Plant-Derived Compounds: A Promising Tool for Dental Caries Prevention.

There is a growing shift from the use of conventional pharmaceutical oral care products to the use of herbal extracts and traditional remedies in dental caries prevention. This is attributed to the potential environmental and health implications of contemporary oral products. This comprehensive review aims at the analysis of plant-derived compounds as preventive modalities in dental caries research. It focuses on data collected from 2019 until recently, trying to emphasize current trends in this topic. The research findings suggest that several plant-derived compounds, either aqueous or ethanolic, exhibit notable antibacterial effects against Streptococcus mutans and other bacteria related to dental caries, with some extracts demonstrating an efficacy comparable to that of chlorhexidine. Furthermore, in vivo studies using plant-derived compounds incorporated in food derivatives, such as lollipops, have shown promising results by significantly reducing Streptococcus mutans in high-risk caries children. In vitro studies on plant-derived compounds have revealed bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity against S. mutans, suggesting their potential use as dental caries preventive agents. Medicinal plants, plant-derived phytochemicals, essential oils, and other food compounds have exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens, either by their anti-adhesion activity, the inhibition of extracellular microbial enzymes, or their direct action on microbial species and acid production. However, further research is needed to assess their antimicrobial activity and to evaluate the cytotoxicity and safety profiles of these plant-derived compounds before their widespread clinical use can be recommended.

Preparation, biological activity and antibacterial properties of tantalum surface-doped Ca2+/Zn2+nanorods.

In this research, we utilize porous tantalum, known for its outstanding elastic modulus and biological properties, as a base material in biomedical applications. The human skeletal system is rich in elements like Ca and Zn. The role of Zn is crucial for achieving a spectrum of sterilizing effects, while Ca is known to effectively enhance cell differentiation and boost cellular activity. The focus of this study is the modification of porous tantalum using a hydrothermal method to synthesize Ca2+/Zn2+-doped Ta2O5nanorods. These nanorods are subjected to extensive characterization techniques to confirm their structure and composition. Additionally, their biological performance is evaluated through a range of tests, including antibacterial assessments, MTT assays, and bacteria/cell scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The objective is to determine the most effective method of surface modification for porous tantalum, thereby laying a foundational theoretical framework for its surface enhancement.

A study of the effect of natural brown cotton gauze on the healing of infected wounds.

BACKGROUND: Medical dressings are designed to promote wound healing and reduce infection. The aim of project is to investigate the effect of natural brown colored cotton dressings on the healing of infected wounds in E.coli animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, degreased white cotton gauze was used as the control group, with degreased brown cotton gauze and degreased bleached brown cotton gauze as the experimental group 1 and experimental group 2, to investigate the effect on the repair of post-infectious wound damage in animals by establishing an infected wound model in rats with E.coli as the infecting organism. RESULTS: The ability to promote healing of infected wounds was investigated by analyzing the wound healing status, macroscopic wound healing rate, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, secretion of inflammatory factors by Elisa assay. The result showed that at day 14 of wound healing, the macroscopic wound healing rate was greater than 98% for all three groups of dressings; the collagen content reached 49.85 ± 5.84% in the experimental group 1 and 53.48 ± 5.32% in the experimental group 2, which was higher than the control group; brown cotton gauze promotes skin wound healing by shortening the inflammatory period in both groups. The expression of three inflammatory factors THF-α, IL-2, and IL-8 and three cytokines MMP-3, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that natural brown cotton gauze has better repairing and promoting healing effect on infected wounds. It opens up the application of natural brown cotton gauze in the treatment of infected wounds.

Use of Aloe Vera Gel as Media to Assess Antimicrobial Activity and Development of Antimicrobial Nanocomposites.

Antimicrobial resistance is a menace to public health on a global scale. In this regard, nanomaterials exhibiting antimicrobial properties represent a promising solution. Both metal and metal oxide nanomaterials are suitable candidates, even though their mechanisms of action vary. Multiple antimicrobial mechanisms can occur simultaneously or independently; this includes either direct contact with the pathogens, nanomaterial uptake, oxidative stress, ion release, or any of their combinations. However, due to their specific properties and more particularly fast settling, existing methods to study the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles have not been specifically adapted in some cases. The development of methodologies that can assess the antimicrobial properties of metallic nanomaterials accurately is necessary. A cost-effective methodology with a straightforward set-up that enables the easy and quick assessment of the antimicrobial properties of metal nanoparticles with high accuracy has been developed. The methodology is also capable of confirming whether the killing mechanism involves ionic diffusion. Finally, Aloe Vera gel showed good properties for use as a medium for the development of antimicrobial ointment.

