The Impact of Temperature on the Leaves of <i>Ceratonia siliqua</i> L.: Anatomical Aspect, Secondary Metabolite Analysis, and Antimicrobial Activity of the Extracts
<i>Ceratonia siliqua</i> L. (Fabaceae) is an evergreen sclerophyllous species that successfully overcomes the challenges of the Mediterranean climate. Commonly, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is a major reaction of the plants thriving in the Mediterranean formations against temper...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/4/557 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | <i>Ceratonia siliqua</i> L. (Fabaceae) is an evergreen sclerophyllous species that successfully overcomes the challenges of the Mediterranean climate. Commonly, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is a major reaction of the plants thriving in the Mediterranean formations against temperature stress. Due to concerns about the climate crisis, we studied the impact of 6-day low (5 °C) and high (40 °C) temperature stress on young carob seedlings. In stressed plants, mainly the heat-treated, the leaves appear xeromorphic. Parameters of the physiology of the plants such as chlorophyll-a and -b, total phenolic content, and oxidative stress were measured and presented via Principal Component Analysis. Chlorophyll-a and -b contents are inferior in cold-stressed leaves while heat-stressed leaves accumulate more phenolics and experience higher oxidative stress as compared to their cold-stressed counterparts. The phytochemical profile of different extracts obtained from stressed carob leaves was identified so as to gain insight into metabolites produced under stress. Moreover, LC-HRMS/MS metabolomic workflow was utilized for the discovery of biomarkers, over- or under-regulated in stressed conditions. The antimicrobial activity of carob leaf extract fractions was assessed against six human pathogen strains and three phytopathogen bacterial strains. MeOH-H<sub>2</sub>O and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts presented notable activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, while DCM extracts inhibited the growth of <i>Erwinia amylovora</i>. We may conclude that carob tree exposure to temperature stress does not have a significant influence on secondary metabolic pathways. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |