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Voltammetric investigations of mechanistic aspects and estimation of thermo-chemical parameters of nitrate ion reduction at silver electrode, in alkaline medium are reported. The activation barrier determined from cyclic voltammetry fits a quadratic relation rather than the expected Butler-Volmer kinetics. Intrinsic barrier calculations show that the reduction of nitrate ion on silver follows a concerted mechanism, involving electron transfer initiated bond cleavage, followed by chemical reaction. The bond dissociation energy for the O–NO2−bond was estimated to be 48.40 kcal mol−1, which matches well with the reported value of 47.5 kcal mol−1, determined from photodissociation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep that are infected with gastrointestinal helminths experience a significant impact on their health and productivity. Among the helminths, nematodes like Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum spp., Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Nematodirus battus, Trichostrongylus spp. and Teladorsagia circumcincta are particularly pathogenic. Understanding the interactions among parasites, hosts, and their microbiomes is crucial in developing new approaches in the management of parasites. This study examines the bacterial profile of Trichuris ovis, a highly prevalent nematode among Kashmir Merino sheep, and the influence of nematode infection on the caecal microbiome of its host. Sheep were selected based on T. ovis infection status, and samples were collected from infected and non-infected caecum. The 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis revealed distinct microbial communities in T. ovis, infected caecum, and non-infected caecum. Proteobacteria dominated the T. ovis microbiome, while infected caecum was rich in Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota, and non-infected caecum had a higher proportion of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobiota. At the genus level, T. ovis was predominantly associated with Escherichia/Shigella, while infected caecum had higher proportions of Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Treponema. Non-infected caecum was characterized by WCHB1-41, Prevotella, and Succiniclasticum like genera. Alpha and beta diversity indicated significant differences in microbiome among the groups, with higher diversity observed in infected caecum. The study found T. ovis infection significantly alters the caecal microbiome of sheep, introducing potentially pathogenic bacteria and reducing beneficial ones. These findings underscore the complex relationship between host, parasite, and microbiome, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to manage helminth infections and their broader ecological impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A key challenge in using melt electrowriting (MEW) technology is incorporating large amounts of bioactive inorganic materials, such as hydroxyapatite (HA). In the present study, following optimization of the fabrication parameters, 40 %-HA (HA40) nanoparticles were pre-mixed into medical-grade polycaprolactone (PCL) and processed using the MEW (MEW) technique to mimic the structure and function of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) for bone regeneration. The HA40 fibrous composite scaffolds showed continuous writing and obtained a well-connected and orderly stacked fibre with a small diameter size (67 ± 8.5 µm). A major result of the present study was the successful enrichment and accumulation of the HA particles, which mostly occurred on the MEW fibre external surfaces. This design allows for direct interfacial interaction with human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). We systematically investigated the behaviour and function of hPDLCs on the HA40 composite scaffold, alongside parameters related to mineralization. The HA40 scaffold demonstrated significantly higher metabolic activity and enhanced expression of osteopontin compared to PCL-only scaffolds, as well as increased levels of ALP and COL1. The study's findings demonstrate that bioactive composite scaffolds, incorporating 40 % HA into m-PCL via MEW, effectively enhance the biological response of the ECM and are promising for potential applications in bone regeneration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Preliminary data support the possible use of ultraviolet-induced fluorescence (UVF) dermoscopy in general dermatology, yet no accuracy analysis has been performed so far., Objective: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of UVF dermoscopy in clinically similar non-neoplastic conditions as compared to polarized light-based dermoscopy., Methods: Patients with dermatoses potentially showing UV-induced findings were considered; cases were grouped according to clinical patterns and controls were also included. Standardized evaluation of dermoscopic pictures of the target lesion along with comparative and accuracy analysis were performed for polarized and UVF dermoscopic findings., Results: A total of 208 patients were included [31 foot intertrigo (7 due to Pseudomonas, 13 due to Corynebacterium and 11 due to dermatophytes); 57 