Health-Promoting Properties of Anthocyanins from Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Fruits.

The cornelian cherry is a plant that annually provides fruits, drupe-type, ranging in color from yellow through pink, red, carmine, and almost black. Cornelian cherry bears abundant fruit in temperate climate conditions, which means that its dark-colored fruits can be treated as an excellent source of anthocyanins. After consuming, anthocyanins have a protective function in the human body. Raw fruit extracts and their pure isolates, rich in anthocyanins, have a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. This review focuses on the health-promoting properties of anthocyanins from fruits of cornelian cherry, documented in research conducted in vitro, in vivo, and in humans. The results obtained so far confirm the beneficial effects of anthocyanins on the blood parameters, whose values are important in predicting and assessing the risk and progression of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. A beneficial effect on molecular and histopathological changes in target organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and liver has also been demonstrated. Anthocyanins from cornelian cherry have a strong antioxidant effect, which explains their protective effects on organs and anticancer effects. Moreover, they have antiglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. The work highlights the perspectives and directions of necessary research.

Eco-friendly synthesized silver nanoparticles from endophytic fungus Phyllosticta owaniana: KUMBMDBT-32 and evaluation of biomedical properties.

The primary objective of the current investigation was the biosynthesis of Phy-AgNPs by the endophytic fungus Phyllosticta owaniana (extracted from Abrus precatorius) and the evaluation of the secondary metabolites from the ethyl acetate extract of P. owaniana cultivated by submerged fermentation. Utilizing bioanalytical strategies, Phy-AgNPs were characterized. The UV-visible spectrophotometer analysis revealed an absorption spectrum with a peak at 420 nm, thus validating the Phy-AgNPs synthesis. The FTIR analysis revealed peaks correlating to various potential functional groups, suggesting that Phy-AgNPs have been reduced and capped. SEM-EDAX and HR-TEM analyses demonstrated the spherical shape of Phy-AgNPs, and the 3 keV EDAX analysis confirmed the existence of silver atoms. XRD analyses showed the Phy-AgNPs crystalline structure. The size and the stability of synthesized Phy-AgNPs (65.81 nm) were measured by DLS and Zeta potential studies. While the ethyl acetate extract was analyzed with GC-MS and FTIR for secondary metabolites. The synthesized Phy-AgNPs showed effective antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.1 ± 0.17 mm, 10 mg/mL), while the antifungal activity of Phy-AgNPs inhibited the growth of Candida albicans extremely efficiently (12.16 ± 0.28 mm, 10 mg/mL). Phy-AgNPs were evaluated for a variety of biomedical properties in which they showed significant activity. In a cell viability assay using the MTT assay, Phy-AgNPs exhibited a cytotoxic impact of up to 30.67% and 34.53% when 200 µg/mL were detected. In both in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory examinations, nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory effect. These findings support the pharmaceutical and biomedical properties of the synthesized Phy-AgNPs.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from peel extract of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit and their antimicrobial synergistic potentials and biofilm inhibition properties.

Current methods for green synthesis of metal nanoparticles often require continuous harvesting of fresh bio-materials for every synthesis cycle. Practices and procedures that economize bio-materials need to be employed if green synthesis could become a sustainable and eco-friendly method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles. This study explores Chrysophyllum albidum peels (mostly regarded as waste) to prepare silver nanoparticles (Alb-AgNPs). The technique employed in the synthesis allows repeated use of the peels, thus, reducing the heavy dependence on bio-materials. The optical and structural properties of the Alb-AgNPs were studied with Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, UV-Vis spectrophotometer and powder X-ray diffractometer. The antimicrobial properties of the Alb-AgNPs were studied with selected microorganisms namely; S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis, S. mutans, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, and Candida albicans. High inhibitory activity against the microorganisms were exhibited with MICs ranging from 15.62 to 1000 µg/mL. Again, the Alb-AgNPs showed the ability to enhance the efficacy of standard antimicrobial agents. The results of the combined interaction with standard antibacterial and antifungal agents ranged from synergistic to antagonistic effects against the tested microorganisms. In addition, the Alb-AgNPs could serve as a biofilm inhibitor with the highest percent inhibition of about 92% against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The results from this study thus provide access to the simple, sustainable, economic and eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles with efficient antimicrobial properties as drug candidates as a means of overcoming the prevailing antibiotic resistance menaces.

