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":"2026-02-01","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 : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.009
Robert J. McKenzie
A taxonomic revision of the southern African genus Arctotis (Asteraceae, Arctotideae) is ongoing. Arctotis acaulis is distributed predominantly in the Western Cape province of South Africa and is among the most common Arctotis species in fynbos and renosterveld. Here, I present a revised taxonomy for Arctotis acaulis and allied species (perennial, non-shrubby species that share a similar distinctive cypsela morphology with A. acaulis) and pseudoacaulescent perennial species that may be confusable with A. acaulis. Twelve species are treated, distinguishable by the root system, caulescence, leaf, involucral bract and cypsela morphology, and pubescence. Four species are newly described: Arctotis convallis, Arctotis diversicolor, Arctotis olifanta and Arctotis sunae. The nomen novum Arctotis madida is proposed for the species described under the nomenclaturally illegitimate name Arctotis undulata Jacq. Arctotis tricolor Jacq. is lectotypified and synonymised with A. acaulis. Full descriptive accounts and a key for identification of the treated species are presented.
{"title":"Taxonomic revision of acaulescent and pseudoacaulescent perennial Arctotis species (Asteraceae, Arctotideae, Arctotidinae)","authors":"Robert J. McKenzie","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A taxonomic revision of the southern African genus <em>Arctotis</em> (Asteraceae, Arctotideae) is ongoing. <em>Arctotis acaulis</em> is distributed predominantly in the Western Cape province of South Africa and is among the most common <em>Arctotis</em> species in fynbos and renosterveld. Here, I present a revised taxonomy for <em>Arctotis acaulis</em> and allied species (perennial, non-shrubby species that share a similar distinctive cypsela morphology with <em>A. acaulis</em>) and pseudoacaulescent perennial species that may be confusable with <em>A. acaulis</em>. Twelve species are treated, distinguishable by the root system, caulescence, leaf, involucral bract and cypsela morphology, and pubescence. Four species are newly described: <em>Arctotis convallis, Arctotis diversicolor, Arctotis olifanta</em> and <em>Arctotis sunae</em>. The <em>nomen novum Arctotis madida</em> is proposed for the species described under the nomenclaturally illegitimate name <em>Arctotis undulata</em> Jacq. <em>Arctotis tricolor</em> Jacq. is lectotypified and synonymised with <em>A. acaulis</em>. Full descriptive accounts and a key for identification of the treated species are presented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 620-653"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925030","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 : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-22DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.031
Archana P. Raina , A Suma , D.P. Semwal , P. Holajjer , N. Sivaraj , R.K. Gautam
Bacopa monnieri L. Wettest (Brahmi) is a well-known high value medicinal plant used in Indian system of traditional medicine for its role as a memory enhancer. Plant is highly in demand for its use in the pharmaceutical and herbal industries due to presence of pharmacologically active triterpenoid saponins known as bacosides. These compounds of prime importance due to their role in enhancing nerve impulse transmission and in promoting healthy cognitive functions like attention span, focus, concentration, learning and memory. There is a need to develop and cultivate B. monnieri with high bacoside-A content to meet the growing demand of industry. Considering its value as a drug raw material, genetic variability of B. monnieri was augmented by exploration trips from diverse geographically regions of India. The objective of the present study was to identify elite genotypes of B. monnieri for quality traits among thirty-one accessions augmented from different agro-climatic zones of India and grown under uniform environmental conditions at experimental farm of NBPGR Regional Station, Thrissur, Kerala. The pharmacologically important active compound of bacoside-A was determined in B. monnieri germplasm by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). A wide variability was observed in bacoside-A content across the germplasm varying from 0.92 to 3.59 % with mean bacoside-A content of 1.93 ± 0.58 %. The range of variation in other biochemical traits of the germplasm were: total phenols (11.83–27.19 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (15.44 to 43.84 mg/g QE), tannins (3.19–5.73 %) and ash content (10.73–17.09 %) accompanied with high DPPH scavenging activity (64.75–82.31 %). Superior accessions identified with high bacoside-A content were IC554586, IC554588, IC353204, IC342108 and IC439118. Due to the economic importance of the brahmi in drug formulation, these promising collections can be exploited for large-scale cultivation for production of quality raw material for meeting demands of pharmaceutical industry and genetic improvement of the crop for obtaining higher drug yield. DIVA-GIS diversity and MaxEnt analyses identified potential states for distribution of elite germplasm in Western Ghat region. These states of India could be targeted for future exploration missions, selection of cultivation sites of elite germplasm based on climate suitability and for identifying in-situ conservation areas for managing genetic resources activities in the climate change regime.
