Long-Term Application of Biochar Mitigates Negative Plant-Soil Feedback by Shaping Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Fungal Pathogens.

Negative plant-soil feedback (PSF) arises when localized accumulations of pathogens reduce the growth of conspecifics, whereas positive PSF can occur due to the emergence of mutualists. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by the pyrolysis of organic matter, has been shown to modulate soil microbial communities by altering their abundance, diversity, and activity. For this reason, to assess the long-term impact of biochar on soil microbiome dynamics and subsequent plant performance, we conducted a PSF greenhouse experiment using field soil conditioned over 10 years with Vitis vinifera (L.), without (e.g., C) or with biochar at two rates (e.g., B and BB). Subsequently, the conditioned soil was employed in a response phase involving either the same plant species or different species, i.e., Medicago sativa (L.), Lolium perenne (L.), and Solanum lycopersicum (L.). We utilized next-generation sequencing to assess the abundance and diversity of fungal pathogens and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) within each conditioned soil. Our findings demonstrate that biochar application exerted a stimulatory effect on the growth of both conspecifics and heterospecifics. In addition, our results show that untreated soils had a higher abundance of grape-specialized fungal pathogens, mainly Ilyonectria liriodendra, with a relative abundance of 20.6% compared to 2.1% and 5.1% in B and BB, respectively. Cryptovalsa ampelina also demonstrated higher prevalence in untreated soils, accounting for 4.3% compared to 0.4% in B and 0.1% in BB. Additionally, Phaeoacremonium iranianum was exclusively present in untreated soils, comprising 12.2% of the pathogens' population. Conversely, the application of biochar reduced generalist fungal pathogens. For instance, Plenodomus biglobosus decreased from 10.5% in C to 7.1% in B and 2.3% in BB, while Ilyonectria mors-panacis declined from 5.8% in C to 0.5% in B and 0.2% in BB. Furthermore, biochar application was found to enrich the AMF community. Notably, certain species like Funneliformis geosporum exhibited increased relative abundance in biochar-treated soils, reaching 46.8% in B and 70.3% in BB, compared to 40.5% in untreated soils. Concurrently, other AMF species, namely Rhizophagus irregularis, Rhizophagus diaphanus, and Claroideoglomus drummondii, were exclusively observed in soils where biochar was applied. We propose that the alleviation of negative PSF can be attributed to the positive influence of AMF in the absence of strong inhibition by pathogens. In conclusion, our study underscores the potential of biochar application as a strategic agricultural practice for promoting sustainable soil management over the long term.

Profiling Key Aroma Compounds of Senecio glaucus L. and their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities: Multiplex of GC-MS, NMR and In Silico Studies.

The essential oils of Senecio plants have been used to treat a wide range of ailments. The current study aimed to extract the essential oil of Senecio glaucus obtained from Egypt's Nile delta and determine its chemical profile using GC-MS and NMR analysis. Then, the antimicrobial activity of the oil has been investigated against different fungal and bacterial strains. In addition, its activity as radical scavenger has been evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and metal chelating techniques. The results revealed the identification of 50 compounds representing 98.80 % of the oil total mass. Sesquiterpenes, including dehydrofukinone (27.15 %) and 4,5-di-epi-aristolochene (10.27 %), as well as monoterpenes, including p-cymene (4.77 %), represented the most predominant constituents. The dehydrofukinone has been isolated and structurally confirmed using 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The oil has showed remarkable antifungal activity against Candida glabrata and C. albicans where the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values were 3.13 µg/mL and 1.50 µg/mL and 12.50 µg/mL and 6.30 µg/mL, respectively that could be attributed to the sesquiterpene ketones present in the aerial tissues of the plant. Also, this oil inhibited the growth of the tested bacteria with MIC ranging from 12.50-100.00 µg/mL. In comparison to ascorbic acid and Trolox, the EO had remarkable scavenging activity of DPPH, ABTS and metal chelating with IC50 values of 313.17±13.4, 493.83±20.1, and 409.13±16.7 µg/mL. The docking studies of the identified compounds of the oil to different microbial targets, including Gyrase B and α-sterol demethylase, showed that the phytol possessed the best binding affinities toward the active sites of both enzymes with ΔG=-7.42 and -7.78 kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the phytol revealed the highest binding affinity to tyrosine kinase Hck with ΔG=-7.44 kcal/mol.

Ectopic Expression of a Wheat R2R3-Type MYB Gene in Transgenic Tobacco Enhances Osmotic Stress Tolerance via Maintaining ROS Balance and Improving Root System Architecture.

