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Abstract Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are a significant food crop cultivated around the world. Caffeic acid (CA) can enhance plant growth by promoting antioxidant activity and stimulating root development, contributing to overall plant health and vigor. Cobalt sulfate (CoSO4) boosts plant growth by promoting nitrogen (N) fixation, healthier root development, and chlorophyll synthesis, enhancing photosynthesis and overall plant health. Nanoparticle-coated urea (NPCU) improves nutrient uptake, promoting plant growth efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This study investigates the effects of combining CA, CoSO4, and NPCU as amendments on potatoes with and without NPCU. Four treatments, control, 20 μM CA, 0.15 mg/L CoSO4, and 20 μM CA + 0.15 mg/L CoSO4 with and without NPCU, were applied in four replications using a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that the combination of CA + CoSO4 with NPCU led to an increase in potato stem length (~ 6%), shoot dry weight (~ 15%), root dry weight (~ 9%), and leaf dry weight (~ 49%) compared to the control in nutrient stress. There was a significant rise in chlorophyll a (~ 27%), chlorophyll b (~ 37%), and total chlorophyll (~ 28%) over the control under nutrient stress also showed the potential of CA + CoSO4 with NPCU. In conclusion, the findings suggest that applying CA + CoSO4 with NPCU is a strategy for alleviating potato nutrient stress.

Abstract The plant-available soil phosphorus rate and methods for applying phosphatic fertilizer and soil P-fixation capacity are critical factors for lower cotton productivity in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Hence, a two-year study was conducted in Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan, Pakistan, to examine the effects of various P rates and application methods on cotton crop output during the growing seasons of 2014 and 2015. Phosphorus was applied in four rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha−1 P2O5) using broadcast, band application, and fertigation methods. Results indicated that the impact of P rates was statistically significant on plant height, the number of nodes, monopodial and sympodial branches, leaf area index, harvest index, and seed cotton yield. The greater P application (120 kg P2O5 ha−1) had a better effect on cotton productivity than the lower application rates (0, 40, and 80 kg P2O5 ha−1). The band application responded better on nodes plant−1, sympodial branches plant−1, boll weight, leaf area index, lint yield, and harvest during the growing season 2015. Therefore, by adopting the band application coupled with 120 kg P2O5 ha−1 rather than the conventional method of broadcast, productivity of cotton crops could be increased.

Abstract The excessive accumulation of sodium chloride (NaCl) in soil can result in soil salinity, which poses a significant challenge to plant growth and crop production due to impaired water and nutrient uptake. On the other hand, hydropriming (WP) and low level of NaCl priming can improve the germination of seeds, chlorophyll contents, oil and seed yield in plants. That’s why this study investigates the impact of hydro and different levels of NaCl (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%) priming, as pre-treatment techniques on canola seeds germination, growth and yield of two varieties Punjab and Faisal Canola. Results showed that, WP performed significant best for increase in germination (~ 20 and ~ 22%) and shoot length (~ 6 and ~ 10%) over non-priming (NP) in Punjab Canola and Faisal Canola respectively. A significant increase in plant height (~ 6 and ~ 7%), root length (~ 1 and ~ 7%), shoot fresh weight (~ 5 and ~ 7%), root fresh weight (~ 6 and ~ 7%) in Punjab Canola and Faisal Canola respectively. It was also observed that plants under WP and 0.5%NaCl priming were also better in production of seed yield per plant, oil contents, silique per plant, seeds per silique, and branches per plant chlorophyll contents and leaf relative water contents over NP. In conclusion, WP and 0.5%NaCl has potential to improve the germination, growth, yield and oil attributes of canola compared to non-priming, 1.0%NaCl priming, 1.5%NaCl priming and 2.0%NaCl priming.

Heavy metal ions pose significant risks to human health, pelagic, and several other life forms due to perniciousness, tendency to accumulate, and resistance to biodegradation. Waste bio-materials extend a budding alternative as low-cost adsorbent to address the removal of noxious pollutants from wastewater on account of being cost-effective and exhibiting exceptional adsorption capacities. The current exploration was accomplished to gauge the performance of raw and modified human hair concerning lead scavenging in a down-flow fixed bed column. The appraisal of column performance under varying operational parameters encompassing bed height (15–45 cm), influent metal ion concentration (60–140 mg L−1), and a solution flow rate (20–40 mL min−1) was performed by breakthrough curve analysis. The consequences acquired were evaluated using the Yoon Nelson, Thomas, Adam-Bohart, and Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model. Among these employed models, Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) and Thomas models exhibited the highest R-squared value compared to the Yoon Nelson and Adam-Bohart's model for most cases. In addition, the optimization of lead adsorption was followed using the Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions (desirability-1.00) for achieving a goal of maximum percent removal of lead ions were marked to be a bed height of 42.79 cm, solution flow rate of 20.92 mL min−1, and an initial metal concentration of 139.51 mg L−1. Under these optimized conditions, the percent amputation of lead in a fixed bed was observed to be 82.31 %, while the results of the experiment performed approximately under these optimized conditions revealed a percent removal of 85.05 %, reflecting a reasonable conformity with values acquired through Box-Behnken design.

Abstract Chromium (Cr) stress significantly hinders crop production by disrupting nutrient uptake, impairing plant growth, and contaminating soil, posing a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability. The use of deashed biochar (DAB) and strigolactone can be an effective solution to mitigate this issue. Deashed biochar enhances crop production by improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability while mitigating the bioavailability of toxic substances. Strigolactone boosts plant growth by stimulating root growth, branching, shoot formation, and overall plant physiology. Nevertheless, the scientific rationale behind their collective use as an amendment to counter Cr stress remains to be substantiated. Therefore, in this study, a blend of DAB and strigolactone was employed as additives in radish cultivation, both in the absence of Cr stress and under the influence of 200Cr stress. Four treatments, i.e., 0, 20µM Strigolactone, DAB, and 20µM Strigolactone + DAB, were applied in four replications following a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that 20µM Strigolactone + DAB produced significant improvement in radish shoot length (27.29%), root length (45.60%), plant fresh weight (33.25%), and plant dry weight (78.91%), compared to the control under Cr stress. Significant enrichment in radish chlorophyll a (20.41%), chlorophyll b (58.53%), and total chlorophyll (31.54%) over the control under Cr stress, prove the efficacy of 20µM Strigolactone + DAB treatment. In conclusion, 20µM Strigolactone + DAB is the recommended amendment for mitigating Cr stress in radish. Farmers should consider using Strigolactone + DAB amendments to combat Cr stress and enhance radish growth, contributing to a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.

The current study was designed to investigate the consequences of rice cooking and soaking of cooked rice (CR) with or without arsenic (As) contaminated water on As and Fe (iron) transfer to the human body along with associated health risk assessment using additive main-effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and Monte Carlo Simulation model. In comparison to raw rice, As content in cooked rice (CR) and soaked cooked rice (SCR) enhanced significantly (at p

Abstract Osmotic stress is a significant concern in agricultural crop production as it can harm crop growth, development, and productivity. Agriculture crops are particularly vulnerable to osmotic stress due to their reliance on water availability for various physiological processes. Organic amendments like activated carbon biochar and growth hormone gibberellic acid (GA3) can play a vital role. However, the time needed is to modify the established amendment to achieve better results. That’s why the current study used potassium-enriched biochar (KBC = 0.75%) with and without GA3 (15 mg/L) as amendments under no osmotic stress and osmotic stress in wheat. Results showed that GA3 + KBC caused significant enhancement in germination (9.44%), shoot length (29.30%), root length (21.85%), shoot fresh weight (13.56%), shoot dry weight (68.38), root fresh weight (32.68%) and root dry weight (28.79%) of wheat over control under osmotic stress (OS). A significant enhancement in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll, while the decline in electrolyte leakage of wheat, also validated the effectiveness of GA3 + KBC over control in OS. In conclusion, GA3 + KBC is the most effective among all applied treatments for improving wheat growth attributes under no osmotic and osmotic stress. Further research is needed at the field level, focusing on various cereal crops, to establish GA3 + KBC as the optimal treatment for effectively mitigating the impacts of osmotic stress.

