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.
Latest News
- New paper: Essential plant nutrients impair post-germination development of Striga in sorghum
- Complete chloroplast genomes of five Cuscuta species and their evolutionary significance in the Cuscuta genus
- Publication: Trans-species microRNA loci in the parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris have a U6-like snRNA promoter
- IPPS seminar and General Assembly July 5, 2023 at 4 PM cet
- Role of Strigolactones in the Host-Specificity of Broomrapes and Witchweeds
- From Haustorium 83: Birdlife Australia working with Aboriginal land council to return mistletoe to burnt woodlands
The 17th World Congress On Parasitic Plants (WCPP) will be held 3–7 June 2024, Nara, Japan.
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Most Recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications
in Google Scholar
- Balanophora genomes display massively convergent evolution with other extreme holoparasites and provide novel insights into parasite–host interactions Friday 22 September 2023 Arasitic plants have evolved to be subtly or severely dependent on host plants to complete their life cycle. To provide new insights into the biology of parasitic plants in …
- [PDF][PDF] Preliminary phytochemical analysis of Orobanche crenata Sunday 17 September 2023 Introduction Orobanche, commonly known as broomrape, is a parasitic plant that belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. It is a root parasite that attaches itself to the …
- [PDF][PDF] GC mass anaylsis of Iraqi Orobanche aegyptiaca extract Sunday 17 September 2023 Egyptian broomrape attacks a broad array of field crops and some ornamentals. Tomato, potato, tobacco, eggplant, peppers, peas, carrot, celery, mustard …
- [PDF][PDF] Republic of Iraq Sunday 17 September 2023 Robanche L belongs to the Orobanchaceae family, an entirely parasitic higher plant taxon, comprises 102 genera and over 2100 species distributed all over the world (1)…
- The Role of Small RNAs in Resistant Melon Cultivar against Phelipanche aegyptiaca Parasitization Wednesday 20 September 2023 Urthermore, in order to elucidate the mechanism of resistance to Broomrape, this study focused on the differences in miRNA expression before and after broomrape …
- [PDF][PDF] Yield performance and stability evaluation of Striga-resistant sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) Wednesday 20 September 2023 Striga (Striga hermonthica) play a momentous role. Striga, also known as witch-weed, … Striga is an obligate parasite that needs a suitable host plant for its survival; as high …
- Infection of juniper trees (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) to juniper dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium oxycedri (DC) M. Bieb) in forests of Miankouh Tash protected area … Monday 18 September 2023 Years is the spread of the parasitic plant of juniper dwarf mistletoe or Arceuthobium … reveal a higher intensity of invasion by this parasitic plant, and this is a binary impact of …
- Orobanche laserpitii-sileris Monday 11 September 2023 Robanche laserpitii-sileris Orobanche laserpitii-sileris … 2008: Notes on some rare Orobanche and Phelipanche species (Orobanchaceae) in Croatia. – Acta …
- キュウリおよびトウモロコシが生産する根寄生植物種子発芽刺激物質の解析 Sunday 17 September 2023 が生産する根寄生植物種子発芽刺激物質の解析"," subitem_title_language":" ja"},{" subitem_title":" Characterization of seed germination stimulants for root parasitic plants …
- [PDF][PDF] Economic Efficiency and Its Determinants of Smallholder Sorghum Producers: The Case of Hidabu Abote District, Ethiopia Saturday 16 September 2023 Significantly and positively to efficiency, while striga weeds and distance from home to … fertility, livestock raring, supply, striga resistance varieties, increasing the frequency …
- Cuscuta campestris fine-tunes gene expression during haustoriogenesis as an adaptation to different hosts Friday 15 September 2023 He Cuscuta genus comprises obligate parasitic plants that have an unusually wide host range Whether Cuscuta uses different infection strategies for different hosts or …
- [HTML][HTML] Accelerating Breeding for Drought Tolerance in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor): An Integrated Approach Friday 15 September 2023 , insect pests, diseases, soil fertility and striga weeds. To adapt to current and future … in hot spot locations for drought, striga weed and major leaf spot fungal diseases on …
- Combining ability of extra-early maturing quality protein maize (Zea mays) inbred lines and stability of performance of their hybrids under Striga-infested and low … Thursday 14 September 2023 Aize production in subSaharan Africa (SSA) faces challenges due to the damage caused by the parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benths and low soil nitrogen. …
- The genetic basis of plants' battle against witchweeds: linking immune responses to distinct resistance mechanisms Wednesday 13 September 2023 Arasitic plants of the Striga species significantly damage cereals in sub-Saharan … the development of Striga-resistant sorghum varieties to ward off root parasitic plants. …
