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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.051
Shivangani, Hariprasad P․
Fungal diseases consistently affect the health of plants, humans, and animals, diminishing output. About 70% of major crop diseases are caused by fungi, causing economic losses and food security risks. Human invasive fungal infections have increased dramatically in recent decades, with substantial death rates. Antibiotic resistance, a global issue, makes fungal infections difficult to treat. Thus, alternative and sustainable fungal disease management strategies are needed immediately. As potential antifungal medications, antifungal plants and their secondary metabolites are of interest. This review aims to leverage the existing knowledge about the key plant secondary metabolites with antifungal potential, classify their mechanisms of action, and explore formulation strategies and computational tools to overcome current therapeutic limitations to curb the loss due to fungal diseases and to provide a platform for researchers to work on this area. The literature survey was conducted using the databases Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. The study examines 340 scholarly papers from 1990 to mid-2023. The study identified 648 plant species whose 268 secondary metabolites have shown antifungal activity in vitro, in vivo, and in silico. However, considering the vast diversity of plant species on Earth, only a small fraction of them and their secondary metabolites have been studied. Despite the plant's antifungal properties, its mode of action and bioactive components are often unknown. Moreover, the synergistic or co-potentiation effects of secondary metabolites in crude extracts have been scarcely explored. In silico investigations are limited by fungal target molecular structures, emphasizing the need for target purity and structural elucidation. In conclusion, phytochemicals can treat fungal illnesses naturally. Their diverse modes of action and broad antifungal characteristics make them promising research subjects.
{"title":"A systematic review to understand the current scenarios employing plants and their secondary metabolites as antifungal agents: opportunities and challenges","authors":"Shivangani, Hariprasad P․","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fungal diseases consistently affect the health of plants, humans, and animals, diminishing output. About 70% of major crop diseases are caused by fungi, causing economic losses and food security risks. Human invasive fungal infections have increased dramatically in recent decades, with substantial death rates. Antibiotic resistance, a global issue, makes fungal infections difficult to treat. Thus, alternative and sustainable fungal disease management strategies are needed immediately. As potential antifungal medications, antifungal plants and their secondary metabolites are of interest. This review aims to leverage the existing knowledge about the key plant secondary metabolites with antifungal potential, classify their mechanisms of action, and explore formulation strategies and computational tools to overcome current therapeutic limitations to curb the loss due to fungal diseases and to provide a platform for researchers to work on this area. The literature survey was conducted using the databases Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. The study examines 340 scholarly papers from 1990 to mid-2023. The study identified 648 plant species whose 268 secondary metabolites have shown antifungal activity <em>in vitro, in vivo</em>, and <em>in silico</em>. However, considering the vast diversity of plant species on Earth, only a small fraction of them and their secondary metabolites have been studied. Despite the plant's antifungal properties, its mode of action and bioactive components are often unknown. Moreover, the synergistic or co-potentiation effects of secondary metabolites in crude extracts have been scarcely explored. <em>In silico</em> investigations are limited by fungal target molecular structures, emphasizing the need for target purity and structural elucidation. In conclusion, phytochemicals can treat fungal illnesses naturally. Their diverse modes of action and broad antifungal characteristics make them promising research subjects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 143-159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682123","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.036
Nuraniye Eruygur , Yavuz Bagci , Fatma Ayaz , Tuğsen Buyukyildirim , Nagihan Faydali , Muhammed Raşit Bakir , Muhammed Tilahun Muhammed
