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Abstract Background Single-cell analysis, a rapidly evolving field, encounters significant challenges in detecting individual cells within complex plant tissues, particularly oil cells (OCs). The intricate process of single-cell isolation, coupled with the inherent chemical volatility of oil cells, necessitates a comprehensive methodology. Results This study presents a method for obtaining intact OC from Asari Radix et Rhizoma (ARR), a traditional herbal medicine. The developed approach facilitates both qualitative and quantitative analysis of diverse OCs. To determine the most reliable approach, four practical methods—laser capture microdissection, micromanipulation capturing, micromanipulation piping, and cell picking—were systematically compared and evaluated, unequivocally establishing cell picking as the most effective method for OC isolation and chemical analysis. Microscopic observations showed that OCs predominantly distribute in the cortex of adventitious and fibrous roots, as well as the pith and cortex of the rhizome, with distinct morphologies—oblong in roots and circular in rhizomes. Sixty-three volatile constituents were identified in OCs, with eighteen compounds exhibiting significant differences. Safrole, methyleugenol, and asaricin emerged as the most abundant constituents in OCs. Notably, cis-4-thujanol and tetramethylpyrazine were exclusive to rhizome OCs, while isoeugenol methyl ether was specific to fibrous root OCs based on the detections. ARR roots and rhizomes displayed marked disparities in OC distribution, morphology, and constituents. Conclusion The study highlights the efficacy of cell picking coupled with HS–SPME–GC–MS as a flexible, reliable, and sensitive method for OC isolation and chemical analysis, providing a robust methodology for future endeavors in single-cell analyses.

Abstract The mid‐latitude extreme weather disasters are often associated with explosively developing cyclones (ECs). Based on different vertical development characteristics, 4,608 ECs identified over the North Pacific in the cold season of 44 years of NCEP‐CFSR reanalyzes are divided into four types of upward development and four types of downward development categories. ECs with vertical upward (downward) development follow a northeastward (nearly eastward) path, mainly explosively developing over the Northwest Pacific (Asia continent and Pacific). Furthermore, utilizing the piecewise potential vorticity inversion method reveals the synergetic forcing of the turbulent heat transport and baroclinicity in the lower troposphere, the latent heat release in the middle levels, the upper‐level jet stream, and the downward intrusion of stratospheric potential vorticity on the ECs. Different configurations of these influences from the troposphere to the stratosphere result in the occurrences of eight types of ECs in the cold season over the North Pacific.

