Investigating the phenology and interactions of competitive plant species co-occurring with invasive Lantana camara in Indian Himalayan Region.

Invasive plant species are considered one of the significant drivers of habitat loss, leading to biodiversity loss. They have also been observed to alter the local ecology, resulting in a decline of native flora. The management of invasive species is widely recognised as one of the most severe challenges to biodiversity conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers Lantana camara, as one of the ten worst weeds. Over time, native and indigenous species may evolve to co-exist or compete with invasive species, reducing invader fitness. It is observed that species competition fluctuates throughout environmental gradients, life phases, and abundances. Hence, competition outcome is very context-dependent. To address this challenge, we conducted a comprehensive study in three phases: we identified native species coexisting with Lantana in their natural habitats in the Doon Valley (Phase I) and documented the phenotypic traits of selected coexisting species using the Landmark BBCH (Biologische Bun-desantalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) scale, revealing the phenological growth patterns of selected co-existing species (Phase II). This was followed by conducting pot (Phase IIIa) and field (Phase IIIb) experiments to study the interactions between them. Notably, Justicia adhatoda, Broussonetia papyrifera, Pongamia pinnata, Urtica dioica and Bauhinia variegata demonstrated promising results in both pot and field conditions. Furthermore, after the mechanical removal of Lantana and prior to the plantation in the field experiments, four native grass species were introduced using the seed ball method. Among these, Pennisetum pedicellatum and Sorghum halpense exhibited prompt regeneration and effectively colonised the field, densely covering the cleared area. The study provides a comprehensive management plan for the restoration of Lantana affected areas through competition using native species. This study utilizes phenological assessment for native plant selection using reclamation from native grasses and proposes a management plan for combating invasive Lantana.

Extraction, Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activities of Lantana camara Linn. Leaf Essential Oils against Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne and Callosobruchus chinensis.

Storage pests and the food spoilage they cause are problems of great concern. Using essential oil obtained from different plants as an insecticide against these storage pests can be considered an environmentally friendly pest management option. Lantana camara Linn. (family Verbenaceae) is a flowering species, and is also a noxious weed that can proliferate well in nearly all geographical habitats. A biopesticide derived from the essential oil extracted from this plant can offer an effective solution for controlling storage pests. The goal of this study is to extract and analyse the chemical composition of essential oil obtained from L. camara leaves, and assess its effectiveness as a bioactive substance against three storage pests: Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne, and Callosobruchus chinensis. The yield of essential oil extracted from L. camara leaves was about 0.24 ± 0.014%. By employing the GC-MS technique, the major phytochemicals contained in L. camara leaf essential oil were identified as caryophyllene (69.96%), isoledene (12%), and ɑ-copaene (4.11%). The essential oil exhibited excellent fumigant toxicity (LC50 of 16.70 mg/L air for T. castaneum, 4.141 mg/L air for L. serricorne and 6.245 mg/L air for C. chinensis at 24 h), contact toxicity (LC50 of 8.93 mg/cm2 for T. castaneum, 4.82 mg/cm2 for L. serricorne and 6.24 mg/cm2 for C. chinensis after 24 h) along with effective repellent activity towards the test insects. In addition, the oil showed no significant phytotoxicity on the germination of paddy seeds. This presents the potential to utilize a weed in developing a biopesticide for effectively managing stored product insects because of its strong bioactivity.

Enhanced synergistic system for the persulfate activation under visible light using novel N-ZnO photocatalyst supported on Lantana camara-based biochar.

