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The most frequent cancer in women worldwide is breast cancer, it is also the second leading cause of cancerrelated death in women. As a consequence, there is a pressing need to develop more effective cancer medicines. The seed of pumpkin C. maxima reported to have medicinal properties and pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial activity. In the present study, we performed DPPH free radical scavenging activity and anti-microbial activity against microorganisms E. coli, P. aeruginosa, A. bracilences, S. aureus using aqueous extract of C. maxima seed were preferred. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used to test anti-cancer activities in -vitro. The outcomes revealed high anti-oxidant activity of the extract 0.781 ± 0.016 in 100 μg/ml and anti-microbial activity showed the most prominent activity of the extract against all the tested microorganisms. The MTT assay showed IC50 value of 45.40 μg/ml of the extract. Further, the Ao/EtBr staining proved that the methanolic extract of C. maxima possess protective activity against MCF-7 cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background. The presence of insect fragments is one of the major constrains in stored food commodities and it causes considerable loss in the quality of the produce. The management of the pest is viewed as a huge challenge in foodprocessingindustry. Conventionally, the detection of Tribolium castenaum in the food processing industry is carried out by acid hydrolysis and staining methods that are time consuming and lack precision. Experimental approach. Considering the importance of a quick and effective method, a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based approach was developed and elucidated in this study. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene was identified as a target due to its abundance in the pest. Specific primers were designed against the target gene by Primer Premier software and amplified in a qPCR. Results and conclusions. This method is capable of detecting all the ontogenic stages of T. castaneum in stored wheat flour. Earlier experiments had demonstrated that about 20 µg of DNA can be obtained from 2.2 mg of insects. To quantify the infestation levels, the cycle threshold (Ct) values obtained from known samples were subjected to regression analysis and expressed as adult equivalents. In the unknown samples, the infestation was calculated as 1.74 and 0.046 adult insects in 5 g of wheat flour. The maximum permissible limit of insect fragments in flour is 75 insect fragments or approx. 3 adults per 50 g of flour as per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hence, by adopting this new method, it is possible for the warehouse operators to arrive at a decision to proceed with efficient management practices where wheat flour is stored. Also, this method can be ratified by government agencies associated with international business to ascertain whether the wheat flour meets the standards set by the respective country before subjecting to foreign trade. Novelty and scientific contribution. This study is the first of its kind in the detection and quantification of T. castaneum in milled products. So far, only conventional methods have been employed to assess the presence of the pests and manual counting of fragments are practiced to quantify the infestation levels. The developed qPCR method is faster, reliable and can be employed in milling industries, bakery industries, food processing plants and foreign trade units for critical detection and quantification of T. castaneum pest infestation.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widely used chemical that can harm the human body, including the reproductive system. BPA accumulates in the body and is found in 95 % of individuals due to everyday exposure through food, water, and skin absorption. BPA can impair female fertility by interfering with ovarian folliculogenesis, inhibiting follicular growth, and inducing atresia, leading to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a prevalent endocrine disorder that affects many reproductive-aged women. While current treatments can help manage symptoms, they do not entirely prevent complications. Luteolin, a natural flavonoid with medicinal properties, is commonly used to treat metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Therefore, we evaluated Luteolin's properties against PCOS in Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies; further, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in protecting the Chinese Hamster ovarian (CHO) cells from Reactive Oxygen Species, cellular damage, and negative mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated. Additionally, an in-vivo PCOS-like model was developed using zebrafish, and the localization of Luteolin was identified using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Luteolin protected the CHO cells from cellular damage, ROS, and negative mitochondrial membrane potential. Luteolin alleviated the total SOD levels in the Zebrafish ovary, induced follicular maturation, and altered the key genes in ovarian proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β expression. Natural Phyto-oxidants such as Luteolin may protect follicular development and early PCOS in adult zebrafish to prevent oxidative stress and inflammation. This study suggests using Luteolin as a phytomedicine to alleviate ovarian function decline., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ruminants release