On the Physicochemical Characteristics and Applications of an “Undesirable” Pyrenean Thorny Cushion Dwarf: Echinospartum horridum (Vahl) Roth

Abstract

Small evergreen shrubs of the family Fabaceae represent a large proportion of current Mediterranean mountain vegetation. Their low pastoral value and tendency for encroachment makes these plants undesirable. In this paper, the thermal and chemical characteristics of Echinospartum horridum, a thorny cushion-shaped dwarf shrub native to the French Central Massif and the Pyrenees (particularly dominant in the shrublands of the Pyrenees), have been analyzed with a view to its valorization. Although the higher and lower heating values of the biomass from E. horridum met the ISO 17225-2:2014 requirements for its use in pellets, the ash content was slightly above the upper limit, so it would not comply with the normative for its acceptable use as a fuel. Nevertheless, the presence of high added-value flavonoids and lignans in its extracts, which are receiving increasing recent interest as efficient anti-tumor drugs and antivirals, may open the door to the valorization of this shrub for pharmacological applications.

Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd. Flower Hydromethanolic Extract for Cucurbitaceae Fungal Diseases Control

“…Methyl β-D-glucopyranoside, also known as β-methyl-D-glucoside (MeG) or methyl hexopyranoside (5.8%, Qual 58), is an O-glycosyl compound that has been found as a major compound in the leaves of the alpine herb Geum montanum L. and other plants of the Rosaceae family [52], as well as in Echinospartum horridum (Vahl) Rothm. [53]. It has been suggested that, like other methylated molecules (i.e., methyl-inositols), it might be involved in tolerance to osmotic stress [52].…”

Subcritical Water Enhanced with Deep Eutectic Solvent for Extracting Polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes and Their Antioxidant Activities

“…The progress of the SWE process is highly affected by temperature [ 37 ]. High temperature can quickly destroy the structure of raw materials and extract biological macromolecules by reducing the viscosity of the extraction solvent and improving the fluidity of the solvent [ 38 ]. As can be seen from Figure 2 A, the yield of polysaccharides gradually increased as the extraction temperature increased from 110 °C to 150 °C, while the temperature continued to increase the yield of polysaccharides gradually showed a downward trend.…”