Herein, a novel nitrogen-doped ZnO photocatalyst supported on biochar (N-ZnO@LBC) was synthesized using the Lantana camera as a green source of biochar. The synthesized photocatalyst was applied as an activator of persulfate (PS) for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The properties of the synthesized photocatalyst were explored before and after photocatalysis using different characterization analyses. The results revealed that the nitrogen doping of ZnO@LBC could reduce the band gap energy from 2.83 eV to 2.78 eV resulting in higher activity under visible light. The synergetic effect of the N-ZnO@LBC/PS/visible process was investigated under various reaction conditions. Surprisingly, about 95.7% of MB photodegradation could be achieved using N-ZnO@LBC/PS/visible process under optimal conditions. Moreover, a prediction model with an excellent correlation between the actual and predicted data (R2 = 0.9844) was established to forecast MB removal. Interestingly, the scavenging tests exhibited that various reactive species could induce MB degradation in an order of O2-• > h+ > SO4-• >•OH with the highest contribution of O2-•. Additionally, the presence of functional hydroxyl groups in the N-ZnO@LBC structure could lead to the generation of additional radicals as confirmed by FT-IR analysis after photocatalysis. The reusability test showed that the photocatalyst could be reused for up to five cycles without a significant loss in the photocatalytic activity indicating its high stability. The cost of wastewater treatment by N-ZnO@LBC/PS/Visible process was estimated to be US$ 9.79/m3 based on an economic analysis. It worth mentioning that the proposed process was investigated for the degradation of other dyes including Congo red (CR) and methyl orange (MO) and the efficiencies were 65.41% and 59.23% for CR and MO, respectively. Overall, the proposed process could be a promising and cost-effective approach for the degradation of various dyes in real applications.

Transcriptome analysis of Lantana camara flower petals reveals candidate anthocyanin biosynthesis genes mediating red flower color development.

Flower color plays a crucial role in the appeal and selection of ornamental plants, directly influencing breeding strategies and the broader horticulture industry. Lantana camara, a widely favored flowering shrub, presents a rich palette of flower colors. Yet, the intricate molecular mechanisms governing this color variation in the species have remained largely unidentified. With the aim of filling this gap, this study embarked on a comprehensive de novo transcriptome assembly and differential gene expression analysis across 3 distinct lantana accessions, each showcasing a unique flower color. By harnessing the capabilities of both PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms, a robust transcriptome assembly, encompassing 123,492 gene clusters and boasting 94.2% BUSCO completeness, was developed. The differential expression analysis unveiled 72,862 unique gene clusters that exhibited varied expression across different flower stages. A pronounced upregulation of 8 candidate core anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in the red-flowered accession was uncovered. This was further complemented by an upregulation of candidate MYB75 (PAP1) and bHLH42 (TT8) transcription factors. A candidate carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD4a) gene cluster also manifested a marked upregulation in white flowers. The study unveils the molecular groundwork of lantana's flower color variation, offering insights for future research and potential applications in breeding ornamental plants with desired color traits.

Study protocol of LANTana: a phase Ib study to investigate epigenetic modification of somatostatin receptor-2 with ASTX727 to improve therapeutic outcome with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumours, UK.

INTRODUCTION: Suitability for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for neuroendocrine neoplasia (NENs) depends on presence of somatostatin receptor-2 (SSTR2) determined by [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-peptide-positron emission tomography (PET). Some patients have low or no uptake on [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-peptide-PET, precluding PRRT. The upstream promoter region of SSRT2 is methylated, with percentage of methylation correlating with SSTR2 expression. Demethylating agents increase uptake on PET imaging in vivo such that tumours previously negative on PET become positive, correlating with a dose dependent increase in tumorous SSTR2 expression. LANTana will determine whether treatment with the demethylating agent, ASTX727, results in re-expression of SSTR2 using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-peptide-PET to image epigenetic modification of the SSTR2 locus, allowing subsequent PRRT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 27 participants with a histological diagnosis of NEN (Ki67<55%) with no or low uptake on baseline [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE-PET/CT will be recruited. Patients will receive 5 days of ASTX727 (fixed dose 35 mg decitabine+100 mg cedazuridine). [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-peptide-PET/CT will be repeated day 8±2; where there is significant uptake greater than liver in most lesions, PRRT will be administered. Primary objective is to determine re-expression of SSTR2 on PET imaging. Tolerability, progression-free survival, overall response and quality of life will be assessed. Methylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tumorous methylation will be evaluated. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: LANTana has ethical approval from Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (REC Reference: 21/YH/0247).Sponsored by Imperial College London and funded by Advanced Accelerator Applications pharmaceuticals. Results will be presented at conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication and will be available on ClinicalTrials.gov. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: EUDRACT number: 2020-003800-15, NCT05178693.

