Inna Popova

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are among the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide, causing significant economic losses across diverse cropping systems. Soil fumigation, the most common management strategy, is costly, detrimental to soil health, and increasingly restricted due to environmental and regulatory concerns. As a result, there is a critical need for alternative, sustainable approaches for PPN control. Solanum sisymbriifolium is resistant to several Meloidogyne species and represents a promising source of natural nematicidal compounds. In this study, we evaluated the effects of S. sisymbriifolium extracts on Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. hapla , two economically important nematodes. Compounds were extracted using solvents of increasing polarity and then reconstituted in water. The water-solubilized extracts were then used in bioassays to assess their effects on nematode egg hatching, egg viability, and second-stage juvenile (J2) survival. Egg hatching and J2 viability of both Meloidogyne species were consistently affected by compounds in the 1-butanol fraction. Further characterization of these compounds may enable the development of novel, environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional nematode management strategies.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) persist in the environment due to their unique physicochemical properties and strong interactions with soil minerals. However, the molecular-scale mechanisms governing these interactions remain insufficiently understood. In this study, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used to elucidate the sorption behaviors of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on silicon dioxide (SiO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), two representative mineral oxides prevalent in soils. Sorption on SiO2 was weak and dominated by hydrophobic interactions, whereas sorption on Al2O3 was stronger and nonlinear, arising from combined electrostatic attraction between deprotonated carboxylate groups and positively charged surface sites together with hydrophobic association of fluorocarbon chains. PFOA exhibited the highest sorption affinity, followed by HFBA and TFA. Sorption on Al2O3 was well described by the Langmuir model, while the Freundlich and linear models better fit sorption on SiO2. Environmental variables exerted distinct effects: pH and temperature minimally influenced SiO2 but substantially reduced sorption on Al2O3; Ca2+ and Mg2+ enhanced PFOA sorption on SiO2 and simultaneously suppressed TFA and HFBA, while Cu2+ displayed a concentration-dependent dual behavior. On Al2O3, all cations suppressed sorption by compressing the electrical double layer. These results provide mechanistic insights into PFAS-mineral interactions and improve molecular-level understanding necessary for predicting PFAS mobility in subsurface environments.

Background and objectives: Various parts of Macaranga capensis are widely used in traditional folk medicine due to their health-promoting effects. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical constituents in the stem bark of M. capensis . Methodology: The stem bark of M. capensis was extracted using a methanol/dichloromethane (1:1) mixture, and the crude extract was subjected to chromatographic techniques to isolate the phytochemical constituents. Results: Chemical investigation of the stem bark of M. capenesis led to isolation of eight previously reported metabolites: chrysoeriol ( 1 ), isorhamnetin ( 2 ), kaempferol ( 3 ), 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-pentylisocoumarin ( 4 ), scopoletin ( 5 ), 3,3′-di- O -methylellagic acid-4′- O -α- L -rhamnopyranoside ( 6 ), 3,3ʹ,4′-trimethoxyellagic acid ( 7 ), and betulin ( 8 ). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with those reported in the literature. It is worth noting that all the compounds identified in this study are reported from Macaranga capensis for the first time. While isocoumarins are a class of lactonic natural products commonly found in microbes and higher plants, the identification of compound 4 represents the first report of its occurrence within the Euphorbiaceae family. Conclusion: The isolation of these compounds contributes to a deeper understanding of the chemical diversity within the Macaranga genus and underscores its potential therapeutic applications.

Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating the discovery of novel therapeutic agents from natural sources. This study explores the cytotoxic potential of phytochemicals extracted from the leaves of , focusing on five compounds: conglomeratin (1), macarangin (2), quercetin (3), 3,3',4'-trimethoxyellagic acid (4), and 3,3'-dimethoxyellagic acid (5). The efficacy of compounds 1-5 was assessed against MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HepG2 (liver cancer) cell lines, with conglomeratin (1) demonstrating remarkable cytotoxicity, evidenced by IC₅₀ values of 16.2 and 13.1 μM, respectively. In contrast, compounds 2-5 exhibited moderate efficacy, with IC₅₀ values exceeding 50 μM, while doxorubicin, the reference drug, showed potent activity at 0.69 μM (MCF-7) and 0.81 μM (HepG2). To unravel the molecular basis of conglomeratin efficacy, advanced molecular modeling, including docking and dynamics simulations, was employed to investigate its interactions with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) key regulators of cancer cell proliferation. The results confirmed conglomeratin as a potent mixed multitarget inhibitor, engaging both proteins through a network of hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking. These computational findings align with its superior in vitro cytotoxicity, positioning conglomeratin as a standout candidate among Macaranga-derived compounds for further development as an anticancer agent targeting human carcinomas.

Plant‐parasitic nematodes are among the most destructive plant pathogens, resulting in a global annual economic loss of about 358 billion dollars. Using synthetic nematicides to control plant‐parasitic nematodes has resulted in broad‐spectrum toxicity to the environment. Plant‐derived secondary metabolites have recently emerged as viable options that provide effective, greener, and renewable routes for managing plant‐parasitic nematodes in various cropping systems. However, limited comprehensive information on plant‐derived secondary metabolites sources, chemical structures, and nematicidal activities is available. This study aims to compile and analyze data on plant‐based secondary metabolites with nematicidal properties collected over the last two decades. In this review, we identified 262 plant‐based metabolites with nematicidal activities that were isolated from 35 plant families and 65 plant species. Alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, thiophenes, and annonaceous acetogenins were among the most studied compounds. In addition to the structure–activity relation for specific metabolites with nematicidal potency, various techniques for their extraction and isolation from plant material are discussed. Our findings demonstrate the potential of plants as a feedstock for sourcing nematicidal compounds and discovering new chemistries that could potentially be used for developing the next generation of nematicides. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Non-allergenic, plant-based water binders could improve the shelf life of beef patties, thereby reducing food waste. The objective of the current study was to optimize mustard extract addition for improvement of shelf stability and physical appearance of fresh beef patties. Non-allergenic water binder treatments included mustard extract (0.25%, 1.0%, and 2.0%), potato extract (2%; positive control), rosemary extract (2%; positive control), and no binder (negative control). Six batches of each treatment were made with shoulder clod and chuck roll. Two patties from each batch were analyzed for subjective color, objective color, fluid loss, oxidation, and pH. There was a difference between treatments for subjective color (P = 0.001) and objective color a* (P = 0.002). The 0.25% mustard extract-treated patties displayed less discoloration than patties treated with 2% mustard extract. The negative control patties had the highest amount of fluid loss, and rosemary-treated patties had the least (P = 0.014). The greatest amount of oxidation was seen in negative control patties (P = 0.001). Patties treated with mustard extract at all levels performed similarly to the positive controls at reducing oxidation.