Water scarcity is a critical cause of plant yield loss and decreased quality. Manipulation of root system architecture to minimize the impact of water scarcity stresses may greatly contribute towards an improved distribution of roots in the soil and enhanced water and nutrient uptake abilities. In this study, we explored the potential of TaMYB20 gene, a wheat gene belonging to the R2R3-MYB transcription factor family, to improve root system architecture in transgenic tobacco plants. The full-length TaMYB20 gene was isolated from Triticum aestivum.cv. Sakha94 and used to produce genetically engineered tobacco plants. The transgenic plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to extended osmotic stress and were able to maintain their root system architecture traits, including total root length (TRL), lateral root number (LRN), root surface area (RSa), and root volume (RV), while the wild-type plants failed to maintain the same traits. The transgenic lines presented greater relative water content in their roots associated with decreased ion leakage. The oxidative stress resulted in the loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity in the wild-type (WT) plants due to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the root cells, while the transgenic lines were able to scavenge the excess ROS under stressful conditions through the activation of the redox system. Finally, we found that the steady-state levels of three PIN gene transcripts were greater in the TaMYB20-transgenic lines compared to the wild-type tobacco. Taken together, these findings confirm that TaMYB20 is a potentially useful gene candidate for engineering drought tolerance in cultivated plants.

Negative plant-soil feedback in Arabidopsis thaliana: Disentangling the effects of soil chemistry, microbiome, and extracellular self-DNA.

Nutrient deficiency, natural enemies and litter autotoxicity have been proposed as possible mechanisms to explain species-specific negative plant-soil feedback (PSF). Another potential contributor to negative PSF is the plant released extracellular self-DNA during litter decay. In this study, we sought to comprehensively investigate these hypotheses by using Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh as a model plant in a feedback experiment. The experiment comprised a conditioning phase and a response phase in which the conditioned soils underwent four treatments: (i) addition of activated carbon, (ii) washing with tap water, (iii) sterilization by autoclaving, and (iv) control without any treatment. We evaluated soil chemical properties, microbiota by shotgun sequencing and the amount of A. thaliana extracellular DNA in the differently treated soils. Our results showed that washing and sterilization treatments mitigated the negative PSF effect. While shifts in soil chemical properties were not pronounced, significant changes in soil microbiota were observed, especially after sterilization. Notably, plant biomass was inversely associated with the content of plant self-DNA in the soil. Our results suggest that the negative PSF observed in the conditioned soil was associated to increased amounts of soilborne pathogens and plant self-DNA. However, fungal pathogens were not limited to negative conditions, butalso found in soils enhancing A.thaliana growth. In-depth multivariate analysis highlights that the hypothesis of negative PSF driven solely by pathogens lacks consistency. Instead, we propose a multifactorial explanation for the negative PSF buildup, in which the accumulation of self-DNA weakens the plant's root system, making it more susceptible to pathogens.

Enhancement of Female Rat Fertility via Ethanolic Extract from Nigella sativa L. (Black Cumin) Seeds Assessed via HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and Molecular Docking.

The characteristic chemical composition of Nigella seeds is directly linked to their beneficial properties. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition of Nigella sativa seeds using a 100% ethanolic extract using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Additionally, it explored the potential biological effects of the extract on female rat reproduction. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Estrogen (E2), and Progesterone (P4) hormone levels were also assessed, along with the morphological and histological effects of the extract on ovarian, oviductal, and uterine tissues. Molecular docking was performed to understand the extract's activity and its role in regulating female reproduction by assessing its binding affinity to hormonal receptors. Twenty metabolites, including alkaloids, saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids, were found in the ethanolic extract of N. sativa seeds through the HPLC-ESI-MS/MS study. The N. sativa seed extract exhibited strong estrogenic and LH-like activities (p < 0.05) with weak FSH-like activity. Furthermore, it increased the serum levels of LH (p < 0.05), P4 hormones (p < 0.001), and E2 (p < 0.0001). Molecular docking results displayed a strong interaction with Erß, LH, GnRH, and P4 receptors, respectively. Based on these findings, N. sativa seeds demonstrated hormone-like activities, suggesting their potential as a treatment for improving female fertility.

A pH-sensitive silica nanoparticles for colon-specific delivery and controlled release of catechin: Optimization of loading efficiency and in vitro release kinetics.

