Eye Bird View on Natural Plants in the Management of Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis, also referred to as Zygomycosis, is chiefly caused by filamentous molds belonging to the Mucorales group. It can be acquired through inhaling spores, consuming contaminated food, or through injury to the skin. Currently, the second most prevalent fungal infection disease is mucormycosis. It gained greatest attention following the COVID-19 pandemic. The review mainly focuses on several outlines like its history, epidemiology, pathophysiology, types, diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis. In treatment of mucormycosis, conventional therapy against mucormycosis and some antifungal agents has been discussed. Several diverse contagious ailments were conventionally cured utilizing a widespread series of medicinal plants. Given that India is at the forefront of the Ayurvedic and Siddha medical systems, traditional herbal medicine from India is highly well-known. Antifungal chemicals derived from plants can be a viable option for developing novel and enhanced alternative formulations in the field of antifungal medicine. The main focus of the review is to explore the potential plants having the antifungal activity used for the treatment of mucormycosis. Some of the plants with antifungal activity have been explained, which includes garlic, tea tree oil, aloe vera, thyme, turmeric, neem, eucalyptus, clove, goldenseal, calendula, lavender, guduchi, and oregano. Animal models for mucormycosis study have been explained in the review.

Study on the antifungal activity and mechanism of Huangqin decoction against Trichophyton mentagrophytes / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the antifungal activity of Huangqin decoction （HQD） against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and explore its mechanism. METHODS Minimal inhibitory concentration （MIC）， minimal fungicidal concentration （MFC）， mycelial length， spore germination rate， biomass and mycelium ultrastructure observation were performed to evaluate the antifungal activity of HQD against T. mentagrophytes. The effects of HQD on the cell wall of T. mentagrophytes were detected through sorbitol protection experiment. By measuring the content of ergosterol and the activities of squalene epoxide （SE） and lanosterol 14α-demethylase （CYP51）， the activity of HQD on the cell membrane of T. mentagrophytes was investigated. The effects of HQD on T. mentagrophytes mitochondria were investigated by determining the activities of malate dehydrogenase （MDH）， succinate dehydrogenase （SDH）， and ATPases （including sodium potassium ATPase， calcium magnesium ATPase， and total ATPase）. RESULTS HQD exhibited significant antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes with MIC of 3.13 mg/mL and MFC of 25 mg/mL. After intervention with HQD， the mycelial length of T. mentagrophytes was significantly shortened （P＜0.05）； spore germination rate， biomass， the content of ergosterol in the cell membrane， the activities of SE and CYP51 in the cell membrane and MDH， SDH and ATPase in mitochondria were all decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； cell structure had been ；damaged to a certain extent， but the integrity of the cell wall had not been affected. CONCLUSIONS HQD shows significant antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes， the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the 0791- content of ergosterol in the cell membrane and the activities of SE， CYP51， and mitochondria-related enzymes.

Artemisia argyi extract subfraction exerts an antifungal effect against dermatophytes by disrupting mitochondrial morphology and function / 中国天然药物

Artemisia argyi (A. argyi), a plant with a longstanding history as a raw material for traditional medicine and functional diets in Asia, has been used traditionally to bathe and soak feet for its disinfectant and itch-relieving properties. Despite its widespread use, scientific evidence validating the antifungal efficacy of A. argyi water extract (AAWE) against dermatophytes, particularly Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum, remains limited. This study aimed to substantiate the scientific basis of the folkloric use of A. argyi by evaluating the antifungal effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its active subfraction against dermatophytes. The results indicated that AAWE exhibited excellent antifungal effects against the three aforementioned dermatophyte species. The subfraction AAWE6, isolated using D101 macroporous resin, emerged as the most potent subfraction. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AAWE6 against T. rubrum, M. gypseum, and T. mentagrophytes were 312.5, 312.5, and 625 μg·mL-1, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results and assays of enzymes linked to cell wall integrity and cell membrane function indicated that AAWE6 could penetrate the external protective barrier of T. rubrum, creating breaches ("small holes"), and disrupt the internal mitochondrial structure ("granary"). Furthermore, transcriptome data, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and biochemical assays corroborated the severe disruption of mitochondrial function, evidenced by inhibited tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and energy metabolism. Additionally, chemical characterization and molecular docking analyses identified flavonoids, primarily eupatilin (131.16 ± 4.52 mg·g-1) and jaceosidin (4.17 ± 0.18 mg·g-1), as the active components of AAWE6. In conclusion, the subfraction AAWE6 from A. argyi exerts antifungal effects against dermatophytes by disrupting mitochondrial morphology and function. This research validates the traditional use of A. argyi and provides scientific support for its anti-dermatophytic applications, as recognized in the Chinese patent (No. ZL202111161301.9).

