Fungal Strains Aspergillus Research Articles

A butyrolactone derivative from marine-derived fungal strain Aspergillus terreus BTBU20211037

The secondary metabolites of marine-derived fungal strain, Aspergillus terreus BTBU20211037, isolated from Qinhuangdao coast were investigated. Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified, including one new compound, butyrolactone J (1), and twelve known compounds, butyrolactone I (2), butyrolactone VI (3), aspernolide B (4), aspernolide A (5), 7’-hydroxybutyrolactone III (6), methyl asterrate (7), methyl dichloroasterrate (8), sulochrin (9), methyl 6-acetyl-4-methoxy-5,7,8-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylate (10), serantrypinone (11), alantrypinone (12), and territrem A (13). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by HRESIMS, NMR, and ECD analysis. Compounds 1, 10, and 13 showed inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 100 μg/mL, respectively.

Antimicrobial Activity of Honey and Propolis from Alba County, Romania.

Investigating the quality of bee products obtained across different geographical regions and analyzing their antimicrobial activity is of significant interest to various scientific disciplines. This study focuses on comparing the antimicrobial activity of honey and propolis samples from different areas of Alba County, Romania. The quality parameters of five samples of two types of bee products (honey and propolis) were assessed. Then, the samples were tested to comparatively determine their antimicrobial properties against 12 species of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella anatum, Salmonella choleraesuis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Listeria monocytogenes) and 7 fungal strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata). Of the bacterial strains, the most sensitive to the action of honey samples were the two strains of Staphylococcus followed by P. fluorescens. The two strains of Pseudomonas and L. monocytogenes were the most sensitive to the activity of propolis. Of the fungal strains, F. oxysporum was the most sensitive to the actions of both honey and propolis, followed by P. chrysogenum in the case of honey samples and the two Aspergillus strains in the case of propolis. These findings indicate that bee products are rich sources of bioactive compounds exhibiting strong antimicrobial properties and significant potential for the development of new phytopharmaceutical products.

Green-synthesized carbon dots from ginger: Multifunctional agents against oral pathogens with biocompatibility in human gingival fibroblast cells

Persistent antibiotic use in treating oral infections often leads to drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria, notably impacting conditions like periodontitis. Addressing this challenge, the study pioneers the use of carbon dots (CDs) synthesized from ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale) as a novel biocompatible material. CDs were synthesized via the hydrothermal method, emphasizing a green approach, and comprehensively characterized for their optical properties and structural uniformity. The synthesized CDs showed a zeta potential of −24.9 mV, confirming the formation of stable and well-dispersed particles. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) confirmed an average particle size of 2.9 nm, thus validating the formation of CDs. Biomedical assessments demonstrated that the synthesized CDs were non-cytotoxic to human gingival fibroblast cell lines, with effective free radical scavenging activity and high total antioxidant capacity, as indicated by their IC50 values. CDs also exhibited moderate inhibition of protein denaturation compared to the standard. Moreover, they showed significant inhibitory effects against bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans) at minimal concentrations. Notably, CDs inhibited the growth of periodontal pathogens including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia. These findings underscore the potential of CDs as multifunctional agents possessing anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Remarkably, they offer a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics, potentially revolutionizing oral healthcare. Their proven biocompatibility and potent bioactivity underscore their innovative potential in biomedical research. Future studies should further assess their efficacy in vivo to fully harness their clinical potential.

Antimicrobial and Computational Studies of Newly Synthesized Benzotriazoles.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) due to non-responding viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites leads to discovery of new antimicrobial medicines which can control the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death. Heterocyclic chemistry has always been a continuous supplier of novel antimicrobial agents which are in great demand in pharma sector. Therefore, compounds such as 1-(Chloromethyl)-1H-Benzotriazole, 1; 1-((1-H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)methyl)phenyl hydrazine, 2; 1-((1-H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)methyl)hydrazine, 3; and N-(benzo[e][1,2,4]triazin-4(3-H)-ylmethylbenzenamine, 4 were designed, and synthesized through conventional and microwave-assisted methods. All of these novel benzotriazoles were explored through in-vitro antimicrobial studies and in silico studies. Antimicrobial activity was carried out against bacterial strains Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and fungal strains Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans at concentrations 5, 10 and 15mg/ml. In silico studies was carried out with 4CAW: Aspergillus fumigatus N-myristoyl transferase in complex with myristoyl CoA and a pyrazole sulphonamide ligand. Our antimicrobial and molecular docking studies revealed that all of the derivatives showed promising activity, moreover molecular docking gave significant values of ligand posed energy and docking run elapsed time which further endorsed the astonishing characteristic of benzotriazole derivatives esp. N-(benzo[e]a[1,2,4] triazin-4(3-H)-ylmethylbenzenamine for biological and therapeutic leads.

