Plant microbiome-dependent immune enhancing action of Echinacea purpurea is enhanced by soil organic matter content

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that extracts from Echinacea purpurea material varied substantially in their ability to activate macrophages in vitro and that this variation was due to differences in their content of bacterial components. The purpose of the current study was to identify soil conditions (organic matter, nitrogen, and moisture content) that alter the macrophage activation potential of E. purpurea and determine whether these changes in activity correspond to shifts in the plant-associated microbiome. Increased levels of soil organic matter significantly enhanced macrophage activation exhibited by the root extracts of E. purpurea (p < 0.0001). A change in soil organic matter content from 5.6% to 67.4% led to a 4.2-fold increase in the macrophage activation potential of extracts from E. purpurea. Bacterial communities also differed significantly between root materials cultivated in soils with different levels of organic matter (p < 0.001). These results indicate that the level of soil organic matter is an agricultural factor that can alter the bacterial microbiome, and thereby the activity, of E. purpurea roots. Since ingestion of bacterial preparation (e.g., probiotics) is reported to impact human health, it is likely that the medicinal value of Echinacea is influenced by cultivation conditions that alter its associated bacterial community.

Cassava/peanut intercropping improves soil quality via rhizospheric microbes increased available nitrogen contents

“…Sugarcanesoybean intercropping increased microbial diversity [29]. Microbiome-dependent immunity was related to soil organic matter content [30]. It was reported in previous studies that intercropping can change the soil microecology, as indicated by increasing farmland biodiversity [31].…”

The Microbiome of the Medicinal Plants Achillea millefolium L. and Hamamelis virginiana L.

“…Thus, beside the potential impact of the plant microbiome on pathogen resistance and general fitness evidence has accumulated that the microbiome has a significant impact on the production of secondary metabolites of MPs ( Köberl et al, 2013 ; Schmidt et al, 2014 ; Jia et al, 2016 ; Huang et al, 2018 ; Pacifico et al, 2019 ). This has recently been specified for Echinacea purpurea ( Maggini et al, 2017 ; Haron et al, 2019 ), Camellia sinensis ( Sun et al, 2019 ), and Cannabis sativa ( Taghinasab and Jabaji, 2020 ). Further work is still required to illuminate mutual interactions of MPs and their microbiome and its potential role in producing beneficial bioactive compounds.…”

Improving growth properties and phytochemical compounds of Echinacea purpurea (L.) medicinal plant using novel nitrogen slow release fertilizer under greenhouse conditions

“…Recent studies also relevant that echinacoside and caffeic acid derivative have weak anti-bacterial and antiviral effects and are protectants against reactive oxygen species 20,39 . The antioxidant activity could be ascribed to the polyphenolic components 13 , such as flavonoids 34 , phenolic acids 35 or phenolic diterpenes 9 .…”

“…It is resistance to heat or cold weather conditions, easy to grow, and flaunt high efficiency 7 , 8 . Numerous scientific researches demonstrated the useful effect of Echinacea immunomodulatory functions and human health 9 , 10 . The doctors explored that the alcohol extract of Echinacea rhizomata cum radicibus immediately increased phagocytic activity and leads to high production of white blood cells, as well as, various in vitro researches has confirmed the phagocytosis, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity effects of E. purpurea rhizomata cum radicibus extracts 4 .…”