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Plant-based natural compounds are widely used to treat various ailments owing to their readily availability and minimal adverse effects. This study aimed to perform qualitative and quantitative biochemical profiling and assess the in vitro anti-diabetic, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-cancer activities of various apricot (Prunus armeniaca) cultivars. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized to determine the concentrations of bioactive compounds across 10 distinct apricot cultivars. Initial phytochemical screening revealed a significant content of secondary metabolites. Subsequently, methanolic extracts from these cultivars were evaluated for their therapeutic potential against several human cancer cell lines, including prostate cancer (PC-3), lung cancer (A-549), breast cancer (MCF-7), cervical cancer (HELA), and kidney cancer (HEK). Notably, the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 showed a pronounced inhibition rate post-treatment with the apricot extracts. Correlation analysis exhibited phenols are highly correlated with flavonoids (r = 0.92), DPPH (r = 0.95), and alpha-amylase (%) inhibition (r = 0.96), and showed a significant correlation with other parameters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that PC1 explained 43.31 % of the variance, while PC2 explained 12.88 %, together explaining 80.033 % of the total variance. PC1 was identified as the dominant axis, indicating the primary pattern of variation among the variables. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) divided the cultivars into 2 main clusters, with cluster 2 further subdivided into various sub-clusters and sub-sub-clusters. This analysis highlighted distinct genetic similarities and differences among the apricot cultivars. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Irani’ and ‘Tilton’ were found to contain the highest levels of bioactive constituents. This research marks the first comprehensive examination of the impacts of these two apricot cultivars. The findings from this study provide a robust scientific foundation for the future isolation and purification of therapeutic compounds, potentially leading to their application in pharmaceuticals or dietary supplements. This research contributes significantly to the understanding of the pharmacological properties of apricot cultivars and establishes a basis for further investigation into their clinical benefits.

The provision of safe water and functioning waste management play key roles in preventing and combatting disease outbreaks such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Good water quality is needed for effective hygiene measures like washing hands as well as for lowering pathogen transmission. Almost all over the world, especially in developing countries, water is vulnerable and at high risk and surging insecurity with time. Effective water management, sanitation, and hygiene help to protect lives during the global COVID-19 pandemic. While sanitation and hygiene also disturb the quality and increase water consumption per capita to 40% comparatively and wastewater production in many developing countries. This rapid increase in water consumption puts direct pressure on water reservoirs and inadequate management of wastewater is also a serious threat to waterways, nowadays. Similarly, the quality of water bodies is significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the risk of transmission of COVID-19 through sewerage systems is recorded as low. Hence, the current review paper aims to highlight the main concerns directly linked with the frequent usage of detergents/soaps and alcohol-based hand sanitizers on water quality and the post-pandemic handwashing habits to overcome the COVID-19 spread also threatening the water reserve reservoirs via water high consumption along with more wastewater production with less water reuse efficiency and collectively the pressure on drinking water facilities. This review also focuses on the indirect influence of COVID-19 on water quality through technical interventions among COVID-19, water pollution; soaps/detergents, and hand sanitizer and the complete water management plan for water security and safety from policymakers to end users after the viral revolution briefly.

Salinity is one of the most concerning ecological restrictions influencing plant growth, which poses a devastating threat to global agriculture. Surplus quantities of ROS generated under stress conditions have negative effects on plants’ growth and survival by damaging cellular components, including nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. However, low levels of ROS are also necessary because of their role as signalling molecules in various development-related pathways. Plants possess sophisticated antioxidant systems for scavenging as well as regulating ROS levels to protect cells from damage. Proline is one such crucial non-enzymatic osmolyte of antioxidant machinery that functions in the reduction of stress. There has been extensive research on improving the tolerance, effectiveness, and protection of plants against stress, and to date, various substances have been used to mitigate the adverse effects of salt. In the present study Zinc (Zn) was applied to elucidate its effect on proline metabolism and stress-responsive mechanisms in proso millet. The results of our study indicate the negative impact on growth and development with increasing treatments of NaCl. However, the low doses of exogenous Zn proved beneficial in mitigating the effects of NaCl by improving morphological and biochemical features. In salt-treated plants, the low doses of Zn (1 mg/L, 2 mg/L) rescued the negative impact of salt (150mM) as evidenced by increase in shoot length (SL) by 7.26% and 25.5%, root length (RL) by 21.84% and 39.07% and membrane stability index (MSI) by 132.57% and 151.58% respectively.The proline content improved at all concentrations with maximum increase of 66.65% at 2 mg/L Zn. Similarly, the low doses of Zn also rescued the salt induced stress at 200mM NaCl. The enzymes related to proline biosynthesis were also improved at lower doses of Zn. In salt treated plants (150mM), Zn (1 mg/L, 2 mg/L) increased the activity of P5CS by 19.344% and 21%. The P5CR and OAT activities were also improved with maximum increase of 21.66% and 21.84% at 2 mg/L Zn respectively. Similarly, the low doses of Zn also increased the activities of P5CS, P5CR and OAT at 200mM NaCl. Whereas P5CDH enzyme activity showed a decrease of 82.5% at 2mg/L Zn+150mM NaCl and 56.7% at 2mg/L Zn+200 mM NaCl. These results strongly imply the modulatory role of Zn in maintaining of proline pool during NaCl stress.

