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Humans have been using plants in the treatment of various diseases for millennia. Currently, even with allopathic medicines available, numerous populations globally still use plants for therapeutic purposes. Although plants constitute a safer alternative compared to synthetic agents, it is well established that medicinal plants might also exert adverse effects. Thus, the present investigation aimed to assess the phytotoxic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic potential of two plants from the Brazilian Cerrado used in popular medicine, Davilla nitida (Vahl) Kubitzki, and Davilla elliptica (A. St.-Hil.). To this end, germination, growth, and cell cycle analyses were conducted using the plant model Lactuca sativa. Seeds and roots were treated with 0.0625 to 1 g/L for 48 hr under controlled conditions. The germination test demonstrated significant phytotoxic effects for both species at the highest concentrations tested, while none of the extracts produced significant effects in the lettuce growth test. In the microscopic analyses, the aneugenic and cytotoxic action of D. elliptica was evident. In the case of D. nitida greater clastogenic action and induction of micronuclei, (MN) were noted suggesting that the damage initiated by exposure to these extracts was not repaired or led to apoptosis. These findings indicated that the observed plant damage was transmitted to the next generation of cells by way of MN. These differences in the action of the two species may not be attributed to qualitative variations in the composition of the extracts as both are similar, but to quantitative differences associated with synergistic and antagonistic interactions between the compounds present in these extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of humanity, people have used wild medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. Nowadays, researchers and scientists pay attention to exploring new tools to maximize the efficacy of natural products from natural resources, and among these tools formulation of nanoparticles is very promising. The green synthesis of metal/metal oxide nano-solutions using the Deverra tortuosa extract has still not been explored well. This study aims to prepare many metal/metal oxide nanoparticle solutions such as ZnO-NPs, SeO2-MNPs, and Ag-NPs via the methanol extract of D. tortuosa as safe, easy, green, and economic approach as well as characterize the chemical components of D. tortuosa plant by GC-MS spectroscopy analysis. The synthesized M-NPs solutions were characterized by UV–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), zeta potential, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and phytochemical analyses. The potential antioxidant capacity was estimated for the methanol extract of this plant along with the metal/metal oxide nanoparticles solutions by DPPH assay. In addition, the cytotoxic activity was in vitro assessed for the inspected samples against various tumor and normal cell lines applying MTT assay. The application of the D. tortuosa methanolic extract resulted in NPs with a range of 11.79–85.9 nm which was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, zeta potential, and FT-IR spectroscopy that revealed various functional groups of the tested samples. The GC-MS analysis of the D. tortuosa methanolic extract showed the presence of 31 chemical compounds with 2-methyl-3-oxocyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylic acid, methyl oleate, and 6-allyl-4,5-dimethoxybenzo[d][1,3]-dioxole as major constituents. The extract showed considerable antioxidant activity as well as antimicrobial activity that was assessed also against varied bacterial and fungal species. Remarkable potencies for the investigated metal/metal oxide nanoparticle solutions hinder the growth of the tumor cell lines, in addition to the growth of the microbial species. Based on the determined biological activities of the produced NPs, future study is recommended to characterize the pure authentic compounds that are identified within the D. tortuosa as major compounds as well as evaluate their modes of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin diseases in Norway represents an important area of study due to their incidence and prevalence, yet ethnobotanical research in this context remains scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Norwegian traditional medicine regarding the treatment of skin diseases and cosmetic purposes through a comparative analysis with EMA monographs. Participants were surveyed using semi-structured interviews. The two samples comprised 22 individuals from Bodø and 26 individuals from other Norwegian communities, all of whom use medicinal plants for the treatment of skin diseases and cosmetic purposes. The indications for skin diseases identified in the study were compared with the European Union herbal monographs published by the European Medicines Agency. Fieldwork was conducted between June 2022 and September 2023, during which 42 plant species from 22 families were recorded. More than half of these plant species (65.38%) were used without European Medicines Agency-approved medical indications. From a public safety perspective, ensuring the safety of self-treatment for skin diseases is a critical research focus for future ethnobotanical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destructive bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum leads to substantial losses in tomato production worldwide. RNA‐seq is a powerful technology to decipher various biological processes of host–pathogen interactions by analysing differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In the current study, we used RNA‐seq to analyse the transcriptome changes during the interaction of R. solanacearum and susceptible tomato leaves at the time point of 24 h. Gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases were used to annotate functions of DEGs in tomato plants. DEGs related to plant and pathogen interaction pathways, photosynthesis pathways and hormone signalling pathways were further analysed. Our results revealed that R. solanacearum inoculation activated plant defence response pathways to induce a number of core defence genes against bacterial invasion, inhibited expression of genes related to photosynthesis processes and activated the salicylic acid (SA) signalling pathway to induce defence responses. We quantified SA and jasmonic acid (JA) contents after bacterial inoculation. SA treatment alleviated plant disease symptoms and induced immune‐related reactive oxygen species (ROS) bursts in tomato leaves. The extent of disease symptoms was much greater in SlNPR1‐silenced plants than wild‐type plants. Together, our results will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of plant induced defences against bacterial invasion and provide a theoretical basis for breeding resistance of tomato against R. solanacearum in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, a major plant cell wall component, has an important role in plant-defense mechanisms against pathogens and is a promising renewable carbon source to produce bio-based chemicals. However, our understanding of microbial metabolism is incomplete regarding certain lignin-related compounds like p-coumaryl and sinapyl alcohols. Here, we reveal peripheral pathways for the catabolism of the three main lignin precursors (p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohols) in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri. Our study demonstrates all the necessary enzymatic steps for funneling these monolignols into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, concurrently uncovering aryl aldehyde reductases that likely protect the pathogen from aldehydes toxicity. It also shows that lignin-related aromatic compounds activate transcriptional responses related to chemotaxis and flagellar-dependent motility, which might play an important role during plant infection. Together our findings provide foundational knowledge to support biotechnological advances for both plant diseases treatments and conversion of lignin-derived compounds into bio-based chemicals. Plants strengthen their cell walls with lignin to prevent pathogen colonization. Here, Martim et al show how Xanthomonas citri degrades lignin precursors and detoxifies lignin-derived molecules to overcome this plant defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerning sustainable agriculture, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), which are a subgroup of "fluorescent Pseudomonads," are crucial. They are widely known for supporting plant health through a variety of methods. The use of fluorescent Pseudomonads in agri-biotechnology has gained traction due to their potential for safeguarding plants from a variety of phytopathogens. Fluorescent pseudomonads being commercialized as bioinoculants for the treatment of various plant diseases is currently regarded as highly successful on a global scale. Fluorescent Pseudomonads are being employed as efficient bio-control agents (BCAs) against an array of phytopathogens. Due to their capacity to generate a wide range of secondary metabolites, they offer enormous promise as BCA. Thus, this review's goal is to outline and evaluate the functions of fluorescent Pseudomonads' secondary metabolites in reducing phytopathogens and improving plant health. Prominent secondary metabolites linked to biocontrol through fluorescent Pseudomonads include phenazines (PHZ), 2, 4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), pyoluteorin (PLT), pyrrolnitrin (PRN), cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, and antinematicidal effects of these metabolites are