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Item Anticholinesterase Activity and Bioactive Compound Profiling of Six Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Varieties(MDPI, 2024) Sagan, Bartłomiej; Czerny, Bogusław; Stasiłowicz-Krzemień, Anna; Szulc, Piotr; Skomra, Urszula; Karpiński, Tomasz M.; Lisiecka, Jolanta; Kamiński, Adam; Kryszak, Aleksandra; Zimak-Krótkopad, Oskar; Cielecka-Piontek, JudytaHops (Humulus lupulus L.) are widely recognized for their use in brewing, but they also possess significant pharmacological properties due to their rich bioactive compounds, with many varieties exhibiting diverse characteristics. This study investigates the chemical composition and biological activities of extracts from six hop varieties, focusing on quantifying xanthohumol and lupulone using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) analysis. The hop varieties demonstrated significant variability in bioactive compound concentrations, with Aurora showing the highest xanthohumol (0.665 mg/g) and Zwiegniowski the highest lupulone (9.228 mg/g). TPC analysis revealed Aurora also had the highest phenolic content (22.47 mg GAE/g). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, with Aurora and Oregon Fuggle displaying the most potent capacities. Aurora, in partic ular, showed the highest activity across multiple assays, including significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase inhibition, with IC50 values of 24.39 mg/mL, 20.38 mg/mL, and 9.37 mg/mL, respectively. The chelating activity was also assessed, with Apolon demonstrating the strongest metal ion binding capacity (IC50 = 1.04 mg/mL). Additionally, Aurora exhibited the most effective hyaluronidase inhibition (IC50 = 10.27 g/mL), highlighting its potential for anti-inflammatory applications. The results underscore the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the bioactive compound profiles of hop varieties and their biological activity offering promising avenues for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the potential interactions between hop cones components.Item Changes in Growth and Metabolic Profile of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Response to Sodium Chloride(MDPI, 2024-12-17) Ślusarczyk, Sylwester; Grzelka, Kajetan; Jaśpińska, Joanna; Pawlikowska-Bartosz, Anna; Pecio, Łukasz; Stafiniak, Marta; Rahimmalek, Mehdi; Słupski, Wojciech; Cieślak, Adam; Matkowski, AdamScutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a valuable medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae family. Its roots have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (under the name Huang-qin) since antiquity and are nowadays included in Chinese and European Pharmacopoeias. It is abundant in bioactive compounds which constitute up to 20% of dried root mass. These substances are lipophilic flavones with unsubstituted B-ring, baicalein, and wogonin and their respective glucuronides–baicalin and wogonoside being the most abundant. The content of these compounds is variable and the environmental factors causing this remain partially unknown. The role of these compounds in stress response is still being investigated and in our efforts to measure the effect of NaCl treatment on S. baicalensis growth and metabolic profile, we hope to contribute to this research. Short-term exposure to salt stress (50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) resulted in a marked increase of baicalein from 1.55 mg to 2.55 mg/g DM (1.6-fold), baicalin from 8.2 mg to 14.7 mg (1.8-fold), wogonin from 4.9 to 6.8 (1.4-fold), and wogonoside from 3.3 to 6.8 mg/g DM (2-fold) in the roots. Conversely, in the aerial parts, the content of individual major flavonoids: carthamidine-7-O-glucuronide and scutellarein-7-O-glucuronide decreased the most by 10–50% from 18.6 mg to 11.3 mg/g (1.6-fold less) and from 6.5 mg to 3.4 mg/g DM (0.52-fold less), respectively. The amino acid profile was also altered with an increase in root concentrations of the following amino acids: arginine from 0.19 to 0.33 mg/g (1.7-fold), glutamate from 0.09 to 0.16 mg/g DM (1.6-fold), alanine from 0.009 to 0.06 mg/g (6.8-fold), proline from 0.011 to 0.029 (2.4-fold) and lysine from 0.016 to 0.063 mg/g (3.9-fold). Aspartate concentration decreased from 0.01 to 0.002 mg/g (4.8-fold less) at 150 mM NaCl. In the aerial parts, the concentration and variation in levels of specific amino acids differed among groups. For instance, the glutamate content exhibited a significant increase exclusively in the treatment group, rising from 0.031 to 0.034 mg/g, representing a 1.2-fold increase. Proline concentration showed a marked increase across all treated groups with the highest from 0.011 to 0.11 mg/g (10-fold). In conclusion, moderate salt stress was shown to increase