Yiming Chen^1,2, Qiong Luo^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.077896 - 31 March 2026

Abstract Lycium ruthenicum Murray (black goji berry) is an economically important crop rich in anthocyanins, however, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in its fruits are unknown. Here, we used whole-transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed circRNAs and lncRNAs in black goji (BS4) and white goji (WS4). Furthermore, we analyzed the regulatory networks of the key ncRNAs and their target genes by combining targeted phytohormone metabolomics with molecular docking technology. We found that the circRNA plantcirc_001165 synergistically upregulated the flavonoid biosynthesis gene LrHCT with the lncRNA MSTRG.28703 to promote anthocyanin accumulation. However, MSTRG.28703 repressed LrZOX1 expression, leading More >

Shaimaa R. Ahmed^1,*, Omnia M. Hendawy², Sumera Qasim², Hanan Khojah³, Ambreen Malik Uttra⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.075718 - 28 February 2026

Abstract The study evaluated the skin anti-aging activity of Astragalus sarcocolla leaves extract (ASE) by assessing its antioxidant and inhibitory effect activity on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase in relation to its chemical composition. Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS) identified 27 metabolites (15 flavonoids, 8 phenolic acids and their derivatives, and 4 coumarins). ASE showed strong antioxidant capacity in DPPH (IC₅₀ value of 26.05 µg/mL) and FRAP (2433 µM FeSO₄/g extract) assays. The extract inhibited MMP-1 and MMP-9 in a concentration-dependent manner and suppressed collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase activities (IC₅₀ = 35.038, 40.748, 61.389,… More > Graphic Abstract

Zhitao Yang^1,#, Huanyu Cheng^1,#, Xinli Liu¹, Jie Li¹, Xin Ming¹, Beibei Li¹, Luyao Zhang¹, Chunqing MA¹, Yi Jiao¹, Shenjia Wu¹, Ibrar Muhammad Khan², Guanghua Xiong¹, Hongcheng Wang^1,*, Yong Liu^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072736 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common form of osteoporosis in clinical practice, affecting millions of postmenopausal women worldwide. Postmenopausal osteoporosis demands safe and effective therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of hederagenin (Hed) for treating osteoporosis and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: The anti-osteoporotic potential of Hed was assessed by investigating its effects on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in mice and on receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were employed to identify key targets, which were subsequently validated experimentally. Results:… More >

Virna Margarita Martín Giménez¹, SebastiáN GarcíA MenéNdez^2,3, Luiz Gustavo A. Chuffa⁴, Vinicius Augusto SimãO⁴, Russel J. Reiter⁵, Ramaswamy Sharma⁶, Walter Balduini⁷, Carla Gentile⁸, Walter Manucha^2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2245-2282, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.071830 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are characterized by progressive neuronal loss, which is closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. These pathologies involve a complex interplay of genetics, protein misfolding, and cellular stress, culminating in impaired energy metabolism, an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and defective mitochondrial quality control. The accumulation of damaged mitochondria and dysregulation of pathways such as the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) are central to the pathogenesis of these conditions. This review explores the critical relationship between mitochondrial stress… More >

Ruikang Ma^1,2, Ziying Huang¹, Zexiu Zhang³, Ruohui Lu⁴, Menghan Li¹, Zhiyi Luo³, Mengni Li⁵, Pengyue Zhang³, Xiaohong Lin³, Guozhuang Zhang^1,*, Linlin Dong^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3721-3748, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072062 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Dendrobium officinale (DO) is a well-recognized medicinal and edible plant with a long history of application in traditional medicinal practices across China and Southeast Asia. Recent studies have demonstrated that DO is abundant in diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides (DOP), flavonoids, alkaloids, and bibenzyls thought to exert a range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. However, our comprehensive understanding of two key aspects—pharmacological functions and biosynthetic mechanisms—of DO’s major constituents remains limited, especially when considered within the clinical contexts of traditional use. To address this gap, this study reviews DO’s historical applications, clinical effects, and… More > Graphic Abstract

