Penicillium Verrucosum Research Articles

Exploring a Cheese Ripening Process That Hinders Ochratoxin A Production by Penicillium nordicum and Penicillium verrucosum.

A lack of control of the technological abiotic parameters apparent during cheese manufacture, including temperature and relative humidity, results in this dairy product being prone to mold contamination. Sometimes, inoculant molds are used to obtain the characteristic sensory properties of this type of product. However, during the maturation process, some unwanted molds can colonize the ripening cheese and produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxigenic molds such as Penicillium nordicum and Penicillium verrucosum can colonize ripened cheeses, contaminating them with ochratoxin A (OTA), a nephrotoxic 2B toxin. Thus, the presence of OTA in cheeses could represent a hazard to consumers' health. This study has evaluated the growth and OTA production of P. nordicum and P. verrucosum on a cheese analogue under simulated ripening conditions of 10 and 15 °C and 0.96 water activity (aw). Ecophysiological, molecular, and analytical tools assessed the mold growth, gene expression, and OTA production under these environmental conditions. Both species were able to effectively colonize the cheese under these ripening conditions. However, neither species expressed the otapks and otanps biosynthetic genes or produced phenotypic OTA. Therefore, these results suggest a relatively low risk of exposure to OTA for consumers of this type of cheese product. The conditions used were thus appropriate for cheese ripening to minimize the potential for contamination with such mycotoxins. An appropriate adjustment of the technological ripening parameters during such cheese manufacture could contribute to OTA-free cheeses.

Eco-friendly lignin nanoparticles as antioxidant and antimicrobial material for enhanced textile production

Natural polymers are bioactive compounds that are used in the treatment of several disorders. Natural lignin, an amorphous polymer, offers significant potential for use as a building block in the production of bio-renovation materials. This study used an alkaline solvent technique to extract lignin from two Egyptian cotton cultivar byproducts, Giza 86 and 90. We then created nano-lignin to recycle cotton stalks into an environmentally beneficial product. The characterization of L86, L90, LNP86, and LNP90 was carried out using particle size, zeta potential, FT-IR, and TEM. Antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay and antimicrobial activity were determined for lignin and nano-lignin. Seven pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and five mycotoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium proliferatum and Penicillium verrucosum) were used for antimicrobial activity. The results showed high antioxidant efficiency for LNP90, with an IC50 of 10.38 µg/mL. The antimicrobial activity showed positive growth inhibition for all studied microorganisms, with significant differences in nano-lignin compared to ordinary lignin. lignin and nano-lignin were effectively applied to treated textiles for medical purposes. The study concluded that single-use medical textiles with anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties, made from lignin and nano-lignin, could benefit patients intolerant to antibiotics.

The effect of the interactions of water activity, and temperature on OTA, OTB, and OTα produced by Penicillium verrucosum in a mini silo of natural and inoculated wheat using CO2 production as fungal activity sentinel

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxin that contaminates grains in storage. Moisture and temperature sensors give delayed responses due to their slow kinetic movement within the silo. This study examines if CO2 production could predict OTA contamination and identify storage conditions exceeding the maximum limit (5 μg/kg). The impact of water activity levels (0.70–0.90 aw), temperatures (15 and 20 °C), and storage duration on (a)Penicillium verrucosum population, (b)CO2 respiration rates (RR), and (c)ochratoxins concentrations in stored wheat was investigated. 96 samples were analysed for ochratoxins with LCMS-MS. RR was >7 times higher at wetter conditions than at drier aw levels. A positive correlation between CO2, OTA, OTB, and OTα was observed at the wettest conditions. OTA exceeded the limit at >0.80 aw (16% moisture content) with RR > 0.01 mg CO2 kg−1 h−1. The knowledge of the RR of stored grain would alert grain farmers/managers to improve grain storage management.

