Antifungal Testing Research Articles

Anticandidosis activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Harungana madagascariensis, Zanthoxylum leprieurii and Xylopia aethiopica

Some ailments have been cured either by the use of plant parts or by mixing different plant parts (recipes). It is with this in mind that this study originated, focusing on the valorization of plants from the African pharmacopoeia. Thus, the activity of single extracts and aqueous and hydroalcoholic mixtures of the bark and leaves of Harungana madagascariensis, the bark of Zanthoxylum leprieurii and the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica was evaluated on the in vitro growth of Candida strains (Candida albicans 18650 and Candida albicans 18792 and Candida glabrata). Antifungal tests were carried out by plating 1,000 cells of each fungal germ on Sabouraud agar medium using the double dilution slant tube method. Deth70% extract inhibited the growth of Candida albicans 18650 and Candida albicans 18792 at an FMC value of 25 mg/mL, and Candida glabrata at an FMC value of 50 mg/mL. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of chemical compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, saponosides, gallic and catechic tannins and the absence of sterols.

Phytochemical Screening and Antifungal Evaluation of Leaf Extracts of Nephrolepis undulata Afzel. Ex Sw. (Nephrolepidaceae) against selected Fungi

Nephrolepis undulata (sword fern) is a medicinal plant used traditionally for treatment of various ailments including stomach ache, infections and cough. Therefore, the objective of this study is to undertake a phytochemical screening and antifungal activity evaluation of leaf extracts of Nephrolepis undulata Afzel. Ex Sw. (Nephrolepidaceae) against selected fungi (Aspergilus fumigatus, Rhodotorula mucilagenosa, Trichophyton rubrum, Mucor indicus, Candida parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans) using appropriate methods. Phytochemical screening was done using standard methods of analyses while antifungal evaluation of the extracts was done using the agar diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthracene derivative, carbohydrate, flavonoid and saponin in the methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts. Tannins was present in the methanol extract but absent in chloroform and petroleum ether extracts. The antifungal sensitivity test revealed that the extracts had concentration dependent inhibitory activities against the clinical isolates used in the study; with the methanol extract having the best and broadest spectrum of activity. It had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.3 mg/mL against A. fumigatus. However, its activity was only next to Ketoconazole, the reference drug. The extracts contained active phytochemicals which may be responsible for the varied antifungal actions of the extracts. These positive finding validates the ethnomedicinal application of the plant in the management of various ailments and further demonstrates the applicability of the plant as a possible raw material, in the pharmaceutical industry.

Antifungal activity test of nanosilver combination with lip balm cosmetic preparation

Nanosilveris is a silver-based material with nanometer particle sizes (1-100 nm) predicted to be antifungal or an alternative to preservatives in lip balm preparations that are biocompatible. The nanosilver synthesis process in this study used the bottom-up method by adding sodium citrate as a reducing agent and stabilizer. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of the results of 20 ppm nanosilver synthesis using a UV-Vis and TEM spectrophotometer and to determine the antifungal activity of nanosilver in lip balm cosmetic preparations. Variations in adding 20 ppm nanosilver into lip balm preparations are 5%, 10%, and 15%. The results of characterization using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, namely 20 ppm nanosilver, were quite stable in storage for 2 months, and the results of characterization using TEM also showed that the formed nanosilver remained stable with a nanometer size range ranging from 11.42 nm to 43.95 nm. The antifungal activity test was carried out using the Direct Microscopic Count (DMC) method by counting directly under a microscope. Based on the data obtained, it shows that the antifungal activity of the combination of nanosilver and lip balm preparations is almost equivalent to the antifungal activity of parabens. It has produced lip balm preparations with nanosilver. This is indicated by the value of the inhibition rate (%). The inhibition of fungal growth produced by lip balm preparations with parabens is almost the same as the inhibition rate (%) produced by lip balm preparations with nanosilver. The inhibition rate of lip balm preparations with parabens was 89.11%. In comparison, the inhibition rate of lip balm preparations with a nanosilver concentration of 15% was 82.31%, so it can be concluded that nanosilver has good antifungal activity and is biocompatible so that nanosilver can be used as an alternative to paraben preservatives.