well-established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the short lifetime of plasma‐activated water (PAW), this work reports on the application of ultralong‐lasting PAW for plant disease treatment. Compared with lettuce without ultralong‐lasting PAW treatment, the treated lettuce solution showed c. 1 log10 colony forming units mL−1 decrease in pathogens, as well as improvements in leaf area, leaf weight, root length, and root weight by 75%, 20%, 108.33%, and 150%, respectively. The leaf withering/root mortality rate of PAW‐treated plants was significantly lower than those of non‐PAW‐treated plants. Besides, disease defense‐related enzymes, such as catalase and β−1,3‐glucanase, were respectively enhanced by 112.5% and 5.13% in PAW‐treated lettuce, while the plant defense‐related genes were upregulated to respond to the pathogen's invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of the initiation, progression, and predictions about the burden of cancer are of importance during the scientific race for the discovery of much safer and cheap medicinal plants. The world population mostly relies on medicinal plants for the treatment of infections and diseases due to ongoing economic constraints and growing poverty. This review study seeks to establish the what the literature reported and the true extent to which Asparagus laricinus is being studied for safe use. Studies indicate how cancer spreads and affects the different organs in the body. Most studies on medicinal plants are performed invitro with few concentrating to in vivo due to ethical requirements during the use of animal rats. Literature does not reveal any previous toxicological studies for Asparagus laricinus per se in vivo, but several studies were performed on other medicinal plants used for the treatment of cancer. The safety aspects certain palnts were established for example Moringa oleifera and Lithocarpus dealbata were found to have no mortality or any visible signs of acute toxicity, while serum biochemistry tests did not reveal any noticeable changes in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol (CHOL) and protein levels in animals. While in vivo showed high dose of toxicological studies on Moringa oleifera have indicated to cause severe hepatotoxicity and organ damage. The acute lethality (LD50) test has been found to be relatively safe with subchronic toxicity studies, eliciting no significant difference in sperm quality, haematological and biochemical parameters in the treated rats, as compared to the controls. Both studies engaged the use of laboratory experimental animal models to evaluate the toxicology of plant extracts. With the growing interest in the use of Asparagus laricinus in Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland for the treatment of infections and diseases, there is a need to correlate the published data with the in vivo data which is very scares current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Persea americana, Curcuma longa and Allium sativum extracts showed anti-cercariae activity. • Methanol extracts of Persea americana bark and Curcuma longa exhibited the most potent scavenging activity. • Persea americana, Curcuma longa and Allium sativum extracts exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity. • Plant extracts showed low toxicity on kidney Vero cells and murine macrophage cell lines. Schistosomiasis is a devastating parasitic infection, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the use of Praziquantel, the elimination of schistosomiaisis remains a challenge. The use of medicinal plant as treatment in disease endemic regions has provided a basis for investigating the antischistosomal properties of the plants-derived materials. This study therefore stands as a starting point for the search of new drugs against schistosomiasis. This study sought to evaluate the cercaricidal activity of methanolic extracts of Persea americana, Curcuma longa and Allium sativum. Twenty cercariae were exposed to plant extract concentrations ranging from 3.9 to 103 µg/ml. The antioxidant study was carried out using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was conducted by assessing the potential through albumin denaturation inhibition assay. The in vitro safety and phytochemical composition of plant extracts were also assessed. Cercaricidal tests revealed significant anti-cercariae activity of plant extracts at sublethal concentrations with LC 50 values ranging from 7.67 ± 3.40 to 56.07 ± 2.53 µg/ml with C. longa extract being the most potent cercaricidal. Antioxidant activity of plant extracts revealed that methanol extracts of P. americana bark and C. longa have the most potent antioxidant scavenging activities with SC 50 values ranging from 91.47 ± 5.83 to 138.75 ± 5.73 µg/ml. Anti-inflammatory analysis showed that plant extracts exhibited most potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting protein denaturation. At 125 µg/ml, A. sativum, C. longa, P. americana root, bark, stem and leaf extracts showed 33.89, 108.26, 93.37, 108.18, 93.96 and 118.15 % inhibitions respectively, while the standard drug Diclofenac sodium (125 µg/ml) produced 24.67 % inhibition. Plant extracts also showed low toxicity on kidney Vero cells and murine macrophage cell lines with IC 50 values ranging between 132.15 ± 40.66 and 549.3 ± 43.70 µg/ml. The phytochemical composition of plant extracts shows that the plants are rich in at least five of saponins, cardiac glycosides, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. These results suggest that methanolic extract of C. longa and P. americana showed a potent activity against S. mansoni cercariae with potent antioxidant scavenging activities and can mitigate the inflammatory effect of schistosome eggs within egg-infested tissue, combating the devastating effect of S. mansoni infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diseases significantly impact global agriculture, leading to substantial production losses and economic consequences. Timely disease detection can enhance crop yield, optimize resource utilization, reduce costs, and mitigate environmental effects, ultimately ensuring high-quality food production. Deep learning, specifically computer vision-based techniques, have proven invaluable in tasks like image classification, segmentation, and object detection. Deep Learning techniques such as You Only Look Once (YOLO) models are state of the art neural network algorithms used for accurate object detection. In this study, YOLOv5, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 models were trained on CCL'20 dataset for citrus disease detection. Data augmentation techniques such as image translation, image scaling, flip, mosaic augmentations were implemented to improve the models' performance during training phase. The model performance was evaluated using metric such as Mean Average Precision at 50% to 95% Intersection over Union score i.e. mAP@50-95. The results show that YOLOv8 model performs better than other variants and offers significant improvements over the benchmark performance from previous studies. The final hyper-parameter tuned model achieved 96.1% mAP@50-95 on testing data for citrus disease detection and mAP@50-95 of 95.3%, 96.0% and 97.0% for detection of Anthracnose, Melanose and Bacterial Brown Spot diseases, respectively. The trained model was able to detect single and multiple instances of same or different disease in an image showing the potential of recent YOLO models. The trained YOLOv8 model is deployed on Roboflow platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Hypericum comprises a large number of species. The flower, leaf, stem, and root of the Hypericum species are widely used in traditional medicine in different cultures. Many Hypericum species have been well investigated phytochemically and pharmacologically. However, only a few reports are available on the H. cordifolium native to Nepal. The present study aims to evaluate the phytochemical composition of different extracts, qualitative analysis of methanol extract of the flower and leaf using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and the antioxidant properties of components by the TLC-DPPH. assay. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated in different extracts of the leaf and stem, and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities were evaluated. In the phytochemical screening, phenolics and flavonoids were present in ethyl acetate, methanol, and 50% aq methanol extracts of both the leaf and stem. In TLC analysis, the methanol extract of flowers showed the presence of 11 compounds and the leaf extract showed the presence of 8 compounds. Both extracts contained chlorogenic acid and mangiferin. Hyperoside and quercetin were present only in the flower extract. In the TLC-DPPH. assay, almost all of the flower extracts and 5 compounds of the leaf extract showed radical scavenging potential. Estimation of phenolics and flavonoids showed that all the leaf extracts showed higher amounts of phenolics and flavonoids than stem extracts. Among leaf extracts, greater amounts of phenolics were detected in 50% aqueous methanol extract (261.25 ± 1.66 GAE/g extract) and greater amounts of flavonoids were detected in methanol extract (232.60 ± 10.52 CE/g extract). Among stem extracts, greater amounts of flavonoids were detected in the methanol extract (155.12 ± 4.30 CE/g extract). In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, the methanol extract of the leaf showed IC50 60.85 ± 2.67 µg/ml and 50% aq. methanol extract of the leaf showed IC50 63.09 ± 2.98 µg/ml. The methanol extract of the stem showed IC50 89.39 ± 3.23 µg/ml, whereas ethyl acetate and 50% aq. methanol extract showed IC50 > 100 µg/ml. In the antibacterial assay, the