Synthesis, characterization, and assessment of chitosan-nanomatrix enriched with antifungal formulation against biodeterioration of active ingredients of selected herbal raw materials.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent natural group 1 carcinogen produced by Aspergillus flavus is considered an unavoidable toxic contaminant of herbal raw materials, which often deteriorates their active ingredients making them less effective and hazardous during their formulation in herbal drugs. The present investigation reports the antifungal (0.5 µl/ml) and AFB1 inhibitory (0.4 µl/ml) effects of the developed formulation CIM based on a mixture of essential oils (Carum carvi, and Illicium verum), and methyl anthranilate using mathematical modeling. The insight into the mechanism of action has also been explored using biochemical, molecular docking, and RT-PCR. Further, the nanoencapsulation of CIM (Ne-CIM) was prepared using a green facile synthesis of chitosan-based nanomatrix and characterized by Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform-infrared, (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The in-situ results showed that at MIC doses Ne-CIM effectively controls the A. flavus (81.25-89.57 %), AFB1 contamination (100 %), and protects the active ingredients deterioration of Piper nigrum, P. longum, Andrographis paniculata, Silybum marianum, and Withania somnifera caused by toxigenic species of A. flavus without affecting their sensory properties. Hence, Ne-CIM could be used as a green chemical agent to protect the biodeterioration of active ingredients of herbal raw materials caused by toxigenic species of A. flavus.

Potential Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Activity of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Insight with Molecular Docking Interactions.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a recurrent and progressive disease, with high mortality rates worldwide. The drug-resistance phenomenon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major obstruction of allelopathy treatment. An adverse side effect of allelopathic treatment is that it causes serious health complications. The search for suitable alternatives of conventional regimens is needed, i.e., by considering medicinal plant secondary metabolites to explore anti-TB drugs, targeting the action site of M. tuberculosis. Nowadays, plant-derived secondary metabolites are widely known for their beneficial uses, i.e., as antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, and in the treatment of a wide range of chronic human diseases (e.g., tuberculosis), and are known to "thwart" disease virulence. In this regard, in silico studies can reveal the inhibitory potential of plant-derived secondary metabolites against Mycobacterium at the very early stage of infection. Computational approaches based on different algorithms could play a significant role in screening plant metabolites against disease virulence of tuberculosis for drug designing.

Elucidation of antifungal toxicity of Callistemon lanceolatus essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanogel against Aspergillus flavus using biochemical and in-silico approaches.

The antifungal and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) inhibitory effect of chemically characterised Callistemon lanceolatus essential oil (CLEO), chitosan nanoparticles, and CLEO loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CLEO-ChNPs) were investigated. Scanning electron microscope observation exhibited the spherical shape of prepared CLEO-ChNPs with an average range of 20-70 nm. An in-vitro release study revealed the controlled volatilisation of CLEO from CLEO-ChNPs. The CLEO-ChNPs caused complete inhibition of growth (4.5 µl/ml) and AFB1 (4.0 µl/ml) production by A. flavus at a low dose compared to free CLEO (5.0 µl/ml). The antifungal and AFB1 inhibitory toxicity of CLEO-ChNPs were elucidated using biochemical (effect on ergosterol biosynthesis, membrane cations, mitochondrial membrane potential, C-sources utilisation and cellular methylglyoxal level) and in-silico (interaction with the gene product Erg 28, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va, Omt-A, Ver-1, and Nor-1) approaches.

Assessing the antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory efficacy of nanoencapsulated antifungal formulation based on combination of Ocimum spp. essential oils.

