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Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) is a round-shaped Gram-positive bacteria that caused infection in the human body. S. aureus infection can be inhibited by the use of antibiotics. However, these bacteria displayed resistance to some antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Tembelekan ( Lantana camara L .) and Kopasanda ( Chromolaena odorata L. ) leaf extracts against S. aureus . The method used in this study is the disc method to determine the inhibition zone. The test results showed there was no significant difference in the sensitivity of Tembelekan leaf extract ( L. camara L. ) and Kopasanda leaf extract ( C. odorata L. ) against S. aureus (P0.8>α0.05). However, based on the average value of the inhibition zone, Kopasanda leaf extract was showed higher inhibition zone compared to Tembelekan leaf extract. In conclusion, Tembelekan leaf and Kopasanda leaf at a concentration of 100% were produced inhibition zones of 0.6 cm and 0.8 cm respectively against S. aureus., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)

Drug resistance in the treatment of neglected parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, has led to the search and development of alternative drugs from plant origins. In this context, the essential oil extracted by hydro-distillation from Lantana camara leaves was tested against Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. The results demonstrated that L. camara essential oil inhibited T. cruzi and L. braziliensis with IC50 of 201.94 μg/mL and 72.31 μg/mL, respectively. L. camara essential oil was found to be toxic to NCTC929 fibroblasts at 500 μg/mL (IC50 = 301.42 μg/mL). The composition of L. camara essential oil analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed large amounts of (E)-caryophyllene (23.75%), biciclogermacrene (15.80%), germacrene D (11.73%), terpinolene (6.1%), and sabinene (5.92%), which might be, at least in part, responsible for its activity. Taken together, our results suggest that L. camara essential oil may be an important source of therapeutic agents for the development of alternative drugs against parasitic diseases.

A comparative study of the chemical composition of essential oils of two very similar species of the Verbenaceae family (Lantana camara and L. radula) revealed that the main components of essential oil of L. camara were germacrene-D (19.8%) and E-caryophyllene (19.7%), while those of L. radula were E-caryophyllene (25.3%), phytol (29.2%) and E-nerolidol (19.0%). We have hypothesized that the observed differences could contribute to the differentiated reaction of the two species of Lantana to the attack of the phytopathogenic fungi Corynespora cassiicola. An experiment, involving C. cassiicola cultivation in culture media containing volatile oils of the two species demonstrated that the oils of L. radula were more fungistatic than the oils of L. camara, in accordance with the in vivo observations. It is likely that E-nerolidol and phytol, only found in the oil of L. radula, play a significant role in the effects of L. radula on C. cassiicola.

Probing the chemical profiles and biological activities of medicinal plants is important for the discovery of new potent therapeutic products. Our study deciphers the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) obtained from three different flowers of Lantana camara and evaluates their antioxidant and anticancer activities. This work represents the first study of EOs obtained from this plant and is based particularly on the difference in flower color. In addition, no other reports dealing specifically with the antitumor effects of such flower-derived EOs have been described in the literature. The collected flowers, white, pink, and orange, were extracted by hydrodistillation to yield EO1, EO2, and EO3 respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy was primarily employed to identify the existing volatile compounds in the samples. Their antioxidant activities were screened through both DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assays and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) assays. The antiproliferative effects were evaluated on two distinct breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and compared to a normal human breast cell line, MCF-10A, using an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium) assay. All EOs showed notable antioxidant potential attributed to the active phytochemical compounds, with results being supported by a positive correlation between such activity and the total phenolic and flavonoid content. The most eminent, EO1, revealed a selective dose-dependent antiproliferative effect in both breast cancer cell lines, thus reflecting its potent role as an anticancer agent. We suggest that this highly selective activity is associated with the presence of bicyclogermacrene and epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene in its chemical composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien plants are considered as one of the major causes of loss of native biodiversity around the world. Remote sensing provides an opportunity to identify and map native and invasive species using accurate spectral information. The current study was aimed to evaluate PlanetScope (3 m) and Sentinel (10 m) datasets for mapping the distribution of native and invasive species in two protected areas in Pakistan, using machine learning (ML) algorithms. The multispectral data were analysed with the following four ML algorithms (classifiers)—random forest (RF), Gaussian mixture model (GMM), k-nearest neighbour (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM)—to classify two invasive species, Lantana camara L. (common lantana) and Leucaena leucocephala L. The (Ipil-ipil) Dzetsaka plugin of QGIS was used to map these species using all ML algorithms. RF, GMM, and SVM algorithms were more accurate at detecting both invasive species when using PlanetScope imagery rather than Sentinel. Random forest produced the highest accuracy of 64% using PlanetScope data. Lantana camara was the most dominating plant species with 23% cover, represented in all thematic maps. Leucaena leucocpehala was represented by 7% cover and was mainly distributed in the southern end of the Jindi Reserve Forest (Jhelum). It was not possible to discriminate native species Dodonea viscosa Jacq. (Snatha) using the SVM classifier for Sentinel data. Overall, the accuracy of PlanetScope was slightly better than Sentinel in term of species discrimination. These spectral findings provide a reliable estimation of the current distribution status of invasive species and would be helpful for land managers to prioritize invaded areas for their effective management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their appropriate physicochemical properties, nanoparticles are used in nanomedicine to develop drug delivery systems for anticancer therapy. In biomedical applications, metal oxide nanoparticles are used as powerful and flexible multipurpose agents. This work described a green synthesis of Y2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) using the sol-gel technique with the use of aqueous leaf extracts of Lantana camara L (LC). These nanoparticles were characterized with the aid of different methods, including UV, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmitted electron microscopy (TEM), and photocatalytic degradation. Y2O3 nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli with a 10 to 15 mm inhibitory zone. Green Y2O3 NPs were released with a 4 h lag time and 80% sustained release rate, indicating that they could be used in drug delivery. In addition, the bioavailability of green Y2O3 NPs was investigated using cell viability in cervical cancer cell lines. These green-synthesized Y2O3 NPs demonstrated photocatalytic degradation, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lantana camara L. and Lantana montevidensis Briq. (F. Verbenaceae) are invasive ornamental weeds native to the tropical regions of Africa and America. The leaves of both species have been traditionally used as infusions for treating fever, rheumatism, and cancer. LC–MS–MS-guided profiling of the methanolic extracts of the leaves of L. camara and L. montevidensis growing in Egypt led to the putative identification of 59 compounds belonging to terpenoids, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. The in-vitro antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of the two extracts were investigated. L. camara and L. montevidensis inhibited DPPH• (IC50 = 34.01 ± 1.32 and 47.43 ± 1.74 µg/mL), ABTS+ (IC50 = 30.73 ± 1.42 and 40.37 ± 1.51 µg/mL), and superoxide anion (IC50 = 1.57 ± 0.19 and 1.31 ± 0.14 μg/mL) free radicals. A potent anti-inflammatory effect was observed for both species through the inhibition of elastase release in fMLF/CB-induced human neutrophils (IC50 = 2.40 ± 0.16 and 1.90 ± 0.07 μg/mL). The extracts showed significant cytotoxic activity against a panel of cancer cell lines with the most potent activity against Caco cells (IC50 = 45.65 ± 1.64 and 40.67 ± 1.52 µg/mL for L. camara and L. montevidensis, respectively). Western blotting supported by FACS analysis revealed that the extracts inhibited cancer cell proliferation, reduced metastasis, and induced apoptosis resulting in cell cycle arrest. This was achieved via increasing mRNA and protein expressions of p53 and GSK-3β as well as decreasing the expression of PI3K, Akt, and cyclin D1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive plants often alter biological soil conditions to increase their own competitiveness. Through indoor simulated nitrogen deposition culture experiments, we investigated the differences in growth indicators and nutrient content levels between the invasive plant Cenchrus spinifex Cav. and the native symbiotic plant Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. under diverse nitrogen application modes and planting-competition ratios. Furthermore, we examined the alterations in key microbial communities involved in soil nitrogen cycling of C. spinifex. The results indicated that the invasion of C. spinifex could inhibit the growth of native plants, and in fact altered the accumulation and transformation processes related to