methanol extract of the leaf showed the inhibition zone of 12-13 mm and the stem extract showed the inhibition zone of 7–11 mm against S. aureus, E. coli, and S. sonnei, whereas both extracts were inactive against S. typhi. The findings of this study support the traditional use of this plant in Nepal for the treatment of diseases associated with bacterial infections. The present study revealed that the underutilized anatomical parts of H. cordifolium could be the source of various bioactive phytochemicals like other Hypericum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article covers the therapeutic potential of the plants Harpagophytum procumbens and Turnera subulata in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the recognition of their beneficial properties, there is notable shortage of specific clinical and in vitro studies on these species regarding neurodegenerative diseases. Compounds such as harpagosides and vite-xin-2-O-rhamnoside, found in Harpagophytum procumbens and Turnera subulata, respectively, as well as other antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, are associated with mechanisms of action that involve reducing oxidative stress and modulating the inflammatory response, indicating their therapeutic potential in these pathologies. Additionally, the use of nutraceuticals derived from medicinal plants has emerged as a promising approach, offering natural therapeutic alternatives. However, the pressing need for studies focusing on the pharmacokinetics, safety, and pharmacological interactions of these extracts for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is emphasized. This review also evaluated advances in nutraceutical delivery systems, highlighting technological innovations that can optimize the precise delivery of these compounds to patients. Such findings highlight the gaps in the study of these plants for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and, at the same time, the potential for opening new perspectives in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, providing expectations for innovative solutions in this critical domain of medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional pesticides are poorly water-soluble and suffer from low bioavailability. N-succinyl chitosan (NSCS) is a water-soluble chitosan derivative, has been recently used to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs to improve their bioavailability. However, it remains challenging to synthesize pesticides of a wide variety of water-soluble drugs and to scale up the production in a continuous manner. Results: A synthetic method for preparing water-soluble nanopesticides with a polymer carrier was applied. The bioactive molecule BTL-11 was loaded into hollow NSCS to promote drug delivery, improve solubility and anti-fungal activity. The synthesized nanopesticides had well controlled sizes of 606 nm and the encapsulation rate was 80%. The release kinetics, drug toxicity and drug activity were further evaluated. The inhibitory activity of nanopesticides against Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) was tested in vivo and in vitro. In vivo against R. solani trials revealed that BTL-11 has excellent control efficiency for cultivated rice leaf and sheath was 79.6 and 76.5%, respectively. By contrast, for BTL-11@NSCS NPs, the anti-fungal ability was strongly released and afforded significant control efficiencies of 85.9 and 81.1%. Those effects were significantly better than that of the agricultural fungicide azoxystrobin (51.5 and 66.5%). The proposed mechanism was validated by successfully predicting the synthesis outcomes. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that NSCS is a promising biocompatible carrier, which can enhance the efficacy of pesticides, synergistically improve plant disease resistance, protect crop growth, and can be used for the delivery of more insoluble pesticides. Highlights: N-succinyl chitosan as a delivery vehicle material. Green, efficient, and safe BTL-11@NSCS NPs nanopesticides were prepared by utilizing NSCS in combination with the bioactive molecule BTL-11. BTL-11@NSCS NPs has a small, uniform, stable morphology feature, and outstanding physicochemical properties. Controlled release, high hydrophobicity, and safe treatment of plant fungal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of medicinal plants for the treatment of different diseases is high from the aspects of the pharmaceutical industry and traditional healers. The present study involves nine different medicinal plants, namely, Neolamarckia cadamba, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Pogostemon benghalensis, Equisetum debile, Litsea monopetala, Spilanthes uliginosa, Desmostachya bipinnata, Mallotus philippensis, and Phoenix humilis, collected from Chitwan district of Nepal for biochemical analysis followed by the isolation of active plant fractions from the bioactive plant extract. The methanolic extracts of roots, barks, seeds, seed cover, and the other aerial parts of plants were used for the phytochemical analysis and biological activities. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay was adopted to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. The antidiabetic activity was studied by the α-amylase enzyme inhibition assay. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis followed by Mallotus philippensis (seed cover), Pogostemon benghalensis, Litsea monopetala, Phoenix humilis, and Neolamarckia cadamba with IC50 values of 27.38 ± 1.35, 32.08 ± 2.81, 32.75 ± 2.13, 33.82 ± 1.07, 40.14 ± 0.93, and 50.44 ± 3.75 µg/mL, respectively. The highest antidiabetic activity was observed in extracts of Phoenix humilis followed by Desmostachya bipinnata and Pogostemon benghalensis with IC50 values of 95.69 ± 6.97, 99.24 ± 12.6, and 106.3 ± 12.89 µg/mL, respectively. The mild α-amylase enzyme inhibition was found in extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Spilanthes uliginosa Swartz, Litsea monopetala, and Equisetum debile showing IC50 values of 110.4 ± 7.78, 115.98 ± 10.24, 149.83 ± 8.3, and 196.45 ± 6.04 µg/mL, whereas Mallotus Philippensis (seed cover), Mallotus philippensis (seed), and Desmostachya bipinnata showed weak α-amylase inhibition with IC50 values of 208.87 ± 1.76, 215.41 ± 2.09, and 238.89 ± 9.27 µg/mL, respectively. The extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis showed high zones of inhibition against S. aureus (ATCC 25923) and E. coli (ATCC 25922) of ZOI 26 and 22 mm, respectively. The chemical constituents isolated from the active plant Nyctanthes arbor-tristis were subjected to GCMS analysis where the major chemical compounds were 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid and methyl ester. These results support the partial scientific validation for the traditional uses of these medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes and infectious diseases by the people living in different communities of Chitwan, Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl., which belongs to the Cupressaceae family, occurs naturally in North America and Asia, especially in Korea, Taiwan and Japan, where it is an evergreen, coniferous, sacred, ethnic tree. It has many useful varieties that are widespread throughout the world and grown for decorative purposes. It is most commonly used as an ornamental plant in homes, gardens or parks. It is also widely used in many areas of the economy; for example, its wood is used in architecture as well as furniture production. In addition, oil extracted from Chamaecyparis obtusa is increasingly used in cosmetology for skin care. Due to its wide economic demand, mainly in Japan, it represents the largest area of plantation forest. Despite this, it is on the red list of endangered species. Its use in ethnopharmacology has led to more and more research in recent years in an attempt to elucidate the potential mechanisms of its various biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, analgesic and central nervous system effects. It has also been shown that Chamaecyparis obtusa can be used as an insect repellent and an ingredient in plant disease treatment. This thesis provides a comprehensive review of the biological studies to date, looking at different areas of the economic fields of potential use of Chamaecyparis obtusa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Habanero plant diseases can significantly reduce crop yield and quality, making early detection and treatment crucial for farmers. In this study, we discuss the creation of a modified VGG16 (MVGG16) Deep Transfer Learning (DTL) model-based smartphone app for identifying habanero plant diseases. With the help of the smartphone application, growers can quickly diagnose the health of a habanero plant by taking a photo of one of its leaves. We trained the DTL model on a dataset of labelled images of healthy and infected habanero plants and evaluated its performance on a separate test dataset. The MVGG16 DTL algorithm had an accuracy, precision, f1-score, recall and AUC of 98.79%, 97.93%, 98.44%, 98.95 and 98.63%, respectively, on the testing dataset. The MVGG16 DTL model was then integrated into a smartphone app that enables users to upload photographs, get diagnosed, and explore a history of earlier diagnoses. We tested the software on a collection of photos of habanero plant leaves and discovered that it was highly accurate at spotting infected plants. The smartphone software can boost early identification and treatment of habanero plant diseases, resulting in higher crop output and higher-quality harvests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rheumatic and autoimmune diseases are a group of immune system-related disorders wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the body’s tissues and organs. This excessive immune response leads to inflammation, tissue damage, and functional impairment. Therapeutic approaches typically involve medications that regulate immune responses, reduce inflammation, alleviate symptoms, and target specific damaged organs. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, has been widely studied in recent years for its application in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. Numerous studies have shown that preparations of Tripterygium wilfordii have antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and immunosuppressive effects, which effectively improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with autoimmune diseases, whereas the active metabolites of T. wilfordii have been demonstrated to inhibit immune cell activation, regulate the production of inflammatory factors, and modulate the immune system. However, although these effects contribute to reductions in inflammatory responses and the suppression of autoimmune reactions, as well as minimize tissue and organ damage, the underlying mechanisms of action require further investigation. Moreover, despite the efficacy of T. wilfordii in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, its toxicity and side effects, including its potential hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, warrant a thorough assessment. Furthermore, to maximize the therapeutic benefits of this plant in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and enable more patients to utilize these benefits, efforts should be made to strengthen the regulation and standardized use of T. wilfordii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most people in developing and developed countries still use medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases such as epilepsy and depression. With the burden of epilepsy -induced depression on the rise; there exists a need to find newer and safer alternatives. S. augostifolia leaves are used in ethnomedicine; however there are no reports on the neuropharmacological effect of this plant. This study investigates the antidepressant, motor coordination and anticonvulsant profile of the leaves of the plant. The leaves were collected, dried, powdered and then extracted with methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. Preliminary phytochemical screening and some neuropharmacological evaluations were done using standard techniques. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, carbohydrates, saponin, flavonoids, phenolics, eugenols, terpenes, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The extract at doses of 100 mg/kg (p<0.001), 200 and 400 mg/kg (p<0.0001), significantly reduced the duration of immobility in the forced swim test and tail suspension test. There was no significant increase or decrease in the number of head dips and time spent on the rota rod at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract. The extract protected mice against maximal electroshock seizures in mice. It is concluded that the leaf extracts may possess antidepressant and anticonvulsant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a severe threat to public and environmental health. The agricultural sector contributes significantly to resistance, where antimicrobials are used as prophylaxis, growth promoters, and for treatment. A series of studies have been conducted to assess farmers' knowledge and attitude levels with varying results, particularly in Asia, one of the world's largest producers of livestock products. Purpose: To review the pooled estimated level of knowledge and attitude towards antimicrobial use and resistance in Asia. Methods: A literature search was conducted according to PRISMA in Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase for studies up to 30 April 2023. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional studies. Outcomes were further categorized into constructs under knowledge and attitude. Random-effect meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17. Results: 11 studies and 2131 subjects were included with fair to excellent quality. From the metaanalysis, the following knowledge and attitude levels were estimated: definition [55.7% (95%CI: 37.3%-74%)] and cause [60.6% (95%CI: 40.5%-80.6%)] of antimicrobial resistance; the negative impact of antimicrobials [62.6% (95%CI: 16.9%-100.0%)]; use of antimicrobials for treatment [47.8% (95%CI: 6.1%-89. 4%)], prophylaxis [58.5% (95%CI: 28.5%-88.5%)], growth promoter [39% (95%CI: 23.1%-54.9%)]; discontinuation of antimicrobials upon improving conditions [42.5% (95%CI: 15.4%-69.5%)]. Conclusions: Farmers in Asia have moderate knowledge of antimicrobial resistance but still exhibit attitudes that support resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios is the property of Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In the era of Agri 4.0 and the popularity of Plantwise systems, the availability of Plant Electronic Medical Records has provided opportunities to extract valuable disease information and treatment knowledge. However, developing an effective prescription recommendation method based on these records presents unique challenges, such as inadequate labeling data, lack of structural and linguistic specifications, incorporation of new prescriptions, and consideration of multiple factors in practical situations. Results: This study proposes a plant disease prescription recommendation method called PRSER, which is based on sentence embedding retrieval. The semantic matching model is created using a pre-trained language model and a sentence embedding method with contrast learning ideas, and the constructed prescription reference database is retrieved for optimal prescription recommendations. A multi-vegetable disease dataset and a multi-fruit disease dataset are constructed to compare three pre-trained language models, four pooling types, and two loss functions. The PRSER model achieves the best semantic matching performance by combining MacBERT, CoSENT, and CLS pooling, resulting in a Pearson coefficient of 86.34% and a Spearman coefficient of 77.67%. The prescription recommendation capability of the model is also verified. PRSER performs well in closed-set testing with Top-1/Top-3/Top-5 accuracy of 88.20%/96.07%/97.70%; and slightly worse in open-set testing with Top-1/Top-3/Top-5 accuracy of 82.04%/91.50%/94.90%. Finally, a plant disease prescription recommendation system for mobile terminals is constructed and its generalization ability with incomplete inputs is verified. When only symptom information is available without environment and plant information, our model shows slightly lower accuracy with Top-1/Top-3/Top-5 accuracy of 75.24%/88.35%/91.99% in closed-set testing and Top-1/Top-3/Top-5 accuracy of 75.08%/87.54%/89.84% in open-set testing. Conclusions: The experiments validate the effectiveness and generalization ability of the proposed approach for recommending plant disease prescriptions. This research has significant potential to facilitate the implementation of artificial intelligence in plant disease treatment, addressing the needs of farmers and advancing scientific plant disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the increasing use of medicinal plants in the treatment and prevention of diseases has attracted the attention of researchers. The aim of this work was to investigate the probiotic properties and antibacterial and antifungal activity of silymarin-enriched Lactobacillus bacteria against several important pathogenic bacteria and also Aspergillus flavus as one of the harmful molds in the food and health industries. For this purpose, 52 g-positive and catalase-negative bacteria were isolated from 60 traditional curd samples from Ilam province. Five of the 52 bacterial strains had more than 90% viability in high bile salt and acidic conditions and were selected for further investigation. The five strains with positive results showed good hydrophobicity (≥ 50.30%), auto-aggregation (≥ 53.70%), coaggregation (≥ 28.20%), and high cholesterol removal ability (from 09.20 to 67.20%) and therefore can be considered potential probiotics. The tested strains displayed acceptable antibacterial and antifungal activity against all 12 pathogenic bacteria and A. flavus. Also, the results of the simultaneous antifungal activity of probiotic strains and silymarin showed that the combination of silymarin and probiotics has a significantly better (P < 0.05) antifungal effect than the control group or the probiotic groups alone. Interestingly, in addition to the Limosilactobacillus fermentum C3 strain, the Limosilactobacillus fermentum C18 and Lactiplantibacillus pentosus C20 strains also had significant inhibitory effects against A. flavus when used with silymarin extract in methanol. Meanwhile, silymarin extract in DMSO and PEG increased the antagonistic activity of all five potential probiotic strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The harnessing of medicinal plants for the treatment of infectious diseases has an environmental concern, and therefore environmentally friendly alternative sources like harnessing the potential of endophytes are of paramount importance. The present study aimed to evaluate chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of endophytic fungi isolated from C. bonariensis (L.) in Tanzania. Materials and Methods: Initially, endophytic fungi were isolated from C. bonariensis (L.) and characterized, followed by mass cultivation and the harvesting of crude extracts. Then crude extracts were tested against selected microorganisms: Two Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis; Two Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi, and a yeast Candida albicans. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analyzed the chemical composition of crude extracts. Results: Five endophytic fungi (Talaromyces sp., Penicillium daleae, Neurospora crassa, Talaromyces radicus 1 and Talaromyces radicus 2) were isolated. Furthermore, crude extract of N. crassa had the highest antimicrobial activity with the range of MIC found to be 1.5 µg/mL > MIC > 0.78 µg/mL for all tested microorganisms except for S. aureus where the range of MIC was 40 µg/mL>MIC>20 µg/mL. On the other hand, the crude extract of Talaromyces radicus 1 had the lowest MIC range (100 mg/mL>MIC>50 mg/mL). The GC-MS results demonstrated variation in chemical composition with proved various biological properties. Conclusions: Ethyl acetate crude extracts of N. crassa demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity, therefore warranting further exploration of the endophyte and their crude extracts for various medicinal and industrial applications. Further studies on the characterization of pure compounds, which may be responsible for the antimicrobial activity that was observed, are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, or Turmeric is a yellow polyphenolic pigment from the Curcuma longa L. It extracted was from the rhizomes of the plant as yellow-brown powder. Turmeric is used as a pulp for the skin and is useful in bruises and swelling, and is placed on excess hair, reducing its growth. Turmeric is also used to activates the liver to secrete bile and increases gastric motility. In addition to increases the dissolution of gallstones. Because it is bile and contains essential oils and water-soluble dyes, so it prevents colic, carminative, regulates menstruation, and contains curcumin, the yellow dye, which has an effect that exceeds cortisone in skin diseases, and it is an antioxidant and more powerful than vitamin E. In addition, Turmeric lowers blood pressure. In recent decades, their biological activities have been extensively studied. Thus, this review aims to offer an in-depth discussion of Turmeric applications for on health promotion and disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus greening disease (CGD), or Huanglongbing (HLB), is principal in Citrus farming because of its severe damage, decreased yield, poor quality of fruit, and frequent disappearance before harvest. Present research blended silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) colloid with chitooligomers and monomers (COAMs) to create the composites referred to as a "hybrid solution". The hybrid solution has been synthesized for antimicrobial effects and plant growth stimulation. The hybrid solution was applied to cure the CGD, which was then tested using the results of the iodine test kit. Study results revealed that the mechanism for antibacterial properties is efficient and leads to cell death by silver ions (positive charge) attached to the cell wall of pathogens (negative charge). COAMs increase AgNPs' ability to adhere to negatively charged bacterial cytoplasmic membranes and amplify their electrostatic interaction. There are synergistic antibacterial effects of AgNPs–COAMs. The findings reveal a notable increase in the shoot length of leaves which may be the reason for the growth stimulation function of the hybrid solution due to the properties of COAMs as a biostimulant. The hybrid solution-treated trees yielded around 104.50 ± 4.56 kg of fruits by the trunk or foliar application. Citrus fruits did not show the presence of any silver residues, as displayed by the results of the accumulation test. Compared to conventional ampicillin, the hybrid treatment of CGD was significantly more cost-effective, increased productivity, and had minor accumulation. The acquired results may also be applied to further plant disease treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mastitis is known to pose a public health hazard and cause a costly disease for dairy herds. Bacteria are the primary causes of mastitis; and antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of the disease. This can lead to antibiotic residues in various kinds of milk and an increase in the risk of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. To avoid these problems, alternative treatments by the use of natural products are being experimented and plants extracts are also examined. This study reports the investigation of potential antioxidants and antibacterial activities against mastitis pathogens of pomegranate flowers' extracts. Results showed a high antioxidant and antibacterial potential of pomegranate flowers' extracts against the examined mastitis pathogens. Mastitis is one of the most considerable and costly diseases for dairy herds, and Staphylococcus spp. is known to be the main causative agent. Although antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of mastitis, this can cause both antibiotic residues in milk and the risk of antibiotic resistance occurrence in bacteria. Thus, in recent years, researchers have focused on alternative treatments for this disease and plants extracts are investigated for this purpose. Pomegranate is widely used as a dye, ornament, and medicinal plants in the industry, and the species has a particularly high economic value in Turkey. This study aims to investigate in vitro the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the pomegranate flower's extracts against different Staphylococcus species associated with bovine mastitis. To this aim, pomegranate flowers were collected from different regions in Turkey and extracts were prepared with three different solvents (methanol, ethanol, and water). The retention factor values of the ethanol extract were determined by thin-layer chromatography. The antibacterial activity tests were carried out via the disk diffusion method. In addition, the extracts were tested against the stable DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radicals for antioxidant activity. Four retention factors (0.79, 0.67, 0.58, and 0.33 points) were found for the ethanol extract. The methanol extract showed the highest inhibition zones against coagulase-negative Staphylococcus-37 (CNS-37) and S. aureus-18. The lowest MIC was 6500 μg/mL. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in methanol extracts. As a result, the extracts of pomegranate flowers showed a high antioxidant and antibacterial potential against the examined mastitis pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piper sarmentosum is a well-known traditional herbal plant in various diseases treatments. Multiple scientific studies have also reported various biological activities exhibited by the plant's extract, such as antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and antihyperglycemic activities, and, in addition, a bone protective effect in ovariectomized rats has been reported. However, no known Piper sarmentosum extract is involved in osteoblast differentiation using stem cells. Our study aims to identify the potential of P. sarmentosum ethanolic extract to induce osteoblast differentiation of human peripheral blood stem cells. Prior to the assay, the proliferation ability of the cells was observed for 14 days and the presence of hematopoietic stem cells in the culture was determined by the expression of SLAMF1 and CD34 genes. During the differentiation assay, the cells were treated with P. sarmentosum ethanolic extract for 14 days. Osteoblast differentiation was examined using an (alkaline phosphatase) ALP assay, by monitoring the expression of osteogenic gene markers and by von Kossa staining. The untreated cells served as the negative control, while cells treated with 50 µg/mL ascorbic acid and 10 mM β-glycerophosphate acted as the positive control. Finally, the determination of the compound profile was performed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The isolated cells were able to proliferate for 14 days during the proliferation assay. The expression of hematopoietic stem cell markers was also upregulated during the 14 days assay. Following the differentiation induction, the ALP activity exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) from day 3 of the differentiation assay. A molecular analysis also showed that the osteogenic markers ALP, RUNX2, OPN and OCN were upregulated compared to the positive control. The presence of mineralized cells with a brownish-stained morphology was observed, indicating the mineralization process increased in a time-dependent manner regardless of the concentration used. There were 54 compounds observed in the GC-MS analysis, including β-asarones, carvacrol and phytol, which have been shown to possess osteoinductive capacities. Our results demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of P. sarmentosum can induce osteoblast differentiation of peripheral blood stem cells. The extract contains potent compounds which can potentially induce the differentiation of bone cells, i.e., osteoblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural crop productivity can be affected and reduced due to many factors such as weeds, pests, and diseases. Traditional methods that are based on terrestrial engines, devices, and farmers' naked eyes are facing many limitations in terms of accuracy and the required time to cover large fields. Currently, precision agriculture that is based on the use of deep learning algorithms and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) provides an effective solution to achieve agriculture applications, including plant disease identification and treatment. In the last few years, plant disease monitoring using UAV platforms is one of the most important agriculture applications that have gained increasing interest by researchers. Accurate detection and treatment of plant diseases