Search Results (7,578)

This study investigated the effects of asparagus powder supplementation on blood glucose regulation, insulin, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese individuals. Forty-four adults aged 18–59 years participated in a 12-week randomized controlled trial and were randomly assigned to receive either asparagus powder (40 mg/kg/day) or a placebo (maltodextrin, 40 mg/kg/day). Assessments included an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-B), lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], protein carbonyl, and superoxide dismutase [SOD]). In the asparagus group, OGTT at 30 min and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) significantly decreased, while SOD activity significantly increased (all p < 0.05). In contrast, the placebo group showed significant increases in OGTT at 30 min, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, triglycerides (TG), the TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, and the total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio (all p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons indicated that FBG, area under the BG curve at 30–120 min, TG, TG/HDL-C, and MDA levels were significantly lower in the asparagus group than in the placebo group (all p < 0.05), whereas OGTT, LDL-C, SOD activity, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, and TC/HDL-C did not differ significantly. Other indices, including TC, HDL-C, and protein carbonyl, showed no significant within- or between-group differences. In conclusion, 12 weeks of asparagus powder supplementation partially improved glycemic control, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in overweight and obese individuals. These findings suggest a potential role of asparagus as a complementary nutritional strategy to reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: The search for new bioactive molecules increasingly extends beyond conventional medicinal plants, highlighting the importance of exploring alternative botanical sources. Parasitic plants represent a promising but underexploited reservoir of pharmacologically relevant compounds. Cuscuta australis (CA), a parasitic species with a history of traditional use, remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate its phytochemical composition and evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. Methods: The phytochemical profile of CA extract was characterized by LC-MS. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays. In vivo hepatoprotection was evaluated in male rats subjected to CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity and treated orally with CA (30 or 60 mg/kg body weight). Biochemical, lipid, oxidative stress, and histological parameters were determined. Molecular docking was conducted to predict the binding of major identified compounds against selected protein targets. Results: CA significantly and dose-dependently improved biochemical and histological markers. At 60 mg/kg, ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin were reduced by 32%, 33%, 63%, and 51%, respectively. Lipid metabolism was improved by decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C with increased HDL-C. Antioxidant defense was enhanced through elevated CAT, SOD, and GPx activities, accompanied by reduced MDA levels. TNF-α and IL-6 decreased by 48% and 53%, respectively. Histopathology confirmed hepatoprotection and reduced fibrosis. Docking studies revealed strong binding affinities (−7.07 to −19.20 kcal/mol) for several metabolites, notably quercetin glucoside, diosmetin glucoside, caffeic acid glucoside, feruloylquinic acid, and isorhamnetin glucoside, against CYP450, IL-2, TNF-α, and IL-6. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that C. australis is a promising source of bioactive compounds with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent. Full article

The cold-regulated (Cor413) gene family encodes plant-specific, multispanning transmembrane proteins that localize to the plasma and thylakoid membranes; these genes are regulated by environmental stimuli. In this study, the Cor413-1 gene, isolated from the drought and saline-tolerant wild species Saccharum spontaneum, was engineered into the elite sugarcane cultivar Co 86032 to produce a commercially superior cultivar with improved abiotic stress tolerance. Expression analysis of the Cor413-1 gene transgenic lines under drought and salinity stress exhibited distinct gene expression patterns. During stress conditions, transgenic events, such as Cor413-9 and Cor413-3, showed notable resilience to salt stress and had a high relative expression of the Cor413-1 gene and other stress-related genes. The evaluation of physiological parameters showed that under stress conditions, transgenic events experienced milder wilting and less cell membrane injury than the non-transgenic control. Transgenic lines also demonstrated elevated relative water content and better photosynthetic efficiency, with events like Cor413-10 and Cor413-12 showing exceptional performance. Biochemical analyses indicated elevated proline content, higher activity of enzymatic antioxidants such as sodium dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and a low level of malondialdehyde MDA production in the transgenic lines. Thus, demonstrating the potential of the Cor413-1 gene for developing multiple stress-tolerant cultivars. Full article

