Background: Anti-inflammatory medications are classified as either steroidal or non-steroidal. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve pain, lower fever, inhibit blood clot formation, and, at higher doses, reduce inflammation. Their adverse effects vary by drug but commonly include an increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding, as well as potential cardiovascular and kidney complications. Oxidative stress has been recognized as a key pathogenic factor in ulcer development, directly disrupting cellular functions and causing damage to organelles such as mitochondria, lysosomes, and the nucleus. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiulcer effects of aqueous extract of fermented seeds of Prosopis africana (okpeye) in Wistar rats. Study Design: The study design monitors the therapeutic potential of aqueous extract of fermented seeds of Prosopis africana by assessing its anti-inflammatory and antiulcer effects on experimentally induced rats. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Between December 2023 and September 2024. Methodology: The induction of gastric ulcer was carried out using the method of Urushidani. Twenty (20) adult rats of both sexes were used, randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each. They were treated orally with normal saline and varying doses of the aqueous extract of fermented seeds of Prosopis africana. Cimetidine was used as the standard anti-ulcer drug. The In vivo anti-inflammatory study was done using fifteen (15) male Wistar rats. They were divided into five (5) groups of three (3) rats each. Diclofenac was used as the standard anti-inflammatory drug. Results: The result showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of ulcer formation in group 2 animals treated with 100 mg/kg cimetidine (before induction) with respect to the control group 1. The result also showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of ulcer formation in groups 4 and 5 animals treated with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of extract respectively, when compared with the animals in the control group 1. In the first and second phase of anti-inflammatory study, the result shows that the paw oedema of the rats treated with the extract, decreased significantly (P < 0.05) when compared with the animals in the control group 1. Conclusion: This result shows that aqueous extract of fermented seeds of Prosopis africana (okpeye) aided in the healing of the induced inflammation and chronic ulcer. Hence, the fermented seeds of Prosopis africana (okpeye) has both antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activity.

Grassland degradation is a critical ecological problem worldwide that threatens ecosystem integrity and functional services. Although previous studies have documented the drivers of climate change, overgrazing, and anthropogenic perturbation, research concerning the impact of invasive alien plants on grassland ecosystems remains limited. The present study, integrating pairwise field investigation of Ageratina adenophora invasion and non-invasion plots across heterogeneous grassland types (tropical grasslands [TG]; tropical shrub-grasslands [TS]; warm-temperate grasslands [WG]; and warm-temperate shrub-grasslands [WS]) and A. adenophora indigenous plants phytotoxicity bioassay, aims to assess the invasibility and resilience of heterogeneous grassland landscapes to A. adenophora invasion. The field investigation demonstrated the greater vulnerability of TG and TS to A. adenophora invasion, whereas WG and WS possessed higher resilience. In addition, regression analysis revealed significant reductions of the Shannon–Wiener index and the Pielou index as the A. adenophora’s important value reached the threshold 0.36. Bioassay showed that A. adenophora aqueous extracts inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of recipient plants, with Saccharum arundinaceum exhibiting the highest tolerance to A. adenophora stress. In summary, our findings not only highlight the flora communities’ dynamics and invasibility of diverse grasslands driven by A. adenophora invasion in subtropical regions but also verify S. arundinaceum’s potential for A. adenophora replacement management.

