Orange peel magnetic activated carbon for removal of acid orange 7 dye from water.

Magnetic activated carbon resources with a remarkably high specific surface area have been successfully synthesized using orange peels as the precursor and ZnCl2 as the activating agent. The impregnation ratio was set at 0.5, while the pyrolysis temperature spanned from 700 to 900 °C. This comprehensive study delved into the influence of activation temperatures on the resultant pore morphology and specific surface area. Optimal conditions were discerned, leading to a magnetic activated carbon material exhibiting an impressive specific surface area at 700 °C. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area reached 155.09 m2/g, accompanied by a total pore volume of 0.1768 cm3/g, and a mean pore diameter of 4.5604 nm. The material displayed noteworthy properties, with saturation magnetization (Ms) reaching 17.28 emu/g, remanence (Mr) at 0.29 emu/g, and coercivity (Hc) of 13.71 G. Additionally, the composite demonstrated super-paramagnetic behaviour at room temperature, facilitating its rapid collection within 5 s through an external magnetic field. Factors such as absorbent dose, initial concentration of the adsorbate, contact time, and pH were systematically examined. The adsorption behaviour for acid orange 7 (AO7) was found to adhere to the Temkin isotherm models (R2 = 0.997). The Langmuir isotherm model suggested a monolayer adsorption, and the calculated maximum monolayer capacity (Qm) was 357.14 mg/g, derived from the linear solvation of the Langmuir model using 0.75 g/L as an adsorbent dose and 150-500 mg/L as AO7 dye concentrations. The pseudo-second order model proved to be the best fit for the experimental data of AO7 dye adsorption, with a high coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.999 to 1.000, outperforming other kinetic models.

Untargeted metabolomics-based molecular networking for chemical characterization of selected Apiaceae fruit extracts in relation to their antioxidant and anti-cellulite potentials.

Stress, obesity, hormonal changes, and aging have been connected to cellulite aggravation resulting in skin dimpled appearance, a very common painless skin disorder with a female preponderance. Several Apiaceae plants have been traditionally used for cosmetic applications. However, their screening for anti-cellulite potential has not been deeply investigated. In this work, UPLC-HRMS/MS coupled with molecular networking was employed to glean a holistic overview of the chemodiversity of the metabolome of nine Apiaceae fruits. Additionally, the extracts were screened for in vitro antioxidant and anti-cellulite activities. Apium graveolens and Petroselinum crispum revealed excellent free radical scavenging activity, remarkably increased lipolysis, and decreased adipogenesis. Furthermore, apigenin and its glycosides were identified to be the major components in both extracts, which might be responsible for the antioxidant activity and anti-cellulite potential. Conclusively, these results signify the potent antioxidant and anti-cellulite properties of A. graveolens and P. crispum fruit extracts, holding potential for the development of plant derived products for cellulite management.

Correlation between secondary metabolites of Iris confusa Sealy and Iris pseudacorus L. and their newly explored antiprotozoal potentials.

