Essential oils obtained from the NR (normal roots) and HR (hairy roots) of the medicinal plant Leonurus sibiricus root were used in this study. The essential oil compositions were detected by GC‐MS. Eighty‐five components were identified in total. Seventy components were identified for NR essential oil. The major constituents in NR essential oil were β‐selinene (9.9%), selina‐4,7‐diene (9.7%), (E)‐β‐caryophyllene (7.3%),myli‐4(15)‐ene (6.4%), and guaia‐1(10),11‐diene (5.9%). Sixty‐seven components were identified in HR essential oil, the main constituents being (E)‐β‐caryophyllene (22.6%), and germacrene D (19.8%). The essential oils were tested for cytotoxic effect, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Both essential oils showed activity against grade IV glioma cell lines (IC₅₀ = 400 μg/mL), antimicrobial (MIC and MFC values of 2500 to 125 μg/mL), and anti‐inflammatory (decreased level of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ in LPS‐stimulated cells).The essential oils exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in ABTS (EC₅₀ = 98 and 88 μg/mL) assay. This is the first study to examine composition of the essential oils and their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti‐inflammatory activities. The results indicate that essential oils form L. sibiricus root may be used in future as an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents with potential application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Menyanthes trifoliata L. has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It exists in Asia, Europe, North America and in Morocco and is exploited as a remedy for anemia and lack of appetite. This plant shows many pharmacological properties, but its most interesting one is its anti-cancer potential. The present study examines the induction of apoptosis in grade IV glioma cells after treatment with the extracts from aerial part and root of M. trifoliata plants derived from in vitro (MtAPV and MtRV, respectively) and from soil (MtAPS and MtRS, respectively) and presents the first comparison of the biological effects of four different extracts of M. trifoliata against glioblastoma cells. The root extracts of M. trifoliata plants were found to exhibit cytotoxic effects against grade IV glioma cells, but not normal human astrocytes. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of various polyphenolic compounds, including sinapinic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid and vanilic acid. Higher amount of pentacyclic triterpene (betulinic acid) was also found in MtRV extract. The growth inhibition of human grade IV glioma cells mediated by MtRV extract appears to be associated with apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, and altered expression of the pro- and anti-apoptotic genes (Bax, Bcl-2, Cas-3 and TP53) and proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, Cas-3 and p53), as well as decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Our results indicate that M. trifoliata gives promising results as an anti-cancer agent for human glioblastoma cell lines. However, further research is necessary in view of its therapeutic use.

The aim of the study was to obtain transformed roots ofRhaponticum carthamoidesand evaluate their phytochemical profile. Hairy roots were induced from leaf explants by the transformation ofAgrobacterium rhizogenesstrains A4 and ATCC 15834. The best response (43%) was achieved by infection with A4 strain. The effects of different liquid media (WPM, B5, SH) with full and half-strength concentrations of macro- and micronutrients on biomass accumulation of the best grown hairy root line (RC3) at two different lighting conditions (light or dark) were investigated. The highest biomass (93 g L⁻¹of the fresh weight after 35 days) was obtained in WPM medium under periodic light. UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS³and HPLC-PDA analyses of 80% aqueous methanol extracts from the obtained hairy roots revealed the presence of eleven caffeoylquinic acids and their derivatives and five flavonoid glycosides. The production of caffeoylquinic acids and their derivatives was elevated in hairy roots grown in the light. Only light-grown hairy roots demonstrated the capability for the biosynthesis of such flavonoid glycosides as quercetagetin, quercetin, luteolin, and patuletin hexosides. Chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and a tentatively identified tricaffeoylquinic acid derivative were detected as the major compounds present in the transformed roots.