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The article contains information on the biological reserves of bracken ferns in coniferous forests in the Altai Territory. For the study, 2 zones were taken - the Priobsky pine forest zone and the Salair ridge zone. The predominant types of forests in this area are pine and fir forests. During the study period, the biological and operational reserves of bracken fern and the amount of annual collection in various forest conditions were determined. The studies carried out have shown an extremely uneven distribution of biological, operational and commercial reserves of bracken fern by forest types and individual regions. A possible annual harvest of bracken ferns in different types of forest is recommended, depending on the frequency of harvest in a particular area. Measures for the rational use of biological reserves of bracken fern in the Altai Territory are proposed.

To investigate the nephroprotective potential of orally administered bracken extract against renal damage in quails, induced by a high-purine diet, to form a foundation for subsequent clinical studies and applications. A mass spectrometry analysis was conducted on the pteridophyte subjected to steam explosion. Network pharmacological methods were then utilized to pinpoint shared targets and pathways, which suggested that has a capability to counteract renal injury. A total of 48 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) \"Difaku\" quails were selected and segregated into six distinct groups. The control group received a standard diet, whereas the other groups were fed a high-purine diet. Beginning on day 14, each group was subjected to designated therapeutic measures. The study continued for 40 days, after which relevant biological markers were assessed. Active compound peaks from the steam-exploded were isolated. Subsequently, 101 targets and several pathways associated with renoprotective effects were discerned, indicating that the achieves its nephroprotective function through comprehensive regulatory mechanisms. The high-purine diet successfully induced hyperuricemia in the quails, resulting in renal impairment. Following intervention with varied dosages, renal protective outcomes were evident, though xanthine oxidase activity remained unaffected. Histological analyses demonstrated a notable decrease in renal lesion dimensions post-intervention. The steam-exploded bracken may provide nephroprotective benefits against hyperuricemia-induced renal damage in quails through comprehensive regulatory processes. This highlights the potential as an innovative nephroprotective therapeutic and dietary solution, presenting a promising avenue for hyperuricemia and renal damage treatment and prevention.

Blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) is an herbivorous freshwater fish species native to China and has been recognized as a main aquaculture species in the Chinese freshwater polyculture system with high economic value. Right now, only limited EST resources were available for M. amblycephala. Recent advances in large-scale RNA sequencing provide a fast, cost-effective, and reliable approach to generate large expression datasets for functional genomic analysis, which is especially suitable for non-model species with un-sequenced genomes. Using 454 pyrosequencing, a total of 1,409,706 high quality reads (total length 577 Mbp) were generated from the normalized cDNA of pooled M. amblycephala individuals. These sequences were assembled into 26,802 contigs and 73,675 singletons. After BLAST searches against the NCBI non-redundant (NR) and UniProt databases with an arbitrary expectation value of E(-10), over 40,000 unigenes were functionally annotated and classified using the FunCat functional annotation scheme. A comparative genomics approach revealed a substantial proportion of genes expressed in M. amblycephala tanscriptome to be shared across the genomes of zebrafish, medaka, tetraodon, fugu, stickleback, human, mouse, and chicken, and identified a substantial number of potentially novel M. amblycephala genes. A total number of 4,952 SSRs were found and 116 polymorphic loci have been characterized. A significant number of SNPs (25,697) and indels (23,287) were identified based on specific filter criteria in the M. amblycephala. This study is the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis for a fish species belonging to the genus Megalobrama. These large EST resources are expected to be valuable for the development of molecular markers, construction of gene-based linkage map, and large-scale expression analysis of M. amblycephala, as well as comparative genome analysis for the genus Megalobrama fish species. The identified SSR and SNP markers will greatly benefit its breeding program and whole genome association studies.

Edible ferns are some of the most important wild vegetables in China. This paper reviews their food uses. The history of eating ferns in China may go back as far as 3000 years. An ethnobotanical inventory of edible ferns was created, with 52 species (including 4 varieties), which were traditionally used. The potential species number of edible ferns was estimated as 144 species (including 4 varieties). The cuisines, products and chemical components of ferns were also summarized. The most commonly eaten fern, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, was discussed in terms of its toxicity, massive productivity and development strategies. Suggestions and recommendations were proposed for the future development of edible ferns in China.

