Evaluation of Antioxidant,Anti-Inflammatory and Antityrosinase Potential of Extracts from Different Aerial Parts of Rhanterium suaveolens from Tunisia

The genus Rhanterium (Asteraceae) is a widely distributed medicinal plant throughout western North Africa and some Rhanterium species are used in folk medicine. The aim of research was to investigate methanolic extracts from different parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of Tunisian Rhanterium suaveolens as potential sources of bioactive products useful for healthy purposes. In particular, were analyzed the phenolic composition of these extracts and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tyrosinase properties. The phytochemical analyses were performed using standard colorimetric procedures, HPLC-DAD and HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Then, several in vitro cell-free assays have been used to estimate the antioxidant/free radical scavenging capability of the extracts. Moreover, in vitro, and in vivo anti-melanogenesis activities of these extracts were tested, respectively, with the tyrosinase inhibition assay and the Zebrafish embryo model. Finally, the anti-inflammatory potential of these extracts in an in vitro model of acute intestinal inflammation in differentiated Caco-2 cells was evaluated. The R. suaveolens extracts under study appeared particularly rich in flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids and all extracts appeared endowed with good antioxidant/free radical scavenging properties, being the flower extracts slightly more active than the others. Moreover, R. suaveolens flowers extract was able to inhibit in vitro tyrosinase activity and exhibited bleaching effects on the pigmentation of zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, all extracts showed good anti-inflammatory activity in intestinal epithelial cells as demonstrated by the inhibition of TNF-α-induced gene expression of IL-6 and IL-8. R. suaveolens aerial parts may be considered as a potential source of whitening agents, as well as of agents for the treatment of disorders related to oxidative stress and inflammation.     

Laboratory studies on extracts of Melia fruit and Neem fruit on B. brassicae,B. tabaci and their predators and parasites

Abstract

The biological effect of plant extracts on the two predators C. carnea and C. undecimpunctata was studied in the laboratory. Treated B. brassicae was offered to the newly hatched larvae of the two predators. The rate of prey consumption and duration of the larval instars of the two predators were slightly affected as a result of the treatments of the plant extracts. Adults of the aphid parasite D. Rapae and the whitefly parasite E. Mundus were exposed to the plant extracts via feeding on treated honey droplets or parasitized treated hosts. Mortality percentages of D. Rapae fed on honey contaminated with plant extracts were 50 and 80% for extracts of Melia fruits in ethanol and in petroleum ether, respectively. Mortalities in parasites developed in hosts treated with plant extracts of Neem fruits in ethanol and Melia flowers in petroleum ether in were 33.3 and 81.5%, respectively. Similar results were obtained when E. Mundus received the same treatments of the plant extracts.     

Oxidising activity in root extracts from plants inoculated with virus or buffer that interferes with ELISA when using the substrate 3,3', 5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine

In indirect ELISA using protein A-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as enzyme conjugate and 3,3′, 5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as substrate, extracts of roots of all cucumber, Chenopodium quinoa and Petunia hybrida plants previously inoculated with virus or buffer produced A₄₅₀ values up to seven-fold greater than those for comparable shoots or for extracts of roots from undisturbed, uninoculated plants, irrespective of the virus antiserum used for detection. This effect was also produced in tests in which no HRP conjugate was used, indicating that root extracts from virus-infected or physically injured plants, but not healthy uninjured plants, contain high levels of a factor able to oxidise TMB. The HRP conjugate/TMB substrate version of ELISA is therefore not reliable for detecting viruses in root extracts of herbaceous plants. In contrast, non-specific reactions were not obtained with root extracts, and viruses were reliably detected, when protein A-alkaline phosphatase was used as conjugate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate.     

Effect of extracts from in vitro-grown shoots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quillaja saponaria</Emphasis> Mol. on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> Pers.

