Background Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. is an aromatic medicinal plant, widely used in Mexican folk medicine for the traditional treatment of different diseases, including diabetes. Numerous secondary metabolites related to its medicinal properties have been identified, of which monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes, and flavonoids are the most significant. Despite extensive research, transcriptomic evidence supporting secondary metabolite synthesis in A. ludoviciana remains limited. Functional transcriptomics provides the molecular basis for understanding how coordinated gene expression drives metabolite synthesis in A. ludoviciana at a given time and condition.Results RNA sequencing of A. ludoviciana leaves was performed using a single pooled RNA-seq library as an exploratory functional transcriptomic approach, generating 8.4 GB of transcriptomic data. After de novo filtering and assembly of the raw data, 52,561 transcripts were generated, of which 29,854 (56.79%) were annotated against public databases using Blast2GO. Further KEGG pathway analysis identified transcripts putatively associated with major plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways. Gene expression of candidate flavonoid-related genes (CHI, F3'MO, FSI, and F3'OMT) was assessed by qRT-PCR in Artemisia ludoviciana. Samples were collected following water stress, with soil moisture content approximately 25%. Drought conditions significantly reduced relative water content (32.78%), total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. This was accompanied by an increase in hydrogen peroxide accumulation (265%), indicating oxidative stress in the plant. The total phenolic and flavonoid content also decreased under these conditions. However, gene expression analysis showed increased transcript abundance of putative flavonoid-related genes, suggesting an active response of the plant's flavonoid pathway to water stress. Such effects might reflect metabolic constraints and flavonoid turnover under drought stress.Conclusions This work provides valuable insights into the functional gene annotation, the biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites, and the molecular response of A. ludoviciana to drought stress. It serves as a basis for further research into the molecular mechanisms underlying the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds in Artemisia ludoviciana. In addition, it supports the development of strategies to maintain or enhance the species' medicinal properties.

Piper auritum Kunth leaves are valued for their aromatic phytochemicals and traditional medicinal uses in various countries. However, few studies have comprehensively characterized and identified the phytochemicals responsible for these properties. In this study, we integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics to provide a comprehensive characterization of Piper auritum Kunth leaves. Additionally, we explored the phytochemical composition, carbohydrate bioaccessibility, and potential prebiotic effect. Our results showed a significant carbohydrate content, mainly dietary fiber, with a soluble to insoluble fiber ratio of 1:1. Total phenolics, flavonoids and chlorophylls ranged from 305.54 31.62 to 1146.93 38.64 mg/100g dry sample, while the antioxidant activity was 236.93 17.13 mg TEAC/g dry sample. Monosaccharides and oligosaccharides (xylose-arabinose, glucose, mannose, sucrose) were released after digestion, whereas raffinose remained undigested, suggesting a potential prebiotic effect. We identified volatile compounds such as safrole, phytol, myristicin, (+)-4-Carene and non-volatile phytochemicals such as flavonoids such as apigenin-7O-neohesperidoside, Cyanidin 3-(30'-malonylglucoside), and quercetin. Transcriptome analysis yielded 38,000 reads, with 416 genes annotated, mainly involved in molecular functions and involved in flavonoid and monoterpene biosynthesis. This is the first bio prospective study combining metabolomics and transcriptomics in Piper auritum Kunth leaves, highlighting the potential as a source of bioactive compounds. (c) 2025 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Raoultella ornithinolytica strain LAM1, a facultative anaerobe isolated from a metal-rich geothermal pond in Los Azufres, Mexico, grew in sodium arsenate concentrations up to 1500 ppm (7.215 mM/L). Whole-genome sequencing yielded a 6.01-Mbp draft genome across 104 contigs, encoding 5744 predicted genes annotated using Prokka and NCBI PGAP. Among these, 99 genes were associated with resistance to arsenic, mercury, copper, zinc, cobalt, cadmium, nickel, and lead. We identified a complete ars operon (arsR-arsB-arsC-arsA-arsD) with three arsC paralogs; mer operon genes (four merA copies, merR); zntA-zntR; copA-cueO-cusA; and the metal homeostasis system nikABCDE-nikR. Functional classification assigned 27.9