enteric methane into the atmosphere, significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions and degrading the environment. A common focus of traditional mitigation efforts is on dietary management and manipulation, which may have limits in sustainability and efficacy, exploring the potential of essential microorganisms as a novel way to reduce intestinal methane emissions in ruminants; a topic that has garnered increased attention in recent years. Fermentation and feed digestion are significantly aided by essential microbes found in the rumen, such as bacteria, fungi, and archaea. The practical implications of the findings reported in various studies conducted on rumen gut concerning methane emissions may pave the way to understanding the mechanisms of CH 4 production in the rumen to enhance cattle feed efficiency and mitigate CH 4 emissions from livestock. This review discussed using essential bacteria to reduce intestinal methane emissions in ruminants. It investigates how particular microbial strains or consortia can alter rumen fermentation pathways to lower methane output while preserving the health and productivity of animals. We also describe the role of probiotics and prebiotics in managing methane emissions using microbial feed additives. Further, recent studies involving microbial interventions have been discussed. The use of new methods involving functional metagenomics and meta-transcriptomics for exploring the rumen microbiome structure has been highlighted. This review also emphasizes the challenges faced in altering the gut microbiome and future directions in this area., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Industrial expansion and inadequate environmental safety measures are major contributors to environmental contamination, with heavy metals (HMs) and pharmaceutical waste playing crucial roles. Their negative effects are most noticeable in aquatic species and vegetation, where they accumulate in tissues and cause harmful results. Interactions between HMs and pharmaceutical molecules result in the production of metal-drug complexes (MDCs), which have the potential to disturb diverse ecosystems and their interdependence. However, present studies frequently focus on individual pollutants and their effects on specific environmental parameters, leaving out the cumulative effects of pollutants and their processes across several environmental domains. To address this gap, this review emphasizes the environmental sources of HMs, elucidates their emission pathways during anthropogenic activities, investigates the interactions between HMs and pharmaceutical substances, and defines the mechanisms underlying the formation of MDCs across various ecosystems. Furthermore, this review underscores the simultaneous occurrence of HMs and pharmaceutical waste across diverse ecosystems, including the atmosphere, soil, and water resources, and their incorporation into biotic organisms across trophic levels. It is important to note that these complex compounds represent a higher risk than individual contaminants.

Microplastics are found ubiquitous in the natural environment and are an increasing source of worry for global health. Rapid industrialization and inappropriate plastic waste management in our daily lives have resulted in an increase in the amount of microplastics in the ecosystem. Microplastics that are <150 μm in size could be easily ingested by living beings and cause considerable toxicity. Microplastics can aggregate in living organisms and cause acute, chronic, carcinogenic, developmental, and genotoxic damage. As a result, a sustainable approach to reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste is required to manage microplastic pollution in the environment. However, there is still a significant lack of effective methods for managing these pollutants. As a result, the purpose of this review is to convey information on microplastic toxicity and management practices that may aid in the reduction of microplastic pollution. This review further insights on how plastic trash could be converted as value-added products, reducing the load of accumulating plastic wastes in the environment, and leading to a beneficial endeavor for humanity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Tartrazine (TZ), or E 102 or C Yellow, is a commonly used azo dye in the food and dyeing industries. Its excessive usage beyond permissible levels threatens human health and the aquatic environment. While previous studies have reported adverse effects such as mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity. Our study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the developmental neurotoxicity of TZ exposure via biochemical and behavioral examinations and explored the underlying mechanism via gene expression analyses. TZ at an environmentally relevant concentration (50 mg/L) significantly induces oxidative stress, altered antioxidant (SOD, CAT and GSH) response, triggered cellular damage (MDA and LDH), and induced neuro-biochemical changes (AChE and NO). Gene expression analyses revealed broad disruptions in genes associated with antioxidant defense (sod1, cat, and gstp1), mitochondrial dysfunction (mfn2, opa1, and fis1),evoked inflammatory response (nfkb, tnfa, and il1b), apoptosis activation (bcl2, bax, and p53), and neural development (bdnf, mbp, and syn2a). Behavioral analysis indicated altered thigmotaxis, touch response, and locomotion depending on the concentration of TZ exposure. Remarkably, the observed effective concentrations were consistent