03. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

EXPLORING THE ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF Loranthus SPECIES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

2026-07-15T05:01:05Z

EXPLORING THE ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF Loranthus SPECIES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS Deshan, M. H. G. R.; Madurapperuma, B. D. Loranthus species, known as mistletoes, are gaining unprecedented attention as anticancer species. This review aims to explore and evaluate the anticancer potential of Loranthus species by examining their traditional Ayurvedic uses, and phytochemical composition. The methodology involved a comprehensive literature review using academic databases such as Google Scholar (32 articles), Academia (24 articles), ResearchGate (18 articles), Web of Science (45 articles), and PubMed (34 articles), employing relevant search terms to collect data. VOS Viewer software was used to analyse the information, elaborate on the analysis, such as trend line, keywords, types of articles and phytochemicals. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted with ten Ayurvedic practitioners to gather insights on the clinical use of Loranthus species. The number of publications related to mistletoe cancer treatment has shown a marked increase since the early 1990s, peaking at 38 articles in 2023, indicating growing scientific interest in this field over the past three decades. The network visualisation highlights Mistletoe’s role in cancer treatment, focusing on clinical applications, molecular mechanisms, and biochemical properties, while also emphasising its integration in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine. This review, supported by a survey of Ayurvedic practitioners in Sri Lanka, highlights the anticancer potential of Loranthus species. Traditional use confirms their value, particularly with host-specific variations noted for medicinal effectiveness. Phytochemical analysis reveals key bioactive compounds— flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and lectins—with strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. Extracts of L. micranthus, L. europaeus, and Dendrophthoe falcata show cytotoxic effects against breast, lung, cervical, ovarian, and colon cancer cells through apoptosis induction and immune modulation involving NF-κB and JAK/STAT pathways. Survey feedback stresses the need for standardization due to host-related variability and a lack of clinical trials, despite strong preclinical evidence. These findings support further research into Loranthus as a natural anticancer agent within the Ayurvedic framework.

IMPACT OF NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans) DOMINANCE ON VEGETATION COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY IN KANDYAN HOME GARDENS

2026-07-15T05:01:45Z

IMPACT OF NUTMEG (Myristica fragrans) DOMINANCE ON VEGETATION COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY IN KANDYAN HOME GARDENS Mihiranga, K. K.; Seneviratne, S. M. M. P. K.; Madurapperuma, B. D. Kandyan home gardens are well-established land use systems found in the mid country wet zone especially in and around the Kandy District. Due to their unique vegetation characteristics, these ecosystems play an important role in enhancing food security and biodiversity. Among the cultivated species, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) has become a popular crop due to its high economic value. This study aims to investigate the dominance of nutmeg in Kandyan home gardens and its impact on plant diversity by comparing the species diversity of home gardens with and without nutmeg trees. Vegetation data were collected using the Point-Centered Quarter Method (PCQM) at 10 sampling points along a 50 m transect, recording 40 trees in total. Light intensity at each point was measured and for each plant, the distance from the central point, diameter at breast height (DBH), and tree height were recorded. Species dominance, diversity, and structure were assessed using standard ecological indices. A species abundance matrix within study sites was analyzed using PCORD software. Cluster analysis and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) were used to determine species composition patterns across Kandyan home gardens. Biodiversity indices were computed using Biodiversity Pro software for comparative analysis between sampling sites. Nutmeg was found in 78% of the sites surveyed, contributing an average of 17% to total tree density and 19.75% to overall basal area, indicating its strong ecological presence. Home gardens with higher nutmeg density showed lower absolute tree density, reduced light intensity, and a strong negative correlation between nutmeg abundance and understory light levels. Species diversity was notably lower in nutmeg-dominated sites. Cluster and DCA analyses grouped home gardens into distinct clusters based on species assemblages, with nutmeg dominated sites forming separate ecological outliers. DCA ordination confirmed that Myristica fragrans strongly influenced site distribution, highlighting its role as a key driver of species composition. These findings suggest that nutmeg dominance can substantially alter species diversity and ecosystem structure in Kandyan home gardens. Adaptive management strategies are recommended to maintain productivity, ecological resilience, and biodiversity conservation in these systems.