Reduction of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A by addition of commercial Koji during fermentation of the Korean traditional soybean paste, Doenjang

Contamination by aflatoxins and ochratoxin A of traditional Korean fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) is a serious food safety issue. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of commercial Koji, a microbial starter culture used for fermentation, on mycotoxin contamination during Doenjang production at in vitro and scaled-up fermentation levels. A commercial Koji dominated by Aspergillus oryzae JI-4 exhibited strong antifungal and antimycotoxigenic activities against aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and ochratoxigenic Penicillium verrucosum both in vitro and in situ. Furthermore, co-inoculation with Koji JI and mycotoxigenic fungi in the early stage of Doenjang fermentation significantly suppressed aflatoxins and ochratoxin A production by more than 93% (p < 0.05) and improved the nutritional properties and sensory qualities of the final product. These results suggest that the addition of commercial Koji could be an effective and practical approach to reduce aflatoxins and ochratoxin A contamination during the fermentation of soybean paste.

Enhancing bread quality and extending shelf life using dried sourdough

This study investigated the physicochemical properties, microbiological analysis, antifungal activity, and mycotoxin analysis of bread. Eight breads were prepared, including control Bread (CB), control Bread with calcium propionate (CPB), commercial sourdough breads (CCB), control bread made with oven-dried sourdough (SB), and bread baked with oven-dried sourdough fermented by Pediococcus pentosaceus TI6 (SB-TI6). These breads were contaminated with Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium verrucosum, and their shelf life was monitored over 7 days. The results indicated that incorporating sourdough powder into bread significantly extends the shelf life and reduces fungal contamination. This reduction resulted in lower levels of mycotoxins, with the use of dry sourdough fermented by P. pentosaceus TI6 leading to the lowest levels of aflatoxins. In the case of SB-TI6, minor levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), and G1(AFG1) were detected, with only 0.003 mg of AFG2/Kg of the product. Conversely, CB loaves exhibited the highest mycotoxin contamination levels, reaching values of 330 mg of AFB1/Kg. The findings suggested that incorporating dry sourdough in breadmaking served as a viable alternative to synthetic preservatives, effectively reducing mycotoxin levels and enhancing bread safety and shelf life.

Bioactives of the essential oil from the leaves of Eugenia pyriformis Cambess (Myrtaceae) on the effects of tobacco.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and the main cause of cancer death, usually related to cigarette smoking. Furthermore, the microbiota of people exposed to cigarette smoke can be modified, making it difficult to eliminate opportunistic microorganisms. The leaves of Eugenia pyriformis are a by-product of fruit production and, to date, there have been no studies addressing the antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Investigate the antimicrobial, Nitric Oxide (NO)-production inhibition, and antiproliferative activities of the essential oil from E. pyriformis leaves and its possible effect on the treatment and prevention of damage caused by tobacco. The essential oil (EO) was obtained by hydrodistillation (3h). Its chemical composition was investigated by GC-MS. It was proposed to investigate antiproliferative activity against human tumor cell lines, namely, breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), lung (NCI-H460), cervical (HeLa), and hepatocellular (HepG2) carcinomas. A non-tumor primary culture from pig liver (PLP2) was also tested. The EO capacity to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production was evaluated by a lipopolysaccharide stimulated murine macrophage cell line. Antibacterial and antifungal activities against opportunistic pathogens were investigated against seven strains of bacteria and eight fungi. The results indicated the presence of 23 compounds in the essential oil, the majority were spathulenol (45.63%) and β-caryophyllene oxide (12.72%). Leaf EO provided 50% inhibition of nitric oxide production at a concentration of 92.04µgmL-1. The EO also demonstrated antiproliferative activity against all human tumor cell lines studied, with GI50 values comprised between 270.86 and 337.25µgmL-1. The essential oil showed antimicrobial potential against the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (Murray et al.) Pirie (NCTC 7973) and Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 13311 (MIC 1870µgmL-1) and fungi Aspergillus versicolor ATCC 11730, Aspergillus ochraceus ATCC 12066, Penicillium ochrochloron ATCC 90288, Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium (Westling) Samson, Stolk & Hadlok (food isolate) (MIC 1870µgmL-1) and Trichoderma viride Pers. IAM 5061 (1,400µg mL-1). The demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antimicrobial activities in the leaves of E. pyriformis can add value to the production chain of this plant, being a possible option for preventing and combating cancer, including lung cancer.

