Officinale Root Research Articles

Biodiversity and Soil Reinforcement Effect of Vegetation Buffer Zones: A Case Study of the Tongnan Section of the Fujiang River Basin

The riparian vegetation buffer zone is an important component of riverbank ecosystems, playing a crucial role in soil consolidation and slope protection. In this study, the riparian vegetation buffer zones in the Tongnan section of the Fujiang River Basin were selected as the research object. Surveys and experiments were conducted to assess the species composition and the soil and water conservation effectiveness of the riparian vegetation buffer zone. There are a total of 35 species, mainly comprising angiosperms and ferns. The dominant species include Cynodon dactylon, Setaria viridis, Phragmites australis, Erigeron canadensis, and Melilotus officinalis. The Patrick richness index (R) and Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H) are more significantly influenced by the types of land use in the surrounding area, whereas the impact on the Simpson diversity index (D) and Pielou uniformity index (E) is comparatively less pronounced. When the root diameter is less than 0.2 mm, the tensile strength of Cynodon dactylon roots is the highest. For root diameters larger than 0.2 mm, Melilotus officinalis roots exhibit the highest tensile strength. The presence of plant root systems significantly reduces erosion, delaying the time to reach maximum erosion depth by 1–4 min, decreasing erosion depth by 9–38 mm, and reducing the total amount of erosion by 20.17–58.90%. The anti-scouribility effect of Cynodon dactylon is significantly better than that of Setaria viridis. The root system notably enhances soil shear strength, delaying the shear peak by 0.26–4.8 cm, increasing the shear peak by 4.76–11.37 kPa, and raising energy consumption by 23.76–46.11%. Phragmites australis has the best resistance to shear, followed by Erigeron canadensis, with Melilotus officinalis being the least resistant. Therefore, to balance the anti-scouribility effect and shear resistance of plant roots, it is recommended to use a combination of Cynodon dactylon and Phragmites australis for shallow-rooted and deep-rooted planting. This approach enhances the water and soil conservation capacity of riverbanks.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Root Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor of Steel in 3% NaCl

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Root Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor of Steel in 3% NaCl

Comparative protective activity of aqueous Zingiber officinale root and Theobroma cacao seed extracts on lead acetate-induced cerebellar toxicity in rats

BackgroundLead has been associated with human activities since time immemorial and is reported to induce antioxidant and neurobehavioral impairments in animals and humans. The present study examined and compared the protective activity of aqueous Zingiber officinale root (ZO) and Theobroma cacao seed (TC) extracts against Pb-induced cerebellar toxicity. MethodologyTwenty-four rats, divided into four equal groups, received as follows: 1 ml H2O/day; 100 mg.kg-1 body weight (BW)/day of lead acetate (Pb) only; 500 mg.kg-1 BW/day of ZO and 100 mg.kg-1 BW/day of Pb; and 500 mg.kg-1 BW/day of TC and 100 mg.kg-1 BW/day of Pb, orally for twenty-eight days. Afterwards, neurobehavioural tests were conducted and the harvested cerebellums were used for antioxidant enzymes activity, Pb and lipid peroxidation concentrations as well as histological evaluations, following the sacrifice of experimental rats. ResultsFindings revealed significant neurobehavioural and antioxidant enzymes impairment, elevated levels of cerebellar Pb and lipid peroxidation, and microstructure alterations in the cerebellum of Pb-exposed rats. Although pretreatment with ZO and TC significantly attenuated these Pb-induced effects, ZO was more potent in its neuroprotective activity than TC. ConclusionTaken together, ZO and TC can be further developed as novel neuroprotective agents against Pb toxicity.