Symbiotic Antimicrobial Effects of Cellulose-Based Bio-Nanocomposite for Disease Management of Agricultural Crops.

In the present work, a bionanocomposite for plant crop protection was prepared by non-toxic biocompatible & biodegradable nanomaterials (Cellulose & TiO2 ) to utilize its synergistic effects against antimicrobial pathogens. The commercially available microcrystalline cellulose has been reduced to a nanometric scale regime using acid hydrolysis, while the standard TiO2 nano-powder of particle size ~20 nm has been used to prepare their nanocomposite (NC). The antibacterial studies via agar well diffusion method demonstrated that after 72 h of incubation, parent nanomaterials Ncell and TiO2 were not showing any activity against phytopathogens X. campestris pv. campestris, and Clavibacter while the nanocomposite's NC's were still effective depicting both bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions. However, the bacterial growth of biocontrol P. fluorescence was not affected by Ncell, TiO2 NPs and NC after 72 h of incubation. The antifungal testing results via poison food agar assay method suggest that the nanocomposite, along with Ncell and TiO2 NPs, exhibited strong inhibition of fungal growth of Phytophthora Spp at 0.125 mg/ml concentration while for F. graminearum, similar effect was observed at 0.25 mg/ml concentration. The nanocomposite has proved its potential by exhibiting longer & stronger synergistic effects against plant pathogens as a good antimicrobial agent for protection of agricultural crops.

Vertebral Bone Marrow Clot towards the Routine Clinical Scenario in Spine Surgeries: What about the Antimicrobial Properties?

Exploring innovative techniques and treatments to improve spinal fusion procedures is a global challenge. Here, we provide a scientific opinion on the ability of a vertebral bone marrow (vBM) clot to provide a local combined delivery system not only of stem cells, signaling biomolecules and anti-inflammatory factors but also of molecules and proteins endowed with antimicrobial properties. This opinion is based on the evaluation of the intrinsic basic properties of the vBM, that contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and on the coagulation process that led to the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin fibers that enmesh cells, plasma but above all platelets, to form the clot. We emphasize that vBM clot, being a powerful source of MSCs and platelets, would allow the release of antimicrobial proteins and molecules, mainly cathelicidin LL- 37, hepcidin, kinocidins and cationic host defense peptides, that are per se gifted with direct and/or indirect antimicrobial effects. We additionally highlight that further studies are needed to deepen this knowledge and to propose vBM clot as multifunctional bioscaffold able to target all the main key challenges for spinal fusion surgery.

Research on the Electron Structure and Antimicrobial Properties of Mandelic Acid and Its Alkali Metal Salts.

This article investigated the structure, and the spectroscopic and antimicrobial properties of mandelic acid and its alkali metal salts. The electron charge distribution and aromaticity in the analyzed molecules were investigated using molecular spectroscopy methods (FT-IR, FT-Raman, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR) and theoretical calculations (structure, NBO, HOMO, LUMO, energy descriptors, and theoretical IR and NMR spectra). The B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method was used in the calculations. The antimicrobial activities of mandelic acid and its salt were tested against six bacteria: Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 13932, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, and Loigolactobacillus backii KKP 3566; Gram-negative Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, as well as two yeast species, Rhodotorulla mucilaginosa KKP 3560 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231.

Porous Zirconia Scaffolds Functionalized with Calcium Phosphate Layers and PLGA Nanoparticles Loaded with Hydrophobic Gentamicin.