soil nitrogen, resulting in reduced rates of soil nitrogen transformation. The overarching aim of this research was to construct a theoretical foundation for the scientific comprehension of the invasion mechanisms of C. spinifex, in order to better prevent the further spread of this invasive plant and mitigate its pernicious impact on the current environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotechnological methods prevent the destruction of natural populations of medicinal plants due to climate change and developing agriculture. This study evaluates the effects of in vitro pretreatment with two types of silver-containing amino acid nanofibers (NF-1%Ag and NF1-Ag salt) on the drought tolerance of ex vitro soil-adapted Steviia rebaudiana Bertoni. The duration of the drought was five days. The data suggested that the pretreatment with the studied nanofibers during plant propagation enhanced the plant tolerance to drought stress manifested in a smaller decrease in plant biomass accumulation and a smaller increase in sugar content. The pretreatment with the two tested nanoparticles of well-watered plants increased the leaf fresh biomass accumulation of the ex vitro-adapted S. rebaudiana compared to the untreated WW control plants. The highest values were reported at 10 mg L−1 NF1-Ag salt. Five days of drought led to a decrease in the leaf fresh biomass compared to the WW plants, with the recorded lowest reduction again at 10 mg L−1 NF1-Ag salt. These observations correlate with antioxidant activity improvement. The results show that adding 10 mg L−1 NF1-Ag salt to the MS medium led to higher ex vitro-adapted S. rebaudiana resistance to water deficit than 100 mg L−1. This paper discusses the impact of the selected nanofibers on parameters characterizing plant growth and antioxidant activity of drought-stressed ex vitro-adapted Stevia rebaudiana plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of grape quality parameters within viticulture using airborne remote sensing is an increasingly important aspect of precision viticulture. Airborne remote sensing allows high volumes of spatial consistent data to be collected with improved efficiency over ground-based surveys. Spectral data can be used to understand the characteristics of vineyards, including the characteristics and health of the vines. Within viticultural remote sensing, the use of cover-crop spectra for monitoring is often overlooked due to the perceived noise it generates within imagery. However, within viticulture, the cover crop is a widely used and important management tool. This study uses multispectral data acquired by a high-resolution uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and Sentinel-2 MSI to explore the benefit that cover-crop pixels could have for grape yield and quality monitoring. This study was undertaken across three growing seasons in the southeast of England, at a large commercial wine producer. The site was split into a number of vineyards, with sub-blocks for different vine varieties and rootstocks. Pre-harvest multispectral UAV imagery was collected across three vineyard parcels. UAV imagery was radiometrically corrected and stitched to create orthomosaics (red, green, and near-infrared) for each vineyard and survey date. Orthomosaics were segmented into pure cover-cropuav and pure vineuav pixels, removing the impact that mixed pixels could have upon analysis, with three vegetation indices (VIs) constructed from the segmented imagery. Sentinel-2 Level 2a bottom of atmosphere scenes were also acquired as close to UAV surveys as possible. In parallel, the yield and quality surveys were undertaken one to two weeks prior to harvest. Laboratory refractometry was performed to determine the grape total acid, total soluble solids, alpha amino acids, and berry weight. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost v2.1.1) was used to determine the ability of remote sensing data to predict the grape yield and quality parameters. Results suggested that pure cover-cropuav was a successful predictor of grape yield and quality parameters (range of R2 = 0.37–0.45), with model evaluation results comparable to pure vineuav and Sentinel-2 models. The analysis also showed that, whilst the structural similarity between the both UAV and Sentinel-2 data was high, the cover crop is the most influential spectral component within the Sentinel-2 data. This research presents novel evidence for the ability of cover-cropuav to predict grape yield and quality. Moreover, this finding then provides a mechanism which explains the success of the Sentinel-2 modelling of grape yield and quality. For growers and wine producers, creating grape yield and quality prediction models through moderate-resolution satellite imagery would be a significant innovation. Proving more cost-effective than UAV monitoring for large vineyards, such methodologies could also act to bring substantial cost savings to vineyard management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum rhizome is a traditional Chinese medicine of the same origin as food and medicine, and it has high economic value and social benefits. To screen the excellent germplasm resources of Polygonatum kingianum (P. kingianum) and clarify the nutritional and medicinal value of the rhizome of P. kingianum, we used widely targeted metabolomics to analyze the traits and metabolomics of rhizomes of different germplasms of P. kingianum from different growth years. The results showed that different germplasms and growth years of P. kingianum were rich in different nutritional and medicinal components. Among them, Polygonatum kingianum 'Linyun 1′ rhizome (PWR) was richer in amino acids and derivatives, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, while Polygonatum kingianum rhizome (PRR) was richer in flavonoids, organic acids, and phenolic acids. Most of the differential compounds were mainly enriched in PRR when the growth year was one, and PWR had a greater variety and higher content of differential compounds in the third year, which also reflected the advantages of Polygonatum kingianum 'Linyun 1′ (P. kingianum 'Linyun 1′) as an excellent new variety of P. kingianum. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway analysis showed that in P. kingianum with the same age and different germplasms, the significantly enriched metabolic pathway was more active in biosynthesis in PWR. In the same germplasm of P. kingianum from different years, the metabolites involved in PRR were mainly the highest in one-year-old P. kingianum (PR-1) or three-year-old P. kingianum (PR-3), and the metabolites involved in PWR were mainly the highest in three-year-old P. kingianum 'Linyun 1′ (PW-3). The above results showed that the three-year-old PWR had more advantages based on chemical substances. Therefore, this study provided a new theoretical reference for the development of P. kingianum products and the breeding of new varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive review of advancements in the detection; evaluation; and management of invasive plant species (IPS) using diverse remote sensing (RS) techniques and machine learning (ML) methods. Analyzing the high-resolution datasets received from drones, satellites, and aerial photography enables the perfect cartography technique and analysis of the spread and various impacts of ecology on IPS. The majority of current research on hyperspectral imaging with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) enhanced by ML has significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of identifying mapping IPS, and it also serves as a powerful instrument for ecological management. The integrative association is essential to manage the alien species better, as researchers from multiple other fields participate in modeling innovative methods and structures. Incorporating advanced technologies like light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and hyperspectral imaging shows potential for improving spatial and spectral analysis approaches and utilizing ML approaches such as a support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), artificial neural network (ANN), convolutional neural network (CNN), and deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) analysis for detecting complex IPS. The significant results indicate that ML methods, most importantly SVM and RF, are victorious in recognizing the alien species via analyzing RS data. This report emphasizes the importance of continuous research efforts to improve predictive models, fill gaps in our understanding of the connections between climate, urbanization and invasion dynamics, and expands conservation initiatives via utilizing RS techniques. This study also highlights the potential for RS data to refine management plans, enabling the implementation of more efficient strategies for controlling IPS and preserving ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageratum conyzoides L. is native to Tropical America, and it has naturalized in many other tropical, subtropical, and temperate countries in South America, Central and Southern Africa, South and East Asia, Eastern Austria, and Europe. The population of the species has increased dramatically as an invasive alien species, and it causes significant problems in agriculture and natural ecosystems. The life history traits of Ageratum conyzoides, such as its short life cycle, early reproductive maturity, prolific seed production, and high adaptive ability to various environmental conditions, may contribute to its naturalization and increasing population. Possible evidence of the molecules involved in the defense of Ageratum conyzoides against its natural enemies, such as herbivore insects and fungal pathogens, and the allelochemicals involved in its competitive ability against neighboring plant species has been accumulated in the literature. The volatiles, essential oils, extracts, residues, and/or rhizosphere soil of Ageratum conyzoides show insecticidal, fungicidal, nematocidal, and allelopathic activity. