Rania Ben Saad

Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS) | CBS · Laboratoire de protection et amélioration des plantes

Citation: Ben Akacha, B.; Garzoli, S.; Ben Saad, R.; Brini, F.; Mnif, W.; Kačániová, M.; Ben Hsouna, A. Biopreservative Effect of the Tunisian Halophyte Lobularia maritima Flavonoid Fraction, Used Alone and in Combination with Linalool in Stored Minced Beef Meat. Metabolites 2023, 13, 371. https://doi.

In the present study, Lobularia maritima (Lm) flavonoid extract (LmFV) was characterized by HPLC analyses and five compounds were detected. Further, to describe the chemical content of the matrix, GC-MS analyses after silylation were performed; the obtained results showed the presence of a large number of components belonging to several chemical cl...

Citrus fruits occupy an important position in the context of the fruit trade, considering that both fresh fruits and processed products are produced on a large scale. Citrus fruits are recognized as an essential component of the human diet, thanks to their high content of beneficial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, terpenes, flavonoids, coumar...

Cold stress is a key environmental factor affecting plant growth and development, crop productivity, and geographic distribution. Thioredoxins (Trxs) are small proteins that are ubiquitously expressed in all organisms and implicated in several cellular processes, including redox reactions. However, their role in the regulation of cold stress in the...

Rapid global modernization, urbanization, and industrialization have accelerated the release of heavy metals, causing soil pollution. These highly noxious environmental pollutants induce oxidative stress in plants via stimulation of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thioredoxin (Trxs) is a highly conserved disulfide reductase that pl...

In this study, a new heteropolysaccharide extracted from Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. (LmPS), a halophyte harvested in Tunisia, was evaluated as an antioxidant and antibacterial additive in the bio-preservation of raw minced meat. For antibacterial testing, Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 1...

Family members within the plant-specific gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene serve a crucial role in plant growth and development, particularly in flower induction and seed development. Through a genome-wide analysis of Triticum turgidum ssp. Durum (durum wheat), we identified 19 GASA genes, designated as TdGASA1‒19. Moreover, the c...

Family members within the plant-specific gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene serve a crucial role in plant growth and development, particularly in flower induction and seed development. Through a genome-wide analysis of Triticum turgidum ssp. Durum (durum wheat), we identified 19 GASA genes, designated as TdGASA1‒19. Moreover, the c...

This study aims to investigate the phytochemical composition of various extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous) of L. maritima. The extracts were tested for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and to demonstrate the potential use of L. maritima extract, as a source of natural antioxidants, to preserve meat qu...

Halophytes are plant species widely distributed in saline habitats, such as beaches, postindustrial wastelands, irrigated lands, salt flats, and others. Excessive salt level, known to limit plant growth, is not harmful to halophytes, which have developed a variety of defense mechanisms allowing them to colonize harsh environments. Plants under stre...

This study was directed towards the investigation of the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of the essential oil of Tunisian halophyte Lobularia maritime (LmEO). The antibacterial effects against major food-borne pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria were tested using the well diffusion method, followed by the determination of the mi...

Bioactivities of polysaccharides derived from halophyte plants have gained attention in recent years. The use of biostimulants in agriculture is an innovative method of dealing with environmental stressors affecting plant growth and development. Here, we investigated the use of natural polysaccharides derived from the halophyte plant Lobularia mari...

Thiamine (TA), also known as vitamin B1, is an essential amino acid derived from food sources for normal body function. TA is thought to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects in addition to its nutritional benefits. The degree to which a number of microorganisms implicated in food rotting are sensitive to increasing concent...

The current study explorated the hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of Linalool (Lin) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced toxicity in mice. Four study groups (n = 8 each) were used: (1) a negative control group; (2) a toxicity control group (single dose of CCl4 administered at day 14 as 1ml/kg of CCL4 in 1% olive oil. Intraperito...

