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Stress tolerance in cereal crops like Sorghum is important to address food security and land development for saline agriculture. Salinity is considered one of the most devastating abiotic stresses affecting plant growth and yield, specifically in water-scared areas of the world. Biogas residue is a good source of plant nutrients with enriched fertilizer for crop yield and productivity. In this study, seeds were sown in the soil supplied with biogas residues (0% and 5% w/w). After seedling establishment, three Bacillus strains (B26, BS, and BSER) were introduced around the roots of Sorghum. Saline water irrigation started after a week of bacterial inoculation. Sorghum plants were uprooted after 30 days of saline water irrigation. Results indicated that the Bacillus strain and biogas residues showed the highest plant growth in both (0 and 75 mM) salinity levels. Further, this Bacillus strain modulated Sorghum's secondary metabolites (phenols and flavonoids) and osmoprotectants (proline and soluble sugars) under salinity stress. Reduction in salinity stress demonstrated lower activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase; however, guaiacol peroxidase activities were enhanced in Bacillus (BS strain) treated plants with biogas residues application. Among the three strains, BS strain demonstrated better results with biogas residues under salinity stress in Sorghum bicolor.

The presence of heavy metals in water represents a risk to the life of all species on the planet. Phytoremediation is an effective alternative to remove heavy metals from contaminated aqueous environments. In the present research, Chenopodium album L. was examined for the remediation of waters contaminated with Cd, Pb, and Hg. Studies were carried out in waters containing each metal separately (monometallic aqueous systems) and in mixtures (trimetallic aqueous systems). First, the adaptation of Chenopodium album to different concentrations of Hoagland's nutrient solution (HNS) was evaluated, then, a phytotoxicity study was carried out to determine the appropriate concentrations of each metal to test the tolerance of the plant during the accumulation study, and finally, the bioaccumulation capacity of Chenopodium album for Cd, Pb, and Hg was evaluated. Chenopodium album showed tolerance to levels of 5 mg/L Hg and 10 mg/L Cd and Pb in 25% HNS. The bioaccumulation tests showed that Chenopodium album can remediate Cd, Pb, and Hg contaminated waters in both monometallic and trimetallic aqueous systems. These findings suggest important future applications in the food industry for the production of Chenopodium album as we demonstrate that this species adapts and grows in hydroponic media. In particular, the ability of Chenopodium album to adapt to extreme conditions could be exploited for further studies on phytoremediation of heavy metals in river water, irrigation water, wastewater, effluents, and mine tailings.

The global problem of infectious and deadly diseases caused by microbes such as candida and mycobacteria presents major scientific and medical challenges. Antimicrobial drug resistance is a rapidly growing problem with potentially devastating consequences. Various pathogens can cause skin infections, such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Antimicrobial resistance has caused the urgency to seek alternative treatment options from available natural resources. Plant-derived medicinal compounds can provide novel alternative treatment avenues against pathogenic microbes. The objective of this study was to determine the antimycobacterial and antifungal activity of leaf extracts of Trichilia emetica against Mycobacteria smegmatis, Mycobacteria aurum, Candida tropicalis, and Candida albicans. The leaf extracts were prepared using hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, dichloromethane (DCM), methanol, ethanol, water, DCM:methanol, and 70% ethanolic aqueous solution. The microbroth dilution was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each extract against the four test organisms. The mode of action by which these extracts inhibit growth was also investigated. The effects of the extract on the cell wall of C. tropicalis were determined using the sorbitol assay. The effects of the extracts on the membrane integrity of the test organisms were determined using propidium iodide, which binds to nucleic acids, and the Bradford reagent, which reacts with proteins. The ethyl acetate and 70% ethanolic aqueous extracts were most potent against the organisms tested with MICs ranging from 125 to 1000 μg/mL. However, the two extracts did not inhibit the growth of C. tropicalis in the presence of sorbitol. The extracts caused the leakage of nucleic acids and proteins in C. tropicalis and M. smegmatis only and not in M. aurum. It is concluded that the leaf extracts of T. emetica have antimycobacterial or antifungal activities. The disruption of cell membranes resulting in protein and nucleic acid leakage could be the plant's possible mode of action.

