Cervical cancer is second only to breast cancer in terms of incidence; however, it is the most lethal form of cancer among Thai women due to the asymptomatic nature of its early stages. This work aimed to examine cytotoxic and antiproliferative capacities of Rhinacanthus nasutus (RN) and Acanthus ebracteatus (AE) extracts against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). Plant leaves were used for ethyl acetate extraction. The antioxidant assays, HPLC analysis, a cytotoxic MTT assay, a clonogenic assay and real-time PCR were conducted. Both RN and AE displayed similar DPPH scavenging activity (3.97 and 4.05 mg TE/g DW) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (4.79 and 4.35 mg Fe²⁺/g DW). However, AE was richer in total phenolic content than RN (13.30 and 10.84 mg GAE/g DW, respectively). Rutin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, and cinnamic acid were found in AE, whilst only cinnamic acid with much higher content was found in RN. Higher cytotoxicity of 91.73% against HeLa cells was found in RN (IC₅₀ value of 62.06 µg/mL). RN showed higher antiproliferative effect (IC₅₀ of 25.24 µg/mL) than AE (34.35 µg/mL). Genes (Bcl-2, Bax, MMP-2, MMP-9, caspase-3, p21, and cyclin D1) and proteins (cytochrome c, caspase-3 and p21) linked to apoptosis and migration were substantially more affected by RN. To conclude, both RN and AE hold promise as anticancer herbal plants against human cervical cancer; however, RN was more cytotoxic and antiproliferative in HeLa cells. RN offers a better alternative herbal medicine or complementary remedy to the standard drug for human cervical cancer treatment.

Southeast Asian nations, particularly Thailand, have long employed the leaf portions of Dendrophthoe pentandra as traditional medicines. However, there is no report on their safety assessment. This study sought to determine the acute toxicity of Dendrophthoe pentandra leaf extracts in male and female Wistar rats. The OECD 420 guidelines were followed in performing the acute toxicity investigation. The extracts were given orally to male and female Wistar rats once at doses of 5, 50, 300, and 2,000 mg/kg. Within 24 hr of dosing and up to 14 days following the tests, the acute toxicity symptoms and mortality rates were recorded. The body weights were measured in week 0, 1 and 2. At the end of the experiments, internal organ weights were recorded. Additionally, the blood biochemistry, liver and kidney histology, and hematological parameters were investigated. Body weight and relative organ weight were unaffected by any of the extract doses. All of the treatments cause the rats to gain weight. Rats given the extracts orally showed no changes in hematological parameters. All experimental groups' rat lipid profiles were comparable. Rats in all experimental groups had similar blood biochemical values. Additionally, liver and kidney tissues did not contain any signs of inflammation. There was no difference in the histology of liver and kidney in rats treated with the extracts. The results showed that Dendrophthoe pentandra leaf extracts were at the dose studied. It was advised to consume Dendrophthoe pentandra leaf extracts at dose of more than 2,000 mg/kg.

Over the past decade, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology has emerged as a promising tool in the food sector. Cruciferous microgreens are known for their anticancer properties, yet the potential of certain varieties at early developmental stages remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of NTP treatment on seed priming and plant development at 14, 21, and 28 days in mustard green (MG) (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern) and rat-tailed radish (RTR) (Raphanus sativus var. caudatus), focusing on their bioactive compounds and bioactivities. NTP treatment significantly affects stem length, fresh weight, or dry weight compared to untreated seeds. It also enhanced the production of glucosinolates, isothiocyanates (ITCs), specific minerals, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and biological activities in both plants. MG was found to contain sinigrin, gluconapin, allyl ITC, and 3-butenyl ITC, while RTR contained glucoraphasatin and raphasatin. MG exhibited IC₅₀ values ranging from 16–78 µg/mL in cytotoxicity tests against four cancer cell lines HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7 and HT-29 with enhanced activity from NTP. RTR demonstrated greater effectiveness with IC₅₀ values of 12–60 µg/mL with higher activity from NTP. Both plant extracts especially NTP-treated samples reduced cancer cell survival and proliferation by upregulating pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, and p21) and proteins while downregulating anti-apoptotic and metastatic markers (Bcl-2, MMP-9, MMP-2, and cyclin D1). NTP can enhance the therapeutic bioactivity of young plants, with both MG and RTR at 14 and 21 days of growth, showing the higher potential for anticancer applications.

