Biochemical properties and biological potential of Syzygium heyneanum with antiparkinson's activity in paraquat induced rodent model.

Syzygium heyneanum is a valuable source of flavonoids and phenols, known for their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. This research aimed to explore the potential of Syzygium heyneanum ethanol extract (SHE) in countering Parkinson's disease. The presence of phenols and flavonoids results in SHE displaying an IC50 value of 42.13 when assessed in the DPPH scavenging assay. Rats' vital organs (lungs, heart, spleen, liver, and kidney) histopathology reveals little or almost no harmful effect. The study hypothesized that SHE possesses antioxidants that could mitigate Parkinson's symptoms by influencing α-synuclein, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), TNF-α, and IL-1ß. Both in silico and in vivo investigations were conducted. The Parkinson's rat model was established using paraquat (1 mg/kg, i.p.), with rats divided into control, disease control, standard, and SHE-treated groups (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg) for 21 days. According to the ELISA statistics, the SHE treated group had lowers levels of IL-6 and TNF-α than the disease control group, which is a sign of neuroprotection. Behavioral and biochemical assessments were performed, alongside mRNA expression analyses using RT-PCR to assess SHE's impact on α-synuclein, AChE, TNF-α, and interleukins in brain homogenates. Behavioral observations demonstrated dose-dependent improvements in rats treated with SHE (600 > 300 > 150 mg/kg). Antioxidant enzyme levels (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione) were significantly restored, particularly at a high dose, with notable reduction in malondialdehyde. The high dose of SHE notably lowered acetylcholinesterase levels. qRT-PCR results indicated reduced mRNA expression of IL-1ß, α-synuclein, TNF-α, and AChE in SHE-treated groups compared to disease controls, suggesting neuroprotection. In conclusion, this study highlights Syzygium heyneanum potential to alleviate Parkinson's disease symptoms through its antioxidant and modulatory effects on relevant biomarkers.

Physicochemical, Structural, and Functional Properties of Fructans from Single-Clove Garlic and Multiclove Garlic: A Comparison.

This study aimed to compare the structural features and functional properties of polysaccharides from single-clove garlic (SGPs) and multiclove garlic (MGPs) and to establish their structure-function relationships. Both SGPs and MGPs were identified as fructans consisting mainly of →1)-ß-d-Fruf (2→ and →6)-ß-d-Fruf (2→ residues but differed in average molecular weights (6.76 and 5.40 kDa, respectively). They shared similar thermodynamic properties, X-ray diffraction patterns, and high gastrointestinal digestive stability. These two purified fructans could dose-dependently scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidized metals, and effectively alleviate metronidazole-induced oxidative stress and CuSO4-induced inflammation in zebrafish via inhibiting the overexpression of inflammation-related proteins and cytokines. SGPs showed lower free radical scavenging activity in vitro than MGPs but higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vivo. Taken together, the molecular weight was the main structural difference between the two garlic fructans of different varieties, which is a potential reason for their differences in biological activities.

A new endemic clove tree pest of Cryptophasa Lewin, from Sangihe Island, Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae).

A novel endemic pest of clove tree, Cryptophasa warouwi sp. nov., has been discovered on Sangihe Island. This new species can be distinguished from its closest relative species, C. watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 which is found in North Sulawesi, by its dark brown straw-coloured wings in both males and females. The most distinctive diagnostic characters of this new species are observed in its genitalia structure: a bent-downward uncus with a strongly sclerotized finger-shaped apex, a bent phallus gradually widened towards coecum, and a double, membranous corpus bursae branching off at mid-ductus corpus bursae of female genitalia. Additionally, DNA barcodes revealed this new species to be embedded among Australian Cryptophasa species despite having fasciculated male antennae that have been considered diagnostic of the genus Paralecta. This suggests that the male antennae may not be a reliable character for separating Cryptophasa from Paralecta. A more comprehensive study including all Cryptophasa and Paralecta will be required to elucidate the definition of each genus. Images depicting both adults and genitalia are provided for this newly recognized species.

Antimicrobial Activity of Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil in Human Health Treatment.