{"title":"Diversity assessment of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst germplasm using DIVA-GIS approach with special reference to phytochemical composition","authors":"Archana P. Raina , A Suma , D.P. Semwal , P. Holajjer , N. Sivaraj , R.K. Gautam","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bacopa monnieri</em> L. Wettest (Brahmi) is a well-known high value medicinal plant used in Indian system of traditional medicine for its role as a memory enhancer. Plant is highly in demand for its use in the pharmaceutical and herbal industries due to presence of pharmacologically active triterpenoid saponins known as bacosides. These compounds of prime importance due to their role in enhancing nerve impulse transmission and in promoting healthy cognitive functions like attention span, focus, concentration, learning and memory. There is a need to develop and cultivate <em>B. monnieri</em> with high bacoside-A content to meet the growing demand of industry. Considering its value as a drug raw material, genetic variability of <em>B. monnieri</em> was augmented by exploration trips from diverse geographically regions of India. The objective of the present study was to identify elite genotypes of <em>B. monnieri</em> for quality traits among thirty-one accessions augmented from different agro-climatic zones of India and grown under uniform environmental conditions at experimental farm of NBPGR Regional Station, Thrissur, Kerala. The pharmacologically important active compound of bacoside-A was determined in <em>B. monnieri</em> germplasm by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). A wide variability was observed in bacoside-A content across the germplasm varying from 0.92 to 3.59 % with mean bacoside-A content of 1.93 ± 0.58 %. The range of variation in other biochemical traits of the germplasm were: total phenols (11.83–27.19 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (15.44 to 43.84 mg/g QE), tannins (3.19–5.73 %) and ash content (10.73–17.09 %) accompanied with high DPPH scavenging activity (64.75–82.31 %). Superior accessions identified with high bacoside-A content were IC554586, IC554588, IC353204, IC342108 and IC439118. Due to the economic importance of the brahmi in drug formulation, these promising collections can be exploited for large-scale cultivation for production of quality raw material for meeting demands of pharmaceutical industry and genetic improvement of the crop for obtaining higher drug yield. DIVA-GIS diversity and MaxEnt analyses identified potential states for distribution of elite germplasm in Western Ghat region. These states of India could be targeted for future exploration missions, selection of cultivation sites of elite germplasm based on climate suitability and for identifying <em>in-situ</em> conservation areas for managing genetic resources activities in the climate change regime.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 19-29"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570903","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}
<div><div>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease wherein loss of memory and cognition is very common. Oxidative stress, lack of acetylcholine, and inflammation in brain tissues are characteristics of AD. Development of natural remedies such as medicinal plants for management of AD is a viable strategy. In the present study, methanolic extract of <em>Portulaca oleracea</em> Linn. (MEPO) was examined for its beneficial role in management of AD. MEPO was prepared from the leaves of <em>P. oleracea</em>, analyzed for total phenolic and flavonoid content, and subjected to GCMS and LC/MS-MS analyses for identification of various chemical compounds. The identified compounds were screened for antioxidant property, and cholinesterase inhibition nature by molecular docking analysis. <em>In vitro</em> antioxidant activity by free radical scavenging assay (DPPH assay), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, and cytotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells by MTT assay, of MEPO was evaluated. Furthermore, measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF-kB inhibition, level of glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and catalase in MEPO treated Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated SHSY-5Y cells were also determined. MEPO contained 20.92 mg of GAE/g and 135 mg of QE/g of MEPO of total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. GCMS analysis revealed the presence of 37 compounds in MEPO, and LC/MS-MS analysis confirmed presence of 18 phenolic acids and 15 flavonoids. MEPO did not show significant neurotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells up to a dose of 1200 µg/mL, but possessed prominent antioxidant