with the permitted levels in food products, highlighting the neurodevelopmental effects of TZ at environmentally relevant concentrations. These findings provide valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly the role of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, contributing to TZ-induced neurodevelopmental disorders in vivo., Competing Interests: Competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and osteoporosis, though seemingly unrelated, exhibit intricate connections influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors. PCOS, characterized by elevated androgen levels, insulin resistance, and increased body weight, has historically been considered protective against bone fragility disorders. However, emerging research suggests that chronic inflammation, prevalent in PCOS, can adversely affect bone health. Studies have demonstrated variable bone mineral density loss in PCOS, often associated with leptin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Key genes such as INS, IGF1, CTNNB1, AKT1, and STAT3 play pivotal roles in the complex interplay between PCOS and osteoporosis, influencing insulin signaling, oxidative stress, and inflammatory pathways. Oxidative stress, a prominent element in PCOS, can lead to osteoporosis through hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and lifestyle factors. The insulin signaling pathway also significantly impacts both conditions by contributing to hormonal imbalances and bone health alterations. This intricate network of genetic and epigenetic factors underscores the need for a deeper understanding of their interrelationships. Thus, this review elucidates the multifaceted genetic, epigenetic, and inflammatory connections between PCOS and osteoporosis, highlighting their implications for bone health management in individuals with PCOS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bacteria communicate with each other through contact-dependent and contact-independent mechanisms. While certain contact-dependent mechanisms, such as Type IV and Type VI, have received considerable attention, nanotubes-mediated communication among gut bacteria remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the presence of nanotube production in both gut commensal and gut pathogenic bacteria. And also aims to show how Enterococcus faecalis utilizes nanotubes to combat Salmonella ser. Typhi (S. Typhi), a pathogen in the gut. The research findings suggest that the formation of nanotubes is an inherent trait observed in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly, bacteria generate nanotubes in dynamic environments, biofilms, and even within the gut of zebrafish. These nanotubes develops over time in accordance with the duration of incubation. Furthermore, E. faecalis effectively combats S. Typhi through mechanisms that depend on physical contact rather than indirect methods. Notably, E. faecalis protects zebrafish larvae from S. Typhi infections by reducing reactive oxygen species and cell death, and concurrently boosting the production of antioxidant enzymes. It is hypothesized that E. faecalis might eliminate S. Typhi by transferring toxic metabolites into the pathogen via nanotubes. Gene expression analysis highlights that proinflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 are elevated in Salmonella-infected larvae. However, co-treatment with E. faecalis counters this effect. Findings of this study underscores the significance of nanotubes as a vital machinery for bacterial communication and distribution of virulence factors. Exploring nanotubes-mediated communication at a molecular level could pave the way for innovative therapeutic interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Shrimp aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector that makes a significant economic contribution. However, the aquaculture industry is confronted with significant challenges, and infectious diseases, notably Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), have emerged as severe threat. AHPND is caused by pathogens carrying the pVA-1 plasmid, which expresses the PirAB toxin, and it has wreaked havoc in shrimp aquaculture, imposing substantial economic burdens. To address this issue, it is crucial to delve into shrimp's immune responses. Therefore, this comprehensive review offers an in-depth examination of AHPND outbreaks, encompassing various facets such as environmental factors, host susceptibility, and the mechanisms employed by the pathogens. Traditional approaches to combat AHPND, primarily relying on chemicals and antibiotics, have raised concerns related to antibiotic resistance and have demonstrated limited success in disease control. Hence this review spotlights recent advancements in molecular diagnostics, therapeutic agents, and research related to shrimp immunity. Understanding these developments is crucial in the ongoing battle against AHPND. In conclusion, this review underscores the pressing need to comprehend the underlying mechanisms of AHPND pathogenesis and emphasizes the importance of developing comprehensive and effective solutions to combat this devastating disease, which continues to threaten the sustainability of shrimp farming., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement The authors declare there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Natural toxicants, particularly methoxy phenols (MPs) generated by wildfire lignin, can accumulate in the environment, and cause serious health hazards in living organisms. Although the toxicity