Production of Ochratoxin A and Citrinin and the Expression of Their Biosynthetic Genes from Penicillium verrucosum in Liquid Culture.

Penicillium verrucosum is a fungal pathogen capable of producing two mycotoxins of concern, ochratoxin A (OTA) and citrinin (CIT). The production profile of these two mycotoxins is not well understood but could help mitigate co-contamination in the food supply. As such, the production of OTA and CIT from P. verrucosum DAOMC 242724 was investigated under different growing conditions in liquid culture. We found that among the different liquid media chosen, liquid YES (yeast extract sucrose) medium induced the highest production of both OTA and CIT, when P. verrucosum DAOMC 242724 was cultured in stationary mode. Shake culture significantly reduced the amounts of OTA and CIT produced. Among all culture conditions tested, far greater amounts of CIT were produced compared to OTA. Consequently, upon transcriptomic data analysis, a statistically significant increase in the expression of CIT biosynthetic genes was easier to detect than the expression of OTA biosynthetic genes. Our study also revealed that the putative biosynthetic gene clusters of OTA and CIT in P. verrusocum DAOMC 242724 are likely distinct from each other. It appears that despite sharing a highly similar structure, the isocoumarin rings of OTA and CIT are each assembled by a specialized polyketide synthase enzyme. Our data identified a putative nonreducing polyketide synthase responsible for assembling the carbo-skeleton of CIT. In contrast, a highly reducing polyketide synthase appears to be involved in the biosynthesis of OTA.

MASTREVIRUS EFFECT ON METABOLIC AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES IN TOMATO LEAVES

This study was planned to illuminate the secondary metabolites of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (member of mastrevirus) infected tomato plants by using phytochemical profiling procedures and their comparison with control healthy tomato plants. Metabolite profiling through GCMS indicated fourteen bioactive compounds in mastrevirus inoculated symptomatic while eight bioactive compounds were present in healthy tomato plant sample. The plant extracts were used for comparative qualitative phytochemical screening indicating the presence of alkaloid, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, flavonoids and phenolic compounds in control and experimental plants. However, coumarins were absent in both samples. These metabolites were further tested for their antimicrobial potential against two gram negative bacteria viz., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Xanthomonas campestris and two pathogenic ascomycetous fungal strains Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium verrucosum. Control and experimental plants showed maximum inhibition in methanol extract i.e., 19±0.57a against P. aeruginosa and 27±2.08a and 21±1.73ab against X. campestris respectively. Control plants exhibited maximum inhibition i.e., 30±1.53bc in chloroform extract and experimental plants showed maximum inhibition (35±3.6a) in distilled water extract against P. verrucosum. Chloroform extract of control plants and methanol extract of experimental plants showed maximum inhibitory zone (31±2.65a and 25±2.52abc) against A. flavus. Furthermore the control and experimental plants showed maximum percentage DPPH free radical scavenging activity in chloroform extract i.e., 0.25 mg/mL dilution. The findings of this current study elaborate our understanding about the metabolic changes in virus infected tomato plants. Keywords: Tomato leaves, Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus, Metabolite profiling, Antibacterial activity, Antifungal Activity, Antioxidant activity.

Ochratoxin A induces abnormal tryptophan metabolism in the intestine and liver to activate AMPK signaling pathway

BackgroundOchratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin widely present in raw food and feed materials and is mainly produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum. Our previous study showed that OTA principally induces liver inflammation by causing intestinal flora disorder, especially Bacteroides plebeius (B. plebeius) overgrowth. However, whether OTA or B. plebeius alteration leads to abnormal tryptophan-related metabolism in the intestine and liver is largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the metabolic changes in the intestine and liver induced by OTA and the tryptophan-related metabolic pathway in the liver.Materials and methodsA total of 30 healthy 1-day-old male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group was given 0.1 mol/L NaHCO3 solution, and the OTA group was given 235 μg/kg body weight OTA for 14 consecutive days. Tryptophan metabolites were determined by intestinal chyme metabolomics and liver tryptophan-targeted metabolomics. AMPK-related signaling pathway factors were analyzed by Western blotting and mRNA expression.ResultsMetabolomic analysis of the intestinal chyme showed that OTA treatment resulted in a decrease in intestinal nicotinuric acid levels, the downstream product of tryptophan metabolism, which were significantly negatively correlated with B. plebeius abundance. In contrast, OTA induced a significant increase in indole-3-acetamide levels, which were positively correlated with B. plebeius abundance. Simultaneously, OTA decreased the levels of ATP, NAD+ and dipeptidase in the liver. Liver tryptophan metabolomics analysis showed that OTA inhibited the kynurenine metabolic pathway and reduced the levels of kynurenine, anthranilic acid and nicotinic acid. Moreover, OTA increased the phosphorylation of AMPK protein and decreased the phosphorylation of mTOR protein.ConclusionOTA decreased the level of nicotinuric acid in the intestinal tract, which was negatively correlated with B. plebeius abundance. The abnormal metabolism of tryptophan led to a deficiency of NAD+ and ATP in the liver, which in turn activated the AMPK signaling pathway. Our results provide new insights into the toxic mechanism of OTA, and tryptophan metabolism might be a target for prevention and treatment.Graphical

Synthesis of Cu and CuO nanoparticles from e-waste and evaluation of their antibacterial and photocatalytic properties

Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) contain a plethora of valuable metals, considered an attractive secondary resource. In the current research, a hydrometallurgical process combined ammonia/ammonium chloride leaching and reduction (using L-ascorbic acid) to recover copper and its oxide (CuO) as nanosized particles from WPCBs was investigated. The results of leaching indicated that 96.7% of copper could be recovered at a temperature of 35 °C for a leaching duration of 2 h with ammonium chloride and ammonia concentration of 2 mol/L at a solid:liquid ratio of 1:10 g/cm3. The synthesized particles exhibit spherical and distorted sphere morphology with average particle size of 460 nm and 50 nm for Cu and CuO NPs, respectively. The antibacterial activity of Cu, CuO, and a (1:1) blend of both (Cu/CuO) has been examined against five different bacterial and fungal strains. The highest zone of inhibition was measured as 21.2 mm for Cu NPs toward Escherichia coli and 16.7 mm for Cu/CuO blend toward Bacillus cereus bacteria. The highest zone of inhibition was measured as 13 mm and 13.8 mm for Cu/CuO blend toward Fusarium proliferatum and Penicillium verrucosum fungi. Cu/CuO blend showed notable photocatalytic activity towards Rhodamine B dye under visible light irradiation with 96% degradation rate within 120 min. Using the process developed in this study, copper and its oxide as nanoparticles can be produced from WPCBs and used for multifunctional applications.Graphical abstract

Sorption and Biodestruction of Microcystin-LR by &lt;i&gt;Penicillium verrucosum&lt;/i&gt; CP4 Strain Isolated from the Bottom Sediments of Sestroretsky Razliv Lake

The strain of fungus СР4 capable of degrading microcystin – LR (MC-LR) was isolated from the bottom sediments of Sestroretsky Razliv Lake. Based on DNA ITS sequencing and morphological analysis, the CP4 strain was identified as Penicillium verrucosum. The decrease in the content of MC-LR during the cultivation of strain СР4 from 0.64 μg/mL to 0.31 μg/mL occurs mainly due to biodegradation and, to a lesser extent, due to the sorption of the toxin by fungal cells. The method of biotesting (Daphnia magna) showed a decrease in the toxicity of the culture liquid in the process of MC-LR biodegradation by the strain СР4. The obtained results allow us to consider Penicillium verrucosum СР4 as a promising strain for mycoremediation of water bodies contaminated with microcystins.

Oral exposure to citrinin significantly exacerbates the pathophysiology of a mouse model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis via direct activation of dendritic cell.

