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(1) Background: The non-enzymatic glycation of proteins is a significant contributor to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and intermediates that are responsible for diabetic complications. It is imperative to explore effective inhibitors to prevent protein glycation. (2) Methods: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory potential of various aqueous ethanol extracts of poplar-type propolis on AGEs and oxidative modifications in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose and BSA-methylglyoxal models. (3) Results: The results revealed that these propolis extracts exhibited significant effectiveness in inhibiting the formation of total AGEs, pentosidine, and Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML). Furthermore, the investigation discovered that these propolis extracts can effectively inhibit oxidative modification, based on measuring the levels of carbonyl and thiol groups and analyzing tryptophan fluorescence quenching. Notably, 75% ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, surpassing the chemical inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG). (4) Conclusions: The remarkable anti-glycation potency of aqueous ethanol extracts of poplar-type propolis can be attributed to their elevated contents of phenolic compounds, especially abundant flavonoids, which inhibit the formation of AGEs by scavenging free radicals, decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and capturing reactive carbonyl species (RCS) in the protein glycation process. Our results indicate that poplar-type propolis may be a potential AGE inhibitor and could be used to develop functional foods and nutraceuticals to prevent diabetic complications.

Bee products, abundant in bioactive ingredients, have been utilized in both traditional and contemporary medicine. Their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties make them valuable for food, preservation, and cosmetics applications. Honeybees are a vast reservoir of potentially beneficial products such as honey, bee pollen, bee bread, beeswax, bee venom, and royal jelly. These products are rich in metabolites vital to human health, including proteins, amino acids, peptides, enzymes, sugars, vitamins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and minerals. The advancement of nanotechnology has led to a continuous search for new natural sources that can facilitate the easy, low-cost, and eco-friendly synthesis of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles (NPs) are actively synthesized using honeybee products, which serve dual purposes in preventive and interceptive treatment strategies due to their richness in essential metabolites. This review aims to highlight the potential role of bee products in this line and their applications as catalysts and food preservatives and to point out their anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant underlying impacts. The research used several online databases, namely Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Sci Finder. The overall findings suggest that these bee-derived substances exhibit remarkable properties, making them promising candidates for the economical and eco-friendly production of NPs.

Polyphenolic compounds are vital components of plants. However, their analysis is particularly difficult and challenging due to their similar chemical and structural properties. In this study, we developed a simple and reproducible HPLC-DAD protocol for determining nineteen pharmacologically important polyphenols in plant-based food samples, including fruits (apple, banana, grapefruit, peach, grapes, plum, and pear), vegetables (onion, cabbage, capsicum, garlic, lemon, tomato, potato, and spinach), and other edible items (corn, kidney beans, green tea, black tea, and turmeric). The reference standards were pooled into four different groups based on logP values and expected retention time to avoid compound co-elution. These developed methods will be useful for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of biologically important polyphenolic compounds in various food samples and botanicals.

Honeybee drone larvae are male bees that develop from unfertilized eggs and play a role in colony reproduction. The nutritional value of honeybee drone larvae is due to their high protein, lipid, and other nutrient contents, making them a profitable food source for humans in some cultures. Drone larvae lipids (DLLs) contribute to drone development; however, few studies have explored their substantial compositions and bioactive functions. In this study, we carried out DLL lipidomics analysis using UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS prior to in vitro anti-inflammatory activity analysis. The results highlighted the importance of the extraction temperature on the DLL composition. A total of 21 lipids were found in the DLL extract, mostly categorized into five groups: nine phospholipids, three sphingolipids, two neutral lipids, one plant glycoglycerolipid, four lipid acyl, and others. Drying extraction at -20 °C produced more sphingolipids, phospholipids, and unsaturated fatty acids. Of 37 fatty acids, 18 were displayed at -20 °C degrees, as shown by GC-MS quantitative analysis. Myristic (246.99 ± 13.19 μg/g), palmitic (1707.87 ± 60.53 μg/g), stearic (852.32 ± 24.17 μg/g), and oleic (2463.03 ± 149.61 μg/g) acids were the predominant fatty acids. Furthermore, we examined the significant in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of DLL (-20 °C) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged RAW264.7 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen (ROS) production and mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-10, COX-2, and iNOS were significantly decreased, demonstrating the anti-inflammatory function of DLL. Overall, this study provided insight into the lipid composition of DLL, revealed the influence of temperature, and explored the functionality of DLL (-20 °C), allowing for further application of DLLs as functional foods.

