Search Results (11,765)

Effective and sustainable control strategies for pine wilt disease, caused by the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), are urgently needed, as reliance on conventional chemical nematicides faces increasing limitations. In this study, a new kind of integrated approach is proposed. It pairs microbial fermentation filtrates with the green chemicals arecoline and sodium silicate. The filtrates were obtained from bacterial and fungal strains that were had isolated from Pinus massoniana rhizosphere soil. The nematicidal efficacy of individual and combined treatments was evaluated in vitro, while their ability to induce systemic resistance in P. massoniana seedlings was assessed through defense enzyme assays, malondialdehyde (MDA) content measurement, and defense-related gene expression analysis. Results identified several highly effective combinations, particularly arecoline plus CSZ33 and sodium silicate plus CSUFT-F23, which achieved over 72% control efficacy. These formulations not only showed direct toxicity but also significantly enhanced the plant’s antioxidant capacity and upregulated key defense genes. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics linked these effects to specific bioactive metabolites in the fermentation filtrates, such as D-glutamic acid. This work demonstrates that hybrid bio-chemical formulations can successfully merge immediate pathogen suppression with long-term host resistance priming, offering a promising, sustainable strategy for the integrated management of pine wilt disease. Full article

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of multi-strain lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation on the functional and antidiabetic properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) puree using integrated physicochemical, biochemical, and cellular analyses. Fermentation induced significant (p < 0.05) physiochemical changes, including a decrease in pH from 6.2 to 6.5 to 3.5–3.6, increased titratable acidity, and higher viable cell counts, indicating active microbial fermentation. Levels of reducing and soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose) decreased significantly due to microbial utilization during fermentation. Fermented pumpkin puree exhibited markedly enhanced antioxidant activity, with DPPH radical scavenging activity increasing from 45% in the control to 83.2%, while ABTS radical scavenging activity increased from 33% to 42%. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays demonstrated enhanced antidiabetic potential, with α-amylase inhibition increasing from 7% to 60% and α-glucosidase inhibition from 10% to 70%. Moreover, glucose uptake in insulin-resistant L6 myotubes was significantly enhanced, indicating improved cellular glucose utilization. HPLC analysis revealed significant enrichment of phenolic compounds, particularly trans-ferulic acid (3894 µg/g), gallic acid (1996 µg/g), and caffeic acid (1894 µg/g), suggesting microbial-mediated release and biotransformation of bound phenolics during fermentation. Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships among phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibition. Among the tested LAB strains, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei competitively exhibited the highest functional and anti-diabetic properties. Overall, LAB fermentation effectively enhanced the functional and antidiabetic properties of pumpkin puree. Full article

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and excessive oxidative stress, which collectively contribute to a progressive tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Although conventional immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory therapies remain the main therapeutic approach, their clinical efficacy is often limited by poor pharmacokinetic properties, low tissue selectivity, systemic toxicity, and adverse effects following long-term administration. In this context, antioxidant-based nanoformulations have emerged as promising multi-target therapeutic strategies for the modulation of oxidative and inflammatory pathways involved in autoimmune disorders. This review focuses on polymeric and non-polymeric nanoformulations designed to improve the solubility, stability, bioavailability, controlled release, and targeted delivery of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for autoimmune disease treatment. Recent advances in nanocarrier systems applications, including nanogels, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polymethacrylate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, hydroxyapatite (HAP), lipid-based and ROS-responsive nanosystems, are discussed. The therapeutic potential of nanoencapsulated steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidant compounds, enzymes, inorganic elements, and nucleic acid-binding systems is evaluated through preclinical and limited clinical evidence. Many of these reported nanoformulations exhibit enhanced therapeutic efficacy, improved tissue targeting, reduced systemic toxicity, and the ability to simultaneously modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathways. Despite the encouraging findings, important challenges remain regarding clinical translation, long-term safety, reproducibility, and large-scale production. In overall, antioxidant nanoformulations represent a promising and evolving platform for the development of more effective and targeted therapies against autoimmune diseases. Full article