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an eco-friendly technology with potential to improve seed germination and nutritional quality in microgreens. This study investigated the effects of PAW on three cultivars of kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.). PAW activated for 10 min (PAW10) significantly enhanced seed germination and vigor, with effects comparable to those of a 15-min treatment. PAW10 treatment not only improved the accumulation of bioactive compounds—including total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, chlorophylls, and carotenoids—but also enhanced antioxidant activity. These improvements were accompanied by elevated hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels and increased enzymatic activities, specifically catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Principal component analysis revealed cultivar-specific responses to PAW10. The Senafore 20 (SF) cultivar showed the most pronounced increases in antioxidant and antiglycation activities, as well as key bioactive compounds. The Phai-ngern (PN) cultivar exhibited elevated SOD activity and fiber content, while the Senee 20 (SN) cultivar showed minimal changes. These findings suggest that PAW10 effectively promotes germination and antioxidant-related biochemical responses in kangkong microgreens, with varying responses depending on cultivar. This study highlights PAW treatment as a promising approach to improve microgreen production and antioxidant capacity, supporting sustainable agriculture. Full article

Acrylamide (ACR), a common dietary pro-oxidant generated in heat-processed foods, disrupts mitochondrial redox homeostasis. While its neurotoxic effects are recognized, the role of ACR in depression remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that dietary ACR exposure promotes depression via SIRT3-dependent mitochondrial oxidative injury. Through an integrative approach combining network toxicology (to prioritize candidate targets), transcriptomics, and Mendelian randomization (MR), we identified SIRT3 as the central mediator. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that ACR’s primary metabolite glycidamide (GA) formed more stable and rigid complexes with key targets (including SIRT3, TP53, CASP3, JUN, PTGS2, and PTK2) than ACR itself, as evidenced by superior structural stability, reduced flexibility, and enhanced hydrogen bonding. Transcriptomic analysis of the human prefrontal cortex (datasets GSE54567 and GSE54568) revealed mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) as the most significantly suppressed gene in depression (p < 0.01), suggesting an impairment in Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2)-mediated antioxidant defense. MR further established JUN and PTK2 as causal genetic risk factors for depression (JUN: Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.029, 95% CI = 1.002–1.057; PTK2: OR = 1.040, 95% CI = 1.005–1.076; JUN (OR) = 1.048, 95% CI = 1.021–1.076, PTK2: OR = 1.073, 95% CI = 1.039–1.109) of each MR estimates, while other candidates lacked genetic support. Our findings demonstrate that ACR induces depression primarily through SIRT3 suppression, activating JUN/PTK2 pathways, suggesting its potential role in environmental toxicant-induced redox imbalance. Full article

This paper presents an innovative protocol for fabric functionalization using Tormentillae rhizoma extract, the chemical composition of which was proved via LC/MS analysis. The extract demonstrated antioxidant activity > 99%, and antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus > 99%. Cotton, wool, polyamide, and cellulose acetate were functionalized with the prepared extract, all showing > 90% antioxidant activity. Functionalized cotton, wool, and polyamide exhibited > 99% antibacterial activity against both bacteria. Based on these findings and the fabrics’ ability to release bioactive compounds, functionalized cotton and polyamide fabrics having excellent bioactivity but a lower ability to release bioactive compounds can serve as protective fabrics for people with sensitive skin prone to wounds, and various products for hospitals. Functionalized wool was identified as the most suitable wound dressing for in vivo preclinical investigation on Wistar albino rats. The obtained results showcased a wound-healing rate of 95.54%, and hydroxyproline content of 8.08 µg/mg dry tissue for rats treated with functionalized wool. Compared to negative, positive, and a group of rats treated with non-functionalized wool, those treated with functionalized wool demonstrated elevated values of tissue redox state parameters, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and a notable reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value. Analysis of the blood samples of rats treated with functionalized wool indicated increased levels of antioxidant defense system parameters (SOD and CAT) and decreased pro-oxidative markers superoxide (O₂⁻) and TBARS. Further clinical trials are needed to validate these findings. Full article