BackgroundThe bulbs of Allium sativum are widely used as food or seasoning (garlic), while they have also been utilized as a famous traditional medicine since ancient eras for the treatment of scabies, tuberculosis, pertussis, diarrhea and dysentery, etc. However, very few studies focus on their abundant aerial parts, which are normally discarded during the harvest season.MethodsThe hyperlipidemic mice model has been used to study the lipid-lowering effect of the aerial parts in this article. 180 mice were randomly divided into 18 groups, including blank control (BC), model (Mod), positive control (PC), and low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of the crude extract, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and residual water extracts (corresponding to CE, PEE, EAE, NBE, WE), with 10 mice in each group. The preventive effects of the extracts on hyperlipidemic mice lasted for four weeks. Ultra performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) were used to analyze the chemical components of NBE and PEE respectively.ResultsThe results of the mice experiment showed that n-butanol extract (NBE) and petroleum ether extract (PEE) from the aerial parts could significantly reduce the contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in serum of hyperlipidemic mice, and increase the contents of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). They could enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver and reduce the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). At the same time, they could improve steatosis and inflammation of liver cells. The results of phytochemical components analysis showed that NBE was rich in organic acids, flavonoids and nitrogen-containing constituents, while PEE contained organic sulfur compounds, aliphatic acids and derivatives, alkaloids, phytosterols, etc.ConclusionThese results support that the aerial parts of A. sativum are an interesting source of bioactive ingredients that may be useful in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Abstract Background Drought severely limits sunflower production especially at the seedling stage. To investigate the response mechanism of sunflowers to drought stress, we utilized two genotypes of sunflower materials with different drought resistances as test materials. The physiological responses were investigated under well-watered (0 h) and drought-stressed conditions (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). Results ANOVA revealed the greatest differences in physiological indices between 72 h of drought stress and 0 h of drought stress. Transcriptome analysis was performed after 72 h of drought stress. At 0 h, there were 7482 and 5627 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the leaves of K55 and K58, respectively, and 2150 and 2527 DEGs in the roots of K55 and K58, respectively. A total of 870 transcription factors (TFs) were identified among theDEGs, among which the high-abundance TF families included AP2/ERF, MYB, bHLH,and WRKY. Five modules were screened using weighted gene coexpressionnetwork analysis (WGCNA), three and two of which were positively and negatively, respectively, related to physiological traits. KEGG analysis revealedthat under drought stress, “photosynthesis”, “carotenoid biosynthesis”, “starch and sucrose metabolism”, “ribosome”, “carotenoid biosynthesis”, “starch and sucrose metabolism”, “protein phosphorylation” and “phytohormone signaling” are six important metabolic pathways involved in the response of sunflower to drought stress. Cytoscape software was used to visualize the three key modules, and the hub genes were screened. Finally, a total of 99 important candidate genes that may be associated with the drought response in sunflower plants were obtained, and the homology of these genes was compared with that in Arabidopsis thaliana. Conclusions Taken together, our findings could lead to a better understanding of drought tolerance in sunflowers and facilitate the selection of drought-tolerant sunflower varieties.

Soil quality is closely related to the evolution of forest ecosystems, especially in the context of global warming; therefore, it is essential to study the changes in soil quality caused by the invasion of moso bamboo in its habitat. In this study, we selected plantation forests and natural secondary forests with typical vegetation of the northern subtropics, Quercus acutissima plantation (QAP) and oak secondary forest (OSF), collected plant community and soil physicochemical data, and established a soil quality index (SQI) to assess how moso bamboo invasion affects soil quality. In addition, the mechanisms driving the moso bamboo invasion effects on soil quality were investigated using a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrated that: (1) Moso bamboo invasion significantly affected community structure and soil physicochemical properties, there were inconsistent changes in soil physicochemical indicators in oak forests of different origins, and in general the effects of moso bamboo expansion on soil physicochemical properties were concentrated in the topsoil (0–20 cm). (2) Soil bulk density (BD), total soil porosity (TSP), total nitrogen (TN), and available potassium (AK) comprised the minimum data set (MDS) used to calculate the SQI, and the SQI of oak forests of different origins ranged from 0.48 to 1, and the invasion of moso bamboo led to a significant decrease in the SQI of the surface layer of QAP. A redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil quality assessment factors were closely related to community structure and the PLS-SEM indicated that moso bamboo invasion indirectly affected surface soil quality through its effects on community and soil factors. The results showed that moso bamboo invasion had different effects on oak forests of different origins. They also showed that soil quality was strongly affected by aboveground biomass (AGB), the tree Shannon-Wiener index (TH'), and available potassium (AK).

BackgroundMalaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and/or mortality in tropical Africa. The spread and development of resistance to chemical antimalarial drugs and the relatively high cost of the latter are problems associated with malaria control and are reasons to promote the use of plants to meet healthcare needs to treat malaria. The aim of this study was to evaluate antiplasmodial activities of extracts of Erythrina sigmoidea (Mah quat), which is traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in the western region of Cameroon.Material and methodsThe ethanol extract of E. sigmoidea stem bark was obtained through the maceration process using 95% ethanol, while the aqueous extract was prepared by infusion. The in vitro antiplasmodial effect of extracts against P. falciparum chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains was determined using the Trager and Jensen method. On the other hand, the in vivo antimalarial activity of the extract was evaluated in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei strain NK65 using the Peters’ 4-day suppressive test and Ryley test (curative test). A total of 36 mice were used, subdivided into six groups of six mice each: one normal control, a negative control, a positive control, and three other groups for the tested product. Blood samples were collected on the 10th day of each test for hematological parameters.ResultsThe aqueous extract had an in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive strain with an IC50 of 29.51 ± 3.63 µg/mL and against the chloroquine-resistant strain with an IC50 of 35.23 ± 3.17 µg/mL. The highest in vitro antiplasmodial activity was observed with the ethanol extract against the chloroquine-sensitive strain with an IC50 of 6.44 ± 0.08 µg/mL and against the chloroquine-resistant strain with an IC50 of 7.53 ± 0.22 µg/mL. The ethanol extract demonstrated suppressive activity in vivo with reduction rates of 87.69%, 86.79%, and 81.08% at doses of 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively; and curative activity in vivo with reduction rates of 80%, 78.5%, and 77.5% at doses of 500 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively. The number of white blood cells in the negative control (44.55 ± 5.02 103/µL) was higher compared to the other groups. As for the red blood cells, we observed a massive destruction of the latter in the infected and untreated group (5.82 ± 1.50 106/µL) compared to the infected and ethanol extract-treated groups (8.74 ± 1.57 106/µL for 500 mg/kg, 7.54 ± 1.77 106/µL for 250 mg/kg, and 8.9 ± 1.50 106/µL for 125 mg/kg).ConclusionThis study provides scientific data on the use of E. sigmoidea by the local population for the treatment of malaria. It shows that E. sigmoidea has antiplasmodial activity, and we also see that there are differences between the parameters that we have in the treated groups and those of the untreated group. However, toxicity tests are necessary to assess its safety.

In recent years, the invasion of Phyllostachys edulis has intensified. This study selected Phyllostachys edulis, Phyllostachys edulis–Quercus acutissima mixed and Quercus acutissima forest areas and analyzed the changes in soil bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil readily oxidized organic carbon (ROC), soluble organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (SMBC). Then, we obtained the Chao index, Shannon index and Simpson index and analyzed the relationship between microbial α diversity, β diversity and community composition, abundance and structure and between microbial community changes and environmental factors. The results showed that soil with the invasion of Phyllostachys edulis, soil pH, water content, capillary water capacity and total porosity of surface soil increased significantly by 4.35%, 18.71%, 16.37% and 14.56%, respectively, compared with the Quercus acutissima forest, while soil bulk density, organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and soluble organic carbon decreased significantly by 7.27%, 18.43%, 61.12% and 61.90%. Soil readily oxidized organic carbon decreased at first and then increased. The soil community richness and diversity of the Phyllostachys edulis forest were significantly greater than those of the other two stands. Soil pH and organic carbon content were the main factors affecting the changes in the soil microbial community. Therefore, the invasion of Phyllostachys edulis improved soil water retention, while soil pH had the greatest effect on the microbial community, followed by soil bulk density and organic carbon, and water content had the smallest effect.

The Yixing Yuantianjian small watershed is a provincial soil erosion key management area in the hilly region of southern Jiangsu. It has been implemented key national soil erosion control project for small watershed management, which is typical and representative in the region. It is important to quantitatively evaluate the soil quality of the area under different land use modes and then select suitable ecological restoration measures to promote the ecological and economic construction of small watersheds in the hilly region of southern Jiangsu. Used four types of land use (forest land, garden land, arable land and abandoned land) in the Yixing Yuantianjian small watershed as the research object, 13 soil physical and chemical property indicators were screened based on principal component analysis, correlation analysis and Norm value calculation to construct a minimum data set (MDS) for soil quality evaluation. The results showed that the variability of soil chemical indicators of land use modes was higher than that of soil physical indicators in the study area. The MDS indicators affected by soil quality in the small watershed are sand content (Sand), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available potassium (AK), total soil porosity (TSP) and bulk density (BD), which provide valid information on soil quality in the area with high accuracy. The soil quality index for different land use modes in the small watershed in the hilly areas of southern Jiangsu was SQI forest land (0.83) > SQI cultivated land (0.74) > SQI garden land (0.66) > SQI abandoned land (0.46), with soil quality at a medium to high level. AN was the key factor limiting the soil quality of this watershed. This study can provide a scientific basis for soil quality enhancement and ecological restoration in the small watersheds of the southern Jiangsu hilly region.

