Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Polygonatum kingianum processed by the traditional method of "Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying".

Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et (Hemsl) is a famous Chinese traditional food and medicine analogous plant. The rhizome of P. kingianum showed a decrease in levels of alkaloids, amino acids and derivatives, terpenoids, and an increase in organic acid and saccharides when it was processed by the traditional method of "Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying". The relative content of 341 metabolites were increased (fold change, FC > 2; variable importance in projection, VIP > 1 and P-value, P < 0.05); while 456 metabolites were decreased (FC < 0.5, VIP > 1, and P < 0.05). The changes in chemical components result in a decrease in numb taste and an increase in sweetness. The increased antioxidant activity was observed in the processed samples. Together, this work has advanced the mechanism of reducing numb taste and enhancing antioxidant activity in the resource plants, such as P. kingianum, processed by the traditional method.

In vitro combination effects of plant-derived quercetin with synthetic bicalutamide on prostate cancer and normal cell lines: in silico comparison.

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent and the fifth greatest cause of death in men. Although diet has been connected to the prevalence of cancer in addition to other factors, the relation between cancer and prevention is weak. Treatment options are at risk due to cell resistance. To identify new combinations, we tried plant-derived quercetin with bicalutamide on cell lines. To determine the cytotoxicity and apoptotic potential of plant-derived quercetin and its combination, MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] and dual stain assays were performed. In silico protein-ligand interaction was performed to support the in vitro findings. A thin layer, column, and high-performance chromatography were used to purify quercetin along with an authentic sample. In the cytotoxic study, quercetin was minimized by 80% similar to bicalutamide and a combination of quercetin and bicalutamide by 50% when compared to controls by 2%. Quercetin and bicalutamide showed a similar binding affinity for androgen receptors (9.7 and 9.8), hub genes (10.8 and 10.0), and a few other PCa-related genes (9.4 and 9.1). We propose to conclude that the combination of quercetin plus bicalutamide can be used for chemotherapy if additional in vivo studies are conducted. The intake of foods high in polyphenolic compounds can help to prevent prostate cancer. Examination of quercetin on several cell lines will provide a definite conclusion to combat cancers.

Identification, validation and quantification of thymoquinone in conjunction with assessment of bioactive possessions and GC-MS profiling of pharmaceutically valuable crop Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) varieties.

Background: Plants have been pivotal in traditional and modern medicine globally, with historical evidence supporting their therapeutic applications. Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family and is cultivated in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western and Central Asia. The medicinal use of plants dates back thousands of years, documented in ancient writings from various civilizations. Alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and tannins found in plants exhibit antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities. Methodology: This study specifically examines the pharmacological potential of Nigella sativa L., emphasizing thymoquinone-a compound with diverse nutraceutical benefits. The extraction, characterization, and quantification of thymoquinone, alongside other physicochemical parameters, were carried out using ethanol through Soxhlet extraction procedures on five nigella varieties. HPLC analysis was performed to determine the maximum accumulation of thymoquinone in the released variety of the plant and the chemical composition of the seed oil isolated from Nigella sativa L., varieties utilized in the study was determined through GC-MS analysis. Results: The research revealed that the Ajmer nigella-20 variety stands out, exhibiting elevated levels of thymoquinone (0.20 ± 0.07%), antioxidants (76.18 ± 1.78%), and substantial quantities of total phenols (31.85 ± 0.97 mg GAEg-1 seed) and flavonoids (8.150 ± 0.360 mg QE 100 g-1 seed) compared to other varieties. The GC-MS profiling showed the presence of 11 major compounds in the studied varieties, with p-cymene, longifolene, and myristic acid identified as the major chemical compounds present in the oil. Conclusion: The observed variations among Nigella varieties indicate the Ajmer nigella-20 variety as particularly promising for thymoquinone and bioactive compound extraction. This study underscores Nigella's potential as a source of pharmacologically active compounds, highlighting the need for further exploration in therapeutic applications.

Intercropping fruit trees in tea plantation improves soil properties and the formation of tea quality components.

