Endophytic fungal diversity and bioactive potentials: investigating antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

This study investigates the colonization of endophytic fungi in nettle leaf tissues and evaluates their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Using an inverted optical microscope, extensive fungal colonization was observed in all leaf parts, with hyphae prevalent in epidermal cells, parenchyma cells, and vascular tissues. 144 endophytic fungal isolates were isolated from 800 leaf fragments, indicating an 18% retention rate. ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0. 001) in colonization frequencies among 20 subjects, with subject 3 showing the highest frequency (40%) and subject 11 the lowest (2. 5%). Ethyl acetate extracts of the three most abundant endophytic fungi demonstrated notable antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Inhibition zones ranged from 9. 5 to 15. 16 mm, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 0. 19 to 25 mg/mL. Alternaria sp. exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against MRSA. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging test and FRAP method. All extracts showed substantial free radical scavenging properties, with IC50 values close to those of standards like BHT. Alternaria sp. had the highest antioxidant activity, followed by Epicocum sp. and Ulocladium sp. The FRAP method confirmed high reducing potential, with Alternaria sp. again exhibiting the highest activity. These findings highlight the potential of endophytic fungi in nettle leaves as sources of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, with significant implications for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

An Attention towards the Prophylactic and Therapeutic Options of Phytochemicals for SARS-CoV-2: A Molecular Insight.

The novel pathogenic virus was discovered in Wuhan, China (December 2019), and quickly spread throughout the world. Further analysis revealed that the pathogenic strain of virus was corona but it was distinct from other coronavirus strains, and thus it was renamed 2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2. This coronavirus shares many characteristics with other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The clinical manifestations raised in the form of a cytokine storm trigger a complicated spectrum of pathophysiological changes that include cardiovascular, kidney, and liver problems. The lack of an effective treatment strategy has imposed a health and socio-economic burden. Even though the mortality rate of patients with this disease is lower, since it is judged to be the most contagious, it is considered more lethal. Globally, the researchers are continuously engaged to develop and identify possible preventive and therapeutic regimens for the management of disease. Notably, to combat SARS-CoV-2, various vaccine types have been developed and are currently being tested in clinical trials; these have also been used as a health emergency during a pandemic. Despite this, many old antiviral and other drugs (such as chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, and so on) are still used in various countries as emergency medicine. Plant-based products have been reported to be safe as alternative options for several infectious and non-infectious diseases, as many of them showed chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in the case of tuberculosis, cancer, malaria, diabetes, cardiac problems, and others. Therefore, plant-derived products may play crucial roles in improving health for a variety of ailments by providing a variety of effective cures. Due to current therapeutic repurposing efforts against this newly discovered virus, we attempted to outline many plant-based compounds in this review to aid in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

Enhancing Antibiotic Efficacy and Combating Biofilm Formation: Evaluating the Synergistic Potential of Origanum vulgare Essential Oil against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria remain a global public health issue due to the barrier imposed by their outer membrane and their propensity to form biofilms. It is becoming imperative to develop new antibacterial strategies. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Origanum vulgare essential oil (OEO), alone and in combination with antibiotics, as well as its antibiofilm action against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative strains. OEO components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar diffusion test and the microdilution method. Interactions between OEO and antibiotics were examined using the checkerboard method, while antibiofilm activity was analyzed using the crystal violet assay. Chemical analysis revealed that carvacrol was the major compound in OEO (61.51%). This essential oil demonstrated activity against all the tested strains, with inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) reaching 32.3 ± 1.5 mm. The combination of OEO with different antibiotics produced synergistic and additive effects, leading to a reduction of up to 98.44% in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). In addition, this essential oil demonstrated an ability to inhibit and even eradicate biofilm formation. These results suggest that OEO could be exploited in the development of new molecules, combining its metabolites with antibiotics.

Trichoderma asperellum empowers tomato plants and suppresses Fusarium oxysporum through priming responses.

