Search Results (1,120)

Supplement use has increased in recent years, despite limited evidence for its broad health benefits. Furthermore, exogenous antioxidants may determine pro-oxidant effects, depending on various factors such as dose, circadian window, and presence of metal ions. Although the effects of sleep deprivation (SD) on the brain are well-documented, its impact on peripheral organs remains relatively underexplored. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Cornus mas (C. mas) fruit extract on multiple peripheral sites in rats undergoing paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD). Male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in four groups, including control, C. mas (CM), sleep deprivation (SD), and sleep deprivation and C. mas (SD+CM) (n = 7/group). Seven days of PSD were associated with ultrastructural liver injury and evidence of oxidative dysfunction in several organs: liver, kidney, spleen, and aorta. These alterations were accompanied by marked increases in the evaluated cytokines, including testicular Interleukin-1β, hepatic Interleukin-6, and aortic Interleukin-4. Although the C. mas extract largely maintained hepatic ultrastructure, its effects on other organs were limited. In the aorta, it normalized GSSG values but was also associated with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. These findings highlight both the systemic impact of SD and caution against assuming uniform benefits of exogenous antioxidants across organ systems in this context. Full article

Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) protein plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the 5′-untranslated regions (5′-UTRs) of α-Syn, mRNA has a structured iron-responsive element (IRE) with a stem loop that regulates translation. Iron (labile as Fe²⁺) enhances protein synthesis rates through an IRE mRNA. This investigation aimed to describe the way in which α-Syn IRE interacts with eIF4F and establish a relationship between binding affinity and translation efficiency. The strong binding affinity of α-Syn IRE with eIF4F was demonstrated by a fluorescence-based experiment, with K_a = 8.4 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ at 25 °C. Fe²⁺ further increased (~three-fold) the affinity of α-Syn IRE with eIF4F, outcompeting binding with IRP1. With an increase in temperature (10–30 °C), K_d values increased from 35.8 ± 1.6 nM to 158 ± 8.7 nM for the interaction of α-Syn IRE with eIF4F; however, adding Fe²⁺ demonstrated significantly increased affinity throughout the same temperature range. Thermodynamic analyses demonstrated that α-Syn IRE/eIF4F binding occurred spontaneously, with the presence of van der Waals and hydrogen bonding. Fe²⁺ enhanced the α-Syn IRE/eIF4F complex’s change in enthalpic and binding free energy contributions, which led to a more stable complex formation through the involvement of more hydrogen bonding. Exogenous addition of eIF4F in depleted WG or RR lysates restored α-Syn protein synthesis. Fe²⁺ further boosted α-Syn mRNA translation. IRP1 repressed α-Syn translation, although the addition of Fe²⁺ reversed this effect by boosting activator eIF4F binding and decreasing repressor IRP1 binding. These findings reveal the significance of iron in the α-synuclein mRNA regulatory process and validate its contribution as a strong enhancer of α-Syn mRNA translation. Full article

Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the antioxidant defense system, plays a central role in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory disorders. This review explores the biochemical mechanisms of ROS-induced damage to lipids, proteins, cholesterol, and DNA, and analyzes both endogenous (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and exogenous (nutritional) antioxidant systems that counteract oxidative damage. Key enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, alongside dietary antioxidants like vitamins C and E, polyphenols, and carotenoids, are highlighted for their protective roles. The dual antioxidant/pro-oxidant behavior of these compounds under varying physiological conditions is discussed. Furthermore, this paper reviews the cellular repair systems activated in response to oxidative injury and the biomarkers used to assess oxidative stress in clinical settings. Special attention is given to the implications of oxidative stress in cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases and the potential of antioxidant strategies in disease prevention and therapy. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining redox homeostasis and support further research into antioxidant-based interventions. Full article