The aim of the study was to explore the antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory efficacy of nanoencapsulated antifungal formulation. Mixture design response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to design the antifungal formulation (SBC 4:1:1) based on the combination of chemically characterized Ocimum sanctum (S), O. basilicum (B), and O. canum (C) against Aspergillus flavus. The SBC was incorporated inside the chitosan nanomatrix (Ne-SBC) using an ultrasonic probe (40 kHz) and interactions were confirmed by SEM, FTIR and XRD analysis. The results showed that the Ne-SBC possessed enhanced antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory effect over the free form of SBC. The biochemical and in silico results indicate that the antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory effect was related to perturbance in the plasma membrane function (ergosterol biosynthesis and membrane cation) mitochondrial membrane potential, C-sources utilization, antioxidant defense system, and the targeted gene products Erg 28, cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va, and Nor-1. In-situ observation revealed that Ne-SBC effectively protects the Avena sativa seeds from A. flavus and AFB1 contamination and preserves its sensory profile. The findings suggest that the fabrication of SBC inside the chitosan nano-matrix has promising use in the food industries as an antifungal agent.

Encapsulation of Bunium persicum essential oil using chitosan nanopolymer: Preparation, characterization, antifungal assessment, and thermal stability.

The present study reports the antifungal, aflatoxin B1 inhibitory, and free radical scavenging activity of chitosan-based nanoencapsulatedBunium persicum Boiss. essential oil (Ne-BPEO). The chemical profile ofBPEO was identified through Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis where cuminaldehyde (21.23%), sabinene (14.66%), and γ-terpinen (12.49%) were identified as the major compounds. Ne-BPEO was prepared using chitosan and characterised by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) assay. Ne-BPEO completely inhibited the growth and aflatoxin B1 production at a concentration of 0.3 µL/mL. The antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory effects were related to decreasing in ergosterol content, leakage of membrane ions (Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+), impairment in carbohydrate catabolism, and functioning of ver-1 gene of A. flavus exposed to Ne-BPEO over the control. In addition, Ne-BPEO exhibited promising free radical scavenging activity through DPPH assay (IC50 12.64 µL/mL) with high thermo-stability. Therefore, chitosan could be used as a carrier agent of plant-based preservative to enhance the shelf-life of food products against A. flavus and aflatoxin B1 contamination.

Nanoencapsulated plant-based bioactive formulation against food-borne molds and aflatoxin B1 contamination: Preparation, characterization and stability evaluation in the food system.

A novel synergistic formulation (TML) based on the combination of thymol (T), methyl cinnamate (M), and linalool (L) has been prepared using the mixture design assay. Nanoencapsulation of developed formulation TML (Ne-TML) was prepared and characterised by SEM, XRD and FTIR. The Ne-TML was assessed for its antifungal and anti-aflatoxin B1 potential in vitro and in the food systems (Pennisetum glaucum L.), and also examined its effects on organoleptic properties. The Ne-TML cause complete inhibition of growth and AFB1 production at 0.3 µl/ml and 0.2 µl/ml. In-situ results revealed that Ne-TML exhibited maximum protection from fungal (75.40%) and aflatoxin B1 contamination (100%) at 0.3 µl/ml during six months of storage. The speculated antifungal mode of action of Ne-TML was related to the decrease in ergosterol content, membrane ions leakage, impairment in carbon-source utilization, mitochondrial functioning, anti-oxidative defence system (SOD, CAT, and GR) and Ver-1 gene of aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis.

Biotechnological aspects of plants metabolites in the treatment of ulcer: A new prospective.

Ulcer is one of the most common diseases affecting throughout the world population. The allopathic treatment of ulcer adversely affects the health by causing harmful side effects. Currently, many herbal plants and secondary metabolites have been used for the ulcer treatment. In the present review, many herbal plants and their parts (root, rhizome, bark, leaves and fruits) have been listed in the table are currently being used for ulcer treatment. These metabolites are responsible for ulcer-neutralization or anti-inflammatory properties. In silico study, plant metabolites showed interaction between protodioscin (secondary metabolites of Asparagus racemosus) and interferon-γ (virulent factor of gastric ulcer) during molecular docking. All the residues of interferon-γ exhibited hydrophobic interactions with plant metabolites. These interactions helps in understanding the plant secondary metabolites vis a vis will open a new door in the research field of new drug discovery and designing for the ulcer treatment.