Giuseppe Chichiriccò

Penetration and Toxicity of Nanomaterials in Higher Plants

Nanomaterials (NMs) comprise either inorganic particles consisting of metals, oxides, and salts that exist in nature and may be also produced in the laboratory, or organic particles originating only from the laboratory, having at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm in size. According to shape, size, surface area, and charge, NMs have different mechanical, chemical, electrical, and optical properties that make them suitable for technological and biomedical applications and thus they are being increasingly produced and modified. Despite their beneficial potential, their use may be hazardous to health owing to the capacity to enter the animal and plant body and interact with cells. Studies on NMs involve technologists, biologists, physicists, chemists, and ecologists, so there are numerous reports that are significantly raising the level of knowledge, especially in the field of nanotechnology; however, many aspects concerning nanobiology remain undiscovered, including the interactions with plant biomolecules. In this review we examine current knowledge on the ways in which NMs penetrate plant organs and interact with cells, with the aim of shedding light on the reactivity of NMs and toxicity to plants. These points are discussed critically to adjust the balance with regard to the risk to the health of the plants as well as providing some suggestions for new studies on this topic.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Drugs from saffron crocus

The medicinal uses of saffron (Crocus sativus Linnaeus) have a long history beginning in Asian countries since the Late Bronze Age. Recent studies have validated its potential to lower the risk of several diseases. Some metabolites derived from saffron stigmas exert numerous therapeutic effects due to hypolipidemic, antitussive, antioxidant, antidiabetic activities and many others. Water and ethanol extracts of Crocus sativus L. are cardioprotective and counteract neurodegenerative disorders. Many of these medicinal properties of saffron can be attributed to a number of its compounds such as crocetin, crocins and other substances having strong antioxidant and radical scavenger properties against a variety of radical oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Botany, worldwide spreading of cultivars, biochemical pathways, active constituents and chemical detection methods are reviewed. Therapeutic uses of saffron principles with particular regard to those exhibiting antioxidant and thus anti-inflammatory features are discussed. To date, very few adverse health effects of saffron have been demonstrated. At high doses (more than 5 g/die day), it should be avoided in pregnancy owing to its uterine stimulation activity.

Karyotype and meiotic behaviour of the triploid Crocus sativus L.

SUMMARYThe karyotype and microsporogenesis of triploid Crocus sativus were studied. The high percentage of trivalents observed at metaphase I (on average, 7.3 trivalents per cell) together with the karyotype configuration confirm autotriploidy. Some considerations about the presence of one unique chromosome in the karyotype and about the origin of triploidy are presented.

Developmental stages of the pollen wall and tapetum in some Crocus species

The developmental stages of the pollen wall and tapetum, together with exine morphology were studied in a number of Crocus species, by light and scanning electron microscopy. Gametogenesis was characterized by: 1) development of a thick intine, 2) single mitosis, and 3) terminal amylolysis. The tapetum was of the secretory type. In C. cartwrightianus cv. albus, abnormal sporogenesis and gametogenesis produced vacuolate pollen grains with a reduced-or no intine layer, and rich with starch granules; the tapetum was either of the parietal-or amoeboid type. The exine was echinate and the pollen grains had different types of aperture: furrows, colpi or pores. The ornamentation varied from microreticulate to irregularly perforate. The exine framework was overlaid by a pellicle resistant to chloroform-carbon disulphide, on which a layer of pollenkitt was deposited. The results are discussed from both cytological and evolutionary viewpoints.

