South African Journal of Botany最新文献

{"title":"Lineage diversification and long-term persistence in the Greater Cape Floristic Region: Insights from molecular data","authors":"Kayleigh Mengel,&nbsp;Zaynab Shaik,&nbsp;Léanne L. Dreyer","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) is renowned for its exceptional species richness and remarkable beta diversity at fine spatial scales. This unique flora has captivated naturalists since the early 17th century colonial exploration of the region. Understanding the patterns and processes underlying this diversity has been the focus of over a century of evolutionary research, and recent advances in next-generation DNA sequencing have further enhanced our understanding of lineage diversification at very shallow timescales. Our review of these processes confirms that multiple interacting drivers of speciation have produced the extraordinary biodiversity of the GCFR. Key drivers of speciation include high environmental heterogeneity, periodic fire regimes, range-limited dispersal, pollinator-driven divergence, and phenological shifts. Another potentially significant yet underexplored driver is the role of Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations, which we propose have played a critical role in promoting recent divergence among coastal endemic floras. In addition to these drivers of speciation, the maintenance of biodiversity in the GCFR has been facilitated by long-term climatic buffering, and niche partitioning supported by a suite of plant ecophysiological trait specialisations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 97-106"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616840","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":"Exploring enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activities of different Salvia L. species with phenolic profiling and molecular docking","authors":"Nuraniye Eruygur ,&nbsp;Yavuz Bagci ,&nbsp;Fatma Ayaz ,&nbsp;Tuğsen Buyukyildirim ,&nbsp;Nagihan Faydali ,&nbsp;Muhammed Raşit Bakir ,&nbsp;Muhammed Tilahun Muhammed","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.036","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Salvia&lt;/em&gt; L. is one of the largest genera belonging to the Lamiaceae family and is a plant species of great importance in perfumery, pharmaceutical, and food industry. &lt;em&gt;Salvia&lt;/em&gt; species have a large usage as their extracts and essential oils among people in many areas. There are about 900 species belonging to the genus &lt;em&gt;Salvia&lt;/em&gt; in the world, and they are generally distributed in the North, and South Americas as well as South-West Asia continents. Looking at its traditional uses, the genus has widely used in various disorders, such as stomach problems, cold, and sore throat, as well as for carminative, wound healing, and memory enhancer. &lt;em&gt;Salvia&lt;/em&gt; species is rich in phytochemical contents, especially important bioactive secondary metabolites such as polyphenolics, phenolic acids, terpenes, and flavonoids. In this study, antioxidant activities (TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS) and enzyme inhibition (cholinesterase and tyrosinase) capacities of ten different &lt;em&gt;Salvia&lt;/em&gt; species were evaluated by microplate reader at 1 mg/mL concentration. When the results were evaluated, &lt;em&gt;S. tomentosa&lt;/em&gt; water (241.20 ± 1.45 mg GA/ g) and MeOH (227.01 ± 3.85 mg GA/ g) extracts were found to have the highest total phenol content over gallic acid equivalent&lt;em&gt;. S. cilicia&lt;/em&gt; DCM (166.70 ± 9.06 mg QE/g) and EtOAC (174.97 ± 3.29 mg QE/g) extracts were found to have the highest total flavonoid concentration in terms of quercetin equivalent. All &lt;em&gt;Salvia&lt;/em&gt; species demonstrated antioxidant effects using the DPPH and ABTS methods, except for the DCM extracts of &lt;em&gt;S. caespitosa, S. adenocaulon&lt;/em&gt;, and &lt;em&gt;S. tomentosa&lt;/em&gt;. Notably, the DCM extract of &lt;em&gt;S. tomentosa&lt;/em&gt; (86.86 % ± 3.51) exhibited strong inhibitory activity against AChE. The EtOAc extract of &lt;em&gt;S. sclarea&lt;/em&gt; (98.38 % ± 1.91) showed the highest inhibitory activity against BChE.. Molecular docking studies have been conducted on the components that are highly concentrated in the extracts, showing inhibition of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes with the respective enzymes. The molecular docking results of sinapinic acid and rutin compounds against acetylcholinesterase, Apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin against butyrylcholinesterase, and gallic acid and salicylic acid against tyrosinase have been examined. It has been found that all compounds bound to the enzymes and that pi bonds and hydrogen bonds were present in the ligand-protein interactions. The stabilities of the complexes retreived from the docking were assessed through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis. The MD simulation