- [PDF][PDF] Journal of Life Sciences Research and Reviews Wednesday 06 September 2023 Herefore, the specific objective of this study was to assess the economic benefit and effect of integrated Striga management on Striga incidence at Fedis district, eastern …
Most Recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications
in Scopus
- Interspecies and temporal dynamics of bacterial and fungal microbiomes of pistil stigmas in flowers in holoparasitic plants of the Orobanche series Alsaticae (Orobanchaceae) Scientific Reports, volume 13 Sunday 17 September 2023 Little is known about the microbiomes of flower parts, and even less information is available regarding these microorganisms’ colonization of specific niches in parasitic plants. We investigate the temporal interspecies dynamics of the parasitic plants microbiome of flower stigmas in two stages of development: immature stigmas in flower buds and ... Little is known about the microbiomes of flower parts, and even less information is available regarding these microorganisms’ colonization of specific niches in parasitic plants. We investigate the temporal interspecies dynamics of the parasitic plants microbiome of flower stigmas in two stages of development: immature stigmas in flower buds and mature stigmas in opened flowers. We compared two related holoparasitic Orobanche species from localities approximately 90 km apart and characterize their bacterial and fungal communities using 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequences, respectively. We identified from 127 to over 228 OTUs per sample for fungi, sequences belonging to genera: Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Malassezia, Mycosphaerella, and Pleosporales, constituting approximately 53% of the community in total. In the bacterial profile, we recorded 40 to over 68 OTUs per sample consisting of Enterobacteriaceae, and genera Cellulosimicrobium, Pantoea, and Pseudomonas spp., with an approximately 75% frequency. In microbial communities, higher numbers of OTUs colonizing mature stigmas were recorded than in immature. This implies that the dynamics and concurrence of microbial communities were different between O. alsatica and O. bartlingii and underwent significant changes during flower development. To the best of our knowledge, is the first study of the interspecies and temporal dynamics of the bacterial and fungal microbiomes of pistil stigmas in flowers.
- Host-associated genetic differentiation and origin of a recent host shift in the generalist parasitic weed Phelipanche ramosa Ecology and Evolution, volume 13 Sunday 17 September 2023 Branched broomrape, Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel, is a globally distributed parasitic weed of economic importance. In Europe, where it is native, it can infest several crops, notably tomato, tobacco, and hemp. In western France, it has recently adapted to a new host crop, oilseed rape, causing substantial damage. The aim of this study was to inves... Branched broomrape, Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel, is a globally distributed parasitic weed of economic importance. In Europe, where it is native, it can infest several crops, notably tomato, tobacco, and hemp. In western France, it has recently adapted to a new host crop, oilseed rape, causing substantial damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolutionary relationships and genetic differentiation among P. ramosa populations infesting different hosts. We collected 1611 P. ramosa samples from 109 fields cultivated with six different crops (oilseed rape, tobacco, hemp, tomato, lentil, and celery) and distributed among six European countries. All samples were genotyped for ten microsatellite loci and a subset of samples was sequenced for two nuclear genes and two chloroplast genes. Genetic differentiation among populations was high (FST = 0.807) and mainly driven by differentiation among different host crops, with no significant geographic structure. Genetic structure analysis identified up to seven biologically meaningful clusters that matched with host crops of origin. Reconstructed networks of sequence haplotypes and multilocus SSR genotypes showed a large genetic divergence between samples collected on oilseed rape and samples collected on other crops. The phylogeny inferred from DNA sequences placed samples collected from oilseed rape as a basal lineage. Approximate Bayesian Computations were used to compare different evolutionary scenarios of divergence among the three main genetic clusters, associated, respectively, with oilseed rape, tobacco, and hemp as host crops. The best-supported scenario indicated that P. ramosa infesting oilseed rape derived recently from an ancient, unknown lineage. Our results suggest that a more complete description of the genetic diversity of P. ramosa is still needed to uncover the likely source of the recent adaptation to oilseed rape and to anticipate future new host shifts.