Intercropping has been recommended as a beneficial cropping practice for improving soil characteristic and tea quality. However, there is limited research on the effects of intercropping fruit trees on soil chemical properties, soil aggregate structure, and tea quality components. In this study, intercropping fruit trees, specifically loquats and citrus, had a significant impact on the total available nutrients, AMN, and AP in soil. During spring and autumn seasons, the soil large-macroaggregates (>2 mm) proportion increased by 5.93% and 19.03%, as well as 29.23% and 19.14%, respectively, when intercropping loquats and citrus. Similarly, intercropping waxberry resulted in a highest small-macroaggregates (0.25 mm-2 mm) proportion at 54.89% and 77.32%. Soil aggregate stability parameters of the R0.25, MWD, and GMD were generally considered better soil aggregate stability indicators, and significantly improved in intercropping systems. Intercropping waxberry with higher values for those aggregate stability parameters and lower D values, showed a better soil aggregate distribution, while intercropping loquats and citrus at higher levels of AMN and AP in different soil aggregate sizes. As the soil aggregate sizes increased, the AMN and AP contents gradually decreased. Furthermore, the enhanced levels of amino acids were observed under loquat, waxberry, and citrus intercropping in spring, which increased by 27.98%, 27.35%, and 26.21%, respectively. The contents of tea polyphenol and caffeine were lower under loquat and citrus intercropping in spring. These findings indicated that intercropping fruit trees, specifically loquat and citrus, have immense potential in promoting the green and sustainable development of tea plantations.

Synergistic Interaction Effect of Artemisia cina n-hexane Extract and Tagetes lucida Ethyl Acetate Extract on Haemonchus Contortus.

PURPOSE: We analysed the possible synergistic activity among active extracts from Artemisia cina and Tagetes lucida combinations on Haemonchus contortus, a nematode parasitising sheep. METHODS: The work was carried out in vitro on eggs and infective larvae (L3) of H. contortus. The results were analysed with SAS 9.1, applying the ANOVA and Tukey test, and the lethal concentration (LC) values LC50 and LC90 were determined with regression analysis, employing Proc Probit of SAS 9.1. Additionally, the lethal concentration (LC) was calculated with LC50 and LC90 to determine the synergistic effect. RESULTS: The results demonstrated a high efficacy of the two plants studied on both nematode eggs and L3 larvae as well as of their combinations. The highest egg hatching inhibition was obtained with a 50/50 combination, and the best larvae mortality was obtained with 25% A. cina and 75% T. lucida at 10 mg/mL. Additionally, this combination showed a synergistic effect. CONCLUSION: The two plant species studied here can be applied as natural anthelmintic alternatives due to their high bioactive effect and synergistic response.

Effects of plant taxonomic position on soil nematode communities in Antarctica.

Antarctica terrestrial ecosystems are facing the most threats from global climate change, which is altering plant composition greatly. These transformations may cause major reshuffling of soil community composition, including functional traits and diversity, and therefore affect ecosystem processes in Antarctica. We used high-throughput sequencing analysis to investigate soil nematodes under 3 dominant plant functional groups (lichens, mosses, and vascular plants) and bare ground in the Antarctic region. We calculated functional diversity of nematodes based on their diet, life histories, and body mass with kernel density n-dimensional hypervolumes. We also calculated taxonomic and functional beta diversity of the nematode communities based on Jaccard dissimilarity. The presence of plants had no significant effect on the taxonomic richness of nematodes but significantly increased nematode functional richness. The presence of plants also significantly decreased taxonomic beta diversity (homogenization). Only mosses and vascular plants decreased nematode functional beta diversity, which was mostly due to a decreased effect of the richness difference component. The presence of plants also increased the effect of deterministic processes potentially because environmental filtering created conditions favorable to nematodes at low trophic levels with short life histories and small body size. Increasing plant cover in the Antarctic due to climate change may lead to increased diversity of nematode species that can use the scarce resources and nematode taxonomic and functional homogenization. In a future under climate change, community restructuring in the region is possible.