Background: The most important factors contributing to multi-drug resistance in oral cancer include overexpression of the EGFR protein and the downstream malignancy regulators that are associated with it. This study investigates the impact of solanine on inflammation, proliferation, and angiogenesis inhibition in multidrug-resistant oral cancer KB-Chr-8-5 cells through inhibition of the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Methods: Cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay to evaluate cytotoxic effects. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM), and AO/EtBr staining were analyzed to assess apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Western blotting was employed to examine protein expression related to angiogenesis, apoptosis, and signaling pathways. Experiments were conducted in triplicate. Results: Solanine treatment at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 μM significantly increased ROS production, which is indicative of its antioxidant properties. This increase was associated with decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM) with p < 0.05, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. Inhibition of EGFR led to reduced activity of PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB, resulting in decreased expression of iNOS, IL-6, Cyclin D1, PCNA, VEGF, Mcl-1, and HIF-1α and increased levels of the apoptotic proteins Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3. These changes collectively inhibited the growth of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells. Conclusions: Solanine acts as a potent disruptor of cellular processes by inhibiting the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. These results suggest that solanine holds promise as a potential preventive or therapeutic agent against multidrug-resistant cancers.

Chemical insecticides are effective at controlling mosquito populations, but their excessive use can pollute the environment and harm non-target organisms. Mosquitoes can also develop resistance to these chemicals over time, which makes long-term mosquito control efforts challenging. In this study, we assessed the phytochemical, biochemical, and insecticidal properties of the chemical constituents of cajeput oil. Results show that Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil may exhibit mosquito larvicidal properties against Anopheles stephensi larvae (second-fourth instar) at 24 h post-treatment. At 24 h post-exposure, the essential oil resulted in a significant decrease in detoxifying enzymes. All of these findings indicate that cajeput oil infects An. stephensi larvae directly affect the immune system, leading to decreased immune function. Cajeput oil significantly affects the second, third, and fourth instar larvae of An. stephensi, according to the bioassay results. Cajeput oil does not induce toxicity in non-target Eudrilus eugeniae earthworm species, as indicated by a histological study of earthworms. Phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of several major phytochemicals that contribute to mosquito larvicidal activity. The importance of cajeput oil as an effective candidate for biological control of the malarial vector An. stephensi is supported by this study.

Biochar is a solid byproduct of biomass thermal decomposition. It boosts agricultural production and develops systemic plant resistance when added to the soil. Biochar is frequently used as a soil additive to increase crop yield and soil fertility. However, the combined effect of biochar and oil cakes on plant's (Tomato), nematodes, and biochemical parameters has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of biochar in combination with various oil cakes to develop resistance to the root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plant and to investigate its biochemical parameters. The current study was carried out in pot condition to evaluate the effect of biochar alone and in conjunction with different oil cakes viz. castor, coconut, mustard, linseed, and sesame on tomato cv. Pusa–Ruby. Our findings indicate that biochar with oil cakes enhanced plant growth, fresh weight to dry weight, total chlorophyll, carotenoid levels, nitrate reductase activity, and reduced the eggmass/root, the number of galls and nematode population compared to the control. Biochar + castor oil cake showed a higher effect in the declining nematode population, followed by biochar + mustard cake, biochar + sesame cake, biochar + linseed cake, and biochar + coconut cake. When biochar was used alone, the effect was minimal. Among all treatments, the amendment of biochar and castor oil cake has the highest ability to manage the root-knot nematode infestation in tomatoes.

In this study, we conducted tests on the isolation, identification, characterization, and extraction of chemical molecules from Beauveria bassiana against Tuta absoluta larvae. The enzyme responses of T. absoluta to the crude extract were examined 24 h after treatment, and the number of dead larvae was calculated 24 and 48 h after treatment. Molecular docking studies were conducted to assess the interaction of important molecules with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. The larvicidal activity of crude chemicals from fungi was high 24 h after treatment, with LC50 and LC90 values of 25.937 and 33.559 μg/mL, respectively. For a period of 48 h, the LC50 and LC90 values were 52.254 and 60.450 μg/mL, respectively. The levels of acetylcholinesterase, α-carboxylesterase, and β-carboxylesterase enzymes were lower in the treatment group after 24 h compared to the control group. The GC-MS test revealed that the crude extract consisted mainly of 9,10-octadecadienoic acid, which was the primary compound. Docking results indicated that 9,10-octadecadienoic acid showed a strong interaction with acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Our findings suggest that the chemical molecule 9,10-octadecadienoic acid derived from the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana is more toxic to T. absoluta larvae. We plan to conduct studies to test its effectiveness in semi-field conditions and to evaluate its stability in field conditions. We believe that this 9,10-octadecadienoic acid molecule could be used to control T. absoluta larvae in the near future without causing environmental pollution.

Plant-parasitic nematodes infect and cause substantial yield losses in numerous crops. Growing concern over chemical nematicides has attracted attention to safe alternatives. Meloidogyne incognita is one of the plant parasitic nematode species in the tropics and subtropics, which have a drastic economic effect on crops. This nematode is polyphagous, attacking both monocotyledons and dicotyledons crops. This study aimed to investigate the management of M. incognita using six botanical viz., Commelina benghalensis, Evolvulus nummularius, Gomphrena celosioides, Lindenbergia indica, Scoparia dulcis, and Vernonia cinerea under the pots condition. It was found that the pots treated with the amendment of fresh leaves (60 g) of selected botanicals with dried powder 10 g of L. indica efficiently reduced the infestation caused by M. incognita on carrots along with significantly increased growth and biochemical attributes. Out of the six botanicals, GC–MS analysis was performed with the two most effective plants, namely, L. indica and S. dulcis. Results from GC–MS analysis showed various volatile compounds in leaves extract of both plants, out of which phytol was a major compound. Our study concluded that various compounds, along with phytol shown by GC–MS analysis, suppress the infestation of M. incognita and increase the yield of carrots.

The stingless bee, Tetragonula sapiens, is one of the species producing propolis in Indonesia. To date, there is still limited information about the standard characteristics and biological activity of propolis. This study investigated the standardized extract of Indonesian propolis in terms of its potency for controlling diabetes and high blood pressure in vitro, in accordance with its standard parameters. Three types of extracts; i.e., ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP), spray-dry propolis without wax (SDPNW), and spray-dry propolis with wax (SDPW); were prepared from T. sapiens stingless bees collected in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The ethanolic extractable, loss on drying, ash, and water content parameters of EEP, SDPNW, and SDPW met the natural extract requirement. There is no significant value for their residual solvent levels (

