Search Results (9,413)

Mature-green tomatoes are prone to rapid ripening and quality deterioration during the postharvest stage, highlighting the urgent need for environmentally friendly and efficient preservation technologies. This study investigated the synergistic regulatory effects of nano-SiO₂ and light quality (white light, W; blue light, B; red/blue mixed light, RB, 1:1) on postharvest appearance, physiological processes, and quality attributes in ‘Yu Zhu’ (Solanum lycopersicum L.), a tasty tomato cultivar with light-yellow fruit color. Mature-green fruits were treated with light quality in combination with nano-SiO₂ (pre-immersion in 1 mL/L nano-SiO₂ for 1 h, followed by periodic spraying with 0.5 mL/L nano-SiO₂ every two days). Key indicators—including ripening traits, flavor attributes, antioxidant capacity, and endogenous hormone metabolites—were monitored on their respective sampling days. The results revealed distinct light quality-dependent responses: (1) B-Si (B + nano-SiO₂) significantly delayed the breaker stage compared to W, maintained the lowest water loss, and exhibited the slowest softening rate. W-Si showed a significantly higher dry weight-to-fresh weight ratio than W. (2) RB-Si achieved superior flavor quality, with 11.47% soluble solids, 1.62% titratable acidity, and a sugar-to-acid ratio of 7.2—values markedly higher than those in RB. (3) RB-Si increased total phenolic (TP), flavonoids, and ascorbic acid (AsA) levels relative to RB, while enhancing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), with only slight suppression of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity. (4) Nano-SiO₂ differentially regulated hormonal metabolism depending on light quality: it activated the jasmonic acid (JA)–gibberellin (GA) pathway under W light, fine-tuned cytokinin (CK) metabolism under B light, and upregulated JA, GA, CK, and auxin under RB light. Moreover, RB-Si significantly reduced ACC accumulation compared to W, thereby delaying senescence. Collectively, RB-Si synergistically regulates endogenous hormone metabolism to simultaneously delay ripening, reduce water loss, maintain firmness, optimize flavor, and enhance antioxidant capacity. This study elucidates the interaction mechanism between nano-SiO₂ and light quality, providing theoretical and technical support for the green preservation of horticultural crops. Full article

Drought and salt stresses severely impair plant growth and development worldwide. DEHYDRATION-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING proteins (DREBs), as a subfamily of the AP2/ERF transcription factor superfamily, play critical regulatory roles in plant biological processes including growth and development, as well as the adaptive response to various abiotic stresses. Based on the transcriptome data analysis of Medicago truncatula under saline-alkali stress previously conducted in our laboratory, a gene responsive to saline-alkali stress, Medtr3g110205, was identified, and its homologous gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, AtERF41 (AT5G11590), was obtained via BLAST (version BLAST+ 2.17.0.). The mutant erf41 was used to explore its biological functions in response to drought and salt stresses. The results showed that under salt and drought stress conditions, the seed germination rate, and growth status of the erf41 mutant were all better than those of the wild type. Further determination of physiological and biochemical indicators revealed that the leaf contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and proline (Pro) in the leaves of the mutant plants were significantly higher than those in the wild type, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly decreased. In conclusion, the AtERF41 gene negatively regulates salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, providing a potential target for the genetic improvement of crop stress tolerance. This study not only deepens our understanding of the role of DREB transcription factors in plant stress response but also provides a theoretical basis for improving crop stress tolerance using genetic engineering technology in the future. Full article

The deterioration of water quality is associated with an increased disease risk, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the infection dynamics of cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) in crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) subjected to varying nitrite stress levels. A control group and three CyHV-2-infected groups exposed to nitrite concentrations of 0, 5, and 10 mg/L were set up. Results indicated that nitrite exposure caused a dose-dependent reduction in survival rates and decreased viral loads in the spleens of surviving fish. Nitrite stress elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, while reducing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the liver. Hepatic cytokine analysis revealed early peaks in tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), alongside delayed response of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), indicating impaired anti-inflammatory regulation. In the kidney, nitrite stress amplified immune gene expression, characterized by the upregulation of tlr5 (Toll-like receptor 5) and nf-κb (nuclear factor κB) and the inhibition of iκκβ (inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit β), leading to prolonged NF-κB signaling. This was associated with a marked upregulation of il-1β and il-8 (interleukin 8), alongside a delayed ifn-γ response. The combination of nitrite stress and CyHV-2 infection exacerbated oxidative damage and triggered a maladaptive immune response, thereby accelerating disease progression. Full article