Thioredoxins (Trxs) are multi-functional redox proteins characterized by a conserved redox-active CGPC site. In plants, Trxs are small antioxidant proteins encoded by a multigene family and regulate several processes during development and growth. Consequently, Thrxs are attractive candidates for transgenic plant improvement to overcome the abnorma...

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the extraction and the characterization of a novel heteropolysaccharide from Tunisian halophyte Lobularia maritima (LmPS). We were also interested in its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced liver injury in rats. LmPS physicochemi...

TdAnn6 is a gene encoding an annexin protein in durum wheat (Triticum durum). The function of TdAnn6 in plant response to stress is not yet clearly understood. Here, we isolated TdAnn6 and characterized it in genetically modified Arabidopsis thaliana. Expressing TdAnn6 in Arabidopsis coincided with an improvement in stress tolerance at germination...

Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) are members of the family of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-14) that play a key role in plant defense mechanisms. In this study, a novel gene TdLTP4 encoding an antifungal protein from wheat (cv. Om Rabiaa) was cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL-21 (DE3) and enriched using ammonium sulfate fractionation. T...

The AlSAP gene, which has been isolated from the C4 halophyte grass Aeluropus littoralis, a member of the stress-associated protein gene family. Like other members of this family, AlSAP contains A20 and AN1 zinc-fnger domains, and its transcription is induced by abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, and temperature as well as by several hormo...

Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) are members of the family of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-14) that play a key role in plant defense mechanisms. In this study, a novel gene TdLTP4 encoding an antifungal protein from wheat (cv. Om Rabiaa) was cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL-21 (DE3) and enriched using ammonium sulfate fractionation. T...

TdAnn6 is a gene encoding an annexin protein in durum wheat (Triticum durum). The function of TdAnn6 in plant response to stress is not yet clearly understood. Here, we isolated TdAnn6 and characterized it in genetically modified Arabidopsis thaliana. Expressing TdAnn6 in Arabidopsis coincided with an improvement in stress tolerance at germination...

Halophyte Lobularia maritima LmSAP encodes an A20AN1 zinc-finger stress-associated protein which expression is up-regulated by abiotic stresses and heavy metals in transgenic tobacco. To deepen our understanding of LmSAP function, we isolated a 1,147 bp genomic fragment upstream of LmSAP coding sequence designated as PrLmSAP. In silico analyses of...

Soil salinity is an abiotic stress that reduces agricultural productivity. For decades, halophytes have been studied to elucidate the physiological and biochemical processes involved in alleviating cellular ionic imbalance and conferring salt tolerance. Recently, several interesting genes with proven influence on salt tolerance were isolated from t...

Soil salinity is an abiotic stress that reduces agricultural productivity. For decades, halophytes have been studied to elucidate the physiological and biochemical processes involved in alleviating cellular ionic imbalance and conferring salt tolerance. Recently, several interesting genes with proven influence on salt tolerance were isolated from t...

Background: Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) are members of the family of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-14) that play a key role in plant defense mechanisms. Methods: In this study, a novel gene TdLTP4 encoding an antifungal protein from wheat (cv. Om Rabiaa) was subcloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL-21 (DE3) and enriched using ammonium...

Stress-associated proteins (SAPs) are favorable targets to improve stress tolerance in plants, owing to their roles in developmental processes and stress responses. However, the role of SAPs and the molecular mechanisms by which they regulate plant stress responses remain poorly understood. Previously, it was reported that LmSAP expression was upre...

Stress-associated proteins (SAPs), such as A20/AN1 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins, have emerged as a novel class of proteins involved in abiotic stress signaling, and they are important candidates for preventing the loss of yield caused by exposure to environmental stresses. In a previous report, it was found that the ectopic-expression of...

Lobularia maritima (Alyssum maritimum, Brassicaceae), commonly known as sweet alyssum, is an annual ornamental halophyte widely spread along the Tunisian seashore. Lobularia maritima leaf ethanol extract was tested in an experimental model of hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). L. maritima extract was found to possess in vitro an...

