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Abstract Drought stress significantly impacts wheat productivity, but plant growth regulators may help mitigate these effects. This study examined the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L., CV: Giza 171) growth and yield under different water regimes. Using a split-plot design, we tested three drought levels as main plots: normal irrigation (80% field capacity), moderate drought (60% field capacity), and severe drought (40% field capacity). Subplots consisted of GA3 and ABA treatments at 100 and 200 ppm concentrations. Results showed that 200 ppm GA3 treatment enhanced multiple growth parameters under normal irrigation, including plant height (25–30% increase), leaf area (30–35% increase), and reproductive traits (40% increase in number of number of spikes, 35% increase in grains per spike). In contrast, ABA treatment at 200 ppm resulted in reduced plant height (35% decrease) and greater leaf area reduction (40% vs. 20% in control) under drought conditions. GA3 at 200 ppm also improved physiological parameters including catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, protein content, and proline accumulation. These findings demonstrate the distinct roles of GA3 and ABA in regulating wheat growth and stress responses, providing valuable insights for drought management in wheat cultivation.

Lipases degrade triglycerides and are used in detergent, biodiesel production, and chemical industries. In this work, lipase-producing fungal strains were enriched. A total of 10 morphologically different fungi were isolated and screened for lipase production. The isolated indigenous Aspergillus niger LP4 utilized a mixture of Calophyllum inophyllum oil cake and coconut oil cake (1:1), showing greater lipase production (127.5 ± 5.5 U/g substrate) than Calophyllum inophyllum oil cake (120.2 ± 3.4 U/g substrate) and coconut oil cake (103 ± 1.8 U/g substrate). A one-variable-at-a-time approach revealed optimum pH at 6.5 (139.2 ± 4.5 U/g substrate), 30 °C (152.4 ± 7.3 U/g substrate), 6% (v/w) inoculums (174.1 ± 5.4 U/g substrate), and 60% moisture content (180.5 ± 3.3 U/g substrate). After screening bioprocess variables by the traditional method, the selected three variables (pH, inoculum concentration, and moisture level) were optimized by the central composite design experiment. The central composite design gave 2.1-fold more lipase production compared to an unoptimized medium. The F-value of the designed model was 12.98, and the p-value was 0.0002. In this model, the terms A, B, C, A2, and C2 were significant model terms. The crude lipase showed exceptional compatibility with detergents, improved wash performance, and released free fatty acids from the wastewater.

The nutrient composition and biostimulant properties of seaweed were determined as solid biofertilizer for cultivating tomato seedlings in a greenhouse. Seaweeds (Sargassum wightii, Sargassum longifolium, Laminaria digitata, and Gelidiella acerosa) were collected from rocky areas and turned into a powder, and their nutrient compositions were analyzed. The brown seaweed showed indoleacetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), indole butyric acid (IBA), and abscisic acid (ABA). The amount of IAA ranged from 0.52 to 21.5 μg/mL. Compared with the other brown algae, the G. acerosa extract presented the maximum amount of GA3 (149 μg/mL). The amount of IBA ranged from 1.5 to 15.3 μg/mL, and the ABA level was high in S. wightii (2.5 μg/mL). All algae powders were subjected to biofertilizer preparation and their biostimulant properties were studied. The algal biostimulant improved flower cluster number, fruit number, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight in tomato plants in a greenhouse. Macroalgae fertilizer improved urease, phosphatase, invertase, and catalase activities (p

Abstract External ocular infections are of serious global concern, which cause significant visual morbidity and even blindness, particularly in low-income and resource-limited countries. Herewith, we are reporting the profile of bacteria and fungi causing external ocular infections and the associated factors in Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 259 suspected individuals with external ocular infections from 01 January to 10 June 2020 in Arba Minch General Hospital. The demographic data were obtained using a structured questionnaire, while corneal scrapings and conjunctival swabs were collected for culture. Samples were inoculated onto MacConkey, blood, mannitol salt and Sabouraud dextrose agar plates. Bacteria were characterised using conventional microbiological techniques. Fungal isolates were identified by culture and morphology by means of microscopy. Antibiotic susceptibility tests for bacteria were performed via the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique. A logistic regression analysis determined the association between dependent and independent variables; P values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The most common clinical manifestations in culture-proven cases were conjunctivitis (38.6%, n = 100) and blepharoconjunctivitis (25.9%, n = 67). The overall prevalence of external ocular bacterial and fungal infections was 73.2 (n = 115) and 26.8% (n = 42), respectively. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (24.8%, n = 39) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.4%, n = 21) were the predominant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria was 71.3% (n = 82). The World Health Organisation-prioritised bacteria such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (61.5%, n = 24), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (22.6%, n = 12), and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (15.1%, n = 8) were also detected. The prominent fungi recovered from patients with keratitis and conjunctivitis were Aspergillus spp. and Candida albicans, respectively (9.5%, n = 15 each). Age (26–49 years) and family income were statistically associated with ocular infections (P ≤ 0.05). The results provide insights into the characteristics of major ocular bacterial and fungal pathogens circulating in the ophthalmic patients of Arba Minch. Conjunctivitis is the main ocular manifestation observed, with a predominance of S. aureus. More than two-thirds of the ocular bacteria were MDR, and the highest prevalence corresponds to S. aureus. The aggravation of multi-drug resistance, including the WHO-prioritised ones, warrants periodic evaluations.

Carbohydrate digestive enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase can be used to treat and manage diabetes. By inhibiting these enzymes, carbohydrate digestion slowed down, lowering the level of glucose entry into the bloodstream and preventing postprandial hyperglycemia. However, the effectiveness of current antidiabetic agents is limited due to their adverse effects. Therefore, the current study explored natural inhibitors from the methanol extract of rice to combat this issue. Through an integrated approach, four different rice cultivars were analysed and found that red rice methanol extract compounds stigmasterol and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid interacted with α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Additionally, further research on stigmasterol directs the structure-activity relationship studies that aid in managing diabetic conditions.

Abstract The chloroplast (cp.) genome, also known as plastome, plays crucial roles in plant survival, adaptation, and evolution. The stable genetic structure of cp. genomes provides an ideal system for investigating species evolution. We sequenced three complete cp. genome sequences of Capsicum species and analyzed them using sequences of various Capsicum species retrieved from the NCBI database. The cp. genome of Capsicum species maintains a well-preserved quadripartite structure consisting of two inverted repeats (IRs) flanked by a large single copy (LSC) region and a small single copy (SSC) region. The sizes of cp. genome sequences ranged from 156,583 bp (C. lycianthoides) to 157,390 bp (C.pubescens). A total of 127–132 unique genes, including 83–87 protein-coding, 36–37 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes, were predicted. Comparison of cp. genomes of 10 Capsicum species revealed high sequence similarity in genome-wide organization and gene arrangements. Fragments of trnT-UGU/trnL-UAA, ccsA, ndhD, rps12, and ycf1 were identified as variable regions, and nucleotide variability of LSC and SSC was higher than that of IR. Phylogenetic speciation analysis showed that the major domesticated C. annuum species were the most extensively divergent species and closely related to C. tovarii and C. frutescens. Analysis of divergent times suggested that a substantial range of speciation events started occurring ~ 25.79 million years ago (Mya). Overall, comparative analysis of cp. genomes of Capsicum species not only offers new insights into their genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships, but also lays a foundation for evolutionary history, genetic diversity, conservation, and biological breeding of Capsicum species.

Lead toxicity and bacterial blight disease caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea have destructive impacts on soybean growth and productivity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been used as an eco-friendly approach for augmenting crop growth and stress resistance. The current study investigated the efficacy of Serratia liquefaciens ZM6 strain in enhancing soybean resistance to lead (Pb) stress and bacterial blight. Two pot experiments were performed. In the first pot experiment, soybean plants were inoculated with S. liquefaciens ZM6 and grown under variable Pb stress levels (0, 200 and 400 µM of Pb(NO3)2). In the second experiment, S. liquefaciens-inoculated soybean plants were infected with P. savastanoi pv. glycinea, and disease severity was assessed two weeks post infection. The results revealed that S. liquefaciens strain resisted Pb stress up to 400 µM Pb(NO3)2 and exhibited the highest levels of solubilized phosphate, solubilized zinc, siderophore, indole acetic acid, exopolysaccharide, trehalose and antioxidant enzymes at 400 µM Pb compared to the other treatments. Moreover, Pb stress (200 and 400 µM) significantly decreased the growth, yield, nutrient uptake, gas exchange, and contents of chlorophyll, soluble proteins, sugars, and phenolics of soybean plants. Pb stress also induced the levels of proline, glycine betaine, Pb, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate, glutathione and expression of stress-responsive genes (CAT, APX, POD, Fe-SOD, CHS7, CHI1A, PAL, IFS2, P5CS and WRKY54) in soybean plants. On the other hand, S. liquefaciens application markedly boosted the growth, yield and levels of nutrients, gas-exchange, chlorophyll, osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes and expression of stress-tolerant genes of Pb-stressed soybean plants. The bacterial inoculation significantly diminished oxidative stress indicators and Pb content in stressed plants. Inoculation of soybean plants with S. liquefaciens also caused significant reductions in blight disease symptoms in P. savastanoi pv. glycinea-infected plants, indicating the efficiency of this strain in controlling harmful blight disease. Overall, this study demonstrated S. liquefaciens ZM6 effectiveness in enhancing soybean resistance to Pb stress and bacterial blight.

