Invasive plants’ phytochemicals are important for their invasiveness, enabling them to spread in new environments. However, these chemicals could offer many pharmaceutical compounds or active ingredients for herbal preparations. This study provides the first LC–MS phytochemical screening of six invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in the Istria region (Croatia): Ailanthus altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Conyza canadensis, Dittrichia viscosa, Erigeron annuus, and Xanthium strumarium. The study aims to identify and quantify the phenolic content of their leaf extracts and assess their antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential. A total of 32 species-specific compounds were recorded. Neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, and 5-p-coumaroylquinic acids, quercetin-3-glucoside, and kaempferol hexoside were detected in all the tested IAPS. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were the main components in all the tested IAPS, except in E. annuus, where flavanones dominated with a share of 70%. X. strumarium extract had the best activity against the tested bacteria, with an average MIC value of 0.11 mg/mL, while A. altissima and X. strumarium extracts had the best activity against the tested fungi, with an average MIC value of 0.21 mg/mL in both cases. All the plant extracts studied, except X. strumarium, were less cytotoxic than the positive control. The results provided additional information on the phytochemical properties of IAPS and their potential for use as antimicrobial agents.
Non-native or alien species present a range of threats to native ecosystems and human well-being. Many such species have selective advantages over native species, such as faster growth and reproduction rates, higher ecological tolerance, or more effective dispersal mechanisms. However, these species are often inadvertently demonised without sufficient awareness of the ecological principles-disturbance, niche and competitionthat contribute to species dominance in an ecosystem. Non-native species can provide services useful to humans, particularly in facilitating many contemporary needs of modern civilisation. In the present paper, the available records on the influence of non-native invasive species and the relationship between services lost and new services acquired due to their presence will be discussed.
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), an invasive tree in Europe, commonly known for its negative impact on biodiversity, is a rich source of phenolic compounds recognized in traditional medicine. Since the metabolite profile depends on the environment and climate, this study aimed to provide the first LC-MS phytochemical screening of the black locust from the Istria region (Croatia). The compounds were extracted from leaves and flowers with 70% ethanol and 80% methanol. Total phenolics (TP) and flavonoids (TF), as well as antioxidant capacity (AC) measured by ABTS (17.49–146.41 mg TE/g DW), DPPH (24.67–118.49 mg TE/g DW), and FRAP (7.38–77.53 mg TE/g DW) assays, were higher in leaf than in flower extracts. Higher TP and total non-flavonoid (TNF) values were displayed in ethanolic than in methanolic extracts. In total, 64 compounds were identified, of which flavonols (20) and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (15) were the most represented. Flavanols such as catechin dominated in leaf extracts, followed by flavonols, with kaempferol glucuronyl rhamnosyl hexosides as the main compound, respectively. Flower extracts had the highest share of flavones, followed by ellagitannins, with luteolin dirhamnosyl hexosides and vescalagin, respectively, being predominant. The extracts had good quorum sensing, biofilm formation prevention, and eradicating capacity. The results provided new insights into the phytochemical properties of R. pseudoacacia as the first step toward its potential pharmaceutical use.
Azijska pamučna štitasta uš Takahashia japonica Cockerell (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Coccidae), vrsta je porijeklom iz Japana. U Europi je prvi put pronađena 2017. godine u Italiji te 2018. godine u Velikoj Britaniji. U ovom radu dajemo pregled prvog nalaza vrste T. japonica u Hrvatskoj. Prvi nalaz kukca T. japonica uočen je 2019. godine u Puli (Istarska županija, Hrvatska), a vrsta je determinirana u proljeće 2020 godine. Kako bi što učinkovitije prikupili terenske podatke, pokrenuli smo kampanju po načelu „građani znanstvenici“ pod naslovom: “Traži se neobičan kukac - Takahashia japonica”. Poziv za dostavu dojava s lokacijama poslan je svim komunalnim gradskim poduzećima u Istri, javnim ustanovama zaštićenih područja, nevladinim udrugama te je podijeljen u lokalnim novinama i radio postajama. Specifična morfologija ooteka omogućila je lako prepoznavanje ove vrste i osigurala pouzdanost dojava građana. Tijekom kampanje prikupljeno je ukupno sedam dojava u širem središtu grada Pule. Najčešća biljka domaćin bila je Acer sp. i Morus alba L. od kojih su neka stabla pretrpjela značajnu defolijaciju te propadanje krošnje. S obzirom na ograničenu zarazu i relativno mali broj zaraženih stabala opravdano je pokušati provesti potpuno uklanjanje ove vrste. Postupci mjera ranog otkrivanja i brzog iskorjenjivanja invazivnih štetočina u skladu su s Pravilnikom br. 1143/2014 Europskog parlamenta i Vijeća te Europske i Mediteranske Organizacije za Zaštitu Bilja (EPPO). Aktivnosti iskorjenjivanja dogovorene su s gradskim komunalnim poduzećem Herculanea d.o.o. koji je odgovoran za hortikulturu i zaštitu biljaka u gradu Puli.
Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter is a shrub native to the Mediterranean, however, declared as a very invasive species in Australia and North America. Environmental (climatic) and socio-economic (land abandonment) changes can trigger different adaptive mechanisms and cause changes in species behavior, influencing invasion dynamics. Motivated by the recently noticed change of D. viscosa behavior in its native Mediterranean habitat, we discuss the invasion properties, its behavior in the native habitat and new areas, and its management options. We review the species’ adverse effects and its positive ecosystem services in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework. In this review, we provide information on the phytochemical properties of D. viscosa and highlight its potential use in ecological agriculture, phytopharmacy, and medicine. The presented data is useful for developing effective management of this contentious species, with emphasis on mitigating environmental and economic damages, especially in agriculture. The final aim is to achieve a balanced ecosystem, providing a high level of possible services (provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting).
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