Catechin is a naturally occurring flavonoid of the flavan-3-ol subclass with numerous biological functions; however, these benefits are diminished due to several factors, including low water solubility and degradation in the stomach's harsh environment. So, this study aimed to develop an intelligent catechin colon-targeting delivery system with a high loading capacity. This was done by coating surface-decorated mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a pH-responsive enteric polymer called Eudragit®-S100. The pristine wormlike mesoporous silica nanoparticles (< 100 nm) with high surface area and large total pore volume were effectively synthesized and modified with the NH2 group using the post-grafting strategy. Various parameters, including solvent polarity, catechin-carrier mass ratio, and adsorption time, were studied to improve the loading of catechin into the aminated silica nanoparticles. Next, the negatively charged Eudragit®-S100 was electrostatically coated onto the positively charged aminated nanocarriers to shield the loaded catechin from the acidic environment of the stomach (pH 1.9) and to facilitate site-specific delivery in the acidic environment of the colon (pH 7.4). The prepared nanomaterials were evaluated using several methods, including The Brauner-Emmett-Teller, surface area analyzer, zeta sizer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Powder X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. In vitro dissolution studies revealed that Eudragit®-S100-coated aminated nanomaterials prevented the burst release of the loaded catechin in the acidic environment, with approximately 90% of the catechin only being released at colonic pH (pH > 7) with a supercase II transport mechanism. As a result, silica nanoparticles coated with Eudragit®-S100 would provide an innovative and promising approach in targeted nanomedicine for the oral delivery of catechin and related medicines for treating diseases related to the colon, such as colorectal cancer and irritable bowel syndrome.

Integrating traditional ecological knowledge into habitat restoration: implications for meeting forest restoration challenges.

BACKGROUND: Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) helps tribal communities adapt to socio-ecological changes, improving the long-term sustainability of their livelihood strategies and fostering social-ecological resilience. TEK provides thorough understanding of ecosystem dynamics, as well as how they relate to societal norms, practices, and resource use patterns. The integrity of TEK is often in jeopardy due to changes in belief systems, regional languages, traditional ways of subsistence, and disruption of traditional social-ecological systems. Landscape restoration has the ability to promote self-determination while safeguarding the livelihoods, beliefs, cultural, and biodiversity of indigenous peoples. However, there is a substantial knowledge gap on how TEK might aid ecosystem restoration, particularly in elephant corridors. METHODS: The current study focused on gathering traditional ecological knowledge on the woody tree species from the Dering-Dibru Saikhowa Elephant Corridor using semi-structured interviews, group discussions, and direct observations. The acquired data were applied to heat map cluster analysis and ordination techniques using R software version 4.0.0. RESULTS: Traditional usage information of 31 tree species utilized for food, fodder, timber, fuelwood, medicinal, and livelihood by local people was gathered. Most of the species utilized locally belonged to the families Combretaceae and Fabaceae. The species were classified into single, double, or multi-uses based on the extent of utilization. Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica, and Syzygium cumini (six each) had the highest utilization, while Mesua ferrea had the lowest. Chionanthus ramiflorus, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Dillenia indica were among the plants valuable to wildlife, providing both forage and habitat for a wide variety of birds and animals. Artocarpus heterophyllus, Averrhoa carambola, Mangifera indica, P. emblica, Psidium guajava, and S. cumini were among the plants important for the livelihoods of the local community. Our findings demonstrated that local people were knowledgeable about the plant species to use as pioneer species, such as Bombax ceiba, Albizia lebbeck, D. indica, S. cumini, P. emblica, Lagerstroemia speciosa, and Alstonia scholaris, for habitat restoration in a diverse habitat. We classified the habitat of the enlisted species into different categories, and two clusters (clusters 1 and 2) were identified based on the similarity of woody species in different habitats. We prioritized multiple tree species for eco-restoration using the information collected through TEK. We planted 95,582 saplings on 150 hectares in the Dering-Dibru Saikhowa Elephant Corridors' degraded habitat patches, which will serve as future reference site for landscape rehabilitation. Out of total saplings planted, 56% of the species were linked to native communities through ethnobotanical uses, as well as providing connectivity and habitat for elephant movement, 16% of all woody species are pioneer species to colonize a degraded habitat, 15% of all woody species are preferred food and foraging by wildlife, and 13% of the species as a source of livelihood for local people, incorporating social, economic, cultural, and biodiversity benefits into the restoration framework. CONCLUSION: The current study also provides insights how the TEK can assist with aspects of ecological restoration, from reference ecosystem reconstruction and adaptive management through species selection for restoration, monitoring, and evaluation of restoration effectiveness.

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Viscum album Extracts: Unveiling Bioactive Compounds, Antibacterial Potential, and Antioxidant Activities.