Analyzing the Effects of Monochromatic Lights on the Fungal Growth to Control the Progression of Microbial Deterioration on Animal Collections Preserved in the Zoological Museum of Naples, Italy

ABSTRACT Exposing artworks and artifacts in museums is fundamental to disseminate culture and knowledge but is also risky since the exposure to environmental conditions can deteriorate exhibited objects. Light is crucial, being able to trigger photochemical effects, and jointly responsible (with temperature and humidity) for biological risk generation. In this context, fungal growth in museum artifacts is a damaging factor that should not be underestimated. Consequently, the study of lighting effects on fungi development is essential. In this work, five different fungal strains (Aspergillus fumigatus, Bjerkandera adusta, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium granulatum) isolated from samplings on animal exhibits hosted in the Zoological Museum of Naples, Italy, are cultivated inside four experimental boxes, equipped with monochromatic LEDs with different peak wavelengths (460 nm, 518 nm, 594 nm, and 638 nm). The growth rate, the protein and carbohydrate contents are analyzed and compared to results obtained in darkness (typical growth conditions for studies about fungi). Results demonstrate that, even if fungi are heterotrophic organisms and do not need light to grow and develop, their growth rate, and their protein and carbohydrate contents are affected by the exposure to monochromatic radiation, but the spectral sensitivity strictly depends on the analyzed species. For this reason, it is not possible to infer general practical guidelines for lighting applications, and it becomes urgent to establish accurate and shared analysis protocols to be applied case by case, to study the effects of the environmental conditions on microorganisms and drive-specific design choices.

Synthesis, Structural Elucidation, Density Functional Theory Calculations, In Vitro Antimicrobial, Anti‐Inflammatory and Anticancer Activities of Novel Zn (II)‐Group Fourteen Heterobimetallic Complexes Derived From Schiff Base Ligand

ABSTRACTIn the present work, new heterobimetallic complexes with the general formula [Zn(C16H32N8)M2(R)4Cl2], where M = Sn (IV) and Si (IV) and R = ‐CH3 and ‐C6H5, were synthesized by reacting the methanolic solution of the monometallic complex [Zn(C16H36N8)Cl2] with group 14 organometallic dichloride [(CH3)2SnCl2/(C6H5)2SnCl2/(CH3)2SiCl2/(C6H5)2SiCl2]. The structures of the synthesized complexes were determined using several spectrometric techniques, including FT‐IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 119Sn NMR, 29Si NMR, ESI‐MS, PXRD, and molar conductivity measurements. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to investigate the quantum chemical characteristics of the newly synthesized Zn (II) complexes. The antimicrobial potential of the monometallic and heterobimetallic complexes was evaluated against two Gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus), two Gram‐negative bacteria (Xanthomonas campestris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and two fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum) by the agar well diffusion method, with heterobimetallic complex [Zn(C16H32N8)Sn2(C6H5)4Cl2] as the most potent complex against microbes. The complex [Zn(C16H32N8)Sn2(C6H5)4Cl2] exhibited significant potential in inhibiting inflammation, demonstrating an IC50 value of 9.75 μg/mL, which closely rivals that of the standard drug sodium diclofenac (IC50 = 4.59 μg/mL). Furthermore, all the synthesized compounds were assessed for their anticancer potential against three cancer cell lines (HCT‐116, MCF‐7, and HeLa) by the MTT assay. The results indicated that the complex [Zn(C16H32N8)Sn2(C6H5)4Cl2] exhibited the most pronounced cytotoxic effects, with values of 4.25 ± 0.15 μM, 4.90 ± 0.18 μM, and 5.20 ± 0.24 μM observed for HCT‐116, MCF‐7, and HeLa cancer cell lines, respectively.

