Improved Membrane Stability Research Articles

Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize.

Drought stress significantly affects maize (Zea mays L.) growth by disrupting vital physiological and biochemical processes. This study investigates the potential of proline supplementation to alleviate drought-induced stress in maize plants. The results show that proline supplementation enhanced shoot and root growth under normal conditions and alleviated drought-induced reductions in growth parameters. Under drought stress, proline increased shoot length by 40%, root length by 36%, shoot fresh weight by 97%, root fresh weight by 247%, shoot dry weight by 77%, and root dry weight by 154% compared to the untreated plants. While drought stress induced electrolyte leakage and reduced the relative water content (RWC) and leaf area, proline treatment mitigated these effects by improving membrane stability, water retention, and chlorophyll content. Moreover, proline supplementation reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 38% and 67%, respectively, in the drought-stressed plants compared to the untreated controls. It also enhanced catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 14%, 69%, and 144%, respectively, under drought stress, indicating a strengthened antioxidative defense. Proline also increased the protein content and improved N, P, and K retention by 30%, 40%, and 28%, respectively, in the drought-stressed plants, supporting metabolic and osmotic balance. Additionally, proline improved endogenous proline and sugar levels, facilitating osmotic adjustment and providing energy reserves. These findings suggest that proline supplementation effectively enhances maize resilience under drought stress, improving growth, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing osmoprotection.

Microbes mediated alleviation of chromium (Cr VI) stress for improved phytoextraction in fodder maize (Zea mays L.) cultivar

This study investigates the potential of chromium (VI) resistant bacterial isolates to alleviate heavy metal stress in fodder maize plants and enhance phytoremediation. Twenty-one bacterial strains were isolated from contaminated water, with five strains; Bacillus thuringiensis (BHR1), Bacillus cereus (BHR2), Enterobacter cloacae (BHR4), Bacillus pumilus (BHR5), and Bacillus altitudinis (BHR6) selected based on their significant plant-growth promoting (PGP) traits and heavy metal tolerance. Under chromium (Cr VI) stress, the BHR1 strain significantly improved seed germination, seedling length and vigor index of fodder maize variety (J 1007) especially at 150 mg/L Cr (VI), where these parameters increased by 3.75, 3.23 and 6.44 folds, respectively. After 60 days, BHR1 also enhanced shoot and root lengths by 4.91 and 4.06 folds, respectively and increase fresh and dry biomass, especially at higher Cr (VI) concentrations. Photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a and b, were also elevated by 3.04 and 2.26 times, respectively. Additionally, BHR1 reduced oxidative stress markers, including proline and malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased electrolyte leakage, thus improving membrane stability. The strain further increased antioxidant enzyme activities and chromium uptake in root and shoot tissues, enhancing the translocation factor by 95%. This suggests that BHR1 can significantly promote fodder maize growth and accelerate chromium removal from contaminated soil, offering valuable insights into plant-microbe interactions under Cr (VI) stress.

Hybrid Protocells Based on Coacervate-Templated Fatty Acid Vesicles Combine Improved Membrane Stability with Functional Interior Protocytoplasm.

Prebiotically-plausible compartmentalization mechanisms include membrane vesicles formed by amphiphile self-assembly and coacervate droplets formed by liquid-liquid phase separation. Both types of structures form spontaneously and can be related to cellular compartmentalization motifs in today's living cells. As prebiotic compartments, they have complementary capabilities, with coacervates offering excellent solute accumulation and membranes providing superior boundaries. Herein, protocell models constructed by spontaneous encapsulation of coacervate droplets by mixed fatty acid/phospholipid and by purely fatty acid membranes are described. Coacervate-supported membranes form over a range of coacervate and lipid compositions, with membrane properties impacted by charge-charge interactions between coacervates and membranes. Vesicles formed by coacervate-templated membrane assembly exhibit profoundly different permeability than traditional fatty acid or blended fatty acid/phospholipid membranes without a coacervate interior, particularly in the presence of magnesium ions (Mg2+). While fatty acid and blended membrane vesicles are disrupted by the addition of Mg2+, the corresponding coacervate-supported membranes remain intact and impermeable to externally-added solutes. With the more robust membrane, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, which is commonly used for cell viability assays, can be performed inside the protocell model due to the simple diffusion of FDA and then following with the coacervate-mediated abiotic hydrolysis to fluorescein.