Emergence of multidrug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is globally threatening the world and creating problems for the management of tuberculosis (TB). Traditional medicine and plant secondary metabolites are playing an important role in medicine; they are also useful for developing drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis. The present study was carried out to evaluate in vitro anti-tubercular activity of nine isolated plant compounds (Costunolide, Eremanthine, Chrysophanol, Friedeline, Plumbagin, Lupeol, Bergenin, karanjin and Flindersine) against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. tuberculosis XDR-1 (extensively drug resistant). The antimycobacterial activity of the nine natural compounds was evaluated by broth dilution method against H37Rv and XDR-1strains of M. tuberculosis. The concentrations employed were in the range of 0.5––64.0 µg/ml. Rifampicin was used as the standard control. MIC values of all the compounds were evaluated by using dose response curve. The results showed that out of the nine compounds tested Eremanthine, chrysophanol and karanjin showed the lowest MIC value of 08 µg/ml while Costunolide, Friedeline and plumbagin showed MIC value of 16 µg/ml against H37Rv strain. Lupeol showed MIC value of 32.0 µg/ml while Bergenin and flindersine showed MIC value of > 64.0 µg/ml. However, the tested compounds showed lesser activity against XDR-1 strain; the MIC values were in the range of 16.0 to 32.0 µg/ml. In this communication, the anti-TB activity of nine natural compounds have been reported against standard H37Rv strain and XDR-1 strain. The tested compounds showed appreciable activity against the standard H37Rv strain (MIC, 8.0 to 32.0 µg/ml). The compounds showed lesser activity towards the XDR-1 strain. Further work may be carried out on derivatives of these compounds which may lead to more potent compounds with lower toxicity.

A research study was undertaken to find a fungus that could effectively trap and kill Meloidogyne spp., which are root-knot nematodes that cause significant crop loss worldwide. Soil samples were collected and processed appropriately for the isolation of nematode-trapping fungi. After a primary screening, a potential nematode-trapping fungus, Arthrobotrys oligospora (Orbilia oligospora) PSGSS01 was selected for further investigation. Its growth was tested under various conditions, including different media types, temperatures, and pH levels. Its predatory activity on Meloidogyne incognita was also assessed in vitro. The fungus exhibited septate double-celled conidiospores, trapping hyphae, and radiating and sparse mycelium. Optimal conditions for growth were found to be at 25 °C and a pH of 4.0 and 5.0 on corn meal agar. The best temperature and pH for conidiospore germination were 25°C − 37°C and 5.0, respectively. The isolate could trap 94% of second-stage juveniles of M. incognita, and 92% juvenile mortality was recorded in 120 h at 28°C. Therefore, the study concluded that the isolate A. oligospora (Orbilia oligospora) PSGSS01 could be used as a biological control agent against root-knot nematodes.

The purpose of the study was to assess a phenolic compound that was extracted from the brown seaweed Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linn.), Nees (1820) for its antibacterial activities on different bacterial pathogens of fish illnesses. Hexane and methanol were utilized to extract bioactive compounds from the seaweed. Phytochemical analysis of the methnaolic extracts have revealed the presence of carbohydrates and glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids, fixed oil and fat, phenol compounds, tannins, and steroids. The bacterial pathogens of fish, including Providencia vermicola, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio harveyi, and Aeromonas caviae, were targeted for antibacterial assessment. Among them, the methanolic crude extract and fraction-1 of E. intestinalis have shown maximum activity against A. hydrophila (22 ± 0.13 and 33 ± 0.56 µg/mL). Column chromatography was employed to isolate effective seaweed fraction, while FT-IR and HPLC were utilized for characterization. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of various compounds in both extracts. The crude methanolic extract of E. intestinalis have demonstrated the maximum efficacy beside the tested bacterial pathogens. The FT-IR analysis revealed functional groups associated with polymeric structures in the seaweed extracts, including alcohols, phenols, aromatics, alkyl halides, aliphatic amines, alkynes, and alkenes. Overall, the methanolic extract of E. intestinalis exhibited significant antibacterial activity as a result of the phenolic chemicals that are present. The study provides valuable baseline data, emphasizing the need for further research towards developing antibacterial drug formulations.

Renewable lignocellulosic biomass is a favorable energy resource since its co-pyrolysis with hydrogen-rich plastics can produce high-yield and high-quality biofuel. In contrast to earlier co-pyrolysis research that concentrated on increasing product yield, this study comprehends the synergistic effects of two distinct feedstocks that were not considered earlier. This work focuses on co-pyrolyzing wheat straw (WS) with non-reusable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for the production of pyrolysis oil. WS and PET were blended in different ratios (100/0, 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 20/80, and 0/100), and pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed reactor under different temperatures to assess their synergistic effect on oil yield. Synergy rates of up to 7.78 % were achieved on yield for the blends of plastic and biomass at a temperature of 500 °C. In comparison to individual biomass or plastics, co-pyrolyzing PET-biomass blends demonstrated good process interaction and promoted the yields of value-added products. The heating value of the pyrolysis oils was in the range of 16.45–28.64 MJ/kg, which depends on the amount of plastic present in the feedstock. The physical analysis of the oils shows that they can be used for heat production by direct combustion in boilers or furnaces. The correlation between WS and PET was validated with the aid of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The GC-MS result demonstrated the presence of different compounds such as O-H compounds, esters, carbonyl group elements, acids, hydrocarbons, aromatics, and nitrogenated compounds in the pyrolysis oil, which differed based on the proportions of PET in the feedstock. The increased hydrocarbon and reduced oxygen percentages in the pyrolysis oil were implicitly caused by enhanced hydrocarbon pool mechanisms, in which the breakdown of PET may be supplied as a hydrogen donor. Overall, waste lignocellulosic biomass and plastics can be used to produce biofuels, which helps reduce the amount of solid waste that ends up in landfills. This study also revealed that future research should be focused on the reaction mechanisms of WS and PET co-pyrolysis in order to examine the synergistic interactions.

Background: The incidence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections is increasing globally. In India, around 65% of K. pneumoniae isolates are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. The blaNDM is the predominant carbapenem-resistant gene in CRKP isolates. However, blaOXA-48 has also been reported to be increasing in recent days. Methods: K. pneumoniae strains isolated from the clinical specimens of patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad from June 2021 to May 2022 were included in this study. Resistance to carbapenems and other antibiotics was screened using Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Phenotypic tests such as the Carbapenemase Nordmann Poirel (CarbaNP) test, Modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method (mCIM), and EDTA Carbapenem Inactivation Method (eCIM) were used to detect the carbapenemase producers. The genes responsible for carbapenemase production were detected by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results: Out of 1265 K. pneumoniae strains isolated, 241 (19 %) isolates showed resistance to any one of the carbapenem antibiotics tested. Phenotypic tests such as CarbaNP, mCIM, and eCIM revealed that 94.6 %, 97.1 %, and 95.4 % of CRKP isolates were carbapenemase producers, respectively. About 66.4 % of CRKP isolates harbored blaNDM, 17.4 % harbored blaOXA-48, and 16.2 % harbored both blaNDM and OXA-48 genes. None of the isolates tested positive for blaKPC, blaVIM, and blaIMP genes. Conclusion: In this study, blaNDM is the most prevalent carbapenemase gene in CRKP isolates. Furthermore, blaOXA-48 and the co-existence of both blaNDM and blaOXA-48 genes were also found. CRKP is emerging as a serious threat among drug-resistant bacterial pathogens which would complicate the treatment of bacterial infections with available antibiotics.

Applying nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture can cause uncontrolled gas emissions, such as N2O and CO2, leading to global warming and serious climate changes. In this study, we evaluated the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) that are concomitant with applying different rates of N fertilization, i.e., 50, 75, 100, and 125% of the recommended dose (727 kg N ha−1) for two cultivars (Balady and Sids-40) of Allium sativum L. grown under three planting dates (15 September, 1 October, and 15 October). For this purpose, two field experiments were carried out during the two growing seasons of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. Treatments were arranged in a split–split plot design with three replicates: planting dates were set up in the main plots, nitrogen levels were conducted in the submain plots, and garlic varieties were in the sub-subplots. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: Planting on 15 September significantly increased vegetative growth parameters (i.e., plant height, leaves area, number of leaves plant−1, and leaves dry weight) and total bulb yield, in both seasons. The application of the highest rate of N (125%) gave significantly higher records for vegetative growth parameters, while the 75% nitrogen treatment appeared to give the highest total bulb yield in both seasons. The means of plant growth characteristics and total bulb yield were significantly increased by the cultivation of the Balady cultivar. In addition, the results show that GHGs were positively correlated with increasing the rate of N fertilization. It could be recommended that planting on 15 September and fertilizing with 75% N fertilizer from the recommended dose for Balady cultivar achieve maximum yield and its components.