The current study explored the antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) synthetized using methanolic leaf extracts of the medicinal herb Viscum album. Through TEM investigation and UV-Vis analysis, which peaked at 406 nm, the synthesis of ZnONPs was verified. TEM analyses showed that the synthesized ZnONPs had a size distribution with an average of 13.5 nm and a quasi-spherical shape. Forty-four phytoconstituents were found in the methanolic leaf extracts of V. album. Additionally, a comparison of the antibacterial effectiveness and antioxidant capacity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of wild-grown V. album phytomedicine and green-manufactured ZnONPs was conducted. The green-generated ZnONPs were examined against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and shown to have superior antibacterial activity by 22%, 66%, and 44%, respectively, as compared to wild herbal medicinal extracts. Since the ZnONPs' aqueous extracts had higher concentrations of DNA gyrase-B inhibitory components, they were shown to be more effective in limiting bacterial growth. In contrast to the percentages of 49% and 57% for a wild plant extract, the aqueous- and methanolic-extract-mediated green ZnONPs, with a 100 g/mL concentration, showed 94% and 98% scavenging capacity for DPPH free radicals, respectively. However, methanolic extracts were more effective than aqueous extracts in terms of the antioxidant analyses. This study establishes that greenly produced ZnONPs have the potential to be used in nanomedicine to treat bacteria that are resistant to a variety of drugs, as well as those with reactive oxygen species toxicity.

Seed Nano-Priming with Calcium Oxide Maintains the Redox State by Boosting the Antioxidant Defense System in Water-Stressed Carom (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Plants to Confer Drought Tolerance.

This paper explores the potential of nano seed priming with calcium oxide nanoparticles in maintaining the redox status in carom (Trachyspermum ammi L.) plants by modulating non-enzymatic antioxidants and enzymatic antioxidants. Calcium oxide nanoparticles were prepared in four testing regimes comprising 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm along with the control treatment of 0 ppm (distilled water). Priming was performed by soaking the carom seeds in the aerated water, and plants were grown under split plots corresponding to drought and water. Seed priming with 75 ppm CaONPs reduced hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage by 23.3%, 35.9% and 31.6%, respectively, in the water-stressed carom plants. The glutathione s-transferase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase functions improved under water stress by 42.3%, 24.1% and 44.8%, respectively, in the carom plants raised through 100 ppm primed seeds with CaO_NPs. Priming induced better Ca2+ signaling, which affected the enzymes of the ascorbate glutathione cycle, enabling them to maintain redox status in the carom plants exposed to drought stress. The morpho-agronomic traits of carom plants in terms of number of umbels, hundred seeds weights, shoot and root length and biomass improved significantly upon seed priming treatments. Seed priming with CaO_NPs is a viable strategy to combat reactive oxygen species-mediated damages in the carom plants.

Seed Priming with the Selenium Nanoparticles Maintains the Redox Status in the Water Stressed Tomato Plants by Modulating the Antioxidant Defense Enzymes.

In the present research, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were tested for their use as seed priming agents under field trials on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for their efficacy in conferring drought tolerance. Four different seed priming regimes of SeNPs were created, comprising 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm, along with a control treatment of 0 ppm. Seeds were planted in split plots under two irrigation regimes comprising water and water stress. The results suggest that seed priming with SeNPs can improve tomato crop performance under drought stress. Plants grown with 75 ppm SeNPs-primed seeds had lower hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 39.3% and 28.9%, respectively. Seed priming with 75 ppm SeNPs further increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) functions by 34.9 and 25.4%, respectively. The same treatment increased the total carotenoids content by 13.5%, α-tocopherols content by 22.8%, total flavonoids content by 25.2%, total anthocyanins content by 19.6%, ascorbic acid content by 26.4%, reduced glutathione (GSH) content by 14.8%, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content by 13.12%. Furthermore, seed priming with SeNPs upregulated the functions of enzymes of ascorbate glutathione cycle. Seed priming with SeNPs is a smart application to sustain tomato production in arid lands.

Phenotypic Plasticity Strategy of Aeluropus lagopoides Grass in Response to Heterogenous Saline Habitats.

