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To investigate the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of methanolic extract of leaves of Amaranthus viridis (MEAV) in normal and Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The anti-hyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Amaranthus viridis was evaluated by using normal and STZ induced diabetic rats at dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg by mouth per day for 21 days. Blood glucose levels and body weight was monitored at specific intervals, and different biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein were also assessed in the experimental animals. Histology of pancreas was performed. The statistical data indicated a significant increase in the body weight, decrease in the blood glucose, total cholesterol and serum triglycerides after treatment with MEAV. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was significantly increased when treated with extract. Histologically, focal necrosis was observed in the diabetic rat pancreas; however, was less obvious in treated groups. The MEAV has beneficial effects in reducing the elevated blood glucose level and body weight changes, and improves the lipid profile of STZ induced rats.

Redroot pigweed ( Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and slender amaranth ( Amaranthus viridis L.) are becoming problematic weeds in summer crops, including cotton in Australia. A series of laboratory and field experiments were performed to examine the germination ecology, and seed persistence of two populations of A . retroflexus and A . viridis collected from the Goondiwindi and Gatton regions of Australia. Both populations of A . retroflexus and A . viridis behaved similarly to different environmental conditions. Initial dormancy was observed in fresh seeds of both species; however, germination reached maximum after an after-ripening period of two months at room temperature. Light was not a mandatory prerequisite for germination of both species as they could germinate under complete darkness. Although both species showed very low germination at the alternating day/night temperature of 15/5 C, these species germinated more than 40% between ranges of 25/15 C to 35/25 C. Maximum germination of A . retroflexus (93%) and A . viridis (86%) was observed at 35/25 C and 30/20, respectively. Germination of A . retroflexus and A . viridis was completely inhibited at osmotic potentials of -1.0 and -0.6 MPa, respectively. No germination was observed in both species at the sodium chloride concentration of 200 mM. A . retroflexus seedling emergence (87%) was maximum from the seeds buried at 1 cm while the maximum germination of A . viridis (72%) was observed at the soil surface. No seedling emergence was observed from a burial depth of 8 cm for both species. In both species, seed persistence increased with increasing burial depth. At 24 months after seed placement, seed depletion ranged from 75% (10 cm depth) to 94% (soil surface) for A . retroflexus , and ranged from 79% to 94% for A . viridis , respectively. Information gained from this study will contribute to an integrated control programs for A . retroflexu s and A . viridis .

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ever-present pollutants in the environment. They are persistent and bio-accumulative with deleterious health effects on biota. This study assesses the levels of PFAS in environmental matrices along the Nairobi River, Kenya. An aggregate of 30 PFAS were determined in water, while 28 PFAS were detected in sediments and plants using solid phase extraction then liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric techniques. In water, higher levels of perfluoroundecanoic acids of up to 39.2 ng L−1 were observed. Sediment and plant samples obtained in the midstream and downstream contained higher levels of perfluorooctanoic acid of up to 39.62 and 29.33 ng g−1, respectively. Comparably, levels of long-chain PFAS were higher in water and sediments than in plants. Sediment/water log distribution of selected PFAS ranged between 2.5 (perfluoroundecanoic acid) and 4.9 (perfluorooctane sulfonate). The level of perfluorooctane sulfonate (1.83 ng L−1) in water is above the acceptable level in surface water posing high human health and ecological risks. The observed PFAS concentrations and distribution were attributed mainly to multi-industries located along the river, among other sources. The knowledge of PFAS occurrence and distribution in Nairobi River, Kenya, provides important information to local regulatory agencies for PFAS pollution control.

The sweet potato weevil ( Cylas formicarius ) is the most destructive pest of sweet potato and is often associated with diseases and weeds. The use of plant extracts as pest control agents is a promising, eco-friendly approach, but their effectiveness often declines under field conditions. Therefore, nanoemulsion technology was applied to improve the dispersion and bioefficacy of active compounds. In this study, we aimed to develop plant extract-based nanoemulsions as multifunctional biopesticides capable of controlling insect pests, fungal pathogens, and weeds. Twenty-one plant extracts were screened for their effects adult SPW via contact methods. The most potent extracts were then formulated into nanoemulsions and evaluated for insecticidal efficacy—including contact toxicity, repellency, and oviposition inhibition. In addition to insecticidal effects, antifungal and herbicidal activities were systematically assessed against Fusarium sp. and two common weed species in sweet potato fields, Amaranthus tricolor and Echinochloa crus-galli . The major chemical constituents of key extracts were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Among all extracts, the hexane extracts of star anise and long pepper exhibited the highest contact toxicity, with LC50 values ranging from 2.051 to 2.415% at 24 h. When formulated into nanoemulsions (NHEF-1 and NHEH-2), toxicity increased 16- to 18-fold, lowering LC 50 values to 0.114–0.150%, and at above 0.1%, oviposition was inhibited by more than 85%. Both formulations also demonstrated significant antifungal activity against Fusarium sp. (44.6–56.8% growth inhibition) and completely inhibited the germination of A. tricolor (at 0.01%) and E. crus-galli (at 1.0%). GC–MS analysis revealed anethole (84.49%) as the predominant compound in the star anise extract, with long pepper extract containing moderate amounts of several compounds. These findings demonstrate the potential of plant extract-based nanoemulsions as eco-friendly, multifunctional biopesticides for sustainable sweet potato management, integrating enhanced insecticidal, antifungal, and herbicidal effects.

