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After many decades of effective control of stem rust caused by the Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, (hereafter Pgt) the reported emergence of race TTKSK/Ug99 of Pgt in Uganda reignited concerns about epidemics worldwide because ∼90% of world wheat cultivars had no resistance to the new race. Since it was initially detected in Uganda in 1998, Ug99 variants have now been identified in thirteen countries in Africa and the Middle East. Stem rust has been a major problem in the past, and concern is increasing about the risk of return to Central and East Asia. Whilst control programs in North America and Europe relied on the use of resistant cultivars in combination with eradication of barberry (Berberis spp.), the alternate host required for the stem rust pathogen to complete its full lifecycle, the focus in East Asia was principally on the use of resistant wheat cultivars. Here, we investigate potential airborne transmission pathways for stem rust outbreaks in the Middle East to reach East Asia using an integrated modelling framework combining estimates of fungal spore deposition from an atmospheric dispersion model, environmental suitability for spore germination, and crop calendar information. We consider the role of mountain ranges in restricting transmission pathways, and we incorporate a representation of a generic barberry species into the lifecycle. We find viable transmission pathways to East Asia from the Middle East to the north via Central Asia and to the south via South Asia and that an initial infection in the Middle East could persist in East Asia for up to three years due to the presence of the alternate host. Our results indicate the need for further assessment of barberry species distributions in East Asia and appropriate methods for targeted surveillance and mitigation strategies should stem rust incidence increase in the Middle East region.

Native to Iran, seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) is a nutritionally and economically important crop prized for its therapeutic uses and food industry applications. Nevertheless, the vegetative propagation of the plant and lack of seeds limit conventional breeding techniques, therefore reducing genetic variation and impeding cultivars improvement. This work sought to maximize gamma radiation dosages to cause mutations in seedless barberry hence increasing genetic variability for breeding projects. Hardwood cuttings were subjected to gamma radiation dosages of 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 Gy using a Cobalt-60 source. Under both in vitro and in vivo settings, the impacts on survival rates, leaf and shoot development, and morphometric features were assessed. Results revealed that rising radiation doses significantly reduced survival rates and growth metrics. The LD.sub.50 (Lethal dose) was determined to be roughly 19 Gy for the in vivo and 13.6 Gy for the in vitro. Gamma irradiation negatively influenced plant growth according to values for leaf length, leaf width, fresh weight, and dry weight growth reduction (GR.sub.50). Optimal dosages for causing mutations, while preserving survival, were found to be 15 Gy for the in vivo and 10 Gy for the in vitro.

Native to Iran, seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) is a nutritionally and economically important crop prized for its therapeutic uses and food industry applications. Nevertheless, the vegetative propagation of the plant and lack of seeds limit conventional breeding techniques, therefore reducing genetic variation and impeding cultivars improvement. This work sought to maximize gamma radiation dosages to cause mutations in seedless barberry hence increasing genetic variability for breeding projects. Hardwood cuttings were subjected to gamma radiation dosages of 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 Gy using a Cobalt-60 source. Under both in vitro and in vivo settings, the impacts on survival rates, leaf and shoot development, and morphometric features were assessed. Results revealed that rising radiation doses significantly reduced survival rates and growth metrics. The LD.sub.50 (Lethal dose) was determined to be roughly 19 Gy for the in vivo and 13.6 Gy for the in vitro. Gamma irradiation negatively influenced plant growth according to values for leaf length, leaf width, fresh weight, and dry weight growth reduction (GR.sub.50). Optimal dosages for causing mutations, while preserving survival, were found to be 15 Gy for the in vivo and 10 Gy for the in vitro.

Forecasting ecological responses to climate change, invasion, and their interaction must rely on understanding underlying mechanisms. However, such forecasts require extrapolation into new locations and environments. We linked demography and environment using experimental biogeography to forecast invasive and native species’ potential ranges under present and future climate in New England, United States to overcome issues of extrapolation in novel environments. We studied two potentially nonequilibrium invasive plants’ distributions, Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) and Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry), each paired with their native ecological analogs to better understand demographic drivers of invasions. Our models predict that climate change will considerably reduce establishment of a currently prolific invader (A. petiolata) throughout New England driven by poor demographic performance in warmer climates. In contrast, invasion of B. thunbergii will be facilitated because of higher growth and germination in warmer climates, with higher likelihood to establish farther north and in closed canopy habitats in the south. Invasion success is in high fecundity for both invasive species and demographic compensation for A. petiolata relative to native analogs. For A. petiolata, simulations suggest that eradication efforts would require unrealistic efficiency; hence, management should focus on inhibiting spread into colder, currently unoccupied areas, understanding source–sink dynamics, and understanding community dynamics should A. petiolata (which is allelopathic) decline. Our results—based on considerable differences with correlative occurrence models typically used for such biogeographic forecasts—suggest the urgency of incorporating mechanism into range forecasting and invasion management to understand how climate change may alter current invasion patterns.