Understanding the response variation of morphological parameters and biomass allocation of plants in heterogeneous saline environments is helpful in evaluating the internal correlation between plant phenotypic plasticity mechanism and biomass allocation. The plasticity of plants alters the interaction among individuals and their environment and consequently affects the population dynamics and aspects of community and ecosystem functioning. The current study aimed to assess the plasticity of Aeluropus lagopoides traits with variation in saline habitats. Understanding the habitat stress tolerance strategy of A. lagopoides is of great significance since it is one of the highly palatable forage grass in the summer period. Five different saline flat regions (coastal and inland) within Saudi Arabia were targeted, and the soil, as well as the morphological and physiological traits of A. lagopoides, were assessed. Comprehensive correlation analyses were performed to correlate the traits with soil, region, or among each other. The soil analysis revealed significant variation among the five studied regions for all measured parameters, as well as among the soil layers showing the highest values in the upper layer and decreased with the depth. Significant differences were determined for all tested parameters of the morphological and reproductive traits as well as for the biomass allocation of A. lagopoides, except for the leaf thickness. In the highly saline region, Qaseem, A. lagopoides showed stunted aerial growth, high root/shoot ratio, improved root development, and high biomass allocation. In contrast, the populations growing in the low saline region (Jizan) showed the opposite trend. Under the more stressful condition, like in Qaseem and Salwa, A. lagopoides produce low spikes in biomass and seeds per plant, compared to the lowest saline habitats, such as Jouf. There was no significant difference in physiological parameters except stomatal conductance (gs), which is highest in the Jizan region. In conclusion, the population of A. lagopoides is tolerant of harsh environments through phenotypic plasticity. This could be a candidate species to rehabilitate the saline habitats, considering saline agriculture and saline soil remediation.

Metabolomics approach of Symphyotrichum squamatum ethanol extract and its nano-Ag formulation protective effect on gastric ulcer via bio-chemical and pathological analyses.

ContextGastric ulcer (GU) a widely distributed ailment is associated with many causes, including alcohol consumption.Materials and MethodsChemical profiling of Symphyotrichum squamatum ethanol extract (SSEE) was established via ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOF-MS) and employed in a silver nano-formulation (SSEE-N-Ag). SSEE and SSEE-N-Ag antiulcer activities were estimated against ethanol-induced rats by biochemical, histological, and metabolomics assessments. Reduced glutathione, total antioxidant capacity and prostaglandin E2 levels and gastric mucosa histopathological examination were analysed. The rats' metabolome changing alongside action pathways were elucidated via metabolite profile coupled to multivariate data analysis.ResultsUPLC-MS profiling of SSEE identified 75 components belonging to various classes. Compared with control, EtOH-treated rats showed decreased of tissue GSH, TAC and PGE2 by 62.32%, 51.85% and 47.03% respectively. SSEE and SSEE-N-Ag administration mitigated biochemical and histopathological alterations. Serum metabolomics analysis revealed for changes in several low molecular weight metabolites with ulcer development. These metabolites levels were restored to normal post-administration of SSEE-N-Ag. SSEE-N-Ag as mediated via modulating numerous metabolic pathways such as lipids, pyrimidine, energy metabolism and phosphatidylinositol signalling. This study provides novel insight for metabolic mechanisms underlying gastric ulcer relieving effect.ConclusionPresent results revealed potential antiulcer effect of SSEE and SSEE-N-Ag by decreasing ulcer-associated syndromes, supporting their anti-ulcerogenic action.

Antiviral Potentialities of Chemical Characterized Essential Oils of Acacia nilotica Bark and Fruits against Hepatitis A and Herpes Simplex Viruses: In Vitro, In Silico, and Molecular Dynamics Studies.

Acacia nilotica (synonym: Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter and Mabb.) is considered an important plant of the family Fabaceae that is used in traditional medicine in many countries all over the world. In this work, the antiviral potentialities of the chemically characterized essential oils (EOs) obtained from the bark and fruits of A. nilotica were assessed in vitro against HAV, HSV1, and HSV2. Additionally, the in silico evaluation of the main compounds in both EOs was carried out against the two proteins, 3C protease of HAV and thymidine kinase (TK) of HSV. The chemical profiling of the bark EOs revealed the identification of 32 compounds with an abundance of di- (54.60%) and sesquiterpenes (39.81%). Stachene (48.34%), caryophyllene oxide (19.11%), and spathulenol (4.74%) represented the main identified constituents of bark EO. However, 26 components from fruit EO were assigned, with the majority of mono- (63.32%) and sesquiterpenes (34.91%), where trans-caryophyllene (36.95%), Z-anethole (22.87%), and γ-terpinene (7.35%) represented the majors. The maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) of the bark and fruits EOs was found at 500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. Using the MTT assay, the bark EO exhibited moderate antiviral activity with effects of 47.26% and 35.98% and a selectivity index (SI) of 2.3 and 1.6 against HAV and HSV1, respectively. However, weak activity was observed via the fruits EO with respective SI values of 3.8, 5.7, and 1.6 against HAV, HSV1, and HSV2. The in silico results exhibited that caryophyllene oxide and spathulenol (the main bark EO constituents) showed the best affinities (ΔG = -5.62, -5.33, -6.90, and -6.76 kcal/mol) for 3C protease and TK, respectively. While caryophyllene (the major fruit EO component) revealed promising binding capabilities against both proteins (ΔG = -5.31, -6.58 kcal/mol, respectively). The molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that caryophyllene oxide has the most positive van der Waals energy interaction with 3C protease and TK with significant binding free energies. Although these findings supported the antiviral potentialities of the EOs, especially bark EO, the in vivo assessment should be tested in the intraoral examination for these EOs and/or their main constituents.