This study aimed to investigate the role of various plant extracts: Neem leaf extract (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) and cold and hot aqueous fruit extracts of the Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach L.), referred to as A1, A2, A3 respectively, besides the control treatment A0 at concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 mg L-1, for controlling the fungus F. semitectum. Based on preliminary screening, effective concentrations were identified, namely 1000, 2000 and 1500 mg L-1 for A1, A2 and A3 respectively, which resulted in 100 % inhibition of fungal growth. These were then used for conducting a field test experiment and laboratory test to study the effect of soaking seeds using various combinations of A0, A1, A2, A3. Four experiments were conducted on the germination and emergence of maize seeds in a media with fungus culture. Results showed that neem leaf extract at a concentration of 1000 mg L-1 and the aqueous extracts of Chinaberry fruits at a concentration of 1500–2500 mg L-1 completely inhibited the growth of the fungus. Moreover, Neem treatment alone A1 showed better results over the control treatment in both in vitro germination (87.50 %) and emergence (80.25 %). Interaction A1×A2 showed maximum strength of germination (1135), emergence length (6.72 cm), maximum dry weight of sprouting (0.0517g), suggestive of a synergistic effect of the compounds in A1 and A2. These observations reiterate that Neem and Safflower leaf extracts could be utilized effectively in promoting healthy seed life with reduced possibilities of seed diseases, besides being eco-friendly substitutes for poisonous pesticides.

The effect of sunflower extract on the germination and development of weeds is investigated. However, knowledge about the effects of extracts on target plants is equally important. Investigations into the allelopathic relationship between sunflowers and cereals, which often make up 50–70% of crop rotations, still have many unanswered questions. This experiment aimed to investigate the allelopathic impact of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as a donor plant for spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through their germination and morphological parameters. The following three factors were studied: factor A—two growth stages of the donor plant; factor B—three parts of the donor plant; factor C—five concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) of aqueous extracts of the plant donor. The extract concentration was the strongest factor influencing the germination of spring barley and spring wheat compared to the other two factors. The flowering sunflower extract inhibited the germination of the spring barley and spring wheat by 33–44% and 33–41%, respectively, more strongly than the ripe sunflower extract. According to the SE values, the allelopathic impact of extracts of sunflower parts on spring barley and spring wheat was as follows: L + S < R ˂ H and L + S < H ˂ R, respectively. The inhibitory effect of increasing concentration was determined on the SG, root/shoot length ratio, and SPAD values of both receptor plants.

In this study, an aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis was utilized as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the green synthesis of silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites (Ag-ZnO). The S. platensis extract was optimized at a concentration of 0.5%, stored at 4°C and centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 5 min. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy of the extract showed a broad absorbance band in the 330- to 380-nm region and a shoulder in the 520- to 620-nm range, corresponding to bioactive metabolites. The formation of silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites was confirmed by characteristic absorbance in the 300- to 400-nm region under optimized conditions. Particle size analysis using a Zetasizer revealed an average particle size of approximately 204 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.28. Functional groups, crystallinity, and surface morphology were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Due to increasing concerns over antibiotic resistance, the antibacterial potential of the synthesized nanocomposites was evaluated by the disk diffusion method showing a maximum zone of inhibition of 35 ± 0.4 nm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 13 μg/mL. The Ag-ZnO nanocomposites exhibited a notable antioxidant activity, indicating a concentration-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity with a maximum inhibition of 67.3% at 517 nm, compared to 60.12 for ascorbic acid. Furthermore, cytotoxic evaluation against the BT-549 breast cancer cell line revealed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 6.401 μg/mL. These findings indicate that S. platensis-mediated silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites exhibit promising biological activity.

Study on Chronic Toxicity, Metabolic Profiles and Potential Mechanisms of Aristolochiae Fructus in Rats.

An ecologically friendly, low-cost, and biogenic preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) via a green approach utilizing waste biomass material is reported. The catalyst efficiency for Friedel-Crafts acylation to access functionalized anisole under solvent-free conditions and synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives utilizing water as a green solvent is described. The Fe3O4 NPs were synthesized biogenically using an aqueous extract of areca nut husk (ANH) and subsequently confirmed by various standard spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques. FESEM analysis displayed a spherical, agglomerated porous morphology, while the XRD analysis displayed a crystal size of 2.31 nm. TG-DT analysis revealed the stability of the Fe3O4 NPs to be good up to 450 °C, and XPS analysis indicated Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states of the catalyst. A series of anisole and quinoxaline derivatives were prepared in moderate to high yields using the catalyst, and catalyst recyclability, mechanistic elucidation, and gram-scale synthesis are described herein. Additionally, the gas sensing proficiency of Fe3O4 NPs was examined toward oxidizing as well as reducing gases, establishing their potential for value-added applications.