Biochar is gaining importance due to its potential to enhance soil health, crop yield, and quality. It may also promote more sustainable farming methods. This study evaluated the combined effects of biochar, vermicompost, and inorganic fertilizers on soil characteristics, growth, and yield in wheat. Ten different treatments were applied to wheat (cultivar BARI Gom-33). The tallest plants, highest total dry weight, and largest leaf area index were observed in plots where chemical fertilizers, rice husk biochar, poultry manure, and vermicompost were applied together. At harvest, the treatment containing 1/4 recommended fertilizer dose (RFD) + 1/4 poultry manure biochar + 1/4 rice husk biochar + 1/4 vermicompost produced the best yield and yield-contributing factors. The combination of biochar, vermicompost, and inorganic fertilizers increased grain production by 43.23%-79.48% compared with the control. These treatments also improved soil health by increasing available phosphorus, organic matter, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and organic carbon. In conclusion, the combined application of 1/4 RFD, 1/4 poultry manure biochar, 1/4 rice husk biochar, and 1/4 vermicompost can replace the sole use of chemical fertilizers and serve as a key component for sustainable crop production.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of salicylic acid (SA) on wheat subjected to cadmium (Cd) stress. The experiments were conducted during the winter season of 2022-2023 (November to February) at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. The study involved four wheat varieties: Akbar-2019, Galaxy-2013, Ujala-16, and Chakwal-86. The study utilized a factorial design with three replicates, examining three Cd levels (0.1 mM, 0.2 mM, and 0.3 mM) and two SA levels (0.5 mM and 0.9 mM). SA was applied as a seed priming agent, while cadmium sulfate (CdSO₄) solution induced Cd toxicity. Various growth parameters, including plant height, total plant length, leaf length, leaf breadth, and leaf area, were measured alongside physiological and biochemical parameters such as total chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, oxidative stress indicators (MDA and H₂O₂), and antioxidants (total soluble protein, CAT, and APX)-to assess the effects of SA under Cd stress. The results indicated that the application of 0.5 mM SA resulted in the highest vegetative growth and maximum physiological and biochemical parameters, while 0.3 mM Cd significantly reduced growth. The performance of the treatments was observed in the following order: 0.5 mM SA > 0.3 mM Cd. Ujala-16 showed intermediate growth and yield, while Chakwal-86 had the lowest growth rate and yield. The study demonstrated that SA mitigates Cd stress effects, with 0.9 mM SA and 0.1 mM Cd yielding the highest growth, second only to 0.5- and 0.9-mM SA treatments. These findings underscore the potential of SA to enhance wheat growth and yield in Cd-contaminated soils. In conclusion, SA is suggested as a beneficial treatment for improving productivity and economic returns in Cd-stressed areas. Future recommendations include conducting long-term studies to evaluate cumulative treatment effects and investigating how salicylic acid mitigates cadmium stress through biochemical pathways and gene expression, enhancing agricultural practices.

Due to population growth and climate changes, there is a rising need for alternative food and protein sources to reduce protein scarcity and the environmental impact of food industries. Single-cell proteins (SCPs) have the potential to partially or fully substitute plant- and animal-derived dietary proteins. Bacillus subtilis is an appealing bacterium for SCP production because of its fast growth and ability to obtain high protein and essential amino acid (AA) content in its biomass. It is also capable of utilizing a wide range of substrates. B. subtilis attractiveness and efficiency can be further enhanced using mutagenesis. In this study, a novel approach to creating mutant strains with enhanced protein and AA content was experimentally validated. The method is based on the application of AA inhibitors for selective pressure to ensure the growth of mutants with enhanced protein and/or AA synthesis capacity. For AA inhibitors, three herbicides were used: glufosinate-ammonium (GA), L-methionine sulfoximine (MSO), and S-(2-aminoethyl)-L-cysteine (AEC). Initially, AA inhibitor doses for the complete inhibition of wild-type (WT) B. subtilis strain were determined. Then, B. subtilis was treated with EMS chemical mutagen and created mutants were cultivated on a medium containing inhibitory dose of AA inhibitors. Growing samples were selected, analyzed, and compared. The optimal inhibitory concentrations of herbicides for mutant selection were 0.05-0.4 M for GA, 0.01-0.05 M for MSO, and 0.2 M for AEC. The best-performing mutants were selected when using GA-improvement of 7.1 times higher biomass content, 1.5 times higher protein concentration, 1.2 times higher AA content, and 1.2 times higher essential AA index was achieved in comparison with WT B. subtilis. Enhanced mutants were also successfully selected when using MSO and AEC. This study demonstrates the potential of using AA inhibitors for the selection of mutants with improved protein and AA profiles.

