The growing demand for sustainable bioactive compounds has encouraged the valorization of fish-processing by-products into functional ingredients. This study optimized the production of hydrolysate from bull’s eye (Priacanthus hamrur) skin and evaluated its antioxidant and antihypertensive activities. Using response surface methodology, optimal conditions were established at enzyme concentration 3%, hydrolysis time 57.06 min, temperature 45 °C, and pH 7.50, yielding a hydrolysate with high antioxidant capacity. FTIR spectra displayed characteristic amide I–III bands, confirming peptide bond formation, while XRD patterns indicated an amorphous structure. The fish skin hydrolysate (FSH) showed strong radical-scavenging, reducing, metal-chelating, and lipid-peroxidation-inhibiting activities, which increased proportionally with protein concentration. The hydrolysate also exhibited ACE-inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.60 mg/mL, indicating potential antihypertensive activity. Moreover, the hydrolysate maintained >90% fibroblast cell viability, indicating non-cytotoxicity and biocompatibility. This study demonstrates the novel use of bull’s eye skin as a sustainable marine source of multifunctional peptides, supporting the circular bioeconomy and offering promising applications in food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical formulations.
Potato peel contains significant levels of bioactive compounds, especially phenolics and antioxidants, which may contribute to mitigating abiotic stress effects when applied as plant-derived biostimulants. However, the influence of potato peel on photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant machinery, reactive oxygen species metabolism and ion homeostasis has yet to be explored in sunflower hybrids (FH-741, FH-780, FH-793, FH-800, FH-802) under salinity stress (150 mM). In the present study, salinity notably decreased growth, relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments, and mineral acquisition in all hybrids. However, sunflower hybrids subjected to sodium toxicity showed excessive sodium accumulation. Salinity produced substantial oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide) in all sunflower hybrids but also marginally enhanced the antioxidants and osmolytes in them. However, potato peel application decreased the toxic influence of salinity by improving the antioxidants and osmolytes levels which lessen the oxidative damage in all sunflower hybrids. Under salt stress, it also improved the relative water content, photosynthetic pigments and mineral acquisition which ultimately better growth parameters of all hybrids, especially the FH-780, and FH-800. Thus, the potato peel enabled the sunflower hybrids to withstand salinity condition by regulating physiological and biochemical functions. In agriculture, it has great potential to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on sunflower through potato peel application.
The textile industry's increasing environmental impact has intensified interest in alternative fibres derived from underutilised and renewable biomass. Among these, the characteristics of lignocellulosic residues from agro-industrial processes for textile-related applications remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the potential of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) stalk fibre as a bio-based material through the assessment of its physicochemical and biological properties. Cotton was included as a reference fibre to provide a general benchmark for comparison.Morphological and chemical analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while in vitro cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5) and fungal colonisation assays with Aspergillus niger (ISO 13629-2 and biofilm models) were used to assess biological behaviour.Cardoon fibre exhibited similar susceptibility to fungal colonisation as cotton and showed no cytotoxicity. However, significant structural differences were observed: cardoon fibre displayed a coarser morphology and lignocellulosic composition, including lignin, which influenced its mechanical properties and degradation behaviour.This work provides the first integrated assessment of the physicochemical and biological characteristics of commercially processed cardoon stalk fibre, offering new insights into its behaviour as a lignocellulosic material. Rather than functioning as a direct substitute for cotton, cardoon fibre is better positioned as a complementary bio-based resource. The findings support its potential relevance within circular bioeconomy strategies, while highlighting the need for further optimisation of fibre processing and application-specific performance.
Soil salinization driven by climate change threatens global food security, particularly for salt-sensitive staple crops like maize (Zea mays L.). This study investigates how seed nanopriming with biologically synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) reprograms physiological, biochemical, and metabolic networks in two contrasting maize cultivars, Sahiwal Gold and Malka-16, under progressive NaCl stress. SeNPs were green-synthesized using Moringa oleifera leaf extract and applied at 25 and 50 mg/L before exposure to 100 and 200 mM NaCl. Elevated salinity (200 mM) comprehensively suppressed growth architecture, photosynthetic pigment accumulation, osmolyte metabolism, and antioxidant enzyme activity, while inducing oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Nanopriming with 50 mg/L SeNPs orchestrated a coordinated stress-adaptive response by restoring shoot and root growth, enhancing biomass partitioning, sustaining chlorophyll integrity, and upregulating the antioxidant defense system superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Specifically, SeNP priming (50 mg/L) reduced salinity-induced MDA levels by approximately 21% and increased plant height by ∼24% compared to the non-primed 200 mM NaCl treatment. Concurrent improvements in proline, soluble sugars, free amino acids, and total proteins, alongside recovery of macronutrient (NPK) homeostasis, underscore the multidimensional stress-mitigating capacity of SeNP nanopriming. Sahiwal Gold exhibited greater salt tolerance under salinity stress, whereas SeNP nanopriming improved the physiological and biochemical performance of both cultivars, providing panomics-relevant trait signatures capable of discriminating salt-tolerant from salt-sensitive genotypes. These findings establish SeNP-based nanopriming as an eco-compatible strategy to enhance maize resilience in salt-affected soils, with implications for stress-tolerant breeding under climate change.
