Dwi Kusuma Wahyuni

Dengue virus (DENV) infection is caused by Aedes sp. mosquitoes such as A. aegypti, A. albopictus, and A. scutellaris. DENV has been reported to possess a cell tropism consisting of mast cells, fibroblasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, langerhans, and keratinocytes. Viral replication consists of various stages such as attachment, fusion, replication of genetic material, assembly, and virus release. Fusion inhibitors often act to interfere with the endocytosis process mediated by parts on the virus and host receptor. However, few previous studies have used in silico approaches to screen candidate DENV fusion inhibitors with bioactive compounds. Several volatile compounds such as flavonoids contained in Sonchus arvensis L. leaf extracts are predicted to have potential for treatment. Therefore, this study aims to determine the activity of volatile compounds from Sonchus arvensis L. to inhibit DENV fusion through in silico approach. The in silico methods used were ligand collection, protein retrieval, druglikeness prediction, virtual screening, molecular interaction analysis, molecular dynamics, toxicity profiling, and antiviral probability. The results showed that volatile compounds from Sonchus arvensis L. consisting of Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, Phytol, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl)ester, and Benzoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester could inhibit DENV fusion through binding to DENV proteins.

Copper (Cu) contamination in agricultural soils poses environmental risks and potential health hazards through food-chain transfer. Sonchus arvensis L., a widely consumed medicinal plant, has not been fully assessed for its capacity to accumulate heavy metals. This study investigated whether the species exhibits sufficient tolerance and uptake ability to evaluate its safety implications for human consumption while also assessing its ability to function as a phytoremediation agent. S. arvensis was cultivated in soils spiked with graded Cu concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg). Morphological responses, Cu partitioning between roots and shoots and phytoremediation ability were measured to determine its remediation potential. The plant survived across all treatments, showing dose-dependent stress symptoms but maintaining structural viability. Copper accumulation followed a clear pattern of root greater than shoot across all concentrations. Removal efficiency reached up to 43 % within 14 days, indicating rapid metal sequestration and demonstrating the species’ potential for phytostabilisation. However, Cu concentrations in aerial tissues exceeded international food safety limits (WHO) even at the lowest contamination level. These findings highlight a dual implication: S. arvensis is a promising, cost-effective candidate for stabilising Cu-contaminated soils, yet its ability to accumulate Cu in edible parts presents significant safety concerns. Regulation of its harvest in polluted environments is therefore essential.

Context: Sonchus arvensis L. is widely used both as a traditional medicine and as a nutritional vegetable for its diverse bioactivities. Despite its widespread use, a comprehensive evaluation of its phytochemical profile and therapeutic potential remains limited. Aims: To conduct a review for knowledge mapping on S. arvensis phytochemical composition, as well as its potential as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, antidiabetic, and anticancer agent reported in studies. Methods: A review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and March 2024 was performed using databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. A grey literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, university repositories, and industrial and governmental reports in Indonesia. Boolean operators such as “AND”, “OR”, and truncations were used to develop the search query. Relevant articles were identified by screening titles, abstracts, and full texts. Results: Eighty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. Most studies originated from Indonesia and involved in vitro (60%) and in vivo (39%) experiments. Leaf extracts (72%) and maceration methods (49%) were mostly investigated and used. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of abundant flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids. Pharmacological studies indicated significant antioxidant (24%) effect with several dominant bioactivity such as anti-hyperuricemia (12%), antibacterial (10,67%), anti-inflammatory (6,67%), antiplasmodial (6.67%), anti-diabetic (2.67%), anti-gout arthritis (4%), anticancer (4%), several organ protective effect (1-4%), and larvicidal effect (2.67%). Conclusions: The compiled evidence suggests that S. arvensis may serve as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with numerous therapeutic potentials. However, additional research is necessary to clarify its mechanisms, optimize the extraction method, and confirm its clinical safety and efficacy.

Dendrobium lineale Rolfe is an important orchid species used as a parent in breeding. Currently, this orchid is classified as an endangered species and is listed in Appendix II according to CITES. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sucrose and coconut water (CW) on the asymbiotic seed germination and shoot development of this endangered Indonesian orchid. In vitro orchid seed culture aids in conservation and reintroduction. Three‐month‐old hand‐pollinated seeds were sown on Vacin and Went (VW) solid medium supplemented with several concentrations of sucrose (10, 20, and 30 g/L) or without sucrose (controls). Seed germination and protocorm development were investigated 1, 2, and 3 months after sowing. To analyze the role of CW in subsequent shoot development and root formation, shoots with an approximately 1‐cm length and comprising 1‐2 leaves obtained following seed germination were cultured on VW medium supplemented with several concentrations of CW (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) and without CW (control) treatment. After 4 months of culture, the number of roots, the number of leaves, and dry weight of the plantlets were recorded. VW medium containing 20 g/L sucrose effectively enhanced seed germination (89%) and shoot formation with one or more leaves (stage 5) (46%). Supplementation with 20% CW in VW medium was suitable for shoot development, resulting in well‐developed roots and leaves and improved fresh weight of plantlets compared with those in the other treatments. Moreover, 87% of the acclimatized plantlets survived. This protocol is an efficient method for the in vitro mass production and conservation of this endangered epiphytic orchid using asymbiotic seed culture.