The ethanolic and aqueous extracts from in vitro shoots of Quillaja saponaria Mol. (Quillay) were studied for their antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. These extracts reduced conidial germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea, ethanolic extracts being more active than aqueous extracts. In addition, the damage areas produced by this fungus on tomato leaves and strawberry fruits pre-treated with quillay extracts were diminished. The fungitoxic effect of in vitro-grown quillay extract was similar to those obtained with commercial fungicides of both natural (BC-1000) and synthetic (iprodione–dicarboximide) origin. On the other hand, the antifungal action of quillay extracts obtained from adult trees naturally grown was only slightly superior to the fungitoxic activity of the extract from in vitro plants. HPLC analysis of the extract showed that it contained saponins and some phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic, caffeic, vanillic, and salicylic acids, and scopoletin, which have been identified as antifungal agents on phytopathogenic fungi. The results obtained in this work, suggests that extracts of in vitro-grown quillay have an important protective effect against B. cinerea and support the use of an in vitro culture system as a biotechnological alternative to obtain environmental safe antifungal quillay extracts to control B. cinerea, contributing to the preservation of this indigenous Chilean species.     

Inhibitory Effects of Some Spice and Herb Extracts Against Arcobacter butzleri, A. cryaerophilus, and A. skirrowii

Seventeen spice and medicinal plant extracts (methanol and chloroform) were assayed for their antimicrobial activity against Arcobacter butzleri, A. cryaerophilus, and A. skirrowii. In general, all of the tested extracts were able, to a different extent, to inhibit the growth of the selected Arcobacter species. Cinnamon, bearberry, chamomile, sage and rosemary extracts showed strong antimicrobial activity toward arcobacter strains tested. Overall, the methanol extracts showed better activity than the chloroform extracts (P < 0.05); however, enhanced antibacterial activity of chloroform extracts of cinnamon and rosemary has been observed in comparison with their methanol counterparts. The inhibitory dose of the most active extracts (the diameter of zone of inhibition ≥ 20 mm) was determined using the disc-diffusion method as well.     

The Impact of Fungal Extracts on Leaf Litter on the Food Preference of Gammarus roeselii

We investigated the effect of methanol and methanol/methylene chloride extracts of the oomycete Pythium sp. JN 1‐b and of the fungi Ascomycete sp. PVSo8, Fusarium sporotrichoides, and Cylindrocarpon sp. 94‐2057 on the food preference of Gammarus roeselii. The preference for leaf discs coated with these extracts compared to uncoated leaf discs was tested in food‐choice assays. Methanol extracts of all strains repelled G. roeselii, and the effect of the extract concentration on relative consumption was strain specific. The repellent effect of these extracts, especially of extracts of Cylindrocarpon sp., decreased when the fungi were grown on leaf extract medium as opposed to synthetic medium containing sucrose. None of the methanol/methylene chloride extracts affected the food preference of the gammarid. We conclude that biologically active compounds were extracted from fungi and an oomycete were soluble in methanol but not in methanol/methylene chloride. Only repellent activity was observed with the extracts, and relative ratios of repellents and attractants might determine the consumption of fungi by G. roeselii. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

UHPLC/HR‐ESI‐MS/MS Profiling of Phenolics from Tunisian Lycium arabicum Boiss. Antioxidant and Anti‐lipase Activities’ Evaluation

This study was performed in the aim to evaluate nine different extracts from Tunisian Lycium arabicum for their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, phytochemical analyses as well as their antioxidant and anti‐lipase activities. The in vitro antioxidant property was investigated using three complementary methods (DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and β‐carotene‐linoleic acid bleaching assays) while anti‐lipase activity was evaluated using 4‐methylumbelliferyl oleate method. From all of the tested extracts the most potent found to be the polar MeOH extracts especially those of stems and leaves. In order to investigate the chemical composition of these extracts and possible correlation of their constituents with the observed activities, an UHPLC/HR‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis was performed. Several compounds belonging to different chemical classes were tentatively identified such as rutin and kampferol rutinoside, the major constituents of the leaves, and N‐caffeoyltyramine, lyciumide A, N‐dihydrocaffeoyltyramine as well as fatty acids: trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid isomers were detected abundantly in the stems. These results showed that the MeOH extracts of stems and leaves of L. arabicum can be considered as a potential source of biological active compounds.     

