Chemotaxonomy and Bioactive Potential of High-Mountain Plantago atrata.

Plantago atrata Hoppe is a high-altitude mountain plant exposed to harsh environmental factors. This study aims to elucidate the ecological, phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of this lesser-known plantain. Despite nutrient-poor peat soil, the leaves of P.

Characterization of the binding of the globular domains of the complement component C1q to phosphatidylserine.

C1q, the key component of the classical pathway of the Complement system, is known for its vast functional activity including clearance of apoptotic cells. The binding of C1q to apoptotic blebs occurs via an interaction with the phosphatidylserine externalized on the cell surface. In this study, we characterized the interaction between C1q and phosphatidylserine, with emphasis on the structure of the phosphatidylserine-binding site within the globular domains of C1q and the nature of binding of C1q with phosphatidylserine, using both in vitro and in silico methods.

Mesoporous Silica with an Alveolar Construction Obtained by Eco-Friendly Treatment of Rice Husks.

The high silicon content in rice plant waste, specifically rice husks, makes this waste by-product attractive for the extraction and valorization of silicon oxide, which is widely used as an inert support in catalysis, drug delivery and molecular sieving. The procedures currently used for the treatment of plant biomass make extensive use of mineral acids (HCl, HSO, HNO), which, besides them being potential environmental pollutants, reduce the yield and worsen the chemical-physical properties of the product. In this study, an evaluation of the easy treatment of rice husks by benchmarking different, more eco-friendly carboxylic acids in order to obtain a mesoporous SiO with an alveolar structure and a relatively high surface area and pore volume (300-420 m/g, 0.

Cytokinins enhance the metabolic activity of in vitro-grown catmint (Nepeta nuda L.).

The phytohormones cytokinins are essential mediators of developmental and environmental signaling, primarily during cell division and endophytic interactions, among other processes. Considering the limited understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that affect the growth and bioactivity of the medicinal plant Nepeta nuda (Lamiaceae), our study aimed to explore how cytokinins influence the plant's metabolic status. Exogenous administration of active cytokinin forms on in vitro N.

Modelling the Impact of NETosis During the Initial Stage of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The development of autoimmune diseases often takes years before clinical symptoms become detectable. We propose a mathematical model for the immune response during the initial stage of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus which models the process of aberrant apoptosis and activation of macrophages and neutrophils. NETosis is a type of cell death characterised by the release of neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs, containing material from the neutrophil's nucleus, in response to a pathogenic stimulus.