In the process of storage and cold chain logistics, apples are prone to physical bumps or microbial infection, which easily leads to spoilage in the micro-environment, resulting in widespread infection and serious post-harvest economic losses. Thus, development of methods for monitoring apple spoilage and providing early warning of spoilage has become the focus for post-harvest loss reduction. Thus, in this study, a spoilage monitoring and early warning system was developed by measuring volatile component production during apple spoilage combined with chemometric analysis. An apple spoilage monitoring prototype was designed to include a gas monitoring array capable of measuring volatile organic compounds, such as CO 2 , O 2 and C 2 H 4 , integrated with the temperature and humidity sensor. The sensor information from a simulated apple warehouse was obtained by the prototype, and a multi-factor fusion early warning model of apple spoilage was established based on various modeling methods. Simulated annealing-partial least squares (SA-PLS) was the optimal model with the correlation coefficient of prediction set (R p ) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.936 and 0.828, respectively. The real-time evaluation of the spoilage was successfully obtained by loading an optimal monitoring and warning model into the microcontroller. An apple remote monitoring and early warning platform was built to visualize the apple warehouse's sensors data and spoilage level. The results demonstrated that the prototype based on characteristic gas sensor array could effectively monitor and warn apple spoilage.

Tea plants absorb chromium-contaminated soil and water and accumulate in tea leaves. Hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+ ) is a very toxic heavy metal; excessive intake of tea containing Cr 6+ can cause serious harm to human health. A reliable and sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method was developed using Au@Ag nanoparticles as an enhanced substrate for the determination of Cr 6+ in tea. The Au@AgNPs coated with carbimazole showed a highly selective reaction to Cr 6+ in tea samples through a redox reaction between Cr 6+ and carbimazole. The Cr 6+ in the contaminated tea sample reacted with methimazole-the hydrolysate of carbimazole-to form disulfide, which led to the decrease in the Raman intensity of the peak at 595 cm -1 . The logarithm of the concentration of Cr 6+ has a linear relationship with the Raman intensity at the characteristic peak and showed a limit of detection of 0.945 mg/kg for the tea sample. The carbimazole functionalized Au@AgNPs showed high selectivity in analyzing Cr 6+ in tea samples, even in the presence of other metal ions. The SERS detection technique established in this study also showed comparable results with the standard ICP-MS method, indicating the applicability of the established technique in practical applications.

Urginea maritima L. (squill) species is widely spread at the Mediterranean region as two main varieties, i.e., white squill (WS) and red squill (RS), that are recognized for several health potentials. The major secondary metabolite classes of the squill are cardiac glycosides, mainly, bufadienolides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Herein, a multiplex MS and NMR metabolomics approach targeting secondary and aroma compounds in WS and RS was employed for varieties classification. Solid-phase micro extraction-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (SPME-GC/MS), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS), as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provided fingerprinting and structural confirmation of the major metabolites for both types of the squill. For comparison of the different platforms' classification potential, multivariate data analysis was employed. While Bufadienolides, viz. "hydroxy-scilliglaucosidin- O -rhamnoside, desacetylscillirosidin- O -rhamnoside and bufotalidin- O -hexoside" as well as oxylipids, were enriched in WS, flavonoids, i.e., dihydro-kaempferol- O -hexoside and its aglycon, taxifolin derivative, were predominant in RS. A cytotoxicity screening against three cancer cell lines, including breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), lung (A-549), and ovarian (SKOV-3) cell lines was conducted. Results revealed that WS was more effective on A-549 and SKOV-3 cell lines (WS IC 50 0.11 and 0.4 µg/mL, respectively) owing to its abundance of bufadienolides, while RS recorded IC 50 (MCF7 cell line) 0.17 µg/mL since is is rich inflavonoids.

