Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Chemical Profiling of Commiphora myrrha Resin Extracts and Evaluation of Larvicidal, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities.

Plant extracts and essential oils can be alternative environmentally friendly agents to combat pathogenic microbes and malaria vectors. Myrrh is an aromatic oligum resin that is extracted from the stem of Commiphora spp. It is used in medicine as an insecticide, cytotoxic, and aromatic. The current study assessed the effect of Commiphora myrrha resin extracts on the biological potency of the third larval stage of Aedes aegypti, as well as its antioxidant and cytotoxic properties against two types of tumor cells (HepG-2 and Hela cell lines). It also used GC-MS to determine the chemical composition of the C. myrrha resin extracts. Fifty components from the extracted plant were tentatively identified using the GC-MS method, with curzerene (33.57%) typically listed as the primary ingredient, but other compounds also make up a significant portion of the mixture, including 1-Methoxy-3,4,5,7-tetramethylnaphthalene (15.50%), ß-Elemene (5.80%), 2-Methoxyfuranodiene (5.42%), 2-Isopropyl-4,7-Dimethyl-1-Naphthol (4.71%), and germacrene B (4.35%). The resin extracts obtained from C. myrrha exhibited significant efficacy in DPPH antioxidant activity, as evidenced by an IC50 value of 26.86 mg/L and a radical scavenging activity percentage of 75.06%. The 50% methanol extract derived from C. myrrha resins exhibited heightened potential for anticancer activity. It demonstrated substantial cytotoxicity against HepG-2 and Hela cells, with IC50 values of 39.73 and 29.41 µg mL-1, respectively. Notably, the extract showed non-cytotoxic activity against WI-38 normal cells, with an IC50 value exceeding 100 µg mL-1. Moreover, the selectivity index for HepG-2 cancer cells (2.52) was lower compared to Hela cancer cells (3.40). Additionally, MeOH resin extracts were more efficient against the different growth stages of the mosquito A. aegypti, with lower LC50, LC90, and LC95 values of 251.83, 923.76, and 1293.35 mg/L, respectively. In comparison to untreated groups (1454 eggs/10 females), the average daily number of eggs deposited (424 eggs/L) decreases at higher doses (1000 mg/L). Finally, we advise continued study into the possible use of C. myrrha resins against additional pests that have medical and veterinary value, and novel chemicals from this extract should be isolated and purified for use in medicines.

Spices as Sustainable Food Preservatives: A Comprehensive Review of Their Antimicrobial Potential.

Throughout history, spices have been employed for their pharmaceutical attributes and as a culinary enhancement. The food industry widely employs artificial preservatives to retard the deterioration induced by microbial proliferation, enzymatic processes, and oxidative reactions. Nevertheless, the utilization of these synthetic preservatives in food products has given rise to significant apprehension among consumers, primarily stemming from the potential health risks that they pose. These risks encompass a spectrum of adverse effects, including but not limited to gastrointestinal disorders, the disruption of gut microbiota, allergic reactions, respiratory complications, and concerns regarding their carcinogenic properties. Consequently, consumers are displaying an increasing reluctance to purchase preserved food items that contain such additives. Spices, known for their antimicrobial value, are investigated for their potential as food preservatives. The review assesses 25 spice types for their inherent antimicrobial properties and their applicability in inhibiting various foodborne microorganisms and suggests further future investigations regarding their use as possible natural food preservatives that could offer safer, more sustainable methods for extending shelf life. Future research should delve deeper into the use of natural antimicrobials, such as spices, to not only replace synthetic preservatives but also optimize their application in food safety and shelf-life extension. Moreover, there is a need for continuous innovation in encapsulation technologies for antimicrobial agents. Developing cost-effective and efficient methods, along with scaling up production processes, will be crucial to competing with traditional antimicrobial options in terms of both efficacy and affordability.

The Life Cycle of the Xylophagous Beetle, Steraspis speciosa (Coleoptera, Buprestidae), Feeding on Acacia Trees in Saudi Arabia.

The xylophagous beetle, Steraspis speciosa, has infected Acacia forests in Saudi Arabia, causing significant damage and even leading to the death of several trees. In the Ha'il region, in the north of Saudi Arabia, an investigation of 13 study sites shows that the Acacia population is mainly composed of three species: A. gerrardii (90.3%), A. ehrenbergiana (7.5%), and A. raddiana (2.2%) and that 21.7% of this population was infected by S. speciosa. The age of the tree (young, adult, old) and environment habitat (Dam, Wadi, Plateau) effects, and insect life-cycle were studied in the protected Machar National Park. Infection in the park, estimated at 25.4%, mainly affects the oldest trees (20.1%) more than the youngest ones (2.3%), while the driest environments (Plateau, 38.8%) are more vulnerable to infection than humid habitats (Dam, 9.4%). The life cycle of S. speciosa lasts about two years, with four stages to complete metamorphosis: mating and eggs (≈3 months), larvae (≈16 months), pupae (≈3 months), and emergency and adults (≈3 months). The larvae stage with many metamorphic instars was the most harmful for tree and takes the longest. The female beetle lays its eggs on weak stem parts. Steraspis speciosa larvae feed on the stems of Acacia trees, and the instar larvae were gathered under the bark of infected stems, harming most of the phloem and a large portion of the xylem. When combined with a prolonged period of drought, S. speciosa causes the withering of numerous branches and, in extreme cases, kills the entire tree.

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Pathogenesis-Related Protein-1 Gene (AvPR-1) with Induced Expression in Oat (Avena sativa L.) during Abiotic and Hormonal Stresses.

Pathogenesis-related protein-1 (PR-1) plays crucial roles in regulating plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the first PR-1 (AvPR-1) gene in oat (Avena sativa L.). AvPR-1 presented conserved signal peptide motifs and core amino acid composition in the functional protein domains as the protein sequence of AvPR-1 presented 98.28%, 97.7%, and 95.4% identity with known PR1 proteins isolated from Triticum aestivum PRB1-2-like, Triticum dicoccoides PRB1-2-like, and Aegilops tauschii subsp. tauschii, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the AvPR-1 protein belongs to the CAP superfamily (PF00188). Secondary and 3D structure analyses of the AvPR-1 protein were also conducted, confirming sequence conservation of PR-1 among studied species. The AvPR-1 protein harbors a calmodulin-binding domain located in its C-terminal part as previously shown for its wheat homolog TdPR1.2. Moreover, gene expression analysis showed that AvPR-1 was induced in response to many abiotic and hormonal stresses especially in leaves after treatment for 48 h. This is the first study exhibiting the expression profiles of the AvPR-1 gene under different stresses in oat.