Search Results (19,824)

Chronic stress activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and induces systemic physiological changes. This study aimed to identify stress-associated serum biomarker candidates in chronically stressed beagle dogs and to evaluate the anti-stress effects of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam. extract (CZE). Beagle dogs were subjected to movement restriction-induced chronic stress for 42 days, with or without repeated oral administration of CZE. Serum cortisol and corticosterone concentrations were measured using ELISA, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters were analyzed. Serum samples collected at day 0 and day 42 of the 84-day chronic stress model were subjected to LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis. Chronic stress increased serum cortisol and corticosterone concentrations and induced alterations in hematological and serum biochemical parameters, whereas CZE administration tended to attenuate or stabilize these stress-associated changes. Proteomic analysis identified 380 serum proteins, of which 348 quantified proteins were subjected to differential expression analysis. The differentially expressed proteins were primarily associated with immune response, inflammatory response, extracellular matrix organization, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and secretion. TIMP1, TREM2, RAB8A, KRT9, PPBP, THBS1, and HSPB1 were identified as candidate stress-associated serum biomarkers. These findings indicate that chronic stress induces endocrine, hematological, biochemical, and serum proteomic alterations in beagle dogs. Changes in proteins related to immune–inflammatory regulation and extracellular matrix organization suggest that prolonged stress may affect systemic immune responses and tissue remodeling. CZE may contribute to the maintenance of physiological homeostasis under chronic stress conditions and may have potential as a functional anti-stress material, while the identified serum proteins may provide a basis for the development of biomarkers for chronic stress. Full article

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are commonly used flame retardants and plasticizers, which can easily be released into the soil environment and have potential hazards such as neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity. Establishing an efficient and sensitive detection method plays a crucial role in soil pollution assessment. Currently, there have been numerous studies on the detection of OPEs in soil using ultrasonic extraction and solid-phase extraction, while relatively few studies have focused on the analysis of multiple OPEs in soil by accelerated solvent extraction combined with d-SPE clean-up and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The d-SPE purification method eliminates the need for column passage, shortens sample preparation time, and avoids the risk of background contamination from OPEs that may be introduced by SPE. This study developed a liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 25 OPEs in soil, and systematically optimized the pretreatment and instrumental analysis conditions. Accelerated solvent extraction was used for pretreatment, and dichloromethane–methanol (1:1, V/V) was determined as the optimal extraction solvent. A mixed adsorbent of N-propyl ethylenediamine (PSA) and C18 was selected for dispersive purification, effectively removing matrix interference and improving recovery rates. The mass spectrometry parameters such as collision energy and declustering voltage were optimized, significantly enhancing ion response intensity and detection sensitivity. The method showed good linearity within the concentration range of 1–100 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients all greater than 0.994. The spiked recovery rates ranged from 70.6% to 111% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.2–11.8%. The precision and accuracy met the requirements for environmental sample analysis. The method was applied to the detection of actual soil samples, and the results were stable and reliable. This method is simple to operate, highly sensitive, and widely applicable, providing reliable technical support for the pollution monitoring, source tracing, and ecological risk assessment of OPEs in soil. Full article

Artemisia annua L. is a medicinal plant characterized by a chemically diverse phytochemical profile and potential relevance for cosmetic and dermatological applications. This study investigated a hydroethanolic A. annua extract through phytochemical characterization, antioxidant evaluation, UV–Vis-based assessment of UV absorption, and exploratory molecular docking. HPLC-DAD-MS/MS supported the assignment and quantitative determination of artemisinin, chlorogenic acid, and isoquercitrin at 0.09, 0.11, and 0.21 mg/mL extract, respectively. GC–MS revealed a diverse composition comprising primary and secondary metabolites, while separate essential oil characterization identified Artemisia ketone as the predominant volatile constituent. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 16.82 ± 0.29 mg GAE/g DW and 1.46 ± 0.14 mg RE/g DW, respectively. Concentration-dependent antioxidant activity was observed in DPPH and ABTS assays, with IC₅₀ values of 0.77 ± 0.13 and 0.092 mg dry plant material equivalent/mL reaction mixture, respectively. UV–Vis analysis showed concentration-dependent increases in spectrophotometrically estimated SPF within the evaluated analytical range. At 1.25 mg/mL, the extract exhibited an SPF estimate of 7.20 ± 0.35, a UVA/UVB absorbance ratio of 2.58, and a critical wavelength of 379.3 nm, indicating that UV absorption extended substantially into the UVA region. Exploratory molecular docking yielded the most favorable AutoDock Vina scores for chlorogenic acid toward MMP-1 (−9.0 kcal/mol) and isoquercitrin toward human neutrophil elastase (−8.0 kcal/mol). Overall, A. annua represents a source of phytochemicals with experimentally demonstrated antioxidant activity and measurable UV-absorbing properties, supporting further investigation in appropriately formulated and validated topical systems. Full article

