Effect of hesperidin on growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant systems and uptake of cadmium, copper, chromium and zinc by Celosia argentea plants.

Rapid industrialization and extensive agricultural practices are the major causes of soil heavy metal contamination, which needs urgent attention to safeguard the soils from contamination. However, the phytotoxic effects of excessive metals in plants are the primary obstacle to efficient phytoextraction. The present study evaluated the effects of hesperidin (HSP) on metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn) phytoextraction by hyperaccumulator (Celosia argentea L.) plants. For this purpose, HSP, a flavonoid compound with strong antioxidant potential to assist metal phytoextraction was used under metal stress in plants. Celosia argentea plants suffered significant (P ≤ 0.001) oxidative damage due to the colossal accumulation of metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn). However, HSP supplementation notably (P ≤ 0.001) abated ROS generation (O2•‒, •OH, H2O2), lipoxygenase activity, methylglyoxal production, and relative membrane permeability that clearly indicated HSP-mediated decline in oxidative injury in plants. Exogenous HSP improved (P ≤ 0.001) the production of non-protein thiol, phytochelatins, osmolytes, and antioxidant compounds. Further, HSP enhanced (P ≤ 0.001) H2S and NO endogenous production, which might have improved the GSH: GSSG ratio. Consequently, HSP-treated C. argentea plants had higher biomass alongside elevated metal accumulation mirrored as profound modifications in translocation factor (TF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), and bioconcentration factor (BCF). In this context, HSP significantly enhanced TF of Cr (P ≤ 0.001), Cd (P ≤ 0.001), and Zn (P ≤ 0.01), while BAC of Cr (P ≤ 0.001), Cd (P ≤ 0.001), and Zn (P ≤ 0.001). Further, BCF was significant (P ≤ 0.05) only in plants grown under Cr-spiked soil. Overall, HSP has the potential for phytoremediation of metals by C. argentea, which might be a suitable strategy for metal-polluted soils.

Nutraceutical and Health-Promoting Potential of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein in Human and Animal: Current Knowledge.

Lactoferrin is a natural cationic iron-binding glycoprotein of the transferrin family found in bovine milk and other exocrine secretions, including lacrimal fluid, saliva, and bile. Lactoferrin has been investigated for its numerous powerful influences, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-osteoporotic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and other beneficial health effects. Lactoferrin demonstrated several nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potentials and have a significant impact on improving the health of humans and animals. Lactoferrin plays a critical role in keeping the normal physiological homeostasis associated with the development of pathological disorders. The current review highlights the medicinal value, nutraceutical role, therapeutic application, and outstanding favorable health sides of lactoferrin, which would benefit from more exploration of this glycoprotein for the design of effective medicines, drugs, and pharmaceuticals for safeguarding different health issues in animals and humans.

Mitigating salt toxicity and overcoming phosphate deficiency alone and in combination in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants through supplementation of hydrogen sulfide.

While it is widely recognized that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) promotes plant stress tolerance, the precise processes through which H2S modulates this process remains unclear. The processes by which H2S promotes phosphorus deficiency (PD) and salinity stress (SS) tolerance, simulated individually or together, were examined in this study. The adverse impacts on plant biomass, total chlorophyll and chlorophyll fluorescence were more pronounced with joint occurrence of PD and SS than with individual application. Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and electrolyte leakage (EL) levels in plant leaves were higher in plants exposed to joint stresses than in plants grown under an individual stress. When plants were exposed to a single stress as opposed to both stressors, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) treatment more efficiently decreased EL, MDA, and H2O2 concentrations. Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were increased by SS alone or in conjunction with PD, whereas catalase activity decreased significantly. The favorable impact of NaHS on all the evaluated attributes was reversed by supplementation with 0.2 mM hypotaurine (HT), a H2S scavenger. Overall, the unfavorable effects caused to NaHS-supplied plants by a single stress were less severe compared with those caused by the combined administration of both stressors.

Effect of exogenous taurine on growth, oxidative defense, and nickel (Ni) uptake in canola (Brassica napus L.) under Ni stress.

