Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Salt Tolerance Variation among <i>Chenopodium quinoa</i> Accessions of Contrasting Geographic Origins: Germination Performance and Antioxidant Defense under NaCl Stress.","authors":"Soumaya Arraouadi, Narmine Slimani, Hafedh Hajlaoui","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.377.391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.377.391","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Chenopodium quinoa Willd. is a strategic crop for food security in salt-affected regions; however, genotype-specific physiological responses to salinity during early germination remain insufficiently characterized. Understanding variation among geographically distinct accessions is essential for identifying salt-tolerant genotypes. This study aimed to evaluate germination performance and antioxidant defense responses of three quinoa accessions of contrasting geographic origins under salinity stress. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Three quinoa accessions 18GR (Ames 13724, USA), R-132 (PI 478418, Bolivia) and DE-1 (PI 674266, Ecuador) obtained from the USDA National Plant Germplasm System were evaluated under four NaCl concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 300 mM) under controlled laboratory conditions. Germination percentage, mean germination time (MGT), radicle length and germination kinetics were recorded. Reversibility assays were conducted to differentiate osmotic and ionic effects of salinity. Oxidative stress markers, including Hydrogen Peroxide (H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were quantified along with antioxidant enzyme activities such as peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Proline accumulation was also assessed as an indicator of osmotic adjustment. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Salinity significantly affected germination traits in an accession-dependent manner. At 300 mM NaCl, germination rates were 90, 60 and 33.33% for 18GR, R-132 and DE-1, respectively. Reversibility assays indicated osmotic stress predominance at 200 mM, while ionic toxicity dominated at higher concentrations. NaCl stress increased H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and MDA accumulation in all accessions. POD activity increased consistently across treatments. CAT and APX activities in 18GR showed a biphasic response, being stimulated up to 200 mM and inhibited at 300 mM, indicating stress threshold regulation. Proline accumulation increased with salinity, with 18GR showing the highest osmotic adjustment capacity. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Geographic origin significantly influences salt tolerance during germination in quinoa. Accession 18GR exhibited superior stress tolerance and antioxidant regulation, making it a promising candidate for saline agriculture. The contrasting biochemical responses provide a physiological basis for selecting salt-tolerant quinoa genotypes adapted to arid and semi-arid environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 8","pages":"377-391"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Procalcitonin and Interleukin-18 in Umbilical Cord Blood as Early Diagnostic Biomarkers for Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis: A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Devi Gusmaiyanto, Efrida Efrida, Hardisman Hardisman, Mayetti Mayetti","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.411.416","DOIUrl":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.411.416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally, yet its early diagnosis remains challenging due to the limited availability of rapid, reliable biomarkers at the time of birth. This study aimed to analyze procalcitonin (PCT) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels measured from umbilical cord blood as early diagnostic biomarkers for EONS. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; An observational case-control study was conducted on 66 neonates born with at least one EONS risk factor at four hospitals in Riau Province, Indonesia. Subjects were classified into an EONS group (n = 33) and a non-EONS group (n = 33). Umbilical cord blood PCT and IL-18 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Between-group differences were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test (α = 0.05). &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The PCT levels in umbilical cord blood were significantly higher in the EONS group compared to the non-EONS group [median 322.77 (range: 66.70-2599.57) pg/mL vs. 45.9 (4.90-321.97) pg/mL; p<0.001]. The IL-18 levels were similarly elevated [median 564.00 (216.40-1979.00) pg/mL vs. 107.60 (-19.60-773.38) pg/mL; p<0.001]. Maternal fever history was significantly more frequent in the EONS group (36.4% vs. 6.1%; p = 0.005), as was colored amniotic fluid (93.9% vs. 45.5%; p<0.001). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Umbilical cord blood PCT and IL-18 levels are significantly elevated in neonates with EONS and may serve as early diagnostic biomarkers for EONS when measured at the time of birth. Their combined use may improve early risk stratification and clinical decision-making in at-risk neonates.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 8","pages":"411-416"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Histopathological and Bioinformatic Analysis of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Neoplasms.","authors":"Umara Lani Anika, Tantri Hellyanti, Fachrur Rizal Mahendra, Ria Kodariah","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.341.350","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.341.350","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Ovarian cancer is a highly lethal gynecologic malignancy, often diagnosed at advanced stages due to nonspecific symptoms. The IL-6/STAT3 pathway promotes tumor progression, chemoresistance and poor prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the histologic patterns of ovarian tumors based on the WHO 2020 classification and investigate the role of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway in ovarian cancer progression. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; A retrospective observational study was conducted using 2,309 ovarian biopsy specimens collected between 2016 and 2025 and classified according to the 2020 WHO Classification of Female Genital Tumours. Histopathological data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test (p<0.05). Bioinformatic analyses of TCGA gene expression data were performed using DESeq2 for differential expression analysis and Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses to evaluate the prognostic significance of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Surface epithelial tumors were the most common ovarian neoplasms (74.08%), followed by germ cell tumors (12.56%). Mucinous ovarian tumors were the predominant epithelial subtype. A significant association between age and malignancy was observed (p<0.001). STAT3 expression was significantly increased in the low-grade group (p = 0.022), while IL-6 expression was not statistically significant. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Ovarian tumors showed diverse histopathological features and STAT3 dysregulation may contribute to ovarian carcinoma prognosis. Integrating histopathological and molecular analysis may improve diagnostic and prognostic assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 7","pages":"341-350"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Engineering of the Thioredoxin (<i>trxA</i>) Gene in <i>Chryseobacterium proteolyticum</i> Enhanced its Keratinase Bioconversion of Chicken Feathers.","authors":"Lindelwa Mpaka, Nonso E Nnolim, Uchechukwu U Nwodo","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.362.376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.362.376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Keratinases are gaining traction in green technology and the bio-economy due to their ability to convert keratinous biomass into valuable products, such as animal feed. However, improving their output remains challenging. This study investigated genetic engineering approaches to increase keratinase production. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; The genome of the keratinolytic bacterium, &lt;i&gt;C. proteolyticum,&lt;/i&gt; was sequenced using the Ion GeneStudio&lt;sup&gt;™&lt;/sup&gt; S5 Prime System, covering 2,484,843 reads, and sequence reads generated were assembled using SPAdes 3.13.0. The quality of the reads was assessed with QUAST V4.1, and the obtained sequences were annotated with Prokka 1.14.6, which revealed that trxA is associated with keratinolytic activity. The nucleotide sequence obtained was uploaded to the NCBI database and was assigned the accession number JBJLWK000000000. The &lt;i&gt;trxA&lt;/i&gt; gene was amplified with primers from NCBI Primer-BLAST, cloned into a p-GEM&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt;-T Easy vector, and transformed into &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt; JM109, and expressed using IPTG and SDS-PAGE analysis. The effects of pH and temperature on enzyme production were studied, and the recombinant strain's thermostability and tolerance to commercial laundry detergents were assessed. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The gene was successfully cloned and expressed, with SDS-PAGE showing a clear band at 11 kDa, matching trxA's molecular weight. The pGEM-trxA construct demonstrated high keratinase activity across various pH and temperature conditions. Additionally, the recombinant strain showed excellent thermostability and detergent tolerance. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; These findings highlight the potential of recombinant technology to boost keratinase yields and support the sustainable recycling of keratinous waste.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 8","pages":"362-376"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stress-Induced Dwarfism in <i>Avicennia marina</i> Across Coastal Gradients of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Saleh Alzamanan, Ahmed Alghamdi, Ahmed Al-Mansi, Abdullah Al-Wetaid, Mohammed Awad","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.308.318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.308.318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Avicennia marina&lt;/i&gt; is the dominant mangrove species along the Saudi Arabian coasts of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, where extreme environmental conditions frequently result in dwarf growth forms. This study evaluated regional variation in mangrove growth form and the distribution of dwarf stands across contrasting coastal environments. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Field surveys were conducted during the first half of 2026 at 121 sampling sites distributed across the Northern Red Sea (27), Central Red Sea (37), Southern Red Sea (20) and the Arabian Gulf (37). Tree height was measured to classify mangrove growth forms and regional differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Tree height differed significantly among regions (p<0.001). The Northern Red Sea exhibited the lowest mean tree height (2.49±0.77 m) and the greatest prevalence of dwarf mangroves, whereas significantly taller trees were recorded in the Central Red Sea (3.67±1.22 m), Southern Red Sea (3.63±1.44 m) and the Arabian Gulf (3.68±1.31 m). These results demonstrate pronounced spatial variation in the structural development of &lt;i&gt;A. marina&lt;/i&gt; along the Saudi Arabian coastline. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Avicennia marina&lt;/i&gt; exhibits marked regional differences in growth form, with dwarf mangroves predominating in the Northern Red Sea. The findings establish a regional baseline for evaluating structural variability in &lt;i&gt;A. marina&lt;/i&gt; and advance current understanding of mangrove dwarfism in arid coastal ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 7","pages":"308-318"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioactivity-Guided Evaluation of Extracts and Fractions of Seagrass (Enhalus acoroides): In vitro Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities with LC-MS/MS Characterization.","authors":"Wahyuni, Adryan Fristiohady, Agung Wibawa M Yodha, Loly Subhiaty Idrus, Baru Sadarun, Shabila Lintang Ramadhani, Augie Ulzana Shafira Sao Sao, Idin Sahidin","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.319.327","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.319.327","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; The seagrass &lt;i&gt;Enhalus acoroides&lt;/i&gt; is a marine plant species widely distributed in the waters of Southeast Sulawesi. It is considered a potential source of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical relevance. This study aimed to characterize the chemical constituents of &lt;i&gt;E. acoroides&lt;/i&gt; rhizomes and evaluate their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Phytochemical profiling of the extract and ethyl acetate fraction was performed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the microdilution method against &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Escherichia coli&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Candida albicans&lt;/i&gt;. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using a protein denaturation assay. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, with a one-way ANOVA at a significance level of p<0.05 (95% CI). &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; LC-MS/MS analysis identified twelve compounds in the extract and ethyl acetate fraction, including hecogenone, periploca side N, blumenol C glucoside, α-D-glucopyranose-1-hexadecanoate, kushenol R, procyanidin A2, physalin L, Δ5-pregnene-3β,17α,20α-diol, verticiol, quercimeritrin, pterodontoside F, and vitamin K1. Fractions D and E exhibited strong antibacterial activity against &lt;i&gt;S. aureus&lt;/i&gt;, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2 and 1 μg/mL, respectively, and both showed activity against &lt;i&gt;E. coli&lt;/i&gt; (MIC = 2 μg/mL). Fraction E also demonstrated antifungal activity against &lt;i&gt;C. albicans&lt;/i&gt; (MIC = 4 μg/mL). In the anti-inflammatory assay, fraction E exhibited the highest activity, with an IC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; of 29.48 μg/mL. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The findings indicate that &lt;i&gt;E. acoroides&lt;/i&gt; rhizomes are a promising source of bioactive compounds with significant antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 7","pages":"319-327"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biotic and Abiotic Elicitation Enhances Silymarin Biosynthesis in <i>Silybum marianum</i> Callus Cultures: Integrating HPLC Profiling and Gene Expression Analysis.","authors":"Waleed Mohamed Elhanafy Fekry, Mai Mohamed Raslan, Elsayed Elsayed Hafez","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.392.400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.392.400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Silybum marianum&lt;/i&gt; (milk thistle) is a valuable medicinal plant that produces silymarin, a complex of flavonolignans with well-documented hepatoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, silymarin production from field-grown plants is limited by low yield, environmental variability and inconsistent metabolite accumulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biotic and abiotic elicitors on biomass growth, silymarin biosynthesis and the expression of key biosynthetic genes in &lt;i&gt;S. marianum&lt;/i&gt; callus cultures. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Callus cultures were established from sterile explants and treated with biotic elicitors (yeast extract and chitosan) and abiotic elicitors (methyl jasmonate and silver nanoparticles) at different concentrations under optimized &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; conditions. Biomass accumulation, total flavonolignan content and the expression of the phenylpropanoid pathway genes PAL, CHS and TAT were analyzed. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed to quantify the major silymarin constituents, including silybin A, silybin B, silychristin, silydianin and isosilybin. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Elicitor treatments significantly enhanced silymarin biosynthesis compared with the untreated control. The combined treatment of methyl jasmonate (100 μM) and chitosan (50 mg/L) produced the highest response, resulting in a 10.4-fold increase in total silymarin content (14.08 mg/g DW) and an 18.42-fold upregulation of CHS expression. The HPLC analysis confirmed increased accumulation of the major silymarin flavonolignans, demonstrating a synergistic effect of combined biotic and abiotic elicitation on secondary metabolite production. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Combined biotic and abiotic elicitation effectively enhanced silymarin biosynthesis in &lt;i&gt;S. marianum&lt;/i&gt; callus cultures, with increased expression of selected phenylpropanoid-associated genes and higher flavonolignan accumulation. The findings support combined elicitation as a promising controlled &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; approach, but validation at larger culture scales and across broader molecular targets is required before industrial application.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 8","pages":"392-400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis and Antibacterial Assessment of Novel Azithromycin Derivatives as Potential Taste-Masking Prodrugs.","authors":"Nadine Qalalweh, Haneen Qalalweh, Ghana Raymoni, Belal Alnajjar, Hatem A Hijaz","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.328.340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.328.340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Azithromycin is a widely used macrolide antibiotic with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity; however, its clinical acceptability is limited by poor patient compliance due to its bitter taste. Additionally, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the development of novel derivatives with improved therapeutic performance. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate novel azithromycin derivatives with dual potential for taste masking and enhanced antibacterial activity. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Five novel azithromycin derivatives were synthesized by reacting azithromycin with different functional linkers, including &lt;i&gt;N&lt;/i&gt;-acetyl benzenesulfonyl chloride, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;-nitrobenzoyl chloride, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;-toluenesulfonyl chloride, 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride and &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;-nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride. The synthesized compounds were characterized using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). Prodrug properties were assessed through kinetic stability studies at physiological pH values (2.2, 5.5 and 7.4). Antibacterial activity was evaluated &lt;i&gt;in-vitro&lt;/i&gt; using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Half-Maximal Inhibitory Concentration (IC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt;) assays against clinically relevant bacterial strains, including &lt;i&gt;Escherichia coli&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Streptococcus pneumoniae&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt;. The bacterial strains used in this study were standard ATCC reference strains and were not derived from human or animal subjects. Therefore, ethical approval was not required. All experiments were conducted following standard microbiological laboratory practices. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; All five azithromycin derivatives were successfully synthesized with satisfactory yields and confirmed structural characteristics. &lt;strong&gt;Compounds 2, 4 and 5&lt;/strong&gt; demonstrated favorable prodrug behavior by undergoing pH-dependent hydrolysis and regenerating the parent drug, indicating promising taste-masking potential. Furthermore, &lt;strong&gt;compounds 1 and 3&lt;/strong&gt; exhibited superior antibacterial activity against &lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; compared to the parent azithromycin. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The synthesized azithromycin derivatives demonstrated promising potential as next-generation therapeutic agents with improved palatability and retained or enhanced antimicrobial efficacy. These findings support their prospective application in overcoming taste-related compliance issues while addressing antimicrobial resistance challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 7","pages":"328-340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Potential and Antibacterial Activity of <i>Fagraea fragrans</i> Roxb. Flower Extract Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.","authors":"Kanlayani Charoensopharat, Surachai Rattanasuk, Kitipong Wechgama","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.401.410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.401.410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt; Fagraea fragrans&lt;/i&gt; Roxb. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in herbal medicine; however, information regarding the phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of its flower extract against antibiotic-resistant bacteria remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of &lt;i&gt;F. fragrans&lt;/i&gt; Roxb. flower ethanol extract against selected antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to identify major bioactive compounds in the ethanol extract. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, while antibacterial activity against clinically important antibiotic-resistant bacteria was evaluated by agar disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Data (mean±SD, n = 3) were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Duncan's test using SPSS v20 (p<0.05). &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids in the ethanol extract. The extract demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity with strong DPPH radical scavenging capacity. Antibacterial assays showed inhibitory activity against &lt;i&gt;Acinetobacter baumannii&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Burkholderia pseudomallei&lt;/i&gt;, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), multidrug-resistant &lt;i&gt;Klebsiella pneumoniae&lt;/i&gt; (MDR-K) and &lt;i&gt;Proteus mirabilis&lt;/i&gt;, with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 7 to 11 mm. The lowest MIC value was observed against &lt;i&gt;A. baumannii&lt;/i&gt; (1.95 mg/mL), while the lowest MBC value was detected against &lt;i&gt;B. pseudomallei&lt;/i&gt; (31.25 mg/mL). No detectable antibacterial activity was observed against &lt;i&gt;Enterococcus faecalis&lt;/i&gt; and colistin-resistant &lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The new findings demonstrated that &lt;i&gt;F. fragrans &lt;/i&gt;Roxb. flower extract possesses promising phytochemical constituents with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The extract may serve as a potential natural source of bioactive compounds for herbal medicine and future antimicrobial applications against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 8","pages":"401-410"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149183703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Fish Oil-Enriched <i>Tubifex</i> sp. on Fatty Acid Composition, Growth and Survival of Thai Mahseer (<i>Tor tambroides</i>, Bleeker, 1854) Larvae.","authors":"Azrita Azrita, Hafrijal Syandri, Rona Taula Sari, Hendra Kusuma","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2026.351.361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2026.351.361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; The high cost and limited availability of commercial live feeds have encouraged the use of locally available &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. as an alternative. This study evaluated the effects of enriching &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. with different fish oil sources on the fatty acid profile, growth performance and survival of Thai mahseer (&lt;i&gt;Tor tambroides&lt;/i&gt;) larvae. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. were enriched for 18 hrs with squid oil emulsion (TSO), sardinella fish oil (TLO), or striped catfish oil (TCO), while unenriched &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. served as the control (TNC). Larvae were reared from 7 to 25 days post-hatch and fed &lt;i&gt;ad libitum&lt;/i&gt;. Fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography and growth performance was assessed based on length growth, weight gain, condition factor and survival. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Enrichment significantly increased lipid, polyunsaturated fatty acid and n-3 fatty acid contents in &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. (p<0.05), which were subsequently reflected in larval tissues. Larvae fed TCO-enriched &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. exhibited significantly greater growth and higher condition factors than those in other treatments (p<0.05). Survival remained high (97-99%) and did not differ significantly among treatments (p>0.05). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Striped catfish oil is a promising, cost-effective local lipid source for enriching &lt;i&gt;Tubifex&lt;/i&gt; sp. to improve the culture performance of Thai mahseer larvae.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"29 7","pages":"351-361"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}