<div><div><em>Salvia</em> L. is one of the largest genera belonging to the Lamiaceae family and is a plant species of great importance in perfumery, pharmaceutical, and food industry. <em>Salvia</em> species have a large usage as their extracts and essential oils among people in many areas. There are about 900 species belonging to the genus <em>Salvia</em> in the world, and they are generally distributed in the North, and South Americas as well as South-West Asia continents. Looking at its traditional uses, the genus has widely used in various disorders, such as stomach problems, cold, and sore throat, as well as for carminative, wound healing, and memory enhancer. <em>Salvia</em> species is rich in phytochemical contents, especially important bioactive secondary metabolites such as polyphenolics, phenolic acids, terpenes, and flavonoids. In this study, antioxidant activities (TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS) and enzyme inhibition (cholinesterase and tyrosinase) capacities of ten different <em>Salvia</em> species were evaluated by microplate reader at 1 mg/mL concentration. When the results were evaluated, <em>S. tomentosa</em> water (241.20 ± 1.45 mg GA/ g) and MeOH (227.01 ± 3.85 mg GA/ g) extracts were found to have the highest total phenol content over gallic acid equivalent<em>. S. cilicia</em> DCM (166.70 ± 9.06 mg QE/g) and EtOAC (174.97 ± 3.29 mg QE/g) extracts were found to have the highest total flavonoid concentration in terms of quercetin equivalent. All <em>Salvia</em> species demonstrated antioxidant effects using the DPPH and ABTS methods, except for the DCM extracts of <em>S. caespitosa, S. adenocaulon</em>, and <em>S. tomentosa</em>. Notably, the DCM extract of <em>S. tomentosa</em> (86.86 % ± 3.51) exhibited strong inhibitory activity against AChE. The EtOAc extract of <em>S. sclarea</em> (98.38 % ± 1.91) showed the highest inhibitory activity against BChE.. Molecular docking studies have been conducted on the components that are highly concentrated in the extracts, showing inhibition of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes with the respective enzymes. The molecular docking results of sinapinic acid and rutin compounds against acetylcholinesterase, Apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin against butyrylcholinesterase, and gallic acid and salicylic acid against tyrosinase have been examined. It has been found that all compounds bound to the enzymes and that pi bonds and hydrogen bonds were present in the ligand-protein interactions. The stabilities of the complexes retreived from the docking were assessed through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis. The MD simulation study pointed out the formation of stable complexes between the enzyme structures and ligands that had higher binding affinity in the docking. The ADMET analysis of the investigated compounds were conducted. The compounds (except rutin) exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high gastrointestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski’s rules, while
{"title":"Exploring enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activities of different Salvia L. species with phenolic profiling and molecular docking","authors":"Nuraniye Eruygur , Yavuz Bagci , Fatma Ayaz , Tuğsen Buyukyildirim , Nagihan Faydali , Muhammed Raşit Bakir , Muhammed Tilahun Muhammed","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salvia</em> L. is one of the largest genera belonging to the Lamiaceae family and is a plant species of great importance in perfumery, pharmaceutical, and food industry. <em>Salvia</em> species have a large usage as their extracts and essential oils among people in many areas. There are about 900 species belonging to the genus <em>Salvia</em> in the world, and they are generally distributed in the North, and South Americas as well as South-West Asia continents. Looking at its traditional uses, the genus has widely used in various disorders, such as stomach problems, cold, and sore throat, as well as for carminative, wound healing, and memory enhancer. <em>Salvia</em> species is rich in phytochemical contents, especially important bioactive secondary metabolites such as polyphenolics, phenolic acids, terpenes, and flavonoids. In this study, antioxidant activities (TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS) and enzyme inhibition (cholinesterase and tyrosinase) capacities of ten different <em>Salvia</em> species were evaluated by microplate reader at 1 mg/mL concentration. When the results were evaluated, <em>S. tomentosa</em> water (241.20 ± 1.45 mg GA/ g) and MeOH (227.01 ± 3.85 mg GA/ g) extracts were found to have the highest total phenol content over gallic acid equivalent<em>. S. cilicia</em> DCM (166.70 ± 9.06 mg QE/g) and EtOAC (174.97 ± 3.29 mg QE/g) extracts were found to have the highest total flavonoid concentration in terms of quercetin equivalent. All <em>Salvia</em> species demonstrated antioxidant effects using the DPPH and ABTS methods, except for the DCM extracts of <em>S. caespitosa, S. adenocaulon</em>, and <em>S. tomentosa</em>. Notably, the DCM extract of <em>S. tomentosa</em> (86.86 % ± 3.51) exhibited strong inhibitory activity against AChE. The EtOAc extract of <em>S. sclarea</em> (98.38 % ± 1.91) showed the highest inhibitory activity against BChE.. Molecular docking studies have been conducted on the components that are highly concentrated in the extracts, showing inhibition of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes with the respective enzymes. The molecular docking results of sinapinic acid and rutin compounds against acetylcholinesterase, Apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin against butyrylcholinesterase, and gallic acid and salicylic acid against tyrosinase have been examined. It has been found that all compounds bound to the enzymes and that pi bonds and hydrogen bonds were present in the ligand-protein interactions. The stabilities of the complexes retreived from the docking were assessed through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis. The MD simulation study pointed out the formation of stable complexes between the enzyme structures and ligands that had higher binding affinity in the docking. The ADMET analysis of the investigated compounds were conducted. The compounds (except rutin) exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high gastrointestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski’s rules, while","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 131-142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682120","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.041