- Predicting the effect of global warming on the distribution of a polyphagous tree parasite, Orobanche laxissima, based on climatic and ecological data Global Ecology and Conservation, volume 44 Sunday 17 September 2023 Orobanche laxissima (Orobanchaceae) is a polyphagous holoparasite of the roots of 14 species of trees and shrubs in the Caucasus (the region on the border of Europe and Asia). This parasite is expansive but in a limited geographic area and it was reported to occur in natural or seminatural forest and shrub habitats, and recently also in horticultur... Orobanche laxissima (Orobanchaceae) is a polyphagous holoparasite of the roots of 14 species of trees and shrubs in the Caucasus (the region on the border of Europe and Asia). This parasite is expansive but in a limited geographic area and it was reported to occur in natural or seminatural forest and shrub habitats, and recently also in horticulture and arboriculture. In this study, the ecological niche modeling (ENM) approach was used to estimate the possible effects of climate change on the niche of O. laxissima and evaluate the effect of its parasitic relationships with 10 trees and shrubs and the chances of survival of this species of forest habitats. Moreover, the model for the Last Glacial Maximum was created to evaluate the general pattern of the distribution of studied species niches. Many of the hosts of this parasite are trees that are the dominant component of the most important forests in the Caucasus. Climate change may affect holoparasites both directly through effects on its physiology and indirectly as a consequence of its effects on their host plants and forest communities. The glacial range of O. laxissima was 82% smaller than currently recorded. Its occurrence is related mostly to precipitation in the driest month (bio 14) as this species requires a substantial amount of rain even in the dry season. According to our models, O. laxissima is likely to increase its current geographical range from 30% to 52%, as a response to global warming, especially in areas in the Caucasus, in the Black Sea Region in southern parts of the Crimean Peninsula in Russia, and northern Turkey. Only the most extreme SSP5–8.5 scenario will be damaging for this species, with a 21–35% range contraction. Monitoring parasite populations is a very important part management, and in our case, it can also be useful for predicting the effects of climate change on trees and, in many cases, unique refugial deciduous forest communities, such as the Colchic rainforests.
- The ecology, distribution, and anthropogenic threats of multipurpose hemi-parasitic plant Osyris lanceolata Journal for Nature Conservation, volume 76 Saturday 16 September 2023 Osyris lanceolata Hochst. & Steud. ex A. DC. is a multipurpose plant with high socioeconomic and cultural values. It is endangered in the biogeographical region of eastern Africa, but of less concern in other regions where it occurs. The few natural populations remaining in the endangered sites continue to encounter many threats, and this has raise... Osyris lanceolata Hochst. & Steud. ex A. DC. is a multipurpose plant with high socioeconomic and cultural values. It is endangered in the biogeographical region of eastern Africa, but of less concern in other regions where it occurs. The few natural populations remaining in the endangered sites continue to encounter many threats, and this has raised concerns about its long-term sustainability. Yet, existing knowledge about the ecology and distribution of the plant is scarce to inform strategies for the conservation and sustainable management of the species. In this study, we conducted a scoping review of the available literature on current knowledge about the plant. We recapitulated existing knowledge about the abiotic and biotic factors influencing the contemporary distribution of the plant, the anthropogenic threats, and existing conservation efforts. Based on the limited studies we reviewed, we identified that the plant prefers specific habitats (hilly areas and rocky outcrops), frequently parasitizes Fabaceae but can parasitize plants from a wide range of countries, have inadequate ex-situ propagation protocols which present issues for the survival of the species. Overharvesting from the wild driven by demand from regional and global markets poses further threats to the existing natural populations, especially in eastern Africa. A combination of ecological, social, and trade-related conservation measures can be envisioned to help improve the plant's persistence. These include, but are not limited to, a better understanding of the species ecology to inform conservation planning, monitoring of trade flow and improve transnational environmental laws and cooperation among countries to prevent species smuggling.