S. baicalensis root biomass and flavonoid content which is rarely observed in a glycophyte species and provides a foundation for further studies on the mechanisms of osmotic stress adaptation on the specialized metabolism level.Item Growth Parameters, Yield and Grain Quality of Different Winter Wheat Cultivars Using Strip Tillage in Relation to the Intensity of Post-Harvest Soil Cultivation(MDPI, 2024-12-20) Różewicz, Marcin; Grabiński, Jerzy; Wyzińska, MartaItem Berkeleyomyces rouxiae - A Pathogen Causing the Black Root Rot of Tobacco(MDPI, 2024-12-18) Korbecka-Glinka, Grażyna; Trojak-Goluch, Anna; Czarnecka, DianaBlack root rot is a dangerous disease affecting many crops. It is caused by pathogens formerly known as Thielaviopsis basicola and then reclassified as two cryptic species, Berkeleyomyces basicola and B. rouxiae. The aim of this study was to perform species identification, morphological characterization, and pathogenicity tests for fungal isolates obtained from tobacco roots with black root rot symptoms in Poland. DNA sequences of the three regions (ITS, ACT, MCM7) were highly similar to the sequences of B. rouxiae deposited in the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the assignment of the obtained isolates to this species. The cultures of four representative isolates (namely OT2, OT3, WPT7, WPT8) showed a similar structure and gray/brown color of the mycelium, although their growth rate varied from 3.8 to 5.1 mm/day depending on the isolate. The sizes of the endoconidia and chlamydospores showed a considerable variation, although they fit within ranges previously described for B. rouxiae. Pathogenicity tests performed on young tobacco plants grown in the inoculated peat substrate revealed differences among the four isolates. WPT7 demonstrated the lowest level of aggressiveness for tobacco. In contrast, the remaining three isolates caused severe disease symptoms and significantly reduced shoot and root dry weights of the susceptible cultivar Virginia Joyner. A parallel pathogenicity test performed on cultivar VRG 10TL confirmed the effectiveness of black root rot resistance derived from Nicotiana debneyi.Item Assessment of Resistance to PVY in Interspecific Hybrids Obtained by Combining Type va Resistance from Nicotiana tabacum with the Resistance from PVY-Immune Species Nicotiana africana(MDPI, 2024) Depta, Anna; Doroszewska, Teresa; Berbeć, ApoloniuszTobacco veinal necrosis caused by the potato virus Y (PVY) substantially affects yields and crop quality of tobacco. PVY shows high variability in virulence due to numerous mutations and recombinations. The types of resistance available for tobacco include the va type, effective against some PVY isolates but succumbing to others, and the Nicotiana africana-derived type, fully effective in its native genetic milieu but limited to varying degrees of tolerance when transferred to N. tabacum. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pyramiding potential of these two sources of resistance in alloploid hybrids of Nicotiana tabacum x N. africana. To this end, amphidiploids involving N. tabacum cvs. VAM andWi ślica, each being the carrier of a different variant of the va gene, were created and advanced from F1 to two subsequent selfed generations and to BC1 generation with either VAM or Wiślica as the recurrent N. tabacum parent. The hybrid populations thus produced were challenged with two PVY necrotic isolates, IUNG 23 and IUNG 20, mild and severe isolate belonging to the PVYN-Wi and PVYNTN groups, respectively. The mild isolate failed to infect any of the hybrids or parental species. The hybrids varied in their response to IUNG 20. The F1 and F2 populations were composed of asymptomatic hosts to PVY and of those showing mild vein clearing but no necrotic plants. There was a progressive increase in ability to resist PVY in successive amphidiploid generations, with 30 and 10% of fully resistant plants appearing in the F3 amphidiploids involving VAM and Wiślica. Further research is needed to account for the appearance of segregants completely resistant to PVY, since neither N. africana factor is fully expressed in N. tabacum, nor do the va alleles confer resistance against PVYNTN isolates.Item Foliar Application of Silicon Influences the Physiological and Epigenetic Responses of Wheat Grown Under Salt Stress(MDPI, 2024) Tobiasz-Salach, Renata; Stadnik, Barbara; Mazurek, Marzena; Buczek, Jan; Leszczyńska, DanutaSoil salinity is considered a serious problem that limits agricultural productivity. Currently, solutions are being sought to mitigate the negative impact of salt on economically important crops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of silicon (Si) on the physiological and epigenetic responses of wheat grown under salt stress conditions. The experiment with