Production of Single Cell Protein (SCP) from the Peel Waste of Pea, Potato, and Banana by Aspergillus Flavus NRRL 21882 as an Efficient Organic Poultry Supplement.

Food protein deficit has become a major issue worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Scientists are searching for a variety of less expensive solutions to this issue. One of these less expensive methods is to create single cell protein as a substrate from leftover fruit and vegetable waste, which is typically thrown away. In this regard, the fungal strain Aspergillus flavus (NRRL 21882) was used for the synthesis of SCP (single cell protein) from the waste of banana, potato, and pea. In this manner, 30 samples were collected from the whole substrate with a share of 10 samples each from banana, potato, and pea peels, which were in turn dried and powdered finely. The fermentation process was done by the process of solid state fermentation. Aspergillus flavus (NRRL 21882) generated the highest percentage, i.e. 60.67%, of crude protein from the pea peels. The composition of amino acids in crude proteins was also investigated. The findings demonstrated that the highest percentage of aspartic acid (13.34 ± 0.80%) and glutamic acid (14.92 ± 0.69%) was found in A. flavus single cell protein produced from pea peels. Soybean was supplemented with single cell protein in the boilers' diet. Compared to all treated groups, there was a substantial (p ≤ 0.05) increase in the level of antibody titer against the Newcastle disease vaccine. The supplementation of single cell protein with soybean meal had no effect on the levels of liver enzymes. The liver enzymes found in all four groups (A, B, C, and D) were within normal limits. None of the examined groups experienced any change in the feed conversion ratio, with all groups exhibiting an average FCR of 1.6. The current study concludes that broiler health and immunity is increased by supplementing poultry feed with single cell protein.

Evaluation of the antibacterial and antifungal properties of oleuropein, olea Europea leaf extract, and thymus vulgaris oil

BackgroundAlthough synthetic preservatives and antioxidants may have high antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, they are usually associated with adverse effects on human health. Currently, there is a growing interest in natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of two medicinal plant extracts and one active compound. Olive leaf extracts (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4% w/v), oleuropein (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% w/v), thyme oil (0.1%), and oleuropein in combination with thyme oil (0.4% w/v and 0.1% v/v) were used against three bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) and two fungal strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger).ResultsThe use of oleuropein resulted in complete antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. In this context, a reduction of 7 logs was achieved during the storage period (4 weeks). Oleuropein showed no fungal activity at low concentrations (0.2%), but Aspergillus niger was reduced by 2.35 logs at higher concentrations (0.6% w/v). Similar antibacterial and antifungal properties were observed for the olive leaf extracts. Oleuropein at a concentration of 0.4 w/v and a mixture of oleuropein and thyme at concentrations of 0.4 and 0.1 (v/v) showed strong antimicrobial activity against the studied microorganisms.ConclusionOlive leaf extract, thyme oil, and oleuropein have strong antibacterial and weak antifungal properties. There was a good synergistic effect between oleuropein and thymol.

Exploring the aroma profile and biomedical applications of Scutellaria nuristanica Rech. F.: A new insight as a natural remedy