BACKGROUND: In the last few decades, the use of plant extracts and their phytochemicals as candidates for the management of parasitic diseases has increased tremendously. Irises are aromatic and medicinal plants that have long been employed in the treatment of different infectious diseases by traditional healers in many cultures. This study aims to explore the potential of three common Iris species (I. confusa Sealy, I. pseudacorus L. and I. germanica L.) against infectious diseases. Their in vitro antiprotozoal potency against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. b. rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania infantum beside their cytotoxicity on MRC-5 fibroblasts and primary peritoneal murine macrophages were examined. METHODS: The secondary metabolites of the tested extracts were characterized by UPLC-HRMS/MS and Pearsons correlation was used to correlate them with the antiprotozoal activity. RESULTS: Overall, the non-polar fractions (NPF) showed a significant antiprotozoal activity (score: sc 2 to 5) in contrast to the polar fractions (PF). I. confusa NPF was the most active extract against P. falciparum [IC50 of 1.08 µg/mL, selectivity index (S.I. 26.11) and sc 5] and L. infantum (IC50 of 12.7 µg/mL, S.I. 2.22 and sc 2). I. pseudacorus NPF was the most potent fraction against T. b. rhodesiense (IC50 of 8.17 µg/mL, S.I. 3.67 and sc 3). Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol glycolipid (18:3/18:3), triaceylglycerol (18:2/18:2/18:3), oleic acid, and triterpenoid irridals (spirioiridoconfal C and iso-iridobelamal A) were the top positively correlated metabolites with antiplasmodium and antileishmanial activities of I. confusa NPF. Tumulosic acid, ceramide sphingolipids, corosolic, maslinic, moreollic acids, pheophytin a, triaceylglycerols, mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols, phosphatidylglycerol (22:6/18:3), phosphatidylcholines (18:1/18:2), and triterpenoid irridal iso-iridobelamal A, were highly correlated to I. pseudacorus NPF anti- T. b. rhodesiense activity. The ADME study revealed proper drug likeness properties for certain highly corelated secondary metabolites. CONCLUSION: This study is the sole map correlating I. confusa and I. pseudacorus secondary metabolites to their newly explored antiprotozoal activity.

Nano-silica from white silica sand functionalized with PANI-SDS (SiO2/PANI-SDS) as an adsorbent for the elimination of methylene blue from aqueous media.

Natural resources including sand are one of the best approaches for treating dye-polluted wastewater. The SiO2/PANI-SDS nanocomposite was synthesized by self-assembly and intermolecular interaction. The physicochemical features of the SiO2/PANI-SDS nanocomposite were explored by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, and N2 adsorption-desorption techniques to be evaluated as an adsorbent for the MB. The surface area of the SiO2/PANI-SDS is 23.317 m2/g, the pore size is 0.036 cm3/g, and the pore radius is 1.91 nm. Batch kinetic studies at different initial adsorbate, adsorbent and NaCl concentrations, and temperatures showed excellent pseudo-second-order. Several isotherm models were applied to evaluate the MB adsorption on the SiO2/PANI-SDS nanocomposite. According to R2 values the isotherm models were fitted in the following order: Langmuir > Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) > Freundlich. The adsorption/desorption process showed good reusability of the SiO2/PANI-SDS nanocomposite.

UPLC-MS-Based Metabolomics Profiling and Chemometric Analysis for Hypericum sinaicum Boiss and the Endophytic Aspergillus foetidus in Comparison to Hypericum perforatum L.

One of the endangered plant species in Saint Catherine protectorate is Hypericum sinaicum Boiss which is endemic to Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The fungus-host relationship can assist in the investigation of bioactive compounds produced by H. sinaicum paving the way for economic and medicinal implications. Therefore, a comprehensive metabolic approach via MS and chemical analysis was used to track and compare metabolites from H. sinaicum and Aspergillus foetidus var. pallidus, the endophytic fungus, with Hypericum perforatum. Metabolomics analysis revealed the presence of 25 metabolites distributed among samples and the discovery of new chemotaxonomic compounds, i. e., phloroglucinols and xanthones, allowing the discrimination between species. A. foetidus extract is considered a reliable source of furohyperforin and naphthodianthrone derivatives. In conclusion, using A. foetidus as an in vitro technique for producing potential phytoconstituents was cost effective, having easier optimization conditions and faster growth with fewer contamination rates than other in vitro methods.

