Olga S. Tsiftsoglou^1,*, Vladimir Mihailovic², Nikola Sreckovic², Jelena S. Katanic Stankovic³, Kyriakos Michail Dimitriadis¹, Michalis K. Stefanakis⁴, Diamanto Lazari¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.075566 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Achillea species are known for their healing properties since ancient times. There is extensive literature on their pharmacological action due to their bioactive compounds. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from the inflorescences and leaves of the species Achillea crithmifolia Waldst. and Kit., A. grandifolia Friv. and A. millefolium L. The phytochemical profiles of all extracts were evaluated both by NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS analysis, and the results were consistent with the spectrophotometrically determined total phenolic (TP: 125.42–191.98 mg/g) and total flavonoid (TF: 47.34–180.02 mg/g) contents. All the extracts were tested More >

Aaron David Lugo-Palacios¹, Edgar Omar Rueda-Puente², César Omar Montoya-García², Ignacio Orona-Castillo³, Urbano Nava-Camberos³, José Luis García-Hernández^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.075449 - 30 January 2026

Abstract To ensure the efficient use of resources, particularly in water-scarce arid and semi-arid regions where abiotic stress threatens food security, assessing soil and climate suitability for specific crops is crucial. Simultaneously, food production must align with sustainable development goals by minimizing negative environmental impacts. Therefore, establishing agro-climatic suitability using a spatiotemporal approach is essential. This involves three key steps: first, determining the climatically appropriate months based on the species’ requirements (temporal suitability), and second, establishing the soil suitability of specific plots (spatial suitability). Following this, quantifying crop evapotranspiration allows for optimized water use. This study… More >

Ziying Huang¹, Ruikang Ma¹, Anning Li², Yufei Cheng¹, Xiaolin Lin², Mengzhi Li³, Yu Zhang², Liping Shi¹, Linlin Dong^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.074419 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Epimedium is commonly used to treat bone injury and kidney disease, with prenylated flavonol glycosides (PFGs) as its active ingredients. It has attracted much attention due to prominent healthcare and therapeutic effects, but faces problems of adulteration with closely related species and confusion about geographical origins. In this study, multiple technical approaches were employed to identify its genetic characteristics and metabolic differences. Based on DNA barcoding, 20 batches of samples were analyzed. The genetic distances of matK, ITS and psbA-trnH within species were all smaller than those between species, and psbA-trnH along with ITS + psbA-trnH proved most effective… More >

Olha Mykhailenko^1,2,3,#,*, Zigmantas Gudžinskas⁴, Liudas Ivanauskas⁵, Victoriya Georgiyants¹, Chia-Hung Yen^6,7,8, Chung-Fan Hsieh⁹, Riong Seulina Panjaitan⁶, Tsong-Long Hwang^10,11,12,13, Bing-Hung Chen^14,15, Michal Korinek^6,7,8,#,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.074209 - 30 January 2026

Abstract The sustainable sourcing of novel bioactive compounds from natural sources is crucial to the success of the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. Iris bucharica Foster (syn. Juno bucharica (Foster) Vved.) is a promising source of novel bioactive molecules, particularly phenolic compounds, which are renowned for their antioxidant properties. In this study, we developed a reliable HPLC-UV-DAD method to identify and quantify phenolic compounds in the leaves and bulbs of I. bucharica, establishing the first set of quality control markers for this species. A total of 21 phenolic compounds were identified in the leaves, with flavonoids isoorientin, guaijaverin, hyperoside, More >

Lu Chen^1,2,#, Zhijie Ren^2,#, Guangmin Zhao², Xuan He², Legong Li², Sheng Teng^1,*, Yikun He^2,*, Fang Bao^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.073817 - 30 January 2026

Abstract ERD4 proteins, members of the early responsive-to-dehydration family, act as plasma membrane ion channels that contribute to ion homeostasis and modulate plant response to abiotic stresses. However, the functions of ERD4 homologs in non-vascular species remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterized an ERD4 family homolog in Physcomitrium patens (Hedw.) Mitt., PpCSC1 (Calcium-permeable Stress-responsive Cation Channel 1), and investigated its role in salt stress response. PpCSC1 localized to the plasma membrane and functioned as a non-selective cation channel permeable to Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Under salt treatment, PpCSC1 transcripts were markedly downregulated, whereas overexpression lines exhibited enhanced salt sensitivity.… More >