This study reports the first successful isolation and characterization of exosome-like nanoparticles from walnut kernels (WELNs). The isolated WELNs exhibited a typical cup-shaped morphology with an average diameter of 139.7 ± 67.5 nm, a concentration of 7.4 × 10¹¹ particles/mL, and a zeta potential of −17.47 ± 4.06 mV. Proteomic and small RNA sequencing analyses confirmed the presence of diverse proteins and microRNAs within WELNs. In vitro assays demonstrated their potent antioxidant capacity, with radical scavenging rates of 67.54% against ABTS⁺ and 48.59% against DPPH⁺ at 102 μg/mL and IC₅₀ values of 89.7 μg/mL and >102 μg/mL for scavenging of ABTS⁺ and DPPH⁺ radicals, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays indicated no adverse effects on RAW264.7 macrophage viability at concentrations up to 60 μg/mL. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, WELN treatment (20–60 μg/mL) dose-dependently mitigated oxidative stress by reducing intracellular ROS levels (down to 81.22% of the control at 60 μg/mL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content while restoring the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, WELNs significantly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (reduced to approximately 30.8%, 22.7%, and 23.6% of LPS-induced levels, respectively, at 60 μg/mL). Mechanistic investigation revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect was mediated through the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway, as evidenced by decreased phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK. In conclusion, WELNs exhibit dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study provides the first evidence of bioactivity for walnut-derived exosome-like nanoparticles, advancing the mechanistic understanding of walnuts’ health benefits and highlighting their potential as a natural component for functional food applications. Full article

Background: Inflammatory and metabolic risk factors are associated with adverse health outcomes among aging women. Physical activity may reduce these detrimental changes, helping to promote healthier aging. Methods: Seventy-nine non-obese women, aged 20–50 years, completed a supervised 4–8 week aerobic training program with measurements obtained before and after the intervention. The 20–30-year group (n = 29) completed a 4-week training program, with 13 participants fasting during training, while the 30–50-year group (n = 50) completed an 8-week program. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR), body composition, multiple cytokines, oxidative stress markers and leukocyte telomere length were assessed. Mixed-effects linear models were used to test age-by-activity (before versus after) interactions, adjusting for body mass index (BMI), fasting status and training duration. Results: Physical activity was associated with a higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lower tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) concentrations, increased weekly Metabolic Equivalent of Task (METs) and a modest reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Significant age-by-activity interactions were identified for fat-free mass, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, FBS and TNF α, exhibiting attenuated or reversed age-related slopes for these traits after training. Specifically, older active women exhibited less age-related increases in FBS and TNF α and greater age-related reductions in total cholesterol, whereas the preservation of fat-free mass was more pronounced among younger participants. Conclusions: A short moderate-intensity aerobic program was sufficient to improve antioxidant defenses and inflammatory status and reshape age-group-specific responses to the training of selected glycemic, lipid, inflammatory and functional markers in healthy women, partly mitigating adverse age-associated changes, particularly in older participants. By modeling age-by-activity interactions across various metabolic and inflammatory risk factors, this study provides evidence that short-term moderate aerobic training can reshape age-group-specific cardiometabolic responses to training. Full article

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum siamense, is a major limiting factor for global natural rubber production. To develop sustainable control strategies, seven bacterial strains with antagonistic activity against C. siamense were isolated from healthy rubber tree leaves, with strain WR7 demonstrating the most significant antifungal effect, exhibiting an inhibition rate of 82.36%. Pot experiments revealed that WR7 achieved a disease control efficacy of 71.65% against C. siamense-induced anthracnose. Genomic analysis identified WR7 as Bacillus altitudinis. This strain inhibits pathogen growth through multiple mechanisms, including disruption of the pathogen’s cell wall and membrane integrity, induction of reactive oxygen species accumulation in hyphae, and secretion of cellulase, glucanase, protease, and siderophores. Gene cluster analysis further confirmed the potential of WR7 to synthesize antagonistic secondary metabolites such as lichenysin, fengycin, and bacilysin, while its sterile filtrate and volatile compounds also exhibited significant antifungal activity. Moreover, treatment with WR7 activated defense-related enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutase in rubber tree leaves, thereby enhancing the plant’s defense responses. This study is the first to report that Bacillus altitudinis WR7 has potential as a biocontrol agent for managing rubber tree anthracnose, offering a novel resource for sustainable disease management in rubber production. Full article