The use of natural compounds to prevent and treat infective diseases is increasing its importance, especially in the case of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms-mediated infections. The drug resistance phenomenon is today a global problem, so it is important to have available substances able to counteract MDR infections. Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (commonly called clove) is a spice characterized by several biological properties. Clove essential oil (EO) consists of numerous active molecules, being eugenol as the principal component; however, other compounds that synergize with each other are responsible for the biological properties of the EO. S. aromaticum is traditionally used for bowel and stomach disorders, cold and flu, oral hygiene, tooth decay, and for its analgesic action. Its EO has shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, anti-stress, anticancer, and anti-nociceptive activities. This review aims to investigate the role of E. S. aromaticum EO in the counteraction of MDR microorganisms responsible for human disorders, diseases, or infections, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, Giardia lamblia, Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. This study might orient clinical researchers on future therapeutic uses of S. aromaticum EO in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

Enhancing bread preservation through non-contact application of starch-based composite film infused with clove essential oil nanoemulsion.

In this study, we have successfully produced a corn starch-based composite film through the casting method, formulated with clove essential oil nanoemulsion (NCEO) and corn starch. The physical and chemical changes of the composite films were investigated at various concentrations (10 %, 20 % and 40 %) of NCEO. Furthermore, the non-contact preservation effects of the composite films on bread during 15-day storage were also examined in this study. As the concentration of NCEO increased, the composite films presented a gradual thinning, roughening, and yellowing in appearance. Following this, the water content, water vapor permeability rate, and elongation at break of the films decreased, while their hydrophobicity, tensile strength, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity increased accordingly. Through FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and thermal gravimetric analysis, it was demonstrated that NCEO has strong compatibility with corn starch. Additionally, the indices' analysis indicated that utilizing the composite film incorporating 40 % NCEO can significantly boost the shelf life and quality of bread. Moreover, it was revealed that application of the non-contact treatment with composite film could potentially contribute certain preservation effects towards bread. In light of these findings, the composite film with non-contact treatment exhibits potential as an effective, safe, and sustainable preservation technique for grain products.

Effect of clove essential oil nanoemulsion on physicochemical and antioxidant properties of chitosan film.

This study evaluated the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of clove essential oil (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 % v/v) nanoemulsion (CEON) loaded chitosan-based films. With the increasing concentrations of the CEON, the thickness, b* and ΔE values of the films increased significantly (P < 0.05), while L* and light transmission dropped noticeably (P < 0.05). The hydrogen bonds formed between the CEON and chitosan could be demonstrated through Fourier-transform infrared spectra, indicating their good compatibility and intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, the added CEON considerably reduced the crystallinity and resulted in a porous structure of the films, as observed through X-ray diffraction plots and scanning electron microscopy images, respectively. This eventually led to a drop in both tensile strength and moisture content of the films. Moreover, the antioxidant properties were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) with the increase in the amount of clove essential oil (CEO) due to the encapsulation of CEO by the nanoemulsion. Films containing 0.6 % CEO had higher elongation at break, higher water contact angle, lower water solubility, lower water vapor permeability, and lower oxygen permeability than the other films; therefore, such films are promising for application in meat preservation.

Incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals to improve the physicochemical and bioactive properties of pectin-konjac glucomannan composite films containing clove essential oil.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) isolated from cotton in augmenting pectin (PEC)/konjac glucomannan (KGM) composite films containing clove essential oil (CEO) for food packaging application. The effects of CNC dosage on film properties were examined by analyzing the rheology of film-forming solutions and the mechanical, barrier, antimicrobial, and CEO-release properties of the films. Rheological and FTIR analysis revealed the enhanced interactions among the film components after CNC incorporation due to its high aspect ratio and abundant hydroxyl groups, which can also prevent CEO droplet aggregation, contributing to form a compact microstructure as confirmed by SEM and 3D surface topography observations. Consequently, the addition of CNC reinforced the polysaccharide matrix, increasing the tensile strength of the films and improving their barrier properties to water vapor. More importantly, antibacterial, controlled release and kinetic simulation experiments proved that the addition of CNC could further slow down the release rate of CEO, prolonging the antimicrobial properties of the films. PEC/KGM/CEO composite films with 15 wt% CNC was found to have relatively best comprehensive properties, which was also most effective in delaying deterioration of grape quality during the storage of 9 days at 25 °C.

Tautomeric cinnamoylphloroglucinol-monoterpene adducts from Cleistocalyx operculatus and their antiviral activities.