Periodontal diseases are oral inflammatory diseases ranging from gingivitis to chronic periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major pathogens responsible for severe and chronic periodontitis. Plant extracts with antimicrobial activity could be considered possible alternatives to chlorhexidine, an antiseptic substance used in oral hygiene thatcan cause bacteria resistance. Here, two commercial extracts obtained from Cistus × incanus L. and Scutellaria lateriflora L. were chemically characterized usingUltra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with a Q-Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer. The extracts were studied for their bioaccessibility after simulated in vitro oral digestion, their antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis , their protective effects against cellular invasion by P. gingivalis , and their antibiofilm activity. The extracts were found to contain very complex mixtures of polyphenols, which were quite stable after in vitro simulated oral digestion and demonstrated mild, dose-dependent inhibitory activity against P. gingivalis growth. This activity increased with the combination of the two extracts. Moreover, the combination of the extracts induced a reduction in P. gingivalis HaCaT invasiveness, and the reduction in biofilm came to around 80%. In conclusion, a combination of C. incanus and S. lateriflora showed promising effects useful in the treatment of gingivitis.

This study was conducted to assess the bioactive value of Tamarix gallica honey samples collected from three countries. In total, 150 Tamarix gallica honey samples from Saudi Arabia (50), Libya (50), and Egypt (50) were collected and compared, based on the results of the melissopalynological analysis, their physicochemical attributes, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and biochemical properties, together with their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Depending on the geographical origin, we observed different levels of growth suppression for six resistant bacterial strains. The pathogenic microorganisms tested in this study were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There was a strong correlation between the polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as significant ( p < 0.05) radical scavenging activities. The melissopalynological analysis and physicochemical properties complied with the recommendation of the Gulf and Egyptian Technical Regulations on honey, as well as the Codex Alimentarius of the World Health Organization and the European Union Normative related to honey quality. It was concluded that Tamarix gallica honey from the three countries has the capacity to suppress pathogenic bacterial growth and has significant radical scavenging activities. Moreover, these findings suggest that Tamarix gallica honey may be considered as an interesting source of antimicrobial compounds and antioxidants for therapeutical and nutraceutical industries or for food manufacturers.

Microplastics (MPs), in the form of fragments and fibers, were recently found in honey samples collected in Ecuador as well as in honey bees collected from Denmark and China. However, little is known about how MPs impact bee health. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated the potential toxicity of irregularly shaped polystyrene (PS)-MP fragments on honey bee health. In the first experiment of its kind with honey bees, we chronically exposed bees with a well-established gut microbiome to small (27 ± 17 µm) or large (93 ± 25 µm) PS-MP fragments at varying concentrations (1, 10, 100 µg mL -1 ) for 14 days. Bee mortality, food consumption, and body weight were all studied. We found that chronic exposure to PS-MP fragments has no effect on honey bee survival, but reduced the feeding rate and body weight, particularly at 10 µg PS-MP fragments per mL, which may have long-term consequences for honey bee health. The findings of this study could assist in the risk assessment of MPs on pollinator health.