The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression, purification and biological activities of a novel Triticum durum Annexin 12 protein (TdAnn12). The findings indicated that the molecular weight of the purified TdAnn12 was estimated to 35 kDa. The purified TdAnn12 protein was modulated by, Methyl-jasmonate, and ethephon treatments. The...

Crop productivity depends heavily on several biotic and abiotic factors. Plant annexins are a multigene family of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that function in response to environmental stresses and signaling during growth and development of plants. We recently isolated and characterized a Triticum durum annexin, called TdANN12,...

The present study evaluates the chemical profiling of the essential oil of a halophyte, L. maritima (LmEO), and its protective potential against CCl4-induced oxidative stress in rats. Forty compounds have been identified in LmEO. The major components are α-pinene (3.51%), benzyl alcohol (8.65%), linalool (22.43%), pulegone (3.33%), 1-phenyl butanon...

Plant annexins are proteins with multiple functions and roles in plant development and responses to abiotic stresses.Wereport here the functional analysis of the TdAnn12 annexin protein isolated from Triticum durum Desf.Wehave previously shown that TdAnn12 expression is highly induced by different abiotic stresses. In the present study, to investig...

Stress-associated proteins (SAPs), such as A20/AN1 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins, have emerged as a novel class of proteins involved in abiotic stress signaling, and they are important candidates for preventing the loss of yield caused by exposure to environmental stresses. In a previous report, it was found that the ectopic-expression of...

The present study aimed (1) to investigate the chemical composition as well as the anti‐inflammatory properties and in vitro antioxidant activity of Citrus aurantium peel essential oil (p EOCa ) and (2) to evaluate its potential effect in vivo. The main results showed that the major components of p EOCa are Limonene and Linalool. Additionally, DPPH...

Herein, we report isolation of the AlTMP2 gene from the halophytic C4 grass Aeluropus littoralis. The subcellular localization suggested that AlTMP2 is a plasma membrane protein. In A. littoralis exposed to salt and osmotic stresses, the AlTMP2 gene was induced early and at a high rate, but was upregulated relatively later in response to abscisic a...

We characterized a novel stress tolerance gene from Aeluropus littoralis encoding a protein designed as AlSRG1 (A. littoralis Stress-Related Gene 1). Phylogenetic and conserved domain prediction identified AlSRG1 as an uncharacterized protein of unknown function. The conserved domain database revealed that AlSRG1 contains an RNA-recognition motif (...

Abiotic stress results in massive loss of crop productivity throughout the world. Understanding the plant gene regulatory mechanisms involved in stress responses is very important. Annexins are a conserved multigene family of Ca-dependent, phospholipid-binding proteins with suggested functions in response to environmental stresses and signalling du...

The A20/AN1 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins of the stress-associated proteins (SAPs) family are fast emerging as potential candidates for biotechnological approaches to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We identified LmSAP, one of the SAPs genes in Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., a halophyte brassicaceae, through its transcript accu...

The A20/AN1 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins of the stress-associated proteins (SAPs) family are fast emerging as potential candidates for biotechnological approaches to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We identified LmSAP, one of the SAPs genes in Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., a halophyte brassicaceae, through its transcript accu...

The A20/AN1 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins of the stress-associated proteins (SAPs) family are fast emerging as potential candidates for biotechnological approaches to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We identified LmSAP, one of the SAPs genes in Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., a halophyte brassicaceae, through its transcript accu...

We evaluated the yields of Oryza sativa L. ‘Nipponbare’ rice lines expressing a gene encoding an A20/AN1 domain stress-associated protein, AlSAP, from the halophyte grass Aeluropus littoralis under the control of different promoters. Three independent field trials were conducted, with drought imposed at the reproductive stage. In all trials, the tw...

We report here the isolation and functional analysis of AlTMP1 gene encoding a member of the PMP3 protein family. In Aeluropus littoralis, AlTMP1 is highly induced by abscisic acid (ABA), cold, salt, and osmotic stresses. Transgenic tobacco expressing AlTMP1 exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt, osmotic, H2O2, heat and freezing stresses at the seed...