Wonkyu Yi, Jongseok Park^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.073450 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Understanding plant responses under low-pressure conditions is important for developing closed cultivation systems that simulate space environments. This study aimed to assess the effects of different pressure levels on growth, photosynthesis, and secondary metabolite accumulation in red leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ‘Super Caesar’s Red’). Plants were cultivated for three weeks in sealed chambers under 101 kPa (atmospheric pressure), 66 kPa (moderate low pressure), and 33 kPa (severe low pressure). Growth analysis showed that leaf length and leaf area decreased significantly with reduced pressure, while chlorophyll content and SPAD values increased gradually. Photosynthetic measurements indicated More >

Amine Batbat^1,2, Khaoula Habbadi², Mohamed Jeddi³, Samiah Hamad Al-Mijalli⁴, Hanae Naceiri Mrabti⁵, Fahad M. Alshabrmi⁶, Naif Hesham Moursi⁷, Hassane Greche¹, Naoufal El Hachlafi^8,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.95, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2026.072398 - 30 January 2026

Abstract Origanum elongatum (OE) is an aromatic, medicinal plant endemic to Morocco that is widely used in traditional medicine due to its biological properties. This study aimed to elucidate the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) obtained from O. elongatum (OEEO) at three stages of its life cycle, including vegetative stage (OEEO-VS), flowering stage (OEEO-FS), and post-flowering (OEEO-PFS), as well as to evaluate its biological and antiradical characteristics. The chemical analysis of the essential oil was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial activity was evaluated in vitro through distinct methodologies, namely, disc diffusion and microatmosphere assay;… More >

Yuyang Nie^1,2,#, Kunkun Jiang^2,3,#, Tianci Wang⁴, Cong Liu^1,2, Kangli Du^1,2, Yuxian Cao², Guofeng Qu^2,*, Lijia Hou^2,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073592 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: Amid the global rise in adolescent sedentary behavior and psychological distress, extant research has largely focused on variable-level associations, neglecting symptom-level interactions. This study applies network analysis, aims to delineate the interconnections among sedentary time, social support, social exclusion, and psychological distress in Chinese students, and to identify core and bridge symptoms to inform targeted interventions. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate the complex relationships among sedentary behavior, social support, social exclusion, and psychological distress among Chinese students. The research involved 459 high school and university students, using network analysis and mediation… More >

Yang Deng^1,#, Tong Su^1,#, Bin Wu¹, Li Peng², Muyu Chen^1,2,*, Liang Zhang^1,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol.28, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ijmhp.2025.072327 - 28 January 2026

Abstract Background: Submarine personnel often experience insomnia and reduced psychological resilience due to extended deployments in confined, high-stress environments. Effective non-pharmacological interventions are needed to improve sleep quality and resilience in this population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of virtual reality (VR) combined with forest therapy interventions on psychological resilience and sleep quality among submarine personnel with insomnia symptoms. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 92 submarine personnel with insomnia symptoms undergoing recuperation at a PLA sanatorium between July 2023 and May 2025 were randomly allocated to experimental and control groups (n = 46 each). The control group… More >

Mohammad Shokouhifar^1,*, Fakhrosadat Fanian², Mehdi Hosseinzadeh^3,4,*, Aseel Smerat^5,6, Kamal M. Othman⁷, Abdulfattah Noorwali⁷, Esam Y. O. Zafar⁷

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.146, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2026.073789 - 29 January 2026

Abstract Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have become foundational in numerous real-world applications, ranging from environmental monitoring and industrial automation to healthcare systems and smart city development. As these networks continue to grow in scale and complexity, the need for energy-efficient, scalable, and robust communication protocols becomes more critical than ever. Metaheuristic algorithms have shown significant promise in addressing these challenges, offering flexible and effective solutions for optimizing WSN performance. Among them, the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithm has attracted growing attention due to its simplicity, fast convergence, and strong global search capabilities. Accordingly, this survey provides… More >