Translocation of elite cultivars across distinct climatic regions often induces transplantation shock. Although the rhizosphere microbiome can facilitate host acclimation, the underlying functional mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated microbiome-mediated adaptation in “Hongdeng” sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) moved from a humid coastal region (Dalian, DL) to a semi-arid inland habitat (Hohhot, HS). We integrated plant physiological assays, metagenomic sequencing, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to compare the source population (DL), the introduced population (HS), and a locally acclimated reference cultivar (“Summit”, HSY). The introduced trees adjusted physiologically to the semi-arid environment by elevating proline levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Although environmental stress reduced microbial alpha diversity, the core taxonomic framework persisted. Community assembly analysis indicated that the semi-arid climate intensified environmental filtering. Network analysis identified Sphingomonas as a keystone taxon; notably, it maintained a highly connected topological role despite a stable relative abundance. Furthermore, structural equation modeling showed that the environmental stress index positively correlated with the upregulation of microbial DNA repair pathways (R = 0.81, p < 0.001). Ultimately, the SEM demonstrated that environmental stress primarily shapes microbial functional profiles rather than driving species turnover, thereby contributing to host adaptation. The successful establishment of introduced sweet cherry in semi-arid regions is tied more closely to rhizosphere functional plasticity than to taxonomic restructuring. These findings highlight the role of the keystone taxon Sphingomonas in maintaining rhizosphere homeostasis, offering a theoretical framework for targeted microbiome engineering to mitigate transplant shock and enhance crop resilience. Full article

Larrea ameghinoi Speg., an endemic species of Argentine Patagonia traditionally used in folk medicine to treat fever, stomach disorders, respiratory conditions, back pain, and as an emmenagogue, among others, still remains chemically and biologically underexplored compared to the other four members of the genus. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive metabolomic characterization of methanolic extracts from two populations (EMLaSAO and EMLaMAQ) using ultra-high-resolution liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–ESI–QTOF–MS) and to evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and enzyme-inhibitory activities of relevance to human health. Thirty-three compounds were tentatively identified by extensive UHPLC–MS analysis, including flavones, two major lignans, and oleanane-type triterpenes. Both extracts exhibited high phenolic content (215–239 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract) and strong free radical scavenging activity, as evidenced by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, EC₅₀ ≈ 10 μg/mL), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) assays. In addition, significant inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (IC₅₀ ≈ 50 μg extract/mL) and α-glucosidase, together with selective antibacterial activity against methicillin-sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 125 μg extract/mL), were recorded. These findings suggest that L. ameghinoi possesses a distinctive phytochemical composition conferring multitarget bioactivity, differing from other Larrea species dominated by lignans such as nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and its derivatives. Overall, this work supports the potential of L. ameghinoi as a novel source of bioactive metabolites for managing oxidative stress-related disorders and opportunistic infections. This warrants future in vivo studies investigating biological activities associated with oxidative stress and their relevance to human health. Full article

Cold stress poses a major threat to global agricultural productivity. As a tropical woody oil crop, oil palm is highly susceptible to chilling damage; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its cold response remain largely unknown. In this study, we profiled spear leaves of oil palm seedlings exposed to 8 °C for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 h, using transcriptomic analysis across the full time course, complemented by metabolomic profiling at the 2 h time point. Physiological measurements showed cold stress-associated changes in chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT). Transcriptome analysis identified 31,576 expressed genes, including 9042 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The highest number of specific DEGs was observed at the 2 h time point. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed nine co-expression modules with distinct temporal patterns. A total of 46 hub genes were identified, including WRKY, ERF, and seven genes encoding key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan (LOC105041937, LOC105056784, LOC105048637, LOC105055093, LOC105038203, LOC105033050, and LOC105037948). Metabolomic analysis detected 98 differentially accumulated metabolites, which were enriched in the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan pathway. qRT-PCR analysis showed that WRKY and ERF expression peaked at 2 h, coinciding with phenylalanine accumulation. In summary, this study describes the temporal dynamics of the cold stress response in oil palm, identifies the 2 h time point as a transition period, and provides a set of prioritized hub genes for further functional validation. These findings may support future breeding efforts aimed at improving cold tolerance in oil palm. Full article

Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) were initially recognized as pivotal regulators of plant light signaling pathways. However, mounting evidence suggests that PIFs also exert significant influences on plant development and responses to stress. Here, we identified seven PIF genes in the potato genome and conducted comprehensive characterizations through phylogenetics, gene structure, conserved motif, synteny, chromosomal location analyses and cis-regulatory element. Transcriptome data and gene expression analysis showed that the StPIF4 gene was markedly induced by mannitol-induced water deficit. Additionally, the StPIF4 protein was primarily localized in the nucleus and plasma membrane. In order to explore the function of the StPIF4 gene under mannitol-induced water deficit, the StPIF4 gene was cloned, and several StPIF4 overexpression (OE) lines (OE-8, OE-10, and OE-11) and three RNA interference (RNAi) transgenic lines (RNAi-5, RNAi-9, and RNAi-11) were obtained. The OE lines displayed notable enhancements in various growth parameters such as plant height, leaf number, branch number, fresh weight, dry weight, total root length, root surface area, number of root forks, and number of root tips under mannitol-induced water deficit compared to the wild-type (WT) lines, whereas these parameters were significantly decreased in the RNAi lines. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars were also significantly increased under mannitol-induced water deficit, whereas the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and O₂⁻, were significantly reduced in the OE lines compared to WT plants under mannitol-induced water deficit. Moreover, the stomatal aperture of the leaves and the water loss rate in the leaves of the OE lines were significantly reduced under mannitol-induced water deficit compared to the WT plants, whereas for the RNAi lines they were significantly increased. In addition, the overexpression of StPIF4 also upregulated expression of drought-responsive genes and ABA content under mannitol-induced water deficit. Collectively, these results highlight the positive role of the StPIF4 gene in enhancing potato tolerance to mannitol-induced water deficit by decreasing stomatal aperture, enhancing ROS scavenging and mitigating oxidative damage. Full article

The objective of this paper was to examine the effects of differing levels of dietary Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed cake and meal (ZBS) on the productive performance, egg quality, gut microbiota and liver metabolomics of laying hens. In total, 1280 healthy Lohmann Pink laying hens (age, 36 weeks) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: control (CON), 1% ZBS, 2% ZBS, or 3% ZBS. The trial lasted for eight weeks. The results indicated that compared to the CON group, the 3% ZBS group had a higher egg production during weeks 5–8 and 1–8 (p < 0.05). However, the feed-to-egg ratio and egg breakage rate during weeks 1–8 was lower in the 2% ZBS group and 3% ZBS group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Adding different levels of ZBS to the diet significantly increased egg production, reduced the feed-to-egg ratio, and reduced the feed intake of weeks 5–8 in laying hens (p < 0.05) with both effects exhibiting a linear relationship as the addition level increased (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, supplementing the diet with 2% or 3% ZBS significantly increased T-AOC levels in the liver and serum, as well as T-SOD enzyme activity, but it significantly decreased the MDA level in the serum (p < 0.05). The addition of ZBS has been demonstrated to induce alterations in the microbial composition of the cecum in laying hens. The key metabolic pathways and key metabolites are glycerophospholipid metabolism and magnoflorine, respectively. In conclusion, the supplementation of diets with ZBS has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the production performance and antioxidant capacity in laying hens. The optimal supplementation level was 3% ZBS. Full article

Oxidative stress, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, contributes to cellular damage and chronic diseases. Fermented foods are increasingly recognized for their antioxidant properties, which are strongly influenced by microbial metabolism during fermentation. This review examines three major microbial mechanisms involved in antioxidant enhancement in fermented foods: exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, release of matrix-bound bioactive compounds, and microbial modulation of redox conditions. Microbial EPS contribute through radical scavenging and metal chelation, while microbial enzymes increase the bioavailability of phenolic compounds, peptides, and other antioxidant molecules. In addition, microbial metabolic activity influences the redox environment of fermented systems through electron-transfer processes and reducing metabolites. By integrating these complementary mechanisms, this review provides a comprehensive framework linking microbial biotransformation and redox modulation to the antioxidant properties of fermented foods, and highlights their potential for the development of functional fermented products. Full article

