Essential Compounds Research Articles

Recent Advances in the Health Benefits of Phenolic Acids in Whole Grains and the Impact of Processing Techniques on Phenolic Acids: A Comprehensive Review.

Phenolic acids, essential compounds in whole grains, are renowned for their health-enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Variations in concentration, particularly of hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, are observed among grain types. Their antiobesity and antidiabetes effects are linked to their modulation of key signaling pathways like AMPK and PI3K, crucial for metabolic regulation and the body's response to inflammation and oxidative stress. Processing methods significantly influence phenolic acid content and bioavailability in whole grains. Thermal techniques like boiling, baking, or roasting can degrade these compounds, with loss influenced by processing conditions. Nonthermal methods such as germination, fermentation, or their combination, can protect or enhance phenolic acid content under ideal conditions. Novel nonthermal approaches like ultrahigh pressure (UHP), irradiation, and pulsed electric fields (PEF) show promise in preserving these compounds. Further research is needed to fully comprehend the impact mechanisms of these innovative methods on the nutritional and sensory attributes of cereals.

Identification of Essential Oils Morrocan Pulicaria Mauritanica Phytochemical Compounds, In-Silico and In Vitro Investigation of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity.

A study was conducted to analyze the essential oil ofPulicariamauritanica(PMEO) and investigate its antibacterial and antioxidant properties using in vitro and in-silico methods. The essential oil was extracted using the hydrodistillation technique, and its chemical composition was identified via GC/MS analysis. The chemical composition of oil shows that the major components of PMEO arecarvotanacetone(67.92%) followed by 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (3.62%), eucalyptol (1.76%) and tetrahydrocarvone (1.32%). The antibacterial and antioxidant effects against DPPH free radicals andferric reducingpower were tested using the in vitro microdilution method. The antibacterial activity showed a strong sensitivity againstBacillus subtilisandProteus mirabiliswith an inhibition zone of (22.33 ± 1.78 mm and 19.3 ± 0.68 mm, respectively; the lowest MIC and MBC values were (MIC=MBC=1.56 mg/mL). However, computational studies were carried out using molecular docking studies. The study of the interaction nature between (PMEO) essential oil and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase fromStaphylococcus aureusaids in understanding the antibacterial properties of essential oil molecules and their mechanism of action. The in-silico toxicity and pharmacokinetics results show that 4-candidate molecules have potential antibacterial drugs andsuggeststhat PMEO could be a source of natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents.

Bio synthesis of chitosan from shrimp shell chitin using Streptomyces griseoincarnatus RB7AG:Characterization and application as coating material to enhance shelf life of tomatoes (var. Ruby pusa) in post-harvest storgae condition

In this investigation, chitosan was successfully obtained from shrimp shell chitin through microbial degradation by Streptomyces griseoincarnatus RB7AG. The resulting chitosan showcased remarkable characteristics, including high solubility, a high degree of deacetylation, a well-defined crystalline structure, and a rough surface with minimal pores. The application of chitosan as a coating material for tomatoes demonstrated significant preservation benefits compared to commercially available chitosan. The chitosan coating proved effective in minimizing weight loss, reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and preserving essential compounds such as anthocyanin content and antioxidant enzymes in tomatoes. Firstly, the chitosan coating served as a physical barrier, preventing moisture loss and maintaining the tomatoes' structural integrity. Secondly, the antimicrobial properties of chitosan hindered the growth of spoilage-causing microorganisms, extending the shelf life of the tomatoes. Additionally, the chitosan coating exhibited antioxidant properties, scavenging ROS and preserving the natural antioxidants in tomatoes. Furthermore, the chitosan coating facilitated controlled gas exchange, allowing optimal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide to maintain the freshness of the tomatoes without accelerating the ripening process. With the help of the above-mentioned mechanisms, the potential of the microbially synthesized chitosan to enhance the shelf life of the tomatoes can be explained which was found better than the commercially synthesized chitosan coating. This research underscores the potential of microbially synthesized chitosan as an effective coating material but also provides insights into the intricate mechanisms involved in preserving tomatoes. The findings pave the way for innovative applications of chitosan-based coatings in the food industry, ensuring prolonged freshness and nutritional quality of perishable fruits and vegetables.

