South African Journal of Botany最新文献

{"title":"Therapeutic potential of thymoquinone in collagen-induced arthritis: In silico and in vivo analyses of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms","authors":"Hanane Khither ,&nbsp;Soraya Madoui ,&nbsp;Selma Houchi ,&nbsp;Mostafa S. ABD El-Maksoud ,&nbsp;Amina Safsaf ,&nbsp;Yacine Derradji ,&nbsp;Asma Mosbah ,&nbsp;Widad Sobhi","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the therapeutic potential of thymoquinone (TQ), the principal active compound of <em>Nigella sativa</em>, in collagen II-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in male rats using both <em>in silico</em> and <em>in vivo</em> approaches to explore its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The work was conducted in two phases. In the <em>in silico</em> phase, molecular docking was employed to predict the binding interactions between TQ and key RA targets, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α) and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase, SOD). In the <em>in vivo</em> phase, RA was induced by intradermal injection of type II collagen emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant. After arthritis confirmation, rats were randomly divided into groups and treated orally with different doses of TQ for 40 consecutive days. Paw thickness was measured regularly to monitor inflammation. At the end of the experiment, blood and tissue samples (liver, spleen, and joint synovium) were collected to evaluate oxidative stress biomarkers, including catalase (CAT), SOD, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Radiographic imaging and histological analyses were performed to assess joint damage, while liver and kidney function tests evaluated treatment safety. Molecular docking analyses revealed strong binding affinities between TQ and inflammatory as well as oxidative stress-related macromolecules, suggesting that TQ can modulate key pathways involved in RA pathogenesis. <em>In vivo</em>, TQ treatment significantly reduced paw swelling, improved joint histopathology, and restored antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, TQ normalized GSH and MDA levels without inducing hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. Radiographic and histological evaluations confirmed reduced joint destruction, preservation of cartilage and bone integrity, and decreased synovial inflammation. Collectively, these findings indicate that TQ exerts potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects with a favorable safety profile, supporting its potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for rheumatoid arthritis management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 341-360"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comprehensive characterization of 26 Turkish asteraceae species: Insights from FTIR, phytochemical composition, and elemental analysis via ICP-MS","authors":"Ayşe Civaş ,&nbsp;Şeydanur Karakaş ,&nbsp;Burak Bayrak ,&nbsp;Beyzanur Akyüz ,&nbsp;Emire Bengisu Keçeci ,&nbsp;Elif Beyza Özer ,&nbsp;Hatice Rümeysa Sönmez ,&nbsp;Tugay Asgarli ,&nbsp;Fatma Taeb Dişli ,&nbsp;Hafize Yuca ,&nbsp;Alptuğ Atila ,&nbsp;Abdurrahman Sefali ,&nbsp;Ömer Çeçen ,&nbsp;Mohaddeseh Nobarirezaeyeh ,&nbsp;Mehmet Bona ,&nbsp;Ayşe Cemre Kararenk ,&nbsp;Songül Karakaya","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study provides a comprehensive phytochemical, elemental, and spectroscopic characterization of 26 species belonging to the Asteraceae family, several of which are endemic to Türkiye and traditionally used in folk medicine. Qualitative screening revealed the widespread presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and carbohydrates, while alkaloids and anthracene heterosides were entirely absent in all taxa. Among the species analyzed, <em>Cichorium intybus, Cyanus depressus, Achillea arabica,</em> and <em>Cirsium davisianum</em> exhibited the richest phytochemical diversity, suggesting strong biological potential. Quantitative evaluation showed that <em>Klasea serratuloides</em> possessed the highest total phenolic content (99.49 µg GAE/mg extract), followed by Artemisia scoparia and Inula sarana, indicating notable antioxidant potential. Elemental analysis by ICP-MS demonstrated significant interspecies variation, with <em>Centaurea armena, Centaurea arvensis,</em> and <em>Cichorium intybus</em> containing elevated levels of essential macro- and trace elements such as K, Mg, Ca, Zn, and Se, whereas <em>Helichrysum plicatum</em> and <em>Scorzonera ulrichii</em> showed high Co and Se contents. Conversely, trace levels of potentially toxic elements (e.g., Al, U) were detected in some taxa, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of their pharmacological use. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups characteristic of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, and cardioactive heterosides, as indicated by distinct O–H (3200–3600 cm⁻¹), C–H (2850–2950 cm⁻¹), and C=O (1700–1650 cm⁻¹) stretching bands. The combined interpretation of phytochemical and FTIR data underscores the chemical diversity and functional group complexity of these plant extracts. Overall, the results highlight the nutritional and pharmacognostic significance of several Asteraceae species, supporting their potential application in antioxidant, nutraceutical, and therapeutic formulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 387-402"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging ancient wisdom and modern science: Nanoparticles from ayurvedic medicinal plants","authors":"Jyotika,&nbsp;Navneet Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanotechnology is not a new concept for Ayurvedic system. The treatment of various disease through Silver Bhasma (<em>Rajat Bhasma),</em> Gold Bhasma (<em>Swarna Bhasma)</em> and Copper Bhasma (<em>Tamra Bhasma)</em> has been in practice since ages. Bhasma is nothing but the powder of tiny particles which are called nanoparticles (NPs) in modern time. In addition, medicinal potential of plants based on ancient knowledge, is being commercial used in form of number of products like pharma, herbal, wellness, beauty and others at local, national or global level. This review work focuses on Silver and Copper NPs from three important plants: <em>Aloe vera (A. vera), Bacopa monnieri</em> (<em>B. monnieri</em>) and <em>Terminalia arjuna</em> (<em>T. arjuna</em>) which belong to the genus Aloe, Bacopa and Terminalia respectively. We tried to cover the historical, geographical, botanical, chemical and medicinal profiling of these plants, synthesis of Bhasma and NPs, commercial impact, furthermore explored the biological activities of Silver and Copper NPs based on <em>A. vera, B. monnieri</em> and <em>T. arjuna</em>, which will prove an epic text for the learners in this area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 324-340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring natural bioactive compounds for breast cancer treatment: Integrating Rubia Cordifolia L. and Strychnine SLNs with traditional treatments through machine learning and nanotechnology","authors":"Swati Mayur Keny ,&nbsp;Malarkodi Velraj ,&nbsp;Natarajan Kiruthiga ,&nbsp;Anamika Padmavathy Krishnan ,&nbsp;Mangirish Deshpande ,&nbsp;Stalin Arulsamy ,&nbsp;Panneerselvam Theivendren","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Breast cancer continues to be one of the most prevalent and fatal diseases globally, particularly among women. The traditional treatment methods, including chemotherapy, radiation, and open surgery, are often accompanied by severe side effects. This study explores the potential of using natural bioactive compounds from <em>Rubia Cordifolia L.</em> (Indian madder) and Strychnine (an alkaloid) as alternatives to conventional cancer treatments. The study utilizes machine learning models to predict the activity of compounds towards Transthyretin (TTR) protein, a key target in cancer research, in an attempt to identify novel therapeutic agents. Using a dataset obtained from the BindingDB database, we employed machine learning models to predict the activity of various compounds on the TTR protein. The Random Forest model demonstrated the highest accuracy at 76.67 %, identifying compounds such as beta-Sitosterol and Oleanolic acid acetate as potential TTR inhibitors. In addition, molecular docking and dynamics simulations were conducted to further examine the binding interactions of these compounds with TTR. Furthermore, Strychnine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were formulated, and their encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release were analyzed. The Random Forest model identified beta-Sitosterol and Oleanolic acid acetate as the most promising TTR inhibitors. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed that these compounds could bind to the TTR protein. Additionally, the formulation of Strychnine-loaded SLNs showed a high encapsulation efficiency of 94.00 % and demonstrated a slow release of the drug in vitro. The findings suggest that <em>Rubia Cordifolia L.