Bacteriophage (phage) AP1 has been reported to effectively lyse Acidovorax oryzae, the causative agent of bacterial brown stripe in rice. However, phage AP1 exhibits strain-specific lysis patterns. In order to enhance the potential of phages for biological control of rice bacterial brown stripe, this study investigated the possible mechanism of strain-specific infection by characterizing phage AP1 and its susceptible (RS-2) and resistant (RS-1) strains. Based on the current classification standards and available database information, phage AP1 was classified into the class Caudoviricetes, and it is a kind of podophage. Comparative analysis of the susceptible and resistant strains showed no significant differences in growth kinetics, motility, biofilm formation, or effector Hcp production. Interestingly, the resistant strain demonstrated enhanced virulence compared to the susceptible strain. Prokaryotic expression studies indicated that six putative structural proteins of phage AP1 exhibited varying degrees of binding affinity (1.90–9.15%) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, pull-down assays and bacterial two-hybrid analyses revealed that only gp66 can interact with four host proteins, which were identified as glycosyltransferase, RcnB, ClpB, and ImpB through immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analyses. The role of LPS in the specific infection mechanism of phage AP1 was further elucidated through the construction of knockout mutant strains and complementary strains targeting a unique gene cluster (wbzB, wbzC, wbzE, and wbzF) involved in LPS precursor biosynthesis. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of phage-host specificity, which are crucial for the effective application of phage AP1 in controlling rice bacterial brown stripe.

Objective: To analyse the molecular profile of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from fecal samples of healthy broilers and backyard chickens in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: A total of 115 and 57 bacterial strains were isolated from fecal samples of broiler and backyard chickens, respectively using conventional bacterial culture tests. Bacterial isolates were screened for antibiotic susceptibility by Kirby-Bauer’s disk diffusion method. Colistin susceptibility was tested using the broth microdilution method. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), AmpC β-lactamase and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers were screened by combination disk method. The drug-resistant genes’ positivity was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Escherichia coli was the predominant bacterium isolated from both broiler (53%) and backyard (64.9%) chickens. Bacterial isolates from broilers and backyard chickens showed 100% resistance to ampicillin, piperacillin, and piperacillin-tazobactam. Five bacterial isolates from broiler chickens were resistant to colistin. ESBL producers were 34.7% in broilers and 19.1% in backyard chickens. AmpC production was detected in 44.3% of the isolates from broilers and 26.2% of those from backyard chickens. Molecular analysis revealed that bacterial isolates from broiler chickens were positive for drug-resistant genes such as blaTEM (25%), blaSHV (5%), blaCTX-M (4%), blaAmpC (56%), integron (39%), sul1 (30%), and sul2 (23%). Bacterial isolates from backyard chickens were positive for the blaTEM (22%), blaSHV (14%), blaAmpC (54.3%), and integron (20%) genes. None of the isolates from either broiler or backyard chickens harboured New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (blaNDM) or colistin-resistant genes (mcr-1 to −3). Conclusions: Bacterial isolates from broiler chickens harboured a higher number of drug resistance genes, especially blaTEM, blaCTX-M, sul1, sul2, and integron, than those from backyard chickens.

Abstract This paper deals with the evaluation of novel imidazole molecules for their antimicrobial and larvicidal activities. A series of imidazole derivatives 1(a–f) and 2(a–e) were prepared by the Mannich base technique using a Cu(II) catalyst. The Cu(phen)Cl2 catalyst was found to be more effective than other methods. FTIR, elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy were performed to elucidate the structures of the synthesised compounds. Antimicrobial and larvicidal activities were investigated for all compounds. The antibacterial activity of compounds (2d) and (2a) were highly active in S.aureus (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) and K.pneumoniae (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) compared to ciprofloxacin. Compound (1c) was significantly more effective than clotrimazole in C.albicans (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL). Molecular docking studies of compound 2d showed a higher binding affinity for the 1BDD protein (− 3.4 kcal/mol) than ciprofloxacin (− 4.4 kcal/mol). Compound 1c had a higher binding affinity (− 6.0 kcal/mol) than clotrimazole (− 3.1 kcal/mol) with greater frontier molecular orbital energy and reactivity properties of compound 1c (∆E gap = 0.13 eV). The activity of compound 1a (LD50: 34.9 μg/mL) was more effective in the Culex quinquefasciatus than permethrin (LD50: 35.4 μg/mL) and its molecular docking binding affinity for 3OGN protein (− 6.1 kcal/mol). These newly synthesised compounds can act as lead molecules for the development of larvicides and antibiotic agents.

Abstract Nanotechnology is one of the fastest-growing markets, but developing eco-friendly products, their maximum production, stability, and higher yield is a challenge. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using an easily available resource, leaves extract of the Neem (Azadirachta indica) plant, as a reducing and capping agent, determined their effect on germination and growth of tomato plants. The maximum production of silver nanoparticles was noted at 70 °C after 3 h of reaction time while treating the 10 ml leaf extract of Neem plant with 10 ml of 1 mM silver nitrate. The impact of the extract preparation method and solvent type on the plant mediated fabrication of silver nanoparticles was also investigated. The UV-spectrophotometric analysis confirmed the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and showed an absorption spectrum within Δ420–440 nm range. The size of the fabricated silver nanoparticles was 22–30 nm. The functional groups such as ethylene, amide, carbonyl, methoxy, alcohol, and phenol attached to stabilize the nanoparticles were observed using the FTIR technique. SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses were performed to study the physiochemical characteristics of synthesized nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles increased the germination rate of tomato seeds up to 70% while decreasing the mean germination time compared to the control. Silver nanoparticles applied at varying concentrations significantly increased the shoot length (25 to 80%), root length (10 to 60%), and fresh biomass (10 to 80%) biomass of the tomato plant. The production of total chlorophyll, carotenoid, flavonoids, soluble sugar, and protein was significantly increased in tomato plants treated with 5 and 10 ppm silver nanoparticles compared to the control. Green synthesized silver nanoparticles are cost-effective and nontoxic and can be applied in agriculture, biomedical, and other fields.

Microsporum gypseum is a dermatophyte with a geophilic nature that is found all over the globe. It mainly causes tinea in the scalp, arms, and legs in humans. Squalene epoxidase (SE) is a crucial enzyme in M. gypseum for the biosynthesis of ergosterol. The medicinal plant Balanites aegyptiaca is an abundant supply of secondary constituents with great therapeutic values. In this research, the fruit epicarp portion was used to inhibit M. gypseum using experimental and computational techniques. The anti-dermatophytic activity of epicarp extracts on M. gypseum was evaluated using the poison plate method at five different concentrations. At 3 mg/mL, the M. gypseum was completely controlled by the fractioned chloroform extract of epicarp. The compounds from previous research were utilized for docking studies (Abuthakir et al., 2022). The ideal compounds and the drug terbinafine were then docked using Schrödinger’s Glide module. It demonstrates that (3E)-7-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-octen-1-yl-6-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside outperforms other substances and the drug terbinafine in docking analysis. Desmond, Schrödinger Molecular Dynamics simulations were also performed for (3E)-7-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-octen-1-yl-6-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside-squalene epoxidase complexes. The complex appears to be more stable, according to the MD simulation research. This study indicates that (3E)-7-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-octen-1-yl-6-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside could be used as a potential inhibitor of M. gypseum growth, and it could be studied further.

Background The chickpea pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a significant insect pest of chickpea crops, causing substantial global losses. Methods Field experiments were conducted in Central Punjab, Pakistan, to investigate the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on pod borer population dynamics and infestation in nine kabuli chickpea genotypes during two cropping seasons (2020–2021 and 2021–2022). The crops were sown in November in both years, with row-to-row and plant-to-plant distances of 30 and 15 cm, respectively, following a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results Results showed a significant difference among the tested genotypes in trichome density, pod wall thickness, and leaf chlorophyll contents. Significantly lower larval population (0.85 and 1.10 larvae per plant) and percent damage (10.65% and 14.25%) were observed in genotype Noor-2019 during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively. Pod trichome density, pod wall thickness, and chlorophyll content of leaves also showed significant variation among the tested genotypes. Pod trichome density and pod wall thickness correlated negatively with larval infestation, while chlorophyll content in leaves showed a positive correlation. Additionally, the larval population positively correlated with minimum and maximum temperatures, while relative humidity negatively correlated with the larval population. Study results explore natural enemies as potential biological control agents and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