Microbial remediation of chromium-contaminated soil through extracellular electron transfer is an economical and environmentally friendly strategy. Exogenous quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules could facilitate the process of electron transport. However, it remains unclear whether regulating QS could enhance the microbial remediation effect. In this study, exogenous N-acylated-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) were added for the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soil by S. putrefaciens. Various AHLs such as C8-HSL, C10-HSL, 3OC8-HSL, 3OC10-HSL and 3OC12-HSL were detected in the remediation, with the concentrations of 5.91 ng/L, 1.09 ng/L, 4.10 ng/L, 2.29 ng/L and 24.51 ng/L. The addition of C10-HSL and 3OC12-HSL significantly promoted the Cr(VI) reduction rates by 11.25% and 9.20%. There were also various AHLs in the Cr(VI) reduction by indigenous microorganisms. The AHLs species measured and their concentrations were C8-HSL (5.05 ng/L), C10-HSL (3.27 ng/L), C12-HSL (0.11 ng/L), 3OC8-HSL (0.11 ng/L), 3OC10-HSL (0.05 ng/L), and 3OC12-HSL (2.92 ng/L). Relative to the untreated control, supplementation with C8-HSL, C12-HSL, and 3OC12-HSL produced significant enhancements in the Cr(VI) reduction rates by 4.10%, 3.05%, and 2.24%, respectively (p < 0.05). Comparing the effects of AHL on the remediation by S. putrefaciens and indigenous microorganisms, it could be found that C10-HSL enhanced the remediation effect by increasing the reduction rates of S. putrefaciens, and 3OC12-HSL enhanced the remediation effect by increasing the reduction rates of indigenous microorganisms. This study introduces a distinctive pathway for the promotion of the microbial remediation effect and contributes to further understanding the communication mechanism between exogenous and indigenous microorganisms. Full article

Exogenous estrogen use in male-to-female individuals has been linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk, though the mechanisms remain unclear. This study examines the effects of 17β-estradiol (E₂) on metabolic and aortic function in castrated (CAS) male Sprague Dawley rats. CAS rats received subcutaneous E₂ (CAS + E₂) or placebo (CAS + PL) pellets for ~35 days, with intact males serving as controls. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation (EDV) in response to acetylcholine and contractile responses to phenylephrine were measured in aorta before and after pharmacological inhibitors. Metabolic parameters and expression of proteins associated with vascular and insulin signaling were also determined in aorta and white adipose tissue (WAT). E₂ treatment reduced body weight, improved HbA1c and enhanced glucose tolerance in CAS rats compared to the CAS + PL group. Improved glucose homeostasis was associated with upregulation of estrogen receptor alpha, phosphorylated Akt/Akt, and glucose transporter-4 expression in WAT. However, E₂ increased plasma triglyceride and impaired EDV, indicating compromised vascular function. Our results suggest that impaired aortic relaxation in the CAS + E₂ group may be partly attributable to increased contractility. Additionally, we observed reduced G protein-coupled estrogen receptor and elevated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, warranting further investigation into whether these factors contribute to the effects of E₂ on aortic relaxation. Full article

A 70-day feeding trial was carried out to examine the effects of exogenous alpha amylase supplementation and different levels of starch on the growth performance, whole-body proximate composition, apparent nutrient digestibility, and digestive and metabolic enzyme activities of Channa striata juveniles. Nine semi-purified iso-nitrogenous (42%) and iso-lipidic (7%) diets containing three different levels of starch (viz. 10%, 20% and 30%) and amylase (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%) were formulated as C₁₀A₀, C₁₀A_0.05, C₁₀A_0.1, C₂₀A₀, C₂₀A_0.05, C₂₀A_0.1, C₃₀A₀, C₃₀A_0.05, and C₃₀A_0.1 (C-starch, A-amylase). A total of 405 C. striata juveniles of average weight (14.31 ± 0.1 g) were randomly assigned to 27 150 L capacity FRP tanks with 15 fish per tank following a 3 × 3 factorial design in triplicate with proper aeration. Final weight, weight gain (WG%), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by dietary starch and amylase supplementation as well as their interaction. The nutrient digestibility results revealed that the apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipids, and carbohydrates improved significantly (p < 0.05) with higher amylase levels. There was no significant variation (p > 0.05) in the whole-body proximate composition of fish fed with different levels of starch and exogenous amylase supplementation. Amylase activity increased with higher dietary amylase levels; however, there were no significant differences in protease and lipase enzyme activity. Fish in the A_0.1 treatment group had significantly higher (p < 0.05) hexokinase activity, which was significantly affected by exogenous amylase levels. AST and ALT activities in the serum were decreased (p < 0.05) at 0.1% amylase inclusion in the diet. From the present study, it is concluded that supplementation with exogenous alpha amylase has the potential to enhance starch utilization in C. striata. In particular, 0.1% amylase with 20% starch can significantly improve growth and nutrient utilization in C. striata juveniles without adverse effects. Full article

