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Simple Summary: The presence of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds in white mulberry (Morus alba) make it an ornamental tree mainly in the Asian subcontinent. These secondary metabolites are synthesized through various biosynthetic pathways. Flavonoids like rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol are produced via the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. The key enzymes responsible for this pathway include phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase, and flavonoid hydroxylases. Phenolic compounds like resveratrol and oxyresveratrol are produced via the phenylpropanoid pathway using phenylalanine as a precursor. Presences of these secondary metabolites, like in the case of flavonoids (rutin and quercetin), in the mulberry tree have potential biological activities like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Also, they have been found to have great medicinal importance, for example in treating diabetes, obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. Also, phenolic compounds like reservertrol exhibit cardio-protective, anticancer, and anti-aging properties. Traditional natural products have been the focus of research to explore their medicinal properties. One such medicinally important plant is the white mulberry, Morus alba, widely distributed in the Asian subcontinent. It is one of the most cultivated species of mulberry tree and has attracted more focus from researchers because of its abundance in phytochemicals as well as multipurpose uses. The leaves, fruits and other parts of the white mulberry plant act as a source of valuable bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids and alkaloids. These secondary metabolites have manifold healthy uses as they possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, neutrotrophic, and anticancer properties. Despite the increasing scientific interest in this plant, there are very few reviews that highlight the phytochemistry and biological potential of white mulberry for biomedical research. To this end, this review elaborates the phytochemistry, biosynthetic pathways and pharmacological activities of the glycoside flavonoids of Morus alba. A comprehensive analysis of the available literature indicates that Morus alba could emerge as a promising natural agent to combat diverse conditions including diabetes, cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases. To achieve such important objectives, it is crucial to elucidate the biosynthesis and regulation mechanisms of the bioactive compounds in white mulberry as well as the multifaceted pharmacological effects attributed to this plant resource. The present review paper is intended to present a summary of existing scientific data and a guide for further research in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of white mulberry. Further, a biosynthetic pathway analysis of the glycoside flavonoid in mulberry is also given. Lastly, we discuss the pros and cons of the current research to ensure the prudent and effective therapeutic value of mulberry for promoting human and animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of excessive drinking-related alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is rising, yet therapeutic options remain limited. High alcohol consumption and consequent oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP) can lead to extremely high levels of reactive oxygen species, which overwhelm cellular defenses and harm hepatocytes. Our previous investigations showed that inhibiting Cyp2e1 using RNA interference reduced the incidence of ALD. However, compensatory mechanisms other than CYP2E1 contribute to oxidative stress in the liver. Therefore, we coupled triple siRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) targeting Cyp2e1 with two isoenzymes Cyp4a10 and Cyp4a14 to treat ALD mouse models fed with Lieber–Decarli ethanol liquid diet for 12 weeks at the early (1st week), middle (5th week), and late (9th week) stages. The administration of triple siRNA LNPs significantly ameliorated chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice, and early treatment achieved the most profound effects. These effects can be attributed to a reduction in oxidative stress and increased expression of antioxidant genes, including Gsh-Px, Gsh-Rd, and Sod1. Moreover, we observed the alleviation of inflammation, evidenced by the downregulation of Il-1β, Il-6, Tnf-α, and Tgf-β, and the prevention of excessive lipid synthesis, evidenced by the restoration of the expression of Srebp1c, Acc, and Fas. Finally, triple siRNA treatment maintained normal metabolism in lipid oxidation. In brief, our research examined the possible targets for clinical intervention in ALD by examining the therapeutic effects of triple siRNA LNPs targeting Cyp2e1, Cyp4a10, and Cyp4a14. The in vivo knockdown of the three genes in this study is suggested as a promising siRNA therapeutic approach for ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blast furnace volatilizing (smelting) and reverberatory furnace process is the main reduction method in the current antimony smelting process, and it is associated with problems such as a long production flow, high energy consumption, and SO2 flue gas pollution. Thus, in this paper, a new process, based on the combination of beneficiation and metallurgy, was proposed for the direct extraction of antimony from stibnite concentrate. Using ZnO and carbon as a sulfur-fixing agent and reductant, respectively, antimony sulfide was transformed to Sb and ZnS metals, and then the mixture was separated by a mineral separation method. The effects of calcination temperature, carbon particle size, ZnO dosage, and calcination time on the conversion rate of Sb and sulfur-fixing rate of ZnO were investigated in detail by controlled variables method. The optimal conditions are as follows:calcination temperature 800℃, carbon particle size 100~150 mesh, ZnO dosage 1.0 times the theoretical amount, and roasting time 2 h. Under these conditions, the antimony generation rate and sulfur-fixing rate of ZnO are 90.4% and 94.8%, respectively. The antimony generation rate and sulfur-fixing rate of ZnO can be improved by increasing the reaction temperature and ZnO dosage. Meanwhile, the phase analysis results of the reaction products and thermodynamic calculations of reactions indicate that the reaction paths of Sb2S3 and ZnO comprise two steps:First, Sb2S3 reacts with ZnO to generate Sb2O3, and then after 700℃, it is reduced to a large amount of antimony. In the comprehensive experiments of different grades of antimony, about 90% of antimony generation rate and 88% of sulfur-fixing rate are realized, which demonstrates the feasibility of the new process. The new process is characterized by low temperature and low carbon usage, and it is clean and environment friendly; thus, it is suitable for industrial production.

Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis Franch.) represents one of the most important medicinal plants with diverse medicinal applications, but it easily suffers from continuous cropping obstacles in the plantation. In this study, we have selected eight different continuously cropped fields with C. chinensis and fallow field, providing detailed information regarding the diversity and composition of the rhizospheric bacterial communities. We have found a significant difference between fallow field (LH) and other continuously cropped fields in soil pH; the total content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; and soil enzyme activities. The results indicate that continuous cropping had a significant effect on soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities under different plant cultivations. The relative abundance of bacterial phyla was significantly altered among the fields; for example, proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were observed to be higher in continuous cropping of maize (HY6) and lower in sweet potato continuous cropping (HH). Alpha diversity analysis showed that different plants with different years of continuous cropping could change the diversity of bacterial communities, among which the effect of maize and Polygonum multiflorum continuous cropping were most significant. Principle coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that continuously cropped C. chinensis (LZ) and cabbage continuously cropped for 2 years (HS) were slightly clustered together and separated from LH and others. The results showed that the similarity of the bacterial community in the same crop rotation was higher, which further indicated that the bacterial community structure was significantly altered by the continuous cropping system and plant species. Our study provides a foundation for future agricultural research to improve microbial activity and increase crops/cash-crops productivity under a continuous cropping system and mitigate continuous cropping obstacles.