Efectos de la posición taxonómica de las plantas sobre las comunidades de nemátodos del suelo en la Antártida Resumen Los ecosistemas terrestres de la Antártida enfrentan las mayores amenazas del cambio climático global, que está alterando gravemente la composición de plantas. Estas transformaciones pueden provocar una reorganización importante de la composición de la comunidad del suelo, incluyendo atributos y diversidad funcionales, y por lo tanto afectar los procesos ecosistémicos en la Antártida. Utilizamos análisis de secuenciación de alto rendimiento para investigar nemátodos del suelo debajo de tres grupos funcionales de plantas dominantes (líquenes, musgos y plantas vasculares) y de suelo desnudo en la región de la Antártida. Calculamos la diversidad funcional de nemátodos con base en su dieta, historia de vida y masa corporal mediante hipervolúmenes n­dimensionales de densidad del núcleo. También calculamos la diversidad beta taxonómica y funcional de las comunidades de nemátodos con base en la disimilitud de Jacard. La presencia de plantas no tuvo efecto significativo sobre la riqueza taxonómica de nemátodos, pero incrementó su riqueza funcional significativamente. La presencia de plantas también disminuyó la diversidad beta taxonómica (homogenización) significativamente. Solo musgos y plantas vasculares disminuyeron la diversidad beta funcional de nemátodos, lo cual se debió principalmente a un menor efecto del componente de diferencia de riqueza. La presencia de plantas también incrementó el efecto de los procesos determinísticos posiblemente porque el filtrado ambiental creó condiciones favorables para los nemátodos de niveles tróficos inferiores con historias de vida corta y tamaño corporal pequeño. El incremento de la cobertura de plantas en la Antártida debido al cambio climático puede conducir a una mayor diversidad de especies de nemátodos que pueden utilizar los escasos recursos y a la homogenización taxonómica y funcional de los nemátodos. En un futuro bajo el cambio climático, es posible la reestructuración comunitaria en la región.

Assessment of medicinal plants colonizing abundantly on metal-enriched fly ash deposits: phytoremediation prospective.

Heavy metal-enriched fly ash (FA) deposits are recognized as hazardous contaminated sites on the earth, which pollute our ecosystems. Consequently, the present investigation was carried out to explore the phytoremediation potential of naturally growing medicinal plants in the FA dumpsite. This present study chose two native medicinal plants i.e., Bacopa monnieri and Acmella oleracea found to be naturally colonizing abundantly on FA dumpsite to assess heavy metal accumulation. FA sample of B. monnieri thriving sites found to have metal content in order Mn (216.6)> Cr (39.27)> Zn (20.8)> Ni (16.1)> Cu (15.03)> Co (6.7)> Pb (5.43) whereas for A. oleracea FA dumpsites, the order of metal availability was Mn (750.3)> B (54.5)>Cr (37.2)>Zn (31.33)> Cu (18.7)> Ni (16.93)> Co (7.7)>Pb (4.23). In B. monnieri, higher concentrations of Cr and Mn were observed in the shoot in comparison to the root, indicative of its potential as a hyperaccumulator plant. Conversely, in A. oleracea, greater amounts of Pb were detected in the shoot relative to the root. Hence, it is recommended that B. monnieri and A. oleracea grow on such heavy metal-enriched substrates should be avoided for medicinal purposes; however, these plants can be used for phytoremediation purposes.

Fly ash phytoremediation through natural colonizer plant species is limited.Native colonizing plant species on fly ash has a pivotal role in phytoremediation.Naturally colonizing medicinal plants were dominant over the Fly ash dumpsites.Bacopa monnieri and Acmella oleracea have phytoremediation potential on fly ash.Indeed, fly ash-grown medicinal plants should not be used by local communities.

Root and shoot phenology, architecture, and organ properties: an integrated trait network among 44 herbaceous wetland species.

Integrating traits across above- and belowground organs offers comprehensive insights into plant ecology, but their various functions also increase model complexity. This study aimed to illuminate the interspecific pattern of whole-plant trait correlations through a network lens, including a detailed analysis of the root system. Using a network algorithm that allows individual traits to belong to multiple modules, we characterize interrelations among 19 traits, spanning both shoot and root phenology, architecture, morphology, and tissue properties of 44 species, mostly herbaceous monocots from Northern Ontario wetlands, grown in a common garden. The resulting trait network shows three distinct yet partially overlapping modules. Two major trait modules indicate constraints of plant size and form, and resource economics, respectively. These modules highlight the interdependence between shoot size, root architecture and porosity, and a shoot-root coordination in phenology and dry-matter content. A third module depicts leaf biomechanical adaptations specific to wetland graminoids. All three modules overlap on shoot height, suggesting multifaceted constraints of plant stature. In the network, individual-level traits showed significantly higher centrality than tissue-level traits do, demonstrating a hierarchical trait integration. The presented whole-plant, integrated network suggests that trait covariation is essentially function-driven rather than organ-specific.

Metabolic engineering for enhanced terpenoid production: Leveraging new horizons with an old technique.

