Restoring neuronal iron homeostasis revitalizes neurogenesis after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to iron overloading and subsequent neuronal ferroptosis, which hinders the recovery of locomotor function. However, it is still unclear whether the maintenance of neuronal iron homeostasis enables to revitalize intrinsic neurogenesis. Herein, we report the regulation of cellular iron homeostasis after SCI via the chelation of excess iron ions and modulation of the iron transportation pathway using polyphenol-based hydrogels for the revitalization of intrinsic neurogenesis. The reversed iron overloading can promote neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation into neurons and elicit the regenerative potential of newborn neurons, which is accompanied by improved axon reinnervation and remyelination. Notably, polyphenol-based hydrogels significantly increase the neurological motor scores from ~8 to 18 (out of 21) and restore the transmission of sensory and motor electrophysiological signals after SCI. Maintenance of iron homeostasis at the site of SCI using polyphenol-based hydrogels provides a promising paradigm to revitalize neurogenesis for the treatment of iron accumulation-related nervous system diseases.

Functional characterization of polyphenol oxidase OfPPO2 supports its involvement in parallel biosynthetic pathways of acteoside.

Acteoside is a bioactive phenylethanoid glycoside widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. Because of its two catechol moieties, acteoside displays a variety of beneficial activities. The biosynthetic pathway of acteoside has been largely elucidated, but the assembly logic of two catechol moieties in acteoside remains unclear. Here, we identified a novel polyphenol oxidase OfPPO2 from Osmanthus fragrans, which could hydroxylate various monophenolic substrates, including tyrosine, tyrosol, tyramine, 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, salidroside, and osmanthuside A, leading to the formation of corresponding catechol-containing intermediates for acteoside biosynthesis. OfPPO2 could also convert osmanthuside B into acteoside, creating catechol moieties directly via post-modification of the acteoside skeleton. The reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis and subcellular localization assay further support the involvement of OfPPO2 in acteoside biosynthesis in planta. These findings suggest that the biosynthesis of acteoside in O. fragrans may follow "parallel routes" rather than the conventionally considered linear route. In support of this hypothesis, the glycosyltransferase OfUGT and the acyltransferase OfAT could direct the flux of diphenolic intermediates generated by OfPPO2 into acteoside. Significantly, OfPPO2 and its orthologs constitute a functionally conserved enzyme family that evolved independently from other known biosynthetic enzymes of acteoside, implying that the substrate promiscuity of this PPO family may offer acteoside-producing plants alternative ways to synthesize acteoside. Overall, this work expands our understanding of parallel pathways plants may employ to efficiently synthesize acteoside, a strategy that may contribute to plants' adaptation to environmental challenges.

A serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferase catalyzes consecutive four-step reactions of hydrolyzable tannin biosynthesis in Camellia oleifera.

Hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), a class of polyphenolic compounds found in dicotyledonous plants, are widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries because of their beneficial effects on human health. Although the biosynthesis of simple HTs has been verified at the enzymatic level, relevant genes have not yet been identified. Here, based on the parent ion-fragment ion pairs in the feature fragment data obtained using UPLC-Q-TOF-/MS/MS, galloyl phenolic compounds in the leaves of Camellia sinensis and C. oleifera were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Correlation analysis between the transcript abundance of serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases (SCPL-ATs) and the peak area of galloyl products in Camellia species showed that SCPL3 expression was highly correlated with HT biosynthesis. Enzymatic verification of the recombinant protein showed that CoSCPL3 from C. oleifera catalyzed the four consecutive steps involved in the conversion of digalloylglucose to pentagalloylglucose. We also identified the residues affecting the enzymatic activity of CoSCPL3 and determined that SCPL-AT catalyzes the synthesis of galloyl glycosides. The findings of this study provide a target gene for germplasm innovation of important cash crops that are rich in HTs, such as C. oleifera, strawberry, and walnut.

Polyphenolic Nanoparticle Platforms (PARCELs) for In Vitro and In Vivo mRNA Delivery.