intertrigo of major creases (18 inverse psoriasis, 13 erythrasma, 15 tinea infections and 11 candidiasis); 16 acne (papulopustular) and 13 Malassezia folliculitis; 46 papulosquamous dermatoses (14 guttate psoriasis, 11 lichen planus, 12 pityriasis rosea and 9 pityriasis lichenoide chronica); and 45 hypopigmented macular dermatoses of the trunk (9 progressive macular hypomelanosis, 9 idiopatic guttate hypomelanosis, 13 vitiligo and 14 achromic pityriasis versicolor)]. Significant (p < 0.01) UVF was seen in several conditions: green in Pseudomonas foot intertrigo; red in Corynebacterium foot intertrigo, inverse and guttate psoriasis (arranged around dermal papillae in the former), progressive macular hypomelanosis (folliculocentric distribution) and erythrasma (showing polygonal or structureless appearance); blue fluorescent concretions along hair shaft in erythrasma; light green in achromic pityriasis versicolor and tinea of major creases; and blue follicular in Malassezia folliculitis. Additionally, both acne and achromic pityriasis versicolor were also associated with interruption of uniform follicular red fluorescence. Notably, polarized and UVF dermoscopy were related to the most accurate feature in nine and eight analysed dermatoses, respectively., Conclusions: UVF dermoscopy improves recognition of non-neoplastic dermatoses, yet it should be considered complimentary to polarized light-based dermoscopy to increase diagnostic performance., (© 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe, progressive disorder characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, leading to right ventricular failure and increased mortality. Despite advancements in management, the median survival for PH patients remains 5-7 years, with an inhospital mortality rate of approximately 6%. The core pathological feature of PH is pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), a multifactorial process involving endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and aberrant immune responses. While current therapies target endothelial dysfunction, they fall short of preventing PVR or halting disease progression. Emerging research highlights the potential of immune-inflammatory pathways, oxygen-sensing mechanisms, and gut microbiota modulation as therapeutic targets. Integrating nutritional strategies, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as adjunctive therapies also shows promise. These factors may collectively influence PVR, offering novel insights into therapeutic avenues for PH management in the future., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The traditional optimization approaches suffer from certain problems like getting stuck in local optima, low speed, susceptibility to local optima, and searching unknown search spaces, thus requiring reliance on single-based solutions. Herein, an Improved Aquila Optimizer (IAO) is proposed, which is a unique meta-heuristic optimization method motivated by the hunting behavior of Aquila. An improved version of Aquila optimizer seeks to increase effectiveness and productivity. IAO emulates the hunting behaviors of Aquila, elucidating each step of the hunting process. The IAO algorithm contains innovative elements to boost its optimization capabilities. It combines a combination of low flight with a leisurely descent for exploitation, high-altitude vertical dives, contour flying with brief gliding attacks for exploration, and controlled swooping maneuvers for effective prey capture. To assess the effectiveness of IAO, Herein, numerous experiments were carried out. Firstly, IAO was compared using 23 classical optimization functions. The achieved results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms various champion algorithms. Secondly, the proposed algorithm is applied to five real-world engineering problems. The achieved results prove effectiveness in diverse application domains. The key findings of the research work highlight IAO's resilience and adaptability in solving challenging optimization issues and its importance as a strong optimization tool for real-world engineering applications. Convergence curves compare the speed of proposed algorithms with selected algorithms for 1000 iterations. Time complexity analysis shows that the best time is 0.00015225 which is better as compared to other algorithms also Wilcoxon ranksum test is carried out to calculate the p-value is less than 0.05 rejecting the null hypothesis. The research emphasizes the potential of IAO as a tool for tackling real-world optimization challenges by explaining its efficacy and competitiveness compared to other optimization procedures via comprehensive testing and analysis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Autoimmune diseases pose a significant challenge due to their complex pathogenesis and rising prevalence. Traditional therapies are often limited by systemic side effects, immunosuppression, and lack of long-term efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated immunomodulatory properties, primarily through the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are now recognized as potent mediators of immune regulation. MSC-derived EVs carry bioactive molecules such as microRNAs, proteins, and lipids that influence key immune pathways, making them a promising therapeutic avenue for autoimmune diseases. This review critically examines the immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSC-derived EVs, focusing on their role in regulating T cells, B cells, and macrophages, which are central to autoimmune pathology. We explore recent preclinical and clinical studies that highlight the ability of MSC-derived EVs to reduce inflammation, promote immune tolerance, and restore tissue homeostasis in autoimmune settings. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of EV-based therapy over MSC-based therapies, including improved safety profiles, lower immunogenicity, and scalability for clinical application. By evaluating the current landscape of MSC-derived EV research, we identify key gaps and propose innovative strategies to optimize EVbased therapies for autoimmune diseases. These strategies include engineering EVs to enhance their specificity and therapeutic efficacy, as well as integrating them with biomaterials for targeted delivery. Our review aims to provide a forward-looking perspective on the potential of MSC-derived EVs as a novel therapeutic approach, moving beyond traditional cell-based therapies to offer more precise and personalized treatment options for autoimmune diseases., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Introduction: Ultraviolet-based dermoscopy may support the recognition of scabies, yet neither accuracy analyses nor data on skin of colour are available. The aim of this multicentric observational retrospective was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of polarised and ultraviolet-induced fluorescence (UVF) dermoscopic examination in both fair and dark skin, also assessing possible differences according to the skin tone., Methods: Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of scabies were eligible. All the images were randomly evaluated by two independent experienced investigators to identify scabietic findings reported in the literature. Interobserver agreement was evaluated for both polarised and UVF dermoscopic pictures through Cohen's kappa coefficient, while Fisher's exact test with p-value set at 0.05 was used for comparative analyses between the two settings., Results: A total of 97 lesions from 43 patients (21 with fair skin and 22 with dark skin) were included. The comparative analysis highlighted a superiority of UVF dermoscopy to detect the burrow (p = 0.003) and scabietic eggs (p = 0.012) in skin of colour, while polarised dermoscopy was more accurate to show the mite in fair skin (p = 0.042). Additionally, a general higher accuracy of both settings in light phototypes was also found, with a higher prevalence (p < 0.05) of typical scabietic findings (i.e., serpiginous white tract, 'triangle' sign and grey-brown outlines of the burrow for polarised dermoscopy and green dot for UVF dermoscopy) compared to dark skin. Kappa values were 0.87 and 0.83 for polarised and UVF-dermoscopy, respectively., Conclusions: UVF dermoscopy improves the recognition of scabies, though it should be considered complimentary to polarised light dermoscopic examination to increase diagnostic performance., (© 2024 The Author(s). Australasian Journal of Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

The broad-scale inventories of alien species reveal macroecological patterns, but these often fall short in guiding local-level management strategies. Local authorities, tasked with on-the-ground management, require precise knowledge of the occurrence of invasive species tailored to their jurisdictional boundaries. What proves critical at the local scale may not hold the same significance at national or regional levels. In this context, we present a comprehensive inventory of alien vascular plant species across the ecologically diverse Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh (JKL) regions of India. Our study identifies 312 alien plant species belonging to 210 genera and 61 families. These alien plant species are predominantly herbaceous dicots. Of these, ca. 62% are naturalized, and 28% exhibit invasive behavior in the region. Introductions have been primarily unintentional, with a notable fraction (26%) introduced for ornamental purposes. The families with the highest number of alien plant species are Asteraceae (46 species), Fabaceae (28 species), and Amaranthaceae (23 species). The genera with the most species are Amaranthus (10 species), Solanum (8 species), Iris (7 species), and Oenothera (5 species). The Jammu region has the highest number of alien plant species, with 221 documented species, including 99 unique to this region. This is followed by the Kashmir Himalaya, with 212 alien species, 70 of which are exclusive to the area. In Ladakh, 76 alien species are recorded, with only one exclusive to the region. Fifty-five alien species are common across all three regions. In each region, more than 50% of species are naturalized, while invasive species constitute about 30% of the total. Therophytes are the dominant life-form category across all regions. Only 18% of species are shared across the three regions. Our findings emphasize the imperative of integrating local-scale knowledge into invasion management frameworks, ensuring targeted and effective strategies aligned with local administrative capacities. By bridging the gap between broad ecological patterns and localized management needs, our study advocates for a nuanced approach to invasive species management that accounts for regional and local specificity., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Consent to participate: This study does not require consent to participate. Consent for publication: The authors authorized that the work has not been published before in any form and is not under consideration by another publishing agency. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The present study assessed source, degradation status, and temporal trends of organic matter up to ∼3700 years Before Present (BP) in Dal Lake sediment cores using multiproxy indicators, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, and time series forecasting. Bulk organic parameters such as total organic carbon and total nitrogen indicated their increasing trend in upper sediment layers from ∼476 to ∼73 years BP. Similarly, the C/N ratio revealed varying sources of organic matter with values ranging from 2.26 to 13.05, depicting an increasing trend up to ∼1811 years BP and decreasing significantly from ∼2002 years BP. Amino acid and hexosamine concentrations decreased with depth, dominated by aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, glucosamine, and galactosamine in recent sediments (∼73 years BP) of the lake. The positive degradation index (DI) confirmed fresh organic matter in top sediment layers (∼396 years BP) of the lake, showing a strong positive correlation with reactivity index (RI) and total organic carbon. However, a negative correlation was observed between DI and RI with Ox/Anox index. Furthermore, the Gluam/Galam, Asp/β-Ala and Glu/γ-Aba ratios revealed enhanced organic matter degradation with age, indicating prokaryotic origins, microbial activity changes, and redox conditions within the lake. Multivariate analysis revealed increasing autochthonous and allochthonous inputs, domestic effluent discharges, agricultural runoff, redox conditions, and microbial processes as the possible contributing factors affecting the dispersal pattern of amino acids and nutrients in Dal Lake. Time series forecasting using the ARIMA model effectively confirmed the future temporal dynamics of amino acids, and organic parameters, indicating potential ecological shifts and external influences affecting the degradation of organic matter in Dal Lake. This work provides novel insights into the diagenetic alterations and biogeochemical processes essential for understanding the organic matter cycling and guiding the conservation efforts for Dal Lake and beyond., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Endophytic fungi serve as vital reservoirs of natural products. This study investigates the role of the endophytic fungus, Diaporthe amygdali GWS39, isolated from Geranium wallichianum D. Don Ex Sweet aerial stem. Showing a notable resemblance to Diaporthe amygdali, as confirmed through microscopic, molecular and phylogenetic techniques, this fungal endophyte displays promising antifungal and antioxidant capabilities. Remarkably, the present research marks the first report of D. amygdali as a stem inhabiting endophyte in an herbaceous perennial, Geranium wallichianum D. Don Ex Sweet on a global scale. This study pioneers the documentation of broad-spectrum antifungal activity exhibited by endophyte D. amygdali GWS39 against some economically important pathogens. The antioxidant activity of D. amygdali GWS39 crude extracts showed strong positive correlation, with R 2 values of 0.99 for the methanolic extract and 0.93 for the ethyl acetate extract, indicating high antioxidant potential. In addition, the current investigation likely signifies the initial record of the bioactive chemical constituents of the endophyte D. amygdali GWS39 using GC-MS. In the GC-MS chromatogram of ethyl acetate extract, cyclohexaneamine, phenol, 2,6, dimethoxy-, benzenesulphonamide, N-(2,6, dimethylphenyl)-2-ethoxy-5-(tetrazol-1-yl), morpholine, 1-, beta, -d-Ribofuranosyl-3-[5-tetraazolyl]-1,2,4, triazole were identified. These compounds are previously reported for potent antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer activities. The analysis of methanolic crude extract uncovers the presence of compounds such as arsenous acid tris(trimethylsilyl) ester, n-Hexadecanoic acid, methyl 10,11-octadecadienoate with noted antibiotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antihistaminic and anticancer activities., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no financial or relevant non-financial interests to disclose. Ethical Approval: No ethical approval was required for this study, as it did not involve human participants, animal subjects, or any other ethical considerations necessitating approval. Consent to Participate: This research did not involve human participants, thus no consent to participate was required., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The current work was conducted to investigate fisheries dynamics, rate of growth, and mortality, along with demographic features of Schizothorax