Crops are susceptible to a variety of stresses and amongst them salinity of soil is a global agronomic challenge that has a detrimental influence on crop yields, thus posing a severe danger to our food security. Therefore, it becomes imperative to examine how plants respond to salt stress, develop a tolerance that allows them to live through higher salt concentrations and choose species that can endure salt stress. From the perspective of food, security millets can be substituted to avoid hardships because of their efficiency in dealing with salt stress. Besides, this problem can also be tackled by using beneficial exogenous elements. Selenium (Se) which exists as selenate or selenite is one such cardinal element that has been reported to alleviate salt stress. The present study aimed for identification of selenate and selenite transporters in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), their expression under NaCl (salt stress) and Na2SeO3 (sodium selenite)treatments. This study identified eight transporters (RLM65282.1, RLN42222.1, RLN18407.1, RLM74477.1, RLN41904.1, RLN17428.1, RLN17268.1, RLM65753.1) that have a potential role in Se uptake in proso millet. We analyzed physicochemical properties, conserved structures, sub-cellular locations, chromosome location, molecular phylogenetic analysis, promoter regions prediction, protein-protein interactions, three-dimensional structure modeling and evaluation of these transporters. The analysis revealed the chromosome location and the number of amino acids present in these transporters as RLM65282.1 (16/646); RLN42222.1 (1/543); RLN18407.1 (2/483); RLM74477.1 (15/474); RLN41904.1 (1/521); RLN17428.1 (2/522); RLN17268.1(2/537);RLM65753.1 (16/539). The sub-cellular locations revealed that all the selenite transporters are located in plasma membrane whereas among selenate transporters RLM65282.1 and RLM74477.1 are located in mitochondria and RLN42222.1 and RLN18407.1 in chloroplast. The transcriptomic studies revealed that NaCl stress decreased the expression of both selenate and selenite transporters in proso millet and the applications of exogenous 1µM Se (Na2SeO3) increased the expression of these Se transporter genes. It was also revealed that selenate shows similar behavior as sulfate, while selenite transport resembles phosphate. Thus, it can be concluded that phosphate and sulphate transporters in millets are responsible for Se uptake.

Agricultural production is under threat due to climate change in food insecure regions, especially in Asian countries. Various climate-driven extremes, i.e., drought, heat waves, erratic and intense rainfall patterns, storms, floods, and emerging insect pests have adversely affected the livelihood of the farmers. Future climatic predictions showed a significant increase in temperature, and erratic rainfall with higher intensity while variability exists in climatic patterns for climate extremes prediction. For mid-century (2040–2069), it is projected that there will be a rise of 2.8°C in maximum temperature and a 2.2°C in minimum temperature in Pakistan. To respond to the adverse effects of climate change scenarios, there is a need to optimize the climate-smart and resilient agricultural practices and technology for sustainable productivity. Therefore, a case study was carried out to quantify climate change effects on rice and wheat crops and to develop adaptation strategies for the rice-wheat cropping system during the mid-century (2040–2069) as these two crops have significant contributions to food production. For the quantification of adverse impacts of climate change in farmer fields, a multidisciplinary approach consisted of five climate models (GCMs), two crop models (DSSAT and APSIM) and an economic model [Trade-off Analysis, Minimum Data Model Approach (TOAMD)] was used in this case study. DSSAT predicted that there would be a yield reduction of 15.2% in rice and 14.1% in wheat and APSIM showed that there would be a yield reduction of 17.2% in rice and 12% in wheat. Adaptation technology, by modification in crop management like sowing time and density, nitrogen, and irrigation application have the potential to enhance the overall productivity and profitability of the rice-wheat cropping system under climate change scenarios. Moreover, this paper reviews current literature regarding adverse climate change impacts on agricultural productivity, associated main issues, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable productivity of agriculture to ensure food security in Asia. Flowing opportunities such as altering sowing time and planting density of crops, crop rotation with legumes, agroforestry, mixed livestock systems, climate resilient plants, livestock and fish breeds, farming of monogastric livestock, early warning systems and decision support systems, carbon sequestration, climate, water, energy, and soil smart technologies, and promotion of biodiversity have the potential to reduce the negative effects of climate change.

Soybean plants grown under NaCl were foliar sprayed twice with melatonin (MLT). Results revealed that salt stress reduced growth, biomass accumulation, photosynthesis, mineral uptake, the content of δ-aminolevulinic acid, chlorophylls, carotenoids and PSII efficiency. However, MLT application enhanced pigment synthesis and PSII activity. MLT up-regulated the antioxidant system and glyoxalase function resulting in reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reduced ROS in MLT-treated plants protected membrane functioning by reducing lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and lipoxygenase activity. Nevertheless, MLT application reduced methylglyoxal accumulation while increased the content of reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid. It could be concluded that exogenous MLT mitigated the salt stress damage in soybean plants by improving photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, controlling ion homeostasis and minimising excessive ROS accumulation.

Lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) are serious soil pollutants that adversely affect plant growth and development and need to be removed through phytoremediation. The present study aimed to assess the morphological indices of Albizia lebbeck (L.) (Benth.) in relation to anatomical modifications for survival under both Pb and Ni stress. The seedlings of A. lebbeck were established and then subjected to four different concentrations, viz. 0 mM, 25 mM, 50 mM and 75 mM, of Pb and Ni for 14 days in two phases. Morphological traits such as shoot length (70.93%), fresh weight (79.27%), dry weight (83.9%), number of root hairs (65.7%), number of leaves per plant (67.4%) and number of leaflets per plant greatly reduced under Pb or Ni stress. Surprisingly, root length increased rather than decreased with the increase in Pb or Ni concentrations, along with an increase in leaflet width, leaflet length and leaflet area. Moreover, root cortical cell area, metaxylem area and phloem area decreased at 75 mM of Pb and Ni while epidermal thickness and cell area increased. Stem epidermal thickness, cell area and phloem area significantly decreased with the consistent increase in metaxylem area and cortical region thickness under both Pb and Ni stress. Leaf anatomical traits such as midrib thickness, abaxial epidermal thickness and stomatal density and adaxial epidermal thickness and stomatal area significantly increased with increasing Pb or Ni stress. Correlation analysis revealed close relations among morphological and anatomical traits (such as root length with cortical region thickness) for better plant survival under Pb or Ni stress, and a PCA-biplot further verified these correlation analyses. Cluster analyses demonstrated the associations among the morphological and anatomical traits based on different stress levels. Furthermore, we found that the longer exposure (from phase 1 to phase 2) of heavy metals stress is more dangerous for plant survival and can ultimately lead to plant death. Moreover, our results also confirmed that Ni is more harmful or dangerous to plants than Pb at high and moderate concentrations. The anatomical modifications ensured the survival of A. lebbeck in extreme heavy metals stress and therefore unlocked its potential to be used as a natural source of phytoremediation. We also recommend that the genetic potential of A. lebbeck associated with its survival under heavy metal stress be investigated.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination resulting from industrialization and urbanization during the Anthropocene along with plant invasion can severely threaten the growth and adaptation of local flora. Invasive alien plant species generally exhibit a growth pattern consistent with their functional traits in non-contaminated environments in the introduced range. However, it remains unclear whether invasive alien plants have an advantage over native plants in contaminated environments and whether this growth pattern is dependent on the adaptation of their leaf functional traits. Here, we selected two congeneric pairs of invasive alien and native grasses that naturally co-exist in China and are commonly found growing in contaminated soil. To evaluate the effect of cadmium (Cd) on the structural and physiological leaf traits, we grew all four species in soil contaminated without or with 80 mg/kg Cd. Invasive plants contained significantly higher concentrations of Cd in all three organs (leaf, stem, and root). They displayed a higher transfer factor and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of shoot and root than natives, indicating that invasive species are potential Cd hyperaccumulators. Invasive plants accumulated polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to higher levels than natives and showed similar patterns of leaf structural and physiological traits in response to changes in Cd bioconcentration. The quantifiable leaf structural traits of invasive plants were significantly greater (except for stomatal density and number of dead leaves) than native plants. Leaf physiological traits, chlorophyll content, and flavonoid content were also significantly higher in invasive plants than in natives under Cd stress conditions after 4 weeks, although nitrogen balance index (NBI) showed no significant difference between the two species. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased, except for the quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and the proportion of open photosystem II (qP), which increased under Cd stress conditions in both species. However, invasive plants exhibited higher fluorescence parameters than natives under Cd stress, and the decrement observed in invasive plants under Cd stress was greater than that in natives. High Cd adaptation of invasive grasses over natives suggests that invasive plants possess optimal leaf structural and physiological traits, which enable them to adapt to stressful conditions and capture resources more quickly than natives. This study further emphasizes the potential invasion of alien plants in contaminated soil environments within the introduced range. To a certain extent, some non-invasive alien plants might adapt to metalliferous environments and serve as hyperaccumulator candidates in phytoremediation projects in contaminated environments.