- Complete chloroplast genomes of five Cuscuta species and their evolutionary significance in the Cuscuta genus BMC Genomics, volume 24 Saturday 16 September 2023 Background: Cuscuta, a parasitic plant species in the Convolvulaceae family, grows in many countries and regions. However, the relationship between some species is still unclear. Therefore, more studies are needed to assess the variation of the chloroplast (cp) genome in Cuscuta species and their relationship with subgenera or sections, thus, provi... Background: Cuscuta, a parasitic plant species in the Convolvulaceae family, grows in many countries and regions. However, the relationship between some species is still unclear. Therefore, more studies are needed to assess the variation of the chloroplast (cp) genome in Cuscuta species and their relationship with subgenera or sections, thus, providing important information on the evolution of Cuscuta species. Results: In the present study, we identified the whole cp genomes of C. epithymum, C. europaea, C. gronovii, C. chinensis and C. japonica, and then constructed a phylogenetic tree of 23 Cuscuta species based on the complete genome sequences and protein-coding genes. The complete cp genome sequences of C. epithymum and C. europaea were 96,292 and 97,661 bp long, respectively, and lacked an inverted repeat region. Most cp genomes of Cuscuta spp. have tetragonal and circular structures except for C. epithymum, C. europaea, C. pedicellata and C. approximata. Based on the number of genes and the structure of cp genome and the patterns of gene reduction, we found that C. epithymum and C. europaea belonged to subgenus Cuscuta. Most of the cp genomes of the 23 Cuscuta species had single nucleotide repeats of A and T. The inverted repeat region boundaries among species were similar in the same subgenera. Several cp genes were lost. In addition, the numbers and types of the lost genes in the same subgenus were similar. Most of the lost genes were related to photosynthesis (ndh, rpo, psa, psb, pet, and rbcL), which could have gradually caused the plants to lose the ability to photosynthesize. Conclusion: Our results enrich the data on cp. genomes of genus Cuscuta. This study provides new insights into understanding the phylogenetic relationships and variations in the cp genome of Cuscuta species.
- Systematic analysis of mistletoe prescriptions in clinical studies Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, volume 149, pages 5559-5571 Friday 15 September 2023 Purpose: Mistletoe treatment is discussed controversial as a complementary treatment for cancer patients. Aim of this systematic analysis is to assess the concept of mistletoe treatment in the clinical studies with respect to indication, type of mistletoe preparation, treatment schedule, aim of treatment, and assessment of treatment results. Method... Purpose: Mistletoe treatment is discussed controversial as a complementary treatment for cancer patients. Aim of this systematic analysis is to assess the concept of mistletoe treatment in the clinical studies with respect to indication, type of mistletoe preparation, treatment schedule, aim of treatment, and assessment of treatment results. Methods: In the period from August to December 2020, the following databases were systematically searched: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, CINAHL, and “Science Citation Index Expanded” (Web of Science). We assessed all studies for study types, methods, endpoints and mistletoe preparations including their ways of application, host trees and dosage schedules. Results: The search concerning mistletoe therapy revealed 3296 hits. Of these, 102 publications and at total of 19.441 patients were included. We included several study types investigating the application of mistletoe in different groups of participants (cancer patients of any type of cancer were included as well as studies conducted with healthy volunteers and pediatric patients). The most common types of cancer were breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and malignant melanoma. Randomized controlled studies, cohort studies and case reports make up most of the included studies. A huge variety was observed concerning type and composition of mistletoe extracts (differing pharmaceutical companies and host trees), ways of applications and dosage schedules. Administration varied e. g. between using mistletoe extract as sole treatment and as concomitant therapy to cancer treatment. As the analysis of all studies shows, there is no relationship between mistletoe preparation used, host tree and dosage, and cancer type. Conclusions: Our research was not able to deviate transparent rules or guidelines with respect to mistletoe treatment in cancer care.