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine and echinatine, found in the species, are highly toxic and show insecticidal activity. Benzopyran derivatives precocenes I and II show inhibitory activity against insect juvenile hormone biosynthesis and trichothecene mycotoxin biosynthesis. A mixture of volatiles emitted from Ageratum conyzoides, such as β-caryophyllene, β-bisabolene, and β-farnesene, may work as herbivore-induced plant volatiles, which are involved in the indirect defense function against herbivore insects. Flavonoids, such as nobiletin, eupalestin, 5′-methoxynobiletin, 5,6,7,3′,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavone, and 5,6,8,3,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavone, show inhibitory activity against the spore germination of pathogenic fungi. The benzoic acid and cinnamic acid derivatives found in the species, such as protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid, may act as allelopathic agents, causing the germination and growth inhibition of competitive plant species. These molecules produced by Ageratum conyzoides may act as defense molecules against its natural enemies and as allelochemicals against neighboring plant species, and they may contribute to the naturalization of the increasing population of Ageratum conyzoides in new habitats as an invasive plant species. This article presents the first review focusing on the defense function and allelopathy of Ageratum conyzoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild relatives of crops play a critical role in enhancing agricultural resilience and sustainability by contributing valuable traits for crop improvement. Shifts in climatic conditions and human activities threaten plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), jeopardizing contributions to future food production and security. Studies and inventories of the extant agrobiodiversity, in terms of numbers and distribution patterns of species and their genetic diversity, are primordial for developing effective and comprehensive conservation strategies. We conducted an ecogeographic study on Ipomoea species and assessed their diversity, distribution, and ecological preferences across different topographic, altitudinal, geographical, and climatic gradients, at a total of 450 sites across Mauritius. Species distribution maps overlaid with climatic data highlighted specific ecological distribution. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed species distribution was influenced by geographical factors. Regional richness analyses indicated varying densities, with some species exhibiting localized distributions and specific ecological preferences while the other species showed diverse distribution patterns. Field surveys identified 14 species and 2 subspecies out of 21 species and 2 subspecies of Ipomoea reported in Mauritius. A gap in ex situ germplasm collections was observed and several species were identified as threatened. Further investigations and a more long-term monitoring effort to better guide conservation decisions are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is native to tropical America and has been introduced into many other countries as an ornamental and hedge plant. The species has been spreading quickly and has naturalized in more than 60 countries as an invasive noxious weed. It is considered to be one of the world's 100 worst alien species. L. camara often forms dense monospecies stands through the interruption of the regeneration process of indigenous plant species. Allelopathy of L. camara has been reported to play a crucial role in its invasiveness. The extracts, essential oil, leachates, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara suppressed the germination and growth of other plant species. Several allelochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, and a flavonoid, were identified in the extracts, essential oil, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara. The evidence also suggests that some of those allelochemicals in L. camara are probably released into the rhizosphere soil under the canopy and neighboring environments during the decomposition process of the residues and as leachates and volatile compounds from living plant parts of L. camara. The released allelochemicals may suppress the regeneration process of indigenous plant species by decreasing their germination and seedling growth and increasing their mortality. Therefore, the allelopathic property of L. camara may support its invasive potential and formation of dense monospecies stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To document the dynamics of biocultural heritage, we studied traditional uses of plants on a segment of the Andean Road System, or Qhapaq Ñan, within the central Andes of Ecuador, home of the Kichwa community of Nizag. Here, residents preserved a rich diversity of plants within their agricultural fields, or chakra, of the Andean landscapes, upholding a culture steeped in traditional knowledge. Wild and domesticated plants are a cornerstone for the community, prompting the development of ethnobotanical management strategies with a conservation approach. The diverse plant uses aim to revalue their culture, fortify their self-identification as an indigenous community, and ensure the transmission of ancestral knowledge. This research aims to ascertain the ethnobotanical applications of this venerable community. Employing participatory action research, semistructured interviews were conducted with 43 community informants to gather ethnobotanical data on the flora applied within their territory, spanning categories such as food, agriculture, crafts, living fences, construction, fuel, ornamental, environmental, technological, and medicinal services. The findings indicate that age, rather than educational level and gender, significantly influences the variation in plant usage knowledge. In total, 142 plant species were cataloged, comprising herbs (58%), shrubs (23%), trees (15%), and climbers (4%). The most represented families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae. Notably, 96% of these species provide some type of environmental service or fulfill a niche within the socioecological system. Medicinal uses were reported for 89% of the plants, while 56% served agricultural purposes, primarily in fertilizer production and forage. Additionally, 44% of the plants are utilized as food, typically consumed fresh. Among the medicinal plants, leaves are the most used part (58%), prepared as infusions and poultices. The prevalent ailments addressed include respiratory and urinary system conditions, with Borago officinalis, Carica pentagona, Vasconcellea pubescens, and Origanum mejorana being the most frequently employed plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of medicinal herbs is highly developed in Haiti. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge in the literature on medicinal plants and their uses. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and practices of Haitian families for the prevention/treatment of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory diseases, as well as the mode of preparation and administration of the plants. Individuals were interviewed using the TRAMIL questionnaire as the information holder. The data obtained were analyzed by calculating 5 indices (relative frequency of citation, use value, the family use value, informant consensus factor, and fidelity level). The study surveyed 120 Haitians and collected 75 plants from 43 botanical families. The botanical family most used for all these preventions and remedies is the Lamiaceae. The highest ranked species with a relative frequency of citation value > 0.3. Infusion, decoction, and in the form of punch are the methods used for the remedies. The study found that the use of herbal remedies is still prevalent in the study area, and many of the commonly used plants have been scientifically validated. However, some plants, such as Samyda rosea Sims, lack sufficient research and are recommended for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive plant species pose a significant threat to global biodiversity and ecosystems. Climate changes favor the spread of non-native plants, whether voluntary or accidentally introduced into a new environment, as these plants possess a greater ability to adapt to changing environments. The spreading of these alien species has a negative impact also on agro-ecosystems, on agricultural yields, and on the nutritional quality of food crops. The high metabolic plasticity of these plants helps them to adapt to new ecosystems, enabling them to succeed in competing with crops. In particular, many alien plants are producers of alkaloids. These molecules represent the main chemical defense to biotic stressors and also the major risk for human health. In this review, we focused on invasive plants producing tropane alkaloids (TAs) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). We explored the potential role of these molecules in the fitness of invasive plants in the context of climate change and reviewed the knowledge regarding their biosynthesis steps and examined the mechanism of toxicity when accidentally ingested. Finally, we summarized the most efficient analytical and molecular methods to detect either alkaloid contamination or the presence of invasive plant contaminants, which are the source of these molecules, in food crops. Possible solutions and precautions to ensure food safety have been also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing soil degradation caused by unsustainable agricultural practices and the continued demand for quality food for the human population, it is imperative to find sustainable strategies for high-quality food production. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the interaction between the factors of consortium of phosphorus-solubilizing rhizobacteria, addition of phosphate rock and worm load in horse manure to produce an organic fertilizer fortified with phosphorus. For this, consortia of phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria of the genus Bacillus (Bacillus aryabhattai, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus) isolated from the rhizosphere of Distichlis spicata were inoculated. Igneous phosphate rock (0 and 2%) was added in the vermicomposting process (with 25 and 50 g of E. fetida worms per kg of horse manure). The results obtained show that there is a significant interaction between the factors of inoculation with bacterial consortia (1 × 108 CFU mL−1), phosphate rock (2%) and earthworm biomass (50 g kg−1 of manure), and that this interaction promotes the production of assimilable forms of phosphorus for plants (such as monobasic phosphate ions H2PO4−1 or dibasic phosphate ions HPO4−2) within the vermicomposting process, having as a product an organic substrate supplemented with the optimal nutritional requirements for the development and growth of crops. This work can serve as a basis to produce high-quality organic fertilizer. However, field studies are required in order to observe the impact of vermicompost on the yield and quality of the fruits, and it can be compared with other types of fertilizers and the relevance of their use in different types of climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory potential of allelopathic plants is the subject of increasing research attention for their application in weed management. The sugarcane leaf is an agricultural waste product that has been reported to have allelopathic potential. Therefore, the present study determined the optimal organic solvent system and fractionation procedure to enhance the quantity of this extract and its allelopathic efficiency. Sugarcane leaves were extracted using five ethanol/water solvent ratios (v/v): 00:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:00. Their allelopathic effects on seed germination and seedling growth were assayed in two major weeds, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. and Amaranthus viridis L. The results showed that the extract concentration, solvent ratio, and their interaction significantly inhibited the growth parameters in A. viridis. Consequently, a crude ethanol/water ratio of 00:100 was used to separate the active fraction via acid–base solvent partitioning. The acidic fraction (AE) exerted the greatest inhibitory effect and completely (100%) inhibited A. viridis at all concentrations, followed by the original crude fraction, neutral fraction, and aqueous fraction. Moreover, all of the fractions had selective effects, inhibiting A. viridis much more than E. crus-galli in the laboratory tests. The chemical analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry indicated that the AE fraction contained 20 different compounds. The five major compounds included alkaloids, organic acids, and phenols. Therefore, the AE fraction was selected for formulation in a concentrated suspension and tested for its herbicidal characteristics. The formulation exhibited early post-emergence activities and had a stronger effect on A. viridis compared to E. crus-galli. The physiological mechanism of the formulation was tested against A. viridis. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and H2O2 occurred in the A. viridis leaf, which suggests lipid peroxidation and cell disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols are natural compounds which are plant-based bioactive molecules, and have been the subject of growing interest in recent years. Characterized by multiple varieties, polyphenols are mostly found in fruits and vegetables. Currently, many diseases are waiting for a cure or a solution to reduce their symptoms. However, drug or other chemical strategies have limitations for using a treatment agent or still detection tool of many diseases, and thus researchers still need to investigate preventive or improving treatment. Therefore, it is of interest to elucidate polyphenols, their bioactivity effects, supplementation, and consumption. The disadvantage of polyphenols is that they have a limited bioavailability, although they have multiple beneficial outcomes with their bioactive roles. In this context, several different strategies have been developed to improve bioavailability, particularly liposomal and nanoparticles. As nutrition is one of the most important factors in improving health, the inclusion of plant-based molecules in the daily diet is significant and continues to be enthusiastically researched. Nutrition, which is important for individuals of all ages, is the key to the bioactivity of polyphenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have extensively investigated the essential oil derived from the Mediterranean cypress, Cupressus sempervirens. However, the 'Stricta' variety, known for its ornamental value, has received less attention in terms of its oil composition and potential health benefits. The objective of this research was to comprehensively analyze the chemical components and medicinal properties of the essential oil extracted from C. sempervirens 'Stricta' (CSSLEO) grown in Egypt. Utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), the investigation identified 22 compounds within CSSLEO, with α-pinene and δ-3-carene being predominant, accounting for 96.01% of the oil. In vitro assays evaluated CSSLEO's cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines, revealing notable anticancer potential. Additionally, the oil displayed antidiabetic properties by impeding crucial enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. Complementary in silico network pharmacology and molecular docking studies provided insights into the possible interactions between CSSLEO's key compounds and essential proteins and pathways in cancer treatment. The results underscored CSSLEO's intricate composition and its promising applications in cancer prevention and diabetes management. The conclusions drawn from this research underscore the need for further investigation to validate CSSLEO's clinical effectiveness and to gain a deeper understanding of its therapeutic mechanisms, with a view to harnessing its potential in oncology and endocrinology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the effects of invasive alien plants on natural ecosystems are well known, the effects of specific plant species can vary across habitat types and disturbance intensity. This study was carried out to analyze the effects of Lantana camara on associated vegetation and soil physico-chemical properties at invaded and non-invaded sites across three different habitat types (forest edge, fallow land, and roadside) in central Nepal. We sampled 50 pairs of 5 m × 5 m (for shrub species) and 1 m × 1 m (for herbs species) plots at invaded and non-invaded sites in each habitat and recorded community variables for each species within the sampling plots for both wet (monsoon) and dry (pre-monsoon) seasons. Further, we collected soil samples from each quadrat and determined the soil physico-chemical properties. We recorded 137 species of flowering plants (119 from non-invaded and 97 from invaded plots) and classified them in accordance with life form/habit. In invaded sites, we found a significant decline in species diversity as indicated by the Simpson and Shannon diversity indices. Specifically, L. camara reduced the species richness, Simpson index, and Shannon diversity index by 36.84%, 11.84%, and 40.21%, respectively. Soil nutrients such as total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and available phosphorus were significantly higher in invaded sites than non-invaded ones except for available potassium and soil pH. This study provided evidence that Lantana L. camara has a substantial impact on the understory plant community assemblage and the physico-chemical properties of soil. The results suggest that the protection of native plant community requires management of L. camara by implementing appropriate measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compost fauna act by releasing various enzymes that break down organic matter into a stable, agriculturally useful products. Mesofauna are the least studied compared to micro- and macrofauna, with the existing studies relying on classical methods such as morphological identification, essentially leaving out cryptic taxa. We sought to evaluate the ecological response of the mesofauna community to different composting materials and durations. Total mesofauna community 18S rRNA was purified in triplicate from lantana-based, tithonia-based, grass-based, and mixed (lantana + tithonia + grass)-based compost heaps after 21, 42, 63, and 84 days of composting and sequenced using the Illumina Miseq platform. Before performing statistical data analysis, we used the Divisive Amplicon Denoising Algorithm version 2 workflow for bioinformatic analyses. The composting duration, but not the composting materials, significantly influenced the total population and composition of the mesofauna communities. The composting materials and duration significantly affected the dispersion and uniqueness of the compost mesofauna communities. Canonical correspondence analysis of the compost's physical–chemical and biological states showed a significant influence of the materials on the mesofauna community colonization capacity. The mesofauna communities had a significant response to the composting duration. This, therefore, presents them as valuable tools for understanding the temporal evolution of compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a global health problem, with the incidence rate estimated to reach 40% of the population by 2030. Although there are currently several therapeutic methods, none of them guarantee complete healing. Plant-derived natural products show high therapeutic potential in the management of various types of cancer, with some of them already being used in current practice. Among different classes of phytocompounds, pentacyclic triterpenoids have been in the spotlight of research on this topic. Ursolic acid (UA) and its structural isomer, oleanolic acid (OA), represent compounds intensively studied and tested in vitro and in vivo for their anticancer and chemopreventive properties. Since natural compounds can rarely be used in practice as such due to their characteristic physico-chemical properties, to tackle this problem, their derivatization has been attempted, obtaining compounds with improved solubility, absorption, stability, effectiveness, and reduced toxicity. This review presents various UA and OA derivatives that have been synthesized and evaluated in recent studies for their anticancer potential. It can be observed that the most frequent structural transformations were carried out at the C-3, C-28, or both positions simultaneously. It has been demonstrated that conjugation with heterocycles or cinnamic acid, derivatization as hydrazide, or