Fresh leaves provided active phytochemicals that acted as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, while the solvent dictated their extraction and interaction with growing nanoparticles. Controlling the size, morphology, and optical properties of SnO₂ nanoparticles remains challenging due to limited understanding of how solvent selection influences phytochemical-mediated nanoparticle formation. This study addresses this problem by employing a green synthesis approach using a 1.0 M solution of tin (II) chloride dihydrate (SnCl₂·2H₂O) as a precursor and fresh Senna alata leaf extracts as an environmentally friendly reducing, stabilizing and capping agent prepared in water and ethanol. Structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were studied. X-ray diffraction confirmed phase-pure tetragonal rutile SnO₂, with ethanolic extracts producing larger crystallites (9.06 nm) and higher crystallinity than aqueous extracts (3.70 nm). FTIR revealed stronger surface coordination in ethanolic samples, and SEM/TEM showed smaller, more uniformly dispersed nanoparticles (8.73 nm) versus moderately agglomerated aqueous-derived particles (9.79 nm). Optical studies indicated enhanced UV absorption, higher transparency, and a lower band gap (3.05 eV) for ethanolic extract-mediated nanoparticles. These findings demonstrate that solvent choice critically influences nanoparticle properties, and fresh Senna alata extracts in ethanol offer a potential green route to SnO₂ nanoparticles with tunable structural, morphological, and optical characteristics for optoelectronic, photocatalytic, gas sensing, and solar energy applications.

The ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pose significant public health threats due to their widespread multidrug resistance. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of crude methanolic and aqueous extracts of Senna alata and Bryophyllum pinnatum against ESKAPE isolates obtained from clinical, animal, and environmental sources in Lagos State, Nigeria. Between September 2023 and February 2024, a total of 500 samples were collected: 350 clinical, 100 animal, and 50 environmental. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods and screened for antibiotic susceptibility, including phenotypic detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase, AmpC β-lactamase, and carbapenemase production. Phytochemical analyses and agar disc diffusion assays were employed to evaluate the extract's composition and activity. The overall prevalence of ESKAPE isolates was 7.6% (38/500), distributed as 5.4% (19/350) in clinical samples, 10% (10/100) in animal samples, and 28% (14/50) in environmental samples. The isolates comprised 13 P. aeruginosa, 9 A. baumannii, 9 K. pneumoniae, 2 E. faecium, 2 S. aureus, and 3 Enterobacter spp. Over 70% exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). Phenotypically, 23.7% (9/38) produced carbapenemases, and 7.9% (3/38) expressed ESBL and AmpC. Phytochemical screening identified eight classes of compounds; both methanolic and aqueous extracts of the plants contained alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and tannins. Senna alata methanolic extracts, richer in phytoconstituents than aqueous extracts, inhibited A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae with zones of 2–4 mm at 100–200 mg/mL, whereas B. pinnatum showed no activity. Results indicate Senna alata merits further investigation as a source of antimicrobials targeting multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens.

Deverra scoparia (D. scoparia) Coss. & Durieu is an endemic plant from North Africa that is commonly utilized in folk medicine for diabetes treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antidiabetic effects of D. scoparia in both normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats. The investigation focused on the impact of an aqueous extract of D. scoparia administered at a dosage of 40 mg/kg on glycemia and lipid profiles in these rats. Additionally, the study included assessments of glycogen content in the liver and skeletal muscles (EDL and soleus), as well as a phytochemical analysis. Both single and repeated oral doses of the aqueous extract (40 mg/kg) resulted in a significant decrease in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats. Moreover, this extract improved glucose tolerance and enhanced hepatic glycogen content in the diabetic subjects. Notably, the plant exhibited a rich profile of certain phytochemicals, particularly phenolic acids and flavonoids. The findings of this study clearly indicate that the aqueous extract of D. scoparia possesses substantial antidiabetic activity.