Guided by 1H NMR spectroscopic experiments using the characteristic enol proton signals as probes, three pairs of new tautomeric cinnamoylphloroglucinol-monoterpene adducts (1-3) were isolated from the buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus. Their structures with absolute configurations were established by spectroscopic analysis, modified Mosher's method, and quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculation. Compounds 1-3 represent a novel class of cinnamoylphloroglucinol-monoterpene adducts featuring an unusual C-4-C-1' linkage between 2,2,4-trimethyl-cinnamyl-ß-triketone and modified linear monoterpenoid motifs. Notably, compounds 1-3 exhibited significant in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Undescribed Triterpenes from the Leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium with Their α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition Activity.

Two undescribed triterpenes, syzyfolium A (1) and syzyfolium B (2), together with twelve known compounds, terminolic acid (3), actinidic acid (4), piscidinol A (5), threo-dihydroxydehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (6), lariciresinol-4-O-ß-D-glucoside (7), icariol A2 (8), 14ß,15ß-dihydroxyklaineanone (9), garcimangosone D (10), (+)-catechin (11), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (12), quercitrin (13), and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (14) were isolated from the leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium. Their chemical structures were determined by IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compounds 3 and 4 inhibited significantly α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 23.99 and 36.84, respectively, and compounds 1 and 2 inhibited significantly α-amylase with IC50 values of 35.48 and 43.65 µM, respectively.

Development of chemometric-assisted supercritical fluid extraction of effective and natural tyrosinase inhibitor from Syzygium aqueum leaves.

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in enzymatic browning, causing quality losses in food through the oxidation process. Thus, the discovery of an effective and natural tyrosinase inhibitor via green technology is of great interest to the global food market due to food security and climate change issues. In this study, Syzygium aqueum (S. aqueum) leaves, which are known to be rich in phenolic compounds (PC), were chosen as a natural source of tyrosinase inhibitor, and the effect of the sustainable, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process was evaluated. Response surface methodology-assisted supercritical fluid extraction (RSM-assisted SFE) was utilized to optimize the PCs extracted from S. aqueum. The highest amount of PC was obtained at the optimum conditions (55 °C, 3350 psi, and 70 min). The IC50 (661.815 µg/mL) of the optimized extract was evaluated, and its antioxidant activity (96.8 %) was determined. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results reveal that 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone (2,6-D4MC) (82.65 %) was the major PC in S. aqueum. Chemometric analysis indicated that 2,6-D4MC has similar chemical properties to the tyrosinase inhibitor control (kaempferol). The toxicity and physiochemical properties of the novel 2,6-D4MC from S. aqueum revealed that the 2,6-D4MC is safer than kaempferol as predicted via absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) evaluation. Enzyme kinetic analysis shows that the type of inhibition of the optimized extract is non-competitive inhibition with Km = 1.55 mM and Vmax = 0.017 µM/s. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis shows the effectiveness of S. aqueum as a tyrosinase inhibitor. The mechanistic insight of the tyrosinase inhibition using 2,6-D4MC was successfully calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking approaches. The findings could have a significant impact on food security development by devising a sustainable and effective tyrosinase inhibitor from waste by-products that is aligned with the United Nation's SDG 2, zero hunger.

DNA methylation remodeled amino acids biosynthesis regulates flower senescence in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus).

Dynamic DNA methylation regulatory networks are involved in many biological processes. However, how DNA methylation patterns change during flower senescence and their relevance with gene expression and related molecular mechanism remain largely unknown. Here, we used whole genome bisulfite sequencing to reveal a significant increase of DNA methylation in the promoter region of genes during natural and ethylene-induced flower senescence in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.), which was correlated with decreased expression of DNA demethylase gene DcROS1. Silencing of DcROS1 accelerated while overexpression of DcROS1 delayed carnation flower senescence. Moreover, among the hypermethylated differentially expressed genes during flower senescence, we identified two amino acid biosynthesis genes, DcCARA and DcDHAD, with increased DNA methylation and reduced expression in DcROS1 silenced petals, and decreased DNA methylation and increased expression in DcROS1 overexpression petals, accompanied by decreased or increased amino acids content. Silencing of DcCARA and DcDHAD accelerates carnation flower senescence. We further showed that adding corresponding amino acids could largely rescue the senescence phenotype of DcROS1, DcCARA and DcDHAD silenced plants. Our study not only demonstrates an essential role of DcROS1-mediated remodeling of DNA methylation in flower senescence but also unravels a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying DNA methylation and amino acid biosynthesis during flower senescence.