Background Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. is an aromatic perennial and medicinal herb, native to North America. The aerial parts of the plant are widely used in traditional Mexican medicine for the treatment of different diseases, including diabetes. Numerous secondary metabolites related to its medicinal properties have been identified, of which monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes, and flavonoids are the most significant. Despite the research conducted on A. ludoviciana , there is no transcriptomic data available on the plant to support the synthesis of these compounds in the plant. Results RNA sequencing of A. ludoviciana leaves was conducted to produce 8.4 GB of the plant’s transcriptomic data. After de novo filtering and assembly of the raw data, 52,561 transcripts were generated, of which a total of 29,854 transcripts (56.79%) were annotated against public databases using Blast2GO. Further KEGG pathway analysis led to the mapping of several transcripts associated with the biosynthesis pathways of major plant secondary metabolites. The expression of key flavonoid-related genes ( CHI , F3’MO , FSI , F3’OMT ) was also evaluated in A. ludoviciana after severe water stress conditions. Drought significantly decreased the relative water content (32.78%), total chlorophyll, and carotenoids, while increasing hydrogen peroxide accumulation, showing stress in the plant. The phenol and flavonoid content of the plant also decreased under these conditions. However, the expression of all flavonoid-related genes was upregulated, suggesting an active response of the plant’s flavonoid pathway to water stress and potentially contributing to the plant’s drought tolerance. Conclusions This work provides valuable insights into the functional gene annotation, the biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites, and the molecular response of A. ludoviciana to drought stress. This provides the basis for further research into the molecular mechanisms behind the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds in A. ludoviciana , as well as strategies to maintain or enhance the plant’s medicinal properties.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a group of complex disorders marked by pathophysiological mechanisms involving protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Irrespective of extensive research advances, NDDs have become a serious global concern and persist as a major therapeutic challenge. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, have established a pivotal role in combating NDDs. The altered expression of miRNAs is reported to be associated with the progression of various NDDs. This review aims to discuss miRNA biogenesis; dysregulation in NDDs, specifically Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; their potential as biomarkers; and promising therapeutic targets. Additionally, there are various emerging technologies discussed that are advanced approaches to enhance miRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics.

Plants have been indispensable for human civilization, for example, in medicine, where their secondary metabolites play a fundamental role. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding riboregulators, are essential in the control of gene expression and offer potential therapeutic and bioengineering applications. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) has been a staple in Asian and African cuisines for centuries and has been shown to have significant medicinal and cosmetic benefits thanks to its high concentration of secondary metabolites; however, little is known about its miRNA profile. In this study, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology was used to explore the miRNA landscape of T. foenum-graecum and its relationship with secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The analysis revealed 23,951,014 distinct reads, ranging from 16 to 40 nucleotides, identifying 287 conserved and 92 novel miRNAs. Furthermore, 10,313 potential target genes for fenugreek miRNAs were identified. Conserved and novel miRNAs were found targeting enzymes crucial for the biosynthesis pathways of terpenoids, diterpenoids, ubiquinones, carotenoids and flavonoids. These findings open the panorama for the use of transgenics mediated by miRNAs and the production of plant secondary metabolites, in addition to promoting industry applications at a commercial and medicinal level by improving the bioactivity and economic value of botanical resources such as fenugreek.

Owing to the urgent and escalating environmental crisis of water pollution through anthropogenic wastewater generated from various sources, the development of novel and innovative bioremediation strategies that are equally sustainable is highly necessitated. The present study embarks on an integrated omics-based exploration, complemented by a thorough literature synthesis, to critically evaluate and enhance hybrid algal-bacterial systems for effective wastewater treatment. Drawing on case studies and research from diverse geographic regions, we explore how these technologies inform the design and optimization of both engineered and natural treatment systems. The review emphasizes the integration of multi-omics data to support sustainable, targeted bioremediation strategies and underscores the cross-disciplinary convergence of environmental engineering, molecular biology, and systems ecology. This global and holistic perspective positions omics as a cornerstone for advancing the next generation of wastewater treatment solutions. Comprehensive analyses of the efficacies of different treatment methods used to remediate organic pollutants, heavy metals, nutrients, and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), were carried out, thus underscoring the pivotal role of microbial diversity and metabolic activity in the complex process of contaminant elimination. While prior research has predominantly focused on isolated components, the current study presents a holistic approach, merging state-of-the-art high-throughput metagenomics and transcriptomics techniques. This innovative combination illuminates the functional dynamics of microbial communities operating within the hybrid system under a range of operational conditions. The primary critical findings reveal significant shifts in microbial community structure and gene expression patterns, which are intricately linked to enhanced efficiencies in nutrient uptake and contaminant removal. In addition, the study also situates these findings within the expansive framework of omics-based bioremediation research, providing a clear and structured pathway for identifying prevailing knowledge gaps and directing future optimization efforts. Collectively, these contributions not only deepen our understanding of microbial community functions but also pave the way for designing next-generation bio-based wastewater treatment systems driven by the intricate interplay of microbial dynamics.