study pointed out the formation of stable complexes between the enzyme structures and ligands that had higher binding affinity in the docking. The ADMET analysis of the investigated compounds were conducted. The compounds (except rutin) exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high gastrointestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski’s rules, while","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 131-142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682120","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":"Exploring the chemical composition and functional properties of essential oils: insights into antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities","authors":"Pedro Henrique Santos ,&nbsp;Jéssica de Souza Marciano ,&nbsp;Daniel J. da Silva ,&nbsp;Paulo Henrique Camani ,&nbsp;Greiciele Ferreira ,&nbsp;Adriana Feliciano Alves Duran ,&nbsp;Lívia de Moraes Bomediano Camillo ,&nbsp;Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno ,&nbsp;Derval dos Santos Rosa","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of volatile chemical compounds that exhibit diverse bioactive properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. In this study, the chemical composition and bioactive potential of nine plant-derived EOs were investigated, with particular emphasis on their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and potential applications in the biomedical field. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was employed to characterize the chemical constituents of the EOs, followed by the evaluation of their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. Among the tested oils, clove leaf EO (<em>Eugenia caryophyllata</em>) exhibited the most notable performance, with an EC₅₀ value of 20.40 µg/mL, as well as low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against human pathogenic bacteria. These biological effects are attributed to the high content of the phenolic compound eugenol (88.76 %) present in clove EO. Furthermore, all EOs demonstrated promising antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2, as determined by RT-qPCR, with rosemary EO showing the greatest reduction in viral replication after 30 min of exposure. The synergistic action of 1,8-cineole and α-pinene in rosemary EO likely contributed to this enhanced antiviral activity. Overall, the findings indicate that, depending on their chemical composition, essential oils possess significant antibacterial and antiviral potential, highlighting their promise as bioactive agents for future biomedical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 478-488"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840048","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":"GGE Biplot analysis of genotype-by-environment interactions to identify improved genotypes of tropical carrot (Daucus carota L.) under high temperature stress","authors":"Kamaljeet Kaur,&nbsp;Ruma Devi,&nbsp;Tarsem Singh Dhillon","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The stability of yield and contributing traits were investigated across forty-six tropical carrot (<em>Daucus carota</em> L.) genotypes in four environments at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, over the years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024. The objective was to identify heat-tolerant genotypes. Data were analyzed using pooled analysis of variance (ANOVA) and GGE Biplot analysis to determine genotypic stability. ANOVA revealed significant variations in all parameters studied. Furthermore, significant genotype-by-environment (<em>G</em> × <em>E</em>) interactions indicated potential for developing environment-specific genotypes. Genotypes PC-100 (G11) and PC-DJAL (G13) were well adapted to E1 and E3 (heat stress conditions), while PC-171 (G1) and PC-172 (G12) were better adapted to E2 and E4 (normal conditions) for total root yield, marketable root yield, root diameter, root weight, and root length. Since marketable yield is crucial for commercial farming, identifying stable genotypes with high mean performance under specific conditions is vital. Genotype PC-100 performed best under heat stress and PC-171 performed best under normal conditions; these can be released as commercial varieties or utilized in future breeding programs to develop heat-tolerant cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 40-54"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616841","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":"Optimization of auxin and cytokinin concentrations for callus formation, total volatile extractables, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents in Orthosiphon aristatus leaves using response surface methodology","authors":"Luong Thi Le Tho ,&nbsp;Le Dang Minh Tuan ,&nbsp;Do Thi Tuyet Hoa ,&nbsp;Luu Tang Phuc Khang","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Orthosiphon aristatus</em> (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, yet