Nickel (Ni) contamination and its associated hazardous effects on human health and plant growth are ironclad. However, the potential remedial effects of taurine (TAU) on Ni-induced stress in plants remain obscure. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the effect of TAU seed priming (100 and 150 mg L‒1) as an alleviative strategy to circumvent the phytotoxic effects of Ni (150 mg kg‒1) on two canola cultivars (Ni-tolerant cv. Shiralee and Ni-sensitive cv. Dunkeld). Our results manifested an apparent decline in growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, leaf relative water content, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, total soluble proteins, nitrate reductase activity, and nutrient acquisition (N, P, K, Ca) under Ni toxicity. Further, Ni toxicity led to a substantial increase in oxidative stress reflected as higher levels of superoxide radicals (O2•‒) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) alongside increased relative membrane permeability, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, and Ni accumulation in leaves and roots. However, TAU protected canola plants from Ni-induced oxidative damage through the amplification of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production that intensified the antioxidant system to avert O2•‒, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Further, TAU-mediated increase in H2S levels maintained membrane integrity that might have improved ionomics and bettered plant growth under Ni toxicity. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01359-9.

Arsenic fractionation and speciation in different textured soils supplied with farmyard manure and accumulation by sunflower under alkaline calcareous conditions.

Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring element that is found in soil, water, and rocks. However, it can also be released into the environment through human activities. Arsenic is considered an environmental hazard because it is toxic to humans and animals and can cause serious health problems. Additionally, As-contaminated soil can limit plant growth and reduce crop yields, leading to economic losses for farmers. So, decreasing metal/metalloid solubility in soil by synthetic and organic amendments leads to better crop productivity on contaminated soils. The current study aimed to evaluate farmyard manure (FYM)-mediated changes in soil arsenic (As) behavior, and subsequent effects on achene yield of sunflower. Treatment plan comprised of two As levels, i.e., As-60 (60 mg kg-1) and As-120 (120 mg kg-1), four FYM levels (0, 20, 35, and 50 g kg-1), three textural types (sandy, loamy and clayey), and replicated thrice. Seven As fractions including water soluble-As (WS-As), labile-As (L-As), calcium-bound As (Ca-As), aluminum-bound As (Al-As), iron-bound As (Fe-As), organic-matter-bound As (OM-As), and residual-As (R-As) were determined which differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with FYM and soil texture. FYM supplementation decreased WS-As, L-As, Ca-As, and Al-As while increased Fe-As, OM-As, and R-As. The immobilizing effect of FYM increased with increasing its rate of application, and maximum effect was found in clayey soil. As speciation in soil also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by FYM and soil texture, with a reduction in arsenate while increase in arsenite, mono-methyl arsenate, and di-methyl arsenate with increasing the rate of FYM supplementation. Bioaccumulation factor reduced with FYM addition, and highest reduction of 38.65 and 42.13% in sandy, 34.24 and 36.26% in loamy while 29.16 and 35.10% in clayey soils at As-60 and As-120, respectively, by 50 g kg-1 FYM compared with respective As treatments without FYM. As accumulation in plant parts was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced by FYM with the subsequent improvement in achene yield.

Analysis of antibacterial and cytotoxic potential of medicinal plants from Cholistan desert, Pakistan.

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of 03 medicinal plants, Calligonum polygonides, Farsetia hamiltonii, and Pulcaria crispa, from Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The active constituents of plants species were extracted in 05 different solvents and the extracts were tested against various bacterial strains and brine shrimps. Although all Calligonum polygonides's extracts except chloroform were active against Staphylococcus aureus the most active was the acetone extract (21 ± 0.00 mm at 200 µg/disc) and activity was better than Caricef (p-value 0.03). While its water extract was more potent (18 ± 1.45 mm at 200 µg/disc) than Augmentin and Caricef (p-value < 0.005). The methanol extract's activity (15 ± 0.39 mm in 200 µg/disc) was comparable to Fucidin against Proteus vulgaris (p-value > 0.99) and activity of diethyl ether extract against Escherichia coli (10 ± 1.16 mm in 200 µg/disc) was same as of Urixin (p-value 0.91). Farsetia hamiltonii's acetone extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 ± 0.15 mm in 1 µg/disc) was more active than Augmentin Caricef and Cefotax (p-value < 0.02) and against Staphylococcus aureus (15 ± 1.15 mm in 200 µg/disc) activity was higher than Caricef (p-value 0.03). All Pulicaria crispa's extracts except water extract were found active against Staphylococcus aureus. However, the diethyl ether extract was most effective (25 + 0.00 mm at 150 µg /disc) and activity was more than Augmentin, Oxy-tetracycline, Fucidin, Urixin, Ceftriaxone (p-value < 0.05). Although all extracts were exhibited cytotoxic activity, the Calligonum polygonides's acetone extract (100%), Farsetia hamiltonii's diethyl ether extract (90%) and Pulicaria crispa's methanol extract (100%) were most active at 1000 µg/ml concentration. This study validated the medicinal significance of the studied plants and thus opens the way for their therapeutic applications.

