Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Impact of Mulberry Leaves on CCL₄-Induced Acute Liver Disease in Rats.","authors":"Wafaa Fauzi Abusudah","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.318.328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.318.328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; The liver is a crucial organ in the human body that contributes to metabolic processes, immune function and nutrient regulation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of mulberry leaves (&lt;i&gt;Morus nigra&lt;/i&gt; L.) on rats with acute liver injury induced by CCl&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Twenty-four male albino Sprague Dawley rats (~195±10 g) were divided into control and CCl&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;-induced liver injury groups. The treated group received a monthly basal diet of 2.5 and 5% mulberry leaves. Liver histopathology, body weight, organ-to-body weight ratios and feed intake were assessed. Lipid profiles and serum markers (glucose, urea, AST and ALT) were analyzed using SPSS (Mean±SD) with a significance level of p<0.05. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Total serum cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) in all mulberry-fed groups, with the most notable reduction in the 5% group. The 5% mulberry leaf group also observed the best lipoprotein profile. The 5% mulberry leaf diet improved AST, ALT and serum glucose levels in rats with acute liver disease. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Based on the results shown here, it appears that taking 5% ML daily can help improve liver functioning and shield rats from acute damage caused by CCL&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"318-328"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079420","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":"Effectiveness of Methanol Extracts from Mexican Leaf (<i>Tithonia diversifolia</i>) and Jicama Seeds (<i>Pachyrhizus erosus</i>) in Controlling Silverleaf Whitefly (<i>Bemisia tabaci</i>) on Tomato Plants.","authors":"Sudarjat, Nurbani, Noor Istifadah, Syifa Nabilah Subakti-Putri","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.329.336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.329.336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Silverleaf whitefly (&lt;i&gt;Bemisia tabaci&lt;/i&gt; ) is one of the most notable pest attacks on tomato plants. A viable eco-friendly option for pest control involves using pesticides specifically derived from the methanol extracts of &lt;i&gt;Tithonia diversifolia&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Pachyrhizus erosus&lt;/i&gt;. This study aims to determine the concentration of methanol extracts from &lt;i&gt;T. diversifolia&lt;/i&gt; leaves and &lt;i&gt;P. erosus&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; The study employed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The toxicity of various extract concentrations was assessed through probit analysis, while plant growth and pest population density were monitored across multiple stages, with manual spraying of the extracts. This study uses a controlled greenhouse environment and detailed monitoring of environmental conditions, plant height and pest density throughout the two-week treatment period. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to evaluate differences between treatment groups, with significance set at p<0.05. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The LC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; and LC&lt;sub&gt;95&lt;/sub&gt; values for &lt;i&gt;T. diversifolia&lt;/i&gt; leaf methanol extract at 3.8 and 7.9 g/L, respectively. The LC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; and LC&lt;sub&gt;95&lt;/sub&gt; values for &lt;i&gt;P. erosus&lt;/i&gt; seed methanol extract were 4.3 and 8.7 g/L, respectively. The toxicity test results of both extracts have relatively high LC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; and LC&lt;sub&gt;95&lt;/sub&gt; values, indicating moderate toxicity levels. The most significant reduction in nymph population density occurred with the highest concentrations in &lt;i&gt;T. diversifolia&lt;/i&gt; leaf (15.9 and 23.9 g/L) and &lt;i&gt;P. erosus&lt;/i&gt; seed (17.4 and 26.2 g/L) extracts. In addition, both of the extracts can enhance tomato fruit height and harvest yield. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Methanol extracts of &lt;i&gt;T. diversifolia&lt;/i&gt; leaves and &lt;i&gt;P. erosus&lt;/i&gt; seeds effectively reduce the &lt;i&gt;B. tabaci&lt;/i&gt; population on tomato plants, with the highest suppression (100%) observed at concentrations of 15.9 g/L for &lt;i&gt;T. diversifolia&lt;/i&gt; leaves and 26.2 g/L for &lt;i&gt;P. erosus&lt;/i&gt; seeds, leading to increased fruit production compared to the control.