Coronilla minima L. is a Mediterranean Fabaceae species whose phytochemical composition and biological properties remain incompletely characterized. This study profiled the phenolic constituents of methanolic, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane fractions and evaluated their in vitro antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, antibacterial, and photoprotective activities. Preliminary phytochemical screening and spectrophotometric determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents were followed by LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, reducing-power, silver-nanoparticle, and phenanthroline assays; α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, agar-disc antibacterial activity, and spectrophotometric sun protection factor (SPF) were also determined. LC–ESI–MS/MS detected 19 compounds among 44 authenticated standards, with chlorogenic acid showing the highest concentration in the methanolic fraction (122.79 µg/g). Rutin (29.46 µg/g), hesperidin (28.67 µg/g), and isoquercitrin (28.50 µg/g) were the most abundant flavonoids. The ethyl acetate fraction generally showed the strongest in vitro activity, including DPPH scavenging (IC50 41.87 ± 0.48 µg/mL), α-amylase inhibition (IC50 113.98 ± 4.65 µg/mL), and AChE inhibition (IC50 11.75 ± 1.84 µg/mL). Antibacterial effects were confined mainly to Gram-positive strains, whereas no tested fraction inhibited Escherichia coli. The three fractions showed similar in vitro SPF values (43.56–44.85). These findings identify C. minima as a source of phenolic constituents with multiple in vitro bioactivities, while further mechanistic, toxicological, and in vivo studies are required before therapeutic or cosmetic applications can be considered.
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a multifunctional species originating from Africa, where it plays a key role in food security and sustainable agriculture. In Morocco, it remains a marginal crop that has been scientifically overlooked, despite its crucial role in food security, which limits its integration into genetic improvement programs and compromises the sustainable conservation and valorisation of this plant genetic heritage. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023 cropping season using a randomized complete block design with three replications to evaluate the agro-morphological diversity of 19 cowpea landraces collected from different regions of Morocco. A total of 50 qualitative and quantitative traits (morphological, phenological, and agronomic) were assessed at different growth stages. The results revealed a considerable level of variation across most assessed traits, supported by a high total phenotypic diversity (HT = 0.53) and a mean within-population diversity (Hs̄ = 0.45±0.20) that exceeded the among-population phenotypic diversity (GST = 0.16). The average phenotypic diversity (Hp̄) across landraces was 0.45, with no significant differences among landraces. principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant variation among the 19 cowpea landraces, enabling their grouping based on similarities independently of their geographical origin, with landraces BH3, CF2, HG and TK1 being distinguished by a combination of desirable traits. These results show a considerable level of intra- and inter-landrace diversity among Moroccan cowpea landraces, providing essential information for their conservation, sustainable use, and incorporation into breeding and selection programs, which is particularly relevant as a strategic crop in the current context of climate change.
Rice breeders are developing various colored rice varieties, which are rich in natural anthocyanins, antioxidants, nutrients, and protein. This study compared four rice varieties: two colored (black rice and Hassawi rice) and two non-colored (Giza 177 and Egyptian Yasmin). Results indicated that Black rice and Hassawi rice contained high levels of anthocyanins (777 mg and 443 mg/100 g), flavonoids (14.24 and 10.21 mg of RE/100 g DW), and antioxidants (335.23 mg and 223.13 mg/100 g). The Egyptian Yasmin variety had the highest total phenolic content, likely due to its aromatic characteristics. In terms of protein, Black rice and Hassawi had higher percentages (12.04% and 11.62%) compared to Giza 177 (6.86%) and Egyptian Yasmin (7.53%). Giza 177 outperformed other varieties in hulling, milling, and head rice traits, with the lowest amylose content (17.8%) and highest 1000-grain weight. Giza 177 and Egyptian Yasmin showed maximum kernel elongation percentages of 47.82% and 41.83%, while Hassawi had the highest chalkiness at 17.2%. Iron content was highest in black rice and Hassawi (15.21 µg/g and 10.51 µg/g) compared to Egyptian Yasmin (8.24 µg/g) and Giza 177 (3.77 µg/g). In conclusion, the phytochemicals in colored rice can lead to health benefits, and understanding their synthesis can help maximize nutritional content.
