Alkanna orientalis (Boraginaceae) is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive secondary metabolites that have attracted considerable attention for their diverse pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications. In the present study, the methanolic extracts of A. orientalis were comprehensively evaluated as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, cytotoxic, and potential anticancer activities. Accordingly, the present study comprehensively evaluated the antioxidant and anticancer activities of methanolic extracts derived from different organs of Alkanna orientalis using in vitro and in vivo assays. The extracts were characterized by determining their total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical scavenging assay), followed by evaluation of their cytotoxic activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116) cell lines. Their cytotoxic selectivity was further assessed using normal liver cells. Among the evaluated extracts, the crude methanolic extract of the aerial parts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and the strongest cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells (IC₅₀ = 9.77 μM), while showing minimal toxicity toward normal liver cells. The extract significantly induced apoptosis (29.86% of total cells) and promoted G₁-phase cell cycle arrest. Consistent with these findings, qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of p53, Bax, and caspases-3, -8, and -9, confirming apoptosis activation. In the in vivo solid Ehrlich carcinoma model, the extract markedly reduced tumor volume and weight, improved hematological and hepatic biochemical parameters, and produced no detectable adverse effects. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the aerial-part extract of Alkanna orientalis possesses potent antioxidant and anticancer activities through apoptosis induction and tumor growth inhibition, highlighting its potential as a natural source of complementary anticancer agents. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive pharmacological study integrating phytochemical, antioxidant, cytotoxic, molecular, and in vivo antitumor evaluations of A. orientalis.
The coastal waters of the Red Sea are oligotrophic and highly sensitive to anthropogenic inputs; however, the ecological effects of desalination discharges on nutrient dynamics and microphytoplankton communities remain poorly understood. This study investigated the spatial and temporal variability of environmental parameters, inorganic nutrients, chlorophyll‑a, and microphytoplankton community structure along the southern coastal waters of Jeddah, Red Sea, near an active desalination plant from January to December 2025. Monthly surface-water samples were collected from six stations classified as reference, discharge, and offshore locations and analyzed using standard field and laboratory procedures. Surface water temperature ranged from 26.0 to 33.5 °C (mean 29.4 ± 2.5 °C), and salinity was stable (38.7-39.4; mean 39.14 ± 0.19 PSU). Dissolved inorganic nutrients varied widely (nitrate 0.06-0.82, nitrite 0.01-0.43, ammonia 0.06-1.42, phosphate 0.01-0.33, silicate 0.43-2.76 µmol L-¹). Chlorophyll‑a ranged from 0.02 to 0.50 mg m-³ (mean 0.12 ± 0.11 mg m-³) and micro-phytoplankton abundance from 14 to 2660 × 10³ cells m⁻³ (mean 538 ± 726 × 10³ cells m-³). A total of 195 microphytoplankton species were identified, dominated by diatoms (106 species) and dinoflagellates (88 species), with cyanophytes represented by a single species. Chaetoceros exhibited the highest species richness among centric diatoms, whereas Tripos dominated the dinoflagellate assemblage. Diversity indices showed considerable temporal variability, with higher richness and diversity during several summer and autumn months. Principal component analysis indicated that chlorophyll‑a was positively associated with temperature and salinity, while inorganic nutrients showed weaker correlations with the principal components. Overall, no clear evidence of substantial ecological alteration associated with the desalination discharge was detected in the measured environmental and microphytoplankton parameters during the study period. These findings provide a comprehensive baseline of nutrient regimes and microphytoplankton assemblages in the coastal waters near the desalination outfall along the southern coast of Jeddah, supporting continued long‑term monitoring and sustainable management of the Red Sea coastal ecosystem.
Landscape and environmental features shape gene flow and phenotypic variation among plant populations. Alkanna orientalis is a short-lived perennial medicinal plant occurring across multiple landforms of the Sinai Mountains. This study examined genetic diversity distribution, the effects of landscape and environmental factors on gene flow, and whether floral morphometric variation reflects genetic structure and local adaptation. Samples were collected from 29 populations across the species' range in St. Katherine Protectorate. Using AFLP markers, we investigated genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, and the environmental and landscape drivers of gene flow. Results showed moderate genetic diversity (He = 0.119-0.261, mean = 0.191; percentage of polymorphic loci = 42.7-82.0%), uncorrelated with population size. Evidence of restricted gene flow resulting in pronounced genetic differentiation was found. AMOVA revealed that most genetic variation (80%) resides within populations, while 17% was distributed among Wadis and 3% among populations within Wadis (ΦPT = 0.201, p = 0.001). A Mantel test revealed a significant positive association between genetic and geographic distances (rM = 0.332, p ≤ 0.001), indicating isolation by distance. Floral functional traits were related to both environmental gradients and genetic structure, with variance partitioning showing that 47.5% of floral trait variation was explained by genetic data. The observed patterns suggest that environmental heterogeneity contributes to genetic and morphological variations, implicating natural selection as a potential driver. Landscape and environmental drivers interact to shape genetic connectivity and floral trait divergence in this rugged arid ecosystem.
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity is often constrained by soil-borne fungal pathogens that cause severe root rot, particularly under stress-prone conditions. In search of effective and eco-friendly control measures, fifty-seven action bacterial isolates were screened from the common bean rhizosphere, leading to the identification of two potent Streptomyces strains, AB20 and AB54, exhibiting strong antifungal activity. The management of root rot requires agents capable of both pathogen suppression and defense activation. Remarkably, Streptomyces AB20 and AB54 isolates demonstrated a dual mode of action, comprising direct inhibition of Fusarium equiseti and activation of host defense responses in common bean plants. Under greenhouse conditions, both strains significantly reduced disease severity and disease incidence in the two cultivars, the resistant Nebraska and the susceptible Giza 6, outperforming chemical elicitors such as salicylic acid, boric acid, and fungicide treatments. AB20 achieved up to 90% disease suppression, accompanied by marked improvements in shoot and root growth and biomass accumulation. Gene expression profiling revealed strong upregulation of key defense-associated transcripts, including PR1, GST, POD, LOX, CHI, and α-DOX, suggesting the activation of induced systemic resistance and cultivar-specific defense pathways. Collectively, these results highlight Streptomyces AB20 and AB54 as promising rhizobacteria that integrate pathogen control, plant growth promotion, and resistance induction, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides for managing Fusarium root rot in common bean.
Increasing concerns regarding the environmental fate and potential impacts of engineered nanomaterials have driven the development of safer and more sustainable alternatives. Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles, such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chitosan, have emerged as promising low-impact materials owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and reduced environmental persistence. Their distinct physicochemical characteristics, particularly surface charge and polymer composition, also provide valuable models for investigating nanoparticle–biological interface interactions. To enable a standardized and reproducible assessment, this study employed a dynamic in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) model as a representative biological interface. By incorporating physiological flow conditions, the model was used to evaluate the influence of shear stress on the transport of PLGA and chitosan nanoparticles across the BBB. The results demonstrated differential nanoparticle permeability without detectable cytotoxicity, highlighting the critical role of nanoparticle physicochemical properties in governing barrier interactions and translocation. Overall, this study demonstrates the suitability of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles as safer-by-design nanomaterials and establishes a dynamic in vitro BBB platform as a robust tool for their standardized biological evaluation. These findings contribute to the development of environmentally sustainable nanotechnologies while supporting the safe implementation of advanced nanomaterials in biomedical and environmental applications.
