Journal of Biotechnology and Natural Science

Effects of Metarhizium anisopliae and Red Ginger Extract (Zingiber officinale var.rubrum) on Feeding Behaviour and Mortality of Spodoptera litura Larvae

2026-02-03T01:47:36+00:00

The management of Spodoptera litura, a major pest of vegetable crops, is still predominantly reliant on synthetic pesticides, whose excessive use raises concerns regarding environmental safety and human health. This study investigated the effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and red ginger extract (Zingiber officinale var rubrum), applied individually on feeding behaviour and larval mortality of S. litura. Laboratory bioassays were conducted using the leaf-dipped method to evaluate larval mortality. Feeding inhibition activity of red ginger extract was assessed using choice and no-choice test. Red ginger extract caused 48% larval mortality at a concentration of 2 ml/50 ml of water, while M. anisopliae resulted in 28% larval mortality at 20 g/50 ml of water. Feeding inhibition under the choice test was categorized as very weak (10.20%) at 2 ml/50 ml of water, similarly M. anisopliae did not exhibit feeding inhibition under either test method

Effect of Combined Kelakai (Stenochlaena palustris) Leaves Extract and Stingless Bee Honey on Hemoglobin Levels in Mice (Mus musculus)

2026-03-03T04:06:11+00:00

Anemia is a hematological condition characterized by decreased hemoglobin (Hb) levels, leading to impaired oxygen transport and reduced physiological function. Natural products such as kelakai leaves (Stenochlaena palustris) extract and stingless bee honey have potential as complementary therapies for anemia due to their iron content and bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and antioxidants that may support erythropoiesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a combination of kelakai leaves extract and stingless bee honey on hemoglobin levels in mice (Mus musculus). A true experimental study with a pretest–posttest control group design was conducted using 30 male mice divided into six groups: normal control, untreated anemic control, anemic group treated with iron supplementation, and three treatment groups receiving combinations of kelakai leaves extract and stingless bee honey at ratios of 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30. Anemia was induced using sodium nitrite, and hemoglobin levels were measured before and after treatment. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc tests. The results demonstrated that sodium nitrite induction successfully reduced hemoglobin levels below normal, while all treatment groups showed a significant increase in hemoglobin levels compared to the untreated anemic group (p < 0.05). The highest mean hemoglobin level was observed in the 70:30 combination group (16.36 g/dL), whereas the lowest was found in the untreated anemic group (10.22 g/dL). In conclusion, the combination of kelakai leaves extract and stingless bee honey effectively increased hemoglobin levels in mice, with the 70:30 ratio identified as the most effective formulation.

Phytoremediation Potential of Azolla microphylla and Salvinia molesta for Copper (Cu) Removal: Effects on Biomass, Antioxidant Activity, and DNA Integrity

2026-05-06T05:24:36+00:00

Industrial wastewater represents a major source of environmental pollution, primarily due to the presence of heavy metals that pose significant risks to human health. Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element; however, its occurrence at elevated concentrations in aquatic environments can exert toxic effects. The aquatic plants Azolla microphylla and Salvinia molesta are known to possess potential as phytoremediation agents for heavy metal contamination. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these plants in reducing Cu concentrations, to quantify biomass production, to analyze the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), to detect DNA damage using the comet assay, and to assess changes in water quality following treatment. Phytoremediation was conducted using a static system at Cu concentrations of 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. The results demonstrated that Azolla microphylla reduced Cu concentrations by up to 95.32%, whereas Salvinia molesta achieved a reduction of 72.42%. Plant dry biomass tended to decrease with increasing Cu concentrations, while metal accumulation within plant tissues increased. SOD enzyme activity did not show a significant increase, and no DNA damage was detected in leaf tissues, indicating the absence of severe oxidative stress. Furthermore, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels increased after 14 days of treatment. In conclusion, Azolla microphylla and Salvinia molesta exhibit strong potential as effective phytoremediators for Cu heavy metal contamination in aquatic environments.