Implant-related infections are a worldwide issue that is considered very challenging. Conventional therapies commonly end up failing; thus, new solutions are being investigated to overcome this problem. The in situ delivery of the drug at the implant site appears to be more sufficient compared to systemic antibiotic therapy. In this study, we manufactured porous zirconia scaffolds using the foam replication method. To improve their overall bioactivity, they were coated with a calcium phosphate (CaP) layer containing antibiotic-loaded degradable polymer nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by the double emulsion method to achieve the antibacterial effect additionally. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL) were superior and were equal to 99.9 ± 0.1% and 9.1 ± 0.1%, respectively. Scaffolds were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, and their porosity was evaluated. The porosity of investigated samples was over 90% and resembled the microstructure of spongy bone. Furthermore, we investigated the cytocompatibility with osteoblast-like MG-63 cells and antimicrobial properties with Staphylococcus aureus. Scaffolds coated with a CaP layer were found non-toxic for MG-63 cells. Moreover, the presence of antibiotic-loaded nanoparticles had no significant influence on cell viability, and the obtained scaffolds inhibited bacteria growth. Provided processes of fabrication of highly porous zirconia scaffolds and surface functionalization allow minimizing the risk of implant-related infection.

Sodium Alginate- and Cationic Cellulose-Functionalized Polycaprolactone Nanofibers for In Vitro and Antibacterial Applications.

The use of polyelectrolytes is emerging as a fascinating strategy for the functionalization of biomedical membranes, due to their ability to enhance biological responses using the interaction effect of charged groups on multiple interface properties. Herein, two different polyelectrolytes were used to improve the antibacterial properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning. First, a new cationic cellulose derivative, cellulose-bearing imidazolium tosylate (CIMD), was prepared via the nucleophilic substitution of the tosyl group using 1-methylimidazole, as confirmed by NMR analyses, and loaded into the PCL nanofibers. Secondly, sodium alginate (SA) was used to uniformly coat the fibers' surface via self-assembly, as remarked through SEM-EDX analyses. Polyelectrolyte interactions between the CIMD and the SA, initially detected using a FTIR analysis, were confirmed via Z potential measurements: the formation of a CMID/SA complex promoted a substantial charge neutralization of the fibers' surfaces with effects on the physical properties of the membrane in terms of water adsorption and in vitro degradation. Moreover, the presence of SA contributed to the in vitro response of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), as confirmed by a significant increase in the cells' viability after 7 days in the case of the PCL/CMID/SA complex with respect to the PCL and PCL/CMID membranes. Contrariwise, SA did not nullify the antibacterial effect of CMID, as confirmed by the comparable resistance exhibited by S. mutans, S. aureus, and E. coli to the PCL/CIMD and PCL/CIMD/SA membranes. All the reported results corroborate the idea that the CIMD/SA functionalization of PCL nanofibers has a great potential for the fabrication of efficient antimicrobial membranes for wound healing.

Comprehensive Study of Si-Based Compounds in Selected Plants (Pisum sativum L., Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L.).

This review describes the role of silicon (Si) in plants. Methods of silicon determination and speciation are also reported. The mechanisms of Si uptake by plants, silicon fractions in the soil, and the participation of flora and fauna in the Si cycle in terrestrial ecosystems have been overviewed. Plants of Fabaceae (especially Pisum sativum L. and Medicago sativa L.) and Poaceae (particularly Triticum aestivum L.) families with different Si accumulation capabilities were taken into consideration to describe the role of Si in the alleviation of the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. The article focuses on sample preparation, which includes extraction methods and analytical techniques. The methods of isolation and the characterization of the Si-based biologically active compounds from plants have been overviewed. The antimicrobial properties and cytotoxic effects of known bioactive compounds obtained from pea, alfalfa, and wheat were also described.

Structures, Antioxidant Properties, and Antimicrobial Properties of Eu(III), Gd(III), and Dy(III) Caffeinates and p-Coumarates.

In this study, we investigated the structures of lanthanide (Eu(III), Dy(III), and Gd(III)) complexes with p-coumaric (p-CAH2) and caffeic (CFAH3) acids using the FTIRKBr, FTIRATR, and Raman spectroscopic methods. The compositions of the solid phase caffeinates and p-coumarates were obtained on the basis of the amounts of hydrogen and carbon determined using an elemental analysis. The degree of hydration and the thermal decomposition of each compound were examined via a thermal analysis of TG, DTG, and DSC. Antioxidant spectroscopic tests were performed using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant activity), and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (diammonium salt radical cation) methods. The antimicrobial activity of each compound against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans was investigated. The electrical properties of the liposomes which mimicked the microbial surfaces formed in the electrolyte containing the tested compounds were also investigated. The above biological properties of the obtained complexes were compared with the activities of p-CAH2 and CFAH3. The obtained data suggest that lanthanide complexes are much more thermally stable and have higher antimicrobial and antioxidant properties than the ligands (with the exception of CFAH3 in the case of antioxidant activity tests). The Gd(III) complexes revealed the highest biological activity among the studied lanthanide complexes.

