Analysis of the Chemical and Medicinal Properties of Armillaria ostoyae (Agaricomycetes) Extracts and the Presence of Heavy Metals in Dry Basidiocarps.

We investigated the chemical and medicinal properties of methanolic and acetonic extracts of Armillaria ostoyae and the presence of heavy metals in its dry basidiocarps. The chemical content of extracts was analyzed with the HPLC-DAD-MS/MS method. According to our results, the most abundant mineral was potassium; the most abundant organic acid was malic acid; the most abundant carbohydrate was fructose, and the most abundant polyphenol was chlorogenic acid. The antimicrobial potential was evaluated using the microdilution assay, and the results ranged from 0.62 to 20 mg/mL. Antioxidant potential was studied by DPPH [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the methanolic extract was 619.67 µg/mL and of the acetonic extract was 533.65 µg/mL] and reducing power assays (the results ranged from 0.025 to 0.078 µg/mL). Total phenolic content was presented as gallic acid equivalent (methanolic extract, 6.12 mg GAE/g; acetonic extract, 3.99 mg GAE/g). The antidiabetic potential was explored by applying the α-amylase (the results ranged from 39.62 to 44.33%) and α-glucosidase assays (the results were in the range of 0.27-2.51%). The neuroprotective activity was asserted by the acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay (the results were in the range of 3.06-6.09%). The cytotoxic potential was investigated using the microtetrazolium assay, and the IC50 values ranged from 221.96 to > 400 µg/mL. Heavy metal content of the dry basidiocarps was evaluated using the AAS method and iron was the most abundant metal. A. ostoyae is a conditionally edible mushroom, which was not studied thoroughly before, thus this research will provide valuable knowledge about this species.

Electrically polarized nanoscale surfaces generate reactive oxygenated and chlorinated species for deactivation of microorganisms.

Because of the decreasing supply of new antibiotics, recent outbreaks of infectious diseases, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, it is imperative to develop new effective strategies for deactivating a broad spectrum of microorganisms and viruses. We have implemented electrically polarized nanoscale metallic (ENM) coatings that deactivate a wide range of microorganisms including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with greater than 6-log reduction in less than 10 minutes of treatment. The electrically polarized devices were also effective in deactivating lentivirus and Candida albicans. The key to the high deactivation effectiveness of ENM devices is electrochemical production of micromolar cuprous ions, which mediated reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. Formation of highly damaging species, hydroxyl radicals and hypochlorous acid, from hydrogen peroxide contributed to antimicrobial properties of the ENM devices. The electric polarization of nanoscale coatings represents an unconventional tool for deactivating a broad spectrum of microorganisms through in situ production of reactive oxygenated and chlorinated species.

Phytochemical and biological investigation of Astragalus Caprinus L.

BACKGROUND: cultivated and wild plants are used to treat different ailments. The Astragalus genus is found in temperate and dry climates; thus, it is found in Egypt and the arab world. Astragalus caprinus has a good amount of bioactive chemicals, which may help explain its therapeutic effects in reducing the risk of consequences from disease. METHOD: The phytochemical investigation of the herb and roots of Astragalus caprinus L. included the analytical characterization for the petroleum ether components by GC/MS, unsaponifiable matter (unsap. fraction), and fatty acids (FAME) investigation by GLC analysis. Main flavonoids were chromatographically isolated from ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts. In vitro antimicrobial activity has been tested against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans for different plant extracts, the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia, the fungus Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, and the Escherichia coli bacterium. Metabolite cytotoxicity was examined using the MTT assay against HepG-2 (human liver carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast carcinoma). RESULTS: Identifying the important components of the herb and root petroleum ether extracts was achieved. Using column chromatography, luteolin, cosmosiin (apigenin-7-O-glucoside), and cynaroside (luteolin-7-O-glucoside) were separated and identified using UV, NMR, and Mass Spectroscopy. Root extracts displayed potential antimicrobial activity against most of the tested pathogens. Both extracts (herb and roots) were active against the MCF-7 cell line and HepG-2 cell line with IC50 62.5 ± 0.64 and 72.4 ± 2.3 µg/ml, and 75.9 ± 2.5 and 96.8 ± 4.2 µg/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: Astragalus caprinus seems to be a promising source of bioactive compounds that could potentially aid in preventing disease complications and address common health issues in developing countries. Moreover, the various parts of this plant could be utilized as natural raw materials for producing health-boosting products that could address common health issues in developing countries.

