Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.045
Putri Bernawati , Dwi Retnowati , Budiman Bela , Vera Permatasari , Gian Primahana , Rhesi Kristiana , Muhammad Eka Prasetya
The presence of endophytic fungi in plant species offers a promising pathway for research and innovation in natural medicinal remedies. Endophytic fungi from Saurauia cauliflora were screened for antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Two isolates, Neofusicoccum parvum P.11 and Sesquicillium intermediophialidicum P.14, exhibited significant bioactivities. Ethyl acetate extracts showed MIC values ranging from 127.7 to 256 µg/mL against multidrug-resistant bacteria, with P.14 displaying strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀: 73.85 µg/mL). Cytotoxicity assays revealed that P.14 inhibited 74.82 % of MCF-7 breast cancer cells at 100 µg/mL, while doxorubicin (control) showed 86.94 % inhibition. GC–MS analysis identified several known bioactive compounds, suggesting their potential contribution to the observed activities. These findings highlight the pharmaceutical potential of endophytic fungi from S. cauliflora, particularly S. intermediophialidicum P.14, as a novel source of bioactive agents. Further research is required to elucidate fully their underlying mechanisms and assess their therapeutic viability, including activity-guided isolation and testing against normal cell lines.
{"title":"Bioactive endophytes from Saurauia cauliflora: Unveiling antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential","authors":"Putri Bernawati , Dwi Retnowati , Budiman Bela , Vera Permatasari , Gian Primahana , Rhesi Kristiana , Muhammad Eka Prasetya","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of endophytic fungi in plant species offers a promising pathway for research and innovation in natural medicinal remedies. Endophytic fungi from <em>Saurauia cauliflora</em> were screened for antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Two isolates, <em>Neofusicoccum parvum</em> P.11 and <em>Sesquicillium intermediophialidicum</em> P.14, exhibited significant bioactivities. Ethyl acetate extracts showed MIC values ranging from 127.7 to 256 µg/mL against multidrug-resistant bacteria, with P.14 displaying strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀: 73.85 µg/mL). Cytotoxicity assays revealed that P.14 inhibited 74.82 % of MCF-7 breast cancer cells at 100 µg/mL, while doxorubicin (control) showed 86.94 % inhibition. GC–MS analysis identified several known bioactive compounds, suggesting their potential contribution to the observed activities. These findings highlight the pharmaceutical potential of endophytic fungi from <em>S. cauliflora</em>, particularly <em>S. intermediophialidicum</em> P.14, as a novel source of bioactive agents. Further research is required to elucidate fully their underlying mechanisms and assess their therapeutic viability, including activity-guided isolation and testing against normal cell lines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 309-323"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737333","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.049
Armelle Tontsa Tsamo , Steven Collins Njonté Wouamba , Annette Berole Meli Ngoumfo , Issah Julio Mawouma Pagna , Ibukun Michael Famuyide , Andre Ledoux Njouonkou , Blandine Marlyse Wache Ouahouo , Pierre Mkounga , Jean Paul Dzoyem , Lyndy Joy McGaw , Augustin Ephrem Nkengfack
Lenzites acuta Berk. is a wood-decaying polypore mushroom from tropical forests that remains chemotaxonomically unexplored. In this study, the chemical constituents from the methanolic extract of its fruiting bodies yielded a new ceramide, polyporamide (1), together with three sterols: stellasterol (2), ergosterol (3), and ergosterol peroxide (4). Acetylation of the new ceramide (1) afforded a new hemi-synthetic derivative, polyporamide tetraacetate (1a). Structural elucidation was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR, ESI-MS, and comparison with literature data. The antibacterial activity of the extract and isolated compounds was assessed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Compound 1a displayed the strongest antibacterial effect, with MIC values of 128 µg/mL (P. aeruginosa) and 64 µg/mL (S. aureus). Antibiofilm activity was evaluated using a microtiter plate assay with safranine staining at sub-MIC concentrations. Compound 4 exhibited the highest inhibition of biofilm formation, with 69.35 % inhibition against P. aeruginosa and 51.59 % against S. aureus at 128 µg/mL. Although less active than the reference drug gentamicin, compounds 1a and 4 appear as potential scaffolds for the development of antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. This study constitutes the first report on the chemical constituents of L. acuta and highlights its potential as a source of bioactive natural products.