Abstract Background Farsetia hamiltonii Royle is a medicinally important annual plant from the Cholistan desert that belongs to the tribe Anastaticeae and clade C of the Brassicaceae family. We provide the entire chloroplast sequence of F.hamiltonii, obtained using the Illumina HiSeq2500 and paired-end sequencing. We compared F. hamiltonii to nine other clade C species, including Farsetia occidentalis, Lobularia libyca, Notoceras bicorne, Parolinia ornata, Morettia canescens, Cochlearia borzaeana, Megacarpaea polyandra, Biscutella laevigata, and Iberis amara. We conducted phylogenetic research on the 22 Brassicaceae species, which included members from 17 tribes and six clades. Results The chloroplast genome sequence of F.hamiltonii of 154,802 bp sizes with 36.30% GC content and have a typical structure comprised of a Large Single Copy (LSC) of 83,906 bp, a Small Single Copy (SSC) of 17,988 bp, and two copies of Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 26,454 bp. The genomes of F. hamiltonii and F. occidentalis show shared amino acid frequencies and codon use, RNA editing sites, simple sequence repeats, and oligonucleotide repeats. The maximum likelihood tree revealed Farsetia as a monophyletic genus, closely linked to Morettia, with a bootstrap score of 100. The rate of transversion substitutions (Tv) was higher than the rate of transition substitutions (Ts), resulting in Ts/Tv less than one in all comparisons with F. hamiltonii, indicating that the species are closely related. The rate of synonymous substitutions (Ks) was greater than non-synonymous substitutions (Ka) in all comparisons with F. hamiltonii, with a Ka/Ks ratio smaller than one, indicating that genes underwent purifying selection. Low nucleotide diversity values range from 0.00085 to 0.08516, and IR regions comprise comparable genes on junctions with minimal change, supporting the conserved status of the selected chloroplast genomes of the clade C of the Brassicaceae family. We identified ten polymorphic regions, including rps8-rpl14, rps15-ycf1, ndhG-ndhI, psbK-psbI, ccsA-ndhD, rpl36-rps8, petA-psbJ, ndhF-rpl32, psaJ-rpl3, and ycf1 that might be exploited to construct genuine and inexpensive to solve taxonomic discrepancy and understand phylogenetic relationship amongst Brassicaceae species. Conclusion The entire chloroplast sequencing of F. hamiltonii sheds light on the divergence of genic chloroplast sequences among members of the clade C. When other Farsetia species are sequenced in the future, the full F. hamiltonii chloroplast will be used as a source for comprehensive taxonomical investigations of the genus. The comparison of F. hamiltonii and other clade C species adds new information to the phylogenetic data and evolutionary processes of the clade. The results of this study will also provide further molecular uses of clade C chloroplasts for possible plant genetic modifications and will help recognise more Brassicaceae family species.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), a microbial biostimulant has been widely studied to stimulate plant growth through induction of natural biological processes. However, lack of successful validation under open field remains a barrier to mark their standard in agriculture. Therefore, the aim of the research was to highlight the potential of PGPR biostimulants via in vitro studies and subsequently to demonstrate the in planta evaluation in oilseed crop, Arachis hypogaea L. (Groundnut) under pot and field trials. The two rhizobacterial strain was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis by 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis. Both the strains were functionally screened for plant growth promoting traits. Pot and field trials were conducted where seeds were inoculated with PGPR biostimulants and harvested at 30 and 90 days. Biostimulant treatments were applied as single and co-inoculation in groundnut and the growth factors, biochemical parameters, yield, and seed quality were analyzed. The study inferred that the consortium of PGPR biostimulants significantly (p

Background and Aim: Instances of chikungunya reported throughout the world in the past two decades of the present century. There is a lack of effective medicine or vaccine for chikungunya treatment. Non-structural protein, the nsP2 cysteine protease (nsP2pro) is an attractive target for inhibitors. It is a key enzyme for proteolytic cleavage of polyprotein precursors and produces functional proteins for replication and multiplication of the virus. Bioactive metabolites from Nigella sativa L; a popular spice and well-known medicinal plant, were selected for the current study against nsP2pro to search for potent non-toxic natural inhibitors of nsP2pro. Experimental procedure: Out of 54 bioactive metabolites from N. sativa 27 qualified drug likeliness properties. Virtual screening of 27 selected molecules was performed using AutoDock Vina. Top four molecules Kaempferol, (-)-Epicatechin, (+)-Catechin, and Apigenin with the least binding energy were taken for molecular docking employing AUTODOCK4. These metabolites were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation and MMPBSA, and the resilience of protein–ligand complexes had been assessed in terms of RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, and hydrogen bonding. Results and Conclusions: Drug likeliness, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation properties, and MMPBSA analyses made clear that Kaempferol, (-)- Epicatechin, (+)- Catechin, and Apigenin all seem to be potential nsP2pro potent inhibitors and strong candidates for chikungunya virus drug development.

Background: Trachyspermum ammi is a frequently utilized traditional medicinal plant renowned for its pharmacological attributes, particularly in the realm of treating infectious diseases. This current study aims to comprehensively assess the in vitro properties of freshly prepared nanosuspensions derived from Trachyspermum ammi extracts, with a focus on their cost-effective potential in various areas, including antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic activities. Methods: Biochemical characterization of T. ammi nanosuspensions by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Results: HPLC analysis revealed the presence of kaempferol and sinapic acid in various amounts at 11.5 ppm and 12.3 ppm, respectively. FTIR analysis of T. ammi powder revealed the presence of alcohols and amines. The assessment of antioxidant activity was conducted using a DPPH scavenging assay, indicating that the nanosuspensions exhibited their highest free radical scavenging activity, reaching 14.9%. Nanosuspensions showed 3.75 ± 3.529.5% biofilm inhibition activity against Escherichia coli. The antidiabetic activity was accessed through antiglycation and α- amylase inhibition assays, while nanosuspension showed the maximum inhibition activity at 25.35 ± 0.912133% and 34.6 ± 1.3675%. Hemolytic activity was also evaluated, and T. ammi nanosuspension showed 22.73 ± 1.539% hemolysis. Conclusions: This nanotechnology approach has established a foundation to produce plant-based nanosuspensions, offering a promising avenue for the biopharmaceutical production of herbal nanomedicines. These nanosuspensions have the potential to enhance bioavailability and can serve as a viable alternative to synthetic formulations.

Background: Nano-based drug delivery systems have shown several advantages in cancer treatment like specific targeting of cancer cells, good pharmacokinetics, and lesser adverse effects. Liver cancer is a fifth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related mortalities worldwide. Objective: The present study focusses to formulate the selenium (S)/chitosan (C)/polyethylene glycol (Pg)/allyl isothiocyanate (AI) nanocomposites (SCPg-AI-NCs) and assess its therapeutic properties against the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer in rats via inhibition of oxidative stress and tumor markers. Methodology: The SCPg-AI-NCs were synthesized by ionic gelation technique and characterized by various characterization techniques. The liver cancer was induced to the rats by injecting a DEN (200 mg/kg) on the 8th day of experiment. Then DEN-induced rats treated with 10 mg/kg of formulated SCPg-AI-NCs an hour before DEN administration for 16 weeks. The 8-hydroxy-2′ -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) content, albumin, globulin, and total protein were examined by standard methods. The level of glutathione (GSH), vitamin-C & -E, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were examined using assay kits. The liver marker enzymes i.e., alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate tansaminase (AST), γ-glutamyl transaminase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Bax, and Bcl-2 levels, and caspase-3&9 activities was examined using assay kits and the liver histopathology was assessed microscopically by hematoxylin and eosin staining method. The effect of formulated SCPg-AI-NCs on the viability and apoptotic cell death on the HepG2 cells were examined using MTT and dual staining assays, respectively. Results: The results of different characterization studies demonstrated the formation of SCPg-AI-NCs with tetragonal shape, narrowed distribution, and size ranging from 390 to 450 nm. The formulated SCPg-AI-NCs treated liver cancer rats indicated the reduced levels of 8-OHdG, albumin, globulin, and total protein. The SCPg-AI-NCs treatment appreciably improved the GSH, vitamin-C & -E contents, and SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR activities in the serum of liver cancer rats. The SCPg-AI-NCs treatment remarkably reduced the liver marker enzyme activities in the DEN-induced rats. The SCPg-AI-NCs treatment decreased the AFP and CEA contents and enhanced the Bax and caspase 3&9 activities in the DEN-induced rats. The SCPg-AI-NCs effectively decreased the cell viability and induced apoptosis in the HepG2 cells. Conclusion: The present findings suggested that the formulated SCPg-AI-NCs remarkably inhibited the DEN-induced liver carcinogenesis in rats. These findings provide an evidence that SCPg-AI-NCs can be a promising anticancer nano-drug in the future to treat the liver carcinogenesis.