Biomedical properties, characterization of seaweeds species and antimicrobial activity.

Marine organisms produce a variety of compounds with pharmacological activities. In order to better comprehend the medicinal value of five particular seaweed orders Ulvales (Ulva intestinalis), Bryopsidales (Codium decorticatum), Ectocarpales (Iyengaria stellata), Dictyotales (Spatoglossum aspermum) and Gigartinales (Hypnea musciformis), a bioactive analysis including the screening of phytochemical components, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities was the aim of the investigation. The species include U. intestinalis was collected from Sandspit, while C. decorticatum, I. stellata, S. aspermum, and H. musciformis were gathered from Buleji. These species evaluated for their ability to inhibit human infectious gram positive pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Additionally vegetable pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, and fruit pathogens (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus) were evaluated to determine the zone of inhibition. Two organic solvents, ethanol and methanol, were used to prepare seaweed extract. The disc diffusion method was utilized to quantify the zone of inhibition and the DPPH method was employed to measure the antioxidant activity. The study unveiled various phyto-constituents in the tested seaweeds, with flavonoids, tannins, and proteins found in all selected species, while saponins, terpenoids, and carbohydrates were absent in I. stellata and S. aspermum. Notably, ethanolic extracts of I. stellata and S. aspermum demonstrated superior higher antioxidant activity, with increasing percentages of inhibition from 1 to 6 mg/ml. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the ethanolic extract of U. intestinalis displayed the highest resistance against F. oxysporum and A. flavous among other seaweeds. Meanwhile, the ethanolic extract of C. decorticatum exhibited the highest resistance against A. Niger. Additionally, the ethanolic extract of I. stellata and H. musciformis displayed the highest resistance against the gram-negative bacteria E. coli and the gram-positive bacteria S. epidermidis, whereas the methanolic extract of U. intestinalis demonstrated the highest resistance against the gram-positive bacteria S. aureus. The findings of this investigation show that a range of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties are involved in the antimicrobial activities of disease-causing pathogens.

Biosynthesis and Characterization of Aeonium arboreum-Derived Silver Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial Activity, Biofilm Inhibition, Antihemolytic Activity, and In Silico Studies.

Environmentally friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb & Berthel is reported for the first time. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, Zeta potential, and XRD analysis, revealing high stability (-29.1 mV), spherical shape, and an average size of 100 nm. The antimicrobial activity levels of both A. arboreum extract and biosynthesized AgNPs were evaluated against five uropathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans). Both the extract and the AgNPs exhibited significant efficacy, particularly against E. coli, with inhibition zones of 27 mm and 30 mm, respectively. LC-MS analysis tentatively identified 11 secondary metabolites in the extract, including quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, myricetin 3-glucoside, and daphneresinol. In silico docking studies revealed promising binding affinities of these metabolites in relation to key enzymes involved in bacterial folate synthesis (dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS)) and DNA replication (DNA gyrase). These findings demonstrate the potential of A. arboreum-based AgNPs and their associated metabolites as a novel therapeutic approach for combating urinary tract infections. Their antimicrobial, antihemolytic, and antibiofilm properties warrant further investigation.

The physico-chemical and antimicrobial properties of nano ZnO functionalised tannic acid.

