Enhancing the antioxidant capacity and quality attributes of fermented goat milk through the synergistic action of Limosilactobacillus fermentum WXZ 2-1 with a starter culture.

This study evaluated 75 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditional dairy products in western China for their probiotic properties. Among them, Limosilactobacillus fermentum WXZ 2-1, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TXZ 2-35, Companilactobacillus crustorum QHS 9, and Companilactobacillus crustorum QHS 10 demonstrated potential probiotic characteristics. The antioxidant capacity of these 4 strains was assessed, revealing that L. fermentum WXZ 2-1 exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, when cocultured with Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, L. fermentum WXZ 2-1 demonstrated a synergistic effect in growth medium and goat milk. To explore its effect on goat milk fermentation, different amounts of L. fermentum WXZ 2-1 were added to goat milk, and its physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, flavor substances, and metabolomics were analyzed. The study found that the incorporation of L. fermentum WXZ 2-1 in goat milk fermentation significantly improved the texture characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and flavor of fermented goat milk. These findings highlight the potential of L. fermentum WXZ 2-1 as a valuable probiotic strain for enhancing the functionality and desirability of fermented goat milk, contributing to the development of novel functional foods with improved health benefits and enhanced quality attributes.

Improved selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers based on the synergistic action of hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction.

Based on the synergistic action of hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction, provided by methacrylic acid and 2-aminoethyl ester hydrochloride (FM2), respectively, novel molecularly imprinted polymers (SA-MIPs) were designed to improve its selective recognition ability. Diclofenac sodium (DFC) was chosen as the template molecule of this study. The interaction and their recognition sites between two functional monomers and templates were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy. Because of the synergistic action of hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction, the imprinting factor (IF) of SA-MIPs (IF = 2.26) is superior to the corresponding monofunctional monomer imprinting materials (IF = 1.52, 1.20) and the materials using two functional monomers with an only single type of interaction (IF = 1.54, 1.75). The results of selective adsorption experiments indicate that the selective recognition ability of SA-MIPs is significantly better than that of the other four MIPs, and the difference in selectivity coefficient for methyl orange is the largest between SA-MIPs and the MIPs only using FM2, which is about 70 times. In addition, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to verify the interaction between SA-MIPs and the template. This work and its explanation of the interaction mechanism at the molecular level will be helpful for the rational design of novel MIPs with higher selectivity. Besides, SA-MIPs have good adsorption performance (37.75 mg/g) for DFC in aqueous solutions, which could be used as potential adsorption materials for the effective removal of DFC in the aquatic environment.

Role of extremophilic Bacillus cereus KH1 and its lipopeptide in treatment of organic pollutant in wastewater.

An effective biosurfactant producer and extremophiles bacteria, Bacillus cereus KH1, was isolated from textile effluent and the biosurfactant was produced using molasses as the sole carbon source. Growth parameters such as pH, temperature, salinity and concentration of molasses were optimised for decolourising the textile effluent with 24-h incubation. The biosurfactant property of B. cereus KH1 was evaluated based on haemolytic activity, oil displacement technique, drop-collapsing test and emulsification index. The results of the produced biosurfactant showed a positive reaction in haemolytic activity, oil displacement technique, drop-collapsing test and exhibiting a 67% emulsification index. The cell-free broth was stable in 40 °C pH 7, 7% salinity and 7% molasses. Thin-Layer Chromatography and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis revealed that the biosurfactant was a lipopeptide with a yield 2.98 g L-1. These findings proved the synergistic action of B. cereus KH1 with lipopeptide biosurfactant may accelerated the decolourisation efficiency to 87%.

Antimicrobial Activity of Biogenic Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Synergistic Effect on Clinical Pathogens.

