Phycochemical and Biological Activities From Different Extracts of Padina antillarum (Kützing) Piccone.

Seaweeds are non-vascular, photosynthetic that inhabit the coastal regions commonly within rocky intertidal or submerged reef-like habitats and have been one of the richest and most promising sources of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties. They selectively absorb elements like Na, K, Ca, Mg, I, and Br from the seawater and accumulate them in their thalli. Padina antillarum (Kützing) Piccone is a member of Phaeophycota and has remarkable phycochemistry as well as bioactivity. The phycochemical tests of the different extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, and phenols. The relative percentage of Oxirane, tetradecyl (C16H32O), and Cyclononasiloxane (C18H54O9Si9) are higher while Tetrasiloxane (C16H50O7Si8) is lowest in Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry analysis. FRAP, %inhibition, the total antioxidant value of P. antillarum was higher in methanolic extract. Hexane, chloroform extracts showed no zone of inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The methanolic extract of P. antillarum exhibits a maximum zone of inhibition against S. epidermidis (18.66 ± 0.09). Antifungal activity of the P. antillarum in hexane extract exhibited no zone of inhibition against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum while the chloroform extract yields maximum zone (37 ± 0.012, 21.66 ± 0.03). Diabetes mellitus is one of the most familiar chronic diseases associated with carbohydrate metabolism. It is also an indication of co-morbidities such as obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia which are metabolic complications of both clinical and experimental diabetes. The treatment of P. antillarum methanol extract in mice reduced the body weight loss, low level of triglycerides, and elevated HDL cholesterol level as compared to diabetic mice.

Integrated management of charcoal rot disease in susceptible genotypes of mungbean with soil application of micronutrient zinc and green manure (prickly sesban).

Charcoal rot disease is incited by the soil-borne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi). Goid is a challenging disease due to long-term persistence of fungus sclerotia in the soil. This study assessed the potential of zinc (Zn: 1.25, 2.44, and 5 mg/kg) and green manure (GM: 1 and 2%) in solitary and bilateral combinations to alleviate infection stress incited by M. phaseolina on disease, growth, physiology, and yield attributes in mungbean. A completely randomized design experiment was conducted in potted soil, artificially inoculated with the pathogen, and sown with surface-sterilized seeds of mungbean genotypes (susceptible: MNUYT-107 and highly susceptible: MNUYT-105). Concealment of plant resistance by M. phaseolina in both genotypes resulted in 53-55% disease incidence and 40-50% plant mortality, which contributed in causing a significant reduction of 30-90% in attributes of growth, biomass, yield, photosynthetic pigment, and total protein content with an imbalance of production of antioxidant enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase). Soil application with Zn-based fertilizer (ZnSO4: 33%) in combination with GM significantly managed up to 80% of the charcoal rot disease, hence improving growth (50-100%) and physiochemical (30-100%) attributes and sustainably enhancing grain average yield (300-600%), biological yield (100-200%), and harvest index (100-200%) in mungbean plants. The heat map and principal component analyses based on 19 measured attributes with 16 treatments separated Zn (2.44 or 5 mg/kg) combined with 2% GM as the best treatments for alleviating charcoal rot disease stress by improving growth, yield, and biological attributes to an extent to profitable farming in terms of harvest index (HI) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR).

Whole-Genome Identification of APX and CAT Gene Families in Cultivated and Wild Soybeans and Their Regulatory Function in Plant Development and Stress Response.

Plants coevolved with their antioxidant defense systems, which detoxify and adjust levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under multiple plant stresses. We performed whole-genome identification of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) families in cultivated and wild soybeans. In cultivated and wild soybean genomes, we identified 11 and 10 APX genes, respectively, whereas the numbers of identified CAT genes were four in each species. Comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed more homology among cultivated and wild soybeans relative to other legumes. Exon/intron structure, motif and synteny blocks are conserved in cultivated and wild species. According to the Ka/Ks value, purifying selection is a major force for evolution of these gene families in wild soybean; however, the APX gene family was evolved by both positive and purifying selection in cultivated soybean. Segmental duplication was a major factor involved in the expansion of APX and CAT genes. Expression patterns revealed that APX and CAT genes are differentially expressed across fourteen different soybean tissues under water deficit (WD), heat stress (HS) and combined drought plus heat stress (WD + HS). Altogether, the current study provides broad insights into these gene families in soybeans. Our results indicate that APX and CAT gene families modulate multiple stress response in soybeans.

