This study examined the phytochemical profile and biomedical activities of Nitraria retusa, a halophytic and drought-resistant shrub. HPLC analysis showed gallic acid (1905.1 μg/g), catechin (1984.1 μg/g), and ellagic acid (2671.1 μg/g) as the primary constituents, while FT-IR analysis revealed a complex organic profile with significant functional groups. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in DPPH assays, outperforming ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 18.7 ± 1.0 μg/mL) with an IC₅₀ of 16.4 ± 4.4 μg/mL. It demonstrated specific antiproliferative effects on cancer cell lines as it showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines; normal WI38 cells were largely unaffected, showing 50.0% viability at 125 μg/mL. The most sensitive cell line was Caco2, which showed 50.0% viability at 125 μg/mL. Anti-diabetic properties were exhibited by means of inhibition of α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 68.2 ± 4.2 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 22.8 ± 3.3 μg/mL). Additionally, antimicrobial activity was observed to be broad-spectrum, and it was most effective against E. coli (32.6 mm inhibition zone at 400 μg/mL) and Penicillium glabrum (35.3 mm at 400 μg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of N. retusa in developing plant-based therapeutic approaches.

Several microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to participate in adipogenesis. However, their role in this process, especially in the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes, remains to be elucidated. This study was intended to clarify the effect of microRNA-33a (miR-33a) on the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes by cell culture, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), Oil Red staining, BODIPY staining, and Western blotting. The results indicate that overexpression of miR-33a significantly inhibited lipid droplet accumulation and decreased the mRNA and protein expression of adipocyte differentiation marker genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4). In contrast, the interference expression of miR-33a promoted lipid droplet accumulation and increased the expression of marker genes. Additionally, miR-33a directly targeted insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) and regulated the phosphorylation level of serine/threonine kinase (Akt). Furthermore, miR-33a inhibition could rescue defects in the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes and the Akt phosphorylation level caused by small interfering IRS2 (si-IRS2). Collectively, these results indicate that miR-33a could inhibit the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes, possibly through the IRS2–Akt pathway. These findings might help develop practical means to improve the quality of beef.

Pumpkin has received significant attention due to its nutritional compounds that have antioxidant, antifatigue, and anti‐inflammatory effects. This study is aimed at assessing the antidepressant‐like effect of L. Cucurbita pepo, sweet pumpkin, in an animal model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and investigating its effect on the histological structure of hippocampus compared to fluoxetine. Forty male albino rats assigned into the negative control, positive control (CUMS), and Flu‐treated and pumpkin‐treated groups (n = 10) were utilized in this study. Exposing rats to CUMS continued for 28 days, and treatments used were applied during the last 14 days of exposure. Behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological changes were assessed after 28 days. In this study, pumpkin significantly reduced the immobility time (p = 0.02), corticosterone (p < 0.001), TNF‐α, IL‐6 (p < 0.001), and malondialdehyde (p = 0.003), whereas it significantly increased the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the serum of rats exposed to CUMS. Pumpkin markedly relieved the degenerative and atrophic changes observed in the CA3 region and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. It significantly reduced caspase‐3 and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoexpression in the CA3 and DG. In conclusion, administration of pumpkin extract improved the behavioral, biochemical, and hippocampal pathological alternations induced in rats after exposure to CUMS in a comparable pattern to fluoxetine. This study highlighted the potential efficacy of pumpkin in alleviating depression disorder either alone or in conjugation with conventional antidepressant therapy.

Metagenomic approach was used to detect microbial gene abundance and relative abundance in the rhizosphere of Moringa oleifera and surrounding bulk soil and to detect the response of soil microbes to watering. Expectedly, the number and abundance of non-redundant genes were extremely higher in bacteria followed by archaea, eukaryota and viruses. Results demonstrated unexpected high abundance of some microbes (ex., endophyte genus Nocardioides) in the rhizosphere that are supposed to exist mainly in other rhizocompartments. We suggest this differential distribution of microbes is due to the specific pattern of host-microbe interaction. Other endosymbiont microbes, ex., fungi Mucoromycota and Ascomycota, were highly abundant in the bulk soil possibly because they are phytopathogens where plant exudates might inhibit their growth or force these fungi to approach reverse chemotaxis. Our data indicated high abundance of other symbiont microbes in the rhizosphere of M. oleifera at phylum (ex., Actinobacteria) and genus (ex., Streptomyces) levels. Watering experiment indicated that phylum Actinobacteria and the descending genus Streptomyces are among the highest. Rhizobiome of M. oleifera seems to harbor a wealth of new species of the genus Streptomyces that are required to be deciphered for function in order to be eventually utilized in pharmaceutical and agricultural applications.

Background: This study explores how gut metabolites, produced through bacterial metabolism in the gut, influence neurological conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Key metabolites such as succinate and short-chain fatty acids signal through the autonomic nervous system and can cross the blood-brain barrier, impacting central nervous system functions. Objective: The aim is to examine the role of the gut microbiota in compensating for metabolic deficiencies in AD. By analyzing wild-type (WT) and APP/PS1 mice, the study investigates how the microbiome affects key metabolic processes and whether it can slow AD progression. Methods: High-throughput sequencing data from the gut microbiomes of APP/PS1 transgenic AD model mice and age-matched WT C57BL/6 male mice were analyzed for microbial and metabolite profiles. Results: Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed differences in microbial composition between groups. Partial least squares discriminant analysis and Anosim confirmed distinct microbiome profiles in WT and APP/PS1 mice. At the genus level, Vescimonas was more abundant in WT mice, while Odoribacter, Lacrimispora, Helicobacter, Bacteroides, and Alloprevotella were more prevalent in APP/PS1 mice. Conclusions: While taxonomic differences did not directly link specific microorganisms to AD, functional analysis identified key metabolites—acetyl-CoA, glucose, succinate, lipids, choline, and acetylcholine—that may alleviate energy deficits and synaptic dysfunction. This study suggests that the microbiome may help compensate for AD-related impairments, opening avenues for microbiome-based therapies.