The rising prevalence of antibiotic-resistance is currently a grave issue; hence, novel antimicrobial agents are being explored and developed to address infections resulting from multiple drug-resistant pathogens. Biogenic CuO, ZnO, and WO3 nanoparticles can be considered as such agents. Clinical isolates of E. coli, S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Candida albicans from oral and vaginal samples were treated with single and combination metal nanoparticles incubated under dark and light conditions to understand the synergistic effect of the nanoparticles and their photocatalytic antimicrobial activity. Biogenic CuO and ZnO nanoparticles exhibited significant antimicrobial effects under dark incubation which did not alter on photoactivation. However, photoactivated WO3 nanoparticles significantly reduced the number of viable cells by 75% for all the test organisms, thus proving to be a promising antimicrobial agent. Combinations of CuO, ZnO, and WO3 nanoparticles demonstrated synergistic action as a significant increase in their antimicrobial property (>90%) was observed compared to the action of single elemental nanoparticles. The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of metal nanoparticles both in combination and in isolation was assessed with respect to lipid peroxidation due to ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and the damage to cell integrity using live/dead staining and quantitating with the use of flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals differences in gene expression in whitefly following individual or combined applications of Akanthomyces attenuatus (Zare & Gams) and matrine.

BACKGROUND: Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a serious pest of crops in different regions of the world. Our recent studies on the joint application of Akanthomyces attenuatus (a pathogenic insect fungus) and matrine (a botanical insecticide) against B. tabaci have shown promising results. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), we identified differentially expressed genes involved in whitefly responses to single or mixed applications of A. attenuatus and matrine. METHODS: In this study, we compared the transcriptome profiles of B. tabaci treated with individual and combined treatments of A. attenuatus and matrine to determine variations in gene expression among whiteflies in response to different treatments. RESULTS: Transcriptomic data analysis showed differential expression of 71, 1194, and 51 genes in response to A. attenuatus (BtA), matrine (BtM), and A. attenuatus + matrine (BtAM) treatment, respectively. A total of 65 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between whiteflies treated with A. attenuatus (BtA) and matrine (BtM). A comparison of DEGs across the three treatments (BtA, BtM, and BtAM) revealed two common DEGs. The results also revealed that AMPK signaling, apoptosis, and drug metabolism pathways are likely involved in whitefly defense responses against A. attenuatus and matrine infection. Furthermore, a notable suppression of general metabolism and immune response genes was observed in whiteflies treated with A. attenuatus + matrine (BtAM) compared to whiteflies treated with individual A. attenuatus (BtA) or matrine (BtM) treatments. CONCLUSION: Dynamic changes in the number of differentially expressed genes were observed in B. tabaci subjected to different treatments (BtA, BtM, and BtAM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular interactions between whitefly and individual or combined treatments of A. attenuatus and matrine. These results will further improve our knowledge of the infection mechanism and complex biochemical processes involved in the synergistic action of A. attenuatus and matrine against B. tabaci.

Synergy of cystamine and pyraclostrobin against Fusarium graminearum involves membrane permeability mitigation and autophagy enhancement.

The application of fungicide mixture is one of the most important measures to extend the service life of highly selective fungicides. Pyraclostrobin (PYR), which has been extensively used to control plant diseases by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration of pathogenic fungi, is at a high risk of resistance development. In this study, the potential of PYR alone or in combination with cystamine, an inhibitor of microbial transglutaminase, to suppress Fusarium graminearum was tested in vitro and in vivo. A synergistic effect of PYR/CYS mixture was observed both in vitro and when applied to etiolated wheat coleoptile. The control effect of PYR/CYS mixture on F. graminearum was better than that of PYR alone, which was reflected by the increased protection effect. The discrepancies of membrane permeability and the redox-physiological state were observed between PYR and PYR/CYS treatments, suggesting that an increased PYR availability in F. graminearum mycelia could be related with the observed synergistic action. Moreover, a synergistic profile was observed between PYR and CYS in regard of massive autophagosomes in mycelia, indicating that enhanced autophagy could be involved in the mode of action of PYR/CYS mixture. The differential content of mitochondrial metabolites between PYR and PYR/CYS treatments also provided evidence for CYS contribution to the fungicidal action of PYR/CYS mixture. The results provide insight into the synergistic mechanism of action of PYR/CYS mixture and an effective way to enhance the efficiency of PYR to combat F. graminearum.

