Chromium is a widespread toxic trace metal in cultivated lands owing to human actions, insufficient treatment, and unregulated disposal. Chromium toxicity is facilitated by the production of reactive oxygen species, which induce lipid peroxidation and damage the cellular membranes and nuclei. This study evaluated the preparation and characterization of Pterospermum-derived biochar based on a set of test categories from the International Biochar Initiative. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Pterospermum-derived biochar and salicylic acid (SA) in promoting the growth and biochemical attributes of tomato plants grown in Crcontaminated soils. The results showed that Cr toxicity reduced root (42.86 %) and shoot (23.26 %) lengths, which subsequently increased (65 % root and 39.94 % shoot lengths) under SA and biochar treatments. Increased levels of superoxide anions (O2 center dot-) (104.43 %), malondialdehyde (MDA) (115.53 %), and H2O2 (72.35 %) were observed in the Cr-treated tomato plantlets. The combined treatment of SA and biochar effectively reduced MDA, H2O2, and O2 center dot- levels by 51.17%, 36.89%, and 45.53%, respectively, under Cr toxicity conditions. In addition, the combined treatment with SA and biochar enhanced the activity and gene expression of dehydrogenase (7.06fold), guaiacol peroxidase (6.51-fold), superoxide dismutase (7.90-fold), polyphenol oxidase (1.89-fold), glutathione-s-transferase (2.55-fold), ascorbate peroxidase (1.26-fold), and glutathione peroxidase (8.75-fold) under Cr toxicity conditions. The results highlight the combined treatment of biochar and SA as an effective amendment that offers an environment-friendly method for alleviating Cr toxicity and promoting growth and the antioxidative defense system in tomato plantlets.

BackgroundRice is a staple crop for over half of the global population, but soil salinization poses a significant threat to its production. As a type of polyamine, spermidine (Spd) has been shown to reduce stress-induced damage in plants, but its specific role and mechanism in protecting rice roots under salt stress require further investigation. ResultsThis study suggested spermidine (Spd) mitigates salt stress on rice root growth by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and reducing peroxide levels. Transcriptomic analysis showed that salt stress caused 333 genes to be upregulated and 1,765 to be downregulated. However, adding Spd during salt treatment significantly altered this pattern: 2,298 genes were upregulated and 844 were downregulated, which indicated Spd reverses some transcriptional changes caused by salt stress. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that Spd influenced key signaling pathways, including MAPK signaling, plant hormone signal transduction, and phenylalanine metabolism. Additionally, the bZIP transcription factor OsbZIP73 was upregulated after Spd treatment, which is confirmed by Western blot. Further insights into the interaction between OsbZIP73 and Spd were gained through fluorescence polarization experiments, showing that Spd enhances protein OsbZIP73's affinity for RNA. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that OsPYL1, OsSPARK1, and various SAUR family genes involved in Spd-affected pathways. The presence of G/A/C-box elements in these genes suggests they are potential targets for OsbZIP73. ConclusionsOur findings suggest a strategy of using spermidine as a chemical alleviator for salt stress and provide insights into the regulatory function of OsbZIP73 in mitigating salt stress in rice roots.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds which are comprised of two or more fused benzene rings. As a typical environmental pollutant, PAHs are widely distributed in water, soil, atmosphere and food. Despite extensive researches on the mechanisms of health damage caused by PAHs, especially their carcinogenic and mutagenic toxicity, there is still a lack of comprehensive summarization and synthesis regarding the mechanisms of PAHs on the gut-testis axis, which represents an intricate interplay between the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems. Thus, this review primarily focuses on the potential forms of interaction between PAHs and the gut microbiota and summarizes their adverse outcomes that may lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, then compiles the possible mechanistic pathways on dysbiosis of the gut microbiota impairing the male reproductive function, in order to provide valuable insights for future research and guide further exploration into the intricate mechanisms underlying the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by PAHs on male reproductive function.

Cadmium (Cd), an environmental pollutant present in soil, water, and food, is known to pose significant risks to male reproductive health by inducing oxidative stress and toxicity. Scrophularia striata extract (SSE) is rich in natural antioxidants that play a crucial role in neutralizing toxins and protecting various organs. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of SSE in mitigating testicular damage and impairments in spermatogenesis induced by Cd using an animal model. Adult mice were randomly assigned to six groups: control, Cd, SSE 100 mg/kg, SSE 200 mg/kg, SSE 100 mg/kg plus Cd, and SSE 200 mg/kg plus Cd. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.35 mg/kg of Cd for 35 days, with or without SSE. At the study's conclusion, various parameters were assessed, including sperm count, motility, viability, morphology, DNA integrity, testosterone levels, testicular histopathology, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the testes. The results demonstrated that SSE significantly improved spermatogenesis, as indicated by improved sperm count, motility, viability, morphology, and chromatin integrity. Additionally, testosterone levels and testicular histopathology were notably improved in SSE-treated groups. While Cd exposure significantly elevated oxidative stress in the testes, SSE treatment effectively enhanced antioxidant defense by increasing TAC levels and reducing NO and MDA levels. Overall, SSE provided substantial protection against testicular damage induced by chronic Cd exposure by modulating oxidative stress, highlighting its potential as a promising herbal therapy for addressing reproductive toxicity and male infertility linked to environmental pollutants.