potential, and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. MEPO significantly reduced the level of ROS, NF-kB, and MDA, however, the level of SOD, glutathione, and catalase increased significantly, in LPS-stimulated SHSY-5Y cells. In molecular docking studies against the targets 4EY7 (AChE receptor), 4TPK (butyrylcholine esterase, BuChE receptor), and 2BXK (antioxidant receptor) of all compounds from GCMS analysis, squalene exhibited the highest docking scores across all targeted proteins. Among the flavonoids, rutin exhibited strong binding affinities toward the active sites of 4EY7 and 4TPK, with the highest LibDock scores of 144.525 and 147.606, respectively, but in 2BXK, myricetin demonstrated the highest docking score 125.097. Within the phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid showed the highest binding affinities for AChE and BuChE, with docking scores of 128.514 (4EY7) and 125.387 (4TPK), respectively, and for antioxidant activity, ferulic acid exhibited the highest docking score with the 2BXK receptor. The binding free energy of protein–ligand complexes of the top docked compounds was also estimated using the <em>Calculate Binding Energies</em> protocol in Discovery Studio Client (DSC) 4.1. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed using the Desmond module of the Schrödinger 2023–4 suite to evaluate the stability and interaction dynamics of the top-ranke
{"title":"Investigation of therapeutic potential of Portulaca oleracea Linn. in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: In vitro and in silico approaches","authors":"Varsha Yadav , Anjali Murmu , Balaji Wamanrao Matore , Sinchan Das , Swaha Satpathy , Vivekananda Mandal , Partha Pratim Roy , Jagadish Singh , Arjun Patra","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease wherein loss of memory and cognition is very common. Oxidative stress, lack of acetylcholine, and inflammation in brain tissues are characteristics of AD. Development of natural remedies such as medicinal plants for management of AD is a viable strategy. In the present study, methanolic extract of <em>Portulaca oleracea</em> Linn. (MEPO) was examined for its beneficial role in management of AD. MEPO was prepared from the leaves of <em>P. oleracea</em>, analyzed for total phenolic and flavonoid content, and subjected to GCMS and LC/MS-MS analyses for identification of various chemical compounds. The identified compounds were screened for antioxidant property, and cholinesterase inhibition nature by molecular docking analysis. <em>In vitro</em> antioxidant activity by free radical scavenging assay (DPPH assay), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, and cytotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells by MTT assay, of MEPO was evaluated. Furthermore, measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF-kB inhibition, level of glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and catalase in MEPO treated Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated SHSY-5Y cells were also determined. MEPO contained 20.92 mg of GAE/g and 135 mg of QE/g of MEPO of total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. GCMS analysis revealed the presence of 37 compounds in MEPO, and LC/MS-MS analysis confirmed presence of 18 phenolic acids and 15 flavonoids. MEPO did not show significant neurotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells up to a dose of 1200 µg/mL, but possessed prominent antioxidant potential, and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. MEPO significantly reduced the level of ROS, NF-kB, and MDA, however, the level of SOD, glutathione, and catalase increased significantly, in LPS-stimulated SHSY-5Y cells. In molecular docking studies against the targets 4EY7 (AChE receptor), 4TPK (butyrylcholine esterase, BuChE receptor), and 2BXK (antioxidant receptor) of all compounds from GCMS analysis, squalene exhibited the highest docking scores across all targeted proteins. Among the flavonoids, rutin exhibited strong binding affinities toward the active sites of 4EY7 and 4TPK, with the highest LibDock scores of 144.525 and 147.606, respectively, but in 2BXK, myricetin demonstrated the highest docking score 125.097. Within the phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid showed the highest binding affinities for AChE and BuChE, with docking scores of 128.514 (4EY7) and 125.387 (4TPK), respectively, and for antioxidant activity, ferulic acid exhibited the highest docking score with the 2BXK receptor. The binding free energy of protein–ligand complexes of the top docked compounds was also estimated using the <em>Calculate Binding Energies</em> protocol in Discovery Studio Client (DSC) 4.1. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed using the Desmond module of the Schrödinger 2023–4 suite to evaluate the stability and interaction dynamics of the top-ranke","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 489-507"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840047","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 : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.012
