SUNFLOWER CULTURE FG ANTON, M JOIȚA-PĂCUREANU… - LUCRĂRI … - researchgate.net Friday 30 May 2025 Another problem in sunflower culture is represented by the high degree of infestation with weeds such as broomrape ( Orobanche cumana ), Chenopodium album , domain : www.researchgate.net
Shining a new light on parasitic plants: resistance to invasion A Fajardo, C Reyes-Bahamonde… - The New … - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Thursday 29 May 2025 Parasitic plants, those that directly acquire resources with traditional views of parasitic plants as forest plagues. native parasitic plants can have in resistance to invasion. domain : pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Antagonistic rhizospheric Bacillus spp. against Nocardia spp. causing 'false Broomrape'in Nicotiana tabacum (L.) JA Torres-Castillo, D Fajardo-Salgado… - Tropical Plant …, 2025 - Springer Tuesday 27 May 2025 Causing false Broomrapein tobacco plants. The test was manifestation of tobacco false Broomrapedisease in the biological control of tobacco false Broomrapedisease. domain : link.springer.com
Новая концепция взаимоотношений заразихи и подсолнечника. Сообщение 1–Гипотеза о естественных прививках заразихи и подсолнечника … СВ Зеленцов, АА Децына, ЕВ Мошненко… - Масличные …, 2025 - cyberleninka.ru Sunday 25 May 2025 In broomrape, including the overcoming of broomrape study the relationship between broomrape and sunflower based on In our studies, broomrape shoots with different domain : cyberleninka.ru
A new and endemic species of Struthanthus (Loranthaceae) from Guerrero, Mexico MG Maldonado-Borja, R Cerros-Tlatilpa - researchgate.net Sunday 25 May 2025 The need for continued botanical inventories and research on parasitic plants. Press and Phoenix (2005) suggest that hosts are essential to keep parasitic plants (pp) in a domain : www.researchgate.net
pportunities for expansion of push-pull technology as an agroecological and sustainable intensification approach in Africa GW Sileshi, S Kuyah, MC Schuman… - npj Sustainable …, 2025 - nature.com Friday 23 May 2025 The push-pull technology (PPT) has often been presented as a management strategy for stemborers and witchweed. However, its value as an agronomic practice and an domain : www.nature.com
unctional characterization of avirulence factors in the haustorial secretome of the parasitic weed Striga gesnerioides L. (Walp) D Zhang, H Liu, MP Timko - Plant And Cell Physiology, 2025 - academic.oup.com Thursday 22 May 2025 Expressed transcripts in Striga haustorial secretome with innate immunity to Striga parasitism compared to non- the mechanisms by which parasitic plants trigger host domain : academic.oup.com versions : 2
urther investigations on the occurrence patterns of multiple broomrape species in Xinjiang China N Zhao, M Zhong, TL Grey, S Qiang - Crop Protection, 2025 - Elsevier Thursday 22 May 2025 Broomrapes (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.) are parasitic weeds on certain important economic vegetables and crops in Xinjiang, China, causing significant yield domain : www.sciencedirect.com
Orobanche aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite efficacy against the freshwater snail Biomphalaria alexandrina RR Abdel-Khalek, F Abdel-Ghaffar, SAH Hamdi… - Scientific Reports, 2025 - nature.com Thursday 22 May 2025 This research aimed to investigate the molluscicidal activity of Orobanche aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite on B. alexandrina snails. The phytochemical screening of domain : www.nature.com versions : 2
io-organic fertilizer mitigates Orobanche cumana parasitism by regulating sunflower transcriptomes and rhizosphere microbial community T Xu, J Xi, Y Wang, Y Zhang, J Ke, X Wei, Y Lin - Plant and Soil, 2025 - Springer Tuesday 20 May 2025 Methods Field investigation was conducted to study the response mechanisms of host microbial communities to parasitic plants using amplicon techniques. Pot experiment domain : link.springer.com
Простой межлинейный заразихоустойчивый гибрид подсолнечника Арсенал ОР СС Фролов, ИН Фролова, НИ Зайцев… - Масличные …, 2025 - cyberleninka.ru Tuesday 20 May 2025 It is a simple interlinear hybrid resistant to the race G of broomrape. The hybrid is for cultivation in regions where new virulent races of broomrape are spreading domain : cyberleninka.ru
The Mechanism Involved in High-Lycopene Tomato Mutants for Broomrape Resistance L Shi, X Li, J Bai, X Lu, C Pan, J Hu, C Zhang, C Zhu… - Agronomy, 2025 - mdpi.com Tuesday 20 May 2025 Considering the crucial role of SLs in broomrape The molecular basis of broomrape resistance in the insights into the tomato-broomrape interaction network and offer a domain : www.mdpi.com
hytoparasite avoidance: Manipulation of strigolactone exudation, not biosynthesis J Xu, W Zhou, W Li, LSP Tran… - Journal of integrative plant … - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Monday 19 May 2025 With fewer negative impact on crop growth and yield compared with manipulating strigolactone biosynthesis, providing a novel approach to control parasitic plants. domain : pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