The use of different marine resources, including various colouring agents, is rooted in human history. They have been used as nutrients and medicaments and in luxury products. Readily available marine biological pigments (MBPs) are considered inexpensive materials, since they can be used as colourants. MBPs form part of the ‘’blue technology’’ approach for industrial colouring applications, including staining, textile dyeing, and uses to give fashionable colours to luxury products. They serve as nutrient additives, cosmetic ingredients, and as parts of beauty products. Today, they still are broadly used in the context of diverse new applications. MBPs can be concentrated differently on the bodies of marine creatures, providing each pigment its unique colour and properties. MBPs like carotenoids can complement important cell activities, like photosynthesis. They can function independently or support other micro- and macromolecules. MBPs are essential for their host’s survival. Outside their primary hosts (in the context of uses on and in consumers’ corpora), they either stay unmodified or can be changed by association with specific micro- and macromolecules. A few types of MBPs have been extracted, purified, identified, and formulated as drugs or pure chemicals. MBPs share common properties, such as functioning as antioxidants, can protect against sunlight and UV waves, and can improve vision. They take part in health protection and disease treatment, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegeneration, anti-ageing, and anti-wrinkle functions, and can function as an antimicrobial. With many undiscovered properties, MBPs represent a source for de novo applications with innumerable chances that might offer mastery of the fields of colour-based applications. This review summaries the importance of MBPs and addresses important applicable properties that make them attractive for nutraceutical, medicinal, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical uses, in addition to various industrial applications, and discusses historical and contemporary facts that have attracted human attention, both in the past and today, along with setting out expectations for the future of MBPs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ferula varia Trautv. is a promising medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family and a potential source of biologically active secondary metabolites. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological activities of F. varia root extract. Methods: The non-volatile compounds were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC–QTOF–ESI-MS/MS) method. Furthermore, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC), antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential of the extract were evaluated using spectrophotometric and microdilution assays. Results: HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis enabled the tentative identification of 25 metabolites in the F. varia root extract, predominantly sesquiterpene coumarins together with organic acids, phenolic acids, coumarins, sesquiterpene esters, and prenylated aromatic compounds. The extract contained 30.06 ± 3.00 mg GAE/g_extr of total phenolics and 1.42 ± 0.04 mg RuE/g_extr of total flavonoids. Antioxidant assays revealed Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of 0.10 ± 0.00 mM, 110.31 ± 4.94 mg AsAE/g_extr, and 21.95 ± 0.00 mg TE/g_extr, respectively, while the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed weak radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ > 1 mg/mL). The extract also demonstrated stronger antimicrobial activity against yeasts than against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 2.5 to 5 mg/mL and 10–20 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: These findings indicate that F. varia roots are a promising source of bioactive compounds exhibiting antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Full article