Ayodeji Amobonye, Joana Bendoraitiene, Laura Peciulyte, Ramune Rutkaite
Despite its significant contribution to the overall fruit architecture, the shell of walnut (Juglans regia), which accounts for 50–60 % of the total nut weight, is typically discarded as an agro-industrial waste. Herein, we valorised walnut shells as a source of natural antioxidants with potential applications in food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic processing. Microwave extraction, a green approach, was utilized to obtain walnut shell extract (WNSE), subsequently, the functional characterization was evaluated. The optimized green extraction at 16.25 % biomass loading, 61.25 % of methanol in aqueous solution, 558.12 W microwave power, and 2 min incubation led to a total phenolic content of 424 ± 19.43 mg GAE/g, a 3-fold increase relative to the unoptimized value of 142.74 mg GAE/g. Comprehensive profiling of WNSE via FTIR, LC-MS and GC–MS revealed a total of 53 phenolic and non-phenolic compounds. Thermogravimetry showed that WNSE exhibited significant thermal stability with minimal mass loss up to 190 °C while its antioxidant activity was demonstrated by its remarkable IC50 of 203.91, 102.48 and 71.52 µg/mL, against ABTS•+, DPPH• and O2•− radicals, and a Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) value of 629.33 μmol Fe (II)/mg. Furthermore, a concentration-dependent inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase was observed with a IC50 of 512.46 µg/mL. Subsequently, molecular docking against mushroom tyrosinase suggested more favourable interactions between the WNSE phenolics, viz., chlorogenic acid, 3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid, betulin relative to butylated hydroxytoluene. These results highlight walnut shells as a promising source of natural additives, alternative to synthetic antioxidants, hence, promoting a more circular and efficient use of bioresources.
尽管核桃壳对整个水果结构有重要贡献，但占坚果总重量50 - 60%的核桃壳通常被丢弃为农业工业废物。在这里，我们将核桃壳作为一种天然抗氧化剂的来源，在食品、营养食品和化妆品加工中具有潜在的应用价值。采用绿色提取方法微波提取核桃壳提取物（WNSE），并对其进行功能表征。在生物质负荷16.25%、水溶液中甲醇含量为61.25%、微波功率为558.12 W、培养2 min的条件下，绿皮总酚含量为424±19.43 mg GAE/g，比未优化的142.74 mg GAE/g增加了3倍。通过FTIR， LC-MS和GC-MS对WNSE进行综合分析，共发现53种酚类和非酚类化合物。热重测定结果表明，WNSE在190℃以下具有良好的热稳定性，质量损失最小，抗氧化活性显著，对ABTS•+、DPPH•和O2•−自由基的IC50分别为203.91、102.48和71.52µg/mL，铁还原抗氧化能力（FRAP）值为629.33 μmol Fe (II)/mg。此外，还观察到蘑菇酪氨酸酶的浓度依赖性抑制，IC50为512.46µg/mL。随后，与蘑菇酪氨酸酶的分子对接表明，相对于丁基羟基甲苯，WNSE酚类物质（即绿原酸、3- o -对香豆酰奎宁酸、白桦素）之间的相互作用更有利。这些结果强调了核桃壳作为一种有前途的天然添加剂来源，可以替代合成抗氧化剂，从而促进生物资源的更循环和有效利用。
{"title":"Walnut shell phenolics as natural antioxidants: Green extraction, functional characterization and polyphenol oxidase inhibition","authors":"Ayodeji Amobonye, Joana Bendoraitiene, Laura Peciulyte, Ramune Rutkaite","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite its significant contribution to the overall fruit architecture, the shell of walnut (<em>Juglans regia</em>), which accounts for 50–60 % of the total nut weight, is typically discarded as an agro-industrial waste. Herein, we valorised walnut shells as a source of natural antioxidants with potential applications in food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic processing. Microwave extraction, a green approach, was utilized to obtain walnut shell extract (WNSE), subsequently, the functional characterization was evaluated. The optimized green extraction at 16.25 % biomass loading, 61.25 % of methanol in aqueous solution, 558.12 W microwave power, and 2 min incubation led to a total phenolic content of 424 ± 19.43 mg GAE/g, a 3-fold increase relative to the unoptimized value of 142.74 mg GAE/g. Comprehensive profiling of WNSE via FTIR, LC-MS and GC–MS revealed a total of 53 phenolic and non-phenolic compounds. Thermogravimetry showed that WNSE exhibited significant thermal stability with minimal mass loss up to 190 °C while its antioxidant activity was demonstrated by its remarkable IC<sub>50</sub> of 203.91, 102.48 and 71.52 µg/mL, against ABTS<strong><sup>•</sup></strong><sup>+</sup>, DPPH<strong><sup>•</sup></strong> and O<strong><sub>2</sub><sup>•−</sup></strong> radicals, and a Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) value of 629.33 μmol Fe (II)/mg. Furthermore, a concentration-dependent inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase was observed with a IC<sub>50</sub> of 512.46 µg/mL. Subsequently, molecular docking against mushroom tyrosinase suggested more favourable interactions between the WNSE phenolics, viz., chlorogenic acid, 3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid, betulin