Effect of concomitant use of pitavastatin with neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Preclinical studies have demonstrated the possible anticancer effects of statins, but the synergistic effect of concomitant statin use with standard chemotherapy protocols in patients with breast cancer has not yet been investigated. Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of concomitant pitavastatin use with neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols in patients with breast cancer. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 70 adult female patients with pathologically-proven invasive breast cancer were randomized to receive or not receive pitavastatin (2 mg) oral tablets once daily concomitantly with standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols for 6 months. The primary outcomes of this study were changes in tumor size and changes to the Ki67 index. In addition, secondary outcomes were changes in cyclin D1 and cleaved caspase-3 serum levels. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04705909). Results: Patients in the pitavastatin group showed significantly higher median (IQR) reductions in tumor size [-19.8 (-41.5, 9.5)] compared to those in the control group [-5.0 (-15.5, 0.0), p = 0.0009]. The change in Ki67 from baseline to the end of therapy was similar between the two groups (p = 0.12). By the end of therapy, the cyclin D1 levels in the pitavastatin group were significantly decreased [median (IQR) change of - 10.0 (-20.2, -2.9) from baseline], whereas the control group showed an increase in cyclin D1 levels [14.8 (4.1, 56.4)]. The median (IQR) caspase-3 was elevated in the pitavastatin group 1.6 (0.2, 2.2), and decreased in the control group (-0.2 (-1.1, 0.0), p = 0.0002).Subgroup analysis of the pitavastatin group revealed that patients with positive human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) had higher median (IQR) reductions in Ki67 [-35.0 (-70.0, -12.5)] than those with negative HER2 [2.5 (-15.0, 10.0), p = 0.04]. All patients who achieved a complete pathological response (n = 9) exhibited an HER2-neu positive receptor at baseline. Conclusion: Concomitant use of pitavastatin with standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols may improve neoadjuvant chemotherapy responses in patients with breast cancer.

Biochemical and synergistic properties of a novel alpha-amylase from Chinese nong-flavor Daqu.

BACKGROUND: Daqu is the most important fermentation starter for Chinese liquor, with large number of microbes and enzymes being openly enriched in the Daqu system over thousands of years. However, only a few enzymes have been analyzed with crude protein for total liquefying power and saccharifying power of Daqu. Therefore, the complex enzymatic system present in Daqu has not been completely characterized. Moreover, their pivotal and complicated functions in Daqu are completely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, a novel α-amylase NFAmy13B, from GH13_5 subfamily (according to the Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes Database, CAZy) was successfully heterologous expressed by Escherichia coli from Chinese Nong-flavor (NF) Daqu. It exhibited high stability ranging from pH 5.5 to 12.5, and higher specific activity, compared to other GH13_5 fungal α-amylases. Moreover, NFAmy13B did not show activity loss and retained 96% residual activity after pre-incubation at pH 11 for 21 h and pH 12 for 10 h, respectively. Additionally, 1.25 mM Ca2+ significantly improved its thermostability. NFAmy13B showed a synergistic effect on degrading wheat starch with NFAmy13A (GH13_1), another α-amylase from Daqu. Both enzymes could cleave maltotetraose and maltopentaose in same degradation pattern, and only NFAmy13A could efficiently degrade maltotriose. Moreover, NFAmy13B showed higher catalytic efficiency on long-chain starch, while NFAmy13A had higher catalytic efficiency on short-chain maltooligosaccharides. Their different catalytic efficiencies on starch and maltooligosaccharides may be caused by their discrepant substrate-binding region. CONCLUSIONS: This study mined a novel GH13_5 fungal α-amylase (NFAmy13B) with outstanding alkali resistance from Nong-flavor (NF) Daqu. Furthermore, its synergistic effect with NFAmy13A (GH13_1) on hydrolyzing wheat starch was confirmed, and their possible contribution in NF Daqu was also speculated. Thus, we not only provide a candidate α-amylase for industry, but also a useful strategy for further studying the interactions in the complex enzyme system of Daqu.