transforming OH groups into esters or amides increases anticancer efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the synthesis of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and their applications for antibacterial and photocatalytic degradation of dyes, thereby addressing the need for sustainable and eco-friendly methods for the preparation of NPs. Driven by the significant rise in antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution from dye pollution, there is a need for more effective antibacterial agents and photocatalysts. Therefore, this review explores the synthesis of plant-mediated ZnO NPs, and the influence of reaction parameters such as pH, annealing temperature, plant extract concentration, etc. Additionally, it also looks at the application of plant-mediated ZnO NPs for antibacterial and photodegradation of dyes, focusing on the influence of the properties of the plant-mediated ZnO NPs such as size, shape, and bandgap on the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity. The findings suggest that properties such as shape and size are influenced by reaction parameters and these properties also influence the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity of plant-mediated ZnO NPs. This review concludes that plant-mediated ZnO NPs have the potential to advance green and sustainable materials in antibacterial and photocatalysis applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Epidaurus UNESCO World Heritage site (EPD) is a famous archaeological area that is located in a small valley in the Peloponnese and receives more than 250,000 visitors annually. The study of the plant diversity of the site is in the framework of a continuous research project concerning archaeological areas of the Peloponnese and in the context of a project by the Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs of Greece that started during 2023 to study the biodiversity of the archaeological areas of Greece. The main aim of this study is the exploration and analysis of the plant species composition and diversity of the Epidaurus archaeological area, with an emphasis on endemic plants, on ruderal and alien taxa as well as on environmental and disturbance indicators and the cultural ecosystem services they provide. This study revealed a high species richness consisting of 446 plant taxa. Most of them are Mediterranean and widespread, ruderals and medium disturbance indicators, but there are also 12 Greek endemic taxa. The richest in the taxa families are Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. Therophytes predominate in the total flora registered and hemicryptophytes predominate in the endemics. Comparisons of the EPD's plant diversity with other archaeological areas of Greece and the Mediterranean revealed its richness and unique character. Management and protection in archaeological areas such as the Epidaurus must focus on the sustainable conservation of their relationship with their natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective identification of reclaimed vegetation species is important for the subsequent management of ecological restoration projects in mining areas. Hyperspectral remote sensing has been used for identifying vegetation species. However, few studies have focused on mine-reclaimed vegetation. Even if there are studies in this field, the methods used by the researches are mainly traditional discriminant analyses. The environmental conditions of reclaimed mining areas lead to significant intraclass spectral differences in reclaimed vegetation, and there is uncertainty in the identification of reclaimed vegetation species using traditional classification models. In this study, in situ hyperspectral data were used to analyze the spectral variation in the reclaimed vegetation canopy in mine restoration areas and evaluate their potential in the identification of reclaimed vegetation species. We measured the canopy spectral reflectance of five vegetation species in the study area using the ASD FieldSpec 4. The spectral characteristics of vegetation canopy were analyzed by mathematically transforming the original spectra, including Savitzky–Golay smoothing, first derivative, reciprocal logarithm, and continuum removal. In addition, we calculated indicators for identifying vegetation species using mathematically transformed hyperspectral data. The metrics were submitted to a feature selection procedure (recursive feature elimination) to optimize model performance and reduce its complexity. Different classification algorithms (regularized logistic regression, back propagation neural network, support vector machines with radial basis function kernel, and random forest) were constructed to explore optimal procedures for identifying reclaimed vegetation species based on the best feature metrics. The results showed that the separability between the spectra of reclaimed vegetation can be improved by applying different mathematical transformations to the spectra. The most important spectral metrics extracted by the recursive feature elimination (RFE) algorithm were related to the visible and near-infrared spectral regions, mainly in the vegetation pigments and water absorption bands. Among the four identification models, the random forest had the best recognition ability for reclaimed vegetation species, with an overall accuracy of 0.871. Our results provide a quantitative reference for the future exploration of reclaimed vegetation mapping using hyperspectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, based on ethnobotanical data recorded in Transylvania, the polyphenolic compounds and the permeability of the aerial part's extract of Tanacetum balsamita were investigated. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied for the analysis of the extracts. Parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) for the gastrointestinal tract and the blood–brain barrier was conducted. In the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the species traditionally used for wound, furuncle, and liver disorders, 92 polyphenols were characterized (e.g., flavonoid, hydroxycinnamic acid, catechin, dihydroxybenzoyl, lignan derivatives, and a monoterpene) including 54 compounds identified for the first time in the plant. In the PAMPA tests, eight components were shown to be capable of passive diffusion across the studied membranes. These include apigenin and seven methoxylated flavonoid derivatives. Based on these results, methoxylated flavonoids might promote the pharmacological potential of T. balsamita to be applied in the enhancement of novel remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the chemical composition, repellent, and oviposition deterrent effects of five plant essential oils (EOs) extracted from Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Schinus terebinthifolia (Anacardiaceae), Callistemon viminalis (Myrtaceae), Helichrysum odoratissimum (Asteraceae), and Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) were evaluated against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus. When tested at 33.3 µg/cm2, L. camara, S. terebinthifolia, C. viminalis, and H. odoratissimum were effective repellents against Ae. aegypti (89%, 91%, 90%, and 51% repellency, respectively), but they were less repellent against An. gambiae (66%, 86%, 59%, and 49% repellency, respectively). Interestingly, L. camara, S. terebinthifolia, C. viminalis, and H. odoratissimum exhibited 100% repellency against Cx. quinquefasciatus at 33.3 μg/cm2. In time-span bioassays performed at 333 μg/cm2, the EO of L. camara exhibited 100% repellence against Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae for up to 15 min and against Cx. quinquefasciatus for 75 min. The oviposition bioassays revealed that L. camara exhibited the highest activity, showing 85%, 59%, and 89% oviposition deterrence against Ae. aegypti, An. gambiae, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The major compounds of L. camara, S. terebinthifolia, and C. viminalis were trans-β-caryophyllene (16.7%), α-pinene (15.5%), and 1,8-cineole (38.1%), respectively. In conclusion, the L. camara and S. terebinthifolia EOs have the potential to be natural mosquito repellents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution is a significant problem and is increasing gradually as more and more harmful pollutants are being released into water bodies and the environment. Water pollutants are dangerous and pose a threat to all living organisms and the ecosystem. Paper waste is one of the most widespread and largest wastes in the world. This research aims to address two important problems simultaneously: the reduction in solid waste in the environment using activated carbon from paper waste as potential adsorbents and the removal of harmful contaminants from water. Carbon from paper waste was activated with H2O2, HNO3, and KMnO4 for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and MB. SEM, EDX, FTIR, Raman, and BET were used to determine the properties of the materials. The surface morphology of the materials consisted of amorphous particles. EDX shows that all activated samples have a higher content of (O) than carbon paper waste. Adsorption studies showed that there was a stronger interaction between the pollutants and the adsorbent at a higher initial concentration (200 mg/L) than at the lower initial concentrations. The contact time data show that uptake increases when the interaction time between the contaminant and the adsorbent is increased. The tests for the pH of the solution show that the adsorption of Cr(VI) decreases when the pH is gradually increased, whereas the adsorption of MB increases when the pH of the solution is increased. The results fit better with the Freundlich isotherm and PSO models. The temperature studies show that the enthalpy was positive, indicating that the uptake process is endothermic. The Gibbs free energy values were all negative, indicating that adsorption between the adsorbents and the pollutants was favored. After four consecutive cycles, all the samples retained more than 60% of their uptake capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria poses a global threat to human health, with millions of cases and thousands of deaths each year, mainly affecting developing countries in tropical and