The Effect of Fermentation Time on pH and Total Soluble Solids of Kelud Simplex Pineapple Peel Kombucha

2026-06-03T00:02:34+00:00

Kombucha is a functional fermented beverage produced through the symbiotic interaction of bacteria and yeast, and pineapple peel can serve as an alternative substrate due to its fermentable sugar content. This study aimed to determine the effect of fermentation time on pH and reducing sugar content in kombucha made from Kelud Simplex pineapple peel. The experiment used a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications over 14 days of fermentation, with observations taken every two days. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, Levene’s homogeneity test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD post hoc analysis. The pH decreased progressively from 3.68 on day 0 to 2.76 on day 14, while reducing sugar content declined from approximately 11.0% to 8.0%. Statistical result showed that fermentation time significantly affected both pH and reducing sugar content (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that longer fermentation promotes greater acidification and sugar utilization, with the 14 days of fermentation producing the lowest reducing sugar and the highest acidity, indicating more advance stage microbial activity.

PLANT ANATOMY Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson AND Tithonia Diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Grays AS REDUCING SUGAR CONTENT

2026-05-05T03:06:16+00:00

Currently, the number of people with diabetes mellitus worldwide is increasing. According to the 11th edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas (2024/2025), approximately 19.5–20.4 million Indonesian adults will be living with diabetes by 2025. The plants Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson and Tithonia Diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray are currently the subject of public discussion due to their usefulness in lowering blood sugar levels. The purpose of this study was to distinguish the macroscopic and microscopic identification characteristics and the presence of chemical compounds in the roots, stems, and leaves of Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson and Tithonia Diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray. The research method was purely experimental, involving macroscopic identification characteristics, microscopic characteristics, and chemical testing of Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson and Tithonia Diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray plants. Results and Discussion Macroscopic identification characteristics of Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray, which have taproots, round stems that are moist, soft, and woody, leaves with wavy edges, and alternate or opposite leaf arrangement, with some being scattered. Microscopic identification characteristics show the presence of calcium oxalate crystals. The chemical content of the leaves, bark, and roots of Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray contains saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, indicating that flavonoids act as antioxidants that can increase insulin sensitivity.Conclusion: The macroscopic and microscopic identification characteristics of the plants Smallanthus Sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray are taprooted and tuberous, with brown taproots and no tubers, round stems that are soft, moist, and sometimes woody. The leaves have wavy edges, an opposite and alternate arrangement, and are scattered. The presence of epidermis, stomata, parenchyma, sclerenchyma, trichomes, and vascular bundles can be seen in the cross-section of the stem and leaves. The chemical content includes saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids.

Integrative In Silico Characterization of Klotho Missense Variants rs9527025 and rs9536314: Structural Perturbation Prediction, Tissue Expression, and Functional Network Analysis

2026-04-20T05:20:40+00:00

The Klotho (KL) gene encodes a transmembrane protein that serves as an obligate co-receptor for fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), regulating phosphate homeostasis, vitamin D metabolism, and aging-related signaling. The KL-VS haplotype carries two coding variants, rs9536314 (Phe352Val) and rs9527025 (Cys370Ser), with established contrasting functional effects: F352V impairs secretion through intracellular retention, while C370S enhances secretion. The structural basis of these opposing phenotypes remains uncharacterized, and non-KL-VS substitutions at position 370 from the multiallelic rs9527025 have not been computationally evaluated. This study presents an integrative in silico characterization of rs9527025 and rs9536314 in the KL1 domain of α-Klotho, combining multi-algorithm functional prediction, predicted thermodynamic perturbation analysis, tissue-specific expression profiling, and gene interaction network analysis. Results showed that rs9536314 substitutions consistently predicted greater functional damage and thermodynamic perturbation (ΔΔG up to -3.02 kcal/mol for F352V), consistent with disruption of the KL1 hydrophobic core as a structural basis for its secretion-impairing phenotype. For rs9527025, C370S (the KL-VS substitution) showed minimal predicted perturbation in line with its secretion-enhancing effect, while the uncharacterized C370Y and C370F substitutions showed inconsistent predictions suggesting more localized effects. GTEx analysis confirmed predominant KL expression in kidney cortex, contextualizing variant relevance in renal mineral metabolism. Network analysis identified KL as a central hub in the FGF23-FGFR signaling axis. These computational findings offer a structural interpretation that bridges predicted perturbations at residues 352 and 370 with their known contrasting functional effects on Klotho processing and secretion.