of MPs such as guaiacol and catechol has recently been described, there is minimal evidence of ecotoxicological effects of syringol. As a result, this study focuses on determining the toxicity by evaluating the cytotoxic and teratogenic effects of syringol in vitro and in vivo in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells and zebrafish embryos, respectively. The ecotoxicity of syringol was predicted to be 63.8 mg/L using the ECOSAR (ECOlogical Structure Activity Relationship) prediction tool, and molecular docking analysis was used to determine the interaction and binding affinities of syringol with human apoptotic proteins in silico. In HEK-293 cells, exposure of syringol (0.5-2 mg/L) has induced cytotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner. In zebrafish larvae, exposure of syringol (0.5-2 mg/L) has induced dose-dependent embryo toxic effects (or growth abnormalities such as yolk sac edema, pericardial edema, skeletal abnormality, and hyperemia), and changes in growth morphometrics (head height, eye, yolk sac, and pericardial area, heart rate) in particular, the heart rate of larvae was found to be significantly decreased (p<0.001). After a 4-day experimental trial, the accumulated concentration of syringol in zebrafish larvae was confirmed both qualitatively (HPLC-MS - High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass spectrometry) and quantitatively (LC-QTOF-HRMS - Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupolar Time of Flight-High Resolution Mass spectrometry). The craniofacial abnormalities induced by syringol exposure (0.5-2 mg/L) were detected as anomalies in cartilaginous development and locomotor deficits using alcian blue staining and locomotor analyses, respectively. Significant increase in oxidative stress parameters (including reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, lactate dehydrogenase and nitric oxide production) (p<0.001) and substantial decrease in glutathione levels were observed (p<0.05) in syringol exposed zebrafish larvae through enzymatic analysis. Additionally, through acridine orange staining and gene expression analyses, syringol (2 mg/L) was found to activate apoptosis in zebrafish larvae. Considering the cytotoxic, embryotoxic (teratogenicity), and oxidative stress-related apoptotic effects of syringol in the zebrafish model, syringol has the potential to emerge as a potent environmental toxicant posing serious health hazards in many living systems; however, further research on its toxicological effects on the actual ecosystem and in higher animal models is required to confirm its consequences., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microalgae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are used as food by humans. They have gained a lot of attention in recent years because of their potential applications in biotechnology. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are good sources of many valuable compounds, including important biologically active compounds with antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Under optimal growth condition and stress factors, algal biomass produce varieties of potential bioactive compounds. In the current review, bioactive compounds production and their remarkable applications such as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications along with processes involved in identification and characterization of the novel bioactive compounds are discussed. Comprehensive knowledge about the exploration, extraction, screening, and trading of bioactive products from microalgae and cyanobacteria and their pharmaceutical and other applications will open up new avenues for drug discovery and bioprospecting., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Marine sponges are sources of various bioactive metabolites, including several anticancer drugs, produced mainly by sponge-associated microbes. Palk Bay, on the south-east coast of India, is an understudied, highly disturbed reef environment exposed to various anthropogenic and climatic stresses. In recent years, Palk Bay suffered from pollution due to the dumping of untreated domestic sewage, effluents from coastal aquaculture, tourism, salt pans, cultivation of exotic seaweeds, and geogenic heavy-metal pollution, especially arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and lead. Low microbial-abundant sponge species, such as Gelliodes pumila and Cliona lobata, were found to be ubiquitously present in this reef environment. Triplicate samples of each of these sponge species were subjected to Illumina MiSeq sequencing using V3-V4 region-specific primers. In both C. lobata and G. pumila, there was an overwhelming dominance (98 and 99%) of phylum Candidatus Saccharibacteria and Proteobacteria, respectively. The overall number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was 68 (40 and 13 OTUs unique to G. pumila and C. lobata, respectively; 15 shared OTUs). Alphaproteobacteria was the most abundant class in both the sponge species. Unclassified species of phylum Candidatus Saccharibacteria from C. lobata and Chelotivorans composti from G. pumila were the most abundant bacterial species. The predominance of Alphaproteobacteria also revealed the occurrence of various xenobiotic-degrading, surfactant-producing bacterial genera in both the sponge species, indirectly indicating the possible polluted reef status of Palk Bay. Studies on sponge microbiomes at various understudied geographical locations might be helpful in predicting the status of reef environments.