Terpenoids are a vast class of plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) manufactured by plants and are involved in their interactions with environment. In addition, they add health benefits to human nutrition and are widely used as pharmaceutically active compounds. However, native plants produce a limited amount of terpenes restricting metabolite yield of terpene-related metabolites. Exponential growth in the plant metabolome data and the requirement of alternative approaches for producing the desired amount of terpenoids, has redirected plant biotechnology research to plant metabolic engineering, which requires in-depth knowledge and precise expertise about dynamic plant metabolic pathways and cellular physiology. Metabolic engineering is an assuring tool for enhancing the concentration of terpenes by adopting specific strategies such as overexpression of the key genes associated with the biosynthesis of targeted metabolites, controlling the modulation of transcription factors, downregulation of competitive pathways (RNAi), co-expression of the biosynthetic pathway genes in heterologous system and other combinatorial approaches. Microorganisms, fast-growing host plants (such as Nicotiana benthamiana), and cell suspension/callus cultures have provided better means for producing valuable terpenoids. Manipulation in the biosynthetic pathways responsible for synthesis of terpenoids can provide opportunities to enhance the content of desired terpenoids and open up new avenues to enhance their production. This review deliberates the worth of metabolic engineering in medicinal plants to resolve issues associated with terpenoid production at a commercial scale. However, to bring the revolution through metabolic engineering, further implementation of genome editing, elucidation of metabolic pathways using omics approaches, system biology approaches, and synthetic biology tactics are essentially needed.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera xanthii on Acalypha indica in China.

Acalypha indica L. is an annual erect herb of the Euphorbiaceae family. This plant is found widely in the tropics and parts of Africa and Asia (Chakraborty et al. 2023). In China, A. indica is a vegetable and also used as a folk medicine due to its antipyretic and hemostatic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In February 2022 and 2023, powdery mildew symptoms were observed on 70% of A. indica plants on the Hainan Medical University campus (19° 58' 53″ N; 110° 19' 47″ E) in Haikou, Hainan Province, China. Powdery mildew colonies covered the leaf surfaces and stems of affected plants, causing discoloration and defoliation. Mycelia were superficial and hyphal appressoria were nipple-shaped. Conidiophores (n =30) were unbranched, cylindrical, 66 to 150 × 10 to 15 µm, and produced three to five immature conidia in chains with a crenate outline. Foot cells (n =30) were cylindrical, straight or sometimes curved at the base, and 31 to 59 µm long. Conidia (n =100) were ellipsoid-ovoid to doliiform, 20 to 33 ×12 to 20 µm (length/width ratio = 1.3 to 2.4), with well-developed fibrosin bodies, and produced germ tubes from the lateral position. Based on these morphological characteristics, the pathogen was provisionally identified as Podosphaera xanthii (Braun and Cook 2012). The teleomorph was not observed. A specimen was deposited in the Hainan Medical University Plant Pathology Herbarium as HMAI-23. To confirm the genus identification and ascertain a putative species, genomic DNA was extracted from mycelium, conidiophores, and conidia using a fungal DNA kit (Omega Bio-Tek, USA). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and sequenced directly. The resulting 575-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (accession no. OR775733). A BLASTn search in GenBank of this sequence showed 99% similarity with the ITS sequences of P. xanthii on plants of Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Cucurbitaceae family from China (MH143485, MT242593, MK439611 and MH143483), Thailand (LC270779 and LC270778), Korea (MG754404), Vietnam (KM260704), and Puerto Rico (OP882310). Additionally, the 28S rDNA region was amplified using the primer pairs NL1 and NL4 (O´Donnell 1993; accession no. OR784547). This region shared 99% similarity with P. xanthii isolates (LC371333, LC270780, AB936277, and OP765401) as well. To confirm pathogenicity, five healthy potted plants of A. indica were inoculated by gently pressing a powdery mildew-infected leaf onto 15 young leaves. Five non-inoculated plants served as controls. All plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 24 to 30°C, 70% relative humidity, with a 16-h photoperiod. After 7 days, inoculated leaves showed powdery mildew symptoms whereas no symptoms were observed on control plants. The fungal colonies observed on inoculated plants were morphologically identical to those found on the originally infected leaves collected from Hainan Province. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular identification, the fungus was identified as P. xanthii. In different countries and regions, P. xanthii has been previously reported on A. indica from Sudan and India (Amano 1986). To our knowledge, this is the first record of P. xanthii infecting A. indica in China. We are concerned that the pathogen could become a threat to the widespread planting of A. indica in the future.

