Search Results (278)

Soil salinization is a global ecological issue that severely constrains forest tree growth and ecological restoration. The salt-alkali stress response mechanisms of Quercus mongolica, a key temperate forest species in China, remain unclear. A two-factor pot experiment was conducted using NaCl (0, 50, 100, 200 mmol·L⁻¹) and NaHCO₃:Na₂CO₃ (1:1; 0, 50, 100, 150 mmol·L⁻¹). Plant traits, soil properties, and enzyme activities were measured. Furthermore, high-throughput sequencing revealed that microbial responses enhanced network cooperation under 100 mmol·L⁻¹ salt stress and improved network stability under 50 mmol·L⁻¹ alkali stress. These responses also upregulated resistance genes and increased soil enzyme activities. This activation of seedling antioxidant and osmotic adjustment systems was directly associated with an increase in growth parameters. Under combined stress, however, soil environment deterioration and microbial network disruption, along with reduced key soil enzyme activities, resulted in an insufficient defense system to counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, thereby reducing growth parameters. The study found that low-concentration individual salt or alkali stress promoted Quercus mongolica seedling growth, while combined stress was associated with significant inhibition. This study refines the theoretical framework for non-salt-tolerant trees and establishes a basis for determining their survival thresholds in saline-alkali soils. Full article

In agriculture, the use of Porous Coordination Polymers (PCPs), also known as Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs), has emerged as a promising area of research for biological applications, particularly as long-lasting delivery systems for biostimulant chemical compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of the hybrid compound La(NO₃)₃@Zn-MOF and La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O on the in vitro growth of sugarcane cv. Mex 69–290. To assess the effect on sugarcane (Saccharum spp. L.), plantlets were grown in flasks containing Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium without growth regulators. Each treatment consisted of three independent culture flasks, each containing three sugarcane plantlets, and different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg L⁻¹) of La(NO₃)₃@Zn-MOF and La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O were added separately. After 30 days of culture, various growth variables were evaluated, including explant length, number of leaves, number and length of shoots, fresh matter, dry matter, and chlorophyll content (a, b, and total). The 5 mg L⁻¹ concentration of La(NO₃)₃@Zn-MOF increased the number of shoots and leaves in the sugarcane plantlets, and significant increases in fresh and dry matter were observed, while no statistically significant differences were detected in explant length, shoot length, or chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll. However, inhibitory effects were observed at concentrations of 10 and 20 mg L⁻¹ of La(NO₃)₃@Zn-MOF and La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, respectively. In conclusion, the hybrid compound La(NO₃)₃@Zn-MOF exhibited biostimulatory effects on sugarcane growth and physiology under in vitro conditions, whereas high concentrations of the lanthanum(III) salt caused toxicity symptoms in the sugarcane plantlets. Full article

Calophyllum spp. infusions are used to treat varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and hypertension. However, the chemical composition and mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and vascular effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Calophyllum longifolium. Phytochemical profiling was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Extract effects on rat aortic rings and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were evaluated using wire myography and photometric measurement of intracellular Ca²⁺, respectively. UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS revealed the presence of coumarins, xanthones, flavonoids, triterpenes, and phenolic acids. Coumarin–resveratrol hybrids, such as gut-70 derivatives, were also abundant. In aortic rings from normotensive rats, C. longifolium induced a biphasic vascular response whereby low concentrations (1 μg/mL) produced significant vascular relaxation, whereas high concentrations (100 μg/mL) produced contraction. Blockade of ATP-sensitive (K_ATP) or voltage-gated (K_V) potassium channels attenuated these effects. Furthermore, effects were not observed in preparations preincubated with L-NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or in endothelium-denuded rings. In aortic VSMCs, extracts (1 µg/mL) rapidly reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺ content. This study provides the first UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS chemical profile of C. longifolium, revealing diverse bioactive metabolites. It is also the first to demonstrate that C. longifolium exerts an endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide- and Ca²⁺-mediated biphasic effect on vascular function. Taken together, these findings highlight C. longifolium as a potential novel source of vasculotropic phytopharmaceuticals. Full article