Background In humans, muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is highly aggressive and associated with a poor prognosis. With a high mutation load and large number of altered genes, strategies to delineate key driver events are necessary. Dogs and cats develop urothelial carcinoma (UC) with histological and clinical similarities to human MIBC. Cattle that graze on bracken fern also develop UC, associated with exposure to the carcinogen ptaquiloside. These species may represent relevant animal models of spontaneous and carcinogen-induced UC that can provide insight into human MIBC. Results Whole-exome sequencing of domestic canine ( n  = 87) and feline ( n  = 23) UC, and comparative analysis with human MIBC reveals a lower mutation rate in animal cases and the absence of APOBEC mutational signatures. A convergence of driver genes ( ARID1A, KDM6A, TP53 , FAT1 , and NRAS ) is discovered, along with common focally amplified and deleted genes involved in regulation of the cell cycle and chromatin remodelling. We identify mismatch repair deficiency in a subset of canine and feline UCs with biallelic inactivation of MSH2 . Bovine UC ( n  = 8) is distinctly different; we identify novel mutational signatures which are recapitulated in vitro in human urinary bladder UC cells treated with bracken fern extracts or purified ptaquiloside. Conclusion Canine and feline urinary bladder UC represent relevant models of MIBC in humans, and cross-species analysis can identify evolutionarily conserved driver genes. We characterize mutational signatures in bovine UC associated with bracken fern and ptaquiloside exposure, a human-linked cancer exposure. Our work demonstrates the relevance of cross-species comparative analysis in understanding both human and animal UC.

Several molecules present in the diet, including flavonoids, can inhibit the growth of cancer cells with an ability to act as “chemopreventers”. Their cancer-preventive effects have been attributed to various mechanisms, including the induction of cell-cycle arrest and/or apoptosis as well as the antioxidant functions. The antioxidant activity of chemopreventers has recently received a great interest, essentially because oxidative stress participates in the initiation and progression of different pathological conditions, including cancer. Since antioxidants are capable of preventing oxidative damage, the wide use of natural food-derived antioxidants is receiving greater attention as potential anti-carcinogens. Among flavonoids, quercetin (Qu) is considered an excellent free-radical scavenging antioxidant, even if such an activity strongly depends on the intracellular availability of reduced glutathione. Apart from antioxidant activity, Qu also exerts a direct, pro-apoptotic effect in tumor cells, and can indeed block the growth of several human cancer cell lines at different phases of the cell cycle. Both these effects have been documented in a wide variety of cellular models as well as in animal models. The high toxicity exerted by Qu on cancer cells perfectly matches with the almost total absence of any damages for normal, non-transformed cells. In this review we discuss the molecular mechanisms that are based on the biological effects of Qu, and their relevance for human health.

In spite of many theoretical explanations, the plant richness pattern along the mountain elevation gradient is still debatable. Here we considered East district of Sikkim state in the Eastern Himalaya to study plant richness pattern of vascular plants along an elevation gradient of 500–3300 m at 100, 200 and 300 m elevation steps. The study evaluates species-area relationships along the elevation gradient, spread over four major forest types i.e., low (tropical to sub-tropical, up to 900 m), middle (subtropical, 750–1500 m), upper (wet temperate, 1500–2700 m) and Rhododendron-Conifer Zone (cold temperate/sub-alpine, 2700–3600 m) with 664 species from 367 genera and 131 families. Pteridium aquilinum was found to be the most diverse species occurring in all 28-elevation steps along 500–3300 m, followed by Polystichum lentum, Polygonum runcinatum and Nephrolepis cordifolia those occured in 23 elevation steps. In general, a hump shaped pattern was observed for plant richness of all life forms along the elevation gradient. The peaks became prominent, with the increase in scale of extent from 100 m (R2 = 50%) to 300 m (R2 = 78%) through 200 m (R2 = 55%) elevation steps, using 2nd order polynomial fitting. The reduction in tree height and richness was noticed beyond 2300 m allowing dominance of herbs owing to climatic constraints. Using generalized additive model, temperature could explain the maximum deviance of > 47%. Soil explained 36.4% deviance, followed by precipitation (21.6% deviance) in the plant richness. However, the ecotone effect of different forest types explained the mid-elevation peaks in plant richness more prominently than the geographic area availability. Further, inclusion of disturbance and biotic interactions may improve ecological understandings on the plant richness pattern along the elevation gradient.