Transgenerational Effects of NMs

Nanomaterials are present in a number of commercially available products but there are uncertainties as to whether the unique properties that support their commercial use may also pose potential health risks. Information is missing concerning the influence of nanomaterials on the overall reproductive outcome and transgenerational effects in animals and plants. To obtain this information, long-term studies would be required using animal models phylogenetically close to humans and exposure conditions that reflect realistic scenarios with regard to dosages and admission. The nanoreprotoxicology literature published to date is largely descriptive in nature regarding the effects of nanoparticles. The mechanisms, which determine particle reproduction compatibility, are mostly elusive at the moment. Thus, it is recommended that future research explore the interactions between nanomaterials and transgenerational matter on a molecular level. It would, for instance, be of major importance to understand the behaviour of nanoparticles inside the cells but also their genotoxic and epigenetic effects. Recent studies have shown that intravenous and/or intra-abdominal administration of nanoparticles to mice results in their accumulation in the cells of many tissues, including the brain and the testis, suggesting that they easily pass through the blood-brain and blood-testis barriers. In parallel embryo development after exposure to nanoparticles should be comparatively investigated. The majority of studies on embryo toxicology have concentrated on piscine embryos, mostly derived from zebrafish. Plants for human food as an important component of the ecosystem need also to be taken into account when evaluating transgenerational effects of engineered nanomaterials in crops.

Crocus Sativus Pollen Tube Growth in Intra- and Interspecific Pollinations

SUMMARYPollen germination and pollen tube growth were studied by fluorescence technique in pistil of Crocus sativus and C. thomasii after intra- and interspecific pollinations. The results indicated that C. sativus pollen germinates in low percentage in all the stigmas and some pollen tubes grow down to the ovules. In both the Crocus species the pollen tube growth is accompanied by anormalities of pollen tube behaviour and its tip aspect. Since most of these abnormalities are found in all the pistil parts it was not possible to correlate them with incompatibility in the studied plants.

In vitro development of parthenocarpic fruits of Crocus sativus L.

In vitro development of parthenocarpic fruits of Crocus sativus L. was induced by culturing ovaries on MS agar medium supplemented with growth-regulators (2,4-D, GA3 and BAP). Amongh these, 2,4-D was the most effective in promoting fructification. The fructigenic activity was independent of both the stage at which the ovaries were excised (before, during or after anthesis) and pollination of the stigmas. Unlike the above compounds, abscisic acid inhibited fructification.

Germination and viability of the pollen of Crocus sativus L

Abstract Viability and germinability tests were carried out on the pollen of Crocus sativus L., a sterile triploid commonly known as saffron. Pollen taken from dehiscent anthers was examined by means of vital staining and cytochemical techniques in order to detect its viability; germination in vitro was evaluated. From the results obtained it is evident that saffron pollen is viable at a high percentage (65%) but germinates at a very low percentage. Moreover in vitro germination is very slow, and is accompained by numerous morphological anomalies. The low germination of the pollen is due to the triploidy of C. sativus.

Phytotherapy in the Subequana Valley, Abruzzo, central Italy

We report on the phytotherapeutic applications in the Subequana Valley, Abruzzo, central Italy, that we found from direct investigation among the people that are still using plants for curing human and animal diseases. The plant species utilized (about sixty) are those native to the region and easily available. Some of the applications are strictly local and are not known in other regions of Italy.

Megasporogenesis and Development of Embryo Sac in Crocus Sativus L.

SUMMARYCytological observations during megasporogenesis and embryo sac development of Crocus sativus L. are reported. During meiotic divisions irregular assortment of chromosomes was observed; consequently, megaspores resulted numerically variable (4–6) and they were genetically unbalanced. The megaspore tetrads-hexads showed chalazal heteropolarity, however, the microphylar pole resulted more active than the chalazal one in promoting megaspore development. This was attributed to the nutritional factors liberated from degenerated micropylar spores. Independently on the number of produced megaspores the micropylar ones (M1, M2, M3), generally, degenerated, the chalazal spores (M4–M6) persisting; therefore, besides single embryo sacs, megaspores close to embryo sac or development of two embryo sacs could be observed. Frequently, the megasporogenesis or development of the persistent megaspore were not completed; consequently, ovules lacking embryo sac or showing immature embryo sac occurred. The mature embry...