In order to understand the molecular basis of vacuolar H⁺-ATPase subunits and reveal their possible role in salt and drought tolerance in plant species, a vacuolar H⁺-ATPase subunit E1 gene (LmVHA-E1) was isolated from the halophyte Lobularia maritima and over-expressed in the glycophyte Arabidopsis thaliana. Q-RT-PCR demonstrated that the expressi...

Waddlia chondrophila and Listeria monocytogenes are well known emerging pathogens that cause ruminants' abortion around the world. Zoonotic infections caused by these bacteria are mostly underestimated due to difficulties of diagnosis resulting from their intracellular growth. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a dual real-time q...

Oat is a promising plant for the future. It is edible and beneficial thanks to its nutritional, medicinal and pharmaceutical uses and, hence, recognized to be useful for a healthier world. The assessment of the vital functions of oat components is important for industries requiring correct health labelling, valid during the shelf life of any produc...

Key message: When fused to " Pr AlSAP " promoter, transcripts of gusA exhibited similar accumulation patterns in transgenic rice as AlSAP transcripts in A. littoralis. Pr AlSAP can be used for engineering abiotic stress tolerance. We previously showed that ectopic expression of a stress-associated protein gene from Aeluropus littoralis (AlSAP) enh...

Since the first recovery of a transgenic rice plant in 1988, major progress has been made in manipulating traits of interest through genetic engineering of this plant of high sociological, cultural and economic importance. These traits encompass resistance to insect pests, and fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens, tolerance to abiotic constraints...

Background: Oats (Avena sativa L.) are a potential economically viable source of lipids and starch for use in foods. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of treated and untreated urban wastewater on seed germination, growth parameters and lipase and amylase activities in A. sativa. Results: Untreated wastewater was highly toxic in n...

Depuis l'obtention de la première plante transgénique de riz en 1988, de larges progrès ont été accomplis pour manipuler les caractères d'intérêt agronomique par ingénierie génétique chez cette plante d'importance alimentaire, économique et culturelle majeure. Les caractères concernés vont de la résistance aux insectes ravageurs et aux pathogènes f...

The expression of AlSAP, in rice cv. Nipponbare, enhances plant tolerance to cold, drought and salt stresses. AlSAP lines showed 100% survival rate and set seeds while control plants did not recover from the cold treatment. Under a severe drought stress treatment (fraction of transpirable soil water down to 0.1), AlSAP lines exhibited enhanced Tran...

Southern blot analysis of transgenic lines (L4, L6, L8 and L12). Genomic DNA was extracted, digested with NcoI (cuts once in the T-DNA) and loaded onto the gel which was blotted and probed with labeled PCR product of gusA gene

The third High-Efficiency Thermal Asymmetric Interlaced (HE-TAIL) PCR for 5′-flanking sequence of AlSAP gene. M: DNA Ladder; lanes 1, 2 and 3: products of the tertiary PCR using Rn2-ZFRv3, Rn2-ZFRv4 and Rn2-Rn2 primers, respectively

We have recently isolated the AlSAP (stress-associated protein) gene from the halophyte grass Aeluropus littoralis and demonstrated that AlSAP expression improves tolerance to continuous salt and drought stresses in transgenic tobacco. To extend these findings to an important crop, we generated marker-free transgenic durum wheat plants of the comme...

In our recent published work it has been demonstrated that AlSAP, a gene encoding an A20/AN1 zinc-finger protein (stress-associated protein) of the C4 halophyte grass Aeluropus littoralis, is inducible by various abiotic stresses and by hormonal stimuli. To further investigate the regulation of the gene, a 586-bp genomic fragment upstream of the Al...

Supplementary Fig. 1 The nucleotide (707 bp) and the deduced amino acid sequence (159 aa) of AlSAP gene and its genomic structure. (a)The position of 5’UTR (118 bp) and 3’UTR (112 bp) are marked by line. The position of start (atg) and the stop (tga) codons are indicated by *. The A20 and AN1 domains of the peptide are indicated by dark and light g...