Comparative secretome analysis of Striga and Cuscuta species identifies candidate virulence factors for two evolutionarily independent parasitic plant lineages.

BACKGROUND: Many parasitic plants of the genera Striga and Cuscuta inflict huge agricultural damage worldwide. To form and maintain a connection with a host plant, parasitic plants deploy virulence factors (VFs) that interact with host biology. They possess a secretome that represents the complement of proteins secreted from cells and like other plant parasites such as fungi, bacteria or nematodes, some secreted proteins represent VFs crucial to successful host colonisation. Understanding the genome-wide complement of putative secreted proteins from parasitic plants, and their expression during host invasion, will advance understanding of virulence mechanisms used by parasitic plants to suppress/evade host immune responses and to establish and maintain a parasite-host interaction. RESULTS: We conducted a comparative analysis of the secretomes of root (Striga spp.) and shoot (Cuscuta spp.) parasitic plants, to enable prediction of candidate VFs. Using orthogroup clustering and protein domain analyses we identified gene families/functional annotations common to both Striga and Cuscuta species that were not present in their closest non-parasitic relatives (e.g. strictosidine synthase like enzymes), or specific to either the Striga or Cuscuta secretomes. For example, Striga secretomes were strongly associated with 'PAR1' protein domains. These were rare in the Cuscuta secretomes but an abundance of 'GMC oxidoreductase' domains were found, that were not present in the Striga secretomes. We then conducted transcriptional profiling of genes encoding putatively secreted proteins for the most agriculturally damaging root parasitic weed of cereals, S. hermonthica. A significant portion of the Striga-specific secretome set was differentially expressed during parasitism, which we probed further to identify genes following a 'wave-like' expression pattern peaking in the early penetration stage of infection. We identified 39 genes encoding putative VFs with functions such as cell wall modification, immune suppression, protease, kinase, or peroxidase activities, that are excellent candidates for future functional studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our study represents a comprehensive secretome analysis among parasitic plants and revealed both similarities and differences in candidate VFs between Striga and Cuscuta species. This knowledge is crucial for the development of new management strategies and delaying the evolution of virulence in parasitic weeds.

Secondary metabolites in host pears defense against two fruit borers and cytochrome-P450-mediated counter-defense.

Herbivorous insects have evolved metabolic strategies to survive the challenges posed by plant secondary metabolites (SMs). This study reports an exploration of SMs present in pears, which serve as a defense against invasive Cydia pomonella and native Grapholita molesta and their counter-defense response. The feeding preferences of fruit borers are influenced by the softening of two pear varieties as they ripen. The content of SMs, such as quercetin and rutin, increases due to feeding by fruit borers. Notably, quercetin levels only increase after C. pomonella feeding. The consumption of SMs affects the growth of fruit borer population differently, potentially due to the activation of P450 genes by SMs. These two fruit borers are equipped with specific P450 enzymes that specialize in metabolizing quercetin and rutin, enabling them to adapt to these SMs in their host fruits. These findings provide valuable insights into the coevolution of plants and herbivorous insects.

Cost analysis of different medical oxygen sources for a healthcare facility in India.

Background and Aims: Multiple sources of medical oxygen, namely liquid medical oxygen (LMO) tanks, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants, concentrators, and gaseous cylinders, are available at different healthcare facilities. These sources of oxygen have varying installation and operational costs. In low-resource settings, it is imperative to utilise these assets optimally. This study investigated the operational costs of multiple oxygen sources available at a healthcare facility. Methods: A Microsoft (MS) Excel-based model was developed to analyse and compare the oxygen manufacturing costs (in ₹/m3) using PSA plants and procurement costs (in ₹/m3) of LMO and third-party vendor-refilled cylinders. Results: The oxygen manufacturing costs for PSA plants of different capacities and running times on electricity and diesel generators (DGs) as a power source were calculated. This study highlights the cost-benefit of using PSA plants over LMO and third-party vendor-refilled cylinders as a source of oxygen. PSA plants are most economical when they are of higher capacity and used to their maximum capacity on electricity as the power source. On the contrary, they are most expensive when used on a DG set as a power source. Furthermore, this study provides evidence of PSA plants being more cost-effective for refilling cylinders using a booster compressor unit when compared to third-party vendor-cylinder refilling. Conclusion: Given their cost-effectiveness and low third-party dependence, they should be utilised to their maximum capacity as medical oxygen sources at healthcare facilities.