Coral bleaching, a phenomenon by which the expulsion of corals' alveolate endosymbiont (zooxanthellae) occurs when experiencing thermal stress is the major cause for devastation of corals. However, apart from this obligate symbiont of Scleractinian corals, there are different kinds of microbes that exist as stable, transient or sporadic members of the holobiont which reside within various microhabitats in the coral structures. Thus, this study aims to profile the coral bacterial community composition among different coral genera (thermally-sensitive (Acropora digetifera and A. noblis) and thermally resistant (Favites abdita) coral genera analyzed by field monitoring surveys) and also in a particular coral genus (thermally sensitive coral-A. digetifera) at two different sampling times (March 2016 and January 2017). A total of about 608695 paired end reads were obtained through Illumina MiSeq Sequencing platform. The alpha diversity indices (ACE, Chao1 and Shannon) were found to be higher in A. nobilis, followed by A. digetifera and Favites abdita, and the corresponding Simpson values were also found to follow the same trend, indicating that the samples are both rich in species diversity and species evenness. Proteobacteria was found to be the most dominant phylum and Gammaproteobacteria was the predominant class present in all the coral genera studied as also during different sampling time periods. As Vibrionaceae was previously reported to increase its abundance during bleaching stress conditions, bacterial profiling among different coral genera showed the presence of 86 % Vibrionaceae in A. digetifera colonies, and it was 93 % in A. digetifera samples collected during March 2016 whereas, it was found to decrease significantly (7 %) in same tagged colonies collected during January 2017. Thus, profiling of microbiome is of prime importance while studying the holobiont organism like the corals. Stress levels experienced by Palk Bay are even depicted in this microbiome study showing high alpha diversity indices that should alarm reef managers to pay attention to this precious stress tolerant reef community., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Worldwide, reef building corals are being degraded due to increasing anthropogenic pressure, and as a result, macroalgal cover is being increased. Hence, mechanism of coral-algal interaction, differential coral response to algal overgrowth, is critical from every geographical location to predict future coral dynamics. This paper documents the frequency of coral-algal (Halimeda) interactions, differential coral response to algal interaction. We found difference in susceptibility among coral genera to competitive effects. Out of 970 coral colonies surveyed, 36.7% were in contact with Halimeda sp. Most frequent contact was observed in Porites (57%) followed by Favites 28% (n = 60), Acropora 26% (n = 48), Platygyra 5% (n = 5) and Symphyllia 4.2% (n = 3). Frequent discoloration and tissue loss were only observed in Porites. Continuous monitoring revealed that long-term algal physical contact prevents light required for polyp for photosynthesis and stops coral feeding ability. In this study, we also found mutual exclusion between Halimeda and coral recruit. Out of 180 coral colonies (size class between 5 and 15 cm) comprised of Favites (n = 74), Acropora (n = 20), Favia (n = 79) and Porites (n = 7) surveyed, none of them were found in Halimeda-dominated sites. The documented effects of recruitment exclusion and tissue mortality followed by algal interaction on major reef building corals (Porites) could affect replenishing process and health of the remaining healthy corals in the Palk Bay reef if algal proliferation rate is not controlled through proper management strategies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182365.].

The coral-killing sponge, Terpios hoshinota is a global invasive species that has conquered coral patches within a short span of time, which has led to a significant decline in living coral cover at various geographical locations. In this study, we surveyed the linear progression and impact of the Terpios invasion on live coral patches along Palk Bay, Indian Ocean, from August 2013 to August 2015. The field inventory revealed an extensive fatality rate of 76% as a result of Terpios outbreak. Experimental findings showed that symbiotic cyanobacteria act as a nutritional factory for the aggressive growth of Terpios. Shading hypothetically impairs the nutritional symbiont of the invasive species: the effect of sunlight on cyanobacterial biomass and its influence on Terpios progression over live coral patches was tested through in situ shading experiments. This study showed that artificial shading with cotton fabric could effectively mitigate sponge growth on live coral without affecting coral homeostasis.