Jun He¹, Jianli Luo¹, Yanling Wang^1,*, Dai Zhou^1,*, Shuanglin Xiang^2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 613-623, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.071773 - 30 November 2025

Abstract Pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) pharmacotherapy faces three fundamental barriers: developmental pharmacokinetic complexity, anatomic-genetic heterogeneity, and evidence chain gaps. Traditional agents exhibit critical limitations: digoxin’s narrow therapeutic index (0.5–0.9 ng/mL) is exacerbated by ABCB1 mutations (toxicity risk increases 4.1-fold), furosemide efficacy declines by 35% in neonates due to NKCC2 immaturity, and β-blocker responses vary by CYP2D6 polymorphisms (poor metabolizers require 50–75% dose reduction). Novel strategies demonstrate transformative potential—CRISPR editing achieves 81% reversal of BMPR2-associated pulmonary vascular remodeling, metabolically matured cardiac organoids replicate adult myocardial energy metabolism for drug screening, and SGLT2 inhibitors activate triple mechanisms (calcium overload More >

Chen Chen^#,*, Chunli Li^#, Tengfei Li, Qianhong Li, Luyao Li, Fengqin Liu

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 793-807, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063549 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Lycium ruthenicum Murray, a plant widely cultivated in northwestern China, is integral to traditional Chinese medicine, with applications in treating menstrual disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and menopausal symptoms. Despite its recognized medicinal value and use as a functional food, comprehensive knowledge of its metabolites and their pharmacological effects remains limited. This study presents an innovative approach using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF/MS) to conduct a detailed analysis of both wild and cultivated L. ruthenicum samples. A total of 62 peaks were detected in the total ion current profile, with 59 metabolites identified based… More >

LINGYAN LV^1,2,#, JING ZHAO^1,2,#, XUAN WANG^1,2, LIUYAN XU^1,2, YINGYI FAN², CHUNHUI WANG³, HONGQIAO FAN^4,5,*, XIAOHUA PEI^5,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.9, pp. 1977-1994, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.030742 - 28 September 2023

Abstract Background: The development and prognosis of breast cancer are intricately linked to psychological stress. In addition, depression is the most common psychological comorbidity among breast cancer survivors, and reportedly, Fang-Xia-Dihuang decoction (FXDH) can effectively manage depression in such patients. However, its pharmacological and molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Methods: Public databases were used for obtaining active components and related targets. Main active components were further verified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). Protein–protein interaction and enrichment analyses were taken to predict potential hub targets and related pathways. Molecule docking was used to understand the interactions… More >

SHIMING YE^1,2,#, YUFENG ZHANG^3,#, TING LIU⁴, CONG WANG³, ZHENG YAN⁵, WANDONG SHE^2,*, HAIBING HUA^4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.9, pp. 1947-1964, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029333 - 28 September 2023

Abstract Background: Despite its widespread therapeutic use and effectiveness, the underlying pharmacologic mechanisms of Wendan decoction (WDD) and how it works to treat sudden deafness (SD) remain unclear. In this study, the pharmacological mechanisms of WDD underlying SD were analyzed using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) was employed to identify the active compounds and target genes of WDD, and genes associated with SD were screened on five databases. RGUI conducted Gene Ontology (GO) functional and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. A… More >

WAYEZ NAQVI, ANANYA SINGH, PREKSHI GARG, PRACHI SRIVASTAVA^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.8, pp. 1675-1687, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029624 - 28 August 2023

Abstract Biological entities are involved in complicated and complex connections; hence, discovering biological information using network biology ideas is critical. In the past few years, network biology has emerged as an integrative and systems-level approach for understanding and interpreting these complex interactions. Biological network analysis is one method for reducing enormous data sets to clinically useful knowledge for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The network of biological entities can help us predict drug targets for several diseases. The drug targets identified through the systems biology approach help in targeting the essential biological pathways that contribute to More >