JHILAM PRAMANIK^1,#, AKASH KUMAR², SARVESH RUSTAGI^3,#, MEHAK KATYAL⁴, SHEETAL THAKUR⁵, JUTISHNA BORA⁶, SUMIRA MALIK^6,7,*, ANCHAL TREHAN⁸, NAYAN TALUKDAR⁹, PETR SLAMA^10,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.4, pp. 541-557, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029031

Abstract Many phytochemicals and their derived metabolites produced by plants are extensively employed in commercial goods, pharmaceutical products as well as in the environmental and medical fields. However, these secondary metabolites obtained from plants are in low amounts, and it is difficult to synthesize them at the industrial level. Despite these challenges, they may be utilized for a variety of medicinal products that are either available in the market or are being researched and tested. Secondary metabolites are complex compounds that exhibit chirality. Further, under controlled conditions with elicitors, desired secondary metabolites may be produced from plant cell cultures. This review… More > Graphic Abstract

Lanying Chen^1,2, Qiumei Quan^3,*, Yunxiang Li³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.3, pp. 551-566, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.048103

Abstract Mediated by pollen flow, natural hybridization is deemed a crucial factor that propels speciation in floral plants. Despite the fact that the diversity of Epimedium species is concentrated mainly in Southwestern China, the potential impact of interspecific pollination on natural hybridization has yet to be empirically scrutinized. To explore this, we studied the flowering period and the visitors of flowers in three frequently overlapping Epimedium species at Jinchengshan National Forest Park, located in Nanchong, Sichuan Province. Additionally, we performed a series of pollination experiments to examine breeding systems and hybrid compatibility. Morphologically, Epimedium pubescens and Epimedium wushanense are clearly distinct… More >

Linlin Fang, Jiamei Xu, Chunxue Yang^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.12, pp. 3195-3209, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.043049

Abstract Syneilesis aconitifolia is a potential ground cover and decorative material in gardens, which exhibits a strong salt-alkali tolerance, and also has medicinal value. In this study, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi community in the soil surrounding S. aconitifolia roots in the Songnen saline-alkali grassland was used as the inoculation medium for a pot cultivation experiment. After normal culture for 90 days, NaCl and NaHCO₃ solutions were applied to subject plants to salt or alkali stress. Solution concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mmol/L were applied for 10 days, and mycorrhizal colonization, biomass, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA)… More >

FENGMEI QIAN^1,2, PEIYAO REN², LI ZHAO², DANNA ZHENG², WENFANG HE³, JUAN JIN^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.8, pp. 1853-1867, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.029353

Abstract Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of diabetes with rising prevalence worldwide. We aimed to explore the anti-DN mechanisms of the compound celastrol derived from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii. Methods: Celastrol-related targets were obtained from Herbal Ingredients’ Targets (HIT) and GeneCards databases. DN-related targets were retrieved from GeneCards, DisGeNET, and Therapeutic Targets Database (TTD). A Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using ClusterProfiler. The cytoHubba plugin was used to select… More > Graphic Abstract

AFAF ALHARTHI^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.8, pp. 1743-1755, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.027154

Abstract Natural biomaterials are now frequently used to build biocarrier systems, which can carry medications and biomolecules to a target region and achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Biomaterials and polymers are of great importance in the synthesis of nanomaterials. The recent studies have tended to use these materials because they are easily obtained from natural sources such as fungi, algae, bacteria, and medicinal plants. They are also biodegradable, compatible with neighborhoods, and non-toxic. Natural biomaterials and polymers are chemically changed when they are linked by cross linking agents with other polymers to create scaffolds, matrices, composites, and interpenetrating polymer networks employing… More >

Esraa E. Shalan¹, Said S. Soliman¹, Ahmed A. Mahmoud¹, Jameel M. Al-Khayri^2,*, Salha M. ALshamrani³, Fatmah A. Safhi⁴, Areej S. Jalal⁴, Diaa Abd El-Moneim⁵, Abdallah A. Hassanin^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.7, pp. 2183-2196, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.028537