Citrinin, a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium citrinum and Penicillium verrucosum, mainly contaminates cereals. The aim of study was to investigate the novel immunoreactive effect of citrinin using a mouse model of psoriasis. A mouse model of psoriasis was generated by topical application of 5% imiquimod in female BALB/c mice. Standard rodent diet and rice samples with 3ppm of citrinin were mixed to obtain a final citrinin concentration of 0.3ppm, and a citrinin-contaminated diet was fed to mice daily. Skin thickness, scratching behavior, and trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) were monitored continuously during the imiquimod application. Immediately after the final imiquimod application, ear skin and auricular lymph node (LN) were sampled for further analysis. Only a slight increase was observed in skin thickness in the citrinin exposure group; however, citrinin exposure significantly exacerbated hyperkeratinization and inflammatory cell infiltration in histological evaluation. TEWL, which is representative of cutaneous barrier function, was significantly increased by citrinin exposure. In terms of immune function, the number of immune cells in LN (T cells and dendritic cells) and gene expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in skin tissue were significantly increased by citrinin exposure. Direct interaction of dendritic cells (DCs) in citrinin-induced psoriasis development was further examined by proinflammatory cytokine determination in THP-1 cells and murine bone marrow derived DCs. IL-6 and/or tumor necrosis factor α were significantly increased by citrinin exposure. Taken together, our results imply that oral exposure to citrinin exacerbates the symptoms of a mouse model of psoriasis via direct activation of DCs.

Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by Penicillium rubens and catalytic detoxification of ochratoxin A and organic dye pollutants.

The environmental pollution caused by chemical dyes is a growing concern nowadays. Limitations of traditional methods opened the route for nanotechnology; owing to the versatile properties of nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) became a potential strategy for different applications. In the present study, biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (BioAuNPs) was carried out by reacting chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) with cell-free filtrate of Penicillium rubens sp. nov. NCIM 1937. The AuNPs were then characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, HR-TEM, FTIR, and DLS analysis to further examine their efficacious biosynthesis and morphological properties including size, shape, and stability. The biogenic AuNPs are polydisperse in nature, with a mean size of 14.92 ± 5nm. These AuNPs exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli NCIM-2065, Bacillus subtilis NCIM-2010, and Penicillium verrucosum MTCC 4935. In vitro quantitative HPLC results revealed that BioAuNPs significantly inhibited the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A (OTA). Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are intriguing for power generation and wastewater treatment since they can directly transform chemical energy stored in organic matter to electricity by extracellular electron transfer (EET) via membrane proteins. AuNPs also showed excellent potential for dye degradation of organic pollutants, viz., methylene blue (MB), phenol red (PR), bromothymol blue (BTB), Congo red (CR), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). All dye removal efficiencies were estimated and fitted to pseudo-first-order processes using kinetic rate constants (Ka).The present study reveals a simple, original, and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of multifunctional biogenic AuNPs that could be effective in OTA detoxification in food products and organic pollutant removal during wastewater treatment for a sustainable environment.

Factors That Interfere in the Action of Sanitizers against Ochratoxigenic Fungi Deteriorating Dry-Cured Meat Products

This study verified the factors affecting the antifungal efficacy of sanitizers against ochratoxin A-producing fungi. The fungi Penicillium nordicum, Penicillium verrucosum, and Aspergillus westerdijkiae were exposed to three sanitizers at three concentrations: peracetic acid (0.3, 0.6, 1%), benzalkonium chloride (0.3, 1.2, 2%), and sodium hypochlorite (0.5, 0.75, 1%) at three exposure times (10, 15, and 20 min), three temperatures (10, 25, and 40 °C), and with the presence of organic matter simulating clean (0.3%) and dirty (3%) environments. All the tested conditions influenced the antifungal action of the tested sanitizers. Peracetic acid and benzalkonium chloride were the most effective sanitizers, and sodium hypochlorite was ineffective according to the parameters evaluated. The amount of organic matter reduced the antifungal ability of all sanitizers. The longer exposure time was more effective for inactivating fungi. The temperature acted differently for benzalkonium chloride, which tended to be favored at low temperatures, than for sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid, which were more effective at higher temperatures. The knowledge of the parameters that influence the action of sanitizers on spoilage fungi is vital in decision-making related to sanitizing processes in the food industry.

Antifungal activity of eco-safe nanoemulsions based on Nigella sativa oil against Penicillium verrucosum infecting maize seeds: Biochemical and physiological traits.