Synergistic Action of Commercially Available Fungicides for Protecting Wheat from Common Root Rot Caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana in China.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) common root rot (CRR) caused by predominant fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana occurs in all wheat-growing regions worldwide and is difficult to control. In this study, the efficacy of eight fungicides against Bipolaris sorokiniana was examined in in vitro assays, and we determined that the combined application of two fungicides significantly inhibits the growth of fungal mycelium. Half of the maximal effective concentration of a mixture containing fludioxonil and difenoconazole in the ratio 1:4 was 0.0372 mg/liter, and the cotoxicity coefficient was 160.14. Under an environmentally controlled pot assay, seed treatment with the mixture of fludioxonil and difenoconazole in the 1:4 ratio demonstrated the best control efficiency at seedling and adult stages, respectively. The best synergistic mixture on seed treatment was assessed in a 2-year field experiment at Hebei, China. The best control efficacy achieved at the seedling and adult stages was 82.65% and 68.48%, respectively. Overall, the in vitro mycelial growth inhibition assay and controlled-environment and field studies indicated that the synergistic action of a mixture of fludioxonil and difenoconazole provides effective control against wheat CRR. These findings highlight the potential application of the fungicide combination for controlling CRR and reducing the selection pressure on fungal pathogens by lessening the use of various fungicides in the field.

Mechanism of bioactive polysaccharide from Lachnum sp. acts synergistically with 5-fluorouracil against human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used antitumor agent, however the overall response rate to 5-FU as a single agent is usually limited. Herein, how Lachnum expolysaccharide (LEP-2a), a type of active polysaccharide isolated from Lachnum sp., acted synergistically with 5-FU on HepG2 cells was investigated. It was found that LEP-2a notably enhanced 5-FU sensitivity in HepG2 cells in a synergistic manner. After combination treatment of 5-FU and LEP-2a, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were inactivated. In addition, combination treatment induced generation of reactive oxygen species, decreased the levels of intracellular antioxidant enzymes and triggered mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Furthermore, 5-FU combined with LEP-2a also resulted in p53 activation and NF-κB inhibition, and cell cycle arrest in the S phase as well as cell metastasis stagnation. Interestingly, LEP-2a treatment also blocked the DNA damage repair procedure. These findings demonstrate that LEP-2a enhanced 5-FU sensitivity and combination of 5-FU and LEP-2a exerts synergistic antitumor efficiency through multiple approaches.

Antifungals discovery: an insight into new strategies to combat antifungal resistance.

Undeniably, new antifungal treatments are necessary against pathogenic fungi. Fungal infections have significantly increased in recent decades, being highlighted as important causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Five main antifungal classes are used: (i) azoles, (ii) echinocandins, (iii) polyenes, (iv) allylamines and (v) pyrimidine analogues. Moreover, the treatment of mycoses has several limitations, such as undesirable side effects, narrow activity spectrum, a small number of targets and fungal resistance, which are still of major concern in clinical practice. The discovery of new antifungals is mostly achieved by the screening of natural or synthetic/semisynthetic chemical compounds. The most recent discoveries in drug resistance mechanism and their avoidance were explored in a review, focusing on different antifungal targets, as well as new agents or strategies, such as combination therapy, that could improve antifungal therapy. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The failure to respond to antifungal therapy is complex and is associated with microbiological resistance and increased expression of virulence in fungal pathogens. Thus, this review offers an overview of current challenges in the treatment of fungal infections associated with increased antifungal drug resistance and the formation of biofilms in these opportunistic pathogens. Furthermore, the most recent and potential strategies to combat fungal pathogens are explored here, focusing on new agents as well as innovative approaches, such as combination therapy between antifungal drugs or with natural compounds.

A Shinella ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase of glycoside hydrolase family 20 displays novel biochemical and molecular characteristics.

ß-N-Acetylglucosaminidases (GlcNAcases) are important for many biological functions and industrial applications. In this study, a glycoside hydrolase family 20 GlcNAcase from Shinella sp. JB10 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Compared to many GlcNAcases, the purified recombinant enzyme (rJB10Nag) exhibited a higher specificity activity (538.8 µmol min-1 mg-1) or V max (1030.0 ± 82.1 µmol min-1 mg-1) toward p-nitrophenyl ß-N-acetylglucosaminide and N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (specificity activity of 35.4 µmol min-1 mg-1) and a higher N-acetylglucosaminide tolerance (approximately 50% activity in 70.0 mM N-acetylglucosaminide). The degree of synergy on enzymatic degradation of chitin by a commercial chitinase and rJB10Nag was as high as 2.35. The enzyme was tolerant to most salts, especially 3.0-15.0% (w/v) NaCl and KCl. These biochemical characteristics make the JB10 GlcNAcase a candidate for use in many potential applications, including processing marine materials and the bioconversion of chitin waste. Furthermore, the enzyme has the highest proportions of alanine (16.5%), glycine (10.5%), and random coils (48.8%) with the lowest proportion of α-helices (24.9%) among experimentally characterized GH 20 GlcNAcases from other organisms.