This study aimed to investigate whether intracellular complement 3 (C3) activation regulates ATP production in yak rumen epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions and its potential mechanism. An in vitro inflammation model was established by stimulating yak rumen epithelial cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Then, protease inhibitors targeting C3 activation enzymes were added. Additionally, to explore the downstream signaling pathway, exogenous C3a and the C3a receptor (C3aR) inhibitor C3aRY were applied to the inflammation model. After treatment with different concentrations of LPS, the gene expression levels and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05), while a significant reduction in cellular ATP levels was observed (p < 0.05), along with a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05). After treating the inflammation model with different protease inhibitors, the ATP content and gene expression of the ATP synthase subunit ATP5A were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Exogenous addition of the C3aR inhibitor C3aRY in the inflammation model exhibited a significant increase in ATP content and ATP5A gene expression (p < 0.05) when compared to the inflammation model. These results demonstrated that intracellular C3 activation inhibited ATP production in yak rumen epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions, likely through C3a–C3aR signaling and the cAMP/PKA pathway. Full article

Bare soil expansion in urban forests, driven by persistent high-intensity trampling, degrades both macro-scale natural resources and micro ecological conditions. Targeted interventions are therefore essential. In this study, trampled bare ground in forest parks and artificially cultivated Ophiopogon japonicus were used as experimental models We employed trampled bare ground in forest parks as well as artificially cultivated O. japonicus as experimental models. Five treatments were implemented: enclosure control (CK), ploughing (F), Bacillus thuringiensis NL-11 application (J), biochar addition (C), and co-application of B. thuringiensis NL-11 with biochar (JC). Our results indicate that, compared with CK, biochar treatments reduced soil bulk density by 30%, increased soil porosity by 89%, and improved water-holding capacity. The soil nitrate nitrogen content in the NL-11 treatment was increased by 113.8% compared with CK, while the co-application of NL-11 with biochar exhibited the highest sucrase and urease activities. Notably, the co-application of B. thuringiensis NL-11 with biochar exhibited the most pronounced effects on aboveground biomass, plant height, and root development, followed by the B. thuringiensis NL-11 treatment. Microbial β-diversity shifts under co-application of B. thuringiensis NL-11 with biochar treatment strongly correlated with soil enzyme activation and plant growth enhancement (Mantel test, p < 0.05). Correlation analysis confirmed that exogenous nutrient inputs significantly influenced enzyme activities, thereby promoting plant development. These results highlight the effectiveness of integrating microbial inoculation with biochar to restore trampled urban forest soils. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of phytase enzyme supplementation on the thermoregulatory responses of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) exposed to different thermal environments. A total of 720 one-day-old laying quails were assigned to a completely randomized design with five dietary treatments (0, 500, 1000, 1500, and 3000 FTU of phytase) and three thermal conditions: thermal comfort (24 °C) and heat stress environments (30 °C and 36 °C). Each treatment had six replicates with eight quails per experimental unit. Data were collected during the early laying phase, peak egg production, and the final laying phase. Measurements included rectal and surface temperatures (assessed via thermographic imaging), allowing the calculation of core-to-surface and surface-to-environment thermal gradients. Quails exposed to severe heat stress (36 °C) showed increased heat dissipation via convection (p = 0.001) and radiation (p = 0.029) when supplemented with phytase doses above 1500 FTU/kg. Additionally, high-dose phytase supplementation reduced the cloacal temperature and optimized thermal gradients, indicating a potential protective effect of exogenous phytase in alleviating heat stress. Overall, these findings highlight phytase supplementation as a promising nutritional strategy to enhance heat tolerance, mitigate thermal stress, and improve the welfare and physiological resilience of quails throughout the production cycle. Full article