Dereplication of Lantana trifolia L. leaves and fruits by UFLC-DAD-(+)-ESI-MS/MS and its antifungal and cytotoxic activities.

INTRODUCTION: Lantana trifolia L. (Verbenaceae) is a shrubby plant. In folk medicine, its leaves are used in the form of infusions and syrups to treat angina, coughs, and colds; they are also applied as tranquilizer. Previous studies have reported the antimicrobial potential of the compounds present in L. trifolia leaves. OBJECTIVES: To report the anti-Candida activities of the fractions obtained from the fruits and leaves of two L. trifolia specimens. METHODS: The L. trifolia fractions were submitted to UFLC-DAD-(+)-ESI-MS/MS, and the data were analyzed by using multivariate statistical tools (PCA, PLS-DA) and spectral similarity analyses based on molecular networking, which aided dereplication of the bioactive compounds. Additionally, NMR analyses were performed to confirm the chemical structure of some of the major compounds in the fractions. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate fractions presented MIC values lower than 100 µg mL-1 against the three Candida strains evaluated herein (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata). Fractions FrPo AcOEt, FrPe AcOEt, and FrPe nBut had MIC values of 1.46, 2.93, and 2.93 µg mL-1 against C. glabrata, respectively. These values resembled the MIC value of amphotericin B, the positive control (0.5-1.0 µg mL-1), against this same strain. Cytotoxicity was measured and used to calculate the selectivity index. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our data, the most active fractions in the antifungal assay were more selective against C. glabrata than against non-infected cells. The analytical approach adopted here allowed us to annotate 29 compounds, nine of which were bioactive (PLS-DA results) and belong to the class of phenolic compounds.

Toxicity of Patiwala Leaf Extract (Lantana camara Linn.) as Antifertility Against Pregnancy in Rat (Mus musculus L.) Preimplantation Stage.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Expert biological pest control is thought to be safer and to have fewer side effects. The use of plants carrying antifertility compounds is one method that can be developed to biologically reduce rat pest populations and thwart reproduction. This study aims to determine whether the toxicity of patiwala leaf extract (<i>Lantana camara</i> Linn.) can interfere with preimplantation stage rat (<i>Mus musculus</i> L.) pregnancy. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This study was an experimental study arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 4 groups with 6 replications namely control (no treatment), patiwala leaf extract concentrations of 2 g/kg b.wt. (P1), 4 g/kg b.wt. (P2) and 6 g/kg b.wt. (P3). Mice were treated orally by gavage using a 1 mL disposable syringe on the 1st day of pregnancy (preimplantation) for three consecutive days. Mice were dissected at 16 days of gestation, observations were made of the percentage of implantation (%IM), the percentage of gestational loss (%KGE) and the percentage of postimplantation mortality (%KPI). Data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using KaleidaGraph 95% confidence level and Tukey's HSD test. <b>Results:</b> The toxicity of patiwala leaf extract significantly interfered with the preimplantation stage of pregnancy in rats. The P3 treatment (6 g/kg b.wt.) gave a higher toxicity effect, namely, the percentage of implantation success was only 25.67%, the percentage increase in gestational loss was 74.26% and the percentage of post-implantation death was 66.67%. <b>Conclusion:</b> The patiwala leaf extract at a concentration of 6 g/kg b.wt., interfered with the pregnancy of preimplantation stage rats because it could reduce the number of live fetuses.

Effects of microplastics on the phytoremediation of Cd, Pb, and Zn contaminated soils by Solanum photeinocarpum and Lantana camara.

