Biodiversity and Biomedicine

Our Future

Munir Ozturk, Dilfuza Egamberdieva, Milica Pešić

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780128195413
• eBook ISBN: 9780128223703
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Biodiversity and Biomedicine: Our Future provides a new outlook on Earth's animal, plant, and fungi species as vital sources for human health treatments. While there are over 10 million various species on the planet, only 2 million have been discovered and named. This book identifies modern ways to incorporate Earth's species into biomedical practices and emphasizes the need for biodiversity conservation.Written by leading biodiversity and biomedical experts, the book begins with new insights on the benefits of biologically active compounds found in fungi and plants, including a chapter on the use of wild fruits as a treatment option. The book goes on to discuss the roles of animals, such as amphibians and reptiles, and how the threatened presence of these species must be reversed to conserve biodiversity. It also discusses marine organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes, as essential in contributing to human health.Biodiversity and Biomedicine: Our Future is a vital source for researchers and practitioners specializing in biodiversity and conservation studies. Students in natural medicine and biological conservation will also find this useful to learn of the world's most bio-rich communities and the molecular diversity of various species.- Presents new developments in documenting and identifying species for biodiversity conservation and ethical considerations for biodiversity research- Examines biodiversity as an irreplaceable resource for biomedical breakthroughs using available species for medical research- Discusses challenges and opportunities for biodiversity protection and research in biosphere reserves

Chapter 1

Plant microbiome: source for biologically active compounds

Dilfuza Egamberdieva^{1, 2} and Dilfuza Jabborova³, ¹1Associate Professor, Faculty of Biology, National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, ²2Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China, ³3Laboratory of Medical Plants Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Medicinally important plants produce various phytochemical constituents, such as phenols, tannins, and alkaloids, which have an effect on the physiology of endophytic microbes. There is evidence that microbes living symbiotically with plants can produce similar metabolites to their hosts with similar biological activity. Endophytic microbes may contribute to plants’ natural defenses by preventing herbivores and the biocontrol of pathogens and pests due to their ability to produce the same or similar compounds to the host plants. The plant microbiome, including rhizobia and endophytic bacteria and fungi from extreme environments, is most likely to possess diverse functions that help plants to adapt to hostile environments. Many microbes and fungi isolated from medicinal plants that exhibit antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria, also produce bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activities. The endophytes with antimicrobial activity produce metabolites such as celastramycins, kakadumycins, and javanicin. Several other compounds were found in endophytes with antioxidant activities, such as phenols, tannins, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotene, and cajaninstilbene acid. In this review, endophytes that produce biologically active metabolites will be discussed. In addition, microbial metabolites and the future research trends of using biologically active compounds for new drug discovery will also be highlighted.

Keywords

Medicinal plants; microbial diversity; endophytes; antibacterial activity; biological active metabolites

1.1 Introduction

Medicinal plants are known as a source for biologically active metabolites with therapeutic potential and have been used worldwide since ancient times for the treatment of a number of diseases, such as hepatic and cardiovascular pain, inflammation and inflammatory-mediated pain, asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms, skin disease, and urinary problems (Ozturk & Hakeem, 2018, 2019a, 2019b; Tian et al., 2014). According to the World Health Organization, medicinal plants are commonly used in developing countries to treat many kinds of disorders, and traditional medicine has an economic importance as well (WHO, 2013).

In many developing countries herbaceous flora and medicinally important trees are not well studied and new drugs could be developed from them for health benefits. The use of synthetic drugs and antibiotics has been reported to be hazardous due to side effects. Moreover, there is concern regarding multidrug resistance microbes, and as such new alternative natural drugs should be developed (Compean & Ynalvez, 2014). The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of many kinds of diseases has become popular (Bharti, Bai, Seasotiya, Malik, & Dalal, 2012).

Plant-derived products used in old medical treatments have increased our current knowledge of herbal medicines (Sarker & Nahar, 2007). The bark, roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Sambucus nigra have been used widely in the Mediterranean regions for the treatment of various ailments (Valles, Angels, & Agelet, 2004). Similarly, plants like Buxus papillosa, Peganum harmala, and Solanum surattense have been used as a diaphoretic, purgative, antirheumatic, analgesic, and aphrodisiac (Ahmad, Ahmad, & Jan, 2002). The plant extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Lantana camara have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against various microbes pathogenic to humans (Gupta, Kartik, Manoj, Singh, & Alka, 2010). Similar observations have been reported by Guesmi, Ben Hadj, and Landoulsi (2017), who noted that a methanol extract of Lavandula multifida exhibited high antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus. The extracts of Punica granatum and cumin have given positive tests against human pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi (Duan, Li, & Gao, 2013; Mahboubi, Asgarpanah, Sadaghiqani, & Faizi, 2015; Mishra et al., 2017).

