The Science of Nature最新文献

{"title":"Comprehensive analysis of the pharmacological potentials of Marrubium vulgare (white horehound): a recent overview of phytochemistry and biological activities","authors":"Zaynab Ouadghiri,&nbsp;Othman El Faqer,&nbsp;Hicham Wahnou,&nbsp;Samira Rais,&nbsp;El Mostafa Mtairag","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02156-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02156-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Marrubium vulgare</i> L. (<i>M. vulgare</i>) is a medicinal plant widely employed in traditional medicine for the management of respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and inflammatory disorders. Owing to its broad ethnopharmacological applications and rich phytochemical composition, the plant has attracted increasing scientific attention. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the phytochemistry, traditional uses, and biological activities of <i>M. vulgare</i>, with particular emphasis on marrubiin, its major bioactive diterpene. Available studies indicate that <i>M. vulgare</i> contains a diverse range of secondary metabolites, including diterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and volatile constituents, many of which contribute to its pharmacological properties. Experimental investigations have reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antiproliferative/cytotoxic activities. Among these constituents, marrubiin is one of the most extensively investigated compounds and may contribute to several of the reported biological effects. Collectively, the available preclinical evidence provides pharmacological support for several traditional uses of <i>M. vulgare</i> and identifies the plant as a source of compounds worthy of further investigation. However, most evidence is derived from in vitro and animal studies, while clinical data remain scarce. Considerable variability in extract composition and experimental protocols, together with limited information regarding pharmacokinetics, long-term safety, standardization, and mechanism-specific validation, currently restricts clinical interpretation. Further studies using chemically standardized preparations, rigorous mechanistic approaches, comprehensive toxicological assessment, and, where justified, well-designed clinical trials are required to establish the therapeutic relevance of <i>M. vulgare</i> and its major constituents.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148965950","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":"Plant-mediated synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Rumex nepalensis extract and physicochemical characterization and biological applications","authors":"Abhimanyu Pawar,&nbsp;Kishor Naktode,&nbsp;Arvind Mungole,&nbsp;Santosh Gaikwad,&nbsp;Dalesh M. Parshuramkar,&nbsp;Chandrashekhar P. Pandhurnekar,&nbsp;Junaid Gulzar,&nbsp;Mithul V Mammen,&nbsp;Akhtar Rasool","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02161-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02161-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Green synthesis has emerged as a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy for the rapid production of nanoparticles. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using <i>Rumex nepalensis</i> (Spreng.) leaf extract, which served as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. This eco-friendly synthesis approach provides an alternative to conventional chemical methods by avoiding the use of toxic chemicals and minimizing environmental hazards. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of ZnO nanoparticles with a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) further verified the presence of Zn–O bonds and indicated a high degree of elemental purity. Morphological characterization through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the nanoparticles were mainly spherical in shape, with particle sizes ranging from approximately 11 to 13 nm. Optical analysis using UV–Visible spectroscopy showed a band gap energy of 3.26 eV, confirming the semiconducting properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria, highlighting their potential as effective antimicrobial agents. The strong antioxidant activity was observed, indicating their capability to scavenge free radicals and mitigate oxidative stress, the results confirm the successful green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using <i>R. nepalensis</i> extract and emphasize their structural stability, biocompatibility, and diverse biological activities. These findings suggest promising applications of the biogenic ZnO nanoparticles in biomedical, cosmetic, and industrial fields, further supporting the role of green nanotechnology in the development of sustainable nanomaterials.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148966097","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":"Can granivorous birds disperse stick and leaf insect eggs? Integrating in vivo digestion trials and in vitro functional experiments","authors":"Judith Burack,&nbsp;Eberhard Haase,&nbsp;Stanislav N. Gorb,&nbsp;Thies H. Büscher","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02157-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02157-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Spatial distribution plays a crucial role in speciation, affecting genetic divergence and reproductive isolation. Phasmatodea (stick and leaf insects) have limited adult mobility and may use their seed-like eggs for passive dispersal. The possibility of egg dispersal through birds is controversially discussed in current literature. Previous studies suggest that ornithochory of phasmid eggs is context-dependent and most eggs do not survive digestion by granivorous birds, while eggs consumed by insectivorous birds can potentially survive and hatch, presumably also when a gravid female is consumed. This study examined this question by testing how different phasmid egg morphologies withstand bird digestion, simulating the digestive system in laboratory conditions and evaluating egg viability post-treatment. Results