Environmental factors such as low temperature (LT) and high humidity (HH) hinder plant growth and development in plastic tunnels and solar greenhouses in the cold season. In this study, we examined the effect of melatonin (MT) on shoot-based tolerance to LT and HH conditions in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings and explored its underlying mechanism. LT and HH stress inhibited growth and biomass accumulation, produced leaf chlorosis, led to oxidative stress, lowered chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, reduced photosynthetic and photosystem II (PSII) activities, and increased the level of intercellular carbon dioxide and the non-photochemical quenching of photosystem I (PSI) and PSII. However, foliar application of MT significantly improved the morphological indices and photosynthetic efficiency of cucumber seedlings, which entailed the elevation of electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species accumulation by boosting the antioxidant enzyme defense system under LT and HH conditions. Additionally, the measurement of nitrogen (N), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) contents in roots and leaves showed that MT significantly augmented the nutrient uptake of cucumber seedlings exposed to LT and HH stresses. Furthermore, MT application increased the transcripts levels of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes under LT and HH conditions, whereas treatment with LT and HH suppressed these genes, suggesting that MT application increases the LT and HH tolerance of cucumber seedlings. Overall, our results suggest that MT application increases the tolerance of cucumber seedlings to LT and HH stress by enhancing the plant morphometric parameters, regulating PSI and PSII, and activating the antioxidant defense mechanism. Thus, the exogenous application of MT could be potentially employed as a strategy to improve the LT and HH tolerance of cucumber.

Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective efficacy of pomegranate and ellagic acid on the histopathological changes in the hippocampus of an aluminium chloride (AlCl3) induced rat model of Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10 each): Group I : serving as negative control; Group II, Alzheimer model, induced by administration of 17 mg/kg bw AlCl3; Group III, administered the same dose of AlCl3 with 50 mg/kg of pomegranate peel extract and Group IV : administered ellagic acid (50 mg/kg) in addition to the same dose of AlCl3. The medication given to all groups continued for 28 days. All were given the compounds by gastric gavage. Radial arm maze test, hippocampus antioxidant markers, histopathology of the dentate gyrus, and CA3 of the hippocampus were evaluated. Results: Rats treated with pomegranate peel extract exposed to radial arm maze test showed less number of errors and reduced time needed to reach the criterion. There was an increase in the levels of glutathione, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity and decreased lipid peroxidation products. Histopathological features in dentate gyrus and CA3 as apoptosis and chromatolysis of pyramidal cells and granular layer, respectively, were decreased. Alzheimer characteristic neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques were reduced. Treatment with ellagic acid ameliorated the pathological results but to a statistically lower level. Conclusions: Pomegranate peel extract alleviates memory deficit and restores antioxidant homeostasis following degenerative changes in the hippocampus induced by aluminium chloride in rats.

Plants being sessile are always exposed to various environmental stresses, and to overcome these stresses, modifications at the epigenetic level can prove vital for their long-term survival. Epigenomics refers to the large-scale study of epigenetic marks on the genome, which include covalent modifications of histone tails (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and the small RNA machinery). Studies based on epigenetics have evolved over the years especially in understanding the mechanisms at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in plants against various environmental stimuli. Epigenomic changes in plants through induced methylation of specific genes that lead to changes in their expression can help to overcome various stress conditions. Recent studies suggested that epigenomics has a significant potential for crop improvement in plants. By the induction and modulation of various cellular processes like DNA methylation, histone modification, and biogenesis of noncoding RNAs, the plant genome can be activated which can help in achieving a quicker response against various plant stresses. Epigenetic modifications in plants allow them to adjust under varied environmental stresses by modulating their phenotypic plasticity and at the same time ensure the quality and yield of crops. The plasticity of the epigenome helps to adapt the plants during pre- and postdevelopmental processes. The variation in DNA methylation in different organisms exhibits variable phenotypic responses. The epigenetic changes also occur sequentially in the genome. Various studies indicated that environmentally stimulated epimutations produce variable responses especially in differentially methylated regions (DMR) that play a major role in the management of stress conditions in plants. Besides, it has been observed that environmental stresses cause specific changes in the epigenome that are closely associated with phenotypic modifications. However, the relationship between epigenetic modifications and phenotypic plasticity is still debatable. In this review, we will be discussing the role of various factors that allow epigenetic changes to modulate phenotypic plasticity against various abiotic stress in plants.

Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, representing two different kingdoms, are the most frequently isolated pathogens from invasive infections. Their pathogenic attributes, combined with drug resistance, make them a major threat and a challenge to successful treatments, mainly when involved in polymicrobial biofilm-associated infections. In the present study, we investigated the antimicrobial potential of Lactobacillus metabolite extracts (LMEs) purified from cell-free supernatant of four Lactobacillus strains (KAU007, KAU0010, KAU0021, and Pro-65). Furthermore, LME obtained from the strain KAU0021 (LMEKAU0021), being the most effective, was analyzed for its anti-biofilm property against mono- and polymicrobial biofilms formed by C. albicans and S. aureus. The impact of LMEKAU0021 on membrane integrity in single and mixed culture conditions was also evaluated using propidium iodide. The MIC values recorded for LMEKAU0021 was 406 µg/mL, 203 µg/mL, and 406 µg/mL against planktonic cells of C. albicans SC5314, S. aureus and polymicrobial culture, respectively. The LMEKAU0021 at sub-MIC values potentially abrogates both biofilm formation as well as 24 h mature mono- and polymicrobial biofilms. These results were further validated using different microscopy and viability assays. For insight mechanism, LMEKAU0021 displayed a strong impact on cell membrane integrity of both pathogens in single and mixed conditions. A hemolytic assay using horse blood cells at different concentrations of LMEKAU0021 confirmed the safety of this extract. The results from this study correlate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of lactobacilli against bacterial and fungal pathogens in different conditions. Further in vitro and in vivo studies determining these effects will support the aim of discovering an alternative strategy for combating serious polymicrobial infections caused by C. albicans and S. aureus.

In the present age of technological advancement, nanotechnology and its associated applications have been able to gain attention because of their ability to create a revolution in the field of modern science. There is no denying of the fact that nanomaterials synthesized by different methods, especially bio-synthesized ones, have provided numerous benefits to mankind in different fields like agriculture, medicine, industry, manufacturing etc. as they possess distinctive properties. Their size, surface characteristics and chemical composition are the major factors which contribute to their wide range of applications, while these are the same properties that are responsible for their toxic and hazardous effects. The present review tries to bridge an existing gap in literature – huge no. of research material is available of the technological advancements and applications of nanomaterials, paving the path for future research in this area, yet very limited information is available on their possible toxicity of living forms (plants, animals, humans alike) as well as the environment. This review acknowledges the tremendous advantages and positive effects of metal-based 11 NP: Nanoparticlesnanoparticles (NPs) on plants, but highlights on the phytotoxic effects of some of the most widely used NPs globally viz. ZnO NPs, TiO2 NPs, and AgNPs. Lastly, emphasis has been laid on the adverse effects of nanomaterials on different environmental conditions (soil and aquatic environment) and ecological topography.

Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most common bacteria causing sinusitis in children and adult patients. Probiotics are known to cause antagonistic effects on S. pyogenes growth and biofilm formation. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KAU007 against S. pyogenes ATCC 8668. The antibacterial potential of L. plantarum KAU007 metabolite extract (LME) purified from the cell-free supernatant of L. plantarum KAU007 was evaluated in terms of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). LME was further analyzed for its anti-biofilm potential using crystal violet assay and microscopic examination. Furthermore, the effect of LME was tested on the important virulence attributes of S. pyogenes, such as secreted protease production, hemolysis, extracellular polymeric substance production, and cell surface hydrophobicity. Additionally, the impact of LME on the expression of genes associated with biofilm formation and virulence attributes was analyzed using qPCR. The results revealed that LME significantly inhibited the growth and survival of S. pyogenes at a low concentration (MIC, 9.76 µg/mL; MBC, 39.06 µg/mL). Furthermore, LME inhibited biofilm formation and mitigated the production of extracellular polymeric substance at a concentration of 4.88 μg/mL in S. pyogenes. The results obtained from qPCR and biochemical assays advocated that LME suppresses the expression of various critical virulence-associated genes, which correspondingly affect various pathogenicity markers and were responsible for the impairment of virulence and biofilm formation in S. pyogenes. The non-hemolytic nature of LME and its anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties against S. pyogenes invoke further investigation to study the role of LME as an antibacterial agent to combat streptococcal infections.

In the three years since the first outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued to be prevalent in our community. It is believed that the virus will remain present, and be transmitted at a predictable rate, turning endemic. A major challenge that leads to this is the constant yet rapid mutation of the virus, which has rendered vaccination and current treatments less effective. In this study, the Lactobacillus sakei Probio65 extract (P65-CFS) was tested for its safety and efficacy in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication. Viral load quantification by RT-PCR showed that the P65-CFS inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with 150 mg/mL being the most effective concentration (60.16% replication inhibition) (p < 0.05). No cytotoxicity was inflicted on the HEK 293 cells, human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells, or human cervical (HeLa) cells, as confirmed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The P65-CFS (150 mg/mL) also reduced 83.40% of reactive oxidizing species (ROS) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation in virus-infected cells, both of which function as important biomarkers for the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, inflammatory markers, including interferon-α (IFN-α), IFN-ß, and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were all downregulated by P65-CFS in virus-infected cells as compared to the untreated control (p < 0.05). It was conclusively found that L. sakei Probio65 showed notable therapeutic efficacy in vitro by controlling not only viral multiplication but also pathogenicity; this finding suggests its potential to prevent severe COVID-19 and shorten the duration of infectiousness, thus proving useful as an adjuvant along with the currently available treatments.

Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) is an important medicinal plant with significant economic potential and has recently gained rapid momentum in the functional food sector. In the present study, soil chemistry, phytochemical, and molecular diversity were assessed for 50 accessions of chicory collected from diverse agro-climatic zones. In total, 64 common metabolites were identified from the leaves of 7 chicory accessions collected from different altitudes and among them, the predominant metabolites included methyl commate B (6.3–10.14%), gamma sitosterol (2.79–9.3%), and 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic-acid (2.55–8.42%). Three terpenoid compounds, viz., betulin, kolavelool and betulinaldehyde, were observed at high altitudes (1790, 1901, and 2172 m) and not observed at low altitudes. Among these compounds, betulin had the highest concentration with an average value of 23.53% followed by kolavelool with 7.37% and betulinaldehyde with 7.21%. For molecular diversity analysis, 12 ISSR primers were selected for PCR amplification and 86 bands were generated with an overall polymorphism percentage of 67.44%. The observed Nei’s genetic diversity (H) and Shannon’s information indices (I) were highest for the Pulwama (CIN-PU) group of accessions (H = 0.222 ± 0.018; I = 0.343 ± 0.027) and lowest for the Baramulla (CIN-BM) group of accessions (H = 0.115 ± 0.019; I = 0.173 ± 0.028). The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) analysis revealed 56% variation existing within the groups and 44% among the groups of chicory accessions. This study shows that chicory populations vary considerably in terms of their molecular and phytochemical composition as a function of their geographic location. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that chicory phytochemical and molecular diversity are significantly influenced by altitude, soil chemistry, and growing conditions. Using metabolomics and altitudinal variation, cluster analysis showed that geographic origin was correlated with diversity patterns.

