Citrus black rot disease being caused by Alternaria citri is a major disease of citrus plants with 30–35% economic loss annually. Fungicides had not been effective in the control of this disease ...during last few decades. In the present study, antifungal role of green synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were studied against Alternaria citri. Alternaria citri was isolated from disease fruits samples and was identified by staining with lacto phenol cotton blue. Furthermore, CuO and ZnO NPs were synthesized by utilizing the lemon peels extract as the reducing and capping agent. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. From the XRD data, the calculated size of CuO NPs was to be 18 nm and ZnO NPs was16.8 nm using Scherrer equation. The SEM analyses revealed the surface morphology of all the metal oxide NPs synthesized were rounded, elongated and or spherical in the shape. The zone of inhibition was observed to be 50 ± 0.5 mm by CuO NPs, followed by 51.5 ± 0.5 mm by ZnO NPs and maximum zone of antifungal inhibition was observed to be 53 ± 0.6 mm by mix metal oxide NPs. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the synthesized nanoparticles showed that at the certain concentrations (80 mg ml−1), these NPs were capable of inhibiting the fungal growth, whereas above that specified concentrations (100 mg ml−1), NPs completely inhibited the fungal growth. Based on these findings, the green synthesized NPs can be used as alternative to fungicide in order to control the citrus black rot disease.
Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide health problem that demands alternative antibacterial strategies. Modified nano-composites can be an effective strategy as compared to traditional medicine. ...The current study was designed to develop a biocompatible nano-drug delivery system with increased efficacy of current therapeutics for biomedical applications. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized by chemical and green methods by mediating with Moringa olifera root extract. The ZnO-NPs were further modified by drug conjugation and coating with PEG (CIP-PEG-ZnO-NPs) to enhance their therapeutic potential. PEGylated ZnO-ciprofloxacin nano-conjugates were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. During antibacterial screenings chemically and green synthesized CIP-PEG-ZnO-NPs revealed significant activity against clinically isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The sustainable and prolonged release of antibiotics was noted from the CIP-PEG conjugated ZnO-NPs. The synthesized nanoparticles were found compatible with RBCs and Baby hamster kidney cell lines (BHK21) during hemolytic and MTT assays respectively. Based on initial findings a broad-spectrum nano-material was developed and tested for biomedical applications that eradicated Staphylococcus aureus from the infectious site and showed wound-healing effects during in vivo applications. ZnO-based nano-drug carrier can offer targeted drug delivery, and improved drug stability and efficacy resulting in better drug penetration.
Bioactive compounds are secondary metabolites of plants. They offer diverse pharmacological properties. Peganum harmala is reported to have pharmaceutical effects like insecticidal, antitumor, curing ...malaria, anti-spasmodic, vasorelaxant, antihistaminic effect. Rosa brunonii has medicinal importance in its flower and fruits effective against different diseases and juice of leaf is reported to be applied externally to cure wounds and cuts. Dryopteris ramosa aqueous leaf extract is used to treat stomach ulcers and stomachaches. Each of these three medicinal plants have been indicated to have anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antifungal effects but efficacy of their bioactive compounds remained unexplored. Study was aimed to explore In-vitro and In-silico anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antifungal effects of bioactive compounds of above three medicinal plants. DPPH and ABTS assay were applied for assessment of antioxidant properties of compounds. Antibacterial properties of compounds were checked by agar well diffusion method. Brine shrimp lethality assay was performed to check cytotoxic effect of compounds. Molecular docking was conducted to investigate the binding efficacy between isolated compounds and targeted proteins. The compound isomangiferrin and tiliroside presented strong antioxidant potential 78.32% (± 0.213) and 77.77% (± 0.211) respectively in DPPH assay while harmaline showed 80.71% (± 0.072) at 200 µg/mL in ABTS assay. The compound harmine, harmaline and PH-HM 17 exhibited highest zone of inhibition 22 mm, 23 mm, 22 mm respectively against Xanthomonas while Irriflophenone-3-C-β- D-glucopyranoside showed maximum zone of inhibition 34 mm against E. coli. The compound isomangiferrin and vasicine contained strong antibacterial activity 32 mm and 22 mm respectively against S. aureus. The compound mangiferrin, astragalin, tiliroside, quercitin-3-O-rhamnoside showed maximum inhibitory zone 32 mm, 26 mm, 24 mm and 22 mm respectively against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Highest cytotoxic effect was observed by compound tiliroside i.e. 95% with LD
value 73.59 µg/mL. The compound tiliroside showed the best binding mode of interaction to all targeted proteins presenting maximum hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. The binding affinity of tiliroside was - 17.9, - 14.9, - 14.6, - 13.8, - 12.8 against different proteins 6VAR, 5C5S, IEA3, 2XV7 and 6LUS respectively. Bioactive compounds are significant natural antioxidants, which could help to prevent the progression of various diseases caused by free radicals. Based on molecular docking we have concluded that phytochemicals can have better anticancer and antiviral potential.