Objectives: In this study, extracts from eight Pleurotus mushroom species were examined for their antioxidant properties. Methods: The pure cultures of eight Pleurotus were grown, harvested, air-dried, pulverized, and for various biological activities. Results: The methanolic extract of Pleurotus florida showed the highest concentrations of total phenolics, total tannins, and flavonoids. It also displayed the greatest antioxidant activity in the FRAP, ABTS, metal chelating, superoxide anion radicals, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and DPPH assay. In the hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus flabellatus showed notable effects in methanolic and acetone extracts, respectively. Moreover, Pleurotus florida demonstrated a strong antioxidant effect on β-carotene in methanolic extracts. The study also explored the potential of mushrooms as natural anti-diabetic treatments by targeting a key enzyme in biopharmaceuticals. Pleurotus florida's methanolic extract at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml exhibited significant α-amylase inhibition (99.02%), surpassing acarbose's efficiency at the same concentration (96.54%). Conclusion: Overall, the bioactive components from Pleurotus florida showed effective antioxidant and antidiabetic effects under in vitro conditions.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship of H. pylori vacuolating gene in gastric cancer. Methods: H. pyroli strains were isolated from the biopsy specimens collected from 50 patients suspected of gastritis, gastric carcinoma and peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori JK was identified and the virulence gene was determined. The presence of vacuolating cytotoxin A gene was amplified using a polymerase chain reaction. The growth kinetics of the strain JK were evaluated up to 96 h at 37 °C and the culture was used for the determination of VacA gene expression. Results: The screened H. pylori JK was positive for vacA gene and showed heterogeneity among H. pylori. Bacterial growth increased up to 48 h incubation and declined after 48 h. The isolated strain showed maximum growth after 72 h incubation, whereas, the toxic protein reached maximum yield after 96 h incubation and was not associated with growth. It was resistant to antibiotics such as ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, cefalexin, and co-trimoxazole. The intracellular H. pylori culture extracts induced vacuolation in HeLa cell lines in vitro. The isolated H. pylori strain showed more than 43% vacuolating activity after 24 h incubation. Immunoblotting assay revealed the presence of an immuno-reactive protein band in the culture supernatant of H. pylori JK. These results indicated the pathogenic activity of the VacA gene and toxin production. Conclusions: Generally, H. pylori persists for the lifetime of the individual, revealing the significance of eradication from the host.

Many Bacillus species are essential antibacterial agents, but their antibiosis potential still needs to be elucidated to its full extent. Here, we isolated a soil bacterium, BP9, which has significant antibiosis activity against fungal and bacterial pathogens. BP9 improved the growth of wheat seedlings via active colonization and demonstrated effective biofilm and swarming activity. BP9 sequenced genome contains 4282 genes with a mean G-C content of 45.94% of the whole genome. A single copy concatenated 802 core genes of 28 genomes, and their calculated average nucleotide identity (ANI) discriminated the strain BP9 from Bacillus licheniformis and classified it as Bacillus paralicheniformis. Furthermore, a comparative pan-genome analysis of 40 B. paralicheniformis strains suggested that the genetic repertoire of BP9 belongs to open-type genome species. A comparative analysis of a pan-genome dataset using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Cluster of Orthologous Gene groups (COG) revealed the diversity of secondary metabolic pathways, where BP9 distinguishes itself by exhibiting a greater prevalence of loci associated with the metabolism and transportation of organic and inorganic substances, carbohydrate and amino acid for effective inhabitation in diverse environments. The primary secondary metabolites and their genes involved in synthesizing bacillibactin, fencing, bacitracin, and lantibiotics were identified as acquired through a recent Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) event, which contributes to a significant part of the strain`s antimicrobial potential. Finally, we report some genes essential for plant-host interaction identified in BP9, which reduce spore germination and virulence of multiple fungal and bacterial species. The effective colonization, diverse predicted metabolic pathways and secondary metabolites (antibiotics) suggest testing the suitability of strain BP9 as a potential bio-preparation in agricultural fields.

Bacterial brown stripe disease caused by Acidovorax oryzae is a major threat to crop yields, and the current reliance on pesticides for control is unsustainable due to environmental pollution and resistance. To address this, bacterial-based ligands have been explored as a potential treatment solution. In this study, we developed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network for A. oryzae by utilizing shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the STRING database. Using a maximal clique centrality (MCC) approach through CytoHubba and Network Analyzer, we identified hub genes within the PPI network. We then analyzed the genomic data of the top 10 proteins, and further narrowed them down to 2 proteins by utilizing betweenness, closeness, degree, and eigenvector studies. Finally, we used molecular docking to screen 100 compounds against the final two proteins (guaA and metG), and Enfumafungin was selected as a potential treatment for bacterial resistance caused by A. oryzae based on their binding affinity and interaction energy. Our approach demonstrates the potential of utilizing bioinformatics and molecular docking to identify novel drug candidates for precision treatment of bacterial brown stripe disease caused by A. oryzae, paving the way for more targeted and sustainable control strategies. The efficacy of Enfumafungin in inhibiting the growth of A. oryzae strain RS-1 was investigated through both computational and wet lab methods. The models of the protein were built using the Swiss model, and their accuracy was confirmed via a Ramachandran plot. Additionally, Enfumafungin demonstrated potent inhibitory action against the bacterial strain, with an MIC of 100 µg/mL, reducing OD600 values by up to 91%. The effectiveness of Enfumafungin was further evidenced through agar well diffusion assays, which exhibited the highest zone of inhibition at 1.42 cm when the concentration of Enfumafungin was at 100 µg/mL. Moreover, Enfumafungin was also able to effectively reduce the biofilm of A. oryzae RS-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. The swarming motility of A. oryzae RS-1 was also found to be significantly inhibited by Enfumafungin. Further validation through TEM observation revealed that bacterial cells exposed to Enfumafungin displayed mostly red fluorescence, indicating destruction of the bacterial cell membrane.

Termites have become a global concern, and their effective management has remained a challenge since time immemorial. Certain microbial and botanical agents have been used for their management, but their efficacy has been compromised, particularly in field conditions. Hence, the current study was designed to check the efficacy of low doses of different pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos, fipronil, bifenthrin, and chlorantraniliprole, against mortality and behavioral responses of Odontotermes obesus at two different temperatures (16 ± 1 and 26 ± 1°C). The discrete behavioral symptoms included intoxication, ataxia, moribundity, and death. Laboratory-maintained termite workers were exposed to different concentrations of pesticides through a filter paper bioassay. All tested pesticides and their concentrations differed significantly regarding their lethal time (LT50) values compared to the mortality of termite workers. Moreover, the LT50 values of pesticides gradually decreased with increased pesticidal concentrations. Temperature also had a significant effect on the efficacy of tested pesticides as all pesticides showed better results at higher temperatures. At both tested temperatures, chlorantraniliprole (5 ppm) proved to be the most effective pesticide against termite workers. Similarly, the behavioral symptoms also varied depending on pesticides and their administered concentrations and existed for a relatively longer time span at lower temperatures. In most cases, the order of responses was moribundity, followed by intoxication and ataxia. Moribundity and intoxication were the most frequently observed symptoms for chlorpyriphos and bifenthrin-treated termite workers. In the case of fipronil, intoxication was the most pronounced symptom. Similarly, the maximum value of ataxia was recorded in the case of chlorantraniliprole. However, moribund symptoms lasted longer in all tested concentrations of chlorantraniliprole, followed by ataxia and intoxication. The overall order of toxicity was chlorantraniliprole > bifenthrin > fipronil > chlorpyrifos. These pesticides, at their low doses, did not exhibit any repellent action and were not detected by the foraging termite workers. Moreover, their slow action mechanism makes them a suitable candidate for infecting whole colonies away from treated surfaces. Therefore, these pesticides can be successfully incorporated into different integrated termite management programs to keep the plantation free from threatening underground pests.

Amaranth is a nutritionally valuable crop, as it contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, yielding diverse plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) like phytosterol, tocopherols, and carotenoids. This study explored the variations in the contents of seventeen polyphenolic compounds within the leaves of one hundred twenty Amaranthus accessions representing nine Amaranthus species. The investigation entailed the analysis of phenolic content across nine Amaranthus species, specifically A. hypochondriacus, A. cruentus, A. caudatus, A. tricolor, A. dubius, A. blitum, A. crispus, A. hybridus, and A. viridis, utilizing ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (UPLC-PDA). The results revealed significant differences in polyphenolic compounds among accessions in which rutin content was predominant in all Amaranthus species in both 2018 and 2019. Among the nine Amaranthus species, the rutin content ranged from 95.72 ± 199.17 μg g−1 (A. dubius) to 1485.09 ± 679.51 μg g−1 (A. viridis) in 2018 and from 821.59 ± 709.95 μg g−1 (A. tricolor) to 3166.52 ± 1317.38 μg g−1 (A. hypochondriacus) in 2019. Correlation analysis revealed, significant positive correlations between rutin and kaempferol-3-O-β-rutinoside (r = 0.93), benzoic acid and ferulic acid (r = 0.76), and benzoic acid and kaempferol-3-O-β-rutinoside (r = 0.76), whereas gallic acid showed consistently negative correlations with each of the 16 phenolic compounds. Wide variations were identified among accessions and between plants grown in the two years. The nine species and one hundred twenty Amaranthus accessions were clustered into six groups based on their seventeen phenolic compounds in each year. These findings contribute to expanding our understanding of the phytochemical traits of accessions within nine Amaranthus species, which serve as valuable resources for Amaranthus component breeding and functional material development.