relative to butylated hydroxytoluene. These results highlight walnut shells as a promising source of natural additives, alternative to synthetic antioxidants, hence, promoting a more circular and efficient use of bioresources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 374-386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790559","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 : 2026-02-01Epub 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":"2026-02-01","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub 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":"2026-02-01","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 : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.024
Qi Wei Tan , Michelle Felicia Lee , Yuan Seng Wu , Sheryar Afzal , Appalaraju Velaga , Mahendran Sekar , Neeraj Kumar Fuloria , Shivkanya Fuloria , Md Moklesur Rahman Sarker , Rhanye Mac Guad , Ali Attiq , Vetriselvan Subramaniyan , Subash C.B. Gopinath , Ker Woon Choy
Considering the skyrocketing global emergence and spread of viral infections, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for effective antiviral strategies. Conventional antiviral therapies are often limited by adverse effects and accessibility issues, highlighting the importance of exploring natural products as alternative therapeutics. Numerous plant extracts have been examined for their antiviral potential. Tannins, the significant component of these extracts, have been discovered to efficiently suppress viral replication by inhibiting targets responsible for distinct phases of the viral replication process. Among these tannins, multiple studies have demonstrated the potential of geraniin’s relevance in preventing and combating a wide range of viral illnesses. This review aims to evaluate the antiviral potential of geraniin, a hydrolyzable tannin, across a range of viral infections. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted, examining in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies that investigated geraniin’s antiviral activity against dengue virus, Ebola virus, Enterovirus 71, human immunodeficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, influenza virus, hepatitis viruses, and herpes simplex virus. Geraniin demonstrated inhibitory effects at multiple stages of viral replications, including viral entry, enzyme activity, and viral protein expression, and also exhibited immunomodulatory properties. These findings suggest that geraniin is a promising candidate for the development of plant-based antiviral therapies. Future studies are warranted to clarify its pharmacokinetic properties, bioavailability, and clinical efficacy.
{"title":"Geraniin as an antiviral agent: Chemistry and biological profiles, preventive and therapeutic effects on various viruses and associated molecular mechanisms","authors":"Qi Wei Tan , Michelle Felicia Lee , Yuan Seng Wu , Sheryar Afzal , Appalaraju Velaga , Mahendran Sekar , Neeraj Kumar Fuloria , Shivkanya Fuloria , Md Moklesur Rahman Sarker , Rhanye Mac Guad , Ali Attiq , Vetriselvan Subramaniyan , Subash C.B. Gopinath , Ker Woon Choy","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Considering the skyrocketing global emergence and spread of viral infections, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for effective antiviral strategies. Conventional antiviral therapies are often limited by adverse effects and accessibility issues, highlighting the importance of exploring natural products as alternative therapeutics. Numerous plant extracts have been examined for their antiviral potential. Tannins, the significant component of these extracts, have been discovered to efficiently suppress viral replication by inhibiting targets responsible for distinct phases of the viral replication process. Among these tannins, multiple studies have demonstrated the potential of geraniin’s relevance in preventing and combating a wide range of viral illnesses. This review aims to evaluate the antiviral potential of geraniin, a hydrolyzable tannin, across a range of viral infections. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted, examining <em>in vitro, in vivo</em>, and <em>in silico</em> studies that investigated geraniin’s antiviral activity against dengue virus, Ebola virus, Enterovirus 71, human immunodeficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, influenza virus, hepatitis viruses, and herpes simplex virus. Geraniin demonstrated inhibitory effects at multiple stages of viral replications, including viral entry, enzyme activity, and viral protein expression, and also exhibited immunomodulatory properties. These findings suggest that geraniin is a promising candidate for the development of plant-based antiviral therapies. Future studies are warranted to clarify its pharmacokinetic properties, bioavailability, and clinical efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 604-619"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925141","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 : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.015