{"title":"A new ceramide and sterols with moderate antibiofilm activity from the underexplored polypore Mushroom Lenzites acuta","authors":"Armelle Tontsa Tsamo , Steven Collins Njonté Wouamba , Annette Berole Meli Ngoumfo , Issah Julio Mawouma Pagna , Ibukun Michael Famuyide , Andre Ledoux Njouonkou , Blandine Marlyse Wache Ouahouo , Pierre Mkounga , Jean Paul Dzoyem , Lyndy Joy McGaw , Augustin Ephrem Nkengfack","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lenzites acuta</em> Berk. is a wood-decaying polypore mushroom from tropical forests that remains chemotaxonomically unexplored. In this study, the chemical constituents from the methanolic extract of its fruiting bodies yielded a new ceramide, polyporamide (<strong>1</strong>), together with three sterols: stellasterol (<strong>2</strong>), ergosterol (<strong>3</strong>), and ergosterol peroxide (<strong>4</strong>). Acetylation of the new ceramide (<strong>1</strong>) afforded a new hemi-synthetic derivative, polyporamide tetraacetate (<strong>1a</strong>). Structural elucidation was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR, ESI-MS, and comparison with literature data. The antibacterial activity of the extract and isolated compounds was assessed against <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. Compound <strong>1a</strong> displayed the strongest antibacterial effect, with MIC values of 128 µg/mL (<em>P. aeruginosa</em>) and 64 µg/mL (<em>S. aureus</em>). Antibiofilm activity was evaluated using a microtiter plate assay with safranine staining at sub-MIC concentrations. Compound <strong>4</strong> exhibited the highest inhibition of biofilm formation, with 69.35 % inhibition against <em>P. aeruginosa</em> and 51.59 % against S. aureus at 128 µg/mL. Although less active than the reference drug gentamicin, compounds <strong>1a</strong> and <strong>4</strong> appear as potential scaffolds for the development of antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. This study constitutes the first report on the chemical constituents of L. <em>acuta</em> and highlights its potential as a source of bioactive natural products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 284-290"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682066","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.042
M.M. Chirwa , N.J. Sadgrove , L. Mokwena , T. Moloi , B.-E. Van Wyk
Plecostachys polifolia, P. serpyllifolia and Tenrhynea phylicifolia (Asteraceae) are aromatic species endemic to southern Africa. Plecostachys serpyllifolia is a traditional herbal tea, while the traditional use of T. phylicifolia as a tea is reported for the first time. The volatile and phenolic compounds of the species are important in the context of their use as medicinal teas. Furthermore, chemical similarities may support the idea, based on molecular phylogenetic evidence, that the two genera are congeneric. Since there are no published chemistry data except for P. serpyllifolia, we studied the variation in volatile chemistry and phenolic chemistry of several populations of all three species, using standard methods: Steam distillation, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UHPLC) with a Quadrupole time of-flight (qToF) Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-MS). Despite their strong pleasant fragrances, the three species produce very low yields of essential oil (up to 0.114% of dry weight, but usually much lower). The oil composition was similar within and between the two species of Plecostachys and similar when compared to the main compounds in the monotypic Tenrhynea. The dominant compounds were caryophyllene oxide and E-caryophyllene across almost all the populations analysed, followed by sabinene, δ-cadinene and α-phellandrene. Trace compounds include Y-terpinene, linalool, 1-terpineol, cubenene, α-cadinene, pinocarvone, and E-nerolidol, among others. An exploratory study of the phenolic compounds in several populations of the three species showed that they can easily be differentiated by variation of the three main compounds. These show a diagnostically different pattern in all the species studied for multiple replicates. While all three species accumulate 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, a yet unidentified compound is confined to P. serpyllifolia and 1,4,5-tricaffeoyl-3-methoxyoxaloylquinic is unique to Tenrhynea phylicifolia. This is a first comparative chemophenetic study of chemical variation and similarities between the two genera and three species. It supports the proposed sister group relationship (based on DNA evidence) between Tenrhynea and Plecostachys and the idea that the two genera should be combined.
