South African Journal of Botany最新文献

{"title":"Halotolerant PGPRs attenuate salinity stress in maize through differential expression of stress-related genes and regulated Na+/K+ homeostasis","authors":"Tahira Yasmeen ,&nbsp;Muhammad Saleem Arif ,&nbsp;Aqeel Ahmad ,&nbsp;Muhammad Usman ,&nbsp;Mohsin Tariq ,&nbsp;Waqas Haider ,&nbsp;Afira Syrish","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salinity stress is one of the foremost environmental constraints that play a crucial role in retarding plant growth and development. The rhizospheric microbiota, especially plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), can influence the physiological and biochemical growth responses of plants at both cellular and molecular levels by developing mutual interactions with host plants, particularly under abiotic stress conditions. In the present study, we initially screened the indigenous microbial resources for dual functional traits of salinity stress tolerance and plant growth promotion. After selecting two most efficient halotolerant PGPRs (<em>Bacillus pumilus</em> PB4 and <em>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</em> NS1), they were investigated to evaluate their effects on the physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of maize plants under varying levels of induced salt stress (0, 5, 10, and 15 dS/m). Plants were harvested at 3-time points (30, 45 and 60 days after seed sowing). Both inoculants tend to increase the biomass of maize plants under both normal and salt stress conditions. In addition, both inoculants significantly improved the stress tolerance of maize plants by modulating photosynthetic efficiency and leaf gas exchange, scavenging free radicals and synthesizing osmoprotective substances compared to the non-inoculated control plants. The inoculated bacterial strain also inhibited the uptake of Na⁺ and promoted the uptake of K⁺ in the maize plants. At the molecular level, the expression of stress responsive RBCL and APX genes was upregulated, while that of NCED gene was down-regulated by both inoculants compared to the control plants. This distinct ability of both inoculants to regulate Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis and modulate the stress-related genes expression in maize provides new mechanistic insights into microbial-assisted salinity tolerance, advancing the application of PGPRs adapted to extreme environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 557-568"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145466935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green versus conventional extraction of Tunisian carob pulp: polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, and chemometric insights","authors":"Chaima Saadi ,&nbsp;Faouzi Sakouhi ,&nbsp;Mohamad Ali El Chami ,&nbsp;Salud Cáceres-Jiménez ,&nbsp;Alicia Moreno-Ortega ,&nbsp;Sadok Boukhchina ,&nbsp;José Manuel Moreno-Rojas ,&nbsp;Raquel Rodríguez-Solana","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carob pulp is a Mediterranean by-product highlighted as an important source of bioactive compounds potentially used in different industrial applications. This study compares extraction methods using both conventional (maceration-M, organic solvents and water) and non-conventional green techniques (ultrasound-assisted extraction -UAE, and natural deep eutectic solvents -NADES). Chemometric tools were applied to analyze the polyphenol profile by HPLC<img>HRMS and assess bioactive potential measured by Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and ABTS assays of carob pulp from two regions in Tunisia (North and South). Among the factors studied (extraction technique, solvent, and geographical location), the solvent contributed to the highest variability in the composition of the carob. The highest yield of total phenolics was achieved using the conventional ethanol 75 %-M method (5023.92 µg/g) and the green water-UAE (5008.32 µg/g), followed by the NADES (lactic acid: sodium acetate, 3:1) method (3117.23 µg/g). The latter method was notable for its high content of flavonols, hydrolizable tannins, and antioxidant potential. Significant differences in phenolic content were observed between the two Tunisian locations, depending on the extraction method, with generally higher concentrations found in extracts from the southern region. The chemometric analysis confirms the effectiveness of the proposed green extraction methods as powerful and efficient tools for bioactive compound extraction from carob pulp, achieving similar, improved or highly selective phenolic recoveries when compared to the conventional methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 530-548"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145466932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of squash accessions using SRAP, ISSR and SCoT markers","authors":"Hilma Sabet ,&nbsp;Hossein Ali Asadi-Gharneh ,&nbsp;Mehdi Nasr-Esfahani ,&nbsp;Ali Farhadi","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Squash (<em>Cucurbita pepo</em> L.) with a wide range of useful nutrients, high food quality and medicinal materials, plays a special role in the human diet, and is of high economic importance and compatible with a wide range of climate conditions on economic production. Systematic and ecological experiments frequently depend on the use of molecular techniques to answer questions about genetic relatedness among phylogenetic relationships, population structure, and accession individuals, as well as loci mapping and quantitative trait tracking. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of 14 squash genotypes based on the diversity revealed by 13 ISSR, 11 SRAP and 10 SCoT-markers. The genetic-analysis based on the similarity-matrix defined the related squash genotypes into different groups with a very high genetic-diversity significantly. Using the relevant markers, identified several unique DNA-fragments that could be useful in species identification and confirmation of squash samples and the development of other molecular markers. According to the analysis of the MI, PIC, I, H, and Nei indices, the primers; ISSR 6, ISSR 10, SRAP 9, SRAP 10, SCoT 1 and SCoT 9 are described as the worthiest markers for appraising genetic relationships and diversity of Squash accordingly. Considering saving time and money, ISSR, SRAP and SCoT-markers can distinguish and describe cultivars that will be beneficial in developing breeding-programs for squash crops. Cumulatively, more molecular plans are also required to comprehend the genetic mechanisms regulating traits in <em>Cucurbita pepo</em> genotypes by virtue of which the marker linked primers could be used to generate DNA-based markers in specific genome regions accordingly.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 519-529"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145467046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation, In vitro Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, Molecular Docking, and In silico ADME Analysis of compounds from Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G. Don) Benth","authors":"Samuelson Martin Luther King Boum Bindebe ,&nbsp;Jean Noël Nyemb ,&nbsp;Joël Abel Gbaweng Yaya ,&nbsp;Hervé Landry Ketsemen ,&nbsp;Syeda Abida Ejaz ,&nbsp;Hafiz Muhammad Attaullah ,&nbsp;Céline Henoumont ,&nbsp;Sophie Laurent ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Talla ,&nbsp;Elisabeth Ngo Bum ,&nbsp;Marcello Iriti","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and evaluate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potential of bioactive compounds from <em>Crossopterix febrifuga</em>, a plant of interest in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. Crude extracts were obtained from the stem bark and trunk wood using ethanol/water (70:30) maceration. The trunk wood extract was subjected to silica gel column chromatography, leading to the isolation of three pure compounds: <em>β</em>-sitosterol (<strong>1</strong>), scopoletin (<strong>3</strong>), and <span>d</span>-mannitol (<strong>4</strong>) along with a mixture of stigmasterol (<strong>2</strong>) and <em>β</em>-sitosterol (<strong>1</strong>). Structural elucidation was performed using 1D and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, along with mass spectrometry (MS). The AChE inhibitory activity of both extracts and isolated compounds was assessed <em>in vitro</em> using a modified Ellman’s colorimetric method. Additionally, molecular docking simulations were conducted to predict the binding affinities and interactions of the compounds with the AChE active site. <em>In vitro</em> assays revealed that the stem bark and trunk wood extracts exhibited moderate AChE inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 424.3 µg/mL and 480.0 µg/mL, respectively. Among the isolated compounds, the mixture of stigmasterol and <em>β</em>-sitosterol showed the highest activity (IC₅₀ = 50.85 µg/mL), followed by <em>β</em>-sitosterol (57.25 µg/mL) and scopoletin (58.97 µg/mL). <span>d</span>-mannitol displayed very weak inhibition (IC₅₀ = 4955.64 µg/mL). Docking results supported these findings, with stigmasterol demonstrating the strongest binding affinity (–10.5 kcal/mol), followed by <em>β</em>-sitosterol (–10.5 kcal/mol), while <span>d</span>-Mannitol showed lower affinity (–5.0 kcal/mol). Despite its moderate inhibition, scopoletin exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, including small molecular size, high solubility, and predicted blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. These results suggest that <em>C. febrifuga</em> contains promising anti-AChE compounds, particularly phytosterols and coumarins, which may serve as lead candidates for the development of new therapies against Alzheimer’s disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 511-518"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Marula understorey plant species diversity varies among communal rangelands with limited response to mistletoe infection intensity","authors":"Tsitsi Sithandiwe Maponga ,&nbsp;Dave I. Thompson ,&nbsp;Hilton Garikai Taambuka Ndagurwa ,&nbsp;Justice Muvengwi ,&nbsp;Wayne Twine ,&nbsp;Ed T.F. Witkowski","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Communal rangelands are losing biodiversity and ecosystem function due to land clearing, deforestation, and climate change. However, mistletoes can enhance plant communities by increasing litterfall, soil moisture, and soil fertility. This study examined the effects of mistletoe infection (uninfected, low, and high) on <em>Sclerocarya birrea</em> subsp. <em>caffra</em> understorey plant assemblages, herbaceous biomass, and herbivory across three sites with different rainfall levels (590 mm, 655 mm, and 695 mm). At the broader community scale, species composition varied significantly across sites, but remained similar across mistletoe infection levels. At a fine, species level scale, the mistletoephily index showed species-specific preferences for different infection levels. The intermediate rainfall site had lower total species richness, diversity, and grass diversity than the other sites. Herbaceous biomass was higher in the wetter than the drier site, while forb and tree richness and diversity were greater in the drier site. Mistletoe infection and its interaction with rainfall site significantly influenced grass and forb diversity. Our findings suggest that moisture is limiting, typical of semi-arid savannas, while mistletoe effects are additive. Therefore, rainfall site influences host tree resource acquisition and competition, shaping