Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis L.), native to Africa but widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, is increasingly grown in Uganda, and pollination efficiency is critical for fruit set and oil yield. The study assessed the population and sexual diversity of the primary pollinator, Elaeidobius kamerunicus FAUST, in introduced hybrid plantations in Kalangala and natural stands in Bundibugyo. Pollinator weevils were sampled across both wet and dry seasons in 2022 and 2023, and data were analyzed using ANOVA and correlation tests in Minitab 17. Results revealed significant variation between sites, with higher populations in Kalangala (7,503 ± 8.682) compared to Bundibugyo (5,164 ± 5.829). Furthermore, females (6,636 ± 4.646) outnumbered males (6,032 ± 5.028), with a slightly higher concentration of females in the middle section of male inflorescences. Seasonal differences were evident, as the wet season supported slightly higher weevil populations relative to the dry season. Correlation analysis indicated a weak negative relationship between weevil abundance and weather variables, suggesting that cooler conditions suppress population growth. Overall, Uganda provides favorable conditions for pollinator weevil multiplication, particularly under moist climatic regimes, while extensive cold conditions limit population expansion. These findings highlight the importance of pollinator dynamics in sustaining oil palm productivity in diverse agro-ecological regions.

ABSTRACT Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, driving the continuous search for safer and more effective therapeutic agents. Medicinal plants represent a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant anticancer potential. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of ten selectively chosen medicinal plants – Allium sativum, Solanum nigrum, Curcuma longa, Brassica oleracea, Salvia officinalis, Podophyllum hexandrum, Hedyotis diffusa, Scutellaria barbata, Tinospora cordifolia, and Withania somnifera – based on their traditional use, phytochemical richness, and extensive experimental validation of their anticancer efficacy. The major active constituents, including allicin, syringic acid, curcumin, sulforaphane, rosmarinic acid, podophyllotoxin, anthraquinones, scutellarein, palmatine, and withaferin A, exhibit multifaceted anticancer mechanisms, such as apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, and the modulation of key signaling pathways including the NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, and p53. These phytoconstituents target diverse cancer types, including breast, colon, lung, gastric, cervical and osteosarcoma models, through molecular mechanisms validated in vitro and in vivo. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of these plants as potential leads for anticancer drug development and emphasizes the need for further translational studies to validate their efficacy, safety, and synergistic potential in clinical settings.

This study elucidated the growth and reproductive characteristics of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix in the lower Yellow River. A relationship equation between length (L) and weight (W) was established as W = 2.0 × 10−5 × L3.0037, with maximum limit body length (L∞) and maximum limit body weight (W∞) identified as 790.35 mm and 9086.54 g, respectively. The maximum growth rate of weight peaked when the age reached 4.785a. Female populations reached initial sexual maturity at a body weight and length of 1871.28 g and 450.57 mm, while male populations reached it at 1673.55 g and 434.13 mm. Comparison with H. molitrix populations in other river basins in China revealed that individuals in the lower Yellow River exhibited smaller maximum lengths, indicating a trend toward miniaturization. Furthermore, the suitable breeding period of H. molitrix population in the lower Yellow River lasted only approximately one month, shorter than that observed in the Yangtze River, with sexually mature individuals attaining smaller sizes than those in the Yangtze River. This study provides crucial insights into the growth and reproductive patterns of H. molitrix in the lower Yellow River, offering important ecological information for the sustainable management of fishery resources and contributing to the understanding of how environmental conditions influence fish populations in this region.

The comparative characterization of the complete mitogenome of three subspecies of the genus Rucervus duvaucelii revealed close genetic relationship among Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii, Rucervus duvaucelii branderi and Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhii. Three mitogenome of Rucervus duvaucelii branderi were sequenced by next generation sequencing without the use of mitogenome-specific primers and measured 16407 bp, 16412 bp and 16361 bp. These three sequences of Rucervus duvaucelii duvaucelii (n = 3) were compared with seven previously reported Rucervus mitogenomes derived by Sanger sequencing using specific primers. The length of coding genes (CGs) in all the three subspecies ranged from 11461 bp to 11403 bp accounting for 69.77-69.85% of the mitogenome. The A + T content of the 13 CGs in the mitogenome were comparable among the three subspecies. All transfer RNA gene sequences formed secondary cloverleaf structures except trn Ser2 and G + C content of the tRNA genes varied from 20.3% (trn Arg ) to 45.2% (trn Asn ). Two hepta nucleotide motifs (‘ttttccc’ and ‘gtacata’) were observed in the control region. The atp8 gene presented the highest evolutionary rate, with a dN/dS ratio of (0.348) whereas cox1 exhibited the lowest (0.0106). The phylogenetic tree highlighted the evolutionary significance of the genus Rucervus and all the ten whole mitochondrial genome sequences were clustered together.

ABSTRACT Brassica rapa subsp rapa L., a plant used in both traditional medicine and cuisine, produces a diverse array of valuable metabolites and hosts a variety of endophytic organisms. In this study, we characterized the metabolic profiles of four fungal endophytes isolated from B. rapa and evaluated the immunomodulatory potential of their metabolites in a mouse model. The investigation focused on the metabolites' ability to enhance immunity by activating genes associated with the NF-κB and inflammatory pathways. Our results indicated that the metabolic composition of the endophyte strain PR10 was distinct from the other three isolates, with a notable enrichment in amino acids. Moreover, PR10 extracts potently activated genes related to the NF-κB and inflammatory pathways, an effect consistent with that observed for the B. rapa plant itself. These findings provide new insights into the functional interplay between B. rapa and its endophytes in modulating inflammatory and immune responses.