wheat seedlings was established in pots with 200 mM NaCl added. After 7 days, foliar fertilizer (200 g L−1 SiO2) was used at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%. Physiological parameters were measured three times. The addition of salt caused a significant decrease in the values of the measured parameters in plants of all variants. In plants sprayed with Si fertilizer under salinity conditions, a significant increase in CCI and selected gas exchange parameters (PN, Ci, E, gs) and chlorophyll fluorescence (PI, RC/ABS, FV/Fm, Fv/F0) was observed. Si doses of 0.1 and 0.2% showed a better mitigating effect compared to the dose of 0.05%. The observed effect was maintained over time. The results obtained indicate a positive role for foliar silicon fertilization in mitigating salinity stress in wheat. Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in regulating gene expression in response to stress. Changes in the status of methylation of the 5′CCGG3′ sequence of the nuclear genome of wheat plants exposed to salinity and treated with Si at different doses were determined by the MSAP approach. The obtained results showed a clear alteration of DNA methylation in plants as a response to experimental factors. The methylation changes were silicon dose-dependent. These modifications may suggest a mechanism for plant adaptation under salt stress after silicon application.Item The Carpathian Agriculture in Poland in Relation to Other EU Countries, Ukraine and the Environmental Goals of the EU CAP 2023–2027(MDPI, 2024-08) Zieliński, Marek; Łopatka, Artur; Koza, Piotr; Gołębiewska, BarbaraThis study discusses the issue of determining the direction and strength of changes taking place in the structure of agricultural land in the mountain and foothill areas of the Carpathians in Poland in comparison with Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. The most important financial institutional measures dedicated to the protection of the natural environment in Polish agriculture in the Areas facing Natural and other specific Constraints (ANCs) mountain and foothill in the first year of the CAP 2023–2027 were also established. Satellite data from 2001 to 2022 were used. The analyses used the land use classification MCD12Q1 provided by NASA and were made on the basis of satellite imagery collections from the MODIS sensor placed on two satellites: TERRA and AQUA. In EU countries, a decreasing trend in agricultural areas has been observed in areas below 350 m above sea level. In areas above 350 m, this trend weakened or even turned into an upward trend. Only in Ukraine was a different trend observed. It was found that in Poland, the degree of involvement of farmers from mountain and foothill areas in implementing financial institutional measures dedicated to protecting the natural environment during the study period was not satisfactory.Item Assessment of soil impact on pre- and post-harvest NDVI extrema by machine learning(Polskie Towarzystwo Gleboznawcze, 2024-06-01) Łopatka, Artur; Koza, Piotr; Suszek-Łopatka, Beata; Siebielec, Grzegorz; Jadczyszyn, JanIt was observed that the difference in the maximum and minimum NDVI values at a time close toharvest (mxNDVI and mnNDVI, respectively), referred to as the haNDVI index (harvest amplitudeof NDVI), correlates with agricultural soil quality and the share of sowings. The NDVI becomes satu-rated when the values of the Leaf Area Index (LAI) signi ficantly exceed one so spatial variation inhaNDVI is mainly due to the minimum post-harvest NDVI (mnNDVI). To explain the variability ofmnNDVI values three hypotheses were formulated: i) impact of crop selection, ii) field size impact,and iii) impact of soil. To determine which of these hypotheses had the highest impact on the vari-ation in the mnNDVI, the developed machine learning models of this indicator were subjected toa test removing individual explanatory variables from them. Removing a variable does not causea signi ficant increase in model error if a variable does not contribute useful information to themodel. This test showed that the mnNDVI index depends almost exclusively on the crop indicatorwhich was the median of mnNDVI for crops, not directly from soil variables such as the agriculturalquality of soil or soil moisture. According to this, the hypothesis of direct impact of soil was rejected.The explanation for the observed correlation of haNDVI with soil quality is the agricultural practiceof choosing crops with low mnNDVI (cereals, rapeseed) at better soil conditions and crops with highmnNDVI (fodder crops, grassland) for worse soil conditions.Item Effect of Genotype and Environment on Yield and Technological and Nutrition Traits on Winter Rye Grain from Organic Production(MDPI, 