Thyme essential oil fostering the efficacy of aqueous extract of licorice against fungal phytopathogens of Capsicum annuum L.

Capsicum annuum L. production is impeded by various biotic factors, including fungal diseases caused by Colletotrichum capsici, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Fusarium oxysporum. Various plant extracts and essential oils are increasingly used to control different plant diseases. In this study, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) cold water extract (LAE) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oil (TO) were found to be highly effective against the C. annuum pathogens. LAE at 200 mg ml-1 demonstrated the maximum antifungal activity of 89.9% against P. aphanidermatum, whereas TO at 0.25 mg ml-1 showed 100% inhibition of C. capsici. However, when used in combination, much lower doses of these plant protectants (100 mg ml-1 LAE and 0.125 mg ml-1 TO) exhibited a synergistic effect in controlling the fungal pathogens. Metabolite profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high resolution-liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry analysis showed the presence of several bioactive compounds. Enhanced cellular components leakage revealed damage to the fungal cell wall and membrane due to and LAE treatment, which can be attributed to the TO lipophilicity and triterpenoid saponins of LAE. TO and LAE treatments also caused a reduction in ergosterol biosynthesis might be due to the presence of thymol and sterol components in the botanicals. Although the aqueous extracts have a low preparation cost, their uses are limited by modest shelf life and lacklustre antifungal effect. We have shown that these limitations can be bypassed by combining oil (TO) with the aqueous extract (LAE). This study further opens the avenues for utilizing these botanicals against other fungal phytopathogens.

Development of clove oil based nanoencapsulated biopesticide employing mesoporous nanosilica synthesized from paddy straw via bioinspired sol-gel route.

Paddy straw (PS) burning is a concerning issue in South Asian countries, clamoring for exploring alternative management strategies. Being a rich source of silica, PS can be a potential nanosilica (SiNPs) source. The current study reports a pioneering approach for green synthesis of high-purity mesoporous SiNPs by sol-gel method using the aqueous extract of Sapindus mukorossi seed pericarp as a stabilizer. The mesoporous nature of SiNPs was harnessed as a carrier for the essential oil to develop the carrier-based formulation. SiNPs were characterized using XRD, EDX, FTIR, FE-SEM, TEM, AFM, DLS, water contact angle, and BET analysis. The synthesized SiNPs possessed a spheroid morphology with an average particle size of 20.34 ± 2.64 nm. XRD results confirmed its amorphous nature. The mesoporous nature of SiNPs was confirmed using BET analysis which showed a cumulative pore volume of 2.059 cm3/g and a high surface area of 746.32 m2/g. The SiNPs were further loaded with clove essential oil (CEO), and the encapsulation of CEO was assessed using UV-Vis, FTIR, and BET analysis. The in-vitro antifungal activity of CEO and CEO-loaded SiNPs (CEO-SiNPs) was evaluated using the agar plate assay. UV-Vis results depicted 62.64% encapsulation of CEO in SiNPs. The antifungal efficacy of CEO-SiNPs against F. oxysporum exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), i.e., 125 mg/L, while the MIC of CEO was found to be 250 mg/L. The study delivers new insights into the holistic utilization of PS and propitious contribution toward the circular economy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Yin Yang Role of Nitric Oxide in Prostate Cancer.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous signaling molecule in the human body with well-known roles in many different processes and organ systems. In cancer, the two-concentrations hypothesis of NO has dictated that low levels of NO are cancer promoting, while high levels of NO are protective against cancer. Although prostate cancer is a hormonally driven malignancy, research has been shifting away from androgen-responsive epithelial cells and evolving to focus on NO therapies, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and inflammation. NO is reported to be able to inhibit activity of the androgen receptor. This may prevent prostate growth, but low levels of NO could conversely select for castration-resistant prostate cells, creating an aggressive cancer phenotype. At high levels, nitrosative stress created from NO overproduction can be protective against prostate neoplasia. In this review, we discuss development and possibilities of NO-based therapies for prostate cancer.