- Correlated trophic and bioactive activities in the parasite-host relationship – Phelipanche purpurea vs. Achillea arabica case study Industrial Crops and Products, volume 204 Thursday 14 September 2023 Plant response to abiotic and biotic stresses was presented in a peculiar and relatively unknown symbiotic system, which is the relationship between the soil, obligate parasite and its host used as a medicinal and aromatic herb. This study has determined the bioaccumulation and translocation of micro/macro-nutrients and toxic substances from the so... Plant response to abiotic and biotic stresses was presented in a peculiar and relatively unknown symbiotic system, which is the relationship between the soil, obligate parasite and its host used as a medicinal and aromatic herb. This study has determined the bioaccumulation and translocation of micro/macro-nutrients and toxic substances from the soil into and within defined plant organs of a parasite (Phelipanche purpurea) and its host (Achillea arabica). There were 55 polyphenols identified; 38 compounds (average content of 2638.93 mg/100 g d.w.) - host plant and 17 compounds (average content of 3049.35 mg/100 g d.w.) - parasite plant. Some P. purpurea parasite polyphenols had been identified in its fractions for the first time. The profile of host polyphenols differed qualitatively and quantitatively from that of the P. purpurea parasite, only polyumoside and 2'-O-acetylpolyumoside were qualitatively identical in both. The phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs’) were the most important compounds in the parasite and accounted for an average of 99% of all polyphenols (average content of 2996.85 mg/100 g d.w.) whilst flavonols and flavones (F&F) were most important in the host and accounted for an average of 55% of all polyphenols (average content of 1382.37 mg/100 g d.w.). The roots of the host, presented the highest antioxidant activity (178.4 umol Trolox (T)/g d.w. for ABTS assay, 318.9 umol T/g d.w. for DPPH, and 51.3 umol T/g d.w. for FRAP), whilst flowers of parasite noted the higher inhibition activity of α-glucosidase, but stems with tuber – higher inhibition activity of α-amylase. In turn, the host, presented the highest amount of Zn and Ca (average 28.0 and 5.3 mg/1000 g), whilst the parasite noted the higher amount of K (average 16.4 mg/1000 g). Holoparasites of A. arabica are promising sources for generating novel products with advantageous effects and high prospects to develop in the food and/or pharmacy industry.
- Investigations on the morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of the European mistletoe: Viscum album L. subsp. album Scientific Reports, volume 13 Monday 11 September 2023 Viscum album L. (Santalaceae) is an important medicinal plant traditionally used to treat several diseases, including cancer therapy. This paper provides detailed morpho-anatomical characteristics of the leaves, stems and berries of Viscum album subsp. album growing as hemi-parasite on the branches of Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh. (Rosaceae) to a... Viscum album L. (Santalaceae) is an important medicinal plant traditionally used to treat several diseases, including cancer therapy. This paper provides detailed morpho-anatomical characteristics of the leaves, stems and berries of Viscum album subsp. album growing as hemi-parasite on the branches of Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh. (Rosaceae) to aid species identification and botanical characterization. Additionally, for the first time, microchemical analyses of all tissues and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy analyses of the calcium oxalate crystals are provided for the first time. The plant features leathery presents green leaves with parallel veins, small yellow unisexual flowers in 3-flowered cymes, and the dioecious inflorescences usually consist of three flowers, with female flowers generating white fleshy berries, in which a seed is embedded in the mucilaginous mesocarp, normally containing two embryos. Anatomically, the analyzed leaves were isobilateral and amphistomatic, and showed straight anticlinal epidermal cell walls, thick cuticles with epicuticular wax crystalloids, and paracytic stomata. The midrib is flat on both sides and has a single vascular bundle, whereas the strongly shortened petiole is concave-convex in shape and contains five bundles. The stems show a primary structure with a ring of nine vascular bundles enclosing the pith. Calcium oxalate druses and cubic and quadrangular prisms were observed in different plant parts. The results of this study provide new microscopy information that can help in the authentication of mistletoe raw materials.
