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Platycodon grandiflorus (balloon flower), used as a food reserve as well as in traditional herbal medicine, is known for its multiple beneficial effects. In particular, this plant is widely used as a vegetable in Republic of Korea. We examined the ameliorative effects of P. grandiflorus on alloxan-induced pancreatic islet damage in zebrafish. The aerial part treatment led to a significant recovery in pancreatic islet size and glucose uptake. The efficacy of the aerial part was more potent than that of the root. Eight flavonoids (1–8) were isolated from the aerial part. Structures of two new flavone glycosides, designated dorajiside I (1) and II (2), were elucidated to be luteolin 7-O-α-L-rhamno-pyranosyl (1 → 2)-(6-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside and apigenin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 2)-(6-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside, respectively, by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1, 3, 4 and 6–8 yielded the recovery of injured pancreatic islets in zebrafish. Among them, compound 7 blocked KATP channels in pancreatic β-cells. Furthermore, compounds 3, 4, 6 and 7 showed significant changes with respect to the mRNA expression of GCK, GCKR, GLIS3 and CDKN2B compared to alloxan-induced zebrafish. In conclusion, the aerial part of P. grandiflorus and its constituents conferred a regenerative effect on injured pancreatic islets.

A new pyran-4-one, smipyrane (2,3-methylenedioxy-6-methyl-4 H -pyran-4-one) ( 1 ) was isolated from the aerial part of Smilax nantoensis (Liliaceae). The structure of the new constituent was essentially elucidated by spectral evidence.

Polysaccharide fractions were isolated from the aerial part of Serratula centauroides . The monosaccharide compositions of the polysaccharide fractions were determined by HPLC-UV. The quantitative contents of free sugars in the aerial part and subterranean organs of S. centauroides growing in the Republic of Buryatia were determined by capillary electrophoresis. The effect of mechanically activated milling of the aerial part of S. centauroides on the sugar yield was studied.

The essential oils of plants of the genus Piper have secondary metabolites that have antimicrobial activity related to their chemical composition. The objective of our work was to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the antifungal activity of the aerial part essential oil of P. auritum obtained by hydrodistillation on Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium equiseti isolated from Capsicum chinense. The antifungal activity was evaluated by direct contact and poisoned food tests, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) and maximum radial growth inhibition (MGI) were determined. The identification of oil metabolites was carried out by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS). By direct contact, the essential oil reached an inhibition of over 40% on Fusarium spp. The 8.4 mg/mL concentration showed the highest inhibition on F. oxysporum (40–60%) and F. equiseti (>50%). The MIC50 was 6 mg/mL for F. oxysporum FCHA-T7 and 9 mg/mL for F. oxysporum FCHJ-T6 and F. equiseti FCHE-T8. DART-MS chemical analysis of the essential oil showed [2M-H]− and [M-H]− adducts of high relative intensity that were mainly attributed to eugenol and thymol/p-cimen-8-ol. The findings found in this study show a fungistatic effect of the essential oil of P. auritum on Fusarium spp.

Background In the context of searching for potent, safe, natural antimicrobial agents to combate the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenomenon, the current study evaluates for the first time ever, the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of essential oil (EO) and extracts from the rare wild plant Centaurea pumilio L . . It has tremendous ethnomedicinal values; its dried root is used as a fattening agent, a treatment for bad breath and diabetes, and screened for schistosomicidal activity. Methods C. pumilio EO was extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Chemical constituents of aerial part were extracted using a sequential solvent/solvent procedure employing four solvents with increasing polarities in the following order: petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n -butanol. The chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS. Fifty-two microbial strains were used; twenty-six multidrug resistant (MDR), sixteen clinical, and ten reference strains. The identification of the microbial strains was performed by MALDI-TOF-MS. The antimicrobial activity of the EO and the aerial part and the root extracts was assessed through disc diffusion assay. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the EO and extracts was determined using the broth micro-dilution method. Results The growth of reference and clinical strains was inhibited by EO, methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate aerial part extracts and chloroform root extract. The MDR strains growth, however, was inhibited only by EO and chloroform aerial part extract . GC-MS identified for the first time eighteen constituents from aerial part EO and chloroform extract each. EO showed antimicrobial activity against the reference, clinical, and MDR strains with MIC values of 31.25–125, 31.25–125, and 62.50–250 μg/mL, respectively. Methanol aerial part extract exhibited high antimicrobial activities with MIC values of 62.50–250 μg/mL against reference and clinical strains. Chloroform root extract displayed strong antimicrobial activity against reference and clinical strains recording MIC values of 62.50–250 μg/mL and 62.50–125 μg/mL, respectively. The chloroform aerial part extract demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against the reference, clinical, and MDR strains with 31.25, 31.25, and 15.62 μg/mL MIC values, respectively. Conclusions Present data unravel the C. pumilio pharmacological magnitude to discover eco-friendly potent antimicrobial agents to fight AMR phenomenon.

