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Concerning human and environmental health, safe alternatives to synthetic pesticides are urgently needed. Many of the currently used synthetic pesticides are not authorized for application in organic agriculture. In addition, the developed resistances of various pests against classical pesticides necessitate the urgent demand for efficient and safe products with novel modes of action. Botanical pesticides are assumed to be effective against various crop pests, and they are easily biodegradable and available in high quantities and at a reasonable cost. Many of them may act by diverse yet unexplored mechanisms of action. It is therefore surprising that only few plant species have been developed for commercial usage as biopesticides. This article reviews the status of botanical pesticides, especially in Europe and Mediterranean countries, deepening their active principles and mechanisms of action. Moreover, some constraints and challenges in the development of novel biopesticides are highlighted.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most fatal diseases. Neuroimmunity, inflammation, and oxidative stress play important roles in various complex mechanisms of IS. In particular, the early proinflammatory response resulting from the overactivation of resident microglia and the infiltration of circulating monocytes and macrophages in the brain after cerebral ischemia leads to secondary brain injury. Microglia are innate immune cells in the brain that constantly monitor the brain microenvironment under normal conditions. Once ischemia occurs, microglia are activated to produce dual effects of neurotoxicity and neuroprotection, and the balance of the two effects determines the fate of damaged neurons. The activation of microglia is defined as the classical activation (M1 type) or alternative activation (M2 type). M1 type microglia secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic mediators to exacerbate neuronal damage, while M2 type microglia promote a repairing anti-inflammatory response. Fine regulation of M1/M2 microglial activation to minimize damage and maximize protection has important therapeutic value. This review focuses on the interaction between M1/M2 microglia and other immune cells involved in the regulation of IS phenotypic characteristics, and the mechanism of natural plant components regulating microglia after IS, providing novel candidate drugs for regulating microglial balance and IS drug development.

Seed dormancy and the formation of a soil seed bank is important plant regeneration strategies, especially if the environment is unpredictable. The present research explores how environmental factors control seed dormancy release, and how seed dormancy is related to the soil seed bank and regeneration of the perennial Aquilegia oxysepala. The effects of incubation temperature, light, cold and warm stratification, gibberellic acid (GA.sub.3) along with the germination phenology of A. oxysepala in the field were used to determine the type of seed dormancy. Seasonal change of seed dormancy was determined by regularly exhuming buried seeds and incubating them in laboratory conditions. A. oxysepala seeds has underdeveloped (small) embryos along with physiological dormancy at dispersal. With the increased amounts of cold stratification, the germination of A. oxysepala increased gradually. GA.sub.3 served as a substitute for cold stratification. Breaking of physiological dormancy under natural temperatures in the field occurred in winter, while growth of embryos and germination of seeds occurred in early spring. Viable seeds that had not germinated in early spring were induced into secondary dormancy by high soil temperatures. A. oxysepala provides one of a few examples of dormancy cycling in seeds with morphophysiological dormancy. Freshly matured seeds of A. oxysepala seeds have non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy. The annual dormancy-non-dormancy cycle maintains the coordination between timing of seedling emergence with favorable seasons, thus increasing the survival chances of seedlings in environments with seasonal changes.

German-born Charles Mohr (1824–1901) spent most of his adult life working as a pharmacist in Mobile, Alabama. In addition, he contributed multiple scientific and popular articles on the botany of the Southeastern United States. Suffering from many physical ailments, he sought treatment in thermal baths and cool climates, including Asheville, North Carolina. There he was able to work with botanists at the newly established Biltmore Herbarium. In early 1900, he and his family moved to Asheville, where he completed reading the proof of his magnum opus, Plant Life of Alabama. He died in Asheville 17 July 1901—two weeks before his book was published—and is buried there. Charles Mohr (1824–1901), nacido en Alemania, pasó la mayor parte de su vida adulta trabajando como farmacéutico en Mobile, Alabama. Además, contribuyó con múltiples artículos científicos y populares sobre la botánica del sureste de los Estados Unidos. Sufriendo de muchas dolencias físicas, buscó tratamiento en baños termales y climas frescos, incluyendo Asheville, Carolina del Norte. Allí pudo trabajar con botánicos en el recién establecido Herbario Biltmore. A principios de 1900, se mudó con su familia a Asheville, donde terminó de leer las pruebas de su obra magna, Plant Life of Alabama. Murió en Asheville el 17 de julio de 1901, dos semanas antes de que su libro fuera publicado, y está enterrado allí.

Botanical ingredients have been used for thousands of years in skincare for their convenience as well as the diversity and abundance in compounds with biological activity. Among these, polyphenols and especially flavonoids have gained increasing prominence due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the most used botanical preparations in anti-aging products marketed in 2011 were determined. The analysis was repeated in 2018 for new and reformulated products. The scientific evidence for their application as active ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics and their flavonoid content was also compiled by searching in online scientific databases. Overall, in 2018, there was a noticeable increase in the use of botanical preparations in anti-aging cosmetics. However, the top three botanical species in both years were Vitis vinifera, Butyrospermum parkii, and Glycine soja, which is consistent with the greater amount of scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. Regarding the function of botanical preparations, there is a clear preference for DNAprotecting ingredients. The most prevalent flavonoids were flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. This study provided an updated overview of the market trends regarding the use of botanicals in anti-aging products and documented the state of the art of scientific evidence for the most used plants.

This work aims to report the phytoplankton species composition and cell density in the Mazatlan coastal region (eastern entrance of the Gulf of California (GC), Mexico) during the strong El Nino event of 2023. Surface water samples (at 2 m depth) for phytoplankton cell determinations were collected in December of 2023, a month in which the numerical value of the Oceanic Nino Index was 2.0. The results showed a total of 197 species, including 113 diatoms (with a total cell density of 51,444 cells [L.sup.-1]), 76 dinoflagellates (with a total cell density of 31,260 cells [L.sup.-1]), four silicoflagellates (with a total cell density of 420 cells [L.sup.-1]), two cyanobacteria (with a total cell density of 2,020 cells [L.sup.-1]), one Euglenophyta (with a total cell density of 900 cells [L.sup.-1]) and one ciliate (with a total cell density of 7,820 cells [L.sup.-1]). The diatom Dactyliosolen phuketensis (B.G.Sundstrom) G.R. Hasle, 1996 and the dinoflagellate Gyrodinium fusiforme (Kofoid & Swezy, 1921) presented the highest cell densities with 4,100 and 5,900 cells [L.sup.-1], respectively, species that have been previously reported in high abundances in Mexican waters in years of warming events, including El Nino. The results presented here contribute to understanding the effects of strong El Nino events on the phytoplankton community structure of the southeastern GC. This topic still needs to be fully addressed. This study also provides an update on the taxonomic lists available for the region of a group of organisms whose nomenclature has been constantly changing in recent years.

The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater impact per °C in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth’s climate.

In response to growing concerns regarding the adverse environmental and health effects of synthetic pesticides, there has been a notable surge in the demand for plant-based bioinsecticides. Botanicals and essential oils (EOs) are emerging as promising alternatives that offer a safer and more sustainable approach to pest management. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these natural insecticides is often hindered by their inherent instability under environmental conditions, high volatility, and susceptibility to thermal decomposition, which necessitates frequent reapplication and diminishes their practical utility. To address these challenges, innovative formulation strategies such as nanoemulsions, microemulsions, nanoencapsulation, and microencapsulation have been developed. These advanced approaches facilitate controlled release, enhance stability, and significantly improve the efficacy of botanical- and EO-based insecticides. By providing target-specific action, these formulations not only reduce the frequency of applications and lower dosage requirements but also minimize environmental contamination and enhance overall pest management efficiency. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of these advanced formulations, including the preparation and characterization of nano-/microemulsion and nano-/microencapsulate systems and the technical challenges associated with their characterization. This manuscript examines the efficacy of these formulations in pest management, focusing on their physical and chemical stability under various storage conditions. Additionally, it addressed the impact of these formulations on nontarget organisms and their potential phytotoxicity. Despite the promising results observed in controlled settings, there is a notable lack of field studies evaluating the suitability of these formulations for different crops and their effectiveness in diverse agricultural environments. This identified gap underscores the necessity for further research to validate the practical application of these technologies. This review also discusses the scalability and cost-effectiveness of these advanced formulations, providing insights into their potential for broader commercial adoption.

Submerged macrophytes play a crucial role in lake ecosystems, and their survival is dependent upon their ability to cope with variable environmental stress. Therefore, studying the plastic response of submerged macrophytes' resource allocation and functional traits to the environment may provide insights helpful for ecological restoration practices. In September 2021, a field survey was conducted in the Erhai Lake, where samples of Ottelia acuminata, and functional traits and biomass allocation in relation to water depth were measured. The study found that O. acuminata exhibited large intraspecific variations to adapt to environmental stress, and the average intraspecific variation was 55.86%. In the current environment, this study suggested that the optimal growth depth for O. acuminata is moderate water depth (1-2 m). The results of allometric growth analysis showed that the resource allocation of O. acuminata responded to the water depth with the synergistic effect of leaf area and shoot height. In shallow water, the resource allocation of O. acuminata was mainly used for leaf area growth, while in deep water, the increase of shoot height was mainly used to cope with stress. This research will provide us useful information for the ecological restoration and protection of this endemic and endangered submerged macrophyte.