The main goals of the present investigation were to develop O/W nanoemulsion fungicides based on cold-pressed Nigella sativa (black seed) oil to prevent Penicillium verrucosum infection of maize seeds and to test their antifungal activity against this fungus. Additionally, the effect of these nanoemulsions on plant physiological parameters was also investigated. Two nonionic surfactants namely Tween 20 and Tween 80 were used as emulsifying agents in these formulations. The effect of sonication time and surfactant type on the mean droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of the nanoemulsions were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results indicated that both sonication time and emulsifier type had pronounced effects on the stability of O/W nanoemulsions with a small particle size range (168.6-345.3 nm), acceptable PDI (0.181-0.353), and high zeta potential (-27.24 to -48.82 mV). Tween 20 showed superior stability compared to Tween 80 nanoemulsions. The in vitro results showed that complete inhibition of P. verrucosum-growth was obtained by 10_T80 and 10_T20 nanoemulsions at 100% concentration. All nanoemulsions had increment effects on maize seed germination by 101% in the case of 10_T20 and 10_T80 compared to untreated seeds or the chemical fungicide treatment. Nanoemulsions (10_T20 and 10_T80) were able to stimulate root and shoot length as compared to the fungicide treatment. Seed treatment with 10_T80 nanoemulsion showed the highest AI and protease activity by 75 and 70%, respectively, as compared to the infected control. The produced nanoemulsions might provide an effective protectant coating layer for the stored maize seeds.

Evaluation of shelf life and technological properties of bread elaborated with lactic acid bacteria fermented whey as a bio-preservation ingredient

Nowadays, food lost by fungal contamination is one of the main safety problems for the bakery industry. As the consumer is rejecting the use of regular food additives new methods are being investigated. One of the more promising alternatives is the use of microorganism in the preservation of food, bio-preservation. In this article the ability of a lactic acid bacteria fermented whey was assessed as bio-preservative ingredient to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. in bread. The rheological, mechanical and antifungal properties of 3 different concentrations of this ingredient were studied. Results evidence that the addition lactic acid bacteria fermented whey in a of a 5% concentration did not modify drastically the quality of the bread, increased the occurrence of antifungal metabolites such as lactic acid and phenyllactic acid and managed to extend the shelf life from bread contaminated with Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium verrucosum and significantly reduced the fungal population of Penicillium verrucosum in the bread after 7 days in comparation to a regular bread.

In Vitro Anti-Colorectal Cancer and Anti-Microbial Effects of Pinus roxburghii and Nauplius graveolens Extracts Modulated by Apoptotic Gene Expression

The use of phytochemicals is gaining increasing attention for treating cancer morbidity with minimal burden side effects. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of Pinus roxburghii branch (P. roxburghii) and Nauplius graveolens (N. graveolens) extracts in vitro. Cell viability was estimated using MTT assay. DNA fragmentation was determined to detect apoptotic pathway initiation. Mechanistically, the apoptotic pathway was tracked by estimating the relative mRNA expression levels of the Bcl-2, Bax, Cas3, NF-κB, and PI3k genes by qRT-PCR. P. roxburghii exhibited moderate antioxidant activity, while N. graveolens possessed highly significant (p &lt; 0.05) scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS assays. HPLC analysis demonstrated that catechin and chlorogenic acid were the predominant polyphenolic compounds in P. roxburghii and N. graveolens, respectively. The P. roxburghii and N. graveolens extracts inhibited the viability of HCT-116 cells with IC50 values of 30.6 µg mL−1 and 26.5 µg mL−1, respectively. DNA fragmentation analysis showed that the proposed extracts induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, the IC50 doses of the selected extracts significantly (p &lt; 0.05) upregulated Bax and cleaved Cas-3, and downregulated Bcl-2, NF-κB, and PI3k genes versus the GAPDH gene as a housekeeping gene in comparison to the control group. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was raised upon treatment. The mentioned extracts exhibited antimicrobial action against all tested bacteria and fungi. The highest antibacterial effect was recorded against E. coli, with inhibition zones of 12.0 and 11.2 mm for P. roxburghii and N. graveolens, respectively. On the other hand, the highest antifungal action was registered for Penicillium verrucosum and A. niger, with inhibition zones of 9.8 and 9.2 mm for the tested extracts, respectively. In conclusion, the outcomes of this study indicate that P. roxburghii and N. graveolens extracts could potentially be used as anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal agents.

