Search Results (1,272)

Flavonoids are essential secondary metabolites that predominantly affect flower pigmentation in plants. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying flower color divergence is crucial for ornamental plant breeding. This study aimed to elucidate the factors responsible for the differences in color between white-petaled Cosmos bipinnatus and orange-petaled Cosmos sulphureus. We employed an integrated approach combining untargeted LC–MS/MS metabolomics and high-throughput transcriptome sequencing of fresh petals to analyze pigment composition and differential gene expression. Petal pigment extraction, total flavonoid quantification, and metabolomic profiling consistently revealed that differences in flavonoid abundance are responsible for flower color divergence between the two species. In contrast, carotenoids, previously considered potential contributors to flower coloration, were neither evident in the oil phase of the pigment extracts nor detected by metabolomic analysis. Flavonoid compounds accumulated at relatively high levels in the orange petals of C. sulphureus, reaching 11.36 times that of C. bipinnatus, contributing to its bright appearance. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differences in gene expression patterns between the two species, highlighting key candidate genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, such as chalcone synthase. These findings indicate that the orange coloration of C. sulphureus may be associated with CHS-regulated accumulation of naringenin chalcone and downstream compounds in the flavonoid metabolic pathway after CHS, providing valuable theoretical support for a deeper understanding of the causes underlying the differences in flower color between C. bipinnatus and the orange-petaled C. sulphureus. Full article

Neocinnamomum caudatum (Nees) Merr. is an underutilized woody oil plant with seeds rich in long-chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Reliable quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis is essential for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying seed oil biosynthesis, but suitable reference genes have not yet been validated in this species. Here, seven candidate reference genes, namely EF-1α, ACT2, ACT11, UBQ11, TUA, F-BOX, and GAPDH, were selected from transcriptomic data and evaluated in leaves, flowers, and developing seeds of N. caudatum. Their expression stability was assessed using geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper, followed by comprehensive ranking with RankAggreg. Among all tested samples (leaves, flowers and developing seeds combined), GAPDH was identified as the most stable reference gene, whereas EF-1α was the least stable. For developing seeds alone, TUA showed the highest stability, while EF-1α exhibited poor stability. In leaf and flower samples, ACT11 was the most stable gene, whereas TUA was unsuitable for normalization. The expression patterns of NcFAD2 and NcFatB, two genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, were used to validate the selected reference genes. Stable reference genes and the optimized multi-gene combination generated consistent expression profiles, while unstable reference genes caused evident distortion. This study provides the first systematic evaluation of reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis in N. caudatum and offers a practical foundation for future functional studies of lipid metabolism in this woody oil plant. Full article

The antimicrobial effect of Eucalyptus radiata essential oil nanoemulsion (EON) on Staphylococcus aureus and spoilage microorganisms was evaluated on fresh beef chunks during cold storage at days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. For this purpose, nanoemulsion was prepared using 2% eucalyptus oil combined with high methoxyl pectin, glycerol, and Tween 80, employing high shear force. Then the following were evaluated: (1) the essential oil’s chemical profile and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities; (2) the nanoemulsion characteristics; and (3) the microbial counts of the beef treatments. The results showed that the essential oil’s primary components were o-cymene (45.4%), 2-bornene (26.29%), 1,8-cineole (11.31%), and α-pinene (9.25%). The EON had a particle size of 52.04 nm and a zeta potential of −9.16 mV. The in vitro studies revealed that both the essential oil and its nanoemulsion demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. Similarly, in in situ examinations, when the meat samples were spiked with S. aureus (0.1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), the EON-treated meat samples had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower microbial counts than the untreated meat samples throughout the storage period; the difference between the treatments ranged between 1.62 and 2.44 log CFU/g. Additionally, the EON exhibited excellent antimicrobial efficacy against spoilage microorganisms on beef pieces during shelf life. On day 4, the maximum inhibitory activity was observed against total coliform, Pseudomonas spp., and yeast in reductions of 1.96, 2.09, and 2.18 log CFU/g in microbial counts, respectively. Moreover, application of meat samples with the EON delayed spoilage by 4 days. Therefore, the results of this study showed that coating beef chunks with the EON enhanced both product safety and shelf life. Full article