Green synthesis of quince/pectin cross-linked superporous hydrogel sponges for pH-regulated sustained domperidone delivery.

The present study aims to utilize green synthesis to fabricate stimuli-responsive, smart, quince/pectin cross-linked hydrogel sponges for the pH-regulated conveyance of domperidone. The designed hydrogel sponges were evaluated for a sol-gel fraction (%), swelling studies and kinetics, drug loading (%), electrolyte-responsive character, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis, drug-excipient compatibility studies (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, mechanical testing, in-vitro drug release studies, and acute oral toxicity studies. The drug loading (%) ranged from 67 to 85%. Hydrogel sponges displayed pH-responsive swelling potential, with optimum swelling in a phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and insignificant swelling in an acidic buffer of pH 1.2. The prepared hydrogel sponges displayed second-order swelling dynamics. The FTIR data revealed the successful fabrication of the hydrogel sponges with the primary drug peaks remaining unchanged, demonstrating excipients-drug compatibility. SEM confirmed the rough, porous surface of hydrogel sponges with numerous cracks. XRD measurements revealed the transformation of the crystalline nature of domperidone into an amorphous one within the developed hydrogel sponges. Dissolution studies revealed little domperidone release in an acidic environment. However, hydrogel sponges exhibited release up to 10 h in phosphate buffer.The sponge's non-toxic or biocompatible character was confirmed through toxicological studies. Thus, the finding indicates that quince/pectin cross-linked hydrogel sponges are durable enough to deliver the domperidone to the gut for a longer time.

Polyphenol-enriched Desmodium elegans DC. ameliorate scopolamine-induced amnesia in animal model of Alzheimer's disease: In Vitro, In Vivo and In Silico approaches.

The current study aims to quantify HPLC-DAD polyphenolics in the crude extracts of Desmodium elegans, evaluating its cholinesterase inhibitory, antioxidant, molecular docking and protective effects against scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. A total of 16 compounds were identified which include gallic acid (239 mg g-1), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (11.2 mg g-1), coumaric acid (10.0 mg g-1), chlorogenic acid (10.88 mg g-1), caffeic acid (13.9 mg g-1), p-coumaroylhexose (41.2 mg g-1), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (22.4 mg g-1), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6.16 mg g-1), (+)-catechin (71.34 mg g-1), (-)-catechin (211.79 mg g-1), quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (17.9 mg g-1), kaempferol-7-O-glucuronide (13.2 mg g-1), kaempferol-7-O-rutinoside (53.67 mg g-1), quercetin-3-rutinoside (12.4 mg g-1), isorhamnetin-7-O-glucuronide (17.6 mg g-1) and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (15.0 mg g-1). In a DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the chloroform fraction showed the highest antioxidant activity, with an IC50 value of 31.43 µg mL-1. In an AChE inhibitory assay, the methanolic and chloroform fractions showed high inhibitory activities causing 89% and 86.5% inhibitions with IC50 values of 62.34 and 47.32 µg mL-1 respectively. In a BChE inhibition assay, the chloroform fraction exhibited 84.36% inhibition with IC50 values of 45.98 µg mL-1. Furthermore, molecular docking studies revealed that quercetin-3-rutinoside and quercetin-3-O-glucuronide fit perfectly in the active sites of AChE and BChE respectively. Overall, the polyphenols identified exhibited good efficacy, which is likely as a result of the compounds' electron-donating hydroxyl groups (-OH) and electron cloud density. The administration of methanolic extract improved cognitive performance and demonstrated anxiolytic behavior among tested animals.

The effect of Acacia nilotica bark extract on growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune response, and intestinal morphology in broilers as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter.