Microplastics are emerging pollutants and have become a global environmental issue. The impacts of microplastics on the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils are unclear. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of four additions (0, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% w·w-1) of polyethylene (PE) and cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) contaminated soil on the growth and heavy metal accumulation of two hyperaccumulators (Solanum photeinocarpum and Lantana camara). PE significantly decreased the pH and activities of dehydrogenase and phosphatase in soil, while it increased the bioavailability of Cd and Pb in soil. Peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in the plant leaves were all considerably increased by PE. PE had no discernible impact on plant height, but it did significantly impede root growth. PE affected the morphological contents of heavy metals in soils and plants, while it did not alter their proportions. PE increased the content of heavy metals in the shoots and roots of the two plants by 8.01-38.32% and 12.24-46.28%, respectively. However, PE significantly reduced the Cd extraction amount in plant shoots, while it significantly increased the Zn extraction amount in the plant roots of S. photeinocarpum. For L. camara, a lower addition (0.1%) of PE inhibited the extraction amount of Pb and Zn in the plant shoots, but a higher addition (0.5% and 1%) of PE stimulated the Pb extraction amount in the plant roots and the Zn extraction amount in the plant shoots. Our results indicated that PE microplastics have negative effects on the soil environment, plant growth, and the phytoremediation efficiency of Cd and Pb. These findings contribute to a better knowledge of the interaction effects of microplastics and heavy metal-contaminated soils.

The Lantana camara L. stem biomass as an inexpensive and efficient biosorbent for the adsorptive removal of malachite green from aquatic environments: kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies.

Plant biomass is one of the available and economic biomaterials used to remove environmental pollutants. The presence of colored compounds in aqueous solutions is one of the problems that can be solved by biological methods. Herein, the efficiency of available and inexpensive biomass obtained from Lantana camara L. stem for cationic dye uptake has been evaluated. The effect of operational factors, including dosage of L. camara L. stem biomass (LSB), pH of the solution, initial concentration of malachite green (MG), and residence time on the optimal conditions of analyte uptake was studied. The experimental data of adsorption studies fit with P-S-O kinetic (R2=0.999) and L.I.M (R2=0.998), indicating MG dye adsorption onto LSB occurred in monolayers due to its chemical affinity. The maximum uptake capacity of LSB for the removal of MG dye was 100 mg g-1. Thermodynamic parameters, including ΔG° (from -2.13 to -2.469 kJ  mol-1), ΔH° (+2.916 kJ  mol-1), and ΔS° (+16.934 J  mol-1 K-1) suggested that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. The results revealed that LSB considerably has potential for adsorptive removal of cationic dyes such as, MG from aquatic environments.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no report on the investigation of biomass efficiency obtained from L. camara L. stem for cationic dye biosorption. In the present research, the L. camara L. stem biomass was introduced as an inexpensive and suitable biosorbent for the adsorptive removal of cationic dyes.

Lantana camara leaf extract ameliorates memory deficit and the neuroinflammation associated with scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's-like cognitive impairment in zebrafish and mice.

CONTEXT: Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae) is used for improving memory in certain African societies. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of prophylactic treatment with hydroethanolic leaf extract of Lantana camara (LCE) on short-term memory deficit and neuroinflammation induced with scopolamine in zebrafish and mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zebrafish (AB strain) and mice (ICR) were given donepezil (0.65 mg/kg, oral) and LCE (10, 30, 100 mg/kg, oral) for 7, and 10 days, respectively, before induction of cognitive impairment with scopolamine immersion (200 µM) and intraperitoneal injection (2 mg/kg), respectively. Spatial short-term memory was assessed in zebrafish using both Y- and T-mazes, whereas Y-maze was used in mice. Mice hippocampal and cortical tissues were analyzed for mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2) using qRT-PCR. RESULTS: In the zebrafish Y-maze, LCE (10 and 100 mg/kg) increased time spent in the novel arm by 55.89 ± 5.70%, and 68.21 ± 2.75%, respectively, but not at 30 mg/kg. In the zebrafish T-maze, there was an increase in time spent in the food-containing arm at 30 (44.23 ± 2.13) and 100 mg/kg (52.30 ± 1.94). In the mouse Y-maze, spontaneous alternation increased by 52.89 ± 4.98% at only 10 mg/kg. LCE (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) inhibited proinflammatory gene (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2) mRNA expression, with the highest inhibitory effect on IL-6 in both the hippocampus (83.27 ± 2.49%; 100 mg/kg) and the cortex (98.74 ± 0.11%; 10 mg/kg). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: LCE ameliorated scopolamine-induced AD in both zebrafish and mice.

