GC-MS Assisted Determination of 26 Compounds in Phlomis stewartii Extract Exhibiting Antioxidant, Antifungal, and Antibacterial Properties.

Medicinal plants have long been studied for their therapeutic benifits. The present research aims to unveil complex phytochemical profile and therapeutic properties of ethyl acetate fraction of Phlomis stewartii, an important medicinal plant. In this context, the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the fraction identified 26 compounds. Additionally, the fraction exhibited concentration dependent antioxidant activity with an IC50 value lower than the standard antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene. The antifungal activity of the fraction examined against F. oxysporum, A. alternate, and R. solani resulted in almost complete inhibition (>90%) of fungal growth. Furthermore, the fraction exhibited significant antibacterial potential against B. subtilus, S. aureus, E. coli, and S. dysenteriae, with inhibition zones of 18±0.22, 17±0.22, 12±0.11, and 10±0.12, respectively. Briefly, the plant extract was found to be highly potent, particularly in its antifungal action. Further studies, including natural products isolation coupled with bioassays, are recommended for promising drug candidates discovery.

Investigation of Photoluminescence and Optoelectronics Properties of Transition Metal-Doped ZnO Thin Films.

Thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with transition metals have recently gained significant attention due to their potential applications in a wide range of optoelectronic devices. This study focuses on ZnO thin films doped with the transition metals Co, Fe, and Zr, exploring various aspects of their structural, morphological, optical, electrical, and photoluminescence properties. The thin films were produced using RF and DC co-sputtering techniques. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that all the doped ZnO thin films exhibited a stable wurtzite crystal structure, showcasing a higher structural stability compared to the undoped ZnO, while the atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging highlighted a distinctive granular arrangement. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was employed to confirm the presence of transition metals in the thin films, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to investigate the presence of chemical bonding. The optical characterizations indicated that doping induced changes in the optical properties of the thin films. Specifically, the doped ZnO thin film's bandgap experienced a significant reduction, decreasing from 3.34 to 3.30 eV. The photoluminescence (PL) analysis revealed distinguishable emission peaks within the optical spectrum, attributed to electronic transitions occurring between different bands or between a band and an impurity. Furthermore, the introduction of these transition metals resulted in decreased resistivity and increased conductivity, indicating their positive influence on the electrical conductivity of the thin films. This suggests potential applications in solar cells and light-emitting devices.

Prime editing: A potential treatment option for ß-thalassemia.

The potential to therapeutically alter the genome is one of the remarkable scientific developments in recent years. Genome editing technologies have provided an opportunity to precisely alter genomic sequence(s) in eukaryotic cells as a treatment option for various genetic disorders. These technologies allow the correction of harmful mutations in patients by precise nucleotide editing. Genome editing technologies such as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) and base editors have greatly contributed to the practical applications of gene editing. However, these technologies have certain limitations, including imperfect editing, undesirable mutations, off-target effects, and lack of potential to simultaneously edit multiple loci. Recently, prime editing (PE) has emerged as a new gene editing technology with the potential to overcome the above-mentioned limitations. Interestingly, PE not only has higher specificity but also does not require double-strand breaks. In addition, a minimum possibility of potential off-target mutant sites makes PE a preferred choice for therapeutic gene editing. Furthermore, PE has the potential to introduce insertion and deletions of all 12 single-base mutations at target sequences. Considering its potential, PE has been applied as a treatment option for genetic diseases including hemoglobinopathies. ß-Thalassemia, for example, one of the most significant blood disorders characterized by reduced levels of functional hemoglobin, could potentially be treated using PE. Therapeutic reactivation of the γ-globin gene in adult ß-thalassemia patients through PE technology is considered a promising therapeutic strategy. The current review aims to briefly discuss the genome editing strategies and potential applications of PE for the treatment of ß-thalassemia. In addition, the review will also focus on challenges associated with the use of PE.