The topito pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a tropical fruit of economic and gastronomic importance in the Caribbean region, valued for its nutritional content. However, this fruit is susceptible to postharvest fungal diseases, including those caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Penicillium expansum, which can degrade fruit quality and pose a health risk due to the potential presence of mycotoxins such as patulin. In this context, we evaluated the protective effects of coatings with chitosan (CS), clove essential oil (CEO), and their combination (CS+CEO) on sweet peppers stored at 12 °C for 12 days after harvest. The results indicate that the film-forming solution exhibited an acidic pH (5.33–5.44), a density of ~1.0 g/cm³, and viscosities ranging from 2.75 to 32.9 cP. Furthermore, the results indicate that coatings with CS and CS+CEO significantly reduced weight loss, preserved firmness (19.12–30.40 N), and delayed ripening. At the same time, the coatings exhibited inhibitory effects on P. expansum and aerobic mesophiles. The CS+CEO combination demonstrated the greatest inhibitory effect, indicating that it is a sustainable and effective strategy for the postharvest preservation of sweet peppers, thereby enhancing their value, preservation, and food security in the Caribbean region. Full article

Bio-based coatings enriched with essential oils (EOs) represent a promising alternative to synthetic preservatives to extend strawberries’ shelf-life. This study evaluated the effects of chitosan (CHT) formulations containing three selected EOs (Illicium verum, Citrus sinensis, and Citrus limon) on the volatile profile, sensory quality, and antifungal activity of strawberry fruits. Volatile emissions were characterized by Headspace Solid Phase Micro-Extraction/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, while sensory properties were assessed using Quantitative Descriptive Analysis. Antifungal activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo against Botrytis cinerea. Chitosan alone slightly modified the volatile profile, while EO-enriched coatings induced marked and concentration-dependent changes, reflecting the chemical composition of the incorporated EOs. Among the tested formulations, CHT combined with 1% C. sinensis EO provided the best balance between preservation of the characteristic strawberry aroma and overall sensory acceptance. In vitro assays showed that EO volatiles, particularly from C. sinensis and I. verum, significantly inhibited fungal growth, while diffusible compounds were less effective. In vivo, EO-containing coatings reduced disease incidence and severity by approximately 50%. These findings highlight the potential of CHT–EO coatings as sustainable options for postharvest preservation, although optimization of EO type and concentration is crucial to balance sensory quality and antimicrobial efficacy. Full article

Matching of multi-run magnetic flux leakage (MFL) in-line inspection data for oil and gas pipelines provides an essential basis for defect evolution analysis, corrosion growth assessment, and integrity management. However, in practical engineering applications, inconsistencies in total measured mileage, differences in the number of key points, and cumulative mileage errors across different inspection runs significantly increase the difficulty of data matching. To address these issues, this study proposes a report-level matching framework for multi-run MFL in-line inspection data that combines key-point alignment with defect matching. The proposed method improves the adaptability of defect matching under complex defect-size and spatial-distribution conditions through a dynamic-threshold mechanism and mitigates the influence of cumulative mileage errors on the matching results in later pipeline sections when large total mileage discrepancies exist between inspection runs through an adaptive anchor-based segmentation mechanism. Experiments based on multi-run MFL in-line inspection data from two actual pipelines demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve stable key-point and defect correspondence in scenarios with both small and large total mileage differences, thereby providing a basis for subsequent defect growth analysis. Full article