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some Novel Hybrid Quinazolinone–Piperazine Derivatives as Anti-Microbial Agents

The chemical constituents quinazolinone and piperazine hold significant importance in the realm of organic compounds due to their diverse range of biological and therapeutic attributes. In an effort to investigate the possible uses of these molecules, a team of scientists synthesized a unique set of chemical substances that combined piperazine and quinazolinone structures. This research involved a comprehensive investigation into the antimicrobial properties of a set of derivatives bearing the chemical structure N-(4-oxo-2-(4-(4-(2-(Substituted phenylamino) acetyl) piperazin-1-yl) phenyl) quinazolin-3(4H)-yl) benzamide, which was successfully synthesized with high yields. The synthesized compounds were carefully characterized using a range of physical methods, including mass spectrometry, FTIR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy, in addition to physical methods such as melting point measurement and thin-layer chromatography. Subsequently, using the agar well diffusion method, these compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against a panel of microbial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antifungal assay was also conducted against Candida albicans using the same approach. The broth microdilution technique was also used to establish the minimal inhibitory concentration. The synthesized compounds demonstrated impressive antifungal and antibacterial properties against every tested microbe. Notably, among the compounds evaluated, PRP7A6, PRP7A8, and PRP7A11 displayed the most potent antimicrobial effects against the pathogenic strains.

Design, Synthesis and Antifungal Evaluation of N-Substituted Maleimide Derivatives with an Imidazole and 2-Methyl Imidazole Moieties

A series of N-substituted maleimide derivatives with an attached imidazole and 2-methyl imidazole heterocyclic rings were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal activity against four pathogenic fungi. The chemical structures of all synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra. Initially, all compounds 4a-4g, 5b and 5f were screened for qualitative (zone of inhibition) antifungal activity against C. albicans, A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. oryzae. The screening results indicate that most of the synthesized compounds showed significant antifungal activity against the tested fungi. Furthermore, the compounds that showed a significant zone of inhibition were selected and tested quantitatively (MIC50 and IC50) against the same pathogenic fungi species. The MIC50 and IC50 results of selected compounds were analyzed. These results strongly suggest that compound 5f has shown promising antifungal activity. Furthermore, the structure–activity relationship of compound 5f revealed that compound substituted with the –F group possess prominent antifungal activity.

Synthesis of Some Quinoline Oximes by an Efficient Method and their Biological Screening

Quinoline scaffolds have gained substantial interest in the modern era of medicinal chemistry due to their wide range of biological applications. The present work reported the synthesis of various oxime derivatives of quinolines by the reaction of substituted 2-chloro-3-formyl-quinolines with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride. The reaction was mediated by aqueous ethanol, whereas hexamine was used as an efficient, non-toxic and easily available basic organocatalyst. The developed protocol has various advantages, including operational ease, affordability, an eco-friendly approach, and short reaction time. Moreover, the synthesized compounds were subjected to in-vitro antimicrobial activities. The antimicrobial evaluation of almost all the compounds found to be potent and effective. Compounds 4c, 4d, and 4f showed a broad spectrum of inhibition and were more effective when tested against specific Gram (-) and Gram (+) bacteria. In in-vitro antifungal evaluation, all synthesized compounds (4a-4g) showed good sensitivity against the tested fungal cultures except Aspergillus niger.

