Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production
IntroductionSilybum marianum is a medicinal plant that produces silymarin, which has been demonstrated to possess antiviral, anti-neurodegenerative, and anticancer activities. Silybin (A+B) are two major hepatoprotective flavonolignans produced predominantly in S. marianum fruits. Several attempts h...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1421485/full |
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| author | Bedoor Fahad Almulhim Fadia El Sherif Fadia El Sherif Nancy S. Younis Yamen Safwat Salah Khattab Salah Khattab |
| author_facet | Bedoor Fahad Almulhim Fadia El Sherif Fadia El Sherif Nancy S. Younis Yamen Safwat Salah Khattab Salah Khattab |
| author_sort | Bedoor Fahad Almulhim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSilybum marianum is a medicinal plant that produces silymarin, which has been demonstrated to possess antiviral, anti-neurodegenerative, and anticancer activities. Silybin (A+B) are two major hepatoprotective flavonolignans produced predominantly in S. marianum fruits. Several attempts have been made to increase the synthesis of silymarin, or its primary components, silybin (A+B). Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are considered a highly efficient Zn source widely used to promote crop development and productivity.MethodsIn this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the foliar application of ZnO-NPs on the growth, yield, photosynthetic pigment content, silybin (A+B) content, and the expression of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene in S. marianum plants. Different concentrations of ZnO-NPs were administered as foliar sprays to S. marianum plants growing in greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, we evaluated the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the corresponding fruit extract against dexamethasone (Dex)-induced osteoporosis.Results and discussionFoliar treatment at all ZnO-NP concentrations increased the amounts of bioactive components of silybin (A+B), which enhanced the growth and yield of S. marianum plants while increasing the levels of N, P, K, and Zn in their leaves, roots, and fruits; the levels of photosynthetic pigments in their leaves; and silybin (A+B) content in their fruits, thereby increasing the medicinal value of S. marianum. The highest gains were observed in plants sprayed with the highest ZnO-NP concentration (20.0 mg/L). In addition, gene expression studies revealed that ZnO-NPs stimulated silybin (A+B) production by activating CHS genes. The administration of S. marianum extracts to Dex-administered rats increased osteoblast and bone formation while inhibiting osteoclast and bone resorption, thereby protecting the animals against Dex-induced osteoporosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-adaa02404601495aa00037db23e8db38 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-adaa02404601495aa00037db23e8db382025-08-20T02:43:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-01-011510.3389/fpls.2024.14214851421485Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin productionBedoor Fahad Almulhim0Fadia El Sherif1Fadia El Sherif2Nancy S. Younis3Yamen Safwat4Salah Khattab5Salah Khattab6Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismalia, EgyptDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EgyptDepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismalia, EgyptIntroductionSilybum marianum is a medicinal plant that produces silymarin, which has been demonstrated to possess antiviral, anti-neurodegenerative, and anticancer activities. Silybin (A+B) are two major hepatoprotective flavonolignans produced predominantly in S. marianum fruits. Several attempts have been made to increase the synthesis of silymarin, or its primary components, silybin (A+B). Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are considered a highly efficient Zn source widely used to promote crop development and productivity.MethodsIn this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the foliar application of ZnO-NPs on the growth, yield, photosynthetic pigment content, silybin (A+B) content, and the expression of the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene in S. marianum plants. Different concentrations of ZnO-NPs were administered as foliar sprays to S. marianum plants growing in greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, we evaluated the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the corresponding fruit extract against dexamethasone (Dex)-induced osteoporosis.Results and discussionFoliar treatment at all ZnO-NP concentrations increased the amounts of bioactive components of silybin (A+B), which enhanced the growth and yield of S. marianum plants while increasing the levels of N, P, K, and Zn in their leaves, roots, and fruits; the levels of photosynthetic pigments in their leaves; and silybin (A+B) content in their fruits, thereby increasing the medicinal value of S. marianum. The highest gains were observed in plants sprayed with the highest ZnO-NP concentration (20.0 mg/L). In addition, gene expression studies revealed that ZnO-NPs stimulated silybin (A+B) production by activating CHS genes. The administration of S. marianum extracts to Dex-administered rats increased osteoblast and bone formation while inhibiting osteoclast and bone resorption, thereby protecting the animals against Dex-induced osteoporosis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1421485/fullzinc dioxidenanoparticlesSilybum marianumsilybinchalcone synthasedexamethasone |
| spellingShingle | Bedoor Fahad Almulhim Fadia El Sherif Fadia El Sherif Nancy S. Younis Yamen Safwat Salah Khattab Salah Khattab Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production Frontiers in Plant Science zinc dioxide nanoparticles Silybum marianum silybin chalcone synthase dexamethasone |
| title | Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production |
| title_full | Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production |
| title_fullStr | Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production |
| title_short | Foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti-osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of Silybum marianum L. by stimulating silybin production |
| title_sort | foliar spraying with zinc oxide nanoparticles enhances the anti osteoporotic efficacy of the fruit extracts of silybum marianum l by stimulating silybin production |
| topic | zinc dioxide nanoparticles Silybum marianum silybin chalcone synthase dexamethasone |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1421485/full |
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