Despite their successful implementation in the COVID-19 vaccines, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) still face a central limitation in the delivery of mRNA payloads: endosomal trapping. Improving upon this inefficiency could afford improved drug delivery systems, paving the way toward safer and more effective mRNA-based medicines. Here, we present polyphenolic nanoparticle platforms (PARCELs) as effective mRNA delivery systems. In brief, our investigation begins with a computationally guided structural analysis of 1825 discrete polyphenolic structural data points across 73 diverse small molecule polyphenols and 25 molecular parameters. We then generate structurally diverse PARCELs, evaluating their in vitro mechanism and activity, ultimately highlighting the superior endosomal escape properties of PARCELs relative to analogous LNPs. Finally, we examine the in vivo biodistribution, protein expression, and therapeutic efficacy of PARCELs in mice. In undertaking this approach, the goal of this study is to establish PARCELs as viable delivery platforms for safe and effective mRNA delivery.

Carnosic acid inhibits secretion of allergic inflammatory mediators in IgE-activated mast cells via direct regulation of Syk activation.

Mast cells are essential regulators of inflammation most recognized for their central role in allergic inflammatory disorders. Signaling via the high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor, FcεRI, leads to rapid degranulation of preformed granules and the sustained release of newly synthesized proinflammatory mediators. Our group recently established rosemary extract as a potent regulator of mast cell functions, attenuating MAPK and NF-κB signaling. Carnosic acid (CA)-a major polyphenolic constituent of rosemary extract-has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in other immune cell models, but its role as a potential modulator of mast cell activation is undefined. Therefore, we sought here to determine the modulatory effects of CA in a mast cell model of allergic inflammation. We sensitized bone marrow-derived mast cells with anti-trinitrophenyl IgE and activated with allergen (TNP-BSA) under stem cell factor potentiation, in addition to treatment with CA. Our results indicate that CA significantly inhibits allergen-induced early phase responses including Ca2+ mobilization, ROS production, and subsequent degranulation. We also show CA treatment reduced late phase responses, including the release of all cytokines and chemokines examined following IgE stimulation and corresponding gene expression excepting that of CCL2. Importantly, we determined that CA mediates its inhibitory effects through modulation of tyrosine kinase Syk and downstream effectors TAK1 (Ser412) and Akt (Ser473) as well as NFκB signaling, while phosphorylation of FcεRI (γ chain) and MAPK proteins remained unaltered. These novel findings establish CA as a potent modulator of mast cell activation, warranting further investigation as a putative anti-allergy therapeutic.

High sensitivity and low-cost flavin luciferase (FLUXVc)-based reporter gene for mammalian cell expression.

Luciferase-based gene reporters generating bioluminescence signals are important tools for biomedical research. Amongst the luciferases, flavin-dependent enzymes use the most economical chemicals. However, their applications in mammalian cells are limited due to their low signals compared to other systems. Here, we constructed Flavin Luciferase from Vibrio campbellii (Vc) for Mammalian Cell Expression (FLUXVc) by engineering luciferase from V. campbellii (the most thermostable bacterial luciferase reported to date) and optimizing its expression and reporter assays in mammalian cells which can improve the bioluminescence light output by >400-fold as compared to the nonengineered version. We found that the FLUXVc reporter gene can be overexpressed in various cell lines and showed outstanding signal-to-background in HepG2 cells, significantly higher than that of firefly luciferase (Fluc). The combined use of FLUXVc/Fluc as target/control vectors gave the most stable signals, better than the standard set of Fluc(target)/Rluc(control). We also demonstrated that FLUXVc can be used for testing inhibitors of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, our results provide an optimized method for using the more economical flavin-dependent luciferase in mammalian cells.

Effects of Lignin-Diverted Reductant with Polyphenol Oxidases on Cellulose Degradation by Wild and Mutant Types of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase.

Establishing a multi-enzyme synergistic lignocellulosic biodegradation system using lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) and polyphenol oxidases is vital for efficiently utilizing plant biomass waste, ultimately benefiting the carbon cycle and promoting environmental protection. Single-residue mutations of LPMO can improve the efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass degradation. However, the activity of mutant-type LPMO in relation to lignin-diverted reducing agents has not been sufficiently explored. In this study, laccase and tyrosinase were initially investigated and their optimal conditions and impressive thermal stability were revealed, indicating their potential synergistic abilities with LPMO in lignocellulose biodegradation. When utilizing gallic acid as a reducing agent, the activities of LPMOs were increased by over 10%, which was particularly evident in mutant-type LPMOs after the addition of polyphenol oxidases. In particular, the combination of tyrosinase with either 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetone or p-coumaric acid was shown to enhance the efficacy of LPMOs. Furthermore, the highest activity levels of wild-type LPMOs were observed with the addition of laccase and 3-methylcatechol. The similarities between wild and mutant LPMOs regarding their activities in lignin-diverted phenolic compounds and reducing agents are almost identical, suggesting that the single-residue mutation of LPMO does not have a detrimental effect on its performance. Above all, this study indicates that understanding the performance of both wild and mutant types of LPMOs in the presence of polyphenol oxidases and various reducing agents constitutes a key link in the industrialization of the multi-enzyme degradation of lignocellulose.