2024) Stępniewska, Sylwia; Cacak-Pietrzak, Grażyna; Fraś, Anna; Jończyk, Krzysztof; Studnicki, Marcin; Wiśniewska, Magdalena; Gzowska, Marlena; Salamon, AgnieszkaThis study aimed to determine genotype and environment effects on the yield and selected quality traits of winter rye from organic production. The tested material was grain of two hybrid rye cultivars, Tur and KWS Dolaro, and five population cultivars of rye, Dańkowskie Hadron, Dańkowskie Granat, Dańkowskie Turkus, Dańkowskie Skand, and Piastowskie. Field trials were performed at two locations in Poland, Osiny and Grabów, in two growing seasons, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The grain yield, moisture content, falling number, thousand-grain weight, and hectoliter weight were determined. The content of basic nutrients, protein, minerals, lipids, carbohydrates, and dietary fibre, as well as the viscosity of aqueous extracts of grain, were also determined. This study revealed that environmental factors, such as harvest year and growing location, as well as the genotype factor, had the greatest effect on the viscosity of aqueous extracts and protein content. The study’s hybrid cultivars, Tur and KWS Dolaro, are characterized by significantly higher yield but lower dietary fibre and protein contents in rye grain and lower viscosity of aqueous compared to all study population cultivars. Of all the studied population cultivars of rye, the grain of the cultivar Dańkowskie Skand was found to be the most beneficial in terms of nutritional value because it was characterized by the highest viscosity of aqueous extracts.Item The Effect of Harvest Time and Plantation Age on the Yield, Chemical Composition, and Calorific Value of Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) Intended for Energy Purposes(MDPI, 2024) Sekutowski, Tomasz R.; Zardzewiały, Miłosz; Belcar, Justyna; Gorzelany, JózefBased on our own research conducted on a purpose-built plantation, the production capacity of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) was assessed depending on the age of the plantation and the date of the biomass harvest. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the harvest date and plantation age on the yield, chemical composition, and calorific value of reed canary grass intended for energy purposes. The biomass on the plantation was cut twice during the growing season (summer/winter). The obtained biomass was analyzed for its ash content and selected elements, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, and chlorine. The total moisture, calorific value in working condition, and combustion heat were also assessed. The two-cut harvest system allowed us to obtain 3.85 t·ha−1 of biomass from reed canary grass in the first year of cultivation. The highest biomass yields were obtained in the third and sixth years of cultivation and amounted to 8.50 and 8.75 t·ha−1, respectively. Regardless of the age of the plantation, the biomass yield harvested in the summer period was always higher than the yield obtained from the winter harvest. The contents of some elements in the biomass also depended on the age of the plantation and the harvest date. The biomass of reed canary grass obtained from the summer harvest of the annual plantation was characterized by a high content of nitrogen (1.97% d.m.), potassium (2.35% d.m.), and phosphorus (0.31% d.m.) compared to the content of these elements in the biomass obtained from the three- and six-year plantations. In the case of sodium, the highest content (0.072% d.m.) was found in the biomass obtained from the summer harvest of the three-year plantation, and the lowest was obtained from the winter harvest of the six-year plantation (0.037% d.m.). The average sulfur content was the highest in the biomass obtained from the annual plantation, regardless of the harvest date (0.20% d.m.—summer harvest and 0.21% d.m.—winter harvest). On the other hand, the lowest amount of sulfur was contained in the biomass obtained from the winter harvest of the six-year plantation (0.12% d.m.). Only the magnesium content (from 0.09% d.m. to 0.14% d.m.) in the biomass remained at a similar level, regardless of the age of the plantation or the harvest date. The calcium content was the highest in the biomass obtained from the winter harvest of the annual plantation (0.35% d.m.), and the lowest was obtained from the six-year-old plantation, also from the winter harvest. In addition, the moisture and ash content of the obtained biomass depended on the age of the plantation and the harvest date. The highest moisture content (12.50%) was characteristic of the biomass harvested in the summer period from the one-year plantation. On the other hand, the lowest moisture content was found for the biomass harvested in the winter period from the six-year plantation. The highest ash content was obtained from biomass