understorey plant heterogeneity, while mistletoes provide additional facilitative effects that may further enhance communal rangeland resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 489-510"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145418294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preparation of cannabinoid extracts from hemp and their hypoglycemic effects","authors":"Changyan Sun ,&nbsp;Mengmeng An ,&nbsp;Ke Ma ,&nbsp;Dehai Li","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hemp, defined as cannabis containing less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its lung-moistening and laxative properties. However, its hypoglycemic effects, as well as the primary active compounds responsible for these effects, remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, cannabinoids were extracted from hemp using ultrasound-assisted extraction, and subsequently isolated and purified. The extracts were analyzed by UPLC-Q Exactive Focus MS/MS, which identified 12 cannabinoid compounds. The animal experiment investigated the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and hepatorenal protective effects of cannabinoids on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. The results showed that low-dose cannabinoids (37.87 mg/kg) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, improved glucose tolerance, and regulated lipid metabolism (decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C, increased HDL-C). Additionally, they reduced oxidative damage in diseased mice (significantly increased TP, SOD, and CAT activity levels) and effectively alleviated pathological damage to the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Overall, these findings suggest that hemp-derived cannabinoids may serve as promising natural functional food ingredients for the management of type 2 diabetes and its associated complications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 479-488"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The protective roles of cycteine in enhancing basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) tolerance to arsenic and chromium toxicity by regulating growth, mineral uptake, photosynthetic activity and antioxidative system","authors":"Vesile Yalcin ,&nbsp;Hülya Torun","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metals such as arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) are dangerous pollutants that pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. Cysteine (Cys), an antioxidant molecule, has an important role in increasing of plant tolerance to heavy metal stress. This study aimed to evaluate the potential ameliorative effects of exogenous Cys (300 µM) application on the morpho-physio-biochemical processes of basil (<em>Ocimum basilicum</em> L. cv. midnight) seedlings grown under As and Cr contamination. To attain this objective, seedlings were exposed to different concentrations of As (100 and 300 µM) and Cr (100 and 300 µM). The results of this research showed that As and Cr toxicity caused a significant decrease in root, stem and leaf lengths, root, stem and leaf fresh and dry weights, relative water content, PSII photochemistry, chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents, stomatal conductance, transpiration and net photosynthesis rates. In contrast, As and Cr exposure increased electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll a/b ratio, intercellular CO₂ concentration, lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content. Exogenous Cys application improved growth parameters by increasing photosynthetic activity, reducing membrane damage and oxidative stress levels. As and Cr stress negatively affected the mineral balance in basil seedlings, whereas Cys treatment helped to maintain homeostasis by regulating mineral distribution. Furthermore, the impact of As and Cr toxicity on enzymatic antioxidants, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, was found to vary depending on the application dose and enzyme type. It was observed that the most significant effect of Cys was on peroxidase activity. Our findings highlight the potential of Cys to alleviate As and Cr stress in basil seedlings, suggesting a promising approach to enhance plant resistance to heavy metal induced toxicity.s</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 464-478"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro biological activities of selected plant species used in traditional livestock medicine in Zimbabwe: A useful step in the quest for novel therapeutic options against some bacterial infections of economic importance in goats","authors":"Anderson Munengwa ,&nbsp;Emmanuel T. Nyahangare ,&nbsp;Prosper Jambwa ,&nbsp;Alban Mugoti ,&nbsp;Steven Mandara ,&nbsp;Melody Dzviti ,&nbsp;Lyndy J. McGaw","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The search for novel antibacterial agents in livestock is prompted by the scourge of antibiotic resistance and costly nature of conventional drugs. Potential antibacterial alternatives should be cheap, safe and therapeutically active. Biological activities of five selected ethnobotanical plant species (<em>Euclea divinorum</em> Hiern., <em>Kigelia africana</em> (Lam.) Benth., <em>Senna singueana</em> (Delile) Lock, <em>Cassia abbreviata</em> Oliv. and <em>Erythrina abyssinica</em> Lam<em>.