Antifungal activity and mechanism of palmarosa essential oil against pathogen Botrytis cinerea in the postharvest onions.

AIMS: Botrytis cinerea is a pathogenic fungus that infests multiple crops, which causes a severe decrease in yield and generates substantial losses in the economy. Palmarosa essential oil (PEO) is a primary aromatic compound extracted from palmarosa that is commonly used for scent, medicine, and flavoring foods due to its diverse bioactive properties. In this study, we explored the antifungal activity and the main mechanism of action of PEO against B. cinerea. In addition, the components and control effects of PEO were also studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: The antifungal assay was tested using the mycelial growth rate method and colony morphology. The constituents of PEO were identified according to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main mechanism of action of PEO was evaluated by measuring representative indicators, which consist of cell contents leakage, excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), and other related indicators. The results indicated that at a concentration of 0.60 ml l-1, PEO exhibits strong antifungal activity against B. cinerea. The PEO mainly included 13 compounds, of which citronellol (44.67%), benzyl benzoate (14.66%), and acetyl cedrene (9.63%) might be the main antifungal ingredients. The study elucidated the main mechanism of action of PEO against B. cinerea, which involved the disruption of cell membrane structure, resulting in altered the cell membrane permeability, leakage of cell contents, and accumulation of excess ROS. CONCLUSIONS: PEO is a satisfactory biological control agent that inhibits B. cinerea in postharvest onions. PEO (0.60 ml l-1) exhibited strong antifungal activity by disrupting the cell membrane structure, altering cell membrane permeability, leading to the cell contents leakage, accumulation of excess ROS and increased level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the control group.

Smart nanoparticles for cancer therapy.

Smart nanoparticles, which can respond to biological cues or be guided by them, are emerging as a promising drug delivery platform for precise cancer treatment. The field of oncology, nanotechnology, and biomedicine has witnessed rapid progress, leading to innovative developments in smart nanoparticles for safer and more effective cancer therapy. In this review, we will highlight recent advancements in smart nanoparticles, including polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, micelles, liposomes, protein nanoparticles, cell membrane nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, black phosphorus, MOF nanoparticles, and others. We will focus on their classification, structures, synthesis, and intelligent features. These smart nanoparticles possess the ability to respond to various external and internal stimuli, such as enzymes, pH, temperature, optics, and magnetism, making them intelligent systems. Additionally, this review will explore the latest studies on tumor targeting by functionalizing the surfaces of smart nanoparticles with tumor-specific ligands like antibodies, peptides, transferrin, and folic acid. We will also summarize different types of drug delivery options, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and even living cells, for their potential use in cancer therapy. While the potential of smart nanoparticles is promising, we will also acknowledge the challenges and clinical prospects associated with their use. Finally, we will propose a blueprint that involves the use of artificial intelligence-powered nanoparticles in cancer treatment applications. By harnessing the potential of smart nanoparticles, this review aims to usher in a new era of precise and personalized cancer therapy, providing patients with individualized treatment options.

Six-Year Retrospective Analysis of Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Antifungal Susceptibilities of Candidiasis from a Tertiary Care Hospital in South China.

