The study investigates the antifungal potential of citrinin, the bioactive compound isolated from Aspergillus terreus (OP480427), against aflatoxin-producing fungi isolated from wheat rhizospheric soil and its ability to interfere with aflatoxin biosynthesis. Citrinin, purified using TLC, identified through polyphasic characterisation, effectively inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus (OP600575) and reduced aflatoxin production, a major food safety concern. Structural characterisation was performed using FTIR, HRMS and NMR. The reduction of aflatoxin levels was confirmed by HPLC analysis. The chloroform extract containing 1000 µg/mL citrinin produced an inhibition zone of 16 mm, which decreased to 8 mm at 500 µg/mL and further to 4 mm at 250 µg/mL. In silico docking revealed that citrinin targets key enzymes in the aflatoxin biosynthesis, explaining its dual role as a fungal growth inhibitor and a toxin suppressant. Findings suggest that citrinin is a promising natural agent for controlling A. flavus and aflatoxin production in agriculture. It may serve as a potential lead for antifungal drug development, as a valuable source of bioactive metabolites for sustainable crop protection.

Cymbidium faberi Rolfe. (CFR) flowers are highly appreciated by consumers for its pretty appearance and elegant aroma. However, the aroma characteristics of CFR flowers are rarely analysed. The aroma profiles of CFR flowers were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technology, coupled with relative odour activity value (rOAV) determination, and sensory evaluation. The CFR flowers tended to contain abundant aldehyde compounds, which accounted for 44.72% of the total amount of volatiles. And also, the sweet, fragrance, fruity, and floral flavour were the main aroma attributes in CFR flowers with higher sensory intensities. In addition, 6 aroma compounds were identified with rOAV greater than one, among which γ-nonalactone with the highest rOAV of 100 was the potential key aroma compound contributing sweet note for CFR flowers. Current study would further understand the aroma profiles of CFR flowers, providing data support for the better application in cosmetics of CFR products.

This work presents a chemotaxonomic study on inflorescence headspace volatiles (HSVs) of twelve Achillea species, including ten from the section Achillea sensu lato and two from the section Anthemoideae sensu lato from Serbia. In most of the studied species, oxygenated monoterpenes were the dominant class of compounds, while the content of monoterpenes hydrocarbons was lower, except for A. lingulata (71.1%). The approximate content of these two classes was observed in HSVs of A. millefolium, A. chrysocoma, and A. collina. Therewith, sesquiterpenes were absent or detected in a low percentage. The most abundant inflorescence HSVs were 1,8-cineole (A. chrysocoma, A. clypeolata, A. coarctata, A. crithmifolia, A. distans, and A. millefolium), β-pinene (A. collina and A. lingulata), camphor (A. grandifolia and A. pseudopectinata), chrysanthenone (A. nobilis), and trans-sabinyl acetate (A. ageratifolia). Multivariate statistical analyses revealed no clear differentiation between the two studied Achillea sections based on inflorescence HSVs.

Geum elatum Wall. Ex G.Don is a medicinal plant that is native to the Hindu Kush region of the Himalayas. G. elatum roots and leaves collected from this region were investigated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (by analysis of aqueous methanol extracts) to reveal the detection of compounds assigned as hydrolysable tannins, condensed tannins, flavonoids and triterpenes in the leaf and root extracts. The dimeric ellagitannin, gemin A, was isolated from the roots and the structure was elucidated using techniques in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The detection of these compounds in the roots and leaves of G. elatum may provide new insights into the traditional medicinal uses of this species.