Hui Meng Law, Alieta Eyles, Dugald C. Close
Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao is highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine, however, knowledge on the cultivation of this species for optimal root bioactive and biomass production is limited. This study investigated the effects of pruning intensities (0 [control], 25, and 50 %), where flower removal occurred concurrently with pruning, on biomass and starch content and secondary metabolite accumulation in the roots of A. mongholicus two and seven months after treatments were imposed. Shoot pruning at 50 %, combined with flower removal, significantly increased the accumulation of several isoflavonoids, particularly calycosin 7-O-β-D glucoside (31 %), calycosin isomers 1 (26 %) and 2 (27 %), pratensein isomer 1 (12 %), formononetin isomer 2 (21 %), and total isoflavonoids (19 %) compared to unpruned controls seven months after pruning. In contrast, the saponins, specifically astragaloside IV levels, remained unaffected by pruning with flower removal two- and seven-months post-pruning. Moreover, neither 25 % nor 50 % pruning with flower removal significantly influenced root biomass, total starch concentration and content. These findings indicate that pruning with flower removal can enhance the accumulation of valuable isoflavonoids without compromising root biomass or affecting optimal levels of astragaloside IV. Therefore, moderate (50 %) pruning, with flower removal, could optimise the medicinal quality of A. mongholicus roots.
{"title":"Effects of pruning with flower removal on the growth, starch reserves and secondary metabolites of a medicinal herb, Astragalus mongholicus","authors":"Hui Meng Law, Alieta Eyles, Dugald C. Close","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Astragalus membranaceus</em> (Fisch.) Bge. var. <em>mongholicus</em> (Bge.) Hsiao is highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine, however, knowledge on the cultivation of this species for optimal root bioactive and biomass production is limited. This study investigated the effects of pruning intensities (0 [control], 25, and 50 %), where flower removal occurred concurrently with pruning, on biomass and starch content and secondary metabolite accumulation in the roots of <em>A. mongholicus</em> two and seven months after treatments were imposed. Shoot pruning at 50 %, combined with flower removal, significantly increased the accumulation of several isoflavonoids, particularly calycosin 7-O-β-D glucoside (31 %), calycosin isomers 1 (26 %) and 2 (27 %), pratensein isomer 1 (12 %), formononetin isomer 2 (21 %), and total isoflavonoids (19 %) compared to unpruned controls seven months after pruning. In contrast, the saponins, specifically astragaloside IV levels, remained unaffected by pruning with flower removal two- and seven-months post-pruning. Moreover, neither 25 % nor 50 % pruning with flower removal significantly influenced root biomass, total starch concentration and content. These findings indicate that pruning with flower removal can enhance the accumulation of valuable isoflavonoids without compromising root biomass or affecting optimal levels of astragaloside IV. Therefore, moderate (50 %) pruning, with flower removal, could optimise the medicinal quality of <em>A. mongholicus</em> roots.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 120-130"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682236","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}
The genus Aspalathus, comprising approximately 300 species predominantly endemic to South Africa's Core Cape Subregion, is the largest genus within the legume (Leguminosae /Fabaceae) family in the subregion. Despite its ecological and economic significance, phylogenetic reconstructions within Aspalathus have been hindered by poor resolution, largely due to limited variation in commonly used molecular markers. This study expands sampling within Aspalathus and employs four DNA markers—ETS, ITS, matK, and trnS-trnG—to improve phylogenetic resolution and clarify relationships within the genus. Our results indicate that Aspalathus, as currently circumscribed, may not be monophyletic, with two major clades sharing a common ancestor with other Cape Crotalarieae genera. A polytomy at the backbone of the phylogeny suggests unresolved evolutionary relationships, potentially influenced by limited marker variation. Character inference highlights morphological and ecological differences between the two major clades, particularly in leaf lamina morphology, supporting previous hypotheses of taxonomic divergence within the genus. These findings refine the phylogenetic framework for Aspalathus, but further studies, like those using the angiosperm353 target capture sequencing approach, are needed to improve resolution. Additionally, broader sampling of related taxa will be essential for accurately determining the position of Aspalathus within the tribe Crotalarieae.