Influence of nano-formulations of clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum) extract on freezing ability, antioxidant capacity, caspase-3 activity, acrosome reaction and fertility of frozen rabbit semen.

The current study aimed to investigate the impact of nano-formulations of clove bud ethanolic extract (CBENF) in the extender on sperm characteristics, antioxidant capacity, oxidative biomarkers, enzymatic activity, apoptosis and fertility of post-thawed rabbit semen. Twelve mature male rabbits semen samples were pooled and cryopreserved in a Tris-egg yolk-based extender containing varying concentrations of CBENF (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µg/mL). After the equilibration and freezing-thawing process, CBENF (100 µg /mL) significantly enhanced progressive motility, viability and membrane integrity. Conversely, sperm abnormality was significantly reduced by CBENF supplementation. Total antioxidant capacity was increased in the post-thawed sperm medium, while nitric oxide and malondialdehyde were decreased in all CBENF concentrations. The lactic dehydrogenase and caspase-3 activities were decreased, whereas the number of live spermatozoa with an intact acrosome was increased in all CBENF concentrations. Conception rate and litter size per doe were higher in doe rabbits inseminated with semen supplemented with 100 µg CBENF/mL than un-supplemented group (76% vs. 52% and 8.4 vs. 7.7/doe), with no statistical differences. These findings suggest that supplementing rabbit extenders with 100 µg of CBENF/mL could be an effective strategy for enhancing freeze-thawing rabbit sperm attributes and fertility.

Syzygium cumini ameliorates high fat diet induced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, weight gain, hepatic injury and nephrotoxicity through modulation of PTP1B and PPARγ signaling.

Metabolic disorders are majorly associated with insulin resistance and an impaired glucose tolerance. Since, many of the currently available drugs exhibit adverse effects and are resistant to therapies, natural products are a promising alternate in the alleviation of complex metabolic disorders. In the current study, Syzygium cumini methanolic extract (SCE) was investigated for its anti-diabetic and anti-adipogenic potential using C57BL/6 mice fed on high fat diet (HFD). The HFD fed obese mice were treated with 200 mg/kg SCE and compared with positive controls Metformin, Pioglitazone and Sodium Orthovanadate. The biometabolites in SCE were characterized using Fourier transform infrared and gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. A reduction in blood glucose levels with improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance was observed in SCE-treated HFD obese mice. Histopathological and biochemical investigations showed a reduction in hepatic injury and nephrotoxicity in SCE-administered HFD mice. Results showed inhibition of PTP1B and an upregulation of IRS1 and PKB-mediated signaling in skeletal muscle. A significant decrease in lipid markers such as TC, TG, LDL-c and VLDL-c levels were observed with increased HDL-c in SCE-treated HFD mice. A significant decrease in weight and adiposity was observed in SCE-administered HFD mice in comparison to controls. This decrease could be due to the partial agonism of PPARγ and an increased expression of adiponectin, an insulin sensitizer. Hence, the dual-modulatory effect of SCE, partly due to the presence of 26% Pyrogallol, could be useful in the management of diabetes and its associated maladies.

Identification of Novel -Glucosidase Inhibitors from Syzygium jambos (L.) Using Spectroscopy and Molecular Docking.

Fruits of Syzygium jambos (L.) are recognized as a "food", exhibiting significant antidiabetic activities. However, the α-glucosidase inhibition of the components from Syzygium jambos (L.) have not yet been investigated. In this study, a total of 14 compounds were isolated from Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, eight of which showed significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, with IC50 values in the range of 0.011-0.665 mM. Notably, compounds 1-3 (IC50: 0.013, 0.011 and 0.030 mM, respectively) exhibited much stronger activity than acarbose (IC50: 2.329 ± 0.109 mM). The enzyme kinetics study indicated that compound 1 was an uncompetitive inhibitor, and compounds 2-8 were mixed-type inhibitors. Moreover, the interactions between compounds and α-glucosidase were investigated by molecular docking, which further revealed that the number of olefin double bonds and 2-COOH of heptadeca-phenols had a notable effect on the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This study demonstrated that Syzygium jambos (L.) fruit might serve as a functional food for the prevention of diabetes mellitus.