Allelopathic Potential of Lantana camara L. Leaf Extracts and Soils Invaded by It on the Growth Performance of Lepidium sativum L.

Lantana camara is a noxious invasive plant that invades agricultural and natural ecosystems. In the current study, phytotoxicity of hexane and ethanolic leaf extracts of L. camara in different concentrations and soils invaded by it on Lepidium sativum were investigated under laboratory conditions. Soil toxicity was evaluated by comparing the growth of L. sativum on soils sampled from Lantana-invaded and Lantana-free sites. Results showed that extract concentrations and solvent type and their interaction significantly reduced percent seed germination and seedling growth. Compared to control (distilled water), both hexane and ethanol extracts at 5% w/v concentration significantly reduced percent germination and early seedling growth and completely inhibited seed germination at 10% w/v of hexane leaf extract, suggesting that hexane extract has a greater inhibitory effect than ethanolic extract in all the parameters measured. However, growth performance and seed yield of L. sativum grown on soil invaded by Lantana did not significantly vary from those grown on soils sampled from noninvaded sites. The results of this study generally showed that though Lantana leaf extracts have a direct negative allelopathic effect on L. sativum, soils invaded by Lantana have no toxic materials in the soil to directly or indirectly inhibit the growth of L. sativum. Further field studies on allelopathic effects of Lantana on L. sativum are recommended.

Copper exposure leads to changes in chlorophyll content and secondary metabolite profile in Lantana fucata leaves.

Cultivation of plants in environments polluted by metals at toxic levels can affect the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Here, we analysed the effect caused by excess copper on the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and the profile of secondary metabolites of Lantana fucata leaves. Five copper (Cu) treatments (mg Cukg-1 soil) were tested: T0, 0; T1, 210; T2, 420; T3, 630; and T4, 840. We found that the concentrations of chlorophylls in the plants decreased when compared to the control. However, this did not lead to a significant reduction in its growth, possibly due to the low translocation of the metal to shoots and the activation of plant defence systems to tolerate the environment in which they are exposed, increasing the emission of lateral roots and activating pathways for the production of secondary metabolites. Therefore, we found a decrease in the concentration of two key compounds in secondary metabolism, p -coumaric and cinnamic acids in treatments with higher copper concentrations. We also found an increase in phenolics. Decreases in p -coumaric and cinnamic acids may have occurred because these are precursors in the synthesis of phenolic compounds, which are increased in the high Cu treatments. Six secondary metabolites were characterised, described for the first time for this plant species. Thus, the presence of excess Cu in the soil may have triggered an increase in the amount of reactive oxygen species in the plants, which that led to the synthesis of antioxidant compounds, as a defence strategy.

Evaluation of the susceptibility of Tritrichomonas foetus to extracts of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) by flow cytometry.

Bovine Trichomonosis (BT), a sexually transmitted disease endemic in countries with extensive cattle farming and natural service, is one of the most common causes of reproductive failure. 5-nitroimidazoles and their derivatives are used for its treatment, mainly metronidazole. The emergence of drug resistance mechanisms and treatment failures raise the need to investigate the effectiveness of new active compounds that contribute to parasite control. In this regard, extracts of Lantana camara (Verbenacea) have shown high biocidal potential against isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis in vitro assays, although their effect on Tritrichomonas foetus has not been demonstrated yet. The available information on in vitro susceptibility of trichomonicidal drugs comes from the use of a diversity of methodologies and criteria, especially the observation of parasite motility under the optical microscope to assess their viability. Recently, in our laboratory, the use of flow cytometry has been described for the first time as a rapid and efficient method to evaluate the viability of T. foetus against metronidazole. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytostatic effect of L. camara extracts against T. foetus isolates by flow cytometry. Under aerobic conditions, IC50 values of 22.60 µg/mL were obtained on average. Under anaerobic conditions, the IC50 oscilated around 29.04 µg/mL. The results obtained allowed describing the susceptibility exhibited by these protozoa, being a valuable information for the development of potential BT treatments.