Mining and smelting activities have accelerated the release of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) into the environment, resulting in high ecological risks. Microorganisms are considered key drivers of Sb and As cycling. However, their effects on Sb/As transformation in antimony smelting soils remain poorly understood. In this study, an indigenous microbial consortium capable of oxidizing both Sb and As was obtained from antimony smelting soil and used to investigate the interactions between microorganisms and Sb-As co-contaminated soils. The results showed that the functional microbial consortium enhanced Sb and As release from the soil by increasing the system pH from 7.41 to 8.89, thereby promoting the dissolution of solid-phase Sb and As. The concentrations of total dissolved Sb and As reached 246.47 and 30.5 µmol L⁻¹ by day 16, respectively, and the released Sb(III) and As(III) were completely oxidized to Sb(V) and As(V). In the abiotic control, the corresponding concentrations of total dissolved Sb and As were 95.89 and 12.08 µmol L⁻¹, respectively, with an As(III) concentration of 3.54 µmol L⁻¹. Sequential extraction results revealed that microbial activity altered the speciation distribution of Sb and As in soils, decreasing the proportions of easily exchangeable and specifically surface-bound fractions while increasing the residual fractions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis further showed that, compared with the original soil, the functional microbial consortium increased the proportions of Sb(V) and As(V) in the solid phase from 34.79% to 40.54% and from 9.53% to 15.96%, respectively, suggesting that microbial activity might promote the precipitation of Sb(V) and As(V), thereby facilitating the re-immobilization of a fraction of the released Sb and As. Furthermore, the succession of microbial communities during the interaction process was investigated. The release of Sb and As from soil increased the abundance of microorganisms related to Sb/As metabolism. Spearman correlation analysis suggested that Arenimonas, Luteimonas, Arthrobacter, and Brevundimonas were likely involved in Sb(III)/As(III) oxidation, whereas Devosia and Aminobacter contributed to the elevation of system pH. This study provides insights into the microbial-mediated transformation, migration, and oxidation of Sb and As in soils. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains difficult to control because recurrence, impaired hepatic reserve, and treatment resistance limit durable benefit. Natural products and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provide resources that range from drug-lead discovery to adjunctive multicomponent therapy. This review integrates pharmacological and clinical evidence for purified compounds, semisynthetic derivatives, extracts, formulas, and delivery systems. It focuses on metabolic reprogramming and redox homeostasis, stress responses and regulated cell death, tumor cell plasticity and vascular remodeling, and the immune microenvironment and host response. Recent studies have strengthened selected mechanistic claims through chemical probes, functional perturbation, and resistance models. Clinical research has concentrated on recurrence control after surgery or minimally invasive treatment and on combinations with transarterial chemoembolization, targeted agents, and immunotherapy. Randomized trials and prospective cohorts suggest potential benefit in specific settings, although product standardization, external validation, and long-term follow-up remain limited. Major translational barriers include uncertain active constituents, inadequate batch comparability, missing tumor-exposure data, and sparse herb–drug interaction studies. Future development should match target validation, pharmacokinetics, safety assessment, and clinical endpoints to each product class and clarify whether a candidate is best positioned as a drug lead, adjunctive therapy, or supportive intervention. Full article

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are additive chemicals that migrate from indoor materials and accumulate in settled dust. This study retrospectively characterized eight OPFRs in floor dust collected in Shanghai during 2016 to establish a seasonally resolved historical reference. A total of 136 residential dust samples were obtained from a convenience panel of 26 homes sampled at approximately two-month intervals; five office and four dormitory composite samples were included only for exploratory microenvironmental comparisons. Sampling, extraction, and LC-MS/MS determination were all completed in 2016. OPFRs were detected in all samples. Median (mean) Σ₈OPFR concentrations were 1.51 × 10³ (4.35 × 10³), 2.48 × 10³ (3.36 × 10³), and 673 (963) ng·g⁻¹ in residential, office, and dormitory dust, respectively, and chlorinated OPFRs—particularly tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate—dominated. Mixed-effects models accounting for repeated sampling confirmed significant season effects for Σ₈OPFRs and all frequently detected congeners, with autumn generally lower than spring or winter. Under the mean 2016 concentration scenario, uptake-adjusted total estimated daily intakes were 3.3 ng·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹ for infants and 0.65 ng·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹ for adults. Oral administered-dose screening values did not exceed the selected non-cancer or cancer benchmarks. These measurements do not represent current exposure but provide a historical benchmark for method-matched follow-up monitoring. Full article

Fusarium species are significant phytopathogens responsible for major crop losses and contamination of food products with harmful mycotoxins, posing serious risks to food security and public health. In response to the limitations of conventional agrochemicals, this study explores sustainable antifungal strategies based on plant-derived products and nanotechnology. The aqueous extract of Ocimum basilicum was investigated as a bioresource for both direct antifungal activity and the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (OB-AgNPs). Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the O. basilicum aqueous extract revealed the presence of key compounds, including rosmarinic and chicoric acids, which can reduce and stabilize AgNPs. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized using standard analytical techniques, including UV–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The OB-AgNPs exhibited a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 437 nm, a zeta potential of ~–16.3 mV, an average size of 28 nm (TEM) while the average hydrodynamic size is ≈57 nm (DLS). The synthesized AgNPs demonstrated stability in potato dextrose broth (PDB) for up to 24 h. The nanoparticles alongside the aqueous extract were evaluated against selected mycotoxigenic Fusarium species including F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans, F. graminearum, and F. globosum, following 96 h of exposure. Results showed that the aqueous O. basilicum extract exhibited limited antifungal activity, with significant inhibition observed only against F. globosum MRC 6122 at the highest concentration tested (400 ng/µL). In contrast, the biosynthesized OB-AgNPs demonstrated potent antifungal activity against most of the tested Fusarium strains, except for F. proliferatum MRC 8549 and MRC 8550, indicating substantially greater efficacy than the crude extract. These findings highlight the potential of O. basilicum-mediated AgNPs as effective and eco-friendly antifungal agents. The study underscores the value of integrating plant-based phytochemicals with nanotechnology for controlling Fusarium pathogens, while emphasizing the need for future studies to determine their effects on mycotoxin production, as well as their safety and phytotoxicity for agricultural applications. Full article