Enhanced fungal specificity and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of a C-22-modified FK520 analog against C. neoformans.

Fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality globally. The therapeutic armamentarium against these infections is limited, and the development of antifungal drugs has been hindered by the evolutionary conservation between fungi and the human host. With rising resistance to the current antifungal arsenal and an increasing at-risk population, there is an urgent need for the development of new antifungal compounds. The FK520 analogs described in this study display potent antifungal activity as a novel class of antifungals centered on modifying an existing orally active FDA-approved therapy. This research advances the development of much-needed newer antifungal treatment options with novel mechanisms of action.

Molecular Docking Study of the C-10 Massoia Lactone Compound as an Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agent against Candida tropicalis.

Antimicrobial resistance is now considered a global health problem because it reduces the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the highest mortality rate is associated with infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, with approximately 700,000 deaths worldwide each year. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of C-10 massoia lactone to inhibit the growth of fungi and C. tropicalis biofilm, and molecular docking studies were performed to determine the nature of the inhibition. The study was conducted using the microdilution method for antifungal and antibiofilm testing and designed with a molecular docking approach. Furthermore, an analysis using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed to evaluate the mechanism of effect. The results obtained showed that C-10 massoia lactone can inhibit the growth of fungi by 84.21% w/v. Meanwhile, the growth of C. tropicalis biofilm in the intermediate phase was 80.23% w/v and in the mature phase was 74.23% w/v. SEM results showed that C-10 massoia lactone damaged the EPS matrix of C. tropicalis so that hyphal formation was hindered due to damage to fungal cells, resulting in a decrease in attachment, density, and lysis of C. tropicalis fungal cells. Based on molecular docking tests, C-10 massoia lactone was able to inhibit biofilm formation without affecting microbial growth, while docking C-10 massoia lactone showed a significant binding and has the potential as an antifungal agent. In conclusion, the C-10 massoia lactone compound has the potential as an antibiofilm against C. tropicalis, so it can become a new antibiofilm agent.

Symbiotic Antimicrobial Effects of Cellulose-Based Bio-Nanocomposite for Disease Management of Agricultural Crops.

In the present work, a bionanocomposite for plant crop protection was prepared by non-toxic biocompatible & biodegradable nanomaterials (Cellulose & TiO2 ) to utilize its synergistic effects against antimicrobial pathogens. The commercially available microcrystalline cellulose has been reduced to a nanometric scale regime using acid hydrolysis, while the standard TiO2 nano-powder of particle size ~20 nm has been used to prepare their nanocomposite (NC). The antibacterial studies via agar well diffusion method demonstrated that after 72 h of incubation, parent nanomaterials Ncell and TiO2 were not showing any activity against phytopathogens X. campestris pv. campestris, and Clavibacter while the nanocomposite's NC's were still effective depicting both bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions. However, the bacterial growth of biocontrol P. fluorescence was not affected by Ncell, TiO2 NPs and NC after 72 h of incubation. The antifungal testing results via poison food agar assay method suggest that the nanocomposite, along with Ncell and TiO2 NPs, exhibited strong inhibition of fungal growth of Phytophthora Spp at 0.125 mg/ml concentration while for F. graminearum, similar effect was observed at 0.25 mg/ml concentration. The nanocomposite has proved its potential by exhibiting longer & stronger synergistic effects against plant pathogens as a good antimicrobial agent for protection of agricultural crops.

Antifungal activity and identification of bioactive peptide from Etawa crossbreed goat (Capra hircus) milk protein hydrolyzed using trypsin enzyme

