Sena Yıldız¹, Nurhan Keskin^2,*, Birhan Kunter³, Harlene Hatterman-Valenti⁴, Ozkan Kaya^4,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3471-3492, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073180 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Climate change-driven environmental stresses, particularly ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, pose severe threats to grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) productivity and physiological stability. This study investigated the protective role of melatonin in in vitro plantlets of two grapevine cultivars, ‘Merlot’ and ‘Erciş’, subjected to low (≈8.25 μW cm⁻², 16 h) and high (≈33 μW cm⁻², 4 h) UV-B exposure. Significant cultivar-specific responses were observed (p < 0.001). The ‘Erciş’ cultivar exhibited higher oxidative stress, with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels reaching 24.30 mmol g⁻¹ FW in control plants compared with 14.91 ± 0.25 mmol g⁻¹ FW in ‘Merlot’. Melatonin provided dose-dependent mitigation, reducing MDA to… More >

Yousra Hammouti^1,2,*, François Mesnard², Oussama Khibech³, Mohamed Taibi¹, Yousra Belbachir³, El Hassania Loukili⁴, Reda Bellaouchi⁵, Abdeslam Asehraou⁵, Mohamed Addi^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3563-3583, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071139 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Centaurium erythraea Rafn (“Gosset El Haya”) has long been prized in North African folk medicine, yet Moroccan chemobiological data remain scarce. Ethanol extracts of northern Moroccan aerial parts were profiled by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and found rich in phenolics, dominated by 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (57.8%) and naringin (10.3%). The extract exhibited strong antioxidant power in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of ≈74 µg mL⁻¹, and a total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of ≈201 µg mL⁻¹ and selective antimicrobial activity, sharply inhibiting Aspergillus niger, Penicillium digitatum, and Rhodotorula glutinis while sparing Staphylococcus aureus. In-silico absorption, distribution, metabolism,… More >

Cheng Song^1,*, Iftikhar Hussein Shah², Ghulam Abbas Ashraf³, Muhammad Arif⁴, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor^1,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3427-3451, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070778 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Heavy metal pollution has become a pervasive environmental issue affecting numerous regions worldwide. Recently, there has been significant attention given to the application of nano-enabled technologies with the purpose of enhancing plant development and alleviating heavy metal stress. This study aimed to illustrate the potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to enhance the morphological traits of D. huoshenense exposed to cadmium (Cd) stress. The chemical structure and elemental composition of the ZnO-NPs were characterised by a series of analytical methods, including X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectrometry, XPS, and TEM. Plant samples used were collected at 0, 5,… More > Graphic Abstract

Sheikh Showkat Ahmad¹, Chandni Garg¹, Dalia Fouad², Islam Abdulrahim Alredah³, Sandeep Kaur⁴, Satwinderjeet Kaur^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3401-3426, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067984 - 01 December 2025

Abstract The Tragopogon dubius is traditionally used to treat many ailments, consumed as a vegetable, and utilized as fodder for livestock. Tragopogon dubius, found in the Kashmir Himalayas, is the least explored for its bioactivity properties and has a unique geographical location. This study is the first attempt to investigate the antioxidant, anticancer, and genoprotective properties of the aqueous extracts from the leaves (AQ-TrDL) and stems (AQ-TrDS) of this plant. AQ-TrDL and AQ-TrDS demonstrated significant amounts of phenolic and flavonoid contents. GC-HRMS identified various phytochemicals belonging to different classes, like carboxylic acids, fatty acid derivatives, phenols, and triterpenoids.… More >

Russel J. Reiter^1,*, Ramaswamy Sharma^2,*, Walter Manucha³, Walter Balduini⁴, Doris Loh⁵, Demetrios A. Spandidos⁶, Alejandro Romero⁷, Vasiliki E. Georgakopoulou⁸, Wei Zhu⁹

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.11, pp. 2033-2067, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.067661 - 24 November 2025

Abstract The development of cancer cell resistance to conventional treatments continues to be a major obstacle in the successful treatment of tumors of many types. The discovery of a highly efficient direct and indirect free radical scavenger, melatonin, in the mitochondrial matrix may be a factor in determining both the occurrence of cancer cell drug insensitivity as well as radioresistance. This relates to two of the known hallmarks of cancer, i.e., exaggerated free radical generation in the mitochondria and the development of Warburg type metabolism (glycolysis). The hypothesis elaborated in this report assumes that the high… More >