Efficient production and enhanced accumulation of Valerenic acid in Valeriana officinalis: Early identification of high-performing hairy root clones and Pioneering use of hydrogen peroxide as an elicitor

Valeriana officinalis (valerian) roots and rhizomes possess a long history of medicinal use due to their sedative, antiepileptic, and anticonvulsant properties. Valerenic acid, a bioactive sesquiterpene with therapeutic potential, is present in limited quantities within these tissues. This study explores the application of hairy root cultures for enhanced valerenic acid production. Hairy root induction was attempted on valerian leaves and petioles using three Rhizobium rhizogenes strains (ATCC15834, A4, and MSU440) across three culture media (Murashige and Skoog (MS), Gamborg's B5 (B5), and Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH)). A non-destructive imaging system and periodic analyses were employed to identify superior hairy root clones exhibiting increased branching frequency. Leaf explants co-cultured with R. rhizogenes strain ATCC15834 yielded the most promising clones, characterized by the highest dry weight (1.03 mg) and valerenic acid content (0.384 mg/g dry weight) when grown in a half-strength SH liquid medium. Following strain and media optimization, the impact of 50 mM hydrogen peroxide as an elicitor on valerenic acid production was investigated. This treatment resulted in a significant 1.76-fold increase in valerenic acid accumulation compared to the control group at the first day post-treatment. This approach presents a valuable strategy for the early identification of high-yielding hairy root lines. Moreover, the utilization of hydrogen peroxide, a safe and cost-effective elicitor, offers a rapid method for enhancing valerenic acid production in the selected superior clone. This study establishes a promising platform for the sustainable production of valuable plant compounds within both research and industrial settings.

Immunohistochemical Changes of Polycystic Ovaries in rats Treated with Asparagus Officinalis L. Roots Extract

Abstract Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which a series reproductive, metabolic and psychological condition that is characterized by abnormal gonadotropin secretion or hyperandrogenism and associated with insulin resistance and most commonly found in the reproductive age female. Objectives: This research paper were conducted to examine the effects of Asparagus officinalis L. roots extract on letrozole induced PCOS where the effect of 400 mg/kg A. officinalis L. root extract on the PCOS was studied for 28 days in female rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five female Albino rats were randomly divided into five groups, including control negative group, positive control, PCOS, treatment and preventive group. During 28 days, the positive control group got an extract of the A. officinalis roots. Letrozole 1 mg/kg dissolve in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose solution was used to cause PCOS for 28 days. Following the induction of PCOS, the treatment group received extract A. officinalis roots for 28 days. The preventative group received an extract of asparagus roots during PCOS induction. Results: Immunohistochemical results are shown Ovary slices from of the therapeutic and preventative groups next to the asparagus group were immunostained for Ki 67, which showed high positive statistically (P <0.05) immunological activity in the granulosa nuclei and less in the theca cells. When compared to the PCOS group, both the granulosa and theca layers had very weak positive immunostaining (P <0.05). According to the morphological findings, granulosa cells from the Control group and asparagus group proliferated much more than granulosa cells from the PCOS group statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion: The findings show that theca and granulosa cells are quickly stimulated to proliferate by asparagus root extract. Moreover, it therefore speeds up oogenesis and early cell divisions.

Capturing the antimicrobial profile of Paeonia officinalis, Jasminum officinale and Rosa damascene against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus with metabolomics analysis and network pharmacology

In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of the roots’ extracts of Jasminum officinale, Rosa damascene and Paeonia officinalis against MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) by well diffusion technique. The root extract of P. officinalis exerted a potent anti-MRSA with MIC 0.4673 µg/ml, while both J. officinale and R. damascene exhibited very weak activity. Therefore, chemical profiling of the crude extract P. officinalis roots assisted by LC-HR-ESI-MS was performed and led to the dereplication of twenty metabolites of different classes, in which terpenes are the most abundant compounds. On a molecular level, network pharmacology was used to determine the targets of active metabolites to bacterial infections, particularly MRSA. Online databases PubChem, UniProt, STRING, and Swiss Target Prediction were used. In addition to using CYTOSCAPE software to display and analyze the findings, ShinyGO and FunRich tools were used to identify the gene enrichment analysis to the set of recognized genes. The results detected the identified metabolites were annotated by 254 targets. ALB, ACHE, TYMS, PRKCD, PLG, MMP9, MMP2, ERN1, EDNRA, BRD4 were found to be associated with MRSA infection. The top KEGG pathway was the vascular smooth muscle contraction pathway according to enrichment FDR. The present study suggested a possible implication of P. officinalis roots as a potent candidate having a powerful antibacterial activity against MRSA.