</em> and Strychnine hold great potential as adjuncts to current breast cancer treatments, offering the possibility of fewer side effects and a safer therapeutic profile. The promising in silico results combined with the successful formulation of Strychnine-loaded SLNs underscore their potential for future drug development in cancer therapy. Further experimental validation and clinical studies are warranted to confirm their efficacy and safety in cancer treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 291-308"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioactive endophytes from Saurauia cauliflora: Unveiling antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential","authors":"Putri Bernawati ,&nbsp;Dwi Retnowati ,&nbsp;Budiman Bela ,&nbsp;Vera Permatasari ,&nbsp;Gian Primahana ,&nbsp;Rhesi Kristiana ,&nbsp;Muhammad Eka Prasetya","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of endophytic fungi in plant species offers a promising pathway for research and innovation in natural medicinal remedies. Endophytic fungi from <em>Saurauia cauliflora</em> were screened for antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Two isolates, <em>Neofusicoccum parvum</em> P.11 and <em>Sesquicillium intermediophialidicum</em> P.14, exhibited significant bioactivities. Ethyl acetate extracts showed MIC values ranging from 127.7 to 256 µg/mL against multidrug-resistant bacteria, with P.14 displaying strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀: 73.85 µg/mL). Cytotoxicity assays revealed that P.14 inhibited 74.82 % of MCF-7 breast cancer cells at 100 µg/mL, while doxorubicin (control) showed 86.94 % inhibition. GC–MS analysis identified several known bioactive compounds, suggesting their potential contribution to the observed activities. These findings highlight the pharmaceutical potential of endophytic fungi from <em>S. cauliflora</em>, particularly <em>S. intermediophialidicum</em> P.14, as a novel source of bioactive agents. Further research is required to elucidate fully their underlying mechanisms and assess their therapeutic viability, including activity-guided isolation and testing against normal cell lines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 309-323"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new ceramide and sterols with moderate antibiofilm activity from the underexplored polypore Mushroom Lenzites acuta","authors":"Armelle Tontsa Tsamo ,&nbsp;Steven Collins Njonté Wouamba ,&nbsp;Annette Berole Meli Ngoumfo ,&nbsp;Issah Julio Mawouma Pagna ,&nbsp;Ibukun Michael Famuyide ,&nbsp;Andre Ledoux Njouonkou ,&nbsp;Blandine Marlyse Wache Ouahouo ,&nbsp;Pierre Mkounga ,&nbsp;Jean Paul Dzoyem ,&nbsp;Lyndy Joy McGaw ,&nbsp;Augustin Ephrem Nkengfack","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lenzites acuta</em> Berk. is a wood-decaying polypore mushroom from tropical forests that remains chemotaxonomically unexplored. In this study, the chemical constituents from the methanolic extract of its fruiting bodies yielded a new ceramide, polyporamide (<strong>1</strong>), together with three sterols: stellasterol (<strong>2</strong>), ergosterol (<strong>3</strong>), and ergosterol peroxide (<strong>4</strong>). Acetylation of the new ceramide (<strong>1</strong>) afforded a new hemi-synthetic derivative, polyporamide tetraacetate (<strong>1a</strong>). Structural elucidation was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR, ESI-MS, and comparison with literature data. The antibacterial activity of the extract and isolated compounds was assessed against <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. Compound <strong>1a</strong> displayed the strongest antibacterial effect, with MIC values of 128 µg/mL (<em>P. aeruginosa</em>) and 64 µg/mL (<em>S. aureus</em>). Antibiofilm activity was evaluated using a microtiter plate assay with safranine staining at sub-MIC concentrations. Compound <strong>4</strong> exhibited the highest inhibition of biofilm formation, with 69.35 % inhibition against <em>P. aeruginosa</em> and 51.59 % against S. aureus at 128 µg/mL. Although less active than the reference drug gentamicin, compounds <strong>1a</strong> and <strong>4</strong> appear as potential scaffolds for the development of antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. This study constitutes the first report on the chemical constituents of L. <em>acuta</em> and highlights its potential as a source of bioactive natural products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 284-290"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Major volatile and phenolic compounds in species of Plecostachys and Tenrhynea (Asteraceae) that are used as herbal teas","authors":"M.M. Chirwa ,&nbsp;N.J. Sadgrove ,&nbsp;L. Mokwena ,&nbsp;T. Moloi ,&nbsp;B.