Production and utilization of nanoparticles (NPs) are increasing due to their positive and stimulating effects on biological systems. Silver (Ag) NPs improve seed germination, photosynthetic ...efficiency, plant growth, and antimicrobial activities. In this study, the effects of chemo-blended Ag NPs on wheat were investigated using the gel-free/label-free proteomic technique. Morphological analysis revealed that chemo-blended Ag NPs resulted in the increase of shoot length, shoot fresh weight, root length, and root fresh weight. Proteomic analysis indicated that proteins related to photosynthesis and protein synthesis were increased, while glycolysis, signaling, and cell wall related proteins were decreased. Proteins related to redox and mitochondrial electron transport chain were also decreased. Glycolysis associated proteins such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase increased as well as decreased, while phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase was decreased. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase were promoted in response to the chemo-blended Ag NPs. These results suggested that chemo-blended Ag NPs promoted plant growth and development through regulation of energy metabolism by suppression of glycolysis. Number of grains/spike, 100-grains weight, and yield of wheat were stimulated with chemo-blended Ag NPs. Morphological study of next generational wheat plants depicted normal growth, and no toxic effects were observed. Therefore, morphological, proteomic, yield, and next generation results revealed that chemo-blended Ag NPs may promote plant growth and development through alteration in plant metabolism.
Extracts obtained from M. longifolia (Lamiaceae) and R. ellipticus (Rosaceae) were selected to utilize in the reduction and stabilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for achieving remarkable ...bioactivities. In brief, the cytotoxic potential of the as synthesize AgNPs was high at higher concentrations. In DPPH assay, maximum antioxidant potential was shown by AgNPs synthesized from M. longifolia. Meanwhile, Methanolic extracts exhibited more antioxidant potential than chloroform based extracts.
Further, brine shrimp lethality assay was carried out to achieve 34.6 μg/mL & 25.65 μg/mL LD50 values against the NPs prepared from M. and R., respectively. In addition, antioxidant activities were carried by ABTS Radical cation assay where 38.6 μg/mL and 47 μg/mL IC50 values were obtained for the NPs obtained from M. longifolia and R. ellipticus, respectively. Reducing power assay (0.370–0.15 and 0.37–0.26 mean absorbance) and DPPH (% scavenging: 88.91–46.48 and 88.91–44.78) percentages were recorded for M. and R. synthesized AgNPs, respectively.
In brief, M. longifolia functionalized particles performed better in comparison to R. ellipticus treated particles. In addition, the nano assembly dispersed in polar solvent demonstrated better results in comparison to non-polar solvents.
In conclusion, the as synthesized AgNPs were better in bioactivities than crude extracts of the selected plants.
In future, this work could be extended to isolating active components for the nanofabrication of biologically intelligent nanoparticles for pharmacological interest. In the proposed investigation, the purified bioactivities fractions would be highlighted for further consideration in various medical treatments.
Water deficit stress negatively affects wheat growth, physiology, and yield. In lab and hydroponic experiments, osmotic stress levels (control, −2, −4, −6 and −8 Bars) created by PEG-6000, caused a ...significant decline in germination, mean germination time, root, shoot, and coleoptile length in both wheat genotypes examined. Germination was inhibited more in Wafaq-2001 than in Chakwal-50. Wafaq-2001 showed a higher susceptibility index based on root and shoot dry weight than did Chakwal-50. Wheat plants exhibited osmotic adjustment through the accumulation of proline, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and free amino acids, and increased antioxidation activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and malondialdehyde. Increasing water deficit stress caused a linear decline in chlorophyll contents, leaf membrane stability, and relative water content in all wheat plants, with Wafaq-2001 showing a more severe negative impact on these parameters with increasing stress levels. The results suggest the possibility of utilizing some of these parameters as quantitative indicators of water stress tolerance in plants. Gas exchange measurements (photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance), leaf osmotic potential, water potential, and yield attributes decreased more abruptly with increasing water deficit, whereas leaf cuticular wax content increased in both genotypes, with more severe impacts on Wagaq-2001. More reduction in biochemical, physiological, and yield attributes was observed in Wafaq-2001 than was observed in Chakwal-50. Based on these results, we can conclude that Chakwal-50 is a more drought-tolerant genotype, and has excellent potential for future use in breeding programs to improve wheat drought tolerance.
Ficus palmata
Forssk (Moraceae) and
Calotropis procera
(Aiton) Dryand (Asclepidaceae) are medicinally important plants. Traditionally,
Ficus palmata
Forssk is well known to cure gastric and diabetic ...problems. Both plants are found useful in the treatment of cancerous complications and skin eruptions. The present study was aimed to assess bioactivities of selected plants. Cytotoxicity (brine shrimp lethality assay), antioxidant (ABTS, DPPH, phosphomolybdate and reducing power assay), antimicrobial (disc diffusion method) and phytochemical screening was performed to analyze their activities. Crude extract of leaves and fruit of both plants was prepared in two polar solvents, i.e. methanol and chloroform. Significant cytotoxic potential was shown by fruit of both plants with LD
50
values of 80.34 and 93.83 µg/mL by
Calotropis procera
(Aiton) Dryand methanolic extract and
F. palmata
chloroform extract, respectively. Methanol extracts of leaves of both plants revealed significant antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activity.