Phytochemical Profile and Antibacterial Effects of Zingiber Officinale Root Extract on Some Enteric Bacterial Pathogens

The majority of Africans today depend either totally or partially on medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. In some rural communities, ethno-medicine is sometimes the only form of healthcare. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial potentials of Z. officinale, which is one of the medicinal plants used by some people. The active ingredients of the plant were first extracted using water and ethanol as solvents. This was followed by the phytochemical analysis of the extracts. Furthermore, the antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Z. officinale on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Shigella dysenteriae isolated from faeces of gastroenteritis patients were evaluated using the agar diffusion technique (punch method). Additionally, a two-fold tube dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts. The mean values of zones of inhibition obtained were statistically analyzed using ANOVA. The least significant difference was determined according to the LSD test at P<0.05. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins. The antibacterial results showed that both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts have antibacterial effects against all the test organisms but at varying degrees. At the 500mg/ml concentration, the ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale produced a zone of inhibition of 21.00b against S. dysenteriae and 20.00b against E. coli and S. typhi. On the other hand, the 500mg/ml concentration of the aqueous extract had a zone of inhibition of 20.00b against S. dysenteriae, 16.00b against E. coli and 10.00b against S. typhi. The findings from this study lend credence to the claims that Z. officinale extracts possess antibacterial potentials. Also, the higher potency in ethanolic than in aqueous extract suggests that the potency might be dose and solvent dependent. Conclusively, owing to the findings from this study, the active ingredients of Z. officinale could be harnessed and employed in the development of novel antibacterial therapies.

Optimizing the extract yield of bioactive compounds in Valeriana officinalis root: a D-optimal design

It is estimated that 80% of all synthetic drugs are derived from medicinal plants, and nowadays, many synthetic drugs are derived from medicinal plants. Valeriana officinalis can treat many diseases of the nervous system. A crucial aspect of valerian extract is that it inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells. To optimize the yield of bioactive compounds in the V. officinalis root extraction, a response surface methodology-based D-optimal design was used. To fulfill this aim, the effects of various factors such as solvent type and concentration, mixing temperature, ultrasound time, and drying method were examined. The optimal conditions for solvent percentages, mixing temperature, ultrasound time, solvent type, and drying methods were determined to be 94.88%, 25 °C, 48.95 min, methanol, and microwave, respectively, with a desirability of 0.921. The predicted valerenic acid, total phenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity in V. officinalis extract were 1.19 (mg/g DW), 8.22 (mg/g DW), 5.27 (mg/g DW), and 92.64%, respectively. In optimal conditions, the extracted amounts of valerenic acid, total phenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were 2.07 mg/g DW, 7.96 mg/g DW, 5.52 mg/g DW, and 78.68%, respectively, which were consistent with the model predicted amounts (based on 95% prediction interval). This study could be useful as a model for demonstrating the efficacy of microwave drying to maximize the biochemical content of V. officinalis, as well as the antioxidant activity of the root extracts of V. officinalis on industrial scale.

Antimicrobial Action of Sambacus nigra, Symphytum officinale, Urtica dioica, and Mentha pulegium Plant Compounds against Antibiotic Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