Tannic acid (TA) has been reported as an efficient plant-based compound with inhibitory activity against viruses and bacteria. The combination of TA with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanostructures with ZnO is one of the most widely used nanoparticles for antimicrobial properties, have not yet fully elucidate especially their mechanisms of overall physicochemical and antimicrobial actions. Hence, to observe the influence of TA adsorption on ZnO, the investigations on the TA concentration and the effect of pH towards the physicochemical, optical and antimicrobial properties are demonstrated. The pure ZnO are synthesised via the chemical reduction method and the ZnO-TA nanostructures are further prepared using the dropwise methods to form variations of pH samples, which causes the formation of different mean particle size distribution, d m . The findings reveal that the performance of physicochemical and optical properties of pure ZnO and ZnO-TA are different due to the wrapped layers of TA which change the charged surface of all the particles. The protonation reactions yield strong pH dependence (pH 3 and 5), with uptake performance becoming more dominant at higher TA concentration loading (pH 3). The detailed optical energy bandgap and Urbach energy that concluded the nanoparticle growth and disorder condition of produced particles are presented. For antimicrobial efficiency, ZnO-TA shows improved effectiveness in growth inhibitions of S. aureus 99.69% compared to pure ZnO nanostructure (99.39%). This work reveals that the TA concentration increases the overall performance, and the discussion gives added support to their potential performance related to the field of ZnO compound.

Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Copper and Cobalt Complexes for Antimicrobial Potential Applications.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The naturally occurring phenolic chemical curcumin (CUR), which was derived from the Curcuma longa plant, has a variety of biological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Curcumin is known for its restricted bioavailability due to its hydrophobicity, poor intestinal absorption, and quick metabolism. To boost the biological effects of these bioactive molecules, it is necessary to raise both their bioavailability and their solubility in water. Aim: The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize hybrid organic-inorganic complexes of copper and cobalt, and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential against a range of pathogenic microorganisms. METHODS: The synthesis of metal curcumin complexes (Cu-CUR and Co-CUR) was achieved by mixing curcumin with copper acetate monohydrate. The solid residue was isolated, filtered, and dried in an oven. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the structure and phase of the prepared samples. FTIR spectra were recorded using a Shimadzu 2200 module. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared complexes was evaluated against four bacterial strains and two Candida species. The chemical materials were dissolved in DMSO to a final concentration of 20%, and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The results showed that the prepared complexes had antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. RESULTS: The study compared the Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of prepared copper and cobalt complexes to pure curcumin, revealing new, isostructural complexes. The FTIR analysis showed that the Cu-CUR and Co-CUR complexes varied in their inhibitory effect against microorganisms, with Co-CUR being more effective. The results are consistent with previous studies showing the cobalt-curcumin complex was effective against various bacterial genera, with inhibition activity varying depending on the species and strains of microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Copper and cobalt curcumin complexes, synthesized at room temperature, exhibit high crystallinity and antimicrobial activity. Co-CUR, with its superior antibacterial potential, outperforms pure curcumin in inhibiting microbes. Further investigation is needed to understand their interaction mechanisms with bacteria and fungi.

Preparation and properties of silver-carrying nano-titanium dioxide antimicrobial agents and silicone composite.

The characteristics of dopamine self-polymerization were used to cover the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface and produce nano-titanium dioxide-polydopamine (TiO2-PDA). The reducing nature of dopamine was then used to reduce silver nitrate to silver elemental particles on the modified nano-titanium dioxide: The resulting TiO2-PDA-Ag nanoparticles were used as antimicrobial agents. Finally, the antibacterial agent was mixed with silicone to obtain an antibacterial silicone composite material. The composition and structure of antibacterial agents were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron energy spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Microscopy and the antibacterial properties of the silicone antibacterial composites were studied as well. The TiO2-PDA-Ag antimicrobial agent had good dispersion versus nano-TiO2. The three were strongly combined with obvious characteristic peaks. The antibacterial agents were evenly dispersed in silicone, and the silicone composite has excellent antibacterial properties. Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) adhesion was reduced from 246 × 104 cfu/cm2 to 2 × 104 cfu/cm2, and colibacillus (E. coli) reduced from 228 × 104 cfu/cm2 leading to bacteria-free adhesion.