In vitro evaluation of Datura innoxia (thorn-apple) for potential antibacterial activity

Various parts of Datura innoxia were examined for potential antibacterial activity by preparing their crude aqueous and organic extracts against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus). The results of agar well diffusion assay indicated that the pattern of inhibition depends largely upon the plant part, solvent used for extraction and the organism tested. Extracts prepared from leaves were shown to have better efficacy than stem and root extracts. Organic extracts provided potent antibacterial activity as compared to aqueous extracts. Among all the extracts, methanolic extract was found most active against almost all the bacterial species tested. Gram-positive bacteria were found most sensitive as compared to Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was signifi cantly inhibited by almost all the extracts even at very low MIC followed by other Gram-positives. For Escherichia coli (a Gram-negative bacterium), the end point was not reached for ethyl acetate extract while it was very high for other extracts. The study promises an interesting future for designing a potentially active antibacterial agent from Datura innoxia.     

Suppressive action of cytoplasmic and metabolite extracts of Candida albicans on the immune response in guinea pigs

This study investigated the possibility that Candida albicans components exert a suppressive effect on the immune response of guinea pigs (GP), similar to that of live C. albicans organisms as was previously shown. Hartley GP were inoculated with C. albicans crude cytoplasmic or metabolite (culture filtrate) extracts (containing most of the organism's cell contents or its metabolite and degradation products, respectively). Their immunological responses towards sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were compared with those of GP inoculated with SRBC alone or with SRBC together with live C. albicans organisms. The immunological responses were measured by: 1) rosette formation (RF) of SRBC with peritoneal macrophages, 2) haemolytic plaque formation (PFC) with lymph node-cells, 3) haemagglutination and 4) haemolysis tests. According to the RF tests, inoculation of GP with either cytoplasmic or metabolite extracts resulted in descreased RF as compared to GP inoculated with SRBC only; the decrease was correlated with the protein concentration of the extracts. Inoculation with metabolite extract led to a more diminished RF than with cytoplasmic extract, but less than with live C. albicans organisms. Inoculation of cytoplasmic extracts did not affect the haemagglutinin and haemolysin titers, while that of metabolite extracts resulted in a slight decrease of these titers. The assays for PFC were not conclusive enough to point to a suppressive effect of C. albicans extracts. In summary, it appears that both the cytoplasmic and metabolite extracts of C. albicans exert a partial suppressive effect on the immune response in GP, as judged primarily on the basis of the RF results.     

Comparative Study on Biological Activities and Chemical Profiling of Mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.) Cultured on Lignocellulosic Agro Wastes

The relevance of the lignocellulosic substrate in the cultivation of mushrooms has lent support to the exploration of several lignocellulosic agro wastes. This study was, thus, aimed at the evaluation of durian peel as an alternative substrate for more sustainable mushroom cultivation and climate change mitigation. The secondary metabolites and biological activities of both aqueous and organic mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.) extract cultured on durian peel and rubberwood sawdust substrate were compared using GCMS, LCMS as well as various biological assays (cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities). Mushroom extracts from durian peel substrates possess remarkable biological activities. The results showed that the aqueous extracts had poor antimicrobial activities. The organic extracts were more active against cancer cells than the aqueous extracts, while the aqueous extracts were more potent as antioxidants than the organic extracts. Overall, the mushroom extract from the durian substrate was the most effective except against A549 and SW948, while the aqueous extract from the durian substrate was the most effective against the A549 cancer cell lines with 29.53±2.39 % inhibition. On the other hand, the organic mushroom extract from the sawdust substrate was the most effective against SW948 with 60.24±2.45 % inhibition. Further studies, however, are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of P. pulmonarius extracts against cancer cell proliferation and the effect of the substrates on the nutritional composition, secondary metabolites, and other biological activities of P. pulmonarius extracts.     

