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Bio-Functional Characterization of Buckwheat: Phytochemical Fingerprinting, Antidiabetic, Anti-Urease, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Insights

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Bio-Functional Characterization of Buckwheat: Phytochemical Fingerprinting, Antidiabetic, Anti-Urease, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Insights Authors: Koirala, Suman; Ursal, Kapil; Kar, Parimal Abstract: A highland buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) was characterized by proximate analysis, HRMS-based phytochemical fingerprinting, in vitro enzyme assays, molecular simulations, and muscle-cell functional tests. The seed showed high protein (14.01%) and energy (4011 kcal·kg−1) values, and HRMS revealed a polyphenol-rich profile (including gallic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, and orientin). The methanol extract inhibited urease and α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 5.79 ± 0.15 µg/mL and 11.67 ± 0.10 µg/mL, respectively, while molecular docking and 100-ns MD simulations supported stable interactions of key phenolics with both enzyme targets. In L6 myotubes, the extract produced a concentration-dependent, significant (p<0.05) increase in glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation, with effects pronounced at 40 µg/mL. Overall, the seed combines high nutritional value with a polyphenol-rich chemical profile and measurable in vitro bioactivities, notably enzyme inhibition and stimulation of glucose uptake that are consistent with potential bio-functional effects. © 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Commercial Products of Microbes: An Overview

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Commercial Products of Microbes: An Overview Authors: Bagde, Pranit Hemant; Shrivastava, Harshita; Kandpal, Meenakshi; Jha, Hem Chandra Abstract: Microbial bioprocesses have transformed industrial biotechnology, facilitating the sustainable manufacture of many commercial and medicinal goods. This chapter examines innovative developments in microbial engineering for the synthesis of antibiotics (e.g., CRISPR-enhanced Streptomyces), biopolymers (PHAs and PLA), and biofuels (algal biodiesel and yeast bioethanol). This emphasizes recombinant expression systems—Escherichia coli for insulin, yeast for monoclonal antibodies, and CHO cells for biologics, demonstrating their function as scalable bioplatforms. The literature encompasses treatments developed from microbes, such as anti-HIV drugs (cyanovirin-N), anticancer compounds (Taxol precursors), and anti-inflammatory postbiotics. Innovations in genetic tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9 and AI-driven metabolic modeling, as well as heterologous systems, are discussed, along with scalability, metabolic burden, and regulatory obstacles. Emerging concepts such as 3D-bioprinted bioreactors and microbiome engineering highlight the prospective capabilities of microbial bioprocesses in tackling global health and environmental challenges. The above discussion highlights bacteria as essential biofactories propelling the forthcoming era of biotechnological advancement. Graphical Abstract © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026.

Pathogenic Modulation of Organelle Crosstalk in Helicobacter pylori-Associated Neurodegeneration

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Pathogenic Modulation of Organelle Crosstalk in Helicobacter pylori-Associated Neurodegeneration Authors: Kandpal, Meenakshi; Shrivastava, Harshita; Njini, Nfor Gael; Mukherjee, Srija; Kumari, Sanjana; Jha, Hem Chandra Abstract: Neurological disorders are increasingly linked to dysfunction of key cellular organelles, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, endosomes, and peroxisomes. These organelles coordinate essential neuronal processes via tightly regulated crosstalk. Disruption in one organelle can propagate dysfunction across others, amplifying neurodegenerative cascades. Emerging evidence suggests that neurological diseases can result not only from disturbances in brain homeostasis but also from imbalances in gut homeostasis, highlighting the significant role of the gut-brain axis in maintaining neurological health. Helicobacter pylori, a gut pathogen contribute to the progression of neurological modalities by its secretome comprising Vac A, CagA, urease, and outer membrane vesicles via perturbing organelle function. These virulence factors induce mitochondrial fragmentation, ER stress, lysosomal dysfunction, and impaired mitophagy, disrupting organelle networks and promoting synaptic loss and neuronal death. Understanding how pathogen-induced organelle stress contributes to neurodegeneration offers novel insights into infection-driven brain disorders. © 2026 American Chemical Society

Conformational landscapes and binding free energies of multitarget phytochemicals reveal molecular recognition mechanisms in colorectal cancer-associated proteins

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Conformational landscapes and binding free energies of multitarget phytochemicals reveal molecular recognition mechanisms in colorectal cancer-associated proteins Authors: Samanta, Sampak; Kar, P. Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) significantly contributes to global cancer-related morbidity and mortality. As systemic toxicity, poor selectivity, and drug resistance restrict the usefulness of available chemotherapy and radiotherapy, phytochemicals present a promising substitute strategy with their generally low toxicity and potential for multitarget action. In this study, key proteins involved in CRC signalling were selected as therapeutic targets, and baicalin, berberine, luteolin, quercetin, and licorice glycoside D1 (licorice) were evaluated as potential multitarget therapeutics. Molecular docking revealed key stabilizing interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, π–π stacking, and π-cation contacts. Additionally, eight complexes investigated via 200 ns all-atom molecular dynamics simulations consistently showed stability in the protein RMSD profiles. MM/PBSA binding free energy calculations identified the BCL-2-baicalin, IL-1β-baicalin, IL-1β-licorice, and TNF-α-licorice complexes (ΔGbind of −27.66, −26.47, −29.69, and −29.87 kcal/mol, respectively) as exhibiting the strongest protein-ligand affinities, where strong van der Waals interactions effectively offset opposing polar contributions. Free-energy surface analyses revealed prominent protein conformations as well as ligand conformations that varied depending on the bound protein. Overall, insights from our computational analyses identified baicalin and licorice as promising multitarget inhibitors while also providing energetic and mechanistic understanding that can be leveraged in future rational drug design. © 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.