-E. Van Wyk","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Plecostachys polifolia, P. serpyllifolia</em> and <em>Tenrhynea phylicifolia</em> (Asteraceae) are aromatic species endemic to southern Africa. <em>Plecostachys serpyllifolia</em> is a traditional herbal tea, while the traditional use of <em>T. phylicifolia</em> as a tea is reported for the first time. The volatile and phenolic compounds of the species are important in the context of their use as medicinal teas. Furthermore, chemical similarities may support the idea, based on molecular phylogenetic evidence, that the two genera are congeneric. Since there are no published chemistry data except for <em>P. serpyllifolia,</em> we studied the variation in volatile chemistry and phenolic chemistry of several populations of all three species, using standard methods: Steam distillation, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UHPLC) with a Quadrupole time of-flight (qToF) Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-MS). Despite their strong pleasant fragrances, the three species produce very low yields of essential oil (up to 0.114% of dry weight, but usually much lower). The oil composition was similar within and between the two species of <em>Plecostachys</em> and similar when compared to the main compounds in the monotypic <em>Tenrhynea</em>. The dominant compounds were caryophyllene oxide and <em>E</em>-caryophyllene across almost all the populations analysed, followed by sabinene, δ-cadinene and α-phellandrene. Trace compounds include Y-terpinene, linalool, 1-terpineol, cubenene, α-cadinene, pinocarvone, and <em>E</em>-nerolidol, among others. An exploratory study of the phenolic compounds in several populations of the three species showed that they can easily be differentiated by variation of the three main compounds. These show a diagnostically different pattern in all the species studied for multiple replicates. While all three species accumulate 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, a yet unidentified compound is confined to <em>P. serpyllifolia</em> and 1,4,5-tricaffeoyl-3-methoxyoxaloylquinic is unique to <em>Tenrhynea phylicifolia.</em> This is a first comparative chemophenetic study of chemical variation and similarities between the two genera and three species. It supports the proposed sister group relationship (based on DNA evidence) between <em>Tenrhynea</em> and <em>Plecostachys</em> and the idea that the two genera should be combined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 252-260"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Upregulation of antioxidant pathways and drought tolerance in wheat plants by seed priming with an antioxidant-enriched biostimulant","authors":"Khaulood A. Hemida ,&nbsp;Mostafa M. Rady ,&nbsp;Sahar A. Abd El-Hamed ,&nbsp;Hesham M. Abbas ,&nbsp;Rasha K. Kamel ,&nbsp;Wael M. Semida ,&nbsp;Ibrahim A.A. Mohamed","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insufficient irrigation hinders crop productivity, particularly in regions with limited rainfall. Using eco-friendly biostimulants enhances stress tolerance by boosting the plant's physio-biochemical responses. This study investigated the impact of priming wheat seeds with a natural maize embryo extract that was enriched with gibberellic acid, ascorbate, and selenium under conditions of insufficient irrigation (60 % of the optimal irrigation level). The biostimulant was tested at 7.5 % and 15 % under both optimal and insufficient irrigation using a completely randomized factorial design. Insufficient irrigation, compared to optimal irrigation, significantly reduced leaf integrity and anatomical features (27–42 %), and levels of nutrients (28–44 %) and hormones (32–38 %), as well as photosynthetic and water-use efficiency (11–60 %). Consequently, plant growth, yield, and grain quality declined (23–69 %). Conversely, insufficient irrigation elevated levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (oxidative stress, by 90–192 %), as well as malondialdehyde and ion leakage (oxidative damage, by 46–111 %), leading to increased enzyme activities (22–129 %), and levels of antioxidants (82–140 %) and osmoprotectant compounds (102–322 %). However, at both optimal and insufficient irrigation, the 15 % biostimulant conferred better results than the 7.5 % biostimulant. It significantly enhanced photosynthetic and water-use efficiency (14–113 %), leaf integrity and anatomical features (14–35 %), and levels of nutrients (17–65 %) and hormones (18–66 %), with a further increase in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (14–180 %). Additionally, 15 % biostimulant effectively reduced the indicators of oxidative stress and damage (17–51 %). Consequently, increases in plant growth (18–238 %), yield (17–225 %), and grain quality (12–56 %) were observed. Future studies should focus on natural extracts (biostimulants) as eco-friendly, inexpensive alternatives to chemical stimulants, successfully addressing abiotic stresses, including insufficient irrigation, in crop plants when applied as seed priming. This strategy will protect crop plants from drought-induced oxidative damage by regulating a comprehensive network of defense mechanisms, including nutrient, hormone, and antioxidant rebalancing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 261-283"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics for chemotaxonomy of Zingiberaceae species indigenous to Indonesia","authors":"Fitriana Hayyu Arifah ,&nbsp;Herman J. Woerdenbag ,&nbsp;Nanang Fakhrudin","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plants from the Zingiberaceae family are commonly used as raw materials for traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food additives. They are often available on the market in a dried powdered form. Although they have chemically distinct secondary metabolites, identifying and discriminating between species in a powdered form can be challenging due to the high similarity in their morphological and macroscopic appearance. The authentication process is essential to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of these products. The aim of our study was to provide chemotaxonomic profiles and to establish interspecies relationships of 12 Indonesian Zingiberaceae rhizome species collected from different geographic regions, based on Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra combined with chemometrics. FTIR spectroscopy was coupled with multivariate chemometric techniques and used to distinguish the rhizomes of 12 Zingiberaceae members (different species or the same species from varied geographic origins in Indonesia).</div><div>The chemotaxonomy and interspecies relationships were studied by applying a multivariate chemometric approach to the FTIR spectral data, to ascertain their patterns. Dried powder samples were measured in the mid-infrared region of 4000–550 cm⁻¹ and the data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA) models, and correlogram models. A total of 28 peaks were identified from 12 species, which were successfully discriminated into clusters. It is concluded that chemotaxonomy based on FTIR spectra and chemometric analysis is an effective strategy for the identification, authentication, and discrimination of the dried powder of different Zingiberaceae species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 243-251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring an Indigenous food-based strategy in rural communities: A qualitative study in Vhembe District, South Africa","authors":"Xikombiso G. Mbhenyane ,&nbsp;Walter Mziligazi ,&nbsp;Mthokozisi K. Zuma ,&nbsp;Negasa E. Soboksa","doi":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sajb.2025.11.046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Indigenous plant production has been integral to the lifestyles of Indigenous homesteads. However, modernization has led to a decline in the value and optimal utilization of these foods, despite their abundance in many rural communities. These micronutrient-rich crops are crucial for household food security, but studies highlight that the essential pillars of food access and utilization have been overshadowed by the focus on food availability. This study aimed to explore an Indigenous food-based strategy to address and counteract the food insecurity and malnutrition experienced by many rural households in the Vhembe District, South Africa. A qualitative research approach, grounded in a Participatory Action Research design, was employed to engage the community in addressing food security and nutrition challenges. Nine community co-creation workshops were conducted with a total of 172 participants. The research team utilized intervention mapping during strategy development workshops to collaboratively identify and refine actionable solutions. A key emerging strategy focused on enhancing community education in agricultural practices and financial literacy. Emphasis was placed on revitalizing neglected small-scale farms and empowering women through their active involvement in subsistence farming. Ultimately, the process led to the co-creation of an Indigenous, food-based strategy, developed with full community participation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21919,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Botany","volume":"189 ","pages":"Pages 228-242"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}