Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences最新文献

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Antimicrobial resistance has created a demand for alternative therapeutic agents derived from natural products. <i>Balikpapan ginger</i> (<i>Etlingera balikpapanensis</i> A.D. Poulsen) is an underexplored species with potential medicinal value. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of its stem extract against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The extract was obtained through maceration using 96% ethanol. Antimicrobial activity was tested using the disc diffusion method at concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 2%. The diameters of inhibition zones were measured and results were analyzed statistically to assess dose-dependent effects. <b>Results:</b> The extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against <i>S. aureus</i> and notable antifungal activity against <i>C. albicans</i>. Inhibition zones increased proportionally with extract concentration, with the highest activity observed at 2%. The antimicrobial effect is attributed to the presence of flavonoids and tannins in the extract. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Balikpapan ginger</i> stem extract demonstrates promising antibacterial and antifungal potential, supporting its application as a natural antimicrobial agent in health-related fields. Further studies are recommended to isolate active compounds and evaluate <i>in vivo</i> efficacy.

<i>Combretum kraussii </i>Hochst. is a small to medium-sized tree, widely used in traditional medicine in Southern Africa. This study was aimed at reviewing the medicinal applications, chemical and biological properties of <i>C. kraussii</i>. Information on medicinal uses, chemical and biological properties of <i>C. kraussii</i> was collected from several online databases such as ScienceDirect^®, PubMed^®, Web of Science, SpringerLink^®, Google Scholar, Scopus^® and SciELO, as well as pre-electronic literature sources such as book chapters, books and other scientific publications obtained from the university library. The findings highlight the use of the bark, branches, leaves and roots of <i>C. kraussii</i> as an appetite stimulant, snakebite antidote and tonic and traditional medicine for body and leg pains, cleansing body and urinary systems, fever, stomachache and wounds. Chemical compounds identified from <i>C. kraussii </i>include aglycones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, lactones, phytosterols, steroids, stilbenoids, tannins and triterpenoids. The phytochemical compounds isolated from <i>C. kraussii</i> and its crude extracts exhibited alpha-glucosidase inhibitory, anticancer, anti-cholinesterase, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antischistosomal and oxytocic activities. Future research on <i>C. kraussii</i> should focus on detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations, as well as <i>in vivo</i> and clinical studies.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Diatoms are unicellular algae that can survive extreme conditions because of their silica-based cell walls. As an indication of the murder scene and the duration of the victim's drowning, diatoms might be utilized for forensic diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the diatom species that colonize the cowhide substrate, the community and the relationship between physico-chemical factors in the Batang Kuranji River in Padang City. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Drowning diagnosis was investigated by submerging cowhide substrates at sampled river sites to collect colonizing diatoms over 10 days. Diatom samples were collected, preserved and identified microscopically, while key water quality parameters were measured concurrently. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA and PCA, was used to correlate diatom colonization with location, submersion time and environmental factors. <b>Results:</b> It showed that diatom colonization based on the number of species on the 8th day showed colonization influenced by an increase in the number of individuals, such as the species <i>Fragilaria capucina</i> and <i>Synedra ulna</i>. In the observation, 94 species of diatoms were found, 42 species were obtained as a pointer to the crime scene of the drowning victim and 68 species as a pointer to the time of the victim's drowning. Diatoms on cowhide substrate consisted of 2 classes, 2 orders and 19 families with diatom density ranging from 3.81±0.16 to 22.80±1.34 ind/cm^{<a href="190599_op">2</a>}. The highest relative density was <i>Fragilaria capucina</i> (28.59%). <b>Conclusion:</b> The diatom community that was identified had no dominant species, an equally distributed individual population and diversity index requirements that were categorized as moderate to high. The Batang Kuranji River's chemical and physical factors are still largely ideal for diatom colonization on cowhide substrates, according to the PCA analysis's results, which can also serve as a guide for drowning victims.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Second-degree burns can cause significant tissue damage, pain and infection risk, necessitating prompt and effective treatment strategies. Natural therapeutic agents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are gaining attention for burn management. <i>Marchantia paleacea</i>, a liverwort species, is known for such properties. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate <i>M. paleacea</i> gel for its wound healing potential in second-degree burns. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A gel was prepared using ethanol extracts of <i>M. paleacea</i> at concentrations of 5, 10 and 15%, with Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) as the base. The formulations were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, stability and skin irritation. A 14-day <i>in vivo</i> study was conducted on rats with second-degree burn wounds to assess healing. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and <i>post hoc</i> comparisons, with significance level set at p<0.05. <b>Results:</b> All gel formulations showed good physical stability, pH values between 5.04 and 5.30, viscosity ranging from 2459.7 to 2991.5 cps and no irritation in volunteers. The 15% <i>M. paleacea</i> gel demonstrated the most significant wound healing effect, reducing wound size to 0.12 cm², increasing epithelial thickness to 387.67 μm and enhancing collagen deposition to 18.60 on day 14 (p<0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Marchantia paleacea</i> gel, particularly at 15% concentration, exhibited significant burn healing effects, likely due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This formulation holds promise as a natural topical agent for second-degree burn treatment. Further clinical studies are recommended to validate its efficacy.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Diaphorina citri</i>, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), is a major vector of Huanglongbing disease in citrus worldwide and controlling this pest in citrus production regions is vital. Effective management requires regular monitoring-mapping its population distribution can support targeted surveillance and control strategies. Conventional population mapping faces challenges, but the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) offers a valuable predictive tool. This study examined the distribution of ACP in Indonesia and predicted its potential distribution based on local climate suitability using the MaxEnt model. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Field surveys were conducted over two consecutive years, from January, 2022 to December, 2023, in major citrus-producing regions of Indonesia, particularly Bali, Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. Occurrence data were supplemented with information from published literature. The MaxEnt model was developed using 19 bioclimatic factors and altitude data for Indonesia over 30 years (1970-2000). <b>Results:</b> The ACP was found in at least 38 citrus-producing areas across Indonesia. The MaxEnt model demonstrated excellent performance, with a Receiver Operating Characteristic/Area Under the Curve (ROC/AUC) value of 0.917 and identified seven dominant factors related to temperature, rainfall and altitude. Suitability for ACP was predicted to be high in Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, while other regions were predicted to have moderate to low suitability. <b>Conclusion:</b> Overall, ACP is widely distributed in Indonesia and the MaxEnt modeling effectively reflects its current distribution pattern and enables the prediction of its potential range.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Cellulose degradation is essential in biomass conversion, but limited access to efficient cellulase-producing microbes constrains industrial applications. Herbivorous insect guts are potential sources of novel cellulolytic bacteria. This study aimed to purify and characterize cellulase enzymes from bacteria isolated from the gut of <i>Oryctes rhinoceros</i>, to evaluate their potential for biotechnological use. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Bacterial strains were isolated from the gut of <i>O. rhinoceros</i> and cultured in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) medium. Cellulase enzymes were purified using Sephadex G-100 gel filtration followed by Diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography. Protein concentrations and enzyme activities were measured to calculate specific activities. The SDS-PAGE was used to determine the molecular weight. Enzymatic activity was assessed under different pH, temperature and metal ion conditions. <b>Results:</b> Two strains, <i>Bacillus tequilensis</i> B01L and <i>Bacillus cereus</i> B19L, were identified as potent cellulase producers. The cellulase from B01L was purified 11.46-fold (specific activity: 8.529 U/mg), while the enzyme from B19L showed a 12.28-fold increase (specific activity: 9.221 U/mg). Both enzymes had a molecular weight of approximately 52.23 kDa. Optimal activity occurred at pH 6.0, with temperature of 50°C for B01L and 60°C for B19L. Enzyme activity was unaffected by Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, but inhibited by 35-40% in the presence of K⁺ and Fe²⁺. <b>Conclusion:</b> The gut of <i>O. rhinoceros</i> harbors cellulolytic bacteria with significant enzymatic potential. These findings highlight a promising source of industrially relevant cellulases. Further studies are warranted to optimize production conditions and evaluate their application in biomass degradation.