Infections by Streptococcus pneumoniae are among the leading causes of illness and death in children below 5 years, people with underlying debilitating medical conditions, and the elderly worldwide. Over the past three decades, antimicrobial resistance in S. pneumoniae has drastically increased, with resistance reported in Penicillin, erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and ofloxacin. This phenomenon has necessitated a continuous search for alternative compounds against S. pneumoniae, such as Plants. The objective was to investigate antimicrobial natural compounds present in S. nigra, S. officinale, U. dioica, and M. pulegium against antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae. The study utilised cross-sectional design where S. nigra leaves, S. officinale roots, U. dioica leaves, and M. pulegium leaves were collected from Kisii highland forests. Phytochemicals were identified by gas chromatography (GC/MS). Microbiological testing of the resistant strain of S. pneumoniae was done at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Laboratory (JOOTRHL). The MBC and MIC were determined using disk diffusion. Data was analysed using ANOVA (P<0.05). Results showed alkaloids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids and terpenoids at different extraction solvent concentrations. S. nigra, U. dioica, S. officinale and M. pulegium phytochemical compounds showed significant differences at 0.825 < 3.01. S. nigra and U. dioica showed considerable activity on resistant strains of S. pneumoniae. The MIC of S. nigra and U. dioica were 0.625 mg/L and 1.25 mg/L, while MBC was 0.3125 mg and 0.625 mg respectively. GC/MS analysis of phytochemical compounds on S. nigra and U. dioica showed a total of 8 NIST drug compounds. GC/MS study data; thymol, metharbital, Diethyltoluamide, Cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-, (1. alpha., 2. beta., 5. alpha.)-, aspirin, Piperonyl butoxide, triamterene and Glycine, N-benzoyl- are the most effective phytochemical compound in S. nigra and U. dioica against S. pneumoniae. The study concluded that S. nigra and U. dioica leaves pose active compounds that could be further used as alternatives in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae

Zingiber officinale Root Capsule Extract Synergistically Enhance the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Diclofenac Sodium in Experimental Acute Inflammation.

The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) root capsule extract (GRCE) in doses of 100 mg/kg b.w. (body weight) and 200 mg/kg b.w. alone and in combination with a low dose (5 mg/kg b.w.) of diclofenac sodium (D) on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation (AI). The association of GRCE in a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. with D offered the highest inhibition percentage for edema, reaching the maximum level of inhibition (95%) after 24 h. The association of GRCE in a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. with D showed the ability to reduce tissue inflammatory changes when compared to D alone, while GRCE alone did not exhibit such properties. The association of both doses of GRCE with D showed significantly lower plasma and tissue levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by up to 55% (p ≤ 0.0317), with the best results obtained by the group who received GRCE in the higher dose. These associations reduced the serum and tissue levels of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2) by up to 71% (p ≤ 0.0371). In conclusion, the association of GRCE with a low dose of D could be an appropriate combination to decrease the dose used to reduce serum and tissue levels of inflammatory molecules, edema, and histological changes in acute inflammation. Further research will be necessary to achieve clinical evaluation.

Multi-Criteria Optimization Conditions for the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch Roots Using Green and Sustainable Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Given that ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction is gaining importance within “green technology” and to increase the efficiency of extracting bioactive compounds from Levisticum officinale root waste, optimization of its parameters was undertaken. Multi-objective (multi-criteria) optimization can be an extremely promising tool not only for designing and analyzing the extraction process, but also for making process-control decisions. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop and optimize an environmentally friendly ultrasound-assisted extraction methodology for the aqueous extraction of bioactive compounds from the roots of Levisticum officinale, which are considered a by-product. The focus was on determining the optimal extraction conditions of the independent variables, such as solid–liquid ratio, extraction time and ultrasound power, so that the optimized extracts present the highest bioactive potential expressed in terms of levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, sugars and antioxidant potential. Based on the Pareto-optimal solution sets, it was found that to maximize the criteria, aqueous extraction should be carried out at a Levisticum officinale biomass/solvent ratio of 0.0643 g/mL for a time of 8.1429 to 9.0000 min, with ultrasound assistance of 162.8571 to 201.4286 W. Among the compromise solutions, the so-called “best efficient solution” was indicated as the solution for which the Euclidean distance from the ideal point of Utopia was the smallest (among all analyzed points of the collection), which had coordinates x1comp = 0.0750 g/mL, x2comp = 9.0000 min and x3comp = 214.2857 W. The results obtained will provide a valuable tool to assist in the decision-making process of controlling such an extraction process.

Morinda officinalis saponins promote osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells via the BMP-SMAD signaling pathway.