The well-known medicinal plant Erigeron breviscapus has long been used to treat cerebral embolism, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral hemorrhage. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of total flavonoids from Erigeron breviscapus (EBTF) using aqueous two-phase system. The flavonoids fromE. breviscapuswere qualitatively identified using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The capacity of EBTF to scavenge ·OH was used to assess its antioxidant activity. To determine the active sites in the primary bioactive components that scavenge ·OH, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted. Total flavonoid content (TFC) from E. breviscapus was 48.53mg/g under ideal conditions with PEG2000 mass fraction of 16%, (NH4)2SO4 mass fraction of 14%, ultrasound time of 41min, and liquid-solid ratio of 35 mL/g. 28 flavonoids have been tentatively identified in E. breviscapus via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Furthermore, EBTF demonstrated moderate hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, with scavenging rate of 60.68% at 3.9mg/mL. The 6-OH site of scutellarin was the core active site for scavenging hydroxyl radicals. The findings provide both theoretical and experimental support for the in-depth development of EBTF as a natural antioxidant.

Mondia whitei is used traditionally for treating hypertension and erectile dysfunction; however, the toxicological profile of its fruit has not been fully established. This study evaluated the toxicological effect of the aqueous extract of Mondia whitei fruit (AEMWF) in Wistar rats. In the acute toxicity study, a single dose (5000 mg/kg) of AEMWF was administered orally to rats. In the sub-acute toxicity test, rats were administered AEMWF orally at 500, 750, and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. Behavioural and physiological parameters were recorded weekly. After sacrificing the rats via anaesthesia (diethyl ether), blood and vital organs were obtained for haematological, biochemical, and histological assessments. No signs of toxicity were observed in the acute toxicity study. In the sub-acute toxicity study, no significant changes were observed in the body weight of rats, except for 750 mg/kg AEMWF administered male rats, where a significant (p < 0.05) increase was observed at week 3 compared to the control. No significant difference was observed in the haematopoietic system, serum liver and kidney function markers, and tissue oxidative stress biomarkers. However, results showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in urea level in female rats administered 500 mg/kg AEMWF, and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in albumin level in rats administered 1000 mg/kg AEMWF, when compared with the control. Histological changes were only noted at 1000 mg/kg AEMWF. The AEMWF at 500 and 750 mg/kg could be considered safe for consumption. Hence, this study recommends chronic toxicological testing for future studies.

A trend of consuming sprouted nut butter is emerging due to its nutrient values. However, sprouted nuts have been involved in several enteric disease outbreaks. This study evaluated the inhibitory effect of an aqueous and ethanolic extract of a pomegranate peel against strains of Salmonella Tennessee and Enteritidis in sprouted nut butter. Raw, organic peanut and almond seeds inoculated with one of the Salmonella strains (1.16-1.97 log CFU/g) were sprouted in deionized water containing 10% of the aqueous or ethanolic extract for 24h at 25°C. Sprouted nuts were rinsed with sterile deionized water and dried at 45°C for 12h. Dried nuts were then ground with olive oil and sea salt. Salmonella population was determined after each preparation step. Data fit into the general linear model were analyzed using ANOVA. Fisher's LSD test was used to separate the means (α ≤ 0.05). The peanut samples treated with either ethanolic or aqueous extract had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower Salmonella Tennessee populations compared to the controls after sprouting (1.8-2.2 log CFU/g) and rinsing (1.4-1.6 log CFU/g). After drying and seasoning, significant differences in the populations of both Salmonella strains compared to their controls were only observed in sprouted peanut and almond seeds/butter containing ethanolic extract, with reductions reaching up to 3.2 log CFU/g. However, the extract could not eliminate Salmonella from sprouted nut butter. During the 3-week storage, Salmonella populations changed by < 1 log CFU/g across strains and extracts. Thus, additional antimicrobial intervention is needed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Despite the nutritional values, sprouted nut butter could potentially pose a food safety risk to consumers. The product may have the potential to harbor a higher number of bacterial cells than the initial contamination level on the nut stock. The addition of pomegranate ethanolic extract in nut sprouting water could significantly lower bacterial population, but the use of this natural antimicrobial, plus drying sprouted nuts at 45°C and seasoning the nut homogenates with olive oil and salt, is inadequate in eliminating bacterial cells, as evidenced by the relatively high bacterial populations in nut butter products.

