Climate Change Dependence in Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Medicinal Plants in Crete, Greece.

Over 80% of the global population addresses their primary healthcare needs using traditional medicine based on medicinal plants. Consequently, there's a rising demand for these plants for both household and industrial use at local, regional, national, and international levels. However, wild harvesting has negatively impacted natural ecosystems.

Mining the ZINC database of natural products for specific, testosterone-like, OXER1 antagonists.

OXER1, the receptor for the oxidized arachidonic acid metabolite 5-oxo-ETE has been reported to play a significant role in inflammatory responses, being responsible for leucocyte chemotactic responses. Recently, we have identified OXER1 (GPR170) as a membrane receptor for androgens in prostate and breast cancer cells. Testosterone action via OXER1 induces specific Ca release from intracellular organelles, modifies polymerized actin distribution induces apoptosis and decreases cancer cell migration.

New Antagonists of the Membrane Androgen Receptor OXER1 from the ZINC Natural Product Database.

OXER1 (oxoeicosanoid receptor 1) was deorphanized in 1993 and found to be the specific receptor for the arachidonic acid metabolite 5-oxo-ETE. Recently, we have reported that androgen binds to this receptor also, being a membrane androgen receptor, triggering a number of its membrane-mediated actions (cell migration, apoptosis, cell proliferation, Ca movements). In addition, our previous work suggested that a number of natural monomeric and oligomeric polyphenols interact with OXER1, acting similar to testosterone.

From wild harvest towards precision agriculture: Use of Ecological Niche Modelling to direct potential cultivation of wild medicinal plants in Crete.

Understanding the distribution of wild medicinal plants and areas that are suitable for cultivation of these plants is important for both conservation and agriculture. Here, we study ten taxa with known ethnopharmacological uses, which have been used extensively in traditional medicine and as culinary supplements. We aim to (1) predict and map the potential habitat suitability for these taxa across the study area, (2) investigate spatial patterns that could have management implications, such as niche similarities among the taxa and suitability "hotspots" with the use of novel indices, and (3) develop a platform where parts of this information can be accessed and utilized by all interested groups, from the policy-maker level to the individual practitioner level.

Exogenous induction of thermogenesis in Arum concinnatum by salicylic acid.

Arum concinnatum Schott is a highly thermogenic species, with the temperature of the appendix exceeding ~10.9°C above the ambient temperature during thermogenesis, whereas the rates of respiration of the male florets in intact inflorescences peak at 0.92μmol s-1 g-1, which is the highest rate so far measured among the plants.

Post-market outcome of an extract of traditional Cretan herbs on upper respiratory tract infections: a pragmatic, prospective observational study.

Background: The beneficial effects of traditional herbs of Crete, Greece for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections have been reported in observational and laboratory studies. Following a published, double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an extract of three Cretan herbs on the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, upon its market release.

Methods: An observational study was conducted in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Environmental (in)dependence of a hybrid zone: Insights from molecular markers and ecological niche modeling in a hybrid zone of (Lamiaceae) on the island of Crete.

The role of environment and the relative significance of endogenous versus exogenous selection in shaping hybrid zones have been crucial issues in the studies of hybridization. Recent advances in ecological niche modeling (ENM) offer new methodological tools, especially in combination with the genotyping of individuals in the hybrid zone. Here, we study the hybrid zone between the widely known spices and ssp.

Chemical and genetic characterization of Phlomis species and wild hybrids in Crete.

The genus Phlomis is represented in the island of Crete (Greece, Eastern Mediterranean) by three species Phlomis cretica C. Presl., Phlomis fruticosa L.

Transcriptome analysis of thermogenic Arum concinnatum reveals the molecular components of floral scent production.

Several plant species can generate enough heat to increase their internal floral temperature above ambient temperature. Among thermogenic plants, Arum concinnatum shows the highest respiration activity during thermogenesis. However, an overall understanding of the genes related to plant thermogenesis has not yet been achieved.

The oxygen supply to thermogenic flowers.

Thermogenic flowers produce heat by intense respiration, and the rates of O2 consumption (Ṁo2) in some species can exceed those of all other tissues of plants and most animals. By exposing intact flowers to a range of O2 pressures (Po2) and measuring Ṁo2, we demonstrate that the highest respiration rates exceed the capacity of the O2 diffusive pathway and become diffusion limited in atmospheric air. The male florets on the inflorescence of Arum concinnatum have the highest known mass-specific Ṁo2 and can be severely diffusion limited.

Effects of ammonia from livestock farming on lichen photosynthesis.

This study investigated if atmospheric ammonia (NH3) pollution around a sheep farm influences the photosynthetic performance of the lichens Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea. Thalli of both species were transplanted for up to 30 days in a semi-arid region (Crete, Greece), at sites with concentrations of atmospheric ammonia of ca. 60 microg/m3 (at a sheep farm), ca.

Thermogenesis of three species of Arum from Crete.

Inflorescences of arum lilies have a three-part spadix with a scent-producing, sterile appendix above two bands of fertile male and female florets. The appendix and male florets are thermogenic, but with different temporal patterns. Heat-production was measured in Arum concinnatum, A.

Chlorophyll degradation and inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis in the lichen Xanthoria parietina under nitrogen stress.

This study investigated if some nitrogen (N) compounds commonly used as fertilizers (KNO3, NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4) cause chlorophyll degradation in the N-tolerant lichen Xanthoria parietina and if polyamines are responsible for the N-tolerance of this species. The results showed that N excess does not cause chlorophyll degradation and suggested the absence of kinetics in the mode of action of the N compounds tested. External supply of inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis prior to N treatments did not cause any change in the response of chlorophyll integrity, suggesting that at least chlorophyll integrity is not controlled by polyamines.

Epiphytic lichens as sentinels for heavy metal pollution at forest ecosystems (central Italy).

The results of a study using epiphytic lichens (Parmelia caperata) as sentinels for heavy metal deposition at six selected forest ecosystems of central Italy are reported. The woods investigated are characterized by holm oak (Quercus ilex), turkey oak (Quercus cerris) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) and represent the typical forest ecosystems of central Italy at low, medium and high elevations, respectively. The results showed that levels of heavy metals in lichens were relatively low and consequently no risk of heavy metal air pollution is expected for the six forest ecosystems investigated.