Detection and Primary Analysis of Antibacterial Activity in the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Lantana camara L. Leaves.

Lantana camara L. is generally considered an invasive plant species throughout the world. Research works carried out in recent years have proved its significance as a source of antimicrobial lead molecules. The aim of this research was to identify the antibacterial substance(s) in this plant species found locally and to test its antibacterial effect against selected bacterial strains. Plant samples were collected from the University of Dhaka campus. Ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the plant leaves were tested against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pneumococcus and Klebsiella. Both the ethanol and the ethyl acetate extracts showed significant activity against Bacillus subtilis. In disk diffusion antibacterial assay, ethanol extract showed greater activity than ethyl acetate extract against Bacillus subtilis and the zones of inhibition were 14 mm and 12 mm respectively. However, ethyl acetate extract showed greater activity than ethanol extract in TLC bioautography assay. Ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts showed very little activity against Pneumococcus and Klebsiella, but no antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli. Fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract by TLC and bioautography detection of antibacterial activity in TLC encouraged further purification of the lead active compound(s). Phytochemical composition analysis of the ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, phenolic compounds and glycosides.

Evaluation of the mosquito larvicidal potential and comparative assessment of the juice of Lantana camara Linn and Ocimum gratissimum Linn.

In the present study, the larvicidal efficacy of the juices of the weeds Lantana camara Linn (L. camara) and Ocimum gratissimum Linn (O. gratissimum) was evaluated against the larvae of the malaria vectors Aedes aegypti, Anopheles subpictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. The freshly prepared juices of leaves were prepared by grinding them and diluting them at concentrations of 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm. Twenty larvae of each species were introduced in different sterile Petri dishes in aqueous media under a controlled environment for the assessment of biological activity. The larvicidal activity of both juices was evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 h post-exposure time points by observing the movement of each larva. The obtained data were subjected to probit analysis to determine the lethal concentrations that kill 50% and 90% (LC50 and LC90) of the treated larvae. The results revealed a noticeable larvicidal activity following 24 h of exposure. The juice of L. camara leaves exhibited an LC50 range of 47.47-52.06 ppm and an LC90 range of 104.33-106.70 ppm. Moreover, for the juice of O. gratissimum leaves, the LC50 range was 42.94-44.91 ppm and the LC90 range was 105.11-108.66 ppm. Taken together, the results indicate that the juices of L. camara and O. gratissimum leaves may be useful as effective, economical and eco-friendly larvicidal agents. However, additional studies are needed to explore the bioactive components of the weeds that exhibit larvicidal activity along with their mode of action.

Lantana camara poisoning in cattle that took refuge during a storm in a forest invaded by this plant.

An outbreak of poisoning by Lantana camara occurred in cattle when a herd sought refuge in a Eucalyptus forest heavily infested by this plant. The animals showed apathy, elevated serum activities of hepatic enzymes, severe photosensitivity, jaundice, hepatomegaly and nephrosis. After a clinical manifestation period of 2-15 days, 74 out of 170 heifers died. The main histological changes were random hepatocellular necrosis, cholestasis, biliary proliferation and, in one animal, centrilobular necrosis. Immunostaining for Caspase 3 detected scattered apoptotic hepatocytes.

Hannaella floricola sp. nov., a novel basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from a flower of Lantana camara in Portugal.