niger using length-frequency data collected monthly from Manasbal Lake from August 2020 and July 2022. The length data for estimation was categorized into 13 bins, and population parameters were explored utilizing various options in ELEFAN I, with the best fit (Rn = 0.282) calculated by means of the FiSAT-II application. TW = 1.94 TL 2.94 , with a =  - 1.94, b = 2.94, and an attuned r 2  = 0.77 were derived for the weight and length association. The growing performance metric (ϕ) was calculated as 2.80. S. niger harvested stock in Manasbal Lake was prevalent in length categories of 20.5 to 25.4 and 25.5 to 30.4 cm. Different growth attributes were valued utilizing length frequency statistics as L ∞  = 46.05 cm, k = 0.30/year, and t 0  =  - 0.493 years. Over all mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) coefficients were evaluated as 1.43 year -1 , 0.56 year -1 , and 0.87 year -1 , respectively. The fish's average length was assessed at the culmination of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th year as 15.42 cm, 22.78 cm, 28.09 cm, 32.61 cm, 36.03 cm, and 38.53 cm, respectively. Recruitment patterns in S. niger from Manasbal Lake indicate a singular annual recruitment occurrence, exclusively observed during the month of June. The current value of the exploitation (fish harvest) ratio (E) was 0.61 by the size-transformed catch curvature method, found to be marginally lower than the maximum value (E max ) of 0.699 depicting that the species is on the brink of overexploitation, and caution is required to maintain sustainability. The seasonal analysis of water quality parameters revealed that except for pH and free carbon dioxide, the other parameters showed pronounced temporal variations. Total alkalinity values were reflective of hard water type of the lake, and dissolved oxygen and free carbon dioxide values were reported to be suitable for S. niger., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Competing interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Patchy global data on belowground litter decomposition dynamics limit our capacity to discern the drivers of carbon preservation and storage across inland and coastal wetlands. We performed a global, multiyear study in over 180 wetlands across 28 countries and 8 macroclimates using standardized litter as measures of "recalcitrant" (rooibos tea) and "labile" (green tea) organic matter (OM) decomposition. Freshwater wetlands and tidal marshes had the highest tea mass remaining, indicating a greater potential for carbon preservation in these ecosystems. Recalcitrant OM decomposition increased with elevated temperatures throughout the decay period, e.g., increase from 10 to 20 °C corresponded to a 1.46-fold increase in the recalcitrant OM decay rate constant. The effect of elevated temperature on labile OM breakdown was ecosystem-dependent, with tidally influenced wetlands showing limited effects of temperature compared with freshwater wetlands. Based on climatic projections, by 2050 wetland decay constants will increase by 1.8% for labile and 3.1% for recalcitrant OM. Our study highlights the potential for reduction in belowground OM in coastal and inland wetlands under increased warming, but the extent and direction of this effect at a large scale is dependent on ecosystem and OM characteristics. Understanding local versus global drivers is necessary to resolve ecosystem influences on carbon preservation in wetlands.

Chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy antagonist, has been recently explored as a repurposable medicine for cancer; however the exact mechanism of its action is still not known. The present study investigated the effect of CQ on colorectal cancer cells to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We report for the first time that CQ suppresses hypoxia-induced growth and survival of HCT-116 cells by reducing glycolytic capacity and NAD + production through inhibition of PDK1. Furthermore, in silico and in vitro studies revealed that CQ induces structural alteration in the PDK1 protein, leading to its destabilization and promotes its enhanced degradation by proteases. This degradation is in turn inhibited by the MG-132 protease inhibitor. Moreover, CQ-induced suppression of PDK1 results in mitochondrial damage through excessive production of ROS, as reflected by the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, which in turn triggers apoptosis through PARP cleavage and Caspase activation. These findings advocate CQ as a promising repurposable chemotherapeutic for colorectal cancer and a novel inhibitor of PDK1., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest or any competent interest pertaining to the following article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Rheum webbianum Royle (RW) holds significant ethnopharmacological importance owing to its 5000-year history of cultivation for medicinal and culinary purposes. Demonstrating therapeutic advantages in traditional and contemporary medical practices, RW exhibits key pharmacological effects including anticancer activity, gastrointestinal control, anti-inflammatory properties, and suppression of fibrosis. Despite its recognized vast bioactivities in ethnopharmacology, its