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the potential of corylin, a bioactive compound isolated from the aerial part of Pueraria lobata , as a novel skin-whitening agent. Specifically, the research sought to evaluate its effects on melanin synthesis, understand its underlying mechanisms, and validate its efficacy in mitigating hyperpigmentation. Methods Bioactive compound was isolated from Pueraria lobata through a systematic fractionation process involving activated carbon pigment removal, sequential solvent extraction, and resin-based chromatography. It was shown to inhibit melanin synthesis by targeting tyrosinase activation and modulating key signaling pathways. Its efficacy in reducing melanin production was validated through cellular assays and a UVB-stimulated 3D human skin model, highlighting its potential as a skin-whitening agent. Results Through fractionation, the bioactive compound was identified as corylin, which reduced melanin content and tyrosinase activity without cytotoxicity, modulated signaling pathways to downregulate MITF and melanogenic enzymes, and inhibited α-glucosidase, disrupted glycosylation. In a UVB-stimulated 3D skin model, it effectively decreased melanin production, confirming its potential to mitigate hyperpigmentation. Conclusion Corylin is a promising candidate for skin-whitening applications, effectively mitigating hyperpigmentation by targeting multiple stages of melanin synthesis, including enzymatic activity and regulatory pathways. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm its safety and therapeutic potential for dermatological use. Graphical Abstract

Although sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is categorized as a medium drought-sensitive crop, in a changing climate scenario and/or with the onset of early droughts, the crop may be affected by water stress. This study characterizes and compares the gene expression profiles between aerial part and roots of two sunflower inbred lines with contrasting response to water stress: B59 (sensitive) and B71 (tolerant) under non-stress and water stress. Microarray analysis revealed that water stress induced significant changes in gene expression of both lines. The B59 line had a higher number of genes differentially expressed in water-stressed seedlings compared with B71 line. In both lines, most of the water stress responding genes was upregulated. In B59, the number of genes specifically upregulated in aerial part was higher than that observed in B71. In roots, B71 had more upregulated genes compared with B59. Genes involved in signaling pathway of hormones, components of redox system, and secondary metabolites were enriched in both organs of two lines. The knowledge generated could be helpful to provide tools, that together with the genetic engineering and molecular breeding, it would contribute for the development of water stress-tolerant varieties in crop plants.

• An emerging experimental framework suggests that plants under biotic stress may actively seek help from soil microbes, but empirical evidence underlying such a ‘cry for help’ strategy is limited. • We used integrated microbial community profiling, pathogen and plant transcriptive gene quantification and culture-based methods to systematically investigate a three-way interaction between the wheat plant, wheat-associated microbiomes and Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp). • A clear enrichment of a dominant bacterium, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila (SR80), was observed in both the rhizosphere and root endosphere of Fp-infected wheat. SR80 reached 3.7 × 10⁷ cells g−1 in the rhizosphere and accounted for up to 11.4% of the microbes in the root endosphere. Its abundance had a positive linear correlation with the pathogen load at base stems and expression of multiple defence genes in top leaves. Upon re-introduction in soils, SR80 enhanced plant growth, both the below-ground and above-ground, and induced strong disease resistance by boosting plant defence in the above-ground plant parts, but only when the pathogen was present. • Together, the bacterium SR80 seems to have acted as an early warning system for plant defence. This work provides novel evidence for the potential protection of plants against pathogens by an enriched beneficial microbe via modulation of the plant immune system.

Key message We report the uptake of MSNs into the roots and their movement to the aerial parts of four plant species and their quantification using fluorescence, TEM and proton-induced x - ray emission (micro - PIXE) elemental analysis. Monodispersed mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) of optimal size and configuration were synthesized for uptake by plant organs, tissues and cells. These monodispersed nanoparticles have a size of 20 nm with interconnected pores with an approximate diameter of 2.58 nm. There were no negative effects of MSNs on seed germination or when transported to different organs of the four plant species tested in this study. Most importantly, for the first time, a combination of confocal laser scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and proton-induced X-ray emission (micro-PIXE) elemental analysis allowed the location and quantification MSNs in tissues and in cellular and sub-cellular locations. Our results show that MSNs penetrated into the roots via symplastic and apoplastic pathways and then via the conducting tissues of the xylem to the aerial parts of the plants including the stems and leaves. The translocation and widescale distribution of MSNs in plants will enable them to be used as a new delivery means for the transport of different sized biomolecules into plants.

Crown roots constitute the majority of the rice (Oryza sativa) root system and play an important role in rice growth and development. However, the molecular mechanism of crown root formation in rice is not well understood. Here, we characterized a rice dominant mutant, root enhancer 1 (renl-D), which was observed to exhibit a more robust root system, increased crown root number, and reduced plant height. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed that these phenotypes are caused by the activation of a cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) family gene, OsCKX4. Subcellular localization demonstrated that OsCKX4 is a cytosolic isoform of CKX. OsCKX4 is predominantly expressed in leaf blades and roots. It is the dominant CKX, preferentially expressed in the shoot base where crown root primordia are produced, underlining its role in root initiation. OsCKX4 is induced by exogenous auxin and cytokinin in the roots. Furthermore, one-hybrid assays revealed that OsCKX4 is a direct binding target of both the auxin response factor OsARF25 and the cytokinin response regulators OsRR2 and OsRR3. Overexpression and RNA interference of OsCKX4 confirmed that OsCKX4 plays a positive role in crown root formation. Moreover, expression analysis revealed a significant alteration in the expression of auxin-related genes in the renl-D mutants, indicating that the OsCKX4 mediates crown root development by integrating the interaction between cytokinin and auxin. Transgenic plants harboring OsCKX4 under the control of the root-specific promoter RCc3 displayed enhanced root development without affecting their shoot parts, suggesting that this strategy could be a powerful tool in rice root engineering.