Methacrylated chitosan/jellyfish collagen membranes as cell instructive platforms for liver tissue engineering

Although the multidisciplinary area of liver tissue engineering is in continuous progress, research in this field is still focused on developing an ideal liver tissue template. Innovative strategies are required to improve membrane stability and bioactivity.In our study, sustainable biomimetic membranes were developed by blending methacrylated chitosan (CSMA) with jellyfish collagen (jCol) for liver tissue engineering applications.The in vitro biological behaviour demonstrated the capability of the developed membranes to create a suitable milieu to enable hepatocyte growth and differentiation. The functionalization of chitosan together with the biocompatibility of marine collagen and the intrinsic membrane properties offered the ideal biochemical, topographical, and mechanical cues to the cells. Thanks to the enhanced CSMA/jCol membranes' characteristics, hepatocytes on such biomaterials exhibited improved growth, viability, and active liver-specific functions when compared to the cell fate achieved on CSMA membranes. Our study provides new insights about the influence of membrane properties on liver cells behaviour for the design of novel instructive biomaterials. The enrichment of functionalized chitosan with marine collagen represents a promising and innovative approach for the development of an appropriate platform for hepatic tissue engineering.

Elucidating the Role of SlBBX31 in Plant Growth and Heat-Stress Resistance in Tomato.

Heat stress inhibits plant growth and productivity. Among the main regulators, B-box zinc-finger (BBX) proteins are well-known for their contribution to plant photomorphogenesis and responses to abiotic stress. Our research pinpoints that SlBBX31, a BBX protein harboring a conserved B-box domain, serves as a suppressor of plant growth and heat tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Overexpressing (OE) SlBBX31 in tomato exhibited yellowing leaves due to notable reduction in chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate (Pn). Furthermore, the pollen viability of OE lines obviously decreased and fruit bearing was delayed. This not only affected the fruit setting rate and the number of plump seeds but also influenced the size of the fruit. These results indicate that SlBBX31 may be involved in the growth process of tomato, specifically in terms of photosynthesis, flowering, and the fruiting process. Conversely, under heat-stress treatment, SlBBX31 knockout (KO) plants displayed superior heat tolerance, evidenced by their improved membrane stability, heightened antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Further transcriptome analysis between OE lines and KO lines under heat stress revealed the impact of SlBBX31 on the expression of genes linked to photosynthesis, heat-stress signaling, ROS scavenging, and hormone regulation. These findings underscore the essential role of SlBBX31 in regulating tomato growth and heat-stress resistance and will provide valuable insights for improving heat-tolerant tomato varieties.

The influence of rutin and chlorogenic acid on oxidative stress and in vivo fertility: Evaluation of the quality and antioxidant status of post-thaw semen from Azari water buffalo bulls.

The vulnerability of buffalo sperm to cryoinjury necessitates the improvement of sperm cryo-resistance as a critical strategy for the widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies in buffalo. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of rutin and chlorogenic acid (CGA) on buffalo semen quality, antioxidant activity and fertility during cryopreservation. The semen was collected and pooled from the 3 buffaloes using an artificial vagina (18 ejaculations). The pooled sperm were divided into nine different groups: control (Tris-based extender); 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1mM rutin (rutin+Tris-based extender); and 50, 100, 150 and 200µM CGG (CGA+Tris-based extender). Sperm kinematics, viability, hypo-osmotic swelling test, mitochondrial activity, antioxidant activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of frozen and thawed buffalo sperm were evaluated. In addition, 48 buffalo were finally inseminated, and pregnancy was rectally determined 1 month after insemination. Compared to the control group, adding R-0.4, R-0.6, CGA-100 and CGA-150 can improve total and progressive motility, motility characteristics, viability, PMF and DNA damage in buffalo sperm. In addition, the results showed that R-0.4, R-0.6, CGA-50, CGA-100 and CGA-150 increased total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione activities and decreased MDA levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, it has been shown that adding 150µM CGA and 0.6mM rutin to an extender can increase in vivo fertility compared to the control group. In conclusion, adding rutin and CGA to the extender improves membrane stability and in vivo fertility of buffalo sperm by reducing oxidative stress.