Impact of prescribed burning, mowing and abandonment on a Mediterranean grassland: A 5-year multi-kingdom comparison.

Mediterranean grasslands are semi-natural, fire-prone, species-rich ecosystems that have been maintained for centuries through a combination of fire, grazing, and mowing. Over the past half century, however, grasslands have faced numerous threats, including the abandonment of traditional agro-pastoral practices. Our hypothesis was that mowing and prescribed burning are management practices potentially effective in counteracting the reduction of plant diversity triggered by land abandonment. However, the long-term effects of such management practices on plant communities and soil microbiota in Mediterranean grassland remain poorly studied. Here, we conducted a 5-year field experiment comparing prescribed fire, vegetation mowing, and abandonment in a fire-prone Mediterranean grassland in southern Italy in order to evaluate the capability of such management strategies to counteract the detrimental impacts of land abandonment on plant diversity and the associated increase of wildfire. We combined vegetation analysis and soil chemical characterization and several microbiota analyses, including microbial biomass and respiration, arthropod community, and high-throughput sequencing of bacterial and eukaryotic rRNA gene markers. Burning and mowing significantly increased plant species richness and diversity compared to abandonment plots, reducing the abundance of perennial tall grasses in favour of short-lived species. Standing litter followed the same trend, being 3.8-fold greater and largely composed of grass remains in the abandoned compared to burnt and mowed plots. In the soil, prescribed burning caused significant increase in pH, a reduction in organic carbon, total N, and cation exchange capacity. Diversity and taxonomic composition of bacterial and fungal microbiota was affected by burning and mowing treatments. Abandonment caused shifts of microbiota towards a fungal-dominated system, composed of late successional fungi of the Basidiomycota. Fast-growing and putative fungal pathogens were more abundant under burnt and mowed treatments. Soil arthropods were influenced by vegetation and microbiota changes, being strongly reduced in mowed plots. Our study demonstrated that grassland abandonment promotes the spread of tall grasses, reducing plant diversity and increasing the risk of wildfire, while prescribed burning and mowing are effective in counteracting such negative effects.

Cytoprotective potentialities of carvacrol and its nanoemulsion against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats: development of nano-encasulation form.

Cisplatin (Cisp) is a widely distributed chemotherapeutic drug for cancers. Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common side effects of the use of this drug. Carvacrol (CV) is a common natural compound in essential oils and extracts of medicinal plants with potent in vivo and in vitro bioactivities. The work was extended to achieve the target of investigation of the protective potentialities of CV and its nanoemulsion as a cytoprotective drug against Cisp-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. CV-nanoemulsion was prepared by a hydrophilic surfactant polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) and deionized water. The TEM image of the particle distribution prepared nanoemulsion is mainly spherical in shape with particle size varying between 14 and 30 nm. Additionally, the Cisp administration caused the increasing of the levels of urea and creatinine in the blood and serum. These increasing of urea and creatinine levels caused consequently the turbulence of the oxidative stress as well as the rising of hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the serum. Also, histopathological changes of the kidney tissue were observed. These changes back to normal by treatment with CV-nanoemulsion. Expression levels of nephrotoxicity-related genes including LGALS3, VEGF, and CAV1 in kidney tissue using qRT-PCR were measured. The results revealed that the expression of LGALS3, VEGF and CAV1 genes was highly significantly increased in only Cisp treated group when compared with other treated groups. While, these genes expressions were significantly decreased in Cisp + CV treated group when compared with Cisp treated rats (P < 0.001). In addition, there were no significant differences between Cisp + nano-CV treated group and both negative control and nanoemulsion alone groups but it was not significant. In addition, the Western blot of protein analysis results showed that the LGALS3 and CAV1 are highly expressed only in Cisp + CV treated group compared with other groups. There was no significant difference between Cisp + nano-CV treated animals and negative control for both mRNA and protein expression. Based on these results, CV was combined with calcium alginate; a more stable capsule is formed, allowing for the formation of a double wall in the microcapsule. These results supported the therapeutic effect of CV and its nano-emulsion as cytoprotective agents against Cisp nephrotoxicity.