{"title":"Major volatile and phenolic compounds in species of Plecostachys and Tenrhynea (Asteraceae) that are used as herbal teas","authors":"M.M. Chirwa , N.J. Sadgrove , L. Mokwena , T. Moloi , B.-E. Van Wyk","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Plecostachys polifolia, P. serpyllifolia</em> and <em>Tenrhynea phylicifolia</em> (Asteraceae) are aromatic species endemic to southern Africa. <em>Plecostachys serpyllifolia</em> is a traditional herbal tea, while the traditional use of <em>T. phylicifolia</em> as a tea is reported for the first time. The volatile and phenolic compounds of the species are important in the context of their use as medicinal teas. Furthermore, chemical similarities may support the idea, based on molecular phylogenetic evidence, that the two genera are congeneric. Since there are no published chemistry data except for <em>P. serpyllifolia,</em> we studied the variation in volatile chemistry and phenolic chemistry of several populations of all three species, using standard methods: Steam distillation, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UHPLC) with a Quadrupole time of-flight (qToF) Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-MS). Despite their strong pleasant fragrances, the three species produce very low yields of essential oil (up to 0.114% of dry weight, but usually much lower). The oil composition was similar within and between the two species of <em>Plecostachys</em> and similar when compared to the main compounds in the monotypic <em>Tenrhynea</em>. The dominant compounds were caryophyllene oxide and <em>E</em>-caryophyllene across almost all the populations analysed, followed by sabinene, δ-cadinene and α-phellandrene. Trace compounds include Y-terpinene, linalool, 1-terpineol, cubenene, α-cadinene, pinocarvone, and <em>E</em>-nerolidol, among others. An exploratory study of the phenolic compounds in several populations of the three species showed that they can easily be differentiated by variation of the three main compounds. These show a diagnostically different pattern in all the species studied for multiple replicates. While all three species accumulate 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, a yet unidentified compound is confined to <em>P. serpyllifolia</em> and 1,4,5-tricaffeoyl-3-methoxyoxaloylquinic is unique to <em>Tenrhynea phylicifolia.</em> This is a first comparative chemophenetic study of chemical variation and similarities between the two genera and three species. It supports the proposed sister group relationship (based on DNA evidence) between <em>Tenrhynea</em> and <em>Plecostachys</em> and the idea that the two genera should be combined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 252-260"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682054","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.001
Khaulood A. Hemida , Mostafa M. Rady , Sahar A. Abd El-Hamed , Hesham M. Abbas , Rasha K. Kamel , Wael M. Semida , Ibrahim A.A. Mohamed
Insufficient irrigation hinders crop productivity, particularly in regions with limited rainfall. Using eco-friendly biostimulants enhances stress tolerance by boosting the plant's physio-biochemical responses. This study investigated the impact of priming wheat seeds with a natural maize embryo extract that was enriched with gibberellic acid, ascorbate, and selenium under conditions of insufficient irrigation (60 % of the optimal irrigation level). The biostimulant was tested at 7.5 % and 15 % under both optimal and insufficient irrigation using a completely randomized factorial design. Insufficient irrigation, compared to optimal irrigation, significantly reduced leaf integrity and anatomical features (27–42 %), and levels of nutrients (28–44 %) and hormones (32–38 %), as well as photosynthetic and water-use efficiency (11–60 %). Consequently, plant growth, yield, and grain quality declined (23–69 %). Conversely, insufficient irrigation elevated levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (oxidative stress, by 90–192 %), as well as malondialdehyde and ion leakage (oxidative damage, by 46–111 %), leading to increased enzyme activities (22–129 %), and levels of antioxidants (82–140 %) and osmoprotectant compounds (102–322 %). However, at both optimal and insufficient irrigation, the 15 % biostimulant conferred better results than the 7.5 % biostimulant. It significantly enhanced photosynthetic and water-use efficiency (14–113 %), leaf integrity and anatomical features (14–35 %), and levels of nutrients (17–65 %) and hormones (18–66 %), with a further increase in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (14–180 %). Additionally, 15 % biostimulant effectively reduced the indicators of oxidative stress and damage (17–51 %). Consequently, increases in plant growth (18–238 %), yield (17–225 %), and grain quality (12–56 %) were observed. Future studies should focus on natural extracts (biostimulants) as eco-friendly, inexpensive alternatives to chemical stimulants, successfully addressing abiotic stresses, including insufficient irrigation, in crop plants when applied as seed priming. This strategy will protect crop plants from drought-induced oxidative damage by regulating a comprehensive network of defense mechanisms, including nutrient, hormone, and antioxidant rebalancing.