Various bodily functions are maintained, and health benefits are provided by food-derived bioactive components. Fruits and vegetables contain numerous beneficial components, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, and phytonutrients. However, the body's ability to absorb these substances at a given rate and degree frequently limits their bioavailability. If food-derived bio actives are used as therapeutic or dietary interventions, this limitation can result in low efficacy and suboptimal results. Recently, nanotechnology has been a useful method for increasing the bioavailability of bioactive compounds produced from food. Active ingredients can be delivered and absorbed more efficiently with the help of nanotechnology. By altering their size or surface properties, bioactive components can be made more soluble, permeable, and bioavailable through nanotechnology. The present review will provide an overview of the various bioactive components, the application of nanotechnology to improve the availability of bioactive molecules to humans and animals, and the challenges and safety concerns associated with nanotechnology in the production of food-derived bioactive molecules.

The guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) is a tropical plant from the Myrtaceae family. Leaf extracts from this plant have been used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders and exhibit several functional activities that benefit human health. Different varieties of guava trees produce fruits in colors ranging from white to red and present a characteristic metabolic profile in both their leaves and fruits. This study presents a metabolomic characterization of the leaves from two guava varieties: the Caxcana cultivar with yellow fruits and the S-56 accession with pink fruits. Metabolite profiling was conducted using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) on methanol extracts, followed by multivariate statistical analysis, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and a heat map visualization of compound concentrations in the two varieties. The results identified β-caryophyllene as the major secondary metabolite present in both varieties, with a relative abundance of 16.46% in the Caxcana variety and 23.06% in the S-56 cultivar. Furthermore, in silico analyses, such as network pharmacology and molecular docking, revealed key interactions with proteins such as CB2, PPARα, BAX, BCL2, and AKT1, suggesting potential therapeutic relevance. These findings highlight the pharmacological potential of guava leaf metabolites in natural product chemistry and drug discovery.

Ruminants release enteric methane into the atmosphere, significantly increasing greenhouse gas emissions and degrading the environment. A common focus of traditional mitigation efforts is on dietary management and manipulation, which may have limits in sustainability and efficacy, exploring the potential of essential microorganisms as a novel way to reduce intestinal methane emissions in ruminants; a topic that has garnered increased attention in recent years. Fermentation and feed digestion are significantly aided by essential microbes found in the rumen, such as bacteria, fungi, and archaea. The practical implications of the findings reported in various studies conducted on rumen gut concerning methane emissions may pave the way to understanding the mechanisms of CH4 production in the rumen to enhance cattle feed efficiency and mitigate CH4 emissions from livestock. This review discussed using essential bacteria to reduce intestinal methane emissions in ruminants. It investigates how particular microbial strains or consortia can alter rumen fermentation pathways to lower methane output while preserving the health and productivity of animals. We also describe the role of probiotics and prebiotics in managing methane emissions using microbial feed additives. Further, recent studies involving microbial interventions have been discussed. The use of new methods involving functional metagenomics and meta-transcriptomics for exploring the rumen microbiome structure has been highlighted. This review also emphasizes the challenges faced in altering the gut microbiome and future directions in this area.

In this study, we studied the hydrocracking of waste chicken oil (WCO) catalyzed by mesoporous SO42-/KIT-6. The study included WCO extraction, SO42-/KIT-6 catalyst synthesis, hydrocracking, and catalytic characterization. XRD patterns revealed intense peaks in the low-angle region, with shoulder peaks showing an increase in sulphate loading from 10% to 30%. The BET-specific surface area for the pure KIT-6 supports measured at 1003 m(2)/g, indicative of a well-defined mesoporous structure. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a two-stage weight loss, attributed to the elimination of hydrated water (about 200 degrees C) and decomposition of sulphate ions (400-450 degrees C). SEM analysis highlighted the surface morphology of the active SK-2 catalyst. Hydrocatalytic and catalytic cracking reactions were performed, and about 99.8% conversion was achieved with 20 mL/H H-2 flow, whereas higher production of bioliquids was observed at a flow of 15 mL/h. The hydrocracking mechanism was also studied to understand the formation of lower hydrocarbons. GC analyses of simulated distilled gasoline, kerosene, and diesel showed diverse hydrocarbon compositions. For engine testing, non-hydrocracked fuel rose to 28 kW at 3000 rpm and declined to 21 kW at 3500 rpm. Emission analysis revealed decreasing trends in NOX emissions of hydrogen-rich blends, with values of 65 ppm, 54 ppm, and 48 ppm for petrol, NHBL, and HBL, respectively. Similarly, SO2 emissions reduced from petrol to NHBL and HBL at 910 ppm, 800 ppm, and 600 ppm, respectively, suggesting reduced environmental impact. CO emissions exhibited a substantial reduction in NHBL (0.90%) and HBL (0.54%) compared to petrol (2.70%), emphasizing the cleaner combustion characteristics. Our results provide a comprehensive exploration of waste chicken oil hydrocracking, emphasizing catalyst synthesis, fuel characterization, engine performance, and environmental impact, thereby contributing valuable insights to the field of sustainable bioenergy.