OBJECTIVE: Present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Acacia nilotica bark extract as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers. METHODS: Six hundred, day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into six groups (NC, without any supplementation; AB, NC+Zinc Bacitracin; PB, NC+Safmannan; ANBE1, NC+A. nilotica bark extract 0.1%; ANBE3, NC+A. nilotica bark extract 0.3%; ANBE5, NC+A. nilotica bark extract 0.5%), with ten replicates per group (10 chicks/replicate) and feeding trial was lasted for 35 days. RESULTS: Results showed that weight gain (1,296.63 g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.59) of AB was better than NC, during the finisher phase. Overall FCR of AB (1.53), PB (1.54), and ANBE5 (1.54) was significantly (p<0.05) better than NC. From carcass parameters relative weight of wing and heart were highest in ANBE3 (2.5% and 1.51%, respectively). Significantly (p<0.05) highest blood glucose level was observed in NC (264.5 mg/dL) and highest albumin concentration was found in AB (1.46 mg/dL). In addition, antibody titer levels against ND and IBD were higher in ANBE5 than NC, while higher relative weight of bursa was observed in ANBE3 than NC. The villus height to crypt depth ratio in all experimental groups was better than NC. CONCLUSION: Acacia nilotica bark extract could be a suitable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters to support the growth in broilers.

Honey and Nigella sativa against COVID-19 in Pakistan (HNS-COVID-PK): A multicenter placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Until now, no specific and effective treatment exists for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since honey and Nigella sativa (HNS) have established antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, we tested their efficacy for this disease in a multicenter, placebo-controlled, and randomized clinical trial at four medical care facilities in Pakistan. RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 adults showing moderate or severe disease were enrolled in the trial. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either honey (1 g kg-1 day-1 ) and Nigella sativa seeds (80 mg kg-1 day-1 ) or a placebo for up to 13 days along with standard care. The outcomes included symptoms' alleviation, viral clearance, and 30-day mortality in the intention-to-treat population. Three hundred and thirteen patients, 210 with moderate and 103 with severe disease, underwent randomization from April 30 to July 29, 2020. Among the moderate cases, 107 were assigned to HNS, whereas 103 were assigned to the placebo group. Among the severe cases, 50 were given HNS, and 53 were given the placebo. HNS resulted in ~50% reduction in time taken to alleviate symptoms as compared to placebo (moderate cases: 4 vs. 7 days, Hazard Ratio [HR]: 6.11; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.23-8.84, p < 0.0001 and for severe cases: 6 vs. 13 days, HR: 4.04; 95% CI: 2.46-6.64; p < 0.0001). HNS also cleared the virus earlier than placebo in both moderate cases (6 vs. 10 days, HR: 5.53; 95% CI: 3.76-8.14, p < 0.0001) and severe cases (8.5 vs. 12 days, HR: 4.32; 95% CI: 2.62-7.13, p < 0.0001). HNS further led to a better clinical score on day 6 with normal activity resumption in 63.6% vs. 10.9% among moderate cases (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03-0.13, p < 0.0001) and hospital discharge in 50% versus 2.8% in severe cases (OR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01-0.09, p < 0.0001). In severe cases, the mortality rate was less than 1/4th in the HNS group than in placebo (4% vs. 18.87%, OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02-0.92, p = 0.029). No HNS-related adverse effects were observed. HNS, compared with placebo, significantly improved symptoms, expedited viral load clearance, and reduced mortality in COVID-19 patients. This trial was registered on April 15, 2020 with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04347382.

Synthesis of calcium carbonate-quince bio-composite for programmed and on-demand drug release of paracetamol at target site: a green chemistry approach.

In this study, an inorganic-organic composite system was developed through biomineralization of calcium carbonate in the quince-seed mucilage-based hydrogel. Drug-polymer interactions were studied by FTIR, DSC, XRD and SEM analysis. The water absorption capacity was calculated by swelling index. Drug release was determined at various pH. Several in vitro kinetic models were applied to observe drug release behaviour. Studies of drug-polymer interactions and particle flow characteristics of the developed composite material have shown that there is good compatibility between drug and the excipients. The XRD and SEM results confirmed calcite polymorphs in the developed composite material. Thermograms showed that the developed composite material was heat stable. A restricted drug release was observed in an acidic medium (pH 1.2). A controlled drug release was depicted from the developed system at pH 6.8. The drug release mechanism of Super Case II was suggested. The developed system was considered to be an effective drug carrier for colon targeted oral delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to avoid gastric irritation and risk of ulceration. Graphical abstract: An illustration of extraction of quince hydrogel and development of calcium carbonate-quince (CaCO3-Q) composite system; QSM = Quince seed mucilage. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00289-022-04400-1.

In Vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxic Potential of Caladium lindenii Extracts on Human Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 and Normal HEK293T Cell Lines.