Antifungal activity of extracts from five Egyptian wild medicinal plants against late blight disease of tomato

This study was carried out to evaluate the antifungal potential of water and ethanol extracts from aerial parts of five wild medicinal plants collected from Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, and the extracts were tested in vitro and in vivo against Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease of tomato. The five wild medicinal plants used for the study were Asclepias sinaica, Farsetia aegyptia, Hypericum sinaicum, Phagnalon sinaicum and Salvia aegyptiaca. Ethanol extracts were more effective on the pathogen than water extracts at all concentrations used. Water and ethanol extracts of all plants tested reduced mycelial growth and inhibited spore germination of the pathogen with varying degrees. Water and ethanolic extracts also reduced the disease infection with pathogen comparing with control in detached leaves technique. In all experiments, extracts of A. sinaica and F. aegyptia were most effective on the pathogen than other plant extracts. In plot experiment, the water and ethanolic extracts of A. sinaica and F. aegyptia gave the most reduction of late blight disease severity comparing with control. Also, data indicated that after the application of plant extracts, there was an increase in fruit yield of tomato corresponding with the reduction of disease severity . Scanning electron microscopy revealed a negative alteration of pathogen hyphae treated with A. sinaica extract at 20%. This concentration of the same plant extract also reflected in dramatic changes in the cyto-morphology of pathogen hyphae as observed by transmission electron microscopy. These changes resulted in an increase in vacuolisation and lipid contents with consequent reduction of cytoplasm with alteration of cell wall and plasmalemma. The overall results suggested that the use of these Egyptian wild medicinal plant extracts was promising, effective and environment-friendly management measure against Phytophthora blight of tomato and thus, may be used in the production of organically grown vegetables.     

Evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed and ginger (Zingiber officinale) as potential control agents of yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) tuber rot fungi

Yam is an important crop which serves as a source of income to small-holder farmers as well as a foreign exchange earner. Among the constraints faced by yam farmers are pests and diseases, especially deterioration caused by microbes during storage. Since over dependence on pesticides is being discouraged, neem seed and ginger extracts were evaluated as potential control agents against rot-causing fungi. The study was conducted in the Spanish laboratory, at the Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus. Isolations were made from rotted yam tubers sampled from the Tamale Central market with potato dextrose agar (PDA) as the growth medium. Growth inhibition of the isolates was determined by growing pure cultures on PDA plates amended with 2?ml each of ethanol and aqueous extracts of neem seed and ginger as well as carbendazim. A pathogenicity test proved that Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus and Penicillium digitatum isolated from the rotted tubers were responsible for the rot. A. niger had a significantly higher (p?<?0.05) occurrence (40%) than the others. Growth inhibitions by carbendazim and ethanol extracts of neem seed and ginger were comparable but significantly higher (p?<?0.05) than the aqueous extracts of neem seed and ginger as well as the control. However, the aqueous extracts of neem seed and ginger had a significantly higher (p?<?0.05) inhibition than the control. For instance, growth inhibition of A. niger by carbendazim, ethanol neem seed and ginger extracts were 70.5, 69.6 and 65.5%, respectively, while inhibition by aqueous neem seed and ginger extracts were 33.9 and 24.8%, respectively. Since aqueous extracts of neem seed and ginger significantly inhibited (p?<?0.05) growth of the rot-causing fungi, they can be used as surface protectants of stored tubers.     

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lavandula stoechas</Emphasis> aqueous extracts

Lavandula genus is an important member of Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. People use commonly Lavandula stoechas as a medicinal plant for various diseases around the world and also in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts (40, 80 and 120 g/L) from L. stoechas flowers on Allium cepa root tip meristem cells. For this purpose, A. cepa onion bulbs were treated with the above-mentioned L. stoechas flower extracts for 72 h. Spring water (pH 7.3) was used as a control. The result of this study sowed that aqueous extracts reduced mitotic index, but induced chromosome aberrations and mitotic aberrations in comparison with control, significantly (p < 0.05). Aqueous extracts induced breaks, stickiness, pole deviations and micronuclei. Furthermore, these effects were related to extract concentrations. These results showed that L. stoechas aqueous extracts have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects.     