There had been a growing interest in biopreservation in recent years due to the increasing demand for food products that were free of synthetic preservatives and therefore safer to consume. This made it necessary to explore natural bioactive with antifungal properties that can inhibit microbial spoilage and extend shelf life. Etawa crossbreed goat milk (Capra hircus) peptide fraction has antifungal activity. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the peptide with antifungal activity resulting from the casein and whey proteins of goat milk hydrolysis by trypsin. The hydrolyzate was fractionated using a Strong Cationic Exchange (SCX) catridge and the antifungal activity test was performed against Aspergillus sp. using the disc diffusion method. The most active peptide fraction with the highest antifungal activity was identified using Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Based on the results, the ratio of the enzyme substrates used to hydrolyze casein and whey proteins is 1:10; 1:20; 1:30 and 1:40. The greatest degree of hydrolysis of casein and whey proteins was obtained at a 1:40 enzyme-substrate ratio of 66.8% and 75.4%, respectively. The analysis of Sodium Dodecylsulfate - Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) showed that goat milk casein contained αS1-casein and β-casein, while the whey proteins contained beta-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumins. The casein and whey protein hydrolysates were fractionated using an SCX with pH variations of 3–9. The Goat Milk Casein (GMC) 5, 6, 7 dan 8 peptide fractions inhibited Aspergillus sp, and the most active was a fraction from GMC6 with an inhibition zone of 26.95 ± 0.63 mm and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 31.25 μg/mL. Furthermore, the morphology of Aspergillus sp. mycelia after treatment with peptide fraction showed that the mycelia were wrinkled and withered. The fractions with the highest antifungal activity contained 4 peptide sequences, namely YNVPQLEIVPK, KENNINELSK, GLSPEVPNENLLR, and YLGYLEQLLK. These results showed that peptide from goat milk had potential applications as a natural antifungal compound.

Novel cobalt(II) complex of a new 24-membered macrocyclic bis-Schiff base bearing 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole: Synthesis, characterization, thermal and biological investigations

The synthesis of a new 24-membered macrocyclic bis-Schiff base, L1, and its corresponding binuclear cobalt(II) complex, [Co2(L1)2(Cl)4], 1, is reported. Compound L1 and complex 1 have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and UV-VIS spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the molecular structures of the synthesized compounds were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of the binuclear cobalt(II) complex, 1, revealed that each ligand acts as a bidentate chelating one and links the metal ions through endocyclic nitrogen atoms of its 1,2,4-triazole moieties. The determined molecular structure as well as the UV-Vis studies indicated a tetrahedral geometry for complex 1. Moreover, the thermal stability of complex 1 has been investigated via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The product of pyrolysis of complex 1 was characterized as highly pure nano-scaled Co3O4 (mean crystallite size: 57 nm) by using a series of techniques including powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The biological activities of L1 and complex 1, including antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated. The antibacterial activity was tested against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, E. coli ATCC 29232) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus ATCC 25922) organisms. Also, the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans (C. albicans, ATCC 10231) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae, BY 4741) were used for antifungal tests. The synthesized cobalt(II) complex displayed moderate to good antifungal activity.

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND STUDY OF ANTI-MICROBIAL, ANTI-HAEMOLYTIC, ANTI-FUNGAL AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF PANICUM SUMATRENSE LEAVES

Little millets (Panicum Sumatrense) are of immense importance both medically and economically. Scientifically proven that the grains of little millets are nutritionally well. In the present research work, the less explored, underutilized, nutrient-rich and easily available Panicum sumatrense leaves were analysed for their phytochemical constituents and anti-oxidant or anti-haemolytic activity. The ethanolic extract of the little millet was examined to proximate, phytochemical determinations and anti-oxidant, anti–haemolytic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity. It was found that the given sample contains important Phytochemicals. The extract prepared using leaves of Panicum sumatrense was evaluated for their antioxidant activity, anti-haemolytic activity using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The antibacterial and antifungal activity tests were performed using the Agar well diffusion method. Anti-bacterial activity of ethyl alcohol extract and n-hexane extract was higher for Escherichia coli and In Staphylococcus aureus extract was slightly low effective. Anti-fungal activity of ethanolic and n-hexane extract was not satisfactory. The leaves extract showed that both anti-oxidant, anti-hemolytic and anti-bacterial activity increased with increasing concentration. Thus, the result revealed the anti-oxidant anti-haemolytic and anti-bacterial activity of the underutilized leaves of Panicum sumatrense.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antifungal Effects of the Extracts and Oils of Harjel (Solenostemma argel) Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) on the Fungus Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production, Sudan

Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa and is rich in many valuable plants that produce materials important for human and animal health. Some of these were used in traditional medicine. The present study aims to investigate the antifungal activities and the phytochemical composition of the extracts and oils of three plants (Hargel et al.). The study was conducted at the Food Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Gezira. The mycelial growth and spore germination methods were used for the antifungal tests, using a selective medium, while thin-layer chromatography was used for phytochemical tests and aflatoxin analysis. The effects of clove oil and some amino acids were used for comparison. The results of the fungal growth showed that the leaf extracts of Hargel were highly effective and gave complete inhibition (0.0 cm radial growth), while the stem extracts and oil of Hargel were less effective, given (0.3 mm). Rehan (Basil) oil was the most effective (0.0 cm) compared to (0.4cm) and (0.5cm) for the extracts of the leaf and stem, respectively. The oil, leaf, and stem extracts of Parsley and clove oil were all highly effective, giving (0.0 cm) radial growth. The results of the effects of the amino acids on radial growth indicated that they were all highly effective, giving complete (0.0 cm) at a higher concentration (100mg/ml). The results of the effect on mycelial weights showed that the oils of the three plants, as well as that of clove, gave complete inhibition (0.0 mg weight); in contrast, the extracts of leaf of Hargel, Parsley, and Basil showed (1.74, 3.26 and 3.34, mg respectively) while, the extracts of the stems gave (3.29, 1.86 and 1.86, mg respectively). Among the amino acids tested, only methionine, leucine, and arginine were adequate (7.0, 7.4, and 7.4 mg, respectively). Concerning the effects of the spore germination, it was found that all the oils tested gave complete inhibition (0.0 %, pore germination) and the stem extracts of the three plants. However, only the leaf extracts of Parsley were highly influential; those of Harjel and Rehan were less effective (7.69% and 15.0 % germination, respectively). All the amino acids tested were less effective, giving about (10.0 % germination). The leaf and stem extracts of Harjel and both Parsley and Clove oils inhibited aflatoxin production by the fungus at all concentrations. The stem extracts of Rehan, the leaf extracts of Parsley, and the oil of Harjel inhibited aflatoxin production at higher concentrations only. The stem extracts and Rehan's oil were found to be unable to inhibit aflatoxin production at all tested concentrations. The chemical analysis of the tested plants' extracts and oils revealed that they contained saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics but not Steroids. However, glutamic acid was the only amino acid that inhibited aflatoxin production at all concentrations. From the results, it could be concluded that the oils of the plants were more effective than the extracts, and the leaf and stem extracts of Parsley were better among the extracts. It could be recommended that more plant extracts be tested since some plants may be more effective.

Development and Validation of a HTS Platform for the Discovery of New Antifungal Agents against Four Relevant Fungal Phytopathogens.

Fungal phytopathogens are the major agents responsible for causing severe damage to and losses in agricultural crops worldwide. Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, Fusarium proliferatum, and Magnaporthe grisea are included in the top ten fungal phytopathogens that impose important plant diseases on a broad range of crops. Microbial natural products can be an attractive alternative for the biological control of phytopathogens. The objective of this work was to develop and validate a High-throughput Screening (HTS) platform to evaluate the antifungal potential of chemicals and natural products against these four important plant pathogens. Several experiments were performed to establish the optimal assay conditions that provide the best reproducibility and robustness. For this purpose, we have evaluated two media formulations (SDB and RPMI-1640), several inoculum concentrations (1 × 106, 5 × 105 and 5 × 106 conidia/mL), the germination curves for each strain, each strain's tolerance to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and the Dose Response Curves (DRC) of the antifungal control (Amphotericin B). The assays were performed in 96-well plate format, where absorbance at 620 nm was measured before and after incubation to evaluate growth inhibition, and fluorescence intensity at 570 nm excitation and 615 nm emission was monitored after resazurin addition for cell viability evaluation. Quality control parameters (RZ' Factors and Signal to Background (S/B) ratios) were determined for each assay batch. The assay conditions were finally validated by titrating 40 known relevant antifungal agents and testing 2400 microbial natural product extracts from the MEDINA Library through both HTS agar-based and HTS microdilution-based set-ups on the four phytopathogens.

