Osmotins are multifunctional proteins belonging to the thaumatin-like family related to plant stress responses. To better understand the functions of soybean osmotins in drought stress response, the current study presents the characterisation of four previously described proteins and a novel putative soybean osmotin (GmOLPa-like). Gene and protein structure as well as gene expression analyses were conducted on different tissues and developmental stages of two soybean cultivars with varying dehydration sensitivities (BR16 and EMB48 are highly and slightly sensitive, respectively). The analysed osmotin sequences share the conserved amino acid signature and 3D structure of the thaumatin-like family. Some differences were observed in the conserved regions of protein sequences and in the electrostatic surface potential. P21-like present the most similar electrostatic potential to osmotins previously characterised as promoters of drought tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum and Solanum nigrum. Gene expression analysis indicated that soybean osmotins were differentially expressed in different organs (leaves and roots), developmental stages (R1 and V3), and cultivars in response to dehydration. In addition, under dehydration conditions, the highest level of gene expression was detected for GmOLPa-like and P21-like osmotins in the leaves and roots, respectively, of the less drought sensitive cultivar. Altogether, the results suggest an involvement of these genes in drought stress tolerance.

<p>Liver fibrosis is a complex disease that is caused by inappropriate tissue repair due to the deposition of connective tissue. When a chronic lesion affects the liver, regenerative response fails and hepatocytes are replaced with abundant extracellular matrix (ECM). The imbalance between production and degradation of ECM will result in the accumulation of proteins that change normal liver architecture, and thus its functionality. The main source of ECM is the activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC). In order, to clarify possible therapeutic approaches to the disease, this work aimed to evaluate the possible antifibrotic action of <em>Pluchea sagitallis </em>(Lam.) Cabrera on an activated HSC immortalized lineage (GRX).</p><p>Our results demonstrated that the <em>P. sagittalis</em> aqueous extract at 0.039 and 0.078 mg/mL concentrations was able to reduce cell growth and proliferation. Regarding to oxidative stress evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference between the treated group and the control. Staining with OilRed-O (ORO) showed a statistically significant increase in intracellular lipid content after 5 days of treatment, exerting <em>in vitro</em> effect on the GRX phenotypic change of activated towards the quiescent state. These results were confirmed by colorimetric quantification of lipid content. Regarding the TGF-β1 and collagen production, there were no statistically significant differences observed between the groups.</p><p>In conclusion, the <em>P. sagittalis</em> aqueous extract reduces the growth and proliferation of GRX cells and induces the reversal of activated towards a quiescent phenotype. There was no decrease in cell proliferation either by necrosis or by apoptosis via activation of the senescence. Thus, our data suggest that the extract showed an antifibrotic effect, possibly by activating phenotype reversal.</p>