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The Archives of Biological Sciences is a multidisciplinary journal that covers original research in a wide range of subjects in life science, including biology, ecology, human biology and biomedical research.

Morphological and micromorphological characteristics of the perianth and fruit have proven to be very important in the t...
05/06/2026

Morphological and micromorphological characteristics of the perianth and fruit have proven to be very important in the taxonomy of section Polygonum. Accordingly, the main objective of the study by Obradov et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260416012O is to further clarify the taxonomic position of the specific section Polygonum representatives through a comparative morphological a**lysis of the perianth and fruit characteristics, combined with a critical evaluation of descriptive and multivariate statistical results in the context of previously published data. For this purpose, we a**lyzed the plant material of seven taxa from 54 populations collected from the Balkan Peninsula and the Pannonian and Wallachian plains. The value of this study is manifold. First, it represents the first comprehensive a**lysis of this type in the studied regions. The inclusion of neglected species, such as P. albanicum and P. graminifolium, and the a**lysis of previously overlooked morphological characters, provides additional novelty. The presented results demonstrate that both quantitative and qualitative characters offer important new insights with significant taxonomic implications for this group.

Fig. 3. Pericarp ornamentation of Polygonum taxa obtained by scanning electron microscopy. A1-3 – P. albanicum, B1-3 – P. arenarium subsp. arenarium, C1-3 – P. arenarium subsp. pulchellum, D1-3 – P. arenastrum, E1-3 – P. aviculare, F1-3 – P. graminifolium, G1-3 – P. patulum.

The paper by Danilovic et al. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260313011D investigates the association between genetic variant...
21/05/2026

The paper by Danilovic et al. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260313011D investigates the association between genetic variants of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) and therapeutic response, as well as clinical parameters of disability and disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS), including the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). The S1PR1 gene encodes the S1PR1 receptor, which plays a critical role in lymphocyte egress from lymphoid organs into peripheral tissues and in lymphocyte retention during inflammatory responses. Importantly, S1PR1 is a major therapeutic target of several disease-modifying therapies used in MS treatment. However, MS patients display substantial and largely unexplained inter-individual variability in therapeutic response.
In this study, the authors sequenced the therapeutically relevant region of the S1PR1 gene, encompassing the first exon, first intron, and part of the second exon, to identify genetic variants potentially associated with treatment response and disability-related outcomes. Three polymorphic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were identified: rs41287280, rs3737577, and rs3737378. Their associations with therapy response and clinical measures of disability and disease progression were subsequently a**lyzed.
The rs41287280 variant demonstrated a trend toward association with clinical response and showed a significant association with disability-related outcomes. Under a dominant inheritance model, carriers of the rs41287280 G allele exhibited significantly lower EDSS and MSSS scores. Multivariable regression a**lyses further revealed that the rs41287280 G allele was independently associated with reduced disability, whereas the rs3737577 T allele was associated with increased disability.
This study provides novel insight into the contribution of S1PR1 genetic variants to inter-individual differences in MS severity and progression, highlighting their potential utility as genetic markers of disability progression. Although the study cohort is relatively small, it should be emphasized that data addressing the relationship between S1PR1 variants and MS clinical parameters remain scarce. Consequently, these findings represent a valuable contribution to the field and may encourage further investigations aimed at elucidating the role of S1PR1 genetic variability in MS disability and disease progression.

Fig 1. Sequencing chromatograms showing S1PR1 genotypes. A – rs3737578 TC (Y). B – rs3737577 GT (K). C – rs41287280 CG (S). D – rs3737578 TT. E – rs3737577 GG. F – rs41287280 CC. S1PR1 – sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1.

Fraia et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260417010F have investigated the interaction between acute stress and paracetamol...
21/05/2026

Fraia et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260417010F have investigated the interaction between acute stress and paracetamol-induced liver injury, and treatment with Silybum marianum, with particular emphasis on the relationship between biochemical markers and histopathological alterations. While paracetamol hepatotoxicity is well documented, the influence of acute stress on hepatic vulnerability and the effectiveness of natural hepatoprotective agents under these conditions remain insufficiently explored. Using an experimental Wistar rat model, the authors examined liver function through serum biomarkers (ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin) and performed a detailed histopathological a**lysis. The findings revealed marked dissociation between moderate biochemical changes and severe structural liver damage, highlighting the limitations of serum enzymes in detecting early hepatic injury. Treatment with S. marianum demonstrated a significant hepatoprotective effect, particularly at the histological level, pointing to preservation of hepatic architecture under acute toxic conditions. This work integrates stress as a modulating factor of drug-induced hepatotoxicity, emphasizing histopathology as a more sensitive endpoint than conventional biochemical markers. The results support the therapeutic potential of S. marianum as a natural hepatoprotective agent.