Poor organic matter and nitrogen (N) deficiency along with salinity in arid and semiarid region soils are major hurdles to optimization of cereal's yield. In different cereals, maize productivity is significantly decreased due to less availability of N in low organic matter soils. Scientists suggest the incorporation of organic fertilizers to overcome this issue. That’s why the current study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of chemically produced nitrate blended acidified carbon (NBC). There were 3 levels of NBC i.e., 0, 0.50 and 1.00% applied under naturally normal and saline soils having EC 2.75 and 6.19 dS/m respectively. Results showed that the addition of 1.00NBC was significantly better compared to 0NBC for improvement in maize growth attributes i.e., root (32.86 and 77.84%) and shoot (74.17 and 67.57%) length, shoot fresh (53.98 and 97.42%) and dry weight (53.20and 84.20%), root dry (45.97 and 53.66%) and fresh weight (45.62 and 25.14%) in normal and saline conditions respectively. A significant enhancement in chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoids of maize leaves also validated the imperative role of 1.00NBC than 0NBC in saline and normal soil. Application of 1.00BC also significantly decreases leaves electrolyte leakage and Na concentration in root and leaves over 0NBC in saline soils. In conclusion, 1.00NBC is an effective amendment to improve maize growth in saline soil. More investigations are suggested on different cereal crops under variable agroclimatic zones to declare 1.00NBC as the most effective amendment for alleviation of salinity stress.

Cancer of lung is the utmost typical cause of death and the number of cases is increasing rapidly, which has emerged as a major leading health problem. A large amount of reports suggested that Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] in cigarette smoke plays the major function in an initiation of cancer of lung. Cancer prevention or chemoprevention has become a compelling approach recently for treatment of lung cancer. So, discovering a fresh candidate with reduced toxicity for targeting lung cancer is vital and urgent. Sinapic acid which is a widely extracted in various vegetables and fruit exhibits rich anti-oxidant content, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity. But, the chemopreventive action of sinapic acid against lung cancer initiated by B[a]P remain unclear. Following, an in-vivo B[a]P-stimulated lung cancer in swiss albino mice and an in-vitro human lung cancer cell (A549) model were established to examine the chemopreventive activities of sinapic acid. The levels of immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), oxidative and inflammatory markers, and tumor markers level was studied using kits and standard methods. The results showed administration of sinapic acid ameliorates the exposure of B[a]P mediated lung cancer in swiss albino mice by a decline in IgG and IgM level, leukocyte count, neutrophil function tests, soluble immune complex, lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor markers (AHH, LDH, GGT, 5′NT and CEA) and enhanced phagocytic index, activity index and antioxidant defense enzymes. In addition, in-vitro studies showed potential cytotoxicity against human lung cancer and exhibited a potential cytotoxic (MTT assay) and apoptotic activity by elevation of ROS production and caspase activity (caspase-3 and caspase-9). Collectively, the results, clearly specifies sinapic acid can be utilized as an effective chemo preventative agent against lung carcinogenesis.

Background: Around 30% world population affected by acute and chronic pain due to inflammation and accidental injuries. Pain is a uncomfortable sensation and it reduce the patients’ life quality. Objective: The present exploration focuses to explore the beneficial effects of butein on the different chemical and thermal-provoked nociceptive and inflammatory mice models. Methodology: The nociception was induced to the Swiss mice using different chemical (formalin, acetic acid, glutamate, and capsaicin) and thermal (hot plate and tail immersion) methods. the mice were supplemented with 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg of butein and respective standard drugs like morphine, diclofenac sodium, and dexamethasone. The anti-inflammatory effects of butein was studied using carrageenan-provoked inflammation in mice. Results: The present findings clearly demonstrated that the butein was substantially lessened the different thermal and chemical provoked nociception in mice. The carrageenan-triggered paw edema and inflammatory cell infiltrations were appreciably suppressed by the butein treatment. The TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in the carrageenan-induced mice were effectively depleted by the butein. Conclusion: Altogether, the present findings evidenced the potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the butein in different nociceptive mice models.

Phosphate solubilizing microbes (PSM) can improve soil P availability by P dissolution. These microbes can make substances that regulate plant growth, which promotes plant growth. The present study aimed to characterize PSM and determine how PSM application affected P solubilization, soil phosphatase activity, and upland rice yield. The greenhouse experiment used a factorial randomized block design (RBD) with two factors and three replications. The first factor was PSM isolates, which came in four different forms: without microbes, with microbes (Burkholderia sp.), with fungus (Penicillium sp.), and with a combination of microbes (Burkholderia sp. and Penicillium sp.). The PSM isolates were characterized to analyze the production of organic acids, phosphatase enzymes, and phytohormones. The second factor was the superphosphate fertilizer dose, which has four levels: 0, 50, 75, and 100 kg P ha−1. According to the PSM characterization, it produced organic acids such as lactate acid, oxalate acid, citric acid, and acetate acid, as well as phytohormones (IAA) and the enzyme phosphatase. The pot experiment results show that the PSM inoculation raised the available P and soil phosphatase, P content of the plant, decreased soil organic P, and increased upland rice production. For improving available P, phosphatase activity, P content of the plant, and upland rice yields, mixed inoculants of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi performed better. The availability of soil P, the activity of the enzyme phosphatase, and the upland rice yields were all improved by applying P fertilizer at 75 kg P ha−1. This study showed that PSM as a biofertilizer reduced the dosage of inorganic fertilizers by up to 25%.

Introduction Molecular docking as a versatile theoretical method was used to investigate the biological activities of anthraflavic acid in the presence of α-amylase. The outcomes revealed that anthraflavic acid has a considerable binding affinity to the enzyme with a docking score of –7.913 kcal/mol. These outcomes were further evaluated with free binding energy calculations, and it was concluded that anthraflavic acid could be a potential inhibitor for α-amylase. Material and methods Anthraflavic acid was explored in anti-human breast carcinoma tests. The in vitro cytotoxic and anti-breast carcinoma effects of biologically synthesized anthraflavic acid against MCF-7, CAMA-1, SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231, AU565 [AU-565], and Hs 281.T cancer cell lines were assessed. In the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the anti-breast carcinoma properties of anthraflavic acid could significantly kill the MCF-7, CAMA-1, SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231, AU565 [AU-565], and Hs 281.T cancer cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Also, we used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to determine the cytotoxicity potentials of anthraflavic acid using MTT assay. Results The IC 50 values of anthraflavic acid were 159, 193, 253, 156, 241, and 218 µg/ml against MCF-7, CAMA-1, SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231, AU565 [AU-565], and Hs 281.T cancer cell lines. Conclusions It seems the anti-human breast carcinoma effect of recent nanoparticles is due to their antioxidant effects.

Objective: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a foremost complications among diabetic patients worldwide with growing prevalence and mortality rates annually. Nearly, 25–40% of diabetic patients suffer from DN. Objective: The current research work was done to ascertain the therapeutic properties of ononin against the streptozotocin (STZ)-challenged DN in rats via alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Methodology: The DN was initiated to experimental rats via intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of STZ. Then DN animals were supplemented orally with three various doses of ononin at 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg once a day for 60 days. After the completion, the glucose level and bodyweight of the animals were recorded. The renal function markers like creatinine, BUN, uric acid, and microalbumin (U-mAlb) was assessed using hematological analyzer. The contents of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and fibronectin was assessed using assay kits. The levels of ROS and antioxidant biomarkers were assessed using standard techniques and renal tissues were examined histologically. Results: The ononin treatment substantially improved the bodyweight and depleted the FBG level, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, and U-mAlb levels in the STZ-challenged DN animals. The levels of inflammatory and fibrosis factors i.e. IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and fibronectin was remarkably depleted by the ononin treatment. The ononin also decreased the ROS level and improved the GSH content, SOD and GPx activities in the STZ-challenged DN animals. The findings of histological study also confirmed the therapeutic roles of ononin against STZ-induced changes in renal tissues. Conclusion: Altogether, our results from this study evidences the beneficial roles of ononin treatment against the STZ-initiated DN in animals via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, it could be the potential candidate in the future for the management of DN.