In this work, two-dimensional copper-based metal–organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) nanozymes, including cuprous oxide-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Cu₂O-TCPP) and copper-cuprous oxide-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Cu-Cu₂O-TCPP), were synthesized, which exhibit dual ascorbate oxidase (AO) and peroxidase (POD)-like activities. The reductants, such as ascorbic acid (AA), can be oxidized by the cascade AO and POD catalysis on Cu-MOFs to oxidize p-phthalic acid (PTA) and generate fluorescence. Consequently, a fluorescence sensing platform for AA and other reducing substances was established. This platform offers potential for efficient and selective monitoring of reductive species and related antioxidant levels in food systems. The results showed that the two Cu-MOFs displayed favorable linear relationships (R² ≥ 0.99) for the detection of AA, glutathione (GSH) and L-cysteine (L-Cys). Their limits of detection (LOD) were 5.3 μM for Cu₂O-TCPP and 92.5 μM for Cu-Cu₂O-TCPP. Finally, by detecting real samples of vitamin C tablets and fruits, the accuracy of the two Cu-MOFs nanos enzymes was validated, with Cu₂O-TCPP showing higher accuracy. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in many diseases. This study evaluated the potential of bioactive compounds from Red-belted Bracket and Artist’s Bracket mushrooms to mitigate these processes. Multistep extraction yielded fractions with diversified composition (triterpenoids, polysaccharides) and bioactivities, including antioxidant properties and inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Both species were rich in triterpenoids: ethanolic extracts from Artist’s Bracket contained mainly ganoderenic and ganoderic acids (≈31 μg/g d.w.), while Red-belted Bracket extracts contained phenolic acids (≈20 μg/g d.w., mainly vanillic and chebulic acids) and triterpenoids (≈73 μg/g d.w., mainly forpinic and formipinic acids). The alkaline and ethanolic extracts exhibited the highest radical scavenging and reducing activities. Lipoxygenase was inhibited only by ethanolic extracts, with IC₅₀ values of 0.93 mg d.w./mL for Artist’s Bracket (mixed inhibition) and 0.62 mg d.w./mL for Red-belted Bracket (noncompetitive). Artist’s Bracket was also a potent source of xanthine oxidase inhibitors acting uncompetitively (IC₅₀ = 0.71, 1.39, and 2.06 mg d.w./mL for ethanolic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts, respectively). In contrast, Red-belted Bracket was less active (IC₅₀ = 3.84 mg d.w./mL, noncompetitive). In conclusion, these mushrooms, particularly their ethanolic extracts, are promising sources of compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, acting as effective inhibitors of lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase. Full article

Microplastic pollution has attracted significant attention in recent years due to evidence that these particles can accumulate in organisms’ tissues and organs and induce adverse health effects, with oxidative stress being a key underlying mechanism of toxicity. The present study investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics (0.1 μm in diameter) administered at a dose of 0.1 mg/day/animal for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week recovery period without exposure, on oxidative stress markers in the liver, kidney, and spleen and on hematological and blood biochemical parameters in mice. The results showed a statistically significant increase in white blood cell counts, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes, at week 5, indicating the development of an inflammatory response. During the last week of the recovery period (week 6), values returned to levels that approached baseline. Changes in lipid peroxidation demonstrated an induction of oxidative stress, accompanied by alterations in glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities, with a tendency toward recovery after cessation of polystyrene microplastic exposure. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that even short-term exposure to low doses of polystyrene microplastics could trigger oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, highlighting their potential health risks and the need for further investigation into their long-term biological effects. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) pose a significant health burden globally, and this burden is increasing with an ageing population. Despite this challenge, restorative treatments for NDs remain elusive. In these conditions, the brain is vulnerable to oxidative stress and inflammation due to a deficiency or reduction in antioxidative enzymes. Oxidative stress and inflammation damage neuronal cells, leading to neurodegeneration. Various studies have explored the neuroprotective effects of flavonoids in different in vitro and animal models, primarily due to their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Crude extracts and active metabolites of Semecarpus anacardium L. have shown potential in reversing dysregulated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. S. anacardium L. extract (SAE) and its phytocomponents, such as butein, anacardic acid, and amentoflavone, have been experimentally demonstrated to modulate oxidative stress and neuroinflammation through coordinated activation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathways and suppression of NF-ĸB-driven inflammatory signaling. At a molecular level, flavonoids from SAE induce the expression of p38 MAPK and Nrf2, as well as antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, inflammatory genes such as NF-ĸB, MAPK, AP-1, iNOS, and COX-2 are suppressed following treatment with SAE. NF-ĸB inhibition leads to neuroprotection via inhibiting the function of caspase-3 and apoptosis. Overall, this review discusses the protective role of SAE and its phytocomponents in mitigating neuronal oxidative stress, inflammation, and degeneration. Furthermore, this review highlights the translational potential of SAE and its phytocomponents as complementary therapeutic candidates for neurodegenerative disorders. However, variability in extract composition and limited pharmacokinetic characterization remain key barriers to clinical translation. Full article

