This report focuses on the application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) carrying phycomolecule ligands as a novel plant growth promoter aimed at increasing the crop productivity of purslane (<em>Portulaca oleracea</em> L.). Experiments were performed under controlled greenhouse conditions using a completely randomized design with nine replications. Purslane seeds were treated with four concentrations of ZnO NPs (0, 10, 100, and 500 mg L⁻¹) and four concentrations of bulk ZnO (0, 10, 100, and 500 mg L⁻¹). The ultrastructural characteristics of the leaves of the plants treated with of 500 mg L⁻¹ ZnO NPs were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that the treatment with ZnO NPs increased the content of chlorophyll <em>a</em> and chlorophyll <em>b</em>, carotenoids, and total phenolic and flavonoid compounds significantly more than the treatment with bulk ZnO. Our findings also showed that the application of high concentrations of ZnO NPs is the most effective strategy to considerably induce the antioxidant capacity and enzymes of purslane plants. Furthermore, the seed germination percentage and sprout growth rates were significantly higher in the plants treated with 500 mg L⁻¹ of ZnO NPs (100% ±0.00), compared to the control plants (93.33% ±1.66). The TEM images revealed the concentration of ZnO NPs and cell membrane rupture, as well as a deformation in the shape of chloroplasts and a decrease in their number in the plants treated with 500 mg L⁻¹ ZnO NPs, compared to the control plants. Owing to their toxicity, high concentrations of ZnO NPs lead to oxidative stress in plants. Thus, our findings provide a new alternative strategy for increasing crop productivity, i.e., the application of ZnO NPs as a novel plant growth booster, in comparison with the bulk ZnO treatment.

Background: Traditional medicine is inspiring in drug development research. Epilobium parviflorum extracts have shown promising therapeutic effects on prostate cancer cells. The similarities between breast and prostate cancers at molecular and metabolic levels prompted us to explore its effects on human breast cancer. Methods: The root, aerial parts and flowers of the plant were, collected and dried separately at ambient temperature and away from direct sunlight. The aquatic and methanolic extracts of each part was prepared. The effect of each extract on the growth of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells and HEK293 normal cell line was evaluated, using MTT assay. Each experiment was repeated at least three times independently. The IC50 values for each treatment time point were analyzed, using ANOVA at P<0.05. Results: While none of the extracts had considerable toxicity on normal HEK293 cells, some of them showed varying levels of toxicity on the MCF-7 cells. The methanolic extracts were more cytotoxic than the aqueous counterpart. The roots’ methanolic extract showed the strongest cytotoxicity on the MCF-7 cells in a dose and exposure time dependent manner. The IC50 after 48 hours of treatment was determined at 73µg/ml. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that Epilobium parviflorum had a strong growth inhibiting property on MCF-7 cell line, as a potential model to treat human breast cancer cells. The most cytotoxic effect was noted for the methanolic root extract. Determination of the effective biochemical constituents of the extract against cancer cells is the focus of our future research.

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Background: Malaria is an infectious disease by fever and chills, anemia and splenomegaly genus Plasmodium parasite is the agent it. One of the easiest and least expensive methods to prevent this disease is removing the vector that usually by been done insecticides and chemical pesticides, but nowadays due to the damaging effects of by toxic chemicals is currently trying to organic toxic and plant compounds used to combat the pests. So in this study used from the Hyoscyamus niger L. and Nerium oleander L. to destroy the larvae of this vectors and positive results were compared these two plants together.

Altered redox balance is among the main contributing factors developing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive grade IV brain tumor. Neuropeptide substance P (SP) plays a key role in modifying the cellular redox environment by activating the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R). In this study, we aimed to investigate the redox-modulating properties of both SP and a commercially available NK1R antagonist, aprepitant in GBM cells. To detect the effect of aprepitant on the viability of U87 glioblastoma cells, resazurin assay was applied. The level of intracellular ROS was assessed using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) assay. The expression of glutaredoxin, a well-known redox-active protein, was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Concurrently, the activity of glutaredoxin was also analyzed by a commercial kit (ZellBio GmbH). We found that SP increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U87 GBM cells, and aprepitant remarkably decreased this effect. We also explored the effects of SP/NK1R signaling on the glutaredoxin system as a major cellular redox buffer in GBM cells. SP reduced both expression and enzymatic activity of glutaredoxin, and these effects were significantly decreased by aprepitant. In conclusion, our results suggest a possible involvement of SP/NK1R signaling in GBM pathogenesis through oxidative stress and offering new insight for the application of aprepitant as a redox-modulating strategy in GBM patients.

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