Sodium nitroprusside as a signal molecule for up-regulating membrane characteristics, antioxidant defense system to improve flax productivity under water stress

Water stress is a critical environmental adversity that significantly impacts the growth, development, and yield of flax plants. In this study, flax seeds were cultivated under different water irrigation requirements (WIR) (100%, 75%, and 50%) to investigate the effects of exogenously supplied nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as foliar treatments at concentrations of 0.0 ​mmol/L, 0.5 ​mmol/L, 1.0 ​mmol/L, and 2.0 ​mmol/L. Drought stress led to a significant decrease in plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, yield components such as oil and total carbohydrate percentage. It also resulted in an increase in leaf H2O2 production, lipid peroxidation levels and activities of enzymatic antioxidants including polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and nitrate reductase enzymes. However, foliar application of SNP improved photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant defense system which mitigated the negative impact of water stress on growth and yield productivity by reducing oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species accumulation. The use of SNP also decreased H2O2 accumulation levels, lipid peroxidation levels, and improved membrane stability. SNP treatment at concentration of 2 ​mmol/L showed superior results compared to other concentrations with extremely significant increases observed in yield characteristics such as oil content, total carbohydrate percentages, and unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids ratio.

How does jasmonic acid improve drought tolerance? Mechanisms and future prospects

Drought stress poses a significant challenge to agriculture sustainability across the globe. Drought stress negatively affects the plant growth and productivity and the intensity of this serious abiotic stress is continuously increasing which is a serious threat across the globe. Different measures are being used to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought stress. Among these measures, the application of exogenous osmolytes and growth hormones is considered an important way to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought. Recently, jasmonic acid (JA) has emerged as an excellent growth hormone to improve drought tolerance owing to its involvement in different plant physiological and biochemical processes. Jasmonic acid improves membrane stability plant water relations, nutrient uptake, osmolyte accumulation, and antioxidant activities that can counter the toxic effects of drought. It also contributes to signaling pathways, i.e., genes network, stress-responsive proteins, signaling intermediates, and enzymes that protect the plants from the toxic effects of drought. Further, JA also protects and maintains the integrity of plant cells by up-regulating the antioxidant defense system and increasing osmolyte accumulation. In this review, we have documented the protective role of JA under drought stress. The various mechanisms of JA in inducing drought tolerance are discussed and different research gaps are also identified. This review will help the readers to learn more about the role of JA to mitigate the toxic effects of drought and it will provide new knowledge to develop the drought tolerance in plants.

Heat-stress-responsive HvHSFA2e gene regulates the heat and drought tolerance in barley through modulation of phytohormone and secondary metabolic pathways.

The heat stress transcription factor HSFA2e regulates both temperature and drought response via hormonal and secondary metabolism alterations. High temperature and drought are the primary yield-limiting environmental constraints for staple food crops. Heat shock transcription factors (HSF) terminally regulate the plant abiotic stress responses to maintain growth and development under extreme environmental conditions. HSF genes of subclass A2 predominantly express under heat stress (HS) and activate the transcriptional cascade of defense-related genes. In this study, a highly heat-inducible HSF, HvHSFA2e was constitutively expressed in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to investigate its role in abiotic stress response and plant development. Transgenic barley plants displayed enhanced heat and drought tolerance in terms of increased chlorophyll content, improved membrane stability, reduced lipid peroxidation, and less accumulation of ROS in comparison to wild-type (WT) plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed that HvHSFA2e positively regulates the expression of abiotic stress-related genes encoding HSFs, HSPs, and enzymatic antioxidants, contributing to improved stress tolerance in transgenic plants. The major genes of ABA biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid, and terpene metabolism were also upregulated in transgenics. Our findings show that HvHSFA2e-mediated upregulation of heat-responsive genes, modulation in ABA and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways enhance drought and heat stress tolerance.