Low-temperature stress severely restricts cotton seed germination and seedling establishment, especially in early spring. Ascorbic acid (AsA) priming is a promising strategy to enhance stress tolerance, yet its mechanisms in cotton remain unclear. This study examined the effects of AsA priming on seed germination at 15 °C. Seeds were treated with 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/L AsA for 3, 6, 12, or 24 h. Results showed that 50 mg/L AsA for 24 h significantly improved germination potential, rate, index, and promptness index (p < 0.05). Compared with water-primed seeds, AsA-primed seeds exhibited greater radicle length (+17.67%) and fresh weight (+136.26%) under chilling stress. This treatment markedly increased antioxidant enzyme activities, including POD (+196.74%), SOD (+43.81%), and CAT (+49.43%), while also promoting the accumulation of Ascorbate–Glutathione cycle-related enzymes and metabolites, thereby reinforcing the antioxidant defense system. Multidimensional statistical analyses further indicated that AsA enhanced root growth by stimulating antioxidant defenses while inducing a trade-off that slightly reduced fresh weight, suggesting a balance between growth and oxidative protection. Overall, AsA priming improves cotton seed cold tolerance by activating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems and mediating a growth–defense trade-off, underscoring its potential as an effective priming agent for early sowing under low-temperature stress. Full article

To explore superior biocontrol resources for Rhododendron brown spot disease, five antagonistic fungal strains exhibiting significant inhibitory activity against the pathogen responsible for RBS were isolated from healthy Rhododendron hybridum Ker Gawl leaves. Among them, strain DJW5-2-1 demonstrated the highest inhibition rate, reaching 63.88% against the pathogenic fungus. Based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analysis (ITS, β-tubulin, and tef1-α), DJW5-2-1 was identified as Diaporthe phoenicicola (Traverso & Spessa) Udayanga, Crous & K.D. Hyde. Dual culture assays further confirmed its broad-spectrum antifungal activity, with inhibition rates ranging from 39.15% to 72.54% against various phytopathogenic fungi. Biochemical analyses revealed that DJW5-2-1 secretes multiple extracellular enzymes and exhibits plant growth-promoting traits. In both in vitro and potted plant efficacy assays, the biocontrol efficacy of strain DJW5-2-1 against RBS was 49.67% and 50.61%, respectively, indicating that strain DJW5-2-1 exhibits a certain level of control efficacy against RBS. Through pot experiments, we found that strain DJW5-2-1 could promote the growth of rhododendron seedlings and significantly increase growth indicators. Among these indicators, the growth-promoting rates of plant height and stem diameter were 15.27% and 41.27%, respectively. Moreover, DJW5-2-1 contributed to improved host resistance by elevating the activities of key defense-related enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Taken together, these findings suggest that strain DJW5-2-1 represents a promising microbial agent for the integrated control of RBS and the development of fungal-based biofertilizers. Further investigation is warranted to assess its performance under field conditions and elucidate its underlying mechanisms of action. Full article

Chronic sleep restriction (SR) impairs multiple organs. Although exogenous melatonin counteracts SR-induced gut microbiota disruption, its role in protecting renal function and the involvement of gut microbiota remain unclear. To this end, we subjected mice to a 28-day SR paradigm with exogenous melatonin treatment or antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion. SR mice demonstrated significant renal dysfunction evidenced by elevated serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and uric acid levels compared to controls. Histopathological analysis revealed characteristic tubular abnormalities in SR mice, including epithelial degeneration and lumen dilation, with reduced expression of key renal filtration markers (Nephrin, Podocin, CD2-associated protein, and α-Actinin-4). All of these could be mitigated by melatonin treatment, and all changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Intriguingly, microbiota depletion significantly reversed the protective effect of exogenous melatonin on kidney injury in SR mice, while propionic acid supplementation mitigated SR-induced kidney injury. Furthermore, we found that gut microbiota and the metabolite propionic acid mediated the role of exogenous melatonin probably through attenuating SR-induced renal oxidative damage, including regulating renal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. These findings collectively indicated that melatonin may ameliorate SR-associated kidney injury through gut microbiota-derived propionic acid. Our finding highlights a novel gut–kidney axis in SR-related pathophysiology. Full article