Conclusion: The use of L. kerstingii and F. thonningii for the treatment of helminthiasis has been proved in vitro and in silico by this research. However, more research is required, especially on the acute toxicity and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy to validate this scientific investigation.

Background. Parasitic infection remains a serious health trade for humans and livestock. The purpose of this study was to present scientific proof of the anthelmintic properties of Khaya grandifoliola, which the native population uses to cure helminthiasis. Method. Fresh Heligmosomoides polygyrus eggs were isolated from faecal samples of experimentally infected mice. The faecal material was cultured, and L1 and L2 larval stages were recovered after 48 and 120 hours, respectively. Using the worm microtracker, the anthelminthic efficacy of the extracts against H. polygyrus was assessed. Two different extracts (aqueous and ethanol extracts) were prepared. For the ovicidal and larvicidal activities, 100 µL of various concentrations of plant extracts, levamisole and 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), were introduced into a 96-well microplate titer followed by the addition of 100 µL of embryonated eggs (60 eggs) for the ovicidal activity and 100 µL of L1 or L2 larvae (50 larvae) for the larvicidal activity. The movement of the worm was monitored for 24 hours in the worm microtracker at 27°C. The Glide module of the Schrodinger Maestro software was used to perform docking studies. Results. For the aqueous extracts, the highest percentage of inhibition of hatching was 42.77 ± 12% at 7.5 mg/mL. The IC50 values for the ethanol (0.36 mg/mL) extract showed that the ethanol extract had a good inhibitory effect on the ability of parasites to hatch from eggs. The inhibition percentage of L1 larvae motility at 7.5 mg/mL was 98.0 ± 1.66% and 83.33 ± 1.66% for ethanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. The negative controls, distilled water and 1.5% DMSO, had no inhibitory impact on larvae. On L1-larvae, the drug of choice levamisole (positive control) had the highest percentage effect (100.0%). Six compounds had the highest docking score and their interactions with the receptor as well. Grandiamide A interacts most with tyrosine, glycine, phenylalanine, asparagine, and serine, and its benzene ring and oxygens inhibit these receptors. Carbonyl and hydroxyl (OH) groups connect grandiamide D to asparagine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine, respectively. By donating hydrogen to the receptor through OH groups, D-glucopyranose-6-phosphate also forms relatively strong hydrogen bonds with its oxygen-bound phosphorus and the receptor. 1-O-deacetylkhayanolide E interacts most with serine and glutamic acid. The carbamic acid benzyl ester of carbamic acid [(1S)-1-phenyl-2-[(4-methylphenyl) sulfinyl] ethyl] interacts most with the receptor with carbonyl groups and with asparagine and serine. With its abundant hydroxide, D-mannitol acts as a hydrogen donor and acceptor and interacts most strongly with amino acids such as glycine, asparagine, aspartic acid, alanine, and glutamic acid. Conclusions. K. grandifoliola extracts possess anthelminthic properties. However, in vivo studies are still necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of this plant for the treatment of helminthiasis.