Fig. 2. Histopathological assessment of liver tissue following paracetamol and S. marianum treatments.

The study of Mezdour et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260206009M investigates the hepatoprotective activity of the extra...
20/05/2026

The study of Mezdour et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260206009M investigates the hepatoprotective activity of the extract of Centaurea pungens. Despite the widespread use of the Centaurea genus in traditional medicine for treating inflammatory disorders, the specific liver-protective mechanisms of C. pungens remained unexplored. The research combines phytochemical profiling (LC-MS), employing in vitro antioxidant assays and in vivo animal models. The results provide compelling evidence that this extract mitigates oxidative stress and prevents liver damage without exhibiting toxicity.

Fig. 1. In vitro antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of the n-butanol extract of Centaurea pungens (BECP). Concentration-dependent antioxidant responses were evaluated using four complementary assays. A – Dose-response cytotoxicity curve of BECP on HepG2 cells (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) assessed by the MTT assay after 24 h exposure at concentrations of 3, 30, 300, and 3,000 µg/mL; cell mortality (%) remained below 11% at all tested concentrations, indicating low cytotoxicity and an IC50 exceeding the maximum tested concentration. B – DPPH radical scavenging activity (%) of BECP and ascorbic acid (standard) at concentrations ranging from 50 to 1200 µg/mL; the IC50 of BECP was 44.48±2.7 µg/mL vs. 6.44±0.61 µg/mL for ascorbic acid. C – Hydroxyl radical (OH•) scavenging activity (%) of BECP and Trolox (standard) at concentrations of 50-1200 µg/mL; IC50 of BECP was 218.23±1.02 µg/mL vs. 69.67±1.44 µg/mL for Trolox. D – Reducing power of BECP and ascorbic acid (standard) expressed as absorbance at 700 nm as a function of concentration (50-600 µg/mL). All values are presented as mean±SD (n=3).

Thes study of Hamiouda et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260412008H investigates the potential role of the XPC rs2228001 ...
06/05/2026

Thes study of Hamiouda et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260412008H investigates the potential role of the XPC rs2228001 polymorphism in pancreatic cancer susceptibility in an Algerian population, while evaluating key metabolic risk factors. Our findings indicate no significant association between this DNA repair gene variant and pancreatic cancer risk. In contrast, type 2 diabetes mellitus emerged as a strong independent predictor, highlighting the importance of metabolic factors in pancreatic carcinogenesis. This work contributes novel data from a North African population, which remains underrepresented in molecular epidemiology studies. By integrating genetic and clinical determinants, our study provides valuable insight into population-specific risk profiles and underscores the need for larger studies exploring gene-environment interactions.

Table 3. Genotypic and allelic distribution of XPC rs2228001

Chronic and hard-to-heal wounds continue to be a major biomedical challenge, highlighting the need for effective topical...
22/04/2026

Chronic and hard-to-heal wounds continue to be a major biomedical challenge, highlighting the need for effective topical formulations that possess suitable physicochemical properties alongside proven biological efficacy. Melakhessou et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260312007M developed and optimized a bio-based oil-in-water topical cream containing Teucrium polium extract using a multivariate experimental strategy. A D-optimal design was applied to investigate the combined effects of extract concentration, cetyl alcohol, and shea butter on two key responses, spreadability and wound closure on day 7 in a rat excisional wound model. Predictive modelling was performed using a radial basis function (RBF) network with leave-one-out cross-validation, enabling robust predictions with a limited experimental dataset. The formulation (8.0% extract, 1.5% cetyl alcohol, and 1.0% shea butter) demonstrated excellent agreement between predicted and experimental values, achieving 84.1% wound closure on day 7, supporting the optimisation strategy.
This work provides a resource-efficient framework for the development and optimisation of plant-based topical formulations, contributing to the growing body of research on evidence-based phytotherapeutic approaches to wound repair.