efficient <em>in vitro</em> systems for biomass and metabolite production remain underexplored. This study aimed to optimize auxin and cytokinin concentrations for callus induction and to assess associated changes in total volatile extractables, phenolic, and flavonoid contents. Leaf explants from <em>ex situ</em> nursery were cultured on media containing either auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)) or cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), or kinetin). Among auxins, 2,4-D was the most effective, achieving 100% induction and the highest biomass accumulation by week 4, significantly outperforming IAA and NAA. Among cytokinin, BAP was superior to kinetin in promoting callogenesis and growth, although cytokinin effects were generally weaker than those of auxins. Response surface methodology identified culture duration and 2,4-D concentration as the dominant factors influencing induction and biomass yield, with BAP exerting only minor effects. Validation experiments under optimized conditions (2,4-D 4.5 mg/L, BAP 1.5 mg/L, 4 weeks) confirmed model accuracy, as observed values closely matched predictions. Biochemical analyses revealed that optimized callus cultures produced significantly higher total volatile extractables, total phenolics, and flavonoids than leaves. These findings establish a reliable and scalable strategy for enhancing biomass and metabolite production in <em>O. aristatus</em>, supporting its application in medicinal plant biotechnology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 160-173"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682053","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":"A systematic review to understand the current scenarios employing plants and their secondary metabolites as antifungal agents: opportunities and challenges","authors":"Shivangani,&nbsp;Hariprasad P․","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fungal diseases consistently affect the health of plants, humans, and animals, diminishing output. About 70% of major crop diseases are caused by fungi, causing economic losses and food security risks. Human invasive fungal infections have increased dramatically in recent decades, with substantial death rates. Antibiotic resistance, a global issue, makes fungal infections difficult to treat. Thus, alternative and sustainable fungal disease management strategies are needed immediately. As potential antifungal medications, antifungal plants and their secondary metabolites are of interest. This review aims to leverage the existing knowledge about the key plant secondary metabolites with antifungal potential, classify their mechanisms of action, and explore formulation strategies and computational tools to overcome current therapeutic limitations to curb the loss due to fungal diseases and to provide a platform for researchers to work on this area. The literature survey was conducted using the databases Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. The study examines 340 scholarly papers from 1990 to mid-2023. The study identified 648 plant species whose 268 secondary metabolites have shown antifungal activity <em>in vitro, in vivo</em>, and <em>in silico</em>. However, considering the vast diversity of plant species on Earth, only a small fraction of them and their secondary metabolites have been studied. Despite the plant's antifungal properties, its mode of action and bioactive components are often unknown. Moreover, the synergistic or co-potentiation effects of secondary metabolites in crude extracts have been scarcely explored. <em>In silico</em> investigations are limited by fungal target molecular structures, emphasizing the need for target purity and structural elucidation. In conclusion, phytochemicals can treat fungal illnesses naturally. Their diverse modes of action and broad antifungal characteristics make them promising research subjects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 143-159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682123","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":"Effects of pruning with flower removal on the growth, starch reserves and secondary metabolites of a medicinal herb, Astragalus mongholicus","authors":"Hui Meng Law,&nbsp;Alieta Eyles,&nbsp;Dugald C. Close","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Astragalus membranaceus</em> (Fisch.) Bge. var. <em>mongholicus</em> (Bge.) Hsiao is highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine, however, knowledge on the cultivation of this species for optimal root bioactive and biomass production is limited. This study investigated the effects of pruning intensities (0 [control], 25, and 50 %), where flower removal occurred concurrently with pruning, on biomass and starch content and secondary metabolite accumulation in the roots of <em>A. mongholicus</em> two and seven months after treatments were imposed. Shoot pruning at 50 %, combined with flower removal, significantly