Antibacterial activity of wine phenolic compounds and oenological extracts against potential respiratory pathogens

Aims: To investigate the effect of seven wine phenolic compounds and six oenological phenolic extracts on the growth of pathogenic bacteria associated with respiratory diseases (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus sp Group F, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus pneumoniae). Methods and Results: Antimicrobial activity was determined using a microdilution method and quantified as IC₅₀. Mor. catarrhalis was the most susceptible specie to phenolic compounds and extracts. Gallic acid and ethyl gallate were the compounds that showed the greatest antimicrobial activity. Regarding phenolic extracts, GSE (grape seed extract) and GSE‐O (oligomeric‐rich fraction from GSE) were the ones that displayed the strongest antimicrobial effects. Conclusions: Results highlight the antimicrobial properties of wine phenolic compounds and oenological extracts against potential respiratory pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of wine phenolic compounds was influenced by the type of phenolic compounds. Gram‐negative bacteria were more susceptible than Gram‐positive bacteria to the action of phenolic compounds and extracts; however, the effect was species‐dependent. Significance and Impact of Study: The ability to inhibit the growth of respiratory pathogenic bacteria as shown by several wine phenolic compounds and oenological extracts warrants further investigations to explore the use of grape and wine preparations in oral hygiene.     

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Cordia verbenacea extracts obtained by different methods

The present study describes the chemical composition and the antibacterial activity of extracts from Cordia verbenacea DC (Borraginaceae), a traditional medicinal plant that grows widely along the southeastern coast of Brazil. The extracts were obtained using different extraction techniques: high-pressure operations and low-pressure methods. The high-pressure technique was applied to obtain C. verbenacea extracts using pure CO₂ and CO₂ with co-solvent at pressures up to 30 MPa and temperatures of 30, 40 and 50 °C. Organic solvents such as n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, acetone and dichloromethane were used to obtain extracts by low-pressure processes. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was also subjected to screening against four strains of bacteria using the agar dilution method. The extraction yields were up to 5.0% w/w and up to 8.6% w/w for supercritical fluid extraction with pure CO₂ and with ethyl acetate as co-solvent, respectively, while the low-pressure extraction indicates yields up to 24.0% w/w in the soxhlet extraction using water and aqueous mixture with 50% ethanol as solvents. The inhibitory activity of the extracts in Gram-positive bacteria was significantly higher than in Gram-negative. The quantification and the identification of the extracts recovered were accomplished using GC/MS analysis. The most important components identified in the extract were artemetin, β-sitosterol, α-humulene and β-caryophyllene, among others.     

Antiviral activity of selected medicinal plants and marine seaweeds on the grasserie infected larvae of silkworm,Bombyx mori

Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) is the most harmful virus responsible for the manifestation of grasserie disease in the larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori. It causes a huge economic loss in the sericulture industry. An attempt was made in the present investigation for the screening of antiviral activity using medicinal plants such as Lantana camara, Phyllanthus amarus and marine seaweeds such as Sargassum wightii, Turbinaria ornata against BmNPV. Crude extracts were prepared using different solvents, such as hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The silkworm feeding bioassay study was carried out with the crude extracts to investigate the presence of anti-BmNPV activity after inoculating fifth instar larvae of silkworm with occlusion bodies (OBs) of BmNPV. Each extract was tested for their anti-BmNPV activity using various concentrations of crude extracts ranging from 200 μg to 1000 μg. Among the crude extracts tested, methanol and aqueous extracts of P. amarus showed significant anti-BmNPV activity.     