Enhancing grid-connected photovoltaic system performance with novel hybrid MPPT technique in variable atmospheric conditions.

This paper proposes an innovative approach to improve the performance of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems operating in environments with variable atmospheric conditions. The dynamic nature of atmospheric parameters poses challenges for traditional control methods, leading to reduced PV system efficiency and reliability. To address this issue, we introduce a novel integration of fuzzy logic and sliding mode control methodologies. Fuzzy logic enables the PV system to effectively handle imprecise and uncertain atmospheric data, allowing for decision-making based on qualitative inputs and expert knowledge. Sliding mode control, known for its robustness against disturbances and uncertainties, ensures stability and responsiveness under varying atmospheric conditions. Through the integration of these methodologies, our proposed approach offers a comprehensive solution to the complexities posed by real-world atmospheric dynamics. We anticipate applications in grid-connected PV systems across various geographical locations and climates. By harnessing the synergistic benefits of fuzzy logic and sliding mode control, this approach promises to significantly enhance the performance and reliability of grid-connected PV systems in the presence of variable atmospheric conditions. On the grid side, both PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) and GA (Genetic Algorithm) algorithms were employed to tune the current controller of the PI (Proportional-Integral) current controller (inverter control). Simulation results, conducted using MATLAB Simulink, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid MPPT technique in optimizing the performance of the PV system. The technique exhibits superior tracking efficiency, achieving a convergence time of 0.06 s and an efficiency of 99.86%, and less oscillation than the classical methods. The comparison with other MPPT techniques highlights the advantages of the proposed approach, including higher tracking efficiency and faster response times. The simulation outcomes are analyzed and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies on both sides (the PV array and the grid side). Both PSO and GA offer effective methods for tuning the parameters of a PI current controller. According to considered IEEE standards for low-voltage networks, the total current harmonic distortion values (THD) obtained are considerably high (8.33% and 10.63%, using the PSO and GA algorithms, respectively). Comparative analyses with traditional MPPT methods demonstrate the superior performance of the hybrid approach in terms of tracking efficiency, stability, and rapid response to dynamic changes.

Revitalizing contaminated lands: A state-of-the-art review on the remediation of mine-tailings using phytoremediation and genomic approaches.

The mining industry has historically served as a critical reservoir of essential raw materials driving global economic progress. Nevertheless, the consequential by-product known as mine tailings has consistently produced a substantial footprint of environmental contamination. With annual discharges of mine tailings surpassing 10 billion tons globally, the need for effective remediation strategies is more pressing than ever as traditional physical and chemical remediation techniques are hindered by their high costs and limited efficacy. Phytoremediation utilizing plants for remediation of polluted soil has developed as a promising and eco-friendly approach to addressing mine tailings contamination. Furthermore, sequencing of genomic DNA and transcribed RNA extracted from mine tailings presents a pivotal opportunity to provide critical supporting insights for activities directed towards the reconstruction of ecosystem functions on contaminated lands. This review explores the growing prominence of phytoremediation and metagenomics as an ecologically sustainable techniques for rehabilitating mine-tailings. The present study envisages that plant species such as Solidago chilensis, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Polygonum capitatum, Pennisetum purpureum, Maireana brevifolia, Prosopis tamarugo etc. could be utilized for the remediation of mine-tailings. Furthermore, a critical evaluation of the organic and inorganic ammendments that optimize conditions for the remediation of mine tailings is also provided. The focus of this review extends to the exploration of environmental genomics to characterize microbial communities in mining sites. By delving into the multifaceted dimensions of phytoremediation and genomics for mine tailings, this study contributes to the ongoing efforts to revitalize contaminated lands for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Discovery of potential epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors from black pepper for the treatment of lung cancer: an in-silico approach.

A tyrosine kinase receptor known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the main tumour markers in many cancer types and also plays a crucial role in cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, which is a result of the auto-phosphorylations (kinase activity enhancement) that trigger signals involved in different cellular processes. Due to the discovery that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a cause of this kinase activity enhancement, so far, several inhibitors have been tested against EGFR, but the side effects of these inhibitors necessitate an urgent measure to come up with an inhibitor that will be more specific to the cancer cells and not affect self-cells. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 37 compounds derived from Piper nigrum against EGFR using computer-aided drug design. Based on molecular docking, induced-fit docking, calculation of free binding energy, pharmacokinetics, QSAR prediction, and MD simulation. We propose five (5) lead compounds (clarkinol A, isodihydrofutoquinol B, Burchellin, kadsurin B, and lancifolin C) as a novel inhibitor, with clarkinol A demonstrating the highest binding affinity (-7.304 kcal/mol) with EGFR when compared with the standard drug (erlotinib). They also showed significant moderation for parameters investigated for a good pharmacokinetic profile, with a reliable R2 coefficient value predicted using QSAR models. The MD simulation of clarkinol A was found to be stable within the EGFR binding pocket throughout the 75 ns simulation run time. The findings showed that clarkinol A derived from Piper nigrum is worth further investigation and consideration as a possible EGFR inhibitor for the treatment of lung cancer. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00197-1.