The Potential Neuroprotective Effect of Thymoquinone on Scopolamine-Induced In Vivo Alzheimer's Disease-like Condition: Mechanistic Insights.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder without effective treatment. Thymoquinone (TQ) has demonstrated potential in exhibiting anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant characteristics. Despite TQ's neuroprotection effect, there is a scarcity of information regarding its application in AD research, and its molecular trajectories remain ambiguous. Thus, the objective of the current investigation was to examine the potential beneficial effects and underlying mechanisms of TQ in scopolamine (SCOP)-induced neuronal injury to mimic AD in vivo model. METHODS: Thirty mice were divided into normal, SCOP, and TQ groups. The Y-maze and pole climbing tests were performed to measure memory and motor performance. Afterwards, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were carried out. Furthermore, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) signaling pathway-related proteins and genes were detected with an emphasis on the role of miR-9. RESULTS: TQ has the potential to ameliorate cognitive deficits observed in SCOP-induced AD-like model, as evidenced by the improvement in behavioral outcomes, histopathological changes, modulation of the expression pattern of PPAR-γ downstream targets with a significant decrease in the deposition of amyloid beta (Aß). CONCLUSIONS: TQ provided meaningful multilevel neuroprotection through its anti-inflammatory and its PPAR-γ agonist activity. Consequently, TQ may possess a potential beneficial role against AD development.

Design, green synthesis, and quorum sensing quenching potential of novel 2-oxo-pyridines containing a thiophene/furan scaffold and targeting a LasR gene on P. aeruginosa.

The current trend in fighting bacteria is attacking the virulence and quorum-sensing (QS) signals that control bacterial communication and virulence factors, especially biofilm formation. This study reports new Schiff bases and tetracyclic rings based on a pyridine pharmacophore by two methods: a green approach using CAN and a conventional method. The structure of designed derivatives was confirmed using different spectroscopies (IR and 1H/13C NMR) and elemental analysis. The designed derivatives exhibited good to moderate inhibition zones against bacterial and fungal pathogens. In addition, six compounds 2a,b, 3a,b, and 6a,b displayed potency against tested pathogens with eligible MIC and MBC values compared to standard antimicrobial agents. Compound 2a displayed MIC values of 15.6 µg mL-1 compared to Gentamicin (MIC = 250 µg mL-1 against K. pneumoniae), while compound 6b exhibited super-potent activity against P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae with MIC values of 62.5 and 125 µg mL-1, as well as MBC values of 31.25 and 15.6 µg mL-1 compared to Gentamicin (MIC = 250 and 125 µg mL-1 and MBC = 62.5 µg mL-1), respectively. Surprisingly, these six derivatives revealed bactericidal and fungicidal potency and remarkable anti-biofilm activity that could significantly reduce the biofilm formation against MRSA, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. Furthermore, the most active derivatives reduced the LasR gene's production between 10-40% at 1/8 MICs compared with untreated P. aeruginosa. Besides, they demonstrated promising safety profile on Vero cells (normal cell lines) with IC50 values ranging between (175.17 ± 3.49 to 344.27 ± 3.81 µg mL-1). In addition, the in silico ADMET prediction was carried out and the results revealed that these compounds could be used with oral bioavailability with low toxicity prediction when administered as a candidate drug. Finally, the molecular docking simulation was performed inside LasR and predicted the key binding interactions responsible for the activity that corroborated the biological results.

Investigation of the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-osteoarthritis, and wound healing activities of selected vegetable waste.

Agri-food wastes, produced following industrial food processing, are mostly discarded, leading to environmental hazards and losing the nutritional and medicinal values associated with their bioactive constituents. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analytical and biological evaluation of selected vegetable by-products (potato, onion, and garlic peels). The phytochemical analysis included UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS in combination with molecular networking and determination of the total flavonoid and phenolic contents. Further, the antimicrobial, anti-osteoarthritis and wound healing potentials were also evaluated. In total, 47 compounds were identified, belonging to phenolic acids, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids as representative chemical classes. Onion peel extract (OPE) showed the higher polyphenolic contents, the promising antioxidant activity, the potential anti-osteoarthritis activity, and promising antimicrobial activity, especially against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, OPE revealed to have promising in vivo wound healing activity, restoring tissue physiology and integrity, mainly through the activation of AP-1 signaling pathway. Lastly, when OPE was loaded with nanocapsule based hydrogel, the nano-formulation revealed enhanced cellular viability. The affinities of the OPE major metabolites were evaluated against both p65 and ATF-2 targets using two different molecular docking processes revealing quercetin-3,4'-O-diglucoside, alliospiroside C, and alliospiroside D as the most promising entities with superior binding scores. These results demonstrate that vegetable by-products, particularly, those derived from onion peels can be incorporated as natural by-product for future evaluation against wounds and osteoarthritis.