Morinda officinalis saponins (MOS), a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from M. officinalis roots, have been used as a health supplement. Existing evidence suggests that extracts from this plant can be used for osteoporosis treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-osteoporotic effects of M. officinalis remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the osteogenesis-promoting effects of MOS on human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs). Alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that MOS promoted the osteogenic differentiation of HUC-MSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. RNA sequencing results showed that the expression of key osteogenic differentiation-related genes, including BMP4, as well as the activity of transforming growth factor-β and calcium signaling pathways increased following MOS treatment. Furthermore, treatment with the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist Noggin reversed the MOS-induced pro-osteogenic differentiation effects and the upregulation of osteoblast-specific markers. Overall, the results indicate that MOS can partially promote osteogenic differentiation of HUC-MSCs by regulating the BMP-SMAD signaling pathway. These findings indicate the potential utility of MOS as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis, particularly in the context of stem cell therapy.

Multi-Objective Optimization of the Green Extraction Conditions of Bio-Active Compounds from a Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch: Pareto Optimality and Compromise Solutions for Process Management

Abstract Plants belonging to the Apiaceae family (including Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch) are rich sources of phytochemicals and secondary metabolites, with possible health-promoting and agrochemical potential. The objective of this work was to provide important guidelines for controlling conventional aqueous extraction to obtain Levisticum officinale root extracts with maximised levels of bioactive compounds. The ultimate goal was to optimise the total phenolic compounds, flavonoid content, sugars, and total antioxidant capacity to identify the process conditions necessary to produce highly bioactive extracts that could be used in a wide range of industries. Biomass extraction of lovage root was carried out using water as the extraction solvent. To perform the optimisation of the aqueous extraction, multivariate regression models were used and multi-criteria analysis was performed using Pareto set navigation. Pareto front analysis showed that for the maximum extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from Levisticum officinale, the optimal extraction process parameters were 0.0714 g·mL−1 as biomass/water ratio and a time of 35.7142 min, at the highest analysed temperature. For the highest analysed value of plant biomass/solvent ratio (0.075 g·mL−1) and maximum process temperature (95ºC), extraction could be carried out for 20 min or in the range 37.1429-38.5714 min. On the other hand, if the extraction time reaches 40 min and the sam-ple/solvent ratio 0.075 g·mL−1, the optimum process temperature is be-tween 75ºC and 95ºC.

Zingiber officinale extract maximizes the efficacy of simvastatin as a hypolipidemic drug in obese male rats.

Obesity became a serious public health problem with enormous socioeconomic implications among the Egyptian population. The present investigation aimed to explore the efficacy of Zingiber officinale extract as a hypolipidemic agent combined with the commercially well-known anti-obesity drug simvastatin in obese rats. Thirty-five male Wister rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: group I received a standard balanced diet for ten weeks; high-fat diet was orally administered to rats in groups II-V for ten weeks. From the fifth week to the tenth week, group III orally received simvastatin (40 mg/kg B.W.), group IV orally received Z. officinale root extract (400 mg/kg B.W.), and group V orally received simvastatin (20 mg/kg B.W.) plus Z. officinale extract (200 mg/kg B.W.) separately. Liver and kidney function tests, lipid profiles, serum glucose, insulin, and leptin were determined. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of PPAR-γ, iNOS, HMG-CoA reductase, and GLUT-4 genes was carried out. Caspase 3 was estimated in liver and kidney tissues immunohistochemically. Liver and kidney tissues were examined histologically. The administration of Z. officinale extract plus simvastatin to high-fat diet-fed rats caused a significant reduction in the expression of HMG-coA reductase and iNOS by 41.81% and 88.05%, respectively, compared to highfat diet (HFD)-fed rats that received simvastatin only. Otherwise, a significant increase was noticed in the expression of PPAR-γ and GLUT-4 by 33.3% and 138.81%, respectively, compared to those that received simvastatin only. Immunohistochemistry emphasized that a combination of Z. officinale extract plus simvastatin significantly suppressed caspase 3 in the hepatic tissue of high-fat diet-fed rats. Moreover, the best results of lipid profile indices and hormonal indicators were obtained when rats received Z. officinale extract plus simvastatin. Z. officinale extract enhanced the efficiency of simvastatin as a hypolipidemic drug in obese rats due to the high contents of flavonoid and phenolic ingredients.

