Scientifica最新文献

{"title":"Preparation and Evaluation of Niosomal <i>Clerodendrum serratum</i> (Linn.) Moon Extract Formulations: Comparative In Silico and In Vitro Studies of Drying Methods for the Treatment of Hemorrhoids.","authors":"Anunya Suksanga, Komgrit Eawsakul, Kingkan Bunluepuech","doi":"10.1155/sci5/3662572","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/3662572","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The pain and suffering of patients with hemorrhoids are strongly impacted by the inadequacy of available treatment options, with more severe cases facing suboptimal outcomes. Owing to its known properties, the traditional Thai medicine <i>Clerodendrum serratum</i> (Linn.) Moon (CSM) served as the cornerstone for this investigational study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To validate and scrutinize the extent of the therapeutic effects of CSM, we compared two drying techniques: a dehydration chamber and a hot air oven. Analysis of computational biology, otherwise known as \"network pharmacology,\" was employed to hypothesize and validate key pharmacological targets and investigate the toxicity and anti-inflammatory properties of CSM in L929 and RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, this study presents the development of a niosome-based enhanced therapeutic delivery formulation for CSM.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) demonstrated that CSM dehydration performed in the dehydration chamber resulted in an IC₅₀ of 8.50 ± 0.39 μg/mL, while the hot air oven method was cytotoxic (15.29 ± 3.17 μg/mL). The anti-inflammatory response has been linked to the following key genes: NF-κB1, PTGS2, ALOX5, EGFR, and NFE2L2. For maximum yield and encapsulation efficiency, the optimal Span 60:Tween 80: Cholesterol ratio was 11.0:19.0:13.5.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The data indicate that CSM extract, especially when dehydrated in a dehydration chamber and then encapsulated in niosomes, has the potential to serve as a safe and effective therapeutic for hemorrhoids. The findings also emphasize the role of the drying method in retaining the bioactivity of plant extracts and the need for niosomes as a delivery system to improve bioavailability.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"3662572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13126093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic Potential and Phytochemical Composition of <i>Santolina chamaecyparissus</i> From Kashmir Himalayas.","authors":"Mohmmad Ashaq Sofi, Mohd Abass Sofi, Anima Nanda, Aushiq Amin Ganaie, B K Nayak, Zulhabri Othman, Muhammad Zulfiqah Sadikan","doi":"10.1155/sci5/7511508","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/7511508","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant-derived bioactive compounds are recognized as sustainable and promising alternatives to synthetic pharmaceuticals. This study examines the pharmacological efficacy of the methanolic leaf extract of <i>Santolina chamaecyparissus</i>, focusing on its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. The extract was evaluated by well-diffusion and broth microdilution against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa,</i> and <i>Escherichia coli,</i> as well as <i>Candida albicans</i>. MICs ranged from 64 μg/mL (<i>C. albicans</i>) to 256 μg/mL (<i>E. faecalis</i>), with 128 μg/mL for <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, and <i>P. aeruginosa.</i> The antioxidant potential was assessed using a DPPH radical scavenging assay, which revealed a dose-dependent response with 59.23% inhibition at 100 μg/mL. Furthermore, the extract displayed potent cytotoxicity against A549 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 85.38 μg/mL at 24 h and 72.46 μg/mL at 48 h, indicating its potential as an anticancer agent. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified key phytoconstituents potentially responsible for these bioactivities. These findings highlight the extract's broad therapeutic promise, supporting <i>S. chamaecyparissus as</i> a candidate for further development in antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"7511508"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13129221/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Boesenbergia rotunda</i>-Derived Phytochemicals as Potent Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease (PLpro): Insights From Molecular Docking and Dynamic Simulation.","authors":"Dhrubo Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Ashik Sheikh, Raihan Rahman Imon, Md Imtiaz, Shamin Ahmed, Harasit Gharami, Ryan V Labana, Tajudeen O Jimoh, Anand Gaurav, Maria L Pereira, Muhammad Nawaz, Julieta Z Dungca, Md Nazmul Hasan, Manik Ghosh, Veeranoot Nissapatorn","doi":"10.1155/sci5/1695824","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/1695824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 plays fundamental roles in its replication, and its mechanistic inhibition can impede the virus's replication and infection. Most Plpro inhibitors identified thus far are chemically synthesized and subject to numerous restrictions regarding stability and adverse side effects. Nevertheless, the inhibitors of those compounds can be replaced with natural, selective PLpro inhibitors that are highly stable and have minimal adverse effects. Since ancient times, extracts of <i>Boesenbergia rotunda</i> (L.) Mansf. have been recognized for their antiviral and other