Anti-Obesity Effect of a Tea Mixture Nano-Formulation on Rats Occurs via the Upregulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase/Sirtuin-1/Glucose Transporter Type 4 and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Pathways.

White, green, and oolong teas are produced from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) and are reported to have anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects. The current study aims to investigate the anti-obesity effects of a tea mixture nano-formulation by targeting the AMPK/Sirt-1/GLUT-4 axis in rats. In vitro lipase and α-amylase inhibition assays were used to determine the active sample, which was then incorporated into a nanoparticle formulation subjected to in vivo anti-obesity testing in rats by measuring the expression level of different genes implicated in adipogenesis and inflammation using qRT-PCR. Moreover, metabolomic analysis was performed for each tea extract using LC/ESI MS/MS coupled to chemometrics in an attempt to find a correlation between the constituents of the extracts and their biological activity. The in vitro pancreatic lipase and α-amylase inhibition assays demonstrated more effective activity in the tea mixture than the standards, orlistat and acarbose, respectively, and each tea alone. Thus, the herbal tea mixture and its nanoparticle formulation were evaluated for their in vivo anti-obesity activity. Intriguingly, the tea mixture significantly decreased the serum levels of glucose and triglycerides and increased the mRNA expression of GLUT-4, P-AMPK, Sirt-1, and PPAR-γ, which induce lipolysis while also decreasing the mRNA expression of TNF-α and ADD1/SREBP-1c, thereby inhibiting the inflammation associated with obesity. Our study suggests that the tea mixture nano-formulation is a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of obesity and may also be beneficial in other metabolic disorders by targeting the AMPK/Sirt-1/Glut-4 pathway.

Tuning the Surface Electronic Structure of Amorphous NiWO4 by Doping Fe as an Electrocatalyst for OER.

Water electrolysis is considered as one of the alternative potential approaches for producing renewable energy. Due to the sluggish kinetic nature of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), it encounters a significant overpotential to achieve water electrolysis. Hence, the advancement of cost-effective transition metal-based catalysts toward water splitting has gained global attention in recent years. In this work, the doping of Fe over amorphous NiWO4 increased the OER activity effectively and achieved stable oxygen evolution in the alkaline medium, which show better electrocatalytic activity as compared to crystalline tungstate. As NiWO4 has poor activity toward OER in the alkaline medium, the doping of Fe3+ will tune the electronic structure of Ni in NiWO4 and boost the OER activity. The as-synthesized Fe-doped amorphous NiWO4 exhibits a low overpotential of 230 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a lower Tafel slope value of 48 mV dec-1 toward OER in 1.0 M KOH solution. The catalyst also exhibits long-term static stability of 30 h during chronoamperometric study. The doping of Fe improves the electronic conductivity of Ni-3d states in NiWO4 which play a dominant role for better catalytic activity via synergistic interaction between Fe and active Ni sites. In future, these results offer an alternative route for precious metal-free catalysts in alkaline medium and can be explicitly used in various tungstate-based materials to increase the synergism between the doped atom and metal ions in tungstate-based materials for further improvement in the electrocatalytic performance.

Biodegradable and hemocompatible alginate/okra hydrogel films with promising stability and biological attributes.

Currently, combinations of natural polymers and semi-synthetic biomolecules have gained attention for food-packaging, drug delivery, coatings, and biomedical applications. In this work, cross-linking property of two biopolymers was employed for the fabrication of hydrogel films. Sodium alginate (SAlg) and Okra gel (OkG) were used in different ratios (95:05, 75:25 and 85:15) to synthesize hydrogel films by solvent-casting method. Formation of the films was confirmed by FTIR and Raman techniques which specified the interaction between biomolecules of SAlg and OkG. XRD pattern has shown the presence of both amorphous and micro-crystalline phases in the hydrogel films and SEM studies have shown porosity, amorphousness and agglomerated morphology. TGA and DSC analyses revealed degradation of the film at 420 °C and stability studies using PBS buffer indicated stability and hydrophilic nature of hydrogel films. In-vitro degradation test was also performed for 10 weeks through the incubation of hydrogel-films in simulated body fluid and the effect of pH and temperature was also studied. Results have shown worth-some influence of okra gel on the fabricated films. Hemolytic and antioxidant activities of the gels were also determined and being non-toxic, all these ratios were found suitable for biomedical applications; especially 85:15 have shown maximum potential.

