Biosynthesis, Function, and Application of Plant Volatiles

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 16464

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Forestry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Interests: essential oils; terpenoid biosynthesis; phytomedicines; plant metabolomics
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Guest Editor
Center for General Education, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung-402, Taiwan
Interests: phytomedicine, natural products, essential oils, prebiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Plants synthesize a large number of volatile compounds. These small, chemically diverse metabolites give plants fragrance and serve multiple functions in the reproduction of plants and the protection of plants from environmental stress. They also repel herbivores and pathogens, protect plants from abiotic stress, and activate resistance traits in neighboring plants via airborne plant­–plant signaling. Besides their functions in ecosystems, plant volatiles play important roles in many aspects of human behavior, as they are widely applied in pharmaceutics, nutrition, and industries. Although tremendous progress has been made in elucidating the functions of volatiles in plant physiology and ecology, the biosynthesis, functions, bioactivities, and development of plant volatiles remain worthy of study. The goal of this Special Issue of Plants is to provide insightful and critical advances in the field of biosynthesis, functions, and applications of plant volatiles. We welcome the submission of original research articles and reviews. Reviews should discuss experiments or technical constraints needed to advance the field, including the suggestion of novel approaches to discovering missing links and speculation that goes beyond our current knowledge but is based on sound science. Research papers should present new developments and directions that would advance the field.

Prof. Dr. Sheng-Yang Wang
Dr. K.J. Senthil Kumar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • essential oils
  • terpene synthesis
  • abiotic stress
  • biotic stress
  • ecology
  • bioactivity
  • fragrance
  • aromatherapy