The present study was planned to explore the bioaccumulation potential of 23 plant species via bioaccumulation factor (BA f ), metal accumulation index (MAI), translocation potential (T f ), and comprehensive bioconcentration index (CBCI) for seven heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc). The studied plants, in the vicinity of ponds at Sahlon: site 1, Chahal Khurd: site 2, and Karnana: site 3 in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Punjab (India), were Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Amaranthus viridis L., Brassica napus L., Cannabis sativa L., Dalbergia sissoo DC., Duranta repens L., Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants, Ficus infectoria Roxb., Ficus palmata Forssk., Ficus religiosa L., Ipomoea carnea Jacq., Medicago polymorpha L., Melia azedarach L., Morus indica L., Malva rotundifolia L., Panicum virgatum L., Parthenium hysterophorus L., Dolichos lablab L., Ricinus communis L., Rumex dentatus L., Senna occidentalis (L.) Link, and Solanum nigrum L. BA f and T f values showed high inter-site deviations for studied metals. MAI values were found to be more substantial in shoots as compared with that of roots of plants. Maximum CBCI values were observed for M. azedarach (0.626), M. indica (0.572), D. sissoo (0.497), and R. communis (0.474) for site 1; F. infectoria (0.629), R. communis (0.541), D. sissoo (0.483), F. palmata (0.457), and D. repens (0.448) for site 2; D. sissoo (0.681), F. religiosa (0.447), and R. communis (0.429) for site 3. Although, high bioaccumulation of individual metals was observed in herbs like C. sativa , M. polymorpha , and Amaranthus spp., cumulatively, trees were found to be the better bioaccumulators of heavy metals.

Owing to the higher global energy needs through cleaner sources the present study manifests a modified and ecofriendly method for the fabrication of CuO–Sb 2 O 3 -based electrode for electrochemical experiments. The aqueous solution derived from the Amaranthus viridis L. plant, belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, was employed as a reducing agent in order to impact the structure of CuO–Sb2O3 nanocomposites. The improved material exhibited a regular crystal size of 40.04 nm that is in excellent accordance with the findings obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, FE-SEM, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were utilized in order to examine and assess the synthesized nanocomposite. Based on the Tauc plot, the optical bandgap energy was found to be 2.7 eV. The bioorganic framework-derived CuO–Sb 2 O 3 electrode was then evaluated for energy generation and storage applications, with cyclic voltammetry revealing a capacitance of 344.4 F/g at 2 mV/s. Hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reactions demonstrated the electrocatalytic potential of CuO–Sb 2 O 3 as a water splitting electrocatalyst, with the highest efficiency of the electrode up to 18 h for HER. Graphical abstract

Plants contain a myriad of metabolites which exhibit diverse biological activities. However, in-depth analyses of these natural products with current analytical platforms remains an undisputed challenge due to the multidimensional chemo-diversity of these molecules, amplified by both isomerization and conjugation. In this study, we looked at molecules such as hydroxyl-cinnamic acids (HCAs), which are known to exist as positional and geometrical isomers conjugated to different organic acids namely quinic- and isocitric acid. The study aimed at providing a more defined distinction between HCA conjugates from Amaranthus viridis and Moringa oleifera, using mass spectrometry (MS) approaches. Here, we used a UHPLC–MS/MS targeted approach to analyze isobaric HCA conjugates extracted from the aforementioned plants. Mass spectrometry results showed similar precursor ions and fragmentation pattern; however, distinct differences were seen with ions at m/z 155 and m/z 111 which are associated with isocitric acid conjugates. Our results highlight subtle differences between these two classes of compounds based on the MS fingerprints, enabling confidence differentiation of the compounds. Thus, these findings provide a template reference for accurate and confident annotation of such compounds in other plants.