The PPO family in Nicotiana tabacum is an important regulator to participate in pollination.

Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) are type-3 copper enzymes and are involved in many biological processes. However, the potential functions of PPOs in pollination are not fully understood. In this work, we have screened 13 PPO members in Nicotiana. tabacum (named NtPPO1-13, NtPPOs) to explore their characteristics and functions in pollination. The results show that NtPPOs are closely related to PPOs in Solanaceae and share conserved domains except NtPPO4. Generally, NtPPOs are diversely expressed in different tissues and are distributed in pistil and male gametes. Specifically, NtPPO9 and NtPPO10 are highly expressed in the pistil and mature anther. In addition, the expression levels and enzyme activities of NtPPOs are increased after N. tabacum self-pollination. Knockdown of NtPPOs would affect pollen growth after pollination, and the purines and flavonoid compounds are accumulated in self-pollinated pistil. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that NtPPOs potentially play a role in the pollen tube growth after pollination through purines and flavonoid compounds, and will provide new insights into the role of PPOs in plant reproduction.

Enhanced Mitochondrial Targeting and Inhibition of Pyroptosis with Multifunctional Metallopolyphenol Nanoparticles in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a significant contributor to low back pain, characterized by excessive reactive oxygen species generation and inflammation-induced pyroptosis. Unfortunately, there are currently no specific molecules or materials available to effectively delay IVDD. This study develops a multifunctional full name of PG@Cu nanoparticle network (PG@Cu). A designed pentapeptide, bonded on PG@Cu nanoparticles via a Schiff base bond, imparts multifunctionality to the metal polyphenol particles (PG@Cu-FP). PG@Cu-FP exhibits enhanced escape from lysosomal capture, enabling efficient targeting of mitochondria to scavenge excess reactive oxygen species. The scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species originates from the polyphenol-based structures within the nanoparticles. Furthermore, Pyroptosis is effectively blocked by inhibiting Gasdermin mediated pore formation and membrane rupture. PG@Cu-FP successfully reduces the activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome by inhibiting Gasdermin protein family (Gasdermin D, GSDMD) oligomerization, leading to reduced expression of Nod-like receptors. This multifaceted approach demonstrates higher efficiency in inhibiting Pyroptosis. Experimental results confirm that PG@Cu-FP preserves disc height, retains water content, and preserves tissue structure. These findings highlight the potential of PG@Cu-FP in improving IVDD and provide novel insights for future research in IVDD treatments.

Green and Low-Cost Alkali-Polyphenol Synergetic Self-Catalysis System Access to Fast Gelation of Self-Healable and Self-Adhesive Conductive Hydrogels for Self-Powered Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

Biomass-based hydrogels have attracted great attention in flexible and sustainable self-powered power sources but struggled to fabricate in a green, high-efficiency, and low-cost manner. Herein, a novel and facile alkali-polyphenol synergetic self-catalysis system is originally employed for the fast gelation of self-healable and self-adhesive lignin-based conductive hydrogels, which can be regarded as hydrogel electrodes of flexible triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). This synergy self-catalytic system comprises aqueous alkali and polyphenol-containing lignin, in which alkali-activated ammonium persulfate (APS) significantly accelerates the generation of radicals and initiates the polymerization of monomers, while polyphenol acts as a stabilizer to avoid bursting polymerization from inherent radical scavenging ability. Furthermore, multiple hydrogen bonds between lignin biopolymers and polyacrylamide (PAM) chains impart lignin-based hydrogels with exceptional adhesiveness and self-healing properties. Intriguingly, the alkaline conditions not only contribute to the solubility of lignin but also impart superior ionic conductivity of lignin-based hydrogel that is applicable to flexible TENG in self-powered energy-saving stair light strips, which holds great promise for industrial applications of soft electronics.

