Effect of silver nanoparticles on tropane alkaloid production of transgenic hairy root cultures of Hyoscyamus muticus L. and their antimicrobial activity.

The utilization of nanotechnology and biotechnology for enhancing the synthesis of plant bioactive chemicals is becoming increasingly common. The hairy root culture technique can be used to increase secondary metabolites such as tropane alkaloids. Agrobacterium was used to induce hairy roots from various explants of Hyoscyamus muticus. The effect of nano-silver particles (AgNPs) at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L on tropane alkaloids synthesis, particularly hyoscyamine and scopolamine, was studied in transgenic hairy root cultures. Different types of explants obtained from 10-day-old seedlings of H. muticus were inoculated with two strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (15,834 and A4). The antimicrobial activity of an ethanolic extract of AgNPs-induced hairy root cultures of H. muticus was tested. The frequency of hairy roots was higher in hypocotyl, root, leaf, and stem explants treated with A. rhizogenes strain A4 compared to those treated with strain 15,834. In transgenic hairy root cultures, AgNPs application at a concentration of 100 mg/L resulted in the highest total tropane alkaloid production, which exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The study demonstrated the potential of nano-silver as an elicitor for promoting the production of target alkaloids in Hyoscyamus muticus hairy root cultures, which exhibit high biological activity.

Synthesis and investigations on tellurium myconanoparticles.

Tellurium has attracted the attention of many researchers and manufacturers due to its unique properties. Through the current work, six fungal isolates have been screened for their ability to reduce potassium tellurite (K2TeO3) into elemental tellurium nanoparticles (TeNPs). The most promising fungal isolate was identified as Aspergillus welwitschiae and given the accession number (KY766958) based on molecular basis and has been used for biogenic (enzymatic) production of TeNPs. The produced TeNPs have been characterized using DLS, TEM and FTIR. Data showed that, the particle size is 60.80 d.nm with oval to spherical shape. The produced TeNPs have been evaluated for antimicrobial activity at 25 mg/ml. Data revealed antibacterial activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Evaluation of the effect of γ-irradiation on TeNPs production showed that, the productivity was improved at 1 kGy and suppressed gradually at higher doses.