Prevalence of Dermatophytic Infections and Their Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern in the Rajshahi Region

Background: Dermatophytes are the most significant fungi because of their widespread involvement in the population and their prevalence worldwide. Bangladesh's hot and humid climate, overcrowded population, poverty, malnutrition, and ignorance make dermatophytosis a common cutaneous infection. These infections occur in both healthy and immunocompromised patients. Dermatophytes are responsible for most cutaneous fungal infections, and the estimated lifetime risk of acquiring a dermatophyte infection is 10-20%.
 Objective: To isolate and identify different dermatophytes and their antifungal susceptibility pattern in the Rajshahi region. Materials and Methods: Different clinical samples (e.g., skin scrapings, nail clipping, and hair plucking) were collected under aseptic precautions. The isolation and identification of dermatophytes were performed through a microscopic examination using 10% KOH mount, mycological culture, and species identification by lactophenol cotton blue mount from positive culture. In addition, all dermatophytes isolates were subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing using the agar-based disk diffusion method in Mueller Hinton agar media.
 Results: Out of 171 samples, Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant dermatophyte species with 76(71.7%), followed by T.mentagrophyte were 15(14.2%), E. floccosum were 12(11.3%), and M. canis were 03(2.8%). voriconazole, clotrimazole, and itraconazole were more effective drugs. Griseofulvin was the least effective drug, followed by fluconazole.
 Conclusion: This study indicates dermatophytosis is a common skin disease in northern Bangladesh. Due to the increasing trend of antifungal drug resistance among dermatophytes, treatment should be based on antifungal sensitivity testing.
 TAJ 2022; 36: No-1: 119-125

Sodium alginate-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels loaded with difenoconazole for pH-responsive release to control wheat crown rot

Increasing concern about environmental pollution has driven the development of controlled release formulations for agrochemicals. Due to the advantages of degradability and responsiveness to environmental stimuli, polysaccharide-based hydrogel is an ideal carrier for agrochemicals controlled release. In this study, a method-easy polysaccharide hydrogel for controlled release of difenoconazole (DZ) was prepared with sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). Due to its three-dimensional crosslinked mesh structure, the prepared hydrogels (CSDZ) showed an agrochemical load capacity of 9.03 % and an encapsulation efficiency of 68.64 %. The release rate is faster in alkaline solution, followed by neutral solution, and slowest in an acid environment, which is consistent with the swelling behavior. Furthermore, leaching studies showed that CSDZ hydrogels have excellent protective properties for encapsulated agrochemicals. Compared with technical DZ, the results of in vitro and pot antifungal testing showed that CSDZ had a better control effect against wheat crown rot (Fusarium pseudograminearum). Safety assessment studies indicated that CSDZ hydrogels exhibit good biocompatibility on nontargeted organisms (Daphnia magna, zebrafish and Eisenia fetida) and wheat. This study aims to provide a potentially promising approach for the preparation and application of biocompatible polysaccharide-based hydrogels for agrochemical-controlled release in sustainable disease management.

Different Size Formulations of Fluopyram: Preparation, Antifungal Activity, and Accumulation in the Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea.

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the efficient production and sustainable development of modern agriculture. Understanding the pesticide activity of both nano- and conventional methods is useful for developing new pesticide formulations. In this study, three solid fluopyram formulations with varying particle sizes were developed, and the mechanisms underlying the difference in the antifungal activity among these formulations were investigated. Wet media milling combined with freeze drying was used to prepare fluopyram nanoparticles (FLU-NS) and a micron-sized solid formulation (FLU-MS), and a jet grinding mill was employed to fabricate fluopyram wettable powder (FLU-WP). The mean particle sizes of FLU-NS, FLU-MS, and FLU-WP were 366.8 nm, 2.99 μm, and 10.16 μm, respectively. Notably, FLU-NS displayed a toxicity index against Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) that was approximately double those of FLU-MS and FLU-WP. Similar trends were noticed in the antifungal tests on Alternaria solani. The uptake of FLU-NS by B. cinerea was approximately twice that of FLU-MS and FLU-WP, indicating that fluopyram nanoparticles are more easily taken up by the pathogen (B. cinerea), and display better bioactivity than the larger fluopyram particles. Therefore, the nanosizing of pesticides appears to be a viable strategy to enhance efficiency without increasing the amount of pesticide used.