Gamma Rays and Sodium Azide Induced Genetic Variability in High-Yielding and Biofortified Mutant Lines in Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.].

With the twin pressures of high population growth and extreme weather events, developing countries are the worst hit in meeting the food demands of their people, with millions unable to access adequate and nutritionally balanced food. Crop production must be increased by 70% to keep up with the food demands of a rapidly growing population, which is expected to rise to 9.6 billion by 2050. Legumes are ideal food crops to increase agricultural productivity and achieve sustainable development goals. Cowpea, a warm-season grain legume, is often categorized as a neglected crop with immense scope for genetic improvement through proper breeding strategies. A multi-year field experiment of induced mutagenesis was conducted to increase seed yield and genetic variability in the agro-economic traits of two cowpea varieties treated with different doses of gamma (γ) rays and sodium azide (SA). The study was also aimed to optimize different doses of γ rays and SA employed individually and in combinations. Quantitative trait analysis revealed a maximum increase in seed yield from M2 to M3 generation. Among the 10 quantitative traits studied, seeds per pod and seed weight positively correlated with a major direct impact on yield. An extensive phenotypic selection cycle from M2-M4 generations resulted in isolating new high-yielding and nutrient-dense mutant lines. Such high-yielding biofortified mutant lines with enhanced genetic variability could serve as a donor of elite genes and represent a valuable genetic resource for improving low-yielding warm-season grain legumes.

Nitric oxide and spermine revealed positive defense interplay for the regulation of the chromium toxicity in soybean (Glycine max L.).

Current investigation demonstrated that chromium (Cr) toxicity affects adversely on the normal growth of soybean plants. However, the seed priming with nitric oxide (NO; 100 µM), and spermine (Spm; 0.01 Mm) can significantly alleviate the Cr toxicity in soybean plant. Herein, the hydroponic experiment was conducted to observe the individual as well as the interactive behavior of NO, and Spm on the various morpho-physiological and, biochemical parameters in soybean such as plant growth, plant height, seed germination indices, photosynthesis-related indices such as chlorophyll biosynthesis, PS system II, nutrient uptake of soybean seedlings against Cr (VI) toxicity. Our outcomes deliberated that the alone treatment of NO, and Spm cause a significant improvement in seed germination ratio, photosynthetic pigments, and biomass of plants by restricting Cr uptake; while NO + Spm treatment being more effective in the improvement of soybean growth relative to their individual treatment under Cr stress. Relative to alone treatment of NO, and Spm, the combined treatment significantly modulated the antioxidant activities, and lowered the ROS accumulation, and electrolyte leakage. In addition, seed priming with NO, and Spm mitigate the Cr-induced toxicity by reducing Cr uptake and stimulating the antioxidative defense mechanisms. Hence, these findings confirmed the positive defense interplay of the NO and Spm in the modulation of the Cr tolerance in soybean. However, the underlying defense mechanism of these synergetic effects needs to be further explored.

Silicon-mediated metabolic upregulation of ascorbate glutathione (AsA-GSH) and glyoxalase reduces the toxic effects of vanadium in rice.

Although beneficial metalloid silicon (Si) has been proven to reduce the toxicity of several heavy metals, there is a lack of understanding regarding Si potential function in mitigating phytotoxicity induced by vanadium (V). In this study, effect of Si (1.5 mM) on growth, biomass production, V uptake, reactive oxygen species (ROS), methylglyoxal (MG) formation, selected antioxidants enzymes activities, glyoxalase enzymes under V stress (35 mg L-1) was investigated in hydroponic experiment. The results showed that V stress reduced rice growth, caused V accumulation in rice. Addition of Si to the nutritional medium increased plant growth, biomass yield, root length, root diameter, chlorophyll parameters, photosynthetic assimilation, ion leakage, antioxidant enzymes activities under V stress. Notably, Si sustained V-homeostasis and alleviated V caused oxidative stress by boosting ascorbate (AsA) levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in V stressed rice plants. Furthermore, Si protected rice seedlings against the harmful effects of methylglyoxal by increasing the activity of glyoxalase enzymes. Additionally, Si increased the expression of numerous genes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (e.g., OsCuZnSOD1, OsCaTB, OsGPX1, OsAPX1, OsGR2, and OsGSTU37) and methylglyoxal (e.g., OsGLYI-1 and OsGLYII-2). The findings supported that Si can be applied to plants to minimize the V availability to plant, and also induced V stress tolerance.