Isolation of Actinomycetes from Arachis hypogaea L. and Gossypium herbaceum L. for Screening Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities

The principal objective of the present study was to check the antimicrobial activity of Actinomycetes isolated from soil samples collected from the fields of Arachis hypogea L. and Gossipium herbaceum L. against different plant pathogenic strains. Various soil samples were isolated from fields located near the Junagadh district, Gujarat, India. Isolation was followed by a serial dilution process which was later plated on Actinomycete Isolation Agar (AIA) media. Potential colonies were subjected to screening, purification, and storage in glycerol stock. Morphological and Biochemical characterization of the isolates was performed. Isolated candidates were subjected to extraction for the production of the antimicrobial compound. The antimicrobial activity of the purified extract of isolates was tested. Total 30 actinomycete isolates were evaluated for antagonistic activity against pathogenic microorganisms. Isolates C-25, C-15, and G-1 showed the best results in the decreasing order of their potency against fungal pathogens, and C-5, C-25, C-14, and C-13 showed the best results in decreasing order of potency against bacterial pathogens. 3 isolates inhibited all 4 test fungi. 10 isolates inhibited 3 test fungi. 11 isolates inhibited 2 test fungi. 6 isolates did not inhibit any test fungi. 4 isolates show potent inhibition. 15 inhibited Macrophomina. C-10 showed a 1 cm inhibition zone & G-1 showed a 0.8 cm zone of inhibition. 12 isolates gave 0.2-0.6 cm zone and 15 isolates gave negative results against Macrophomina. C-10 showed a very potent zone of inhibition of 0.7 cm. 9 isolates showed a 0.1-0.5 cm zone of inhibition. 20 isolates did not show inhibition against Fusarium. 1 isolate C-11(a) gave the 1cm potent zone of inhibition. 15 isolates gave the 0.7-0.2cm inhibition of the growth. 14 isolates gave negative results against Alternaria fungus. From these results, it was concluded that isolates had antibacterial and antifungal activities and could be used in the development of new antibiotics for pharmaceutical or agricultural purposes.

Design and Therapeutic Potential of 2,5-substituted diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole Derivatives

In the present study, new class of 2,5-substituted diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were developed by combining substituted aromatic acids with hydrazine hydrate in the presence of POCl3 reagent under various reaction conditions. The compounds were also evaluated for their antimicrobial potential against some bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus) and fungi (C. albicans and A. Niger). As the result of the newly synthesized compounds were characterized as 2-(4-chlorophenyl) compounds-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (13), 2-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (16), 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(4-methoxyhenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (17), 4-[5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]phenol (18), and 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (25). The results also revealed that these compounds have good potential to inhibit microbes. It may be concluded that oxadiazole nucleus may be a profitable source for the synthesis of drugs against infectious diseases.

Study on the extraction and antifungal activity of volatile oil from stems，leaves and roots of Glehnia littoralis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To explore the extraction process of volatile oil from the stems， leaves and roots of Glehnia littoralis， analyze the chemical components of the volatile oil from the stems， leaves and roots of G. littoralis， and preliminarily evaluate its in vitro antifungal activity. METHODS Based on the steam distillation method， single factor test and orthogonal experiment were conducted to optimize the extraction method of volatile oil from the stems， leaves and roots of G. littoralis. The chemical components of the volatile oil from the stems， leaves and roots of G. littoralis were identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS) technology and their relative contents were calculated. The antifungal activity of volatile oils from the stems， leaves and roots of G. littoralis against Fusarium solani， Fusarium incarnatum， Fusarium oxysporum， Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus was determined by paper diffusion method. RESULTS The optimal extraction process of G. littoralis was solid-liquid ratio of 1∶15， distillation time of 5 hours， and KCl concentration of 15%. Eleven components were identified from the volatile oil of the stems and leaves of G. littoralis， and a total of eight components were identified from the volatile oil of the roots. Ginsenethinol was a common component in the volatile oil from the stems， leaves and roots of G. littoralis， its contents in the stems and leaves， roots were 38.21% and 74.02%， respectively. The volatile oil from the stems， leaves and roots of G. littoralis had a certain E-mail：zwhjzs@126.com inhibitory effect on F. solani， F. incarnatum， F. oxysporum， A. parasiticus and A. flavus， especially volatile oil from the stems and leaves. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant difference in chemical components of the volatile oil between the roots， stems and leaves of G. littoralis， both of which have certain in vitro antifungal activity.