GO/MoS2/PEI composite membrane for removin salt ions from water

Separation membranes based on graphene oxide (GO) have attracted much attention due to their good separation properties. But its instability in water and rejection of divalent salt ions is a problem that needs to be solved urgently. In this study, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is intercalated into graphene oxide by adding polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution drop by drop for cross-linking, and then GO/MoS2/PEI composite membrane is prepared by vacuum filtration. As MoS2 hydrophobicity increases frictionless water flow channels to improve water flux, PEI cross-linking improves membrane stability and rejection of divalent salt ions. The modified composite membrane has a high rejection of 94.8 % for Mg2+, and water flux is increased by 30 % relative to GO/PEI membrane. In addition, the rejection of the composite membrane to different salt solutions is investigated by MgCl2, MgSO4, NaCl and Na2SO4 solutions, and the results obtained are, in order, R(MgCl2) > R(MgSO4) > R(NaCl) > R(Na2SO4). This modified composite membrane has great potential for salt ion removal.

Delivery of Eicosapentaenoic acid-loaded cellulose nanocrystal alleviates liver fibrosis via modulating phospholipids and apoptotic regulators

Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver condition that can eventually lead to cirrhosis. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3), has shown promise in alleviating liver injury. However, its delivery to the liver can be challenging. In this study, we aimed to prepare EPA-loaded cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) with high entrapment efficiency and sustained release of EPA and tested its potential therapeutic effect on a murine Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced fibrosis model. The results demonstrated that EPA, either in its free form or encapsulated, was effective in ameliorating liver fibrosis and reducing collagen deposition compared to the non-treated group. Specifically, the encapsulated form of EPA was highly effective in reducing oxidative markers such as Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP), as well as the fibrosis-related biomarker Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP). Additionally, the administration of EPA to the DEN-induced fibrosis groups resulted in a significant modulation in membrane phospholipids, potentially improving membrane stability and function. Our findings reveal that EPA may be effective in reducing fibrosis development by targeting various molecular pathways. This includes reducing the expression of β-catenin, CD95, and Bcl-2 and downregulating miR-221, which is involved in fibrosis progression. This study highlights the potential of EPA-encapsulated CNC as a safe and effective approach for managing liver fibrosis.

Enhancing soybean germination and vigor under water stress: the efficacy of bio-priming with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and gum arabic.

Seed priming can significantly enhance the tolerance of soybean against different environmental stresses by improving seed water uptake and modulating stress-response mechanisms. In particular, seed priming with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and gum Arabic (GA) can support seeds to withstand extreme conditions better, promoting more consistent germination and robust seedling establishment, which is crucial for achieving stable agricultural yields. The present study investigated the effects of seed priming using a combination of SCMC and GA (10% CG) on the germination, growth, and biochemical responses of six soybean varieties under drought and flooding stress conditions. The results revealed significant differences among varieties and applied treatments on germination, vigor, and physiological traits. Under drought stress, seed priming with 10% CG significantly improved germination percentage, germination rate, shoot length, root length, and biomass compared to unprimed seeds. Notable reductions in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), suggest that 10% CG priming mitigates oxidative damage through enhanced antioxidant defense mechanisms. Moreover, 10% CG seed priming improved germination and growth parameters under flooding stress, but the advantages were less significant. In addition, the priming treatment significantly reduced electrolyte conductivity (EC) across all varieties compared to unprimed seeds, indicating improved membrane stability. Overall, 10% CG seed priming was more effective under drought and flooding conditions, demonstrating a potential strategy for enhancing stress tolerance in soybean varieties.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration mitigates salt damages to safflower: Evidence from physiological and biochemical examinations