uzzling parasitic plants: phylogenetics and classification of Santalales revisited LA Cauz-Santos, JW Byng, MW Chase… - bioRxiv, 2025 - biorxiv.org Monday 19 May 2025 Based on a previously published but realigned matrix for Santalales, we find many relationships that were weakly or unsupported in previous studies are here much better domain : www.biorxiv.org
Expansion of the genus Bevemovirus: Novel genome discovery and evidence for virus–host co-segregation S Baek, Y Hahn, SC Lee - Gene, 2025 - Elsevier Sunday 18 May 2025 Symptomatic viral lesions of Korean bellflower (Campanula takesimana), while SaPlV1 was identified in the transcriptome data of purple witchweed (Striga hermonthica) domain : www.sciencedirect.com

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

Integrated omic analysis provides insights into how Cuscuta australis inhibits the growth and reproduction of Xanthium spinosum Yunxia Wang, Hubai Bu, Xin Gu, Wanxue Liu, Xinpu Wang BMC Plant Biology, volume 25 Saturday 07 June 2025 Background: Xanthium spinosum is one of the most abundant and aggressively invasive plants in the world. Cuscuta australis parasitism hinders X. spinosum growth and development by absorbing nutrients, leading to reduced reproductive performance. However, which metabolite changes contribute to stunted growth and diminished reproductive performance i... Background: Xanthium spinosum is one of the most abundant and aggressively invasive plants in the world. Cuscuta australis parasitism hinders X. spinosum growth and development by absorbing nutrients, leading to reduced reproductive performance. However, which metabolite changes contribute to stunted growth and diminished reproductive performance in X. spinosum? Additionally, what genes regulate these metabolites? These underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Results: X. spinosum was used to determine the physiological relevance of C. australis parasitism to alleviate host plant growth and explore the molecular mechanism, with a focus on metabolic pathways. The results revealed that C. australis significantly reduced the growth potential of X. spinosum, with a particularly notable decrease in seed quantity, which decreased by 92.07%. C. australis parasitism increased the activities of the peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes in the stems of X. spinosum. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that C. australis influenced lignin synthesis in the stem through the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. Concurrently, the majority of differentially expressed genes in the galactose metabolism pathway were upregulated, leading to increased sugar accumulation and disrupted metabolism. Furthermore, all differentially expressed genes in the autophagy-other pathway were upregulated, resulting in excessive autophagy and a significant reduction in the reproductive performance of X. spinosum. Conclusions: The results provide a theoretical foundation for the development of targeted pesticides aimed at controlling X. spinosum.
Predicting parasitic plants Loranthus Europaeus range shifts in response to climate change Marlena Baranowska, Adrian Łukowski, Robert Korzeniewicz, Wojciech Kowalkowski, Łukasz Dylewski Scientific Reports, volume 15 Friday 06 June 2025 Climate change significantly influences the distribution of parasitic species, posing threats to ecosystems and economies. This study examines the potential range expansion of Loranthus europaeus, a parasitic plant impacting European forestry. We assessed the impact of predicted climate change for 2041–2060 and 2061–2080 using MaxEnt modeling b... Climate change significantly influences the distribution of parasitic species, posing threats to ecosystems and economies. This study examines the potential range expansion of Loranthus europaeus, a parasitic plant impacting European forestry. We assessed the impact of predicted climate change for 2041–2060 and 2061–2080 using MaxEnt modeling based on current occurrence data of L. europaeus, and the main host plant genus oak Quercus, as well as bioclimatic variables. Our model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.92). The most important variables for Europe range were range of Quercus genus. Key environmental factors included isothermality (bio3) and mean temperature of wettest quarter (bio8). Under SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, our results predict significant range expansions into northern and eastern Europe, with increases of 43.5% and 53.9% by 2041–2060. Conversely, southern Europe may see contractions of 16.4–20.6%. Projections for 2061–2080 indicate further expansions up to 65.8% in northern Europe, alongside contractions up to 29.8% in southern regions, including Turkey and Greece.These shifts highlight the influence of climate change on L. europaeus distribution and underscore the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate potential ecological and economic impacts.