Synthesis and antifungal evaluation of chalcone derivatives combined with fluconazole against drug-resistant Candida albicans / 中国药科大学学报

@#Chalcone is a common scaffold in natural products with optimal properties and biological activities.In this study, we designed and prepared eight new coumarin-chalcone derivatives (5a-5h), and confirmed their structures by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Their in vitro antifungal activity combined with fluconazole (FLC) against drug-resistant Candida albicans was tested by microdilution method.The results indicated that most chalcone derivatives showed good antifungal activity against drug resistant Candida albicans with FLC, particularly with compound 5g displaying better antifungal activity (MIC50 = 5.60 μg/mL) than FLC (MIC50 = 200 μg/mL) when combined with FLC, so, these derivatives could be used as synergists of antifungal drugs.

Design, synthesis and antifungal activity of novel triazoles containing propyl side chains / 药学实践与服务

Objective To study the antifungal activity of a new series of triazole compounds with n-propyl side chain and disubstituted benzyl structure. Methods Eleven target compounds were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, and some compounds were confirmed by 13C NMR or HRMS. Three fungal strains were selected as experimental strains, and the antifungal activity was tested in vitro according to the standardized antifungal sensitivity test method recommended by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Results Compound B11 showed better activity against candida albicans SC5314 than fluconazole and was comparable to posaconazole; Compounds B10, B11 and B4 showed better activity against cryptococcus neoformanis H99 than fluconazole, while compounds B2, B3, B5, B6 and B7 showed similar activity to fluconazole against cryptococcus neoformanis H99; while all compounds showed poor activity against aspergillus fumigatus. Conclusion Some of the target compounds with n-propyl side chain and disubstituted benzyl group structure had certain antifungal activity and could be identified as potential lead antifungal drugs.

Investigation on the antifungal activity of pyranium derivatives N2 / 药学实践与服务

Objective To study the antifungal activity of N2 derivatives. Methods The anti-fungal activity of N2 compounds was investigated by micro-liquid dilution. Then the activity of N2 compounds on hyphal and biofilm formation was investigated. Results N2 compounds had significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans. It also expressed actively inhibitory effect on hyphal and biofilm formation. The mechanism of its fungicidal function was to damage the structure of candida albicans’ cell membrane and cell wall. Conclusion The results showed that N2 had obvious antifungal activity against Candida albicans., which provided a new idea for the development of antifungal drugs and the solution of antifungal drugs resistance.

Expression of BmSPI38 tandem multimers in Escherichia coli and its antifungal activity / 生物工程学报

The aim of this study was to prepare tandem multimeric proteins of BmSPI38, a silkworm protease inhibitor, with better structural homogeneity, higher activity and stronger antifungal ability by protein engineering. The tandem multimeric proteins of BmSPI38 were prepared by prokaryotic expression technology. The effects of tandem multimerization on the structural homogeneity, inhibitory activity and antifungal ability of BmSPI38 were explored by in-gel activity staining of protease inhibitor, protease inhibition assays and fungal growth inhibition experiments. Activity staining showed that the tandem expression based on the peptide flexible linker greatly improved the structural homogeneity of BmSPI38 protein. Protease inhibition experiments showed that the tandem trimerization and tetramerization based on the linker improved the inhibitory ability of BmSPI38 to microbial proteases. Conidial germination assays showed that His6-SPI38L-tetramer had stronger inhibition on conidial germination of Beauveria bassiana than that of His6-SPI38-monomer. Fungal growth inhibition assay showed that the inhibitory ability of BmSPI38 against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans could be enhanced by tandem multimerization. The present study successfully achieved the heterologous active expression of the silkworm protease inhibitor BmSPI38 in Escherichia coli, and confirmed that the structural homogeneity and antifungal ability of BmSPI38 could be enhanced by tandem multimerization. This study provides important theoretical basis and new strategies for cultivating antifungal transgenic silkworm. Moreover, it may promote the exogenous production of BmSPI38 and its application in the medical field.