4-hydroxy-TEMPO is a water-soluble nitroxide radical with potent antioxidant and redox-modulating properties. Its small molecular weight and membrane permeability enable it to act as a superoxide dismutase mimetic, efficiently scavenging reactive oxygen species and mitigating oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated the physiological and transcriptomic effects of 4-hydroxy-TEMPO in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using wild-type and mutant strains deficient in key redox and DNA repair pathways (sod1Δ, sod2Δ, yap1Δ, rad52Δ). RNA-Seq analysis revealed widespread transcriptional reprogramming. Treatment with 4-hydroxy-TEMPO impaired cell growth, induced accumulation of cells with 1C (G1 phase) DNA content, and modulated chronological aging in a strain-dependent manner. Notably, low concentrations delayed aging in wild-type, yap1Δ, and rad52Δ strains, while accelerating it in sod1Δ mutants, consistent with a hormetic response. Unlike TEMPO, 4-hydroxy-TEMPO exhibited markedly reduced translational toxicity, preserved polysome structure at high doses, and triggered a non-canonical, redox-dependent transcriptional program characterized by induction of stress-response genes together with unexpected up-regulation of multiple ribosomal protein genes. This was accompanied by a biphasic, genotype-specific hormetic response and a measurable genoprotective effect. RT-qPCR confirmed key transcriptional changes, linking transcriptome remodeling to functional outcomes. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases are distinguished by synaptic dysfunction and chronic neuroinflammation, which accelerate neuronal loss and impair network resilience. Synaptic plasticity, that is, the ability to adapt to changes, is progressively lost. This ability is part of hormesis, an adaptive biphasic response, nowadays acknowledged as a promising tool in chronic degenerative diseases, since it offers a framework for personalized interventions. Growing evidence supports exercise as a powerful approach for managing neurodegenerative disorders, due to its capacity to enhance neuroplasticity through the direct targeting of the biomolecular processes involved. Indeed, regular exercise can drive many molecular mediators and signals toward neuroplasticity improvement, potentially slowing neurodegeneration. This narrative review focuses on exercise as a promising therapeutic approach in neurodegenerative diseases, based on its ability to shape synaptic plasticity at the molecular level. Some biomediators involved in synaptic plasticity function/dysfunction and neuroinflammation/neurodegeneration are addressed as therapeutic targets of exercise, and different exercise regimens are discussed as specific therapeutic interventions to contain the burden of some neurodegenerative conditions. Some clinical trials including exercise in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are summarized. Since no definitive disease-modifying cure exists for these illnesses, exercise’s ability to shape synaptic plasticity emerges as a highly attractive therapeutic approach. Full article

This research aimed to assess the effect of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) during in vitro shoot proliferation of vanilla using temporary immersion bioreactors (TIB). TIB culture is a biotechnological process that uses semiautomated containers for the production of explants exposed in liquid culture medium. Concentrations of control, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L ChNPs were evaluated in Murashige and Skoog culture medium. Morphological characterization of ChNPs was performed using scanning electron microscopy. At 60 days of culture, survival (%), development variables, photosynthetic pigment content, lipid peroxidation expressed in malondialdehyde, total phenolic content (TPC), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) expressed in trolox equivalents were evaluated. The data were analyzed with analysis of variance, with a Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05) using SPSS statistics software, version 29. The results revealed that the greatest survival (%) was obtained at concentrations of control, 25, and 50 mg/L ChNPs, while the lowest survival (%) was observed at concentrations of 400 mg/L ChNPs. Growth stimulation was found, as well as an increase in chlorophyll and β-carotene at concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/L ChNPs. The level of H₂O₂ increased at 25 and 50 mg/L ChNPs. Lipid peroxidation showed no differences among treatments. TPC increased at 100 and 200 mg/L ChNPs, while TAC increased at 200 and 400 mg/L ChNPs. In conclusion, the administration of ChNPs at low concentrations can stimulate growth, while at high concentrations they can inhibit it, a response known as hormesis or hormetic effect. Full article