{"title":"Phylogenetic relationships in the genus Aspalathus L. (Fabaceae; Papilionoideae; Crotalarieae) based on molecular and morphological evidence","authors":"L.K. Madika , R.J. Sebola , D.A. Zhigila , C.H. Stirton , A.M. Muasya","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Aspalathus</em>, comprising approximately 300 species predominantly endemic to South Africa's Core Cape Subregion, is the largest genus within the legume (Leguminosae /Fabaceae) family in the subregion. Despite its ecological and economic significance, phylogenetic reconstructions within <em>Aspalathus</em> have been hindered by poor resolution, largely due to limited variation in commonly used molecular markers. This study expands sampling within <em>Aspalathus</em> and employs four DNA markers—ETS, ITS, <em>mat</em>K, and <em>trn</em>S<em>-trn</em>G—to improve phylogenetic resolution and clarify relationships within the genus. Our results indicate that <em>Aspalathus</em>, as currently circumscribed, may not be monophyletic, with two major clades sharing a common ancestor with other Cape Crotalarieae genera. A polytomy at the backbone of the phylogeny suggests unresolved evolutionary relationships, potentially influenced by limited marker variation. Character inference highlights morphological and ecological differences between the two major clades, particularly in leaf lamina morphology, supporting previous hypotheses of taxonomic divergence within the genus. These findings refine the phylogenetic framework for <em>Aspalathus</em>, but further studies, like those using the angiosperm353 target capture sequencing approach, are needed to improve resolution. Additionally, broader sampling of related taxa will be essential for accurately determining the position of <em>Aspalathus</em> within the tribe Crotalarieae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 107-119"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616861","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 : 2025-11-28DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.038
Kayleigh Mengel, Zaynab Shaik, Léanne L. Dreyer
The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) is renowned for its exceptional species richness and remarkable beta diversity at fine spatial scales. This unique flora has captivated naturalists since the early 17th century colonial exploration of the region. Understanding the patterns and processes underlying this diversity has been the focus of over a century of evolutionary research, and recent advances in next-generation DNA sequencing have further enhanced our understanding of lineage diversification at very shallow timescales. Our review of these processes confirms that multiple interacting drivers of speciation have produced the extraordinary biodiversity of the GCFR. Key drivers of speciation include high environmental heterogeneity, periodic fire regimes, range-limited dispersal, pollinator-driven divergence, and phenological shifts. Another potentially significant yet underexplored driver is the role of Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations, which we propose have played a critical role in promoting recent divergence among coastal endemic floras. In addition to these drivers of speciation, the maintenance of biodiversity in the GCFR has been facilitated by long-term climatic buffering, and niche partitioning supported by a suite of plant ecophysiological trait specialisations.