Polyphenol-Based Bicontinuous Porous Spheres Via Amine-Mediated Polymerization-Induced Fusion Assembly.

Bicontinuous porous materials, which possess 3D interconnected network and pore channels facilitating the mass diffusion to the interior of materials, have demonstrated their promising potentials in a large variety of research fields. However, facile construction of such complex and delicate structures is still challenging. Here, an amine-mediated polymerization-induced fusion assembly strategy is reported for synthesizing polyphenol-based bicontinuous porous spheres with various pore structures. Specifically, the fusion of pore-generating template observed by TEM promotes the development of bicontinuous porous networks that are confirmed by 3D reconstruction. Furthermore, the resultant bicontinuous porous carbon particles after pyrolysis, with a diameter of ≈600 nm, a high accessible surface area of 359 m2 g-1, and a large pore size of 40-150 nm manifest enhanced performance toward the catalytic degradation of sulfamethazine in water decontamination. The present study expands the toolbox of interfacial tension-solvent-dependent porous spheres while providing new insight into their structure-property relationships.

Sonochemical Synthesis of Natural Polyphenolic Nanoparticles for Modulating Oxidative Stress.

Natural polyphenolic compounds play a vital role in nature and are widely utilized as building blocks in the fabrication of emerging functional nanomaterials. Although diverse fabrication methodologies are developed in recent years, the challenges of purification, uncontrollable reaction processes and additional additives persist. Herein, a modular and facile methodology is reported toward the fabrication of natural polyphenolic nanoparticles. By utilizing low frequency ultrasound (40 kHz), the assembly of various natural polyphenolic building blocks is successfully induced, allowing for precise control over the particle formation process. The resulting natural polyphenolic nanoparticles possessed excellent in vitro antioxidative abilities and in vivo therapeutic effects in typical oxidative stress models including wound healing and acute kidney injury. This study opens new avenues for the fabrication of functional materials from naturally occurring building blocks, offering promising prospects for future advancements in this field.

3D Printed Multifunctional Biomimetic Bone Scaffold Combined with TP-Mg Nanoparticles for the Infectious Bone Defects Repair.

Infected bone defects are one of the most challenging problems in the treatment of bone defects due to the high antibiotic failure rate and the lack of ideal bone grafts. In this paper, inspired by clinical bone cement filling treatment, α-c phosphate (α-TCP) with self-curing properties is composited with ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and constructed a bionic cancellous bone scaffolding system α/ß-tricalcium phosphate (α/ß-TCP) by low-temperature 3D printing, and gelatin is preserved inside the scaffolds as an organic phase, and later loaded with a metal-polyphenol network structure of tea polyphenol-magnesium (TP-Mg) nanoparticles. The scaffolds mimic the structure and components of cancellous bone with high mechanical strength (>100 MPa) based on α-TCP self-curing properties through low-temperature 3D printing. Meanwhile, the scaffolds loaded with TP-Mg exhibit significant inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and promote the transition of macrophages from M1 pro-inflammatory to M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. In addition, the composite scaffold also exhibits excellent bone-enhancing effects based on the synergistic effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+. In this study, a multifunctional ceramic scaffold (α/ß-TCP@TP-Mg) that integrates anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and osteoinduction is constructed, which promotes late bone regenerative healing while modulating the early microenvironment of infected bone defects, has a promising application in the treatment of infected bone defects.

Mushroom Tyrosinase: Six Isoenzymes Catalyzing Distinct Reactions.

"Mushroom tyrosinase" from the common button mushroom is the most frequently used source of tyrosinase activity, both for basic and applied research. Here, the complete tyrosinase family from Agaricus bisporus var. bisporus (abPPO1-6) was cloned from mRNA and expressed heterologously using a single protocol. All six isoenzymes accept a wide range of phenolic and catecholic substrates, but display pronounced differences in their specificity and enzymatic reaction rate. AbPPO3 ignores γ-l-glutaminyl-4-hydroxybenzene (GHB), a natural phenol present in mM concentrations in A. bisporus, while AbPPO4 processes 100 µM GHB at 4-times the rate of the catechol l-DOPA. All six AbPPOs are biochemically distinct enzymes fit for different roles in the fungal life cycle, which challenges the traditional concept of isoenzymes as catalyzing the same physiological reaction and varying only in secondary properties. Transferring this approach to other enzymes and organisms will greatly stimulate both the study of the in vivo function(s) of enzymes and the application of these highly efficient catalysts.