Plant-associated microbes play crucial roles in plant health and promote growth under stress. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the strategic crops grown throughout Egypt and is a widely grown vegetable worldwide. However, plant disease severely affects tomato production. The post-harvest disease (Fusarium wilt disease) affects food security globally, especially in the tomato fields. Thus, an alternative effective and economical biological treatment to the disease was recently established using Trichoderma asperellum. However, the role of rhizosphere microbiota in the resistance of tomato plants against soil-borne Fusarium wilt disease (FWD) remains unclear. In the current study, a dual culture assay of T. asperellum against various phytopathogens (e.g., Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Alternaria alternata, Rhizoctonia solani, and F. graminerarum) was performed in vitro. Interestingly, T. asperellum exhibited the highest mycelial inhibition rate (53.24%) against F. oxysporum. In addition, 30% free cell filtrate of T. asperellum inhibited F. oxysporum by 59.39%. Various underlying mechanisms were studied to explore the antifungal activity against F. oxysporum, such as chitinase activity, analysis of bioactive compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and assessment of fungal secondary metabolites against F. oxysporum mycotoxins in tomato fruits. Additionally, the plant growth-promoting traits of T. asperellum were studied (e.g., IAA production, Phosphate solubilization), and the impact on tomato seeds germination. Scanning electron microscopy, plant root sections, and confocal microscopy were used to show the mobility of the fungal endophyte activity to promote tomato root growth compared with untreated tomato root. T. asperellum enhanced the growth of tomato seeds and controlled the wilt disease caused by the phytopathogen F. oxysporum by enhancing the number of leaves as well as shoot and root length (cm) and fresh and dry weights (g). Furthermore, Trichoderma extract protects tomato fruits from post-harvest infection by F. oxysporum. Taking together, T. asperellum represents a safe and effective controlling agent against Fusarium infection of tomato plants.

Trichoderma-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles and Their Antibiofilm and Antibacterial Activities.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern and one of the gravest challenges to humanity today. Antibiotic resistance has been acquired by certain bacterial strains. As a result, new antibacterial drugs are urgently required to combat resistant microorganisms. Species of Trichoderma are known to produce a wide range of enzymes and secondary metabolites that can be exploited for the synthesis of nanoparticles. In the present study, Trichoderma asperellum was isolated from rhizosphere soil and used for the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs. To examine the antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs against human pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used. The obtained antibacterial results show that the biosynthesized ZnO NPs were efficient antibacterial agents against the pathogens E. coli and S. aureus, with an inhibition zone of 3-9 mm. The ZnO NPs were also effective in the prevention of S. aureus biofilm formation and adherence. The current work shows that the MIC dosages of ZnO NPs (25, 50, and 75 µg/mL) have effective antibacterial activity and antibiofilm action against S. aureus. As a result, ZnO NPs can be used as a part of combination therapy for drug-resistant S. aureus infections, where biofilm development is critical for disease progression.

Synthesis of Green Engineered Silver Nanoparticles through Urtica dioica: An Inhibition of Microbes and Alleviation of Cellular and Organismal Toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster.

Plant fractions have a diversity of biomolecules that can be used to make complicated reactions for the bioactive fabrication of metal nanoparticles (NPs), in addition to being beneficial as antioxidant medications or dietary supplements. The current study shows that Urtica dioica (UD) and biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of UD have antibacterial and antioxidant properties against bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida) and Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R+). According to their ability to scavenge free radicals, DPPH, ABTS, TFC, and TPC initially estimated the antioxidant potential of UD and UD AgNPs. The fabricated AgNPs were analyzed (UV−Vis, FTIR, EDS, and SEM) to determine the functional groups (alcohol, carboxylic acids, phenol, proteins, and aldehydes) and to observe the shape (agglomerated crystalline and rod-shaped structure). The disc diffusion method was used to test the antimicrobial properties of synthesized Ag-NPs against E. coli and P. putida. For 24 to 120 h, newly enclosed flies and third instar larvae of Drosophila were treated with UD and UD AgNPs. After exposure, tests for biochemical effects (acetylcholinesterase inhibition and protein estimation assays), cytotoxicity (dye exclusion), and behavioral effects (jumping and climbing assays) were conducted. The results showed that nanoparticles were found to have potent antimicrobial activity against all microbial strains tested at various concentrations. In this regard, ethno-medicinal characteristics exhibit a similar impact in D. melanogaster, showing (p < 0.05) significantly decreased cellular toxicity (trypan blue dye), enhanced biochemical markers (AChE efficacy and proteotoxicity), and improved behavioral patterns in the organism treated with UD AgNPs, especially in comparison to UD extract. The results of this study may help in the utilization of specific plants as reliable sources of natural antioxidants that may have been beneficial in the synthesis of metallic NPs, which aids in the production of nanomedicine and other therapeutic applications.