Traditionally, Pteridium aquilinum L. has been utilized as medicine for ages, however, it is not listed in the Nigerian herbal pharmacopeia, and there is no information regarding its standardization and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the pharmacognostic parameters and antimicrobial activity of Pteridium aquilinum leaf. Macroscopy, chemo-microscopy, fluorescence, and microscopic analyses of the leaf were investigated using standard methods. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography (TLC), GC-MS, and FTIR were also determined using standard procedures. Antioxidants were evaluated using DPPH. The antimicrobial activities of methanol extract and fractions were evaluated using Agar well diffusion method against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The macroscopic features of P. aquilinum leaf include a bi-pinnate leaflet and alternate pinna arrangement. The GC-MS-identified compounds in the most active (DCM fraction) were docked against Candida albicans Sterol 14-alpha demethylase (5TZ1) and Escherichia coli DNA gyrase subunit B (6YD9). The macroscopic features and microscopic features such as anomocytic stomata, numerous stomata in the abaxial layer, and absence of stomata in the adaxial layer were observed. Chemomicroscopy of the powdered leaves shows that the leaf contains tannins, starch, and lignin. GC-MS detected eighteen compounds. The antimicrobial test revealed that the dichloromethane fraction of P. aquilinum leaf was most active on all the test strains (bacteria and fungi) at 25 mg/mL to 100 mg/mL concentrations. Through in silico research, the binding of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, (4-hydroxybenzoyl) hydrazine, octadecadienoyl chloride, and 11,14-Eicosadienoic acid, detected in the DCM fraction by GC-MS analysis, to the active sites of 5TZ1 and 6YD9 was stable. This research gave scientific credence to the traditional medical practice of treating infections with P. aquilinum leaves.

Pteridium aquilinum is a medicinally important fern with a limited range in northern Iran, increasingly threatened by climate change. Using morphological, genetic, and environmental data, we assessed differentiation, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability across 11 populations. Factor analysis of mixed data (FAMD) identified stipe indument, pinnule shape, and pinnae number as key traits distinguishing populations. Redundancy and association analyses (RDA/CCA) revealed strong links between both morphological and genetic variation and climatic gradients, particularly temperature and humidity, indicating local adaptation. Several SCoT loci were detected as adaptive outliers. Spatial PCA showed that variation is shaped by both global and local spatial factors, forming clines and local variants. Populations varied in sensitivity and adaptive capacity; populations 2, 3, 7, and 8 exhibited the lowest adaptive indices and highest vulnerability. Connectivity modeling suggested that while some populations (e.g., 2, 4, and 6) may maintain or slightly improve connectivity, others risk isolation under future climates. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated a positive genetic contribution to adaptation, while differential equation modeling (DEM) predicted logistic growth with temporary instability and genetic decline in vulnerable groups. Overall, findings highlight spatially uneven adaptive responses and recommend targeted conservation through connectivity enhancement, assisted gene flow, and ex-situ preservation of adaptive genotypes.

1‐MCP is an ethylene inhibitor which can delay the ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables effectively. Pteridium aquilinum var. Latiusculum (PA) is one of the wild vegetables which is famous and nutrient in China. However, the mechanism of PA preservation treated with 1‐MCP has not been reported. Consequently, the effects of postharvest 1‐MCP treatment on the changes in quality, energy metabolism, and membrane lipid metabolism of PA were investigated in this study. The results indicated that 1‐MCP treatment could effectively inhibit the decreases in firmness, titratable acid (TA) content and the increases in weight loss rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, membrane permeability, and membrane lipid metabolism‐related enzymes in PA. The cellular energy charge (EC) and the levels of ATP, ATP/ADP, and ATP/AMP, the activities of energy metabolism‐related enzymes, NAD+, and NADH were maintained, and the decreases in unsaturated fatty acids and the ratio of unsaturated‐to‐saturated fatty acids in the membrane of PA cells were effectively retarded by 1‐MCP treatment. A positive correlation was observed between cellular ATP levels and the ratio of unsaturated‐to‐saturated fatty acids, while negative correlations were observed between the ratio of unsaturated‐to‐saturated fatty acids and both lipid peroxidation and membrane permeability. These results indicated that higher levels of energy status, unsaturated‐to‐saturated fatty acid ratios, and lipid metabolism in the membrane could preserve the membrane integrity of postharvest PA and effectively extend its shelf life. 1‐MCP treatment could affect the quality, energy status, membrane lipid metabolism, membrane fatty acids, the activities of energy‐metabolism‐related enzymes, and lipid metabolism‐related enzymes of postharvest Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (PA). The results indicated that 1‐MCP treatment could extend the shelf life of PA effectively.