Soil and irrigation water salinity are major constraints to agricultural productivity, especially in regions that rely on groundwater irrigation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of nano-nitrogen fertilizer and the Biohealth biostimulant in mitigating salt stress and improving barley growth and productivity under saline irrigation. A factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted at the College of Agriculture, University of Samarra, during the 2024-2025 growing season. Four fertilization treatments were tested: conventional chemical fertilization (T1), nano-nitrogen fertilizer (T2), Biohealth biostimulant (T3), and combined nano-nitrogen + Biohealth application (T4), under three irrigation-water salinity levels: 0.8 (S1), 4.2 (S2), and 6.3 dS/m (S3). Increasing salinity significantly reduced plant height, flag leaf area, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield per plant, total chlorophyll content, and salt tolerance index. Conversely, nano-nitrogen and Biohealth improved most growth, physiological, and yield traits, particularly when applied together. Under non-saline irrigation (S1), T4 recorded the highest plant height (62.33 cm), flag leaf area (28.75 cm2), number of grains per spike (45.34), 1000-grain weight (45.66 g), grain yield (4.03 g per plant), and total chlorophyll content (3.62 mg/g FW). The highest proline content (3.73 µg/g FW) occurred under severe salinity (S3) in the conventional fertilization treatment, whereas the highest salt tolerance index (69.22%) was recorded under moderate salinity (S2) with T4. These findings indicate that the combined use of nano-nitrogen and Biohealth may be an effective strategy for mitigating the adverse effects of saline irrigation and improving barley performance in arid and semi-arid environments.
In Ecuador, pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivation has gained importance in recent years due to the crop’s nutritional value and the increasing area devoted to its production. Pepper is moderately sensitive to water stress, a constraint that is becoming increasingly relevant in areas with limited or inefficient irrigation. This study evaluated the effect of foliar spraying with SiO₂ nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) on 'Nathalie' hybrid pepper plants subjected to temporary water stress caused by interruption of irrigation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, State Technical University of Quevedo, Ecuador. Seedlings were transplanted into containers filled with a homogenized soil and cow manure compost substrate. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design and consisted of a non-stressed control without SiO₂ NPs and three SiO₂ NP concentrations (250, 500, and 1000 mg L⁻¹) applied to plants exposed to a 10-day irrigation suspension, after which irrigation was resumed. Foliar application of SiO₂ NPs improved plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, fruit length, and fruit mass, with the strongest response generally observed at 1000 mg L⁻¹. These results indicate that SiO₂ NPs may help maintain growth and fruit development in pepper plants exposed to short-term water stress. However, because the design did not include a water-stressed treatment without SiO₂ NPs, the stress-mitigation effect should be interpreted with caution and confirmed under field conditions.
‘Pink Kakada’ (Jasminum multiflorum) is a recently identified jasmine variety with potential for winter flower production when most commercial cultivars remain off-season. The present study was conducted to standardize nutrient management through fertigation and foliar nutrient application to enhance growth and flower yield. A field experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with eleven treatments and three replications, involving different levels of fertigation combined with foliar sprays. The results revealed that application of the recommended dose of water-soluble fertilizers through fertigation along with a foliar spray of 0.25% iron produced the most favorable overall response across growth, physiological, and flowering parameters. The highest plant height (89.38 cm), plant spread (87.05 cm North-South and 95.95 cm East–West), chlorophyll content (1.26 mg g⁻¹), and phenol content (9.92 mg g⁻¹) were recorded under this treatment. The treatment significantly increased flower yield (12.04 t ha⁻¹) and produced the highest values for the number of cymes per plant (247.85), 100-bud weight (11.19 g), flower bud length (3.74 cm), and corolla tube length (2.05 cm). Correlation and principal component analyses indicated that flower yield was strongly associated with dry matter production, number of cymes per plant, and specific leaf weight, identifying these as key determinants of productivity. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrated nutrient management through fertigation combined with foliar iron application enhances growth, physiological efficiency, and winter flower yield of ‘Pink Kakada’ jasmine, providing a practical strategy for improving commercial production during the off-season.
