Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

Background: Quality and quantity of plant crops and feeds take a major concern by scientists for sustainable development. Mycotoxins are deleterious secondary metabolites synthesized by diverse species of filamentous fungi, predominantly from the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria. The effects of mycotoxins on crops are complex, encompassing
yield reduction, quality degradation, economic losses, food safety and health hazards as well as sustainability and soil health concerns. The World Health Organization, along with the Food and Agriculture Organization, has instituted international safety standards via Codex to govern mycotoxin concentrations in food and feed by establishing maximum permissible limits: aflatoxin B₁: 5–10 µg/kg in food products; total aflatoxins: 15 µg/kg; ochratoxin A: 3–10 µg/kg in cereals and 0.5 µg/kg in infant foods; and fumonisins, with a tolerable daily intake for FB₁: 2 µg/kg body weight per day.

Objective: Multiple modern controlling strategies are developed to limit fungal contaminant growth securing both agricultural yield and quality of productions. Currently this reviews provide comparative study among different biocontrol mechanisms that down-regulate mycotoxins productivity using different traditional biological mechanisms such as microbial degradation, antagonisms, and phytochemicals with recently developed methods focused on manipulation at genomic level for suppressing fungal proliferation and toxins pollution.

Conclusion: Modern biotechnological techniques directly interferes to diminish mycotoxin biosynthesis pathways and triggers innate plants defense systems, which enhance with great specificity, and more efficient and persistent restrictions.

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan widely distributed in connective tissues, where it plays a critical role in maintaining tissue hydration, cell proliferation, and wound healing. In periodontal therapy, the topical application of HA, particularly in its commercial form Gengigel, has attracted considerable attention for its potential to enhance clinical outcomes through anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, and regenerative mechanisms.
Objective: This narrative literature review aims to summarize and analyze the available evidence on the role of hyaluronic acid, particularly Gengigel, in non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy, focusing on its biological properties, mechanisms of action, and clinical outcomes.
Methods: A narrative literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect (Elsevier) databases for publications between 2020 and 2025. Studies evaluating the adjunctive use of hyaluronic acid or Gengigel in periodontal treatment were identified. Around 20–30 relevant studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed to assess their findings regarding inflammation control, wound healing, and overall periodontal improvement.
Results: The reviewed studies consistently reported that topical Gengigel significantly reduces gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing, and post-treatment discomfort. Its anti-inflammatory effect is attributed to inhibition of prostaglandin and cytokine activity, while its regenerative capacity promotes fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and epithelial migration. Clinical trials also indicate that HA enhances wound healing and accelerates soft-tissue repair when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing. The hydrating properties of HA contribute to improved tissue elasticity and resilience, making it a valuable component in the non-surgical management of periodontal conditions...

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the pregnancy disorders that appears after the 20th week
and is characterised by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the level of obestatin and liver function in women with
sepsis and compare it with healthy pregnant women.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 90 pregnant women, 45 with
normal blood pressure (control group) and 45 with preeclampsia during the second and third
trimester of pregnancy.
Results: There were no significant differences in the level of obestatin between women with preeclampsia
and healthy pregnant women, as the median value for those with preeclampsia was
92.205 pg/mL (51.832–129.429), compared to 92.205 pg/mL (59.369–128.889) in the healthy
group, with P = 0.773. Additionally, no significant differences were observed in the levels of
total protein and albumin, with respective mean values of 7.730±1.968 g/dL and 2.713±0.888
g/dL in the preeclampsia group, compared to 7.714±1.982 g/dL and 2.865±0.976 g/dL in the
healthy group. Similarly, there were no significant differences in creatinine levels, with median
values of 1.532±1.174 mg/dL versus 1.451±0.891 mg/dL. An increase in the level of urea in
pregnant women with preeclampsia, compared to healthy pregnant women was 13.136±3.392
mg/dL versus 9.435±3.741 mg/dL, with a statistical significance P < 0.0001*. An increase in the
level of uric acid in pregnant women with preeclampsia, compared to healthy pregnant women
was 5.856±1.552 mg/dL versus 4.097±1.538 mg/dL, with statistical significance P < 0.0001*.
The area under the curve (AUC) for obestatin was 0.516 and the sensitivity was 22.22. The liver
function AUC was 0.553 and 0.543 and the sensitivity was 55.56 and 42.22. The kidney function
AUC was 0.778, 0.797, and 0.526, and the sensitivity was 77.78, 37.78, and 68.89.
Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the level of obestatin between the two
groups. No significant differences in the level of liver function, and an increase in the level of
urea and uric acid in women with preeclampsia were observed. Obestatin and liver function
tests are not diagnostic indicators for preeclampsia; However, urea and uric acid are diagnostic
indicators for preeclampsia.

Background: Thermophilic enzymes are considered essential and important in many industries that require high temperatures or alkaline environments such as biodiesel production and waste treatment.

Aims: The research focuses on studying the biochemical properties of the lipase enzyme isolated from thermophiles microorganisms, which shows distinctive properties in terms of stability and activity at high temperatures and alkaline environments, making it suitable for many important industrial applications such as biodiesel production and waste management.

Study design: Soil samples were collected from different areas in Diyala Governorate and Duhok Governorate, especially soils close to a geothermal source (hot springs in Mosul and Qaymawa districts) during the beginning of summer for a period of 3 months (from June to the end of August 2024).

Methodology: Different soil samples were collected from different depths (surface, deep soil) including: (A) Surface samples (hot springs in Hajj Yousef and Qaymawa); (B) Deep samples (hot springs in Hajj Yousef and Qaymawa).

Results: The results indicate that this enzyme represents a promising option for industrial applications that require efficient biocatalysts capable of operating under harsh operating conditions. The conversion rate of 92% of used cooking oil to biodiesel in 6 hours by the enzyme demonstrates its efficiency as a biocatalyst. Compared to conventional chemical catalysts, the
enzyme offers advantages such as lower energy input, fewer by-products, and the ability to
utilize low-quality raw materials such as used oils.

Background: The increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant infections, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a significant global health challenge that warrants the exploration of alternative antimicrobial agents. This research studied the effectiveness of the aqueous extract of the R. raetam plant, from the family Fabaceae, against MRSA, with a focus on the effectiveness of plant compounds according to seasonal variation. The research aims to qualitatively analyze the active compounds of the plant and evaluate the effectiveness of these compounds on methicillin-resistant bacterial isolates in different seasons.

Methodology: The leaves and flowers of the plant were collected from the Al’assabiea area of Libya in April–July 2024. These were washed, dried, and crunched to prepare an aqueous extract. The plant parts were screened phytochemically to determine active ingredients. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of plant parts against MRSA. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) were
determined.

Results: The results showed that the plant extracts studied in April were highly effective, reaching 25 mm inhibition zone, while the extracts studied in June and July did not produce significant results. The MIC and MBC values were determined to be 100 mg/mL and 200 mg/mL, respectively, indicating the extract’s potential to inhibit and destroy MRSA at these concentrations. Thus, R. raetam has potential antibacterial activity against MRSA, especially when collected in the spring, because it contains sufficient bioactive flavonoids that affect bacteria.

Conclusion: The findings show R. raetam as a potential natural source for managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Further studies are recommended to isolate and identify active constituents accountable for antibacterial activity, and evaluate their efficacy in vivo. Limitations of the study are the need for a more detailed phytochemical analysis to understand seasonal variations in bioactive properties of the plant.