The physiological and biochemical responses of salt-stressed safflower to elevated CO2 remain inadequately known. This study investigated the interactive effects of high CO2 concentration (700 ± 50 vs. 400 ± 50 μmol mol−1) and salinity stress levels (0.4, 6, and 12 dS m−1, NaCl) on growth and physiological properties of four safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes, under open chamber conditions. Results showed that the effects of CO2 on biomass of shoot and grains depend on salt stress and plant genotype. Elevated CO2 conditions increased shoot dry weight under moderate salinity stress and decreased it under severe stress. The increased CO2 concentration also increased the safflower genotypes' relative water content and their K+/Na + concentrations. Also enriched CO2 increased total carotenoid levels in safflower genotypes and improved membrane stability index by reducing H2O2 levels. In addition, increased CO2 level led to an increase in seed oil content, under both saline and non-saline conditions. This effect was particularly pronounced under severe saline conditions. Under conditions of high CO2 and salinity, the Koseh genotype exhibited higher grain weight and seed oil content than other genotypes. This advantage is due to the higher relative water content, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and K+/Na+, as well as the lower Na+ and H2O2 concentrations. Results indicate that the high CO2 level mitigated the destructive effect of salinity on safflower growth by reducing Na + uptake and increasing the Fv/Fm, total soluble carbohydrates, and membrane stability index. This finding can be used in safflower breeding programs to develop cultivars that can thrive in arid regions with changing climatic conditions.

Carbon dioxide treatment modulates phosphatidic acid signaling and stress response to improve chilling tolerance and postharvest quality in paprika

IntroductionPaprika (Capsicum annuum L.) is prone to chilling injury (CI) during low-temperature storage. Although recent findings suggest that CO2 treatment may protect against CI, the effects of short-term CO2 treatment on CI and the underlying molecular mechanisms in paprika remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of short-term CO2 treatment on CI and postharvest quality in paprika during storage at cold storage and retail condition at physio-biochemical-molecular level.MethodsPaprika was treated with 20 and 30% CO2 for 3 h and stored at 4°C for 14 days, followed by additional storage for 2 days at 20°C (retail condition). Fruit quality parameters, including weight loss, firmness, color, and pitting were assessed, and the molecular mechanism of the treatment was elucidated using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.ResultsShort-term treatment with 20 and 30% CO2 effectively maintained paprika quality during cold storage and retailer conditions, with reduced surface pitting, a common symptom of CI. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that 20% CO2 treatment induced genes associated with biosynthesis of phosphatidic acid (PA), diacylglycerol, triacylglycerol, and stress response, metabolites associated with phasphatidyl inositol signaling, inositol phosphate metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism.ConclusionCO2 treatment activates PA biosynthesis through PLD and PLC-DGK pathways, and induces inositol phosphate, starch, and sucrose metabolism, thereby regulating chilling stress response via the ICE-CBF pathway. These findings suggest that short-term CO2 treatment enhances resistance to cold-induced injury and preserves postharvest quality in non-climacteric fruits, such as paprika, through activation of PA signaling, which improves membrane stability during cold storage and distribution.

Harnessing the metabolic modulatory and antioxidant power of 1-(3-Phenyl-Propyl) cyclopropane and melatonin in maintaining mango fruit quality and prolongation storage life