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus remains a persistent global health challenge requiring novel therapeutic interventions. This study evaluated the antiviral efficacy of aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts of Phyllanthus emblica against the H1N1pdm09 virus and identified active compounds (GCMS) through molecular docking analysis. Cytotoxicity was determined using MTT assays, and more than 95% viability was found at concentrations of 62.50 µg/mL for the aqueous extract, 125 µg/mL for the ethanolic &amp; methanolic extract. In contrast, antiviral activity was assessed through RT‐qPCR quantification of viral genomic load via cycle threshold (Ct) values across pre‐treatment, co‐treatment, and post‐treatment protocols. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH assays, and molecular docking examined binding affinities against key viral proteins. The aqueous extract demonstrated negligible antiviral activity, while ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed substantial efficacy, particularly under co‐treatment conditions. Ethanolic extract achieved the highest viral inhibition with Ct values of 27.09 ( p &lt;0.0001), while methanolic extract showed Ct values of 25.25 ( p &lt;0.0001) in co‐treatment compared to virus control (Ct). Antioxidant analysis revealed superior activity in the methanolic extract (IC 50 = 1.044 ± 02 µg/mL) compared to the ethanolic extract (IC 50 = 5.769 ± 02 µg/mL). These biological activities are attributed to the rich presence of phenolic and triterpenoids identified in the extracts. Molecular docking identified γ‐sitosterol as the most potent compound with potential binding affinities, including M2 protein (−10.98), neuraminidase (−7.68), RdRp (−9.52), and hemagglutinin (−9.94 kcal/mol). P. emblica extracts demonstrate significant anti‐influenza activity through multi‐target mechanisms, positioning this natural source as a valuable candidate for sustainable antiviral drug development, and γ‐sitosterol is identified as a strong M2 inhibitor.

Kidney stones are a frequent urinary system disorder. Lysimachia christinae Hance is an accepted herb in traditional Chinese medicine for treating kidney stones. However, the effects and mechanisms of Lysimachia christinae Hance aqueous extract (LCH) are yet to be elucidated. The function of the aqueous extract of LCH was assessed using kidney stone rat models induced by 1% ethylene glycol+2% NH4Cl. Additionally, an in vitro model of human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) treated with calcium oxalate was used. Resultantly, the treatment of aqueous extract of LCH at different concentrations or LCH+LY294002 (PI3K-specific inhibitor) showed significant improvement in inorganic ions and renal pathological injury in nephrolithiasis rats. Besides, consistent with the in vivo assay, LCH-containing serum increased cell viability and inhibited oxidative stress and deposition of Ca2+ in HK-2 cells, while the influences of LCH-containing serum were attenuated. Mechanistically, the aqueous extract of LCH and LCH-containing serum also promoted Nrf2 and HO-1 levels and inhibited the phosphorylated expression levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. This study shows that LCH ameliorates the kidney damage in kidney stone rats and HK-2 cells. The mechanism of LCH in treating kidney stones is related to the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis and the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Purification of antifreeze proteins from tussah silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) via polyethylene glycol precipitation coupled with aqueous two-phase extraction.

Potentilla freyniana bornm. and its active component tangeretin ameliorate gouty arthritis by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κb/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Comparative toxicity of green and chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles in developing zebrafish: A step toward sustainable nanotechnology.

Aqueous cigarette smoke extract reduces mitochondrial potential and increases nuclear degeneration in bovine oocytes matured in vitro.

Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx aqueous extract mitigates alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety and oxidative stress in mice.