Background. Helminthiasis is endemic in Chad and constitutes a public health problem, particularly among school-age children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of extracts of Khaya anthotheca and Faidherbia albida used in Chad by traditional healers for the treatment of helminthiasis. Methods. The anthelmintic activity was assessed against Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Caenorhabditis elegans larvae using the Worm Microtracker. Embryonated eggs, L1, L2, and L3 larvae of H. polygyrus were obtained after 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days of coproculture and L4 larvae of C. elegans culture using standard procedures. One hundred microliters of extracts at various concentrations, with albendazole and distilled water were, put in contact with 100 µL of H. polygyrus suspension (containing 50 parasites at various developmental stages) in a microplate and incubated for 20 h at 25°C in the Worm Microtracker. The same procedure was adopted for C. elegans, but with 180 µL of OP50. 19 µL of C. elegans suspension (containing 50 larvae) was put in contact with 1 µL of extract at various concentrations and incubated in the Worm Microtracker. Docking studies were carried out using the Schrodinger Maestro software’s Glide module. The score function in the software was used to rank and group distinct possible adduct structures generated by molecular docking. Results. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of F. albida at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL showed the same activity as albendazole (100 ± 0.00) on hatching. The IC50s of the aqueous extracts of the two plants (IC50: 0.6212 mg/mL and 0.71 mg/mL, respectively) were comparable on egg hatching of H. polygyrus with no significant difference (p≥0.05) with respect to the ethanol extracts (IC50: 0.70 mg/mL and 0.81 mg/mL, respectively). There was no significant difference between the percentage inhibition of extracts and albendazole on the L1 larvae of H. polygyrus (p≥0.05). The aqueous extracts acted more effectively than the ethanol extracts on the L1 larvae of H. polygyrus with an IC50 of 0.5588 and ∼9.858e − 005 mg/ml, respectively, for K. anthotheca and F. albida. The aqueous extracts of K. anthotheca and F. albida on L3 larvae of H. polygyrus had inhibitory percentages of 92.6 ± 0.62 and 91.37 ± 0.8 at 2.5 mg/mL which were lower than albendazole (100 ± 0.00). The aqueous extracts of K. anthotheca and F. albida on C. elegance showed IC50 of 0.2775 µg/mL and 0.5115 µg/mL, respectively, and were more effective than the ethanol extracts. Examining K. anthotheca and F. albida through the interaction with the protein receptor and its results also confirmed our assumption that the compound used has hydroxyl and carbonyl groups as well as aromatic rings and is exposed to phenolic and flavonoid groups in a more specific way, and it shows a better inhibitory effect. Conclusions. This study scientifically validates the use of extracts of the two plants in the traditional treatment of helminthiasis. However, it will be necessary to evaluate the in vivo anthelmintic activity and toxicity. Examining the ADME properties of these compounds also supports the potential of these ligands to be transformed into pharmaceutical forms.

Deep excavation and shield tunneling processes often induce significant deformation in adjacent existing pile foundations, posing risks to the safety of superstructures. To address this issue, capsule grouting expansion technology has emerged as an efficient and economical technology to actively control pile deformation during such construction activities. This technology has been applied in some engineering projects aimed at safeguarding nearby buildings or facilities. However, theoretical research on capsule grouting expansion technology is limited and lags behind its practical engineering application. This paper proposed a simplified theoretical approach for estimating the effect of capsule grouting expansion technology on the deformation of neighboring pile foundations. Initially, virtual image technology was employed to obtain an analytical solution for the lateral displacement of soil resulting from the expansion of a cylindrical cavity with infinite height. The pile was considered as an Euler–Bernoulli beam on a Winkler foundation, allowing for the calculation of the loading response of the existing pile foundation. Utilizing the two-stage method, the theoretical analytical method of the lateral deformation of the pile shaft caused by capsule expansion was obtained. The reliability of the proposed theoretical method was verified by comparing the measured and calculated results. Further investigation into the controlling effect of the capsule grouting expansion technology on the deformation of the pile foundation was conducted through parametric analyses. These analyses encompass capsule radius, the distance between the capsule and pile foundation, the depth of the capsule, the length of the capsule, and the pile base constraints.