Characterization of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) flower extract and insights into its antifungal susceptibilities of Aspergillus flavus

BackgroundTea (Camellia sinensis L.) flowers will compete with tea leaves in nutrition and are abandoned as an undesirable by-product. In this study, the biological efficacy of tea flowers was investigated. Further exploration of its antifungal activity was explained.MethodsTea flowers harvested from China were characterized in term of component, antioxidant ability, tyrosinase inhibition, and antifungal ability. Chemical compounds of tea flowers were analyzed by LC-MS. Disinfectant compounds were identified in tea flowers, and 2-ketobutyric acid exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavusCCTCC AF 2023038. The antifungal mechanism of 2-ketobutyric acid was further investigated by RNA-seq.ResultsWater-soluble tea flower extracts (TFEs) exhibited free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) as well as a high ferric-reducing ability. However, no inhibition of tyrosinase activity was observed. In the antifungal test, 6.4 mg/mL TFE reached 71.5% antifungal rate and the electrical conductivity of the culture broth increased with increasing concentration of TFE, implying that it damaged the fungal cell membrane by the TFE. Several disinfectants were identified in TFE by LC-MS, and 2-ketobutyric acid was also confirmed to be capable of fungal inhibition. Propidium iodide (PI) staining indicated that 2-ketobutyric acid caused damage to the cell membrane. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 3,808 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in A. flavus CCTCC AF 2023038 treated by 2-ketobutyric acid, and more than 1,000 DEGs involved in the integral and intrinsic component of membrane were affected. Moreover, 2-ketobutyric acid downregulated aflatoxin biosynthesis genes and decreased the aflatoxin production.ConclusionsOverall, TFE exhibited excellent antioxidant ability and fungal inhibition against A. flavus CCTCC AF 2023038 due to its abundant disinfectant compounds. As a recognized food additive, 2-ketobutyric acid is safe to use in the food industry and can be utilized as the basis for the research and development of strong fungicides.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Antifungal Activity of Quinazolinone Derivatives

In this paper, four new compounds with quinazolinone structure were designed and synthesized based on the special biological activity of quinazolinone. The four new compounds containing quinazolinone structures were synthesized using a one-pot method after intramolecular cyclization and dehydration catalyzed by aqueous methylamine solution. Their structures were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS, and the crystal structure of 2a was characterized using X-ray diffraction. In their potential antifungal activity tests, it was found that the four newly synthesized compounds exhibited significant antifungal activity against all seven phytopathogenic fungi at concentrations of 150 and 300 mg/L. Among them, the target compound 2c showed the best inhibitory effect against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum fungus, with 62.42% inhibition at a concentration of 300 mg/L. Compound 2c is expected to be a leading compound for the treatment of watermelon Fusarium wilt in the future, which is worth further study.

GC/MS Profile and Antifungal Activity of Zanthoxylum caribaeum Lam Essential Oil against Moniliophthora roreri Cif and Par, a Pathogen That Infects Theobroma cacao L Crops in the Tropics

The species Zanthoxylum caribaeum belongs to the Rutaceae family, from which several chemical nuclei are known, including alkaloids and coumarins. In addition, its essential oil has been characterized, showing differences in composition and various antimicrobial activities. In the present study, the essential oil of Z. caribaeum collected in the department of Tolima, central Colombia, was characterized by gas chromatography with mass selective detector (GC-MS). The essential oil showed a composition of about 43 compounds (including major and minor), whose main components, according to their abundance, are the following: germacrene D (228.0 ± 1.6 mg/g EO), (E)-β-farnesene (128.0 ± 1.5 mg/g EO), β-elemene (116.0 ± 1.6 mg/g EO) and (E)-nerolidol (74.0 ± 2.2 mg/g EO). This oil was tested against microorganisms that affect cocoa production in Colombia and in tropical countries where the production of this commodity is very important for the economy. The antifungal tests were performed on the fungal species Moniliophthora roreri and showed promising and significant activity, inhibiting growth by more than 95% at concentrations of 50 µL/mL and 100 µL/mL. This remarkable antifungal activity could be due to the presence of major and minor compounds that synergistically enhance the activity.