harvested in the summer period from the one-year plantation (75 g·kg−1 d.m.) and the three-year plantation (69 g·kg−1 d.m.). The lowest ash content was obtained from the winter harvest from the six-year plantation (45 g·kg−1 d.m.). The highest calorific value of 16.0–16.2 MJ·kg−1 d.m. was obtained for biomass harvested in the sixth year of the study (irrespective of the harvest date). The value of the combustion heat was also dependent on the age of the plantation and the date of the biomass harvest. The highest value for the combustion heat of 17.5 MJ·kg−1 d.m. was obtained for biomass harvested in the winter period from the six-year plantation.Item Enterobacteriaceae in Sewage Sludge and Digestate Intended for Soil Fertilization(MDPI, 2024) Wójcik-Fatla, Angelina; Farian, Ewelina; Kowalczyk, Katarzyna; Sroka, Jacek; Skowron, Piotr; Siebielec, Grzegorz; Zdybel, Jolanta Małgorzata; Jadczyszyn, Tamara; Cencek, TomaszSubstances of organic origin are seeing increasing use in agriculture as rich sources of nutrients for plants. The aim of this study was to determine the microbiological contamination of sewage sludge and digestate to assess their safe use as fertilizers in Poland. The assessment of microbial soil, sewage sludge and digestate contamination was based on the total number of mesophilic bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. was identified via culture and the presence of Enterobacteriaceae species was determined via biochemical and molecular methods. In laboratory conditions, the survival of E. coli in soil fertilized with sewage sludge or digestate inoculated with a reference strain was determined. The average concentration of Enterobacteriaceae in soil, sewage sludge and digestate samples was 1.1 × 104 CFU/g, 9.4 × 105 CFU/g and 5.6 × 106 CFU/g, respectively. Escherichia coli was detected in all sample types. From the soil samples, Serratia, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Citrobacter and Pseudomonas genera were identified the most frequently, while in sewage sludge and digestate, E. coli was predominant. Based on the results of our laboratory experiment, it can be concluded that after three weeks, fertilization with organic waste in acceptable doses does not significantly increase soil contamination with Enterobacteriaceae.Item A Step Forward in Hybrid Soil Laboratory Analysis: Merging Chemometric Corrections, Protocols and Data-Driven Methods(Remote Sensing - MDPI, 2024-12-04) Anjos Bartsch, Bruno; Rosin, Nicolas Augusto; Santos, Uemeson José; Coblinski, João Augusto; Pelegrino, Marcelo; Fim Rosas, Jorge Tadeu; Poppiel, Raul Roberto; Ortiz, Ednilson; Kochinki, Viviana; Gallo, Paulo; Ben Dor, Eyal; Falcioni, Renan; Nanni, Marcos Rafael; Gonçalves, João; Almeida de Oliveira, Caio; Vedana, Nicole; Herrig Furlanetto, Renato; Demattê, JoséThe need to maintain soil health and produce more food worldwide has increased, and soil analysis is essential for its management. Although spectroscopy has emerged as an important tool, it is important to focus primarily on predictive modeling procedures rather than specific protocols. This article aims to contribute to a routine work sequence in a hybrid laboratory that seeks to provide the best data for its users. In this study, 18,730 soil samples from the state of Paraná, Brazil, were analyzed using three different laboratories, sensors and geometries for data acquisition. Thirty soil properties were analyzed, some using different chemical methodologies for comparison purposes. After a spectral reading, two literary protocols were applied, and the final prediction results were observed. We applied cubist models, which were the best for our population. The combination of different spectral analysis systems, with a standardized protocol using LB for the ISS detection of discrepant samples, was shown to significantly improve the accuracy of predictions for 21 of the 30 soil properties analyzed, highlighting the importance of choosing the extraction methodology and improving data quality, which have a significant impact on laboratory analyses, reaffirming spectroscopy as an essential tool for the efficient and sustainable management of soil resources.Item Essential Oils as Potential Natural Antioxidants, Antimicrobial, and Antifungal Agents in Active Food Packaging(MDPI, 2024) Bibow, Aleksandra; Oleszek, WiesławIn the last few years, there has been growing interest in the harmful impact of synthetic additives, the increased consumer focus on nutrition, and their unwillingness to use antibiotics and preservatives. The food industry has been driven to seek natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants and integrate them into the production processes. Moreover, the most significant risk factor for foodborne illness is the consumption of raw or undercooked meats