Chemical Composition of Kickxia aegyptiaca Essential Oil and Its Potential Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities.

The exploration of new bioactive compounds from natural resources as alternatives to synthetic chemicals has recently attracted the attention of scientists and researchers. To our knowledge, the essential oil (EO) of Kickxia aegyptiaca has not yet been explored. Thus, the present study was designed to explore the EO chemical profile of K. aegyptiaca for the first time, as well as evaluate its antioxidant and antibacterial activities, particularly the extracts of this plant that have been reported to possess various biological activities. The EO was extracted from the aerial parts via hydrodistillation and then characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extracted EO was tested for its antioxidant activity via the reduction in the free radicals, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). In addition, the EO was tested as an antibacterial mediator against eight Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial isolates. Forty-three compounds were identified in the EO of K. aegyptiaca, with a predominance of terpenoids (75.46%). Oxygenated compounds were the main class, with oxygenated sesquiterpenes attaining 40.42% of the EO total mass, while the oxygenated monoterpenes comprised 29.82%. The major compounds were cuminic aldehyde (21.99%), caryophyllene oxide (17.34%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (11.74%), ar-turmerone (8.51%), aromadendrene oxide (3.74%), and humulene epoxide (2.70%). According to the IC50 data, the K. aegyptiaca EO revealed considerable antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 30.48 mg L-1 and 35.01 mg L-1 for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. In addition, the EO of K. aegyptiaca showed more substantial antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacterial isolates compared to Gram-negative. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the EO showed the highest activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, with an MIC value of 0.031 mg mL-1. The present study showed, for the first time, that the EO of K. aegyptiaca has more oxygenated compounds with substantial antioxidant and antibacterial activities. This activity could be attributed to the effect of the main compounds, either singular or synergistic. Thus, further studies are recommended to characterize the major compounds, either alone or in combination as antioxidants or antimicrobial agents, and evaluate their biosafety.

Vegetation Composition of the Halophytic Grass Aeluropus lagopoides Communities within Coastal and Inland Sabkhas of Saudi Arabia.

Sabkhas are unique, highly saline ecosystems, where specially adapted plants can grow. Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Thwaites is a halophytic forage plant growing in salt marsh habitats of inland and coastal sabkhas of Saudi Arabia. The present study provides an analysis of vegetation composition and distribution of the A. lagopoides community in five different regions within Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the environmental factors that affect species distribution. The floristic survey revealed the presence of 48 species, belonging to 26 families. Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Mimosaceae, Zygophyllaceae, and Asteraceae are the largest families (50% of total species). Phanerophyte, followed by chamaephytes, are the most frequent forms, indicating a typical saline desert life-form spectrum. The vegetation analysis revealed the dominance of A. lagopoides in all locations, where it was the most dominant species in Qareenah, Qaseem, and Salwa locations, and the second most dominant species in Jouf and Jizan locations. The flourishment of this halophytic grass within a wide soil range in sabkhas revealed its adaptability to the harsh environment, which could be ascribed to its structural adaptations and modifications, as well as the phenotypic plasticity. The Qareenah and Qaseem locations attained the highest species richness and evenness, while the Jizan location was the least diverse. Within the studied locations, other highly salt-tolerant species were determined with high abundances, such as Suaeda aegyptiaca (Hasselq.) Zohary, Zygophyllum album L.f., Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge, Cressa cretica L., and Salicornia europaea L. The soil analysis showed a significant variation for all parameters among the studied locations, except for pH, chloride, and clay content. The Qaseem location revealed the highest values of most soil parameters, while the Jizan location showed the lowest. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the community structure and diversity are mainly affected by the soil salinity and moisture. Due to the economic potentialities of A. lagopoides as a forage plant and sand stabilizer, the conservation of its habitats is of vital importance. In addition, this grass could be integrated as a promising forage candidate that can be planted in saline-affected areas, even in the summer dry season.

Gastro-protective effect of Artemisia Sieberi essential oil against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats as revealed via biochemical, histopathological and metabolomics analysis.