The Influence of Zinc Oxide and Zinc Stearate on the Antimicrobial Activity of Coatings Containing Raspberry and Chokeberry Extracts.

The goal of this research was to analyse the synergistic effect between selected plant extracts with zinc oxide particles, and zinc stearate. The influence of ZnO on the antimicrobial effectiveness of the selected extracts was confirmed in previous research carried out by the authors. However, the impact of zinc stearate on extract activity has yet to be analysed. The aim was to cover PLA films with active coatings based on hydroxy-propyl-methyl-cellulose (HPMC), or/and ethyl cellulose (EC) containing plant extracts and ZnO which has a synergistic effect. An additional aim was to use a CO2 extract of raspberry seed (RSE) with zinc stearate as active additives within the coatings. An examination of the antimicrobial properties (against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas syringae and Φ6 bacteriophage) of the covered films, as well as an investigation of layer presence with regards to PLA morphology (SEM, ATR-FTIR analysis) was carried out. The research work that was performed indicated that black chokeberry extract (ChE) and zinc oxide particles were effective against S. aureus, P. syringae and B. subtilis strains. In addition, the ChE with zinc stearate (ZnSt) was active against all analysed strains. The HPMC with ChE and ZnO as additives had antimicrobial properties against S. aureus, P. syringae and E. coli strains. The ChE was found to inhibit the growth of all of the analysed bacterial strains. When considering the coatings based on EC with the CO2 extract of raspberry seed (RSE) and ZnO, it was noted that they were only active against Gram-negative bacteria. The results of the experiments confirmed that AC1 (EC with RSE with ZnO) and AC2 (EC with RSE with ZnSt) coatings were not active against a phi6 bacteriophage. The HPMC coating containing the AC3 layer (ChE and ZnO) eliminated Φ6 particles, confirming its antiviral properties. In addition, the presence of the active (AC1, AC2 and AC3) coatings was confirmed by SEM and FTIR analysis.

Antimicrobial Plants Used by Fang Populations and Phytochemical Profiling of Erismadelphus exsul.

Gabon has a rich flora, many species of which are used in traditional medicine. However, little research has been carried out on this wealth. An ethnopharmacological survey in the Fang language was carried out among traditional practitioners to collect antimicrobial medicinal plants. Phytochemical profiling of ethanolic and methanolic extracts from Erismadelphus exsul Mildbr leaves was carried out using HPLC-ESI-Q/TOF and a molecular network approach. Antibacterial activity was assessed with disk diffusion and microdilution methods, antioxidant activity via DPPH and FRAP methods, and in vitro cell viability via Cell Counting Kit-8. A total of 21 medicinal plants were collected, grouped into 10 families, of which the Fabaceae is the most represented. Erismadelphus exsul was chosen for chemical and biological studies due to its citation frequency (RCF = 0.59) and the absence of previous phytochemical studies. These studies revealed 4 major families of natural compounds and annotated 19 compounds for the first time. The crude leaf extract showed significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Cytotoxicity studies showed that the leaves were not cytotoxic, unlike the bark. This study underlines the importance of preserving the ancestral knowledge of the Fang populations, while showing promising results for Erismadelphus exsul.

Analytical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Zn-Modified Clays Embedding Thymol or Carvacrol.

