Background Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity continues to be a significant clinical concern, while effective and safe protective options remain limited. The nephroprotective potential of Maesa ramentacea has not yet been explored. To address this gap, the present study investigated the ethanolic leaf extract of M. ramentacea (MR-LEE) for its effects on gentamicin-induced kidney injury in Wistar rats. Methods GC-MS profiling was employed to identify bioactive metabolites. Rats were categorised into five groups: control, gentamicin (100 mg/kg), gentamicin combined with silymarin (100 mg/kg), gentamicin combined with MR-LEE (200 mg/kg) and gentamicin combined with MR-LEE (400 mg/kg). Renal biomarkers, oxidative stress indicators, inflammatory and apoptotic markers and histopathological evaluations were conducted. Results Nine bioactive metabolites have been identified using GC-MS. Gentamicin significantly elevated serum creatinine (1.17 ± 0.13 mg/dL), urea (69.9 ± 3.44 mg/dL), uric acid (5.52 ± 1.15 mg/dL) and LDH (4770 ± 480 U/L) compared to the control group ( p = 0.0001). MR-LEE at 400 mg/kg significantly decreased creatinine (0.65 ± 0.05 mg/dL), urea (45.3 ± 2.66 mg/dL) and LDH (4250 ± 380 U/L) ( p = 0.0001), approaching the levels observed with silymarin. Gentamicin increased TNF-α (58.8 ± 4.6 pg/mg), IL-6 (53.1 ± 2.23 pg/mg) and caspase-3 (37.6 ± 2.44 ng/mg) ( p = 0.0001), but MR-LEE 400 mg/kg significantly decreased these levels to 33.1 ± 2.3, 29.5 ± 2.33 and 21.5 ± 1.66, respectively ( p = 0.005). MR-LEE restored antioxidant enzyme levels (GSH, SOD and CAT) and reduced lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by histological analyses showing decreased tubular necrosis and nearly normal renal architecture. Conclusion MR-LEE appeared to exert a notable, dose-dependent nephroprotective effect. Future research should focus on isolating active components and elucidating molecular mechanisms to facilitate translational use.

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Pinus armandii Franch., a key native conifer in China, faces severe Dendroctonus armandi infestation, threatening forest ecosystems. Reducing infestation probability and enhancing resistance are essential for transforming Pinus armandii forests. This study investigates the correlation between stand structure, topographic factors, and the probability of Pinus armandii infestation by Dendroctonus armandi . Based on these correlations, it selects suitable mixed-species combinations of native tree species with low infestation probabilities that are adapted to regional characteristics. A random survey was conducted in 58 plots (6,021 trees) in Shennongjia. Logistic regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed: (1) Infestation rate increased with elevation, peaking at 84.38% above 2,000 m; between 1,500-2,100 m, probability rose 4.3% per 100 m elevation gain; (2) Steeper slopes (> 25°) reduced infestation (46.03%), with risk decreasing 1.9% per 1° slope increase (0°-40°); (3) Larger DBH (> 30 cm) trees had higher infestation (82.93%), increasing 4.5% per 1 cm DBH; (4) Higher species mingling (four neighboring non-Pinus trees) lowered infestation to 63.39%, reducing risk by 54.3% per mingling unit; (5) Healthy Pinus armandii were frequently neighbored by Litsea pungens , Carpinus cordata , Phellodendron chinense , and Betula platyphylla . Prioritizing slopes > 25° and elevations Litsea pungens , Carpinus cordata , or Betula platyphylla , can mitigate infestation. These findings provide actionable strategies to enhance Pinus armandii forest resilience against Dendroctonus armandi threats.

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The majority of the population in Bangladesh uses traditional plant-based medicines to manage various ailments, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This review presents ethnobotanical information and relevant scientific studies on plants used in traditional healthcare for the management of various CNS disorders in Bangladesh. The information on the medicinal plants of Bangladesh effective against CNS disorders published in scientific journals, books, and reports was compiled from different electronic databases using specific key words. The present article provides comprehensive information on a total of 224 medicinal plant species belonging to 81 families used for the treatment of CNS disorders by the various peoples of Bangladesh. In total, we reviewed more than 290 relevant papers. In this study, leaves were found as the most often used plant organ, followed by roots, fruits, whole plants, barks, seeds, stems, rhizomes, and flowers. The Fabaceae family contributes the highest number of used species, followed by Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Vitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, and Zingiberaceae. The most frequently used species (in decreasing order) are Asparagus racemosus, Centella asiatica, Stephania japonica, Aegle marmelos, Coccinia grandis, Tabernaemontana divaricata, Bacopa monnieri, Abroma augusta, and Scoparia dulcis. This review may serve as a starting point for a rational search for neuroactive natural products against CNS disorders within the Flora of Bangladesh.

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The Vietnam-Laos International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) based at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) catalyzed a country-wide network of medicinal plant preserves (MPP) and medicinal biodiversity preserves (MBP) now established in ten provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), which are relied upon as protected sources of ethnomedicines for local villagers and traditional healers. In collaboration with the Lao PDR's Institute of Traditional Medicine (ITM), our ongoing P01 Program Project (Ohio State University) examined the anticancer bioprospecting potential for two of the most exhaustively inventoried of these sites: the Bolikhamxay MPP and the Xiengkhouang MBP. Guided by prior voucher specimens sourced from these preserves with an overwhelming emphasis on plants employed in traditional medicine, 201 distinct samples from 96 species were collected along with proper herbarium documentation. Aliquots of these plant samples were extracted in azeotropic ethanol and evaporated to dryness for initial biological evaluation. In six samples from six different species (2.99% of the collected samples, 6.25% of taxa) it was observed that extracts exhibited notable cytotoxicity against HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells. The wisdom behind the utilization of HT-29 cells in this preliminary biological screen is discussed. Furthermore, comparison of screening results based on longstanding considerations and ideological underpinnings of ethnobotanical vs. "random" biodiversity-based collection approaches is detailed herein. The results of this interdisciplinary study support the hypothesis that, by privileging the initial sample set in terms of human safety and pharmacological activity, ethnobotanically driven collection for biological screening efforts can produce leads unprecedented by the strict traditional usages of plants.

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The structure of a piscicidal triterpenoid saponin (saponin A) isolated from the leaves of Maesa ramentacea has been shown to be 3-O-[[(alpha-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl (1-->3)]-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl] barringtogenol C21, 22-O-diangeloate. Extensive use was made of homo- and heteronuclear 2D NMR techniques.

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