Methyl jasmonate elicitation effect on the metabolic profile of cambial meristematic cells culture derived from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in relation to antioxidant activity: Untargeted metabolomics study in a time-based approach.

The undifferentiated cambial meristematic cell (CMC) has been recognized as a value-added production platform for plant natural products in comparison to the dedifferentiated plant cell line (DDC). In a time-based approach at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h, the present study aimed at investigating the phytochemical metabolome of methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-elicited CMC cultures derived from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), including primary and secondary metabolites analyzed using GC/TOF-MS post-silylation and RP-UPLC-C18-FT-MS/MS, respectively, as well as the analysis of aroma composition using headspace SPME-GC-MS. The results revealed a stress response in primary metabolism manifested by an increase in amino and organic acids reaching their maximum levels after 48 (1.3-fold) and 72 (1.7-fold) h, respectively. In addition, phenolic acids (e.g., sagerinic acid, rosmarinic acid, and 3-O-methylrosmarinic acid) followed by flavonoid aglycones (e.g., salvigenin and 5,6,4'-trihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyflavone) were the most abundant with prominent increases at 48 (1.2-fold) and 72 (2.1-fold) h, respectively. The aroma was intensified by the elicitation along the time, especially after 48 and 72 h. Furthermore, multivariate data analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) confirmed elicitation effect, especially post 48 and 72 h. The study further assessed the effect of MeJA elicitation on the antioxidant and polyphenolic content. The cultures at 48 h demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity concurrently with correlation with total polyphenolic content using Pearson's correlation. Our study provides new insights to the elicitation impact on primary and secondary metabolism, in addition to aroma profile, to orchestrate the stress response and in relation to antioxidant effect.

Decoding Metabolic Reprogramming in Plants under Pathogen Attacks, a Comprehensive Review of Emerging Metabolomics Technologies to Maximize Their Applications.

In their environment, plants interact with a multitude of living organisms and have to cope with a large variety of aggressions of biotic or abiotic origin. What has been known for several decades is that the extraordinary variety of chemical compounds the plants are capable of synthesizing may be estimated in the range of hundreds of thousands, but only a fraction has been fully characterized to be implicated in defense responses. Despite the vast importance of these metabolites for plants and also for human health, our knowledge about their biosynthetic pathways and functions is still fragmentary. Recent progress has been made particularly for the phenylpropanoids and oxylipids metabolism, which is more emphasized in this review. With an increasing interest in monitoring plant metabolic reprogramming, the development of advanced analysis methods should now follow. This review capitalizes on the advanced technologies used in metabolome mapping in planta, including different metabolomics approaches, imaging, flux analysis, and interpretation using bioinformatics tools. Advantages and limitations with regards to the application of each technique towards monitoring which metabolite class or type are highlighted, with special emphasis on the necessary future developments to better mirror such intricate metabolic interactions in planta.

Sonophotocatalytic degradation of malachite green in aqueous solution using six competitive metal oxides as a benchmark.