IMPROVEMENT OF TRADITIONAL BALINESE "ONG" TEA-MAKING PROCESS TO EXTEND SHELF LIFE TO SUPPORT ECOTOURISM IN BANJAR LANTANGIDUNG, GIANYAR, BALI

“Ong” tea contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, and vitamin C, in addition to several essential amino acids, organic acids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and active polyphenol compounds, and various important enzymes that have many benefits for the body. “Ong” tea is a type of probiotic drink produced from the tea fermentation process. The bacteria contained in SCOBY (Symbiotic Consortium of Bacteria and Yeast) are Acetobacter xylinum bacteria. The purpose of implementing the activities proposed in the training to improve the process of making “Ong” tea through PKM activities is to ensure that the people of Br. Lantangidung, Batuan, Sukawati have the skills and insight to manage local natural resources and have an entrepreneurial spirit so that they can open up business opportunities related to the conditions of the Batuan Village area. Improving product quality, expanding marketing reach, and using more hygienic and modern packaging techniques are also important. Thus, it is hoped that Balinese “ong” tea can become a superior product that can improve the community's economy and support the development of ecotourism in Banjar Lantangidung

Comparative study of different commercial enzymes on release of glycosylated volatile compounds in white grapes using SPE/GC–MS

Glycosides represent a large source of potential flavor in grape must. Commercial preparations enzymes with glycosidase activity are commonly employed to enhance wine aroma. In this study, we conducted an evaluation of twelve commercial enzymes to assess their effectiveness in releasing volatile compounds from their conjugated forms in a white grape must under laboratory conditions by solid-liquid extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In this laboratory-level experiment, regardless of the enzymes used, the total concentration of volatile compounds was not statistically affected by the treatments. While the total concentration of volatile compounds remained largely unchanged, four specific volatile groups were significantly affected by the enzyme treatments: acids, alcohols, C13-norisoprenoids, and terpenes. The results also revealed a significant effect of commercial enzymes on individual compounds, which led to a notable increase in the concentration of twenty-one aroma compounds, mainly terpenes. Rapidase Revelation Aroma and Enozym Extra Aroma emerged as the most powerful ones on the must's volatile composition with important ability to release higher concentrations of essential varietal aroma compounds, particularly terpenes and C13-norisoprenoids.

Deciphering cleaner and sustainable frontiers in scientific cow waste valorization: a review.

The forecasted global population growthis poised to create a greater exigency for livestock-derived food production,leading to a significant wastegeneration from the industrial-scalelivestockoperations, which necessitates to develop sustainable waste management solutions. The heightened demand for livestock and dairy products has driven a surge in cow waste (CW) production. While CW is typically used as organic fertilizer or solid fuel, improper disposal poses potential environmental hazards. Anaerobic digestion and composting transform CW into valuable products, such as biofuels and organic fertilizers, with the potential for electricity and heat generation, biochar production, and advanced friction materials. The CW contains essential inorganic and organic compounds vital for plant functions, including lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, nitrogen, and minerals such as potassium, sulfur, iron, magnesium, copper, cobalt, and manganese. Additionally, the rich microbial diversity in cow dung drives the production of bioenergy carriers like biomethane and biohydrogen, promoting cost-effective energy generation and environmental sustainability. This review employs bibliometric analysis to explore the latest trends in CW applications, with a particular focus on innovative applications such as cellulose extraction, biochar production, microbial fuel cells, and nanoparticle synthesis. Itfurther evaluates the environmental impacts of these technologies and assesses their potential to advance sustainable and cleaner frontiers in the valorizationof CW.

Aerobic adaptation and metabolic dynamics of Propionibacterium freudenreichii DSM 20271: insights from comparative transcriptomics and surfaceome analysis.

The study of the response of Propionibacterium freudenreichii to aerobic growth is crucial for understanding how this bacterium adapts to different environments and produces essential compounds like vitamin B12. By investigating its physiological changes under aerobic conditions, we can gain insights into its metabolic adjustments and potential for enhanced growth. These findings not only deepen our understanding of P. freudenreichii's responses to oxygen availability but also offer valuable information for optimizing its growth in industrial applications. This research sheds light on the adaptive mechanisms of this bacterium, providing a foundation for further exploration and potential applications in various fields.

Functionalized MXene (Ti3C2TX) Loaded with Ag Nanoparticles as a Raman Scattering Substrate for Rapid Furfural Detection in Baijiu.