subtropical regions. Malaria's causative agent is Plasmodium species, generally transmitted in the hematophagous act of female Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. The main approaches to fighting malaria are eliminating the parasite through drug treatments and preventing transmission with vector control. However, vector and parasite resistance to current strategies set a challenge. In response to the loss of drug efficacy and the environmental impact of pesticides, the focus shifted to the search for biocompatible products that could be antimalarial. Plant derivatives have a millennial application in traditional medicine, including the treatment of malaria, and show toxic effects towards the parasite and the mosquito, aside from being accessible and affordable. Its disadvantage lies in the type of administration because green chemical compounds rapidly degrade. The nanoformulation of these compounds can improve bioavailability, solubility, and efficacy. Thus, the nanotechnology-based development of plant products represents a relevant tool in the fight against malaria. We aim to review the effects of nanoparticles synthesized with plant extracts on Anopheles and Plasmodium while outlining the nanotechnology green synthesis and current malaria prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. is a globally spread species, known for its characteristic spectacularly colorful leaves of decorative value. Thanks to its rich chemical composition, the plant is used in ethnopharmacology, and it is also regarded as having high medicinal potential. The application of in vitro cultures enables the acquisition of homogeneous certified material of high quality. Additionally, excluding the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the plants is a way to fully recognize the influence of phytohormones on the plant morphology and the biosynthetic pathways of compound production. The best way to grow C. scutellarioides "Electric Lime" under in vitro conditions is to use the basic MS medium (Murashige and Skoog medium), enriched with naphthyl-1-acetic acid at a concentration of 0.5 mg dm−3. The analysis of volatile compounds demonstrated that the content of volatile compounds in the plants cultivated under in vivo conditions was expressed at a level of 2848.59 µg g−1, whereas in the plants bred in vitro without supplementation with phytohormones, the level was 8191.47 µg g−1. The highest content was noted for copaene, α-pinene, 1-octene-3-ol, α-selinene, sabinen, γ- and δ-cadinene, 3-octanol, and β-pinene. Aroma profiling revealed a lack of boranyl acetate, 2-hexenal, and 2-hexen-1-ol in the plants cultivated under in vivo conditions. Differences were found in the volatile composition between plants bred in vivo and in vitro, with the most significant recorded for the contents of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol. The addition of plant growth regulators into the basic medium under in vitro conditions affected the percentage ratio and contents of specific compounds in plant tissues. The most intense biosynthesis of volatile compounds took place in the plants cultivated on the medium enriched with NAA at 10,579.11 µg g−1, whereas the least intense was noted for plants cultivated on the medium supplemented with BA, where it was recorded at the level of 5610.02 µg g−1. So far, there has been no research published which would pertain to the profiling of volatile compounds performed using the SPME (solid-phase microextraction) technique. Moreover, the very few studies conducted on the chemical composition of these compounds do not mention the specific variety of C. scutellarioides under analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), the cotton mealybug, is an invasive polyphagous species that has been extending its geographic range, posing a conspicuous threat to many Mediterranean crops of economic importance. These include three species of Solanaceae, namely Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), Solanum tuberosum L. (potato) and Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) all of which are economically important worldwide. In this study, we used age-stage two-sex life tables to investigate the suitability of these three plant species as hosts for P. solenopsis and to calculate pest fitness, life history parameters and population projection parameters. All tested host plants that were suitable for the pest and eggplant host plant induced a higher fecundity (276.50 ± 10.78 eggs/female), net reproductive rate (R0) (243.32 ± 15.83 offspring/female) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.18 ± 0.0043 day−1) and more extended adult longevity (males: 6.50 ± 0.34 days and females: 24.15 ± 0.50 days). Population growth predictions over a period of 90 days of infestation, commencing with an initial population of 10 eggs showed that adult population size was 674,551 on tomato, 826,717 on potato and 355,139 on eggplant. Our data on plant host preference of P. solenopsis will aid the development of appropriate management strategies and achieve successful control of this invasive pest in key Mediterranean crop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe cadmium contamination poses a serious threat to food security and human health. Plant–microbial combined remediation represents a potential technique for reducing heavy metals in soil. The main objective of this study is to explore the remediation mechanism of cadmium-contaminated soil using a combined approach of lawn plants and microbes. The target bacterium Bacillus cereus was selected from cadmium-contaminated soil in mining areas, and two lawn plants (Festuca arundinacea A'rid III' and Poa pratensis M'idnight II') were chosen as the target plants. We investigated the remediation effect of different concentrations of bacterial solution on cadmium-contaminated soil using two lawn plants through pot experiments, as well as the impact on the soil microbial community structure. The results demonstrate that Bacillus cereus promotes plant growth, and the combined action of lawn plants and Bacillus cereus improves soil quality, enhancing the bioavailability of cadmium in the soil. At a bacterial suspension concentration of 105 CFU/mL, the optimal remediation treatment was observed. The removal efficiency of cadmium in the soil under Festuca arundinacea and Poa pratensis treatments reached 33.69% and 33.33%, respectively. Additionally, the content of bioavailable cadmium in the rhizosphere soil increased by up to 13.43% and 26.54%, respectively. Bacillus cereus increased the bacterial diversity in the non-rhizosphere soil of both lawn plants but reduced it in the rhizosphere soil. Additionally, the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes, which have potential for heavy metal remediation, increased after the application of the bacterial solution. This study demonstrates that Bacillus cereus can enhance the potential of lawn plants to remediate cadmium-contaminated soil and reshape the microbial communities in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed control in cutting propagation is limited to manual hand weeding, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Preemergence herbicides and mulches may be viable weed control methods for cutting propagation, but crop safety and weed control efficacy must be better understood. Four preemergence herbicides (indaziflam, isoxaben, isoxaben + dithiopyr, and oxyfluorfen + oxadiazon) and two mulches (pine pellets and rice hulls) were assessed in cutting propagation for their impact on rooting and subsequent liner growth (butterfly bush [Buddleja davidii Franch.] and crape myrtle [Lagerstroemia indica L.]) and control of four common weed species. Butterfly bush cuttings had lower rooting percentage and root dry weight with isoxaben and isoxaben + dithiopyr, but no damage was observed for all other treatments during propagation or after transplant. Crape myrtle cutting root development and liner growth were statistically similar for all treatments compared to the non-treated control. Isoxaben, isoxaben + dithiopyr, oxyfluorfen + oxadiazon, and pine pellets provided excellent control (87 to 100%) of all four weed species tested. Overall, several preemergence herbicides and mulches were safe for use in cutting propagation and effective weed control varied by product and weed species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study evaluates the global risk of Aeolesthes sarta establishment using mechanistic and correlational niche models. The pest, known to affect various hardwood trees, poses a threat to international trade due to its quarantine status. The CLIMEX model, based on species-specific physiological thresholds, and MaxEnt model, using species occurrences and climatic data, project its potential distribution. Both models align well with the current distribution, predicting broader ranges in the central and southern hemispheres, excluding extreme northern regions. Future climate changes may expand its range, particularly in Europe and North America, where its host species are present. Temperature and precipitation are key factors influencing its distribution. These models offer valuable insights for policymakers and trade negotiators to make science-based decisions on pest management and trade agreements, aiding in monitoring potential pest introductions globally. A precise evaluation of the risk of establishing insect pests is essential for national plant protection organizations. This accuracy is crucial in negotiating international trade agreements for forestry-related commodities, which have the potential to carry pests and lead to unintended introductions in the importing countries. In our study, we employed both mechanistic and correlative niche models to assess and map the global patterns of potential establishment for Aeolesthes sarta under current and future climates. This insect is a significant pest affecting tree species of the genus Populus, Salix, Acer, Malus, Juglans, and other hardwood trees. Notably, it is also categorized as a quarantine pest in countries where it is not currently present. The mechanistic model, CLIMEX, was calibrated using species-specific physiological tolerance thresholds, providing a detailed understanding of the environmental factors influencing the species. In