桦褐孔菌提取物抗氧化活性研究

以乙酸乙酯和甲醇为提取剂,采用索氏提取法,剩余残渣采用热水浸提,最终得到桦褐孔菌不同极性提取物,对其DPPH自由基、羟基自由基及超氧阴离子自由基清除活性作用进行了研究,确定桦褐孔菌的抗氧化能力,为深入研究和开发桦褐孔菌功能性食品奠定理论基础。实验结果表明桦褐孔菌具有较好的抗氧化活性,其中乙酸乙酯提取物的DPPH自由基清除率、羟基自由基清除率和超氧阴离子自由基清除率均高于其他两组分及BHT,桦褐孔菌提取物有望成为功能性食品组分中合成抗氧化剂的天然替代品。     

Control of storage rot of cassava tuber caused by Rhizopus oryzae using some plant extracts

Abstract

The potency of Piper nigrum seed and leaf, Aframomum meleguata seed and Ageratum conyzoides leaf extracts in the control of cassava tuber rot caused by Rhizopus oryzae was investigated. Water, ethanol and petroleum ether were used as extracting solvents. These extracts were fungitoxic both in vitro and in vivo against the test pathogen. P. nigrum seed extracts were the best followed by those of A. meleguata seed, A. conyzoides leaf and then P. nigrum leaf. The extracts were more effective in controlling rot development in unwounded than wounded tubers especially when they were applied before inoculation with the test pathogen. Ethanol extracts gave the highest growth inhibition in vivo followed by water and the petroleum ether extract whereas water extracts showed marked superiority over the extracting solvents in checking rot development in cassava tuber. Water and ethanol extracts of P. nigrum seed and leaf, A. meleguata seed and A. conyzoides leaf could be used as pesticide of plant origin in the control of R. oryzae causing cassava tuber rot in storage.     

Influence of hydrogen peroxide foliar applications on in vitro antimicrobial activity in Capsicum chinense Jacq.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar applications of hydrogen peroxide on the antimicrobial activity of Capsicum chinense Jacq. methanolic extracts. The effects of hydrogen peroxide application on metabolites accumulation of C. chinense var. Jaguar and var. Chichen Itza were evaluated. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents, as well as HPLC quantification of capsaicin and dihidrocapsaicin were carried out. Methanolic extracts were microbiologically tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutants, Salmonella thompson, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. Total phenolics, flavonoids, and capsaicinoids contents in both varieties treated with hydrogen peroxide were found significantly higher as compared to control. The antibacterial activity of chili extracts was observed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as anti-yeast. The results of in vitro antibacterial activity showed that hydrogen peroxide application increases the inhibitory effect against the pathogenic micro-organisms. Methanolic extracts of var. Jaguar, were the most active against S. aureus, S. Thompson, and C. albicans, while var. Chichen Itza was most potent against E. faecalis and E. coli. Thus, this study confirmed that metabolite-induced factors (MIFs) as hydrogen peroxide, increased secondary metabolites accumulation in C. chinense methanolic extracts and augmented their antimicrobial activity.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of algae enhances levels of biologically active compounds promoting plant growth

The aim of this research was to screen plant growth biostimulant properties of supercritical CO₂ macroalgal extracts. To this end secondary metabolites were isolated from the biomass of marine macroalgae from the Baltic Sea (species of Polysiphonia, Ulva and Cladophora). Chemical characteristics of the algal extracts were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy for inorganic constituents and high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry for organic constituents. Inorganic (macro- and microelements) and organic (plant hormones: auxins and cytokinins; polyphenols) compounds were detected in the extract. Algal extracts were tested primarily on garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.; Brassicaceae) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; Poaceae). The extracts enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid content in plant shoots, as well as root thickness and above-ground biomass. The most effective method of application of the extract was by foliar feed on cress and seed maceration for wheat. Algal extracts obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were found to be a novel natural source of compounds, stimulating growth of cultivated plants. However, field trials will be required to show that the extracts can act as plant biopesticides and growth biostimulants.