Furfural is an essential compound that contributes to the distinctive flavor of sauce-flavored Baijiu. However, traditional detection methods are hindered by lengthy and complex sample preparation procedures, as well as the need for expensive equipment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new approach that allows rapid detection. In this study, we developed a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate by constructing MXene (Ti3C2TX) @Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through an electrostatic attraction method. The MXene (Ti3C2TX) @Ag NPs were successfully fabricated, with adsorbed NaCl-treated Ag NPs uniformly absorbed on the surface of MXene (Ti3C2TX), creating high-density distributed SERS "hot spots". The prepared substrate demonstrated excellent sensitivity, uniformity, repeatability, and long-term stability, with a low detectable concentration of 10-9 M for R6G (Rhodamine 6G) and an enhancement factor of up to 7.08 × 105. When applied for the in situ SERS detection of furfural in Baijiu, the detection limit was as low as 0.5 mg/L. Overall, the proposed method offers rapid, low-cost, and sensitive quantitative analysis, which is significant not only for detecting furfural in Baijiu but also for identifying hazardous substances and distinguishing between authentic and counterfeit Baijiu products.

Novel Essential Oil-Based Thiosemicarbazone Compounds as Potential Fungicides in Controlling Postharvest Diseases of Citrus Fruit.

To develop novel fungicides for controlling postharvest fungal diseases in citrus fruits, 12 essential oil (EO)-based thiosemicarbazones compounds, termed hydrazine-carbothioamide, were prepared according to the condensation method. In vitro assays showed that compound 13j exhibited the strongest antifungal activity (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = minimum fungicidal concentration [MFC] = 0.0125 mg/mL) against Penicillium digitatum. An in vivo study revealed that 5 × MFC of compound 13j can effectively mitigate the green mold incidence of citrus fruit inoculated with P. digitatum, as well as fruit rot during natural storage, at a level comparable to that of the chemical fungicide prochloraz. Throughout this process, fruit quality was maintained. The hemolysis assay showed that these thiosemicarbazone compounds have good biocompatibility and that their safety is comparable to that of prochloraz. The antifungal activity of compound 13j was attributed to membrane damage, as confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Calcofluor white (CFW) staining, propidium iodide (PI) staining, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, optical density (OD)260, and relative conductivity assays. Collectively, our results indicate that compound 13j can be used as an antifungal agent to control the postharvest decay of citrus fruits.

Susceptibility Analysis of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strains to Team Essential Oil Emulsion and Surface Active Compounds

Susceptibility Analysis of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strains to Team Essential Oil Emulsion and Surface Active Compounds

Application of iron oxide nanoparticles improves growth and phytochemical constituents of in vitro cultured Carum copticum L.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) are widely used in various applications, such as biomedicine, environmental remediation, and agriculture. Moreover, FeONPs can affect the production of secondary metabolites in plants, which are compounds that have various biological and pharmacological activities. Therefore, in this study, the ajwain (Carum copticum L.) seeds were grown in MS medium containing different levels of FeONPs (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg l−1). After four weeks, the effects of FeONPs on growth, photosynthesis pigments, total phenolic, and anthocyanin content, activities of some antioxidant enzyme and secondary metabolites of ajwain) were investigated. The results showed that low levels of FeONPs (especially 200 mg l−1) increased fresh weight (231 %), total chlorophyll (49 %), total phenolics (259 %), anthocyanin content (110 %), as well as thymol (8 %) and γ-terpinene (16 %) content. Conversely, 400 mg l−1 FeONPs reduced root length (60 %) and fresh weight (64 %) was associated with a reduction in CAT activity, phenol (55 %), thymol (22 %), and γ-terpinene (18 %) content compared to ajwain treated with 200 mg l−1 FeONPs. This reduction was probably due to the increase in ROS caused by the low catalase enzyme activity and important essential oils compounds such as thymol and γ-terpinene. Thus, our results indicate that FeONPs at certain levels can be used as a new way for in vitro production of valuable essential oils and antioxidant compounds in ajwain.

Genotype by environment interaction effect and fresh root yield stability of cassava genotypes under contrasting nitrogen regimes

Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient element needed by cassava for optimum yield and it is a vital component of nucleotides (nucleic acids), enzymes, amino acids (proteins), chlorophyll molecules and hormones, among other essential compounds required for growth and development of cassava. Nitrogen stress is a major cassava production constraint, the study aimed to examine genotype by environment interaction (GEI) effects and fresh root yield stability of 203 diverse cassava clones to identify genotypes with stable performance under low and optimum nitrogen regimes across environments using AMMI and GGE biplot analysis. Experiments were conducted using an augmented block design with three replications for two years in three locations in Nigeria. There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the genotype’s mean performances as well as significant differences (p < 0.001) in the environment’s mean performances for all the traits measured in both nitrogen regimes. The AMMI analysis of variance showed significant effects (p < 0.001) for genotypes, environments and the interactions for fresh root yield in both nitrogen regimes. The biplot analysis showed that for fresh root yield in the optimum nitrogen regime, the principal component accounted for 81.54% of the G + GE (Genotype plus and Genotype by Environment) variation. The G + GE for fresh root yield in the low nitrogen regime accounted for a total of 71.64% of the variation. Ten genotypes were identified as the best genotypes under the optimum nitrogen regime, while eleven genotypes were the best under the low nitrogen regime. Three genotypes under optimum nitrogen regimes were high-yielding. Still, they were unstable in their fresh root yield performance across the environments and can be recommended as specifically adapted to the environments they performed best. Three other genotypes were high-yielding genotypes under low nitrogen but were highly unstable in their fresh root yield mean performance across the environments. The environments Otobi_YR1, Igbariam_YR2, and Umudike_YR1 were identified as the most discriminatory among the test environments. The environments Umudike_YR2 and Igbariam_YR1 were identified as the most representative of the test environments and can represent a mega-environment. The best 21 genotypes that performed above the grand mean for fresh root yield in both nitrogen regimes can be further evaluated on the farmer’s field for possible advancement.

Ellagic acid improves the symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease: Behavioral and physiological correlates

Oryza sativa is a globally recognized staple food, rich in essential phyto-phenolic compounds such as γ-Oryzanol (OZ), Ferulic acid (FA), and Ellagic acid (EA). These phytochemicals are known for their potential to beneficially modulate molecular biochemistry. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects of Oryza sativa phyto-phenolics in a model of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) induced by Aβ (1-42) in animals. In-silico studies suggested that FA, OZ, and EA have target specificity for Aβ, with EA being further selected based on its potent in-vitro Aβ anti-aggregatory effects for exploring neurodegenerative conditions. The in-vivo experiments demonstrated that EA exerts therapeutic effects in Aβ-induced EOAD, modulating both biochemical and behavioral outcomes. EA treatment at two dose levels, EA70 and EA140 (70 μM and 140 μM, respectively, administered i.c.v.), significantly counteracted Aβ aggregation and modulated the Ca2⁺/Calpain/GSK-3β/CDK5 signaling pathways, exhibiting anti-tauopathy effects. Additionally, EA was shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects by preventing astroglial activation, modulating FAIM-L expression, and protecting against TNF-α-induced apoptotic signals. Moreover, the neuromodulatory effects of EA were attributed to the regulation of CREB levels, Dnm-1 expression, and synaptophysin levels, thereby enhancing LTP and synaptic plasticity. EA also induced beneficial cytological and behavioral changes, improving both long-term and short-term spatial memory as well as associative learning behavior in the animal model, which underscores its cognitive enhancement properties.

Optimizing the Synthesis of Titanium Carbide-Bismuth Oxide for Enhanced Antimicrobial Properties.

Background The two-dimensional MXene, known as titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂), is characterized by its substantial interlayer spacing, extensive surface area, hydrophilic nature, exceptional thermal stability, and outstanding electrical conductivity. These distinctive attributes render Ti₃C₂ an ideal candidate for detecting target analytes and immobilizing biomolecules. Bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃), an essential compound of bismuth, frequently acts as a foundational element in bismuth chemistry. Its applications are diverse, from fireworks to oxygen gas sensors and solid oxide fuel cells, with particular emphasis on its behaviour under elevated temperatures and pressures. Notably, phase transitions to various polymorphs, which remain metastable at room temperature, have been documented under these conditions, indicating potential for numerous applications. Integrating MXene with Bi₂O₃ composites holds significant promise for advancements in energy-related electronics, sensing technologies, and photocatalytic processes. Objective To optimize the synthesis of titanium carbide-bismuth oxide (Ti₃C₂-Bi₂O₃) nanoparticles to enhance their antimicrobial activity by identifying the best synthesis conditions and assessing their effectiveness against various microbial pathogens. Materials and methods The preparation of Ti₃C₂ MXene involves dissolving lithium fluoride in hydrochloric acid, followed by Ti₃AlC₂ and stirring at 40°C for 48 hours. The resulting pellet is then dispersed in ultrapure water and centrifuged to obtain the MXene dispersion. Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles are prepared by preparing bismuth nitrate pentahydrate in nitric acid and adding sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH. The resulting white precipitate is filtered, washed, and dried before being calcined at 400°C for two hours to produce Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles. The Ti₃C₂-Bi₂O₃ composite is synthesized by adding Bi(NO₃)₃ solution to a 5 mg/mL Ti₃C₂Tx MXene solution. The reaction solution is heated to 160°C, and the resulting black powder is labelled as x% Bi₂O₃/MXene. The antimicrobial efficacy of the nanoparticles is assessed using the disk diffusion method. The zones of inhibition are measured and analyzed as indicators of antimicrobial activity. Results The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the presence of Bi₂O₃ particles alongside Ti₃C₂​​​​​​​ nanosheets, while the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the high crystallinity of the compound. Furthermore, the compound was determined to be impurity-free and demonstrated antimicrobial properties. Conclusion The XRDanalysis confirms the effective integration of various materials and the existence of crystalline phases. SEMprovides insights into the morphology and organization of particles within sheets, whereas EDSassesses the elemental composition and its uniform distribution. These studies demonstrate the synthesis of Ti₃C₂-Bi₂O₃​​​​​​​ composites, suggesting their potential for usage in applications involving antimicrobial action.