<i>Terminalia spinosa</i> Engl. is a shrub or small tree widely used as a source of traditional medicines in tropical Africa. This study was aimed at reviewing the medicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of <i>T. spinosa</i>. A search for available information on the medicinal uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of <i>T. spinosa </i>was conducted by searching the electronic databases which included SciELO, ScienceDirect^®, Web of Science, PubMed^®, SpringerLink^®, Scopus^® and Google Scholar, as well as pre-electronic literature sources such as books, book chapters and other scientific publications obtained from the university library. This research revealed that the bark, fibres, leaves, roots or stem bark of <i>T. spinosa</i> are used as traditional medicines for wounds, fever, jaundice, malaria, sore throat and stomach ailments. The phytochemical evaluation of the plant species revealed that it contains flavonoids, fatty acids, anthocyanins, coumarins, ellagic acid, polyphenols, anthraquinone, tannins, polysaccharides, steroids and triterpenoids. The pharmacological evaluations showed that the crude extracts of <i>T. spinosa</i> have antibacterial, anti-Neisseria gonorrhoeae, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antiplasmodial and antiproliferative activities. To realize the full potential of <i>T. spinosa</i> as traditional medicine, future studies should focus on conducting detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations, <i>in vivo</i> and clinical research.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The persistent global threats of antimicrobial resistance and cancer necessitate the discovery of novel chemical entities, a search where actinomycetes from unique environments are critical. To discover new therapeutics, this study investigated actinomycetes from the <i>Apis florea</i> beehive environment, aiming to identify a promising strain and structurally characterize its antibacterial and anticancer metabolites. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Actinomycetes were isolated from five <i>Apis florea</i> beehives. Strain identification was performed using morphological, chemotaxonomic and dual-gene sequencing (16S rRNA and <i>gyr</i>B). Metabolites were purified and biological activity was assessed using MIC/MBC (antibacterial) and MTT cytotoxicity assays. The mechanism was explored via molecular docking against Topoisomerase II, complemented by ADMET prediction. <b>Results:</b> The most active isolate, BH111, was identified as <i>Streptomyces kunmingensis</i>. It produced two anthraquinone derivatives: Resistomycin (Compound <b>1</b>) and tetracenomycin D (Compound <b>2</b>). These compounds demonstrated selective, potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive strains (MIC and MBC values ranged from 16 to 32 and 128 to 256 μg/mL, respectively) and significant cytotoxicity against tested cancer lines (IC₅₀ values ranged from 10.72 to 27.57 μg/mL). Docking results supported Topoisomerase II inhibition. However, low selectivity indices and ADMET flags (CYP450, hepatotoxicity) were noted. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Streptomyces kunmingensis</i> BH111 is the first strain of this species reported to produce resistomycin and tetracenomycin D from a beehive source. While these anthraquinone derivatives are promising drug scaffolds due to their potent antibacterial and topoisomerase-inhibiting anticancer activities, significant therapeutic optimization is required to enhance selectivity and mitigate predicted toxicological risks.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Carvacrol, a naturally occurring phenolic monoterpenoid compound found in various essential oils, exhibits outstanding pharmacological characteristics, essentially anticancer, antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of carvacrol as a topical agent in preventing and treating DMBA-induced oral cancer in rats through <i>in vivo</i> assessment of its anticancer efficacy and histopathological effects. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of topically applied carvacrol in a rat model of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). The expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2), markers of proliferation and apoptosis, respectively, was estimated by immunohistochemical staining. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's <i>post hoc</i> test and Pearson's correlation, following normality confirmation (p>0.05), with results summarized using descriptive statistics. <b>Results:</b> Noteworthy declines in both PCNA and Bcl-2 expression were noticed in groups treated with carvacrol, either concurrently with DMBA or following its application. The group receiving carvacrol alternately with DMBA showed the most noticeable suppression in both markers. <b>Conclusion:</b> These results highlight carvacrol's dual character in quashing carcinogenesis and stimulating apoptotic cell death, supporting its potential as a safe, natural therapeutic agent for OSCC intervention.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Diaphorina citri </i>is the primary vector of <i>Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus </i>(<i>CLas</i>), the bacterial pathogen responsible for Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus. This psyllid also harbors endosymbionts such as <i>Wolbachia</i>, which may competitively interact with <i>CLas </i>within the insect's body. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doxycycline treatment on the titers of <i>Wolbachia </i>and <i>CLas </i>in <i>D. citri.</i> <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This study analyzes the quantitative relationship between these microorganisms. Four treatment groups were used: Control, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/mL doxycycline. Absolute quantification was performed using qPCR targeting the <i>wsp </i>and <i>CLas </i>genes. These results reflect the effect of doxycycline antibiotic treatment up to a concentration of 10 mg/mL; therefore, interpretation is limited to this concentration range. Doxycycline effects on <i>Wolbachia</i> and <i>CLas </i>abundance were analyzed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests, with pairwise t-tests in RStudio at α<0.05. <b>Results:</b> It showed that doxycycline concentrations did not significantly affect the titers of either bacterium based on Kruskal-Wallis tests (p>0.05). Nevertheless, biological trends were observed: <i>Wolbachia</i> titers increased with higher antibiotic concentrations, while <i>CLas </i>titers decreased. A polynomial non-linear regression model revealed a downward-opening parabolic relationship between <i>Wolbachia</i> and <i>CLas </i>titers, with the equation y = -0.0407x²+4,6881x-70,116 and R² = 0.8303, indicating that approximately 83% of the variation in <i>CLas </i>titers could be explained by <i>Wolbachia</i> abundance. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings support the hypothesis that <i>Wolbachia</i> may suppress <i>CLas </i>proliferation through intracellular competition or microbiota modulation. This study provides a foundational insight into the potential of symbiont-based management strategies for HLB vector control.