Scientifica最新文献

{"title":"Short-Term Alteration of Soil Physicochemical Characteristics Induced by Biochar Application on a <i>Ferric Acrisol</i>.","authors":"Jochebed Kaki Torgbenu, Godfred Boateng, Felix Osei Kwarteng, Stephen Ardey Mensah, Edward Benjamin Sabi, Peace Korshiwor Amoatey, Peter Amoako Ofori, Stella Owusu-Nketia, Anthony Raphael Simpson, Selorm Yaotse Dorvlo, Emmanuel Essien, Evans Asenso","doi":"10.1155/sci5/7743251","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/7743251","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biochar (incinerated organic waste by-product) has shown promise in enhancing soil fertility and agricultural productivity. Soil quality plays an essential role in the success of agricultural activities, with soil enhancement being crucial for optimizing crop yields and fostering soil fertility. An experiment with different biochar types was arranged in a randomized complete block design. The biochar [coconut husk (CH) biochar and sugarcane bagasse (SB) biochar] was evenly hand mixed with the soil after plowing to 30 cm depth. A one-time application of biochar was done. There was a total of six treatments: SB biochar, SB biochar plus nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) (SB + NPK), CH biochar, CH biochar plus NPK (CB + NPK), NPK, and control (CT), with three replicates for each treatment. The area of each plot was 3 m² (3 m × 1 m) to assess the effects of biochar application on the soil physical and chemical characteristics of <i>Ferric Acrisol</i> with cabbage <i>(Fortune F1 variety)</i> as a test crop in Ghana. Soil bulk density, porosity, pH, organic carbon (OC), available N, total P, available K, available calcium (Ca), electrical conductivity (EC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined. CH and SB addition improved soil bulk density (1.21 g·cm^-3 and 1.29 g·cm^-3), leading to a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) improvement in the total porosity (54.29% and 51.10%), respectively, at 0-30 cm soil depth compared to the presoil condition (1.5 g·cm^-3). Additionally, CH and SB significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) impacted the soil chemical characteristics and fertility of the tested soil. The results showed that biochar application is crucial for C sequestration, reduction in pH (SB-7.36 and CH-7.44 compared to the presoil condition (4.93) at 0-30 cm soil depth), and soil fertility enhancement. Applying biochar to soils can therefore be considered a potential solution to improve soil fertility for sustainable crop production.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"7743251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11825198/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143415245","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":"Amebicidal and Antiadhesion Activities of <i>Knema retusa</i> Extract Against <i>Acanthamoeba triangularis</i> T4 Genotype on Contact Lenses and Modeling Simulation of Its Main Compound, E2N, Against <i>Acanthamoeba</i> Beta-Tubulin.","authors":"Watcharapong Mitsuwan, Imran Sama-Ae, Suthinee Sangkanu, Dhrubo Ahmed Khan, Partha Biswas, Md Nazmul Hasan, Julalak Chuprom, Tajudeen O Jimoh, Christophe Wiart, Masyitah Binti Zulkipli, Nor Hayati Abdullah, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Sonia M Rodrigues Oliveira, Shanmuga Sundar Saravanabhavan, Polrat Wilairatana, Tooba Mahboob, Veeranoot Nissapatorn","doi":"10.1155/sci5/4311313","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/4311313","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medicinal plants have been used as alternative agents for the treatment of infections. This study aimed to investigate bioactivities of medicinal plant extracts including <i>Knema retusa</i> extract (Kre) against <i>Acanthamoeba triangularis</i> T4 <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in silico</i>. Anti-<i>Acanthamoeba</i> activities of 44 extracts from 5 plant species were determined. From 44 tested extracts, a chloroform extract of Kre bark showed the strongest anti-<i>Acanthamoeba</i> activities against both trophozoites and cysts, with MIC values of 32.25 and 62.50 μg/mL, respectively. Then, amebicidal and antiadhesion activities of Kre against <i>A. triangularis</i> were investigated. Kre reduced the growth by 3 logs within 8 h at 4 × MIC. Disruption of the cells with abnormal shapes was observed when trophozoites were treated with Kre. Trophozoites had lost their robust acanthopodia and began to shrink after treatment with Kre. Treated cysts exhibited wall disruption and dramatically showed forms of marked retraction. Treatment of Kre at 1/2 × MIC showed about 87% reduction in the trophozoite adhesion, while treatment at 2 × MIC exhibited a 59% reduction in the trophozoite adhesion to the plastic surface, compared with the control. Furthermore, 1 log cells/mL (90%) of the contact lens adhesive trophozoites were reduced and removed after treatment with Kre. Molecular docking indicated that E2N, the main compound in Kre, exhibited strong binding to the ligand binding sites at β-tubulin, with a binding energy of -7.01 kcal/mol and an inhibitory constant of 2.43-7.32 μM. E2N generated multiple connections via hydrogen, hydrophobic, ionic, and water bridge bonding and maintained these connections until the simulation finished, facilitating the creation of stable bindings with the β-tubulin protein as measured by molecular dynamics simulation. These findings suggest that Kre exhibits amebicidal and antiadhesion activities which could be used for the prevention of <i>A. triangularis</i> adhesion to contact lenses.