Article
Biology
Boutheina Ben Akacha, Jaroslava Svarc-Gajic, Khaoula Elhadef, Rania Ben Saad, Faical Brini, Wissem Mnif, Slim Smaoui, Anis Ben Hsouna
Summary: This study investigated the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of the essential oil extracted from Tunisian halophyte Lobularia maritime. The essential oil showed strong antimicrobial activity against pathogenic strains and could be used as a natural alternative to food preservatives. Additionally, the essential oil also exhibited positive effects on the quality of minced beef meat, reducing lipid oxidation and microbial proliferation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alina Wiszniewska, Wojciech Makowski
Summary: This study investigated the role of short-term priming in supporting plant defense against complex metal stress and multiple stress in Lobularia maritima. It was found that nitric oxide treatment annulled the toxic effects of metals and stimulated detoxification and scavenging activities. Under combined metal stress and salinity, both nitric oxide and low doses of NaCl improved growth parameters and stimulated antioxidant activity.
Article
Agronomy
Rania Ben Saad, Walid Ben Romdhane, Narjes Baazaoui, Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Anis Ben Hsouna, Avinash Mishra, Sanja Cavar Zeljkovic
Summary: Global modernization, urbanization, and industrialization have led to soil pollution through the release of heavy metals, which induce oxidative stress in plants. Thioredoxin (Trxs) plays a crucial role in intracellular redox homeostasis and its upregulation in Lobularia maritima seedlings confers tolerance to multiple heavy metals. Overexpression of LmTrxh2 in tobacco plants enhances seedling survival, root length, biomass production, and reduces ROS accumulation under heavy metal stress. LmTrxh2 overexpression also stimulates the expression of stress-responsive genes and enhances heavy metal tolerance by improving antioxidant capacities in plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rania Ben Saad, Walid Ben Romdhane, Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Olfa Jrad, Anis Ben Hsouna
Summary: The study identified Lvbi1 as an insertion exon in the TRIM5 gene of Papio anubis (baboon), which has a higher mutation frequency in baboons. Comparative sequence analysis suggested that the evolution of Lvbi1 exon may be influenced by positive selection.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Anis Ben Hsouna, Mbarka Hfaiedh, Sirine Ben Slima, Walid Ben Romdhane, Boutheina Ben Akacha, Mohamed Taieb Bouterra, Wissal Dhifi, Wissem Mnif, Faical Brini, Rania Ben Saad, Riadh Ben Salah
Summary: This study investigated the extraction and characterization of a novel heteropolysaccharide (LmPS) from a Tunisian halophyte Lobularia maritima. The results showed that LmPS exhibited significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. The findings suggest that LmPS could be a potential alternative medicine for patients with acute liver diseases.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rania Ben Saad, Walid Ben Romdhane, Narjes Baazaoui, Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Yosra Chouaibi, Wissem Mnif, Anis Ben Hsouna, Miroslava Kacaniova
Summary: Cold stress is a significant environmental factor affecting plant growth and crop productivity. This study investigated the role of the LmTrxh2 gene in cold tolerance in the halophyte plant Lobularia maritima. Overexpression of LmTrxh2 in tobacco enhanced its tolerance to cold stress and improved various physiological and biochemical parameters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Boutheina Ben Akacha, Basma Najar, Francesca Venturi, Mike Frank Quartacci, Rania Ben Saad, Faical Brini, Wissem Mnif, Miroslava Kacaniova, Anis Ben Hsouna
Summary: This study evaluated the use of a new heteropolysaccharide (LmPS) extracted from Lobularia maritima as an antioxidant and antibacterial additive in the preservation of raw minced meat. The results showed that LmPS had significant antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens and improved the shelf life of meat by reducing lipid oxidation.