and milk, which may be contaminated with Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., or Salmonella spp. This article presents a review of techniques for the functional properties of biopolymer particles loaded with essential oils that form a stable network to control their release, making them ideal for improving food packaging and processing. Such substances are employed in the manufacture of packaging materials and coated films and as emulsions, nanoemulsions, and coatings directly incorporated into the food matrix. It is of paramount importance to gain an understanding of the migration mechanism and potential interactions between packaging materials and foodstuffs. A more profound comprehension of the chemical constitution and biological characteristics of these extracts and their constituents would be advantageous for the identification of prospective applications in active food packaging. The findings of our study suggest the existence of certain constraints and deficiencies in the investigation of essential oils and their efficacy in food packaging. Consequently, further comprehensive research in this domain is imperative.Item Cause–Effect Modelling of Soil Liming in Poland(MDPI, 2024-11-27) Zadrożny, Paweł; Nicia, Paweł; Wojewodzic, Tomasz; Dacko, Mariusz; Paluch, Łukasz; Płonka, Aleksandra; Janus, Jarosław; Pijanowski, Jacek; Bejger, Romualda; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Smreczak, Bożena; Parzych, PiotrThis research aimed to use the cause-and-effect diagram (model) as a method to describe the 15 main factors (for example, awareness, knowledge and motivation of farmers, farmers income, institutional and financial support, condition of the natural environment, healthiness of the population, etc.) leading to soil acidification, their impact on soil health and ecosystem functions, and how soil liming serves as a remedial measure. The cause-and-effect model was developed based on questionnaire studies as a part of the project ‘Opportunities and Barriers to the Use of Soil Liming for Improving the Economic Efficiency of Agricultural Production and Reducing Eutrophication of Surface Waters’ in 2022–2023. The results showed that the effects of soil acidification and liming as well as their interrelationships are multifaceted and affect agricultural production economics, agricultural land and crop prices, environmental health and biodiversity, as well as soil productivity and food security. The causes of this situation can be attributed to social, technological–logistical– technical, and economic factors. To change the existing situation, it is necessary to take effective steps to motivate farmers to lime their soils. The most effective would be (1) offering training courses for farmers to discuss the benefits that a farmer can achieve by maintaining optimum soil pH levels while growing a specific crop species; (2) implementing liming payment programs that will be more attractive and motivating from the farmers’ perspective; and (3) linking agri-environmental payments to the necessity of systematic testing of soil pH levels and maintaining optimal pH levels under specific crops species.Item Antiaging Properties of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Ethanol Extract—Ex Vivo and In Vitro Studies(MDPI, 2024-11-25) Stefanowicz-Hajduk, Justyna; Nowak, Anna; Hering, Anna; Kucharski, Łukasz; Graczyk, Piotr; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Sulikowski, Tadeusz; Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, AnnaSpecies of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine, linked to their remarkable medical properties. These species include Kalanchoe blossfeldiana succulents, which grow in tropical regions. Despite the great interest in this plant, there are no reports about its therapeutic effects on the skin. In this study, the antioxidant properties of K. blossfeldiana ethanol extracts and the skin permeation of a topical hydrogel containing the extract (HKB) were assessed. Additionally, the content of active compounds in the K. blossfeldiana extract was evaluated by UHPLC-MS and HPLC-UV. The extract was analyzed with three antioxidant assays: ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP. Furthermore, the antielastase and antihialuronidase properties of the tested extract were assessed. Ex vivo penetration studies were performed using the Franz diffusion cells. The estimation of the cytotoxicity of HKB was performed by using an MTT assay ((4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) on the human fibroblasts HFF-1. The results obtained show that the antioxidant properties of K. blossfeldiana extract were similar to those of ascorbic acid, while antielastase and antihialuronidase tests indicated the strong antiaging and anti-inflammatory activity of the