Andreas G. Heiss

Metabolomics driven analysis of six Nigella species seeds via UPLC-qTOF-MS and GC–MS coupled to chemometrics

Nigella sativa, commonly known as black cumin seed, is a popular herbal supplement that contains numerous phytochemicals including terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids. Only a few of the ca. 15 species in the genus Nigella have been characterized in terms of phytochemical or pharmacological properties. Here, large scale metabolic profiling including UPLC-PDA-MS and GC-MS with further multivariate analysis was utilized to classify 6 Nigella species. Under optimized conditions, we were able to annotate 52 metabolites including 8 saponins, 10 flavonoids, 6 phenolics, 10 alkaloids, and 18 fatty acids. Major peaks in UPLC-MS spectra contributing to the discrimination among species were assigned as kaempferol glycosidic conjugates, with kaempferol-3-O-[glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-glucopyranoside, identified as potential taxonomic marker for N. sativa. Compared with GC-MS, UPLC-MS was found much more efficient in Nigella sample classification based on genetic and geographical origin. Nevertheless, both GC-MS and UPLC-MS support the remote position of Nigella nigellastrum in relation to the other taxa.

SEED MORPHOLOGY OF NIGELLA S.L. (RANUNCULACEAE): IDENTIFICATION, DIAGNOSTIC TRAITS, AND THEIR POTENTIAL PHYLOGENETIC RELEVANCE

A comprehensive morphological and anatomical analysis was carried out on seeds of all 15 species currently recognized in the genus Nigella s.l. (including Komaroffia and Garidella). In addition, a selection of six infraspecific taxa was examined. Using testa thin sections, morphometry, and SEM imaging, seed coat characters proved to be a highly diagnostic and powerful tool in species identification. A dichotomous identification key is presented along with seed descriptions, measurements and anatomical details, LM photos, and SEM micrographs. Analyses using maximum parsimony and character mapping onto a DNA-based phylogeny suggest that seed characters will be useful for ongoing phylogenetic studies in the genus. The importance of properly identifying Nigella seeds is highlighted for applied use in archaeobotany and pharmacognosy.

Land use, economy and cult in late Iron Age ritual centres: an archaeobotanical study of the La Tène site at Sandberg-Roseldorf, Lower Austria

Sandberg-Roseldorf—one of the largest known lowland La Tène settlements in central Europe—is located in a very fertile area favouring cereal cultivation. The site is remarkable for its temple districts and its possible religious significance. A total of 27,252 charred plant remains have been analysed from Temple District 1 and a section of the settlement area, including a burnt granary. Altogether 14 crop plant species have been identified, some of them pointing to contacts with the Mediterranean. The 136 recorded wild plant taxa originate from major habitat types around the settlement, including arable fields, ruderal sites, steppe grassland on loess, dry grassland on acidic soils, mesic grassland on moist valley bottoms, as well as woods and forest steppe complexes. Land use seems to have been quite intensive around Roseldorf. Palaeoeconomic calculations show that the exceptionally rich agrarian environment could have easily supported a sizeable human population, only parts of which had to devote themselves to food production. Ritual contexts yielded rich and some exceptional plant material.

Metabolite profiling in Trigonella seeds via UPLC-MS and GC-MS analyzed using multivariate data analyses.

Trigonella foenum-graecum is a plant of considerable value for its nutritive composition as well as medicinal effects. This study aims to examine Trigonella seeds using a metabolome-based ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) in parallel to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with multivariate data analyses. The metabolomic differences of seeds derived from three Trigonella species, i.e., T. caerulea, T. corniculata, and T. foenum-graecum, were assessed. Under specified conditions, we were able to identify 93 metabolites including 5 peptides, 2 phenolic acids, 22 C/O-flavonoid conjugates, 26 saponins, and 9 fatty acids using UPLC-MS. Several novel dipeptides, saponins, and flavonoids were found in Trigonella herein for the first time. Samples were classified via unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) followed by supervised orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). A distinct separation among the investigated Trigonella species was revealed, with T. foenum-graecum samples found most enriched in apigenin-C-glycosides, viz. vicenins 1/3 and 2, compared to the other two species. In contrast to UPLC-MS, GC-MS was less efficient to classify specimens, with differences among specimens mostly attributed to fatty acyl esters. GC-MS analysis of Trigonella seed extracts led to the identification of 91 metabolites belonging mostly to fatty acyl esters, free fatty acids followed by organic acids, sugars, and amino acids. This study presents the first report on primary and secondary metabolite compositional differences among Trigonella seeds via a metabolomics approach and reveals that, among the species examined, the official T. foenum-graecum presents a better source of Trigonella secondary bioactive metabolites.

A Fistful of Bladdernuts: The Shifting Uses of Staphylea pinnata L. as Documented by Archaeology, History, and Ethnology

Abstract An interdisciplinary approach combining archaeological, historical, and ethnological data is used in the attempt to draw a general image of the role of bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata) in past societies. The purposes encountered in this literature study extend from nutritional and medicinal uses to particular ritual/religious aspects, incorporating apotropaic and sympathetic magic, the use in grave goods, and the role of bladdernut in rosaries. In the two latter purposes, the ‘cut nose’ aspect of the seeds is suggested to be an important symbolic factor. Research into the past cultural dimensions of plants is often restricted to plants with important uses, cultivated for millennia and ever sought after, and of fundamental meaning to human subsistence and economy. This is definitely true for the main cultivated crops of the Old World, and for plants regarded essential for other (e.g. medical) reasons. Bladdernut is definitely not one of these ‘great’ useful plants. Still, this shrub has had a curious past which seemed to us worth investigating, for the beliefs and meanings that still cling to it. As we will see, new beliefs are still developing. Largely building upon the previous detailed work by the first author,1 the current study pursues the goal of drawing as complete a picture as possible of the cultural relevance of bladdernut in past societies. This has been done by critically evaluating the extant literature on material evidence, written historical sources, and ethnographic studies on Staphylea pinnata across Europe, and trying to suggest new interpretations for this plant. Originally given as a conference paper by the first author listed, the following article has been considerably reworked and now includes substantially more research than previously.