Search Results (11)

Though there are several advancements and developments in cancer therapy, the treatment remains challenging. In recent years, the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from traditional herbs are focused for identifying and developing potential anticancer molecules. In this study, AMPs are identified from Sphaeranthus amaranthoides, a natural medicinal herb widely used as a crucial immune stimulant in Indian medicine. A total of 86 peptide traces were identified using liquid-chromatography–electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). Among them, three peptides were sequenced using the manual de novo sequencing technique. The in-silico prediction revealed that SA923 is a cyclic peptide with C-N terminal interaction of the carbon atom of ASP7 with the nitrogen atom of GLU1 (1ELVFYRD7). Thus, SA923 is presented under the orbitides class of peptides, which lack the disulfide bonds for cyclization. In addition, SA923, steered with the physicochemical properties and support vector machine (SVM) algorithm mentioned for the segment, has the highest in silico anticancer potential. Further, the in vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed the peptide has anti-proliferative activity, and toxicity studies were demonstrated in Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos. Full article

Rhizosphere microbiome is a dynamic and complex zone of microbial communities. This complex plant-associated microbial community, usually regarded as the plant’s second genome, plays a crucial role in plant health. It is unquestioned that plant microbiome collectively contributes to plant growth and fitness. It also provides a safeguard from plant pathogens, and induces tolerance in the host against abiotic stressors. The revolution in omics, gene-editing and sequencing tools have somehow led to unravel the compositions and latent interactions between plants and microbes. Similarly, besides standard practices, many biotechnological, (bio)chemical and ecological methods have also been proposed. Such platforms have been solely dedicated to engineer the complex microbiome by untangling the potential barriers, and to achieve better agriculture output. Yet, several limitations, for example, the biological obstacles, abiotic constraints and molecular tools that capably impact plant microbiome engineering and functionality, remained unaddressed problems. In this review, we provide a holistic overview of plant microbiome composition, complexities, and major challenges in plant microbiome engineering. Then, we unearthed all inevitable abiotic factors that serve as bottlenecks by discouraging plant microbiome engineering and functionality. Lastly, by exploring the inherent role of micro/macrofauna, we propose economic and eco-friendly strategies that could be harnessed sustainably and biotechnologically for resilient plant microbiome engineering. Full article

Strawberry has gained increasing popularity all over the world due to its fruit properties. This popularity is due to the phytochemicals that strawberries have. The aim of this study is to reveal the effect of cultivation in open field and high tunnel on agromorphological and biochemical properties of strawberries. In this study, fruit yield and fruit quality characteristics of some strawberry varieties grown in open field and high tunnel were investigated. The highest fruit yield, fruit weight and titratable acidity were obtained in high tunnel grown Albion cultivar (542.743 g/plant, 14.927 g/fruit and 1.047%, respectively). While there was no statistical difference between cultivars and treatments in terms of soluble solids content and pH, fruit count was higher in Albion and Kabarla cultivars in both treatments compared to other cultivars (p < 0.05). Among the phenolic compounds, gallic acid was determined to be higher (between 9.246–31.680 mg/100 g) than other phenolics. Considering the organic acid content, malic acid was determined as the dominant organic acid in Kabarla cultivar (870.729 mg/100 g). In addition, in terms of vitamin C content, Rubygem cultivar stood out in both applications. Phenolic compound and organic acid contents varied in terms of varieties and applications. As a result, strawberry fruit, which is an important fruit in terms of fruit quality and consumption diversity, has been found to have high phenolic compounds and organic acid content, although it varies in all varieties and applications. Full article

Several socio-economic problems have been hidden by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Particularly, the agricultural and food industrial sectors have been harshly affected by this devastating disease. Moreover, with the worldwide population increase and the agricultural production technologies being inefficient or obsolete, there is a great need to find new and successful ways to fulfill the increasing food demand. A new era of agriculture and food industry is forthcoming, with revolutionary concepts, processes and technologies, referred to as Agri-food 4.0, which enables the next level of agri-food production and trade. In addition, consumers are becoming more and more aware about the origin, traceability, healthy and high-quality of agri-food products. The integration of new process of production and data management is a mandatory step to meet consumer and market requirements. DNA traceability may provide strong approach to certify and authenticate healthy food products, particularly for olive oil. With this approach, the origin and authenticity of products are confirmed by the means of unique nucleic acid sequences. Selected tools, methods and technologies involved in and contributing to the advance of the agri-food sector are presented and discussed in this paper. Moreover, the application of DNA traceability as an innovative approach to authenticate olive products is reported in this paper as an application and promising case of smart agriculture. Full article