- Patterns of mistletoe infestation in neotropical urban areas Urban Ecosystems, volume 26, pages 1081-1097 Sunday 10 September 2023 Mistletoes occur in tropical and temperate ecosystems all over the world. In urban areas mistletoes can become weedy and affect the health of cultivated trees. In this study we sought to detect patterns of infestation at tree, species, and community level, in order to support improvements in urban tree planting policies. Field studies were performe... Mistletoes occur in tropical and temperate ecosystems all over the world. In urban areas mistletoes can become weedy and affect the health of cultivated trees. In this study we sought to detect patterns of infestation at tree, species, and community level, in order to support improvements in urban tree planting policies. Field studies were performed in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. The trees and their mistletoes were surveyed in four green areas to examine the relationship between the severity of the infestation and tree attributes (trunk diameter, nativeness, and distance to the nearest infested tree). We evaluated the prevalence, the severity, and the preference ratio (PR) of each tree species according to their respective abundance. We also compiled data from other studies carried out in different cities in the Neotropical region, between 20º N (Mexico) and 32º S (Southern Brazil), to evaluate the relationships between prevalence and three urban tree community attributes (tree species richness, % of exotic trees, and tree density). Due to the high number of independent variables analyzed and their non-normal distribution, we used the Generalized Linear Mixed Model approach (GLMM) and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to evaluate the relationship between all mentioned variables and mistletoe indicators. We were able to generate models with significant estimates for prevalence and severity of mistletoe infestation. We evaluated the GLMM through the AIC, the BIC, and the dispersion parameter. We also found significant correlation coefficients between prevalence/severity and all independent variables (except for tree density). We found that bigger trees and those near to previous infestations tend to be more infested. Exotic species showed higher PR, higher prevalence, and higher severity. At the community level we found that a high tree species richness and a low percentage of exotic trees are associated with a low prevalence of mistletoes. Our results bring a new point of view to urban forestry, urban ecology, and management of urban green areas. We propose that tree planting in urban areas should aim for high diversity with a low percentage of exotics.
- Solid lipid Lyo-Nanosuspension: A promising stabilized oral delivery system for the antihyperglycemic extract of mistletoe Plicosepalus acacia Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, volume 31 Tuesday 05 September 2023 The antihyperglycemic effect of Plicosepalus acaciae (P. acaciae) extract was proven, but it still needs to be formulated into a suitable dosage form. We aimed at preparing an oral stabilized SLNs for P. acaciae with high payload, to be used as powder for reconstitution, filled into capsule or compressed into tablet. SLNs were prepared by emulsion ... The antihyperglycemic effect of Plicosepalus acaciae (P. acaciae) extract was proven, but it still needs to be formulated into a suitable dosage form. We aimed at preparing an oral stabilized SLNs for P. acaciae with high payload, to be used as powder for reconstitution, filled into capsule or compressed into tablet. SLNs were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Preliminary characterization was performed followed by full assessment of the optimized SLNs suspension and/or its lyophilized form: particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, percentage entrapment efficiency (% EE), DSC, FTIR and in vitro release studies. The optimized SLNs lyophilized formula (F3L) exhibited acceptable compressibility and flowability. The reconstituted F3L showed % sedimentation volume of 91.83 %, re-dispersibility of 95%, viscosity of 764.33 cp, uniform particle size of 30.28 nm as shown by TEM, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.16, zeta potential of −36.4 mV, % EE of 89.64 % and drug content of 97.69 %. The physical mixture and F3L FTIR spectrum indicated compatibility of components. In vitro release study showed a burst release in lyophilized formulations followed by slow-release, calculated as total phenolic content. Our previously reported work revealed that the total extracts of P. acaciae and SLNs formulations with the greatest lipid content F3s, demonstrated a considerable blood glucose-lowering effect in diabetic rats. The obtained lyophilized SLNs is promising for preparation of a suitable stable dosage form for P. acaciae extract to be used in treatment of diabetes.