Carvacrol and thymol are broad-spectrum natural antimicrobial agents. To reduce their volatility and improve their antimicrobial performance, synergistic systems were prepared loading the active molecules in zinc-modified clays. Montmorillonite (MMT) and zeolite (ZEO) were modified with zinc ions (ZnMMT and ZnZEO), with well-known antimicrobial properties, and then with carvacrol or thymol, reaching the 26 ± 3% and 33 ± 2% w/w of loading, respectively. The resulting hybrid materials were characterized by FT-IR, XPS, XRD, TGA, and GC-MS to evaluate carvacrol/thymol release in simulating food matrices. Antimicrobial assays carried out using spoiler and pathogenic bacterial strains showed that the antimicrobial activity of both thymol and carvacrol was largely preserved once they were loaded into Zn-modified clays. However, MMT hybrids showed an antibacterial activity significantly higher than ZEO hybrids at 50 mg/mL of thymol and carvacrol. For this reason, deeper antimicrobial evaluations were carried out only for ZnMMT composites. ZnMMT loaded with thymol or carvacrol produced inhibition zones against most of the target strains, also at 3.12 mg/mL, while the positive controls represented by the single molecule thymol or carvacrol were not active. The hybrid materials can be useful for applications in which the antimicrobial activity of natural molecules need to be displayed over time as requested for the control of microbial pathogens and spoilage bacteria in different applications, such as active packaging, biomaterials, and medical devices.

Halogenated Analogs to Natural A-Type Proanthocyanidins: Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties and Possible Application in Food Industries.

A description of new antimicrobial agents suitable for food industries has become necessary, and natural compounds are being considered as promising sources of new active derivatives to be used with the aim of improving food safety. We have previously described desirable antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against foodborne bacteria by analogs to A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) with a nitro (NO2) group at carbon 6 of the A-ring. We report herein the synthesis of eight additional analogs with chloro and bromo atoms at the A-ring and the systematic study of their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in order to evaluate their possible application as biocides or food preservatives, as well as to elucidate new structure-activity relationships. The results from this study show that halogenated analogs to natural A-type proanthocyanidins rise above the nitro derivatives previously reported in their antimicrobial activities. Gram-positive bacteria are the most sensitive to all the analogs and combinations assayed, showing MICs from 10 to 50 µg/mL in most cases, as well as reductions in biofilm formation and the disruption of preformed biofilms of at least 75%. Some structure-activity relationships previously described have also been corroborated. Analogs with just one OH group at the B-ring show better antimicrobial activities than those with two OH groups, and those analogs with two or three OH groups in the whole structure are more active than those with four OH groups. In addition, the analogs with two OH groups at the B-ring and chloro at the A-ring are the most effective when antibiofilm activities are studied, especially at low concentrations.

Experimental and In Silico Comparative Study of Physicochemical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Carboxylate Ionic Liquids.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to create and study new substances with improved lipophilicity and antimicrobial properties, such as ionic liquids (ILs), with easily tunable physicochemical properties. Most ILs possess strong antibacterial effects, but ILs containing the imidazolium cation are even more effective than the positive control. Thus, in this study, three ionic liquids with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation and various carboxylate anions (phenylacetate, benzoate, and 4-methoxyphenylacetate) were synthesized and fully characterized. The interactions between the cations and anions were discussed based on the experimental density, viscosity, and electrical conductivity. From the measured electrical conductivity and viscosity, the Walden plot is constructed and ionicity of the studied ILs is discussed. The similarities and dissimilarities among the studied ILs and their physicochemical properties are analyzed by applying the hierarchical cluster analysis and in silico calculated properties. The antimicrobial activity of the studied ionic liquids is tested on two bacterial (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) and three fungi (P. verrucosum, A. flavus, and A. parasiticus) strains, finding that they showed improved antimicrobial activity compared to the individual components.

Perspectives and Possibilities for New Antimicrobial Agents in the Treatment and Control of Mastitis Induced by Algae of the Genus Prototheca spp.: A Review.