Aging is a multifactorial process marked by a progressive decline in physiological function and increased vulnerability to diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and infections. A central feature of aging is inflammaging, a state of chronic low-grade inflammation driven by cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Recently, two regulated forms of non-apoptotic cell death—ferroptosis and cuproptosis—have emerged as critical mechanisms linking redox imbalance, mitochondrial stress, and disrupted metal homeostasis to age-related pathology. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent process characterized by lipid peroxidation and impaired glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity, and cuproptosis, a copper-dependent mechanism associated with protein lipoylation stress, both intersect with aging-related changes in mitochondrial and metabolic function. Importantly, these two forms of cell death should not be viewed as entirely separate pathways but rather as interconnected axes within a broader metal–redox–metabolic network. Disturbances in copper or iron homeostasis, glutathione (GSH)/GPX4 dysfunction, mitochondrial and iron-sulfur (Fe–S) cluster compromise, and enhanced lipid peroxidation may converge to lower cellular survival thresholds, thereby exacerbating oxidative damage, immune dysfunction, and tissue degeneration and ultimately fueling aging and inflammaging. This review offers a unique integrated perspective that situates ferroptosis and cuproptosis within a unified framework of aging biology, emphasizing their roles in age-related diseases and the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways through nutritional, pharmacological, and lifestyle interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Citicoline, also known as CDP-choline, is a nootropic agent currently used in the treatment of glaucoma and is undergoing evaluation as a first-line therapy in a multi-center, international, phase III, randomized clinical trial involving citicoline eyedrops (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05710198). Numerous clinical and preclinical studies have linked the neuroenhancement and neuroprotective effects of citicoline to its role as a metabolic precursor for structural and functional components of cell membranes (such as phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) and for neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine and dopamine). However, compelling evidence suggests that the molecular mechanisms underlying its cytoprotective activity involve additional as-yet uncharacterized pharmacological actions. Methods: To further elucidate its pharmacology, we investigated the effect of two cytoprotective doses of citicoline (0.1 mM and 1 mM) on the global proteome of neuroblastoma cells using an unbiased shotgun proteomics approach. Results: With over 4000 unique proteins identified and quantified per experimental condition, the proteomics analysis revealed that citicoline, after 6 h of stimulation, induces a profound and robust remodeling of the intracellular proteome compared to untreated cells. Importantly, this effect was observed to significantly diminish by 18 h of stimulation, highlighting its transient nature (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD061053). The clustering and rationalization of proteins upregulated by citicoline treatment identified the enrichment of key pathways for mRNA splicing, protein translation, proteostasis balance through the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), and mitochondrial metabolism. Conclusions: These proteomics findings introduce previously uncharacterized biological effects of citicoline and foster the working hypothesis that this drug may exert its cytoprotective activity through molecular mechanisms linked to the hormesis principle. These data further support the rationale for its clinical application in neurodegenerative processes and human disorders characterized by proteotoxicity. Full article

Microbial toxicity tests in the rhizosphere play an important role in the risk assessment and phytoremediation of chemical compounds in the environment. Tests for the inhibition of nodule number (NN), Rhizobia in the rhizosphere (RhR), Rhizobium in nodules (RhN) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are important to evaluate the toxicity as well as the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), 15 linear alkanes (LAs), and total linear alkanes (TLAs). The inhibition and removal was evaluated at 60 (vegetative stage, VS) and 154 days (reproductive stage, RS) of the life cycle of Crotalaria incana and Crotalaria pallida in soil with four doses of CRO (3, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg) plus a control (16 treatments). Results indicated that RhN and five structures of the AMFs present an index of toxicity (IT < 1), and the microbiological variable is inhibited by the CRO. RhR exhibits a hormesis index (IT > 1) that is stimulated by the CRO in the VS and RS for C. incana and C. pallida. The highest removal of TPHs (77%) was in the rhizosphere of C. incana in the RS with 45 g/kg of CRO. C. pallida removed the greatest amount of TLA (91%). There was a positive correlation between the RhR and the removal of TPHs, TLA, and LAs (higher molecular weight). It could be argued that symbiotic microorganisms are significant for use in toxicity testing, and the rhizosphere of C. incana and C. pallida can be used for the phytoremediation of HTPs and ALs in loamy-clay soil contaminated with CRO. Full article