Unraveling the serial glycosylation in the biosynthesis of steroidal saponins in the medicinal plant Paris polyphylla and their antifungal action

Sugar-sugar glycosyltransferases play important roles in constructing complex and bioactive saponins. Here, we characterized a series of UDP-glycosyltransferases responsible for biosynthesizing the branched sugar chain of bioactive steroidal saponins from a widely known medicinal plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Among them, a 2'-O-rhamnosyltransferase and three 6'-O-glucosyltrasferases catalyzed a cascade of glycosylation to produce steroidal diglycosides and triglycosides, respectively. These UDP-glycosyltransferases showed astonishing substrate promiscuity, resulting in the generation of a panel of 24 terpenoid glycosides including 15 previously undescribed compounds. A mutant library containing 44 variants was constructed based on the identification of critical residues by molecular docking simulations and protein model alignments, and a mutant UGT91AH1Y187A with increased catalytic efficiency was obtained. The steroidal saponins exhibited remarkable antifungal activity against four widespread strains of human pathogenic fungi attributed to ergosterol-dependent damage of fungal cell membranes, and 2'-O-rhamnosylation appeared to correlate with strong antifungal effects. The findings elucidated the biosynthetic machinery for their production of steroidal saponins and revealed their potential as new antifungal agents.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Morinda Citrifolia fruit extract

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit is a well-known plant used as a traditional medicine for preventing some diseases because of its abundance in chemical compounds. This research aimed to determine the phytochemical concentration, chemical composition, and antifungal activity of M. citrifolia fruit extract. M. citrifolia fruit was extracted with methanol and then distilled water for the partition extract. Subsequently, the extract was fractionated using various nonpolar to polar solutions, such as; chloroform, ethyl acetate, water, 2-propanol, and methanol fractions. Each fraction was evaporated until the dry extract was released. Additionally, the photochemical concentration of the M. citrifolia fruit extract was quantitatively determined using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The chemical composition of the M. citrifolia fruit extract of each fraction was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Then, the antifungal activity of M.citrifolia fruit extract against C. albicans and C. krusei was determined using the disc diffusion method. The results showed that the phytochemical concentration of the M. citrifolia fruit extract was 1970.25 ppm flavonoids, 35.61 ppm tannins, and 148.62 ppm steroids. 2-Fluorobenzoic acid, eucalyptol, 2-chloroaniline-5-sulfonic acid, hexa-decamethyl octasiloxane, and tetra-propyl stannane were found to be the major components of M. citrifolia fruit extract. According to the research, M. citrifolia fruit extract showed antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. krusei in all tested fractions. The maximum inhibition zone of C. albicans was 14.0 ± 1.00 mm in the 2-propanol fraction, while that of C. krusei was 11.7 ± 0.58 mm in the methanol fraction.

The activity of propolis against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections

Abstract Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by bees from the buds or other parts of plants. It is known for having various biological properties, including antifungal activity. Among the substances present in propolis, flavonoids and phenolic acids and their esters are responsible for its antifungal properties. This means that propolis is ideal for use as an antifungal agent in alternative medicine to treat a number of both topical and systemic infections caused by Candida species and other yeast-like fungi, dermatophyte and nondermatophyte moulds, without the serious side effects typical of synthetic treatment. It is also active against strains of fungi that are resistant to polyenes and azoles, the classes of drugs most commonly used to treat fungal infections. In this article, we review current knowledge about the activity of propolis from different parts of the world and its components in vitro and in vivo against pathogenic fungi isolated from human infections. The article also indicates the possible mechanism of antifungal activity of propolis and its components.

