Phenolics from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Characterisation and Potential as Biostimulants and Bioprotectants

Abstract

Biostimulants and bioprotectants are derived from natural sources and can enhance crop growth and protect crops from pests and pathogens, respectively. They have attracted much attention in the past few decades and contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural system. Despite not having been explored extensively, plant extracts and their component secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds have been shown to have biostimulant effects on plants, including enhancement of growth attributes and yield, as well as bioprotectant effects, including antimicrobial, insecticidal, herbicidal and nematicidal effects. Medicinal and aromatic plants are widely distributed all over the world and are abundant sources of phenolic compounds. This paper reviews the characterisation of phenolic compounds and extracts from medicinal and aromatic plants, including a brief overview of their extraction, phytochemical screening and methods of analysis. The second part of the review highlights the potential for use of phenolic compounds and extracts as biostimulants and bioprotectants in agriculture as well as some of the challenges related to their use.biostimulant; bioprotectant; phenolic; medicinal; aromatic

Chemical Characterization of Flowers and Leaf Extracts Obtained from Turnera subulata and Their Immunomodulatory Effect on LPS-Activated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

“…In this context, plant phenolic compounds (e.g., flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignins) have been described regarding their several pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial effects [ 12 ]. Polyphenols are the object of studies to develop new drugs due to their direct or indirect inhibition or activation of important cellular and molecular targets, by modulating the expression of inflammatory mediators [ 13 , 14 ].…”

“…On this basis, studies have focused on evaluating plant biodiversity as a compound reservoir for therapeutic purposes, in addition to elucidating medicinal activities attributed by popular tradition [ 12 , 15 ]. In this context, Turnera subulata (Passifloraceae family) is a species with wide distribution in tropical and subtropical regions [ 16 , 17 ], used in folk medicine due to its pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antifungal, and antioxidant activity [ 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Ginger Extract and Fulvic Acid Foliar Applications as Novel Practical Approaches to Improve the Growth and Productivity of Damask Rose

“…GE also contains several antioxidants, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids (gallic, cinnamic, salicylic, vanillic, ferulic, and tannic acids), and ascorbic acid [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. GE has been used as a natural biostimulant [ 20 ], and its foliar application improved the growth, total soluble sugar, volatile oil content, and nitrogen content of Origanum majorana [ 21 ]. Therefore, it is expected to be an effective biostimulant and growth promoter as an alternative to chemical fertilizers.…”

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Symbiosis to Enhance Plant–Soil Interaction

“…Any product containing microorganisms applied to supply the major crop nutrients is termed as biofertilizers [126], and biostimulants are considered as a tool to mitigate the abiotic stresses in plants [127]. Bioprotectants are natural products that provide protection to plants against pests and pathogens [128]. The production of AMF is registered in the following three categories: biofertilizer, biostimulants, and bioprotectants.…”