The genus Coprinellus (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) includes coprinoid mushrooms that commonly occur as saprotrophs on wood chips, leaf litter, and herbivore dung. Although the genus has been widely studied in several regions, records of Coprinellus in Morocco remain limited, with only four species previously documented. This study reports Coprinellus truncorum from Morocco for the first time, based on basidiocarps collected on poplar trees along urban avenues in Kenitra, northwestern Morocco. Surveys were carried out from late 2025 to early 2026, during a period of unusually high rainfall and humidity. Coprinoid basidiocarps were observed in dense clusters on trunks and branches of Populus nigra and were collected for macro- and micromorphological examination. The recorded characters, including basidiocarp habit, deliquescent gills, cap surface, basidia, cystidia, and basidiospore morphology, are consistent with the published descriptions of Coprinellus truncorum. The occurrence of this species on poplar trunks contributes to the knowledge of Moroccan fungal diversity and highlights the need for further surveys of Psathyrellaceae in urban and peri-urban habitats. Because Coprinellus truncorum is morphologically close to C. micaceus, future molecular confirmation using ITS and/or LSU sequences is recommended.
Waterlogging is a major abiotic stress limiting jute production in many jute-grown regions of the world. This study aimed to clarify the leaf morphological and physiological responses of jute plants at early seedling stage under waterlogging stress. In the present study, seven jute genotypes were evaluated under control conditions and three waterlogging durations (20, 40, and 60 days) to assess genotypic variation in leaf morpho-physiological traits. The experiment was conducted in a factorial design with two factors and three replications, where one factor consisted of seven jute genotypes and the other consisted of waterlogging treatments. The results demonstrated that increasing the duration of waterlogging stress progressively intensified the adverse effects on leaf-related traits. At 60 days of waterlogging stress, leaf number (35%), leaf length (30%), leaf breadth (25%), leaf area (47%), SPAD value (27%), leaf fresh weight (10%), leaf dry weight (17%), specific leaf area (35%), leaf area index (66%) and petiole length (24%) were significantly reduced, whereas specific leaf weight increased by 160%. Stress tolerance index showed strong positive correlations with leaf expansion, leaf biomass, leaf thickness and chlorophyll retention. Among the tested genotypes, A-2446, A-3539, and CVL-1 exhibited comparatively lower reductions in leaf growth, leaf thickness, and chlorophyll content and were therefore classified as waterlogging tolerant. In contrast, A-1216, A-3343, TP-3, and A-1770 showed the higher reductions in leaf size traits, biomass-related parameters, and photosynthetic indicators (SPAD values), together with lower stress tolerance indices, particularly under prolonged waterlogging stress (60 days), and were thus classified as waterlogging sensitive. The observed genetic variation among the genotypes suggests that the tolerant lines could be utilized in breeding programs aimed at improving jute performance under waterlogging-prone conditions.
Cisplatin (Cis) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent, but its clinical use is limited by adverse effects on the testes and male reproductive function. This study evaluated, for the first time, the protective effect of dried Ficus carica L. fruit (F) against Cis-induced reprotoxicity in male rats using high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), supported by hormonal, sperm, oxidative stress, anatomical, histological, heatmap, and principal component analyses. Twenty-four adult male rats were assigned to four groups: Control (C), F (1 g kg⁻¹day⁻¹), Cis (3.5 mg kg⁻¹week⁻¹, intraperitoneally, three times), and FCis. In Cis-treated rats, HFUS revealed increased testis length, reduced width, anechoic fluid regions, loss of parenchymal homogeneity, and disruption of the tunica albuginea. These alterations were associated with reduced body weight, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, sperm count, sperm motility, and glutathione, together with increased relative testicular weight and malondialdehyde levels. Anatomical and histological examinations confirmed inflammation, haemorrhage, congestion, germ-cell apoptosis, fibrosis, and deformation of the seminiferous tubules. Heatmap analysis showed positive correlations among hormone levels, sperm parameters, and glutathione, and negative correlations with malondialdehyde. Principal component analysis highlighted testis length and width as sensitive indicators of Cis toxicity. Co-treatment with Ficus carica L. markedly alleviated these adverse effects. These findings suggest that HFUS is a valuable non-invasive approach for assessing Cis-induced reprotoxicity in rats and that dried Ficus carica L. fruit may provide protective benefits.