Innovative approaches in nanotechnology provide a potentially promising alternative to untreatable cases of mastitis caused by genus Prototheca spp. algae infections. Drying of the teats of the affected animals or culling are typically the outcomes of mastitis in dairy cattle caused by these pathogens. A major issue in both veterinary medicine and animal breeding is the Prototheca species' widespread resistance to the current methods of managing infections and the available drugs, including antibiotics. Commercial antifungal preparations are also ineffective. Nanotechnology, an emerging discipline, has the potential to create an effective alternative treatment for protothecal mastitis. The aim of the paper is to combine the literature data on the use of nanotechnology in the control of mastitis, taking into account data on combating mastitis caused by Prototheca spp. infections. The databases employed were PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, focusing on literature from the last 20 years to ensure relevance and currency. Studies conducted in vitro have demonstrated that nanomaterials have significant biocidal activity against mastitis infections of different etiologies. Analyzed research papers show that (NPs), such as AgNPs, CuNPs, AuNPs, etc., may not negatively impact various cell lines and may be effective agents in reducing the pathogens' viability. However, it is also critical to assess the risks involved in using nanomaterials.

Bacterial synthesis of metal nanoparticles as antimicrobials.

Nanoscience, a pivotal field spanning multiple industries, including healthcare, focuses on nanomaterials characterized by their dimensions. These materials are synthesized through conventional chemical and physical methods, often involving costly and energy-intensive processes. Alternatively, biogenic synthesis using bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts offers a potentially sustainable and non-toxic approach for producing metal-based nanoparticles (NP). This eco-friendly synthesis approach not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances features of NP production due to the unique biochemistry of the biological systems. Recent advancements have shown that along with chemically synthesized NPs, biogenic NPs possess significant antimicrobial properties. The inherent biochemistry of bacteria enables the efficient conversion of metal salts into NPs through reduction processes, which are further stabilized by biomolecular capping layers that improve biocompatibility and functional properties. This mini review explores the use of bacteria to produce NPs with antimicrobial activities. Microbial technologies to produce NP antimicrobials have considerable potential to help address the antimicrobial resistance crisis, thus addressing critical health issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Goal #3 of good health and well-being.

Antimicrobial potentials of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.: Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, and molecular docking studies.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has led to an urgent need for novel antimicrobial drugs. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials in silico and in vitro of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. ethanolic extract. The extracts were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to identify the compounds. In silico antimicrobial studies were performed to gain insights into the possible mechanism of action of the active compounds as antimicrobials. The antimicrobial activities of the ethanolic extracts were assessed using the agar well diffusion method against the Surabaya strain of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Antioxidant properties of the extract were done using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] inhibition assays. The phytochemical screening revealed that the extract has high flavonoids and polyphenols contents. The GC-MS analysis detected the presence of 52 bioactive substances, with n-hexadecanoic acid, 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid, benzofuran 2,3-dihydro-. quinic acid, neophytadiene as major compound. Molecular docking studies showed that these compounds have a high binding affinity towards the target proteins, thereby inhibiting their activities. The ethanolic extract of P. amaryllifolius Roxb. exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The IC50 were 11.96 ± 4.01 µg/ml and 26.18 ± 7.44 µg/ml for DPPH and ABTS. The diameters of inhibition zones (DIZ) and percentage of inhibition (PI) were calculated and varied for every single pathogen 16.44 ± 1.21mm/66.76 ± 4.92% (50%) and 21.22 ± 0.11mm/82.49 ± 3.91% (50%) for E. coli and S. aureus (DIZ/PI) respectively. Overall, this study provides information on the mechanism responsible for P. amaryllifolius Roxb. extract as a natural antimicrobe and lays the foundation for further studies to isolate and characterize the active compounds as antimicrobial candidates.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of flavonoid and phenolics extracted from Sepia pharaonis ink (Mollusca: Cephalopoda).