BALANCED MEAL AND DIETARY FIBRE CONSUMPTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE IN GAMPAHA, SRI LANKA

2026-07-15T05:02:28Z

BALANCED MEAL AND DIETARY FIBRE CONSUMPTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE IN GAMPAHA, SRI LANKA Gunasena, G. D. D. K.; Chamilal, P. G. S.; Wanigasekara, D. N. The dietary behaviour of young adults in Sri Lanka is a key determinant of long-term health outcomes in the country. This study aimed to evaluate the daily dietary fibre (DF) intake and balanced meal consumption patterns among young adults employed in a Sri Lankan export processing zone, Gampaha. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 327 participants using a validated, interviewer administered questionnaire, including 128 males and 199 females. Data were analysed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test to compare means across demographic categories using IBM SPSS Statistics 29 software. The daily mean DF intake was 19.8 g (Male: 22.3 g; Female: 18.2 g; p < 0.05), which is lower than the recommended daily intake. The lowest DF intake was observed in the 18-23 age group (18.4 g), and intake significantly increased with age (p < 0.05). DF intake differed significantly across educational levels (p < 0.05), with graduates reporting the highest intake (21.6 g). Place of residence also influenced intake; those who were living at home had higher DF intake than those living in boarding places. Moreover, the consumption of balanced meals was critically poor with only 2% of subjects reporting a balanced diet across all main meals. The highest proportion of balanced meals was reported at lunch (55%), while none of the participants reported consuming a balanced breakfast. The findings of this study highlighted the necessity of educating the industrial workforce on their diet and health. Further, implementing policies and providing workplace facilities to promote healthier dietary practices among young adults should be prioritised and strengthened.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Citrus GERMPLASM IN SRI LANKA

2026-07-15T05:03:30Z

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Citrus GERMPLASM IN SRI LANKA Wickramaarachchi, W. A. N. R.; Rodrigo, W. W. P.; Weerakoon, S. R. Sri Lanka has a rich variety of Citrus species, ranging from wild-growing limes in village backyards to cultivated hybrid mandarins and oranges in commercial plantations. Despite their economic and cultural importance, the true diversity of Citrus in Sri Lanka has not been fully explored or documented. The main objective of this project is to fill that gap by identifying and characterizing Citrus species across the island using both traditional morphological methods and modern molecular tools. Morphological characterization involved the documentation of traits such as fruit, leaf, tree and floral morphology. Quantitative data were scandalized using z- score normalization, while qualitative data were encoded numerically. Species distances were calculated using Gower distance in the R programming environment. A dendrogram was constructed using the word’s method of hierarchical clustering in IBM SPSS. Based on the morphological characters, five main clusters were identified. Cluster I - Yak dehi, Key lime, Nas naran, and Kaffir lime. Cluster II - Lemon- round, Lemon – long, Cluster III - Sour orange, Sweet orange Cluster IV - Sidaran, Cluster V – Pumelo. Molecular characterization was carried out through DNA barcoding of chloroplast genes. Genomic DNA was extracted using a modified CTAB method, and PCR amplification was performed using rbcL and matK gene markers. PCR products were sequenced at Macrogen, South Korea. The sequences were analyzed using BioEdit software and deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA software to infer genetic relationships among species. The phylogenetic tree based on matK sequences revealed three major clusters: Cluster I - Sour orange, sweet orange, Nas naran, Yak dehi, and Pumelo. Cluster II - Long lemon, Round lemon, Key lime, and Kaffir lime. Cluster III - Sidaran. The phylogenetic tree based on rbcL sequences formed two primary clusters. Cluster I - Sour orange, Sweet orange, Nas naran, Yak dehi, Pumelo, and Sidaran. Cluster II - Long lemon, Round lemon, Key lime, and Kaffir lime. Phylogenetic analysis using both rbcL and matK markers revealed consistent clustering patterns, with the only notable exception being the placement of Sidaran. These findings provide a foundational understanding of the morphological and genetic diversity of Citrus species in Sri Lanka and contribute to future conservation and breeding programs.