Brain tumors are a widespread and serious neurological phenomenon that can be life- threatening. The computing field has allowed for the development of artificial intelligence (AI), which can mimic the neural network of the human brain. One use of this technology has been to help researchers capture hidden, high-dimensional images of brain tumors. These images can provide new insights into the nature of brain tumors and help to improve treatment options. AI and precision medicine (PM) are converging to revolutionize healthcare. AI has the potential to improve cancer imaging interpretation in several ways, including more accurate tumor genotyping, more precise delineation of tumor volume, and better prediction of clinical outcomes. AI-assisted brain surgery can be an effective and safe option for treating brain tumors. This review discusses various AI and PM techniques that can be used in brain tumor treatment. These new techniques for the treatment of brain tumors, i.e., genomic profiling, microRNA panels, quantitative imaging, and radiomics, hold great promise for the future. However, there are challenges that must be overcome for these technologies to reach their full potential and improve healthcare.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA) ranks fifth in Asia in terms of area. It features broad biodiversity, including interesting flora, and was the historical origin of Islam. It is endowed with a large variety of plants, including many herbs, shrubs, and trees. Many of these plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine. The aim of this review is to evaluate the present knowledge on the plants growing in SA regarding their pharmacological and biological activities and the identification of their bioactive compounds to determine which plants could be of interest for further studies. A systematic summary of the plants' history, distribution, various pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds, and clinical trials are presented in this paper to facilitate future exploration of their therapeutic potential. The literature was obtained from several scientific search engines, including Sci-Finder, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, MDPI, Wiley publications, and Springer Link. Plant names and their synonyms were validated by 'The Plant List' on 1 October 2021. SA is home to approximately 2247 plant species, including native and introduced plants that belong to 142 families and 837 genera. It shares the flora of three continents, with many unique features due to its extreme climate and geographical and geological conditions. As plants remain the leading supplier of new therapeutic agents to treat various ailments, Saudi Arabian plants may play a significant role in the fight against cancer, inflammation, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To date, 102 active compounds have been identified in plants from different sites in SA. Plants from the western and southwestern regions have been evaluated for various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, and cytotoxic activities. The aerial parts of the plants, especially the leaves, have yielded most of the bioactive compounds. Most bioactivity tests involve in vitro assessments for the inhibition of the growth of tumour cell lines, and several compounds with in vitro antitumour activity have been reported. More in-depth studies to evaluate the mode of action of the compounds are necessary to pave the way for clinical trials. Ecological and taxonomical studies are needed to evaluate the flora of SA, and a plan for the conservation of wild plants should be implemented, including the management of the protection of endemic plants.

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 • (IC 50 = 34.01 ± 1.32 and 47.43 ± 1.74 µg/mL), ABTS + (IC 50 = 30.73 ± 1.42 and 40.37 ± 1.51 µg/mL), and superoxide anion (IC 50 = 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 (IC 50 = 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 (IC 50 = 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.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the Ficus sycomorus extract on Eimeria intestinalis in experimentally infected rabbits. For this purpose, forty male 30-day-old rabbits ( Blanc de Bouscat ) were divided into four groups ( n = 10 in each group). Rabbits kept in the first group served as negative control (non-treated-non-infected). Rabbits kept in the second, third, and fourth groups were challenged at 10 weeks old with 3 × 10 4 E. intestinalis sporulated oocysts. The third and fourth groups were treated orally with diclazuril 10% (0.05 mg/kg body weight) and F. sycomorus (100 mg/Kg) for three consecutive days, respectively. The efficacy was assessed based on the growth performance parameters, clinical symptoms, oocyst shedding, histopathological findings, and hematological parameters for 16 days post challenge. The study revealed that rabbits treated with F. sycomorus methanolic extract and diclazuril showed mild clinical symptoms with a significant decrease in oocyst shedding compared with the positive control. Moreover, the diclazuril-treated group showed the highest leukocytic count and the lowest monocytes percentage compared with other groups. Furthermore, the lowest lymphocytes percentage was recorded in the control positive group. Histopathologically, moderate coccidia infestation in the intestinal mucosa and moderate hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes were observed in the diclazuril treated group compared with the negative control. However, mild coccidia infestation in the intestinal mucosa and slight coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes was found in the F. sycomorus treated group. In conclusion, F. sycomorus methanolic extract had promising effects on the live performance, oocyst count, and blood variables, while it possesses adverse consequences on the hepatic tissues. Further studies are required to optimize the dose and extraction method to mitigate its side effects.