This study aimed to profiling B. virgata leaves extract, evaluate biological activities, and investigate alkaloid interactions targeting EGFR. Extraction was performed using reflux with solvents of increasing polarity, yielding n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, while α-glucosidase inhibition was evaluated in vitro. Cytotoxicity was tested against NSCLC cell lines harbouring EGFR L858R/T790M mutations and wild-type. Ethanol extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH: 118.95 ± 0.21; FRAP: 9.50 ± 0.29; CUPRAC: 226.84 ± 2.33 TEAC/g extract), strong α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 13.38 ± 0.26 µg/mL), and selective cytotoxicity against H1975 cells (IC50 = 7.19 × 10[-14]). Alkaloid compounds 1 and 2 interact with key residues, particularly Cys797, with binding affinities of -7.1 and -6.8 kcal/mol, comparable to references. B. virgata exhibits multifunctional bioactivities, likely attributed to its alkaloid constituents, supporting its potential as a source of novel therapeutic agents.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw. contains diverse phytoconstituents with potential biological activities. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile and antioxidant and cytoprotective activities of leaf and flower extracts. An ICH-compliant High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated for gallic acid and quercetin, while LC-QTOF-MS was used for tentative phytochemical profiling. The HPTLC method showed satisfactory linearity over 100-600 ng/spot, with R[2] values of 0.986 for gallic acid and 0.982 for quercetin. Gallic acid contents were 0.55%, 0.066%, 0.14%, and 0.16%, while quercetin contents were 0.62%, 0.12%, 1.07%, and 0.89% in methanolic leaf, aqueous leaf, methanolic flower, and aqueous flower extracts, respectively. CPLF2 showed the strongest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC50 = 51.7 µg/mL) and comparatively higher cell viability under CCl4-induced oxidative stress. Overall, the findings indicate an association between phytochemical composition and the observed biological activities. Gallic acid and quercetin served as analytical markers, and their individual contribution to biological effects cannot be established from the present study.

The present study provides a phytochemical and biological evaluation of Duranta serratifolia (Griseb.) Kuntze cultivated in Egypt. Preliminary screening revealed the predominance of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which was supported by high total phenolic (101.6 mg ± 2.1 GAE/g) and flavonoid (166.3 ± 1.1 mg QuE/g) contents. HPLC and LC-MS analyses identified diverse phenolic acids and flavonoid glycosides, with cinnamic acid, naringenin, kaempferol, quercetin derivatives, and diosmin as major constituents. The extract exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, particularly against Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans, with low MIC values, alongside antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC50 = 12.77 ± 0.4 µg/mL). Cytotoxic effects were observed against MCF-7 and PC-3 cancer cell lines. TEM analysis confirmed microbial ultrastructural damage. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinities of major flavonoids towards β-lactamase and DHFR, supporting the in vitro findings. These results highlight D. serratifolia (Griseb.) Kuntze as a source of bioactive natural products with therapeutic potential.

Agricultural and household wastes are a major source of biowaste and the majority of this waste is dumped in landfills. Unmanaged biowaste possesses a considerable threat to the environment in the form of soil, air and water pollution. Managing this biowaste is a herculean task and various physico-chemical techniques are used to degrade the waste. However, this biowaste acts as a potential source of bioactive compounds that possess therapeutic properties.. Among the bioactives, we have provided comprehensive information about Anthocyanins due to their non-toxicity, water solubility and simple extraction methods. Functional groups in anthocyanins are responsible for its degradation under varying conditions and methods such as acetylation, methylation, glycosylation have been used to maintain its stability. Anthocyanins act as drug molecules against cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc. However, they show poor bioavailability which certainly impacts their efficacy as a therapeutic molecule. Various modifications in the form of encapsulation, liposomes, or starch-based aids in enhancedabsorption, stability and controlled release of the molecules . Interestingly, anthocyanins have varied otheruses, such as a packaging agent, a pH-sensitive film, staining dye for plant sections and a dyeing agent for fabric. In essence, exploitation of bioactives from biowaste can pave the way towards greener and sustainable technology.

Two new drimane sesquiterpenes curvudrimones A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the fermentation broth of an endophytic fungus Curvularia tuberculata SC3295 by silica gel, reversed phase silica column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, and high-performance preparative liquid chromatography. The structures of the new compounds were characterised by extensive spectroscopic analyses (NMR and MS), ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, enabling the assignment of the absolute configuration of compound 1. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities.