Sulfur (S) nutrient play a vital role in the formation of aroma, flavor and pungency of onions. This research was conducted under the agro-environmental conditions of College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. It was aimed to investigate the impact of four S application levels (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg ha⁻¹) on growth and yield of three onion varieties (Long Red, Round Red, and Round White). For the effect of S level, the highest affected parameters by raising level of S up to 135 kg ha-1 is leaf area, bub weight and yield which increased over the control by 43.53%, 31.1 and 13.1%, respectively. Regarding the effect of variety, Long Red variety was significantly higher in leaf area, bulb weight, bulb length and total yield compared to the other two onion varieties. Regarding the interaction effect (sulfur level x onion variety), the highest S level (135 kg ha-1) improved bulb yield by 20.59, 51.27 and 25.32% for the Long Red, Round Red and Round White, respectively. Genetic variance was significant for all traits except neck diameter and bulb percentage. Broad-sense heritability estimates were particularly high for leaf area and bulb length, indicating a strong genetic contribution to phenotypic expression. Expected genetic advance was high for bulb length, moderate for leaf area, bulb weight, and total yield, and low for the remaining traits. These findings highlight the importance of sulfur fertilization and varietal selection in improving onion productivity and provide valuable insights for future breeding strategies.
This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of leaf, bark, and root extracts of Pterocarpus erinaceus collected in Mauritania against five phytopathogenic fungi: Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The antifungal potential of the extracts, obtained by decoction and ethanol maceration, was assessed using the direct contact method on malt extract agar medium with four replicates per treatment and four concentrations (0, 10, 30, and 50 g L⁻¹) in order to calculate the percentage inhibition of mycelial colony diameter growth (PICD) of the five fungi. Contrary to expectations, leaf and bark extracts of P. erinaceus stimulated the growth of the tested fungi, which may be related to hormetic effects, nutrient availability, or the presence of bioactive compounds at sub-inhibitory concentrations. With the exception of S. sclerotiorum, which showed no sensitivity to the different concentrations of the plant extracts. In contrast, root extracts exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on the growth of A. alternata, with a PICD of 45.91% at a concentration of 50 g L⁻¹ for the aqueous maceration extract and 73% at 2.8 g L⁻¹ for the ethanolic extract. Root extracts also reduced the growth of F. solani at all tested concentrations, with inhibition percentages of 5.88% at 10 g L⁻¹, 10.98% at 30 g L⁻¹, and 11.27% at 50 g L⁻¹, but stimulated the growth of F. oxysporum and B. cinerea. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that root extracts of P. erinaceus are effective against A. alternata and may represent a potential control agent under in vitro conditions, although further studies are required to confirm their effectiveness under greenhouse and field conditions.
Among the clinically important antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp., are frequently implicated in zoonotic infections and are increasingly detected in non-traditional reservoirs, including wildlife. Bats may contribute to the environmental maintenance and dissemination of Enterobacteriaceae within a One Health context, but data on their occurrence and antimicrobial resistance in Southeast Nigeria remain limited. This study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from frugivorous (Eidolon helvum) and insectivorous (Nycteris hispida) bats in Southeast Nigeria. A total of 540 tissue samples (spleen, liver and intestine) were collected from 180 bats (90 Eidolon helvum and 90 Nycteris hispida). Isolation and identification were performed using standard bacteriological procedures, and selected isolates were confirmed using API 20E. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by the disk diffusion method. Overall, 229 (42.4%) Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recovered: 117 (51.1%) from Eidolon helvum and 112 (48.9%) from Nycteris hispida. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate (155/229; 67.7%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae/K. oxytoca (31/229; 13.5%), whereas Enterobacter spp. was least frequent (1/229; 0.4%). Resistance was highest to cefuroxime (117/229; 51.1%), followed by ampicillin (83/229; 36.2%) and aztreonam (33/229; 14.4%); resistance to meropenem was low (5/229; 2.2%). Overall, 44 isolates (19.2%) were multidrug-resistant, and the mean multiple antibiotic resistance index was 0.13. Although several taxa were detected at low frequency, the recovery of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from bats supports the need for continued One Health-oriented AMR surveillance in wildlife and human-impacted environments.