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"4311313"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11824310/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143415235","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":"Antidiabetic Potential of <i>Senna siamea</i>: <i>α</i>-Glucosidase Inhibition, Postprandial Blood Glucose Reduction, Toxicity Evaluation, and Molecular Docking.","authors":"Suthinee Sangkanu, Armad Heemman, Sathianpong Phoopha, Thanet Pitakbut, Wandee Udomuksorn, Sukanya Dej-Adisai","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6650349","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/6650349","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Senna siamea</i> (Lam.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby is used in Thai cuisine. This plant is also used in traditional treatments, including diabetes. Therefore, this study aims to examine the antihyperglycemic effects of <i>S. siamea</i> heartwood extract. The ethanolic extract of <i>S. siamea</i> heartwood exhibited activity against <i>α</i>-glucosidase enzyme with IC₅₀ values of 54.4 μg/mL. Moreover, <i>S. siamea</i> extract (250-1000 mg/kg BW) was tested using normal rats with and without sucrose of 3 g/kg BW administration. The results showed that all extract concentrations significantly reduced fasting blood glucose compared with the control. In addition, results also agreed with the amount of sucrose in the small intestine of rats. In the acute toxicity study, a single dose of the <i>S. siamea</i> extract at 2000 mg/kg BW caused no mortality, and hematological and biochemical parameters also revealed no toxic effects of the extract on rats. The subchronic toxicity study, administration of the extract for 90 days, at 250 mg/kg BW, caused no significant changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of rats in the treated groups compared with the control group. However, histopathology of the liver and kidney indicated an inflammatory response at 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW of the extract, correlating to hematological and biochemical findings. Finally, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate theoretical interactions between three main stilbenes previously found in <i>S. siamea</i> extract and mammalian <i>α</i>-glucosidases (Wistar rat and human). The simulation supported the in vivo study and suggested the potential for human glucosidase inhibition. Therefore, <i>S. siamea</i> could be a promising candidate against <i>α</i>-glucosidase. This study offers encouraging information on the potential of natural compounds from <i>S. siamea</i> to act as <i>α</i>-glucosidase inhibitors for diabetes treatment through drug development or dietary supplement for hyperglycemia individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"6650349"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11824848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143415237","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":"Evaluation of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors Febuxostat and Allopurinol on Kidney Dysfunction and Histological Damage in Two-Kidney, One-Clip (2K1C) Rats.","authors":"Asif Ul Haque Shuvo, Mirza Alimullah, Ishrat Jahan, Kaniz Fatima Mitu, Md Junaeid Rahman, Kazi Akramuddaula, Ferdous Khan, Pritesh Ranjan Dash, Nusrat Subhan, Md Ashraful Alam","doi":"10.1155/sci5/7932075","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/7932075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperuricemia is a common phenomenon, presumably due to reduced renal clearance of uric acid. This study investigated the effect of xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors allopurinol and febuxostat to prevent oxidative stress in the kidney of two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) rats. In this investigation, 2K1C rats were used as an experimental animal model for kidney dysfunction. 2K1C rats were provided with food and drinking water and received febuxostat at a dose of 10 mg/kg or allopurinol at 100 mg/kg, respectively. After the treatment completion, all rats were sacrificed, and tissue samples were collected. 2K1C rats exhibited increased plasma creatinine, uric acid level, and glomerular injury assessed based on microscopic findings. Both allopurinol and febuxostat significantly normalized creatinine and uric acid levels. Furthermore, 2K1C rats showed increased lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) alongside decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity. Again, both drug treatments ameliorated these elevated oxidative stress parameters in 2K1C rats. The antioxidant genes such as Nrf-2, HO-1, and SOD were also restored in the kidneys of 2K1C rats by allopurinol and febuxostat treatment. 