Elucidating the evolutionary dynamics of parasitism in Cuscuta: in-depth phylogenetic reconstruction and extensive plastomes reduction Sivagami Jean Claude, Kashish Kamra, Joonhyung Jung, Hye One Kim, Joo Hwan Kim BMC Genomics, volume 26 Friday 06 June 2025 Background: The genus Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as dodder, is a holoparasite plant that relies on host plants for nutrition, leading to significant genomic changes, particularly in plastomes. This dependency has led to significant reductions and modifications in their plastomes compared to autotrophic plants. In contrast to the we... Background: The genus Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as dodder, is a holoparasite plant that relies on host plants for nutrition, leading to significant genomic changes, particularly in plastomes. This dependency has led to significant reductions and modifications in their plastomes compared to autotrophic plants. In contrast to the well-conserved plastomes of photosynthetic plants, Cuscuta exhibits substantial genomic reductions reflecting the loss of photosynthetic functions and associated genes. Result: This study examines eight plastomes within Cuscuta and reconstructs the phylogenetic relationships among 40 Cuscuta taxa using five other genera as an outgroup. The size of plastid genome varies significantly, with the smallest being 60 kb and the largest 121 kb, highlighting extensive genomic reduction. In special cases, the subgenera Cuscuta exhibit the loss of inverted repeats, distinguishing from them other subge within the Cuscuta genus. This reduction is most pronounced in genes related to photosynthesis, such as atp, pet, psa, psb, and ycf genes, particularly in the subg. Grammica (Lour.) Peter. The study also notes the frequent and independent loss of the plastid genes infA, rpl23, rpl32, rps15, and rps16 across various angiosperm lineages, often involving transfer to the nuclear genome. In parasitic plants like Cuscuta, the ndh genes, crucial for photosynthesis, are often lost. The study also highlights that in the subg. Grammica, the matK and rpo genes, along with trnR-ACG genes, are lost in parallel, indicating that these parasitic plants do not need matK and rpo genes after the loss of ndh genes for survival. Analysis of selective relaxation pressure on plastid genes shows a reductive trend, with genes such as atp, pet, psa, psb, rpo, and ycf progressively becoming pseudogenes over time, with housekeeping genes like rpl and rps expected to follow. However, the pseudogenization process is specific to the subg. Grammica, Pachystigma (Engelm.) Baker & C.H.Wright, and Cuscuta, rather than in the subg. Monogynella (Des Moul.) Peter, Engl. & Prantl (ancient clade species). Conclusion: The study of Cuscuta plastomes reveals the profound impact of parasitism on genome evolution, highlighting the complex interplay of gene retention and loss through phylogenomic approaches. This research enriches our understanding of plant genome evolution and the intricate host-parasite relationships. It also sheds light on the evolutionary history and genomic adaptations of Cuscuta, illustrating the diverse strategies enabling subg. Grammica, Pachystigma, Cuscuta, and Monogynella thrive as parasitic species. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying parasitism and its impact on plastid genome organization.
Impact of pollution on microbiological dynamics in the pistil stigmas of Orobanche lutea flowers (Orobanchaceae) Karolina Wiśniewska, Sebastian Wojciech Przemieniecki, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Anna Hoffmann, Renata Piwowarczyk Scientific Reports, volume 15 Thursday 05 June 2025 Our understanding of the basic relationships of microbiota associated with flowers is still quite limited, especially regarding parasitic plant species. The transient nature of flower parts such as pistil stigmas provides a unique opportunity for temporal investigations. This is the first report of the analysis of bacterial and fungal communities a... Our understanding of the basic relationships of microbiota associated with flowers is still quite limited, especially regarding parasitic plant species. The transient nature of flower parts such as pistil stigmas provides a unique opportunity for temporal investigations. This is the first report of the analysis of bacterial and fungal communities associated with the pistil stigmas of the lucerne parasite, Orobanche lutea. We compared the microorganism communities at different developmental stages and assessed the impact of pollution at the sampling sites. We also examined the plant growth properties (PGP) of bacteria in a culture-dependent analysis. The predominant colonizers of the pistil stigmas were Proteobacteria (99.25%), with Enterobacteriaceae (49.88%) and Pseudomonadaceae (48.28%) being the major families. The prevalent fungal phylum was Basidiomycota (71.64%), with Filobasidiales (33.14%) and Tremellales (27.27%) as dominant orders. Microbial populations in polluted area showed increased bacterial and fungal diversity. Mature stigmas exhibited greater microbial variety compared to immature ones. We found higher fungal than bacteria abundance at both polluted and unpolluted sites. In culture-dependent analysis, immature stigmas from unpolluted area had the least bacterial morphotypes. Identified culturable bacteria represented the Acinetobacter, Erwinia, Micrococcus, Oceanobacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Staphylococcus genera. The assessment of PGP traits revealed multiple strains with plant growth-promoting potential. Microbial composition varied between polluted and unpolluted sites and was influenced by the flower’s developmental stage.