Effect of the Addition of Graphene Flakes on the Physical and Biological Properties of Composite Paints.

In this study, graphene flakes were obtained using an electrolytic method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). Graphene-based composites with varying concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 3% by weight were prepared with acrylic paint, enamel and varnish matrices. The mechanical properties were evaluated using micro-hardness testing, while wettability and antimicrobial activity against three pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus 33591, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15442, Candida albicans 10231) were also examined. The results indicate that the addition of graphene flakes significantly enhances both the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the coatings.

Optimisation of Polyphenols Extraction from Wild Bilberry Leaves-Antimicrobial Properties and Stability Studies.

Polyphenolic extracts from natural sources have received great interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. A method to reduce their variability is to use the design of experiments which allows a limited number of experiments to be performed while exploring the experimental space. Firstly, a 23-full factorial model was used to investigate the polyphenols extraction from wild bilberry leaves. Spectrophotometric data (the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, chlorophyll and radical scavenger activity) and extraction yield were used as responses, and six statistical models were determined depending on the two numerical factors (temperature and alcohol % of ethanol-water mixture) being significant (p < 0.05) in all cases. Numerical optimisation performed by Design Expert 13 software correlates well with the chemical profile determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the amount of the polyphenol. Afterwards, under the optimised conditions, an extract was prepared in three extraction steps for which composition, chemical stability and antimicrobial properties were evaluated. The antimicrobial potential of the extract was compared with that of the standard compounds (rutin and chlorogenic acid), and the results supported a synergistic effect of the extract components.

Exploring the Multifunctionality of Mechanochemically Synthesized γ-Alumina with Incorporated Selected Metal Oxide Species.

γ-Alumina with incorporated metal oxide species (including Fe, Cu, Zn, Bi, and Ga) was synthesized by liquid-assisted grinding-mechanochemical synthesis, applying boehmite as the alumina precursor and suitable metal salts. Various contents of metal elements (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 20 wt.%) were used to tune the composition of the resulting hybrid materials. The different milling time was tested to find the most suitable procedure that allowed the preparation of porous alumina incorporated with selected metal oxide species. The block copolymer, Pluronic P123, was used as a pore-generating agent. Commercial γ-alumina (SBET = 96 m2·g-1), and the sample fabricated after two hours of initial grinding of boehmite (SBET = 266 m2·g-1), were used as references. Analysis of another sample of γ-alumina prepared within 3 h of one-pot milling revealed a higher surface area (SBET = 320 m2·g-1) that did not increase with a further increase in the milling time. So, three hours of grinding time were set as optimal for this material. The synthesized samples were characterized by low-temperature N2 sorption, TGA/DTG, XRD, TEM, EDX, elemental mapping, and XRF techniques. The higher loading of metal oxide into the alumina structure was confirmed by the higher intensity of the XRF peaks. Samples synthesized with the lowest metal oxide content (5 wt.%) were tested for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NH3-SCR). Among all tested samples, besides pristine Al2O3 and alumina incorporated with gallium oxide, the increase in reaction temperature accelerated the NO conversion. The highest NO conversion rate was observed for Fe2O3-incorporated alumina (70%) at 450 °C and CuO-incorporated alumina (71%) at 300 °C. The CO2 capture was also studied for synthesized samples and the sample of alumina with incorporated Bi2O3 (10 wt.%) gave the best result (1.16 mmol·g-1) at 25 °C, while alumina alone could adsorb only 0.85 mmol·g-1 of CO2. Furthermore, the synthesized samples were tested for antimicrobial properties and found to be quite active against Gram-negative bacteria, P. aeruginosa (PA). The measured Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for the alumina samples with incorporated Fe, Cu, and Bi oxide (10 wt.%) were found to be 4 µg·mL-1, while 8 µg·mL-1 was obtained for pure alumina.