Stored-product insect pests are challenging to control with conventional methods, often resulting in seed damage, reduced vigor, and decreased germination potential. Nanomaterials have emerged as promising eco-friendly alternatives in this context. In this study, silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) were synthesized via a sol-gel method using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the precursor. The NPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, particle size analysis, zeta potential, BET, FTIR, XRD, and TGA, providing physicochemical characterization. TEM, SEM and AFM micrographs revealed spherical particles with an average size of 47 nm and surface topography ranging from 46.9 to 50.7 nm, with a zeta potential of – 33.5 mV, a specific surface area of 135.16 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.3172 cm3/g, and an average pore size of 2.12 nm. In silico studies revealed binding affinities of −2.5, −2.4, and −2.3 kcal/mol to GST, AChE, and cytochrome c, respectively. Probit analysis showed lower LD50 (0.436 mg) and LD90 (2.85 mg/100 g seeds) values than those of other treatments. The insecticidal effect may be due to cuticular abrasion and desiccation. Importantly, the insecticidal performance is further supported by the high surface-area-driven contact toxicity of SiO2 NPs. Biochemical assays further showed increased MFO and CarE activities with concurrent suppression of GST and AChE, confirming strong physiological stress in C. maculatus. Furthermore, seeds treated with SiO2 NPs exhibited improved agronomic and morphological traits, viz., increased seedling length, vigor and biomass accumulation. Si uptake was confirmed by atomic absorption spectroscopy, and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed in seedlings. These findings highlight the potential of SiO2 NPs as effective agents for managing stored-product pests and promoting seed growth in agriculture.
Immature green coffee beans are low-quality beans resulting from non-selective harvesting, causing increased bitterness and astringency in coffee brew due to their higher chlorogenic acid content. The coffee industry faces challenges because these beans are difficult to distinguish from premium green coffee beans. This study proposes a biocatalytic approach using tyrosinase to modulate the chemical profiles and improve the flavor quality of immature Robusta coffee. Tyrosinase treatment (12 ± 1.38 U/mL) was applied to immature green coffee beans for varying durations (0.5 - 16 h). Treatment for 16 h (CE-16) yielded the highest sensory score of 81.25, compared to untreated immature coffee (CI) with a sensory score of 78.65. This improvement was attributed to a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in total soluble phenolic (65.70 to 54.70 mg GAE/g) and chlorogenic acid (65.39 to 52.95 mg/g) contents of green bean sample. Total phenolic contents decrease was negatively correlated with aroma attributes (r = -0.72). GC-MS analysis identified 58 odor-active compounds (OAV > 1). In the roasted CE-16 samples, phenolic derivative and pyrazine volatile compound groups were reduced (15.78% and 31.95%, respectively). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explained 78.25% of total variance, distinguishing treated immature coffee by its improved aroma attributes and specific volatile compounds, such as 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-pyrazine and furfuryl-methyl-sulfide. This study demonstrates the initial feasibility of tyrosinase-mediated enzymatic oxidation, providing a foundational framework for potential industrial applications to valorize low-quality immature Robusta coffee beans into high-quality coffee products with specialty-grade characteristics.