properties. Consequently, the objective of the investigation was to investigate the inhibitory activity of <i>B. rotunda</i> extract compounds against the virus, with the intention of inhibiting PLpro's signaling function in its replicative pathway, as a result, preventing viral infections. Molecular docking was initially suggested to evaluate the level of binding affinity among 57 natural compounds identified from <i>B. rotunda</i> to the desired protein. The results of this computational analysis have additionally been compared against molnupiravir, which has been addressed experimentally for its interacting efficiency towards the PLpro receptor protein of SARS-CoV-2 lately. This comparison indicates that the proposed dietary compounds have a significantly noticeable interaction efficiency regarding binding efficiency and other energetic contributions. Furthermore, the structure of PLpro was significantly influenced by compounds in MD-simulation experiments that were validated through some standard analyses, such as RMSF (root mean square fluctuation), RMSD (root mean square deviation), solvent accessible surface area, radius of gyration, MolSA, and PSA. The most promising three phytochemicals that could be established as an antiviral curative option against SARS-CoV-2 infection have been identified through computational approaches: rubranine, boesenbergin B, and panduratin A. The results of our computational investigation indicate that our proposed medications require clinical experimentation; consequently, they may be a superior treatment against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"1695824"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13127693/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147820436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Cobb 500 Broiler Chickens Fed With Different Levels of Cinnamon (<i>Cinnamomum cassia</i>) and Fennel (<i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> Mill.) Powders as Natural Feed Additives.","authors":"Abebe Bezahegn, Berhan Tamir, Gezahegne Mamo","doi":"10.1155/sci5/9456440","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/9456440","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The natural and organic poultry production industry is growing. This is in response to rising consumer demand for poultry products that are natural and organic. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of cinnamon and fennel powder as natural feed additives on growth performance and carcass traits of broilers. A total of 210 day-old chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments. The control group (T1) was provided with a standard diet containing no fennel seed powder (FNSP) and cinnamon bark powder (CNBP), while the other groups received a standard diet plus 0.75% FNSP (T2), standard diet plus 1.75% FNSP (T3), standard diet plus 0.75% CNBP (T4), and standard diet plus 1.75% CNBP (T5). Feed intake data were taken daily, while the body weight change was measured at a weekly interval. At the end of the experiment, three chickens from each treatment were picked and slaughtered for carcass traits measurements. The results revealed that broilers fed a diet containing 1.75% CNBP achieved significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.036) higher final body weight gain of 3243 ± 58.88 g, average daily weight gain of 70.88 ± 1.20 g and the best feed conversion ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.033) of 1.44 ± 0.03 at the end of the experiment when compared to the control group. Additionally, significantly higher dressed (<i>p</i> = 0.039) and eviscerated (<i>p</i> = 0.008) weights were found in 1.75% CNBP compared to the control. Furthermore, broilers in CNBP at 1.75% and 0.75% had significantly higher (<i>p</i> = 0.001) breast, thigh, and whole leg weight over the control and other treatments, except for the 1.75% FNSP group, which had significantly higher breast weight than the control. In general, incorporation of cinnamon powder in broilers' diet, particularly at a level of 1.75%, showed significant improvement in overall growth performance and carcass traits.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"9456440"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13107260/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147779762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Plant Diversity and Importance Value Index in Central Ethiopian Agroforestry Systems.","authors":"Admasu Moges","doi":"10.1155/sci5/9959255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/9959255","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Despite offering multiple benefits, agroforestry practices have declined due to uncertain landownership, population growth, and limited awareness and scientific data. This study aimed to investigate the composition, diversity, and importance value index (IVI) of woody plant species in home gardens (HGs) and parklands in three districts of the North Shewa Zone. The study used surveys and sampling techniques to collect data from 80 HGs to 33 parklands. Species richness, Shannon diversity, and evenness were analyzed using R software with Version 4.2.2. Their mean values were compared between the two agroforestry systems and among districts using Tukey's pairwise comparison in SPSS (Version 20) statistics at a &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; value &lt; 0.05. Additionally, the IVI was used for the structural analysis of woody species. The findings showed that 136 plant