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic activities of Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. Leaf and pericarp extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Doses of 500 mg/kg of the leaf and pericarp extracts were administered orally once daily to both control and streptozotocin (65 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats for 28 days. Changes in body weight, blood glucose, triglycerides, liver and kidney function tests as well as histopathological examination of the liver cells post-administration of the extracts were evaluated and compared.Results: Administration of 500 mg/kg of these two extracts to diabetic rats resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) in body weight, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in fasting blood glucose, and a decrease in triglycerides after 4 weeks of treatment compared to diabetic controls, without affecting other hematological values. Liver function tests showed a decrease (p < 0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase levels, while kidney function tests indicated a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in blood urea nitrogen levels.Conclusion: Lepisanthes rubiginosa (Roxb.) Leenh. Leaf and pericarp extract effectively lower blood glucose levels in diabetic rats by restoring pancreatic histopathology, resulting in an increase in the size of islets of Langerhans and promoting the cells thereby leading to increased insulin secretion.

This study explores the external morphology of larva of Cricula trifenestrata Helfer at the fifth instar stage, focusing on sexual dimorphism, scoli, and fluorescence hair warts. The larva displays a black body adorned with varying shades of orange to crimson–red transverse stripes and small yellow dorsal spots. Longitudinal stripes with fluorescent warts are observed in the subspiracular region, accompanied by an overall coverage of long white hairs. These distinctive features, including scoli and fluorescence hair warts, serve as effective defense mechanisms against predators and parasitoids. The results enhance our understanding of C. trifenestrata Helfer larval biology, providing valuable insights for entomology and evolutionary biology. The identification of species-specific adaptations, particularly the presence of scoli and fluorescence hair warts, underscores their significance in shaping survival strategies and ecological interactions.

Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth (Fabaceae) is a food legume of considerable nutritional and functional significance. This study examined the comparative effects of salt stress on seed germination, hydroponic growth, and phytochemical accumulation across two developmental stages: 10-day-old germinated seeds and 45-day-old hydroponically grown plants, using NaCl solutions at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 mM. Both germination rate and growth were greatest at 0–25 mM NaCl, with performance declining at higher concentrations. LC–MS/MS analysis of free amino acids in 10-day-germinated seeds revealed a salt-induced metabolic shift. Proline, leucine, and phenylalanine were the dominant free amino acids and increased progressively with rising NaCl concentrations. Phytochemical profiling by HPLC identified gallic acid, catechin, and genistin as the major compounds, with increased levels under salinity stress. Germinated seeds at 150 mM NaCl, germinated seeds exhibited the highest phytochemical accumulation, with total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH activity reaching 18.192 ± 0.020 mg GAE/g extract, 8.519 ± 0.026 mg QE/g extract, and 11.623 ± 0.284 mg AAE/g extract, respectively. Phytochemical responses in 45-day hydroponic plants varied by tissue type. Leaves exhibited declining TPC and TFC with increasing NaCl (from 29 to 16 mg GAE/g and 41 mg QE/g extract), while stems showed the opposite trend, reaching 18 mg GAE/g and 21 mg QE/g extract at 50 mM. Root tissues maintained comparatively low phytochemical levels throughout. Notably, DPPH scavenging capacity increased across all tissues under salt stress, with peak values of 12–13 µg AAE/g extract recorded at 50 mM NaCl. These results indicate that salt stress exerts stage- and organ-dependent effects on phytochemical accumulation in C. cajan. High salinity during germination stimulates bioactive compound production, whereas moderate salinity appears to be the threshold at which antioxidant capacity is maximized in hydroponic systems. These observations point to the practical utility of controlled salt elicitation as a strategy for enriching pigeon pea with health-promoting phytochemicals, reinforcing its potential as a functional food crop.