Background: In several countries, the leaf juice of Agave sisalana (also known as sisal) is widely used topically, especially as an antiseptic, and orally for the treatment of different pathologies. However, in Brazil, which is the largest producer of Agave sisalana, its residue, which represents the majority of its weight, has been thrown away. For this reason, the determination of the pharmacological and toxicological potentials of sisal residue and its possible therapeutic use is seen as a way to contribute to the sustainable development and social promotion of the largest producer of sisal in Brazil, the interior of Bahia State, which is among the poorest areas in the country. Given the scarcity of available scientific studies on the pharmacological and toxicological properties of sisal residue juice, this study aimed to promote the acid hydrolysis of this juice to potentiate the anti-inflammatory effect already described in the literature. Furthermore, it aimed to evaluate the toxicological profile of the hydrolyzed extract (EAH) and to determine its acute toxicity, as well as its side effects on the reproductive aspects of rats. Method: The anti-inflammatory effect of EAH was evaluated in vitro using the induction of hemolysis by hypotonic solution and in vivo in rats using the carrageenan-induced paw edema test and the xylene-induced ear edema test. The acute toxicity, resulting from a single-dose administration, was investigated for some manifestation of toxic symptoms related to motor control and consciousness in rats. At a concentration of 100 mg/kg, by repeated doses, the reproductive toxicity effects of EAH in rats were assessed. Results: In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was positive using the human red blood cell membrane stabilization method. In both in vivo tests used to assess the anti-inflammatory activity, EAH (at three doses) significantly inhibited edema when compared to the control group. At a dose of 50 mg/kg, EAH exhibited a greater effect than indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with known activity. In vivo toxicological studies have shown that EAH does not present toxic effects when administered orally in a single dose, up to 1000 mg/kg. Finally, EAH promoted a gonadotoxic effect and increased the embryonic mortality rate after implantation. Conclusions: It is suggested that the anti-edematogenic effect of the acid hydrolysis extract from sisal juice is due to the high concentration of steroidal sapogenins. Therefore, this extract can be considered a potential new anti-inflammatory or even an important sapogenin source for the development of steroidal glucocorticoids. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the chemical composition of sisal juice. Regarding toxicology studies, EAH did not show cytotoxic and clastogenic potentials, but it presented a powerful reproductive toxic effect in rats.

Biological invasions pose significant challenges in the Anthropocene, impacting ecosystem biodiversity and functioning. Ecological Niche Modeling is widely used to evaluate potential areas at risk of invasions, aiding in the prevention of invasive-species expansion and guiding conservation efforts in freshwater ecosystems. The main objectives of this study were to model the ecological niche and evaluate remaining suitable habitat areas for the occurrence of five potentially invasive species of freshwater decapods in South America: Dilocarcinus pagei, Macrobrachium amazonicum, M. jelskii, M. rosenbergii, and Procambarus clarkii. Occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility were complemented with a literature systematic review. Variables used in the models were obtained from the Worldclim and EarthEv databases. Ecological Niche Modeling was performed using the Biomod2 and sdm package algorithms. Our results indicated a suitable area of up to 11% of South America. Model evaluations yielded favorable TSS and AUC values (>0.7 and >0.8). The suitable areas projected for South America included several hydrographic basins and Protected Areas. The information generated in our study can help identifying areas susceptible to decapod invasion in South America and support local management and decisions.

Vastas áreas naturais sofreram grandes impactos ambientais com o avanço da urbanização e expansão agrícola, comprometendo o solo e inviabilizando sua regeneração natural. A restauração ecológica tem-se usado de novas tecnologias e estratégias para sua melhor eficácia. O lodo de esgoto compostado (LEC) para o plantio de mudas nativas cultivadas em viveiros tem sido cada vez mais utilizado, entretanto, ainda são raros os projetos que fazem uso deste biossólido na recuperação de ecossistemas. O experimento analisou a eficiência do LEC para o desenvolvimento de Anadenanthera peregrina. Foram selecionados 88 indivíduos distribuídos aleatoriamente em uma área de recuperação florestal e submetidos a quatro tratamentos: T1 – sem adubação (controle); T2 – 100% ureia nitrogenada; T3 – 50% LEC + 50% ureia; T4 – 100% LEC. Para a análise do desenvolvimento foram registrados os seguintes parâmetros biométricos: altura, espessura do caule à altura do solo e o diâmetro da copa. Houve um desenvolvimento superior para as mudas que receberam os tratamentos T4 e T3 em todos os parâmetros, comparadas aos grupos que receberam ureia nitrogenada ou controle. O LEC, aplicado em campo, acelerou o desenvolvimento de A. peregrina representando uma alternativa econômica e ecologicamente interessante para projetos de recuperação de áreas degradadas.