{"title":"Lineage diversification and long-term persistence in the Greater Cape Floristic Region: Insights from molecular data","authors":"Kayleigh Mengel, Zaynab Shaik, Léanne L. Dreyer","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) is renowned for its exceptional species richness and remarkable beta diversity at fine spatial scales. This unique flora has captivated naturalists since the early 17th century colonial exploration of the region. Understanding the patterns and processes underlying this diversity has been the focus of over a century of evolutionary research, and recent advances in next-generation DNA sequencing have further enhanced our understanding of lineage diversification at very shallow timescales. Our review of these processes confirms that multiple interacting drivers of speciation have produced the extraordinary biodiversity of the GCFR. Key drivers of speciation include high environmental heterogeneity, periodic fire regimes, range-limited dispersal, pollinator-driven divergence, and phenological shifts. Another potentially significant yet underexplored driver is the role of Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations, which we propose have played a critical role in promoting recent divergence among coastal endemic floras. In addition to these drivers of speciation, the maintenance of biodiversity in the GCFR has been facilitated by long-term climatic buffering, and niche partitioning supported by a suite of plant ecophysiological trait specialisations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 97-106"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616840","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}
Wheatgrass is a nutrient-rich grass with significant medicinal and pharmacological properties due to its presence of bioactive compounds, and it has the potential to be utilized for human nourishment. These substances are essential for boosting immunity and contribute to overall health and wellness by preventing diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, blood disorders, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The application of wheatgrass bioactive compounds in the food industry is scarcely investigated. Wheatgrass has been used as a microgreen, containing phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, proteins, and other bioactive compounds, which further make it a potential antioxidant agent. Wheatgrass, rich in most micro and macronutrients, could be revolutionary in the food industry and play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This review highlights the latest knowledge on bioactive compounds and their extraction methods from wheatgrass, as well as their applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
{"title":"Wheatgrass: Unveiling the bioactive potential for food and pharmaceutical industries","authors":"Mubasit Siddiqui, Vrushasen Mohanrao Bochare, Shubham Singh Patel, Bhim Pratap Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wheatgrass is a nutrient-rich grass with significant medicinal and pharmacological properties due to its presence of bioactive compounds, and it has the potential to be utilized for human nourishment. These substances are essential for boosting immunity and contribute to overall health and wellness by preventing diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, blood disorders, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The application of wheatgrass bioactive compounds in the food industry is scarcely investigated. Wheatgrass has been used as a microgreen, containing phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals, proteins, and other bioactive compounds, which further make it a potential antioxidant agent. Wheatgrass, rich in most micro and macronutrients, could be revolutionary in the food industry and play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This review highlights the latest knowledge on bioactive compounds and their extraction methods from wheatgrass, as well as their applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 86-96"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616859","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}
Psoriasis and acne are prevalent dermatological disorders often managed with conventional therapies, which present limitations in efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes. Recently, increasing attention has been directed toward the integration of phytoconstituents, bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants, into nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems as a novel therapeutic strategy. Phytochemicals possess well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, and generally offer favorable a safety profile compared to synthetic agents. Incorporated of these natural compounds into nanocarriers enhances their therapeutic potential by improving skin penetration, enabling controlled drug release, facilitating targeted delivery, and reducing dosing frequency. This review highlights recent advances in the use of nanotechnology to optimize the delivery and efficacy of phytoconstituents for treating psoriasis and acne. It also discusses the mechanistic insights, therapeutic outcomes, formulation challenges, and translational hurdles associated with the clinical application of these nano-herbal systems. Continued research and development are essential to address formulation stability, scaling processes, regulatory compliance, and clinical validation, thereby facilitating the commercialization of effective and safe phyto-nanocarrier therapies in dermatology