A comparison study examines six different metal oxides (CuO, ZnO, Fe3O4, Co3O4, NiO, and α-MnO2) for the degradation of malachite green dye using four distinct processes. These processes are as follows: sonocatalysis (US/metal oxide), sonocatalysis under ultra-violet irradiation (US/metal oxide/UV), sonocatalysis in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (US/metal oxide/H2O2), and a combination of all these processes (US/metal oxide/UV/H2O2). The effective operating parameters, such as the dosage of metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs), the type of the process, and the metal oxides' efficiency order, were studied. At the same reaction conditions, the sonophotocatalytic is the best process for all six MOsNPs, CuO was the better metal oxide than other MOsNPs, and at the sonocatalysis process, ZnO was the best metal oxide in other processes. It was found that the metal oxide order for sonocatalytic process is CuO > α-MnO2 ≥ ZnO > NiO ≥ Fe3O4 ≥ Co3O4 within 15-45 min. The order of (US/metal oxide/UV) process is ZnO ≥ NiO ≥ α-MnO2 > Fe3O4 ≥ CuO ≥ Co3O4 within 5-40 min. The order of (US/ MOsNPs/ H2O2) process is ZnO ≥ CuO ≥ α-MnO2 ≥ NiO > Co3O4 > Fe3O4 within 5-20 min. The maximum removal efficiency order of the sonophotocatalytic process is ZnO ≥ CuO > α-MnO2 > NiO > Fe3O4 ≥ Co3O4 within 2-8 min. The four processes degradation efficiency was in the order US/MOsNPs ˂ US/MOsNPs/UV ˂ US/MOsNPs/H2O2 ˂ (UV/Ultrasonic/MOsNPs/H2O2). Complete degradation of MG was obtained at 0.05 g/L MONPs and 1 mM of H2O2 using 296 W/L ultrasonic power and 15 W ultra-violet lamp (UV-C) within a reaction time of 8 min according to the MOsNPs type at the same sonophotocatalytic/H2O2 reaction conditions. The US/metal oxide/UV/H2O2 process is inexpensive, highly reusable, and efficient for degrading dyes in colored wastewater.

Metabolomics driven analysis of Nigella sativa seeds identifies the impact of roasting on the chemical composition and immunomodulatory activity.

Nigella sativa L. seeds (NS) are known as one of the most traditional immunomodulatory and nutritive food additives. NS can, furthermore, be roasted to give curries, breads, and other dishes a smoky, nutty flavor. This study evaluated the effect of roasting NS on the metabolic profile and immunomodulatory activity. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis was conducted using several analytical platforms, including GC-MS and UPLC-MS. A total of 197 metabolites were identified, belonging to different classes such as saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and lipids. In vitro immunomodulatory activity on the differentiated monocytic cell line THP-1 was assessed, revealing that the roasted seeds showed significantly-decreased immunomodulatory activity. Furthermore, a molecular docking study, which was carried out against immunomodulation-related pathway protein (iNOS), revealed that compounds which showed the best binding scores were severely decreased by roasting. Conclusively, our results demonstrate that the roasting of NS results in severe losses in their bioactive metabolites and immunomodulatory activity.

Metabolomics of plant root exudates: From sample preparation to data analysis.

Plants release a set of chemical compounds, called exudates, into the rhizosphere, under normal conditions and in response to environmental stimuli and surrounding soil organisms. Plant root exudates play indispensable roles in inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms, while also promoting the growth of beneficial microbes and attracting symbiotic partners. Root exudates contain a complex array of primary and specialized metabolites. Some of these chemicals are only found in certain plant species for shaping the microbial community in the rhizosphere. Comprehensive understanding of plant root exudates has numerous applications from basic sciences to enhancing crop yield, production of stress-tolerant crops, and phytoremediation. This review summarizes the metabolomics workflow for determining the composition of root exudates, from sample preparation to data acquisition and analysis. We also discuss recent advances in the existing analytical methods and future perspectives of metabolite analysis.

Evaluation of the Impacts of Potassium Bicarbonate, Moringa oleifera Seed Extract, and Bacillus subtilis on Sugar Beet Powdery Mildew.