{"title":"Upregulation of antioxidant pathways and drought tolerance in wheat plants by seed priming with an antioxidant-enriched biostimulant","authors":"Khaulood A. Hemida , Mostafa M. Rady , Sahar A. Abd El-Hamed , Hesham M. Abbas , Rasha K. Kamel , Wael M. Semida , Ibrahim A.A. Mohamed","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insufficient irrigation hinders crop productivity, particularly in regions with limited rainfall. Using eco-friendly biostimulants enhances stress tolerance by boosting the plant's physio-biochemical responses. This study investigated the impact of priming wheat seeds with a natural maize embryo extract that was enriched with gibberellic acid, ascorbate, and selenium under conditions of insufficient irrigation (60 % of the optimal irrigation level). The biostimulant was tested at 7.5 % and 15 % under both optimal and insufficient irrigation using a completely randomized factorial design. Insufficient irrigation, compared to optimal irrigation, significantly reduced leaf integrity and anatomical features (27–42 %), and levels of nutrients (28–44 %) and hormones (32–38 %), as well as photosynthetic and water-use efficiency (11–60 %). Consequently, plant growth, yield, and grain quality declined (23–69 %). Conversely, insufficient irrigation elevated levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (oxidative stress, by 90–192 %), as well as malondialdehyde and ion leakage (oxidative damage, by 46–111 %), leading to increased enzyme activities (22–129 %), and levels of antioxidants (82–140 %) and osmoprotectant compounds (102–322 %). However, at both optimal and insufficient irrigation, the 15 % biostimulant conferred better results than the 7.5 % biostimulant. It significantly enhanced photosynthetic and water-use efficiency (14–113 %), leaf integrity and anatomical features (14–35 %), and levels of nutrients (17–65 %) and hormones (18–66 %), with a further increase in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (14–180 %). Additionally, 15 % biostimulant effectively reduced the indicators of oxidative stress and damage (17–51 %). Consequently, increases in plant growth (18–238 %), yield (17–225 %), and grain quality (12–56 %) were observed. Future studies should focus on natural extracts (biostimulants) as eco-friendly, inexpensive alternatives to chemical stimulants, successfully addressing abiotic stresses, including insufficient irrigation, in crop plants when applied as seed priming. This strategy will protect crop plants from drought-induced oxidative damage by regulating a comprehensive network of defense mechanisms, including nutrient, hormone, and antioxidant rebalancing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 261-283"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682065","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.044
Fitriana Hayyu Arifah , Herman J. Woerdenbag , Nanang Fakhrudin
Plants from the Zingiberaceae family are commonly used as raw materials for traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food additives. They are often available on the market in a dried powdered form. Although they have chemically distinct secondary metabolites, identifying and discriminating between species in a powdered form can be challenging due to the high similarity in their morphological and macroscopic appearance. The authentication process is essential to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of these products. The aim of our study was to provide chemotaxonomic profiles and to establish interspecies relationships of 12 Indonesian Zingiberaceae rhizome species collected from different geographic regions, based on Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra combined with chemometrics. FTIR spectroscopy was coupled with multivariate chemometric techniques and used to distinguish the rhizomes of 12 Zingiberaceae members (different species or the same species from varied geographic origins in Indonesia).
The chemotaxonomy and interspecies relationships were studied by applying a multivariate chemometric approach to the FTIR spectral data, to ascertain their patterns. Dried powder samples were measured in the mid-infrared region of 4000–550 cm−1 and the data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA) models, and correlogram models. A total of 28 peaks were identified from 12 species, which were successfully discriminated into clusters. It is concluded that chemotaxonomy based on FTIR spectra and chemometric analysis is an effective strategy for the identification, authentication, and discrimination of the dried powder of different Zingiberaceae species.