The present study validated the green synthesis and characterization of AgNPs using the leaf extracts of Solanum melongena (SM-AgNPs). The efficiency of the phytocompounds in the leaf extract in reducing Ag+ to Ag0 ions was studied. The synthesized SM-AgNPs were characterized by spectroscopic methods and standard methods were adopted for the antioxidant activity, HPTLC, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial assays and pesticidal activity as well. The synthesised nanoparticle was measured to be 20.54 nm which was confirmed by the characterization. The total phenolic content was 5.98 ± 0. GAE/g which indicated potent antioxidant activity. HPTLC profile showed thirteen peaks corresponding to the phenolic compounds with Rf values ranging from 0.05 to 0.95. The average particle size and zeta potential was 75.14 nm-19.8 mV respectively. Cytotoxicity assay of the synthesized AgNP’s showed viability percentage of 50.23 at 100 mg/mL. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cell lines with the SM-AgNPs induced early apoptosis in a greater number of cells. The synthesizedAgNPs were effective against the bacterial isolates Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. High mortality of Bemisiatabaci was observed in the100 µg/mL of the SM-AgNPs treated concentrations. The study demonstrated the efficiency of SM-AgNPs against cancer cell lines, microbial isolates and insect pests.

Under the changing climate due to global warming, various abiotic stresses including drought (D) and salinity (S) are expected to further trigger their devastating effects on the already vulnerable crop production systems. This experiment was designed to unravel and quantify the potential role of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) in mitigating both D and S stresses and their combination (D+S), with three replications using CRD (Completely Randomized Design). The obtained results of the current study demonstrated significant effects of all three types of stresses (D, S, and D+S) on various parameters in Brassica napus plants. Quantifying these parameters provides a more informative and precise understanding of the findings. Current results revealed that all three stress types (D, S, and D+S) resulted in a reduction in leaf area (13.65 to 21.87%), chlorophyll levels (30 to 50%), gaseous exchange rate (30 to 54%) and the concentration of mineral ions compared to non-stressed plants. However, application of SA helped in mitigating these stresses by ameliorating the negative effects of these stresses. Moreover, Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, an indicator of lipid per-oxidation and oxidative stress, the levels of antioxidants, proline content, an osmolyte associated with stress tolerance, and sugar content in the leaves were elevated in response to all stress conditions. In addition, the ultra-structures within the leaves were negatively affected by the stresses, while an application of SA considerably minimized the deterioration of these structures thus providing protection to the brassica plants against the stresses. In a nutshell, the findings of this study suggest that SA application in S, D and S+ D stresses provides evasion to the plants by improving different physiological and growth indices. The application of Salicylic Acid (SA) mitigated the negative effects of the stresses on all the above parameters, reducing MDA contents (47%), antioxidants (11 to 20%), proline (28%), sugar contents (20.50%), and minimizing the deterioration of ultra-structures. The findings emphasize the potential mitigatory role of SA in mitigating D and S stresses and highlight the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms in detail and explore its practical application in farming practices.

Green nanomaterial manufacture limits hazardous substances and encourages noxious-free environments. The fields of photocatalysis and antibacterial resistance are more promising because of their chemical reductants and sterile environments. Here, we used Hibiscus Cannabinus seed as a bio source and developed a simple, environmentally friendly approach for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. Researchers and scientists have recently shown a strong interest in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles due to their ease, eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, low cost, and ability to function as an antibacterial agent. Research goals include producing environmentally friendly, bacteriocidal, and photocatalytic dye removal products that can be applied to biomedical and water reuse applications. In this paper, we have reported spherical-shaped silver nanoparticles synthesized from Hibiscus cannabinus seeds and their characterization by X-ray Diffraction method, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Micrograph. The surface functionalization of prepared silver particles by phenolic compounds in Hibiscus cannabinus seeds enhances antibacterial activity. Both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are inhibited by the prepared silver nanoparticles. By preparing silver nanoparticles at a significantly higher extract concentration, we were able to obtain effective and increased bactericidal activity. The photocatalytic degradation of congo red by prepared silver particles was studied under 150 min of UV light irradiation. The produced silver nanoparticles' structural, optical, morphological, compositional, and bactericidal activity are all shown to be dependent on the concentration of Hibiscus cannabinus seeds extract that is attached to the silver surface.

The global population growth has led to a higher demand for food production, necessitating improvements in agricultural productivity. However, abiotic and biotic stresses pose significant challenges, reducing crop yields and impacting economic and social welfare. Drought, in particular, severely constrains agriculture, resulting in unproductive soil, reduced farmland, and jeopardized food security. Recently, the role of cyanobacteria from soil biocrusts in rehabilitating degraded land has gained attention due to their ability to enhance soil fertility and prevent erosion. The present study focused on Nostoc calcicola BOT1, an aquatic, diazotrophic cyanobacterial strain collected from an agricultural field at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The aim was to investigate the effects of different dehydration treatments, specifically air drying (AD) and desiccator drying (DD) at various time intervals, on the physicochemical properties of N. calcicola BOT1. The impact of dehydration was assessed by analyzing the photosynthetic efficiency, pigments, biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, osmoprotectants), stress biomarkers, and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Furthermore, an analysis of the metabolic profiles of 96-hour DD and control mats was conducted using UHPLC-HRMS. Notably, there was a significant decrease in amino acid levels, while phenolic content, fatty acids, and lipids increased. These changes in metabolic activity during dehydration highlighted the presence of metabolite pools that contribute to the physiological and biochemical adjustments of N. calcicola BOT1, mitigating the impact of dehydration to some extent. Overall, present study demonstrated the accumulation of biochemical and non-enzymatic antioxidants in dehydrated mats, which could be utilized to stabilize unfavorable environmental conditions. Additionally, the strain N. calcicola BOT1 holds promise as a biofertilizer for semi-arid regions.

Objective: The main objective of current investigation was to develop a predictive disease model based upon meteorological data, viz., maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and wind speed to predict stripe rust severity (%). Methods: Five years' data of stripe rust severity on three wheat varieties, namely SA-42, Sandal-73, and Barani-70, continuously cultivated for five years (2013–2017), were collected from experimental trials of Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Layyah to develop a predictive disease model. For validation of the model, a research trial was conducted in the Research Area of the Department of Plant Pathology, Bahadar Sub-Campus Layyah, during the crop seasons of 2018–2019, following procedures similar to those utilized in five years investigation. The data on epidemiological variables used in the present investigation was collected from the Pakistan Meteorological Observatory at Karor-Layyah. To evaluate the association between meteorological factors and disease severity correlation and regression analysis was performed. Results: All meteorological variables contributed significantly in disease development and showed 89 % variability in stripe rust severity (%). Root means square error (RMSE) and residual (%) were used to evaluate the model's predictions. Both indices were below 20, showing that the model could accurately predict the progression of disease. The regression equations of 5 years model (Y = -63.11 + 0.96x1 + 1.72x2 + 3.72x3 + 0.43x4) and 2 years model (Y = -40.2 + 1.80x1 + 1.18x2 + 2.29x3 + 0.39x4) validated each other. Scatter plots indicated that environmental factors such as maximum temperature (12.8–22.5 °C), minimum temperature (8.7–14.8 °C), relative humidity (50–85 %), and wind speed (1.3–4.5) influenced the progression of stripe rust epidemic. Conclusion: Understanding the epidemiology of stripe rust will help us to forecast its progression, allowing wheat growers to more precisely adapt plant protection measures.

Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne fungal pathogen that causes vascular wilt diseases in a wide range of economically important crops, including eggplant. Trichoderma spp. are effective biological control agents that suppress a wide range of plant pathogens through a variety of mechanisms, including mycoparasitism. However, the molecular mechanisms of mycoparasitism of Trichoderma spp. in the degradation of microsclerotia of V. dahliae are not yet fully understood. In this study, the ability of 15 isolates of Trichoderma to degrade microsclerotia of V. dahliae was evaluated using a dual culture method. After 15 days, isolate HZA14 showed the greatest potential for microsclerotial degradation. The culture filtrate of isolate HZA14 also significantly inhibited the mycelial growth and conidia germination of V. dahliae at different dilutions. Moreover, this study showed that T. virens produced siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In disease control tests, T. virens HZA14 reduced disease severity in eggplant seedlings by up to 2.77%, resulting in a control efficacy of 96.59% at 30 days after inoculation. Additionally, inoculation with an HZA14 isolate increased stem and root length and fresh and dry weight, demonstrating plant growth promotion efficacy. To further investigate the mycoparasitism mechanism of T. virens HZA14, transcriptomics sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of T. virens HZA14 at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days of the interaction with microsclerotia of V. dahliae. In contrast to the control group, the mycoparasitic process of T. virens HZA14 exhibited differential gene expression, with 1197, 1758, 1936, and 1914 genes being up-regulated and 1191, 1963, 2050, and 2114 genes being down-regulated, respectively. Among these genes, enzymes associated with the degradation of microsclerotia, such as endochitinase A1, endochitinase 3, endo-1,3-beta-glucanase, alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase, laccase-1, and peroxidase were predicted based on bioinformatics analysis. The RT-qPCR results confirmed the RNA-sequencing data, showing that the expression trend of the genes was consistent. These results provide important information for understanding molecular mechanisms of microsclerotial degradation and integrated management of Verticillium wilt in eggplant and other crops.