Benchmarking of different microbes for their biosurfactants antifungal action against plant pathogens

The biotic stress caused by phytopathogens (bacteria, fungus, yeast and insect pests) is a primary factor in yield loss of plants. Biocontrol agents and their active compounds are used to manage such plant pathogens. Here, in our study, we screened four bacterial isolates identified as Bacillus cereus, B. anthracis, B. velezensis and Serratia marcescens after morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization (16s rDNA sequencing) for production of biosurfactant by foam forming activity, oil spreading tests and emulsification activity. Highest foam stability (75 min) and maximum emulsification activity E24% (75%) was observed by B. velezensis strain. Among all the four isolates, Bacillus velezensis strain produced maximum biosurfactant (0.349±0.004 g/50 mL). Biosurfactant of all the four bacterial isolates were checked for fungal inhibiton on PDA plate(s). Bacillus velezensis showed comparatively the highest percent inhibition 58.82, 88.15, 78.45,72.68, 83.96, 75.47, 68.07 and 88.44% against Colletotrichum falcatum, Fusarium oxysporum f sp. ciceri, Helminthosporium maydis, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp., Helminthosporium oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani, respectively. Bacillus velezensis biosurfactant among all the four bacterial isolates was found to be most effective against the tested phytopathogens

Antifungal potential of biosurfactants produced by strains of Bacillus spp. (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) selected by molecular screening / Potencial antifúngico de biosulfactantes producidos por cepas de Bacillus spp. (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) seleccionadas por tamizaje molecular

Introduction: Bacillus species are used as biological controllers for phytopathogenic fungi, and the mechanisms to produce controllers include biosynthesis of lipopeptide biosurfactants with antifungal activity. Objective: To evaluate the antifungal potential of the biosurfactants produced by Bacillus strains, selected by molecular screening, on Fusarium oxysporum. Methods: We selected four molecular markers, related to the biosynthesis of surfactin, fengicin, and lichenysin (srfA, spf, fenB, LichAA) in nine Bacillus strains. We used two mineral media with several culture conditions, for biosurfactant production, and a well diffusion test for antifungal potential. Results: Only the biosurfactant produced by UFAB25 inhibits the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum (44 % ± 13): this biosurfactant was positive for srfA, spf, and fenB genes involved in the synthesis of surfactin and fengicine. Antifungal activity depends on culture conditions and the strain. Conclusions: Genetic markers are useful to detect strains with antifungal potential, facilitating the selection of bio-controllers. The biosurfactant profile is influenced by the strain and by culture conditions.

Introducción: Especies de Bacillus han sido empleadas como controladores biológicos contra hongos fitopatógenos. Entre los mecanismos utilizados se destaca la biosíntesis de biosurfactantes lipopeptídicos con actividad antifúngica. Objetivo: Evaluar el potencial antifúngico de los biosurfactantes producidos por cepas Bacillus nativas, previamente seleccionadas mediante tamizaje molecular, sobre Fusarium oxysporum. Métodos: Se utilizaron cuatro marcadores moleculares, relacionados con la biosíntesis de surfactina, fengicina y liquenisina (srfA, spf, fenB, LichAA) sobre nueve cepas de Bacillus. Se utilizaron dos medios minerales con diferentes condiciones de cultivo para la producción del biosurfactante. Se evaluó el potencial antifúngico de los biosurfactantes mediante la prueba de difusión en pozos. Resultados: Se determinó que solo el biosurfactante producido por UFAB25 actúa como inhibidor del crecimiento micelial de Fusarium oxysporum (43.6 % ± 13), esta cepa es positiva para los genes srfA, spf y fenB, involucrados en la síntesis de surfactina y fengicina. La actividad antifúngica depende de las condiciones de cultivo y la cepa. Conclusiones: Los marcadores genéticos ayudan a detectar cepas con potencial antifúngico, facilitando la selección de biocontroladores. El perfil del biosurfactante está influenciado no solo por la cepa, sino también por las condiciones del cultivo.

ACTIVIDAD ANTIFÚNGICA Y CARACTERÍSTICAS DE PROMOCIÓN DE CRECIMIENTO VEGETAL DE Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Enterobacter sp. DEGRADADORAS DE HIDROCARBUROS AISLADAS DE SUELO CONTAMINADO / Antifungal activity and plant growth promotion characteristics of hydrocarbon degrading Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter sp. Isolated from polluted soil