Synergistic hydrolysis of xylan using novel xylanases, ß-xylosidases, and an α-L-arabinofuranosidase from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans NG80-2.

Lignocellulosic biomass from various types of wood has become a renewable resource for production of biofuels and biobased chemicals. Because xylan is the major component of wood hemicelluloses, highly efficient enzymes to enhance xylan hydrolysis can improve the use of lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, a xylanolytic gene cluster was identified from the crude oil-degrading thermophilic strain Geobacillus thermodenitrificans NG80-2. The enzymes involved in xylan hydrolysis, which include two xylanases (XynA1, XynA2), three ß-xylosidases (XynB1, XynB2, XynB3), and one α-L-arabinofuranosidase (AbfA), have many unique features, such as high pH tolerance, high thermostability, and a broad substrate range. The three ß-xylosidases were highly resistant to inhibition by product (xylose) accumulation. Moreover, the combination of xylanase, ß-xylosidase, and α-L-arabinofuranosidase exhibited the largest synergistic action on xylan degradation (XynA2, XynB1, and AbfA on oat spelt or beechwood xylan; XynA2, XynB3, and AbfA on birchwood xylan). We have demonstrated that the proposed enzymatic cocktail almost completely converts complex xylan to xylose and arabinofuranose and has great potential for use in the conversion of plant biomass into biofuels and biochemicals.

The Effects and Mechanism of YK-4-279 in Combination with Docetaxel on Prostate Cancer.

Background: Docetaxel is the first-line treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The limited survival benefit associated with the quick emergence of resistance and systemic toxicity diminishes its efficacy in high-dose monotherapy. YK-4-279 is a small molecule inhibitor of ETV1 that plays an important role in the progression of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that the combination of docetaxel and YK-4-279 will have a synergistic effect on inhibiting growth and accelerating apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Methods: Cell growth assessed using CCK-8 and trypan blue exclusion assays. Cell apoptosis was determined by morphological assessment in cells stained with propidium iodide. Standard scratch migration and Matrigel-coated transwell invasion assays were used to assess cell migration and invasion, respectively. Western blotting was used to investigate the levels of ETV1, AR, PSA, p-STAT3, survivin, Bcl-2, and p-Akt in prostate cancer cells. Results: The combination of low-dose docetaxel and YK-4-279 synergistically inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. The combination also more efficiently suppressed the migration and invasion of LNCaP and PC-3 cells. The combination of low-dose docetaxel and YK-4-279 caused a stronger decrease in the levels of ETV1, AR, PSA, p-STAT3, survivin, Bcl-2, and p-Akt in LNCaP cells and of p-Akt, Bcl-2, and p-STAT3 in PC-3 cells compared with either drug alone. Conclusions: These data suggest that the combination of docetaxel and YK-4-279 may be an effective approach for inhibiting the growth and metastasis of prostate cancer. This could permit a decrease in the docetaxel dose necessary for patients with CRPC and thereby lower its systemic toxicity.

Biochemical characterization and synergism of cellulolytic enzyme system from Chaetomium globosum on rice straw saccharification.