contrast, the correlative model, maximum entropy (MaxEnt), utilized species occurrences and spatial climatic data, offering insights into the species' distribution based on observed data and environmental conditions. The projected potential distribution from CLIMEX and MaxEnt models aligns well with the currently known distribution of A. sarta. CLIMEX predicts a broader global distribution than MaxEnt, indicating that most central and southern hemispheres are suitable for its distribution, excluding the extreme northern hemisphere, central African countries, and the northern part of Australia. Both models accurately predict the known distribution of A. sarta in the Asian continent, and their projections suggest a slight overall increase in the global distribution range of A. sarta with future changes in climate temperature, majorly concentrating in the central and northern hemispheres. Furthermore, the models anticipate suitable conditions in Europe and North America, where A. sarta currently does not occur but where its preferred host species, Populus alba, is present. The main environmental variables associated with the distribution of A. sarta at a global level were the average annual temperature and precipitation rate. The predictive models developed in this study offer insights into the global risk of A. sarta establishment and can be valuable for monitoring potential pest introductions in different countries. Additionally, policymakers and trade negotiators can utilize these models to make science-based decisions regarding pest management and international trade agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological wastewater treatment using trickle bed reactors is a commonly known and used solution. One of the key elements of the proper operation of the trickle bed bioreactor is the appropriate selection of biofilm support elements. The respective properties of the bioreactor packing media used can influence, among other things, the efficiency of the treatment process. In this study, the possibility of polyester waste material usage for the preparation of the biofilm support elements was tested. The following properties were checked: adsorption capacity, swelling, surface morphology, microbicidal properties, as well as the possibility of their use in biological wastewater treatment. The tested elements did not adsorb copper nor showed microbicidal properties for bacterial strains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as fungal strains Aspergillus niger and Chaetomium globosum. The hydrophilic and rough nature of the element surface was found to provide a friendly support for biofilm formation. The durability of the elements before and after their application in the biological treatment process was confirmed by performing tests such as compressive strength, FTIR analysis, hardness analysis and specific surface area measurement. The research confirmed the applicability of the packing elements based on polyester textile waste to the treatment of textile wastewater. The treatment efficiency of the model wastewater stream was above 90%, while in the case of a stream containing 60% actual industrial wastewater it was above 80%. The proposed solution enables the simultaneous management of textile waste and wastewater treatment, which is consistent with the principles of a circular economy. The selected waste raw material is a cheap and easily available material, and the use of the developed packing elements will reduce the amount of polyester materials ending up in landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betulonic acid (B(O)A) is a pentacyclic lupane-type triterpenoid that widely exists in plants. There are scientific reports indicating anticancer activity of B(O)A, as well as the amides and esters of this triterpenoid. In the first step of the study, the synthesis of novel amide derivatives of B(O)A containing an acetylenic moiety was developed. Subsequently, the medium-soluble compounds (EB171 and EB173) and the parent compound, i.e., B(O)A, were investigated for potential cytotoxic activity against breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and melanoma (C32, COLO 829 and A375) cell lines, as well as normal human fibroblasts. Screening analysis using the WST-1 test was applied. Moreover, the lipophilicity and ADME parameters of the obtained derivatives were determined using experimental and in silico methods. The toxicity assay using zebrafish embryos and larvae was also performed. The study showed that the compound EB171 exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines: MCF-7, A-375 and COLO 829, while it did not affect the survival of normal cells. Moreover, studies on embryos and larvae showed no toxicity of EB171 in an animal model. Compared to EB171, the compound EB173 had a weaker effect on all tested cancer cell lines and produced less desirable effects against normal cells. The results of the WST-1 assay obtained for B(O)A revealed its strong cytotoxic activity on the examined cancer cell lines, but also on normal cells. In conclusion, this article describes new derivatives of betulonic acid—from synthesis to biological properties. The results allowed to indicate a promising direction for the functionalization of B(O)A to obtain derivatives with selective anticancer activity and low toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has diverse effects on the planet's environment, including changes and shifts in the distribution and abundance of species. In this paper, we present a robust prediction ensemble algorithm for the current and future species distribution of Aegilops tauschii. Four modeling approaches were trained using various environmental variables (bioclimatic and soil variables) to accurately predict the species distribution for future scenarios. The results showed that GBM and RF demonstrated the most accurate predictions with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve (AUC) of 0.80 and 0.83, respectively. The results of variable importance depicted that the temperature seasonality (bio4) was the most important and effective factor in determining the habitat suitability of Ae. tauschii, followed closely by the precipitation seasonality (bioclimate 15) and the mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10). Then, the distribution maps of Ae. tauschii were produced under climate change scenarios for 2050 and 2070. The results showed that Ae. tauschii will lose some of its suitable habitats under climate change and that this loss will be more severe in the east part of the study area. The results of the present study have important implications for ecological conservation as they can assist in identifying critical habitats and inform conservation planning efforts. Our model provides a valuable tool for understanding the potential future distribution of Ae. tauschii and highlights the need for continuous monitoring and protection of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae), commonly known as famine weed in South Africa, is one of the most invasive weeds worldwide, accountable for losses to biodiversity, agriculture, the economy, and the health of livestock and human beings. The spread of this weed is not easy to manage or reverse. With globalization, trade, and human movement, it will continue to spread, allowing its range to expand into new areas. This weed has serious adverse effects on rangeland and agricultural crop production. Because of its unique characteristics, its invasiveness and competitive success rates are attributed to its high reproductive ability, fast growth rate, tolerance to environmental stresses, climate change adaptability, allelopathic potential, and unpalatability to animals. Parthenium hysterophorus dominates diverse habitats by spreading quickly as a contaminant of grain and other crop products and through farm machinery. It is widely distributed and has become problematic in various countries, including South Africa. It has successfully invaded several provinces in the country since its introduction in 1880. Since plant invasions are not universal, this study aimed to review research that has been conducted on the aggressive weed P. hysterophorus to understand the ecological characteristics that enable its successful establishment, the economic costs associated with its detrimental impacts, and to briefly assess knowledge gaps to improve its management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory tract infections. Usually associated with infants and children, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that RSV can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals, including recipients of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The present systematic review was therefore designed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to collect available evidence about RSV infections in BMT recipients. Three medical databases (PubMed, Embase, and MedRxiv) were therefore searched for eligible observational studies published up to 30 September 2023 and collected cases were pooled in a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. Reporting bias was assessed by means of funnel plots and regression analysis. Overall, 30 studies were retrieved, including 20,067 BMT cases and 821 RSV infection episodes. Of them, 351 were lower respiratory tract infections, and a total of 78 RSV-related deaths were collected. A pooled attack rate of 5.40% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 3.81 to 7.60) was identified, with a corresponding incidence rate of 14.77 cases per 1000 person-years (95%CI 9.43 to 20.11), and a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 7.28% (95%CI 4.94 to 10.60). Attack rates were higher in adults (8.49%, 95%CI 5.16 to 13.67) than in children (4.79%, 95%CI 3.05 to 7.45), with similar CFR (5.99%, 95%CI 2.31 to 14.63 vs. 5.85%, 95%CI 3.35 to 10.02). By assuming RSV attack rates as a reference group, influenza (RR 0.518; 95%CI 0.446 to 0.601), adenovirus (RR 0.679, 95%CI 0.553 to 0.830), and human metapneumovirus (RR 0.536, 95%CI 0.438 to 0.655) were associated with a substantially reduced risk for developing corresponding respiratory infection. Despite the heterogeneous settings and the uneven proportion of adult and pediatric cases, our study has identified high attack rates and a substantial CFR of RSV in recipients of BMT, stressing the importance of specifically tailored preventive strategies and the need for effective treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers in Limpopo Province generate income through growing vegetable crops such as cabbage, tomato, and okra. These crops are produced for local and national markets. Okra crops are highly constrained by aphids. Smallholder farmers rely only on synthetic insecticides to manage aphids. This paper evaluated the efficacy of five plant materials (bio pesticides): pawpaw (Carica papaya L.), Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta L.), serrano pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), common lantana (Lantana camara L.