Background: Resveratrol and Berberis integerrima (B. integerrima) are known to be natural antioxidants and regulators of human metabolism. However, the effects of resveratrol and B. integerrima on the ovarian morphology in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are not obvious. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of B. integerrima in combination with resveratrol on some biochemical parameters and ovarian morphology in the letrozole-induced PCOS rat. Materials and Methods: Seventy adult female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 10-12 weeks weighing 200 ± 20 gr were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10/each). Group I): normal; Group II): vehicle; Group III): letrozole-induced PCOS 1 mg/kg letrozole orally, rats receiving 1 cc normal saline orally; Group IV): PCOS + receiving 150 mg/kg metformin orally; Group V): PCOS + receiving 20 mg/kg resveratrol orally; Group VI): PCOS + 3 gr/kg barberry orally; and Group VII): PCOS + receiving 3 gr/kg barberry and 20 mg/kg resveratrol orally. All animals were followed-up for 63 days. The biochemical parameters and histological assessments of ovaries were performed. Results: Resveratrol alone and/or in combination with B. integerrima treatment in rats led to a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, malondialdehyde , and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations (p = 0.02). The groups IV, V, VI, and VII showed a decrease in insulin resistance and an increase in the superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and high-density lipoprotein (p = 0.01). No significant difference was observed between the level of serum glucose in the treatment groups. Number of cystic follicles had a significant decrease in barberry, resveratrol, and their combination groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Resveratrol, B. integerrima, and their combination as natural products with fewer side effects might be effective as an alternative medicine in treatment of PCOS. Key words: Barberry, Resveratrol, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Ovary, Rat.

Background/Objectives: The health benefits of honeybee products and herbs are well known, and their appropriate combination may enhance their biological efficacy. This study investigated the biological properties of a combined barberry root and propolis extract (PBE) in comparison to a propolis extract (PE), a barberry root extract (BE), and pure berberine (BN). Methods: The antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH and FRAP methods and total phenolic contents (TPC) were assessed by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. HPTLC was used to quantify the BE in the tested samples. Their effect on HEK293T cells was monitored in real-time by using the xCELLigence system which recorded changes in the proliferative activity (PA). The metabolic activity (MA) was evaluated using an MTS test and cell migration was analyzed via a scratch assay. Results: The PE exhibited a higher TPC (198.67 mg/g) than the BE (119.3 mg/g). The PBE exhibited a comparable antioxidant effect to that of the PE. In the cell assays, the PE, the BE, and BN significantly reduced the proliferative activity at higher concentrations (p < 0.0001) while the PBE demonstrated a lower cytotoxicity and proved to be safer for the tested cells. The highest IC50 value was determined for the PBE (130 µg/mL), suggesting that this combination has a reduced cytotoxicity. However, the scratch test did not confirm a significant supportive effect of the PBE on cell migration. Conclusions: Although the PBE did not show enhanced antioxidant properties, it may mitigate cytotoxicity and support proliferation at lower concentrations. This suggests that extraction of raw propolis with a previously prepared barberry extract results in a safer preparation, but its therapeutic potential requires further studies using biological models.

Leishmaniasis is a major public health problem, and the alarming spread of parasite resistance underlines the importance of discovering new therapeutic products. The present study aims to investigate the in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of the ethanolic extract of Berberis vulgaris fruits and chloroform extract of Nigella sativa seeds against Leishmania tropica. In this study, antileishmanial activity of B. vulgaris and N. sativa extracts on promastigote and amastigote stages of L. tropica in comparison to meglumine antimoniate (MA) was evaluated, using MTT assay and macrophage model, respectively. MTT test was also used to assess the cytotoxicity of extracts on murine macrophages. The significance of differences was determined by analysis of variances (ANOVA) and student's t-test using SPSS software. The results showed that ethanolic extract of B. vulgaris (IC50 4.83 μg/ml) and chloroform extract of N. sativa (IC50 7.83 μg/ml) significantly reduced the viability of promastigotes of L. tropica in comparison to MA (IC50 11.26 μg/ml). Furthermore, extracts of B. vulgaris (IC50 24.03 μg/ml) and N. sativa (IC50 30.21 μg/ml) significantly decreased the growth rate of amastigotes in each macrophage as compared with positive control (p <0.05). Our findings also revealed that extracts of B. vulgaris and N. sativa had no significant cytotoxicity against murine macrophages. The B. vulgaris and N. sativa extracts exhibited an effective leishmanicidal activity against L. tropica on in vitro model. Further, works are required to evaluate the exact effect of these extracts on Leishmania species using a clinical setting.

The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) family is crucial for metabolizing drugs and natural substances. Numerous compounds, such as pharmaceuticals and dietary items, can influence CYP activity by either enhancing or inhibiting these enzymes, potentially leading to interactions between drugs or between drugs and food. This research explores the impact of barberry and its primary component \"berberine\" on key human CYP450 enzymes. The text discusses the effects of this plant on the 12 primary human CYP450 enzymes, with summarized data presented in tables. Berberine exerts an influence on the function of various CYP450 isoforms, including CYP3A4/5, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2E1, CYP1A1/2, and most isoforms within the CYP2B subfamily. Given the significant role of these CYP450 isoforms in metabolizing commonly used drugs and endogenous substances, as well as activating procarcinogens into carcinogenic metabolites, the influence of barberry and its active constituent on these enzymes may impact the pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles of various compounds. More specifically, regarding the crucial role of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 in metabolizing clinically used drugs, and the inhibitory effects of berberine on these two CYP450 isoforms, it seems that the most important drug interaction of berberine that should be considered is related to its inhibitory effect on CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. In conclusion, due to the impact of barberry on multiple CYP450 isoforms, healthcare providers should conduct thorough consultations and investigations to ensure patient safety and prevent any potential adverse interactions before recommending the consumption of these herbs. Additional research, particularly clinical trials is crucial for preventing any potentially adverse interactions in patients who consume this herb. Graphical Abstract A schematic diagram of the effect of Berberis vulgaris on major human cytochrome P450s. (✔) implies that the plant affects the CYP450 activity, while (✖) means that the plant has no impact on the CYP450 activity. CYP450: Cytochrome P450.

The objective of this study was to investigate the re-emergence of a previously important crop pathogen in Europe, Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, causing wheat stem rust. The pathogen has been insignificant in Europe for more than 60 years, but since 2016 it has caused epidemics on both durum wheat and bread wheat in local areas in southern Europe, and additional outbreaks in Central- and West Europe. The prevalence of three distinct genotypes/races in many areas, Clade III-B (TTRTF), Clade IV-B (TKTTF) and Clade IV-F (TKKTF), suggested clonal reproduction and evolution by mutation within these. None of these genetic groups and races, which likely originated from exotic incursions, were detected in Europe prior to 2016. A fourth genetic group, Clade VIII, detected in Germany (2013), was observed in several years in Central- and East Europe. Tests of representative European wheat varieties with prevalent races revealed high level of susceptibility. In contrast, high diversity with respect to virulence and Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were detected in local populations on cereals and grasses in proximity to Berberis species in Spain and Sweden, indicating that the alternate host may return as functional component of the epidemiology of wheat stem rust in Europe. A geographically distant population from Omsk and Novosibirsk in western Siberia (Russia) also revealed high genetic diversity, but clearly different from current European populations. The presence of Sr31 -virulence in multiple and highly diverse races in local populations in Spain and Siberia stress that virulence may emerge independently when large geographical areas and time spans are considered and that Sr31 -virulence is not unique to Ug99. All isolates of the Spanish populations, collected from wheat, rye and grass species, were succesfully recovered on wheat, which underline the plasticity of host barriers within P. graminis . The study demonstrated successful alignment of two genotyping approaches and race phenotyping methodologies employed by different laboratories, which also allowed us to line up with previous European and international studies of wheat stem rust. Our results suggest new initiatives within disease surveillance, epidemiological research and resistance breeding to meet current and future challenges by wheat stem rust in Europe and beyond.

A novel film was developed from barberry (BA) anthocyanins immobilized on cobalt-based metal–organic framework (Co-MOF) nanoparticles utilizing biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan nanofiber (ChNF) as intelligent and active packaging for red meat freshness. The aim of the study was evaluated in two scenarios, the first evaluation of the potential of Co-MOF for embedding in packaging films as antimicrobial properties and cobalt color change due to amine release and pH change, and the second evaluation of the application of Co-MOF in the controlled release of BA anthocyanins as antioxidant properties and color changes of food packaging films during spoilage of red meat. The findings showed that the addition of Co-MOF nanoparticles significantly increased the PVA/ChNF film’s specific surface area, and Co-MOF’s better capacity to concentrate volatile amines allowed the film to detect freshness extremely sensitively, and the antibacterial capabilities of the films for E. coli , S. aureus , and P. fluorescence bacteria were 20.3 ± 0.3 mm, 21.6 ± 0.2 mm, and 19.6 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. Moreover, the inclusion of BA and Co-MOF significantly improves the tensile strength (from 67.2 to 81.3 MPa), flexibility (18.9 to 22.3%), UV protection, water vapor resistance, and sensitivity to ammonia-induced discoloration of the PVA/ChNF film. PVA/ChNF/Co-MOF and PVA/ChNF/Co-MOF/BA films’ colors changed from pink to dark brown and from deep peach to black-greenish-brown when used to track the spoilage of red meat. In conclusion, it was possible to use the created films as intelligent and active food packaging materials.