Natural vegetation protects, maintains, and improves the environment through its ecological functions and is, thus, an important component of Earth’s ecosystems. The distribution of natural vegetation and its corresponding ecological roles vary with the topographic gradient. Understanding this role is essential for effective ecosystem management and conservation efforts. This study analyzes vegetation composition across altitude gradients and the spatiotemporal evolution of water conservation, soil conservation, and carbon storage in the southern hill and mountain belt of China. We then explored the drivers of the ecological functions of vegetation at different altitude gradients. The results showed that water conservation increased by 108.56%, soil conservation increased by 97.04%, and carbon storage increased only slightly. The ecological functions of vegetation varied across altitude gradients, with the 500–800 m gradient exhibiting markedly higher ecological functions than the other gradients. The effect of precipitation on soil conservation increases with altitude. In addition, at higher altitudes, evergreen coniferous forests had a greater effect on carbon storage. Based on the results, we propose vegetation management measures for different altitudes. This study provides a reference for decision-makers to develop and adjust ecological restoration programs in mountainous areas for the improvement of the local ecological environment.

Climate change mitigation and carbon neutrality are current hot topics. Forests, urban green spaces, and wetland ecosystems are recognized as important carbon sinks. The Yangtze River Delta region in Eastern China, which plays a pivotal role in China’s economic and social development, is rich in such carbon-sink resources. There is, however, a lack of regional carbon data. The investigation of carbon storage and carbon densities of forest, urban green space, and wetland ecosystems is, therefore, of great importance. In this study, the forest resource management map (including wetland) and green space system planning map of Changzhou city, combined with a field investigation and laboratory experimental analysis, were used to estimate the carbon storages and carbon densities of the forest, urban green space, and wetland ecosystems in Changzhou city. The average carbon density and carbon storage in Changzhou were 83.34 ± 4.91 Mg C ha−1 and 11.30 ± 0.67 Tg C, respectively, of which soil accounted for 74%, plants accounted for 25%, and litter accounted for less than 1%. The forest ecosystem contributed the most to the carbon pool (72%), with the green space ecosystem and the wetland ecosystem each accounting for 14% of the carbon pools. Clearly, the forest, green space, and wetland ecosystems in Changzhou city have a large carbon storage capacity. This study is of significance as it provides data on the carbon sink functions of forest, green space, and wetland ecosystems at the provincial and national regional scales.

Temperature determines biochar structure during pyrolysis. However, differences in holding time and feedstock types may affect this relationship. The conditional process analysis model was used in this paper to investigate the potential to affect this mechanism. The branch and leaf parts of Taxodium ascendens were separately pyrolyzed at 350, 450, 650, and 750 °C, and kept for 0.5, 1, and 2 h at each target temperature. We measured the fixed carbon and ash contents and the elemental composition (C, H, O and N) of the raw materials and their char samples. After plotting a Van Krevelen (VK) diagram to determine the aromatization of chars, the changes in the functional groups were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed that pyrolysis at temperatures between 450 and 750 °C accounted for the aromatization of biochar because the atomic H/C ratio of branch-based chars (BC) decreased from 0.53–0.59 to 0.15–0.18, and the ratio of leaf-based chars (LC) decreased from 0.56–0.68 to 0.20–0.22; the atomic O/C ratio of BC decreased from 0.22–0.27 to 0.08–0.11, while that of LC decreased from 0.26–0.28 to 0.18–0.21. Moreover, the average contents of N (1.89%) and ash (13%) in LC were evidently greater than that in BC (N:0.62%; Ash: 4%). Therefore, BC was superior to LC in terms of the stability of biochar. In addition, the increasing ID/IG and ID/I(DR+GL) ratios in BC and LC indicated an increasing amount of the amorphous aromatic carbon structure with medium-sized (2~6 rings) fused benzene rings. According to the CPA analysis, an extension of the holding time significantly enhanced the increase in aromatic structures of LC with temperature. But this extension slightly reduced the growth in aromatic structures of BC. All indicate that holding time and feedstock types (branch or leaf feedstock) could significantly affect the variation in biochar aromatic structure with respect to temperature.