{"title":"Targeted delivery of phytochemicals via nanocarriers: Emerging strategies for psoriasis and acne","authors":"Zahra Jalayeri Darbandy , Fatemeh Oroojalian , Prashant Kesharwani , Sercan Karav , Amirhossein Sahebkar","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Psoriasis and acne are prevalent dermatological disorders often managed with conventional therapies, which present limitations in efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes. Recently, increasing attention has been directed toward the integration of phytoconstituents, bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants, into nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems as a novel therapeutic strategy. Phytochemicals possess well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, and generally offer favorable a safety profile compared to synthetic agents. Incorporated of these natural compounds into nanocarriers enhances their therapeutic potential by improving skin penetration, enabling controlled drug release, facilitating targeted delivery, and reducing dosing frequency. This review highlights recent advances in the use of nanotechnology to optimize the delivery and efficacy of phytoconstituents for treating psoriasis and acne. It also discusses the mechanistic insights, therapeutic outcomes, formulation challenges, and translational hurdles associated with the clinical application of these nano-herbal systems. Continued research and development are essential to address formulation stability, scaling processes, regulatory compliance, and clinical validation, thereby facilitating the commercialization of effective and safe phyto-nanocarrier therapies in dermatology</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 68-85"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616860","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 : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.035
Iné Botha , Marco N. De Canha , Kenneth Oberlander , Jana Botes , Namrita Lall , Dave K. Berger
The tree genus Greyia is endemic to South Africa and Eswatini. The Eastern Cape species Greyia flanaganii Bolus is confined to a limited range west of the Kei River. Greyia radlkoferi Szyszyl. occurs in Limpopo Province, whereas Greyia sutherlandii Hook. & Harv. is associated with KwaZulu-Natal Province, but the ranges of these two species overlap in Mpumalanga Province. Greyia trees are of value to the bioeconomy as leaf extracts from G. flanaganii and G. radlkoferi possess anti-tyrosinase activity and low toxicity and are being developed in herbal formulations for the treatment of skin hyper-pigmentation. The main active compound is 2’,4’,6’ trihydroxydihydrochalcone. However, there are no reports of medicinal assays from Greyia trees growing in their natural habitat, it is not known whether the third species - G. sutherlandii - has activity, and DNA barcode data is limited. To address these knowledge gaps, we sampled five trees per Greyia species that matched morphological descriptions and were from sites close to type specimen collection records. Leaf ethanolic extracts from G. sutherlandii had similar average anti-tyrosinase activity (IC50 = 84 µg/mL ± 18 [SD]) when compared to G. radlkoferi (58 µg/mL ± 21) and G. flanaganii (72 µg/mL ± 11). High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography showed the presence of the active compound in all three species, although it was below the detection limit of 4.4 µg/10 mg extract in two of the G. flanaganii samples. Considering the difficulty in differentiating G. sutherlandii from G. radlkoferi morphologically in the field and production orchards, we investigated DNA barcoding as a method of species-specific authentication. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Inference from combined ITS, trnL-F, matK and psbA-trnH barcodes from the 15 Greyia trees plus Genbank sequences indicated (i) clear differentiation from other lineages in the order Geraniales, but (ii) extremely short internal branches within Greyia and poor discrimination between Greyia species and individuals. Our study has shown that natural populations of all three species sampled in late summer exhibit consistent leaf anti-tyrosinase activity between biological replicate trees. We have demonstrated activity from G. sutherlandii for the first time, indicating that this species can also be deployed in production orchards. However, alternative phylogenetically informative SNP markers need to be developed to provide species-specific authentication of Greyia extracts in herbal products.
