South African Journal of Botany最新文献

{"title":"Chemical composition and insecticidal potential of Eucalyptus essential oils against Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1855) and Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831)","authors":"Christine Betty Nagawa ,&nbsp;Isaac Sebuyiira Kitiibwa ,&nbsp;Simon Savio Kizito ,&nbsp;Agatha Syofuna ,&nbsp;Christine Mugumya Kyarimpa ,&nbsp;Timothy Omara","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coleopteran pest infestation is among the top causes of postharvest grain losses in East Africa. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and bioinsecticidal potential of essential oils (EOs) from fresh leaves of two <em>Eucalyptus</em> species (<em>E. camuldulensis</em> and <em>E. grandis</em>) grown in Arua and Kabarole Districts of Uganda on bean weevils (<em>Acanthoscelides obtectus</em>) and maize weevils (<em>Sitophilus zeamais</em>). Treatment with EO of the three-year-old <em>E. camuldulensis</em> from Arua showed the best insecticidal activity at 50 µL/mL against <em>S. zeamais</em> with 100 % mortality after 24 h. The best bioinsecticidal effect against <em>A. obtectus</em> (100 % mortality) was observed with EO of five-year-old <em>E. grandis</em> from Kabarole at 20 µL/mL. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis showed that cyclofenchene (6.61–51.69 %), trifluoroacetyl-α-terpineol (2.75–54.58 %) and 3-hexanone (9.85–35.98 %) were the major components in all the EOs. The high insecticidal activity of the EO of three-year-old <em>E. camuldulensis</em> from Arua against <em>S. zeamais</em> could be due to its high 3-hexanone (35.98 %), 1-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxoindane (19.21 %) and eucalyptol (9.96 %) contents. On the other hand, the highest insecticidal activity of EO of the five-year-old <em>E. grandis</em> leaves from Kabarole against <em>A. obtectus</em> may be associated with its components: 2-Bornanol (1.41 %) and 2,6-Dimethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetraene, E,E- (1.05 %). Our results suggest that the use of EOs from the <em>Eucalyptus</em> species is a promising alternative for integrated management of the storage pests. Oils from the three-year old <em>E. camuldulensis</em> and five-year-old <em>E. grandis</em> leaves could be adopted as an alternative nature-based solution for combating maize and bean weevils, respectively in stored food products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"179 ","pages":"Pages 48-55"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143388387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subinhibitory concentrations of Rhubarb Palmatum and its main monomers causing inhibition of alpha-hemolysin virulence in Staphylococcus aureus USA300","authors":"Miao Liu ,&nbsp;Manlin Ding ,&nbsp;Xinyi Ou ,&nbsp;Yanguang Cong ,&nbsp;Yongcan Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The virulence of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (<em>S. aureus</em>) is closely related to the production of virulence factors; thus, the treatment of <em>S. aureus</em> infection has become a challenging problem. <em>Rhubarb</em> has the characteristics of broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and drug resistance. However, the antimicrobial effects of <em>Rhubarb</em> and its major monomers remain unknown. In this study, the effect of <em>Rhubarb</em> at 1/32 and 1/64 MIC on the expression of USA300 virulence factor of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> was analyzed through transcriptome analysis. The results showed that the aqueous extract of <em>Rhubarb</em> significantly down-regulated the expression of USA300 virulence factors Spa, LukD, LukE, LukG, LukH and Hla at 1/32 and 1/64 MIC. The inhibitory effect of Hla was found to be the most obvious. RT-qPCR, hemolysis test, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to further verify the inhibitory effect of major monomers of rhubarb emodin, aloe emodin, rhein, and emodin 8–0-β-d-glucopyranoside on USA300 virulence factor α-hemolysin at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Finally, the damage degree of rhubarb monomer emodin and aloe-emodin against USA300 was confirmed in human lung epithelial cell A549, suggesting for the first time that rhubarb and its active components could inhibit the toxicity of α-hemolysin of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, and that its anti-virulence