Chronic hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a complication that can lead to deterioration in neurological status and cognitive impairment. Our recent clinical study reported that a high concentration of plasma fibulin-5 (FBLN5), a matricellular protein, was associated with the occurrence of chronic hydrocephalus after SAH. This study aimed to investigate whether and how FBLN5 was associated with hydrocephalus during acute to later phases of SAH in mice. C57BL/6 male mice underwent sham or filament perforation SAH modeling, and vehicle or two dosages (0.01 and 0.1 μg) of short or long recombinant FBLN5 (rFBLN5) were randomly administrated by an intracerebroventricular injection. Neurobehavioral tests, measurements of the degree of ventricular enlargement, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate hydrocephalus 24 and 48 h after SAH. After SAH, ventricular dilatation did not occur at 24 h but developed at 48 h, and both doses of long rFBLN5 with an arginine–glycine–aspartic acid domain suppressed ventricular dilatation at 48 h after SAH. Long rFBLN5 also decreased phosphorylated p38 in the brain parenchyma and prevented post-SAH increases in perivascular macrophages, as well as microglia activation in the brain parenchyma at 48 h after SAH. Although further research is required to clarify the detailed mechanism, this study demonstrated for the first time that exogenous administration of FBLN5 may have a protective effect against ventricular dilatation after experimental SAH. Full article

The mechanisms through which different types of exogenous carbon enhance the soil organic carbon sequestration rate (C_seq), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and corn yield (CY) in rainfed farmland on the Loess Plateau remain inadequately elucidated. This study established a four-year fixed-site experiment in the context of organic materials to increase soil organic carbon storage and enhance corn yield in the dry-farmed areas of the mountainous southern Ningxia region. The research investigates the effects of adding different types of exogenous carbon materials on C_seq, NUE, and CY. The soil type at the experimental base is loessial soil (Huangmian soil), with a soil pH of 8.28 and a baseline organic carbon content of 8.20 g kg⁻¹. The main crop cultivated in this area is corn. The experimental treatments were as follows: (i) N, no fertilization; (ii) CK, 100% nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers; (iii) C, 50%CK + corn straw (pulverized); (iv) M, 50%CK + fermented cow manure; (v) C/M, 50%CK + fermented cow manure + corn straw (1:1). The results show that compared with the CK treatment, the C_seq of C, M, and C/M treatments increased by 488.89%, 355.56%, and 527.78%, respectively. Compared with the CK treatment, the NUE of C, M, and C/M treatments increased by 15.04%, 7.70%, and 12.20%, respectively. Compared with the CK treatment, the CY under the C, M, and C/M treatments were increased by 7.91%, 19.10%, and 11.59%, respectively. The linear regression results show that the C_seq had a significant positive effect on CY (R² = 0.37) and NUE, R² = 0.39) (p < 0.0001). The TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) evaluation results indicate that the C/M treatment was the optimal measure for achieving increased corn yield while enhancing Cseq and NUE. Therefore, incorporating a 1:1 mixture of corn straw and cattle manure in rainfed farmland in the mountainous area of southern Ningxia may be the best strategy to improve C_seq and NUE. Full article