Recommended Tool Compounds for the Melanocortin Receptor (MCR) G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs).

The melanocortin receptors are a centrally and peripherally expressed family of Class A GPCRs with physiological roles, including pigmentation, steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, and others yet to be fully characterized. There are five melanocortin receptor subtypes that, apart from the melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R), are stimulated by a shared set of endogenous agonists. Until 2020, X-ray crystallographic and cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) structures of these receptors were unavailable, and the investigation of their mechanisms of action and putative ligand-receptor interactions was driven by site-directed mutagenesis studies of the receptors and targeted structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the endogenous and derivative synthetic ligands. Synthetic derivatives of the endogenous agonist ligand α-MSH have evolved into a suite of powerful ligands such as NDP-MSH (melanotan I), melanotan II (MTII), and SHU9119. This suite of tool compounds now enables the study of the melanocortin receptors and serves as scaffolds for FDA-approved drugs, means of validating stably expressing melanocortin receptor cell lines, core ligands in assessing cryo-EM structures of active and inactive receptor complexes, and essential references for high-throughput discovery and mechanism of action studies. Herein, we review the history and significance of a finite set of these essential tool compounds and discuss how they are being utilized to further the field's understanding of melanocortin receptor physiology and greater druggability.

Changes in composition, yield, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the Ocimum tenuiflorum L. essential oils as affected by fertilizers

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of multifunctional microbial fertilizer and inorganic macronutrient fertilizers N, P, K on plant biomass, essential oil yield, chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) grown in Hanoi, Vietnam. Among the four formulas tested, F2 emerged as the most favourable, comprising a basal fertilization of 10 tons of decomposed manure, 15 kg of multifunctional microbial fertilizer, 150 kg of P fertilizer, and 75 kg of K fertilizer, together with top dressing of 200 kg of N fertilizer and 75 kg of K fertilizer per hectare. This formula yielded the highest tulsi dry biomass (4.73 ton/ha), essential oil yield (0.831%), and essential oil production (39.29 L/ha), which were significantly different (p &lt; 0.001) from those of the remaining formulas. In addition, the concentration of the essential oil main compound - eugenol (63.1%) of tulsi in F2 was also the highest, which may be the cause of the strongest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli (IC50 of 320, 273 µg/mL, respectively), and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (IC50 of 400 µg/mL), as well as antioxidant activity (IC50 of 0.165 µg/mL) compared to the other formulas tested. The results suggested the role of both multifunctional microbial fertilizer and inorganic macronutrient fertilizers N, P, K on growth and essential oil biosynthesis in tulsi. These findings are important in identifying the most efficient fertilization formula for cultivating tulsi, serving the needs of the cosmetic and medicinal industries.

Exploring carbon-based Cu-ZnO catalyst and substitutes for enhanced selective methanol production from CO2: An integrated experimental and computational study

Methanol, produced through the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide, is an essential intermediate compound that plays a crucial function in the production of various organic chemicals. Enhancing the design of copper-containing catalysts for the transformation of CO2 to methanol is a popular strategy in scientific literature, although challenges persist in advancing the efficiency of carbon dioxide transformation and the selectivity of methanol production. This research aims at creating CuZnO-M/rGO (M = Mg, Mn, and Cr) catalysts using an efficient method for selectively converting CO2 to methanol. By optimizing the operational parameters of this system, methanol productivity and CO2 conversion efficiency are enhanced. Under optimal conditions, a CO2 conversion rate of 23.5%, methanol selectivity of 90%, and a space-time yield of 0.47 gMeOH.gcat−1.h−1 were achieved with the CuZnO-MgO (5)/rGO catalyst. These levels were maintained over a 100-h period, demonstrating the stability of the catalyst system. These findings are highly consistent with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealing that the CuZnO-MgO (5)/rGO catalyst possesses a −0.35 eV adsorption energy for CO2 and a favorable reaction pathway with the overpotential of 1.16 V towards methanol production emphasizing the high conversion and selectivity obtained.