Saline-alkali stress seriously affects the growth and development of crops. Sorghum bicolor (L.), a C4 plant, is an important cereal crop in the world, and its growth and geographical distribution are limited by alkali conditions. In this study, sorghum genotypes with different alkaline resistance (alkaline-sensitive Z1 and alkaline-tolerant Z14) were used as experimental materials to explore the effects of alkali on sorghum seedlings. RNA-seq technology was used to examine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in alkali-tolerant Z14 to reveal the molecular mechanism of sorghum response to alkali stress. The results showed that plant height, root length, and biomass of both cultivars decreased with time under 80 mM NaHCO₃ treatment, but Z14 showed better water retention abilities. The photosynthetic fluorescence parameters and chlorophyll content also decreased, but the Fv/Fm, ETH, ΦPSII, and chlorophyll content of Z14 were significantly higher than those of Z1. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased in both sorghum varieties under alkali stress, while the enzyme activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX were also significantly increased, especially in Z14, resulting in lower ROS compared with Z1. Transcriptome analysis revealed around 6000 DEGs in Z14 sorghum seedlings under alkali stress, among which 267 DEGs were expressed in all comparison groups. KEGG pathways were enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and RNA transport. bHLHs, ERFs, NACs, MYBs, and other transcription factor families are actively involved in the response to alkali stress. A large number of genes involved in photosynthesis and the antioxidant system were found to be significantly activated under alkali stress. In the stress signal transduction cascades, Ca²⁺ signal transduction pathway-related genes were activated, about 23 PP2Cs in ABA signaling were upregulated, and multiple MAPK and other kinase-related genes were triggered by alkali stress. These findings will help decipher the response mechanism of sorghum to alkali stress and improve its alkali tolerance. Full article

Miscanthus, a perennial grass, is renowned for its remarkable tolerance to abiotic stress. Excessive levels of drought severely impair plant growth and yield. Plant nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factors (TFs) play pivotal roles in regulating responses to drought stress in species such as Arabidopsis and maize. However, their functional roles in conferring drought tolerance in Miscanthus remain largely unexplored. This study’s genome-wide analysis and gene expression profiling of Miscanthus under dehydration/osmotic stress identified a transcription factors gene, MsNF-YA4, which was significantly upregulated under dehydration/osmotic stress. MsNF-YA4 overexpression in Arabidopsis significantly enhanced drought tolerance, leading to increased transcription of stress- and antioxidant enzyme-related genes. Compared with the wild type (WT), the transgenic lines exhibited markedly higher relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, proline level, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Furthermore, the MsNF-YA4/MsNF-YB3/MsNF-YC2 improved the transactivation of the Miscanthus P5CS1, SOD (Cu/Zn) and CAT1 promoters in the transient system. These results offer fresh perspectives on the role of Miscanthus NF-YAs in drought tolerance and offer promising genetic resources for developing drought-tolerant crops through breeding programs. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major global health problem for which there are few effective treatments. Phytochemicals from natural sources, such as those found in cacti, exhibit chemoprotective and hepatoprotective properties. In this study, the effect of the polar fraction of Lophocereus schottii (LsPF) was investigated in a Wistar rat model of HCC induced by weekly administration of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF, 25 mg/kg, i.g.) for 13 weeks. LsPF (50 mg/kg, i.g., three times per week) was administered either concurrently with HCC induction beginning in the first week or after seven weeks of HCC induction. LsPF did not lead to a significant improvement in macroscopic, biochemical or histologic results. However, when LsPF was administered after 7 weeks of HCC induction, it modulated the expression of genes related to liver carcinogenesis, including SOD, CAT, CYP2E1, TGFB1, AFP, and COL1A. In addition, co-administration of LsPF along with the damage treatment decreased the number of mitotic hepatocytes. These results suggest that LsPF can modulate gene expression and hepatocyte proliferation in HCC, with efficacy depending on the timing of administration, disease stage, and administration method. Further studies are needed to optimize its therapeutic potential. Full article