Data regarding the therapeutic potential of Caladium lindenii (C. lindenii) are insufficient. It becomes more important to explore plants as an alternative or palliative therapeutics in deadly diseases around the globe. The current study was planned to explore C. lindenii for its anticancer activity of ethanolic and hexane extracts of C. lindenii leaves against hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) and human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cell lines. HepG2 and HEK293T cells were treated with 10, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/mL of ethanolic and hexane extracts of C. lindenii and were incubated for 72 h. Antiproliferative activity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and percentage viability were calculated through crystal violet staining and cellular morphology by Floid Cell Imaging Station. The study showed ethanolic extract exhibiting a significantly higher antiproliferative effect on HepG2 (IC50 = 31µg/mL) in a concentration-dependent manner, while HEK293T (IC50 = 241µg/mL) cells showed no toxicity. Hexane extract exhibited lower cytotoxicity (IC50 = 150µg/mL) on HepG2 cells with no effect on HEK293T (IC50 = 550µg/mL). On the other hand, the percentage viability of HepG2 cells was recorded as 78%, 67%, 50%, 37%, and 28% by ethanolic extracts, and 88%, 80%, 69%, 59%, and 50% by hexane extracts at tested concentrations of both extracts. Toxicity assay showed significantly safer ranges of percentage viabilities in normal cells (HEK293T), i.e., 95%, 90%, 88%, 76%, and 61% with ethanolic extract and 97%, 95%, 88%, 75%, and 62% with hexane extract. The assay validity revealed 100% viability in the control negative (dimethyl sulfoxide treated) and less than 45% in the control positive (cisplatin) on both HepG2 and HEK293T cells. Morphological studies showed alterations in HepG2 cells upon exposure to >50 µg/mL of ethanolic extracts and ≥400 µg/mL of hexane extracts. HEK293T on the other hand did not change its morphology against any of the extracts compared to the aggressive changes on the HepG2 cell line by both extracts and positive control (cisplatin). In conclusion, extracts of C. lindenii are proved to have significant potential for cytotoxicity-induced apoptosis in human cancer HepG2 cells and are less toxic to normal HEK293T cells. Hence C. lindenii extracts are proposed to be used against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after further validations.

Trehalose-Induced Regulations in Nutrient Status and Secondary Metabolites of Drought-Stressed Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Plants.

Trehalose regulates key physio-biochemical parameters, antioxidants, and the yield of plants exposed to a dry environment. A study was conducted to assess the regulatory roles of exogenously applied trehalose in drought-stressed sunflower plants. Two cultivars of sunflowers (Hysun 33 and FH 598) were subjected to drought stress (60% field capacity) and varying (0, 10, 20, and 30 mM) concentrations of trehalose. The data indicated that water stress significantly reduced the shoot length, root length, total soluble proteins, shoot Ca2+, root P, relative water content (RWC), and achene yield per plant. The foliar spray of trehalose was effective at improving plant growth, RWC, total soluble proteins, total soluble sugars, the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, Ca2+ (shoot and root), root K+, and the yield attributes. Exogenously supplemented trehalose considerably suppressed relative membrane permeability (RMP), but did not alter ascorbic acid, malondialdehyde, the total phenolics, shoot K+, or P (shoot and root) in both sunflower cultivars. The cv. Hysun 33 had better ascorbic acid, total soluble sugars, non-reducing sugars, shoot P, and root P than the other cultivar, whereas cv. FH 598 was relatively better at regulating RMP, malondialdehyde, peroxidase, and root Ca2+ concentration. Overall, exogenously supplemented trehalose, particularly at 10 mM, was effective at improving the physiochemical parameters and yield of sunflower plants under stress conditions. Therefore, a better performance of sunflower cv. Hysun 33 under drought stress can be suggested as a trehalose-induced enhancement of yield and oxidative defense potential.

A green and environmental sustainable approach to synthesis the Mn oxide nanomaterial from Punica granatum leaf extracts and its in vitro biological applications.