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare and investigate the effects of 1-(3-phenyl-propyl) cyclopropene (PPCP) and melatonin (MT) as anti-ethylene agents on postharvest senescence, quality, chilling tolerance, and antioxidant metabolism in the mango fruit cv. “Keitt”. The study involved exposing the fruit to 20 μL L− 1 PPCP or 200 μM MT, in addition to a control group of untreated fruit, before storing them at 5 ± 1 °C for 28 d. The findings revealed that the treatments with PPCP and MT were effective in reducing chilling injury and preserving fruit quality when compared to the control group.ResultsThe use of 20 μL L− 1 PPCP was an effective treatment in terms of mitigating chilling injury and preserving fruit quality for 28 d. This was attributed to the decrease in metabolic activity, specifically the respiration rate and the production of ethylene, which led to the maintenance of fruit firmness and bioactive compounds, energy metabolism, and antioxidant activity, such as ascorbic acid, total flavonoids, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase activity, ATP, and ATPase activity. The study also found that the MT treatment at 200 μM was effective in reducing chilling injury and weight loss and improving membrane stability. Additionally, it led to a decrease in malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage, and the maintenance of fruit quality in terms of firmness, peel and pulp colour values for mango peel and pulp total carotenoid content, as well as phenylalanine ammonia lyase and tyrosine ammonia lyase activity. These findings indicate that PPCP and MT have the potential to be efficient treatments in maintaining mango quality and minimizing post-harvest losses.ConclusionThe utilisation of treatments with 20 μL L− 1 of PPCP or 200 μM MT was found to effectively preserve the postharvest quality parameters, in terms of bioactive compounds, energy metabolism, and antioxidant activity, of mangoes cv. “Keitt” that were stored at 5 ± 1 °C for 28 d.

Magnesium fertilization reduces high-temperature damages during anthesis in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by affecting pollen viability and seed weight.

Terminal heat during reproductive stages of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) limits the productivity of the crop. Magnesium (Mg) is an essential macronutrient that is involved in many physiological and biochemical processes to affect photosynthesis and seed weight. The present study comparatively evaluated Mg applied to soil (80 kg MgSO4·7H2O ha-1) and to plant foliage (4% w/v) in improving wheat performance under terminal heat. Wheat crop was grown in two sets of treatments until the booting stage, and then one set of plants was shifted to a glasshouse (±5 °C) at the booting stage to grow until maturity in comparison to control plants kept under ambient warehouse condition. Heat stress reduced the pollen viability while foliar- and soil-applied Mg improved it by 3% and 6% under heat stress, respectively, compared to the control without Mg treatment. The 100-seed weight, spike length, and biological yield reduced by 39%, 19%, and 50% under heat stress; however, foliar and soil application increased 100-seed weight by 45% and 40%, spike length by 8% and 5%, and biological yield by 35% and 25% under heat stress, respectively. Soil Mg showed maximum SPAD chlorophyll values; however, response was statistically similar to that of foliar Mg as compared to the control without Mg supply. Membrane stability decreased (4%) due to heat stress while foliar and soil treatments improved membrane stability by 8% and 5% compared to that of the control, respectively. Thus, Mg application through soil or plant foliage can be an effective way to reduce negative impacts of terminal heat in wheat by improving pollen viability at anthesis and 100-seed weight that was attributed to increased chlorophyll contents during anthesis.

Potential role of tocopherol in protecting crop plants against abiotic stresses.

The changing global climate have given rise to abiotic stresses that adversely affect the metabolic activities of plants, limit their growth, and agricultural output posing a serious threat to food production. The abiotic stresses commonly lead to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that results in cellular oxidation. Over the course of evolution, plants have devised efficient enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidative strategies to counteract harmful effects of ROS. Among the emerging non-enzymatic anti-oxidative technologies, the chloroplast lipophilic antioxidant vitamin A (Tocopherol) shows great promise. Working in coordination with the other cellular antioxidant machinery, it scavenges ROS, prevents lipid peroxidation, regulates stable cellular redox conditions, simulates signal cascades, improves membrane stability, confers photoprotection and enhances resistance against abiotic stresses. The amount of tocopherol production varies based on the severity of stress and its proposed mechanism of action involves arresting lipid peroxidation while quenching singlet oxygen species and lipid peroxyl radicals. Additionally, studies have demonstrated its coordination with other cellular antioxidants and phytohormones. Despite its significance, the precise mechanism of tocopherol action and signaling coordination are not yet fully understood. To bridge this knowledge gap, the present review aims to explore and understand the biosynthesis and antioxidant functions of Vitamin E, along with its signal transduction and stress regulation capacities and responses. Furthermore, the review delves into the light harvesting and photoprotection capabilities of tocopherol. By providing insights into these domains, this review offers new opportunities and avenues for using tocopherol in the management of abiotic stresses in agriculture.