Colitis is an inflammatory disease that results from the overactivation of effector immune cells, producing a high quantity of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our study aimed to explore whether buckwheat ( F. esculentum ) bee pollen extract (FBPE) could inhibit the progression of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis via regulating immune function. We isolated and identified six main phenolic compounds of FBPE such as luteolin (9.46 mg/g) by column chromatography, HPLC-DAD, ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy, then assessed their effects on colonic mucosal injury by clinical symptoms, histomorphology and immunohistochemistry examinations. The results showed that FBPE at 25.2 g/kg body weight (g/kg BW) changed the clinical symptoms of colitis, the ICAM-1 expression in colon, the activity of related inflammatory mediators in colon tissue and helped restore the immune system. Compared with the model group (40.28%), the CD4 positivity was significantly reduced in the HD (High-dose group: 25.2 g FBPE/kg BW/day) group (20.45%). Administration of 25.2 g/kg BW of FBPE decreased the IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-4 levels, while enhancing the IL-10 level, and significantly inhibited the abnormally decreased IgG (Model: 13.25 mg/mL, HD: 14.06 mg/mL), showing a reversal effect on the Th1/Th2 levels in colitis. These findings suggested that FBPE at 25.2 g/kg BW had the effects of alleviating colitis and immunomodulation, which can help in the development of safe and effective immune therapy.

The gut microbiota has been designated as a hidden metabolic 'organ' because of its enormous impact on host metabolism, physiology, nutrition, and immune function. The connection between the intestinal microbiota and their respective host animals is dynamic and, in general, mutually beneficial. This complicated interaction is seen as a determinant of health and disease; thus, intestinal dysbiosis is linked with several metabolic diseases. Therefore, tractable strategies targeting the regulation of intestinal microbiota can control several diseases that are closely related to inflammatory and metabolic disorders. As a result, animal health and performance are improved. One of these strategies is related to dietary supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and phytogenic substances. These supplements exert their effects indirectly through manipulation of gut microbiota quality and improvement in intestinal epithelial barrier. Several phytogenic substances, such as berberine, resveratrol, curcumin, carvacrol, thymol, isoflavones and hydrolyzed fibers, have been identified as potential supplements that may also act as welcome means to reduce the usage of antibiotics in feedstock, including poultry farming, through manipulation of the gut microbiome. In addition, these compounds may improve the integrity of tight junctions by controlling tight junction-related proteins and inflammatory signaling pathways in the host animals. In this review, we discuss the role of probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenic substances in optimizing gut function in poultry.

Vaccines are the solution to overcome SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to determine the post-Sinopharm vaccine safety-profile and immunity through antibody titers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from Egyptian participants who received two doses of Sinopharm vaccine. Data were divided into three parts, the first and second parts were to detect participants' post-first and second dose symptoms and practices, and the third for the results of IgG anti spike protein antibodies test and laboratory tests. Pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, headache, fatigue, and lethargy were the most common post-vaccine symptoms for both first and second doses. Most of the participants felt mild or no symptoms after vaccination. The symptoms started mostly during the first day post-vaccination and lasted for no more than two days. Forty-nine percent of the participants resulted in positive antibodies tests on day 18 post-vaccination. The average antibody level for vaccinated participants with past SARS-CoV-2 infection was much higher than that for non-past infected participants. These vaccines' administration methods need to be reevaluated by changing the dose, dose interval, adding a third dose, or mixing it with other vaccines with different techniques to improve their protection rates. Further studies are required to validate this finding.

Pollination plays a significant role in the agriculture sector and serves as a basic pillar for crop production. Plants depend on vectors to move pollen, which can include water, wind, and animal pollinators like bats, moths, hoverflies, birds, bees, butterflies, wasps, thrips, and beetles. Cultivated plants are typically pollinated by animals. Animal-based pollination contributes to 30% of global food production, and bee-pollinated crops contribute to approximately one-third of the total human dietary supply. Bees are considered significant pollinators due to their effectiveness and wide availability. Bee pollination provides excellent value to crop quality and quantity, improving global economic and dietary outcomes. This review highlights the role played by bee pollination, which influences the economy, and enlists the different types of bees and other insects associated with pollination.