Dietary fat quality, determined by fatty acid composition, plays a central role in regulating adipose tissue function and metabolic homeostasis in obesity. This study examined whether different dietary fat sources modulate the secretory activity, antioxidant capacity, and metabolomic profiles of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in mice with established high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were rendered obese by long-term feeding with a lard-based HFD and subsequently maintained on isocaloric HFDs containing lard, coconut oil, olive oil, or fish oil. Antioxidant capacity, redox enzyme activities, adipokine levels, and untargeted metabolomic profiles of VAT were analyzed. Fish oil-enriched HFD significantly improved antioxidant potential and partially restored redox enzyme activity compared with the lard-based diet. It preserved adiponectin levels and reduced leptin accumulation in VAT. Multivariate metabolomic analyses showed clear separation of dietary groups and distinct metabolic signatures related to fat quality. Replacement of lard with fish oil induced a coordinated remodeling of the lipid and amino acid metabolism and reduced metabolites linked to mitochondrial overload and oxidative stress, whereas saturated fat-rich diets promoted patterns consistent with metabolic dysfunction. These findings indicate that dietary fat quality reshapes adipose tissue metabolism in obesity and highlights fish oil as a strategy to attenuate adipose tissue dysfunction. Full article

Antioxidant defense systems in fish are highly sensitive to environmental variability and provide valuable indicators of physiological stress in aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the combined effects of seasonal variation, morphometric parameters (total length, total weight, and condition factor), sex, and species identity on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defense responses in Capoeta umbla and Capoeta trutta collected from the Karasu River (Türkiye). Fish were seasonally sampled between April 2023 and March 2024, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activities of key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR), were analyzed in edible muscle tissues. Length–weight relationships and Fulton’s condition factor were calculated to describe growth patterns and physiological status. The results indicated that seasonal variation was the primary factor influencing oxidative stress responses and antioxidant defense patterns in both species. Higher oxidative stress levels and increased antioxidant enzyme activities were generally observed during the summer period, reflecting physiological responses to elevated environmental temperatures. Morphometric parameters and species identity showed comparatively weaker associations with antioxidant variability. Overall, the findings highlight the dominant role of seasonal environmental dynamics in regulating oxidative balance in freshwater Capoeta species and support the use of antioxidant biomarkers as effective tools for assessing ecosystem health under changing environmental conditions. Full article

This experiment was designed to determine the effect of the Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (paracasei) strain NSMJ27, isolated from Korean fermented vegetable food (home-made kimchi), on laying performance, egg quality, intestinal histology, cecal short-chain fatty acids, and ileal antioxidant/immunity indicators of laying hens. Ninety-six 55-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments with each treatment comprising eight replicates of six hens each. Experimental diets were prepared by mixing corn and soybean meal basal diets without or with L. paracasei NSMJ27 at 2.5 × 10⁹ CFU/kg. The experiment lasted 4 weeks. Laying hens fed with the NSMJ27-supplemented diet were not affected (p > 0.05) in their laying performance or egg quality. With respect to ileal morphology, villus height: crypt depth ratio tended to be higher (p = 0.067) in laying hens fed with L. paracasei NSMJ27 vs. control diets. Dietary L. paracasei did not affect (p > 0.05) the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase, malondialdehyde contents, or secretory immunoglobulin A in ileal mucosa, but increased (p = 0.048) the activity of superoxide dismutase compared with the control diet-fed laying hens. Dietary L. paracasei elevated (p = 0.016) the relative percentage of butyrate but lowered (p = 0.057) that of isovalerate in cecal digesta. Dietary L. paracasei did not affect the percentages of cells expressing macrophages, B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, or TCRγδ T cell surface markers (p > 0.05). Overall, these results suggest that dietary L. paracasei NSMJ27 could enhance gut health via increasing gut antioxidant capacity and butyrate production in the cecal digesta of laying hens. Full article