Article
Agronomy
Rui Gu, Zhiqiang Wan, Fang Tang, Fengling Shi, Mengjiao Yan
Summary: In this study, 1466 transcription factors that regulate salt stress were identified in Glaux maritima leaves. KEGG and GO analyses revealed significant enrichment in 14 pathways and 54 functions annotated. Gene expression analysis showed 820 differentially expressed genes distributed in 11 transcription factor families. Protein-protein interaction networks suggested ABF2 and MYC1/2 as important transcription factors regulating salt tolerance in G. maritima.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Avinash Mishra, Walid Ben Romdhane, Anis Ben Hsouna, Kadambot H. M. Siddique, Rania Ben Saad
Summary: This study investigated the use of natural polysaccharides derived from the halophyte plant Lobularia maritima as a biostimulant in durum wheat seedlings under salt stress. The polysaccharide extract stimulated wheat growth and provided tolerance to plants against NaCl stress by improving membrane stability, antioxidant activities, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, and regulating ion homeostasis. The expression profile analyses of stress-related genes revealed the induction of key genes in durum wheat even under unstressed conditions. This study highlights the potential of using polysaccharide extract as a biostimulant in sustainable and organic agriculture.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jieqiong Song, Xinjie Liu, Xinxin Li, Hongfei Wang, Ruowen Chu, Fangfang Qu, Sixue Zhang, Qiuli Li
Summary: This study revealed the mechanisms of salt stress tolerance during brown seed germination in Suaeda liaotungensis, including the importance of transcription regulation and hormone signal transduction, ROS metabolism, cell wall organization or biogenesis, and carbohydrate metabolic process. Furthermore, functional analysis demonstrated that overexpression of SlNAC2 significantly enhanced salt tolerance during the germination stage in Arabidopsis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Eshita Sharma, Dharam Chand Attri, Priyanka Sati, Praveen Dhyani, Agnieszka Szopa, Javad Sharifi-Rad, Christophe Hano, Daniela Calina, William C. C. Cho
Summary: This article discusses the importance of anticancer herbal compounds in cancer treatment, particularly polyphenols. Polyphenols have been proven to effectively inhibit tumor growth with fewer side effects and can enhance the sensitivity of cells to other therapies.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nejia Farhat, Wafa Kouas, Hans-Peter Braun, Ahmed Debez
Summary: This research studied the effects of high salinity and salt-stress release on the halophyte Cakile maritima, finding that under salt stress the plants exhibited reduced biomass production, decreased chlorophyll content, and increased anthocyanin and malonyldialdehyde concentrations. Despite these changes, salt-stressed plants were able to maintain stable protein complexes in thylakoid membranes and restore damaged PSI machinery upon salt-stress release, indicating the important role of chloroplasts in the salt tolerance mechanisms of C. maritima.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siwar Ghanmi, Steffen P. Graether, Moez Hanin
Summary: In this study, the conservation of halophytic dehydrin sequences was analyzed, and new segments were discovered. Modifications were found in the halophytic dehydrins compared to orthologs in glycophytic plants. Furthermore, it was observed that dehydrins are upregulated by salt stress, and the intensity of this upregulation depends on the dehydrin architecture.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hayet Houmani, Ahmed Debez, Larisse de Freitas-Silva, Chedly Abdelly, Jose M. Palma, Francisco J. Corpas
Summary: Potassium is an essential element for plant growth and its deficiency can cause oxidative stress. However, plants can survive by increasing antioxidant and NADPH-generating systems to cope with this stress.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anita Mann, Naresh Kumar, Ashwani Kumar, Charu Lata, Arvind Kumar, Babu Lal Meena, Dwijesh Mishra, Monendra Grover, Sonam Gaba, C. Parameswaran, Nitin Mantri
Summary: This study investigated the gene expression of Urochondra setulosa leaves at different salt concentrations using transcriptomics. The findings suggest that the plant regulates ion homeostasis and signaling through transcription at high salt concentrations. Furthermore, genes related to salt stress response were identified, providing insights into the mechanisms of plants in coping with extreme saline conditions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anis Ben Hsouna, Carmen Sadaka, Marc El Beyrouthy, Mbarka Hfaiedh, Wissal Dhifi, Faical Brini, Rania Ben Saad, Wissem Mnif