To systematically elucidate the chronological patterns of embryonic development and morphological changes in the larval and juvenile stages of Silurus glanis, and provide fundamental biological insights into this species, in this study, fertilized eggs were obtained through artificial spawning induction technology. After removing adhesiveness from fertilized eggs using trypsin, a detailed developmental study was conducted. The study systematically analyzed the chronological sequence of embryonic development and the morphological change patterns of larval and juvenile fish. The results showed the following: The fertilized eggs of S. glanis are yellow, spherical, and sticky, and the stickiness allows eggs to attach to spawning substrates, enhancing hatching success. The egg diameter after water absorption was (2.88 ± 0.13) mm. The embryonic development took 47 h and 55 min, with a total accumulated temperature of 1245.56 h degrees Celsius, the developmental process includes seven stages and twenty-six periods, namely the zygophase stage, cleavage stage, blastula stage, gastrula stage, neurula stage, organogenesis stage, and hatching stage. At a temperature of (26.0 ± 0.9) °C, the hatched individuals went through the pre-yolk sac larval stage, late larval stage, juvenile fry stage, and juvenile stage. In the pre-yolk sac larval stage, otoliths appeared in the bilateral otic vesicles, a pair of barbel primordia emerged under the mandible, a short and thin straight intestine formed in the abdominal cavity, and the oral fissure first appeared. In the late larval stage, the fin rays were initially formed, the intestine became thicker and longer, the oral fissure, anus, and cloaca were formed, and the larvae could float and start feeding on exogenous food. In the juvenile fry stage, the differentiation of various organs was basically complete, the nostrils became larger, and both the anal fin and caudal fin had dark black markings. In the juvenile stage, the maxillary barbels elongated, the mucus layer thickened on the body and back, the abdomen is light white, and it had the external morphological characteristics of an adult fish. By measuring and calculating the total length, body length, body height, and head length of S. glanis larvae and juveniles (0–40 days), the results showed that the growth characteristics conformed to the following fish growth formula: TL = 0.0141x² + 0.8096x + 8.2421 (R² = 0.9916), where x denotes days after hatching. This study has preliminarily mastered the chronological patterns of the embryonic development, growth, and formation of the morphological characteristics in larval and juvenile S. glanis, providing scientific data and laying a theoretical foundation for the division of early developmental stages, reproduction, hatching, and fry cultivation. Full article

Extracellular electron transfer is crucial in the microbial reduction of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], and N-acylated-_L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) could accelerate this process. In this study, fulvic acid (FA) was used as an electron shuttle to enhance the microbial reduction process via stimulating extracellular electron transfer efficiency. Compared with 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid (AQS), FA had a stronger positive effect on Cr(VI) reduction by S. putrefaciens, showing the ability of stimulating S. putrefaciens to release AHLs. The concentrations of C6-HSL, C8-HSL and 3OC10-HSL increased by 11.79 ng/L, 19.82 ng/L and 3.01 ng/L after the addition of 2% FA. The bioinformation analysis indicated that AHLs could regulate the synthesis of electron shuttles by S. putrefaciens, such as riboflavin. And the addition of exogenous C6-HSL, C8-HSL, C10-HSL, C12-HSL and 3OC10-HSL increased the Cr(VI) reduction rates by 1.73%, 2.39%, 4.18%, 1.45% and 2.70%, because they could promote the release of riboflavin. It revealed a new pathway by which FA promoted microbial Cr(VI) reduction. This study also provides a novel approach for enhancing the microbial Cr(VI) reduction and a deeper understanding of the communication mechanism among microorganisms. Full article

The germination and elongation of maize in the early growth stage are closely related to the elongation of the mesocotyl, which is one of the first parts to sense external temperature, aside from the coleoptile. Low-temperature (LT, 10~15 °C) stress can significantly affect the survival and growth of maize seedlings. Additionally, brassinosteroids (BRs) have been used in recent years to help alleviate damage caused by LT in various plants. However, the interaction among LT, BRs, and sugar remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the relationships among the contents of glucose, sucrose, and starch, along with the changes in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in starch and sucrose metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Compared to CK (0 μM 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) application at 25 °C), the contents of glucose and sucrose increased by 0.26, 0.47, and 0.70 mg g⁻¹ FW and 0.80, 0.30, and 0.61 mg g⁻¹ FW, respectively, under the CKE (2.0 μM 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) application at 25 °C), LT (0 μM 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) application at 10 °C), and LTE (2.0 μM 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) application at 10 °C) treatments. However, starch contents decreased under LT and LTE treatments, by −20.54% and −0.20%, respectively, compared to CK. This suggests that sugar signaling and metabolism play key roles in regulating LT tolerance, and the application of EBR may alleviate LT damage by regulating sugar accumulation levels. Furthermore, 108 DEGs were identified in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathways, along with 23 in glycolysis, with 65 DEGs at the transcriptome level. The common Zm00001d042146 (hexokinase-3) in both pathways is usually down-regulated, and the degree of down-regulation when EBR is added is less than under LT alone. Additionally, key genes such as Zm00001d021598 (glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase 3), Zm00001d034017 (uncharacterized LOC541703), and Zm00001d029091 (sucrose synthase 2) were differentially expressed under LT, with their expression levels decreasing further when EBR was added. In conclusion, our results provide a new direction into the molecular mechanisms by which exogenous EBR application enhances low-temperature tolerance in maize seedlings. Full article