Combined effect of salicylic acid and potassium mitigates drought stress through the modulation of physio-biochemical attributes and key antioxidants in wheat.

Improving physio-biochemical traits in wheat under drought stress conditions has received more research attention in recent years for better adaptability and higher yield. In this study, we explored the potential bio-physiological mechanisms underlying improved plant growth and water use efficiency in wheat following soil application of potassium (0 and 100 kg ha-1) and seed primed salicylic acid (SA) (150 mg per L) and SA foliar application (100 mg per L) under drought stresses (100%, 60% and 30% FC). Two years' average data revealed that inducing drought stress resulted in a decrease in plant pigments content, growth traits, and plant water status however, the influence was substantially reduced with the combined application of K and SA under drought stress conditions. The SA foliar spray in combination with K had increased chlorophyll a (174% and 83%), chl b (130% and 192%), chl a + b (156% and 120), carotenoid (22% and 11%), proline contents (24% and 29%) leaf relative water content (24% and 29%) while reduced leaf WSD (17% and 20%), WRC (6% and 7%), and WUC (23% and 28%) under mild and severe drought stresses, respectively. The increase in grain yield by 41% and 37% with enhanced water use efficiency was obtained with combined foliar SA and K under mild and severe drought stress, respectively indicating its vital role in overcoming the deleterious effects of drought via regulation of osmotic and metabolic processes and stabilizes cell components. RDA analysis revealed that the studied traits were completely discriminated under severe stress than mild or no drought stress. A positive and significant association was found between plant pigments with seed yield whereas a negative and significant correlation existed between water leaf traits and plant pigments. It was concluded that both foliar SA and seed primed SA with K fertilization combat the adverse effects of drought and improved plant water status as well as growth and bio-physiological traits of wheat under drought stress conditions.

Heavy Metal-Resistant Plant Growth-Promoting Citrobacter werkmanii Strain WWN1 and Enterobacter cloacae Strain JWM6 Enhance Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Growth by Modulating Physiological Attributes and Some Key Antioxidants Under Multi-Metal Stress.

Due to wastewater irrigation, heavy metal (HM) exposure of agricultural soils is a major limiting factor for crop productivity. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) may lower the risk of HM toxicity and increase crop yield. In this context, we evaluated two HM-resistant PGPB strains, i.e., Citrobacter werkmanii strain WWN1 and Enterobacter cloacae strain JWM6 isolated from wastewater-irrigated agricultural soils, for their efficacy to mitigate HM (Cd, Ni, and Pb) stress in a pot experiment. Increasing concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) of each HM were used to challenge wheat plants. Heavy metal stress negatively affected wheat growth, biomass, and physiology. The plants under elevated HM concentration accumulated significantly higher amounts of heavy metals (HMs) in shoots and roots, resulting in increased oxidative stress, which was evident from increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in roots and shoots. Moreover, alterations in antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) were observed in plants under HM stress. The severity of damage was more pronounced with rising HM concentration. However, inoculating wheat with Citrobacter werkmanii strain WWN1 and Enterobacter cloacae strain JWM6 (107 CFU ml-1) improved plant shoot length (11-42%), root length (19-125%), fresh weight (41-143%), dry weight (65-179%), and chlorophyll a (14%-24%) and chlorophyll b content (2-24%) under HM stress. Citrobacter werkmanii strain WWN1 and Enterobacter cloacae strain JWM6 either alone or in co-inoculation enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity, which may lower oxidative stress in plants. However, seeds treated with the bacterial consortium showed an overall better outcome in altering oxidative stress and decreasing HM accumulation in wheat shoot and root tissues. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the changes induced by HMs in functional groups on the biomass surface that display effective removal of HMs from aqueous medium using PGPB. Thus, the studied bacterial strains may have adequate fertilization and remediation potential for wheat cultivated in wastewater-irrigated soils. However, molecular investigation of mechanisms adopted by these bacteria to alleviate HM stress in wheat is required to be conducted.

Comparative Mutagenic Effectiveness and Efficiency of Gamma Rays and Sodium Azide in Inducing Chlorophyll and Morphological Mutants of Cowpea.

Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency are the most important factors determining the success of mutation breeding, a coherent tool for quickly enhancing genetic diversity in crops. However, conclusive evidence of using an effective and efficient dose of gamma (γ) rays and sodium azide (SA) for genetic improvement is scant. The present study assesses genetic diversity in M2 mutants of cowpea and evaluates mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of the single and combination doses of γ rays and SA. In M0 generation, 7200 M1 seeds obtained by SA treatment (0.01-0.1%) and γ irradiation (100-1000 Gy) at a dose rate of 11.58 Gy/min were sown to raise M1 generation. A total of 57,620 M2 seeds were generated from the M1 generation of two varieties-Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578, from which 47,650 seeds germinated. Moreover, plants (38,749) that survived were screened for chlorophyll and morphological mutations. Among the mutagens, SA followed by γ rays + SA and γ rays was most effective in inducing higher frequency and a broader spectrum of chlorophyll mutants. A wide range of morphological mutants affecting every growth stage was recorded with the highest frequency in 400 Gy γ rays + 0.04% SA treatment. These morphological mutants with desirable agronomic traits represent a valuable genetic resource for future breeding programs. This study revealed the potency of γ rays and SA in increasing genetic diversity and demonstrated the successful conduct of induced mutagenesis in the cowpea.

Combining Biocontrol Agent With Plant Nutrients for Integrated Control of Tomato Early Blight Through the Modulation of Physio-Chemical Attributes and Key Antioxidants.

Early blight (EB) is one of the major fungal diseases caused by Alternaria solani that is responsible for destructive tomato production around the globe. Biocontrol agent/s can be adequately implemented in an integrated management framework by using it in combination with vital plant nutrients, e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) and zinc (Zn). The current study was aimed to assess the integrated effect of a biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis (BS-01) and the selective plant nutrients (NPK and Zn) on EB disease management and tomato crop performance. A field experiment was conducted for the off-season tomato production (under walk-in tunnels) in Punjab, Pakistan. The trial was set in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and comprised nine treatments of a biocontrol agent (BS-01) either alone or in combination with the plant nutrients, viz., NPK (64:46:50 kg acre-1) and Zn (10 kg acre-1) as sustainable disease managing approach against EB. In addition, the biocontrol efficacy of B. subtilis (BS-01) on a fungal load of A. solani was estimated by quantitative PCR assays, where the foliar application of BS-01 on tomato plants either alone or in combination with the plant nutrients was done as a preventive measure. Our results revealed that the interactive effect of BS-01 with plant nutrients conferred significantly a varying degree of resilience in the infected tomato plants against EB by effectively modifying the content of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total phenolics along with the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POX, PPO, and PAL). In addition, the integrative effect of BS-01 and plant nutrients proved significantly effective in reducing pathogen load on inoculated tomato foliage, displaying the desired level of protection against A. solani infection. Besides, the complementary interaction of BS-01 + Zn + NPK worked synergistically to improve crop productivity by providing the highest marketable yield (21.61 tons acre-1) and net profit (361,363 Pakistani rupees acre-1). This integrated approach is put forward as a way to reduce the fungicide doses to control EB that would act as a sustainable plant protection strategy to generate profitable tomato production.

Chromium toxicity induced oxidative damage in two rice cultivars and its mitigation through external supplementation of brassinosteroids and spermine.

The chromium (Cr) induced phytotoxicity avowed the scientific community to develop stress mitigation strategies to restrain the Cr accumulation inside the food chain. Whereas, brassinosteroids (BRs), and spermine (SPM) are well-known growth-promoting phytohormones, which enhance the plants health, and resilient the toxic effects under stress conditions. Until now, their interactive role against Cr-mitigation is poorly known. Hence, we conducted the hydroponic experiment to perceive the behavior of seed primed with BRs, or/and SPM treatment against Cr disclosure in two different rice cultivars (CY927; sensitive, YLY689; tolerant). Our findings delineated that BRs (0.01 µM), or/and SPM (0.01 mM) remarkably alleviated Cr-induced phytotoxicity by improving the seed germination ratio, chlorophyll pigments, PSII system, total soluble sugar, and minimizing the MDA contents level, ROS extra generation, and electrolyte leakage through restricting the Cr accretion in roots, and shoots of both rice cultivars under Cr stress. Additionally, the BRs, or/and SPM modulated the antioxidant enzyme, and non-enzyme activities to reduce the Cr-induced cellular oxidative damage as well as maintained the ionic hemostasis in both rice cultivars, especially in YLY689. Concisely, enhanced the plants biomass and growth. Overall, our outcomes revealed that BRs and SPM interact positively to alleviate the Cr-induced damages in rice seedlings on the above-mentioned indices, and combine treatment is much more efficient than solely. Moreover, the effect of BRs, or/and SPM was more obvious in YLY689 than CY927 to hamper the oxidative stress, and boost the antioxidant capacity.