Propolis, a resin produced by honeybees, has long been used as a dietary supplement and folk remedy, and more recent preclinical investigations have demonstrated a large spectrum of potential therapeutic bioactivities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antiviral properties. As an antiviral agent, propolis and various constituents have shown promising preclinical efficacy against adenoviruses, influenza viruses, respiratory tract viruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Over 300 chemical components have been identified in propolis, including terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, with the specific constituent profile varying widely according to geographic origin and regional flora. Propolis and its constituents have demonstrated potential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by modulating multiple pathogenic and antiviral pathways. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated high binding affinities of propolis derivatives to multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including 3C-like protease (3CL pro ), papain-like protease (PL pro ), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein (S-protein), and helicase (NSP13), as well as to the viral target angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Among these compounds, retusapurpurin A has shown high affinity to 3CL pro (ΔG = -9.4 kcal/mol), RdRp (-7.5), RBD (-7.2), NSP13 (-9.4), and ACE2 (-10.4) and potent inhibition of viral entry by forming hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues within viral and human target proteins. In addition, propolis-derived baccharin demonstrated even higher binding affinity towards PL pro (-8.2 kcal/mol). Measures of drug-likeness parameters, including metabolism, distribution, absorption, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) characteristics, also support the potential of propolis as an effective agent to combat COVID-19.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and persistent pollutants, and have been detected in a wide variety of media, from soils to aquatic systems. MPs, consisting primarily of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylamide polymers, have recently been found in 12% of samples of honey collected in Ecuador. Recently, MPs have also been identified in honey bees collected from apiaries in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as nearby semiurban and rural areas. Given these documented exposures, assessment of their effects is critical for understanding the risks of MP exposure to honey bees. Exposure to polystyrene (PS)-MPs decreased diversity of the honey bee gut microbiota, followed by changes in gene expression related to oxidative damage, detoxification, and immunity. As a result, the aim of this perspective was to investigate whether wide-spread prevalence of MPs might have unintended negative effects on health and fitness of honey bees, as well as to draw the scientific community's attention to the possible risks of MPs to the fitness of honey bees. Several research questions must be answered before MPs can be considered a potential threat to bees.

The genus Centaurea is recognized in folk medicine for anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, antitussive, purgative, astringent, and tonic activities. To study the chemical determinant for antimicrobial activity essential oils (EOs), five Centaurea species were analyzed including: C. scoparia , C. calcitrapa , C. glomerata , C. lipii and C. alexandrina . Conventional hydro-distillation (HD) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), as new green technologies, were compared for the extraction of essential oils. GC/MS analysis identified 120 EOs including mostly terpenoid except from C. lipii and C. alexandrina in which nonterpenoids were the major constituents. Major terpenoids included spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide and alloaromadendrene oxide-2. To probe antibacterial activity, potential EO inhibitors of a bacterial type II DNA topoisomerase, DNA gyrase B were screened via an in silico molecular docking approach. Spathulenol and alloaromadendrene oxide-2 possessed the best binding affinity in the ATP- binding pocket of Gyrase B enzyme. Principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering were used for sample classification and revealed that sesquiterpenes contributed the most for accessions classification. In vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger for all EOs were also evaluated. EOs from C. lipii , C. glomerata and C. calcitrapa exhibited significant MIC against S. aureus with an MIC value of 31.25 µg/mL.

The current study investigated the protective potential of Azolla pinnate ethanolic extract (APE) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixty male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10). The control group was orally administrated with saline. The second group received lead acetate (100 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally for 60 days). The third group was fed with APE (10 mg/kg BW orally for 60 days). The fourth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group and APE like the third group, concomitantly, for 60 days. The fifth group was administrated with APE like the third group for 30 days, then orally administrated with the lead acetate like the second group for another 30 days. The sixth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group for 30 days, then with APE like the third group for a further 30 days. Phytochemical analysis of APE indicated the presence of peonidin 3- O -glucoside cation, vitexin, rutin, thiamine, choline, tamarixetin, hyperoside, astragalin, and quercetin. The latter has been elucidated using one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Lead acetate increased the serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and that of urea, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 1 β , hepatic tissue malondialdehyde contents, and caspase 3 protein expression, as well as altering the hepatic tissue architecture. However, it decreased the serum levels of interleukin 10 and glutathione (GSH) contents, and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in hepatic tissue. In contrast, the administration of APE ameliorated the lead-induced alterations in liver function and structure, exemplifying the benefits of Azolla 's phytochemical contents. Collectively, A. pinnate extract is a protective and curative agent against lead-induced hepatotoxicity via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic impacts.