The potential exploitation of the Malay-red apple (Syzygium malaccense) seed as source of a phosphorylated starch.

This work presents the characterization of a novel naturally phosphorylated starch extracted from an unconventional and non-utilized source, the seeds of the stone fruit Syzygium malaccense. The morphology and chemical characteristics of the extracted starch were examined by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, 1H/13C/31P NMR and 13C-CP/MAS-NMR, HPAEC-PAD chromatography, XRD, DSC, and RVA. The extraction yielded a highly pure starch (95.6 %) with an average granule size of 13 µm. The analysis of the starch components revealed an amylose content of 28.1 % and a predominance (65 %) of B-chains (B1-B3 65 %) in the amylopectin, as shown through HPAEC-PAD chromatography. The X-ray diffractogram was compatible with B-type starch, which was confirmed by the deconvolution of the C1 peak in the 13C-CP/MAS-NMR. X-Ray diffractogram also showed that S. malaccense has 28.5 % of crystallinity. DSC analysis showed values of 82.6 °C and -12.41 J g-1 for Tc and ΔH, respectively, which is compatible with a highly ordered starch granule structure. The values observed for peak (4678 mPa•s), trough (3055 mPa•s), and final viscosity (6526 mPa•s) indicated that S. malaccense may be used as a thickener in hot food.

Mechanistic role of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels in glycation induced diabetic nephropathy via RAGE-NF-κB pathway and extracellular proteins modifications: A molecular approach.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (SC), an ancient medicinal plant, is used as a complementary and alternative medicine for treating diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, such as diabetic nephropathy (DN). Phytochemicals present in SC homeopathic formulations possess anti-glycemic, anti-glycation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, the non-enzymatic formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increases during hyperglycemia in diabetes. AGEs interaction with their receptor of AGEs (RAGE) promotes inflammation via Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) and the accumulation of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) proteins, contributing to the renal dysfunction in DN. However, the molecular mechanism through which SC formulations interact with the AGEs-RAGE-NF-κB pathway has not yet been investigated. AIM: This study aims to examine the impact of SC formulations on the RAGE-NF-κB pathway and ECM protein modifications in glycation-induced DN using a molecular approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human serum albumin (10 mg/ml) was glycated with MGO (55 mM) in the presence of SC formulations - Mother tincture (MT), 30C, 200C for 7 days. Glycated samples were added to renal cells (HEK 293) for 24 h. Subsequently, cellular gene and protein expressions of RAGE, NF-κB, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), collagen IV (Col IV), and fibronectin were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. The immunofluorescence, luciferase assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques were employed to gain insights into glycation-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation, transcriptional activity, and its effect on RAGE promoter activity in SC-treated cells. RESULTS: SC formulations significantly downregulated glycation-induced elevated levels of RAGE and NF-κB. Mechanistically, SC formulations prevented NF-κB nuclear translocation, transcriptional activity, and RAGE promoter activity. Also, SC formulations significantly attenuated glycation-enhanced expressions of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF) and ECM proteins (Col IV and fibronectin). CONCLUSION: Our findings enlighten the molecular mechanism of SC in DN by targeting the AGEs-RAGE-NF-κB signaling pathway, inflammatory responses, and ECM accumulation. Hence, the study validates the protective role of SC formulations and signifies its novel potential for treating DN.

Polyvinyl alcohol films incorporated with clove essential oil emulsions stabilized by soy protein isolate-derived amyloid fibrils: Fabrication, characterization, and its application for active packaging.

This study aimed to prepare a novel emulsion film with high stability, using soy protein-derived amyloid fibrils (SAFs) as an emulsifier incorporating clove essential oil (CEO) as the active component, and the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to stabilize the system. The results demonstrated that SAFs can successfully stabilize CEO. Emulsion prepared by SAFS and CEO (SAC) exhibited a small droplet size and better dispersibility compared with SPI and CEO (SC) emulsion. According to FT-IR results, PVA addition increased the hydrogen bond interactions among emulsion film components, thus further reinforcing the protein matrix, increasing the tensile strength (TS) (41.18 MPa) and elongation at break (E) (121.62 %) of the films. The uniform appearance of SAC-PVA (SACP) emulsion films was confirmed by SEM images. Furthermore, SACP emulsion films show distinctive barrier properties, optical properties, and outstanding antioxidant properties. Finally, emulsion films exhibited excellent preservation of strawberries, resulting in an effective decline of the decay rate.