Intercropping cover crops with trees enhance land productivity and improves the soil’s physio-chemical properties while reducing the negative environmental impact. However, there is a lack of quantitative information on the relationships between fine root biomass and available soil nutrients, e.g., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), especially in the rubber-Flemingia macrophylla intercropping system. Therefore, this study was initiated to explore the seasonal variation in fine root biomass and available soil nutrients at different stand ages (12, 15, and 24 years) and management systems, i.e., rubber monoculture (mono) and rubber-Flemingia macrophylla intercropping. In this study, we sampled 900 soil cores over five seasonal intervals, representing one year of biomass. The results showed that the total fine root biomass was greater in 12-year-old rubber monoculture; the same trend was observed in soil nutrients P and K. Furthermore, total fine root biomass had a significant positive correlation with available N (p < 0.001) in rubber monoculture and intercropping systems. Thus, it suggests that fine root growth and accumulation is a function of available soil nutrients. Our results indicate that fine root biomass and soil nutrients (P and K) may be determined by the functional characteristics of dominant tree species rather than collective mixed-species intercropping and are closely linked to forest stand type, topographic and edaphic factors. However, further investigations are needed to understand interspecific and complementary interactions between intercrop species under the rubber-Flemingia macrophylla intercropping system.

Background: Mistletoe lectins (MLs) are obtained from the diverse species of Viscum album L., sharing an extensive history of their use as potent anticancer agents in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. Mistletoe lectin-I (ML-I) is highly investigated among all MLs for the anti-proliferative activity that arises from its cytotoxic and immunomodulatory functions. Methods: Various databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were searched up to 2020 using relevant keywords. Results: In vitro and in vivo studies have signified apoptosis and cytokine production by immune cells as main mechanisms responsible for antitumor activities. MLs elicit the apoptotic pathway in tumour cell by regulating the expression of genes resulting in activation of caspases causing cell death. During apoptosis the disruption of the mitochondrial membrane leads to the release of cytochrome C and pro apoptotic factor Apaf-1 causing activation of Caspases. In addition, studies conducted on animal models have suggested that c-Myc, JNK and immune signalling systems as main oncotargets that mediate the antitumor functions. MLs are known to regulate the expression of genes involved in tumour survival, spread and growth. This includes down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2), metalloproteinases, c-Myc protein, growth factor β genes while as up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bad) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF).Transcriptomic and proteomic data also reported that cancer cells treated with whole plant Mistletoe extract constituting liphophillic Mistletoe compounds (triterpenes) and water soluble (lectins and viscotoxins) showed better anticancer efficacy than individual components while significantly affecting the genes involved in cell survival and death. Conclusion: This review aims at exploring the antitumor mechanisms of MLs against various cancer cell lines and mice animal models which encourages its application as effective bio-therapeutic tools to address range of human cancers.

Currently, the available indices to measure mangrove health are not comprehensive. An integrative ecological-socio economic index could give a better picture of the mangrove ecosystem health. This method explored all key biological, hydrological, ecological and socio-economic variables to form a comprehensive mangrove quality index. A total of 10 out of 43 variables were selected based on principal component analysis (PCA). They are aboveground biomass, crab abundance, soil carbon, soil nitrogen, number of phytoplankton species, number of diatom species, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, education level and fishing time spent by fishers. Two types of indices were successfully developed to indicate the health status viz., (1) Mangrove quality index for a specific category (MQISi) and, (2) Overall mangrove quality index (MQI) to reflect the overall health status of the ecosystem. The indices for the five different categories were mangrove biotic integrity index (MQIS1), mangrove soil index (MQIS2), marine-mangrove index (MQIS3), mangrove-hydrology index (MQIS4) and mangrove socio-economic index (MQIS5). The quality of the mangroves was classified from 1 to 5 viz. 1 (worst), 2 (bad), 3 (moderate), 4 (good), 5 (excellent). These MQI class could reflect the quality of mangrove forest which could be managed with the objective of improving its quality. Advantages of this method include: • PCA to select metrics from ecological-socioeconomic variables • Formulation of MQI based on selected metrics • Comprehensive index to classify mangrove ecosystem health Method name: How to develop a comprehensive mangrove quality index?, Keywords: Mangrove health, PCA, Indicator, Formulation

The Ebola virus outbreak in Africa is an unparalleled risk to society and to human health. Interventions that utilize the host cell receptor TIM-1 and the viral spike protein (S-protein) can be considered effective and suitable treatments. Initially, we identified Lumateperone as a candidate drug for the S-protein using the LEA3D tool; then using molecular modeling and docking, we investigated the binding efficiency of Lumateperone with the S-protein and its TIM-1 receptor. The present computational study shows that Lumateperone possesses a strong attraction to the S-protein and the TIM-1 receptor of the host as well as to their complex. It was observed that the binding energy of the S-protein/TIM-1 complex decreases in the presence of Lumateperone. A significant decrease of 395.75 kJ/mol (Lumateperone bound to the S-protein) and 517.19 kJ/mol (Lumateperone bound to the TIM-1 receptor) of binding energy was observed in the S-protein/TIM-1 complex in the presence of Lumateperone compared to their direct binding. We also noticed that Lumateperone was binding with the residues in the S-protein (Asn461) and the TIM-1 (Trp274 and Asn275) receptor that were involved in making the S-protein/TIM-1 complex. In the presence of Lumateperone, the simulation analysis also supports the above findings on the effectiveness of Lumateperone in delaying the establishment of the complex of the S-protein/TIM-1. In conclusion, this computational study predicts the possibility of Lumateperone as a therapeutic strategy against the Ebola virus.