Euphorbia bupleuroides Desf. is an underexplored Algerian medicinal plant of the family Euphorbiaceae. In the present study, we are interested in the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, photoprotective effects, and enzyme inhibitory activities of five crude extracts obtained from E. bupleuroides namely hydroethanolic (HAE), aqueous (Aq), hexane (Hex), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). The hydroethanolic extract (HAE) showed the highest total phenolic (142 µg GAE mg–1) and flavonoid (90 µg QE mg–1) contents, correlating with its superior antioxidant performance across DPPH, ABTS, and other in vitro assays (IC50 = 14.07 ± 0.07 – 175.97 ± 2.35 µg mL⁻¹). All extracts exhibited significant radical-scavenging capacity, contributing to notable sun protection potential, with SPF values of 40.38 ± 0.38, 40.09 ± 0.12, 40.06 ± 0.77 and 34.79 ± 1.14 for the ethyl acetate (EtOAc), hydroethanolic (HAE), aqueous (Aq) and n-butanolic (n-BuOH) extracts, respectively. In enzymatic assays, the extracts demonstrated moderate inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase activity, with IC50 ranging from 140 to 199 µg mL–1, but only weak acetylcholinesterase inhibition reaching IC50 value of 575.49 µg mL–1. The hexane extract (Hex) exhibited selectively moderate inhibition of α-amylase (IC50 = 343.61 ± 1.95 µg mL–1). The extracts also displayed moderate activity against tyrosinase or urease. Overall, these results highlight E. bupleuroides as a promising source of phenolic-rich bioactive extracts with marked antioxidant and selective enzyme inhibitory properties, supporting further phytochemical and biological investigations to identify active secondary metabolites, especially phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and assess their pharmacological potential for medical and pharmaceutical purposes.
This study investigated the impact of solvent polarity on the recovery of phenolic and flavonoid-related constituents, as well as the antioxidant response, in Cynodon dactylon leaf extracts. Leaves collected in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) were dried, ground, and extracted by maceration (72 h) using three polar solvents: ethanol, methanol, and water (aqueous). Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the DPPH assay and expressed as IC₅₀. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to compare functional-group fingerprints among extracts, and PCA was applied to explore relationships among TPC, TFC, and IC50. The extraction solvent had a significant influence on all indices. Ethanol gave the highest TPC (1.774 ± 0.027 mg GAE/g DW) and the highest TFC (0.829 ± 0.010 mg QE/g DW), while methanol produced very low TPC (0.815 ± 0.032 mg GAE/g DW). The ethanol extract also showed the strongest DPPH scavenging activity (lowest IC₅₀: 1.748 ± 0.185 mg/mL), followed by methanol (3.783 ± 0.286 mg/mL) and the aqueous extract (7.494 ± 0.347 mg/mL). PCA explained 99.87 % of the variance with PC1 (72.99 %) and PC2 (26.88 %), separating the three solvents and highlighting an inverse direction between TFC and IC50. ATR-FTIR spectra showed solvent-dependent fingerprints, with a broad O–H band (~3343 cm⁻¹) prominent in the aqueous extract and clearer aliphatic C–H stretching (3000–2800 cm⁻¹) in the organic extracts. These results support rational solvent selection for antioxidant-oriented applications of C. dactylon extracts.
