Enhancing the quality of staple food crops through CRISPR/Cas-mediated site-directed mutagenesis.

The enhancement of CRISPR-Cas gene editing with robust nuclease activity promotes genetic modification of desirable agronomic traits, such as resistance to pathogens, drought tolerance, nutritional value, and yield-related traits in crops. The genetic diversity of food crops has reduced tremendously over the past twelve millennia due to plant domestication. This reduction presents significant challenges for the future especially considering the risks posed by global climate change to food production.

and : cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and screening of their selected phytochemicals as novel hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 5A inhibitors.

and are two Pakistani indigenous herbal medicines used to treat liver infections, including hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity, and antioxidant activity of these plant extracts and computationally screen their selected phytoconstituents as HCV NS5A inhibitors. The viability of HepG2 cells was assessed 24 h and 48 h post-treatment using colorimetric and dye exclusion methods.

Tectona grandis leaf extract ameliorates hepatic fibrosis: Modulation of TGF- β /Smad signaling pathway and upregulating MMP3/TIMP1 ratio.

Ethnobotanical Relevance: Tectona grandis L.f (or syn: Jatus grandis (L.f.

Potential activity of Aframomum daniellii (Zingiberaceae) dry seeds: A case study of its action mechanism on the Wistar rat strain with testicular deficiency.

This work was undertaken to evaluate the biological activity of the aqueous extract of the dry seeds of Aframomum daniellii seeds on the copulatory performance of rats with testicular deficiency. Hypogonadal adult male rats (30) were divided into 6 groups: group I received distilled water (10 ml/kg), group II received sildenafil citrate (5 mg/kg), group III received intramuscular injections of testosterone enanthate (3. 6 mg/kg), group IV, V, and VI received the aqueous extract of A.

Discovery of novel Hepatitis C virus inhibitor targeting multiple allosteric sites of NS5B polymerase.

HCV is a viral infection posing a severe global threat when left untreated progress to end-stage liver disease, including cirrhosis and HCC. The NS5B polymerase of HCV is the most potent target that harbors four allosteric binding sites that could interfere with the HCV infection. We present the discovery of a novel synthetic compound that harbors the potential of NS5B polymerase inhibition.

In vivo effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae) ethanolic extract on sexual performance and reproductive activity in male rats.

Plants and plant-derived products have a long history in the treatment of sexual disorders. Rauvolfia vomitoria is one of such plant used traditionally for the enhancement of male sexual and reproductive activity. This study was carried out to elucidate the potential activity of R.

Sperm parameters quality and reproductive effects of methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves on senescent male rats.

The effect of the methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves on the fertility of senescent male rats was assessed in this study. 40 rats received daily distilled water, testosterone, 200 and 400 mg/kg of extract of Alchornea cordifolia. The reproductive organs weight, the gonadotropins, testosterone and cholesterol level, the sperm parameters, histology of the testes and epididymis were assessed.

Evaluation of the toxicity of Colocasia esculenta (Aracaceae): Preliminary study of leaves infected by Phytophthora colocasiae on wistar albinos rats.

This study was designed to investigate the acute and subacute toxicity of the aqueous extract from colocasia esculenta (CE) leaves infected by Phytophthora colocsiae (PC) in rats. Toxicity of the aqueous extract was evaluated in both male and female wistar rats after a single administration (Acute model) and during 21 days (subacute model). Acute administration of the extract up to a dose 4000 mg/kg did not induce treatment related signs of toxicity or mortality of any rat tested.