CONTEXT: Gastric ulcer is regarded as one of the main clinical ailments with high morbidity and mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gastro-protective effect of Artemisia sieberi essential oil (AS-EO) in ethanol-induced rats was evaluated via biochemical, histopathological and large-scale metabolomics analyses. Glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), prostaglandin (PGE2) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) alongside with histopathological examination of gastric mucosa were analysed. Metabolites profiling coupled to Global Natural Products Social molecular networking platform (GNPS) and multivariate data analyses to reveal for changes in rats metabolome with treatments and involved action mechanisms. RESULTS: Pre-treatment with 100 and 200 mg/kg of AS-EO in EtOH-treated rats restored all parameters towards normal status compared to disease model. AS-EO alleviated the histological and pathological damage of gastric tissue caused by ethanol. Metabolites profiling revealed an increase in uracil, cholesterol and fatty acids/fatty acyl amides levels in ulcer rats and restored to normal levels post AS-EO intervention. These results indicated the efficacy of AS-EO in a dose-dependent manner, and to exert protective effects in ulcer rat model by targeting several metabolic pathways viz. lipid, energy, and nucleotide metabolisms. CONCLUSION: AS-EO adds to the known uses of genus Artemisia as anti-ulcerogenic agent by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses associated with an ulcer. Several novel biomarkers for ulcer progression in rats were identified and have yet to be confirmed in human models.

Volatile Oils Discrepancy between Male and Female Ochradenus arabicus and Their Allelopathic Activity on Dactyloctenium aegyptium.

Volatile oils (VOs) composition of plants is affected by several exogenous and endogenous factors. Male and female plants of the dioecious species exhibit variation in the bioactive constituents' allocation. The chemical variation in the VOs between male and female plants is not well studied. In the present study, the chemical characterization of the VOs extracted from aerial parts of male and female ecospecies of Ochradenus arabicus was documented. Additionally, the extracted VOs were tested for their allelopathic activity against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium. Via GC-MS analysis, a total of 53 compounds were identified in both male and female plants. Among them, 49 compounds were identified from male plants, and 47 compounds were characterized in female plants. Isothiocyanates (47.50% in male and 84.32% in female) and terpenes (48.05% in male and 13.22% in female) were the main components of VOs, in addition to traces of carotenoid-derived compounds and hydrocarbons. The major identified compounds of male and female plants are m-tolyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, butyl isothiocyanate, isobutyl isothiocyanate, carvone, and α-bisabolol, where they showed variation in the concentration between male and female plants. The O. arabicus VOs of the male plants attained IC50 values of 51.1, 58.1, and 41.9 µL L-1 for the seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth of the weed (D. aegyptium), respectively, while the females showed IC50 values of 56.7, 63.9, and 40.7 µL L-1, respectively. The present data revealed that VOs composition and bioactivity varied significantly with respect to the plant gender, either qualitatively or quantitatively.

Impacts of Nicotiana glauca Graham Invasion on the Vegetation Composition and Soil: A Case Study of Taif, Western Saudi Arabia.

Invasive species are considered a serious problem in different ecosystems worldwide. They can compete and interfere with native plants, leading to a shift in community assembly and ecosystem function. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Nicotiana glauca Graham invasion on native vegetation composition and soil of the most invaded locations in the Taif region, Western Saudi Arabia, including Alwaht (WHT), Ar-Ruddaf (RDF), and Ash-shafa (SHFA). Plant species list, life span, life form, and chorotypes were assessed. Six locations highly infested with N. glauca shrubs were selected, and the morphological parameters of the shrubs were measured. Within each location, richness, evenness, relative density of species, and soil were measured either under the canopy of N. glauca shrubs or outside the canopy. Floristic analysis revealed the existence of 144 plant species, mainly perennial. The shrubs at the SHFA1 location showed the highest values of all measured morphological parameters. The WHT 1 location showed high richness and evenness, while the WHAT 2 location showed less richness and evenness. The invaded locations showed substantial variation in the community composition. Additionally, the effect of N. glauca on the understory species varied from competition to facilitation, where most of the understory species were inhibited. As an average of all locations, 65.86% of the plant species were recorded only outside the canopy of N. glauca. The vegetation analysis revealed that the SHFA location is more vulnerable to invasion that could be ascribed to its wide range of habitats and high disturbance. The soil-vegetation relationships showed significant variations among the studied locations regarding soil composition, and thereby showed a wide ecological range of the invasive shrubs N. glauca. Therefore, the invasion of N. glauca in the Taif region altered the species interactions, nutrients, and soil properties.