First report of leaf blight caused by Stemphylium lycopersici on Salvia splendens in China.

Salvia splendens is a popular ornamental plant in China with extensive potentials, including value in traditional Chinese medicine and in environmental restoration function (Li et al. 2008). In September 2019, leaf blight disease was observed on road side plants of S. splendens in Bayi park, Nanchang city, Jiangxi province, China. The typical symptoms appeared as irregular necrotic spots or leaf blight, accompanied by extensive scorch necrosis or ultimately defoliation. Small segments cut from diseased leaves were surface sterilized in a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 min and rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. Then, the samples were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates incubated at 25°C in darkness. Pure cultures were obtained by the hyphal tip method. Morphologically, all 11 colonies were identical to each other on PDA. Two strains, YZU 191468 and YZU 191481, were selected for further study and deposited in the Fungal Herbarium of Yangtze University (YZU), Jingzhou, Hubei, China. The 7-day-old colonies were circular, 53 to 56 mm in diameter, and consisted of white mycelium with a buff margin, and were cinnamon colored in the center of the reverse side. To examine conidial morphology, the mycelium was transferred onto potato carrot agar (PCA) and incubated at 23°C with a period of 8 h light/16 h dark for 7 days. Conidia were normally solitary or two in a chain, ellipsoid or long ellipsoid, beakless, 10 to 23×30 to 60 µm in size (n=50). Based on morphology, the isolates were consistent with Stemphylium lycopersici (Yamamoto 1960). To confirm the identification, genomic DNA was extracted from both isolates and used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer rDNA region (ITS), glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and calmodulin (CAL) genes with primer pairs ITS5/ITS4, gpd1/gpd2, and CALDF1/CALDR2, respectively (Woudenberg et al. 2017). Sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers OP564983 and OP564984 (ITS), OP892529 and OP892530 (GAPDH), OP584970 and OP584971 (CAL). A neighbor-joining tree was constructed with Mega 7.0 based on the combined dataset with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. The resulting phylogenetic tree showed that the strains from S. splendens clustered with S. lycopersici (CBS 122639 and CBS 124980) supported with 100% bootstrap values. The molecular analyses confirmed that the species causing leaf blight symptoms was S. lycopersici. To test pathogenicity, healthy leaves of S. splendens were surface sterilized and inoculated by mycelium blocks (6 mm in diameter) and spore suspension (1×106 spore/mL) of representative strains YZU 191468 and YZU 191481, respectively. Controls were inoculated with blocks of PDA and sterile water. Each strain was inoculated on three leaves of a plant. One clean plant was used as control. The test was replicated three times. After inoculation, the plants were covered with plastic bags and incubated in a greenhouse (25℃, 80 % relative humidity, 8 h light/16 h dark). After 5 days, the inoculated leaves exhibited dark brown spots with white mycelium, followed by withering of necrotic tissues. There were no symptoms observed on the controls. The fungal isolates inoculated leaves had the same morphological characteristics as the strains used for inoculation. S. lycopersici has been found on eggplant and Zinnia elegans in China (He et al. 2019; Yang et al. 2017). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. lycopersici causing leaf blight on S. splendens in China. This finding offers a new reference for the management and control of S. splendens leaf diseases in China.

First report of Pseudomonas cichorii causing bacterial leaf blight of pocketbook plant (Calceolaria hybrida) in Taiwan.

