Manana Khutsishvili

Scrophularia orientalis extract induces calcium signaling and apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells.

Effective neuroblastoma (NB) treatments are still limited despite treatment options available today. Therefore, this study attempted to identify novel plant extracts that have anticancer effects. Cytotoxicity and increased intracellular calcium levels were determined using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and Fluo4-AM (acetoxymethyl) staining and fluorescence microscopy in NB cells in order to screen a library of plant extracts. The current study examined the anticancer effects of a dichloromethane extract from Scrophularia orientalis L. (Scrophulariaceae), a plant that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This extract contained highly potent agents that significantly reduced cell survival and increased calcium levels in NB cells. Further analysis revealed that cell death induced by this extract was associated with intracellular calcium release, opening of the MPTP, caspase 3- and PARP-cleavage suggesting that this extract induced aberrant calcium signaling that resulted in apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Therefore, agents from Scrophularia orientalis may have the potential to lead to new chemo therapeutic anticancer drugs. Furthermore, targeting intracellular calcium signaling may be a novel strategy to develop more effective treatments for NB.

Ex situ conservation of some endemic and protected plant species in Georgia

SummaryEcological and biological characteristics of eight, endemic, economically important, Georgian Red Data species (Convallaria transcaucasica Utkin ex Grossh., Cyclamen colchicum (Albov) Albov, Dioscorea caucasica Lipsky, Erythronium caucasicum Woronow, Gymnospermium smirnowii (Trautv.) Takht., Iris iberica Hoffm, Paeonia mlokosewitschii Lomak and Tulipa eichleri Regel) were studied. The current status of wild populations was assessed throughout their distributional area; exact locations of target populations were recorded using GPS, and fertility and vitality of individual populations were evaluated. Structural aspects of seed formation were studied, reproduction capacity was calculated, and the ratio of seed production (actual seed-forming capacity) to the number of ovules (potential seed-forming capacity) was determined. Optimum periods for the collection of mature seeds were identified for each target species. Seed germinability, sprouting capacity and potential for seedling development were tested experimentally in the laboratory on Petri dishes, in pots and outdoors. Ex situ conservation activities have been carried out: a seed bank was established and a stock of seedlings was produced for the purpose of in situ restoration of species with high conservation value.

Your Poison in My Pie—the Use of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Leaves in Sakartvelo, Republic of Georgia, Caucasus, and Gollobordo, Eastern Albania

William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, USA Herbario Nacional de Bolivia, Instituto de Ecología-UMSA, Campus Universitario, Cota Cota Calle 27, La Paz, Bolivia Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Ilia State University, Botanikuri St. 1, 0105, Tbilisi, Georgia 4-D Research Institute, Ilia State University, 5, Cholokasvili Ave, 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 9, I-12060, Pollenzo, CN, Italy *Corresponding author; e-mail: rainer.bussmann@mobot.org