Comparative Analysis of Microbial Consortiums and Nanoparticles for Rehabilitating Petroleum Waste Contaminated Soils.

Nano-bioremediation application is an ecologically and environmentally friendly technique to overcome the catastrophic situation in soil because of petroleum waste contamination. We evaluated the efficiency of oil-degrading bacterial consortium and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with or without fertilizer to remediate soils collected from petroleum waste contaminated oil fields. Physicochemical characteristics of control soil and petroleum contaminated soils were assessed. Four oil-degrading strains, namely Bacillus pumilus (KY010576), Exiguobacteriaum aurantiacum (KY010578), Lysinibacillus fusiformis (KY010586), and Pseudomonas putida (KX580766), were selected based on their in vitrohydrocarbon-degrading efficiency. In a lab experiment, contaminated soils were treated alone and with combined amendments of the bacterial consortium, AgNPs, and fertilizers (ammonium nitrate and diammonium phosphate). We detected the degradation rate of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) of the soil samples with GC-FID at different intervals of the incubation period (0, 5, 20, 60, 240 days). The bacterial population (CFU/g) was also monitored during the entire period of incubation. The results showed that 70% more TPH was degraded with a consortium with their sole application in 20 days of incubation. There was a positive correlation between TPH degradation and the 100-fold increase in bacterial population in contaminated soils. This study revealed that bacterial consortiums alone showed the maximum increase in the degradation of TPHs at 20 days. The application of nanoparticles and fertilizer has non-significant effects on the consortium degradation potential. Moreover, fertilizer alone or in combination with AgNPs and consortium slows the rate of degradation of TPHs over a short period. Still, it subsequently accelerates the rate of degradation of TPHs, and a negligible amount remains at the end of the incubation period.

Melatonin Improves Drought Stress Tolerance of Tomato by Modulating Plant Growth, Root Architecture, Photosynthesis, and Antioxidant Defense System.

Tomato is an important vegetable that is highly sensitive to drought (DR) stress which impairs the development of tomato seedlings. Recently, melatonin (ME) has emerged as a nontoxic, regulatory biomolecule that regulates plant growth and enhances the DR tolerance mechanism in plants. The present study was conducted to examine the defensive role of ME in photosynthesis, root architecture, and the antioxidant enzymes' activities of tomato seedlings subjected to DR stress. Our results indicated that DR stress strongly suppressed growth and biomass production, inhibited photosynthesis, negatively affected root morphology, and reduced photosynthetic pigments in tomato seedlings. Per contra, soluble sugars, proline, and ROS (reactive oxygen species) were suggested to be improved in seedlings under DR stress. Conversely, ME (100 µM) pretreatment improved the detrimental-effect of DR by restoring chlorophyll content, root architecture, gas exchange parameters and plant growth attributes compared with DR-group only. Moreover, ME supplementation also mitigated the antioxidant enzymes [APX (ascorbate peroxidase), CAT (catalase), DHAR (dehydroascorbate reductase), GST (glutathione S-transferase), GR (glutathione reductase), MDHAR (monodehydroascorbate reductase), POD (peroxidase), and SOD (superoxide dismutase)], non-enzymatic antioxidant [AsA (ascorbate), DHA (dehydroascorbic acid), GSH (glutathione), and GSSG, (oxidized glutathione)] activities, reduced oxidative damage [EL (electrolyte leakage), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), MDA (malondialdehyde), and O2•- (superoxide ion)] and osmoregulation (soluble sugars and proline) of tomato seedlings, by regulating gene expression for SOD, CAT, APX, GR, POD, GST, DHAR, and MDHAR. These findings determine that ME pretreatment could efficiently improve the seedlings growth, root characteristics, leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery under DR stress and thereby increasing the seedlings' adaptability to DR stress.

Variation in the Primary and Secondary Metabolites, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potentials of Tomatoes, Grown in Soil Blended with Different Concentration of Fly Ash.