showed that none of the eggs of the tested species hatched after being eaten by granivorous birds, although some eggs of the species <i>Dajaca napolovi</i> were found structurally intact. In the laboratory experiments, the low pH environment significantly affected survival, with none of the treated eggs surviving acid treatment. High temperatures and mechanical impact also influenced egg hatching depending on the species. The findings suggest that acid and temperature tolerance are prerequisites for bird-mediated dispersal of single eggs ingested by granivorous birds and mechanical impact by the gizzard renders long-distance dispersal via ornithochory by granivorous birds unlikely for the investigated phasmatodean species. To further elucidate the potential ornithochory of phasmid eggs by birds with different diets, studies examining the digestive conditions experienced by ingested eggs in other bird species are warranted, particularly regarding insectivorous birds and the role of potential protection of eggs within an adult female phasmid.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00114-026-02157-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resilience of ant communities (Hymenoptera: formicidae) to moderate urban disturbance in a mediterranean peri-urban landscape","authors":"Athanasia Ntouzou,&nbsp;Jakovos Demetriou,&nbsp;Eleftheria Kyriazidi,&nbsp;Anastasia Misseyanni,&nbsp;Christos Georgiadis","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02152-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02152-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Human activities alter the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the environment, affecting species richness, population abundances and community composition. Nevertheless, these activities intensify as we move from forested areas to the center of urban cities, with peri-urban areas presenting intermediate trends. In this study, we investigate the role of anthropogenic disturbance to ant community composition and diversity in the peri-urban forest of Agia Paraskevi (Attica), Greece. Sampling was conducted during a full year (June 2022 - May 2023) using pitfall traps, both in natural areas and in areas under human influence. Pitfalls from four months (i.e. January, April, July and October) were chosen to represent each season, with specimens being curated and identified to the species level. Overall, our findings suggest that ant communities in peri-urban forests exhibit resilience to moderate anthropogenic disturbance, with differences in species diversity, community composition and abundances being not statistically significant between disturbed and undisturbed sites. These results are consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, highlighting that peri-urban forests can act as important reservoirs of biodiversity within urban landscapes. At the same time, the absence of non-native species highlights the need for long-term monitoring and management strategies that promote microhabitat diversity while mitigating the ecological risks associated with urbanization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00114-026-02152-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties under ZnSO4 stress: Insights from growth, physiological, biochemical and metabolomics","authors":"Shakir Ullah,&nbsp;Xingfan Li,&nbsp;Uzma Salam,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Elateeq,&nbsp;Xiaorui Guo,&nbsp;Zhonghua Tang","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02148-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02148-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Although plants require an appropriate level of zinc (Zn) for normal growth and development, excessive accumulation, and high concentrations of it can impair plant growth, and disrupt physiological and metabolic processes. In this study, we aimed to identify zinc-tolerant chickpea varieties using multivariate analysis, and to elucidate the contribution of primary metabolites to zinc tolerance. We investigated multiple growth, physiological and biochemical parameters, including plant height, fresh weight and dry weight, Zn uptake, root-to-shoot ratio, relative shoot water content, tolerance index, chlorophyll contents, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL) and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductases (GR), proline, soluble sugars, and total protein in three chickpea varieties: ICCV89310 (IC8), NC234 (NC2), and ICCV89323-B (IC8-B) under various ZnSO₄ concentrations (Ck, 50, 100, and 150 µM) in a hydroponic medium. Metabolite profiling of shoot samples was performed using GC-MS, while Zn accumulation in roots and shoots was quantified with ICP-OES. The results revealed significant differences among the tested varieties. For instance, IC8 and NC2 exhibited robust growth, and physiological and biochmeical performance under elevated ZnSO₄ stress, indicating greater Zn tolerance, while IC8-B was the most sensitive variety. Additionally, IC8 and NC2 exhibited greater enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity compared to IC8-B across the Zn treatments. Meanwhile, forty-six responsive metabolites of different categories, including organic acids, amino acids, amines, alcohols, and sugars were quantified in the shoots of three chickpea varieties. Noticeably, the relative tolerance potential of IC8 and NC2 compared to IC8-B was asociated with distinct metabolic adjusments, including changes in histidine, asparagine, tryptophan, allantoin and antioxidant-related metabolites. Overall, this study provides an integrated physiological, biochemical, and metabolomic basis for identifying Zn-tolerant, and Zn-sensitive chickpea germplasm. IC8-B may serve as a sensetive refrence variety for comparative Zn-tolerance studies or to evaluate other chickpeas tolerance capacity, while IC8 and NC2 represent promising germplasm for Zn-contaminated environments; howver, field-scale confirmation remains necessary before practical application.