American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) is an important source of dietary oil that could fulfill the increasing worldwide demand for cooking oil. Therefore, improving its production is crucial and could be realized through breeding and genetic engineering approaches aiming to obtain high-yielding varieties with improved oil content and quality. The fatty acid composition and particularly the oleic/linoleic acid ratio are major factors influencing oil quality. Our work focused on a fatty acid desaturase (FAD) enzyme involved in the desaturation and conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid. Following the in silico identification and annotation of Elaeis oleifera FAD2, its molecular and structural features characterization was performed to better understand the mechanistic bases of its enzymatic activity. EoFAD2 is 1173 nucleotides long and encodes a protein of 390 amino acids that shares similarities with other FADs. Interestingly, the phylogenetic study showed three distinguished groups where EoFAD2 clustered among monocotyledonous taxa. EoFAD2 is a membrane-bound protein with five transmembrane domains presumably located in the endoplasmic reticulum. The homodimer organization model of EoFAD2 enzyme and substrates and respective substrate-binding residues were predicted and described. Moreover, the comparison between 24 FAD2 sequences from different species generated two interesting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the oleic/linoleic acid contents. Full article

The present paper aims to investigate the chemical composition of unripe black pine seeds obtained from Bulgaria. The lipid fraction was evaluated in unripe seeds, and the cellulose, total carbohydrates, glucose, fructose, and sucrose were evaluated in seedcakes. The major fatty acid identified in the Pinus nigra seed oil was unsaturated linoleic acid (44.2%), followed by the saturated palmitic acid (31.2%). The amount of unsaturated pinolenic (10.5%) and oleic acids (8.8%) was also rather high. The amino acid composition of the protein fraction of seedcakes was also determined. The amino acid composition was represented mainly by asparagine (3.92 mg/g), serine (3.79 mg/g), alanine (3.65 mg/g), arginine (3.32 mg/g), phenylalanine (2.98 mg/g), lysine (2.85 mg/g), proline (2.69 g/mg), tryptophan (2.44 mg/g), valine (2.33 mg/g), isoleucine (2.28 mg/g), and tyrosine (2.05 mg/g). The mineral content (N, P, K, Mg, Na, and Cu) of the seedcakes was evaluated, as the amount of K (8048.00 mg/kg) and Mg (172.99 mg/kg) were the highest in the samples. These findings emphasized the potential use of the unripe black pine seeds in different areas due to their chemical importance and values. Full article

In this study, a total of 55 wild-grown mulberry landraces belonging to Morus alba L., Morus rubra L., and Morus nigra L. species (Rosales order, Moraceae family, Morus L. genus) were sampled around the Van Lake basin, and some fruit characteristics were determined. All landraces are naturally grown in the Lake Van basin under pesticide-free conditions. As fruit character, phenolic compounds (gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, rutin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and phlorizin) and organic acids (malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid and ascorbic acid) were determined. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to determine the correlation between mulberry species in terms of biochemical compounds. As a result of PCA-biplot analysis, two variations were sufficient to explain the correlation between phenolic compounds and organic acids. This ratio reveals that mulberry species are separated with sharp boundaries in terms of biochemical compounds. Chlorogenic acid and rutin content were high in all mulberry landraces. The highest chlorogenic acid content was detected in landrace 65VN03 belonging to M. rubra (3.778 mg/g), 65GV12 belonging to M. nigra (3.526 mg/g), 13AD08 belonging to M. rubra (2.461 mg/g), and 13AH02 belonging to M. rubra (6.246 mg/g) landraces. In terms of organic acid content, malic acid was the dominant organic acid for genotypes. The rich bioactive compounds make M. alba, M. rubra, and M. nigra landraces as cultivar candidates for breeding purposes. It is a valuable source of bioactive agents that may have prevented humans from oxidative-stress-related diseases. Full article

A mineral fertiliser has positive effects in improving turmeric nutrients, soil enzymes and soil properties. The aim of this research was to study the effect of mineral fertilisers on the content of mineral elements in turmeric rhizome, soil enzymes activity and soil properties in the Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan. For the first time in Uzbekistan, the turmeric rhizome was cultivated to study the mineral elements present in the rhizome. A microplot experiment was conducted with four treatments including T1 (Control), T2 (N₇₅P₅₀K₅₀ kg/ha), T3 (N₁₂₅P₁₀₀K₁₀₀ kg/ha) and T4 (N₁₀₀P₇₅K₇₅ + B₃Zn₆Fe₆ kg/ha) and turmeric rhizome, which were collected for observation along with the soil samples. The analyses indicated that the NPK + BZnFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) treatment significantly improved minerals such as K, Ca, P, Mg and Na contents rhizome as compared to the control without fertiliser. Likewise, the maximum quantity of micronutrient content viz., Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr and Si was also recorded in turmeric rhizome treated with NPK + BZnFe (125:100:100:3:6:6 kg/ha). It showed an increase in these micronutrients in the rhizome compared to the control, followed by a low rate of NPK (75:50:50 kg/ha). The highest content in terms of total N, P, K content, humus, active phosphorus, potassium, and enzymes activity was also observed in soil with the treatment of mineral fertiliser viz., NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha), which enhanced soil nutrient and enzyme activity. The NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) treatment significantly increased the active N content by 40%, total P content by 38% and total K content by 22% in comparison to the control without mineral fertiliser. Overall, it was found that NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) was significantly valuable for enhancing the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels in the soil compared to control, which is useful for improving soil health in terms of soil enzyme and soil nutrients. Additionally, the micronutrients in turmeric rhizome were significantly enhanced when using this combination of fertiliser applications [NPK + BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha)]. Therefore, this present study revealed that the NPK+BznFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) could produce the most significant yield of high-quality turmeric plants and improve soil properties in Uzbek soil–climate conditions. Full article