Our environment is frequently being laced with organic pollutants owing to the anthropogenic activities, leading to varying concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere. However, certain micropollutants, present in very low concentrations, can have severe implications for living organisms. This problem has been addressed by the development of remediation procedures to cleanse environment of micropollutants, where advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) emerged as the most potent technique. AOPs are oxidation-based methods used to remove micropollutants from water. Different processes such as ozonation, electrochemical AOPs, photocatalysis, and Fenton-based AOPs have been employed to remediate various kinds of micropollutants. AOPs offer several advantages over traditional removal techniques, making them a promising tool for micropollutant removal. This chapter highlights the working mechanisms and benefits of different AOPs such as ozonation, Fenton-based AOPs, etc. used to lower micropollutant levels. Further research into these technologies could prove valuable for environmental remediation.

Galphimia spp. is a plant employed in traditional medicine in Mexico because of its anxiolytic and sedative effects. Viruses have been associated with different alterations in plants, although asymptomatic agents (i.e., cryptic viruses) are also known. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) allows for the detection of pathogenic and non-pathogenic viral agents in plants, including potential novel viruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of viral agents in two populations of Galphimia spp. by HTS. Sequencing was conducted on an Illumina NextSeq 550 platform, and a putative novel virus was identified. Two contigs showed homology to partitiviruses, and these encoded the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and coat protein. These proteins showed the highest identities with orthologs in the recently discovered Vitis cryptic virus. A phylogenetic analysis of both RNAs showed that the new virus clusters into the monophyletic genus Deltapartitivirus along with other plant-infecting viruses. The result of the HTS analysis was validated by conventional RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. A novel virus was discovered in a symptomless Galphimia spp. plant and tentatively named the Galphimia cryptic virus (GCV). This is the first virus discovered in medicinal plants in Mexico.

Microplastics are found ubiquitous in the natural environment and are an increasing source of worry for global health. Rapid industrialization and inappropriate plastic waste management in our daily lives have resulted in an increase in the amount of microplastics in the ecosystem. Microplastics that are <150 μm in size could be easily ingested by living beings and cause considerable toxicity. Microplastics can aggregate in living organisms and cause acute, chronic, carcinogenic, developmental, and genotoxic damage. As a result, a sustainable approach to reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste is required to manage microplastic pollution in the environment. However, there is still a significant lack of effective methods for managing these pollutants. As a result, the purpose of this review is to convey information on microplastic toxicity and management practices that may aid in the reduction of microplastic pollution. This review further insights on how plastic trash could be converted as value-added products, reducing the load of accumulating plastic wastes in the environment, and leading to a beneficial endeavor for humanity.

Prostate cancer (PC) and colon cancer significantly contribute to global cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Thymoquinone (TQ), a naturally occurring phytochemical found in black cumin, has shown potential as an anticancer compound. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TQ on the expression profile of key tumor suppressor and onco-suppressor miRNAs in PC3 prostate cancer cells and HCT-15 colon cancer cells. Cell viability assays revealed that TQ inhibited the growth of both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of approximately 82.59 μM for HCT-15 and 55.83 μM for PC3 cells. Following TQ treatment at the IC50 concentrations, miRNA expression analysis demonstrated that TQ significantly downregulated miR-21-5p expression in HCT-15 cells and upregulated miR-34a-5p, miR-221-5p, miR-17-5p, and miR-21-5p expression in PC3 cells. However, no significant changes were observed in the expression levels of miR-34a-5p and miR-200a-5p in HCT-15 cells. The current findings suggest that TQ might exert its antiproliferative effects by modulating specific tumor suppressor and onco-suppressor miRNAs in prostate and colon cancer cells. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the precise underlying mechanisms and to explore the therapeutic potential of TQ in cancer treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the effect of TQ on the miRNA expression profile in colon and prostate cancer cell lines.