{"title":"FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics for chemotaxonomy of Zingiberaceae species indigenous to Indonesia","authors":"Fitriana Hayyu Arifah , Herman J. Woerdenbag , Nanang Fakhrudin","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plants from the Zingiberaceae family are commonly used as raw materials for traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food additives. They are often available on the market in a dried powdered form. Although they have chemically distinct secondary metabolites, identifying and discriminating between species in a powdered form can be challenging due to the high similarity in their morphological and macroscopic appearance. The authentication process is essential to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of these products. The aim of our study was to provide chemotaxonomic profiles and to establish interspecies relationships of 12 Indonesian Zingiberaceae rhizome species collected from different geographic regions, based on Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra combined with chemometrics. FTIR spectroscopy was coupled with multivariate chemometric techniques and used to distinguish the rhizomes of 12 Zingiberaceae members (different species or the same species from varied geographic origins in Indonesia).</div><div>The chemotaxonomy and interspecies relationships were studied by applying a multivariate chemometric approach to the FTIR spectral data, to ascertain their patterns. Dried powder samples were measured in the mid-infrared region of 4000–550 cm<sup>−1</sup> and the data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA) models, and correlogram models. A total of 28 peaks were identified from 12 species, which were successfully discriminated into clusters. It is concluded that chemotaxonomy based on FTIR spectra and chemometric analysis is an effective strategy for the identification, authentication, and discrimination of the dried powder of different Zingiberaceae species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 243-251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682055","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.046
Xikombiso G. Mbhenyane , Walter Mziligazi , Mthokozisi K. Zuma , Negasa E. Soboksa
Indigenous plant production has been integral to the lifestyles of Indigenous homesteads. However, modernization has led to a decline in the value and optimal utilization of these foods, despite their abundance in many rural communities. These micronutrient-rich crops are crucial for household food security, but studies highlight that the essential pillars of food access and utilization have been overshadowed by the focus on food availability. This study aimed to explore an Indigenous food-based strategy to address and counteract the food insecurity and malnutrition experienced by many rural households in the Vhembe District, South Africa. A qualitative research approach, grounded in a Participatory Action Research design, was employed to engage the community in addressing food security and nutrition challenges. Nine community co-creation workshops were conducted with a total of 172 participants. The research team utilized intervention mapping during strategy development workshops to collaboratively identify and refine actionable solutions. A key emerging strategy focused on enhancing community education in agricultural practices and financial literacy. Emphasis was placed on revitalizing neglected small-scale farms and empowering women through their active involvement in subsistence farming. Ultimately, the process led to the co-creation of an Indigenous, food-based strategy, developed with full community participation.
{"title":"Exploring an Indigenous food-based strategy in rural communities: A qualitative study in Vhembe District, South Africa","authors":"Xikombiso G. Mbhenyane , Walter Mziligazi , Mthokozisi K. Zuma , Negasa E. Soboksa","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Indigenous plant production has been integral to the lifestyles of Indigenous homesteads. However, modernization has led to a decline in the value and optimal utilization of these foods, despite their abundance in many rural communities. These micronutrient-rich crops are crucial for household food security, but studies highlight that the essential pillars of food access and utilization have been overshadowed by the focus on food availability. This study aimed to explore an Indigenous food-based strategy to address and counteract the food insecurity and malnutrition experienced by many rural households in the Vhembe District, South Africa. A qualitative research approach, grounded in a Participatory Action Research design, was employed to engage the community in addressing food security and nutrition challenges. Nine community co-creation workshops were conducted with a total of 172 participants. The research team utilized intervention mapping during strategy development workshops to collaboratively identify and refine actionable solutions. A key emerging strategy focused on enhancing community education in agricultural practices and financial literacy. Emphasis was placed on revitalizing neglected small-scale farms and empowering women through their active involvement in subsistence farming. Ultimately, the process led to the co-creation of an Indigenous, food-based strategy, developed with full community participation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 228-242"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682064","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}
Due to its strong anti-infective properties, Cassia abbreviata Oliv. has gained significant interest in traditional herbal medicine across Africa. This systematic review aims to thoroughly examine the pharmacological activity, phytochemical composition, traditional uses, and toxicology of this underrated yet medicinally important plant species. Using "The Plant List" (http://www.theplantlist.org) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, plant nomenclature was verified. Although extracts and some isolated compounds from the plant species demonstrated potential antimicrobial activity, yielding minimum inhibitory concentrations against clinically important, resistant microbes, and others, their cytotoxic effects are concerning, especially against HEK293 cell lines. Some compounds isolated from the plant showed potent antiviral, anti-plasmodial, antidiabetic, and anti-trypanocidal activities both in vitro and in vivo. While the plant species possesses notable pharmacological activities, various toxicological parameters (from in vivo studies) and the modes of action involved in these biological effects need further investigation. Clinical trial data are currently unavailable in the literature and should be explored to validate the plant and its compounds.