Potassium (K⁺) channel blockers are promising anticancer agents but suffer from off-target toxicities. We designed cross-linked poly-2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)–pectin nanogels (HPN) to deliver two model blockers—dofetilide (Dof) and azimilide (Azi)—and evaluated their physicochemical properties, release behavior, and in vitro anticancer activity. HPN was synthesized by surfactant-assisted aqueous nanogel polymerization and comprehensively characterized (FTIR, DLS, TEM/SEM, XRD, BET). The particles were monodispersed with a mean diameter ~230 nm, compatible with tumor accumulation via the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect, and exhibited a microporous matrix suitable for controlled release. Drug loading was higher for Dof than for Azi, with DL% values of 82.30 ± 3.1% and 17.84 ± 2.9%, respectively. Release kinetics diverged: Azi-HPN followed primarily first-order diffusion with a rapid burst, whereas Dof-HPN showed mixed zero/first-order behavior. Cytotoxicity was assessed in A549 lung cancer and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells. Both free and nano-formulated blockers were selectively toxic to A549 with minimal effects on BEAS-2B. Notably, a hormesis-like pattern (low-dose stimulation/high-dose inhibition in MTT) was evident for free Dof and Azi; encapsulation attenuated this effect for Dof but not for Azi. Co-administration with paclitaxel (Ptx) potentiated Dof-HPN cytotoxicity in A549 but did not enhance Azi-HPN, suggesting mechanism-dependent drug-drug interactions. Overall, HPN provides a biocompatible platform that improves K⁺ blocker delivery. Full article

Throughout evolution, living beings have had to face and resist adverse conditions that tested their adaptive capacity. As a result, they have developed processes such as hormesis to ensure their survival and their ability to thrive in challenging environments. Currently, this process is recognized as a key mechanism that complements Darwin and Wallace’s theory of evolution, making it necessary to explore its relationship with other processes linked to natural selection such as adaptation, adaptability, plasticity, variation, and variability, among the main ones. Subsequent research within the framework of Neo-Darwinism and Modern Synthesis better explains hormesis and the understanding of the complexity of biological responses. In this framework, there is a great need to put hormesis in context based on the laws of variation and inheritance and establish a consistent, updated, and expanded definition that allows the integration of hormesis with evolutionary processes. In addition, the biological mechanisms through which hormesis may be related to the evolutionary process are discussed. Full article

Plants are continuously exposed to various abiotic and biotic stress factors, which influence their growth, productivity, and ecological fitness. This paper clarifies the concept of hormesis as a distinct low-dose stress response to toxic substances and presents its relationships with other plant stress phenomena. Based on evidence from the published literature, hormesis can be considered a particular type of acclimation because it involves temporary, non-heritable physiological adjustments to mild toxic stress. It is induced by low doses of toxic substances (e.g., cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr)) and characterised by stimulated growth resulting from the moderate activation of defence mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, reactive oxygen species regulation and/or enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, as well as increased auxin content. We propose that the fundamental parameter for identifying hormetic responses should be plant growth, expressed as shoot biomass or elongation, as analyses of single physiological traits alone are insufficient. Furthermore, growth stimulation caused by factors with physiological functions (physiological factors) such as light, temperature or mineral nutrients should be regarded as forms of acclimation rather than hormesis. These assumptions provide a clearer framework for future studies on plant stress physiology. Full article