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common non-melanoma skin cancers worldwide. Although surgery and adjuvant therapies are often effective, the treatment of high-risk or advanced lesions remains challenging due to recurrence, resistance, toxicity, and limited long-term control. Natural compounds have, therefore, gained interest as multi-target agents for cancer prevention and treatment. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the antitumoral activity of natural compounds against cSCC. A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Sixty studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using a conservative, mechanism-based classification framework. The included studies evaluated purified compounds, crude extracts, essential oils, formulations, photodynamic agents, and combination treatments. Despite chemical diversity, antitumoral activity converged on defined biological processes, including apoptosis, non-apoptotic regulated cell death, redox modulation, oncogenic signaling inhibition, cell-cycle arrest, epigenetic regulation, photodynamic ROS generation, and chemopreventive or immune-mediated mechanisms. Mechanistic specificity was higher among purified compounds, while complex extracts showed broader, context-dependent effects. Several agents demonstrated consistent in vitro and in vivo activity, which supports their translational relevance. Natural compounds target shared biological vulnerabilities in cSCC through mechanistically convergent pathways. The framework presented here supports mechanism-guided prioritization and may facilitate the translation of promising compounds into clinically relevant strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Otomycosis is a recurrent fungal infection of the external auditory canal. This disease is difficult to manage with current antifungal agents due to irritation, ototoxicity risk, and emerging resistance. Natural essential oils have been proposed as alternatives, yet their clinical application in otic formulations remains limited due to their poor solubility and stability. In this study, we report the first ear-drop formulation combining microemulsified Ocimum gratissimum essential oil and acetic acid for otomycosis treatment. Methods: The essential oil was quality-validated with eugenol content superior to 60%. A systematic formulation study was performed, and the Tween 20/isopropanol (4:1, w/w) mixture was selected as the optimal surfactant system, yielding a stable microemulsion with high encapsulation efficiency (~98%) and relevant physicochemical stability (up to 28 days). The final formulation containing 1% acetic acid and 0.3% micro-emulsified essential oil met pharmacopeial requirements in terms of appearance, pH, viscosity, and microbial limits. Results: Importantly, this micro-emulsified eardrop demonstrated significantly greater in vitro antifungal activity than 3% boric acid and 2% acetic acid eardrops in twelve clinical fungal isolates from Vietnamese swimmers, especially on Curvularia, Cunninghamella, Aspergillus terreus, and Bipolaris. Although less pronounced than 1% clotrimazole, the finalized formulation demonstrates better antifungal kinetics and a broader activity spectrum. Conclusions: This work provides relevant experimental evidence on the use of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil in a microemulsion delivery system and demonstrates its efficacy against clinically relevant otomycosis pathogens. The results establish a foundation for future in vivo and clinical studies. Full article

Fish are continuously exposed to stress factors throughout their life cycle, making the use of anaesthetics essential for a wide range of experimental procedures. Currently, the most commonly used and FDA approved anaesthetic for fish research is Tricaine Methanesulfonate (MS-222). However, its use has been associated with several undesirable effects, including hypoxemia, hypercapnia and hypoglycaemia, as well as environmental concerns due to its release through aquaculture effluents. These limitations highlight the need for alternative anaesthetic strategies. Natural compounds such as clove oil, menthol and thymol have been investigated as potential alternatives, demonstrating effective anaesthetic properties. However, their low aqueous solubility, represents a significant challenge, which may be overcome through nanoencapsulation. This approach can enhance solubility, enable controlled release, and reduce the effective dose required. Accordingly, the present study aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in nanoparticle-based encapsulation strategies for anaesthetic delivery in fish, with a focus on their efficacy, safety and environmental impact. Some studies have demonstrated the benefits of nanoencapsulation. In adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), lower concentrations of benzocaine were required when encapsulated in chitosan-PLGA nanoparticles, while lidocaine-loaded lipid NPs reduced bradycardia. In Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), clove oil encapsulated in lipid-based nanocapsules enabled effective anaesthesia and prolonged release of the active compound eugenol. Similarly, mucoadhesive zein NPs, reduced the effective concentration of Eugenol by up to 50%. Monoterpenes such as menthol and thymol also show promise for zebrafish anaesthesia, demonstrating efficacy at 50 mg/L. These findings suggest that nanoparticle-based delivery systems can improve the efficacy and safety of fish anaesthetics while reducing required doses and potential environmental impact. Future research should focus on optimizing nanoparticle-anaesthetic systems by combining natural compounds with biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers (e.g., zein, chitosan or PLGA) to achieve controlled release, targeted delivery and minimization of side effects. Full article