Peracetic acid residues in orange juice can lead to a 5-vinylguaiacol-induced clove-like off-flavor via Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of hesperidin.

A balanced flavor is a major quality attribute of orange juice. Formation of 4-vinylguaiacol during storage can lead to an undesirable clove-like off-flavor. However, clove-like off-flavors were occasionally reported despite low 4-vinylguaiacol concentrations, suggesting an alternative molecular background. Application of gas chromatography-olfactometry and aroma extract dilution analysis to an orange juice with a pronounced clove-like off-flavor resulted in the identification of 5-vinylguaiacol. The compound showed the same odor as 4-vinylguaiacol, but was previously unknown in orange juice. In five of six commercial orange juices with clove-like off-flavors, 5-vinylguaiacol was even more odor-active than 4-vinylguaiacol. Spiking and model studies suggested that 5-vinylguaiacol is formed during pasteurization from the natural orange juice component hesperidin and residual peracetic acid used as cleaning agent by a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. An activity-guided screening approach confirmed the role of hesperidin as 5-vinylguaiacol precursor. In conclusion, peracetic acid should no longer be used in orange juice processing plants.

Water-use characteristics of Syzygium antisepticum and Adinandra integerrima in a secondary forest of Khao Yai National Park in Thailand with implications for environmental management.

Background: Southeast Asia has experienced widespread deforestation and change in land use. Consequently, many reforestation projects have been initiated in this region. However, it is imperative to carefully choose the tree species for planting, especially in light of the increasing climate variability and the potential alteration of plantation on the watershed water balance. Thus, the information regarding water-use characteristics of various tree species and sizes is critical in the tree species selection for reforestation. Methods: We estimated tree water use (T) of dominant species including Syzygium antisepticum and Adinandra integerrima, hereafter Sa and Ai, respectively, in a secondary tropical forest in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, using sap flow data, and compared T between species and size classes. Additionally, we evaluated the responses of T of both species in each size class to environmental factors including soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Results: Results showed consistently higher T in Sa compared to Ai across ranges of VPD and soil moisture. Under low soil moisture, T of Sa responded to VPD, following a saturating exponential pattern while Ai maintained T across different VPD levels, irrespective of tree size. No responses of T to VPD were observed in either species when soil water was moderate. When soil moisture was high, T of both species significantly increased and saturated at high VPD, albeit the responses were less sensitive in large trees. Our results imply that Ai may be suitable for reforestation in water-limited areas where droughts frequently occur to minimize reforestation impact on water availability to downstream ecosystems. In contrast, Sa should be planted in regions with abundant and reliable water resources. However, a mixed species plantation should be generally considered to increase forest resilience to increasing climate variation.

Immunomodulatory and anti-cancer potential of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) bud extract and its phytogenic silver nanoparticles.

Clove plant (Syzygium aromaticum) is one of the Myrtaceae family. It's a common flavor in food and the traditional medicine. The study's objective was to ascertain whether the clove bud aqueous extract (CAE) and CAE + nanosilver have any biological effects on immune cells and HT-29 colon cancer cell line. Nanosilver was produced through green synthesis approach using CAE. Produced nanosilver was characterized via electron microscope (scanning, SEM) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. CAE and CAE + nanosilver were examined for their active biomolecules using FTIR analysis, p53 contents using real-time PCR, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest power on HT-29 cancer cell line via flow cytometerty and immunomodulatory potential utilizing MTT assay. Results cleared that a spherical nanosilver with a diameter range of 53 nm was formed by CAE. There were several active biomolecules in CAE and CAE + nanosilver. CAE and CAE + nanosilver increased the p53 protein expression and apoptotic cell number in HT-29 colon cancer cells. CAE and CAE + nanosilver could arrest HT-29 cells at the phase G2/M. CAE and CAE + nanosilver stimulated quiescent and PHA-pre-treated splenic cells at higher concentrations, and CAE suppressed quiescent splenic cell when diluted. In conclusion, the safe edible Syzygium aromaticum plant can be utilized to make anti-tumor agent, essentially for colon tumor. As Syzygium aromaticum plant could stimulate immune cells, it can be used as immune-stimulatory agent that can help fight tumor and tumor development.