Mediterranean extensive green roofs are increasingly recognized as Nature-based Solutions for climate adaptation and urban sustainability, yet plant selection remains largely based on a limited set of drought-tolerant species. This review critically evaluates the biodiversity, biogeographical composition, and performance of plant species tested on Mediterranean extensive green roofs. A systematic analysis of 118 studies published between 2010 and 2025 identified 340 taxa belonging to 48 families, while species-level performance data were extracted from 92 studies. Research effort was strongly concentrated in Italy, Greece, and Spain, revealing significant geographical biases across the Mediterranean Basin. The species pool was dominated by chamaephytes and succulent taxa, particularly Crassulaceae, whereas Mediterranean endemics were underrepresented. Although native species accounted for most occurrence records, more than half of the tested taxa belonged to extra-Mediterranean chorotypes, indicating only partial geographical coherence. Performance assessments focused primarily on survival, growth, and drought tolerance, whereas reproduction, biodiversity outcomes, and ecosystem services were rarely evaluated. Several Mediterranean native species, including Helichrysum italicum, Salvia officinalis, Origanum dictamnus, and Crithmum maritimum, showed performance comparable to that of commonly used Sedum species, highlighting the potential of underutilized regional flora. The review supports a shift from establishment-based plant selection toward ecologically coherent approaches that integrate biodiversity, biogeographical affinity, ecosystem functioning, and long-term resilience. Full article

Arid mountain–oasis–desert regions exhibit strong terrain and surface-cover heterogeneity that is difficult to represent using conventional land-cover classification schemes. This study developed an ecosystem-oriented hierarchical framework for the Kashi region by combining a terrain-constrained Mountain extraction method with Automatic Deep Forest Shrinkage model (ADeFS). Nine ecosystem elements were defined: Mountain, Water, Forest, Cropland, Lake, Grassland, Desert, Ice, and Human. Mountain was first delineated as an independent physiographic element using a locally derived baseline surface, relative relief, slope, and topographic position, thereby reducing semantic overlap between terrain units and spectrally similar surface-cover classes. ADeFS was then adapted to classify the seven non-mountain classes, and Lake was subsequently separated from the unified Water class through visual interpretation. The results show that ADeFS achieved the highest accuracy, with an overall accuracy of 88.7% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.868. Independent field validation of the 2026 map yielded an overall accuracy of 86.2% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.825. From 2015 to 2026, the mountain-oasis-desert structure remained broadly stable, while Desert and Ice decreased and Forest, Grassland, and Cropland expanded. Ecosystem-element transitions were concentrated before 2021 and weakened thereafter. Landscape metrics showed that Desert remained the dominant matrix, Grassland had the highest patch density and edge density, and Cropland became increasingly aggregated within oasis agricultural areas. The framework provides an ecologically interpretable approach for ecosystem-element mapping and long-term monitoring in arid heterogeneous regions. Full article

Despite the recognized antioxidant properties of phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from Limnospira platensis, their potential application in bivalve aquaculture—particularly regarding their modulation of endogenous antioxidant defenses—remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the effects of an aqueous PBP extract at concentrations of 2, 20, and 80 µg/mL on antioxidant parameters in the Pacific oyster Magallana gigas following 24, 48 and 96 h exposure periods. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein oxidation, and expression of corresponding genes in gills and hepatopancreas have been evaluated. PBPs elicited significant effects on prooxidant–antioxidant balance in oyster tissues. Low concentrations (2–20 µg/mL) enhanced SOD and CAT activities and reduced protein oxidation, indicating protective effects. The highest concentration (80 µg/mL) suppressed enzyme activities—particularly GPx—while elevating TBARS, suggesting prooxidant effects at excessive doses. Tissue-specific responses were observed, with hepatopancreas more vulnerable to oxidative stress than gills. Notably, GPx transcription was upregulated at 80 µg/mL of PBP extract despite suppressed activity, implying its post-transcriptional regulatory properties. These findings demonstrate that L. platensis PBPs modulate oyster antioxidant status in a biphasic manner, with moderate doses conferring stimulation and high doses inducing oxidative stress. This study provides the first integrative evidence of PBP effects on enzymatic, and transcriptional antioxidant defenses in a commercially important bivalve, underscoring their promise as functional bioactive additives while emphasizing the need for careful dose optimization. Full article