Bioactive Properties of Kakadu Plum-Blended Products.

Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana), endemic to Australia, is growing in popularity due to its high levels of vitamin C and strong antioxidant properties. In this study, Kakadu plum fruit powder was used as a functional food ingredient with other plant materials to develop value-added products to enhance their nutritional and commercial value. The present study determined the bioactive properties of nine products, including three Kakadu plum fruit powder samples produced from different processing batches and five Kakadu plum-blended products. Vitamin C, the total phenolic content, and the ellagic acid content were determined. Bioactive properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial assays were also performed. Cytotoxicity was tested to obtain more specific product information regarding food safety. Kakadu plum-blended products showed lower cytotoxicity and lower bioactive properties (antioxidant and antibacterial activities) in comparison to Kakadu plum powder. However, overall, most of the bioactive properties were shown to be higher in the blends when compared with the commercial blueberry powder as a benchmark antioxidant product. Therefore, there is great potential for Kakadu plum to contribute to the growing functional food and ingredient markets.

Antimicrobial activity and chemical profile of wood vinegar from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis - clone I144) and bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris).

Microbial resistance to drugs is a public health problem; therefore, there is a search for alternatives to replace conventional products with natural agents. One of the potential antimicrobial agents is wood vinegar derived from the carbonization of lignocellulosic raw materials. The objectives of the present work were to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal action of two kinds of wood vinegar (WV), one of Eucalyptus urograndis wood and another of Bambusa vulgaris biomass, and determine their chemical profile. The antimicrobial effect was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Candida albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations were determined. Micrographs of the microorganisms before and after exposure to both kinds of wood vinegar were obtained by scanning electron microscopy. The chemical profile of the eucalyptus and bamboo vinegar was carried out by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Both types of WV presented significant antimicrobial activity, with the bamboo one having a higher efficiency. Both studied pyroligneous extracts seem promising for developing natural antimicrobials due to their efficiency against pathogens. GC/MS analyses demonstrated that the chemical profiles of both kinds of WV were similar but with some significant differences. The major component of the eucalyptus vinegar was furfural (17.2%), while the bamboo WV was phenol (15.3%). Several compounds in both WVs have proven antimicrobial activity, such as acetic acid, furfural, phenol, cresols, guaiacol, and xylenols. Together, they are the major in the chemical composition of the organic fraction of both WVs. Bamboo vinegar had a more expressive content of organic acids. Micrographs of microorganisms taken after exposure to both kinds of wood vinegar displayed several cell modifications. The potential of both types of wood vinegar as a basis for natural antimicrobial products seems feasible due to their proven effect on inhibiting the microorganisms' growth assessed in this experiment.

Are chemical compounds in medical mushrooms potent against colorectal cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth?

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second main cause of death globally. Mushrooms have been demonstrated to contain amalgamation with properties capable of inhibiting carcinogenesis and microbial growth, principally secondary metabolites such as quinolones, steroids, terpenes, anthraquinones, and benzoic acid derivatives among others. This study aimed to substantiate their potency concerning colon cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth. A systematic search of important literature was performed considering all the articles published until April 2022. Screening was performed by searching the BMC Springer, Elsevier, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and MEDLINE databases. In addition, Google Scholar was used to supplement information. Titles and abstracts that matched the established criteria were selected for full-text article scrutiny and subsequently used in the updated present review. Bioactive compounds present in medicinal mushrooms such as ascorbic acid, organic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, glycosides, phenols, linoleic acid, grifolin, and tocopherols among other compounds play a key role in suppressing the proliferation of cancerous cells and selectively act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. These metabolites actively scavenge oxygen free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrite radicals that would otherwise increase the risks of the growth and development of cancerous cells. Mushrooms' bioactive compounds and metabolites actively inhibit nuclear factor-kappa activation, protein kinase B processes, and ultimately the expression of Cyclooxygenases 2 in cancerous cells. Medicinal mushrooms should be considered as alternative natural chemo-preventive agents in the global fight against colon cancer and the evolution of drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, as they exhibit robust potency. They have not been reported to exhibit adverse harmful effects compared to synthetic chemotherapies, yet they have been reported to demonstrate significant beneficial effects.