Effect of Ginger Root Powder on Gastrointestinal Bacteria Composition, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Mental Health, Fatigue, and Quality of Life: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

BackgroundDespite compositional alterations in gastrointestinal microbiota being purported to underpin some of the therapeutic effects of ginger, the effect of a standardized ginger supplement on gut microbiota has not been tested in humans. ObjectivesTo determine the effect of a standardized ginger (Zingiber officinale) root powder, compared to placebo, on gastrointestinal bacteria and associated outcomes in healthy adults. MethodsA randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial allocated participants aged 18 to 30 y to ginger or microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) placebo. The intervention comprised 1.2 g/d of ginger (4 capsules per day totaling 84 mg/d of active gingerols/shogaols) for 14 d following a 1-wk run-in period. Primary outcomes were gastrointestinal community composition, alpha and beta diversity, and differential abundance, measured using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. Secondary outcomes were gastrointestinal symptoms, bowel function, depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, quality of life, and adverse events. ResultsFifty-one participants were enrolled and analyzed (71% female; mean age 25 ± 3 y; ginger: n = 29, placebo: n = 22). There was a greater increase in relative abundance of phylum, Actinobacteria, observed following ginger supplementation compared to placebo (U: 145.0; z: −2.1; P = 0.033). Ginger was associated with a greater abundance of the genera Parabacteroides, Bacillus, Ruminococcaceae incertae sedis, unclassified Bacilli, families Defluviitaleaceae, Morganellaceae, and Bacillaceae as well as lower abundance of the genus Blautia and family Sphingomonadaceae (P < 0.05). An improvement in indigestion symptoms was observed with ginger supplementation (U: 196.0; z: −2.4; P = 0.015). No differences between ginger and placebo groups were found for alpha and beta diversity or other secondary outcomes. No moderate or severe adverse events were reported. ConclusionsSupplementation with ginger root powder was safe and altered aspects of gastrointestinal bacteria composition; however, it did not change alpha- or beta diversity, bowel function, gastrointestinal symptoms, mood, or quality of life in healthy adults. These results provide further understanding regarding the mechanisms of action of ginger supplementation.This trial was registered in the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12620000302954p and the Therapeutic Goods Administration as CT-2020-CTN-00380-1.

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Green-Synthesized MgO and ZnO Nanoparticles from Two Plant Root Extracts.

The green approach-based nanoparticle synthesis is considered a more cost-effective and ecologically responsible method of producing nanoparticles than other standard techniques. A major accomplishment in resolving these issues is the use of nanoparticles for environmental pollution remediation. This article describes a simple method for producing MgO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale and Glycyrrhiza roots as the stabilizing and reducing agents, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersed X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy methods were used to characterize the biologically synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs). The XRD results showed that the mean crystallite sizes of synthesized ZnO and MgO NPs, which have excellent purity, are 12.35 nm and 4.83 nm, respectively. The spherical or elliptical shape of the synthesized NPs was confirmed by the SEM analysis. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized NPs against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was thoroughly investigated. With a medium zone of inhibition of 7 to 10 mm, the as-synthesized MgO NPs and ZnO NPs demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity towards various bacterial strains.

Larvicidal activities of Cnidium officinale Makino extract encapsulated with cellulose nanocrystal-stabilized Pickering emulsion against Aedes albopictus Skuse, a vector of Zika virus