increased the accumulation of several isoflavonoids, particularly calycosin 7-O-β-D glucoside (31 %), calycosin isomers 1 (26 %) and 2 (27 %), pratensein isomer 1 (12 %), formononetin isomer 2 (21 %), and total isoflavonoids (19 %) compared to unpruned controls seven months after pruning. In contrast, the saponins, specifically astragaloside IV levels, remained unaffected by pruning with flower removal two- and seven-months post-pruning. Moreover, neither 25 % nor 50 % pruning with flower removal significantly influenced root biomass, total starch concentration and content. These findings indicate that pruning with flower removal can enhance the accumulation of valuable isoflavonoids without compromising root biomass or affecting optimal levels of astragaloside IV. Therefore, moderate (50 %) pruning, with flower removal, could optimise the medicinal quality of <em>A. mongholicus</em> roots.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 120-130"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682236","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":"Alchemilla vulgaris L. inhibits EMT and suppresses migration and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer","authors":"Aleksandra G. Nikezić ,&nbsp;Jovana V. Jovankić ,&nbsp;Danijela D. Nikodijević ,&nbsp;Milena G. Milutinović ,&nbsp;Zorana Z. Dobrijević ,&nbsp;Filip J. Grbović ,&nbsp;Nenad L. Vuković ,&nbsp;Milena D. Vukić ,&nbsp;Danijela M. Cvetković","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and extremely invasive type of tumor. To prevent poor prognoses and increase a survival rate, it is important to find an anticancer therapeutic or natural nutritional supplement that prevents and decreases its invasive metastatic potential. The aim of the study was to evaluate <em>Alchemilla vulgaris</em> L. anticancer activity on MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells in relation to control normal MRC-5 cell line, focusing on its anti-invasive potential, as there is no data on this issue in triple-negative breast cancer. Phytochemical characterization of aerial parts of the plant was performed by HPLC-PDA analysis and total phenolic and flavonoid compounds determination. The cytotoxic activity was tested with MTT assay, thus modulation of redox status in the cell (O₂^.-, GSH) with colorimetric methods. Antimigratory effect was evaluated using Wound healing assay. The expression of genes involved in cancer invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were determined at mRNA (<em>SNAI1, VIM, MMP2, MMP9, CYP1B1</em>) and protein (MMP9) level with qPCR method and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Immunocytochemistry was also used in testing BRCA1 and H2A protein expression. The phytochemical analyses showed that the most abundant polyphenolic compound was rutin (4.49 ± 0.06 mg/g), with notable amounts of catechin hydrate (3.59 ± 1.07 mg/g), quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside (3.21 ± 0.13 mg/g) and ferulic acid (2.73 ± 0.02 mg/g). Results of cytotoxicity showed that plant extract was not significantly cytotoxic on TNBC cells but increased O₂^.- and GSH concentration on dose- and time-dependent manner in all tested cell lines. Furthermore, treatment had strong antimigratory activity as it decreased MDA-MB-231 cell migration by &gt;30 %, but 15 % on MDA-MB-468 cells. The gene and protein expression of MMP-9 as an indicator of tumor invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis was significantly suppressed in both TNBC cell lines. Relative gene expression of EMT markers was also significantly suppressed under the treatment. Protein expression of H2A was decreased in both treated cancer cell lines. According to our results <em>Alchemilla vulgaris</em> L. has a strong antimigratory and anti-invasive potential on extremely aggressive TNBC. Treatment showed a selective way of acting, as it demonstrated cancer cells-specific activity in comparation with normal lung fibroblasts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 427-441"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839871","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":"Optimizing particle size for enhanced aqueous extraction of phytochemicals from medicinal plants","authors":"Doris Kumadoh ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Adase ,&nbsp;Mary-Ann Archer ,&nbsp;Peter Ankutse ,&nbsp;Michael O. Kyene ,&nbsp;Genevieve N. Yeboah","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the optimal particle sizes and qualitative and quantitative phytochemical profiles of aqueous extracts from fifteen commonly used herbal plants (roots, stem bark, and leaves) in Ghana. The plant materials were processed into fine (&lt;2 mm) and coarse (&gt;2 mm) particle sizes. The extracts were screened for various phytochemicals, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids. Additional compounds analyzed included glycosides, resins, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, polyuronides, and