An essay on ecosystem availability of Nicotiana glauca graham alkaloids: the honeybees case study

Abstract

Background Invasive plant species pose a significant threat for fragile isolated ecosystems, occupying space, and consuming scarce local resources. Recently though, an additional adverse effect was recognized in the form of its secondary metabolites entering the food chain. The present study is elaborating on this subject with a specific focus on the Nicotiana glauca Graham (Solanaceae) alkaloids and their occurrence and food chain penetrability in Mediterranean ecosystems. For this purpose, a targeted liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (LC–ESI–MS/MS) analytical method, encompassing six alkaloids and one coumarin derivative, utilizing hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) was developed and validated. Results The method exhibited satisfactory recoveries, for all analytes, ranging from 75 to 93%, and acceptable repeatability and reproducibility. Four compounds (anabasine, anatabine, nornicotine, and scopoletin) were identified and quantified in 3 N. glauca flowers extracts, establishing them as potential sources of alien bio-molecules. The most abundant constituent was anabasine, determined at 3900 μg/g in the methanolic extract. These extracts were utilized as feeding treatments on Apis mellifera honeybees, resulting in mild toxicity documented by 16–18% mortality. A slightly increased effect was elicited by the methanolic extract containing anabasine at 20 μg/mL, where mortality approached 25%. Dead bees were screened for residues of the N. glauca flower extracts compounds and a significant mean concentration of anabasine was evidenced in both 10 and 20 μg/mL treatments, ranging from 51 to 92 ng/g per bee body weight. Scopoletin was also detected in trace amounts. Conclusions The mild toxicity of the extracts in conjunction with the alkaloid and coumarin residual detection in bees, suggest that these alien bio-molecules are transferred within the food chain, suggesting a chemical invasion phenomenon, never reported before.

Allelopathic Potential of Nicotiana glauca Aqueous Extract on Seed Germination and Seedlings of Acacia gerrardii

“…However, their leaches from the vegetative part inhibited the development of different plants such as L. sativa [44]. The results of this study are in line with the findings of other studies, which proposed that the aqueous extracts obtained from N. glauca's leaf, flower, and twig extracts contain watersoluble compounds [26,60] and that they can cause inhibition effects on the target plant [27]. Growth inhibitors extracted from invasive N. glauca parts induce physiological problems during one or more stages of plant development life cycles [22].…”

Solanum nigrum Extract and Solasonine Affected Hemolymph Metabolites and Ultrastructure of the Fat Body and the Midgut in Galleria mellonella

“…A very interesting aspect would be the evaluation of the effects of Solanaceae extracts used as potential bioinsecticides on bees, as few studies were carried out. Kasiotis and colleagues tested alkaloids of the Nicotiana glauca Graham (Solanaceae) on bees, finding low levels of toxicity causing 16–18% of mortality [ 37 ]. Similar effects were detected when bees took high doses of nicotine, a typical alkaloid of the Solanaceae plant family, including tomato, potato, green pepper, and tobacco.…”

Nicotiana glauca Graham Yaprak Ekstraktının Antibakteriyel, Antioksidan, Antidiyabetik Potansiyelleri ve Kimyasal Bileşimi

“…N. glauca Graham, often known as tree tobacco, is a garden ornamental and evergreen perennial plant in the Solanaceae family. South and North America, Western, Southern, and Northern Europe, Western United States, Australia, Southern, and Northern Africa, and Western Asia are among the plant's habitats (Abdel Rahman et al, 2011;Alharthi et al, 2021;Bogdanovic et al, 2006;DiTomaso et al, 2013;Kasiotis et al, 2020;Ollerton et al, * : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0804-9557…”