Abiotic stress is the major threat confronted by modern-day agriculture. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that influence geographical distribution, survival, and productivity of various crops across the globe. Plants perceive salt stress cues and communicate specific signals, which lead to the initiation of defence response against it. Stress signalling involves the transporters, which are critical for water transport and ion homeostasis. Various cytoplasmic components like calcium and kinases are critical for any type of signalling within the cell which elicits molecular responses. Stress signalling instils regulatory proteins and transcription factors (TFs), which induce stress-responsive genes. In this review, we discuss the role of ion transporters, protein kinases, and TFs in plants to overcome the salt stress. Understanding stress responses by components collectively will enhance our ability in understanding the underlying mechanism, which could be utilized for crop improvement strategies for achieving food security.

Nitrogen (N) is one of the indispensable nutrients required by plants for their growth, development, and survival. Being a limited nutrient, it is mostly supplied exogenously to the plants, to maintain quality and productivity. The increased use of N fertilizers is associated with high-cost inputs and negative environmental consequences, which necessitates the development of nitrogen-use-efficient plants for sustainable agriculture. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying N metabolism in plants under low N is one of the prerequisites for the development of nitrogen-use-efficient plants. One of the important and recently discovered groups of regulatory molecules acting at the posttranscriptional and translational levels are microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are known to play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression in plants under different stress conditions including N stress. Several classes of miRNAs associated with N metabolism have been identified so far. These nitrogen-responsive miRNAs may provide a platform for a better understanding of the regulation of N metabolism and pave a way for the development of genotypes for better N utilization. The current review presents a brief outline of miRNAs and their regulatory role in N metabolism.

In this study, the role of zinc (Zn) in salt-affected soybean (Glycine max L.) was scrutinized by exposing plants to salt stress (150 mM NaCl) alone and in combination with exogenous Zn (priming and/or foliar spray with 1 mM ZnSO4.7H2O). Salt stress decreased plant growth and caused the destruction of chlorophyll and carotenoids. It also disrupted physiological processes and antioxidant defenses, resulting in an oxidative burst. The levels of the toxic metabolite methylglyoxal (MG) rose substantially under salinity. Salinity resulted in a high accumulation of Na+ and decreased K+ which decreased the K+/Na+ ratio. Zn supplementation decreased ion toxicity and improved ion homeostasis in soybean plants. Zn increased glutathione (GSH) levels, decreased glutathione disulfide levels, and increased their ratio in salt-treated soybean plants compared to salt-treated plants without Zn addition. Zn supplementation also upregulated the activities of the glutathione-dependent enzymes glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase in salt-stressed plants. The enhanced GSH pool and increased activity of GSH-dependent enzymes decreased oxidative damage, as indicated by the reduced levels of H2O2 and malondialdehyde and lower electrolyte leakage. The increased GSH level and high activity of glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II conferred by Zn under salt stress helped to scavenge methylglyoxal. The restoration of photosynthetic pigment levels and increased proline accumulation, together with the recovery of leaf relative water content, were further signs of salt stress recovery and tolerance conferred by Zn supplementation. Our results showed that the antioxidant defense, glyoxalase system and some other physiological parameters were improved by Zn supplementation which contributed to mitigating the effects of salt stress in soybean.

The current study was conducted to examine the in vitro anticancer potential of Cordia dichotoma (bark, leaves, pulp and seed). The plant material was collected from UT of J&K and methodical bioassays were carried out on ten human cancer cell lines (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7), M.D. Anderson-Metastatic Breast (MDA-MB-231), Neuroblastoma-2a (N2A), SH-SY5Y, U-251, HCT-116, SW-620, A-549, MIA PaCa-2, Panc-1) from five different origins (breast, CNS, colon, lung, pancreas) respectively. Methanolic extracts were produced and fractions were then obtained from the extracts and evaluated for cytotoxicity. Mechanistic assays, HPLC, and GCMS profiling were performed on the highest active fraction. The Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay determined the in vitro cytotoxicity. The findings revealed that the bark portion had in vitro cytotoxicity against the A-549 human lung cancer cell line. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the plant’s bark has anticancer properties and induced chromatin condensation, confirmed cell death via ROS generation, and significantly decreased colony formation in A-549 cell line from lung origin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, HPLC and GCMS investigations indicated the presence of a number of bioactive molecules such as gallic acid (144,969.86) uV*sec, caffeic acid (104.26) uV*sec, ferulic acid (472.87) uV*sec, vanillic acid (13,775.39) uV*sec, palmitic acid (18.34%), cis vaccenic acid (28.81%), etc. and one of the compounds was reported for the first time from the bark. As a result of its promising efficacy, it may become an essential cancer chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic medication for patients with lung carcinoma.

Conventional cancer treatments have shown several unfavourable adverse effects, as well as an increase in anticancer drug resistance, which worsens the impending cancer therapy. Thus, the emphasis is currently en route for natural products. There is currently great interest in the natural bioactive components from medicinal plants possessing anticancer characteristics. For example, clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) (Family Myrtaceae) is a highly prized spice that has been historically utilized as a food preservative and for diverse medical uses. It is reckoned amongst the valued sources of phenolics. It is indigenous to Indonesia but currently is cultivated in various places of the world. Among diverse active components, eugenol, the principal active component of S. aromaticum, has optimistic properties comprising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer actions. Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a musky oil that is mainly obtained from clove. It has long been utilized all over the world as a result of its broad properties like antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Eugenol continues to pique investigators’ interest because of its multidirectional activities, which suggests it could be used in medications to treat different ailments. Anticancer effects of eugenol are accomplished by various mechanisms like inducing cell death, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of migration, metastasis, and angiogenesis on several cancer cell lines. Besides, eugenol might be utilized as an adjunct remedy for patients who are treated with conventional chemotherapy. This combination leads to a boosted effectiveness with decreased toxicity. The present review focuses on the anticancer properties of eugenol to treat several cancer types and their possible mechanisms.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is an important temperate fruit crop worldwide. The availability of wild apricot germplasm and its characterization through genomic studies can guide us towards its conservation, increasing productivity and nutritional composition. Therefore, in this study, we carried out the genomic characterization of 50 phenotypically variable accessions by using SSR markers in the erstwhile States of Jammu and Kashmir to reveal genetic variability among accessions and their genetic associations. The genetic parameter results revealed that the number of alleles per locus (Na) ranged from 1 to 6 with a mean Na value of 3.89 and the mean effective number of alleles (Ne) per locus 1.882 with a range of 1.22 to 2. Similarly, the polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.464 to 0.104. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) (0.547) was found to have higher than expected heterozygosity (He) (0.453) with average heterozygosity of 0.4483. The dendrogram clustered genotypes into three main clades based on their pedigree. The population structure revealed IV sub-populations with all admixtures except the III sub-population, which was mainly formed of exotic cultivars. The average expected heterozygosity (He) and population differentiation within four sub-populations was 1.78 and 0.04, respectively, and explained 95.0% of the total genetic variance in the population. The results revealed that the SSR marker studies could easily decrypt the genetic variability present within the germplasm, which may form the base for the establishment of good gene banks by reducing redundancy of germplasm, selection of parents for any breeding program.