Powdery mildew disease, caused by Erysiphe betae, is one of the most threatening diseases on sugar beet plants worldwide. It causes a great loss in the root yield, sugar percentage, and quality of produced sugar. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of 25 sugar beet cultivars to infection with powdery mildew disease under Egyptian conditions. Moreover, we evaluated the impacts of three eco-friendly materials, including potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3; at 5 and 10 g L-1), Moringa oleifera seed extract (25 and 50 g L-1), and the biocontrol agent, Bacillus subtilis (108 cell suspension) against E. betae in two successive seasons 2020 and 2021. Our findings showed that there were significant differences between these 25 cultivars in their susceptibility to the disease under study. Using the detached leaves technique in vitro, B. subtilis showed strong antifungal activity against E. betae. Moreover, both concentrations of KHCO3 and moringa seed extract significantly reduced the disease severity. Under field conditions, tested treatments significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew disease and prevented E. betae from producing its conidiophores and conidia. Scanning electron microscope examination of treated leaves demonstrated the presence of the decomposition of fungal hyphae, conidiophores, conidia, and the occurrence of plasmolysis to fungal cells and spores on the surface of the leaves. Furthermore, these treatments greatly improved the percent of sucrose and soluble solids content, as well as the enzymatic activity of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. It is noteworthy that treatment with moringa seed extract gave the best results, followed by potassium bicarbonate, then B. subtilis cell suspension. Generally, it is recommended to use the substances used in this research to combat powdery mildew to minimize or prevent the use of chemical fungicides harmful to public health and the environment.

Comparative metabolite profiling of four polyphenol rich Morus leaves extracts in relation to their antibiofilm activity against Enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococci are a common cause of urinary tract infections. The severity of enterococcal infections is associated with their ability to form biofilms. Morus leaves are known as a natural antibacterial, however, their antibiofilm activity against Enterococcus remains unveiled. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of four polyphenol-rich Morus leaves extracts (Morus nigra, M. rubra, M. macroura, and M. alba) to inhibit biofilm formed by enterococcal clinical isolates in relation to their metabolic profiling. Results revealed that 48% of the isolates formed strong biofilm, 28% formed moderate biofilm, 20% formed weak biofilm, and only 4% did not form a biofilm. The strong biofilm-forming isolates were E. faecalis, and hence were chosen for this study. The antibiofilm activity of the four polyphenol-rich Morus leaves extracts revealed that the M. nigra extract exhibited the highest percentage of biofilm inhibition followed by M. rubra then M. macroura and the least inhibition was detected in M. alba, and these results were in accordance with the phenolic and flavonoid contents of each extract. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS identified 61 polyphenolic compounds in the four extracts. Further, multivariate analysis confirmed clear segregation of M. nigra from the other species suggesting disparity in its metabolome, with accumulation of flavonoids, anthocyanidins, phenolic acids and coumarin derivatives. Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides were found to be positively and significantly correlated to the antibiofilm activity. In conclusion, M. nigra ethanolic extracts showed the highest phenolic content and antibiofilm activity and they could be developed as a complementary treatment for the development of antimicrobial agents.

Artemisia spp.: An Update on Its Chemical Composition, Pharmacological and Toxicological Profiles.

Artemisia plants are traditional and ethnopharmacologically used to treat several diseases and in addition in food, spices, and beverages. The genus is widely distributed in all continents except the Antarctica, and traditional medicine has been used as antimalarial, antioxidant, anticancer, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral agents. This review is aimed at systematizing scientific data on the geographical distribution, chemical composition, and pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the Artemisia genus. Data from the literature on Artemisia plants were taken using electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Selected papers for this updated study included data about phytochemicals, preclinical pharmacological experimental studies with molecular mechanisms included, clinical studies, and toxicological and safety data. In addition, ancient texts and books were consulted. The essential oils and phytochemicals of the Artemisia genus have reported important biological activities, among them the artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, with antimalarial activity. Artemisia absinthium L. is one of the most famous Artemisia spp. due to its use in the production of the absinthe drink which is restricted in most countries because of neurotoxicity. The analyzed studies confirmed that Artemisia plants have many traditional and pharmacological applications. However, scientific data are limited to clinical and toxicological research. Therefore, further research is needed on these aspects to understand the full therapeutic potential and molecular pharmacological mechanisms of this medicinal species.