BackgroundThe Scutellaria genus has promising therapeutic capabilities as an aromatherapy. Based on that and local practices of S. nuristanica Rech. F. The essential oil was studied for the first time for its diverse biomedical applications. PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate and validate their therapeutic capabilities by screening the essential oil ingredients and examining their antimicrobial, antioxidant, carbonic anhydrase, and antidiabetic using further In silico assessment and In vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic capabilities to devise novel sources as natural remedies alternative to the synthetic drugs. MethodsEssential oil was obtained through hydrodistillation, and the constituents were profiled using GC–MS. The antimicrobial assessment was conducted using an agar well diffusion assay. Free radical scavenging capabilities were determined by employing DPPH and ABTS assay. The carbonic anhydrase-II was examined using colorimetric assay, while the antidiabetic significance was performed using α-Glucosidase assay. The anti-inflammatory significance was examined through carrageenan-induced paw edema, and the analgesic features of the essential oil were determined using an acetic acid-induced writhing assay. ResultsFifty constituents were detected in S. nuristanica essential oil (SNEO), contributing 95.93 % of the total EO, with the predominant constituents being 24-norursa-3,12-diene (10.12 %), 3-oxomanoyl oxide (9.94 %), methyl 7-abieten-18-oate (8.85 %). SNEO presented significance resistance against the Gram-positive bacterial strains (GPBSs), Bacillus atrophaeus and Bacillus subtilis, as compared to the Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Gram-negative bacterial strains (GNBSs) as well as two fungal strains Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus niger associated with their respective standards. Considerable free radical scavenging capacity was observed in DPPH compared to the ABTS assay when correlated with ascorbic acid. In addition, when equated with their standards, SNEO offered considerable in vitro carbonic anhydrase II and antidiabetic capabilities. Additionally, the antidiabetic behavior of the 9 dominant compounds of SNEO was tested via In silico techniques, such as molecular docking, which assisted in the assessment of the significance of binding contacts of protein with each chemical compound and pharmacokinetic evaluations to examine the drug-like characteristics. Molecular dynamic simulations at 100 ns and binding free energy evaluations such as PBSA and GBSA models explain the molecular mechanics and stability of molecular complexes. It was also observed that SNEO depicted substantial anti-inflammatory and analgesic capabilities. ConclusionHence, it was concluded that the SNEO comprises bioactive ingredients with biomedical significance, such as anti-microbial, antioxidant, CA-II, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic agents. The computational validation also depicted that SNEO could be a potent source for the discovery of anti-diabetic drugs.

Antituberculosis, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of Schiff base derived from 2,3-diaminophenazine moiety and its metal(II) complexes: structural elucidation, computational aspects, and biological evaluation

Abstract Enticed by the present scenario of infectious diseases, four new Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II) complexes of Schiff base ligand were synthesized from 6,6′-((1E-1′E)(phenazine-2,3-dielbis(azanylidene)-bis-(methanylidene)-bis-(3-(diethylamino)phenol)) (H 2 L) to ascertain as effective drug for antituberculosis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. The organic ligand and its metal(II) complexes were characterized by numerous physical and spectroscopic methods, which showed that the complexes have a general formula, [ML], (where M = Co(II) (C1), Ni(II) (C2), Cu(II) (C3) and Cd(II) (C4)), for metal complexes have been proposed and have a square planar geometry, are amorphous in nature, and are thermally stable. Data highlight obtained from activity testing against tuberculosis, inflammation, and oxidants that all compounds are significantly active against these symptoms. Also, was to evaluate the effectiveness of various compounds against bacterial and fungal strains. Specifically, four bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans) were tested and compared to the results of some standard drugs. The results revealed that compound C4 was more effective against bacterial strains than the comparison standard drugs. In addition, C3 was found to be the most effective of the comparison antibiotics against fungi, while the other compounds showed moderate antifungal activity. Moreover, to support the vitro results, certain computational studies as molecular docking studies, DFT, MESP, and AMEDT were also conducted to confirm the effectiveness of an organic ligand and its complexes against tuberculosis. These studies revealed that C4 is the most effective against tuberculosis and has desirable effects such as absorption, no degradation and no hepatotoxicity, etc.

Antifungal Activity of Bhurjah (Betula Utilis d. Don) Bark in Human Pathogenic Fungi

Aim: To evaluate the antifungal activity of Bhurjah (Betula utilis D.Don) bark against six fungal strains. Water extract, alcohol extract of bark and essential oil (Birch oil) were screened against six fungal strain Trichophyton rubrum (7859), Epidermophyton floccosum (7880), Microsporum fulvum (7685), Aspergillus flavus (2590), Actinomucour elengi (963) and Candida albicans at four different concentrations (25µl, 50µl, 75µl, 100µl) using “Agar well diffusion method”. The MIC was tested using micro-PDA dilution method at concentrations ranging from (25µl, 50µl, 75µl, 100µl). Bhurjah essential oil showed significantly more inhibitory activity than fluconazole in case of 7880 (p value <0.05) and almost similar inhibitory activity as fluconazole in case of 7685 (p value >0.05). Bhurjah essential oil is shown to be effective against the growth of both M. fulvum with MIC value of 2.5% (v/v) and E. floccosum with MIC value of 2.5% (v/v) as determined by microbroth dilution. Bhurjah essential oil showed antifungal activity against two fungal strains E. floccosum (7880), M. fulvum (7685). Therefore Bhurjah essential oil can be used as antifungal agents for dermatophytosis causing strains i.e. E. floccosum (7880), M. fulvum (7685).

