Search

Infectious diseases remain a major global health concern. Cistus ladanifer, a plant commonly employed in Moroccan traditional medicine, has been identified as a potential antiviral candidate. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral activity of C. ladanifer extracts in vitro and in silico against two respiratory viruses: Herpes simplex virus and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants of concern Delta and Omicron. Toxic prediction of the main compounds identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry from Cistus ladanifer was performed in silico via ProTox-II software. Molecular docking was subsequently performed via Maestro version 11.5 software from Schrödinger to gain a comprehensive understanding of their biological activity. The extracts were subjected to in vitro antiviral screening against the selected strains via real-time RT‒qPCR. Our docking estimation supported the in vitro results, and a diverse array of compounds extracted from Cistus ladanifer demonstrated significant antiviral activity with a low toxicity profile. Accordingly, in vitro data revealed a dose-dependent effect of the studied extracts, with particular efficacy against the Omicron variant. With the antiviral evaluation and docking outcomes in hand, we suggest a plausible mechanism of action for these compounds through further investigation into the effectiveness of Cistus ladanifer against other respiratory viruses., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Understanding the interactive effects of temperature and diet on insect life cycles is crucial for effective pest management. Here, the influence of different temperatures and diets on the life cycle of Conogethes punctiferalis was investigated using the age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. The results support the hypothesis that temperature and diets (maize, apple, and artificial diet) significantly influence the entire life cycle performance of C. punctiferalis . The duration of larval development was significantly prolonged, whereas adult lifespan was shortened and showed lower reproductive capacity on apple and artificial diet than maize. The total pre-oviposition period was longer on apples than on maize and artificial diet at both temperatures (20, 26°C). The highest r (0.113 d -1 ), λ (1.128 d -1 ), R 0 (57.213) , and GRR (75.54) of C. punctiferalis were found on maize at 26°C, while the highest T (45.062) was found on apples. Similar results were obtained in the age-specific survival curves ( s xj ), fecundity ( m x ), maternity ( l x m x ), and reproductive value ( v xj ) of YPM on different host plants when exposed to 20°C. These findings highlight the need for further research into the complex interactions between temperature, diet, and insect life history traits to develop effective pest management strategies and enhance our understanding of insect ecology in agroecosystems.

This study presents the fabrication and characterization of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporating green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Hibiscus Rosa sinensis extract within a polyethersulfone (PES) matrix for nanofiltration (NF) application. The membranes were evaluated for their pure water permeability, salt rejection, dye removal, and antifouling performance. Results showed that the membrane with 0.75 wt% AgNPs exhibited the highest pure water permeability of 36 L/m 2 h -1 bar -1 attributed to increased porosity and enhanced hydrophilicity. Addition of 0.75wt% AgNPs resulted in significant improvements, with NaCl rejection increased from 32 to 57%, MgSO 4 from 26 to 67%, and CaCl 2 from 27 to 41%. Antifouling tests revealed that the 0.75 wt% AgNPs membrane had the lowest irreversible fouling and highest flux recovery due to the antimicrobial action and improved surface properties of AgNPs. Importantly, the performance of the fabricated membranes align with loose nanofiltation characteristcs, as evidence by high dye rejection rates coupled with moderate rejection of salts. This study highlights the potential of green-synthesized AgNPs as effective nanofillers for developing high-performance and environmentally sustainable membranes into wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)