Phytochemicals extracted from plant structures are an appropriate alternative pesticide to prevent side effects from synthetic pesticides, such as environmental problems, direct damage to other organisms, and strong mutations. Since some phytochemicals with larvicidal activities against mosquito larvae have low surface tension, phytochemicals must be encapsulated with hydrophilic structures to be applied in the aqueous phase. Here, we suggest a phytochemical encapsulation method with sulfated cellulose nanocrystal (S-CNC) via Pickering emulsification. Before Pickering emulsification, 11 herbal plant extracts were studied for their larvicidal activities against Aedes albopictus Skuse to investigate a novel plant extract found in traditional medicine in Northeast Asian countries. Among them, Cnidium officinale Makino and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry exhibited outstanding larvicidal activity, and C. officinale showed approximately 1.9-fold higher larvicidal activity than S. aromaticum at the same concentration. After analysis of C. officinale root methanol extract (CoRM), we emulsified CoRM with various concentrations of S-CNC to improve the low solubility of CoRM to the aqueous phase. The colloidal stability of S-CNC-stabilized CoRM Pickering emulsion was examined in terms of phase behavior, droplet size distribution, rheological properties, surface tension, and zeta potential during storage. Then, we investigated the larvicidal activity of the Pickering emulsion, and Pickering emulsified CoRM showed 100% mortality at 0.125 mg mL−1 concentration against Ae. albopictus larvae. These results demonstrated that the Pickering emulsification with S-CNC can be utilized to encapsulate the larvicidal plant extracts, leading to improved management of insect-borne diseases.

Proximate Analysis, Vitamins, and Mineral Compositions of Zingiber officinale, Ocimmum gratissimum and their Herbal Blend

The nutritional composition of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum, Zingiber officinale roots and their mixture were evaluated by investigating their proximate composition, vitamin, and mineral composition following standard biochemical methods. Proximate analysis of the herbal blend revealed the percentage moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, and ash, as 15.84%, 13.62%, 0.36%, 1.84%, 2.92%, respectively surpassing the content from individual extracts. However, the carbohydrate content and total energy ranked in descending order of magnitude; aqueous extract of ginger (76.30%; 350.78 kCal) &gt; scent leaf (70.03%; 345.29 kCal) &gt; ginger -scent leaf blend (65.41%; 332.66 kCal). The vitamin and mineral content in the herbal mixture investigated showed higher concentrations of Vitamins (A, BI, B2, B3, C, E) and minerals followed the same pattern. Nevertheless, aqueous extract of ginger showed a higher content of calcium. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the nutritional composition of these popular culinary ingredients and highlight their potential health benefits.

Effects of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Supplementation on Productive Performance, Egg Quality Traits, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Liver Fat Rate in Laying Hens

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root supplementation on performance, egg quality and some serum antioxidant enzymes capacity with increasing age, after the peak laying stage in hens. This study, also aimed to overcome diseases that occur due to lipid metabolism in layers in the late laying period. Methods: In total, one hundred and twenty 70-week-old Lohman LSL laying hens were randomly assigned to five groups equally (n = 24). Each treatment was replicated six times (6 replicates x 4 birds). The control group was fed basal diet (2650 kcal/kg ME) with no supplementation. The other groups were fed high-energy diets (2850 kcal/kg ME) to induce fatty liver and also 5, 10 and 15 g/kg dandelion (taraxacum officinale) root were supplemented. Result: The study revealed that the addition of 5 g/kg dandelion root to the high-energy feed positively changed the egg production, decreased lipid profiles (triglyceride and VLDL) and liver fat ratio and played a role in preventing lipid peroxidation.

Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of Magnolia officinalis root extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus based on mannose transporter

Magnolia officinalis root extract was obtained by high-pressure-assisted extraction, and the yield of honokiol (HNK) was 86.97 ± 1.05 mg/g dry power. The purified extracts and HNK inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Assays for alkaline phosphatases, proteins, nucleic acids leakage, and electrical conductivity, along with scanning and transmission electron microscopy measurements, confirmed the damaging effects of HNK on the cell wall and membrane of MRSA. Intake of sugar, protein production, molecular docking, and dynamic simulations revealed that HNK interfered with the transport of mannose-based carbohydrates by binding to VAL196, ILE291, ALA293, PRO294, and MET214 on the mannose transporter (ManP) in the phosphotransferase system, and thereby inhibited the carbohydrate metabolism of MRSA. These results indicated that HNK prevented MRSA from using carbohydrates by cutting off its nutritional process, and ultimately caused bacterial rupture and lysis. Therefore, ManP may be a potential target for HNK to combat MRSA infections.