Antifungal Activity of the Extracts of Two Medicinal Plants from South Western Algeria: Ephedra alata and Bubonium graveolens

Background: Medicinal plants constitute an invaluable source of natural substances which can be used in the formulation of new antifungal agents. Among these medicinal plants, the genera Ephedra alata and Bubonium graveolens are used in traditional medicine. In the search for molecules bioactives, resource exploration natural, especially plants medicinal, appears as a track promising because they constitute, by their biodiversity, a great reserve of active substances. This study aimed to evaluation antifungal activity of medicinal plant extracts Bubonium graveolens and Ephedra alata against two fungi namely, Penicillium sp and Aspergillus niger. Method: During our work, we prepared the various extracts (aqueous, methanolic and ethyl acetate) for the plants studied, the search for the active compounds of these two species by the extraction method was essentially based. The antifungal tests were investigated by using agar medium methos The tests is estimated by determining the diameters of zone inhibition and growth inhibition rate PI %. Result: The results obtained show that the aqueous extracts of Ephedra alata and Bubonium graveolens are inactive against two fungi in our study. However, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed very good activity antifungal against the fungal species tested. The evaluation of the antifungal activity of the methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts had a higher activity (99,70 ±0,240) against all the molds tested compared to the aqueous extract (63,52 ±0,959). The extracts of Ephedra alata and Bubonium graveolens significantly inhibited the growth of the two fungi tested. These three extracts showed a good antifungal effect at the laboratory scale. Ours finding demonstrate that Bubonium graveolens and Ephedra alata extracts possesses antifungal activity that might be a natural potential source antifungal compounds used in pharmaceuticals products, cosmetics and food

Preparation of hydrophobic coating by phytic acid-based hybrid complexes to enhance the surface property of wood

ABSTRACT In this report, we present a simple and rapid method for fabricating a hydrophobic coating of Phytic Acid-based hybrid complexes on wood surfaces to enhance their properties. This hydrophobic coating's micro/nanoscale coarse structure is constructed from a PA-Fe3+ coordination complex, and its low surface energy is further modified by impregnation with octadecylamine. Polyethyleneimine serves as an intermediate layer, tightly binding the wood to the PA-Fe3+ coordination complex. We characterized the microstructure, chemical composition, water contact angle, and anti-mold properties of the wood samples using SEM-EDS, FTIR, water contact angle tests, and anti-fungal tests. Further, we assessed the hydrophobic coating's chemical and environmental durability, contamination resistance, self-cleaning properties, and mechanical stability on composite wood. SEM-EDS and FT-IR mapping results confirmed that the PEI and PA-Fe3+ coordination complex were successfully coated on the wood surface, with long-chain octadecylamine grafted onto the complex particles. The composite wood with a 3-layer hydrophobic coating demonstrated superior surface properties, including a water contact angle of 145°, excellent chemical and environmental durability, contamination resistance, self-cleaning properties, and mechanical stability. Notably, it also exhibited superior anti-mold properties compared to the control.

Discovery of a Natural Hybrid Polyketide Produced by Endophytic Cladosporium sphaerospermum for Biocontrol of Phytopathogenic Fungus Botrytis cinerea.

The endophytic fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum WBS017 exhibits broad-spectrum activity against plant pathogens, with particular effectiveness against Botrytis cinerea. Subsequently, a compound is isolated from strain WBS017 as the main active ingredient against B. cinerea using activity-guided separation and identified as hybrid polyketide (namely cladodionen, CLD) using UV, MS, NMR, etc. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity tests demonstrate that CLD effectively inhibits the mycelial growth and spore germination, with an IC50 value of 1.13 and 0.095 mM, respectively, and exerts antifungal and fresh-keeping effects on both strawberry and tomato. Microscopy analysis reveals that the inhibitory effects of CLD on hyphae and spore germination are attributed to a decrease in structural stability of mycelia cells as well as the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, transcriptome analysis further indicates that spore germination is inhibited by suppressing the transcription levels of membrane or membrane-related genes, disturbing the balance of ROS metabolism, altering the primary metabolic pathways, genetic information processing, and cellular processes. Importantly, CLD demonstrates no significant toxicity on zebrafish embryos even at a concentration of 0.226 mM, indicating its potential as a safe biological-control agent. In summary, CLD would be a novel potential biological-control agent and can be considered as a promising fungicide to control B. cinerea.