2K1C rats also showed increased IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-кB mRNA expression in the kidneys which were normalized by allopurinol and febuxostat treatment. Thus, the data suggest that XO inhibition protects kidney function potentially by restoring antioxidant enzyme function and suppressing inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"7932075"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11779995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143067799","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":"Hormonal Implications of SARS-CoV-2: A Review of Endocrine Disruptions.","authors":"Aliya Yskak, Yevgeniy Sokharev, Kuanysh Zhumalynov, Elizaveta Koneva, Natalia Afanasyeva, Dmitri Borodulin, Dmitrii Babaskin, Almabek Nugmanov, Murat Nurushev, Vadim Chashkov","doi":"10.1155/sci5/7305185","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/7305185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To improve medical care and rehabilitation algorithms for patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it is important to evaluate and summarize the available data on the effect of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the endocrine system. The purpose of this review was to study the effect of COVID-19 on the endocrine system. The scientific novelty of this study is the evaluation of the effect of coronavirus infection on the endocrine system and the potential effect of hormones on susceptibility to COVID-19. The results of this review show that the endocrine system is vulnerable to disorders caused by COVID-19, mainly thyroid dysfunction and hyperglycemia. The information in the published literature mentioned here contains some unclear aspects and contradictory data, but much remains to be studied and clarified regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the endocrine system. In particular, this concerns the study of the hyperglycemic status of patients who have had coronavirus infection, which is extremely important for the future metabolic health of COVID-19 survivors. This review contributes to the scientific discourse by systematically synthesizing disparate studies to identify patterns, gaps, and emerging trends in the literature concerning the effects of COVID-19 on the endocrine system. By integrating these findings, this study offers a novel perspective on potential hormonal interactions influencing COVID-19 susceptibility and outcomes, proposing new hypotheses and frameworks for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"7305185"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11742418/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143011095","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":"Glucosamine Inhibits the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Eliciting Apoptosis, Autophagy, and the Anti-Warburg Effect.","authors":"Misako Samizu, Kaoruko Iida","doi":"10.1155/sci5/5685884","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/5685884","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although glucosamine (GlcN) exhibits antitumor effects, its mechanism of action remains controversial. Additionally, its impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of GlcN and its underlying mechanism in a mouse HCC cell line, Hepa1-6. GlcN treatment significantly inhibited Hepa1-6 cell proliferation. Gene expression analysis revealed that GlcN upregulated <i>Chop</i> and <i>Bax</i> while downregulating <i>Bcl2</i>, indicating the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis in the antiproliferative effects of GlcN. GlcN also increased the expression of <i>FoxO1</i> and <i>FoxO3</i>, known tumor suppressors in various cancers. Furthermore, GlcN treatment elevated the levels of LC3II (an autophagy marker) and AMP-activated protein kinase activity, suggesting intracellular energy shortage. Indeed, GlcN treatment significantly suppressed glycolytic flux, lactate, and ATP production. Supplementing GlcN treatment with a high glucose concentration (20 mM) significantly attenuated its effect. We postulate that GlcN inhibits Hepa1-6 cell growth by inducing ER stress-induced apoptosis and autophagy and by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), a key hallmark of cancer metabolism. Given that glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), which is abundantly expressed in hepatocytes, has a high affinity for GlcN, these effects may result from GlcN competing with glucose for hepatocyte uptake by GLUT2. Our novel findings have potential implications for HCC treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"5685884"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11735062/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143011078","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":"Unlocking Biochar's Potential: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Remediation of Heavy Metal Stress in Tobacco Plants.","authors":"Abdul Ghaffar Shar, Leyi Zhang, Anzhi Lu, Munib