Pocketbook plants (Calceolaria spp.) are flowering ornamentals often grown as potted plants (Poesch 1937). In December 2022, leaf blight symptoms were observed on 2-mo-old plants of C. hybrida F1 'Dainty'. The disease was found in a nursery in Ren'ai Township, Nantou, and about 20% of the plants exhibited symptoms. Symptomatic plants had brown or gray necrotic lesions of different sizes and shapes, mostly around leaf margins. Lower leaf wilting was also observed (Fig. S1, A and B). Three plants were sampled. Leaf lesions were surface-disinfected with 75% ethanol and cut into smaller pieces in 10 mM MgCl2. After observing bacterial streaming under a microscope, the bacteria were streaked onto nutrient agar (NA). Following 2 days at 28°C, a type of round, creamy white colony predominated on all the plates. Three strains (Calc-A, Calc-B, and Calc-C) were obtained, one from each plant. The strains produced fluorescent pigments on King's B medium and were tested Gram-negative. The strains were characterized with the LOPAT scheme (Schaad et al. 2001). They did not exhibit activities of pectic enzymes, arginine dihydrolase and levan sucrase, but produced oxidase and induced the hypersensitive response in tobacco. DNA was extracted from the strains for PCR amplification of the 16S rDNA with primer pair 27f/1492r as described by Lane (1991). The 16S rDNA sequences were compared with entries in the GenBank database. The sequences obtained (GenBank accession no. OR824302) matched that of Pseudomonas cichorii MAFF 301158 (accession no. AB724288; 1,403/1,403 bp) and were 99% identical to that of DSM 50259T (accession no. CP074349; 1,391/1,405 bp). The strains were also tested with the species-specific primers hrp1a and hrp2a (Cottyn et al. 2011). The amplicons were sequenced and a BLASTn search showed that the sequences (accession no. OR827305) shared the highest identity (99.3%) with that of P. cichorii strain 83-1 (accession no. DQ168848; 848/854 bp) and were 97.3% identical to the sequence of DSM 50259T (accession no. CP074349; 831/854 bp). Calc-A was selected as a representative strain and deposited in the Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Taiwan (reference no. BCRC 81432). Koch's postulates were fulfilled by spray-inoculating a suspension of Calc-A on three 2-mo-old C. hybrida F1 'Dainty' plants. The inoculum was prepared by suspending NA-grown cells in 10 mM MgCl2 including 0.02% Silwet L-77 (OD600 = 0.3; 1.5 x 108 CFU/ml). For the controls, three plants were sprayed with bacteria-free solution. The plants were bagged throughout the experiment and kept in a growth chamber (14/10 h light/dark; 26/24°C day/night). Leaf blight and wilting symptoms developed on all leaves of the inoculated plants after 30 h, but not the controls (Fig. S1, C and D). The pathogen was reisolated from the treatment group, and colony PCR with hrp1a/hrp2a showed that the reisolated strain shared the same sequence with Calc-A to Calc-C. Repeating the inoculation assay produced consistent results. This is the first report of P. cichorii affecting Calceolaria in Taiwan. The bacterium has been reported infecting diverse crops in Taiwan, such as tomato and lettuce (Tsai et al. 2014). Expanding the understanding of the pathogen's potential hosts could help prevent its spread across important crops.

Mitigated N2O emissions from submerged-plant-covered aquatic ecosystems on the Changjiang River Delta.

Submerged plants affect nitrogen cycling in aquatic ecosystems. However, whether and how submerged plants change nitrous oxide (N2O) production mechanism and emissions flux remains controversial. Current research primarily focuses on the feedback from N2O release to variation of substrate level and microbial communities. It is deficient in connecting the relative contribution of individual N2O production processes (i.e., the N2O partition). Here, we attempted to offer a comprehensive understanding of the N2O mitigation mechanism in aquatic ecosystems on the Changjiang River Delta according to stable isotopic techniques, metagenome-assembly genome analysis, and statistical analysis. We found that the submerged plant reduced 45 % of N2O emissions by slowing down the dissolved inorganic nitrogen conversion velocity to N2O in sediment (Vf-[DIN]sed). It was attributed to changing the N2O partition and suppressing the potential capacity of net N2O production (i.e., nor/nosZ). The dominated production processes showed a shift with increasing excess N2O. Meanwhile, distinct shift thresholds of planted and unplanted habitats reflected different mechanisms of stimulated N2O production. The hotspot zone of N2O production corresponded to high nor/nosZ and unsaturated oxygen (O2) in unplanted habitat. In contrast, planted habitat hotspot has lower nor/nosZ and supersaturated O2. O2 from photosynthesis critically impacted the activities of N2O producers and consumers. In summary, the presence of submerged plants is beneficial to mitigate N2O emissions from aquatic ecosystems.