Nitric oxide induces antioxidant machinery, PSII functioning and artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua under cadmium stress

Soil contamination by heavy metals poses a significant environmental challenge, as the practical implementation of existing remediation technologies in the field has encountered numerous obstacles. This has necessitated the requirement of finding alternate solutions to reduce the harm caused to plants. In this study, nitric oxide (NO) was investigated for its potential to reduce cadmium (Cd) toxicity in A. annua plants. Although NO plays a vital role in the growth and development of plants, information on its role in reducing abiotic stress in plants is limited. A. annua plants were exposed to 20 and 40 mg/kg Cd regardless of the addition of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, at 200 µM concentration. Results showed that SNP treatment improved plant growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, pigment content, and artemisinin production while reducing Cd accumulation and improving membrane stability in A. annua during Cd stress. The results demonstrated that NO can effectively reverse Cd-induced damage in A. annua by modulating the antioxidant system, maintaining redox homeostasis, and improving photosynthetic performance and different fluorescence parameters such as Fv/Fm, ФPSII, and ETR. The supplementation of SNP caused a substantial improvement in chloroplast ultrastructure, stomatal behavior, and different attributes relate to glandular secretory trichomes, which in turn increased artemisinin production; 14.11 % in plants exposed to Cd stress of 20 mg/kg. Our findings highlight that NO could be useful in mediating the repair of Cd-induced damage to A. annua, and suggest that it may play a critical role in plant signaling networks, improving plant adaptability to Cd stress. The results have important implications for developing new strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental contaminants on plant health, and ultimately, the ecosystem.

Improved membrane stability of alginate-chitosan microcapsules by crosslinking with tannic acid.

The insufficient stability of alginate-chitosan (ALG-CS) microcapsules in biorelevant media limits their applications in the biomedical field. Attempts were made to improve the membrane stability of ALG-CS microcapsules by noncovalent crosslinking with tannic acid. The membrane stability of ALG-CS microcapsules in culture medium and serum was significantly improved by crosslinking with tannic acid. Moreover, the reason for the significant improvement in membrane stability had been demonstrated to be that the stability of chitosan-tannic acid (CS-TA) polyelectrolyte complexes was less affected by the competitive binding of those weak acid ions such as HCO3-. In addition, the optimal conditions for preparing alginate-chitosan-tannic acid (ALG-CS-TA) microcapsules were tannic acid concentration of 0.5% (w/v) and pH = 7. The study provides a novel approach for improving the stability of the ALG-CS microcapsules in biorelevant media to expand their scope of application in the biological field.

Astaxanthin protected against the adverse effects induced by diesel exhaust particulate matter via improving membrane stability and anti-oxidative property

Diesel exhaust particulate matter (DPM), which has been clarified as a Group I carcinogenic agent, is still challenging in its detoxification due to the complex composition and toxic mechanisms. Astaxanthin (AST) is a pleiotropic small biological molecule widely used in medical and healthcare with surprising effects and applications. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of AST on DPM-induced injury and the underlying mechanism. Our results indicated that AST significantly suppressed the generation of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX, marker of DNA damage) and inflammation caused by DPM both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, AST prevented the endocytosis and intracellular accumulation of DPM via regulating the stability and fluidity of plasma membranes. Moreover, the oxidative stress elicited by DPM in cells could also be effectively inhibited by AST, together with protecting the structure and function of mitochondria. These investigations provided clear evidence that AST notably reduced DPM invasion and intracellular accumulation by modulating the membrane-endocytotic pathway, which eventually reduced intracellular oxidative stress caused by DPM. Our data might provide a novel clue for curing and treating the harmful effects of particulate matter.