at early stages is crucial to improving agricultural production. To this end, in this review, we analyze the recent advances in the use of computer vision techniques that are based on deep learning algorithms and UAV technologies to identify and treat crop diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of medicinal plants is as old as human history. The adoption of plants in the prevention and treatment of diseases has maintained its position in various societies and cultures. Many people believe using medicinal herbs is not detrimental if there is no benefit. In recent years, due to the tendency of people to increase the consumption of medicinal plants, extensive research has been carried out in the pharmaceuticals on the use of medicinal plants and their properties for the treatment of diseases. Skin diseases are among the most common diseases in the world. Some of the most common skin disease symptoms are skin rashes, itchy skin, prominent bumps, peeling, blisters or sores, discoloration, etc. Since the skin plays a vital role as the first defense barrier of the body, skin diseases can cause dangerous problems for all age groups, from infants to the elderly. Therefore, investigating the possible adverse effects of medicinal plants on the structure and function of the skin is of particular importance. Plants can cause side effects or reduce other pharmaceutical medication effects when improperly used. According to studies, adverse skin responses to herbal medications can be caused by dermal contact or prolonged exposure to medicinal herbs. These reactions are also linked to several risk factors, such as adverse effects, dose, health state, and interactions. This article reviews the findings and data available in articles published between 1953 and October 2022 on the skin side effects of medicinal plants in various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scientific Information Database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habenaria intermedia (D. Don) Szlach is a rare orchid species of broad spectrum medicinal importance. It is commonly known as 'Riddhi' in the ayurvedic system of medicine. Pseudobulbs of this species are used in the ayurvedic formulations such as ' Chyawanprash '. The edible tubers are used for the treatment of several chronic diseases such as asthma, leprosy, skin diseases, memory loss, and as an aphrodisiac, depurative, anthelmintic, rejuvenating, and also as a general tonic. In the present work, the pharmacognostic, physiochemical, phytochemical, nutraceutical and antioxidant potencies of H. intermedia have been presented. In pharmacognostic evaluation, we studied sensory, macroscopic, and histochemical parameters. The physicochemical parameters evaluated were total ash (2.5 ± 0.2%), acid insoluble ash (1 ± 0.1%) , water-soluble ash (2 ± 0.2%), foreign matter (nil), loss on drying (0.4 ± 0.2 %), foaming index (less than 100), swelling index (20 ml ± 2%), pH, and crude fibre content (1 ± 0.01%.). In phytochemical evaluation, qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. For qualitative phytochemical analysis, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts were used. The phytochemical & nutraceutical analysis showed the presence of carbohydrates, amino acids, gums, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, saponins, phenols, resins, and alkaloids. In quantitative analysis, total phenolic content (TPC) was found 8.91 ± 1.13 µg/ml (Gallic acid equivalents/gm extract). Total flavonoids content (TFC) was 16.03 ± 2.04 µg/ml against the standard quercetin. The total sugar content was 34.3 ± 4.27 µg/ml against the standard of glucose, and total resin content was 4.5 ± 0.21%. Tannin content was 0.03 ± 0.1% in pseudobulbs whereas fats content was 1 ± 0.12%. In antioxidant assays, aqueous extract showed higher antioxidant potency in terms of % radical scavenging activity (RSA) as compared to hydroalcoholic extracts. The above parameters provide critical information for setting quality parameters of crude drugs used in various formulations and will contribute significantly to orchid research. These findings encourage the potential use of this plant in disease management & treatments, which justify its usage in traditional systems of medicines. Research is required in the isolation of potent compounds and their clinical trials. [Display omitted] • Habenaria intermedia (D. Don) Szlach is a rare medicinal orchid, the edible tubers are used in various ayurvedic formulations. • Pseudobulbs are used to treat asthma, leprosy, skin diseases, memory and as aphrodisiac, depurative, anthelmintic, rejuvenating and general tonic. • Pharmacognostic, physiochemical, phytochemical and nutraceutical potency have been studied quantitatively and qualitatively. • Antioxidant assays (Total antioxidant activity and FRAP) were performed and showed promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the use of herbs and plants has been of great interest, as they have been the sources of natural products, commonly named as bioactive compounds. In specific, the natural compounds from the Capparaceae family which has been proved to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic activities, by several studies. Cleome arabica L. (CA) specie is the most used medicinal plants in Tunisia and elsewhere in North African countries for treatment of various diseases including diabetes, rheumatism, inflammation, cancer, and digestive disorders. The current work was undertaken to estimate the total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin contents, to identify and quantify the polyphenolic compounds, and to evaluate the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory proprieties of CA fruits extract against formalin induced chronic inflammation in Female Wistar rats. In fact, the antioxidant activity was tested by Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging (DPPH), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Nitric Oxide radical (NO·). Anti-inflammatory effect of fruits extract was examined using formalin (2%) induced paw edema in rats. Molecular docking tools were used to investigate the interaction of some compounds from CA fruits extract with the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) target protein. Our results showed that, the total phenolic, flavonoid and tannins contents, which were assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteu, Quercetin, and Catechin methods, respectively, were 230.22 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (mg GAE/g DW), 55.08 mg quercetin equivalent/g dry weight (QE/g DW) and 15.17 mg catechin equivalents/g dry weight (CatE/g DW), respectively. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of five polyphenolic compounds whose catechin was found to be the most abundant compounds. The antioxidant activity of extract was quantified by DPPH, FRAP and NO· tests and IC50 reached the values of 3.346 mg/mL, 2.306 and 0.023 mg/mL, respectively. Cleome fruits ameliorated the histological integrity of the skin and alleviated the disruptions in hematological parameters (WBC, LYM, RBC, and HGB), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), C-reactive protein, and some oxidative stress markers (TBARS (−49%) and AOPP (−42%) levels, SOD (+33%) and GPx (+75%) activities, and GSH (+49%) content) induced by formalin injection. Moreover, the in-silico investigation had shown that CA fruits extract compounds have a stronger interaction with COX-2 active site, more than the reference drug "indomethacin" (two H-bonds). Our research gives pharmacological backing to the healthcare utilization of Cleome plant in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and oxidative harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ziziphora species (Lamiaceae) have been used in traditional medicine as sedatives, antiseptics, carminatives, or expectorants. Despite their common applications in phytotherapy, there is still lack of evidence about the composition of their extracts and its impact on biological properties of the plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of Ziziphora bungeana, a less studied species growing in Kazakhstan, using HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS instrumentation and to determine its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activity together with inhibitory properties against tyrosinase and toxicity in erythrocyte lysis assay. Extracts from Z. bungeana were found to be sources of flavonoids, phenolic acids, organic acids, and terpenes that determined their antiradical activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of extracts were lower for Gram-positive bacteria (1.25–10 mg/mL) than for Gram-negative bacteria and fungi (5–20 mg/mL). The EC50 value calculated for antiradical activity ranged between 15.00 ± 1.06 µg/mL and 13.21 ± 3.24 µg/mL for ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. Z. bungeana extracts were found to decrease the activity of tyrosinase by 50% (at 200 µg/mL) similarly to kojic acid and were slightly cytotoxic for human melanoma A375 cell line (at 200 µg/mL) with no effect on HaCaT keratinocytes. In the end, Z. bungeana did not reveal toxic effects in hemolytic assay as compared to the positive control Triton X-100. The performed tests show potential application of the plant in the treatment of infectious diseases, disorders caused by free radicals, and skin problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of plants in the treatment of various diseases is a practice known since ancient times, and even nowadays, a number of plant products are traditionally used as medicines. Many modern medicines are frequently based on plant biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of extract, fractions and compounds isolated from Helichrysum odoratissimun (Asteraceae) against some bacteria and fungi using the broth microdilution method. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the EtOH (ethanol) extract and the n -BuOH (n -butanol) and EtOAc (ethyl acetate) fractions as well as compounds 1 - 8 were evaluated. The EtOAc fraction showed the most potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC74117) and Candida albicans (ATCC 9028) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values at 16 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL, respectively. Otherwise, the n -BuOH fraction showed activity against Candida albicans (ATCC 9028) with a MIC value of 64 µg/mL. Based on these results, the EtOAc and n -BuOH fractions were purified using varying chromatographic methods to afford 5,8-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5,4´-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (2), methylinositol (3), quercetin (4), quercetin-3-methoxy-7- O -β- D -glucopyranoside (5), 3-hydroxydihydrobenzofurane (6), 4,5-di- p - trans -coumaroyl quinic acid (7), kaempferol (8), β-sitosterol- 3- O -β- D -glucopyranoside (9), and oleanolic acid (10), Their structures were established using extensive spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis as well as comparison with published data. Among the isolated compounds, 5,8-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone, 5,4´-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone and quercetin showed moderated activity against Candida albicans with MIC values of 64 µg/mL, 64 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL, respectively. These results are in agreement with the use of H. odoratissimun in traditional medicine against infectious diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation of compounds 1 - 10 from this medicinal plant. [Display omitted] • The extracts from H. odoratissimun showed significant antimicrobial activity. • Ten compounds including five flavonoids were isolated from this medicinal plant. • All these compounds are isolated from H. odoratissimun for the first time. • The isolated compounds were also screened for their antimicrobial activity. • Compounds 1, 2 , and 4 showed moderated activity against Candida albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to an unbalanced demand for crop driven by population growth, agricultural strategies such as early diagnosis and pre-treatment to improve plant yield and quality are urgently needed. Early diagnosis and treatment of plant disease is necessary to achieve high yield and quality, as plant disease is the main cause of low yield and quality. However, standard methods (nucleic acid and antibody-based molecular assays etc.) for diagnosing plant disease still suffer from complex and laborious analysis procedures. Meanwhile, pesticides and fertilizers for treating plant disease also face concerns about low utilization rates. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel methods to address these concerns. Recently, nanotechnology has been attracting attention in plant disease management. Nanomaterials, as its integral portion, are expected to overcome the abovementioned application deficiencies. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in nanomaterials applied to plant health monitoring and disease treatment. First, the mechanism of nanosensors to monitor plant health is discussed and its advantages over traditional detection devices are highlighted. Then, the therapeutic effects of nanopesticides/fertilizers are discussed and their use to mitigate the loss of active ingredients (AIs) is emphasized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for the development of nanomaterials in plant health monitoring for yield improvement are discussed. [Display omitted] • Recent advances and challenges in nanomaterials applied to plant health monitoring and disease treatment are summarized. • The mechanism of nanosensors and their advantages for plant health monitoring are discussed. • The therapeutic effects of nanopesticides/fertilizers and their use to mitigate the loss of active ingredients is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2002, papaya black rot has been spreading over several islands of Okinawa Prefecture. The pathogen of the disease was identified as Erwinia sp., genetically close to E. mallotivora and E. papayae. In terms of the disease transmission, it is probably carried by the wind or rain. In order to devise a prevention strategy for the disease, in vitro pesticides susceptibility of the pathogen and tests with papaya pot seedlings were conducted. A minimum inhibitory concentration assay demonstrated that copper (II) hydroxide, basic copper sulfate, and captan present in the papaya-registered pesticides inhibited the growth of the pathogen on nutrient agar plates. In addition, mancozeb that is non-papaya-registered pesticide also showed an inhibitory effect on the pathogen. Thus, there is a high possibility that even the existing papaya-registered or non-papaya-registered pesticides can prevent papaya black rot. In the test with papaya pot seedlings, copper (II) hydroxide exerted a relatively lower pesticide effect; however, captan exhibited a pesticide effect, although it is one of the fungicides not registered for use in the treatment of bacterial diseases of plants in Japan till date. Indeed, based on the result of the present study, the official registration of legal expansion for use of captan to control papaya black rot was approved in Japan on December 22, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassia obtusifolia is a plant which plays an important role in the traditional system of holistic health and herbal medicine in Africa. In this study phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of Cassia obtusifolia leaf extracts were investigated. The leaf powder of Cassia obtusifolia was macerated with methanol and then fractionated with petroleum ether, dichloro methane and ethyl acetate. The extract and fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis to detect the presence of secondary metabolites by using standard procedures. The extract and fractions were further subjected to antimicrobial activity against ten microorganisms namely Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysentriae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The result of phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenoids and alkaloids. The antimicrobial susceptibility study showed dose-dependent pattern. The ethyl acetate extract had the highest activity with the zone of inhibition of 20mm against Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 4000 µg/mL and a minimum inhibitory concentration at 1000 µg/ml, followed by dichloromethane extract which had zone of inhibition of 19mm against E.coli. Still at same concentration an inhibition zone of 18mm was recorded against E.coli, S.dysenteriae and S.typhi from the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts respectively. The lowest zone of inhibition (9mm) at that concentration recorded against Aspergillus niger was from methanol extract. This study showed interesting correlation between the phytochemical and biological activities hence, findings from this study, justifies the traditional use of the plant in treatment of various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ethnomedicinal plants survey was conducted to collect information for the treatment of skin diseases from plants in tribal and village communities of Haridwar district. The study highlights the utility and counsel therapies of ethnomedicinal flora on various skin diseases, i.e., fungal infection, itching, scabies, psoriasis, leprosy etc., in human being. It also attracts attention for the need towards a detailed study on plants, which could provide novel remedies to other dreadful diseases. Information on the use of the plant for the treatment of skin diseases was collected on the basis of personal interviews with traditional healers. In this communication, the authors have reported 44 plant species belonging to 22 different families used to cure various skin diseases. These have been enumerated with family names, common names, mode of drug preparation and their medicinal utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The search for bioactive organic products for the treatment of various diseases is a growing concern worldwide, because these bioactive natural products are associated with fewer side effects and are easily accessible. Aim: The present study analysed the phytochemical constituents and cytotoxic effects of the leaf, bark and fruit extracts of Cordia grandicalyx Oberm. Setting: Plant samples were collected from Ga-Mashishimale village in Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, South Africa. Methods: Antioxidant activity was determined through 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method, whilst cytotoxic assay was assessed using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide method. Plant extracts were subjected to phytochemical profiling using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The extracts were also subjected to fractionation using column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography, and the sub-fractions with considerable yields were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Results: The aqueous extracts of the bark and leaves had significant (p < 0.001) antioxidant activity as compared to negative controls and ascorbic acid. Additionally, appreciable amounts of total phenolic and alkaloid contents were recorded on polar extracts, notably 200 mg/GAE and 140 mg/quercetin equivalents for leaf cold water and leaf hot water extracts, respectively. All