- A Review of Dendrophthoe pentandra (Mistletoe): Phytomorphology, Extraction Techniques, Phytochemicals, and Biological Activities Processes, volume 11 Monday 04 September 2023 Dendrophtoe pentandra, popularly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that can grow on many host plants and is native to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia. D. pentandra is regarded as an unfavourable plant for an economically significant horticultural plant; however, D. pentandra is also regarded as a medicinal plant and is used in tradi... Dendrophtoe pentandra, popularly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that can grow on many host plants and is native to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia. D. pentandra is regarded as an unfavourable plant for an economically significant horticultural plant; however, D. pentandra is also regarded as a medicinal plant and is used in traditional and alternative medicine to treat coughs, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Scientific research has also found that this plant has significant potential for medical properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antihyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-aging properties. Numerous phytochemical compounds from D. pentandra extracts have been identified using extraction techniques such as maceration and reflux. Thus, this review aims to provide thorough information on phytomorphology, extraction techniques, phytochemicals, biological activities, and the future prospects of D. pentandra.
- Effects of conductive drying on drying kinetics and retention of bioactive compounds in mistletoe leaves Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, volume 192 Monday 28 August 2023 The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of conductive drying on the quality characteristics of mistletoe leaves. Drying generally took place in both constant and falling rate periods. Page and Modified Page models with the highest R2 and lowest χ2 and RMSE values were found to satisfactorily describe the drying behavior of the mistleto... The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of conductive drying on the quality characteristics of mistletoe leaves. Drying generally took place in both constant and falling rate periods. Page and Modified Page models with the highest R2 and lowest χ2 and RMSE values were found to satisfactorily describe the drying behavior of the mistletoe leaves. Changes in total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA), and ascorbic acid content (AAC) of mistletoe leave samples were measured during conductive drying at three different temperatures (50, 60, and 70 °C). Total phenolic content was determined as 686.61±2.96 mg GAE/100 g DM in fresh samples and ranged between 150.97–105.09 mg GAE/100 g DM after drying. The total antioxidant activity values of dried mistletoe leaves decreased significantly compared to fresh ones. The ascorbic acid content of mistletoe leaves was found to be 84.00±2.42 mg/100 g DM before drying. The total antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content samples were degraded following the second order reaction kinetics. However, the change in the total phenolic content occurred in accordance with the first-order kinetic model. The higher antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and ascorbic acid content, and lower half-life values were observed in conditions where the temperature (50 °C) is low.
- Patient’ and social aspects related to complementary mistletoe therapy in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review commissioned by the German agency for Health Technology Assessment European Journal of Oncology Nursing, volume 65 Sunday 27 August 2023 Purpose: To mitigate side effects of conventional cancer care and improve quality of life, many patients with breast cancer in German-speaking countries opt for mistletoe therapy in addition to standard treatment. To understand the value for users, we evaluated the domain “Patient and Social aspects” in a health technology assessment on complem... Purpose: To mitigate side effects of conventional cancer care and improve quality of life, many patients with breast cancer in German-speaking countries opt for mistletoe therapy in addition to standard treatment. To understand the value for users, we evaluated the domain “Patient and Social aspects” in a health technology assessment on complementary mistletoe therapy in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Fifteen electronic databases and the internet were searched. Qualitative studies were analyzed using qualitative content analysis; quantitative studies were systematically summarized in evidence tables. Results: Seventeen studies out of 1203 screened publications with 4765 patients and 869 healthcare professionals were included in the review. The median proportion of patients using mistletoe therapy was 26.7% (range: 7.3–46.3%). Predictors for use were younger age and higher educational level. Main reasons for patients' use of mistletoe therapy were to leave nothing untried and to be actively involved in the treatment process. Reasons against use were related to a lack of knowledge or uncertainty regarding effectiveness and safety. Physicians mainly aimed to support the patient's physical condition as main reason for use and a lack of resources and knowledge as main reason against use. Conclusion: Mistletoe therapy was commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer despite a lack of scientific knowledge among patients and physicians. Transparent communication on motivation for use and its potential effect enables realistic expectations. Relatively small samples of mistletoe therapy users limit the representativeness and validity of our results.