Fig. 3. Representative macroscopic photographs illustrating wound healing progression across different treatment groups at days 0, 3, 7, and 14. Rows correspond to time points, while columns represent experimental groups (control, positive control, F2, F6, F11, and F18). A progressive reduction in wound area is observed over time; the treated groups, particularly the positive control (Madecassol 1%) and extract-based formulations show enhanced wound contraction and tissue regeneration compared to the base cream control. The most pronounced healing effects are evident at days 7 and 14.

The skin is one of the organs that undergoes the most changes during amphibian development. The Greek smooth newt Lissot...
08/04/2026

The skin is one of the organs that undergoes the most changes during amphibian development. The Greek smooth newt Lissotriton graecus is facultatively paedomorphic and is the most common species across much of its range. Using histological and histochemical techniques, Ukropina et al. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260219006U examined the skin structure in three L. graecus morphs: larvae, paedomorphs, and metamorphs. Since both paedomorphs and metamorphs are considered adult morphs, the results suggest that skin development and sexual maturity are partly uncoupled in paedomorphs. This finding highlights the importance of histological research into the potential decoupling of sexual and somatic development across various organ systems, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex process of paedomorphosis and establishing significant foundations for the field. The authors’ findings offer new insights into this relatively overlooked area of skin development in paedomorphic urodeles.

Fig. 4. Electron micrographs show parts of different cell types in various skin glands of L. graecus. The proteinaceous granules are the most electron-dense and relatively small (A). Mucous granules are larger; see mucous glands in Figs. 1-3 and Supplementary Fig. S1: glycoprotein-containing granules are uniformly electron dense, while acid mucous granules have dense core(s) within the electron translucent background (B). Clear/vacuolated granules have more or less obvious lacy, electron-dense material (C). Please note the gradual change in granule composition within neighbouring cells from left to right in C. Original magnification 3000×, scale bar 5 µm.

Radovic Jakovljevic et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260211005R have investigated the genotoxic effect of Salvia pratens...
19/03/2026

Radovic Jakovljevic et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260211005R have investigated the genotoxic effect of Salvia pratensis plant. Medicinal plants are important sources of bioactive compounds. While plant-based silver nanoparticles are increasingly explored for biomedical use, their potential genotoxic effects require careful evaluation to ensure biological safety. The study investigated the aqueous extracts from the root and aerial parts of Salvia pratensis, and their biogenic silver nanoparticles using human mononuclear cells and cytogenetic assay. The observed differences in genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects between plant extracts and their corresponding silver nanoparticles highlight tissue-specific and concentration-dependent responses. The study provides new evidence relevant to safety assessment of plant-derived products and biogenic nanoparticles, contributing to their informed and responsible biomedical application.

Pumpkinseed is one of the most widespread invasive freshwater fish in Europe and is well established in Serbian reservoi...
10/03/2026

Pumpkinseed is one of the most widespread invasive freshwater fish in Europe and is well established in Serbian reservoirs. The paper examining the ecological and morphological traits of the invasive pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) in Serbian lowland reservoirs by Subotić et al https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS260218004S is a comprehensive study from the Balkan Peninsula and the first of its kind for the territory of Serbia. The main goals of this research were to obtain data on the population structure and growth parameters of pumpkinseed populations across different reservoirs, to a**lyse body shape of individuals across different reservoirs and age groups, to assess fish well-being using body indices, and to compare pumpkinseed diets. To that end, the age structure, growth, body shape, condition, and diet of 434 individuals from five eutrophic lowland reservoirs were assessed using scale reading, growth modelling, geometric morphometrics, and gut content a**lysis. Populations exhibited seven age classes, slow growth with positive allometry, good condition, significant body shape variations, and diets in which aquatic invertebrates were predominant, with high inter-reservoir similarity but variable niche breadth. These results demonstrate the strong ecological flexibility of pumpkinseed in artificial waterbodies and provide a scientific basis for improved monitoring and management.

Fig. 1. Locations of 12 two-dimensional (2D) landmarks for geometric morphometric a**lysis of pumpkinseeds. 1 – tip of snout; 2 – anterior attachment of dorsal fin; 3 – termination of dorsal fin attachment; 4 – upper insertion of caudal fin; 5 – lower insertion of caudal fin; 6 – posterior terminal attachment of a**l fin; 7 – anterior attachment of a**l fin; 8 – ventral insertion of pelvic fin; 9 – dorsal insertion of pectoral fin; 10 – termination of upper jaw; 11 – anterior edge of orbit; 12 – posterior edge of orbit

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