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for chronic periodontitis, accelerating tissue destruction, impairing healing, and reducing treatment efficacy. While its overall impact on periodontal breakdown is well recognized, its specific effect on biological width—a key determinant of periodontal stability, surgical planning, and regeneration—has not been systematically examined. Biological width, comprising the junctional epithelium and connective tissue attachment, is essential for maintaining periodontal health. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical evidence to clarify how smoking alters biological width, with emphasis on the role of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Nicotine-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic modifications impair PDLSC proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and immunomodulation, leading to diminished regenerative potential. Animal models reveal structural disruption and narrowing of biological width, while clinical studies consistently demonstrate impaired regeneration, delayed healing, and higher recurrence of disease in smokers. By integrating cellular mechanisms with histological and clinical findings, this review highlights biological width as a critical yet underexplored determinant of periodontal prognosis. A deeper understanding of smoking-induced alterations in PDLSCs and biological width may enhance risk assessment, guide surgical decision-making, and inform regenerative strategies for smoking patients.

ABSTRACT Medicinal plants are emerging as sustainable alternatives to synthetic compounds in aquaculture, demonstrating significant potential to enhance fish reproduction while addressing ecological and economic challenges. This review synthesizes findings from the existing literature to assess the potential of medicinal plants as an ecofriendly approach in fish reproduction. These findings demonstrate the potential of medicinal plants to enhance fish reproductive performance of fish. Saponin and flavonoid compounds are likely key factors involved in the modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis – increasing sperm motility and hatchability. Despite this potential, the regional adoption of medicinal plants and their application in aquaculture for fish reproduction is generally low. Promoting the use of medicinal plants in fish reproduction as alternatives to synthetic products may have several environmental benefits, such as reductions in antibiotic residues while lowering production costs. This study proposes a dual-pathway framework integrating phytotherapies with emerging technologies (nano-encapsulation, CRISPR) and policy actions (FAO-led MRL guidelines) to accelerate sustainable adoption.

Iron is a trace element indispensable for fundamental cellular processes, whose metabolism is regulated homeostatically at both systemic and cellular levels. Crucial components of iron metabolism comprise: transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1)-mediated cellular iron uptake; non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) uptake under pathological conditions; intracellular iron storage accomplished through ferritin; and systemic regulation governed by hepcidin. In cancer, this delicate balance is frequently disrupted. Dysregulation of iron metabolism in B-cell lymphomas promotes tumor progression through several mechanisms. These include epigenetic reprogramming—exemplified by the activation of the iron-dependent histone demethylase KDM4A—and exacerbation of oxidative stress, which can foster genomic instability. The consequences of iron metabolism dysregulation are closely linked to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death characterized by lethal lipid peroxidation. In B-cell lymphomas, tumor cells often develop mechanisms to evade ferroptosis; for instance, by upregulating the HSPA5/GPX4 axis to suppress lipid peroxidation and enhance cell survival. Therapeutically, targeting iron metabolism pathways holds promise. Strategies include depleting intracellular iron pools using iron chelators and employing nanotechnology for the targeted delivery of iron-loaded nanoparticles or ferroptosis inducers to selectively trigger ferroptosis. These approaches underscore the potential of targeting iron metabolism for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas, offering novel avenues to improve therapeutic outcomes.

ABSTRACT Soil salinity and excess iron are major abiotic stresses that limit global plant growth and productivity. However, the response of NERICA4 rice, which is a high-yielding and interspecific hybrid developed by crossing O. sativa and O. glaberrima to these abiotic stresses occurring in rain-fed paddy fields, has not been demonstrated. In a completely randomized design, we evaluated the effects of salinity (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) and excess iron (0, 250, 500, and 750 mg L−1 FeSO4) on NERICA4 and susceptible and tolerant control rice varieties at the seedling stage. NERICA4 was highly responsive to osmotic stress, as the leaf blade water potential was maintained even under high salt stress (100 mM NaCl). A low shoot Na+/K+ ratio under salt stress suggests that Na+ may be eliminated by the root system, supporting its salt-tolerance ability. NERICA4 presented low root and shoot iron ion concentrations across all the iron treatments, suggesting that it might inhibit iron uptake under iron-rich conditions. In conclusion, our research will play a significant role in the introduction and dissemination of the NERICA4 cultivar in the rainfed-rice growing regions of Africa, where soil problems are common.

ABSTRACT Lichen planus (LP), a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder affecting skin/mucosa (global prevalence: 0.5–1%), lacks effective therapies due to undefined drug targets. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) using cis-eQTLs (eQTLGen, n = 31,684) and GWAS data from FinnGen/UK Biobank, validated via summary-based MR, colocalization, drug prediction, and molecular docking. Eight druggable genes (IL18R1, RNASET2, SYK, etc.) showed robust associations with LP risk. PheWAS revealed pleiotropic links (e.g. ATP9B with metabolic traits), while functional enrichment implicated immune/metabolic pathways. Molecular docking prioritized compounds (e.g. phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) with strong target binding. This study identifies prioritized therapeutic targets for LP, offering a multi-omics framework to enhance drug efficacy and reduce development risks, advancing precision therapy for refractory cases.