Report on the complete organelle genomes of Orobanche Filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin (Orobanchaceae): insights from comparison with Orobanchaceae plant genomes Sang Chul Kim, Eun Su Kang, Tae Hee Kim, Ye Rim Choi, Hyuk Jin Kim BMC Genomics, volume 26 Thursday 05 June 2025 Background: Orobanche is a parasitic plant distributed in the temperate zone of Northern Hemisphere, with approximately 200 species found worldwide. In the Republic of Korea, two species of Orobanche, namely O. coerulescens Stephan ex Willd. and O. filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin, are present, with O. filicicola being endemic. Geno... Background: Orobanche is a parasitic plant distributed in the temperate zone of Northern Hemisphere, with approximately 200 species found worldwide. In the Republic of Korea, two species of Orobanche, namely O. coerulescens Stephan ex Willd. and O. filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin, are present, with O. filicicola being endemic. Genome analysis of this species has not yet been performed, and characterizing its complete organelle genome will provide valuable insights into the phylogeny and genome evolution of parasitic plants. Results: The chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes were analyzed, revealing distinct characteristics. The chloroplast genome is 91,529 bp long with a GC content of 33.6%, containing 33 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes. In contrast, the mitochondrial genome is 1,058,991 bp long with a GC content of 45.5%, featuring 31 protein-coding, 16 tRNA, and 3 rRNA genes. The mitochondrial genome has over three times more simple sequence repeats and longer long repeats than the chloroplast genome. Analysis of synonymous codon usage in protein-coding genes from nine Orobanchaceae species revealed significant differences between chloroplasts and mitochondria, with codons ending in A or T exhibiting higher coding rates. Ka/Ks ratio calculations indicated that psbI and atpB had the smallest and largest ratios in chloroplasts, respectively, while ccmFC was identified as the only gene under positive selection in mitochondria genomes. Sequence alignment identified 30 homologous fragments between the two genomes, totaling 7,247 bp. Comparison of O. filicicola’s chloroplast genome with related species showed gene loss and conserved inverted repeat sequences. Numerous homologous collinear blocks were found in mitochondrial genomes of related species, but some regions lacked homology. Phylogenetic analysis indicated identical topologies for chloroplasts and mitochondria, with Orobanchaceae forming a strong monophyletic group. Conclusions: Characterizing the complete organelle genome of O. filicicola enabled a comprehensive analysis of the Orobanchaceae organelle genome, providing important baseline data for its structure and evolution.
Quantum mechanics-based structural analysis of phenolic glycosides from Cuscuta japonica seeds with protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells Hau Thi Hong Bui, Ajay Uprety, Trung Huy Ngo, Yun Seo Kil, Punam Thapa, Jongseo Mo, Hyukjae Choi, Soo Young Kim, Joo Won Nam Phytochemistry, volume 234 Thursday 05 June 2025 Japanese dodder (Cuscuta japonica Choisy) is a parasitic plant with diverse pharmaceutical properties that has demonstrated great promise for the development of dietary supplements and herbal medicines. A systematic phytochemical investigation of dodder seeds yielded 12 previously undescribed aromatic glycosides (1−12) and eight known constituent... Japanese dodder (Cuscuta japonica Choisy) is a parasitic plant with diverse pharmaceutical properties that has demonstrated great promise for the development of dietary supplements and herbal medicines. A systematic phytochemical investigation of dodder seeds yielded 12 previously undescribed aromatic glycosides (1−12) and eight known constituents (13−20) from various groups, including phenolics, flavonoids, and lignan glycosides. Compound structures were determined using a combination of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Moreover, quantum mechanics-driven <sup>1</sup>H iterative full spin analysis revealed intricate NMR spectral details for the isolated glycosides, including multiplicities and coupling constants that were previously ambiguous, providing crucial insight into the presence of higher-order resonance effects in the sugar units as well as long-range couplings in unsaturated molecules. Furthermore, the abilities of the plant extract as well as compounds 1, 2, 4–7, 10, 11, and 14–20 to restore cell viability and reduce reactive oxygen species production in SH-SY5Y cells suggest that C. japonica and its isolates are potential antioxidant neuroprotective therapeutic candidates.