Kalynca Kayla Viana Aragão , Railson Pereira Souza , Silvia Letícia Maciel Barbosa , Enedina Rodrigues da Silva Neta , Lorranya Éveli Pereira Feitosa Araújo , Alyne Pereira Lopes , Heron Silva Soares , Emerson Portela Sena , Pedro Simão da Silva Azevedo , Benedito Pereira de Sousa Neto , Daniel Fernando Pereira Vasconcelos , Maria José dos Santos Soares , Sidney Gonçalo de Lima , Paulo Michel Pinheiro Ferreira , Aldeídia Pereira de Oliveira
Background
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the leading causes of global mortality and are consistently associated with thrombotic events. The essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (EORO), rich in monoterpenes such as camphor and α-pinene, has been investigated for its antithrombotic properties, offering a potential alternative to conventional drugs, which often present significant adverse effects.
Purpose
To evaluate the chemical profile, toxicity, and anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities of EORO, aiming to elucidate its mechanisms of action and safety.
Methods
EORO was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify its constituents. Toxicity was assessed using Artemia salina nauplii, L929 cells (MTT assay), and human erythrocytes. Anticoagulant activity was evaluated in Wistar rats (PT, aPTT, INR), while antiplatelet activity was analyzed both in vitro and in vivo using ADP as an inducer. Additionally, biochemical and histopathological parameters were investigated to assess the compound’s safety.
Results
EORO’s major components were camphor (24.58 %), α-pinene (20.39 %), and 1.8-cineole (18.5 %). It exhibited high toxicity in A. salina (LC₅₀ = 9.3 µg/mL), but demonstrated low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells (IC₅₀ = 612.7 µg/mL) and caused hemolysis only at higher concentrations (500 µg/mL). In vivo, EORO significantly prolonged PT and increased INR, without altering aPTT and in vitro tests revealed 98 % of platelet aggregation inhibition, although this effect was not replicated in vivo. No hepatic or renal toxicity was observed.
Conclusion
EORO exhibits promising anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects with a favorable in vitro safety profile. Its selective action on the extrinsic coagulation pathway and modulation of calmodulin underscore its therapeutic potential, although challenges related to bioavailability must still be addressed.
{"title":"Chemical characterization, toxicity and involvement of calmodulin in the antithrombotic activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil","authors":"Kalynca Kayla Viana Aragão , Railson Pereira Souza , Silvia Letícia Maciel Barbosa , Enedina Rodrigues da Silva Neta , Lorranya Éveli Pereira Feitosa Araújo , Alyne Pereira Lopes , Heron Silva Soares , Emerson Portela Sena , Pedro Simão da Silva Azevedo , Benedito Pereira de Sousa Neto , Daniel Fernando Pereira Vasconcelos , Maria José dos Santos Soares , Sidney Gonçalo de Lima , Paulo Michel Pinheiro Ferreira , Aldeídia Pereira de Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the leading causes of global mortality and are consistently associated with thrombotic events. The essential oil of <em>Rosmarinus officinalis</em> L. (EORO), rich in monoterpenes such as camphor and α-pinene, has been investigated for its antithrombotic properties, offering a potential alternative to conventional drugs, which often present significant adverse effects.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To evaluate the chemical profile, toxicity, and anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities of EORO, aiming to elucidate its mechanisms of action and safety.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>EORO was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify its constituents. Toxicity was assessed using <em>Artemia salina</em> nauplii, L929 cells (MTT assay), and human erythrocytes. Anticoagulant activity was evaluated in Wistar rats (PT, aPTT, INR), while antiplatelet activity was analyzed both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> using ADP as an inducer. Additionally, biochemical and histopathological parameters were investigated to assess the compound’s safety.