Astringency and its sub-qualities: a review of astringency mechanisms and methods for measuring saliva lubrication.

Astringency is an important mouthfeel attribute that influences the sensory experiences of many food and beverage products. While salivary lubricity loss and increased oral friction were previously believed to be the only astringency mechanisms, recent research has demonstrated that nontactile oral receptors can trigger astringency by responding to astringents without mechanical stimulation. Various human factors have also been identified that affect individual responses to astringents. This article presents a critical review of the key research milestones contributing to the current understanding of astringency mechanisms and the instrumental approaches used to quantify perceived astringency intensity. Although various chemical assays or physical measures mimic in-mouth processes involved in astringent mouthfeel, this review highlights how one chemical or physical approach can only provide a single measure of astringency determined by a specific mechanism. Subsequently, using a single measurement to predict astringency perception is overly idealistic. Astringency has not been quantified beyond the loss of saliva lubrication; therefore, nontactile receptor-based responses must also be explored. An important question remains about whether astringency is a single perception or involves distinct sub-qualities such as pucker, drying, and roughness. Although these sub-quality lexicons have been frequently cited, most studies currently view astringency as a single perception rather than dividing it into sub-qualities and investigating the potentially independent mechanisms of each. Addressing these knowledge gaps should be an important priority for future research.

Affinity gel synthesis from the p-aminobenzoic acid derivative 4-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid and purification of polyphenol oxidase from various plant sources.

The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme, which causes enzymatic browning, has been repeatedly purified from fruit and vegetables by affinity chromatography. In the present research, Sepharose 4B-l-tyrosine-4-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid, a novel affinity gel for the purification of the PPO enzyme with high efficiency, was synthesized. Additionally, Sepharose 4B-l-tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid affinity gel, known in the literature, was also synthesized, and 9.02, 16.57, and 28.13 purification folds were obtained for the PPO enzymes of potato, mushroom, and eggplant by the reference gel. The PPO enzymes of potato, mushroom, and eggplant were purified 41.17, 64.47, and 56.78-fold from the new 4-amino-2-methylbenzoic acid gel. Following their isolation from the new affinity column, the assessment of PPO enzyme purity involved the utilization of SDS-PAGE. According to the results from SDS-PAGE and native PAGE, the molecular weight of each enzyme was 50 kDa. Then, the inhibition effects of naringin, morin hydrate, esculin hydrate, homovanillic acid, vanillic acid, phloridzin dihydrate, and p-coumaric acid phenolic compounds on purified potato, mushroom, and eggplant PPO enzyme were investigated. Among the tested phenolic compounds, morin hydrate was determined to be the most potent inhibitor on the potato (Ki: 0.07 ± 0.03 µM), mushroom (Ki: 0.7 ± 0.3 µM), and eggplant (Ki: 4.8 ± 1.2 µM) PPO enzymes. The studies found that the weakest inhibitor was homovanillic acid for the potato (Ki: 1112 ± 324 µM), mushroom (Ki: 567 ± 81 µM), and eggplant (Ki: 2016.7 ± 805.6 µM) PPO enzymes. Kinetic assays indicated that morin hydrate was a remarkable inhibitor on PPO.

Recent progress in promoting the bioavailability of polyphenols in plant-based foods.

Polyphenols are important constituents of plant-based foods, exhibiting a range of beneficial effects. However, many phenolic compounds have low bioavailability because of their low water solubility, chemical instability, food matrix effects, and interactions with other nutrients. This article reviews various methods of improving the bioavailability of polyphenols in plant-based foods, including fermentation, natural deep eutectic solvents, encapsulation technologies, co-crystallization and amorphous solid dispersion systems, and exosome complexes. Several innovative technologies have recently been deployed to improve the bioavailability of phenolic compounds. These technologies may be utilized to increase the healthiness of plant-based foods. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms of action of these novel approaches and their potential to be used in food production.

Polysaccharide-polyphenol interactions: a comprehensive review from food processing to digestion and metabolism.