Emerging pharmaceutical pollutants such as acetaminophen (ACE) pose health and environmental risks. Solar photocatalysis provides a sustainable and efficient treatment option. In this study, UiO-66-NH₂ metal–organic framework was immobilized on cotton fabrics to enable their application in both batch and continuous flow systems. Cotton, a biodegradable and low-cost support, was first functionalized by two strategies: hydroxylation (-OH) and carboxylation (-COOH), to promote MOF anchoring. Cotton fabric functionalization and MOF growth were confirmed by ATR and X-ray diffraction, while SEM and EDX analyses revealed that carboxylated fibers achieved higher MOF loading. Photocatalytic experiments under simulated solar irradiation demonstrated significantly higher degradation of acetaminophen when the carboxylated cotton fabric-based catalyst (F-COOH-UiO-66-NH₂) was used. Mott–Schottky analysis and band alignment revealed that, under the applied reaction conditions, hydroxyl radical generation was not favored due to the position of the valence band. Studies with scavengers identified the superoxide radical as the dominant oxidative agent responsible for the photodegradation process. In particular, the F-COOH-UiO-66-NH₂ system demonstrated its suitability for application in continuous flow systems, achieving acetaminophen conversion of up to 50% under simulated solar irradiation. This confirms its potential for scalable application in practical water treatment technologies. These results reinforce the feasibility of immobilizing MOF-based photocatalysts on functionalized textile waste, offering a dual-purpose solution that combines the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants with the valorization of waste materials. The synergistic integration of high photocatalytic efficiency, sunlight harvesting and recyclability of the materials underlines the eco-friendly and cost-effective nature of the proposed strategy. Full article

The white-backed planthopper (Sogatella furcifera) is a major pest in rice-growing regions worldwide. It severely limits rice production through piercing–sucking feeding, oviposition injury, and by efficiently transmitting the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV). Previous studies demonstrated that the dark septate endophytic fungus Ochroconis guangxiensis strain X22 exhibits control activity against SRBSDV. To further evaluate its biocontrol potential, this study investigated the effects of the X22 strain on S. furcifera, the primary vector of SRBSDV. In this study, we established an X22–rice symbiotic system to evaluate its effects on the biological traits of S. furcifera. The results showed that, compared with a clear water treatment, the X22 strain significantly reduced the feeding amount (29.02%), egg-laying amount (12.30%), and hatching rate (11.58%) of S. furcifera. Gene expression analysis showed that the relative expression levels of the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) and vitellogenin (Vg) genes in one-day-old S. furcifera from the X22 treatment group were modestly downregulated, although no significant differences were detected compared with the control. Enzyme activity assays revealed that between 72 and 120 h post-treatment, the activities of detoxification enzymes, including carboxylesterase (CarE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), generally declined following X22 exposure. In contrast, the activities of protective enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as certain digestive enzymes, α-amylase (α-AL) and trypsin, were induced. Conversely the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and lipase (LPS) were suppressed. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying its effect on S. furcifera remain unclear. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the O. guangxiensis X22 strain inhibits S. furcifera reproduction by disrupting its physiological metabolism through multiple pathways, providing a mechanistic basis for its development as an environmentally friendly biocontrol agent. Full article

Although natural enzymes have a high catalytic activity as biocatalysts, they still face many limitations in practical applications, including high preparation and purification costs, poor environmental stability, and difficulties in recovery and reuse. Nanozymes are a class of synthetic nanomaterials with enzymatic catalytic properties. They are regarded as promising alternatives to natural enzymes due to their low cost, good stability, adjustable catalytic activity, and easy surface modification. Among many nanozyme materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted much attention due to their high specific surface area, adjustable porosity, and stable framework structure. This review summarizes the latest research progress of nanozymes based on MOFs and COFs and reveals the catalytic properties of different enzymes (oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, glucose oxidase, superoxide dismutase, hydrolase) simulated by them. In addition, their potential applications in sensors and medical fields are discussed. Finally, this review discusses the current challenges and developments of organic framework-based nanozymes and provides suggestions for future research directions. Full article