Ahmad, Muhammad Saqib, Sadam Hussain, Usman Zulfiqar, Pingping Wang, Lixin Zhang, Mehdi Rahimi","doi":"10.1155/sci5/6302968","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/6302968","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tobacco, being a globally cultivated crop, holds significant social and economic importance. Tobacco plants are susceptible to the adverse effects of heavy metals (HMs), particularly cadmium (Cd), which hinders root development, disrupts water balance, and impedes nutrient absorption. Higher concentrations of HMs, especially Cd, naturally accumulate in tobacco leaves due to complex interactions within the plant-soil continuum. The uptake of Cd by plants from the soil is influenced by several factors, including soil type, pH, irrigation water quality, and the chemical composition of the metal involved. Different techniques, such as bioremediation, phytoremediation, and mycoremediation, have been employed to tackle the issue of HMs. The use of biochar offers a practical solution to mitigate this problem. With its large surface area and porous nature, biochar can effectively alleviate HMs contamination. Under biochar application, metal adsorption primarily occurs through physical adsorption, where metal ions are trapped within the pores of the biochar. Additionally, electrostatic attraction, in which negatively charged biochar surfaces attract positively charged metal ions, is another major mechanism of metal remediation facilitated by biochar. In this review, we documented, compiled, and interpreted novel and recent information on HMs stress on tobacco plants and explored biochar's role in alleviating HMs toxicity. By providing a comprehensive review of the persistent threat posed by Cd to tobacco crops and exploring biochar's potential as a remediation measure, this work aims to enhance our understanding of HMs stress in tobacco and contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2025 ","pages":"6302968"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11729516/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143011097","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":"Genetic Diversity of Sangihe Nutmeg (<i>Myristica fragrans</i> Houtt.) Based on Morphological and ISSR Markers.","authors":"Tanti Agustina, Abdul Razaq Chasani, Budi Setiadi Daryono, Muhammad Said Rifqi","doi":"10.1155/sci5/5568104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/5568104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sangihe nutmeg is an important crop because of its usefulness in the pharmacology, spices and cosmetics industries. Sangihe is the oldest active subduction zone island in the Indonesia-Philippines region, where frequent tectonic earthquakes and the geographic and reproductive isolation of Sangihe nutmeg occur. This isolation results in adaptation and speciation because of increasing variability. Using morphological and molecular approaches, we aimed to assess the genetic variety of Sangihe nutmeg based on morphological and intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. In total, 31 morphological characteristics were examined, and molecular data of ISSR markers using five primers were analysed based on numerical taxonomy using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and principal component analysis (PCA) methods. Results showed five major groups of Sangihe nutmeg based on seed variation, that is, thick round, thin round, thick oval, thin oval, and twin seeds, whereas the presence of variation in molecular characters was indicated by DNA polymorphisms between 0% and 33.33%. The phenetic relationships within Sangihe nutmeg, based on morphological and ISSR markers, exhibit two groups with different member compositions. The major morphological characteristics influencing the phenetic relationship pattern were tree shape, leaf shape, fruit shape, number of fractions when ripe, fruit size index, number of fruit indentations, indentation, aryl density, seed shell, and number of seeds.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5568104"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11699992/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932154","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":"Genetic Diversity, Association, and Path Coefficient Analyses of Sorghum [<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Monech] Genotypes.","authors":"Wedajo Gebre, Firew Mekbib, Alemu Tirfessa, Agdew Bekele","doi":"10.1155/sci5/1611869","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/1611869","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For sustainable genetic improvement of crops like sorghum, assessing genetic variability and knowing the nature and extent of the association between grain yield and yield-related traits is a prerequisite. However, there needs to be sufficient information about the genetic variability study as well as yield-related trait correlation and path coefficient analysis for sorghum accessions, especially those from southern Ethiopia. Hence, this field experiment assessed genetic variability, determined the nature and extent of phenotypic-genetic correlation, and