F. palmata
leaves methanol extract showed strong antioxidant activity among the tested samples and the LC
50
values were 10.39, 14.63 and 19.28 µg/mL in phosphomolybdate, ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. Promising microbial growth inhibition was observed at 25 µg/mL. The observed bioactivities are consistent with the presence of valuable phytochemicals: alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and saponins. Due to the strong antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant potential endowed by selected plant extracts, these are supposed to be potential candidates for biopharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Further work explicating the structural details and isolation of phytochemicals from selected plant species would be recommended.
Graphical abstract
Traditional uses of plants are one of the important starting points in search of newer and more effective bioactive drug.
Rosa brunonii
(plant’s family; Rosaceae) is an ethnomedicinal shrub found in ...lesser Himalaya region. In traditional medicines, it is used as “blood purifier, to stimulate wound healing, to treat infectious diseases”. So, by considering the medicinal potential of
Rosa brunonii
, the methanolic fruit’s extract was tested against two gram positive and three gram negative bacteria by agar well diffusion method. The maximum antibacterial potential was noticed against
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(94 ± 0.3 mm inhibition zone, MIC = 62.5 ± 1.1 µg/mL), while minimum antibacterial activity was shown by the plant extract against
Bacillus subtilis
(MIC = 250 ± 7.2 µg/mL). The cytotoxic properties of crude methanolic extract were determined by brine shrimp lethality test. A dose-dependent cytotoxic effect was observed for the plant extract at
p
< 0.05, F (3,8) = 1.58 with LD
50
220.95 ± 1.03 µg/mL. Antitumor potential was evaluated by potato disk antitumor bioassay. Fruit’s extract of
R. brunonii
showed maximum tumor inhibition at 1000 µg/mL by 72.73% with IC
50
= 655.65 ± 0.03 µg/mL. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed that extract is devoid of alkaloid but rich in phenolics. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined as 66.73 ± 3.89 µg/mg GAE and 46.51 ± 0.96 µg/mg QE, respectively, in
R. brunonii
. The present study underlined the ethnomedicinal importance of
R. brunonii
and promised useful candidate for the search of newer and effective bioactive constituents.
The long history of using plant species as medicines worldwide provides clues for the search for bioactive phytochemicals. One of the important traditional medicinal plant species of Pakistan is
...Dryopteris ramosa
(Dryopteridaceae). The fronds of
Dryopteris ramosa
are traditionally used for the treatment of gastric ulcer and constipation. The crude methanol extract and aqueous fraction of
Dryopteris ramosa
exhibited strong free radical scavenging potential. Two xanthonoid compounds, mangiferin and isomangiferin, were isolated from the aqueous fraction of
Dryopteris ramosa
by chromatographic techniques (CC Sephadex LH20, followed by MPLC and purified by preparative TLC). Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis MS, NMR (1H, 13C, HSQC and HMBC). This is the first report on isolation of mangiferin and isomangiferin from Dryopteris genus though previously reported in other fern genera, e.g.,
Cystopteris
,
Acystopteris
,
Gymnocarpium
and
Asplenium
. The antioxidant potential of mangiferin (60.34 ± 0.14 μg/mL) and isomangiferin (55.98 ± 0.39 μg/mL) was comparable to ascorbic acid (57.97 ± 0.93 μg/mL), thus representing promising antioxidant agents against oxidative stress. The investigation of the mechanism of free radical scavenging by mangiferin and isomangiferin showed that the catechol moiety was involved in quenching of free radicals. This study justified the traditional use of
Dryopteris ramosa
confirming the pharmacological properties of isolated compounds. Further phytochemical studies on
Dryopteris ramosa
are needed for identification of new bioactive phytochemicals in this plant of ethnobotanical relevance.
For centuries, medicinal plants have served as the cornerstone for traditional health care systems and same practice is still prevalent today. In the Himalayan region, Saussurea heteromalla holds a ...significant place in traditional medicine and is used to address various health issues. Despite its historical use, little exploration has focused on its potential for scavenging free radicals and reducing inflammation. Hence, our current study aims to investigate the free radical scavenging capabilities of S. heteromalla extracts. The n-hexane extract of entire plant revealed promising activity. This extract underwent extensive extraction on a larger scale. Subsequent purification, employing column chromatography, HPLC-DAD techniques, led to the identification of active compounds, confirmed via GC-MS and the NIST database as 1-O-butyl 2-O-octyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate and 2,4-ditert-butylphenol. Assessing the free radical scavenging properties involved utilizing RAW-264.7 macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharides. Notably, the compound 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol exhibited remarkable scavenging abilities, demonstrating over 80% inhibition of Nitric oxide. This study stands as the inaugural report on the isolation of these compounds from S. heteromalla.
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