Reverse traceability analysis of estrogenic active ingredients in Cuscutae semen based on intestinal and hepatic metabolism Xiangming Sun, Mingyao Zhao, Wei Liang, Hui Song, Zhongyuan Qu, Liyang Sui, Wenlan Li Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, volume 260 Wednesday 04 June 2025 As a traditional Chinese medicine for reinforcing kidney, Cuscutae semen can be applied in regulating the level of estrogen. And nine direct-acting substances in vivo with estrogenic effect has been figured out according to our previous research. However, their transformation relationship and the prototype forms of some metabolites are still not cl... As a traditional Chinese medicine for reinforcing kidney, Cuscutae semen can be applied in regulating the level of estrogen. And nine direct-acting substances in vivo with estrogenic effect has been figured out according to our previous research. However, their transformation relationship and the prototype forms of some metabolites are still not clear, impeding the elucidation of the effective substances of Cuscutae semen. In this study, to reveal the metabolic pathways of nine direct-acting substances in vivo, the hepatic and intestinal metabolism of nine monomer components from Cuscutae semen were investigated using liver microsomes of female rats and intestinal flora in ovariectomized rats. Based on ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOFMS) method, a total of 35 hepatic metabolites and three intestinal metabolites were tentatively identified respectively. The proposed metabolic pathways of main metabolites were discussed. Glucuronidation binding reactions played a dominant role in the hepatic metabolism. While in the intestinal metabolism, flavonoid glycosides were hydrolyzed into the aglycones without further phase II metabolic reaction. According to the achievements above, a reverse traceability analysis of the direct-acting substances in vivo was conducted, and the metabolic transformation relationship between the components was clarified except for methylated quercetin glucuronide. It is tentatively speculated that kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, hyperin, astragalin and isoquercitrin in Cuscutae semen are potential estrogenic effective substances, which can be used as reference for quality control.
The community perception of mistletoe management for Vachellia woodlands conservation:A case study in AlUla county, Saudi Arabia Hazem S. Kassem, Thobayet S. Alshahrani, Abdulaziz M. Assaeed, Ayman A. Abdulkarem, Lourens van Essen, László Patkó, Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad Trees, Forests and People, volume 20 Tuesday 03 June 2025 The woodlands in arid regions are considered very important ecosystems that provide various ecological and economic services. The sustainable management programs for this ecosystem, such as mistletoe interventions relies on integrating socio-cultural valuations of ecosystem services with ecological assessments. However, limited research has been co... The woodlands in arid regions are considered very important ecosystems that provide various ecological and economic services. The sustainable management programs for this ecosystem, such as mistletoe interventions relies on integrating socio-cultural valuations of ecosystem services with ecological assessments. However, limited research has been conducted on community perceptions of mistletoe management. This study aims to determine the perceptions of the community in the AlUla county, Saudi Arabia, regarding the effect of mistletoe (Plicosepalus acaciae) on Vachellia woodlands and the current status of management practices, implemented and suggested for co-management with relevant authorities. An analytical framework was designed to analyze community-based management across three main areas: perception of mistletoe, the extent of its spread, and approaches to its management. Through a combination of field observations, tree surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions, the study offers valuable insights into the effects of mistletoe and management strategies. The empirical findings reveal that the local community has a stronger perception of mistletoe's adverse effects on trees, infection levels in wadis (valleys), and its transmission between trees compared to pastoralists. Most of the local community has observed mistletoe for 15–20 years, confirming the infection's progression over time. The study findings also revealed that, historically, the community has managed mistletoe in different ways, including feeding it to camels, using it in traditional medicine, and harvesting it for therapeutic purposes. The community has offered promising suggestions to enhance mistletoe control efforts, such as collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to develop business plans for mistletoe collection, conducting experiments to evaluate its potential as animal feed, and providing incentives to encourage mechanical control methods. A deeper understanding of community perceptions offers valuable insights for policymakers in decision-making and the design of collaborative mistletoe management plans.