{"title":"Cassia abbreviata Oliv. A systematic review of its ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, toxicology, and pharmacological activities","authors":"K. Magwede , M.V. Raletsena , O.J. Pooe , N.I. Mongalo","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to its strong anti-infective properties, <em>Cassia abbreviata</em> Oliv. has gained significant interest in traditional herbal medicine across Africa. This systematic review aims to thoroughly examine the pharmacological activity, phytochemical composition, traditional uses, and toxicology of this underrated yet medicinally important plant species. Using \"The Plant List\" (<span><span>http://www.theplantlist.org</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, plant nomenclature was verified. Although extracts and some isolated compounds from the plant species demonstrated potential antimicrobial activity, yielding minimum inhibitory concentrations against clinically important, resistant microbes, and others, their cytotoxic effects are concerning, especially against HEK293 cell lines. Some compounds isolated from the plant showed potent antiviral, anti-plasmodial, antidiabetic, and anti-trypanocidal activities both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. While the plant species possesses notable pharmacological activities, various toxicological parameters (from <em>in vivo</em> studies) and the modes of action involved in these biological effects need further investigation. Clinical trial data are currently unavailable in the literature and should be explored to validate the plant and its compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 203-227"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682121","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-03DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.034
Mohammad Imran Kumasagi , N Nagesha , Dyumn Dwivedi , G.M. Santhosh , Shridhar Hiremath , Uddalak Das , K.S Shankarappa
Banana (Musa spp.), a globally significant staple crop, suffers substantial yield losses from persistent viral infections caused by Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), Banana Streak Virus (BSV), Banana Bract Mosaic Virus (BBrMV), and Banana Mosaic Virus (BMoV). Given the critical role of viral coat proteins (CPs) in genome encapsidation, movement, and host infectivity, these capsid components represent attractive targets for antiviral intervention. Here, we report a comprehensive in silico pipeline integrating homology modeling, structure-based molecular docking, pharmacokinetic profiling, and 100-ns all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify potential CP inhibitors from a curated phytochemical library. High-confidence structural models of the CPs were generated using SWISS-MODEL and AlphaFold3 and validated via Ramachandran analysis, ERRAT, and Verify3D. Virtual screening of 100 plant-derived compounds revealed Saponarin, a flavonoid glucoside, as the top-scoring molecule across all viral targets, with docking scores ranging from –13.33 to –8.75 kcal/mol. Binding interactions were dominated by extensive hydrogen bonds and π-based stacking with conserved aromatic and polar residues within the capsid interface pockets. ADMET predictions indicated Saponarin possesses favorable physicochemical properties, high aqueous compatibility, low clearance, and minimal ecotoxicological risk. MD simulations confirmed stable binding, persistent hydrogen bonding, and conserved protein compactness, supporting an allosteric inhibition mechanism. These findings establish Saponarin as a structurally and pharmacologically viable broad-spectrum antiviral candidate for banana virus control, warranting experimental validation for translational deployment in sustainable crop protection strategies.
{"title":"Structure-based discovery of Saponarin as a broad-spectrum allosteric inhibitor of banana viral coat proteins","authors":"Mohammad Imran Kumasagi , N Nagesha , Dyumn Dwivedi , G.M. Santhosh , Shridhar Hiremath , Uddalak Das , K.S Shankarappa","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Banana (<em>Musa spp</em>.), a globally significant staple crop, suffers substantial yield losses from persistent viral infections caused by Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), Banana Streak Virus (BSV), Banana Bract Mosaic Virus (BBrMV), and Banana Mosaic Virus (BMoV). Given the critical role of viral coat proteins (CPs) in genome encapsidation, movement, and host infectivity, these capsid components represent attractive targets for antiviral intervention. Here, we report a comprehensive <em>in silico</em> pipeline integrating homology modeling, structure-based molecular docking, pharmacokinetic profiling, and 100-ns all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify potential CP inhibitors from a curated phytochemical library. High-confidence structural models of the CPs were generated using SWISS-MODEL and AlphaFold3 and validated via Ramachandran analysis, ERRAT, and Verify3D. Virtual screening of 100 plant-derived compounds revealed Saponarin, a flavonoid glucoside, as the top-scoring molecule across all viral targets, with docking scores ranging from –13.33 