Most studies on the beneficial effects of polyphenols on human health have focused on polyphenols extracted using aqueous organic solvents, ignoring the fact that a portion of polyphenols form complexes with polysaccharides. Polysaccharides and polyphenols are interrelated, and their interactions affect the physicochemical property, quality, and nutritional value of foods. In this review, the distribution of bound polyphenols in major food sources is summarized. The effect of food processing on the interaction between polyphenols and cell wall polysaccharides (CWP) is discussed in detail. We also focus on the digestion, absorption, and metabolic behavior of polysaccharide-polyphenol complexes. Different food processing techniques affect the interaction between CWP and polyphenols by altering their structure, solubility, and strength of interactions. The interaction influences the free concentration and extractability of polyphenols in food and modulates their bioaccessibility in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to their major release in the colon. Metabolism of polyphenols by gut microbes significantly enhances the bioavailability of polyphenols. The metabolic pathway and product formation rate of polyphenols and the fermentation characteristics of polysaccharides are affected by the interaction. Furthermore, the interaction exhibits synergistic or antagonistic effects on the stability, solubility, antioxidant and functional activities of polyphenols. In summary, understanding the interactions between polysaccharides and polyphenols and their changes in food processing is of great significance for a comprehensive understanding of the health benefits of polyphenols and the optimization of food processing technology.

Microbial tryptophan catabolism as an actionable target via diet-microbiome interactions.

In recent years, the role of microbial tryptophan (Trp) catabolism in host-microbiota crosstalk has become a major area of scientific interest. Microbiota-derived Trp catabolites positively contribute to intestinal and systemic homeostasis by acting as ligands of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and pregnane X receptor, and as signaling molecules in microbial communities. Accumulating evidence suggests that microbial Trp catabolism could be therapeutic targets in treating human diseases. A number of bacteria and metabolic pathways have been identified to be responsible for the conversion of Trp in the intestine. Interestingly, many Trp-degrading bacteria can benefit from the supplementation of specific dietary fibers and polyphenols, which in turn increase the microbial production of beneficial Trp catabolites. Thus, this review aims to highlight the emerging role of diets and food components, i.e., food matrix, fiber, and polyphenol, in modulating the microbial catabolism of Trp and discuss the opportunities for potential therapeutic interventions via specifically designed diets targeting the Trp-microbiome axis.

Halotolerant Citrobacter sp. remediates salinity stress and promotes the growth of Vigna radiata (L) by secreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and biofilm formation: a novel active cell for microbial desalination cell (MDC).

To address soil salinization and its impact on crop production, microbial desalination cells (MDCs) offer a promising solution. These bioelectrochemical systems integrate desalination and wastewater treatment through microbial activity. A halotolerant beneficial bacterial strain called Citrobacter sp. strain KUT (CKUT) was isolated from India's salt desert Run of Kutch, Gujrat, highlighting its potential application in combating soil salinization. CKUT exhibits high salt tolerance and has the ability to produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) at a concentration of 0.04 mg/ml. It forms biofilm that enable it to withstand up to 10% NaCl concentration. Additionally, CKUT shows promise in remediating salinity levels, reducing it from 4.5 to 2.7 gL-1. These characteristics are driven by biofilm formation and EPS production. In an experiment where V. radiata L. seedlings were inoculated with CKUT, the treated plants exhibited enhanced chlorophyll content, growth, and overall plant characteristics compared to seedlings treated with sodium chloride (NaCl). These improvements included increased shoot length (150 mm), root length (40 mm), and biomass. This indicates that CKUT treatment has the potential to enhance the suitability of V. radiata and other crops for cultivation in saline lands, effectively addressing the issue of soil salinization. Furthermore, integrating CKUT into microbial desalination cells (MDCs) offers an opportunity for freshwater production from seawater, contributing to sustainable agriculture by promoting improved crop growth and increased yield in areas prone to salinity. HIGHLIGHTS : • Soil salinization reduces crop yield, including Vigna radiata L. • Citrobacter sp. strain KUT (CKUT) is a halotolerant bacterium isolated from the salt desert Run of Kutch, Gujarat, which can tolerate high salt concentrations. • CKUT mitigates salinity by producing extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and forming biofilms. • CKUT treatment demonstrated increased plant growth, biomass, and chlorophyll content under salinity stress, showcasing its potential in microbial desalination cell (MDC) for enhancing crop yield in salinized soils.