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been reported previously on the bioactivities of different extracts of marine molluscs. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of S. pharaonis ink as a highly populated species in the Red Sea. We extracted the flavonoids from the ink and analyzed their composition. Then we evaluated systematically the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of this extract. A pharmacokinetic study was also conducted using SwissADME to assess the potential of the identified flavonoids and phenolic compounds from the ink extract to be orally active drug candidates. RESULTS: Cytotoxic activity was evaluated against 5 cell lines (MCF7, Hep G2, A549, and Caco2) at different concentrations (0.4 µg/mL, 1.6 µg/mL, 6.3 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL). The viability of examined cells was reduced by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest cytotoxic effect of the extract was recorded against A549 and Hep G2 cancer cell lines cells with IC50 = 2.873 and 7.1 µg/mL respectively. The mechanistic analysis by flow cytometry of this extract on cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction indicated that the extract arrests the cell cycle at the S phase in Hep G2 and MCF7, while in A549 cell arrest was recorded at G1 phase. However, it causes G1 and S phase arrest in Caco2 cancer cell line. Our data showed that the extract has significant antimicrobial activity against all tested human microbial pathogens. However, the best inhibitory effect was observed against Candida albicans ATCC 10,221 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.95 µg/mL. Pharmacokinetic analysis using SwissADME showed that most flavonoids and phenolics compounds have high drug similarity as they satisfy Lipinski's criteria and have WLOGP values below 5.88 and TPSA below 131.6 Å2. CONCLUSION: S. pharaonis ink ethanolic extract showed a promising cytotoxic potency against various cell lines and a remarkable antimicrobial action against different pathogenic microbial strains. S. pharaonis ink is a novel source of important flavonoids that could be used in the future in different applications as a naturally safe and feasible alternative of synthetic drugs.

Mapping a sustainable approach: biosynthesis of lactobacilli-silver nanocomposites using whey-based medium for antimicrobial and bioactivity applications.

This study explores a sustainable approach for synthesizing silver nanocomposites (AgNCs) with enhanced antimicrobial and bioactivity using safe Lactobacillus strains and a whey-based medium (WBM). WBM effectively supported the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus acidophilus, triggering a stress response that led to AgNCs formation. The synthesized AgNCs were characterized using advanced spectroscopic and imaging techniques such as UV‒visible, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-Edx). Lb acidophilus-synthesized AgNCs in WBM (had DLS size average 817.2-974.3 ± PDI = 0.441 nm with an average of metal core size 13.32 ± 3.55 nm) exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria such as Escherichia coli (16.47 ± 2.19 nm), Bacillus cereus (15.31 ± 0.43 nm), Clostridium perfringens (25.95 ± 0.03 mm), Enterococcus faecalis (32.34 ± 0.07 mm), Listeria monocytogenes (23.33 ± 0.05 mm), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (13.20 ± 1.76 mm), and filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus brasiliensis (33.46 ± 0.01 mm). In addition, Lb acidophilus-synthesized AgNCs in WBM exhibit remarkable free radical scavenging abilities, suggesting their potential as bioavailable antioxidants. These findings highlight the dual functionality of these biogenic AgNCs, making them promising candidates for applications in both medicine and nutrition.

In vitro and in silico evaluation of bioactivities and chemical composition of the aerial parts of Anchusa officinalis L. methanol extract.

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities of Anchusa officinalis L. in vitro and in silico. The dried aerial parts of A. officinalis L. were extracted with methanol. Total phenolic and flavonoid content was analyzed. Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects were tested against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 10 phytochemical compounds, and cyclobutane (26.07%) was identified as the major photochemical compound. The methanol extract exhibited the maximum amount of total phenolic content (118.24 ± 4.42 mg QE/g dry weight of the dry extract) (R2 = 0.994) and the total flavonoid content was 94 ± 2.34 mg QE/g dry weight of the dry extract (R2 = 0.999). The IC50 value for 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid was 107.12 ± 3.42 µg/mL, and it was high for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (123.94 ± 2.31 µg/mL). The IC50 value was 72.49 ± 3.14 against HepG2 cell lines, and a decreased value was obtained (102.54 ± 4.17 g/mL) against MCF-7 cell lines. The methanol extract increased the expression of caspase mRNA and Bax mRNA levels when compared to the control experiment (p < .05). The conclusions, A. officinalis L. aerial parts extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities.