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Siparuna guianensis (Laurales: Siparunaceae) has a terpene-rich essential oil with great potential for larvicides. The poor water miscibility of their compounds makes nano-emulsions of great interest for novel bioactive systems, including for control of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). This species is adapted to urban environments with important role in the epidemiology of some arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya fever, zika, and urban yellow fever. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of nano-emulsification to affect Ae. aegypti larvae. An optimal system was achieved by using a nonionic single surfactant, highlighted by its satisfactory size distribution profile. Moreover, improved larvicidal activity in comparison to bulk essential oil can be observed for the nano-emulsions. The estimated LC50 and LC90 values after 24 h of treatment of larvae with the essential oil were, respectively, 86.5232 and 134.814 µg/ml, while the estimated LC50 and LC90 value after treatment with the nano-emulsion were 24.7572 and 75.2452 µg/ml, respectively. The utilization of a simple technique to produce a fine nano-emulsion opens perspective for further integrative practices of mosquito control and giving value to this Amazon plant species may encourage its sustainable use and contribute to conservation policies.

Most insecticides commonly used in storage facilities are synthetic, an issue that generates concerns about food safety and public health. Therefore, the development of eco-friendly pest management tools is urgently needed. In the present study, a 6% (w/w) Hazomalania voyronii essential oil-based nanoemulsion (HvNE) was developed and evaluated for managing Tribolium confusum, T. castaneum, and Tenebrio molitor, as an eco-friendly wheat protectant. Larval and adult mortality was evaluated after 4, 8, and 16 h, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days, testing two HvNE concentrations (500 ppm and 1000 ppm). T. confusum and T. castaneum adults and T. molitor larvae were tolerant to both concentrations of the HvNE, reaching 13.0%, 18.7%, and 10.3% mortality, respectively, at 1000 ppm after 7 days of exposure. However, testing HvNE at 1000 ppm, the mortality of T. confusum and T. castaneum larvae and T. molitor adults 7 days post-exposure reached 92.1%, 97.4%, and 100.0%, respectively. Overall, the HvNE can be considered as an effective adulticide or larvicide, depending on the target species. Our results highlight the potential of H. voyronii essential oil for developing green nanoinsecticides to be used in real-world conditions against key stored-product pests.

The essential oil of Siparuna guianensis was obtained by hydrodistillation. The identification of the chemical compounds was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antimicrobial activity was investigated for four microorganisms: Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 3440), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 4083), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Candida albicans (ATCC-10231). The studies of doping and molecular dynamics were performed with the molecule that presented the highest concentration of drug–target proteins, 1IYL (C. albicans), 1C14 (E. coli), 2WE5 (E. faecalis), and 4TQX (S. mutans). The main compounds identified were: Curzerene (7.1%), γ-Elemene (7.04%), Germacrene D (7.61%), trans-β-Elemenone (11.78%), and Atractylone (18.65%). Gram positive bacteria and fungi were the most susceptible to the effects of the essential oil. The results obtained in the simulation showed that the major compound atractylone interacts with the catalytic sites of the target proteins, forming energetically favourable systems and remaining stable during the period of molecular dynamics.

We present reference-quality genome assembly and annotation for the stout camphor tree ( Cinnamomum kanehirae (Laurales, Lauraceae)), the first sequenced member of the Magnoliidae comprising four orders (Laurales, Magnoliales, Canellales and Piperales) and over 9,000 species. Phylogenomic analysis of 13 representative seed plant genomes indicates that magnoliid and eudicot lineages share more recent common ancestry than monocots. Two whole-genome duplication events were inferred within the magnoliid lineage: one before divergence of Laurales and Magnoliales and the other within the Lauraceae. Small-scale segmental duplications and tandem duplications also contributed to innovation in the evolutionary history of Cinnamomum . For example, expansion of the terpenoid synthase gene subfamilies within the Laurales spawned the diversity of Cinnamomum monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. A high-quality reference genome of the stout camphor tree reveals its genome evolution and supports that magnoliid and eudicot lineages share more common ancestry relative to monocots.

The use of synthetic insecticides is one of the most common strategies for controlling disease vectors such as mosquitos. However, their overuse can result in serious risks to human health, to the environment, as well as to the selection of insecticidal resistant insect strains. The development of efficient and eco-friendly insect control is urgent, and essential oils have been presented as potential alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Moreover, nanoencapsulation techniques can enhance their efficiency by protecting from degradation and providing a controlled release rate. We assessed the potential of chitosan nanoparticles in encapsulating Siparuna guianensis essential oil, and maintaining its efficiency and prolonging its activity for the control of Aedes aegypti larvae. The encapsulation was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), with an encapsulation efficiency ranging from 84.8% to 88.0%. Toxicity studies have demonstrated efficacy against mosquito larvae over 50% for 19 days with 100% mortality during the first week. This persistent action is presumably due to the enhanced contact and slow and maintained release conferred by chitosan nanoparticles. Furthermore, the exposure of aquatic non-target organisms (e.g. embryos and small adult fishes) revealed adequate selectivity of these nanoparticles. The encapsulation of S. guianensis essential oil in chitosan nanoparticles showed promising potential as a larvicide control alternative and should be considered within strategies for fighting Ae. aegypti.

Background Cinnamomum longepaniculatum (Gamble) N. Chao ex H. W. Li ( C. longepaniculatum ), a species renowned for its leaves and twigs yielding essential oils, is extensively utilized as a vital raw material in traditional Chinese medicine, spice, and daily chemical products, and thus possesses both high economic value and significant scientific research value. However, to date, no detailed information on the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been reported. Results The mitogenome of C. longepaniculatum was characterized by a linear structure, spanning 870,686 bp with 46.94% GC content. It encompassed 44 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 28 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. Numerous repetitive sequences were observed, including 317 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 52 tandem repeats and 874 pairs of dispersed repeats. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 41 conserved mitochondrial PCGs of C. longepaniculatum reflected its close evolutionary affinity to C. camphora , followed by C. chekiangense and C. insularimontanum . Furthermore, dot-plot analysis revealed diverse homologous collinear regions between C. longepaniculatum and other species belonging to the Laurales. Specifically, the largest collinear blocks, spanning over 861 kb, accounted for 95.59% of the total proportion between C. longepaniculatum and Cinnamomum camphora , indicating a high degree of conservation and similarity in their mitogenome structures. Conclusions This study presents the initial assembly and annotation of C. longepaniculatum mitogenome, thereby enriching the limited repository of mitogenome sequences available for Laurales plants. These findings provide crucial molecular evidence for further studies on the evolutionary relationships and genomic evolution within the Laurales.

With the aim of recognizing and identifying both fertile and sterile specimens of Cryptocarya from Brazil, we analyzed the leaf venation pattern of 14 taxa, 6 of them being described and illustrated for the first time. A dichotomous identification key was built from a matrix of 12 leaf venation characters and 30 character states, which distinguishes among taxa.

In a series of anti-inflammatory screenings of lauraceous plants, the methanolic extract of the leaves of Machilus japonica var. kusanoi (Hayata) J.C. Liao showed potent inhibition on both superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaves of M. japonica var. kusanoi led to the isolation of twenty compounds, including six new butanolides, machinolides A–F (1–6), and fourteen known compounds (7–20). Their structures were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR, CD, and MS data. The absolute configuration of the new compounds were unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses (1, 2, and 3) and Mosher’s method (4, 5, and 6). In addition, lignans, (+)-eudesmin (11), (+)-methylpiperitol (12), (+)-pinoresinol (13), and (+)-galbelgin (16) exhibited inhibitory effects on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced superoxide anion generation in human neutrophils with IC50 values of 8.71 ± 0.74 μM, 2.23 ± 0.92 μM, 6.81 ± 1.07 μM, and 7.15 ± 2.26 μM, respectively. The results revealed the anti-inflammatory potentials of Formosan Machilus japonica var. kusanoi.

The impact of climate change on the distribution of Cinnamomum malabatrum (Laurales—Lauraceae), a culturally and ecologically important species in the Malabar region of Western Ghats, India, was studied using a MaxEnt machine learning algorithm. The findings are rooted in extensive field data and advanced modeling techniques. The predicted range shifts and contraction of suitable habitats for the species indicate significant challenges ahead, especially in the Malabar midlands and coastal plains—areas of high endemicity. The proposed conservation strategies provide a comprehensive framework that encompasses the protection of sacred groves, sustainable land-use policies, afforestation, and community conservation strategies within protected areas. This study serves as a clarion call for concerted action and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, local communities, and conservation practitioners to preserve the delicate balance of the ecosystem in the face of environmental change.

Parasitic plants have evolved independently in 12 Angiosperm orders. Nine of them (Boraginales, Cucurbitales, Ericales, Lamiales, Laurales, Malvales, Santalales, Solanales, and Zygophyllales) are represented in Colombia by 17 families, 44 genera and 246 species, including facultative (37) and obligate (187) hemiparasites, holoexoparasites (19) and holoendoparasites (3). Cladocolea coriacea (Loranthaceae) is reported for the first time in Colombia. One genus ( Sanguisuga , Cytinaceae) and 69 species (28.04%) are endemic to the country. Endemism decreases with elevation, ranging from 26 species (37.68%) below 1000 m, to one species (1.44%) above 4000 m. Speciation in Aetanthus , Psittacanthus and Tristerix (Loranthaceae), Dendrophthora and Phoradendron (Viscaceae), and Castilleja and Neobartsia (Orobanchaceae) was likely prompted by the Andean uplift. The highest number of species (169) are found in the Andean Region, whereas the Orinoco Region contains the lowest number (29). Dry forests and thickets, and coastal vegetation of the Caribbean Region are the preferred ecosystems for Krameria (Krameriaceae), Sanguisuga , Acanthosyris (Cervantesiaceae), Maracanthus (Loranthaceae), Ximenia (Ximeniaceae), Lennoa (Ehretiaceae), and Anisantherina (Orobanchaceae). Orobanche minor , recently introduced to the country, is the only potential weed for crops between 2500 and 3200 m in the Eastern Cordillera. Convergent lifeforms include: the obligate, twining stem holoparasitic Cassytha (Lauraceae) and Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae); the root holoexoparasitic Sanguisuga , Mitrastemon (Mitrastemonaceae), all Balanophoraceae, and Lennoa ; and the root obligate hemiparasitic Krameria , Gaiadendron (Loranthaceae), and all Cervantesiaceae, Opiliaceae, Schoepfiaceae, Strombosiaceae and Ximeniaceae. Holoendoparasitism occurs only in Apodanthaceae, whereas root facultative hemiparasitism is restricted to the Orobanchaceae.