analyzed the path coefficients among 17 quantitative traits. A total of 225 sorghum genotypes were tested using a simple lattice design with two replications at the Jinka Agricultural Research Center during the 2021 cropping season. Based on the analysis of variance, most traits showed highly significant (P 0.001) differences, suggesting genetic diversity between the genotypes. High estimates of GCV and PCV were noted for leaf width (3924.50% and 3924.50%), while the lowest GCV and PCV estimates were obtained for days to flowering and days to maturity. High heritability coupled with high GAM estimates was recorded for plant height, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area. The magnitudes of genotypic correlations were higher than those of phenotypic correlations for most of the studied traits, implying that the traits under study were genetically controlled. Grain yield was positively and significantly correlated with most of the traits at phenotypic and genotypic levels, indicating the presence of a strong inherent association between grain yield and other traits. Phenotypic path coefficient analysis showed that grain filling period and biomass yield exerted a high positive direct effect on grain yield. Genotypic path coefficient analysis revealed that biomass yield, grain filling period, leaf width, and days to flowering had a relatively high positive direct effect on grain yield. However, days to maturity, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, yield per panicle, straw weight, and harvest index exerted a negative direct effect on grain yield. Almost for all the studied traits, genotypic direct and indirect effects were higher than the phenotypic direct and indirect effects, indicating that the studied traits had a genetically inherited relationship with grain yield. Grain yield in sorghum can be improved through indirect selection for traits such as plant height, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, and biomass yield. In general, the observed variability and the information obtained from this study can be used for the genetic enhancement of sorghum thereby developing high-yielding varieties.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"1611869"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11695077/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142922817","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, Antibacterial, and Antibiotic-Resistance Modulatory Activity of Extracts of <i>Lippia multiflora</i> Moldenke<i>, Terminalia mollis</i> M. A. Lawson, and <i>Cinchona officinalis</i> L. Against Multidrug-Resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.","authors":"Richard Mouozong, Aimé Gabriel Fankam, Varelle Lambou Diffo, Valaire Yemene Matieta, Fabrice Junior Megaptche, Victor Kuete","doi":"10.1155/sci5/3403280","DOIUrl":"10.1155/sci5/3403280","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is a critical-class pathogen that shows great resistance to most conventional antibiotics. Hence, it is of utmost importance to search for novel drugs to fight infections caused by this bacterium. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of <i>Lippia multiflora, Terminalia mollis,</i> and <i>Cinchona officinalis</i> extracts alone and in combination with antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Phytochemical analysis was performed using standard qualitative and quantitative assays. The microdilution method was used to assess the antibacterial and antibiotic-resistance modulatory activity of the extracts. The interaction between antibiotics and <i>Cinchona officinalis</i> leaf extract was carried out using the checkerboard broth microdilution method. Phenols and flavonoids were detected in all extracts, whereas other phytochemical classes were selectively distributed. <i>T. mollis</i> leaf extract demonstrated the highest phenolic content (151.59 mg GAE/g), while <i>L. multiflora</i> leaf (LML) extract showed the highest flavonoid content (24.51 mg QE/g). These extracts exhibited antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 128 to 2048 μg/mL. LML extract displayed the best antipseudomonal activity, with MIC of 128 μg/mL against ATCC 27853 and 256 μg/mL against some MDR isolates (PA1, PA2, and PA7). Moreover, <i>C. officinalis</i> leaf extract (MIC/8), although weakly active, had improved by 2 to 64-fold the activity of imipenem, streptomycin, kanamycin, and ceftriaxone against MDR <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. It also showed synergy (ΣFIC ≤ 0.5) with streptomycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and vancomycin against <i>P. aeruginosa</i> PA3. The overall results indicate that the tested extracts, especially those from <i>L. multiflora</i> and <i>C. officinalis</i> leaves, necessitate further exploration for the development of natural drugs to treat infections caused by MDR <i>P. aeruginosa</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"3403280"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11688135/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142915562","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}