A fermented Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract elicits markers characteristic for immunogenic cell death driven by endoplasmic reticulum stress in vitro Ulrike Weissenstein, Sibylle Tschumi, Bettina Leonhard, Stephan Baumgartner BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, volume 25 Monday 02 June 2025 Background: Immune evasion is a characteristic hallmark of cancer. Immunotherapies aim to activate and support the body's immune system to recognize and fight tumor cells. Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the associated activation of danger signaling pathways can increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells. Therapeutic ICD stimuli activ... Background: Immune evasion is a characteristic hallmark of cancer. Immunotherapies aim to activate and support the body's immune system to recognize and fight tumor cells. Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the associated activation of danger signaling pathways can increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells. Therapeutic ICD stimuli activate endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways and apoptosis leading to the cellular expression of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The aim of our in vitro study was to investigate whether mistletoe extracts induce characteristics of immunogenic tumor cell death in cancer cell lines. Methods: Three human breast cancer cell lines and one murine melanoma cell line (SKBR3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and B16F10) were treated with aqueous, fermented Viscum album extract (VAE: Iscador Qu spec.) and taxol or tunicamycin as positive controls, respectively. To investigate whether VAE induces ribotoxic stress, we measured the ER stress regulators p-eIF2a, ATF4, and CHOP by Western blot. Cell surface exposure of DAMPs (calreticulin, heat shock proteins hsp70 and hsp90), apoptosis and induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry. HMGB1 and ATP were quantified by ELISA and chemiluminescence assay, respectively. Results: Treatment with VAE resulted in phosphorylation of eIF2α in all cancer cell lines tested and increased calreticulin (CRT) exposure on the surface of pre-apoptotic SKBR3 breast cancer and B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. VAE exerted a concentration-dependent effect in all cell lines, resulting in a significantly increased exposure of three DAMPs (CRT, hsp70 and hsp90) on the surface of early apoptotic cells. Furthermore, VAE elevated mitochondrial ROS production and the release of ATP. HMGB1 release was not induced by VAE. Conclusions: In this in vitro study, we demonstrated for the first time the potential of a mistletoe extract to induce surrogate markers of immunogenic cancer cell death. This is a primary step in investigating the potential of VAEs to contribute to ICD-induced tumor-specific immune activation.
Parallel but different deaths: sudden drought-trigged mortality in Scots pine versus slow climate- and mistletoe-driven mortality in silver fir Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado, José Carlos Miranda, Fernando Montes, Juan Pablo Crespo-Antia, Antonio Gazol, J. Julio Camarero Forest Ecology and Management, volume 590 Sunday 01 June 2025 In recent decades, forest die-off events have increased worldwide due to warmer droughts, with Southwestern Europe emerging as a mortality hotspot. This region is notably affected by widespread decline and die-off episodes, particularly in mountain forests dominated by Abies alba (silver fir) and Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine). We study four stands ... In recent decades, forest die-off events have increased worldwide due to warmer droughts, with Southwestern Europe emerging as a mortality hotspot. This region is notably affected by widespread decline and die-off episodes, particularly in mountain forests dominated by Abies alba (silver fir) and Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine). We study four stands (two Scots pine, two silver fir) showing ongoing die-off in the Spanish Pyrenees, near the southwestern edge of both species’ distributions. Our objectives were to analyze growth patterns of declining trees in mortality hotspots, and to study the climatic (drought) and biotic (mistletoe) factors contributing to this decline. Using dendroecological methods and a recently developed change-point analysis approach, we assessed differences in growth patterns at stand and individual tree levels. Results showed that mortality events were recent, especially for Scots pine. Although mortality patterns were tree-specific, Scots pine typically exhibited a sudden growth decline before death or a sudden mortality without prior growth decline, whereas silver fir generally showed gradual and prolonged growth decline preceding mortality. Drought and elevated temperatures were the primary triggers for Scots pine and the warmer-drier silver fir site, with secondary contributors such as historical management and microsite conditions (soil, aspect, slope, moisture, density, size, age, competition). Conversely, in the colder-wetter silver fir site, mistletoe was the sole driver of decline and mortality. These findings highlight the complex interplay of primary and secondary stressors underlying forest die-off.