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory illness, is on the rise and is linked to several other life-threatening diseases. The primary goal of this study was to create a nanoemulsion gel loaded with methotrexate and olive oil (MTX NEG). The formulation was evaluated for physicochemical characterization, entrapment efficiency, drug release kinetics, skin permeation studies and stability tests. In addition, the efficacy of MTX NEG against psoriasis was tested using imiquimod-induced psoriasis in a rat model. The final optimized MTX NEG was developed with a particle size of 202.6 ± 11.59 nm and a PDI of 0.233 ± 0.01, with a 76.57 ± 2.48% average entrapment efficiency. After 20 h, the release kinetics predicted a 72.47% drug release at pH 5.5. FTIR findings demonstrated that the optimized MTX NEG formulation effectively fluidized both the epidermis and dermis of the skin, potentially increasing drug permeability and retention. The application of Tween 80 and PEG 400, on the other hand, significantly enhanced these effects, as these are well known penetration enhancers. After 24 h, an average of 70.78 ± 5.8 μg/cm2 of methotrexate was permeated from the nanoemulsion gel with a flux value of 2.078 ± 0.42 μg/cm2/h, according to permeation measurements. Finally, in vivo experiments on rabbit skin revealed that the increased skin penetration of methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion gel was not due to structural alterations in intercellular lipid layers in the stratum corneum. In vivo antipsoriatic studies on rats revealed that MTX NEG produced a PASI decrease that was extremely similar and even better than the 91% reduction seen in the MTX tablet group. According to the pharmacokinetic profile, Cmax was 8.5 μg/mL, Tmax was 12 h, and t1/2 was 15.5 ± 2.37 h. These findings reinforce that MTX-NEG based on olive oil could be a possible treatment for psoriasis and could decrease the remission of psoriasis-like symptoms.

Boron (B) performs physiological functions in higher plants as an essential micronutrient, but its protective role in salt stress is poorly understood. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is planted widely throughout the world, and salinity has adverse effects on its physiology. Here, the role of B (1 mM boric acid) in salt stress was studied by subjecting soybean plants to two levels of salt stress: mild (75 mM NaCl) and severe (150 mM NaCl). Exogenous B relieved oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant defense system components, such as ascorbate (AsA) levels, AsA/dehydroascorbate ratios, glutathione (GSH) levels, the GSH and glutathione disulfide ratios, and ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase activities. B also enhanced the methylglyoxal detoxification process by upregulation of the components of the glyoxalase system in salt-stressed plants. Overall, B supplementation enhanced antioxidant defense and glyoxalase system components to alleviate oxidative stress and MG toxicity induced by salt stress. B also improved the physiology of salt-affected soybean plants.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the global effort to develop high efficacy countermeasures to control the infection are being conducted at full swing. While the efficacy of vaccines and coronavirus drugs are being tested, the microbiome approach represents an alternative pathophysiology-based approach to prevent the severity of the infection. In the current study, we evaluated the action of a novel probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum Probio-88 against SARS-COV-2 replication and immune regulation using an in vitro and in silico study. The results showed that extract from this strain (P88-CFS) significantly inhibited the replication of SARS-COV-2 and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Furthermore, compared with infected cells, P88-CFS treated cells showed a significant reduction in inflammatory markers such as IFN-α, IFN-β, and IL-6. Using an in silico molecular docking approach, it was postulated that the antiviral activity of L. plantarum Probio-88 was derived from plantaricin E (PlnE) and F (PlnF). The high binding affinity and formation of hydrogen bonding indicated that the association of PlnE and PlnF on SARS-COV-2 helicase might serve as a blocker by preventing the binding of ss-RNA during the replication of the virus. In conclusion, our study substantiated that P88-CFS could be used as an integrative therapeutic approach along with vaccine to contain the spread of the highly infectious pathogen and possibly its variants.

Nitrogen is one of the most influencing inorganic nutrients for improved plant growth and yield in crops. However, excessive fertilizer application may have adverse impacts on the environment. Therefore, we strive to investigate in this work by examining the impact of different nitrogen (N) doses in the form of urea (46% N) on the growth, yield, photosynthetic pigment content, nitrate reductase activity, carbohydrate content, protein content, and antioxidant enzyme activity of the carrot and beetroot. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions with four nitrogen levels as basal treatment (Control = Nil N, U50 = 145.57 mg/kg N; U100 = 291.14 mg/kg N; U150 = 436.71 mg/kg N; U200 = 582.28 mg/kg N). Results found that U150 (436.71 mg/kg N) is the optimum N fertilizer dose at which significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvements in all the growth, yield and biochemical attributes of carrot and beetroot were observed. However, the further increment in N doses did not affect the observed parameters and, therefore, excessive N level was observed beyond U150 = 436.71 mg/kg N. The principal component analysis presented significant correlations among the various parameters observed. Two principal components account for a total of 98.86% variance (PC1 = 92.96%; PC2 = 5.90%) in carrot and 99.2% variance (PC1 = 92.64; PC = 6.56) in beetroot of the overall data variability in plants supplemented with different N treatments.