Accurate species identification is fundamental to biodiversity studies, conservation, and the utilization of medicinal plants. The genusSonchus(Asteraceae) presents significant taxonomic challenges due to morphological plasticity and potential hybridization. DNA barcoding using the chloroplastrbcLand nuclear ribosomal ITS2 regions was used to delimit threeSonchusspecies (S. arvensis,S. oleraceus, andS. malayanus) collected from Bromo Mountain, Indonesia. To complement molecular data and explore chemotaxonomic markers, leaf metabolite profiles were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). TherbcLmarker showed high sequence conservation (99.58-100% identity) across species, confirming genus-level identification but failing to resolve species boundaries. The ITS2 region exhibited moderate variation (98.03-100% identity), with substantial overlap amongS. asper,S. oleraceus, andS. malayanus, suggesting recent divergence or possible conspecificity. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis of both markers clustered accessions into broad clades corresponding to continental and island lineages, though low intraspecific divergence obscured taxonomic resolution. In contrast, GC-MS profiling revealed distinct species-specific chemotypes.Sonchus arvensiswas characterized by high abundances of neophytadiene (27.46%) and phytol (13.22%).Sonchus oleraceuscontained phytol (23.28%) as the major compound, with lower levels of neophytadiene (6.59%) and several methylated fatty acid esters.Sonchus malayanusdisplayed a distinct profile dominated by compounds with lower identification confidence, including (E)-4-trimethylsilyl-3-buten-2-ol (19.21%), alongside confidently identified guaiacol and trimethylamine. The discordance between molecular and chemical data underscores the limitations of single-locus barcoding in closely relatedSonchusspecies. This study demonstrates that integrative taxonomy, combining molecular, phytochemical, and morphological evidence, provides a more robust framework for species delimitation in this genus. The identified volatile compounds, particularly neophytadiene and phytol, represent promising chemotaxonomic markers and warrant further investigation for their ecological and pharmacological significance.

This study investigates the effects of glutamine supplementation on the morphology, anatomy, biomass, production of secondary metabolites, in-vitro antioxidant, and antiplasmodial activity of Sonchus arvensis L. callus. Callus was induced from leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), and subsequently treated with glutamine (0-350 mg/L). Glutamine supplementation affected callus morphology and anatomy, yielding mainly compact callus types. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed a variety of metabolites in the callus extracts. Notably, a total of 51 metabolites were detected only in the glutamine-treated callus. In silico prediction suggested antioxidant and antimalarial potential for probable major compounds, including methyl α-D-glucopyranoside, methyl β-D-glucopyranoside, n-hexadecanoic acid, (9Z,12Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, and stigmasterol. In vitro assays highlight that glutamine supplementation enhanced the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity by up to two-fold and increased the Plasmodium falciparum inhibition by up to three-fold compared to the control callus, with 250 mg/L glutamine being most effective. These findings provide novel insights into the glutamine’s role in S. arvensis L. callus culture and demonstrate its potential to increase the valuable bioactive compounds production, particularly those with antimalarial activity.

Sonchus arvensissubsp.arvensisis a perennial plant that serves both as a traditional medicinal herb and a prolific invasive weed. Its recent introduction to Southeast Asia, including Java, Indonesia, poses a potential threat to native biodiversity, yet its genetic provenance and invasion history in the region are uncharacterized. To provide a reliable species-level identification, we employed DNA barcoding of the chloroplast genesrbcLandmatK. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that samples from the four geographically distinct areas were genetically uniform based on these markers and were placed within a clade containing EurasianS. arvensisaccessions. The invader was distinct from the native AustralasianSonchusspecies. This work represents the first molecular confirmation ofS. arvensisin Java using DNA barcodes. While it establishes species identity, further genomic studies are required to resolve the population history, introduction pathway, and ecological impact of this invasive species.

Exogenous calcium is pivotal in activating microspore embryogenesis via calcium signaling. Altering the external calcium levels in the medium has been documented to impact the success rate of microspore embryogenesis initiation. However, the cellular effects on the formation of embryogenic tobacco microspore and its cellular changes during stress treatment remain elusive. We examined microspore cytological development, specifically vacuolation types and first division pattern. We also used Fluo 3-AM staining to observe the calcium dynamics, including accumulation and distribution of intracellular calcium ions (Ca²⁺) under fluorescent microscope. Metabolomic analysis of induced microspores was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The result showed that at 2.0 mM CaCl₂.2H₂O treatment, 57.06 ± 6.95% of microspores exhibited star-like structures, and 47.39 ± 8.84% underwent symmetric first division, twice as effective as 1.0 mM. Fluo 3-AM staining revealed increased Ca²⁺ fluorescence on day one, persisting in 2.0 mM treatment by day three. By day six, fluorescence in 1.0 mM and 2.0 mM treatments significantly differed. Intracellular Ca²⁺ signals rose with 1.0 mM CaCl₂.2H₂O and fell with 2.0 mM CaCl₂.2H₂O. The metabolomic analysis detected 34 metabolites, including amino acids, organic acids, and fatty acids, with predominant oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acids. We conclude that two millimolar of calcium chloride was optimum for inducing embryogenic microspore formation in tobacco. Our findings underscore the significant role of exogenous calcium in microspore embryogenesis, elucidating its impact on cellular dynamics and metabolite profiles. These insights contribute to hold potential implications for enhancing crop breeding strategies.