Moquiniastrum oligocephalum (Gardner) G. Sancho (Asteraceae: Gochnatieae), popularmente conhecida como candeia no Nordeste brasileiro, apresenta-se normalmente com hábito arbóreo, ginodióica, composta por capitulescências agrupadas em panículas reduzidas, axilares e pápus bisseriado. O estudo objetivou determinar a distribuição de M. oligocephalum para a Bahia, com base na modelagem da adequabilidade ambiental (MAA). A MAA pautou-se no recorte de condições climáticas (Worldclim), combinado a pontos de ocorrência georreferenciadas, obtidos nos bancos de dados do GBIF e SpeciesLink. A validação estatística dos modelos considerou AUC ≥ 0,7 e TSS ≥ 0,4 e os resultados AUC 0,97 e TSS 0,87. As variáveis que mais contribuíram foram: BIO1 - temperatura média anual (46.5%); BIO4 - sazonalidade da temperatura (44.9%). A modelagem mostrou maior adequabilidade para ambientes de caatinga, floresta tropical na porção norte, ao leste do estado, e baixa adequabilidade ambiental em áreas ao Sul e Oeste baiano. Assim, foi possível ampliar o conhecimento a cerca da distribuição da espécie e fornecer subsidios para as ações de conservação no estado da Bahia.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is essential for global food security, especially in tropical regions. As an important genetic resource, its genetics plays a key role in crop breeding, enabling the development of more productive and pest- and disease-resistant varieties. Scientometrics, which quantitatively analyzes the production and impact of scientific research, is crucial for understanding trends in cassava genetics. This study aimed to apply bibliometric methods to conduct a scientific mapping analysis based on yearly publication trends, paper classification, author productivity, journal impact factor, keywords occurrences, and omic approaches to investigate the application of genetics to the species from 1960 to 2022. From the quantitative data analyzed, 3246 articles were retrieved from the Web of Science platform, of which 654 met the inclusion criteria. A significant increase in scientific production was observed from 1993, peaking in 2018. The first article focused on genetics was published in 1969. Among the most relevant journals, Euphytica stood out with 36 articles, followed by Genetics and Molecular Research (n = 30) and Frontiers in Plant Science (n = 25). Brazil leads in the number of papers on cassava genetics (n = 143), followed by China (n = 110) and the United States (n = 75). The analysis of major methodologies (n = 185) reveals a diversified panorama during the study period. Morpho-agronomic descriptors persisted from 1978 to 2022; however, microsatellite markers were the most widely used, with 102 records. Genomics was addressed in 87 articles, and transcriptomics in 65. By clarifying the current landscape, this study supports cassava conservation and breeding, assists in public policy formulation, and guides future research in the field.

Given the ongoing climate change, information on species distribution is becoming increasingly necessary, particularly for species with restricted distribution ranges, such as endemic ones. We used ecological niche modeling to evaluate the distribution of 28 species of vascular epiphytes endemic to the Amazonia under current and future scenarios. We analyzed the climatic factors influencing current and future environmental suitability using MaxEnt (based on a set of three global circular models: EC-Earth3-Veg, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, and IPSL-CM6A-LR from CMIP6 under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for 2090). We predicted that the current distribution of these epiphyte species is concentrated in Northwestern Amazonia, Central Amazonia and the Guiana Shield. In future scenarios, a decrease in environmental suitability is expected, with large gaps predicted for the Southern Amazonia. Species such as Anthurium vaupesianum (Araceae), Aechmea fernandae (Bromeliaceae), and Bifrenaria longicornis (Orchidaceae) showed increased environmental suitability in future scenarios. However, most species showed a trend of loss of suitable areas, resulting in more restricted and less continuous niches, as well as reductions in the southern and southeastern regions of the Amazonia. These results highlight the impacts of climate change on vascular epiphyte communities and reinforce the importance of monitoring these species in the face of ongoing environmental transformations.