During a survey of floricolous yeasts in Portugal, a basidiomycetous yeast representing a novel species in the genus Hannaella was isolated in Portugal from the flower of Lantana camara, an ornamental exotic species native to Central and South America. A combination of phylogenetic analyses of DNA barcode sequences used in yeast molecular systematics, namely the D1/D2 domain and the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region supported the recognition of a new species of Hannaella, that we designate Hannaella floricola sp. nov. (ex-type strain PYCC 9191T=CBS 18097T). Although the assignment of the new species to the genus Hannaella was evident, the detection of its closest relatives appeared more problematic. Nevertheless, our analyses suggested that H. floricola sp. nov. belongs a clade that also includes H. coprosmae, H. oryzae and H. surugaensis, together four candidate novel species. In addition we provide the molecular identification of several unidentified strains whose D1/D2 and ITS sequences are available from GenBank.

Exploration of anticancer potential of Lantadenes from weed Lantana camara: Synthesis, in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies.

Naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids and their semisynthetic analogues have engrossed increasing attention for their anticancer potential and exhibiting promising role in discovery of new anticancer agents. Present study include the semi synthetic modifications of Lantadenes from the weed Lantana carama and their structures delineation by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR & mass spectroscopy. All the compounds were scrutinized for in vitro cytotoxicity, ligand receptor interaction and in vivo anticancer studies. Most of the novel analogues displayed potent antiproliferative activity against A375 & A431 cancer cell lines and found superior to parent Lantadenes. In particular, 3ß-(4-Methoxybenzoyloxy)-22ß-senecioyloxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid was found to be most suitable compound, with IC50 value of 3.027 µM aganist A375 cell line having least docking score (-69.40 kcal/mol). Promising anticancer potential of the lead was further indicated by significant reduction in tumor volume and burden in two stage carcinoma model. These findings suggests that the Lantadene derivatives may hold promising potential for the intervention of skin cancers.

Phytochemical study of Lantana camara flowers, ecotoxicity, antioxidant, in vitro and in silico acetylcholinesterase: molecular docking, MD, and MM/GBSA calculations.

Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), commonly called lead cambará, has often been used in folk medicine as antiseptic, antispasmodic, against hemorrhages, flu, colds, and diarrheic. This plant is considered a weed and an ornamental and medicinal plant and is an essential source of natural organic compounds, mainly flavonoids. This work aims to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the biological properties such as antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase of the constituents from L. camara flowers. In addition, the computational simulation was carried out with the constituents identified. The results showed that methanolic extract of the flowers of L. camara presents toxicity, antioxidant activity with 97.8% inhibition percentage in the concentration of 0.25 mg mL-1 against the DPPH radical, and acetylcholinesterase activity. The phytochemical study of extract from L. camara flowers resulted in LC-MS identification of 18 polyphenolic compounds, such as phenolic acid derivatives, phenylethanoid glycosides, and flavonoids. In the in silico study, flavonoid isoverbascoside showed affinity energy of -9.9 kcal.mol-1 with the AChE enzyme. Their phytochemical content, mainly the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in L. camara extracts, may be related to the antioxidant and anticholinesterase potential observed.

Thermal pretreatment of Lantana camara for improved biogas production: Process parameter studies for energy evaluation.

The rigid lignocellulosic structure of Lantana camara impedes the hydrolysis phase and reduces the biogas production during anaerobic digestion of Lantana camara. Hence, the current study focuses on the impact of various heating pretreatment techniques, viz., hot air oven (HAO), autoclave (ATC), hot water bath (HWB), and microwave (MCW) on L. camara to speed up hydrolysis and boost up biogas production. ATC pretreatment of L. camara was witnessed to be most efficient compared to HAO, MCW, and HWB pretreatment. ATC pretreatment enhanced the solubilization (45.44%), and an increment in volatile fatty acids (VFA) was observed (56.75%) at 110 °C for 80 min when correlated to the untreated (control). Cumulative methane production following ATC pretreatment had risen to 3656 mL in 5 weeks from 2895 mL in 7 weeks. Thermal pretreatment of Lantana camara broke down the rigid lignocellulosic structure, accelerating the hydrolysis stage and improving biogas production simultaneously. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first thermal pretreatment study conducted on Lantana camara for biogas production.