efficacy against the colorectal cancer (CRC) remains incompletely understood., Aim of the Study: This study for the first time aims to investigate the chemo-preventive capabilities of various extracts derived from RW rhizomes against CRC development., Materials and Methods: Four types of RW extracts were prepared by using different solvents viz: Hexane, Ethy-acetate, Ethanol and Methanol. All the four extracts were evaluated for cytotoxicity on HCT-116 human CRC cells. Promising extracts were further investigated in-vivo at varying doses using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced rat CRC model to assess the anti-oxidant and anticancer properties as well as their effects on the associated hepatic deterioration and hematological alterations., Results: Cell viability: In-vitro assessments demonstrated a dose and time-dependent reduction in HCT-116 cell viability following treatment with methanolic and ethanolic extracts of RW, reducing viability by up to 85% and 90%, respectively, at 200 μg/ml., Histopathology: Histopathological analyses revealed significant improvements in colon tissue morphology in RW extract-treated groups compared to DMH-only treated animals. RW-treated groups showed reduced structural abnormalities, congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, crypt abscess formation, and dysplasia. In contrast, the DMH-only group exhibited irregular glandular structure, mucosal destruction, extensive inflammatory cell infiltration, crypt abscess formation, and dysplasia. These results highlight the potential of RW methanolic and ethanolic extracts in mitigating colon cancer-related histopathological alterations. Haematological, and hepatic parameters: In the DMH-induced colorectal cancer rat model, significant hematological imbalances were evident, including a 49.13% decrease in erythrocytes, 32.18% in hemoglobin, and 26.79% in hematocrit, along with a 79.62% increase in white blood cells and 68.96% rise in platelets. Administration of RW rhizome extracts effectively restored these hematological parameters to levels comparable to those in the control group. Furthermore, RW treatment significantly reduced serum ALT and AST levels, which had increased by 36.78% and 33.12%, respectively, due to DMH exposure. RW intervention also mitigated the onset of atherosclerosis, evidenced by notable reductions in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Comparative analysis indicated that RW-treated DMH groups effectively restored lipid profiles, contrasting with the DMH-only group which exhibited markers indicative of colon cancer. Oxidative stress: The DMH-treated group showed a significant increase in MDA levels by 195.59%, indicative of heightened free radical production, coupled with decreased levels of SOD (33%), CAT (48%), GSH (58%), and GR activity (49%), signifying oxidative stress. Treatment with RW extracts in DMH-treated rats markedly reduced MDA levels and enhanced SOD, CAT, GSH, and GR activities. These results underscore the antioxidant efficacy of RW extracts., Conclusion: This study underscores the significant potential of RW rhizome extracts in inhibiting colorectal cancer development. Further investigations are warranted to identify the active constituents responsible for these promising outcomes, positioning RW as a natural and potential agent in combating colon cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella gallinarum, poses a significant challenge to poultry health and food safety. In response, alternative strategies are urgently needed to mitigate bacterial infections without exacerbating antibiotic resistance. Phytoremediation, a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach, harnesses the natural detoxification capabilities of plants to remediate contaminants. This study explores the potential of combined phytoremediation using Andrographolide, derived from Andrographis paniculata, and Ajwain derived from Trachyspermum ammi as promising alternatives to antibiotics for treating Salmonella gallinarum infection in poultry. Andrographolide, known for its potent antimicrobial properties, exhibits inhibitory effects while Ajwain, rich in bioactive compounds, possesses antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. By leveraging their combined phytoremediation potential, Andrographolide and Ajwain offer a multifaceted approach to combat Salmonella gallinarum within the poultry environment. The study employed a rigorous experimental design, including in vitro assessments of antimicrobial susceptibility, cytotoxicity, and optimal concentration determination. Following this, in vivo experiments were conducted using a chicken model infected with Salmonella gallinarum. Results demonstrated that the selected combinations effectively reduced mortality rates, alleviated clinical symptoms, and mitigated gross pathological signs associated with Salmonella infection. Gene expression studies indicated a downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, underscoring potential implications of a combined phytoremediation strategy as an innovative and sustainable solution to address Salmonella gallinarum infections in poultry production systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)