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>EORO’s major components were camphor (24.58 %), α-pinene (20.39 %), and 1.8-cineole (18.5 %). It exhibited high toxicity in A<em>. salina</em> (LC₅₀ = 9.3 µg/mL), but demonstrated low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells (IC₅₀ = 612.7 µg/mL) and caused hemolysis only at higher concentrations (500 µg/mL). <em>In vivo</em>, EORO significantly prolonged PT and increased INR, without altering aPTT and <em>in vitro</em> tests revealed 98 % of platelet aggregation inhibition, although this effect was not replicated <em>in vivo</em>. No hepatic or renal toxicity was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>EORO exhibits promising anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects with a favorable <em>in vitro</em> safety profile. Its selective action on the extrinsic coagulation pathway and modulation of calmodulin underscore its therapeutic potential, although challenges related to bioavailability must still be addressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 590-603"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925142","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 : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.023
Aylin Kabas , Ali Kiyak , Hayri Ustun , M. Batuhan Demirelli , Selman Uluisik
The COBRA-Like (COBL) gene family encodes plant-specific glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins that play central roles in cellulose deposition, cell wall organization, and directional cell expansion. Despite the functions of COBL genes have been analysed across numerous species, the specific members of this family in melon remain undetermined. This study investigated the genetic response of melon plants to two irrigation regimes: a control group and a drought stress group. Genome-wide analyses were conducted to identify nine CmCOBL genes, which were subsequently characterized in term of their structural features, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles under these conditions. Bioinformatics analysis revealed conserved motifs, cis-regulatory elements, and phylogenetic clustering consistent with functional diversification across the Cucurbitaceae. Tissue-specific transcriptome analysis demonstrated diverse expression patterns, with CmCOBL1, CmCOBL4, and CmCOBL7 highly expressed in fruit and floral tissues, suggesting key roles in development. RT-qPCR analysis under drought stress conditions in four melon genotypes (ATM01, ATM02, ATM03, and ATM07) indicated genotype-dependent induction of CmCOBL1, CmCOBL3, CmCOBL4, and CmCOBL6, highlighting their potential involvement in cell wall remodelling and stress adaptation. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary patterns and regulatory roles of melon COBL genes, offering a foundation for their functional analysis and the selection of candidate genes for breeding drought-tolerant melon cultivars.
{"title":"The COBRA-Like gene family in melon: evolutionary relationships, expression profiles, and potential roles in drought stress adaptation","authors":"Aylin Kabas , Ali Kiyak , Hayri Ustun , M. Batuhan Demirelli , Selman Uluisik","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>COBRA-Like</em> (<em>COBL</em>) gene family encodes plant-specific glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins that play central roles in cellulose deposition, cell wall organization, and directional cell expansion. Despite the functions of <em>COBL</em> genes have been analysed across numerous species, the specific members of this family in melon remain undetermined. This study investigated the genetic response of melon plants to two irrigation regimes: a control group and a drought stress group. Genome-wide analyses were conducted to identify nine <em>CmCOBL</em> genes, which were subsequently characterized in term of their structural features, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles under these conditions. Bioinformatics analysis revealed conserved motifs, <em>cis</em>-regulatory elements, and phylogenetic clustering consistent with functional diversification across the <em>Cucurbitaceae</em>. Tissue-specific transcriptome analysis demonstrated diverse expression patterns, with <em>CmCOBL1, CmCOBL4</em>, and <em>CmCOBL7</em> highly expressed in fruit and floral tissues, suggesting key roles in development. RT-qPCR analysis under drought stress conditions in four melon genotypes (ATM01, ATM02, ATM03, and ATM07) indicated genotype-dependent induction of <em>CmCOBL1, CmCOBL3, CmCOBL4</em>, and <em>CmCOBL6</em>, highlighting their potential involvement in cell wall remodelling and stress adaptation. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary patterns and regulatory roles of melon <em>COBL</em> genes, offering a foundation for their functional analysis and the selection of candidate genes for breeding drought-tolerant melon cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 539-550"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883579","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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