In situ borneol-modified polyester with antibacterial adhesion and long-term fungal-repellent properties

Polyester is widely used in biomedical, textile, and food packaging fields. Therefore, enhancing it with antimicrobial properties would be a significant advancement. In this paper, a series of borneol-triazine polyesters (BTPs) with different structures are synthesized through room temperature polycondensation. The structure and composition of BTPs are systematically characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR and GPC. Antimicrobial results reveal that the ability of BTPs to resist bacterial or fungal adhesion is directly related to the polymer structure. When the polymer chain of BTPs adopts a rigid structure, they exhibit excellent anti-adhesive and inhibitory performances against both Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). Meanwhile, the as-synthesized BTPs poses a fungal-repelling effect on common fungal strains (Aspergillus niger) for up to 30 d. Further studies have shown that a stereochemical structure brought by borneol is key for imparting effective antimicrobial properties to BTPs. In addition, BTPs are non-leaching materials with low cellular cytotoxicity. Taking into consideration, BTP provides a potential strategy for preparing a new class of antimicrobial polyester materials.

Determination of soil phenanthrene degradation through a fungal-bacterial consortium.

Fungal-bacterial consortia enhance organic pollutant removal, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We used stable isotope probing (SIP) to explore the mechanism of bioaugmentation involved in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biodegradation in petroleum-contaminated soil by introducing the indigenous fungal strain Aspergillus sp. LJD-29 and the bacterial strain Pseudomonas XH-1. While each strain alone increased phenanthrene (PHE) degradation, the simultaneous addition of both strains showed no significant enhancement compared to treatment with XH-1 alone. Nonetheless, the assimilation effect of microorganisms on PHE was significantly enhanced. SIP revealed a role of XH-1 in PHE degradation, while the absence of LJD-29 in 13C-DNA indicated a supporting role. The correlations between fungal abundance, degradation efficiency, and soil extracellular enzyme activity indicated that LJD-29, while not directly involved in PHE assimilation, played a crucial role in the breakdown of PHE through extracellular enzymes, facilitating the assimilation of metabolites by bacteria. This observation was substantiated by the results of metabolite analysis. Furthermore, the combination of fungus and bacterium significantly influenced the diversity of PHE degraders. Taken together, this study highlighted the synergistic effects of fungi and bacteria in PAH degradation, revealed a new fungal-bacterial bioaugmentation mechanism and diversity of PAH-degrading microorganisms, and provided insights for in situ bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil.IMPORTANCEThis study was performed to explore the mechanism of bioaugmentation by a fungal-bacterial consortium for phenanthrene (PHE) degradation in petroleum-contaminated soil. Using the indigenous fungal strain Aspergillus sp. LJD-29 and bacterial strain Pseudomonas XH-1, we performed stable isotope probing (SIP) to trace active PHE-degrading microorganisms. While inoculation of either organism alone significantly enhanced PHE degradation, the simultaneous addition of both strains revealed complex interactions. The efficiency plateaued, highlighting the nuanced microbial interactions. SIP identified XH-1 as the primary contributor to in situ PHE degradation, in contrast to the limited role of LJD-29. Correlations between fungal abundance, degradation efficiency, and extracellular enzyme activity underscored the pivotal role of LJD-29 in enzymatically facilitating PHE breakdown and enriching bacterial assimilation. Metabolite analysis validated this synergy, unveiling distinct biodegradation mechanisms. Furthermore, this fungal-bacterial alliance significantly impacted PHE-degrading microorganism diversity. These findings advance our understanding of fungal-bacterial bioaugmentation and microorganism diversity in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation as well as providing insights for theoretical guidance in the in situ bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil.

New Meroterpenoids and α-Pyrone Derivatives Isolated from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungal Strain Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y85.

Two new meroterpenoids, aspergienynes O and P (1 and 2), one new natural compound, aspergienyne Q (3), and a new α-pyrone derivative named 3-(4-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)butanoic acid (4) were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungal strain Aspergillus sp. GXNU-Y85, along with five known compounds (5-9). The absolute configurations of those new isolates were confirmed through extensive analysis using spectroscopic data (HRESIMS, NMR, and ECD). The pharmacological study of the anti-proliferation activity indicated that isolates 5 and 9 displayed moderate inhibitory effects against HeLa and A549 cells, with the IC50 values ranging from 16.6 to 45.4 μM.