We have designed an easy, affordable, and eco-friendly technique for Schiff base preparation of vanillin-coupled piperidine analogues using CuO NPs as a catalyst. Using a green chemistry strategy using copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) as a catalyst, a unique one-pot synthesis of Schiff base vanillin-linked piperidine derivatives (2, 2a-2j) may be generated, with a potential yield in a short reaction time. The CuO NPs were synthesized with the aloe vera extract. The newly synthesized piperidin-4-ylidene analogues were investigated using FT-IR, NMR (1H, 13C), mass spectra, and elemental analysis. The morphology of piperidine derivatives was studied using XRD and TEM. The compound 2a-2j was evaluated for antibacterial activity against gram +ve and gram −ve bacteria. Compound 2d is exceptionally active against (5.0 μg/mL, E. coli), and 2c is very effective against (4.0 μg/mL, L. plantarum) when compared to reference drug and other Schiff base of vanillin-associated piperidine derivatives. Finally, we concluded the compounds 2c and 2d have strong antibacterial activity and can be used as antibacterial drugs in the future.

The effectiveness of all antibiotics in the β-lactam group to cure bacterial infections has been impaired by the introduction of the New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) enzyme. Attempts have been made to discover a potent chemical as an inhibitor to this enzyme in order to restore the efficacy of antibiotics. However, it has been a challenging task to develop broad-spectrum inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases. Lack of sequence homology across metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), the rapidly evolving active site of the enzyme, and structural similarities between human enzymes and metallo-β-lactamases, are the primary causes for the difficulty in the development of these inhibitors. Therefore, it is imperative to concentrate on the discovery of an effective NDM-1 inhibitor. This study used various in silico approaches, including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate the potential of phytochemicals to inhibit the NDM-1 enzyme. For this purpose, a library of about 59,000 phytochemicals was created from the literature and other databases, including FoodB, IMPPAT, and Phenol-Explorer. A physiochemical and pharmacokinetics analysis was performed to determine possible toxicity and mutagenicity of the ligands. Following the virtual screening, phytochemicals were assessed for their binding with NDM-1using docking scores, RMSD values, and other critical parameters. The docking score was determined by selecting the best conformation of the protein–ligand complex. Three phytochemicals, i.e., butein (polyphenol), monodemethylcurcumin (polyphenol), and rosmarinic acid (polyphenol) were identified as result of pharmacokinetics and molecular docking studies. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to determine structural stabilities of the protein–ligand complexes. Monodemethylcurcumin, butein, and rosmarinic acid were identified as potential inhibitors of NDM-1 based on their low RMSD, RMSF, hydrogen bond count, average Coulomb–Schrödinger interaction energy, and Lennard–Jones–Schrödinger interaction energy. The present investigation suggested that these phytochemicals might be promising candidates for future NDM-1 medication development to respond to antibiotic resistance.

High concentrations of graphene oxide (GO), a nanoparticle substance with rapid manufacturing development, have the ability to penetrate the soil surface down to the mineral-rich subsurface layers. The destiny and distribution of such an unusual sort of nanomaterial in the environment must therefore be fully understood. However, the way the chemistry of solutions impacts GO nanoparticle adsorption on clay minerals is still unclear. Here, the adsorption of GO on clay minerals (e.g., bentonite and kaolinite) was tested under various chemical conditions (e.g., GO concentration, soil pH, and cation valence). Non-linear Langmuir and Freundlich models have been applied to describe the adsorption isotherm by comparing the amount of adsorbed GO nanoparticle to the concentration at the equilibrium of the solution. Our results showed fondness for GO in bentonite and kaolinite under similar conditions, but the GO nanoparticle adsorption with bentonite was superior to kaolinite, mainly due to its higher surface area and surface charge. We also found that increasing the ionic strength and decreasing the pH increased the adsorption of GO nanoparticles to bentonite and kaolinite, mainly due to the interaction between these clay minerals and GO nanoparticles’ surface oxygen functional groups. Experimental data fit well to the non-linear pseudo-second-order kinetic model of Freundlich. The model of the Freundlich isotherm was more fitting at a lower pH and higher ionic strength in the bentonite soil while the lowest R2 value of the Freundlich model was recorded at a higher pH and lower ionic strength in the kaolinite soil. These results improve our understanding of GO behavior in soils by revealing environmental factors influencing GO nanoparticle movement and transmission towards groundwater.

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a destructive disease that causes significant yield losses in wheat production worldwide, including in Egypt. The use of biocontrol agents is among the best eco-friendly management strategies to control this disease, as they are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than traditional chemical control methods. In a comparative analysis, antioxidant enzyme activity and various management approaches were compared with two bacterial biocontrol agents, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida. This study showed the remarkable efficacy of endophytic bacteria, B. subtilis and P. putida, in mitigating wheat stripe rust infection across three wheat varieties, namely Misr1, Gimmeiza11, and Sids12. B. subtilis exhibited superior performance compared to P. putida, resulting in infection types of 1 and 2.66, respectively, following inoculation. The highest reduction rate was observed with Tilit fungicide (500 ppm), followed by B. subtilis and Salicylic acid (1000 ppm), respectively. Variations in wheat varieties’ response to Pst infection were observed, with Misr1 exhibiting the lowest infection and Sids12 showing high susceptibility. Among the tested inducers, Salicylic acid demonstrated the greatest reduction in disease infection, followed by Indole acetic acid, while Oxalic acid exhibited the lowest decrease. Additionally, the study evaluated the activities of five antioxidant enzymes, including Catalase, Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POX), in the wheat-stripe rust interaction under different integrated management approaches. The wheat variety Misr1 treated with Tilit (500 ppm), B. subtilis, Salicylic acid, Montoro (500 ppm), and P. putida exhibited the highest increase in all enzymatic activities. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of B. subtilis and P. putida as biocontrol agents for wheat stripe rust control in Egypt, emphasizing their potential role in sustainable, integrated, and environmentally friendly management practices.

Among abiotic stresses, salinity is a significant limiting factor affecting agricultural productivity, survival, and production, resulting in significant economic losses. Considering the salinity problem, the goal of this study was to identify a halotolerant beneficial soil bacterium to circumvent salinity-induced phytotoxicity. Here, strain KR-17 (having an irregular margin; a mucoid colony; Gm-ve short rod; optimum temperature, 30°C; pH 7.0; no any pigmentation; showed a positive response to citrate utilization, catalase, starch, sucrose, lactose, and dextrose, etc.) recovered from rhizosphere soils of the potato-cultivating field, tolerated surprisingly a high (18% NaCl; 3.-M concentration) level of salt and identified as Kosakonia radicincitans (Accession No. OM348535). This strain was discovered to be metabolically active, synthesized essential PGP bioactive molecules like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore (iron-chelating compounds), ACC deaminase, and ammonia, the quantity of which, however, increased with increasing NaCl concentrations. Here, Raphanus sativus L. (radish) was taken as a model crop to evaluate the adverse impact of NaCl, as well as salinity alleviation by halotolerant K. radicincitans. Salinity-induced toxicity to R. sativus was increased in a dose-dependent way, as observed both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Maximum NaCl levels (15%) demonstrated more extreme harm and considerably reduced the plant's biological features. However, membrane damage, relative leaf water content (RLWC), stressor metabolites, and antioxidant enzymes were increased as NaCl concentration increased. In contrast, halotolerant K. radicincitans KR-17 relieved salinity stress and enhanced the overall performance of R. sativus (L.) by increasing germination efficiency, dry biomass, and leaf pigments even in salt-challenged conditions. Additionally, KR-17 inoculation significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved plant mineral nutrients (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, P, and N). Following inoculation, strain KR-17 enhanced the protein, carbohydrates, root pigments, amino acids (AsA and Lys), lipids, and root alkaloids in R. sativus (L.). Besides these, due to PGPR seed priming in NaCl-stressed/non-stressed conditions, membrane damage, RLWC, stressor metabolites, and antioxidant defense enzymes were dramatically reduced. The strong biofilm-forming capacity of K. radicincitans could result in both in vitro and in vivo colonization under NaCl stress. Conclusively, halotolerant K. radicincitans KR-17 may probably be investigated affordably as the greatest way to increase the production of radish under salinity-stressed soils.