KEY MESSAGE:Plant regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as key modulators of gene expression during callus induction. Their further study may promote the design of innovative plant tissue culture protocols. The use of plants by humans has recently taken on a new and expanding insight due to the advent of genetic engineering technologies. In this context, callus cultures have shown remarkable potential for synthesizing valuable biomolecules, crop improvement, plant micropropagation, and biodiversity preservation. A crucial stage in callus production is the conversion of somatic cells into totipotent cells; compelling evidence indicates that stress factors, transcriptional regulators, and plant hormones can trigger this biological event. Besides, posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression might be essential participants in callus induction. However, research related to the analysis of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that modulate callogenesis and plant cell dedifferentiation in vitro is still at an early stage. During the last decade, some relevant studies have enlightened the fact that different classes of ncRNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in plant cell dedifferentiation through regulating the expression levels of diverse gene targets. Hence, understanding the molecular relevance of these ncRNAs in the aforesaid biological processes might represent a promising source of new biotechnological approaches for callus culture and plant improvement. In this current work, we review the experimental evidence regarding the prospective roles of ncRNAs in callus induction and plant cell dedifferentiation to promote this field of study.

Pesticides kill neurons, but the mechanism leading to selective dopaminergic loss in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown. Understanding the pesticide's effect on dopaminergic neurons (DA) can help to screen and treat PD. The critical uptake of pesticides by the membrane receptors at DA is hypothesized to activate a signaling cascade and accelerate degeneration. Using MPTP as a reference, we demonstrate the mechanisms of eleven crucial pesticides through molecular docking, protein networks, regulatory pathways, and prioritization of key pesticide-regulating proteins. Participants were recruited and grouped into control and PD based on clinical characteristics as well as pesticide traces in their blood plasma. Then, qPCR was used to measure pesticide-associated gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells between groups. As a result of molecular docking, all eleven pesticides and the MPTP showed high binding efficiency against 274 membrane receptor proteins of DA. Further, the protein interaction networks showed activation of multiple signaling cascades through these receptors. Subsequent analysis revealed 31 biological pathways shared by all 11pesticides and MPTP that were overrepresented by 46 crucial proteins. Among these, CTNNB1, NDUFS6, and CAV1 were prioritized to show a significant change in gene expression in pesticide-exposed PD which guides toward therapy.

The heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental pollution around the globe and threatens the ecosystem. The physicochemical traits (pH, Electrical conductivity, hardness, NPK, Al, Fe, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mg, and Mn) of soil sample collected from the polluted site were analyzed and found that the most of the metal contents were beyond the acceptable limits of national standards. The metals such as Mn (1859.37 ± 11.25 mg kg−1), Cd (24.86 ± 1.85 mg kg−1), Zn (795.64 ± 9.24 mg kg−1), Pb (318.62 ± 5.85 mg kg−1), Cr (186.84 ± 6.84 mg kg−1), and Al (105.84 ± 5.42 mg kg−1) were crossing the permissible limits. The pre-isolated L. ferrooxidans showed considerable metal tolerance to metals such as Al, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mg, and Mn at up to the concentration of 750 μg mL-1 and also have remediation potential on polluted soil in a short duration of treatment. The greenhouse study demonstrated that the bio/phytoremediation potential of metal tolerant L. ferrooxidans and R. communis under various remediation (A, B, and C) groups. Surprisingly, remediation group C demonstrated greater phytoextraction potential than the other remediation groups (A and B). These results strongly suggest that coexistence of L. ferrooxidans and R. communis had a significant positive effect on phytoextraction on metal-contaminated soil.

The algae biorefinery ideas have getting lot of attention recently. The newly emerging algae mediated bioeconomy takes precedence to characterizing and tackling significant improvements in biomass, biofuel and bioproducts productivity. Such emerging advancements must be guided by financial and sustainable development fundamentals, which will aid in unravelling the controversial bioproducts-energy-ecosystems interconnection something which algae reside. Acknowledging the metabolic processes of algae's storage energy metabolism to generate bio -fuels as well as bioproducts can shed light on the crucial obstacles which currently limit net carbon utilization and photosynthesis potential, inevitably guiding production efficiency as well as economic potential in the face of limited assets. We reveal numerous possible mechanisms for a theoretical algae biorefinery structure in this analysis, for each item (biofuel and bioproducts) addressing a specific major challenge identified to better future. Researchers connect each promising bioproduct, characterise appropriate conversion and extraction mechanisms, and explain market potential with values related to product commercialization.