Vanadium slag is an important secondary vanadium resource. Although microwave-assisted calcification roasting improves the leachability of vanadium-bearing phases, further extraction can still be limited during acid leaching, making optimization of the leaching process essential for efficient vanadium recovery. Using this slag, leaching was evaluated at different temperatures, times, liquid-to-solid ratios (L/S), sulfuric acid concentrations, and agitation speeds. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize leaching parameters within the selected ranges. Residue phase composition and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Leaching efficiency increased with temperature, L/S, and acid concentration, but plateaued above 60 °C, 6 mL·g⁻¹, and 14 wt.%, respectively; increases beyond 50 min or 200 rpm gave marginal improvements. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the BBD model ranked the statistical effects of the four linear terms within the investigated BBD range as sulfuric acid concentration > L/S > leaching time > temperature. Within the selected BBD parameter ranges, optimization yielded 64.95 °C, 55.21 min, 6.56 mL·g⁻¹, and 15.17 wt.% sulfuric acid, with agitation fixed at 200 rpm. Validation gave an average leaching efficiency of 92.92%, with a relative error of 0.205% compared with the model prediction. After leaching, Mn₂V₂O₇ was undetected. The residue mainly contained irregular particles, 10–30 μm acicular or plate-like CaSO₄·2H₂O crystals, and minor residual vanadium-bearing CrVO₃ and CaVH₂Si₄O₁₂ phases. Surface CaSO₄·2H₂O deposition and refractory-phase encapsulation of vanadium-bearing constituents increased mass-transfer resistance and limited further leaching. This study clarified the relative effects of the investigated leaching conditions on vanadium leaching efficiency within the design range and the interactions among these conditions, and provided microstructural evidence related to the factors limiting further vanadium leaching, thereby providing theoretical guidance for the efficient extraction of vanadium from vanadium slag. Full article

Functional fermented foods are increasingly recognized as sources of microbial metabolites with potential biological activity. In this study, MRK2-3, a protease-sensitive anti-Helicobacter pylori component produced by Lactiplantibacillus pentosus MRK2-3 isolated from fermented mushroom sausage, was enriched and preliminarily characterized for in vitro anti-H. pylori activity. Activity appeared during the stationary phase. Sequential ethyl acetate extraction, Sep-Pak C18 chromatography, and reverse-phase HPLC increased specific activity, although the final activity recovery was 0.72%. MALDI-TOF analysis of the active fraction showed a dominant ion at approximately m/z 1848 together with several lower-intensity ions; therefore, chemical homogeneity and sequence identity were not established. The MRK2-3 fraction retained activity after incubation at pH 2–6 and after heating at 80 °C and 100 °C for 30 min, whereas activity decreased under alkaline conditions and after treatment at 121 °C for 15 min. Trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, pepsin and proteinase K reduced activity. The fraction inhibited all tested H. pylori strains (agar-dilution MIC ranged from 12.5 to 100 μg/mL). In a simulated gastric fluid, higher concentrations produced a rapid reduction in viable H. pylori 3949 counts. These findings support MRK2-3 as a fermentation-derived putative antimicrobial peptide candidate with anti-H. pylori activity under gastric-like conditions. However, its amino acid sequence, structural identity, and novelty require confirmation. Antimicrobial mechanism, cytotoxicity, and in vivo efficacy also remain to be established. Full article

Methanol (ME) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of rustyback fern (Asplenium ceterach L.) sporophytes were analyzed for antioxidant properties by thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-based bioautography, using DPPH as the detection reagent, and were comparatively tested for their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic activities. The bioautography assay indicated that the rustyback fern ME extract had significant antioxidant potential and moderate α-amylase activity compared to the DCM extract. Both extracts exhibited pronounced scavenging activity towards hydroxyl radicals, as well as antibacterial and antifungal potential against all tested strains, although to varying degrees. The Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus cereus were the most sensitive bacteria, while the most sensitive fungus was the yeast Candida krusei. Furthermore, the tested extracts showed notable capability to prevent Candida albicans biofilm establishment, with no significant difference between the two extracts examined and an inhibition range of 72–74%. Cytotoxic screening indicated the safety of the extracts even at high concentrations, up to 100 μg mL⁻¹. The results of the present study highlight A. ceterach extracts as a significant source of bioactive compounds, supporting their potential use as potent antioxidants and for combating diseases caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Full article