- Visual analysis of knowledge mapping of Cuscutae Semen based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs, volume 54, pages 4958-4972 Saturday 26 August 2023 Objective The research status and trend of Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) were analyzed by the bibliometric methods of CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Methods The Chinese and English literatures with the topic of Cuscutae Semen were extracted from CNKI database and Web of Science Core Collection database, respectively. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Excel software wer... Objective The research status and trend of Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) were analyzed by the bibliometric methods of CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Methods The Chinese and English literatures with the topic of Cuscutae Semen were extracted from CNKI database and Web of Science Core Collection database, respectively. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Excel software were used to analyze the number of published articles, authors, institutions, citation frequency, keywords and so on. Results A total of 485 articles were included, including 440 in Chinese and 45 in English. The annual number of publications of Cuscutae Semen showed an increasing trend. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (43 papers) and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (4 papers) ranked the top in terms of the number of articles published in both Chinese and English. China is the main country to study Cuscutae Semen. The Chinese and English journals with the most literature included were Lishizhen Medicine and Materia Medica Research and Journal of Ethnopharmacology, respectively. Top 10 most cited Chinese and English literatures mainly focused on the pharmacological effects of flavonoids on the reproductive system and the anti-aging, anti-osteoporosis, anti-oxidation and other pharmacological effects of Cuscutae Semen. The National Natural Science Foundation of China is the largest funding fund. Conclusions Data mining of Cuscutae Semen, study of the rule of the formula, and Cuscutae Semen in treatment of infertility and other reproductive endocrine system diseases, anti-oxidant stress, anti-apoptosis and other mechanisms of action are current hot spots of Cuscutae Semen research. The further trend on pharmacological mechanism effect of Cuscutae Semen in the treatment of reproductive and endocrine system diseases and antioxidation will be the key research trend in the future.
- An RNA-seq transcriptome analysis for investigating the anti-lung cancer activity of medicinal Cuscuta chinensis Lam plant British Journal of Nutrition, volume 130, pages 737-749 Sunday 20 August 2023 Cuscuta chinensis Lam. is a traditional medicinal herb used to treat female sterility and male reproductive system disorders. However, the anti-lung cancer properties of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and possible molecular mechanisms have yet to be explored. Thus, the study's main purpose was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo anti-lung cancer properties of... Cuscuta chinensis Lam. is a traditional medicinal herb used to treat female sterility and male reproductive system disorders. However, the anti-lung cancer properties of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and possible molecular mechanisms have yet to be explored. Thus, the study's main purpose was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo anti-lung cancer properties of C. chinensis water extract (CLW) in human lung adenocarcinomas and the underlying molecular mechanism involved. Our results demonstrated that CLW caused a significant inhibition of cell viability and induced G1 cycle arrest in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, RNA-seq transcriptome analysis revealed 602 common genes with a significant expression in A549 and H1650 cells under CLW treatment. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that these common genes regulated by CLW mainly involve lung cancer cell proliferation, metastases and apoptosis processes. In addition, forty-six common genes (> 2-fold change) regulated by CLW in A549 and H1650 cells were selected for further validation. In vitro quantitative real-time PCR results confirmed that twelve genes were up-regulated, and four genes were down-regulated in A549 and H1650 cells. The in vivo experiment demonstrated CLW could significantly decrease tumour volume and tumour weight of mice compared with the control group. Moreover, in vivo quantitative real-time PCR results revealed that C11orf96, FGFBP1, FOSB and NPTX1 genes were up-regulated and EGR1, GBP4 and MAP2K6 genes were down-regulated in tumour tissues compared with the control group. These data strongly suggest that CLW could be developed as an efficacious drug for lung cancer treatment.
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