Pathogenic fungal infections in fruit cause economic losses and have deleterious effects on human health globally. Despite the low pH and high water contents of vegetables and fresh, ripened fruits, they are prone to fungal and bacterial diseases. The ever-increasing resistance of phytopathogens toward pesticides, fungicides and bactericides has resulted in substantial threats to plant growth and production in recent years. However, plant-mediated nanoparticles are useful tools for combating parasitic fungi and bacteria. Herein, we synthesized biogenic manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnONPs) from an extract of Punica granatum (P. granatum), and these nanoparticles showed significant antifungal and antibacterial activities. The production of MnONPs from plant extracts was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV visible spectroscopy (UV). The surface morphology and shape of the nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using a detached fruit method, the MnONPs were shown to exhibit significant antimicrobial activities against two bacterial strains, E. coli and S. aureus, and against the fungal species P. digitatum. The results revealed that the MnONPs had a minimum antimicrobial activity at 25 µg/mL and a maximum antimicrobial activity at 100 µg/mL against bacterial strains in lemon (citrus). Furthermore, the MnONPs exhibited significant ROS scavenging activity. Finally, inconclusive results from the green-synthesized MnONPs magnified their significant synergetic effects on the shelf life of tomatoes (Lycopercicum esculantum) and indicated that they could be used to counteract the phytopathological effects of postharvest fungal diseases in fruits and vegetables. Overall, this method of MnONPs synthesis is inexpensive, rapid and ecofriendly. MnONPs can be used as potential antimicrobial agents against different microbial species.

Effects of exogenous taurine on growth, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and nutrient accumulation by Trifolium alexandrinum plants under manganese stress.

Plants essentially require manganese (Mn) for their normal metabolic functioning. However, excess Mn in the cellular environment is detrimental to plant growth, development, and physio-biochemical functions. Taurine (TAU) is an amino acid with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in animals and humans. However, no previous study has investigated the potential of TAU in plant metal stress tolerance. The current study provides some novel insights into the effect of TAU in modulating the defense system of Trifolium alexandrinum plants under Mn toxicity. Manganese toxicity resulted in higher oxidative stress and membrane damage through increased superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and methylglyoxal generation alongside enhanced lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Mn toxicity also resulted in limited uptake of potassium (K+), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca2+), and increased the accumulation of Mn in both leaf and roots. However, TAU circumvented the Mn-induced oxidative stress by upregulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase) and levels of ascorbic acid, proline, anthocyanins, phenolics, flavonoids and glutathione (GSH). Taurine conspicuously improved the growth, photosynthetic pigments, hydrogen sulphide (H2S), and nitric oxide (NO) levels of Mn stressed plants. Taurine also improved the uptake of K+, Ca2+, P and reduced the Mn content in stressed plants. Overall, exogenous taurine might be a suitable strategy to combat Mn stress in T. alexandrinum plants but applications at field levels for various crops and metal toxicities and economic suitability need to be addressed before final recommendations.

Corrigendum: Total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae ameliorate bone growth in experimentally induced tibial dyschondroplasia in chickens via regulation of OPG/RANKL axis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.881057.].

Effect of different seed priming agents on chromium accumulation, oxidative defense, glyoxalase system and mineral nutrition in canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars.

The present experiment was conducted to appraise the role of different seed priming agents in circumventing the negative impact of chromium (Cr) toxicity on canola plants. Chromium toxicity resulted in significant decline in photosynthetic pigments and growth attributes of two canola cultivars (Puriga and MS-007). Cr toxicity also resulted in higher oxidative stress mirrored as greater accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) superoxide radical (O2•‒), electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Further, lipoxygenase enzyme activity that catalyzes the peroxidation of membrane lipids was also enhanced due to Cr toxicity. Canola plants also manifested impaired methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification due to the downregulation of glyoxalase enzymes (GlyI and II) under Cr stress. Seed priming treatments viz. osmo-priming with calcium chloride (CaCl2) and hormonal priming with salicylic acid (SA) remarkably improved growth and chlorophyll content in both canola cultivars under Cr toxicity as compared to other priming treatments such as hydro-priming, redox priming (H2O2) and chemical priming (Se; selenium). Moreover, CaCl2 and SA seed priming also resulted in lower oxidative stress and improved enzymatic (SOD, POD, CAT, APX, GR, GST) and non-enzymatic (GSH, phenolics, flavonoids, proline) antioxidant system of both cultivars under Cr toxicity. Further, hormonal and osmo-priming strengthened glyoxalase and antioxidant systems, thus improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MG detoxification. In this background, the cultivar Puriga is considered Cr tolerant as it exhibited better growth and lesser oxidative stress in both seed priming and non-primed conditions under Cr toxicity than cv. MS-007.

Total Flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae Ameliorate Bone Growth in Experimentally Induced Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Chickens via Regulation of OPG/RANKL Axis.