phlobatannins. Fine particles yielded higher phytochemical concentrations with all testing positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, while coarse extracts consistently contained only flavonoids and saponins. Quantitative results revealed Psidium guajava exhibited increased total phenols (235.06 mg/g vs. 214.09 mg/g) and flavonoids (68.02 mg/g vs. 47.33 mg/g) in fine particles relative to coarse. Similarly, Diodia scandens showed a marked rise in phenols (213.02 mg/g vs. 112.06 mg/g), while Khaya senegalensis demonstrated elevated saponin levels (113.31 mg/g vs. 95.27 mg/g) with fine particles. Several coarse extracts lacked detectable levels of alkaloids and tannins, which were present in fine-particle extracts. A statistically significant difference (<em>p</em> = 0.006) was observed between extractive values of fine (16.393 %<span><math><mrow><mspace></mspace><mrow><mi>w</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>/</mo><mspace></mspace><mi>v</mi></mrow></mrow></math></span>) compared to coarse particles (10.203 %<span><math><mrow><mspace></mspace><mrow><mi>w</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>/</mo><mspace></mspace><mi>v</mi></mrow></mrow></math></span>). Among the plant parts, stem barks had the highest extractive values (6.933 %<span><math><mrow><mspace></mspace><mrow><mi>w</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>/</mo><mspace></mspace><mi>v</mi></mrow></mrow></math></span>), followed by root (4.807 %<span><math><mrow><mspace></mspace><mrow><mi>w</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>/</mo><mspace></mspace><mi>v</mi></mrow></mrow></math></span>) and leaves (4.653 %<span><math><mrow><mspace></mspace><mrow><mi>w</mi><mspace></mspace><mo>/</mo><mspace></mspace><mi>v</mi></mrow></mrow></math></span>). The study concludes that fine particles (&lt;2 mm) enhance the recovery of phytochemicals and extractive values, making them more suitable for efficient extraction. These findings underscore the critical role of particle size in maximizing phytochemical extraction efficiency and suggest that optimizing particle size is a key consideration in the formulation of plant-based therapeutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 517-529"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840049","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":"Metabolic profiling of crude and refined Hura crepitans L. Seed oil in rats: Evidence for nutritional safety and functional tissue adaptation","authors":"Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Ugwor ,&nbsp;Adewale Segun James ,&nbsp;Rebecca Titilayo Oniyiku ,&nbsp;Christiana Oluwakunmisola Igbin ,&nbsp;Samuel okikijesu Ashaolu ,&nbsp;Aniekan Ime Ubi-Abai ,&nbsp;Omowunmi Eunice Babalola ,&nbsp;Marvelous Damilola Omotosho ,&nbsp;Hassanot Ayobami Sanusi ,&nbsp;Oreoluwapo Iyanuoluwa Osikanlu ,&nbsp;Ebozue Chukwuemeka Collins ,&nbsp;Regina Ngozi Ugbaja","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hura crepitans</em> L. seed oil (HCSO) is an underutilized tropical oil with emerging dietary and industrial relevance. This study investigates the metabolic responses to dietary crude and refined HCSO in rats, comparing their effects with canola oil. Physicochemical analysis showed that refinement significantly improved oil quality, lowering acid value and increasing iodine value. GC/MS revealed that refinement enhanced the proportion of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids, like linoleic acid, while preserving minor bioactives like squalene. Rats fed crude HCSO showed reduced body weight and feed intake, while refined oil preserved energy balance without compromising feed efficiency. Organ-specific analyses revealed significant increases in brain weight and reductions in kidney weight, accompanied by tissue-specific lipid redistribution. Crude HCSO markedly altered brain lipid composition, reducing triglycerides and increasing cholesterol. These changes were supported by transcriptional evidence showing downregulation of <em>Fasn</em> (fatty acid synthase) and upregulation of <em>Acat</em> (acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase) in the brain, suggesting enhanced cholesterol processing and reduced lipogenesis. In the kidney, refined oil reduced free fatty acids and suppressed <em>Fasn</em> and <em>Lcat</em> (lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase) expression, indicating coordinated metabolic downregulation. Serum lipid parameters and protein levels remained largely stable across groups. Overall, refined HCSO demonstrated a metabolically safe profile and organ-specific effects, supporting its potential as a sustainable, functional dietary oil. These findings provide a foundation for further studies on the nutritional and neurobiological impacts of HCSO.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 579-589"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925144","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}