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2041 KiB  
Article
Anti-Melanogenic Activity of Calocedrus formosana Wood Essential Oil and Its Chemical Composition Analysis
by Wen-Wei Hsiao, K. J. Senthil Kumar, Hui-Ju Lee, Nai-Wen Tsao and Sheng-Yang Wang
Plants 2022, 11(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010062 - 25 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3151
Abstract
Calocedrus formosana (Cupressaceae) is one of the five precious woods of Taiwan. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic activity of C. formosana wood essential oil (CFEO) and its bioactive components in vitro. Initially, CFEO exhibited strong mushroom tyrosinase activity in the cell-free [...] Read more.
Calocedrus formosana (Cupressaceae) is one of the five precious woods of Taiwan. In this study, we investigated the anti-melanogenic activity of C. formosana wood essential oil (CFEO) and its bioactive components in vitro. Initially, CFEO exhibited strong mushroom tyrosinase activity in the cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay system with an IC50 value of 2.72 µg/mL. Next, treatment with CFEO significantly as well as dose-dependently reduced a combination of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and forskolin (α-MSH-FSK)-induced melanin synthesis in B16-F10 cells. Indeed, 80 μg/mL CFEO completely inhibited melanin production, which is similar to that of control cells. Further studies revealed that treatment with CFEO significantly inhibited melanogenesis regulatory proteins, including TRP-1, TRP-2, and MITF, whereas tyrosinase was unaffected by either α-MSH-FSK or CFEO. In addition, the composition of the CFEO was characterized. The major components of CFEO were α-terpineol (23.47%), shonanic acid (10.45%), terpinen-4-ol (12.23%), thymol (5.3%), piperitone (3.44%), berbenone (2.81%), thujic acid (1.65%), and chaminic acid (0.13%). Among them, shonanic acid (1), thujic acid (2), and chaminic acid (3) were uncommon constitutes in essential oils, which could be the index compounds of CFEO, and the structure of these compounds were confirmed by spectral analysis. Furthermore, we found that thymol is an active ingredient responsible for CFEO’s anti-melanogenic activity. Based on these results, we suggest that CFEO or thymol could be a potential candidate for the development of skin whitening products for cosmetic purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosynthesis, Function, and Application of Plant Volatiles)
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10 pages, 3042 KiB  
Article
Unveiling Monoterpene Biosynthesis in Taiwania cryptomerioides via Functional Characterization
by Li-Ting Ma, Pi-Ling Liu, Yang-Tui Cheng, Tz-Fan Shiu and Fang-Hua Chu
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2404; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112404 - 8 Nov 2021
Viewed by 1902
Abstract
Taiwania cryptomerioides is a monotypic species, and its terpenoid-rich property has been reported in recent years. To uncover monoterpene biosynthesis in T. cryptomerioides, this study used transcriptome mining to identify candidates with tentative monoterpene synthase activity. Along with the phylogenetic analysis and [...] Read more.
Taiwania cryptomerioides is a monotypic species, and its terpenoid-rich property has been reported in recent years. To uncover monoterpene biosynthesis in T. cryptomerioides, this study used transcriptome mining to identify candidates with tentative monoterpene synthase activity. Along with the phylogenetic analysis and in vitro assay, two geraniol synthases (TcTPS13 and TcTPS14), a linalool synthase (TcTPS15), and a β-pinene synthase (TcTPS16), were functionally characterized. Via the comparison of catalytic residues, the Cys/Ser at region 1 might be crucial in determining the formation of α-pinene or β-pinene. In addition, the Cupressaceae monoterpene synthases were phylogenetically clustered together; they are unique and different from those of published conifer species. In summary, this study aimed to uncover the ambiguous monoterpenoid network in T. cryptomerioide, which would expand the landscape of monoterpene biosynthesis in Cupressaceae species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosynthesis, Function, and Application of Plant Volatiles)
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18 pages, 577 KiB  
Article
Volatiles and Antioxidant Activity of Citrus Fiber/Blackberry Gels: Influence of Sucrose and Trehalose
by Mirela Kopjar, Ivana Ivić, Ivana Buljeta, Ina Ćorković, Josipa Vukoja, Josip Šimunović and Anita Pichler
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081640 - 10 Aug 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2738
Abstract
Citrus fiber/blackberry gels (CBg) can be used for the preparation of various bakery products as well as confectioneries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the type of disaccharides (sucrose or trehalose) and their percentages (10% or 20%) on [...] Read more.
Citrus fiber/blackberry gels (CBg) can be used for the preparation of various bakery products as well as confectioneries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the type of disaccharides (sucrose or trehalose) and their percentages (10% or 20%) on volatile compounds as well as phenolics, antioxidant activity and color of formulated CBg. Additionally, CBg were stored at room temperature for 3 months to evaluate their stability. Both disaccharides type and their percentage affected the investigated parameters. Sucrose had a higher positive impact on volatiles after formulation and storage of CBg, while trehalose had a higher positive impact on total phenolics. Amounts of phenolics increased with the increase of disaccharides amount, while the behavior of volatiles also depended on volatiles’ properties. Results of this study emphasized the importance of the adequate choice of ingredients for the formulation of high-quality fruit products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosynthesis, Function, and Application of Plant Volatiles)
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16 pages, 4370 KiB  
Article
Horseradish Essential Oil as a Promising Anti-Algal Product for Prevention of Phytoplankton Proliferation and Biofouling
by István Bácsi, Sándor Gonda, Zsuzsanna Nemes-Kókai, Viktória B-Béres and Gábor Vasas
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081550 - 28 Jul 2021
Viewed by 2240
Abstract
Increased proliferation of algae is a current problem in natural and artificial water bodies. Controlling nutrients is the most sustainable treatment of increased algal proliferation, however in certain cases, it is not sufficiently available, or it does not provide results fast enough. Chemicals [...] Read more.
Increased proliferation of algae is a current problem in natural and artificial water bodies. Controlling nutrients is the most sustainable treatment of increased algal proliferation, however in certain cases, it is not sufficiently available, or it does not provide results fast enough. Chemicals derived from natural sources, which could be effective in low concentrations and are biodegradable, may have an advantage over conventional chemical treatments. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-cyanobacterial and anti-algal properties of allyl-isothiocyanate-containing essential oil produced from horseradish roots with a complex approach of the topic: on laboratory strains of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae, on microcosms containing natural phytoplankton assemblages, and on semi-natural biofilms. The results show that acute treatment can significantly reduce the viability of all the tested cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae. Results of microcosm experiments with natural phytoplankton assemblages show that horseradish essential oil from 7.1 × 10−6% (v/v) is applicable to push back phytoplankton proliferation even in natural assemblages. The individual number in the biofilm was dropped down to one-fifth of the original individual number, so 7.1 × 10−6% (v/v) and higher concentration of the essential oil can be considered as a successful treatment against biofouling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosynthesis, Function, and Application of Plant Volatiles)
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Review

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21 pages, 5990 KiB  
Review
Metabolic Perturbation and Synthetic Biology Strategies for Plant Terpenoid Production—An Updated Overview
by Vimalraj Mani, Soyoung Park, Jin A Kim, Soo In Lee and Kijong Lee
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2179; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102179 - 14 Oct 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4919
Abstract
Terpenoids represent one of the high-value groups of specialized metabolites with vast structural diversity. They exhibit versatile human benefits and have been successfully exploited in several sectors of day-to-day life applications, including cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. Historically, the potential use of terpenoids is [...] Read more.
Terpenoids represent one of the high-value groups of specialized metabolites with vast structural diversity. They exhibit versatile human benefits and have been successfully exploited in several sectors of day-to-day life applications, including cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. Historically, the potential use of terpenoids is challenging, and highly hampered by their bioavailability in their natural sources. Significant progress has been made in recent years to overcome such challenges by advancing the heterologous production platforms of hosts and metabolic engineering technologies. Herein, we summarize the latest developments associated with analytical platforms, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology, with a focus on two terpenoid classes: monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. Accumulated data showed that subcellular localization of both the precursor pool and the introduced enzymes were the crucial factors for increasing the production of targeted terpenoids in plants. We believe this timely review provides a glimpse of current state-of-the-art techniques/methodologies related to terpenoid engineering that would facilitate further improvements in terpenoids research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosynthesis, Function, and Application of Plant Volatiles)
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