DataVXApplied SciencesPaper
journal article·2023-09-11Open access

The Influence of Ecological Factors on the Phytochemical Characteristics of Pinus cembra L.

Năstaca-Alina Coman, Mihai Babotă, Ingrid Nădășan, Alexandru Nicolescu, Alexandru Robert Pitaru, Ruxandra Ștefănescu, Andrei Mocan, Oleg Frumuzachi, Corneliu Tanase

Applied Sciences· Volume 13· Issue 18
Publisher pageOpen full text
Source abstract

Abstract

Pinus cembra L., also known as Swiss pine, is one of the lesser studied coniferous species, despite literature pointing out its great potential to be used for medical purposes due to its high contents in active phytochemicals. The aim of this study is to phytochemically assess rhytidome and periderm extracts obtained from Swiss pine from various locations and altitudes, so as to be able to deduce the best locations for harvesting samples with the highest biological activity. After the plant was analyzed histo-anatomically, hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained using ultrasounds, a rotary evaporator, and dry freezing. After determining the total polyphenolic content (TPC) in each sample, they were tested for antioxidant and enzymatic activity, while taking note of the influence of the varying altitudes and different harvesting regions on the intensity of each activity. The results from the TPC analysis show that rhytidome samples collected from the highest altitude (2429 m) displayed the highest content of polyphenols, with a general tendency for the amount of polyphenolic content to be directly correlated to altitude, this finding being further supported by the antioxidant activity also growing directly proportionally with the altitude. Enzymatic inhibition activity was found to be moderate for α-glucosidase and low for α-amylase. Following our findings, we can safely say that Pinus cembra L. extracts can be a great source of compounds with antioxidant activity; however, further studies are warranted to best determine the true potential of this species.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities · Biological Activity of Diterpenoids and Biflavonoids · Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania

Research Center of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania

Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Residency Department, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania

Laboratory of Chromatography, Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania

Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139 Târgu Mures, Romania

References (19)

Show source-provided references
1. Beloiu, M., and Beierkuhnlein, C. (2019). Differences in the Spatial Structure of Two Pinus cembra L. Populations in the Carpathian Mountains. Forests, 10.10.3390/f10040326 ↗
2. Evidence for Potential Impacts of Ozone on Pinus cembra L. at Mountain Sites in Europe: An Overview10.1016/j.envpol.2005.04.037 ↗
3. San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Durrant, T., and Mauri, A. (2016). European Atlas of Forest Tree Species, Publications Office of the EU.
4. The Effect of Ozone on Pine Forests in South-Eastern France from 2017 to 201910.1007/s11676-022-01496-z ↗
5. Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease10.4161/oxim.2.5.9498 ↗
6. Chemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Investigations of Pinus Cembra L. Bark and Needles10.3390/molecules16097773 ↗
7. Investigating the Effects of Bark Extract and Volatile Oil of Pinus eldarica against Cisplatin-Induced Genotoxicity on HUVECs Cell Line10.1093/toxres/tfab006 ↗
8. Extracts of Pine Bark (Pinus sylvestris) Inhibit Cryptosporidium Parvum Growth in Cell Culture10.1007/s00436-021-07220-w ↗
9. Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) Bark Extract Attenuates Aβ-Induced Cognitive Impairment by Regulating Cholinergic Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation10.4014/jmb.2207.07015 ↗
10. Cytotoxic Activity of Pinus Cembra L. Needle Extract: A Preliminary Study on HeLa Cell Line10.37897/RJPhP.2021.2.5 ↗
11. Mechanisms Underlying the Antidiabetic Activities of Polyphenolic Compounds: A Review10.3389/fphar.2021.798329 ↗
12. Dudoit, A., Benbouguerra, N., Richard, T., Hornedo-Ortega, R., Valls-Fonayet, J., Coussot, G., and Saucier, C. (2020). α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Tannat Grape Phenolic Extracts in Relation to Their Ripening Stages. Biomolecules, 10.10.3390/biom10081088 ↗
13. Ćorković, I., Gašo-Sokač, D., Pichler, A., Šimunović, J., and Kopjar, M. (2022). Dietary Polyphenols as Natural Inhibitors of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase. Life, 12.10.3390/life12111692 ↗
14. Effect of Altitude on the Composition of Suberin Monomers in the Outer Bark of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.07.012 ↗
15. Phenolics Content, Antioxidant Potential, α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of FOUR Foliar Extracts from Pinus Species10.31925/farmacia.2022.2.5 ↗
16. Antioxidant Activity of Knotwood Extractives and Phenolic Compounds of Selected Tree Species10.1021/jf030445h ↗
17. Dziedziński, M., Kobus-Cisowska, J., and Stachowiak, B. (2021). Pinus Species as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds with Potential Use in Functional Food—Current State of Knowledge. Plants, 10.10.3390/plants10071306 ↗
18. Tanase, C., Nicolescu, A., Nisca, A., Ștefănescu, R., Babotă, M., Mare, A.D., Ciurea, C.N., and Man, A. (2022). Biological Activity of Bark Extracts from Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.): An Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Enzymatic Inhibitory Evaluation. Plants, 11.10.3390/plants11182357 ↗
19. Babotă, M., Frumuzachi, O., Mocan, A., Tămaș, M., Dias, M.I., Pinela, J., Stojković, D., Soković, M., Bădărău, A.S., and Crișan, G. (2022). Unravelling Phytochemical and Bioactive Potential of Three Hypericum Species from Romanian Spontaneous Flora: H. alpigenum, H. perforatum and H. rochelii. Plants, 11.10.3390/plants11202773 ↗