Plant-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional chemical synthesis methods. In this context, the aim of the present study was to synthesize Ag-NPs from Cassia fistula (L.) leaf extract and to evaluate their nano-pesticidal potential against major phyto-pathogens of tomato. From the data, it was found that particle size of spherical C. fistula leaf synthesized (Ag@CfL-NPs) varied from 10 to 20 nm, with the average diameter of 16 nm. Ag@CfL-NPs were validated and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (surface resonance peak λmax = 430 nm), energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and electron microscopy; scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The FTIR spectra verified the participation of various living molecules (aromatic/aliphatic moieties and proteins) in synthesized Ag@CfL-NPs. The anti-phytopathogenic potential of Ag@CfL-NPs was assessed under in vitro conditions. Increasing doses of Ag@CfL-NPs exhibited an inhibitory effect against bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae and 400 μg Ag@CfL-NPs ml–1 caused a reduction in cellular viability, altered bacterial morphology, and caused cellular death Furthermore, Ag@CfL-NPs reduced exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and biofilm formation by P. syringae Additionally, Ag@CfL-NPs showed pronounced antifungal activity against major fungal pathogens. At 400 μg Ag@CfL-NPs ml–1, sensitivity of tested fungi followed the order: Fusarium oxysporum (76%) > R. solani (65%) > Sarocladium (39%). Furthermore, 400 μg Ag@CfL-NPs ml–1 inhibited the egg-hatching and increased larval mortality of Meloidogyne incognita by 82 and 65%, respectively, over control. Moreover, pot studies were performed to assess the efficacy of Ag@CfL-NPs to phyto-pathogens using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as a model crop. The applied phyto-pathogens suppressed the biological, physiological, and oxidative-stress responsiveness of tomatoes. However, 100 mg Ag@CfL-NPs kg–1 improved overall performance and dramatically increased the root length, dry biomass, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity over pathogens-challenged tomatoes. This study is anticipated to serve as an essential indication for synthesis of efficient nano-control agents, which would aid in the management of fatal phyto-pathogens causing significant losses to agricultural productivity. Overall, our findings imply that Ag@CfL-NPs as nano-pesticides might be used in green agriculture to manage the diseases and promote plant health in a sustainable way.

Some endophyte bacteria can improve plant growth and suppress plant diseases. However, little is known about the potential of endophytes bacteria to promote wheat growth and suppress the Fusarium seedling blight pathogen Fusarium graminearum. This study was conducted to isolate and identify endophytic bacteria and evaluate their efficacy for the plant growth promotion and disease suppression of Fusarium seedling blight (FSB) in wheat. The Pseudomonas poae strain CO showed strong antifungal activity in vitro and under greenhouse conditions against F. graminearum strain PH-1. The cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of P. poae strain CO were able to inhibit the mycelium growth, the number of colonies forming, spore germination, germ tube length, and the mycotoxin production of FSB with an inhibition rate of 87.00, 62.25, 51.33, 69.29, and 71.08%, respectively, with the highest concentration of CFSs. The results indicated that P. poae exhibited multifarious antifungal properties, such as the production of hydrolytic enzymes, siderophores, and lipopeptides. In addition, compared to untreated seeds, wheat plants treated with the strain showed significant growth rates, where root and shoot length increased by about 33% and the weight of fresh roots, fresh shoots, dry roots, and dry shoots by 50%. In addition, the strain produced high levels of indole-3-acetic acid, phosphate solubilization, and nitrogen fixation. Finally, the strain demonstrated strong antagonistic properties as well as a variety of plant growth-promoting properties. Thus, this result suggest that this strain could be used as an alternate to synthetic chemicals, which can serve as an effective method of protecting wheat from fungal infection.

Microbial degradation is an effective, eco-friendly and sustainable approach for management of the rice residue. After harvesting a rice crop, removal of stubble from the ground is a challenging task, that forces the farmers to burn the residue in-situ. Therefore, accelerated degradation using an eco-friendly alternative is a necessity. White rot fungi are the most explored group of microbes for accelerated degradation of lignin but they are very slow in growth. The present investigation focuses on degradation of rice stubble using a fungal consortium constructed with highly sporulating ascomycetes fungi, namely, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria spp. All three species were successful at colonizing the rice stubble. Periodical HPLC analysis of rice stubble alkali extracts revealed that incubation with ligninolytic consortium released various lignin degradation products such as vanillin, vanillic acid, coniferyl alcohol, syringic acid and ferulic acid. The efficiency of the consortium was further studied at different dosages on paddy straw. Maximum lignin degradation was observed when the consortium was applied at 15% volume by weight of rice stubble. Maximum activity of different lignolytic enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, laccase and total phenols was also found with the same treatment. FTIR analysis also supported the observed results. Hence, the presently developed consortium for degrading rice stubble was found to be effective in both laboratory and field conditions. The developed consortium or its oxidative enzymes can be used alone or combined with other commercial cellulolytic consortia to manage the accumulating rice stubble effectively.

Background: This work is development of new molecules of isoniazid derivatives as dealing with potential of antimicrobial activity against clinical pathogens causing infectious disease. Antimicrobial of novel Mannich base derivatives can be achieved via one-pot synthesis in green chemistry approach. This method offers efficient, mild reaction conditions and high yields. In this study, totally 12 compounds (1a–l) was prepared and screened for cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Materials and methods: Newly synthesised compounds were conformed via FT- IR, 1H, and 13C NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), and mass spectra analysis. All compounds were checked antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. All compounds were checked against antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus niger, and Microsporum audouinii. All compounds were screened for cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) cancer cell line. Result: The compound 1g was highly (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) active against gram-negative bacterial of P. aeruginosa, whereas other compounds 1e and 1h were more active (MIC: 2 μg/mL) in K. pneumoniae and also 1g (MIC: 2 μg/mL) was more active in E. faecalis than standard ciprofloxacin. Antifungal screening, the compound 1b was highly active (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) against C. albicance, 1g (MIC: 2 μg/mL) and 1h (MIC: 4 μg/mL) was significant of active against A. fumigatus, and the compound 1c (MIC: 4 μg/mL) was extremely active in M. audouinii than clotrimazole. Compound 1g (GI50 = 0.01 μM) exhibited high activity against the MCF-7 cell line, while 1b (GI50 = 0.02 μM) was equipotent active compared with standard doxorubicin. Conclusion: A novel set of isoniazid derivatives (1a–l) and 1h were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. We found some highly active molecules, which are evidencing to be a potential treatment of bacterial and fungal infection candidates.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that neutrally occurs in soil. It is carcinogenic in humans and caused a significant decline in the plant’s growth when up has taken beyond the threshold limit. The fertilizers, manure, sewage sludge, and aerial deposition are the main source of cadmium contamination in soil. Furthermore, poor soil organic matter is also one of the allied factors which facilitate the development of Cd toxicity in soil. The decomposition resistance nature of biochar makes it an effective amendment for cadmium remediation. Through crop production, Cd enters the food system. Individual studies on biochar and compost are found in the literature but the combined effect of biochar and compost are rarely documented especially in maize crops. The current pot study was conducted in Pesticide Quality Control Laboratory, Multan, Pakistan. However, the current study was novel and conducted by using compost mixed biochar (CB) against Cd toxicity in maize. Four application rates of CB i.e., 0, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% (1.00CB) were applied under 3 levels of Cd i.e., 0 (0Cd), 2.5 (2.5Cd) and 5 mg Cd kg−1 soil (5.0Cd). Overall, results indicated that 1.00%CB remained significantly best at higher 5.0Cd for improvement in soil organic matter, plant height, root length, number of leaves, leaves fresh and dry weight, plant fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoids. A significant decrease in soil pHs, leaves anthocyanin and lycopene also validated the efficacious functioning of 1.00%CB over control in 2.5 and 5.0Cd. In conclusion, the use of 1.00%CB is a better approach to decrease Cd harmful effects to improve gas exchange attributes, growth and chlorophyll contents in maize. Long-term research is required on co-composted biochar toward mitigation of cadmium toxicity under different geographical locations.

The use of nitrogen fertilizers to enhance crop growth tends to increase every year. In addition, as eco-friendly agriculture is emphasized, organic fertilizers are preferred over inorganic fertilizers. However, since most of organic fertilizers in South Korea use imported ingredients, an alternative ingredients is needed. Biochar is an eco-friendly way to recycle various biomass and has a high pH and carbon contents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of individual and co-application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on ammonia (NH3) volatilization and soil quality. Organic fertilizers used in this study were divided into conventional organic fertilizers (CF1 and CF2) and biochar-based organic fertilizers (BF). As a result of the experiment, NH3 volatilization and soil quality were significantly affected by the inorganic fertilizers. Also, NH3 volatilization effected by inorganic fertilizer was rapidly increased between 4 and 7 days. When different organic fertilizers were treated, NH3 emissions by BF was highest at 17.49 and 28.97 kg ha−1 compared to CF1 and CF2, but no statistically significant different was observed. A similar trend was appeared when organic and inorganic fertilizers was co-applied. Therefore, biochar-based organic fertilizers are similar to conventional organic fertilizers in terms of soil quality and NH3 volatilization, but it is expected to contribute to the formation of a stable fertilizer market by reducing the percentage of imported ingredients.