The vitreous body is not only a transparent filling material of the posterior segment; it is a soft, hydrated, and biologically active matrix that supports structural, optical, and biochemical homeostasis. Vitrectomy therefore leaves a functional deficit that current substitutes only partly address. Intraocular gases, silicone oils, and perfluorocarbon liquids remain essential surgical tools, but they mainly provide mechanical tamponade and do not reproduce native viscoelasticity, diffusion control, or protection against oxidative and inflammatory stress. This review considers vitreous replacement as a functional biomaterials challenge. We discuss native vitreous physiology, the limitations of present tamponade agents, and emerging bioengineered substitutes designed to create a more physiological intravitreal environment. Particular attention is given to hydrogel and polymer-based systems, especially hyaluronic acid-based and in situ crosslinked platforms, which are being developed to combine optical clarity, injectability, soft mechanical support, controlled degradation, and favorable tissue interaction. We also emphasize the need for standardized preclinical testing of swelling, enzymatic stability, drug diffusion, rheology, and long-term biocompatibility. Although next-generation materials may move the field beyond passive space filling, manufacturing reproducibility, regulatory validation, chronic safety, and cautious early-phase trials remain major translational barriers. Full article

Essential oils are complex plant-derived volatile blends composed of a myriad of aromatic secondary metabolites. The volatile architecture of plant essential oils suggests a consistent trend under the experimental conditions evaluated, regardless of the distillation scale and methodology. This study presents a comparative chemometric evaluation of two integrated processing systems: laboratory-scale hydrodistillation (HD) of dried biomass versus semi-industrial-scale dry steam distillation (SD) of fresh biomass. Seven economically important botanical species spanning three families were analyzed: Lavandula angustifolia, Salvia officinalis, Hyssopus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Mentha spicata, Achillea millefolium, and Picea abies. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling revealed that HD consistently yielded a more chemically diverse volatile profile than SD. Unsupervised Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) achieved absolute binary segregation between the HD and SD fractions for every species. Supervised Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) established robust predictive models (Q² cum > 0.98), isolating specific chemical markers responsible for the variance. The results prove a universal physical trend: HD significantly enriched low-boiling oxygenated derivatives (such as oxygenated monoterpene alcohols and oxides), while SD selectively preserved heavier, thermally sensitive hydrocarbon fractions across all taxonomic groups. Ultimately, combining GC-MS with multivariate chemometrics provides an objective, automated framework for quality control, authentication, and industrial process optimization in the essential oil sector. Full article

Essential oils obtained from Siparuna plants, e.g., S. guianensis and S. gesnerioides, have potential for use as biorational insecticides. However, the activities of S. gesnerioides oils remain largely unexplored compared to S. guianensis oils. Using an integrative approach combining toxicological bioassays, geometric morphometrics, and in silico modeling, we assessed the adulticidal potential, selectivity, and the effects of early-life exposure to these oils on the larval susceptibility and adult wing morphometry of Aedes aegypti. Adulticidal assays revealed high toxicity, with S. guianensis (LC₅₀ = 15.0 nL/mL) being 15-fold more potent than S. gesnerioides (LC₅₀ = 233.0 nL/mL). Beyond acute lethality, early-life (i.e., eggs to L2 larvae) exposure to sublethal concentrations (S. guianensis = 7.4 nL/mL and S. gesnerioides = 118.0 nL/mL) was associated with wing morphometric disruptions and increased fluctuating asymmetry in Ae. aegypti adults, especially in those exposed to S. gesnerioides essential oil. Furthermore, early-life exposure to S. gesnerioides modulated L4 larvae susceptibility, which was associated with lower mortality in subsequent exposures. Selectivity assays demonstrated low acute oral toxicity in initial laboratory screenings with Apis mellifera, while molecular docking approaches predicted higher affinity of bicyclogermacrene and α-copaene for Ae. aegypti TRPV channels. Collectively, while S. gesnerioides oil was less acutely toxic, early-life sublethal exposures reduced fourth instar larvae (L4) susceptibility, which may have contributed to developmental instability and morphological alterations in adults. Our findings highlight the potential of Siparuna essential oils in mosquito management by impacting mosquito fitness beyond acute mortality. Full article