Background: Rhizoma Drynariae, traditional Chinese herb, is widely used to treat and prevent bone disorders. However, experimental evidence on the use of Rhizoma Drynariae extract, total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae (TFRD) to treat tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in chickens and its underlying mechanisms have not been investigated. Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of TFRD on leg disease caused by TD and elucidate its mechanisms in modulating the bone status. Methods: Thiram-induced chicken TD model has been established. The tibia status was evaluated by analyzing tibia-related parameters including tibial weight, tibial length and its growth plate width and by performing histopathological examination. The expression of tibial bone development-related genes and proteins was confirmed by western blotting and qRT-PCR. Results: The results showed that administration of TFRD mitigated lameness, increased body weight, recuperated growth plate width in broilers affected by TD and the increase of tibia weight and tibia length is significantly positively correlated with body weight. Compared with the TD group broilers, 500 mg/kg TFRD evidently reduced the damage width of the growth plate and improved its blood vessel distribution by elevating the gene expression levels of BMP-2 and Runx2 and OPG/RANKL ratio. Furthermore, correlation analysis found that the damage width of the growth plate was negatively correlated with the expression levels of BMP-2 and OPG. Conclusion: The present study revealed that TFRD could promote the bone growth via upregulating OPG/RANKL ratio, suggesting that TFRD might be a potential novel drug in the treatment of TD in chickens.

Characterization of a newly isolated self-flocculating microalga Bracteacoccus pseudominor BERC09 and its evaluation as a candidate for a multiproduct algal biorefinery.

Microalgae have the highest capability to fix the atmospheric carbon and wastewater-derived nutrients to produce high-value bioproducts including lipids and carotenoids. However, their lower titers and single-product-oriented biomass processing have made the overall process expensive. Hence, increased metabolite titer and processing of the biomass for more than one product are required to ensure the commercial robustness of the algal biorefinery. In this study, a newly isolated algal strain was identified as Bracteacoccus pseudominor BERC09 through phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene sequence. Basic characterization of the strain revealed its promising potential to produce carotenoids and lipids. The lipids and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways of BERC09 were further triggered by manipulating the abiotic factors including nitrogen sources (NaNO3, KNO3, NH4Cl, Urea), nitrogen concentrations (0.06-0.36 gL-1), light intensity (150 µmolm-2s-1 to 300 µmolm-2s-1), and light quality (white and blue). Resultantly, 300 µmolm-2s-1 of blue light yielded 0.768 gL-1 of biomass, 8.4 mgg-1 of carotenoids, and 390 mgg-1 of lipids, and supplementation of 0.36 gL-1 of KNO3 further improved metabolism and yielded 0.814 gL-1 of biomass, 11.86 mgg-1 of carotenoids, and 424 mgg-1 of lipids. Overall, the optimal combination of light and nitrogen concurrently improved biomass, carotenoids, and lipids by 3.5-fold, 6-fold, and 4-fold than control, respectively. Besides, the excellent glycoproteins-based self-flocculation ability of the strain rendered an easier harvesting via gravity sedimentation. Hence, this biomass can be processed in a cascading fashion to use this strain as a candidate for a multiproduct biorefinery to achieve commercial robustness and environmental sustainability.

Synthesis, in Vitro Cholinesterase Inhibition, Molecular Docking, DFT, and ADME Studies of Novel 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-2-Thiol Derivatives.

A series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol derivatives bearing various alkyl or aryl moieties were designed, synthesized, and characterized using modern spectroscopic methods to yield 17 compounds (6a-6q) that were screened for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes in the search for 'lead' compounds for Alzheimer's disease treatment (AD). The compounds 6q, 6p, 6k, 6o, and 6l showed inhibitory capability against AChE and BChE, with IC50 values ranging from 11.73±0.49 to 27.36±0.29 µM for AChE and 21.83±0.39 to 39.43±0.44 µM for BChE, inhibiting both enzymes within a limited range. The SAR ascertained that the substitution of the aromatic moiety had a profound effect on the AChE and BChE inhibitory potential as compared to the aliphatic substitutions which were supported by the molecular docking studies. The drug-likeness of the most synthesized compounds was confirmed by in silico ADME investigations. These results were additionally supplemented by the molecular orbital analysis (HOMO-LUMO) and electrostatic potential maps got from DFT calculations. ESP maps expose that on all structures, there are two potential binding sites conquered by the most positive and most negative districts.