Antibacterial activities of Boerhaavia diffusa leaves (BDL) mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were studied. UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopic (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies of the synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed too. As the concentration of Boerhaavia diffusa leaf (BDL) extract increases, a full width half maximum value decreased and blue shift observed from 427 to 420 nm in the UV–vis spectrum. The XRD confirmed the nanoparticles' high crystallinity and the average nanoparticle size calculated was 14 nm. TEM result reveals that the AgNPs are spherical in shape and the particle sizes range from 6.33 nm to 24.9 nm. The average size of AgNPs was determined to be 13.27 nm which is close to the particle size determined by XRD. EDS shows a prominent peak at 3 kev, indicating that elemental silver is a major component in the reaction medium. The produced nanoparticles were well dispersed and almost spherical in shape. The silver nanoparticles produced at higher concentration of BDL extract against Gram negative pathogen Salmonella typhi, showed higher zone of inhibition (23 mm) compared to Staphylococcus aureus (21 mm). This biosynthetic method for generating silver nanoparticles prepared in the present work has discrete compensations over chemical reduction synthesis procedures, including great biosafety, ecofriendliness and nontoxicity to the environment.

Objectives: The present study was aimed to synthesize Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) from ethanol extract of Allium sativum to evaluate the in-vitro cytotoxicity effect on human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549). Methods: Spetroscopic analysis were performed to determine the formation, stability, nature and the functional groups of the Ag NPs. Microscopic analysis were performed to ascertain the morphology and size of the particles. In-vitro MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay was performed to determine the cytotoxic potential of the Ag NPs on A549 lung cancer cell lines. Results: The UV–Visble spectrum confirmed the formation of the particles. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum revealed the presence of carbonyl, carboxyl, primary and secondary amine groups. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) established the crystalline nature and FCC structure of Ag NPs. Morphological analysis performed using Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) pattern showed spherical and rod shaped bio synthesized Ag NPs with variable size ranging from 20 nm to 40 nm. The synthesized Ag NPs showed a significant cytotoxic potential against A549 human lung cancer cells at an IC50 of 22 μg/ml. Conclusion: The present study revealed a cost-effective, simple and effective method to synthesize Ag NPs using garlic extract and the cytotoxic activity on human adenocarcinoma cells (A549) demonstrated their future application as potential anti-cancer agent.

Background: Search for options that can overcome microorganism’s resistance to traditional drugs, has shifted the focus towards plant-based molecules and extracts. Latest developments in plant-based nanomaterials have further expanded the role of plant extracts since nano particle - plant extract combinations are shown to possess enhanced biological activity and reduced toxicity to human cells. In the present study, facile, one-pot synthesis of nearly monodispersed gold nanoparticles was developed using Clerodin enriched Clerodendrum infortunatum ethanolic leaf extract under ambient conditions. The synthesized gold nanoparticles were evaluated for broad spectrum anti-microbial activity as well as compatibility with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods: Clerodin enriched fraction from C. infortunatum leaves ethanol extract was used to synthesize gold nanoparticle from chloroauric acid. Synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized and tested for broad spectrum anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the standard broth dilution method. Cytotoxicity of the gold nanoparticles was evaluated against human monocyte leukemic cells (THP-I) and healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells. MTT and FACS based Annexin V/FITC-PI assays were used to study its cytotoxic effect. Results: TEM analysis showed an average diameter of 33 ± 5 nm for the synthesized nanoparticles. EDX validated the presence of elemental Au (98.8%) and confirmed its nano form. Antimicrobial assay of gold nanoparticles showed significant inhibitory effect in all the tested pathogens. Additionally, MTT and Annexin-V/ PI assay demonstrated the cytotoxic activity of the nanoparticles against THP-I cells. Interestingly, nanoparticles did not show cytotoxicity against healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Conclusion: Gold nanoparticles generated in an eco-friendly process using Clerodin enriched fractions showed promising broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Simultaneously, they proved themselves to be benign against healthy human cells indicating potential therapeutic applications. Added benefit for the nanoparticles was, they had anti-proliferative effects against human leukemic monocyte cancer (THP-I) cells.

Objectives: Mycosynthesis offers a benevolent alternative for the synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) when compared to the conventional physical and chemical methods. Fungi secrete enormous amounts of proteins and enzymes that act as reducing and capping agents in AgNPs synthesis. Methods: AgNPs were synthesized using extracellular fungal extract of Fusarium incarnatum. The reaction mixture was optimized using different parameters to obtain better yield. Anti-melanogenic activity of fungal extract, AgNPs and standard drug (Kojic acid) was evaluated against Human skin melanoma SK-MEL-3 cells. AgNPs were synthesized at 30 °C, pH 5 and 1 mM AgNO3 concentration. Then optimization and the characterization were done by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, Zeta potential and H-TEM techniques. Results: The average size of AgNPs was 10 nm and predominantly spherical in shape. Myco-synthesized AgNPs showed significant anti-melanogenic activity against human skin melanoma SK-MEL-3 cells with an IC50 value of 17.70 μg/ml. The concentration of AgNPs required to inhibit SK-MEL-3 cells was lower than the concentrations of F. incarnatum extract and standard Kojic acid. Conclusion: Spherical AgNPs with and average size of 4 nm were synthesized using fungal extract of F. incarnatum. Mycosynthesized AgNPs can be considered as effective anti-melanogenic agents owing to their impressive activity against skin melanoma.

Oxidative stress causes disruption of cell macromolecules and resulting neurodegeneration when the antioxidant defense mechanism is inhibited. Oxidative stress is emerging as a key therapeutic target for nerve agent toxicity. Therefore, antioxidant treatment methods are a novel and effective approach to attenuate oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. This study evaluated the neuroprotective and antioxidant ability of a short peptide, RW20 derived from histone acetyltransferases (HATs).Using bioinformatics tools, the short amino acid sequence of RF13 peptide with antioxidant activity was predicted from HAT of Channa striatus transcriptome. The synthesized antioxidant peptide at various concentrations (10–50 μM) was analyzed in in vitro and in vivo antioxidant assay. The neuroprotective effect of RF13 peptide was evaluated in H2O2 stressed zebrafish larvae.The results showed the neuroprotective effect by restoring antioxidant enzymes including SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, and GST treated with RW20. In addition, the oxidative stress indicator of lipid peroxidation was gradually declined with an increase in the concentration of peptides. It was also shown to attenuate neuronal damage by inhibiting nitric oxide overproduction, thus increasing AChE activity. Further, to validate the neuroprotective effect of RW20, the intracellular ROS level and apoptosis in the zebrafish larvae were analyzed by incubating the larvae along with RW20, which decreased intracellular ROS level and reduced the cell death.Overall, the study demonstrated that RW20 possessed prominent antioxidant activity. Hence, we conclude that RW20 can be developed as a potent therapeutic agent against oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective: Abutilon indicum is a medicinal plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. The current study has been developed to detect Abutilon indicum bio-activity to produce an adequate drug design for cancer. Methods: The objective of this work is to perform molecular docking and dynamics as well as inhibitors and cancer cell line studies of Abutilon indicum would be essentially effective to use current strong medicines from oncology therapies. Results: By Docking best finding binding energy −12.02 kcal/mol (ARG310, ASP323, SER291, THR358, GLU293) amino acid has been found to be immersed in the formation of the hydrogen interaction. This finding also indicates that a range of compounds are ADMET positive drug molecules in cancer studies. Network pharmacology showed that the signal rule ERG, PTEN, NKX31, AR, ETV4, STAT3, PTPN11, CBL, KRAS, EREG, STAT3, GRB2, HRAS, and SHC1, and the axis of DRD2. Molecular simulation trajectories show that RMS deviation profiles were relatively stable during the simulation and it indicated the orientations were created by the docking studies. In cell lines MCF-7, the active compound R-N-1′-methoxycarbonyl-2′-phenylethyl-4-hydroxy benzamide has anticancer inhibitory 76.56% at 100 μg/mL. The ASP323 interaction of EGFR inhibitors interaction molecules were derived that can be successfully used to explain the cancer activities. Conclusion: The results of pharmacodynamic and toxicity for natural organic derived compound and its active results epidermal growth factor receptor for identifying novel drugs for the treatment confirms compound moderate to a good cancer drug.

The present study involves isolation of Streptomyces spp. from rhizosphere of Coscinium fenestratum Gaertn, an endangered medicinal plant from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Four potential isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Streptomyces sp. RHPR3, Streptomyces puniceus RHPR9, Streptomyces sp. RHPR14 and Streptomyces mediolani RHPR25. An enrichment culture method was used for the isolation of Streptomyces spp. for biosurfactant activity. Among four potential Streptomyces spp., S. puniceus RHPR9 showed highest Emulsification index (EI) (78±0.2%) and Emulsification assay (EA) (223±0.2 EU mL-1). Thin layer chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometric analysis revealed that as glycolipid. Further confirmed by presence of fatty acids like hexanoic acid methyl ester, decanoic acid by Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. S. puniceus RHPR9 showed a significant IAA production (41μg mL-1), solubilized P (749.1 μg mL-1), growth promotion of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was evaluated using paper towel method and greenhouse conditions. S. puniceus RHPR9 showed a significant increase in seed vigor index (2047) and increase in plant biomass (65%) when compared to uninoculated control. To our knowledge, this is the first report on epiphytic S. puniceus RHPR9 isolated from an endangered medicinal plant C. fenestratum Gaertn, for biosurfactant production and plant growth promotion activities.