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This Research proposes an intelligent pruning method based on the improved Mask R-CNN (Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network) model to address the shortcomings of intelligent pruning technology for Sichuan pepper trees. Utilizing ResNeXt-50 as the backbone network, the algorithm optimizes the anchor boxes in the RPN (Region Proposal Network) layer to adapt to the complex morphology of pepper tree branches, thereby enhancing target detection and segmentation performance. Further reducing the quantization error of the RoI (Region of Interest) Align layer through bilinear interpolation, the algorithm innovatively introduces edge loss (Ledge) into the loss function to address the issue of blurred edge features caused by the overlap between retained and pruned branches. Experimental results demonstrate the outstanding performance of the improved Mask R-CNN model in segmenting and identifying pepper tree branches, achieving recognition accuracies of 92.2%, 96.3%, and 85.6% for Upright branches, Centripetal branches, and Competitive branches, respectively, while elevating the recognition accuracy of retained branches to 94.4%. Compared to the original Mask R-CNN, the enhanced model exhibits a 6.7% increase in the recognition rate of retained branches and a decrease of 0.12 in loss value, significantly enhancing recognition effectiveness. The research findings not only provide an effective tool for the precise pruning of pepper trees but also offer valuable insights for implementing intelligent pruning strategies for other fruit trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) is a natural hydrolyzable gallotannin abundant in various plants and herbs. It has a broad range of biological activities, specifically anticancer activities, and numerous molecular targets. Despite multiple studies available on the pharmacological action of PGG, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of PGG are unclear. Here, we have critically reviewed the natural sources of PGG, its anticancer properties, and underlying mechanisms of action. We found that multiple natural sources of PGG are available, and the existing production technology is sufficient to produce large quantities of the required product. Three plants (or their parts) with maximum PGG content were Rhus chinensis Mill, Bouea macrophylla seed, and Mangifera indica kernel. PGG acts on multiple molecular targets and signaling pathways associated with the hallmarks of cancer to inhibit growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis of several cancers. Moreover, PGG can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by modulating various cancer-associated pathways. Therefore, PGG can be used for treating different human cancers; nevertheless, the data on the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of PGG are limited, and further studies are essential to define the clinical use of PGG in cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]