A significant number of the anti-inflammatory drugs currently in use are becoming obsolete. These are exceptionally hazardous for long-term use because of their possible unfavourable impacts. Subsequently, in the ebb-and-flow decade, analysts and researchers are engaged in developing new anti-inflammatory drugs, and many such agents are in the later phases of clinical trials. Molecules with heterocyclic nuclei are similar to various natural antecedents, thus acquiring immense consideration from scientific experts and researchers. The arguably most adaptable heterocyclic cores are benzimidazoles containing nitrogen in a bicyclic scaffold. Numerous benzimidazole drugs are broadly used in the treatment of numerous diseases, showing promising therapeutic potential. Benzimidazole derivatives exert anti-inflammatory effects mainly by interacting with transient receptor potential vanilloid-1, cannabinoid receptors, bradykinin receptors, specific cytokines, 5-lipoxygenase activating protein and cyclooxygenase. Literature on structure–activity relationship (SAR) and investigations of benzimidazoles highlight that the substituent’s tendency and position on the benzimidazole ring significantly contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity. Reported SAR analyses indicate that substitution at the N1, C2, C5 and C6 positions of the benzimidazole scaffold greatly influence the anti-inflammatory activity. For example, benzimidazole substituted with anacardic acid on C2 inhibits COX-2, and 5-carboxamide or sulfamoyl or sulfonyl benzimidazole antagonises the cannabinoid receptor, whereas the C2 diarylamine and C3 carboxamide substitution of the benzimidazole scaffold result in antagonism of the bradykinin receptor. In this review, we examine the insights regarding the SARs of anti-inflammatory benzimidazole compounds, which will be helpful for researchers in designing and developing potential anti-inflammatory drugs to target inflammation-promoting enzymes. Full article

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) sprout is a popular fresh vegetable, tasty and high in antioxidants. To increase yield and quality after the occurrence of both abiotic and biotic stresses, the application of seaweed extracts is of great importance. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the effect of Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE) in the presence of salt on the antioxidant potential of V. radiata sprouts. Different concentrations of ANE viz. 0.00, 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50% and NaCl 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM alone and in combinations were tested for researching the antioxidant potential of V. radiata sprouts at 0, 24, and 36 h of sprouting. The DPPH free-radical-scavenging activity of sprouts of V. radiata was found to increase with time and peaked at 24 h of treatment. The A. nodosum extract (0.01%) could reverse the ill effect of the low level of salinity posed by up to 25 mM NaCl. The increasing salinity deteriorated the antioxidant activity using ABTS method of sprouts down to 20.45% of the control at 100 mM NaCl. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and reducing power of V. radiata sprouts was found to increase till 36 h of sprouting. A slight increase in TPC, TFC and reducing power was observed when seeds were treated with low concentrations of ANE. The elevation in TPC, TFC and reducing power upon treatment with low concentrations of ANE was also noticed in sprouts in saline combinations. Alpha amylase inhibition activity was found to reach a (67.16% ± 0.9) maximum at 24 h of sprouting at a 0.01% concentration of ANE. Tyrosinase inhibition and alpha glucosidase inhibition was 88.0% ± 2.11 and 84.92% ± 1.2 at 36 h of sprouting, respectively, at 0.01% concentration of ANE. A. nodosum extract is natural, environmentally friendly, and safe, and could be used as one of the strategies to decline stress at a low level and enhance the antioxidant activities in V. radiata sprouts, thus increasing its potential to be developed as an antioxidant-based functional food. Full article

Zinc (Zn), the second-most necessary trace element, is abundant in the human body. The human body lacks the capacity to store Zn; hence, the dietary intake of Zn is essential for various functions and metabolism. The uptake of Zn during its transport through the body is important for proper development of the three major accessory sex glands: the testis, epididymis, and prostate. It plays key roles in the initial stages of germ cell development and spermatogenesis, sperm cell development and maturation, ejaculation, liquefaction, the binding of spermatozoa and prostasomes, capacitation, and fertilization. The prostate releases more Zn into the seminal plasma during ejaculation, and it plays a significant role in sperm release and motility. During the maternal, labor, perinatal, and neonatal periods, the part of Zn is vital. The average dietary intake of Zn is in the range of 8–12 mg/day in developing countries during the maternal period. Globally, the dietary intake of Zn varies for pregnant and lactating mothers, but the average Zn intake is in the range of 9.6–11.2 mg/day. The absence of Zn and the consequences of this have been discussed using critical evidence. The events and functions of Zn related to successful fertilization have been summarized in detail. Briefly, our current review emphasizes the role of Zn at each stage of human reproduction, from the spermatogenesis process to childbirth. The role of Zn and its supplementation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) opens opportunities for future studies on reproductive biology. Full article