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Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 4, Volume 15, 2023: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting research or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Medicinal potential and health benefits of torch ginger (Etlingera elatior); Phytochemical profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of crude latex (Pergularia tomentosa L.) in Algerian Saharan; Extractive optimization of antioxidants and phenolic compounds from Anacyclus pyrethrum; Antimicrobial and mosquito larvicidal activity of iron oxide nanoparticles phytosynthesized from the medicinal plant Andrographis serpyllifolia; Phytochemical characterization, biological screening and corrosion inhibition of mild steel from extracts of Juniperus oxycedrus L.; Supply of essential and nonessential amino acids, proteins, antioxidants, iron and zinc from the main varieties of beans consumed in Mexico and their potential for biofortification; Seed dormancy mechanism and dormancy-breaking methods in wild raspberry (Rubus fraxinifolius Poir.); New insights regarding the taxonomy and phylogeography of Onobrychis montana DC. subsp. transsilvanica (Fabaceae); Estimating dendrometric variables, volume and carbon from stump diameter for Pinus arizonica Engelm. in northern Mexico.

The present study evaluates the potentiality of green silver nanoparticles from the leaves and fruit extracts of Phyllanthus acidus L. against third instar larvae of two vector mosquitoes namely Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex vishnui. Various spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Synthesized silver nanoparticles from both the leaf and fruits of P. acidus were spherical to quasi-spherical in shape and showed Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) bands at 420 and 409 nm respectively. In larvicidal bioassay with synthesized AgNPs from the leave of P. acidus, 100% mortality was observed at 20 ppm against third instar larvae of both the mosquito species with LC50 values of 1.64 and 0.87 ppm respectively. 100% mortality was observed in 5 ppm concentration against both Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. vishnui in synthesized AgNPs from fruits of P. acidus with LC50 values of 1.62 and 1.24 ppm respectively. The above findings suggest that the AgNPs synthesized from P. acidus leaves and fruit extracts have the potential to be employed in vector mosquito population control.

In this study, mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.) were stored together with sweet peppers to simulate mixed load shipping conditions. Sheets of Nitric oxide with different concentrations (40, 60 and 80 ml/l) were placed in mango packages. Sets with different treatments of treated and or untreated (control) mango fruits were placed together with sweet peppers, then each of treatments was kept separated in cold-storage rooms at 10 °C + 90% RH, for 35 days. Samples from mangos and sweet peppers were examined at 7 days’ intervals for physical and chemical quality parameters. For both mango fruits and sweet peppers nitric oxide at 60 ml/l treatment showed a significant reduction of weight loss and decay percentages, and maintained general appearance, fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid content, and total sugars. Total chlorophyll also was steadily maintained. Hence nitric oxide at 60 ml/l significantly proved to be a potential treatment to delay ripening and keeping better overall quality attributes of both mango and sweet peppers fruits stored together as compared to other treatments and control under cold storage conditions.

Tribolium castaneum also known as red flour beetle is one of the most important pests of stored grain product with a cosmopolitan distribution in Nigeria and all over the world contributing to food spoilage. The aim of this study was to characterize the T. castaneum by morphometric and molecular analyses. Samples of yam flour with evidence of the red flour beetles present inside were obtained from four locations in Kwara, Kogi, Oyo and Ekiti states in Nigeria. Morphological and molecular identifications of T. castaneum were carried out using standard methods. A dissecting microscope was used to identify the beetles and measurements were taken using ImageJ. Genomic DNA was extracted and checked on 1.5% agarose gel to confirm the presence of DNA. Species-specific primers were used to amplify mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of T. castaneum and the PCR amplicon size was also checked on 1.5% agarose. Morphometric measurements showed that the highest mean number (33.00±4.24 mm) of T. castaneum larvae observed was recorded on day 61 in Ilorin and the lowest was in Iwo, Osun state (4.00±0.00 mm) on the same day. The mean of the total body length of larvae from sampling sites was (1.31±0.37 mm) with minimum and (1.63±1.14 mm) maximum lengths respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the mean length of the larvae collected from the study locations. Aligned cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of 313bp were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis inferred by maximum likelihood method showed that the T. castaneum sequences analyzed for this study and sequences obtained from GenBank formed a monophyletic group. The molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of a single species of T. castaneum. The results from this study showed low levels of genetic diversity and variability in the studied T. castaneum populations. The observed genetic similarity in T. castaneum could be due to the fact that they were probably from similar origin when compared with those in the GenBank database. However, further studies are needed with more samples to characterize T. castaneum species from stored food grains across Nigeria.

Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag. is a Moroccan endemic species well appreciated as a remedy against toothache, digestive disorders, and as a tonic agent for the nervous system. This work aims to select the best solvents for extracting antioxidants and optimize their extraction using a surface mixture design. In this study, eleven solvents with different polarities were screened for their efficiency to extract total phenolic compounds and other molecules endowed with antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and total antioxidant activities. The selected solvent was subjected to response surface methodology using a simplex axial mixture design to optimize the extraction of polyphenols and antioxidants. The results showed a significant influence of solvent nature on extraction. Water, ethanol, chloroform, and methanol were the most effective solvents to achieve good polyphenol yields. The best yield is obtained using the tertiary mixture “water-methanol-ethanol”. The anti-radical activity in A. pyrethrum was significantly influenced by the extraction solvent's nature and the mixture's nature. The percentage of inhibition of DPPH was higher in both extracts obtained with the ternary mixture and binary mixtures “water-methanol” and “water-ethanol”. the best total antioxidant capacity was observed for pure water, followed by binary mixtures including water. This study revealed a good synergetic effect between water and both ethanol and methanol on extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the ternary mixture with the following proportions: water 75%; ethanol 11%; methanol 14% was the most efficient.

Information of dark septate endophyte (DSE), arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), and fine root endophyte (FRE) fungal symbioses of aroids in the Western Ghats region are very low. Therefore, we assessed the endorrhizal symbiosis in 25 aroid species belonging to 16 genera of Araceae from six different locations of the Western Ghats. The results revealed co-occurrence of the DSE and AM symbiosis in all the examined aroids, and FRE presence in seven aroids (Alocasia ´ amazonica, Alocasia sp., Anthurium andraeanum, Epipremnum aureum, Spathiphyllum sp., Syngonium podophyllum, and Zantedeschia aethiopica). We found variance in root length having AM (inter and intracellular hyphae, arbuscules, vesicles and arbusculate coils) and DSE (melanized septate hyphae, microsclerotia, and moniliform hyphae) fungal structures. Moreover, the AM fungal morphology of Arum-Paris type was widespread, and intermediate type morphology reported for the first time in five aroids. AM fungi colonized the roots of Philodendron xanadu the most, followed by DSE in Caladium bicolor, and FRE in Spathiphyllum sp. AM fungal spores were present in all aroid soils examined. The percentage of root length comprising FRE hyphae was significantly and positively correlated root length with FRE arbuscules, AM fungal spore numbers and total colonization. Our study revealed that, the aroids tend to form associations with various endorrhizal fungi. 

Earthworm growth and reproduction is influenced by the environmental variables such as temperature, moisture, substrate and nutrient content in vermibed materials. By using different kind of dietary supplements with the conventional vermibed materials raise the development and reproductive potential of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae. The current study evaluated on particular periods such as 10th, 45th, and 90th day in vermibins with dietary supplements in the ratio of 1:1 the 50% Ficus religiosa leaf litters + 50% cow dung (T1); 50% Lawsonia inermis leaf litters + 50% cow dung (T2); 50% sugarcane bagasse + 50% cow dung (T3) was used and 100% cow dung serves as control (C). Among these vermibins, T3 vermibin treated earthworms had the highest growth, reproduction, highest sperm count in the seminal vesicle, hatching success, and also increased the metabolic profile of earthworms such as protein, carbohydrate, and lipids in tissues and seminal vesicle. Compared to the other nutritional supplements, the present study result revealed that cow dung and sugarcane bagasse together have a significant positive impact on earthworm growth and reproduction. This study emphasized on the enhancement of the reproductive capacity of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae by incorporating different dietary supplements with the traditional vermicomposting methods. This also helps to analyse the influence of the metabolic profile in the growth and development and even on the reproductive index of the earthworm which is been observed on three different period: 10th, 45th and 90th day of experimentation. In the current research multi output can be ensured by integrating with production of crops, vermicompost, earthworm growth and waste management. This present study also represents that the open dumping of such a huge quantity of dung materials and plant and animal wastes will create environmental pollution and benefits for soil fertility improvement.

The aim of this research was to study the effect of solvent polarity and extraction technique of phenolic compounds from Juniperus oxycedrus L. on antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Also, this paper aims to evaluate the anti-corrosive effect of aqueous extracts. In order to evaluate the effect of solvents on the bioactive compound’s extraction efficiency, the samples were prepared with different extraction procedures. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts were prepared by using Soxhlet and maceration extraction and aqueous extracts were obtained by decoction and infusion methods. Moreover, six fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol and aqueous) were prepared by partition of ethanolic extract. All the extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening; the results show the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, triterpenes and steroids. The study of the effect of extraction methods revealed that the decoction is the most suitable for the extraction of phenolic compounds. Moreover, depending on the solvent studied, it was noted that the ethanol showed a high level of flavonoids and the high antioxidant capacity. The extracts were also tested for their antibacterial activity in vitro against two bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) using the disc diffusion method. The results of antibacterial showed that the highest activity was attributed to ethanolic extract with a maximum zone of inhibition of 13 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. The corrosion inhibition effect of the aqueous extracts in mild steel in 1 M HCl solution showed that the extracts inhibit effectively corrosion of mild steel.