effect may be the key to resist bacterial infection. This study provides a theoretical basis and a new strategy for the use of rhubarb in the clinical treatment of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"179 ","pages":"Pages 39-47"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inhibitory effects of endophytic bacterial metabolite (Gougerotin) of Ziziphus mauritiana (Ber fruit) against human bacterial pathogens","authors":"Manas Manam,&nbsp;Manasmita Barisal,&nbsp;Anuja Sajeev,&nbsp;Ekagra Tomar,&nbsp;Loknath Deo,&nbsp;W.Jabez Osborne","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emergence of antibiotic resistance necessitates the discovery of novel antibiotics. Endophytic microbes reside within plant tissues without causing harm and are a promising source for novel bioactive compounds. Current study reveals the antimicrobial properties of endophytic bacterial metabolite obtained from <em>Ziziphus mauritiana</em>. Among the isolated bacteria, VITEMMAJ2 strain was a potent producer of the lead molecule. A significant zone of inhibition was observed in chloroform extract which was further purified by solid phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry showed a molecular mass of 443 which corresponded to Glucopyranuronamide-1-(4-amino-2-oxo-1-(2H)-pyrimidinyl)-1,4-dideoxy-4-(D-2-(2-(methylamino) acetamido) hydracrylamido). The presence of NH_2, NH₂−C<img>O, CH₂, CH₃, C<img>O<img>C and C<img>C groups in fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the functional groups of the lead molecule. Molecular characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed VITEMMAJ2 to be the closest neighbour of <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> and scanning electron micrographs showed the rod-shaped morphology. Seed germination assay of the lead molecule on <em>Vigna mungo, Vigna unguiculata</em> and <em>Phaseolus lunatus</em> underscored the non-toxic nature of the compound. Endophytic bacteria of <em>Z. mauritiana</em> showing inhibitory effects on human bacterial pathogens have been reported for the first time in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"178 ","pages":"Pages 437-447"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anticancer potential of Allium sativum against triple-negative breast cancer cells: Evidence from ROS-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis","authors":"Shivbrat Upadhyay ,&nbsp;Rumana Ahmad ,&nbsp;Sneha Ghildiyal ,&nbsp;Manjari Baluni ,&nbsp;Alok Singh ,&nbsp;Ishrat Husain ,&nbsp;Imran Ahmad ,&nbsp;Saurabh Pal ,&nbsp;Lamjed Mansour ,&nbsp;Sahabjada Siddiqui","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Breast cancer is a common disease that impacts the women population worldwide and therefore requires effective treatment strategies. <em>Allium sativum</em> L. (<em>A. sativum</em>) has been consumed in conventional remedies since antiquity owing to its extensive medicinal value. This study set out to analyse the primary phytocomponents in the active fraction of <em>A. sativum</em> and to evaluate its <em>in vitro</em> anticancer potential against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cells. Nonpolar to polar fractions of <em>A. sativum</em> extract were subjected to MTT assay, and the active fraction was selected for ROS estimation, apoptosis studies, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assessment and cell cycle analysis. The active fraction was characterized phytochemically using the HPLC technique. The ethyl acetate fraction from <em>A. sativum</em> (EAFAS) was identified as the active fraction based on the MTT screening test. HPLC investigation confirmed two main organosulfur compounds, <em>allicin</em> and <em>alliin</em> in EAFAS. EAFAS treated MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited apoptotic-like morphology; however, no any substantial cytotoxicity toward the normal epithelial cell line Vero was observed. Fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry analysis confirmed both apoptotic and necrotic cell death in TNBC cells. Notably, EAFAS showed a low amount of MMP and a high level of ROS production. A cell-cycle study showed that exposure to the EAFAS enhanced the proportion of cells in the S and G2/M stages. These findings provide crucial new insights into the potential of EAFAS as a medicinal candidate for the treatment of TNBC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"179 ","pages":"Pages 