Summary: This study investigated the hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of Linalool against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity in mice. The results showed that Linalool could increase the concentration of interleukin 10 while decreasing the levels of other cytokines, thereby inhibiting liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Irem Kiris, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Merve Karayel-Basar, Busra Gurel, Julide Coskun, Ahmet Tarik Baykal
Summary: This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of palmatine (PAL), an isoquinoline alkaloid, in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a mouse model. PAL improved memory and learning in the AD mice and was able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Proteomics analysis revealed significant changes in the cerebellum and hippocampus after PAL administration.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pawel Kwiatkowski, Mateusz Kurzawski, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Agata Pruss, Monika Sienkiewicz, Wojciech Plazinski, Barbara Dolegowska, Iwona Wojciechowska-Koszko
Summary: Previous studies have shown that trans-anethole (TA) can reduce staphyloxanthin (STX) production in Staphylococcus aureus. However, the impact of TA on the biosynthetic pathway of this carotenoid pigment has not yet been studied. This preliminary study evaluated the influence of TA on the expression of genes encoding STX pathway enzymes and identified STX and its intermediates. The results showed that TA treatment led to a significant reduction in the majority of compounds involved in the biosynthetic pathway of STX.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soukaina Abdelwahed, Hanen Cherif, Bilel Bejaoui, Ilhem Saadouli, Tarek Hajji, Nizar Ben Halim, Awatef Ouertani, Imen Ouzari, Ameur Cherif, Wissem Mnif, Amor Mosbah, Ahmed Slaheddine Masmoudi
Summary: The aim of this study is to validate and standardize a fast, reliable, and cost-effective microplate method to quantify Indole-3 Acetic Acid (IAA) produced by bacteria. By comparing the conventional IAA estimation assay and the microplate assay, it was found that the microplate assay reduces the volume of bacterial supernatant and Salkowski reagent significantly, resulting in lower cost and faster results. The microplate assay allows for simultaneous reading of optical density and greatly reduces labor and reagent waste, making it a reliable, rapid, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method for screening plant growth promoting bacteria.
MAIN GROUP CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justyna Zagorska, Lidia Czernicka-Bos, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Katarzyna Ilowiecka, Wojciech Koch
Summary: This article summarizes the impact of heat treatment methods on the antioxidant and biological activities of ginger rhizomes. Traditional cooking and microwave processing generally decrease the antioxidant activity of ginger, while frying, autoclaving, blanching or traditional sun drying mostly lead to a significant increase in ginger activity. Interesting data were also presented on freeze-drying, which increased the antioxidant potential of ginger.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Wissem Mnif, Faouzi Ben Rebah
Summary: The dewatering process reduces the water content in sludge, facilitating storage, transport, stabilization, and post-treatment efficiency. Chemical polymers used as flocculants in the conditioning process should be replaced with eco-friendly and safe materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rania Ben Saad, Walid Ben Romdhane, Narjes Baazaoui, Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Yosra Chouaibi, Wissem Mnif, Anis Ben Hsouna, Miroslava Kacaniova
Summary: Cold stress is a significant environmental factor affecting plant growth and crop productivity. This study investigated the role of the LmTrxh2 gene in cold tolerance in the halophyte plant Lobularia maritima. Overexpression of LmTrxh2 in tobacco enhanced its tolerance to cold stress and improved various physiological and biochemical parameters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aneta Grabarska, Jarogniew J. Luszczki, Kinga Gawel, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Malgorzata Juszczak, Adrianna Slawinska-Brych, Grzegorz Adamczuk, Magdalena Dmoszynska-Graniczka, Nataliia Kosheva, Wojciech Rzeski, Andrzej Stepulak