RESUMEN El diésel es una mezcla compleja de hidrocarburos alifáticos y aromáticos, que por su amplio uso se ha convertido en un contaminante ambiental muy frecuente. Debido a esto, es imperativo explorar alternativas viables y económicas para la remoción de dicho contaminante. El propósito del presente trabajo fue analizar la degradación de diésel por bacterias aisladas de suelo contaminado con esa mezcla de hidrocarburos, así como evaluar su actividad antagónica sobre hongos fitopatógenos, sus características de promoción del crecimiento vegetal y tolerancia a metales. A partir del enriquecimiento en diésel como única fuente de carbono, se obtuvieron los aislados bacterianos J3 y S3, cuya identificación bioquímica y molecular reveló que corresponden a Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Enterobacter sp., respectivamente. Además, se observó que el crecimiento bacteriano fue mejor entre 2 y 5 % de diésel, mientras que el pH óptimo fue de 7,0 y 8,0 en presencia de 3 % de diésel. También, S3 mostró buen crecimiento a concentraciones de hasta 4 % de NaCl. Por otro lado, las bacterias mostraron inhibición del crecimiento micelial de los hongos fitopatógenos Alternaria sp., Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum siamense y Fusarium proliferatum. Además de características de promoción de crecimiento vegetal como producción de ácido indol acético (AIA), solubilización de fosfato, producción de sideróforos y surfactantes. También, se observó que las bacterias crecieron en presencia de metales como Zn, Cu, Ba y Pb, en concentraciones de entre 1,5 y >10 mM. En conclusión, las bacterias aisladas e identificadas en este estudio presentan características que las hacen excelentes candidatas para la remoción de hidrocarburos solas o mediante fitorremediación por sus características de promoción de crecimiento vegetal.

ABSTRACT Diesel oil is a complex mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, which due to the wide usage has become a frequent environmental pollutant. Then, it is imperative to explore viable and economic alternatives for diesel oil degradation. The purpose of this work was to analyze the degradation of diesel oil by bacteria isolated from polluted soil, as well as to evaluate the antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi, the plant growth promotion characteristics, and metal tolerance. From the enrichment in diesel oil as carbon source the J3 and S3 bacterial isolates were obtained, the biochemical and molecular identification indicates that these isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter sp., respectively. Furthermore, the bacterial growth between 2 and 5 % of diesel oil was better, whereas the optimal pH was of 7.0 and 8.0 in the presence of 3 % of diesel oil, also, S3 showed growth at concentration of 4 % of NaCl. Even more, both bacteria showed inhibition of the phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria sp., Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum siamense and Fusarium proliferatum and plant growth promoting traits as indoleacetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, siderophores and surfactant production. Also, bacterial growth was observed specially for Zn, Cu, Ba, and Pb, in concentrations between 1.5 and >10 mM. In conclusion, the bacteria identified in this study presented characteristics that made them good candidates for the remotion of hydrocarbons alone or by phytoremediation due to its characteristics of plant growth promotion.

A Review of Antifungal Activity of Combined Plant Extracts or Plant Exudates from Medicinal Plants either together or with Known Antifungal Agents

Medicinal plants provide humanity with important phytochemical compounds and extracts which are widely used in treatment of many diseases. Fungal infections are one of these diseases which are widely distributed especially in developing countries; medicinal plants are extensively used in developing countries. There are few antifungal agents, most of them are expensive and have many adverse effects, also there is high incidence of drug resistance among some available antifungal agents, hence for these mentioned reasons many people, especially in developing countries, use medicinal plants (either alone, combined together or combined with known antifungal drugs) in treatment of many fungal infections. This rise a new and important issue about plant(s) – plant(s) and plant(s) - drug interactions. The aim of this review is to try to fill the gap in understanding the interactions of plant(s) - plant(s) and plant(s) – drug(s) combinations by providing an overview of some evidence-based researches done in this field, so our review highlights many interactions between medicinal plants constituents with current available antifungal agents, these interactions may be synergistic, additive, indifferent or antagonistic, so, if there is any antagonistic effect, we recommend to avoid using the combination which caused this effect. We collected a lot of studies which studied the interactions between plant(s) (including extracts, isolated active constituents, essential oils, plants latexes and other phytochemicals) used either together or with conventional antifungal agents. This will not only bring about better understanding of both phytochemicals and antifungal activity, but also may help in searching and developing new safely and effective drugs, specially with those combinations which showed synergistic effect.