Cotoneaster integerrimus

Abstract: The Western Carpathians are traditionally recognized as one of the hotspots of temperate European biodiversity. The polyploid and apomictic group of Cotoneaster integerrimus s.l. is supposed to be particularly variable there, and this is also mirrored by taxonomy. We therefore examined the ploidal and reproductive pattern of C. integerrimus s.l. and its close relative Cotoneaster tomentosus in the Western Carpathians and compared it to that in the Bohemian Massif. Using flow cytometry, we detected tetraploid (468 individuals, 100 populations) and pentaploid (35 individuals, 11 populations) cytotypes, and eight additional mixed populations. The pentaploid cytotype was found exclusively in C. tomentosus, which only occurs in the Western Carpathians. A further flow cytometric seed screen (1114 seeds) revealed facultative apomixis (10.1% of sexual progeny) of tetraploid C. integerrimus s.l., whereas the pentaploid C. tomentosus was almost obligately apomictic. In addition, 3.8% of sexual progeny was formed with the contribution of an unreduced female gamete. Moreover, apomixis in tetraploids was further structured into distinct subtypes: pseudogamy (77.2%), autonomous apomixis (3.7%) and haploid parthenogenesis (0.3%). There were no significant differences in the proportions of sexual and asexual seeds between both species and geographic regions. Our comparative dataset from the Western Alps also included sexual diploids. For this reason, greater ploidal and reproductive variation may be expected in that region. The Western Carpathians therefore do not represent a centre of cytotype and reproductive variation of C. integerrimus s.l., and facultative apomixis is a reproductive strategy that predominates in both the Western Carpathians and the Bohemian Massif.

Abstract: The present study evaluated the biological potential of methanol and aqueous extracts of the twigs and fruits of Cotoneaster integerrimus Medik. Lethality bioassays performed on Artemia salina showed that aqueous and methanol C. integerrimus extracts were non-toxic in the concentration range (0.1-20 mg/ml), with a LC50 ≥ 2.5 mg/ml, for each single extract. The protective effect of the extracts was assessed in vitro against hydrogen peroxide-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α gene expression in colon cancer HCT116 cell line. All the extracts downregulated (H2 O2 )-induced TNFα gene expression, in HCT116. By contrast, it was observed that the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced increase in colon nitrite, prostaglandin E2 , and 8-iso-PGF2α levels were counteracted mostly by the methanol twig extract. The present study showed protective effects induced by C. integerrimus in vitro and ex vivo, thus supporting potential application in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In the present study, protective effects of C. integerrimus are highlighted using in vitro and ex-vivo models of hydrogen peroxide-induced LDH activity in HCT116 cell and on LPS-induced inflammation in rat colon. Based on our results, this edible and traditionally used species could be considered as a valuable source of natural agents to combat inflammatory diseases, particularly ulcerative colitis. Results amassed herein advocates for further bioprospection of this species that could open new avenues for the development of nutraceuticals and functional foods geared toward the management of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Article Details: Received: 2019-12-17 | Accepted: 2019-01-24 | Available online: 2020-03-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.01.15-23 In this paper, morphological features, such as the number of pyrenes in pome and the number of pomes in infructescence, were used for determination of closely related tetraploid Cotoneaster species. Samples were collected from various localities in the Western Carpathians. The collection of samples, designed for counting of pyrenes in pome, included 2353 pomes of >130 individuals. Number of pyrenes in pome ranged from 1 to 5. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in pyrenes per pome mean values between C. integerrimus (3.01), C. melanocarpus agg. (2.46; including C. matrensis) and C. tomentosus (3.93). The collection of samples, designed for counting of pomes in infructescence, included 1019 infructescences of 141 individuals. Number of pomes in infructescence ranged from 1 to 5. 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