species from 58 families were identified. The Fabaceae family dominated in both HG and parkland practices. Trees were the most common growth form. HGs showed higher diversity (114 species) compared to parklands (79 species). Species richness also varied by districts, with Tarmaber having the most (86) and Ensaro the least (42) for HGs, and Tarmaber (37) had more than Mojana-Werena (21) for parklands. Tarmaber also scored the highest Shannon diversity for HGs (1.94) and parklands (1.74), followed by Mojana-Wedera. Overall, HGs displayed significantly higher richness and diversity than parklands across the study area at a &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05. Interestingly, parkland data showed no significant differences in diversity metrics. The study also revealed 61.03% native (indigenous and endemic) and 38.24% exotic species. This growing interest in including exotic species necessitates addressing potential ecological disruptions while promoting overall plant diversity. The first five most frequent species in the sampled HGs were &lt;i&gt;Rhamnus prinoides&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Croton macrostachyus&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Eucalyptus globulus&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Schinus molle&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Ziziphus spina-christi&lt;/i&gt;, which occurred in 20.18%, 7.89%, 5.26%, 5.26%, and 4.39% of all HGs, respectively. Similarly, the most frequent species in parklands were &lt;i&gt;C. macrostachyus&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;E. globulus&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Olea europaea&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Erythrina brucei&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Juniperus procera&lt;/i&gt;, with occurrence rates of 27.85%, 12.66%, 11.39%, 10.13%, and 10.13% of all sampled parkland, respectively. Based on the IVI, &lt;i&gt;R. prinoides&lt;/i&gt; (265.11%) emerged as the dominant in HGs, followed by &lt;i&gt;E&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;globulus&lt;/i&gt; (85.53%), &lt;i&gt;Cupressus lusitanica&lt;/i&gt; (17.27%), &lt;i&gt;C&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;macrostachyus&lt;/i&gt; (13.45%), and &lt;i&gt;Z&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;spina-christi&lt;/i&gt; (9.53%). In parklands, &lt;i&gt;E. globulus&lt;/i&gt; (142.32%) had the highest IVI, followed by &lt;i&gt;C&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;macrostachyus&lt;/i&gt; (33.53%), &lt;i&gt;A&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;abyssinica&lt;/i&gt; (18.13%), &lt;i&gt;Z. spina-christi&lt;/i&gt; (17.46%), and &lt;i&gt;O&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;europaea&lt;/i&gt; (14.28%). These findings highlight the ecological significance of these species in their respective habitats. Finally, the identification","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"9959255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13080502/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147699705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brown Yar Ko Rice Protects Against Hyperglycemia-Induced Endothelial Injury via Antioxidant and SIRT1 Activation.","authors":"Witchuda Payuhakrit, Pimchanok Panpinyaporn, Pitchapa Wantanachaisaeng, Teerapat Teeppaibul, Chatsuda Surachaijarin, Chonnapat Naktubtim, Ratsada Praphasawat, Sarawoot Palipoch","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6749863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/6749863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia are the main contributors to vascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), which is a significant global health issue. The downregulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a key regulator of antioxidant defenses, further exacerbates vascular damage in diabetic conditions. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of brown Yar Ko (YK) rice extract, a traditional variety from southern Thailand, on hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), with a focus on SIRT1 activation. Methodologically, YK rice was extracted and identified via triple quadrupole GC‒MS/MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed via DPPH and FRAP assays. A 30 mM glucose-stimulated HUVEC model was utilized to mimic diabetes in vitro. Oxidative stress, endothelial function, and DNA damage were evaluated via DCFH-DA, tubulogenesis, and γ-H2AX staining, respectively. SIRT1 expression was analyzed via western blotting, and downstream signaling pathways were predicted via pharmacological network analysis. The results of chemical profiling revealed that YK rice extract is rich in beneficial fatty acids (linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids) and micronutrients. The extract presented a high total phenolic content and potent antioxidant activity, significantly reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and DNA damage in hyperglycemia-induced HUVECs. Functional assays demonstrated that YK rice extract improved angiogenic capacity and mitigated endothelial dysfunction under hyperglycemic conditions. Mechanistically, treatment with YK rice extract upregulated SIRT1 expression, as confirmed by immunofluorescence and western blot analyses. Network pharmacology revealed the SIRT1 with PPAR-α and PPAR-γ axis as a key pathway modulated by major YK rice constituents, potentially suggesting enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant gene expression. However, these proposed mechanisms require further experimental validation for definitive elucidation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6749863"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13053651/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147639719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microencapsulated Extracts From Banana Flowers Induce Milk Production in Lactating Rats Through Increased α-Lactalbumin, Aquaporin, and Prolactin Levels.","authors":"Acharaporn Issuriya, Palika Wetchakul, Thammarat Kaewmanee, Surasak Limsuwan, Jo Aan Goon, Sineenart Sanpinit","doi":"10.1155/sci5/5148782","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/5148782","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Musa sapientum</i> L., commonly known as the banana flower (BF), is used as a galactagogue in Thai traditional medicine. This study aimed to assess the galactagogue potential of microencapsulated extracts from the BF and its impact on serum prolactin level, α-lactalbumin (LALBA), and aquaporin (AQP) protein levels in the mammary glands of lactating rats. Milk production was determined by measuring pup weight during the suckling period. The control group was administered distilled water orally, whereas Group II was administered domperidone at doses of 2.7 mg/kg. Groups III and IV were orally administered BF at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, from the 3^rd day to the 12^th day postpartum. On the 12^th day, blood samples and mammary gland tissues were collected for analysis. Protein levels of AQP-1, AQP-3, AQP-5, LALBA, and serum prolactin were assessed. Additionally, a histopathological examination of the mammary glands was performed. BF doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg were found to increase milk production, pup weight, serum prolactin levels, and protein levels of AQP-1, AQP-3, and AQP-5 compared to the control group. Transverse sections of the mammary glands from rats treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg exhibited a marked increase in milk secretion within the alveoli. These findings suggest that BF possesses significant galactagogue activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5148782"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12966766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147378435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytochemical Composition and Antipseudomonal Activity of <i>Allanblackia gabonensis</i> (Clusiaceae) Extracts Alone and With Antibiotics Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Isolates.","authors":"Céline Brinda Sonfack, Aimé Gabriel Fankam, Brenda Ngueffo Tiwa, Michael Francis Kengne, Armelle Tsafack Mbaveng, Victor Kuete","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6070077","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/6070077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The discovery of alternative therapies for illnesses due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is emerging as a global health crisis. This study aimed to assess the antibacterial efficacy of <i>Allanblackia gabonensis</i> extracts, both alone and in conjunction with antibiotics, against MDR <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The extracts were subjected to phytochemical analysis using both qualitative and quantitative standard tests. The microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antibacterial properties and antibiotic resistance-modifying potential of the extracts. The interaction effect between the antibiotics and extracts was determined by checkerboard assay. Catalase activity and lipid peroxidation were assessed by measuring the foam height and malondialdehyde concentration, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The extracts exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 16 to 2048 μg/mL. The hexane extracts of the leaves (HLE) and bark (HBE) displayed the highest antibacterial activity, with MIC ≤ 32  μg/mL against at least two investigated isolates. Furthermore, HLE decreased catalase activity and increased lipid peroxidation in <i>P. aeruginosa</i> D130. The extracts at their sub-inhibitory concentration (MIC/8) enhanced the activity of antibiotics, mainly aminoglycosides (amikacin, streptomycin, and gentamicin), by 2- to 256-fold against selected MDR <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Among these extracts, the hexane and methanol bark extracts exhibited synergy (∑FIC ≤ 0.5)) in combination with these antibiotics. All examined extracts contained alkaloids, phenols, and triterpenes. Moreover, dichloromethane/methanol and methanol leaf extracts presented the highest phenolic content.