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) on Aphis gossypii population in okra production. The field experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design, with seven treatments (five plant materials, mercaptothion insecticide as a control and the absolute control) replicated three times. Aphid abundance, leaf damage and the correlation between leaf damage and aphid abundance were analyzed using analysis of variance. Carica papaya L. (0.87) and Tagetes minuta L. (0.87) were more effective in reducing aphid abundance. Leaf damage caused by aphids was lowest in the Carica papaya L. treatment (1.11) and the Tagetes minuta L. treatment (1.12). There was a strong positive correlation between aphid abundance and leaf damage (r = 0.86). Plant materials: Carica papaya L. and Tagetesminuta L. could be incorporated into an overall integrated pest management system to reduce aphid abundance and leaf damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of glomerular kidney disease, one of the main categories of chronic kidney disease (CKD), requires accurate diagnosis, prognosis of progression, assessment of therapeutic efficacy, and, ideally, prediction of drug response. Multiple biomarkers and algorithms for the assessment of specific aspects of glomerular diseases have been reported in the literature. Though, the vast majority of these have not been implemented in clinical practice or are not available on a global scale due to limited access, missing medical infrastructure, or economical as well as political reasons. The aim of this review is to compile all currently available information on the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers currently available for the management of glomerular diseases, and provide guidance on the application of these biomarkers. As a result of the compiled evidence for the different biomarkers available, we present a decision tree for a non-invasive, biomarker-guided diagnostic path. The data currently available demonstrate that for the large majority of patients with glomerular diseases, valid biomarkers are available. However, despite the obvious disadvantages of kidney biopsy, being invasive and not applicable for monitoring, especially in the context of rare CKD etiologies, kidney biopsy still cannot be replaced by non-invasive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as "Forsythiae fructus". The species is also grown in parks and gardens, and on streets and building lots, as an ornamental plant, but it requires pruning. In this study, the allelopathic activity and allelopathic substances in the leaves of pruned branches of F. suspensa were investigated to determine any potential application. The leaf extracts of F. suspensa showed growth inhibitory activity against three weed species; Echinochloa crus-galli, Lolium multiflorum, and Vulpia myuros. Two allelopathic substances in the extracts were isolated through the bioassay-guided purification process, and identified as (-)-matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin. (-)-Matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin, which showed significant growth inhibitory activity at concentrations greater than 0.3 mM in vitro. The inhibitory activity of (-)-arctigenin was greater than that of (-)-matairesinol. However, both compounds were more active than (+)-pinolesinol which is their precursor in the biosynthetic pathway. The investigation suggests that F. suspensa leaves are allelopathic, and (-)-matairesinol and (-)-arctigenin may contribute to the growth inhibitory activities. Therefore, the leaves of the pruned branches can be applied as a weed management strategy in some agricultural practices such as using the leaf extracts in a foliar spray and the leaves in a soil mixture, thereby reducing the dependency on synthetic herbicides in the crop cultivation and contributing to developing eco-friendly agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modeling and forecasting of cerebral pressure–flow dynamics in the time–frequency domain have promising implications for veterinary and human life sciences research, enhancing clinical care by predicting cerebral blood flow (CBF)/perfusion, nutrient delivery, and intracranial pressure (ICP)/compliance behavior in advance. Despite its potential, the literature lacks coherence regarding the optimal model type, structure, data streams, and performance. This systematic scoping review comprehensively examines the current landscape of cerebral physiological time-series modeling and forecasting. It focuses on temporally resolved cerebral pressure–flow and oxygen delivery data streams obtained from invasive/non-invasive cerebral sensors. A thorough search of databases identified 88 studies for evaluation, covering diverse cerebral physiologic signals from healthy volunteers, patients with various conditions, and animal subjects. Methodologies range from traditional statistical time-series analysis to innovative machine learning algorithms. A total of 30 studies in healthy cohorts and 23 studies in patient cohorts with traumatic brain injury (TBI) concentrated on modeling CBFv and predicting ICP, respectively. Animal studies exclusively analyzed CBF/CBFv. Of the 88 studies, 65 predominantly used traditional statistical time-series analysis, with transfer function analysis (TFA), wavelet analysis, and autoregressive (AR) models being prominent. Among machine learning algorithms, support vector machine (SVM) was widely utilized, and decision trees showed promise, especially in ICP prediction. Nonlinear models and multi-input models were prevalent, emphasizing the significance of multivariate modeling and forecasting. This review clarifies knowledge gaps and sets the stage for future research to advance cerebral physiologic signal analysis, benefiting neurocritical care applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest ecosystems in Sri Lanka are under pressure from intensive human activity and climate change. Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to autochthonous species and ecosystems. In Bundala National Park of Sri Lanka, there are efforts to control and limit the spreading of unwanted invasive Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. and Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawl.) Haw., which poses a significant risk to natural ecosystem conservation. Nine different treatment variants (four replications) were used to test which management approach provides the control of Prosopis juliflora. This research is based on nine repeated measurements from 2017 to 2021 on 36 permanent research plots (each 625 m2) with 27 observed plant species and a total of 90,651 recorded plant individuals. The results confirmed that the dynamics of species richness, heterogeneity, and evenness showed significant differences between treatments during the five years of dynamics. The lowest species diversity was found in the control variant, followed by treatments based on the hard pruning and thinning of Prosopis juliflora trees. In contrast, strategies emphasizing the complete uprooting of Prosopis juliflora trees, replanting, and support of the natural regeneration of native species showed high species diversity and a high overall number of plant species. Generally, treatments had a significant effect on species diversity and the number of individuals of Prosopis juliflora, while changes in the overall number of plant species were more affected by time and succession. Silvicultural treatments including pruning, uprooting, and thinning have proven to be essential tools for nature conservation across various sites, aimed at enhancing habitat diversity in the face of ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-induced climate change modifies plant species distribution, reorganizing ecologically suitable habitats for invasive species. In this study, we identified the environmental factors that are important for the spread of Calyptocarpus vialis, an emerging invasive weed in the northwestern Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), along with possible habitats of the weed under current climatic scenarios and potential range expansion under several representative concentration pathways (RCPs) using MaxEnt niche modeling. The prediction had a high AUC (area under the curve) value of 0.894 ± 0.010 and a remarkable correlation between the test and expected omission rates. BIO15 (precipitation seasonality; 38.8%) and BIO1 (annual mean temperature; 35.7%) had the greatest impact on the probable distribution of C. vialis, followed by elevation (11.7%) and landcover (6.3%). The findings show that, unlike the current situation, "high" and "very high" suitability areas would rise while less-suited habitats would disappear. All RCPs (2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) indicate the expansion of C. vialis in "high" suitability areas, but RCP 4.5 predicts contraction, and RCPs 2.6, 6.0, and 8.5 predict expansion in "very high" probability areas. The current distribution of C. vialis is 21.59% of the total area of the state, with "medium" to "high" invasion suitability, but under the RCP 8.5 scenario, it might grow by 10% by 2070. The study also reveals that C. vialis may expand its niche at both lower and higher elevations. This study clarifies how bioclimatic and topographic factors affect the dispersion of invasive species in the biodiverse IHR. Policymakers and land-use managers can utilize the data to monitor C. vialis hotspots and develop scientifically sound management methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]