Background: This study investigated the renoprotective potential of Nano-Cilostazol against cisplatin (CIS)-induced renal injury in male rats and explored its molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that Nano-Cilostazol has a favorable physicochemical characteristic, including a mean particle size of approximately 101 nm, narrow polydispersity, and high stability. FTIR analysis indicated successful drug entrapment, preserving functional groups and enhancing hydrogen bonding. Docking analysis showed that cilostazol had stronger binding affinities than disulfiram against seven acute kidney injury-related targets. Interaction profiling confirmed stable binding through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and π-interactions with BAX, ASC, GSDMD, KIM-1, JAK2, NLRP3, and miRNA-155. In vivo, CIS administration led to marked renal dysfunction, showing up as significant elevations in serum urea, creatinine, cystatin-C, CRP, and NGAL which indicated by severe histopathological damage. Co-treatment with Nano-Cilostazol significantly lessened renal functional impairment biochemically and histopatologically. Nano-Cilostazol markedly reduced lipid peroxidation and oxidized glutathione while also restoring antioxidant defenses like superoxide dismutase and catalase, with total and reduced glutathione. Additionally, Nano-Cilostazol attenuated renal inflammation, inhibiting NF-κB activation, lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), and downregulating inflammatory and injury-related genes. CIS-triggered apoptotic signaling was also mitigated, shown by increased caspase-3 and BAX expression with downregulation of BCL-2. Nano-Cilostazol significantly inhibited apoptosis and pyroptosis (NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD)-related pathways, modulated JAK2/STAT3 signaling, and downregulated miRNA-155 expression. In conclusion, Nano-Cilostazol offers potent protection against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Full article

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising option in combating the worsening situation with antibiotic resistance. We studied the antimicrobial effectiveness of four types of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), obtained via Pluronic-assisted co-precipitation by lavender and thyme essential oils and their praseodymium-doped variants. Resazurin Microtiter Assay was applied to a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria from Risk 1 and 2 groups and the ESKAPE group. In relation to the pro-oxidative features of the ZnO-NPs, the production of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the tested microorganisms was also investigated, as these enzymes are important participants in the antioxidant defense of the bacterial cell and are considered virulence factors. We hypothesized that the sensitivity of microorganisms to the action of ZnO-NPs is related to their innate levels of antioxidant enzyme activity. The results showed that all types of studied ZnO-NPs had an antibacterial effect against the entire panel of tested strains, but with different potencies. The strongest effect was found for Arthrobacter nicotianae, Oerskovia paurometabola, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. Less inhibition was observed for bacteria from Risk group 2 maybe due to their better antioxidant protection, especially for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Praseodymium doping contributed to enhancing the bactericidal effect. A correlation between susceptibility of bacteria to ZnO-NPs and their antioxidant enzyme activity was observed. Full article

Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl., a species native to the Western Mediterranean, is valued for its bioactive compounds and beneficial biological properties. Commonly propagated in greenhouses, it may benefit from exposure to tailored light-emitting diode (LED) light to enhance antioxidant defense and metabolite production. This study examined the effects of various spectra on two S. lavandulifolia ecotypes from southeastern Spain. Plants were propagated in vitro and grown for 30 days under white, red, blue, red/blue (70:30), white/blue, or white/red LED light, under a 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod (light intensity of 115 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (tocopherols and polyphenols), antioxidant capacity (FRAP and DPPH^•), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were assessed. In ecotype 1, red LED light significantly increased the content of photosynthetic pigments and non-enzymatic antioxidants while reducing enzymatic antioxidant activity. In contrast, ecotype 2 showed higher catalase and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity under white/blue light, without changes in pigment content. In both ecotypes, these treatments increased α-tocopherol and hydroxycinnamic acid derivative content, strengthening antioxidant defenses without inducing oxidative damage. Overall, the results highlight the need to customize LED light spectra for each ecotype, as genetic background may significantly influence plant responses. Full article