The study aimed at evaluating the antioxidant profile of a medicinal epiphyte Viscum album L. harvested from three tree species, namely, Populus ciliata L, Ulmus villosa L., and Juglans regia L. The crude extracts were obtained with ethanol, methanol, and water and were evaluated for the total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities using total reducing power (TRP), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1, 1-diphenyl 1-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide radical scavenging (SOR), and hydroxyl radical scavenging (•OH) assays. Our results showed that crude leaf extracts of plants harvested from the host Juglans regia L. exhibited higher yields of phytochemical constituents and noticeable antioxidative properties. The ethanolic leaf samples reported the highest phenols (13.46 ± 0.87 mg/g), flavonoids (2.38 ± 0.04 mg/g), FRAP (500.63 ± 12.58 μM Fe II/g DW), and DPPH (87.26% ± 0.30 mg/mL). Moreover, the highest values for TRP (4.24 ± 0.26 μg/mL), SOR (89.79% ± 0.73 mg/mL), and OH (67.16% ± 1.15 mg/mL) were obtained from aqueous leaf extracts. Further, Pearson correlation was used for quantifying the relationship between TPC, TFC, and antioxidant (FRAP, DPPH, SOR, OH) activities in Viscum album L. compared to their hosts. It was revealed that the epiphyte showed variation with the type of host plant and extracting solvent.

Salt stress adversely affects the growth and productivity of crops. However, reports suggest that the application of various micronutrients could help the plant to cope with this stress. Hence, the objective of the study was to examine the effect of exogenous application of Zinc (Zn) on salt tolerance in Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek (mungbean). Mungbean is considered to be an economically important crop and possess a strategic position in Southeast Asian countries for sustainable crop production. It is rich in quality proteins, minerals and vitamins. Three weeks old grown seedlings were subjected to NaCl (150 mM and 200 mM) alone or with Zn (250 µM). After 21 days of treatment, plants were harvested for investigating morphological, physiological and biochemical changes. We found that the Zn application mitigates the negative effect upon plant growth to a variable extent. This may be attributed to the increased shoot and root length, improved chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, enhanced total soluble sugar (TSS), total soluble protein (TSP) and proline accumulation, decreased H2O2 content and increased enzymatic antioxidant activities. Zn’s application improved the performance of the enzymes such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) of the secondary metabolism, which resulted in the improvement of total phenol and flavonoids. The antioxidant activities such as 1,1diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazine (DPPH) and ferrous reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) of the plants also showed improved results in their salt only treatments. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide radical (SOD) scavenging activity were also improved upon the application of 250 µM zinc. Thus, Zn application in low doses offers promising potential for recovering plants suffering from salinity stress. In conclusion, we assume that zinc application improved salt tolerance in mungbean through the improvement of various physiological and photochemical processes which could prove to be useful in nutrient mediated management for crop improvement.

Candida auris is an emergent multidrug-resistant pathogen that can lead to severe bloodstream infections associated with high mortality rates, especially in hospitalized individuals suffering from serious medical problems. As Candida auris is often multidrug-resistant, there is a persistent demand for new antimycotic drugs with novel antifungal action mechanisms. Here, we reported the facile, one-pot, one-step biosynthesis of biologically active Ag-Cu-Co trimetallic nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Salvia officinalis rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. These medicinally important phytochemicals act as a reducing agent and stabilize/capping in the nanoparticles’ fabrication process. Fourier Transform-Infrared, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy dispersive X-Ray, X-ray powder diffraction and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements were used to classify the as-synthesized nanoparticles. Moreover, we evaluated the antifungal mechanism of as-synthesized nanoparticles against different clinical isolates of C. auris. The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations ranged from 0.39–0.78 μg/mL and 0.78–1.56 μg/mL. Cell count and viability assay further validated the fungicidal potential of Ag-Cu-Co trimetallic nanoparticles. The comprehensive analysis showed that these trimetallic nanoparticles could induce apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in C. auris. Furthermore, Ag-Cu-Co trimetallic nanoparticles exhibit enhanced antimicrobial properties compared to their monometallic counterparts attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag, Cu and Co present in the as-synthesized nanoparticles. Therefore, the present study suggests that the Ag-Cu-Co trimetallic nanoparticles hold the capacity to be a lead for antifungal drug development against C. auris infections.

Continuous irrigation of soils with untreated effluents can result in the accumulation and translocation of some metals in the soils and plants. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) to such soils may increase or decrease their availability and retention time. Calcareous soils contaminated with 100, 200, and 400mg kg–1 Ni, Zn, and Pb as chloride salts were used, and farmyard manure added (40g kg–1 for 90 days) with moisture contents at field capacity. Soil samples were drawn at 30 day intervals, and metals extracted with (AB-DTPA) C14H23NO3O10. With FYM application of 400 mg kg–1, Ni availability increased from 179 (day 30) to 240 mg kg–1(day 90); Zn from 163 (day 30) to 230 mg kg–1 (day 90), but, Pb decreased from 214 to 161 mg kg–1. FYM forms multi-dentate complex which greatly enhances the Ni and Zn solubility, and organic matter immobilizes Pb in the soil.

In this study, the fiber morphology and chemical constituents of a 4-year-old rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) from the RRIM 2000 clone series were evaluated. The effects of planting density on the fiber morphology and chemical compositions of the clone of rubber wood were also considered. It is clear that the fibers of the rubber wood samples grown under higher planting density were thicker, with a wider lumen diameter than those grown under lower planting density. There were significant interactions between planting density and the height of the tree from which the samples were taken for all measured fiber properties studied. The chemical composition of the clone of rubber wood was determined as per TAPPI standards. Each of the chemical constituents of the rubber wood displayed statistically significant (at the 95% confidence level) interactions with tree section (low, middle, or high) and planting density. Fiber morphology and chemical composition results showed that juvenile rubber trees could supply fiber to produce particleboard and medium density fiberboard. Compared to mature rubber trees (those more than 25 years old), the studied RRIM 2000 clone rubberwood trees were found to be as compatible for use in the wood industry.

Phytoremediation is one of the safer, economical, and environment-friendly techniques in which plants are used to recover polluted soils, particularly those containing toxic organic substances and heavy metals. However, it is considered as a slow form of remediation, as plants take time to grow and flourish. Various amendments, including the augmentation of certain chemical substances i.e., ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol tetra acetic acid (EGTA), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) have been used to induce and enhance the phytoextraction capacity in plants. Several reports show that chemical amendments can improve the metal accumulation in different plant parts without actually affecting the growth of the plant. This raises a question about the amount and mechanisms of chemical amendments that may be needed for potentially good plant growth and metal phytoremediation. This review provides a detailed discussion on the mechanisms undertaken by three important chemical amendments that are widely used in enhancing phytoremediation (i.e., EDTA, EGTA, and SDS) to support plant growth as well as soil phytoremediation. A core part of this review focuses on the recent advances that have been made using chemical amendments in assisting metal phytoremediation.