BACKGROUND: Efficient hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials to sugars for conversion to biofuels and chemicals is a key step in biorefinery. Designing an active saccharifying enzyme system with synergy among their components is considered a promising approach. RESULTS: In this study, a lignocellulose-degrading enzyme system of Chaetomium globosum BCC5776 (CG-Cel) was characterized for its activity and proteomic profiles, and synergism with accessory enzymes. The highest cellulase productivity of 0.40 FPU/mL was found for CG-Cel under the optimized submerged fermentation conditions on 1% (w/v) EPFB (empty palm fruit bunch), 2% microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel®) and 1% soybean meal (SBM) at 30 °C, pH 5.8 for 6 d. CG-Cel worked optimally at 50-60 °C in an acidic pH range. Proteomics analysis by LC/MS/MS revealed a complex enzyme system composed of core cellulases and accessory hydrolytic/non-hydrolytic enzymes attacking plant biopolymers. A synergistic enzyme system comprising the CG-Cel, a ß-glucosidase (Novozyme® 188) and a hemicellulase Accellerase® XY was optimized on saccharification of alkaline-pretreated rice straw by a mixture design approach. Applying a full cubic model, the optimal ratio of ternary enzyme mixture containing CG-Cel: Novozyme® 188: Accellerase® XY of 44.4:20.6:35.0 showed synergistic enhancement on reducing sugar yield with a glucose releasing efficiency of 256.4 mg/FPU, equivalent to a 2.9 times compared with that from CG-Cel alone. CONCLUSIONS: The work showed an approach for developing an active synergistic enzyme system based on the newly characterized C. globosum for lignocellulose saccharification and modification in bio-industries.

Characterization of a NaCl-tolerant ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Sphingobacterium sp. HWLB1.

ß-N-Acetylglucosaminidases serve important biological functions and various industrial applications. A glycoside hydrolase family 3 ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene was cloned from Sphingobacterium sp. HWLB1 and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The purified recombinant enzyme (rNag3HWLB1) showed apparent optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 40 °C. In the presence of 0.5-20.0 % (w/v) NaCl, the activity and stability of rNag3HWLB1 were slightly affected or not affected. The enzyme could even retain 73.6 % activity when 30.0 % (w/v) NaCl was added to the reaction mixture. The half-life of the enzyme was approximately 10 min at 37 °C without the addition of NaCl. However, the enzyme was stable at 37 °C in the presence of 3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A large negatively charged surface in the catalytic pocket of the enzyme was observed and might contribute to NaCl tolerance and thermostability improvement. The degree of synergy between a commercial endochitinase and rNag3HWLB1 on chitin enzymatic degradation ranged from 3.11 to 3.74. This study is the first to report the molecular and biochemical properties of a NaCl-tolerant ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase.

Hepatoprotective action of various partitions of methanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity: involvement of the antioxidant mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Methanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea L. (family Fabaceae) (MEBP) possesses high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and recently reported to exert hepatoprotection against paracetamol (PCM)-induced liver injury in rats. In an attempt to identify the hepatoprotective bioactive compounds in MEBP, the extract was prepared in different partitions and subjected to the PCM-induced liver injury model in rats. METHODS: Dried MEBP was partitioned successively to obtain petroleum ether (PEBP), ethylacetate (EABP) and aqueous (AQBP) partitions, respectively. All partitions were subjected to in vitro antioxidant (i.e. total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- and superoxide-radicals scavenging assay, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay) and anti-inflammatory (i.e. lipooxygenase (LOX) and xanthine oxidase (XO) assay) analysis. The partitions, prepared in the dose range of 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg, together with a vehicle (10 % DMSO) and standard drug (200 mg/kg silymarin) were administered orally for 7 consecutive days prior to subjection to the 3 mg/kg PCM-induced liver injury model in rats. Following the hepatic injury induction, blood samples and liver were collected for the respective biochemical parameter and histopathological studies. Body weight changes and liver weight were also recorded. The partitions were also subjected to the phytochemical screening and HPLC analysis. RESULTS: Of all partitions, EABP possessed high TPC value and demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity when assessed using the DPPH- and superoxide-radical scavenging assay, as well as ORAC assay, which was followed by AQBP and PEBP. All partitions also showed low anti-inflammatory activity via the LOX and XO pathways. In the hepatoprotective study, the effectiveness of the partitions is in the order of EABP>AQBP>PEBP, which is supported by the microscopic analysis and histopathological scoring. In the biochemical analysis, EABP also exerted the most effective effect by reducing the serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) at all doses tested in comparison to the other partitions. Phytochemical screening and HPLC analysis suggested the presence of: flavonoids, condensed tannins and triterpenes in EABP; flavonoids, condensed tannins and saponins in PEBP and; only saponins in AQBP. CONCLUSION: EABP demonstrates the most effective hepatoprotection against PCM-induced liver injury in rats. This observation could be attributed to its remarkable antioxidant activity and the presence of flavonoids that might probably act synergistically with other biocompounds to cause the hepatoprotection.