Plants synthesize an extremely diverse range of chemical compounds and represent a great potential for the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals (Edeoga, Okwu, & Mbaebie, 2005; McChesney, Venkataraman, & Henri, 2007). The biologically active compounds synthesized by microbes help plants to survive and flourish in hostile environments (Cushnie, Cushnie, & Lamb, 2014; Egamberdieva & Teixeira da Silva, 2015; Egamberdieva, Wirth, Behrendt, Parvaiz, & Berg, 2017).

There are many reports on plant secondary metabolites with antibacterial and antifungal properties (Egamberdieva & Teixeira da Silva, 2015). Biological active compounds such as tannins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenes found in plant root systems, rhizomes, stems, flowers, and fruits are valuable as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals (Palombo, 2006). Plant-derived chemicals show a wide range of biological effects; for example, polyphenols (phenolic acid, and flavonoids) show anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory effects (Ofokansi, Esimone, & Anele, 2005; Okwu, 2004).

The medicinal plants synthesize different biologically active metabolites, such as saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids (David, Elumalai, Sivakumar, Therasa, & Thirumalai, 2010; Lacaille-Dubois & Wagner, 1996; Omulokoli, Khan, & Chhabra, 1997). These are responsible for the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts. There are many reports on the phytochemical and biological properties of medicinal plants as well as their metabolites (David et al., 2010; Egamberdieva & Jabborova, 2018; Gnat et al., 2017). For example, Ziziphora capitata and Hypericum perforatum contain essential oils, flavanoids, and sterols that are known as remedies for infectious disease (Sonboli, Mirjalili, Hadian, Ebrahimi, & Yousefzadi, 2006). H. perforatum contains essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, xanthones, and hyperforin that are used for the treatment of skin disorders, diarrhea, and hepatic diseases (Zhaparkulova, Srivedavyasasri, Sakipova, & Ross, 2015). Phytochemicals, including saponins, flavonoids, p...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• List of Contributors
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgment
• Chapter 1. Plant microbiome: source for biologically active compounds
• Chapter 2. Chemodiversity in natural plant populations as a base for biodiversity conservation
• Chapter 3. Harnessing the potential of plant biodiversity in health and medicine: opportunities and challenges
• Chapter 4. Biomining fungal endophytes from tropical plants and seaweeds for drug discovery
• Chapter 5. Biomedicine developments based on marine biodiversity: present and future
• Chapter 6. Superbugs, silver bullets, and new battlefields
• Chapter 7. The benefits of active substances in amphibians and reptiles and the jeopardy of losing those species forever
• Chapter 8. Human genetic diversity in health and disease
• Chapter 9. Potential for cancer treatment: natural products from the Balkans
• Chapter 10. Biodiversity of wild fruits with medicinal potential in Serbia
• Chapter 11. Botanicals from the Himalayas with anticancer potential: an emphasis on the Kashmir Himalayas
• Chapter 12. Diversity and bioprospect significance of macrofungi in the scrub jungles of southwest India
• Chapter 13. Mushroom and plant extracts as potential intervention supplements in diabetes management
• Chapter 14. Anticancer activities of marine macroalgae: status and future perspectives
• Chapter 15. Insights into the bioactive compounds of endophytic fungi in mangroves
• Chapter 16. Essential oil of mint: current understanding and future prospects
• Chapter 17. Azadirachta indica: the medicinal properties of the global problems-solving tree
• Chapter 18. Advancements in plant transgenomics approach for the biopharmaceutics and vaccines production
• Chapter 19. Secondary metabolites from endangered Gentiana, Gentianella, Centaurium, and Swertia species (Gentianaceae): promising natural biotherapeutics
• Chapter 20. Grape (Vitis vinifera L.): health benefits and effects of growing conditions on quality parameters
• Chapter 21. Flavonoids in cancer therapy: current and future trends
• Chapter 22. Personalized biomedicine in cancer: from traditional therapy to sustainable healthcare
• Chapter 23. Tumor-specific genetic profiling and therapy in biomedicine
• Chapter 24. Vascular and bone marrow explant models to assess in vitro hematotoxicity of herbal extracts
• Chapter 25. Nature-inspired synthetic analogues of quorum sensing signaling molecules as novel therapeutics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
• Chapter 26. Biomedicine: biodiversity’s panacea? Context of commodification
• Index