Post-harvest fungal contamination of cereals represents a major challenge to global food security because it reduces grain quality and increases the risk of mycotoxin contamination. Essential oils have attracted increasing interest as natural alternatives to synthetic fungicides. However, their direct application under real storage conditions remains limited by volatility, chemical instability, sensory impact, and variable efficacy. This review combined a bibliometric analysis with a systematic review of literature published between 2015 and 2025 to examine the evolution of research strategies related to the use of essential oils for the biopreservation of stored cereals. The bibliometric analysis revealed a field structured around major cereal matrices and storage fungi, with a progressive transition from crude essential oils to isolated bioactive compounds and advanced formulation systems. The systematic review showed growing interest in technologies designed to improve stability, bioavailability, and persistence, including nanostructured systems, encapsulation processes, active packaging, and controlled-release devices. These approaches can enhance antifungal and antimycotoxigenic efficacy while improving compatibility with post-harvest storage conditions. Overall, the findings indicate that essential oils are promising candidates for cereal biopreservation when their formulation and delivery are adapted to storage environments. Future research should prioritize formulation standardization, long-term storage trials, toxicological and sensory validation, and regulatory assessment to support sustainable industrial adoption.
The rapid and successful expansion of wine grape vineyards in the semiarid highlands of the Chihuahuan Desert warrants attention due to the risk of spring freezing events during budbreak, which can result in significant crop losses. Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ accounts for the largest acreage in this emerging industry; therefore, determining its cold hardiness is essential for developing effective frost control strategies. Plant material was collected from the vineyard and subjected to controlled freezing tests at −1, −4, −7, −10, and −13 °C, following overnight storage at +4 °C. Freezing injury was evaluated using the tissue browning method, and buds were assessed at three phenophases. The results indicate that the temperature required to kill 50% of the buds varied depending on the developmental stage. Buds with no visible growth (putatively at the ecodormant/deacclimating stage) reached this threshold at −13 °C, compared to swollen buds at −5.4 °C and green tips at −2.4 °C. Coefficients of determination were above 0.95 in all cases. These results are generally consistent with those reported for other V. vinifera cultivars, but indicate lower cold tolerance compared to V. labrusca. Such information is critical for supporting management decisions aimed at improving frost protection, reducing vine injury, and guiding vineyard establishment in marginal growing areas.
Selaginella plana (Desv.) Heiron, traditionally used in Indonesia, is known for its efficacy in treating infections in open wounds. Untreated wounds can lead to infections, cellulitis, sepsis, and biofilm formation, all of which may delay the wound-healing process. This study aimed to investigate the secondary metabolite content and antibiofilm activity of S. plana extract in preventing, inhibiting, and degrading biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pyogenes, and Candida albicans using the 96-well microtiter plate method. Three 96-well plates were inoculated with microbial suspensions, S. plana extract, and trypticase soy broth with 2% glucose, then incubated for 24–72 hours. Biofilms were stained with 1% crystal violet, and absorbance was measured at 595 nm. The results showed that S. plana extract contains secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and saponins. The antibiofilm assay showed the highest biofilm prevention in S. aureus (49.2%), C. albicans (47%), and S. pyogenes (46%), with the lowest in MRSA (8.5%). Biofilm inhibition was greatest in S. aureus (42%), S. pyogenes (40%), and C. albicans (35.2%), while the highest degradation occurred in S. pyogenes (52%), C. albicans (48%), and S. aureus (42%). The study concluded that S. plana exhibits notable antibiofilm activity against S. aureus, S. pyogenes, and C. albicans, though it demonstrates limited efficacy against MRSA. These findings suggest that S. plana leaf extract holds potential for antibacterial applications and may serve as a promising candidate for bioprospecting in drug development.
Aging is a biological process characterized by progressive functional decline caused by cellular and molecular damage. Free radicals contribute to oxidative stress, which negatively affects longevity, while antioxidant defenses can delay aging. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-aging potential of Alpinia galanga rhizome extracts in Drosophila melanogaster. Phytochemical analysis revealed a rich diversity of metabolites, with the ethanolic extract showing the highest phenolic (197.92 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (23.32 mg QE/g) contents and the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (89.61%; IC₅₀ = 65.23 μg/mL) relative to the aqueous and hydromethanolic extracts. Toxicological assays revealed a clear dose- and time-dependent mortality, reaching 100% after 15 days at 50–100 mg/mL. At 7 days, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values ranged between 31.2–57.8 mg/mL and 65.9–108.9 mg/mL depending on extract type (R² = 0.93–0.97; p < 0.05). Conversely, sublethal concentrations (LC₂₅) markedly prolonged lifespan, up to 39% (60 days for ethanolic, 55 days for hydro-methanolic and aqueous extracts), and improved resistance to H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress by 31.6% versus controls. A. galanga also enhanced antioxidant defenses, with the ethanolic extract producing the strongest enzymatic response after 10 days (CAT: 0.934 μM/min/mg protein; GST: 0.701 μM/min/mg protein), which remained significantly higher than controls after 35 days (p < 0.001). These results highlight A. galanga as a potent source of bioactive compounds capable of sustaining redox balance, mitigating oxidative stress, and promoting longevity.
Despite growing interest in the therapeutic use of Cannabis sativa L. following its legalization for medicinal purposes in 2021, the toxicity profile of its seeds remains largely underexplored in Morocco. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and acute oral toxicity of a chloroform seed extract (C/S) from Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. C/S extract (yield: 4.27 ± 0.13%) was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acute toxicity testing was performed according to OECD Test Guideline 425: female Swiss mice (n = 5/group) received a single 2,000 mg kg⁻¹ oral dose or vehicle control, followed by 14 d monitoring of clinical signs, body weight (BW), organ weight, and serum biochemistry (ASAT/ALAT, creatinine, urea, and lipid profile). GC-MS analysis revealed 16 compounds, with octacosane (6.80%), 2-methyloctadecane (5.75%), and cannabidiol (5.32%) as the major components. No treatment-related mortality was observed (LD₅₀ > 2,000 mg kg⁻¹), and only transient signs of hypoactivity/tachycardia were noted, which resolved spontaneously within a few hours. BW gain (p = 0.154), liver/BW (p = 0.103), and kidney/BW (p = 0.406) ratios showed no significant differences. Total cholesterol was lower in the C/S group than in controls (0.82 ± 0.06 g L⁻¹ vs. 2.13 ± 0.38 g L⁻¹, p = 0.014), whereas LDL-C was higher in the C/S group (0.07 ± 0.00 g L⁻¹ vs. 0.03 ± 0.01 g L⁻¹, p = 0.002). The C/S extract demonstrated low acute toxicity under the tested conditions, supporting further safety-oriented pharmaceutical investigation of Moroccan Cannabis sativa L. seeds.
This study evaluated the implementation of the Menu-Safe®, a simplified HACCP-based system in restaurant chains in Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates, to assess its effects on food safety knowledge, microbiological compliance and operational performance. A field-based pre- and post-implementation design was used. Seven restaurant entities were included, with one branch selected from each entity. The intervention involved baseline assessment, Menu-Safe® training, system implementation, post-implementation monitoring and final evaluation. Data were collected using a 12-item questionnaire administered to managers and assistant managers, microbiological analysis of food and swab samples and structured Menu-Safe® audits. Thirteen participants completed the questionnaire, and 160 microbiological samples were analyzed. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Questionnaire scores improved significantly after implementation, increasing from a mean of 0.4231 to 0.9231, indicating marked gains in HACCP-related knowledge, confidence and supervisory capability. Microbiological compliance was high at baseline and reached full satisfactory classification after implementation, although the overall statistical change was not significant. Audit outcomes showed substantial and statistically significant improvement across all major domains, including SOP documentation, record keeping, GHP observation, management observation and HACCP observation. The study was limited by the small sample size and the inclusion of only selected restaurant branches. Future research should include larger samples and longer follow-up to assess sustainability. The findings suggest that Menu-Safe® can strengthen documentation, monitoring and operational compliance in restaurant chains under real working conditions. The findings provide preliminary evidence that Menu-Safe®, a simplified HACCP-based system, implementation was associated with improvements in food safety knowledge, audit performance, and operational compliance in the participating branches.