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a member of the Lamiaceae family, which includes a wide variety of medicinal and aromatic herbs cultivated for their essential oils and bioactive compounds. However, prolonged drought stress can significantly impair growth and essential oil content. In this study, a two-season pot experiment was conducted under open-field conditions. The study was carried out at the Floricultural Nursery, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Egypt, during 2024 and 2025, with the aim of assessing how foliar applications of silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) impact the morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of sweet basil under different soil water capacity (SWC) levels (80%, 60%, and 40% SWC). Drought stress markedly reduced plant height, branch number, leaf area, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, macronutrient content, and essential oil content, while increasing levels of proline and secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid. Growth and productivity were highest under 80% SWC, followed by 60%, and lowest under 40%. Under drought stress (40% SWC), Si₂₀₀ increased plant dry biomass by approximately 12%, chlorophyll content by 53%, and essential oil content by 46% compared with untreated plants. Silicon application proved more effective at ameliorating the negative consequences of drought than Zn, with Si₂₀₀ combined with 80% SWC yielding the best results in terms of plant performance and essential oil percentage and content. Meanwhile, Si₂₀₀ under 40% SWC induced the highest accumulation of secondary metabolites. These results highlight the potential of silicon foliar application as a practical strategy to reduce drought stress in sweet basil, enhancing both yield and phytochemical quality, and offering valuable guidance for sustainable cultivation under water-limited conditions. Full article

Accurate monitoring of the leaf area index (LAI) throughout the entire growth cycle of walnut trees using UAV multispectral imagery is essential for digital orchard management. In this study, focusing on the ‘Wen 185’ walnut variety in Xinjiang, we simultaneously acquired UAV multispectral images and ground-measured LAI data during four critical growth stages: expansion, hard shell, oil conversion, and maturity. A total of 25 vegetation indices and 48 texture features derived from the gray-level co-occurrence matrix were extracted. Hybrid feature selection combining linear (Pearson correlation), nonlinear (maximum information coefficient and random forest importance), and multiple consensus strategies was employed to reduce redundancy. LAI prediction models were constructed using four algorithms: Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), LASSO, and Ridge Regression (RR), with model interpretability enhanced by SHAP analysis. Results showed that the multiple consensus screening reduced feature redundancy by an average of 69.6%. SHAP identified five core features: Redge_750_Mean, NDVI, B_Mean, RENDVI, and G_Homogeneity. Importantly, predictor importance shifted significantly with phenology: texture features dominated during the expansion stage, while red-edge indices (RENDVI and Redge_750_Mean) became predominant during the hard shell and oil conversion stages, effectively mitigating the saturation problem commonly observed in traditional indices such as NDVI within the LAI range of 1.5–5.8 in this study. The hybrid feature subset combining “red-edge spectrum + spatial texture” with the Random Forest algorithm achieved superior performance across all stages, with the RPD value exceeding 2.0 during the oil conversion stage, indicating excellent estimation capability. This study demonstrates that a “quality over quantity” feature selection strategy not only reduces model complexity but also enables high-precision, dynamic LAI monitoring throughout the entire walnut growth cycle, providing a scientific basis for intelligent management of large-scale orchards in arid regions. Full article

This study evaluated how a lemon essential oil–rutin–chitosan coating (CS-LEO/NE-R), prepared from a 5:95 (v/v) lemon essential oil/rutin-containing nanoemulsion and a chitosan solution containing 1.5% chitosan, 1% acetic acid, and 5% glycerol, combined with controlled freezing-point storage preserves seasoned white snakehead fillets. Compared with controlled freezing-point storage alone, the combined treatment significantly inhibited oxidation, volatile nitrogen accumulation, texture softening, and microbial growth. On Day 10, the coating group recorded a total viable count of 4.98 log CFU/g, which was below the national limit (5 log CFU/g), whereas the control group went beyond this limit by Day 7. This extended the microbiological and physicochemical acceptability period by approximately 3 days under the present experimental conditions. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 2267 metabolites, and the differentially abundant ones mainly comprised amino acids, heterocyclic compounds, aldehydes, ketones, and esters. KEGG enrichment suggested that changes in linoleic acid metabolism, terpenoid related annotations, the actin cytoskeleton, and the phospholipase D signaling pathway were associated with delayed quality deterioration. This work provides a theoretical basis for the composite biopreservation of aquatic products. Full article