Allelopathy means that one plant produces chemical substances to affect the growth of other plants. Crop rotation is considered as a potential strategy to alleviate the allelopathic inhibition. So, it is important to identify rotation crops with wide availability and low inhibitory effects. In this study, the allelopathic potential of soil extracts was investigated on the germination, seedling growth, biomass, and biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant enzyme activities) of five crops, by a series of laboratory experiments. Firstly, both soil water extracts (SWE) and soil ethanol extracts (SEE) exhibited allelopathic inhibition on the seed germination and the root length of all seedlings in a dose-dependent relationship. The SWE significantly promoted the shoot length of bok choy and Chinese lettuce, while the SEE had no significant effect in bok choy. The application of SEE resulted in a significant increase in the dry weight of bok choy and rocket. In contrast, SWE had a negligible effect on bok choy and lettuce. Both of them caused decrease in the dry weight of the other seedlings. Then, the allelopathic synthetic effect index of water/ethanol extracts was chemo-inhibitory, and the inhibitory effect increased with increasing extract concentration. The SWE had the strongest inhibition on rocket and the SEE on lettuce. Both of them had the weakest effect on bok choy. The extracts significantly inhibited the photosynthetic capacity in five crops, manifested as decrease in photosynthetic pigments and dose-dependent effects. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content in all crops increased in a dose-dependent manner, confirming that the extracts caused lipid peroxidation. However, the defense strategies of different crops vary significantly. There is crop with active defense, such as bok choy treated with SWE. It delayed oxidative damage by continuously upregulating the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). This is the key physiological mechanism for tolerance. There is also the oxidative stress failure type, as follows: CAT activity of rocket and cabbage increased, but the SOD activity did not increase by SEE. This reveals the physiological essence of their sensitivity—the lack of persistent scavenging ability for reactive oxygen species. Based on the inhibition of peroxidase (POD) and ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX), it is speculated that the extracts may inhibit the hydrogen peroxide scavenging pathway, which centered on the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. It is the fundamental reason why the continuous accumulation of MDA though SOD/CAT is up. This study confirmed the allelopathic effects of the water and ethanol extracts on five vegetable crops, and found that bok choy was less affected by them. The soil extracts affected the growth and development of seedlings by regulating their oxidative metabolism and photosynthetic capacity. These results support recommending pak choi as a rotation crop. This provides crops for subsequent field experiments and a new direction for next-step research on continuous cropping obstacles. Full article

Cadmium (Cd), a highly mobile and phytotoxic heavy metal, threatens plant growth and food safety and has increased interest in woody plant-based phytoremediation. However, the genome-wide characteristics of the NAC transcription factor family and its role in Cd tolerance remain largely unknown in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a stress-tolerant woody plant. In this study, 121 PgNAC genes were identified from the chromosome-level genome of the pomegranate cultivar ‘Tunisia’. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into two major groups and 16 subgroups. PgNAC genes were unevenly distributed across the eight chromosomes and showed evident clustered distribution patterns. Synteny and Ka/Ks analyses further revealed that segmental and tandem duplication jointly shaped the expansion of the PgNAC family, while the duplicated pairs have largely evolved under strong purifying selection. Conserved motif and gene structure analyses showed that PgNAC proteins possessed a highly conserved N-terminal NAM domain, whereas their C-terminal regions were relatively divergent. Promoter analysis further identified abundant hormone- and stress-responsive cis-elements, suggesting diverse regulatory roles of the PgNAC family. Transcriptome profiling identified PgNAC87, a member of the NAP subfamily, as a Cd-responsive candidate gene that was consistently upregulated in both roots and leaves under Cd stress. Heterologous overexpression of PgNAC87 in tobacco significantly enhanced Cd tolerance, as reflected by alleviated growth inhibition, increased antioxidant enzyme activities and osmotic adjustment substances, and reduced oxidative damage. Collectively, our results clarify the evolutionary features of the PgNAC family and its involvement in Cd-induced transcriptional regulation, while highlighting PgNAC87 as a potential genetic target for enhancing Cd tolerance in pomegranate and related woody species. Full article