extracts were not toxic to cells, whilst the positive control (H2O2) led to almost 100% demise of cells. Two compounds were isolated from the leaf acetone extracts collected from fraction 20 to 30 and fraction 101 to 120 and identified as α˗amyrin and β-amyrin by NMR spectral analysis. Conclusion: The study provided evidence supporting the screening of plants for the discovery of therapeutic compounds. The study also revealed that all the different C. grandicalyx extracts were less toxic to cells and may provide scientific backing for continued use of the plant in mixtures for the treatment of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to overview the traditional uses, chemical compositions and biological activities of essential oils and extracts of Pulicaria arabica which is considered a traditional medicinal plant in the treatment of various diseases. The P. arabica is used in the treatment of several diseases such as antidiarrheal, anti schistosomiasis, digestive disorders, ulcers, anti-tobacco and skin diseases. Several different biological properties have been reported such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, hepatoprotective and nephritic effects. The chemical investigation of the P. arabica (aerial parts, leaves, stems and flowers) showed some qualitative and quantitative differences in the chemical composition, for example the major compounds for essential oils (Thymol, γ-Cadinene, α-Cadinol and epi-α-Cadinol), flavonoids and Caryophyllene derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campomanesia xanthocarpa popularly known as gabiroba is used as a medicinal plant for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, ulcers, among other uses, requiring studies to assist in proving these activities. In this study, the extract of leaves from C. xanthocarpa (CxHE) was submitted to assays of formalin-induced paw-licking, peritonitis induced by lipopolysaccharide and carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia tests. In chemical analysis, a preliminary phytochemical screening and the determination of phenol and flavonoid content were carried out, in addition to analysis by ESI-MS/MS system and HPLC-DAD system. The CxHE presented compounds such as tannins, triterpenoids, steroids and saponins and content of phenols (35.9 ± 1.3 GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (23.3 ± 2.1 mg EQ/g extract). Protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, ethyl gallate, quercetin, and 3-methyl epigallocatechin gallate, alpha and beta-amyrins were identified. CxHE at doses of 10-1000 mg/kg p.o. demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in all in vivo assays employed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergency of multidrug resistance due to the global burden of infectious diseases and drug misuse leads to an urgent identification of new medicines from medicinal plants. The study was designed to perform the documentation of ethno-medicinal plants usage, extraction, phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activities of the herbal extracts. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted in this study. Maceration of plant extraction, phytochemical screening and disc diffusion method for antimicrobial activity tests were employed. Results: The results of the study indicated that Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae and Sapindaceae plant families have commonly used for the treatment of infectious diseases in the study areas. The antimicrobial activity test results indicated that Ostegia integrifolia Benth which was extracted with chloroform solvent showed equivalent inhibition zone as compared to standard drug, gentamicin. All the extracts could be considered as broad spectrum, have strong inhibition against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. All extracts against C. albicans were also revealed strong inhibition activity as compared to fungal standard drug, contamazole. Conclusion: Phytochemical screening showed the existence of secondary metabolites in the studied plants and thus, supports the traditional healers' claim of such plants use for the treatment of diseases. The study also concluded that chloroform extracts of all plants showed promising antimicrobial activities against K. pneumonia, and C. albicans. Therefore, further in vitro and vivo antimicrobial activity study of chloroform extracts against these bacterial and fungal strains were recommended. Moreover, isolation and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds from chloroform extracts were also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field evaluation of Fosetyl AL 80% WP, Fluopyram-Trifloxystrobin, Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3%, Trifloxystorbin 50WG, Fluropyram 50WG, Metalaxyl 35% WS and Trichoderma viride were evaluated for the management of late blight during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. The result showed with the aim of Trifloxystorbin 50WG (one foliar application before disease appearance and two sprays at 7 days interval) showed less terminal disease severity (28.67%) with highest disease control (69.87%) which was at statistically at par with treatment was Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% (one foliar application before disease appearance and two sprays at 7 days interval) with (29.67%) terminal disease severity along with disease control (69.49%) followed by Fosetyl AL 80% WP (one foliar application before disease appearance and two sprays at 7 days interval) with (29.70%) terminal disease severity and disease control (69.57%). The highest tuber yield 32.19 q/ha was observed with Trifloxystorbin 50WG (one foliar application before disease appearance and two sprays at 7 days interval) followed by 29.72 q/ha with Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% (one foliar application before disease appearance and two sprays at 7 days interval). The correlation between weather parameters and Phytophthora infestans revealed highly negatively significant of minimum temperature (-0.972) and maximum temperature (-0.847), respectively. The yield of both the treatment was statistically at par to rest of the treatment. Trifloxystorbin 50WG (one foliar application before disease appearance and two sprays at 7 days interval) gave better results for management of late blight of potato in foot hills of Arunachal Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disease samples of mango were collected around Udaipur district to isolate the pathogen and pure culture obtained from it. The fungus exhibited variability with respect to cultural and morphological characters comprises growth, colony colour, sporulation, pigmentation, size and shape of conidia. Pathogenic variability studied among five isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on susceptible cultivar of mango was also done. Efficacy of seven fungicides on mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was evaluated in vitro. Among them, Both Hexaconazole 5 SC and Tebuconazole 25 EC completely inhibited the mycelial growth with 100% inhibition at all the four concentrations (100, 250, 500 and 750 ppm). Among all the phytoextracts, Garlic clove was spotted most effective at all the three concentrations (5.0, 10.0 and 15.0%) with 100% inhibition in mycelial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results revealed that egg hatching and larval mortality of Meloidogyne incognita in culture filtrate of Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum increased with the increase in the concentration of culture filtrate and time duration. The egg hatching in Trichoderma viride culture filtrate was highest (100.00) in the 5.0% concentration followed by 89.00, 81.50, 72.50, 66.25, 56.75, 53.50, 42.25 and 34.00 at 36 hours and 169.50, 154.25, 142.00, 128.25, 121.25, 95.50, 75.25, 65.50, 42.25 at 72 hrs time duration time in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100% filtrate concentration, respectively. The larval mortality was observed highest 72.25% in 100% concentration of the culture filtrate followed by 4.00, 17.00, 22.00, 42.25, 47.50, 54.50, 63.00, 67.50, and 72.25% at 36 hrs interval and 13.75, 26.00, 41.25, 56.75, 59.75, 66.50, 72.00, 77.75 and 81.00% mortality at 72 hrs in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75 and 100% concentration treatment. In Trichoderma harzianum culture filtrate was recorded highest (82.25) in the 5.0% concentration followed by 72.00, 67.50, 60.25, 54.50, 49.25, 40.75, 31.50 and 24.75 at 36 hrs and 148.00, 136.75, 126.50, 118.00, 99.25, 79.75, 65.50, 52.50, 31.25 at 72 hrs time duration time in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100% filtrate concentration, respectively. The larval mortality was observed highest 86.00% in 100% concentration of the culture filtrate followed by 6.25, 16.75, 23.50, 29.50, 48.75, 58.25, 64.50, 74.00, and 86.00% at 36 hrs interval and 13.25, 32.00, 47.75, 53.50, 64.00, 69.50, 76.25, 84.75 and 93.50% mortality at 72 hrs in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75 and 100% concentration treatment. The % reduction in egg hatching when eggs were exposed to the culture filtrate of Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum in comparison to the control was recorded 26.72, 35.85, 39.86, 46.32, 51.44, 56.12, 63.69, 71.93 and 77.95 at 36 hrs and 12.81, 19.44, 25.47, 30.48, 41.53, 53.01, 61.41, 69.07 and 81.59 at 72 hrs exposer time in T. harzianum culture filtrate on the other hand in T. viride recorded 10.35, 24.73, 31.07, 38.68, 43.97, 52.00, 54.75, 35.72, 71.25 and 71.25 at 36 hrs and 3.00, 11.73, 18.74, 26.60, 30.61, 45.35, 56.93, 62.51 and 75.82 % at 72 hrs exposer period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]