Antifungal and visible light driven photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant green dye by Ceria–Zirconia Nanocomposites

Green synthesis is a simple, eco-friendly and emerging approach of synthesizing CeriaZirconia nanocomposites (CZ NCs) and evaluates its performance for the photocatalytic treatment of industrial waste water. Ceria-Zirconia NCs were synthesized using leaf extracts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. for the application towards photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant Green (BG) dye under visible light irradiation. The Ceria-Zirconia NCs were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer, UV-Visible spectrophotometer, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). FT-IR spectra indicate the presence of amino, carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups on the crystal surface of the nanocomposites. In UV-Visible spectra, the nanocomposites exhibit the highest absorbance at about 252 and 340 nm. From XRD, the average crystallite size of the CeriaZirconia NCs were found to be 80.36nm, while SEM images showed the spherical clusters of agglomerated nanocomposites. The elemental composition and the purity of the nanocomposites were confirmed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The superior antifungal activity was investigated against with the fungal strains Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and penicillium.

Preliminary phytochemical characterization and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial potential screening of an ayurvedic drug combination Panchatikta

Panchatikta is an Ayurvedic drug combination of 5 bitter-tasting drugs, namely Azadirachta indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Justicia adhatoda, Solanum virginianum and Trichosanthes dioica. In this study, estimations of the phenolic, flavonoids and tannin contents, HPTLC profile and in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-microbial potential of 3 extracts of the Panchatikta were carried out. The total phenolic content of the Panchatikta combination was almost the same in ethanol, water and hydroalcoholic extracts. Flavonoid content and tannin content were highest in ethanol extract. HPTLC profiling of the 3 extracts of Panchatikta showed the maximum number of peaks for the ethanolic extract. Water extract showed a comparatively smaller number of peaks. The maximum number of peaks was seen after derivatisation. In the DPPH assay, gallic acid has IC50 value of 5.50 ± 0.38 µg/mL; ethanol and hydroalcoholic extracts have IC50 close to 60 µg/mL and water extract has around 90 µg/mL. The ABTS assay showed standard ascorbic acid has a IC50 value of 67.33 ± 0.58 µg/mL while Panchatikta extracts have a much higher IC50. In nitric oxide assay also, tested samples have a higher IC50 when compared with that of ascorbic acid (177.33 ± 5.09). In well diffusion assay for antibacterial screening, all 3 extracts have a significant zone of inhibition at concentrations of 500 µg and 1000 µg. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be resistant to all 3 test samples and standard antibiotic discs. Minimum activity was obtained against Klebsiella pneumonia. Panchatikta extracts at concentrations of 500 µg and 1000 µg showed significant activity against the fungal strains Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum. In conclusion, the results of the study can provide scientific support for the traditional usage of the Ayurvedic drug combination Panchatikta for various ailments.

Synthesis, spectro-themal characterization, DFT calculations and biochemical evaluation of a newly synthesized tridentate Schiff base transition metal complexes

An appropriate conventional method has been utilised to synthesie new tridentate Schiff base ligand 4-chloro-2-((2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)amino)benzoic acid with Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II) complexes. Several spectroscopic(FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, UV–Vis, Mass), TGA-DTA, powder X-ray diffraction, and DFT calculations, were used to characterise these complexes. According to these spectroscopic investigations, the ligand coordinated with the metals via carboxylic oxygen, azomethine nitrogen, and hydroxyl oxygen, acting as a tridentate ligand. Appropriate geometry for every complex has been proposed based on spectroscopic and analytical data. In tetrahedral geometry with Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and square planner with Cu(II) ion, the ligand functions as a tridentate via ONO donors. The optimal structure (bond length and bond angle) and chemical reactivity of the ligand and its metal complexes from their Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMO) and Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) calculations have been investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT/B3LYP,6-31G**/6-311G**(d,p), and LanL2DZ basis sets) calculations. In vitro DPPH radical scavenging techniques were used to assess the antioxidant activity of the ligand and its metal complexes. The results indicated that all of the complexes exhibited good antioxidant activity, with the Cu (II) complex being the most potent with the lowest IC50 values. The ligand and complexes in vitro antibacterial activities were further explored by screening them against Gram(+ve) bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram(−ve) bacteria (E. coli). Significant activity was demonstrated by all synthesised compounds against the tested strains of bacteria. The antifungal activity of complexes against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans was determined. The results indicated that Cu(II) complex exhibited good antifungal activity against Candida albicans, but not against Aspergillus niger. The fungal strain Aspergillus niger was not significantly inhibited by complexes. The complexes have greater antimicrobial activity than the Schiff base ligand, as indicated by the MIC values.