Tetiana O. Yastreb^1,2, Mykola V. Shevchenko², Liubov N. Kobyzeva^1,3, Alexander I. Oboznyi¹, Yuriy E. Kolupaev^1,2,4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3125-3143, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071822 - 29 October 2025

Abstract β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a physiologically active plant compound that has not been extensively studied. It has been shown to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors and enhance seed germination in certain plant species. However, its effects on cereal grains with low germination rates have not yet been studied. This study investigated the effects of BABA on the germination of aged triticale seeds, the metabolite content of seedlings, and the state of their antioxidant systems. The study found that a three-hour treatment of seeds in BABA solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to… More > Graphic Abstract

Sy-Yu Shiau^*, Shuting Ni, Yanli Yu, Songling Cai, Wenbo Huang

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3047-3060, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070289 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Consumers are increasingly demanding natural colorants that are safe and offer health benefits. In addition to their ornamental characteristics, Kanzan cherry (KC) blossoms present a promising source of red-hued natural colorants and functional bioactive substances. This research utilized distilled water to extract KC petals (KCP) and their ground powders (KCPP) under varying temperatures (30°C–90°C) and times (30–180 min). The total monomeric anthocyanins (TMAC) and total phenolics (TPC) in the extracts were evaluated via the pH differential and Folin–Ciocalteu methods. Antioxidant capacities were assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging ability and reducing power. Results indicated that… More >

Yi Yan^1,2,#, Min He^1,2,#, Feifeng Mao³, Xinyu Zhang⁴, Liyu Wang⁵, Jingwei Li^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3003-3021, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.069166 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Houttuynia cordata, a characteristic edible and medicinal plant in southwestern China, is prone to absorbing lead (Pb²⁺). Excessive consumption may lead to Pb²⁺ accumulation in the human body, which has been linked to serious health risks such as neurotoxicity, kidney damage, anemia, and developmental disorders, particularly in children. Therefore, the development of molecular markers associated with Pb²⁺ uptake and the investigation of the plant’s physiological responses to Pb²⁺ pollution are of great significance. In this study, 72 H. cordata germplasms were evaluated for Pb²⁺ accumulation after exogenous Pb²⁺ treatment. A significant variation in Pb²⁺ content was observed among the germplasms, indicating… More >

Heba A. S. El-Nashar^1,*, Ahmed T. Negmeldin^2,3,*, Aziza El Baz⁴, Marizé Cuyler⁵, Brandon Alston⁵, Namrita Lall^5,6,7, Naglaa S. Ashmawy^1,8,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3269-3281, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067998 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Pimenta dioica is a tropical Caribbean tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae, widely used in various human activities, including perfume production, food flavoring, natural pesticides, and medicine. This study aimed to explore the chemical composition of Pimenta dioica flower essential oil obtained via hydrodistillation using GC-MS analysis. Additionally, the oil’s tyrosinase inhibitory activity was investigated. The effectiveness of the oil’s major constituents in binding to tyrosinase was also evaluated through molecular docking simulations. GC-MS analysis identified fifteen compounds, with eugenol (70.59%) as the major component, followed by β-myrcene (10.54%), limonene (8.55%), β-ocimene (4.92%), α-phellandrene (1.39%), and linalool… More >

Mengting Huang, Meiting Lu, Li Yang, Jiwen Long, Li Zhou^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.10, pp. 2077-2090, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0122 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Peach gum polysaccharide (PGP), a readily available natural polysaccharide, boasts substantial potential across diverse applications, yet its practical utility is severely limited by its vulnerability to bacterial growth and limited antioxidant activity. Herein, we introduced a simple and effective method to enhance the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of PGP by conjugating it with salicylic acid (SA). Cytotoxicity evaluation results confirmed that the resulting PGP-SA retains the excellent biocompatibility of PGP. Notably, PGP-SA demonstrates outstanding antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria, outperforming non-modified PGP. Its antibacterial mechanism is hypothesized to stem from… More > Graphic Abstract