This study investigates the phenomenon of ethanol hormesis in honeybees (Apis mellifera) infected with Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp., a widespread parasite that significantly impacts bee health and colony survival. Hormesis refers to a biphasic response where low doses of potentially harmful substances may elicit beneficial effects, contrasting with the detrimental impacts observed at higher concentrations. We hypothesized that low ethanol concentrations could reduce Vairimorpha spp. infection severity and improve bee lifespan. In a controlled experiment, foraging bees were divided into groups of infected and uninfected individuals, and each group (N = 50) was exposed to varying ethanol concentrations (0%, 0.0313%, 0.625%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%). The results indicated that infected bees exposed to 0.625% and 1.25% ethanol exhibited the longest lifespans and the lowest Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp. spore counts, supporting the hormetic model. In contrast, higher ethanol concentrations (2.5% and above) significantly increased mortality and spore load, reaffirming the toxic effects associated with excessive ethanol intake. This study highlights the complex interactions between ethanol exposure and parasitic infection in honeybees, suggesting that ethanol at 0.625% and 1.25% may mitigate some of the harmful effects of Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp. infections. The findings have implications for understanding how ethanol, present in floral nectar, impacts honeybee health and could inform management strategies for controlling Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp. infections in bee populations. Full article

The expansion of native invasive plants severely impacts alpine meadow ecosystems and regional development on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau by reducing vegetation productivity and hindering livestock production. However, the rules underlying their effects on forage grass establishment and effective mitigation strategies remain poorly understood. Here, using three main allelochemicals—benzoic acid (BA), caffeic acid (CA), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HA)—from typical native invasive plants, we investigated concentration-dependent effects (0, 100, 300, and 500 mg/L) on the seed germination and seedling growth of four common forage species: Festuca elata Keng ex E. B. Alexeev (FE), Lolium perenne L. (LP), Medicago sativa L. (MS), and Trifolium repens L. (TR). Our findings revealed a concentration-dependent hormesis effect: low concentrations stimulated germination and growth, while inhibition intensified with increasing concentrations. Roots exhibited significantly higher sensitivity than stems (p < 0.01). The phytotoxic intensity of allelochemicals on forage grass growth follows the order BA > CA > HA. For germination (germination rate/potential), sensitivity orders were FE > LP > TR > MS and LP > FE > TR > MS, respectively. For seedling growth, toxicity orders were TR > MS > FE > LP (root length), TR > FE > MS > LP (root weight), TR > MS > FE > LP (stem length), and TR > FE > LP > MS (stem weight). In summary, different allelochemicals exerted significantly varied effects on the germination and growth of distinct forage grass species. Therefore, forage species selection should consider local allelochemical profiles, or alternatively, grass-legume mixtures could be employed to enhance biomass yield. Our findings provide valuable insights for developing effective grassland restoration strategies. Full article

The irrigation of crops with As-enriched water, along with the use of agrochemicals and mining, are considered the main source of accumulation of this element in arable land and thus, in plants. The aim of this study is to analyze the responses of As at five different concentrations, in the germination of seeds of tomato (Solanum lycoperisum), through measuring the morphological variables (root, shoot and total length), phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, arsenic content and phytochemical profile of the sprouts. After 12 days, 89.16% germinated. According to the germination variables of Germination percentage, Germination rate, Mean germination time, Seed vigor index and percent of phytotoxicity, treatment 0.8 ppm shows a better performance in comparison with the rest. The stem, root and total length showed differences with control at 0.8 and 5 ppm. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in the sprouts among treatments showed a potential range of hormesis between 0.8 and 2 ppm. Treatment 5 ppm showed the worse performance. The sprouts showed that the accumulation of As increased with the concentration of the treatment. The behavior of the variables measured suggest the activation of a stress response in the sprout causing positive effects such as growth enhancing, faster and better germination process and more production of molecules of biochemical interest. The opposite of the latter were also found. These findings provide an insight into the development of seeds under As contamination in irrigation water. Full article