Synergistic and Antagonistic Action of Phytochrome (Phy) A and PhyB during Seedling De-Etiolation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

It has been reported that Arabidopsis phytochrome (phy) A and phyB are crucial photoreceptors that display synergistic and antagonistic action during seedling de-etiolation in multiple light signaling pathways. However, the functional relationship between phyA and phyB is not fully understood under different kinds of light and in response to different intensities of such light. In this work, we compared hypocotyl elongation of the phyA-211 phyB-9 double mutant with the wild type, the phyA-211 and phyB-9 single mutants under different intensities of far-red (FR), red (R), blue (B) and white (W) light. We confirmed that phyA and phyB synergistically promote seedling de-etiolation in B-, B plus R-, W- and high R-light conditions. The correlation of endogenous ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) protein levels with the trend of hypocotyl elongation of all lines indicate that both phyA and phyB promote seedling photomorphogenesis in a synergistic manner in high-irradiance white light. Gene expression analyses of RBCS members and HY5 suggest that phyB and phyA act antagonistically on seedling development under FR light.

Efficient cadmium-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria loaded on pig bone biochar has higher efficiency in reducing cadmium phytoavailability and improving maize performance than on rice husk biochar.

Green agriculture faced challenges due to the shortage of efficient cadmium (Cd)-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria (CdR-PGPB) and their low survival rate and activity during application. In this study, a diverse range of efficient CdR-PGPB were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Desmodium elegans, especially those with high phosphate-solubilizing capabilities (272.87-450.45 mg L-1). Two highly efficient CdR-PGPB namely, XH1 and XH3 were loaded on to rice husk biochar (RHB) and pig bone biochar (PBB), labelled as RHBM and PBBM respectively. This study aimed to explore their effectiveness and mechanisms in promoting maize growth in a Cd-contaminated planting system. Results showed that PBBM performed best among all treatments. It significantly decreased soil phytoavailable Cd by 53.19 % and Cd content in maize shoot by 85.89 %. It also increased soil available phosphorus by 145.72 %, soil alkaline phosphatase activity by 76.34 %, maize shoot/root biomass by 47.06 %/67.98 %, Chlorophyll (a/b) content by 66.80 %/134.13 % and peroxidase activity by 171.96 %. These results were achieved through the synergistic action of efficient CdR-PGPB and PBB. Therefore, PBBM proved to be a promising and innovative application technique for sustainable agricultural development in Cd-contaminated farmland ecosystems.

Biodegradable magnesium and zinc composite microspheres with synergistic osteogenic effect for enhanced bone regeneration.

Biodegradable polymer microspheres in bone tissue engineering have become appealing as their non-invasive advantages in irregular damage bone repair. However, current microspheres used in BTE still lack sufficient osteogenic capacity to induce effective bone regeneration. In this study, we developed osteogenic composite microspheres concurrently loaded with magnesium oxide (MgO) and zinc oxide (ZnO), both of which are osteogenic active substances, using a facile and scalable emulsification method. The osteogenic composite microspheres exhibited a sequential yet complementary release profile characterized by a rapid release of Mg2+ and a gradual release of Zn2+ in a physiological environment, thereby maintaining the concentration of bioactive ions at a sustained high level. As a result, the combination of Mg2+ and Zn2+ in the composite microspheres led to a synergistic enhancement in biomimetic mineralization and the upregulation in the expression of osteogenic-related genes and proteins at the cellular level. Through a critical-sized calvarial rate defect model, the osteogenic composite microspheres were demonstrated to have strong osteogenic ability to promote new bone formation via ultrasonic imaging, histological and immunohistochemical evaluations. In sum, these osteogenic composite microspheres as microcarriers of Mg2+ and Zn2+ have great potential in the delivery of therapeutic ions for treating bone defects.