Abstract Determination of the somaclonal variation of in vitro-propagated plants is crucial to determine the appropriate micropropagation protocol and growth regulators for commercial scale multiplication. In this research, nine multiplication media (MM) augmented with different concentrations of 6-benzyl adenine (BA), Kinetin (Kin), and Thidiazuron (TDZ), Three rooting media (RM) supplemented with three levels of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and three types of soil mixtures (v/v); Coco peat/Vermiculite/Sand (CVS), Peat moss/Perlite/Sand (PPS) and Peat moss/Perlite (PP) were used in the micropropagation protocol of daylily plants. MM2 showed the maximum shoot length and the number of leaves, while MM9 showed the maximum number… More >

CHENHAO SHI¹, MAOHONG HUA², GUANHUA XU^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1329-1344, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028381

Abstract Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that often presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, hematochezia, and significant morbidity. Gancao Xiexin decoction (GXD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been applied for the clinical treatment of UC, while its action mechanisms are unclear. Methods: The active ingredients and their targets of GXD, and UC-related targets, were derived from public databases. Protein-protein interaction, Gene Ontology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to analyze the important active compounds, key targets, and signaling pathways. Then, molecular docking and animal experiments were performed to verify the findings. A total… More >

MAN REN^1,2,3,#, YUAN YANG^1,2,#, DAN LI⁴, NANNAN ZHAO⁵, YUPING WANG^2,6,*, YONGNING ZHOU^2,6,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.5, pp. 977-989, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028402

Abstract Background: 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG) is a natural polyphenolic compound derived from multiple medicinal plants with favorable anticancer activity. Methods: In this study, the mechanisms of PGG against gastric cancer were explored through network pharmacology and molecular docking. First, the targets of PGG were searched in the Herbal Ingredients’ Targets (HIT), Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA), and Super-PRED databases. The potential targets related to gastric cancer were predicted from the Human Gene Database (GeneCards) and DisGeNET databases. The intersecting targets of PGG and gastric cancer were obtained by Venn diagram and then subjected to protein-protein interaction analysis to screen hub targets. Functional and… More >

Kakudji Kisimba¹, Anand Krishnan^2,*, Mbuso Faya¹, Kahumba Byanga³, Kabange Kasumbwe⁴, Kaliyapillai Vijayakumar⁵, Ram Prasad^6,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2575-2591, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026159

Abstract Nanoparticles have distinct properties that make them potentially valuable in a variety of industries. As a result, emerging approaches for the manufacture of nanoparticles are gaining a lot of scientific interest. The biological pathway of nanoparticle synthesis has been suggested as an effective, affordable, and environmentally safe method. Synthesis of nanoparticles through physical and chemical processes uses unsafe materials, expensive equipment and adversely affects the environment. As a result, in order to support the increased utilization of nanoparticles across many sectors, nanotechnology research activities have shifted toward environmentally safe and cost-effective techniques that outperform chemical and/or biological procedures. The use… More > Graphic Abstract

SUBHASH CHANDRA^1,2, SANTWANA PALAI³, EDINARDO FAGNER FERREIRA-MATIAS⁴, IVO CAVALCANTE PITA-NETO⁴, CíCERO LUCAS GOMES-RAMALHO⁴, EDLANE MARTINS DE ANDRADE⁴, RAY SILVA DE ALMEIDA⁵, MARCELLO IRITI^6,7,*, HENRIQUE DOUGLAS MELO-COUTINHO^5,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.4, pp. 677-695, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.026081

Abstract Indian medicinal plants are referred to as the “nectar of life” owing to their phytochemicals and bioactive complexes that are beneficial in treating diseases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health issue without any proper medication. The indigenous plants of India can be exploited to control the precise signs of SARS-CoV-2. The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) has advised routine usage of medicinal plants for COVID-19. Medicinal plants like Zingiber officinalis, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum, Nigella sativa, Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, Allium sativum, Tinospora cordifolia, etc. have immunity-boosting, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant… More >