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"329-336"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079401","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":"Network Pharmacology-Based Identification of Key Metabolites from Immunized <i>Rhynchophorus</i> Larvae as Therapeutic Agents Against Antibiotic-Resistant <i>Neisseria gonorrhoea</i>.","authors":"Trina Ekawati Tallei, Nurdjannah Jane Niode, Nur Balqis Maulydia, Arthur Gehard Pinaria, Rinaldi Idroes, Stephanie Lukita","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.283.294","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.283.294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Gonorrhoea, caused by &lt;i&gt;Neisseria gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt;, continues to pose a major global health threat due to the rising incidence of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to explore the potential of metabolites derived from immunized larvae of &lt;i&gt;Rhynchophorus&lt;/i&gt; sp., as alternative therapeutic agents for the treatment of gonorrhea. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify metabolites from the hemolymph of larvae immunized with non-pathogenic &lt;i&gt;Escherichia coli&lt;/i&gt;. Subsequently, key molecular targets of these metabolites were identified through network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Metabolite interaction networks revealed L-glutamic acid as the compound with the highest degree of interaction (25) among the 15 identified amino acid-derived metabolites. Further analysis of gene interactions identified &lt;i&gt;guaA&lt;/i&gt;, which encodes guanosine monophosphate synthetase, as having the highest degree of interaction (27). Binding-free energy of identified metabolites, with L-tryptophan showing the highest binding free energy of -5.9 kcal/mol in the guanosine monophosphate receptor. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The study identifies guanosine monophosphate synthetase (GMPS) as a promising target for combating gonorrhea, with L-tryptophan showing potential as a lead compound. Targeting GMPS disrupts critical metabolic pathways in &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhea&lt;/i&gt;, offering a novel approach against antibiotic-resistant strains. By integrating metabolite analysis, network pharmacology and molecular docking, the study provides a comprehensive framework for drug discovery. This multidisciplinary strategy advances the development of effective therapies for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"283-294"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079456","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":"Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties of Anthraquinones from <i>Streptomyces galbus</i> AVL08, An Endophyte in <i>Aloe vera</i> Linn.","authors":"Thongchai Taechowisan, Thanaporn Chuen-Im, Waya S Phutdhawong","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.344.358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.344.358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Endophytic actinomycetes represent a promising source of novel bioactive compounds. This study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic actinomycetes from &lt;i&gt;Aloe vera&lt;/i&gt; leaves, identify their bioactive metabolites and assess their antimicrobial and anticancer properties. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Endophytic actinomycetes were isolated from &lt;i&gt;Aloe vera&lt;/i&gt; leaf sections and screened for antimicrobial activity. Isolate AVL08, exhibiting potent activity against &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt;, was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and morphological characterization. Bioactive compounds were extracted, purified and identified using spectroscopic methods. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using microbroth dilution assays and cytotoxicity was assessed against Vero, HeLa, HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Molecular docking studies were performed to investigate interactions with human DNA topoisomerase II. &lt;i&gt;In silico&lt;/i&gt;, ADMET predictions were conducted using SwissADME, PreADMET and pkCSM. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 11.01) with One-way ANOVA and Tukey's &lt;i&gt;post hoc&lt;/i&gt; test, considering differences significant at p<0.05. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Isolate AVL08 was identified as &lt;i&gt;Streptomyces galbus&lt;/i&gt; and produced two anthraquinone compounds, 1,4,6-trihydroxy-8-(2'-oxopentyl)-9,10-anthraquinone (&lt;b&gt;1&lt;/b&gt;) and 1,4,6-trihydroxy-8-pentacarboxyl-9,10-anthraquinone (&lt;b&gt;2&lt;/b&gt;). These compounds exhibited selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and significant cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 and HeLa cancer cell lines, with IC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; values ranging from 94.00 to 154.52 μg/mL. Compound &lt;b&gt;2&lt;/b&gt; demonstrated enhanced potency and selectivity against HepG2 cells. Molecular docking revealed favorable interactions of the anthraquinones with topoisomerase II. The ADMET predictions indicated favorable pharmacokinetic profiles but highlighted potential hERG channel inhibition and mutagenicity in specific bacterial strains. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Streptomyces galbus&lt;/i&gt; AVL08 is a promising source of bioactive anthraquinones with potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties. The identified compounds, particularly Compound &lt;b&gt;2&lt;/b&gt;, warrant further investigation for therapeutic applications. This study highlights the potential of endophytic actinomycetes from &lt;i&gt;Aloe vera&lt;/i&gt; as a valuable resource for drug discovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"344-358"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079382","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":"Exploration of Cellulolytic Microbial Consortium as Biodecomposer of Coffee Fruit Skin Waste.","authors":"Eka Wisdawati, Nildayanti, Aksal Mursalat, Islah Fauliah, Hasmi Aprelia","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.302.307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.302.307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Coffee fruit skin waste contains high cellulose leading to difficulty in degrading them naturally which finally creates environmental pollution. This research is aimed at finding out the compatible cellulolytic microbe in degrading cellulose content of coffee fruit skin waste. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Media Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) was used to select cellulolytic fungi. These fungi were tested through a consortium test on media to check out whether the microbial consortium was compatible or not. Furthermore, the ability of microbial consortium in degrading lignocellulose of coffee fruit skin waste was examined. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; It was found that there were five singular isolates and seven consortium isolates able to degrade cellulose in variative cellulolytic index ranging from 0.43-2.75. In the cellulolytic compatibility test of the seven consortium isolates, there were two compatible consortium isolates with a CCI amount above 1, meanwhile, the consortium test result which was inoculated in PDA media, demonstrated the presence of six consortium isolates of non-synergistic due to the forming of inhibition zone in each isolate. A positive interaction happened between &lt;i&gt;Trichoderma asperellum&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Aspergillus japonicus&lt;/i&gt; (TA/AJ). Likewise, at the cellulolytic degradation capability test, consortium TA/AJ can degrade cellulose faster compared to using one isolate. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The consortium of TA/AJ was the best and proved to be compatible in degrading lignocellulolytic of coffee fruit skin waste.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"302-307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079417","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":"Morphological Characteristics and ITS Molecular Markers of <i>Catharanthus roseus</i> (L.) G. Don: A Medicinal Plant in Southern Vietnam.","authors":"Thieu Van Duong, Phan Ngoc Thuy, Mai Van Hung","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.295.301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.295.301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; (L.) G. Don is a medicinal plant known for its therapeutic properties, particularly in cancer treatment and diabetes management. Its morphological characteristics and genetic markers play a crucial role in species identification, conservation and breeding programs. This study aims to evaluate the morphological features and molecular markers of &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; in Southern Vietnam to enhance species characterization and support its medicinal utilization. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; The samples of &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; (L.) G. Don were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. To determine the genetic relationship between the samples, using the improved CTAB DNA extraction method. The DNA was amplified by PCR with primers specific to the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene region and finally, the amplified product was sequenced based on the Sanger method. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The sequence comparison results of 6 &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; (L.) G. Don samples on the NCBI gene bank showed that the samples were similar to the sequence of &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; species with coefficients ranging from 98.86-100%. The results of the analysis of the pedigree diagram, the sequence of the ITS gene region, have identified a group of genera within the same family. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The samples coincided with the species &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; with a high similarity coefficient ranging from 98.86-100%. Future studies should focus on exploring the genetic diversity of &lt;i&gt;Catharanthus roseus&lt;/i&gt; across different regions and investigating its bioactive compounds for potential pharmaceutical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"295-301"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079455","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":"Correlation of Proline, Kynurenic Acid and Glutamate Levels with Cognitive Function: Insights from Digit Span, TMT and RAVLT in Schizophrenia.","authors":"Mutiara Anissa, Afriwardi, Yaslinda Yaunin, Rauza Sukma Rita","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.308.317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.308.317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic mental disorder which are characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonic behavior, negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms. Several gene polymorphisms and neurotransmitters have been linked to schizophrenia. This study assessed the correlation between proline level, Kynurenic Acid (KYNA) and glutamate level with cognitive function among schizophrenia patients, contributing to understanding biochemical factors associated with cognitive impairments. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; The research was a cross-sectional observational analytic study of 99 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia was diagnosed by SCID-1 questionnaire and the patient's blood was taken to be analyzed in the Biochemical Laboratory of Medical Faculty Andalas University using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to characterize kynurenic acid level, glutamate level and proline level. Data were analyzed using Spearman Correlation in SPSS 25.0, with significance at p<0.05. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; There were 99 schizophrenia patients; most of them were male (62.6%), age median 37 years old and not married (50.5%). The Microproline Level median among participants was 2.64 μg/mL, the median KYNA level was 14.6 nmol/L and the glutamate level was 10.5 μg/mL. Cognitive function was assessed by Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Digit Span Test and Trail Making Test (TMT) with a score median of 4/5/5/5 (Trial 1/2/3/Recall), 6/2 (forward/backward), 68/37 sec (TMT A/B), respectively. Spearman Correlation showed that microproline has a negative correlation with RAVLT Trial 1 (r = -0.221, p = 0.014), Digit Span Backward (r = -0.181, p = 0.036), TMT A (r = 0.204, p = 0.021) and TMT B (r = 0.185, p = 0.034). In contrast, other neurotransmitters do not correlate with any cognitive tests. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Proline may play a role in the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, highlighting its potential as a target for therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"308-317"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079385","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":"Evaluation of Medicinal, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of <i>Portulacaria afra</i> Jacq. (Family: Didiereaceae).","authors":"Alfred Maroyi","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.274.282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.274.282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;i&gt;Portulacaria afra&lt;/i&gt; Jacq. is an evergreen succulent shrub or small tree widely used in traditional medicine. The fleshy leaves of &lt;i&gt;P. afra&lt;/i&gt; are eaten raw and the plant species is also a valuable stock feed and ornamental plant. The current study was aimed at documenting medicinal and traditional uses of &lt;i&gt;P. afra&lt;/i&gt; and its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Research articles on medicinal uses and ethnopharmacological properties of &lt;i&gt;P. afra&lt;/i&gt; were searched from online databases such as SpringerLink&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt;, PubMed&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt;, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt;, Scopus&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; and SciELO and also pre-electronic literature obtained from the university library. &lt;i&gt;Portulacaria afra&lt;/i&gt; is used as traditional medicine for sores, wounds, skin infections, diabetes, diarrhea, fever, hypertension, kidney ailments, respiratory infections, mouth ulcers, earaches and pain. Chemical compounds identified from &lt;i&gt;P. afra&lt;/i&gt; include aliphatic ketones, alkanes, alkenes, aromatic compounds, benzoic acid derivatives, esters, fatty acids, flavonoids, phenanthrenes, phenols, steroids and triterpenoids. &lt;i&gt;Portulacaria afra&lt;/i&gt; crude extracts demonstrated analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, glucose utilization, anti-quorum sensing, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, tyrosinase inhibition and cytotoxicity activities. This review highlights the need for detailed ethnopharmacological studies of &lt;i&gt;P. afra&lt;/i&gt; focusing on its phytochemical, biological and toxicological properties, &lt;i&gt;in vivo&lt;/i&gt; and clinical studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"274-282"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079404","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 and Antiplasmodial Comparative Analysis of Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts of <i>Combretum micranthum</i> G.Don and <i>Combretum adenogonium</i> Steud. ex A.Rich.","authors":"Harouna Sore, Moussa Compaore, Mahamadi Sana, Martin Kiendrebeogo","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.337.343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.337.343","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Malaria is the most widespread of insect-borne diseases. It remained a public health concern worldwide and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Every year, malaria causes several thousand deaths and millions of cases, most of them in children under 5 years. This study aimed to highlight the anti-plasmodial properties of &lt;i&gt;Combretum micranthum&lt;/i&gt; G.Don and &lt;i&gt;Combretum adenogonium&lt;/i&gt; Steud. ex A.Rich., extracts used as antimalarial traditionally. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; A phytochemical study of the organic and aqueous extracts from leaves and stem bark powder was applied using colorimetric and spectrometric analysis. The antiplasmodial activity of extracts was assessed &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; using chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 and chloroquine-resistant Dd2 strains. The dose inducing 50% inhibition of parasite viability was calculated from the sigmoidal dose-response curve. The statistical significance threshold was set at 5%. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; In 100 mg of extract, the phenolic content was decreased from 47.53 to 20.29 mg GAE, the flavonoid content was from 11.49 to 4.55 mg QE and the flavonol content was from 6.14 to 0.55 mg RE. Interestingly, the aqueous extracts of &lt;i&gt;C. adenogonium&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;C. micranthum&lt;/i&gt;, corresponding to the traditional mode of extraction, were effective against the CQ-sensitive strains 3D7 with IC&lt;sub&gt;50&lt;/sub&gt; <5 μg/mL and ineffective against the CQ-resistant strains Dd2. Their effects were correlated with phenolics, flavonoids and flavonol contents of extracts. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The use of &lt;i&gt;C. adenogonium&lt;/i&gt; as a substitute for &lt;i&gt;C. micranthum&lt;/i&gt; or a combination of the two plants, could reduce the overexploitation of &lt;i&gt;C. micranthum&lt;/i&gt; and promote the ecological management. These results could justify the traditional use of these plants to treat malarial fevers.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 5","pages":"337-343"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079457","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":"Histological Changes in Breast Tissue via the Expression of Her2, Cox-2 and Caspase 3 after the Administration of <i>Zanthoxylum acanthopodium</i> DC and <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Leaves.","authors":"Rostime Hermayerni Simanullang, Masta Melati Hutahaean, Jekson Martiar Siahaan, Calen, Kasrawati, Ganda Sigalingging, Hadiyanto Lim, Putri Cahaya Situmorang","doi":"10.3923/pjbs.2025.219.228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2025.219.228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Breast tissue may experience structural alterations due to variables including infection, illness, inflammation, or exposure to deleterious compounds, with 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) being a prevalent carcinogen utilized in cancer research. &lt;i&gt;Zanthoxylum acanthopodium&lt;/i&gt; DC and &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; leaves possess anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. This study aimed to determine the expression of Her2, Cox-2 and Caspase 3 as markers of breast carcinoma after administration of &lt;i&gt;Zanthoxylum acanthopodium&lt;/i&gt; DC and &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; leaves. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This study used 36 rats with 6 groups, namely C0: Normal mice, C&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;: Only DMBA injection, C&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;: DMBA-injected rats+Doxorubicin, P1: DMBA-injected rats+&lt;i&gt;Z. acanthopodium&lt;/i&gt; fruit, P2: DMBA-injected rats+100 mg/kg b.wt., of &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; leaves and DMBA-injected rats+50 mg/kg b.wt., of &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; leaves and 50 mg/kg b.wt., of &lt;i&gt;Z. acanthopodium&lt;/i&gt; fruit orally for 30 days then dissected and breast tissue was taken for immunohistochemistry procedures. The non-parametric data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests with a significance level of p<0.05. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The DMBA injection into the mammary tissue increases Her2 expression, infiltrates the surrounding tissue, including the stroma and forms a solid tumor mass with ambiguous boundaries. &lt;i&gt;Zanthoxylum acanthopodium&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; alone reduced damaged tissue, however, their combined action boosted breast tissue Her2 expression but did not lower Cox-2 or Caspase 3 scores. The expression of Cox-2 in group C&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt; differed significantly from P1 (p<0.05, p = 0.001). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Zanthoxylum acanthopodium&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Moringa oleifera&lt;/i&gt; enhanced Caspase 3, which promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Nevertheless, each plant individually diminished Her2 and Cox-2 expression more effectively than the combination.</p>","PeriodicalId":19800,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences","volume":"28 4","pages":"219-228"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144042226","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}