The issue of drug resistance and tolerance presents a significant challenge as it diminishes the efficacy and potency of medications, posing a formidable obstacle for physicians striving to enhance pharmacological therapy worldwide. These resistance mechanisms can arise from genetic predispositions or as a consequence of medical interventions. Notably, acquired resistance or tolerance may extend to other drugs within the same or different classes, despite differing mechanisms of action. This phenomenon leads to the ineffectiveness of various pharmacological treatments over time, hindering the attainment of complete remission for numerous illnesses spanning metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, carcinomas, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. Vitamin D, an essential lipid-soluble nutrient crucial for regulating calcium and phosphorus levels, is emerging as a potential solution to counteract treatment resistance and tolerance in various conditions such as cancer, tuberculosis, and depression. This review scrutinizes existing research and offers insights for future investigations aimed at fully elucidating the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in mitigating the challenges associated with prolonged medication regimens and drug treatment failures. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01169259 and NCT04342598.

This cross-sectional study investigated nonconventional therapies for COVID-19 in Trinidad, emphasizing the need for documentation supporting future pharmaceutical research. The survey, conducted from June 20 to July 19, 2022, garnered responses from 57 participants aged 18 and above, with 82.46% vaccinated. The majority (81%) utilized both conventional and nonconventional therapies, revealing insights for potential alternatives to traditional treatments. Conventional treatments, including antibiotics, Ivermectin, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, bronchodilators, and cough/flu syrups, were frequently reported. Nonconventional therapies encompassed vitamins, minerals, supplements, and various plant and animal products. When participants used conventional therapies, either alone or in combination with nonconventional ones, 13.21% reported side effects. These included severe thirst, headache, nausea, drowsiness, and one case of weight gain. Conversely, those exclusively using nonconventional treatments reported no side effects. Encouragingly, nonconventional therapies demonstrated promising effects in managing COVID-19, emphasizing the need for meticulous selection, research, and development of their bioactive compounds as potential alternatives to conventional therapies.

Plants have been used as healing agents since humanity began. This review presents the plant profiles inhabiting the world regarding their traditional usage by various tribes/ethnic groups for the treatment of epilepsy. The bibliographic investigation was carried out by analyzing standard reference textbooks, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Search terms and keywords used for the search were epilepsy, medicinal plants for epilepsy, herbal remedies used in the treatment of epilepsy, and traditional antiepilepsy medication. This review article was prepared by including the biological names of plants/their parts/extracts/compounds/doses/models/results. Further, experimentally explored 15 potential medicinal plants have also been explored in detail. The present review was prepared by including 114 plants from 3 books, 83 research, and 59 review articles. This review indicates that the list of medicinal plants presented in this review might be useful to researchers for preliminary screening of potential antiepileptic agents.

Background: Despite the large number of studies that have been done in this area, there is still a gap in the literature when it comes to comparing the orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) efficacy of Invisalign and fixed orthodontic appliances. The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the efficacy of Invisalign and fixed orthodontic appliances in terms of the amount and rate of OTM. Specifically, the study aimed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between these two treatment modalities in achieving OTM and to assess whether treatment duration differs significantly between Invisalign and traditional fixed appliances. This investigation seeks to address the existing gaps in the literature by providing a clear comparison based on recent empirical evidence, thereby contributing to more informed treatment decisions in orthodontic practices. Methodology: Relevant MeSH keywords and Boolean operators were selected by a team of reviewers to search several online databases for papers that were in accordance with the objectives of our review. Results: At the end of the search protocol, 10 studies were deemed to be eligible for inclusion in the review. The pooled analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in treatment time for patients using Invisalign compared to those with fixed appliances, with a total OR of 0.61 [95% CI 0.43, 0.85]. No significant heterogeneity was detected (I ² = 0%), and the test for overall effect was significant (Z = 2.86, p=0.004). Furthermore, a nonsignificant trend favoring Invisalign was shown, with an odds ratio of 1.43 and a confidence interval that included 1 (0.97, 2.10). The p value was 0.07, and there was negligible heterogeneity among studies, as indicated by an I ² of 0%. Conclusion: Based on the findings from the selected studies, it can be concluded that Invisalign and fixed orthodontic appliances have similar overall efficacy in eliciting OTM. However, Invisalign treatment requires significantly less time to complete than fixed orthodontic appliances. Despite these observations, further studies are required to explore the long-term stability of OTM achieved with Invisalign and fixed orthodontic appliances. Registration and Protocol: Registration was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards (CRD42023405593). The research protocol was created to meet the goals and was properly filed with PROSPERO; however, it has not been prospectively registered.