Composition of the metabolomic bio-coronas isolated from Ocimum sanctum and Rubia tinctorum

Abstract

Objective Nanoharvesting from intact plants, organs, and cultured cells is a method in which nanoparticles are co-incubated with the target tissue, which leads to the internalization of nanoparticles. Internalized nanoparticles are coated in situ with specific metabolites that form a dynamic surface layer called a bio-corona. Our previous study showed that metabolites that form the bio-corona around anatase TiO2 nanoparticles incubated with leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana are enriched for flavonoids and lipids. The present study focused on the identification of metabolites isolated by nanoharvesting from two medicinal plants, Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) and Rubia tinctorum (common madder). Results To identify metabolites that form the bio-corona, Tulsi leaves and madder roots were incubated with ultra-small anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, the coated nanoparticles were collected, and the adsorbed molecules were released from the nanoparticle surface and analyzed using an untargeted metabolomics approach. Similar to the results in which Arabidopsis tissue was used as a source of metabolites, TiO2 nanoparticle bio-coronas from Tulsi and madder were enriched for flavonoids and lipids, suggesting that nanoharvesting has a wide-range application potential. The third group of metabolites enriched in bio-coronas isolated from both plants were small peptides with C-terminal arginine and lysine residues.

In Planta Nanosensors: Understanding Biocorona Formation for Functional Design

“…Within this body of work, Kurepa et al conducted multiple studies centered around the metabolite corona formed on TiO 2 nanoparticles in Arabidopsis thaliana, Ocimum sanctum , and Rubia tinctorum. − TiO 2 nanoparticles were incubated with mature leaves, and after subsequent metabolomic analysis, the nanoparticle surface was found to be enriched in lipids and in particular flavonoids, which are polyphenolic small molecules involved in secondary metabolism . These results also revealed that lipids and flavonoids compete for nanoparticle surface sites during biocorona formation.…”

Harnessing the Potential of Roots of Traditional Power Plant: Ocimum

“…All parts (root, stem, leaves, flower, and seeds), as well as whole the plant of Ocimum , have been recommended in traditional medicinal systems. Potential therapeutic properties of Ocimum include adaptogenic, anabolic, analgesic, antiaging, antiallergic, antiarthritic, anticancer, anticataract, anticoagulant, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antidiuretic, antiemetic, antifertility, antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antilipidemic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antistress, antiulcer, cardioprotective, chemopreventive, diaphoretic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, immune stimulant, larvicidal, mosquito repellent, neuroprotective, radioprotective, and other activities ( Gupta et al, 2002 ; Prakash and Gupta, 2005 ; Singh et al, 2007 ; Rahman et al, 2011 ; Baliga et al, 2013 ; Jamshidi and Cohen, 2017 ; Wakchaure et al, 2017 ; Kulkarni and Adavirao, 2018 ; Gautam et al, 2020 ; Kurepa and Smalle, 2021 ).…”

“…The plant is also called as Holy Tulsi and known to have two varieties, Krishna or Hari Tulsi and Ram or Shri Tulsi, with similar biochemical and therapeutic properties. The importance of tulsi made it the “queen of herbs,” “elixir of life,” “matchless one,” “incomparable one,” “a herb for all reasons,” or “mother medicine of nature” ( Wakchaure et al, 2017 ; Kulkarni and Adavirao, 2018 ; Gautam et al, 2020 ; Nadar et al, 2020 ; Singh et al, 2020 ; Kurepa and Smalle, 2021 ). O. sanctum is an erect, branched, annual herb with a square stem, which grows up to 18 inches (75 cm) into low bushes and has specific aroma ( Gupta et al, 2002 ; Prakash and Gupta, 2005 ; Mondal et al, 2009 ; Pattanayak et al, 2010 ; Shilpa et al, 2010 ; Rahman et al, 2011 ; Kulkarni and Adavirao, 2018 ).…”