Amino acids, UPLC-MS phenolic metabolites and multivariate approach for elucidating the effect of two growing conditions on growth and yield attributes in okra pods and leaves.

Okra is one of the highly nutritious indigenised food crops in Southern Africa. The study intended to evaluate plant growth, yield, amino acids, and untargeted semi-targeted phenolic metabolites grown concurrently at greenhouse and micro-plot under open-field conditions. Yield and growth attributes: stem diameter, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod weight, pod length and pod diameter were higher in the micro-plot under open-field conditions.

Effect of L. (Okra) on Dyslipidemia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies.

The global prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, is rising. While pharmacological treatments for dyslipidemia and associated CVDs exist, not all individuals can afford them, and those who do often experience adverse side effects. Preclinical studies have indicated the potential benefits of and its active phytochemicals in addressing dyslipidemia in rodent models of diabetes.

Development of the Pipette-Tip Micro-Solid-Phase Extraction for Extraction of Rutin From Lam. Using Activated Hollow Carbon Nanospheres as Sorbents.

Herein, a micro-solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed using a pipette tip for rutin extraction, employing activated hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNSs) as the sorbent. Characterization of the activated carbon nanospheres through TGA, FTIR, and SEM analysis confirmed the success of the activation process. The study demonstrated the efficacy of PT-SPE in rutin extraction under pH 2 conditions with a standard concentration of 2 mg·L.

Salicylic acid improves cowpea productivity under water restriction in the field by modulating metabolism.

Introduction: Salicylic acid has shown promise in alleviating water stress in cultivated plants. However, there is a lack of studies confirming its effectiveness in cowpea plants grown in field conditions. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the use of salicylic acid as a water stress mitigator in cowpea cultivars under different irrigation depths in field conditions.

Phenolic Content Analysis of Two Species Belonging to the Family: Antioxidant, Anticholinergic, and Antibacterial Activities.

The family are utilized as ornamental, medicinal, and food supplements throughout the world. The current study focuses on a comparative analysis of the phenolic compositions and bioactivities (including antioxidant, anticholinergic, and antibacterial activities) of ethanolic extracts derived from the aerial parts of the two species ( L. and Boiss).

Unveiling the Dual Nature of Heavy Metals: Stressors and Promoters of Phenolic Compound Biosynthesis in (L.) Moench In Vitro.

The global industrial revolution has led to a substantial rise in heavy metal levels in the environment, posing a serious threat to nature. Plants synthesize phenolic compounds under stressful conditions, which serve as protective agents against oxidative stress. (L.

A General Review of Methodologies Used in the Determination of Cholesterol (CHO) Levels in Foods.

Cholesterol (CHO) is a lipid-derived substance found in lipoproteins and cell membranes. It is also one of the main sources for the production of bile acids, vitamin D, and steroid hormones. Today, foods are evaluated by consumers not only according to their taste and nutritional content but also according to their effects on consumer health.

Heavy Metal Pollution in the Environment and Its Impact on Health: Exploring Green Technology for Remediation.

Along with expanding urbanization and industrialization, environmental pollution which negatively affects the surroundings, has been rising quickly. As a result, induces heavy metal contamination which poses a serious threat to living organisms of aquatic and soil ecosystems. Therefore, they are a need to ameliorate the effects cost by cost pollution on the environment.

A Relook into the Flavonoid Chemical Space of Lam. Leaves through a Combination of LC-MS and Molecular Networking.

Lam. is a functional tree that is known to produce a variety of metabolites with purported pharmacological activities. It is frequently called the "miracle tree" due to its utilization in numerous nutraceutical and pharmacological contexts.

Nutritional Supplementation of Yogurt with Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers: Organic Acid Profiles and Quality Parameters.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), also called wild sunflower, belongs to the Asteraceae family and is cultivated widely across the temperate zone for its nutritious tuber, which is used as a root vegetable. In this study, the Jerusalem artichoke (JA) was used as a supplementary additive for producing a functional yogurt, with enhanced health benefits and improving the microbiological, rheological, and sensorial quality characteristics of the product.

Seed Priming with Glass Waste Microparticles and Red Light Irradiation Mitigates Thermal and Water Stresses in Seedlings of .

The association between population increase and the exploitation of natural resources and climate change influences the demand for food, especially in semi-arid regions, highlighting the need for technologies that could provide cultivated species with better adaptation to agroecosystems. Additionally, developing cultivation technologies that employ waste materials is highly desirable for sustainable development. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate whether seed priming with glass waste microparticles used as a silicon source under red light irradiation mitigates the effects of thermal and water stress on seedlings of .

Ethnobotany and Toxicity Status of Medicinal Plants with Cosmeceutical Relevance from Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The indigenous people of the Eastern Cape residing within the richest plant biodiversity in the world, including Africa's floral 'gold mine', have a long history of plant use for skincare. However, such rich flora comes with numerous plants that have the potential to cause harm to humans through their usage. Therefore, the study was aimed at documenting the toxicity status of important medicinal plants used by the indigenous people from the Eastern Cape for skincare and supported by literature for cosmeceutical relevance.