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927207","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":"Metabolite profiling, enzyme inhibition, and in silico analysis of Commiphora gileadensis oleo-gum resin","authors":"Hossam M. Abdallah,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Farag,&nbsp;Abdelsattar M. Omar,&nbsp;Dina Abdulrahman I. Albadawi,&nbsp;Gamal A. Mohamed,&nbsp;Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim,&nbsp;Emad A. AlSherif,&nbsp;Khaled A. Mansour","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02155-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02155-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Commiphora gileadensis</i> oleo-gum resin is traditionally used in Arabia to manage diabetes, yet its phytochemical composition and mechanisms of action remain poorly characterized. To address this gap, an integrated UHPLC–MS/MS metabolomic strategy, in vitro enzyme inhibition, and in silico modeling were applied to characterize its constituents and evaluate its biological potential. UHPLC–MS/MS analysis led to the tentative annotation of fifty-five metabolites, expanding the known chemistry of this species. The ethanolic extract inhibited α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 6.18 µg/mL) and α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 22.33 µg/mL), with measurable inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Phytochemical investigation afforded gallic acid, quercetin, and naringenin; quercetin showed the strongest activity across all four enzymes, naringenin was moderately active, and gallic acid was least active. Docking and MD simulations generated plausible pose-retention hypotheses for several metabolites, including procyanidin B1, quercetin, sesamin, and commiferin, across the four modeled human targets. However, since the docking targets are not species-matched to their corresponding in vitro assays, these findings should not be regarded as direct confirmation of the experimental mechanism. Collectively, the findings establish the presence of a chemically diverse resin with in vitro enzyme-inhibitory activity and prioritize candidate metabolites for assay-matched validation. They do not establish antidiabetic efficacy, neuroprotection, synergistic action, or confirmed target engagement.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148910567","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":"Megaraptoridae: a gracile model of large predators? insights from a multiproxy approach","authors":"Mauro Aranciaga-Rolando","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02151-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02151-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Megaraptora constitute a distinctive clade of Cretaceous theropods that evolved long and powerful arms, long and unsculptured skull and, particularly, highly pneumatized and slender skeletons in comparison to their relatives (e.g., tyrannosaurs). Furthermore, younger and late branching megaraptorans become progressively bigger and more pneumatic, which has been related with the extinction of carcharodontosaurids in the Cenomanian-Turonian limit and the niche shifting of megaraptorans as top predators of their ecosystems. Notwithstanding, the progressive increment of the pneumaticity and body mass could have more intimate relations that previously thought. Using recently published body estimations and segmented CT scan data, the relation between degrees of pneumatization vs. body mass of megaraptorids was evaluated in order to (1) confirm the increment of pneumaticity through phylogeny and (2) to test if the increment of pneumatization had any relation with the body mass of this clade. Moreover, CT data of sacral and caudal vertebrae and haemal archs of <i>Aoniraptor</i> and cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae and ribs of <i>Maip</i> reveal that pneumatic cavities occupy a huge proportion of bone volume, which probably reduced considerably the skeletal weight. Contrarily, similar data in non megaraptoran theropods like dorsal and sacral vertebrae <i>Bicentenaria</i> and cervical and dorsal vertebrae and ribs of <i>Taurovenator</i>, show notably lower volumes. Furthermore, body mass estimations based on femoral circumference (made in previous authors) and tibial circumference (made in this work) indicate that megaraptorids was 40–70% lighter than non-avian theropods of similar body length. This mass reduction combined previously estimated body length, suggests that megaraptorans deviates from the body mass expected for Theropoda. In this regard, it is proposed that the progressive increase of pneumatization is potentially coupled with proportionally low body mass indicating an evolutionary trend toward such “light” model of large-bodied predation. In this regard, these results highlight megaraptorids as a possible different group in contrast with the more “heavy” clades such as megalosauroids, carcharodontosaurids or tyrannosaurids.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148863316","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":"Biosynthesis of A. tokatensis-ZnO nanoparticles from Astragalus tokatensis: multifunctional bioactivity and molecular docking studies targeting xanthine oxidase and LasR","authors":"Suzan Sahin Dogan,&nbsp;Bugrahan Emsen,&nbsp;Duygu Aydin,&nbsp;Burak Surmen","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02149-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02149-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of sustainable nanomaterials with multifunctional bioactivity remains a major challenge in green nanotechnology. Herein, we report for the first time the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using <i>Astragalus tokatensis</i> Fisch. extract as a novel phytochemical-rich reducing and stabilizing agent. In this study, we hypothesized that phytochemical-rich <i>A. tokatensis</i> extract could mediate the synthesis of bioactive ZnO nanoparticles (<i>A. tokatensis</i>-ZnONPs) while simultaneously enhancing their biological performance through surface-bound secondary metabolites. Accordingly, ZnO NPs were synthesized via an eco-friendly route and comprehensively characterized to elucidate their physicochemical properties. The synthesized <i>A. tokatensis</i>-ZnO NPs exhibited remarkable antibiofilm activity, achieving 90% inhibition at the highest tested concentration, and displayed stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than against Gram-negative bacteria. Significant antioxidant activity was also observed in both DPPH radical scavenging and metal-chelating assays. Furthermore, <i>A. tokatensis</i>-ZnONPs demonstrated moderate photocatalytic efficiency in methylene blue degradation under sunlight irradiation, highlighting their environmental applicability. Molecular docking analyses revealed favourable interactions between representative <i>Astragalus</i>-derived phytochemicals and the selected protein targets, providing preliminary mechanistic insights into the observed biological activities. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that <i>A. tokatensis</i>-mediated ZnO NPs function as multifunctional nanoplatforms integrating antimicrobial, antioxidant, and photocatalytic properties, underscoring their promise for advanced biomedical and environmental applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148823635","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":"Caulerpa peltata extract protects against Dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute ulcerative colitis via modulating Nrf2 pathway","authors":"Yasmin Banu Chanbasha,&nbsp;Muthu Ragunath,&nbsp;Ashok Kumar Pandurangan","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02150-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02150-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and poses an increasing public health issue around the world because of the presence of genetic, immunological, and environmental causes. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory therapy targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways have become the main therapeutic approach with the use of the NRF2 pathway. In this study, the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and NRF2 regulation activities of ethanolic extract of <i>Caulerpa peltata</i> (CPEE) were investigated using phytochemical screening, in vitro, in vivo,<i> and in silico</i> methods. Firstly, phytochemical screening and in vitro analysis were done in order to determine the phytochemical components and antioxidant potential of the CPEE. The safe dosages of CPEE (1.25–100 µg/mL) were assessed in zebrafish embryotoxicity and morphological, biochemical, and molecular evaluations were conducted in the control mice, DSS-inducing UC mice and UC mice treated with CPEE (100 mg/kg) for seven days. LC-MS molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) were applied for characterizing the bioactive compounds in CPEE and predicting their binding affinities and stability of their interactions with protein targets. Phytochemical screening showed a high amount of flavonoids and tannins with potent antioxidant potential. Safe concentrations were obtained from zebrafish toxicity screening, whereas CPEE treatment in vivo decreased the severity of the disease, maintained levels of antioxidant enzymes, and improved <i>Nrf2</i>,<i> HO-1</i>,<i> and NQO1</i> expressions; further computational analysis supported stable binding energies of bioactive compounds to Keap1. CPEE decreased oxidative stress, colitis pathology, and exhibited an increase in the enzymatic activity of antioxidants and NRF2-related genes, which confirmed that <i>Caulerpa peltata</i> could be used as a possible source for bioactive compounds for further investigation in UC management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148823584","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":"Green-synthesized selenium and titanium dioxide nanomaterials: characterization and antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens","authors":"Shwetha B. Nagarajan,&nbsp;Anuradha Jayaraman,&nbsp;Sanjeevi Ramakrishnan","doi":"10.1007/s00114-026-02146-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00114-026-02146-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nosocomial respiratory infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens pose a major clinical threat, necessitating alternative antimicrobial strategies beyond conventional antibiotics. Green-synthesized nanomaterials offer a sustainable route for developing novel antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to perform the first direct, side-by-side comparison of plant-mediated selenium (SeNPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs), in both free and alginate-encapsulated forms, against MDR nosocomial respiratory pathogens under identical experimental conditions. Selenium and titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous plant extracts and subsequently encapsulated within an alginate biopolymer matrix to enhance stability. Nanomaterials were characterized for morphology, crystallinity, and surface functional groups. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed using agar diffusion assays, while minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined to evaluate dose-dependent effects. Selenium nanoparticles exhibited superior antibacterial activity (20–21 mm inhibition zones) compared to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (9–18 mm). Alginate encapsulation reduced initial inhibition but supported sustained antimicrobial action. Against <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>, selenium-based systems showed strong activity (15–19 mm), with titanium-based variants displaying moderate inhibition (12–18 mm). MIC assays revealed &gt; 0% bacterial suppression at 100 µg ml⁻¹. Plant-derived selenium and titanium dioxide nanomaterials, particularly selenium-based systems, demonstrate promising antimicrobial potential for further development against MDR nosocomial respiratory pathogens.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":794,"journal":{"name":"The Science of Nature","volume":"113 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148817173","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}