In recent decades, water pollution has become a major concern, threatening both humans and natural ecosystems. This study aims to analyze seasonal variations in the quality of surface water of the Nador Canal in Morocco, using the water quality index (WQI) and principal component analysis (PCA). Surface water samples from 22 sites along the canal were analyzed for physical, chemical, and heavy metal parameters. The results of the study revealed significant seasonal variations, with water quality decreasing in the summer months, while its quality generally improved in winter. The predominant water type was Na⁺-Cl⁻ in summer, while it was the mixed Ca²⁺-Na⁺-HCO₃⁻ water type in winter. WQI values also varied seasonally, with an average of 113.04 in summer and 160.6 in winter, classifying the water as unsuitable for drinking but suitable for irrigation throughout the year. The results of the water quality index are consistent with the results of the principal component analysis of surface water in the Nador Canal, where the results of the principal component analysis showed that there are significant seasonal variations in water quality. In both summer and winter, major ions like magnesium, sodium, and calcium predominantly indicate influences from natural and anthropogenic sources. In winter, heavy metals and nutrients, signaling pollution from industrial and agricultural runoff, become especially prominent. These variations are influenced by rainfall patterns and agricultural runoff, emphasizing the need for adaptive water management practices to maintain crop and soil health. This study provides new insights into the dynamic interplay between seasonal factors and water quality, offering valuable guidance for local water resource management.

In the present study, Melia azedarach wood samples that were treated with the methanolic extract of Musa paradisiaca L. peels were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya solani, Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas cichorii, Serratia pylmuthica, Fusarium culmorum, and Rhizoctonia solani. The strongest antibacterial activity was only found against A. tumefaciens (inhibition zone 90 mm), while the other bacterial strains showed resistance to wood that was treated with the extract. Potential antifungal activity against F. culmorum and R. solani was observed; the mycelial growth inhibition percentages reached 68.88% and 94.07%, respectively, in wood samples that were treated with the 3% methanolic extract of M. paradisiaca peel. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of seven phenolic compounds and three flavonoid compounds, as their peaks were matched with the standard compounds in a HPLC analysis. The major constituents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in mg/100 g dry extract (DE) were ellagic acid (16.19), gallic acid (7.73), rutin (973.08), myricetin (11.52), and naringenin (8.47). The results demonstrated the potential effects of banana peel extract as a natural compound that can protect wood from molds while in use.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a notable health care load that imposes a serious impact on the quality of life of patients. The small amount of reported data and multiple spectra of pathophysiological mechanisms of T2DM make it a challenging task and serious economic burden in health care management. Abrus precatorius L. is a slender, perennial, deciduous, and woody twining plant used in various regions of Asia to treat a variety of ailments, including diabetes mellitus. Various in vitro studies revealed the therapeutic significance of A. precatorius against diabetes. However, the exact molecular mechanism remains unclarified. In the present study, a network pharmacology technique was employed to uncover the active ingredients, their potential targets, and signaling pathways in A. precatorius for the treatment of T2DM. In the framework of this study, we explored the active ingredient–target–pathway network and figured out that abrectorin, abrusin, abrisapogenol J, sophoradiol, cholanoic acid, precatorine, and cycloartenol decisively contributed to the development of T2DM by affecting AKT1, MAPK3, TNFalpha, and MAPK1 genes. Later, molecular docking was employed to validate the successful activity of the active compounds against potential targets. Lastly, we conclude that four highly active constituents, namely, abrusin, abrisapogenol J, precatorine, and cycloartenol, help in improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin and regulate the expression of AKT1, MAPK3, TNFalpha, and MAPK1, which may act as potential therapeutic targets of T2DM. Integrated network pharmacology and docking analysis revealed that A. precatorius exerted a promising preventive effect on T2DM by acting on diabetes-associated signaling pathways. This provides a basis to understand the mechanism of the anti-diabetes activity of A. precatorius.

Increased problems associated with side effects and bacterial resistance of chemical drugs has prompted the research focus on herbal medicines in the past few decades. In the present investigation, the antimicrobial activity of the various parts of Avicennia marina (AM), a mangrove plant, has been evaluated. The plants were collected from the Jazan area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Primary extracts of roots, stem, leaves, fruits, and seeds were made in ethanol and fractioned in ethanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, chloroform, and water. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were determined against Bacillussubtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. It has been observed that the chloroform extract of roots of the AM exhibited inhibitory effects against both S. aureus (MIC = 1.5 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and E. coli (MIC = 1.7 ± 0.01 mg/mL). The ethanolic extract of the AM roots has shown antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 10.8 ± 0.78 mg/mL), Bacillussubtilis (MIC = 6.1 ± 0.27 mg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 2.3 ± 0.08 mg/mL), and Escherichia coli (MIC = 6.3 ± 0.28 mg/mL). The leaf extract of the AM in ethyl acetate showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Antifungal activity of these extracts was also investigated against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Ethanolic extract of roots and seeds of the AM has shown antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus when applied individually. Ethanolic extract of the AM fruits has shown an inhibitory effect on the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. It is suggested that the plant extracts of AM have tremendous antimicrobial activity against a group of microbes, and this effect depends on both the plant part and the solvent used for extraction. Therefore, this plant can be considered to treat various diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

In the present work, essential oils (EOs) extracted from different parts of sour orange Citrus aurantium (green leaves/twigs, small branches, wooden branches, and branch bark) were studied through gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Furthermore, the EOs in the amounts of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 µL were studied for their antibacterial activity against three pathogenic bacteria, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya solani, and Erwinia amylovora. The main EO compounds in the leaves/twigs were 4-terpineol (22.59%), D-limonene (16.67%), 4-carvomenthenol (12.84%), and linalool (7.82%). In small green branches, they were D-limonene (71.57%), dodecane (4.80%), oleic acid (2.72%), and trans-palmitoleic acid (2.62%), while in branch bark were D-limonene (54.61%), γ-terpinene (6.68%), dodecane (5.73%), and dimethyl anthranilate (3.13%), and in branch wood were D-limonene (38.13%), dimethyl anthranilate (8.13%), (-)-β-fenchol (6.83%), and dodecane (5.31%). At 25 µL, the EO from branches showed the highest activity against A. tumefaciens (IZ value of 17.66 mm), and leaves/twigs EO against D. solani and E. amylovora had an IZ value of 17.33 mm. It could be concluded for the first time that the wood and branch bark of C. aurantium are a source of phytochemicals, with D-limonene being the predominant compound in the EO, with potential antibacterial activities. The compounds identified in all the studied parts might be appropriate for many applications, such as antimicrobial agents, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.