The Potential Therapeutic Value of Medicinal Plants in the Management of Metabolic Disorders.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent, multifactorial and complex disease that is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and other major cardiovascular complications. The rise in the global prevalence of MetS has been attributed to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. The adoption of sedentary lifestyles that are characterized by low physical activity and the consumption of high-energy diets contributes to MetS development.

Scribbling the Cat: A Case of the "Miracle" Plant, .

This paper reviews the properties of the most cultivated species of the Moringaceae family, Lam. The paper takes a critical look at the positive and the associated negative properties of the plant, with particular emphasis on its chemistry, selected medicinal and nutritional properties, as well as some ecological implications of the plant. The review highlights the importance of glucosinolates (GS) compounds which are relatively unique to the species family, with glucomoriginin and its acylated derivative being the most abundant.

Effect of crude Moringa oleifera Lam. seed extract on the blood markers of metabolic syndrome in high-fructose diet-fed growing Sprague-Dawley rats.

Background Moringa oleifera seed has anti-diabetic and anti-obesogenic properties. This study interrogated the effect of crude hydroethanolic M. oleifera seed extract on the blood markers of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in high-fructose diet fed growing Sprague-Dawley rats.

Short-Term Neonatal Oral Administration of Oleanolic Acid Protects against Fructose-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Skeletal Muscles of Suckling Rats.

Nutritional manipulations in the neonatal period are associated with the development of negative or positive health outcomes later in life. Excessive fructose consumption has been attributed to the increase in the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the development of oxidative stress. Oleanolic acid (OA) has anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects.

Wound Healing Properties of Selected Plants Used in Ethnoveterinary Medicine.

Plants have arrays of phytoconstituents that have wide ranging biological effects like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties key in wound management. wound healing properties of ointments made of crude methanolic extracts (10% extract w/w in white soft paraffin) of three plant species, L. (whole aerial plant parts), Klotzsch (whole aerial plant parts) and Lam.

An Assessment of the Food and Nutrition Security Status of Weaned 7-12 Months Old Children in Rural and Peri-Urban Communities of Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa.

This study assessed the food and nutrition security status of children receiving complementary food in rural and peri-urban communities. A group of 106 mothers from Lebowakgomo village and Hammanskraal Township, respectively, participated in the survey. Additionally, six focus group discussions were conducted per study area to assess the mothers' perceptions about children's food access.

Antimicrobial, Anthelmintic Activities and Characterisation of Functional Phenolic Acids of Achyranthes aspera Linn.: A Medicinal Plant Used for the Treatment of Wounds and Ringworm in East Africa.

Achyranthes aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae) commonly known as Prickly Chaff flower (English) is traditionally used for treating a number of ailments. Different parts of the plant are used in treating wounds and ringworm in East Africa and elsewhere for a number of ailments.

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical variations in thirteen Moringa oleifera Lam. cultivars.

A study was undertaken to assess variation in antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of thirteen Moringa oleifera cultivars obtained from different locations across the globe. Standard antioxidant methods including the DPPH scavenging, ferric reducing power (FRAP) and β-carotene-linoleic acid model were used to evaluate the activity. Variation in the antioxidant activity was observed, with TOT4951 from Thailand being the most active, with activity five times higher than that of ascorbic acid (reference compound).

Hypoxis (Hypoxidaceae) in African traditional medicine.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hypoxis species (Hypoxidaceae) are popular medicinal plants used in the African traditional medicine to treat numerous ailments and are reported to have a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. In this paper we reviewed and evaluated the traditional uses, pharmacological, phytochemistry and toxicity aspects of the genus Hypoxis. Potential medicinal prospects and possible knowledge gaps and pitfalls are discussed.

Antimicrobial and selected in vitro enzyme inhibitory effects of leaf extracts, flavonols and indole alkaloids isolated from Croton menyharthii.

Croton species are used in folk medicine in the management of infections, inflammation and oxidative stress-related diseases. In order to isolate, characterize and evaluate the bioactive constituents of Croton menyharthii Pax leaf extracts, repeated column fractionation of the ethyl acetate fraction from a 20% aqueous methanol crude extract afforded three flavonols identified by NMR (1D and 2D) spectroscopic methods as myricetrin-3-O-rhamnoside (myricetrin, 1), quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (2) and quercetin (3) along with an indole alkaloid, (E)-N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxytryptamine, [trans-N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin, 4]. All the compounds are reported from the leaf extract of this plant for the first time.

Toxicology of some important medicinal plants in southern Africa.

Africa is home to two major floral kingdoms: the Paleotropical kingdom of central Africa and the Capensis kingdom of the Western Cape province of South Africa, the latter of which consists of approximately 10,000 species, representing about 20% of Africa's floral 'gold mine', better known as the Cape herbal medicine. Needless to say, such rich flora comes with numerous plants with a potential to cause poisoning to humans. This review document reports important toxic medicinal plants and their toxic ingredients for plant species resident in the southern African region.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from plants used traditionally in South Africa to treat tuberculosis and related symptoms.

Respiratory ailments are major human killers, especially in developing countries. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease causing a threat to human healthcare. Many South African plants are used in the traditional treatment of TB and related symptoms, but there has not been a sufficient focus on evaluating their antimicrobial properties.