</em>) were investigated. The serial microdilution assay was used to evaluate antibacterial activities of extracts against six bacterial strains (<em>Salmonella</em> Typhimurium<em>, Clostridium perfringens, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Salmonella</em> Enteritidis<em>, Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>). Antioxidant and anti-lipoxygenase activities were evaluated using the free radical scavenging and ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange assays, respectively. The tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) reduction assay was used to assess cytotoxicity of extracts. Acetone extracts of <em>S. singueana</em> and <em>E. abyssinica</em> had broad spectrum antibacterial activity (MIC &lt; 100 µg/ml; total activity &gt; 1000 mg/g). All acetone extracts had substantial antibiofilm activity against at least one of the tested bacterial strains (≥ 50 % inhibition). Acetone and DCM/methanol extracts of <em>S. singueana</em> and the DCM/methanol extract of <em>E. abyssinica</em> had the best antioxidant capacity. The LC₅₀ values were similar to those of the positive controls (P &gt; 0.05). The best anti-lipoxygenase activity was shown by acetone extracts of <em>E. divinorum</em> (LC₅₀ = 4.67 ± 0.08 µg/ml). All extracts tested were less toxic than the control anticancer agent, doxorubicin (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, acetone extracts of S<em>. singueana, E. abyssinica</em> and <em>E. divinorum</em> had a cocktail of therapeutic activity and could be leads in the development of useful livestock antibacterial drugs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 436-447"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New achievements in tissue culture of the vegetable and medicinal brassica Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC: Axillary shoot proliferation, somatic embryogenesis and histological analysis, and polyphenolic compounds profile of in vitro and acclimatized plants","authors":"Nevena Banjac ,&nbsp;Dušica Janošević ,&nbsp;Branka Vinterhalter ,&nbsp;Uroš Gašić ,&nbsp;Milena Trajković ,&nbsp;Marija Petrović ,&nbsp;Dijana Krstić-Milošević","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wild rocket (<em>Diplotaxis tenuifolia</em> (L.) DC) is widely cultivated as a vegetable crop known for its nutritional and medicinal benefits, but also for its value as an oil, pasture and beekeeping crop. Biotechnological approaches are essential to respond to the new challenges in breeding, as conventional breeding methods have proven insufficient for further improvements. The aim of this study was to develop a shoot regeneration and propagation protocol for <em>D. tenuifolia</em> and to investigate its metabolic profile. Optimal shoot multiplication was achieved using Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 0.2 mg <span>l</span>^-1 6-BA, yielding 3.04 shoots per explant. IBA 0.5 mg <span>l</span>^-1 promoted shoot rooting and acclimatization (80 %) in the greenhouse. Somatic embryogenesis was developed for the first time using immature zygotic embryos (IZE) cultured on MS medium without plant growth regulators (PGR-free) with an embryo-forming capacity of 3.3. Histological observation revealed that the somatic embryos (SEs) have unicellular or multicellular origin and passed through the globular, heart, torpedo and cotyledon stages. PGR-free and MS media supplemented with low doses of cytokinins 6-BA or KIN were satisfactory for both SE germination into plants and secondary SE regeneration. SE-derived plants survived efficiently when transplanted into the soil. The entire SE process from IZE isolation to flowering of the acclimatized plants took a total of 24 weeks. LC/MS analysis revealed that in vitro cultured shoots contained a broader spectrum and higher amount of bioactive polyphenols, especially the selected clone SR1 obtained from the super-regenerative IZE. These results can shorten the breeding process through targeted selection, large-scale propagation and maintenance of desirable clones, but also form the basis for breeding through advanced biotechnological strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 448-463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilization of somatic embryos from the endangered species eleutherococcus seoulensis and their potential bioactivities for promoting skin health","authors":"Kyung Eun Lee ,&nbsp;Sanghuk Son ,&nbsp;Sang Gu Kang ,&nbsp;Jiseong Choi ,&nbsp;Jin Tae Lee ,&nbsp;Sugwang Lee ,&nbsp;Hoduck Kang ,&nbsp;Mohammad Nurul Matin ,&nbsp;Hae Keun Yun","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.10.037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Eleutherococcus seoulensis</em>, commonly known as “Seoul Ogalpi,” is an endangered deciduous shrub native to the Seoul region of the Korean Peninsula. <em>E. seoulensis</em> is extensively utilized in herbal medicine and pharmaceutical applications, leading to its overharvesting in the wild. Therefore, we employed a biotechnology approach to achieve mass production of this endangered plant, supporting both conservation efforts and its applications in the bioindustry. Somatic embryos of <em>E. seoulensis</em> were induced from immature zygotic embryos cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 3.0 mg/L of gibberellic acid. At a concentration of 0.1%, the somatic embryo extracts of <em>E. seoulensis</em> exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates of 95% and 96%, respectively. The extracts contain eleutherosides B and E and effectively inhibit elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase, while also reducing melanin content in melanocytes. Furthermore, the extracts promoted the proliferation of human skin cells. These results suggest that E. seoulensis somatic embryo extracts can be used as cosmetic ingredients with antiaging and skin-whitening properties. In conclusion, we successfully employed biotechnological techniques for the mass production of somatic embryos from this endangered E. seoulensis, supporting both its conservation in nature and its use in the biohealth industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"187 ","pages":"Pages 426-435"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}