extract (IC50 was 26.8 ± 0.13 and 77.31 ± 2.44 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, active ingredients contained in K. blossfeldiana extract penetrated through the human skin and accumulated in it. The cytotoxicity test showed that HKB had no significant effect on human bibroblasts at a concentration up to 0.5%. In conclusion, the hydrogel containing the K. blossfeldiana extract can be considered as an interesting and new alternative to dermatologic and cosmetic preparations.Item Surface activity of herniariasaponin and non-saponin fractions of Herniaria L. species(Elsevier, 2024-09-24) Pecio, Solomiia; Pecio, Łukasz; Wojciechowski, KamilThe study investigated the surface activity of aqueous extracts from three Herniaria L. species, namely H. glabra, H. polygama, and H. incana. The three crude extracts exhibited similar chromatographic saponin profiles and equilibrium surface tension values (46–47 mN/m at 1 % concentration). The adsorbed layers were predominantly elastic, with a high compression storage modulus, E'. However, they also showed the ability to dissipate mechanical energy over the aqueous-air interface, as evidenced by fairly high values of the surface compression loss modulus, E'' (45–50 mN/m). The extract of H. glabra exhibited a particularly high E' value (>150 mN/m). To analyze its complex chemical composition, the crude extract was fractionated using liquid chromatography. The sugar fraction was found to be dominant (∼65 % of the extract mass), but exhibited the lowest surface activity. As the acetonitrile content in the eluent increased, the subsequently eluted fractions showed an increasing ability to lower surface tension. The HGW30–70 fraction, which constitutes approximately 20 % of the crude extract mass, was the main contributor to the surface properties of the extract due to its herniariasaponins content. The HGW20–25-A fraction, which showed the second highest surface activity, was further separated into two sub-fractions: non-flavonoid and pure-flavonoid. The former components were primarily responsible for the surface activity and their composition resembled that of a more polar HGW10 fraction (terpene glycosides and C9-C12 fatty acids). The non-flavonoid subfraction was also responsible for solubilization of otherwise poorly water-soluble components, like flavonoids.Item Metabolic Profiling via UPLC/MS/MS and In Vitro Cholinesterase, Amylase, Glucosidase, and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Effects of Carica papaya L. Extracts Reveal Promising Nutraceutical Potential(Springer, 2024-10-16) Soria‑Lopez, Anton; Pecio, Łukasz; R. Saber, Fatema; I. A. Abdel‑dayem, Shymaa; Fayez, Shaimaa; Zengin, Gokhan; Kozachok, Solomiia; El‑Demerdash, Amr; Garcia‑Marti, Maria; Otero‑Fuertes, Paz; Mejuto, Juan Carlos; Skalicka‑Woźniak, Krystyna; Simal‑Gandara, JesusCarica papaya (Family Caricaceae) is endowed with a myriad of biological activities as gastroprotective, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agent. We performed for the first time an extensive comparative metabolite profiling of different plant organs considering both male and female leaves, seeds, and fruits of different maturity stages. The phytochemical fingerprinting-via UPLC/MS/MS- of C. papaya led to tentative identification of 84 metabolites belonging to different primary and secondary phytoconstituents to include alkaloids (carpaine derivatives), flavonoids, glucosinolates, organic and phenolic acids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. The seeds’ profile was enriched with hydroxybenzoic acids and their derivatives, while leaves were characterized by the prevalence of carpaine alkaloids, flavonoids, lipids, and alkylated sugars. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between total phenolic content and the antioxidant assays (ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP), 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)). Principal component analysis was applied to find out possible phytochemical trends across C. papaya matrices, where PC1 and PC2 accounted for 46.57 and 19.93% of the variability in the data set with well-separated extracts into groups mostly on the basis of plant organ. The PCA model showed that immature seeds had the highest antioxidant properties, while leaves separated from fruit and mature seeds due to higher butyrylcholinesterase and α-amylase inhibition, but lower acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibition activity. We corroborate the better exploitation of both edible and inedible parts of C. Papaya in nutraceutical supplements after sufficient in vivo and toxicity studies.Item Adaptive Agronomic Strategies for Enhancing Cereal Yield Resilience Under Changing Climate in Poland(MDPI, 2024) Wójcik-Gront, Elżbieta; Gozdowski, Dariusz; Pudełko, Rafał; Lenartowicz, TomaszClimate-driven