The final steps of ethylene biosynthesis involve the consecutive activity of two enzymes, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO). These enzymes are encoded by small gene families, which, in the case of legumes, have not been systematically characterized at the level of gene family membership or phylogenetic relationship. Moreover, the absence of consensus nomenclature complicates comparisons within the scientific literature, where authors are addressing the roles of these genes in planta.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigates the effect of daily consumption of a concentrated garlic and onion extract on COVID-19 symptoms among elderly nursing home residents. Volunteers consumed a daily capsule of the concentrated powder rich in organosulfur compounds over 36 weeks during lunch. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms between the treatment and control groups were compared, along with monitoring the safety of consumption, incidence of other diseases, and medicine usage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypercholesterolemia plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, and its prevention seems to be a crucial healthcare strategy to ameliorate these conditions. Subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia are frequently advised against using cholesterol-lowering drugs due to potential side effects, with an emphasis instead on prioritizing dietary adjustments and lifestyle modifications as the primary strategy. In this context, the use of dietary supplements based on medicinal plants may be recommended as a complementary approach to managing elevated cholesterol levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent decades, the quality of agricultural soils has been seriously affected by the excessive application of pesticides, with herbicides being one of the most abundant. Continuous use of herbicides alters the soil microbial community and beneficial interactions between plants and bacteria such as legume-rhizobia spp. symbiosis, causing a decrease in the biological nitrogen fixation, which is essential for soil fertility.
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