Unveiling the cardiopreventive effect of the parasitic weed Orobanche crenata Forsk. extract against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats Arij Bedoui, Anouar Feriani, Amal Bouallegue, Hanene Baccari, Mohamed Ali Borgi, Mohamed Kharrat, Nihad Sahri, Mansour Sobeh, Moez Amri, Zouhaier Abbes Food Bioscience, volume 69 Saturday 31 May 2025 This study explored the preventive effects of Orobanche crenata extract (OCE) against myocardial infarction. LC-MS/MS profiling revealed the presence of 27 metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids and phenylethanoid glycosides. In vitro, OCE exhibited significant antioxidant activity via DPPH and ABTS assays, attributed to its noteworthy T... This study explored the preventive effects of Orobanche crenata extract (OCE) against myocardial infarction. LC-MS/MS profiling revealed the presence of 27 metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids and phenylethanoid glycosides. In vitro, OCE exhibited significant antioxidant activity via DPPH and ABTS assays, attributed to its noteworthy TPC = 48.02 mg GAE/g and TFC = 20.83 mg QE/g. In vivo, rats were subjected to isoproterenol injections (29th and 30th days), following pretreatments with OCE (20 and 60 mg/kg) or Pidogrel (Pid 2 mg/kg). Most of the changes were dose-dependent, with a pronounced impact at 60 mg/kg compared to 20 mg/kg. Compared to ISO-treated group, the pretreatment with OCE at (60 mg/kg bw) reduced CK-MB, LDH, AST and cTn-I by 45 %, 43.5 %, 48.3 % and 67 %, respectively (p < 0.0001) and normalized the lipid profile, by alleviating LDL-C levels by 59 % and enhancing HDL-C levels by 67 % (p < 0.01). OCE promoted antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPX) by 53 %, 168 % and 209 %, respectively, reducing lipid peroxidation by 65 % (p < 0.0001). Additionally, the findings revealed the inhibitory activity of the extract against ACE and the reduction of plasmatic fibrinogen level, indicating an anti-remodeling activity. Moreover, Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities (−7 and −9.8 kcal/mol) of orobanchoside, isorhamnetin rhamnosyl glucoside, crenatoside, quercetin coumaroyl glucoside and apigenin with cardiotoxicity related proteins: ACE, TGF-β1, PDI, MAPK14 and CaMK II. Overall, OCE represents a potential source of cardioprotective agents, supported by its richness in phenolic compounds, capable of reducing cardiac damage by countering oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, calcium overload, cardiac remodeling.
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Cuscuta epithymum extract, evaluation of antibacterial, antioxidant activity, cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cell line M. Fereydani, A. Jalalian, N. Saber MethodsX, volume 14 Friday 30 May 2025 Using plants for the green synthesis of nanoparticles is a cost-effective, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly method. This study synthesized silver nanoparticles using Cuscuta epithymum extract, and their biological activities were evaluated. The C. epithymum extract was prepared by maceration and the synthesis of AgNPs using a green method. C... Using plants for the green synthesis of nanoparticles is a cost-effective, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly method. This study synthesized silver nanoparticles using Cuscuta epithymum extract, and their biological activities were evaluated. The C. epithymum extract was prepared by maceration and the synthesis of AgNPs using a green method. Confirmation of AgNPs formation was achieved through UV-Vis and the absorption peak was observed at 425 nm, and their morphology and functional groups were determined by FESEM, TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. The nanoparticles were spherical with a size of 15–60 nm. The antioxidant activity of AgNPs was calculated using the DPPH assay (IC50=45.55 mg/L), and antibacterial properties were obtained by Disk Diffusion methods showed the AgNPs had strong antimicrobial activity. MTT assay showed that the AgNPs caused cytotoxicity in MCF-7 with an IC50=42.53 mg/L, 36.78 mg/L, and 26.86 mg/L (P < 0.0001) after 12, 24, and 48 respectively. It can be concluded that C. epithymum extract can reduce Ag+ ions to silver nanoparticles, which possess excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-tumor characteristics. • C. epitymum extract could regenerate Ag ions and synthesize silver nanoparticles. • Morphologically investigated by XRD, FESEM, TEM, and FT-IR, their results showed spherical nanoparticles with a 15–60 nm particle size. • Silver nanoparticles had significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties.
Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture Muhammad Jamil, Sylvia Mutinda, Jian You Wang, Damaris Barminga, Agnes Mwihaki, Lynet Navangi, Teresa O. Okiyo, Rohit H. Patil, Titus Ngatia, Patrick Mudavadi, Steven Runo, Salim Al-Babili Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, volume 21 Tuesday 27 May 2025 Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasitic weed affecting cereal crops, poses a significant threat to global food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Germination of Striga seed largely relies on signaling molecules released by the host roots, mainly strigolactones (SLs). Suicidal germination is an effective strategy for reducing Striga seed b... Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasitic weed affecting cereal crops, poses a significant threat to global food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Germination of Striga seed largely relies on signaling molecules released by the host roots, mainly strigolactones (SLs). Suicidal germination is an effective strategy for reducing Striga seed banks in infested soils by applying SL analogs in the absence of a host. However, the challenge remains in developing suitably formulated SL analogs for field application. In this report, we assessed the activity of two SL analogs, MP3 and Nijmegen-1, in both granular and liquid formulations in laboratory and greenhouse settings, and conducted mini-field and field trials to evaluate their effectiveness under farmers’ conditions, using maize as the host crop in Kenyan agriculture. We observed a significant induction of Striga seed germination reaching up to 56 % in laboratory germination bioassays and a reduction in Striga emergence by up to 77 % in greenhouse pot studies. In mini- and field trials in different infested fields, we recorded up to 80 % and 65 % reduction in Striga emergence, respectively. In conclusion, the formulated SL analogs demonstrate significant potential to reduce Striga infestation in maize fields in Kenya and are promising candidates for use by farmers due to their simplicity, ease of handling, stability, and effectiveness.