Lactic Acid Bacteria as Potential Agents for Biocontrol of Aflatoxigenic and Ochratoxigenic Fungi.

Aflatoxins (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are fungal metabolites that have carcinogenic, teratogenic, embryotoxic, genotoxic, neurotoxic, and immunosuppressive effects in humans and animals. The increased consumption of plant-based foods and environmental conditions associated with climate change have intensified the risk of mycotoxin intoxication. This study aimed to investigate the abilities of eleven selected LAB strains to reduce/inhibit the growth of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus welwitschiae, Aspergillus steynii, Aspergillus westerdijkiae, and Penicillium verrucosum and AF and OTA production under different temperature regiments. Data were treated by ANOVA, and machine learning (ML) models able to predict the growth inhibition percentage were built, and their performance was compared. All factors LAB strain, fungal species, and temperature significantly affected fungal growth and mycotoxin production. The fungal growth inhibition range was 0-100%. Overall, the most sensitive fungi to LAB treatments were P. verrucosum and A. steynii, while the least sensitive were A. niger and A. welwitschiae. The LAB strains with the highest antifungal activity were Pediococcus pentosaceus (strains S11sMM and M9MM5b). The reduction range for AF was 19.0% (aflatoxin B1)-60.8% (aflatoxin B2) and for OTA, 7.3-100%, depending on the bacterial and fungal strains and temperatures. The LAB strains with the highest anti-AF activity were the three strains of P. pentosaceus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum (T2MM3), and those with the highest anti-OTA activity were Leuconostoc paracasei ssp. paracasei (3T3R1) and L. mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum (T2MM3). The best ML methods in predicting fungal growth inhibition were multilayer perceptron neural networks, followed by random forest. Due to anti-fungal and anti-mycotoxin capacity, the LABs strains used in this study could be good candidates as biocontrol agents against aflatoxigenic and ochratoxigenic fungi and AFL and OTA accumulation.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of the Ethanolic Extract Obtained from Berberis vulgaris Roots and Leaves.

This work assessed the phenolic and flavonoid components and their antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial effects in the ethanolic extract of barberry leaf and roots. The antibactericidal activity of root and leaf extracts against pathogenic bacteria was tested using agar diffusion and microdilution broth production for the lowest inhibitory concentration (MIC). Berberis vulgaris root and leaf extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus ATCC9973, Escherichia coli HB101, Staphylococcus enteritis, and Escherichia coli Cip812. The disc assay technique was used to assess the bactericidal activity of the extracts versus both pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Hydro alcoholic extract was more effective against bacterial than fungal strains. The results showed that Berberis vulgaris leaf and roots extract had similar antifungal activities. Berberis vulgaris root extract inhibited the mycelial growth of Penicillium verrucosum, Fusarium proliferatum, Aspergillus ochraceous, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. Berberis vulgaris root extract has excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. Berberis vulgaris exhibited antimicrobial activity in vitro, and MIC showed that Berberis vulgaris parts efficiently affected pathogens in vitro. In conclusion, both Berberis vulgaris roots and leaves have considerable antibacterial activity and can be used as a source of antibacterial, antioxidant, and bioactive compounds to benefit human health.

Evaluation of cold plasma for decontamination of molds and mycotoxins in rice grain

Few reports are on the application of cold plasma (CP) for mold and mycotoxin control in grain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of CP for mycotoxin and mold control in rice grain. Rice grains artificially contaminated with molds or mycotoxins were subjected to CP treatment. The microbial activities of Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium verrucosum and Fusarium graminearum were significantly inhibited by CP treatment. The maximal reduction of DON and OTA were 61.25 % and 55.64 %, respectively. The electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content in rice grain increased at most by 30.14 % and 103.27 %, respectively. The seed germination reduced significantly when treatment time reached 8 min. The major nutrients of rice grain were not affected except for prolamine, which was generally consistent with the results of electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared analysis. Cold plasma is a promising method for mold and mycotoxin control in rice grain.