Degradation of potato peels using amylase- and pectinase-producing fungal strain in an electrochemical cell and by-product analysis

ABSTRACT Degradation of the waste using amylase- and pectinase-producing fungal strains in Microbial fuel cells (MFC) can be a sustainable and economic strategy for solid waste management. An isolate of the fungal strain Aspergillus niger, which showed amylase and pectinase activities was implemented for potato peel waste degradation. MFC was constructed and the highest OCV was observed using KMnO4 in catholyte (1586 ± 63 mV/m3) with anode graphite electrode-coated MWCNT. MFC in fed-batch mode was also performed by adding 10% of the sample every 24 h, and an improved result was obtained. The power density observed with 100-ohm and 1000-ohm external resistors was 119 ± 7 W/m3 and 42 ± 9 W/m3, respectively. From MFC operation at an optimised condition removal rate of COD, ammoniacal-nitrogen, reducing sugar and TSS were 37.69%, 67.72%, 72.64%, and 65.95% respectively. Sugar and byproduct analysis in digested product was done by HPLC, various value-added products were generated from waste sample.

Green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles using Ligustrum lucidum extract, and the antioxidant and antifungal evaluation

Biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extract is an inexpensive, simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly approach to obtaining nanoparticles for biological applications. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were successfully synthesized using an aqueous extract from Ligustrum lucidum leaves. The structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of the nanoparticles were assessed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrophotometer, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX). Nanocrystalline CuO with an average crystalline size of 22.0 nm and a band gap energy of 1.4 eV were confirmed from the XRD and UV-vis spectrophotometer, respectively. Morphological studies showed spherical nanoparticles, whose particle size estimation (30 ± 5 nm) agrees with the crystalline size deduced from the XRD pattern. A free radical scavenging activity of the CuO nanoparticles, evaluated using the 1, 1-diphenhyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, showed that it exhibited high antioxidant activity (IC50: 63.35 μg ml−1) that is concentration dependent. Antifungal evaluation using four different fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Trichoderma harzianum) indicated a direct relationship between the potency of the particles and their concentration, with 1 ppm solution exhibiting the highest potency. The green synthesized CuO-NPs using Ligustrum lucidum may be potentially used as an antioxidant and antifungal agent for therapeutic applications.

Assessment of Potential Use of a Composite Based on Polyester Textile Waste as Packing Elements of a Trickle Bed Bioreactor.

Biological wastewater treatment using trickle bed reactors is a commonly known and used solution. One of the key elements of the proper operation of the trickle bed bioreactor is the appropriate selection of biofilm support elements. The respective properties of the bioreactor packing media used can influence, among other things, the efficiency of the treatment process. In this study, the possibility of polyester waste material usage for the preparation of the biofilm support elements was tested. The following properties were checked: adsorption capacity, swelling, surface morphology, microbicidal properties, as well as the possibility of their use in biological wastewater treatment. The tested elements did not adsorb copper nor showed microbicidal properties for bacterial strains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as fungal strains Aspergillus niger and Chaetomium globosum. The hydrophilic and rough nature of the element surface was found to provide a friendly support for biofilm formation. The durability of the elements before and after their application in the biological treatment process was confirmed by performing tests such as compressive strength, FTIR analysis, hardness analysis and specific surface area measurement. The research confirmed the applicability of the packing elements based on polyester textile waste to the treatment of textile wastewater. The treatment efficiency of the model wastewater stream was above 90%, while in the case of a stream containing 60% actual industrial wastewater it was above 80%. The proposed solution enables the simultaneous management of textile waste and wastewater treatment, which is consistent with the principles of a circular economy. The selected waste raw material is a cheap and easily available material, and the use of the developed packing elements will reduce the amount of polyester materials ending up in landfills.