‘Altruistic’ cooperation among the prokaryotic community of Atlantic salterns assessed by metagenomics

Hypersaline environments are extreme habitats with a limited prokaryotic diversity, mainly restricted to halophilic or halotolerant archaeal and bacterial taxa adapted to highly saline conditions. This study attempts to analyze the taxonomic and functional diversity of the prokaryotes that inhabit a solar saltern located at the Atlantic Coast, in Isla Cristina (Huelva, Southwest Spain), and the influence of salinity on the diversity and metabolic potential of these prokaryotic communities, as well as the interactions and cooperation among the individuals within that community. Brine samples were obtained from different saltern ponds, with a salinity range between 19.5 % and 39 % (w/v). Total prokaryotic DNA was sequenced using the Illumina shotgun metagenomic strategy and the raw sequence data were analyzed using supercomputing services following the MetaWRAP and SqueezeMeta protocols. The most abundant phyla at moderate salinities (19.5–22 % [w/v]) were Methanobacteriota (formerly “Euryarchaeota”), Pseudomonadota and Bacteroidota, followed by Balneolota and Actinomycetota and Uroviricota in smaller proportions, while at high salinities (36–39 % [w/v]) the most abundant phylum was Methanobacteriota, followed by Bacteroidota. The most abundant genera at intermediate salinities were Halorubrum and the bacterial genus Spiribacter, while the haloarchaeal genera Halorubrum, Halonotius, and Haloquadratum were the main representatives at high salinities. A total of 65 MAGs were reconstructed from the metagenomic datasets and different functions and pathways were identified in them, allowing to find key taxa in the prokaryotic community able to synthesize and supply essential compounds, such as biotin, and precursors of other bioactive molecules, like β-carotene, and bacterioruberin, to other dwellers in this habitat, lacking the required enzymatic machinery to produce them. This work shed light on the ecology of aquatic hypersaline environments, such as the Atlantic Coast salterns, and on the dynamics and factors affecting the microbial populations under such extreme conditions.

Phytochemical and Functional Diversity of Enzyme-Assisted Extracts from Hippophae rhamnoides L., Aralia cordata Thunb., and Cannabis sativa L.

Plant leaves are a source of essential phenolic compounds, which have numerous health benefits and can be used in multiple applications. While various techniques are available for recovering bioactive compounds from by-products, more data are needed on enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). The aim of this study was to compare EAE and solid-liquid extraction (SLE), to evaluate the impact on bioactive compounds' extraction yield, phytochemical composition, and the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties of Aralia cordata leaves and roots, sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, and hemp Cannabis sativa leaves. The results indicate that EAE with Viscozyme L enzyme (EAE_Visc) extracts of the tested plant leaves possess the highest yield, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content. Moreover, the EAE_Visc extract increased by 40% the total sugar content compared to the control extract of A. cordata root. Interestingly, the sea buckthorn leaf extracts exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, which reached an almost 99% inhibition in all extracts. Furthermore, the sea buckthorn leaves SLE and EAE_Visc extracts possess antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was used to examine changes in cell wall morphology after EAE. Overall, this study shows that EAE can be a promising method for increasing the yield and improving the functional properties of the resulting extracts in a fast and sustainable way compared to SLE.

Biological Significance of the Komodo Dragon's Tail (Varanus komodoensis, Varanidae).

The Komodo dragon is a unique reptile with an elongated tail that exhibits hitherto unknown adaptations and functions. This tail, composed of 60-86 vertebrae, serves diverse ecological and physiological roles. In juveniles, it is essential for an arboreal lifestyle and balance, while in adults, it functions as a tool for defense and offensive actions. It possesses characteristic haemal arches and a dorsal keel, along with well-developed muscles which enable precise tail control, influencing the Komodo dragon's maneuverability and directional changes. The tail stores adipose tissue, providing Komodo dragons with the ability to regulate body temperature and independence from other seasonal variations. The tail adipose tissue impacts numerous biochemical processes and may play a crucial role in the animals' metabolic strategies and reproductive capabilities. Its functions include providing essential mineral compounds for the organism, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Analysing the biochemical composition of tail fat is crucial for understanding the health of Komodo dragons.