Zinc is one of the crucial micronutrients required for the sustenance of growth and metabolism in plants. Zinc deficiency results in growth inhibition and chlorosis in plants along with low production of carbohydrates, proteins, and chlorophyll. The utilization of zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) is an effective strategy to enhance growth in plants. The present investigation was carried out to determine the effect of green synthesized ZnNPs on the growth and yield of Pisum sativum L. Two pea varieties were raised in pots treated with various levels of ZnNPs. Zinc nanoparticles escalated the growth and yield of pea plants. Maximum growth and yield were obtained at 400 and 600 ppm as compared to control and zinc sulphated treated plants. In conclusion green synthesized zinc nanoparticles can enhance crop pea plant's growth and productivity. More investigations are suggested under variable agro-climatic zones for declaration of the best application rate between 400 and 600 ppm for different crops.

In contemporary times, the development of a cost-effective and sustainable platform for mitigating water pollutants is an ongoing challenge. Herein, Ananas comosus waste leaves mediated Au NPs have been synthesized after optimization of various reaction parameters and are found highly stable (for one year). The formation of Au NPs is confirmed by various characterization techniques i.e., UV–Visible spectrophotometer, FTIR, SAED, and HRTEM. UV–Vis spectrum displays the surface plasmon wavelength around 520 nm. HRTEM images show that the synthesized Au NPs are in narrow size distribution having size range between 20 and 30 nm with different shapes. Furthermore, they are employed as the effective catalyst, photocatalyst, and antimicrobial agents for the conversion reduction of 4-nitrophenol (20 min), methylene blue dye degradation (90 min), and Escherichia coli (inhibition zone 16 mm), and Bacillus subtilis (inhibition zone 13 mm) bacteria, respectively. Thus, this study offers a positive step in material research to prepare efficient photocatalyst, catalysts, and antimicrobial agents via a cost-effective and sustainable approach.

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is chronic inflammatory ailment that distinguished by diarrhea, stomach pain, reduced body weight, and hematochezia. UC affects nearly 400 per 100,000 peoples worldwide. In this exploration, we intended to fabricate the copper oxide nanoparticles from the T. kirilowii (TK-CuNPs) and inspect their curative potential against the Dextran sulfate disodium salt (DSS)-provoked colitis in animals. Methods: Formulated TK-CuNPs were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, and DLS techniques. UC was provoked in mice through administering of 2% DSS for 7-days and treated with the 10 mg/kg bodyweight of TK-CuNPs via intragastric intubation. Myeloperoxidase activity, colon weight, and length, and spleen weight were determined by standard methods. Pro-inflammatory mediators, i.e. IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were inspected by the assay kits. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Histopathological changes in colon tissues were investigated microscopically by H&E staining. The cytotoxicity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of TK-CuNPs were analyzed in RAW-264.7 cells. Results: The outcomes of various characterization studies demonstrated the formation of TK-CuNPs. The TK-CuNPs supplementation to the DSS induced colitis mice demonstrated the appreciable bodyweight gain and reduced the DAI scores. TK-CuNPs improved the colon length and spleen weight and suppressed the MPO activity. The status of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α was appreciably suppressed by the TK-CuNPs treatment. The expressions of COX-2 and iNOS was also diminished by the TK-CuNPs. TK-CuNPs did not possessed toxicity to the RAW-264.7 cells and suppressed the inflammatory markers level in the RAW-264.7 cells. Discussion and Conclusion: The current findings revealed that fabricated TK-CuNPs can be a hopeful therapeutic agent to treat acute colitis.

Filter passing bacteria have been isolated from a variety of natural environments, appearing as a mixture of Gram-positive and Gram-negative, as well as nano-forms and wall-free species. In this study, filter passing bacteria were isolated from surfaces located in various dental departments at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University Hospital. Surface samples were obtained by using Q-tip swabs, with ten different surfaces being sampled in each clinic during pre-patient and post-patient visits. Filterable bacteria (using 0.4 and 0.2 micron filters, but not 0.1 micron filter) were isolated, being mainly Gram-positive cocci. Isolation results of filterable bacteria were compared before and after patient treatment in the clinic. More frequently, filter passing bacteria were isolated on clinic surfaces after patient treatment. The results show that dental settings are contaminated with filterable bacteria which may act as a reservoir for the wider contamination of hospital environments.

In this research, we formulated new chemotherapeutic copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) containing Allium noeanum Reut. ex Regel leaf for treating human endometrial cancer. For investigating the antioxidant activitiy, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test was used. MTT test was used on normal (Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)) and human endometrial cancer (Ishikawa, HEC-1-A, HEC-1-B, and KLE) cell lines for comparing the anti-human endometrial cancer properties of Cu(NO3)2, A. noeanum leaf aqueous extract, and copper nanoparticles. Copper nanoparticles had high cell death and anti-human endometrial cancer effects against Ishikawa, HEC-1-A, HEC-1-B, and KLE cell lines. The IC50 of A. noeanum leaf aqueous extract and copper nanoparticles against HEC-1-B cell line were 548 and 331 µg/mL, respectively; against HEC-1-A cell line were 583 and 356 µg/mL, respectively; against KLE cell line were 609 and 411 µg/mL, respectively; and against Ishikawa cell line were 560 and 357 µg/mL, respectively. Among the above cell lines, the best result of anti-human endometrial cancer properties of copper nanoparticles was gained in the cell line of HEC-1-B. This study indicated excellent anti-human endometrial cancer potentials of copper nanoparticles containing A. noeanum in the in vitro condition.

In the current study, bacteria from agricultural soil systems that have been polluted with pesticides were isolated, identified, and their ability to tolerate pesticides was examined. Target bacterial species were isolated from Psidium guajava (L) and Abelmoschus esculentus (L) cultivating an agriculture field. From 10 distinct soil samples collected from an agricultural field, 27 bacterial species were extracted, and the capacity of these microorganisms to withstand pesticides was examined. Only three bacterial species (PRB-S1P2, PRB-S1P3, and PRB-S6P1) are capable to grow on Nutrient agar medium with different concentration of pesticides dimethoate, Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid. Apart from these three, one bacterial species were highly tolerant to all test pesticides. The highest pesticide tolerant bacteria are Pseudomonas nitroreducens was identified through 16s rRNA sequencing and the sequences were submitted to the NCBI with the accession No: ON624333.1. Hence, the bacteria can be subjected to further study of its use in the field of bioremediation.

The present study deals with the nanoparticles synthesis from Impatiens balsamina L. plant flower extract. The concentration of reducing agent (flower extract) and different temperature is involved in the reaction. Sixteen different silver nanoparticles were synthesized with using different ratios of the reaction mixture and different temperature. The different silver nanoparticles are different color based on the temperature and concentration of reaction mixture. The synthesized silver nanoparticles are characterized by UV/vis Spectrophotometer. The microorganisms Bacillus subtilis are highly inhibited by (90:10/60 °C; 99:1/70 °C; 92:2/70 °C; and 90:10/70 °C) silver nanoparticles. Pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly inhibited by 98:2/50 °C and 90:10/70 °C based silver nanoparticles. The bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus are highly inhibited by 98:2/50 °C and 98:2/70 °C. The E. coli was inhibited by 99:1/70 °C; 98:2/70 °C and 90:10/70 °C based silver nanoparticles. The temperature and concentration of reducing agents can play a significant role in controlling the growth of nanoparticles. This study is one of the evidence on temperature and concentration of reducing agents to control the nanoparticles growth and their microbial inhibitory efficacy.