Two previously undescribed compounds (1 and 2), together with nineteen reported constituents (3-21) were obtained from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold & Zucc. Structural characterisation of all isolated metabolites were fully elucidated by FT-IR, UV-Vis, HRESI-MS and NMR. Antibacterial screening of all purified metabolites was conducted versus three pathogenic strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. Berberine and cefotaxime sodium were set as positive controls, and MIC values were applied to quantify antibacterial effects. Compounds 1, 7 and 19 displayed potent inhibitory action towards E. coli, with respective MIC of 12.5, 25 and 25 μg/mL. Compounds 2 and 17 exhibited obvious suppression towards S. aureus at MIC 12.5 μg/mL, and compounds 5 and 11 had potent inhibition on B. subtilis with the same MIC 12.5 μg/mL. Notably, undescribed compound 1 presented remarkable anti-E. coli activity (MIC = 12.5 μg/mL), which was better than berberine (MIC = 25 μg/mL).

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) HDM10, isolated from fermented winter jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) juice, was identified by biochemical and molecular analyses. The strain exhibited γ-haemolysis, susceptibility to several tested antibiotics, and strong gastrointestinal tolerance, with survival rates of 72.63% and 80.00% at pH 2.0 and 3.0, respectively. Survival remained above 70% in 0.05-0.5% bile salts and reached 67.82% at 1.0%. More than 80% of cells survived simulated gastric and intestinal conditions. Response surface methodology optimised mannanase production to 87.73 U/mL, representing a 27.1% increase over the initial activity. Congo red staining confirmed enhanced polysaccharide hydrolysis. HDM10 also showed strong mucin adhesion (>70%) and slight growth promotion in the presence of mucin. These results demonstrate its safety, probiotic potential, and suitability for -synbiotic applications.

Thirteen lignans, including three new monomers berpruins A-C (1, 3, and 4), were isolated from the roots of Berberis pruinosa. The structures of these lignans were identified through the comprehensive analysis of their spectroscopic data (including NMR, CD, and HRESIMS) and physicochemical properties. Berpruins A-C (1, 3, and 4) are the first examples of formylated lignan isolated from plants. Compound 4 exhibited moderate in vitro antimalarial activity with an inhibitory rate of 74.8 ± 2.5% at a concentration of 50 μM.

Two previously undescribed phloroglucinol derivatives, drychamphloros A and B (1 and 2), were obtained from the whole plant of Dryopteris championii, together with seven known congeners (3-9). Their structures were determined via ECD (Electronic Circular Dichroism) calculations in conjunction with comprehensive spectroscopic data. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of the nine phloroglucinol derivatives (1-9) were evaluated. Bioassay results revealed that compound 5 displayed antifungal effects against Fusarium graminearum, while compounds 8 and 9 exhibited antibacterial effects against both standard and penicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge that necessitates the development of further studies to overcome resistance mechanisms. In this study, phytochemicals of Boswellia serrata and Crocus sativus were investigated as promising natural scaffolds to β-lactamase inhibition. To our knowledge, this is the first study, the isolated compounds were virtually screened against β-lactamase enzymes (Classes A-D) using molecular docking and also confirmed using experimental approach. Among the screened compounds, picrocrocin showed the strongest affinity across Class A, Class B and Class C β-lactamases as compared to the reference inhibitor Tazobactam. The purified compounds were further evaluated through nitrocefin based colorimetric assay against β-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strain BLR01. Picrocrocin and Serratol inhibited β-lactamase by 57.4 ± 2.77% and 56.1 ± 1.88%, respectively at 200 μM. These findings identify phytochemicals from Boswellia serrata and Crocus sativus as promising natural scaffolds for further investigation as β-lactamase-targeting agents.

This study aimed to screen the anti-neuroinflammatory active fraction of Wenmian San and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cell model was established to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory activities of different fractions; the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects on NO production and cytokine release. Chemical analysis identified 41 compounds, mainly including flavonoids, coumarins, and phenylpropanoids. Network pharmacology integrated with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis identified ICAM1 and NFKB1 as core target genes, with isorhamnetin, quercetin, byakangelicin, kaempferol, imperatorin, and isoliquiritigenin as the major active components. Molecular docking analysis further verified favourable binding affinity between the screened active compounds and the identified targets. Overall, the EAF of Wenmian San exerts significant anti-neuroinflammatory effects through a multi-component, multi-pathway, and multi-target therapeutic pattern.