to –8.75 kcal/mol. Binding interactions were dominated by extensive hydrogen bonds and π-based stacking with conserved aromatic and polar residues within the capsid interface pockets. ADMET predictions indicated Saponarin possesses favorable physicochemical properties, high aqueous compatibility, low clearance, and minimal ecotoxicological risk. MD simulations confirmed stable binding, persistent hydrogen bonding, and conserved protein compactness, supporting an allosteric inhibition mechanism. These findings establish Saponarin as a structurally and pharmacologically viable broad-spectrum antiviral candidate for banana virus control, warranting experimental validation for translational deployment in sustainable crop protection strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 191-202"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682135","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}
Invasive alien plants are proliferating due to global climate change often through mechanism called allelopathy, influencing other plants by releasing chemicals. This study examined the allelopathic impact of aqueous extracts of leaf (VPE) and flower (FPE) of Lantana camara L. on performance traits such as germination rate (GR), germination percentage (GP), total plant biomasses (TPB), total plant height (TPH), relative growth rate (RGR), stem volume (SV); plant level traits such as leaf weight ratio (LWR), stem weight ratio (SWR), root weight ratio (RWR), leaf area ratio (LAR), root shoot ratio (RS); leaf level traits such as leaf area (LA), single leaf area (SLA), single leaf weight (SLW), relative moisture content (RMC), seed vigor index (SVI) and productivity such as seed number (SN), reproductive index (REI), reproductive effort (RE) of native legume crop Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean). The pot experiment was performed in the glasshouse at the Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, using a completely randomized block design (CRBD) consisting of two components (leaf and flower) with four concentrations of aqueous extract (w/v): C1 (25 g), C2 (50 g), C3 (75 g), C4 (100 g) and one control, each replicated five times. The current findings showed that the VPE and FPE notably suppressed the germination, seedling growth and productivity of soybean and the effect was more pronounced for leaves. The highest concentration of VPE depicted percentage inhibition of 30–50% in performance trait biomass and 15–55% in productivity of soybean as compared to FPE. The results of aqueous extract effect with respect to infrared spectral analysis (FTIR) suggested that different functional groups of allelochemicals present in leaves and flowers of L. camara were extracted in water and may interfere with early seedling development of selected crop in agroecosystem. However, further studies have to be conducted for identification and characterization of phytochemicals by which one can understand their particular role in germination, seedling growth and yield. As a consequence, more research has to be done to demonstrate the allelopathic effect of L. camara on agronomic crops and to explore its use as a practical bioherbicidal agent.
{"title":"Comparative allelopathic impacts of leaf and flower water-based aqueous extracts of Lantana camara on Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean) crop","authors":"Vartika Joshi, Charu Joshi, Surendra Singh Bargali, Kiran Bargali","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive alien plants are proliferating due to global climate change often through mechanism called allelopathy, influencing other plants by releasing chemicals. This study examined the allelopathic impact of aqueous extracts of leaf (VPE) and flower (FPE) of <em>Lantana camara</em> L. on performance traits such as germination rate (GR), germination percentage (GP), total plant biomasses (TPB), total plant height (TPH), relative growth rate (RGR), stem volume (SV); plant level traits such as leaf weight ratio (LWR), stem weight ratio (SWR), root weight ratio (RWR), leaf area ratio (LAR), root shoot ratio (RS); leaf level traits such as leaf area (LA), single leaf area (SLA), single leaf weight (SLW), relative moisture content (RMC), seed vigor index (SVI) and productivity such as seed number (SN), reproductive index (REI), reproductive effort (RE) of native legume crop <em>Glycine max</em> (L.) Merr. (soybean). The pot experiment was performed in the glasshouse at the Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, using a completely randomized block design (CRBD) consisting of two components (leaf and flower) with four concentrations of aqueous extract (w/v): C<sub>1</sub> (25 g), C<sub>2</sub> (50 g), C<sub>3</sub> (75 g), C<sub>4</sub> (100 g) and one control, each replicated five times. The current findings showed that the VPE and FPE notably suppressed the germination, seedling growth and productivity of soybean and the effect was more pronounced for leaves. The highest concentration of VPE depicted percentage inhibition of 30–50% in performance trait biomass and 15–55% in productivity of soybean as compared to FPE. The results of aqueous extract effect with respect to infrared