Introduction: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process of transdifferentiation where epithelial cells attain mesenchymal phenotype to gain invasive properties and thus, can contribute to metastasis of tumor cells. Objectives: The antimetastatic and antitumor efficacy of brusatol (BT) was investigated in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model. Methods: We evaluated the action of BT on EMT process using various biological assays in HCC cell lines and its effect on tumorigenesis in an orthotopic mouse model. Results: We found that BT treatment restored the expression of Occludin, E-cadherin (epithelial markers) while suppressing the levels of different mesenchymal markers in HCC cells and tumor tissues. Moreover, we observed a decline in the expression of transcription factors (Snail, Twist). Since the expression of these two factors can be regulated by STAT3 signaling, we deciphered the influence of BT on modulation of this pathway. BT suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3Y705 and STAT3 depletion using siRNA resulted in the restoration of epithelial markers. Importantly, BT (1mg/kg) reduced the tumor burden in orthotopic mouse model with a concurrent decline in lung metastasis. Conclusions: Overall, our results demonstrate that BT interferes with STAT3 induced metastasis by altering the expression of EMT-related proteins in HCC model.

The development of alternate sources for the production of natural pigments has been targeted to overcome the utilization of artificial coloring, which is dangerous to human health and the environment. Dyes extracted from microbial sources are more important for beneficial food industry use, especially Monascus spp. produces several critical secondary metabolites such as lovastatin, g-amino butyric acids, monascodilone, monascorubramine, monascin, ankaflavin, rubropunctatin, and citrinin. Lovastatin is a fungal polyketide that inhibits the rate-limiting enzymes HMG-CoA reductase, an essential precursor in cholesterol biosynthesis. The light source regulates fungi’ growth, metabolism, and reproduction and is necessary for fungi’ existence and distribution. The impact of different color lights (red, green, blue, yellow, and white, darkness) and different temperatures (27°C and 37°C) on extracellular and intracellular pigment yield, lovastatin production, and biomass of Monascus ruber was studied, and appropriate incubation temperature and time enhance the intracellular, extracellular pigment, and biomass production. However, when exposed to other color lights, fungus growth and pigment yield are significantly reduced in Monascus ruber. Then, fungi and pigment yield development is decreased when exposed to other color lights. It can be concluded that darkness influenced pigment production and biomass yield at both temperatures (27°C and 37°C). Similarly, the production of lovastatin and its concentration were analyzed by HPLC. The highest concentration of lovastatin was obtained at 27°C when exposed to red color light (302.6 mg/ml for extracellular fermentation broth) and (86.7 mg/ml for intracellular fermentation broth). At 37°C, the highest concentration of lovastatin was obtained from (571.5 mg/ml extracellular fermentation broth) when exposed to darkness and (170.4 mg/ml intracellular fermentation broth) exposed to red color light. Thus, the result provides the knowledge to enable us to explore the pigments and lovastatin yield for functional foods and large-scale industrial applications.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the common cancers that have a direct impact on the numerous facets of life. GC still remains a life threatening with one million mortalities per year worldwide. Objective: In this work, we planned to formulate the Neodymium/Zinc oxide nanocomposites by using the Avaram Senna flower extract (AS-Nd/ZnONCs) and examine its anticancer potential against the GC AGS cells via inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Methodology: The developed AS-Nd/ZnONCs were characterized by various techniques like UV–vis spectroscopy, XRD, FE-SEM, EDAX, FT-IR, and photoluminescence studies. Antibacterial assay was performed by well diffusion method. The anticancer potential of AS-Nd/ZnONCs were investigated against AGS cells by MTT, ROS and MMP measurement, and apoptotic cell death using respective fluorescence staining techniques. The cell adhesion and antioxidants status were detected by standard method. The mRNA expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling molecules was studied via RT-PCR technique. Results: The formulated AS-Nd/ZnONCs exhibited the hexagonal wurtzite structure with 33.56 nm size. The outcomes of antibacterial assay proved that the AS-Nd/ZnONCs has remarkable antibacterial activity. The MTT assay evidenced that the AS-Nd/ZnONCs dose-dependently suppressed the AGS cell viability. Fluorescence staining results demonstrated that the AS-Nd/ZnONCs provoked the apoptotic cell death in AGS cells. AS-Nd/ZnONCs treatment effectively inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade and triggered the apoptotic pathway in the AGS cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings confirmed that the formulated AS-Nd/ZnONCs could be a hopeful chemopreventive agent in the future to treat the GC.

In recent years, scientists have tried to increase organic chemistry productions for the treatment of many cancers such as the lung cancers. In this regard, gold nanoparticles have a special place. Furthermore, one of the therapeutic properties of Verbascum chinense L. is increasing the physiological potentials of the body against several cancers. In the present study, gold nanoparticles were prepared and synthesized in aqueous medium using V. chinense leaf extract. We assessed the anti-human lung cancers potentials of these nanoparticles against well-differentiated bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung, and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung cell lines. AuNPs were characterized and analyzed by common nanotechnology techniques including FT-IR and UV–Vis. Spectroscopy, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. In the FT-IR test, the presence of many antioxidant compounds with related bonds caused the excellent condition for reducing of gold in the gold nanoparticles. In UV–Vis, the clear peak in the wavelength of 542 nm indicated the formation of gold nanoparticles. We assessed the anti-human lung cancers potentials of these nanoparticles against well-differentiated bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung, and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung cell lines. AuNPs had excellent anti-human lung cancer effects dose-dependently against HLC-1, LC-2/ad, and PC-14 cell lines. The best result of anti-human lung cancer activities of AuNPs against above cell lines was observed in the case of the PC-14 cell line. In conclusion, the synthesized AuNPs showed significant anti-human lung cancer properties against well-differentiated bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung, and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung cell lines in a dose depended on manner. After confirming in the in vivo and clinical trials, AuNPs can be administrated in human for the treatment of humans’ lung cancers especially well-differentiated bronchogenic adenocarcinoma, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung, and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) results in increased rate of mortality in millions of people worldwide. Research utilizing Tin oxide – Chitosan- Polyethylene glycol Carvacrol (SCP-CAR) nanocomposites has gained increased attention because of its multipotent properties and application in diverse fields including medicinal preparations. The aim of the investigation was to synthesize and to examine the anti-arthritic ability of SCP-CAR nanocomposites against CFA -induced RA in rats. Arthritis induction was done by injecting 0.1 ml of Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) intradermally. Body weight, weight of organs, hind paw volumes and arthritis score was assessed and the levels of inflammatory modulators such as IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, PGE2 and COX-2 was examined using assay kits. Lipid peroxidation status, antioxidant enzyme activities and levels of liver function enzymes were evaluated using standard procedures. Histopathological changes observed in hind limb of experimental animals were viewed under microscope using H& E staining. The SCP-CAR nanocomposites treated arthritic animals showed increased bodyweight and reduced hind paw volume, organ weight and arthritis score together with elevated antioxidants status and depleted proinflammatory cytokines. Histopathological observation also showed reduction in bone destruction and penetration of inflammatory cells following treatment with SCP-CAR nanocomposites. Thus, together the findings depict the anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory potential of SCP-CAR nanocomposites suggesting that it could be used as potent therapeutic agent to treat animals against arthritis induced by CFA.