Mountain agroecosystems in tropical regions offer conditions for year-round vegetable cultivation. However, there is limited knowledge about how intensive vegetable cultivation in fragile mountain soils influences the bacterial community. We compared bacterial community and physical and chemical properties of crop and forest soils to assess the impact of agriculture. Crop soils exhibited high pH, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) values, whereas forest soils had higher exchangeable aluminum (Al3+), potential acidity, and soil organic matter (LMM, p < 0.05). Alpha diversity was similar between land uses, whereas bacterial community composition differed between crop and forest soils. Based on the multinomial species classification method (CLAM), 14.5% of ASVs were classified as crop specialists, 17.3% as forest specialists, and 6.0% as generalists occurring in both environments. Crop soils showed higher proportions of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria specialists, whereas forest soils were characterized by Verrucomicrobia and Acidobacteria specialists. Microbial networks in forests exhibited 138 nodes and 550 links, compared to crop soils with 163 nodes and 350 links. The average degrees were calculated as 7.97 and 4.29 for forest and crop soils, respectively. Despite the observed differences in network complexity, positive correlations dominated in both experimental groups, with prevalences of 64% in forests and 59% in crop soils. High betweenness centrality values were observed in crop soil network, with key species from Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi. In contrast, the key species in forest soils were less abundant, with Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria as the most dominant phyla. Our findings indicate that intensive cultivation alters soil bacterial community structure and reduces bacterial network complexity.
The pink mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) poses a significant threat to several economically important crops, including guava, mulberry, and grapevine. Owing to the limited efficacy of conventional pest management strategies, controlling this destructive pest remains a major challenge. Consequently, alternative approaches such as RNA interference (RNAi), particularly spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), have gained attention as potential species-specific pest control strategies. However, the successful application of RNAi-based approaches requires a comprehensive understanding of the molecular components of the RNAi machinery genes in M. hirsutus. In this study, six core RNAi machinery genes, namely Dicer-1 (MhDCR-1), Dicer-2 (MhDCR-2), Argonaute-1 (MhAGO-1), Argonaute-2 (MhAGO-2), Drosha (MhDROSHA), and Loquacious (MhLOQ), were identified and characterized through conserved domain identification and phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, the expression profiles of these genes were examined for the first time across different developmental stages of M. hirsutus, revealing stage-specific variation in transcript abundance of RNAi pathway genes. To further assess RNAi pathway responsiveness, temporal expression analysis of selected RNAi machinery genes was conducted following exposure to non-target dsRNA (dsGUS) and target dsRNA (dsFAR) at 24, 48, and 72 h. The results revealed distinct and time-dependent transcriptional responses, with dsGUS inducing modest and transient changes, while dsFAR elicited stronger and dynamic regulation of MhDCR-1, MhDCR-2, and MhAGO-2. Collectively, these findings provide insight into the temporal regulation of RNAi machinery genes in M. hirsutus and establish a molecular basis for future functional studies and the development of RNAi-based pest management strategies.
The accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics necessitates advanced remediation strategies that transcend conventional kinetic limitations. This study evaluated a synergistic photo-oxidative and biological system utilizing Arthrospira platensis and Skeletonema costatum for simultaneous PET degradation and biopolymer coproduction. Initial screening revealed A. platensis achieved a four-fold higher degradation rate than S. costatum. Subsequent optimization of co-metabolic interactions (15 mg/L Fe-EDTA, 500 mg/L glycerol, 350 mW/m2 UV-C) maximized the degradation process, achieving a 0.92%/d rate and 66.11% surface erosion. FTIR spectroscopy definitively confirmed true chemical depolymerization, revealing extensive polymer chain scission via the systematic attenuation of ester carbonyl and C-O-C linkages. Oxidative stress conditions redirected the microalgal metabolic flux toward energy storage, accumulating high-purity polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) up to 26.05 mg/L. This research established a viable closed-loop biorefinery approach, effectively upcycling recalcitrant plastic waste into value-added biopolymers through stress-induced mixotrophic metabolism.
Green synthesis of biopolymer-based nanoparticles has emerged as a sustainable strategy for developing multifunctional nanomaterials for agricultural applications. In this study, Radermachera sinica leaf extract was utilized for the first time to synthesize chitosan nanoparticles (RS-CNPs) without chemical crosslinking agents. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM–EDX, TEM, DLS, zeta potential, and XPS analyses, confirming successful nanoparticle formation and phytochemical-mediated surface functionalization. RS-CNPs exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities, outperforming the plant extract. Seed nanopriming with RS-CNPs significantly enhanced root and shoot growth, biomass, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities in Oryza sativa, with 100 μg mL−1 identified as the optimum concentration. Stable H2O2 and MDA levels, together with normal mitotic behaviour in Allium cepa, confirmed the biocompatibility and non-phytotoxic nature of the nanoparticles. These findings demonstrate that RS-CNPs are promising eco-friendly nanomaterials with considerable potential for antimicrobial applications, seed nanopriming, and sustainable crop production.