{"title":"DNA barcoding and anti-tyrosinase activities of three species-representative populations of the genus Greyia Hook & Harv","authors":"Iné Botha , Marco N. De Canha , Kenneth Oberlander , Jana Botes , Namrita Lall , Dave K. Berger","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.035","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.035","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tree genus <em>Greyia</em> is endemic to South Africa and Eswatini. The Eastern Cape species <em>Greyia flanaganii</em> Bolus is confined to a limited range west of the Kei River. <em>Greyia radlkoferi</em> Szyszyl. occurs in Limpopo Province, whereas <em>Greyia sutherlandii</em> Hook. & Harv. is associated with KwaZulu-Natal Province, but the ranges of these two species overlap in Mpumalanga Province. <em>Greyia</em> trees are of value to the bioeconomy as leaf extracts from <em>G. flanaganii</em> and <em>G. radlkoferi</em> possess anti-tyrosinase activity and low toxicity and are being developed in herbal formulations for the treatment of skin hyper-pigmentation. The main active compound is 2’,4’,6’ trihydroxydihydrochalcone. However, there are no reports of medicinal assays from <em>Greyia</em> trees growing in their natural habitat, it is not known whether the third species - <em>G. sutherlandii</em> - has activity, and DNA barcode data is limited. To address these knowledge gaps, we sampled five trees per <em>Greyia</em> species that matched morphological descriptions and were from sites close to type specimen collection records. Leaf ethanolic extracts from <em>G. sutherlandii</em> had similar average anti-tyrosinase activity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 84 µg/mL ± 18 [SD]) when compared to <em>G. radlkoferi</em> (58 µg/mL ± 21) and <em>G. flanaganii</em> (72 µg/mL ± 11). High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography showed the presence of the active compound in all three species, although it was below the detection limit of 4.4 µg/10 mg extract in two of the <em>G. flanaganii</em> samples. Considering the difficulty in differentiating <em>G. sutherlandii</em> from <em>G. radlkoferi</em> morphologically in the field and production orchards, we investigated DNA barcoding as a method of species-specific authentication. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Inference from combined ITS, <em>trnL-F, matK</em> and <em>psbA-trnH</em> barcodes from the 15 <em>Greyia</em> trees plus Genbank sequences indicated (i) clear differentiation from other lineages in the order Geraniales, but (ii) extremely short internal branches within <em>Greyia</em> and poor discrimination between <em>Greyia</em> species and individuals. Our study has shown that natural populations of all three species sampled in late summer exhibit consistent leaf anti-tyrosinase activity between biological replicate trees. We have demonstrated activity from <em>G. sutherlandii</em> for the first time, indicating that this species can also be deployed in production orchards. However, alternative phylogenetically informative SNP markers need to be developed to provide species-specific authentication of <em>Greyia</em> extracts in herbal products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 55-67"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616842","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}
This review discusses novel, green extraction techniques - ultrasound-assisted, enzymatic hydrolysis, and supercritical extraction - to separate bioactive compounds with antihypertensive activity from varied natural resources, such as lime peels, green tea, mackerel, seaweed, and bitter melon. These bioactive compounds, including peptides, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and sulfur compounds, exert their action through angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, oxidative stress reduction, and renin-angiotensin system modulation. The review classifies natural and synthetic antihypertensives on the basis of their mechanisms (e.g., ACE inhibition, nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, calcium channel antagonism) and sources (botanical, marine, microbial). Natural bioactive components are promising in comparison to synthetic drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide and losartan but are limited by industrial scalability and sparse clinical validation. Combining state-of-the-art extraction with computational resources and metabolomics-assisted isolation provides new approaches to the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals, filling knowledge gaps to ensure translational impact for the management of hypertension.
{"title":"Natural antihypertensive agents: innovative extraction techniques: Bioactive profiling and mechanistic pathways for therapeutic development","authors":"Raji Ramachandran , Ratna Surya Alwi , Maulida Mazaya , Pradisha Prem , Chinnaperumal Kamaraj , Silviyah Maytasya , Maratu Soleha","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review discusses novel, green extraction techniques - ultrasound-assisted, enzymatic hydrolysis, and supercritical extraction - to separate bioactive compounds with antihypertensive activity from varied natural resources, such as lime peels, green tea, mackerel, seaweed, and bitter melon. These bioactive compounds, including peptides, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and sulfur compounds, exert their action through angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, oxidative stress reduction, and renin-angiotensin system modulation. The review classifies natural and synthetic antihypertensives on the basis of their mechanisms (e.g., ACE inhibition, nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, calcium channel antagonism) and sources (botanical, marine, microbial). Natural bioactive components are promising in comparison to synthetic drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide and losartan but are limited by industrial scalability and sparse clinical validation. Combining state-of-the-art extraction with computational resources and metabolomics-assisted isolation provides new approaches to the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals, filling knowledge gaps to ensure translational impact for the management of hypertension.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"188 ","pages":"Pages 494-513"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145621572","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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