Orobanche aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite efficacy against the freshwater snail Biomphalaria alexandrina Reda Ramadan Abdel-Khalek, Fathy Abdel-Ghaffar, Salwa Abdel Hamid Hamdi, Amina M. Ibrahim, Mona Fathi Fol, Nesma Abbas Mostafa Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 26 May 2025 As one of the neglected tropical diseases, schistosomiasis is responsible for various social and economic issues in numerous developing countries. The intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni is the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. A promising approach to mitigate the transmission of this disease is to use medicinal plants loaded with nanomaterials... As one of the neglected tropical diseases, schistosomiasis is responsible for various social and economic issues in numerous developing countries. The intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni is the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. A promising approach to mitigate the transmission of this disease is to use medicinal plants loaded with nanomaterials to control these snails. This research aimed to investigate the molluscicidal activity of Orobanche aegyptiaca- chitosan nanocomposite on B. alexandrina snails. The phytochemical screening of the tested plant verified its abundance of saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, which may be responsible for its cytotoxic effects. Chitosan nanoparticles were produced using the ionotropic gelation technique, while the O. aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite was synthesized using the sonochemical approach. The characterization of the nanocomposite was carried out using TEM, XRD, and Zeta potential. The results demonstrated that the survival, fecundity (eggs/snail/week), and reproductive rates of B. alexandrina snails were substantially reduced upon exposure to the sub-lethal concentrations LC10 or LC25 of O. aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite. Biochemically, it adversely affected some parameters, where it considerably (P < 0.05) raised ALT, AST, and ALP levels, while urea, uric acid, and cholesterol were significantly decreased compared to control snails. Furthermore, the antioxidant markers CAT, SOD, and GSH exhibited a substantial (P < 0.05) reduction, while MDA and NO levels increased at both sublethal concentrations. Histopathological examinations of the digestive gland of the treated B. alexandrina revealed a decrease in the size of the tubules, and the digestive and secretory cells degenerated. The hermaphrodite glands exhibited substantial damage in the reproductive tubules, with extensive damage to the gonadal cells, resulting in the loss of ova and sperm shapes. Also, the comet analysis showed a genotoxic effect of the nanocomposite, evidenced by significant changes in crucial comet assay parameters: tail length (TL), tail DNA percentage (TD), tail moment (TM), and olive tail moment (OTM). Conclusively, these findings confirmed the potential activity of O. aegyptiaca- chitosan nanocomposite as a molluscicidal agent against B. alexandrina to decrease schistosomiasis transmission.
Mistletoe negatively impacts vigor, growth and reproduction of silver fir forests at regional and local scales J. Julio Camarero, Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado, Éster González de Andrés, Antonio Gazol Forest Ecology and Management, volume 586 Monday 26 May 2025 Mistletoes impact their tree hosts in different ways and affect distinct processes such as growth and reproduction. However, comparative assessments of mistletoe effects on these two processes are scarce, particularly at different spatial scales. Here, we quantified how mistletoe (Viscum album L.) affected radial growth and cone production of silve... Mistletoes impact their tree hosts in different ways and affect distinct processes such as growth and reproduction. However, comparative assessments of mistletoe effects on these two processes are scarce, particularly at different spatial scales. Here, we quantified how mistletoe (Viscum album L.) affected radial growth and cone production of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), a major European conifer. We assessed these impacts at continental (2004 −2019 period, 301 plots across Europe), regional (western Spanish Pyrenees, 0.5º W−0.5º E and 42.5º−43.0º N, 30 sites and 360 trees) and local scales (two Pyrenean stands with severe mistletoe infestation − VI and SN sites). Mistletoe abundance enhanced crown defoliation at all scales. At continental scale, the percentage of infested trees has been increasing reaching values close to 15 % in 2019. At regional scale, mistletoe infestation was severe in 19 % of sampled trees. At local scale, mistletoe infestation contributed to forest decline through growth loss and decreased cone production. Silver fir stands with more trees heavily infested by mistletoe showed abundant winter fleshy-fruited species such as Sorbus aria. Mistletoe led to lasting (12 years prior to sampling) and irreversible growth reduction (−78 % in site VI, −44 % in site SN) in severely infested trees as compared to lightly infested coexisting trees. The acute defoliation of the upper crown in severely infested trees negatively impacted cone production, but this effect was significant only at local scale. Thus, continental-wide assessments of mistletoe infestation and how it impacts defoliation, growth and cone production should be carefully validated and refined by regional and local data.

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