Summary: The study found that magnoflorine has anticancer effects against gastric cancer cells by inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Combination treatment with docetaxel produced additional pharmacological interaction. Moreover, there was no observed toxicity of magnoflorine in a zebrafish model. These findings provide a foundation for the potential therapeutic use of magnoflorine in gastric cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Estera Okon, Katarzyna Gawel-Beben, Agata Jarzab, Wojciech Koch, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Anna Wawruszak
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide, and the effectiveness of approved therapies is limited by serious side effects and multidrug resistance. Therefore, advanced research in the breast cancer field is crucial for developing more effective and safer treatments. Anthraquinone derivatives, natural products found in plants, lichens, and fungi, have shown promising anticancer activity in breast cancer models. Additionally, the use of nanoparticles for in vitro and in vivo studies is a potential direction for further investigation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dorota Nieoczym, Nancy Saana Banono, Katarzyna Stepnik, Agnieszka A. Kaczor, Przemyslaw Szybkowski, Camila Vicencio Esguerra, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Kinga Gawel
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsant potential of schisandrin B, a main ingredient of Schisandra chinensis extracts. Schisandrin B showed anticonvulsant activity in zebrafish larva seizure assay but did not affect seizure thresholds in mice. The compound crossed the blood-brain barrier and its activity in zebrafish might be due to its binding to benzodiazepine and/or inhibition of glutamate receptors. However, it also displayed teratogenic properties in zebrafish larvae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yosra Hadj Mansour, Bouthaina Othmani, Faouzi Ben Rebah, Wissem Mnif, Mongi Saoudi, Moncef Khadhraoui
Summary: Sludge dewatering is a challenging and costly process, often requiring the use of synthetic chemical reagents for flocculation. However, these additives might pose environmental and health risks. Therefore, replacing them with plant extracts could provide a safe and eco-friendly alternative, reducing ecosystem damages.
Article
Plant Sciences
Monika Opatikova, Dmitry A. Semchonok, David Kopecny, Petr Ilik, Pavel Pospisil, Iva Ilikova, Pavel Roudnicky, Sanja Cavar Zeljkovic, Petr Tarkowski, Fotis L. Kyrilis, Farzad Hamdi, Panagiotis L. Kastritis, Roman Kouril
Summary: This study presents the structure of photosystem II supercomplex from Picea abies determined by cryo-electron microscopy, revealing the presence of unique features such as the light-harvesting protein Lhcb8 and α-tocopherol molecule with potential physiological function.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sanja Cavar Zeljkovic, Saliha Seyma Sahinler, Cengiz Sarikurkcu, Bulent Kirkan, Riza Binzet, Petr Tarkowski
Summary: This study reports for the first time on the phenolic profile and biological activity of Onosma riedliana. The methanolic extract shows exceptional antioxidant properties, while the ethyl acetate extract demonstrates significant inhibition of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes, and the methanolic extract displays potent activity against carbohydrate hydrolytic enzymes.
PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eva Luptakova, Armelle Vigouroux, Radka Koncitikova, Martina Kopecna, David Zalabak, Ondrej Novak, Sara Salcedo Sarmiento, Sanja Cavar Zeljkovic, David Jaroslav Kopecny, Klaus von Schwartzenberg, Miroslav Strnad, Lukas Spichal, Nuria De Diego, David Kopecny, Solange Morera
Summary: Cells save energy during nitrogen starvation by selectively autophagocytosing ribosomes and degrading RNA. The preference of plant NRHs for nucleosides influences their breakdown and has consequences for plant growth and metabolism.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Teuta Benkovic-Lacic, Iva Orehovec, Krunoslav Mirosavljevic, Robert Benkovic, Sanja Cavar Zeljkovic, Nikola Stefelova, Petr Tarkowski, Branka Salopek-Sondi
Summary: The drying method affects the color, aroma, dry biomass, and chemical profile of chamomile flowers. Sun drying resulted in the highest content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.