31-38"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hesperetin-supplemented soybean and ginger hydroalcoholic extracts alleviate diabetic cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats by modulating NF-κB/MMP-9/TIMPs pathway","authors":"Ritu ,&nbsp;Ravinder Verma ,&nbsp;Sudhir Kaushik ,&nbsp;Prabhnain Kaur ,&nbsp;Pooja Mathur ,&nbsp;T. Velpandian ,&nbsp;Ramesh K Goyal","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prolonged hyperglycemia is a major driver of microvascular and macrovascular complications in diabetes mellitus, including diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC). Polyphenolic flavonoids, found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants, have shown therapeutic potential against diabetes-related complications. This study evaluates the effects of a combination of hesperetin, soy extract, and ginger extract on DC in a Type II diabetic rat model. Diabetes was induced in neonatal rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (90 mg/kg) on postnatal day 5. Six weeks post-induction, rats were divided into a diabetic control group and a treatment group, with the latter receiving daily oral administration of a combination of soy extract (300 mg/kg), ginger extract (75 mg/kg), and hesperetin (100 mg/kg) for 24 weeks.</div><div>At the end of the treatment period, biochemical, physiological, hemodynamic, electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic (ECHO), molecular, and zymographic parameters were analyzed. The treatment significantly reduced blood glucose, CK-MB, LDH, hsCRP, the area under the curve (AUC) in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and HOMA-IR. It also alleviated diabetes-induced abnormalities in hemodynamic, ECG, and ECHO parameters. Furthermore, the combination demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating the expression of NF-κB and attenuating cardiac remodeling through the inhibition of TGF-β and MMP-9 pathways.</div><div>These findings highlight the potential cardioprotective effects of hesperetin-supplemented soy and ginger hydroalcoholic extracts. By modulating key inflammatory and extracellular matrix remodeling pathways, this combination effectively mitigated diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction. This study provides evidence supporting the use of this herbal combination as an adjunctive therapy for managing diabetic cardiomyopathy, warranting further exploration in clinical settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"179 ","pages":"Pages 11-21"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation of daucosterol from Polygonum capitatum and its antitumor activity against gastric cancer BGC-823 cells","authors":"Xiao-Ting Lü ,&nbsp;Yu Zhou ,&nbsp;Yong-Bo Feng ,&nbsp;Qian Hong ,&nbsp;Lei-Qing Sun ,&nbsp;Ling Chen ,&nbsp;Hui Feng ,&nbsp;Yang Yang ,&nbsp;Zhong-Hai Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Daucosterol, a phytosterol glycoside, can be extracted from various natural plants and exhibits a variety of pharmacological properties. However, there is a paucity of research regarding the inhibitory effects of daucosterol on gastric cancer cells and the mechanisms involved. The objective of this study was to isolate pure daucosterol from the whole plant of <em>Polygonum capitatum</em> and investigate its inhibitory effects on gastric cancer BGC-823 cells <em>in vitro</em>, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate that daucosterol has been successfully isolated from the petroleum ether extract of <em>P. capitatum</em> using silica gel column chromatography, with its identity confirmed by MS and both ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Daucosterol significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of BGC-823 cells in a dose-dependent manner within a specified concentration range. Additionally, treatment with daucosterol notably increased the apoptosis rate of BGC-823 cells. Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 and MICA/B in/on BGC-823 cells was significantly upregulated following daucosterol treatment, while the expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein was significantly downregulated. Consequently, these findings suggest that daucosterol not only inhibits the proliferation of BGC-823 cells and induces apoptosis by upregulating caspase-3 expression and downregulating Bcl-2 protein expression <em>in vitro</em>, but also enhances the sensitivity of BGC-823 cells to the cytotoxicity effects of immune effector cells by upregulating MICA/B expression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"179 ","pages":"Pages 1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relieving 5-fluorouracil-associated testicular toxicity in rats: Investigating the therapeutic potential of arbutin","authors":"Elif Ayazoglu Demir ,&nbsp;Selim Demir ,&nbsp;Zeynep Turkmen Usta ,&nbsp;Nihal Turkmen Alemdar ,&nbsp;Ahmet Mentese ,&nbsp;Yuksel Aliyazicioglu","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of various malignancies, but is associated with side effects, including testicular toxicity. Arbutin (ARB) is an effective antioxidant that can be obtained from a variety of natural products, including wheat, broccoli and pear. The present study investigated the protective effect of ARB, a bioactive glycosylated hydroquinone, on 5-FU-induced reprotoxicity in male rats. The rats were administered a single dose of 5-FU (100 mg/kg) on day 1 and two different doses of ARB (5 and 10 mg/kg) for the following 3 days. The administration of 5-FU resulted in testicular damage, as evidenced by reduced serum testosterone levels and an increase in histopathological findings. The study also found that the administration of 5-FU to rats resulted in increased testicular lipid peroxidation, inflammation and apoptosis, and a decrease in antioxidant capacity. The adverse effects observed in rats administered 5-FU were mitigated by the induction of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway following ARB administration. ARB may be considered a promising molecule to eliminate testicular toxicity after receiving 5-FU treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"179 ","pages":"Pages 22-30"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deep learning for chemical classification and valorization of Opuntia ficus-indica by-products","authors":"Fekhreddine Chekkal ,&nbsp;Ilhem Chachoua ,&nbsp;Samir Hameurlaine ,&nbsp;Samira Karoune ,&nbsp;Abdelhamid Foughalia ,&nbsp;Samir Boudibi ,&nbsp;Ali Hachemi ,&nbsp;Saliha Benaoune","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of by-products from <em>Opuntia ficus-indica</em> (cladodes, peels, and seed cakes) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to explore their valorization potential. The by-products were subjected to extraction and transesterification before analysis. A deep learning approach, NPClassifier (Natural Products Classifier), was applied to categorize volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by metabolic pathways, superclasses, and classes, facilitating detailed comparisons across the three plant parts. The innovative aspect of this study lies in the application of deep learning-derived classes to construct the molecular network. The analysis revealed a diverse range of VOCs, including fatty acids, terpenes, and alkaloids, with peels exhibiting the highest functional diversity. Specifically, fatty acids dominated in cladodes (91.06 %), terpenoids and steroids were prominent in peels (48.91 % and 29.91 %, respectively), and nitrogenous compounds characterized seed cakes. Diversity indices confirmed significant differences among samples, with peels showing the highest Shannon index (<em>H</em> = 3.26) and Simpson index (0.94), while cladodes had the lowest (<em>H</em> = 2.68, Simpson = 0.87). Multivariate statistical methods, such as Kruskal-Wallis tests and similarity analyses (Bray-Curtis and Jaccard), revealed that peels and cladodes were the most dissimilar at the class level (Jaccard = 1.59; Bray-Curtis = 1.74), while cladodes and seed cakes exhibited the highest similarity at the pathway level (Bray-Curtis = 0.17). These findings highlight the potential of <em>Opuntia ficus-indica</em> by-products, especially peels, for sustainable bio-industrial applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"178 ","pages":"Pages 411-423"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143308716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cytotoxicity, acute and subchronic toxicity of the methanol extract from the fruits of Psorospermun febrifugum Spach (Hypericaceae) in Wistar albino rats","authors":"Junior F. Megaptche ,&nbsp;Romeo D.Tadjouate Nago ,&nbsp;Simplice B. Tankeo ,&nbsp;Valaire Y. Matieta ,&nbsp;Gabriel T. Kamsu ,&nbsp;James D. Simo Mpetga ,&nbsp;Armelle T. Mbaveng ,&nbsp;Thomas Efferth ,&nbsp;Victor Kuete","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Psorospermun febrifugum</em> is used to treat a wide range of diseases, amongst which are malaria, pneumonia, skin diseases, dysmenorrhoea, dysentery, and tuberculosis. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of the methanol extract from the fruits of <em>P. febrifugum</em> (PFF) and its toxicological profile on Wistar rats. the cytotoxicity of the extract, fractions, and the isolated compound, harungine anthrone (<strong>1</strong>), was evaluated using the resazurin reduction assay (RRA). Acute and subchronic toxicity studies were conducted according to the experimental protocol the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) described. PFF, the fractions PFFa, PFFb, PFFc, and PFFd were cytotoxic (IC₅₀ below 20 µg/mL) towards at least one of the 9 tested cancer cell lines. The best cytotoxic effects (IC₅₀ below 5 µg/mL) were obtained with the PFFb fraction against CCRF-CEM leukemia cells (1.55 µg/mL) and its multidrug-resistant subline CEM/ADR5000 (4.28 µg/mL), as well as MDA-MB-231-pcDNA breast adenocarcinoma cells (3.38 µg/mL). Compound <strong>1</strong> had moderate activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 26.14 µM (against HCT116 (<em>p53^+/+</em>) colon adenocarcinoma cells) to 34.18 µM (against U87.MG glioblastoma cells. In the acute toxicity study, no deaths or signs of toxicity were recorded at 5,000 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of rats. Subchronic toxicity studies of PFF showed some changes in biochemical parameters, including serum levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and transaminases at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg b.w. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidney did not reveal any damage in treated animals compared to controls. In conclusion, the crude extract of <em>P. febrifugum</em> is a source of cytotoxic drugs. It is almost safe in acute and prolonged oral administrations at doses lower than 1,000 mg/kg b.w. However, it should be taken cautiously regarding its effect on the rat's body and biochemical parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"178 ","pages":"Pages 424-436"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacoinformatics and ex vivo studies of carotenoids from green algae Caulerpa racemosa as functional biomolecules to modulate type-2 diabetes markers","authors":"Rudy Kurniawan ,&nbsp;Nurpudji Astuti Taslim ,&nbsp;Andi Makbul Aman ,&nbsp;Andi Yasmin Syauki ,&nbsp;Agussalim Bukhari ,&nbsp;Burhanudin Bahar ,&nbsp;Nelly Mayulu ,&nbsp;Dominikus Evano Putra ,&nbsp;Rony Abdi Syahputra ,&nbsp;Bonglee Kim ,&nbsp;Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata ,&nbsp;Trina Ekawati Tallei ,&nbsp;Sidartawan Soegondo ,&nbsp;Fahrul Nurkolis","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.01.048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating prevalence of type-2 diabetes (T2D) necessitates innovative therapeutic approaches. Carotenoids, natural pigments with potent antioxidant properties, have garnered attention for their role in modulating metabolic pathways associated with T2D. This study investigates the potential of carotenoids derived from the green algae <em>Caulerpa racemosa</em> as functional biomolecules for T2D management. Utilizing pharmacoinformatics, we identified potential drug targets and predicted interactions between carotenoids and key proteins involved in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The carotenoid extract (CrE) was prepared through maceration, and its composition was analyzed using UHPLC-ESI/HRMS/MSn. Bioactivity prediction and network pharmacology analyses were conducted to assess the therapeutic potential of identified compounds. Molecular docking simulations revealed favorable binding-free energies of CrE carotenoids with proteins such as MAPK3, AKT1, and PPARG, suggesting their role in regulating lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. In vitro studies on 3T3-L1 mouse cells demonstrated that CrE and its individual compounds (Astaxanthin and Canthaxanthin) significantly reduced cell viability, comparable to the antidiabetic drug pioglitazone. These findings underscore the potential of <em>C. racemosa</em> carotenoids as antidiabetic agents, offering a novel approach to T2D management through natural bioactive compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"178 ","pages":"Pages 348-359"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143354403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}