Climate change has intensified extreme weather events and accelerated soil salinization, posing serious threats to crop yield and quality. Salinity stress, now affecting about 20% of irrigated lands, is expected to worsen due to rising temperatures and sea levels. At the same time, the global population is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, demanding a 70% increase in food production (UN, 2019; FAO). Agriculture, responsible for 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions, urgently needs sustainable solutions. Microbial inoculants, known as “plant probiotics,” offer a promising eco-friendly alternative by enhancing crop resilience and reducing environmental impact. In this study, we evaluated the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and melatonin-producing capacity of Bacillus aerius EH2-5. To assess its efficacy under salt stress, soybean seedlings at the VC stage were inoculated with EH2-5 and subsequently subjected to salinity stress using 150 mM and 100 mM NaCl treatments. Plant growth parameters, the expression levels of salinity-related genes, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured to determine the microbe’s role in promoting plant growth and mitigating salt-induced oxidative stress. Here, our study shows that the melatonin-synthesizing Bacillus aerius EH2-5 (7.48 ng/mL at 24 h after inoculation in Trp spiked LB media) significantly improved host plant (Glycine max L.) growth, biomass, and photosynthesis and reduced oxidative stress during salinity stress conditions than the non-inculcated control. Whole genome sequencing of Bacillus aerius EH2-5 identified key plant growth-promoting and salinity stress-related genes, including znuA, znuB, znuC, and zur (zinc uptake); ptsN, aspA, and nrgB (nitrogen metabolism); and phoH and pstS (phosphate transport). Genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis and transport, such as trpA, trpB, trpP, and tspO, along with siderophore-related genes yusV, yfhA, and yfiY, were also detected. The presence of multiple stress-responsive genes, including dnaK, dps, treA, cspB, srkA, and copZ, suggests EH2-5′s genomic potential to enhance plant tolerance to salinity and other abiotic stresses. Inoculation with Bacillus aerius EH2-5 significantly enhanced soybean growth and reduced salt-induced damage, as evidenced by increased shoot biomass (29%, 41%), leaf numbers (12% and 13%), and chlorophyll content (40%, 21%) under 100 mM and 150 mM NaCl compared to non-inoculated plants. These results indicate EH2-5′s strong potential as a plant growth-promoting and salinity stress-alleviating rhizobacterium. The EH2-5 symbiosis significantly enhanced a key ABA biosynthesis enzyme-related gene NCED3, dehydration responsive transcription factors DREB2A and NAC29 salinity stresses (100 mM and 150 mM). Moreover, the reduced expression of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) by 16%, 29%, and 24%, respectively, and decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxy peroxidase (H₂O₂) by 12% and 23% were observed under 100 mM NaCl compared to non-inoculated plants. This study demonstrated that Bacillus aerius EH2-5, a melatonin-producing strain, not only functions effectively as a biofertilizer but also alleviates plant stress in a manner comparable to the application of exogenous melatonin. These findings highlight the potential of utilizing melatonin-producing microbes as a viable alternative to chemical treatments. Therefore, further research should focus on enhancing the melatonin biosynthetic capacity of EH2-5, improving its colonization efficiency in plants, and developing synergistic microbial consortia (SynComs) with melatonin-producing capabilities. Such efforts will contribute to the development and field application of EH2-5 as a promising plant biostimulant for sustainable agriculture. Full article