The aim of the study was to investigate the variation in nutritional composition, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of tomatoes grown in fly ash blended soils, i.e.,T1 (soil 100% + 0% fly ash), T2 (soil 75%+ 25% fly ash), and T3 (soil 50% + 50% fly ash) soils. The tomato samples were harvested and screened for their proximate analysis, mineral composition, vitamin C contents, phenolic profile, and antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Results showed that T3 soil crop has high proximate composition, vitamin C, and phenolic contents as compared with T2 and T1 soil crops. Furthermore, significant variation in the elements analysis was observed in the crops grown in T1, T2, and T3 soils. T3 soil crop exhibited better antioxidant activity in term of total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoids contents (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing potential as compared with T2 and T1 soil crops. Similarly, maximum inhibition zones were observed for T3 soil crop when tested for Staphylococcus aureus isolate 1 and 3 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In conclusion, the crop grown in T3 blended soil had high antioxidant and antibacterial potentials and better nutritional composition.

Au@Zr-based metal-organic framework composite as an immunosensing platform for determination of hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

An ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor has been prepared using an immunofunctionalized zirconium (Zr)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) with gold (Au) decoration Au@UiO-66(NH2) composite-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the determination of infectious hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We fabricated GCE with specific composite via immune-functionalization using anti-HBsAg with Au nanoparticles embedded in UiO-66(NH2). The electrochemical sensing performance of the immunofunctionalized Au@UiO-66(NH2)/GCE with HBsAg was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimized conditions, there was a linear dynamic relationship in the buffer system between the electrical signal and HBsAg levels over the range 1.13 fg mL-1-100 ng mL-1 (R2 = 0.999) with a detection limit of 1.13 fg mL-1. The total analysis time was 15 min per sample. Further validations were performed with HBsAg-spiked human serum samples, and similar detection limits as in the buffer system were observed with reduced signal intensities at lower concentrations of HBsAg (1, 10, and 100 fg mL-1) and minimal interference. The HBsAg electrochemical immunosensing assay had good selectivity and excellent reproducibility, thereby indicating its significant potential in the super-fast diagnosis of hepatitis B.

Clinico-Pathological Importance of miR-146a in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is a well-known malignant tumor of the respiratory tract, which has caused a significant level of damage to human health in the 21st century. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are tiny, non-coding RNA stem-loop structures with a length of roughly 20-25 nucleotides that function as powerful modulators of mRNA and protein products of a gene. miRNAs may modulate many biological processes involving growth, differentiation, proliferation, and cell death and play a key role in the pathogenesis of various types of malignancies. Several accumulating pieces of evidence have proven that miRNA, especially miR-146a, are crucial modulators of innate immune response sequences. A novel and exciting cancer research field has involved miRNA for the detection and suppression of cancer. However, the actual mechanism which is adopted by these miRNA is still unclear. miRNAs have been used as a cancer-associated biomarker in several studies, suggesting their altered expression in various cancers compared to the normal cells. The amount of expression of miRNA can also be used to determine the stage of the disease, aiding in early detection. In breast, pancreatic, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and gastric cancer, cancer cell proliferation and metastasis has been suppressed by miR-146a. Changes in miR-146a expression levels have biomarker importance and possess a high potential as a therapeutic target in lung cancer. It retards epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes the therapeutic action of anticancer agents in lung cancer. Studies have also suggested that miR-146a affects gene expression through different signaling pathways viz. TNF-α, NF-κB and MEK-1/2, and JNK-1/2. Further research is required for understanding the molecular mechanisms of miR-146a in lung cancer. The potential role of miR-146a as a diagnostic marker of lung cancer must also be analyzed. This review summarizes the tumor-suppressing, anti-inflammatory, and antichemoresistive nature of miR-146a in lung cancer.

Gender effect on the pharmacokinetics of thymoquinone: Preclinical investigation and in silico modeling in male and female rats.