changes have raised concerns about their long-term impacts on the yield resilience of cereal crops. This issue is critical in Poland as it affects major cereal crops like winter triticale, spring wheat, winter wheat, spring barley, and winter barley. This study investigates how soil nutrient profiles, fertilization practices, and crop management conditions influence the yield resilience of key cereal crops over a thirteen-year period (2009–2022) in the context of changing climate expressed as varying Climatic Water Balance. Data from 47 locations provided by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing were analyzed to assess the combined effects of agronomic practices and climate-related water availability on crop performance. Yield outcomes under moderate and enhanced management practices were contrasted using Classification and Regression Trees to evaluate the relationships between yield variations and agronomic actors, including soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilization, and levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil. The study found a downward trend in Climatic Water Balance, highlighting the increasing influence of climate change on regional water resources. Crop yields responded positively to increased agricultural inputs, especially nitrogen. Optimal soil pH and medium phosphorus levels were identified as crucial for maximizing yield. The findings underscore the importance of tailored nutrient management and adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability on cereal production. The results provide insights for field crop research and practical approaches to sustain cereal production in changing climatic conditions.Item Ocena wpływu stosowania pofermentu w monokulturze kukurydzy na ilość i jakość materii organicznej w glebie(Wydawnictwo Czasopism i Książek Technicznych SIGMA-NOT Sp. z o.o., 2024) Pikuła, Dorota; Winiarski, RyszardW statycznym doświadczeniu polowym porównano efekty stosowania pofermentu organicznego (stała frakcja) pozyskanego z biogazowni rolniczej na tle obiektu kontrolnego, w którym nie stosowano nawożenia organicznego, celem oceny ilości i jakości materii organicznej. Poferment stosowano w dawce 30 t/ha pod kukurydzę uprawianą na kiszonkę w trzyletniej monokulturze w latach 2019–2021. Nawożenie pofermentem przeciwdziałało ubytkowi węgla organicznego w glebie (Corg.) sprzyjało jego akumulacji, a także poprawiało jakość glebowej materii organicznej. Zastosowanie pofermentu wpływało korzystnie na zwiększenie zawartości frakcji humin (trwałej frakcji próchnicy). Wartość stosunku kwasów huminowych do fulwowych wynosiła CKH:CKF > 1,5.Item Whether the addition of preparations with microorganism affects the organic carbon and humic substances in soil? A 3-year field study in cereal monoculture(Soil Science Society of Poland, 2024) Pikuła, Dorota; Šimanský, Vladimír; Kocoń, AnnaThis paper presents an assessment of humic substances and organic carbon content in soil after application of two microorganism preparations (EmFarma Plus and UGmax) in cereal monocultures. A three-year fi eld study was carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Grabow, belonging to the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG) – State Research Institute. The first factor was tested products with microorganisms and a control without microbiological preparations. The second factor was the 2 methods of application of the above products: on stubble, on stubble + straw. The third factor was the 2 levels of N fertilisation: 0 and 180 kg N·ha–1. The preparations with microorganisms together with mineral nitrogen without were applied annually directly to stubble or stubble + straw left in the fi eld after cereal harvest and compared with a control treatment without the above preparations. The fractional composition of soil organic matter was more sensitive indicator of changes than the analyses the quantity of total organic carbon (TOC). EmFarma Plus applied on stubble and straw stubble, resulted in the organic carbon content increasing by an average of about 3.7% compared to the control plot. The second product tested had the opposite effect. The content of TOC decreased by an average of 2.5% under Ugmax applied to straw and stubble, remaining at a similar level to the control. This product, applied at a rate of 0.9 litres per hectare may have a stimulating effect on the mineralisation processes of soil organic matter (reducing the CHA: CFA ratio), hence the lower organic carbon content after application. Furthermore, it the applied on stubble and straw, without mineral nitrogen fertilisation, it reduced the CHA, and increased of CFA in the organic carbon pool and reduced of index of humifi cation. EmFarma Plus acted in reverse.