Wild edible food plants (WFPs) are valuable resources in the traditional food systems of many local cultures worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Understanding patterns of food preferences requires conducting cross-cultural food studies among various ethnic groups in a specific area. In this context, the current study aimed to record WFP use among five ethnic groups in Punjab, Pakistan, by interviewing 175 informants selected through snowball sampling. The indicator food species for different ethnic groups were calculated using indicator analysis based on the percentage of citations. A total of 71 wild food plants (WFPs) belonging to 57 genera and 27 families were observed in the study area. A high proportion of these wild food plants (WFPs) belonged to Fabaceae with eleven species (15%), followed by Moraceae with seven species (9%). Fruits were most widely used (43%), followed by leaves (19%), and shoots (16%). The majority (35 species, 49%) of plants of WFPs were eaten as cooked vegetables. A cross-cultural comparison revealed that four species overlapped among five ethnic groups (Arain, Jutt, Rajpot, Mewati, and Dogar). The Arain ethnic group gathered and consumed a remarkable number of wild plants (35 species), possibly due to a special connection with the general abundance of the local flora, and being close to nature by adopting professions more allied to WFPs in the study area. The analysis of indicator species revealed distinct significant indicator values (p ≤ 0.05) between the main food species among the various ethnic groups. Amaranthus viridis was a common indicator of food in all five ethnic groups, while Ziziphus nammularia was a common indicator food plant of the Mewati, Rajpot, and Jutt ethnic groups; these plants are important in local diets, especially during times of food scarcity brought on by disease or drought. In addition, the current study reports 20 WFPs that have been rarely documented as human food in Pakistan’s ethnobotanical literature. Future development plans should consider biocultural heritage and pay appropriate attention to local ecological knowledge, dynamics, and historical exchanges of traditional food systems.

Studying how traditional knowledge regarding wild food plants and particularly wild vegetables changes over time and space is crucial for understanding which socio-ecological variables may have an influence on traditional foraging behaviors. Recent work has found that religious affiliation may play a central role since, in specific cultural contexts, religion shapes kinship relations and consequently the vertical transmission of traditional knowledge and practices. In order to further test this hypothesis, a field ethnobotanical study specifically focusing on wild vegetables was conducted among four religious communities (Shias, Sunnis, Christians, and Sikhs) in Kurram District, North-West Pakistan. Results show that a remarkable bio-cultural heritage comprising fifty-five folk wild food taxa survives today; most of the wild plants were however quoted by few informants, suggesting that this traditional knowledge system is possibly under threat. More than the half of the quoted wild vegetables were not yet reported so far in the Pakistan wild food ethnobotanical literature. The most commonly gathered wild vegetables were Amaranthus viridis L. , Margarospermum officinale L. , Malva neglecta Wallr., Portulaca oleracea L., and Rumex dentatus L. Most of the recorded wild vegetables were quoted by Shia and, to less extent, by Sunni community members, while Christians and Sikhs showed an extremely restricted wild plant food repertoire. These differences may be related to the different history and socio-economic conditions of the considered religious groups,  to geographical/ecological factors and probably to the very specific origin of the Shia groups (Turi tribe) of the region, which moved from Western Asia a few centuries ago. Moreover, a remarkable portion of the quoted wild vegetables are perceived to have specific medicinal properties. A serious reconsideration of the recorded wild food plant resources, especially also within educational platforms, could be crucial for fostering culturally-appropriate food security strategies in marginal areas of Pakistan.

Plants are now widely recognized for their potential role in improving the air quality by dispersion and deposition of atmospheric dust particles. However, suspended dust particles negatively affect plant growth and physiological development. The present study aims to assess the amount of dust accumulation on the leaf surface and to evaluate the effect of foliar dust on leaf gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigment, and metabolite content of five roadside herbaceous plant species ( Amaranthus viridis , Achyranthes aspera , Acalypha indica , Parthenium hysterophorus , Trianthema portulacastrum ). Two sites (site I and site II) were selected that differed in their surrounding anthropogenic activities and dust pollution levels. Results showed that the average amount of dust accumulated on the leaf surface was significantly greater in plants grown at the polluted site. Among the five species examined, the highest amount of foliar dust load was observed for A. aspera (0.49 mg cm −2 ). Dust accumulation caused substantial changes in plant physiology as indicated by the significant decline in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductivity, and transpiration rate in plants grown at the polluted site. Moreover, an increase in antioxidant activity, total ascorbate, and metabolite content, responsible for maintaining plant defense, was higher in plants at polluted site. Biochemical response of the individual plants studied was variable, which suggests that different plants adopted different mechanisms to cope with the stress induced by dust particles.