Thymoquinone is the most biologically active constituent of Nigella sativa (black seed). A monoterpene compound chemically known as 2-methyl-5-isopropyl-1, 4-quinone. In this study, the gender-dependent pharmacokinetic behavior of thymoquinone in rats was investigated. Thymoquinone was administered orally (20 mg/kg) and intravenously (5 mg/kg) to male and female rats and blood samples were collected at specific time points. Plasma concentration-time curves were plotted and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the non-compartmental analysis. In addition, simulations of steady state concentrations of thymoquinone in male and female rats were performed using GastroPlus PK software. After oral administration, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of thymoquinone was 4.52 ±â€¯0.092 µg/ml in male rats and 5.22 ±â€¯0.154 µg/ml in female rats (p = 0.002). Similarly, after intravenous administration, the Cmax was 8.36 ±â€¯0.132 µg/ml in males and 9.51 ±â€¯0.158 µg/ml in females (p = 0.550). The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC)0-∞ following oral dosing was 47.38 ±â€¯0.821 µg/ml·h in females and 43.63 ±â€¯0.953 µg/ml·h in males (p = 0.014). Pharmacokinetics and plasma concentration vs. time profiles for multiple oral doses of thymoquinone in rats were predicted using a simulation model to compare the simulation results with the experimental plasma pharmacokinetic data. The differences observed in thymoquinone pharmacokinetics between male and female rats after a single dose were not evident for the simulated steady-state parameters. The findings suggest that the gender difference does not seem to play a significant role in thymoquinone disposition at steady state.

Thymoquinone treatment modulates the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and abrogates the inflammatory response in an animal model of lung fibrosis.

The present study investigates the therapeutic potential of thymoquinone (TQ) in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis (BMILF) and elucidates the target-signaling pathway for its effect. Lung fibrosis was induced in rats by a single intra-tracheal instillation of bleomycin (BM) (6.5 U/kg) followed by thymoquinone treatment (10 and 20 mg/kg p.o.) for 28 days. Control rats received saline instead of TQ. Changes in body weight, inflammatory cells count, cytokines levels, and biochemical parameters of the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were recorded. In addition, a histopathology examination and western blotting were performed on lung tissues. BM administration resulted in a significant weight loss, which was ameliorated by TQ treatment. BMILF was associated with a reduction in the antioxidant mechanisms and increased lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, MMP-7 expression, apoptotic markers (caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2), and fibrotic changes including TGF-ß and hydroxyproline levels in lung tissues were evident. These abnormalities were diminished with TQ treatment. Likewise, altered total and differential cell count in BALF was significantly improved in rats treated with TQ. TQ also produced a dose-dependent reduction in the expressions of Nrf2, Ho-1 and TGF-ß. These results propose that the Nrf2/Ho-1 signaling pathway is a principal target for TQ protective effect against BMILF in rats. Furthermore, TQ decreases inflammatory oxidative stress possibly through the modulation of nuclear factor Kappa-B (NF-κB) and thereby minimization of collagen deposition in the lung. Therefore, TQ can be developed as a potential therapeutic modularity in BMILF for human use.

Naringenin prevents doxorubicin-induced toxicity in kidney tissues by regulating the oxidative and inflammatory insult in Wistar rats.

This study is undertaken to investigate the effects of naringenin on doxorubicin- (Dox) induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Dox 10 mg/kg body weight was administered intraperitoneally once and naringenin 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight was administered orally daily for 21 d. Dox-induced oxidative stress lead to steep elevation in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), compared to control, treatment with naringenin preserved kidney functions. With Dox treatment significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes with increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to control was observed. Naringenin treatment reversed these values compared to Dox in kidney tissue. Dox treatment showed increased tissue nitric oxide levels naringenin treatment decreased nitric oxide (NO) in kidney tissue. Furthermore, Dox-induced inflammatory burst as indicated by up-regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) tissue levels and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE-2). All such events were normalised back to normal by naringenin treatment.

Evaluation of the in vivo genotoxicity of liposomal formulation for delivering anticancer estrogenic derivative (ESC8) in a mouse model.

The genotoxic potential of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-targeted liposomal formulations of the anticancer drug molecule ESC8 was studied in vivo. A methodical literature review discovered no previous studies on the genotoxicity of ESC8. Genotoxicity was assessed in both male and female mice by various assay systems, such as comet assay, chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei assay, which detect different abnormalities. Eleven groups of male mice and eleven groups of female mice, containing six animals per group, were used in the present study: group I served as vehicle control; group II received the positive control (cyclophosphamide 40 mg/kg; CYP); and animals in group III to XI received free drug (ESC8), DX liposome and drug-associated DX liposomal formulation (DXE), respectively, dissolved in 5% solution of glucose at a drug-dose of 1.83, 3.67 and 7.34 mg/kg, respectively. Same drug treatments were followed for the female mice groups. The obtained data revealed the safety of DXE, which did not show substantial genotoxic effects at different dose levels. In contrast, the positive control, CYP, exhibited highly substantial irregular cytogenetic variations in comparison with the control group in different assays.