This article introduces a diffractive neural network-enabled spectral object detection approach (DNN-SOD) to efficiently process massive sky-based multidimensional light field data. DNN-SOD combines the novel exploitation of target spectral features with the intrinsic parallelism of optical computing to process multidimensional information efficiently. DNN-SOD detects targets by segmenting the spectral data cube and processing it with the DNN. The DNN maps spectral intensity to the designated area of the detector, then reconstructs spectral curves, and differentiates targets by comparing them with reference spectral signatures. Classification results from individual sub-spectral data cubes are compiled in sequence, enabling accurate target detection. Simulation results indicate that the architecture achieved an accuracy of 91.56% on the MNIST multi-spectral dataset and 84.27% on the infrared target multi-spectral dataset, validating its feasibility for target detection. This architecture represents an innovative outcome at the intersection of remote sensing and optical computing, significantly advancing the dissemination and practical adoption of optical computing in the field. Full article

The coupling of partial root-zone drying (PRD) with nitrogen forms exerts an interactive “water-promoted fertilization” effect, which enhances rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and development, improves water use efficiency (WUE), mediates the expression of aquaporins (AQPs), and alters root water conductivity. In this study, gene cloning and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies were employed to construct overexpression and knockout vectors of the OsPIP2;1 gene, which were then transformed into rice (cv. Meixiangzhan 2). Three water treatments were set: normal irrigation (CK); partial root-zone drying (PRD); and 10% PEG-simulated water stress (PEG), combined with a nitrogen form ratio of ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺) to nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻) at 50:50 (A50/N50) for the coupled treatment of rice seedlings. The results showed that under the coupled treatment of PRD and the aforementioned nitrogen form, the expression level of the OsPIP2;1 gene in roots was upregulated by 0.62-fold on the seventh day, while its expression level in leaves was downregulated by 1.84-fold. Overexpression of OsPIP2;1 enabled Meixiangzhan 2 to maintain a higher abscisic acid (ABA) level under different water conditions, which helped rice reduce water potential and enhance water absorption. Compared with the CK treatment, overexpression of OsPIP2;1 increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of rice under PRD by 26.98%, effectively alleviating tissue damage caused by excessive accumulation of O₂⁻. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of OsPIP2;1-overexpressing rice showed correlations under PRD and A50/N50 nitrogen form conditions, with WUE exhibiting a significant positive correlation with transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, nitrogen content, and Rubisco enzyme activity. Overexpression of OsPIP2;1 could promote root growth and increase the total biomass of rice plants. The application of the OsPIP2;1 gene in rice genetic engineering modification holds great potential for improving important agricultural traits of crops. This study provides new insights into the mechanism by which the AQP family regulates water use in rice and has certain significance for exploring the role of AQP genes in rice growth and development as well as in response to water stress. Full article

As one of the key vectors for the transmission of Dengue fever, Aedes albopictus is highly ecologically adaptable. The development of environmentally compatible biological defence and control technologies has therefore become an urgent need for vector biological control worldwide. This study constructed and used double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) expression vectors targeting the cyp314a1 and cyp315a1 genes of Ae. albopictus to transform Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris, achieving RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing. The efficacy of the RNAi recombinant algal strain biocide against Ae. albopictus was evaluated by administering it to Ae. albopictus larvae. The results showed that the oral administration of the cyp314a1 and cyp315a1 RNAi recombinant C. reinhardtii/C. vulgaris strains was lethal to Ae. albopictus larvae and severely affected their pupation and emergence. The recombinant algal strains triggered a burst of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) in the mosquitoes’ bodies, resulting in significant increases in the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxiredoxin (POD) and catalase (CAT), as well as significant upregulation of the mRNA levels of the CME pathway genes in larvae. In the simulated field experiment, the number of Ae. albopictus was reduced from 1000 to 0 in 16 weeks by the RNAi recombinant Chlorella, which effectively controlled the population of mosquitoes. Meanwhile, the levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) in the test water decreased significantly. High-throughput sequencing analyses of 18S rDNA and 16S rDNA showed that, with the release of RNAi recombinant Chlorella into the test water, the biotic community restructuring dominated by resource competition caused by algal bloom, as well as the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria and the decline of aerobic bacteria triggered by anaerobic conditions, are the main trends in the changes in the test water. This study is an important addition to the use of RNAi recombinant microalgae as a biocide. Full article