Candidiasis is a life-threatening disease that increases mortality in critically ill patients. However, such epidemiological data are still lacking in underdeveloped regions of China. A retrospective analysis (2016 to 2021) was conducted in Meizhou People's Hospital, China to study the burden of candidiasis, particularly candidemia, and antifungal susceptibilities of the species among hospitalized patients. Of the 7,864 candidiasis cases, 461 (5.86%) were candidemia cases. Candida albicans (64.25%) was the most identified species, followed by C. tropicalis (12.61%), C. glabrata (10.79%), and C. parapsilosis (9.79%). In non-C. albicans (NCA) candidemia cases, the number of C. glabrata cases was higher (102/461, 22.37%) than C. tropicalis (64/461, 14.04%). Gastrointestinal pathology, respiratory dysfunctions, septic shock, and malignancies were common underlying comorbidities, respectively. A central venous catheter was an independent risk factor for both C. albicans and NCA candidemia. The mortality rate was not statistically significant for either C. albicans or NCA. Amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine were highly effective (98 to 100%), while azoles were least effective (67.74 to 95.66%). Candidemia cases caused by C. tropicalis and C. glabrata had significantly lower azole susceptibility than non-candidemia-causing isolates. This study provides valuable information for prescribers to choose the right empirical therapy, for researchers to explore different resistance mechanisms, and for health care managers to control candidiasis better. IMPORTANCE This study provides important information on the burden of candidiasis, particularly candidemia, and the antifungal susceptibility of Candida species among hospitalized patients in an underdeveloped region of China. First, the finding that azoles were least effective against Candida species causing candidemia is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests the possibility of resistance to this class of antifungal agents. This information can guide the choice of empirical therapy and help in the selection of appropriate antifungal agents for the treatment of candidemia, thereby reducing the risk of resistance development. Second, the study provides important information for researchers to explore different resistance mechanisms in Candida species. Finally, the study has important implications for health care managers in controlling the spread of candidiasis. The high prevalence of candidemia cases in the study highlights the need for appropriate infection control measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Eupatorium fortunei: Genome Organization and Comparison with Related Species.

Eupatorium fortunei Turcz, a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family, is one of the horticultural and medicinal plants used for curing various diseases and is widely distributed in China and other Asian countries. It possesses antibacterial, antimetastatic, antiangiogenic, and antioxidant properties along with anticancer potential. However, the intrageneric classification and phylogenetic relationships within Eupatorium have long been controversial due to the lack of high-resolution molecular markers, and the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequencing has not been reported with new evolutionary insights. In the present study, E. fortunei was used as an experimental material, and its genome was sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technology. We assembled the complete cp genome, and a systematic analysis was conducted for E. fortunei, acquiring the correspondence of its NCBI accession number (OK545755). The results showed that the cp genome of E. fortunei is a typical tetrad structure with a total length of 152,401 bp, and the genome encodes 133 genes. Analysis of the complete cp genomes of 20 Eupatorieae shows that the number of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) ranged from 19 to 36 while the number of long sequence repeats was 50 in all cases. Eleven highly divergent regions were identified and are potentially useful for the DNA barcoding of Eupatorieae. Phylogenetic analysis among 22 species based on protein-coding genes strongly supported that E. fortunei is more closely related to Praxelis clematidea and belongs to the same branch. The genome assembly and analysis of the cp genome of E. fortunei will facilitate the identification, taxonomy, and utilization of E. fortunei as well as provide more accurate evidence for the taxonomic identification and localization of Asteraceae plants.

Biomedical Applications of Chinese Herb-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Phytonanotechnology.

Recent advances in nanotechnology have opened up new avenues for the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Chinese herbal medicine is a natural gift to humanity, and it has long been used as an antibacterial and anticancer agent. This study will highlight recent developments in the phytonanotechnological synthesis of Chinese herbal medicines to utilize their bioactive components in biomedical and therapeutic applications. Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as a promising alternative to chemical and physical approaches for various biomedical applications. The comprehensive rationale of combinational or synergistic effects of Chinese herb-based AgNPs synthesis was investigated with superior physicochemical and biological properties, and their biomedical applications, including antimicrobial and anticancer activity and wound healing properties. AgNPs can damage the cell ultrastructure by triggering apoptosis, which includes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA disintegration, protein inactivation, and the regulation of various signaling pathways. However, the anticancer mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine-based AgNPs is more complicated due to the potential toxicity of AgNPs. Further in-depth studies are required to address Chinese herbs' various bioactive components and AgNPs as a synergistic approach to combat antimicrobial resistance, therapeutic efficiency of drug delivery, and control and prevention of newly emerged diseases.