Liver cancer is a critical clinical condition with augmented malignancy, rapid progression, and poor prognosis. Liver cancer often initiates as fibrosis, develops as cirrhosis, and results in cancer. For centuries, medicinal plants have been incorporated in various liver-associated complications, and recently, research has recognized that many bioactive compounds from medicinal plants may interact with targets related to liver disorders. Phyllanthin from the Phyllanthus species is one such compound extensively used by folklore practitioners for various health benefits. However, most practices continue to be unrecognized scientifically. Hence, in this work, we investigated the protective role of phyllanthin on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced liver carcinoma in Wistar Albino rats and the anti-tumor potential on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. The DEN-challenged liver cancer in experimental rats caused increased liver weight, 8-OHD, hepatic tissue injury marker, lipid peroxidation, and tumor markers levels. Remarkably, phyllanthin counteracted the DEN effect by ameliorating all the liver function enzymes, oxidative DNA damage, and tumor-specific markers by enhanced anti-oxidant capacity and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through the mTOR/ PI3K signaling pathway. MTT assay demonstrated that phyllanthin inhibited the HepG2 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Fascinatingly, phyllanthin did not demonstrate any substantial effect on the normal cell line, HL7702. In addition, HepG2 cells were found in the late apoptotic stage upon treatment with phyllanthin as depicted by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. Overall, this work offers scientific justification that phyllanthin can be claimed to be a safe candidate with potential chemotherapeutic activity against HCC.

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were synthesized in an aqueous medium using the plant extract as stabilizing and reducing agents. The synthesized ZnONPs were characterized using different techniques including Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS). According to the XRD analysis, 21.46 was measured for ZnONPs crystal size. SEM images exhibited a uniform spherical morphology in size of 27.92 nm for the biosynthesized nanoparticles respectively. For evaluating anti-osteosarcoma and cytotoxicity effects of ZnONPs, Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, and Alhagi maurorum aqueous extract, we used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The result of this test showed that ZnONPs have no cytotoxicity on normal cell line (Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)) and have potent anti-osteosarcoma features dose-dependently against G-292, clone A141B1, MG-63, HOS, Hs 707(A).T, and Saos-2 cell lines. For evaluating the antioxidant features of ZnONPs, Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, and Alhagi maurorum aqueous extract, we used the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, in this test butylated hydroxytoluene was a positive control, the results of this test showed that the ZnONPs have an effective antioxidant feature. Probably, potent anti-human osteosarcoma activities of ZnONPs formulated with Alhagi maurorum aqueous seed extract because of antioxidant properties.

Metallic nanoparticles, especially gold nanoparticles, are used in the therapy of various diseases. Recently, many chemotherapeutic supplements or drugs have been formulated with gold nanoparticles. One option for synthesizing gold nanoparticles is to use herbs. Many previous studies have shown that medicinal herbs increase the antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties of gold nanoparticles against tumor cell lines. In this study, gold nanoparticles were prepared and synthesized in an aqueous medium using Cannabis sativa L leaf extract as stabilizing and reducing agents. In addition, we evaluated the anti-leukemia effects of gold nanoparticles against acute T-cell leukemia and lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Characterization of gold nanoparticles was done with FE - SEM, FT - IR, UV–Vis and TEM. The MTT test is used for anti-HAuCl4, C. sativa and C. Acute leukemia effects of AuNPs. To investigate the antioxidant potentials of HAuCl4, C. sativa aqueous extract and gold nanoparticles, the DPPH test was used in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene as control. In UV–Vis, the clear peak at 538 nm wavelength showed the formation of gold nanoparticles. In the FT-IR, many antioxidant molecules with relevant bonds led to the perfect condition for gold reduction in gold nanoparticles. In addition, in TEM and FE-SEM images, gold nanoparticles were spherical, with an average size of 18.6 nm. The IC50 of gold nanoparticles were 329, 381, 275 and 218 µg / mL against MOLT-3, TALL-104, J.RT3-T3.5 and Clone E6-1 cell lines, and Jurkat, respectively. The best results of the anti-acute leukemia properties of gold nanoparticles were obtained in the Clone E6-1 cell line. Gold nanoparticles inhibited half of the DPPH at a concentration of 196 µg/mL. The above results confirm the excellent roles of the gold nanoparticles as new chemotherapeutic drugs in treating various types of acute leukemia.

Horse purslane (Trianthema portulacstrum L.) is an important weed of soybean crop capable of causing significant yield reduction. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of horse purslane and other weeds' infestation on the productivity of soybean. Ten treatments, i.e., weed-free throughout the growing season, horse purslane-free till 20, 40 and 60 days after emergence (DAE), all weeds-free till 20, 40 and 60 DAE, weedy-check (excluding horse purslane), weedy-check (horse purslane alone) and weedy-check (all weeds) were included in the study. Data relating to density and dry weight of recorded weed species, and yield and related traits of soybean were recorded. Overall, infestation percentage of horse purslane was 33.10 and 51%, whereas dry weight was 12 and 44 g m-2 during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. The highest dry weight of all weed species was recorded at 45 DAE in weedy-check all weeds treatment during both years. The lowest relative density and frequency of horse purslane were recorded in the treatment where it was controlled until 20 DAE during 2018 at 30 DAE, whereas the same treatment recoded the lowest density of horse purslane at 45 DAE during 2019. The relative frequency of horse purslane was non-significant for weedy-check horse purslane and weedy-check all weeds treatments during 2018, whereas former treatment had higher relative frequency of horse purslane in weedy-check all weeds than the later during 2019. Yield and related traits significantly differed among different treatments used in the study. The treatment all weeds controlled until 40 DAE recorded higher number of pods per plant, 1000-seed weight and seed yield during both years. The yield reduction in weedy-check treatments was; weedy-check all weeds > weedy-check all weeds except horse purslane > weedy-check horse purslane only. It is concluded that horse purslane was not the sole weed interfering soybean fields and weed flora consisted of false amaranth [Digera muricata (L.) Mart.] and purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus L.). Hence, if the soybean fields in northern irrigated plains of Pakistan are infested with horse purslane or heavily infested with horse purslane or other weeds, these should be controlled in initial 40 DAE to improve soybean productivity.

To explore the present treatment strategies for ischemic stroke lowered by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, to hypothesize the effect of d-Carvone on cerebral I/R brain injury induced neuroinflammation through oxidative stress markers mechanism via NRLP3 and TLR4 marker expressions in rat model. The rats were divided into four groups: Sham, I/R vehicle, I/R + D-carvone (10 mg/kg/bw), I/R + D-carvone (20 mg/kg/bw). Supplementation of d-carvone at dose of 10 and 20 m/kg/bw increased the water content, reduced infract volume, attenuated neurological score depicts, furthermore it had antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects against cerebral I/R brain injury. In the brain tissues decreased proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α reduced interleukins IL-6, IL-4, IL-10 & VEGF dose dependently, and mRNA expressions of NLRP3, caspase -1, TNF-α, ASC, IL-1β and TLR3 down regulated in cerebral I/R induced rats. Finally d- carvone can successfully improve the cerebral I/R induced rats neuroinflammation, in the hippocampus and cortical areas of the brain finally reduces cerebral I/R induced injury. These results were hypothesized that d-carvone contributed to cerebral stroke associated with the TLR3, giving an excellent therapeutic approach for cerebral I/R brain injury.