spectral analysis (FTIR) suggested that different functional groups of allelochemicals present in leaves and flowers of <em>L. camara</em> were extracted in water and may interfere with early seedling development of selected crop in agroecosystem. However, further studies have to be conducted for identification and characterization of phytochemicals by which one can understand their particular role in germination, seedling growth and yield. As a consequence, more research has to be done to demonstrate the allelopathic effect of <em>L. camara</em> on agronomic crops and to explore its use as a practical bioherbicidal agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 174-190"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682136","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.048
Luong Thi Le Tho , Le Dang Minh Tuan , Do Thi Tuyet Hoa , Luu Tang Phuc Khang
Orthosiphon aristatus (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, yet efficient in vitro systems for biomass and metabolite production remain underexplored. This study aimed to optimize auxin and cytokinin concentrations for callus induction and to assess associated changes in total volatile extractables, phenolic, and flavonoid contents. Leaf explants from ex situ nursery were cultured on media containing either auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)) or cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), or kinetin). Among auxins, 2,4-D was the most effective, achieving 100% induction and the highest biomass accumulation by week 4, significantly outperforming IAA and NAA. Among cytokinin, BAP was superior to kinetin in promoting callogenesis and growth, although cytokinin effects were generally weaker than those of auxins. Response surface methodology identified culture duration and 2,4-D concentration as the dominant factors influencing induction and biomass yield, with BAP exerting only minor effects. Validation experiments under optimized conditions (2,4-D 4.5 mg/L, BAP 1.5 mg/L, 4 weeks) confirmed model accuracy, as observed values closely matched predictions. Biochemical analyses revealed that optimized callus cultures produced significantly higher total volatile extractables, total phenolics, and flavonoids than leaves. These findings establish a reliable and scalable strategy for enhancing biomass and metabolite production in O. aristatus, supporting its application in medicinal plant biotechnology.
马兜铃（Lamiaceae）是一种药用植物，因其抗氧化、抗菌和抗炎特性而被广泛使用，但有效的体外生物质和代谢物生产系统仍未得到充分开发。本研究旨在优化愈伤组织诱导的生长素和细胞分裂素浓度，并评估总挥发性萃取物、酚类和类黄酮含量的相关变化。离地苗圃的叶片外植体在含有生长素（2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸（2,4-d）、吲哚-3-乙酸（IAA）、萘乙酸（NAA））或细胞分裂素（6-苄基氨基嘌呤（BAP）或动素）的培养基上培养。在生长素中，2,4- d诱导效果最好，诱导率达到100%，第4周生物量积累量最高，显著优于IAA和NAA。在细胞分裂素中，尽管细胞分裂素的作用普遍弱于生长素，但BAP在促进骨形成和生长方面优于动素。响应面法发现，培养时间和2,4- d浓度是影响诱导和生物量产量的主要因素，BAP的影响较小。在优化条件下（2,4- d 4.5 mg/L, BAP 1.5 mg/L， 4周）的验证实验证实了模型的准确性，因为观测值与预测结果非常吻合。生化分析表明，优化后的愈伤组织产生的总挥发性萃取物、总酚类物质和总黄酮显著高于叶片。这些发现为提高马兜铃的生物量和代谢物产量建立了可靠和可扩展的策略，为其在药用植物生物技术中的应用提供了支持。
{"title":"Optimization of auxin and cytokinin concentrations for callus formation, total volatile extractables, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents in Orthosiphon aristatus leaves using response surface methodology","authors":"Luong Thi Le Tho , Le Dang Minh Tuan , Do Thi Tuyet Hoa , Luu Tang Phuc Khang","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Orthosiphon aristatus</em> (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, yet efficient <em>in vitro</em> systems for biomass and metabolite production remain underexplored. This study aimed to optimize auxin and cytokinin concentrations for callus induction and to assess associated changes in total volatile extractables, phenolic, and flavonoid contents. Leaf explants from <em>ex situ</em> nursery were cultured on media containing either auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)) or cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), or kinetin). Among auxins, 2,4-D was the most effective, achieving 100% induction and the highest biomass accumulation by week 4, significantly outperforming IAA and NAA. Among cytokinin, BAP was superior to kinetin in promoting callogenesis and growth, although cytokinin effects were generally weaker than those of auxins. Response surface methodology identified culture duration and 2,4-D concentration as the dominant factors influencing induction and biomass yield, with BAP exerting only minor effects. Validation experiments under optimized conditions (2,4-D 4.5 mg/L, BAP 1.5 mg/L, 4 weeks) confirmed model accuracy, as observed values closely matched predictions. Biochemical analyses revealed that optimized callus cultures produced significantly higher total volatile extractables, total phenolics, and flavonoids than leaves. These findings establish a reliable and scalable strategy for enhancing biomass and metabolite production in <em>O. aristatus</em>, supporting its application in medicinal plant biotechnology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 160-173"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682053","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}
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