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, the leaf and bark hexane extracts of <i>A. gabonensis</i> could serve as candidates for the discovery of new antibiotics, while its bark extracts might be used in conjunction with antibiotics to manage infections involving multidrug-resistant <i>P. aeruginosa</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6070077"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12951695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Humic Acid on Morphology, Fluorescence, and Nutrient Uptake of Spring-Sown Potato Crop Under Saline Sandy Loam Soil.","authors":"Muhammad Wasim Haider, Syed Mohsin Abbas, Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Tahir Akram, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Asad Saleem, Alina-Stefania Stanciu, Muhammad Nafees, Crossby Osei Tutu","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6184394","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/6184394","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that significantly limits agricultural productivity, particularly in hot arid and semiarid areas. In such areas, crops are also subjected to high irradiance, which may exacerbate the physiological stress. The conventional chemical and cultural practices have proved ineffective in achieving the sustainable production of crops under these combined stress conditions. Humic acid has been reported to enhance tolerance of plants to salinity; most of the studies emphasize the generalized physiological responses but with the least information on photosynthetic and nutrient uptake efficiency of potato plants under field conditions characterized by both salinity and high irradiance. The present two-year investigation aimed to assess the effects of varying humic acid application rates on the growth, fluorescence, yield, and nutrient uptake of potato cv. Santana. The trial was carried out using a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with a factorial arrangement of treatments. Humic acid was soil-dressed at three rates (1000, 1500, and 2000 kg ha^-1) and assessed at two different periods (65 and 85 days after sowing), with an untreated control for comparison. The significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) improvements in plant growth, fluorescence, yield, and nutrient uptake were observed with increasing humic acid application rates. However, the highest increases in plant height (89%), number of stems plant^-1 (95%), number of branches plant^-1 (49%), number of leaves plant^-1 (75%), leaf area index (220%), quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ_II; 130%), chlorophyll content (65%), number of tubers plant^-1 (115%), average tuber weight (34%), total tuber yield (60%), marketable yield (47%), plant N uptake (36.7%), plant P uptake (73%), N uptake efficiency (50.5%), P uptake efficiency (182% times), and decreased nonphotochemical quenching (Φ_NPQ; 75%) and nonregulatory energy dissipation (Φ_NO; 39%) were achieved with the highest application rates of humic acid (2000 kg·ha^-1) compared to the control. In conclusion, the use of humic acid at 2000 kg·ha^-1 substantially improved potato growth, yield, photosynthetic efficiency, and nutrient uptake, proving it a promising strategy for sustainable cultivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"6184394"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12950902/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>In Vivo</i> and <i>In Silico</i> Analysis of Quercetin's Effects on Glycemic Regulation.","authors":"Jumriani Jumriani, Muhammad Aswad, Ratnawati Ratnawati, Filmaharani Filmaharani, Anggun Nurhidayah, Muhammad Rayza Azmin, Alfreds Roosevelt, Rizky Alfiana, Widya Hardiyanti, Nadila Pratiwi Latada, Mukarram Mudjahid, Firzan Nainu","doi":"10.1155/sci5/5159975","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/5159975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background & objective: </strong>Diabetes mellitus is a global health issue caused by chronic hyperglycemia. Although various therapeutic options are available, each carries potential side effects, prompting growing interest in exploring natural compounds as alternative treatments. Quercetin, a flavonoid known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is suspected to play a role in glucose regulation, although its molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to analyze the <i>in vivo</i> effects of quercetin on the phenotype of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> and to validate its potential mechanism through an <i>in silico</i> molecular docking approach, focusing on its interaction with diabetes-related enzyme targets.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Phenotypic evaluation included measurements of body morphology, locomotor activity, survival rate, and hemolymph glucose levels. Molecular analyses were conducted using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), while molecular docking studies were performed to assess quercetin's interaction with the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Quercetin significantly reduced hemolymph glucose levels in both larvae (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and adult flies (<i>p</i> < 0.001) within the concentration range of 1-10 μm without affecting adult flies' locomotor activity or survival. Additionally, quercetin enhanced the expression of genes involved in metabolic and stress response and improved growth parameters and motor activity in larvae subjected to a high-sugar diet. Molecular docking studies revealed that quercetin has a high affinity for DPP4, supporting its proposed hypoglycemic mechanism.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides both phenotypic and molecular evidence that quercetin exerts hypoglycemic effects in <i>D. melanogaster</i>, potentially mediated through DPP4 inhibition and modulation of metabolic and stress-response pathways. These findings offer new insight into the mechanisms of quercetin in glucose regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2026 ","pages":"5159975"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12951000/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}