Constitutive activation of NF-κB is associated with proinflammatory diseases and suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway has been considered as an effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we report the synthesis of 1,2 oxazines and their anticancer potential. The antiproliferative studies presented 3-((4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)methyl)-4-phenyl-4,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta [e][1,2]oxazine(3i) as a lead cytotoxic agent against HCC cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that 3i caused a substantial increase in the subG1 cell population. Annexin-V-FITC-PI staining showed a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells on treatment with 3i. Transfection with p65 siRNA significantly reduced the 3i induced DNA fragmentation indicating that 3i may primarily mediate its proapoptotic effects by abrogating the NF-κB signaling. In addition, treatment of HCC cells with 3i decreased the DNA binding ability of NF-κB and NF-κB-dependent luciferase expression. Taken together, this report introduces 1,2-oxazine that potently targets the NF-κB signaling pathway in HCC cells. Keywords: Oxazine, NF-κB, Anticancer, DNA fragmentation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading cancers that contribute to a large number of deaths throughout the globe. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a tumorigenic protein that is overactivated in several human malignancies including HCC. In the present report, the effect of 3-formylchromone (3FC) on the STAT3 signaling pathway in the HCC model was investigated. 3FC downregulated the constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 and non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as JAK1 and JAK2. It also suppressed the transportation of STAT3 to the nucleus and reduced its DNA-binding ability. Pervanadate treatment overrode the 3FC-triggered STAT3 inhibition, and the profiling of cellular phosphatase expression revealed an increase in SHP-2 levels upon 3FC treatment. The siRNA-driven deletion of SHP-2 led to reinstate STAT3 activation. 3FC downmodulated the levels of various oncogenic proteins and decreased CXCL12-driven cell migration and invasion. Interestingly, 3FC did not exhibit any substantial toxicity, whereas it significantly regressed tumor growth in an orthotopic HCC mouse model and abrogated lung metastasis. Overall, 3FC can function as a potent agent that can display antitumor activity by targeting STAT3 signaling in HCC models.

STAT3 is an oncogenic transcription factor that controls the expression of genes associated with oncogenesis and malignant progression. Persistent activation of STAT3 is observed in human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and multiple myeloma (MM). Here, we have investigated the action of Tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium 0 (Tris DBA) on STAT3 signaling in HCC and MM cells. Tris DBA decreased cell viability, increased apoptosis, and inhibited IL-6 induced/constitutive activation of STAT3, JAK1, JAK2, and Src in HCC and MM cells. Tris DBA downmodulated the nuclear translocation of STAT3 and reduced its DNA binding ability. It upregulated the expression of SHP2 (protein and mRNA) to induce STAT3 dephosphorylation, and the inhibition of SHP2 reversed this effect. Tris DBA downregulated the expression of STAT3-driven genes, suppressed cell migration/invasion. Tris DBA significantly inhibited tumor growth in xenograft MM and orthotopic HCC preclinical mice models with a reduction in the expression of various prosurvival biomarkers in MM tumor tissues without displaying significant toxicity. Overall, Tris DBA functions as a good inhibitor of STAT3 signaling in preclinical HCC and MM models.

Overexpression of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) has been found to be associated with increased cell proliferation, metastasis and also act as an indicator of poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, new agents that can abrogate CXCR4 expression have potential against breast cancer metastasis. In this study, we examined the potential effect of thymoquinone (TQ), derived from the seeds of Nigella sativa, on the expression and regulation of CXCR4 in breast cancer cells. TQ was found to inhibit the expression of CXCR4 in MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was noted that suppression of CXCR4 by TQ was possibly transcriptionally regulated, as treatment with this drug caused down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation and suppression of NF-κB binding to the CXCR4 promoter. Pretreatment with a proteasome inhibitor and/or lysosomal stabilization did not affect TQ induced suppression of CXCR4. Down-regulation of CXCR4 was further correlated with the inhibition of CXCL12-mediated migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, it was observed that the deletion of p65 could reverse the observed anti-invasive/anti-migratory effects of TQ in breast cancer cells. TQ also dose-dependently inhibited MDA-MB-231 tumor growth and tumor vascularity in a chick chorioallantoic membrane assay model. We also observed TQ (2 and 4 mg/kg) treatment significantly suppressed multiple lung, brain, and bone metastases in a dose-dependent manner in a metastasis breast cancer mouse model. Interestingly, H&E and immunohistochemical analysis of bone isolated from TQ treated mice indicated a reduction in number of osteolytic lesions and the expression of metastatic biomarkers. In conclusion, the results indicate that TQ primarily exerts its anti-metastatic effects by down-regulation of NF-κB regulated CXCR4 expression and thus has potential for the treatment of breast cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease and ranked fifth in cancer related mortality. Persistent activation of NF-κB is responsible for the oncogenesis, metastasis, tumor evasion, anti-apoptosis, angiogenesis and proliferation in HCC. Therefore, designing of chemically novel, biologically potent small molecules that target NF-κB signaling cascade have gained prominent clinical interest. Herein we synthesized a novel class of 4-(substituted)-2H-pyrido[3,2-b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one by reacting 2H-pyrido[3,2-b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one with various alkyl halides by using combustion derived bismuth oxide. We evaluated the antiproliferative efficacy of newly synthesized compounds against HCC cells and identified 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)-2H-pyrido[3,2-b][1,4]oxazin-3(4H)-one (NPO) as lead anticancer agent. In addition, we investigated the effect of NPO on the DNA binding ability of NF-κB and NF-κB regulated luciferase expression in HCC cells. The results demonstrated that NPO can induce significant growth inhibitory effects in HepG2, HCCLM3 and Huh-7 cells in dose and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, NPO induced significant downregulation in p65 DNA binding ability, p65 phosphorylation and subsequent expression of NF-κB dependent luciferase gene expression in diverse HCC cell lines. Further, in silico docking analysis suggested that NPO can show direct physical interaction with NF-κB. Finally, NPO was found to significantly abrogate tumor growth at a dose of 50 mg/kg in an orthotopic mouse model. Thus, we report the potential anticancer effects of NPO as a novel inhibitor of NF-κB signaling pathway in HCC.

Daidzin (DDZ) extracted from Pueraria lobate (Fabaceae) is a widely known phytoestrogen. DDZ can display anti-cancer activities against breast and prostate cancers, but its anti-oncogenic actions in multiple myeloma (MM) cells have not been studied. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) can control key processes including proliferation, differentiation, and survival in MM cells. Here, we noted that DDZ abrogated STAT3 activation (both constitutive as well as inducible) at Tyr705 and Ser727 in MM cells. Additionally, DDZ mitigated the phosphorylation of STAT3 upstream Janus-activated kinases (JAK1/2) and c-Src kinases. Pervanadate (tyrosine phosphatase blocker) exposure altered the DDZ-induced inhibition of STAT3 activation, thus affecting the action of this phytoestrogen on apoptosis. Moreover, DDZ impeded proliferation and augmented the apoptotic effects of bortezomib (Bor) in MM cells. Overall, the data indicate that DDZ may act as a potent suppressor of STAT3 signaling cascade, and the co-treatment of DDZ and Bor could be a promising therapeutic strategy, specifically in MM.

Oral cancer is a major public health burden worldwide. The lack of biomarkers for early diagnosis has increased the difficulty in managing this disease. Recent studies have reported that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a secreted glycoprotein, is upregulated in various tumors. In our study, we found that NGAL was significantly downregulated in primary malignant and metastatic tissues of oral cancer in comparison to normal tissues. The downregulation of NGAL was strongly correlated with both degree of differentiation and stage (I–IV); it can also serve as a prognostic biomarker for oral cancer. Additionally, tobacco carcinogens were found to be involved in the downregulation of NGAL. Mechanistic studies revealed that knockdown of NGAL increased oral cancer cell proliferation, survival, and migration; it also induced resistance against cisplatin. Silencing of NGAL activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)signaling and reduced autophagy by the liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-p53-Redd1 signaling axis. Moreover, cyclin-D1, Bcl-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were upregulated, and caspase-9 was downregulated, suggesting that silencing of NGAL increases oral cancer cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Thus, from our study, it is evident that downregulation of NGAL activates the mTOR pathway and helps in the progression of oral cancer.