Depression is a complex psychiatric disturbance involving many environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. Until now, genetic, and non-genetic studies are still on the way to understanding the complex mechanism of this disease, and there are still many questions that have not yet been answered. Depression includes a large spectrum of heterogeneous symptoms correlated to the deficit of a range of psychological, cognitive, and emotional processes, and it affects various age groups. It is classified into several types according to the severity of symptoms, time of occurrence, and time. Following the World Health Organization (WHO), depression attacks near 350 million persons globally. Several factors overlap in causing depression, including genetic and epigenetic factors, environmental conditions, various stresses, lack of some nutrients to which people are exposed, and excessive stress and abuse in childhood. This study included conducting surveys on depression and new treatment trends based on epigenetic factors associated with the occurrence of the disease. Epigenetic factors provide a completely novel dimension to therapeutic approaches as most diseases are not monogenic, and it is likely that the environment has a significant contribution. Epigenetic inheritance is included in many mental and psychiatric disorders such as depression. In general, epigenetic modifications could be summarized in 3 major points: DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-mediated regulation of RNA (ncRNA). This study also describes some genes associated with one of the depressive disorders using bioinformatics tools and gene bank and had the genes: SLC6A4, COMT, TPH2, FKBP5, MDD1, HTR2A, and MDD2. As in this study, the awareness of Saudi society about depression and its genetic and non-genetic causes was estimated. The results showed that an encouraging percentage of more than half of the research sample possessed correct information about this disorder.

Information regarding the germination and seedling growth behavior of a potential weed species is an important tool to manage weeds without the use of agricultural chemicals that cause harmful effects on human health and the environment. A series of experiments were directed to investigate the influence of different environmental factors (temperature, pH, NaCl, moisture stress, and seed burial depth) on germination and seedling emergence of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) under controlled conditions. Results suggested that 25 °C is the optimum temperature for maximum germination (95%) and seedling growth of perennial ryegrass, however, a quick decline was observed at 35 °C. Seed germination was unaffected by pH levels ranging from 5 to 10. The 92% seed germination was recorded where no salt stress was applied and germination was reduced by 87% at 250 mMNaCl concentration. Seed germination was unaffected by osmotic potential ranges from 0 to − 0.4 MPa thereafter declined and completely inhibited at − 0.8 or − 1.0 MPa. No seed emerged at the soil surface or a soil depth of 6 or 7 cm and 90% emergence occurred at 1 cmsoil depth. The germination and seedlings parameters like time to initial germination, mean germination time, time taken to 50% germination and germination index, root and shoot length, and fresh and dry weight of root and shoot are significantly affected with the environmental factors. The information obtained in this study will be helpful to develop better management strategies for germination and the emergence of perennial ryegrass in areas where it has the ability to rapidly colonize.

Introduction: Inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a potential strategy in inflammation therapy. Thus, developing COX-2 inhibitors plays a pivotal role in efficient inflammation treatment. This study discloses the synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds incorporating pyridine, pyran, and/or pyrazole moieties as COX-2 inhibitors. Methods: In this study, the Claisen–Schmidt reaction of 1-(5-hydroxy-1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)ethan-1-one 1 and p-methoxybenzaldehyde in ethanol containing aqueous sodium hydroxide (10%) led to the formation of 1-(5-hydroxy-1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one) 2. The latter compound was allowed to react as a key precursor with various nucleophiles such as ethyl cyanoacetate, malononitrile, cyclohexanone, ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine, cyano acid hydrazide, hydrazide, and/or thiosemicarbazide to yield new heterocyclic derivatives comprising pyridine, pyran, and/or pyrazole moieties 3–15, according to the Michael addition reaction. The newly synthesized compounds were depicted using spectroscopic techniques such as IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and MS. Moreover, their anti-inflammatory efficiency was in vitro evaluated by means of protein denaturation inhibition and cell membrane protection assay. Results: The results of 2^−ΔΔct values of COX-2 expression for compounds 6, 11, 12, and 13 were 6.6, 2.9, 25.8, and 10.1, respectively. Therefore, compound 12, followed by 13, 11, and 6, showed potent anti-inflammatory properties by in vitro evaluation. Further, an in silico molecular docking study was performed on the best-docked compounds and reference drug (Diclofenac) to investigate their binding affinities against the active site of the target enzyme. The obtained results from the in silico study aligned with the biological evaluation. Conclusions: The studies open new doors for designing new heterocycles containing pyridine, pyran, and/or pyrazole moieties as potent anti-inflammatory agents.

Clitoria ternatea is a native plant with medicinal and nutritive significance in Asia. The goal of this work was to examine the antiproliferative role of Clitoria ternatea against colorectal (HCT116), breast (MCF-7), and thyroid (TT) cancer cell lines at cellular and molecular levels. A phytochemical analysis, the cytotoxic effect, an apoptotic induction cell cycle analysis, and the expression level of GAX, DIABLO, and NAIP1 genes were assessed. The plant extract exhibited a clear cytotoxic action against the utilized cancer cell lines via a low IC50, foremost by means of cell cycle arrest at the pre-G0, G1, and S phases associated with an apoptotic induction. An apparent raise in the mRNA levels of GAX and DIABLO and a concomitant decrease in the NAIP1 mRNA level were observed in the used cancer cells treated with the IC50 of the plant extract. This study concluded that an ethanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea induced apoptotic cell death, suggesting that it could possibly be utilized as a new source of an apoptosis-inducing anticancer agent for colon, breast, and medullary thyroid cancer cell line treatments with further detailed studies.

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the most destructive pest of stored grain commodities. To control the attack of this insect pest, it is important to develop non-hazardous alternatives to replace fumigants. This study examined the fumigant toxicity and repellent activity of seven essential oils (Chinopodium ambrosiodes, Pinus roxburghii, Zanthoxylum armatum, Lepidium sativum, Azadirachta indica, Baccharis teindalensis, and Origanum majorana) against adult T. castaneum under controlled laboratory conditions. The fumigant toxicity and repellent activities of essential oils were tested using five different doses (62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg) in vapour-phase fumigation and four-arm olfactometer bioassays, respectively. In vapor-phase fumigation bioassays, mortality data were recorded after 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii essential oils are potential fumigants against adult T. castaneum. In repellency bioassays, a one-week-old adult population of T. castaneum was used to test the repellency potential of the essential oils. The results indicated that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii had significant repellency potential against T. castaneum. Overall, we conclude that these essential oils have strong repellent and fumigant properties and can be used as potential repellent compounds to deter the insects.