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Secondary plant metabolites remain one of the key sources of therapeutic agents despite the development of new approaches for the discovery of medicinal drugs. In the current study, chemical analysis, and biological activities of Kei apple ( Dovyalis caffra ) methanolic extract were evaluated. Chemical analysis was performed using HPLC and GC–MS. Antiviral and anticancer effect were assessed using the crystal violet technique and activity against human liver cells (HepG2), respectively. Antibacterial activity was tested with the disc diffusion method. The obtained results showed that chlorogenic acid (2107.96 ± 0.07 µg/g), catechin (168 ± 0.58 µg/g), and gallic acid (15.66 ± 0.02 µg/g) were the main bioactive compounds identified by HPLC techniques. While, compounds containing furan moieties, as well as levoglucosenone, isochiapin B, dotriacontane, 7-nonynoic acid and tert-hexadecanethiol, with different biological activities were identified by GC–MS. Additionally, inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) scavenging was 79.25% at 2000 µg/mL, indicating its antioxidant activity with IC 50 of 728.20 ± 1.04 µg/mL. The tested extract exhibited potential anticancer activity (58.90% toxicity) against HepG2 cells at 1000 µg/mL. Potential bacterial inhibition was observed mainly against Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris , followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with a diameter of growth inhibition ranging from 13 to 24 mm. While weak activities were recorded for fungi Candida albicans (10 mm). The extract showed mild antiviral activity against human coronavirus 229E with a selective index (SI) of 10.4, but not against human H3N2 (SI of 0.67). The molecular docking study's energy ratings were in good promise with the experiment documents of antibacterial and antiviral activities. The findings suggest that D. caffra juice extract is a potential candidate for further experiments to assess its use as potential alternative therapeutic agent.

Multiple biological functions of Mentha pulegium extract were evaluated in the current work. Phytochemical components of the M. pulegium extract were detected by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, M. pulegium extract was estimated for antioxidant potential by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging, antimicrobial activity by well diffusion, and anticoagulant activity via prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). GC-MS analysis detected compounds including cholesterol margarate, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 19-nor-4-androstenediol, androstan-17-one, pulegone-1,2-epoxide, isochiapin B, dotriacontane, hexadecanoic acid and neophytadiene. Chrysoeriol (15.36 µg/mL) was followed by kaempferol (11.14 µg/mL) and 7-OH flavone (10.14 µg/mL), catechin (4.11 µg/mL), hisperdin (3.05 µg/mL), and luteolin (2.36 µg/mL) were detected by HPLC as flavonoids, in addition to ferulic (13.19 µg/mL), cinnamic (12.69 µg/mL), caffeic (11.45 µg/mL), pyrogallol (9.36 µg/mL), p-coumaric (5.06 µg/mL) and salicylic (4.17 µg/mL) as phenolics. Antioxidant activity was detected with IC50 18 µg/mL, hemolysis inhibition was recorded as 79.8% at 1000 μg/mL, and PT and APTT were at 21.5 s and 49.5 s, respectively, at 50 μg/mL of M. pulegium extract. The acute toxicity of M. pulegium extract was recorded against PC3 (IC50 97.99 µg/mL) and MCF7 (IC50 80.21 µg/mL). Antimicrobial activity of M. pulegium extract was documented against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonasaureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not against black fungus Mucor circinelloides. Molecular docking was applied using MOE (Molecular Operating Environment) to explain the biological activity of neophytadiene, luteolin, chrysoeriol and kaempferol. These compounds could be suitable for the development of novel pharmacological agents for treatment of cancer and bacterial infections.

In the last decade, the urgent need to explore medicinal plants or drug development has increased enormously around the world to overcome numerous health problems. In the present investigation, HPLC indicated the existence of 18 phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the Cupressus sempervirens extract. Hesperetin represents the greatest concentration (25,579.57 µg/mL), while other compounds, such as pyro catechol, rutin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and quercetin, were recognized in concentrations of 2922.53 µg/mL, 1313.26 µg/mL, 1107.26 µg/mL, 389.09 µg/mL, 156.53 µg/mL, and 97.56 µg/mL, respectively. The well diffusion method documented the antibacterial/antifungal activity of C. sempervirens extract against E. faecalis, E. coli, C. albicans, S. typhi, S.aureus, and M. circinelloid with 35, 33, 32, 25, 23, and 21 mm inhibition zones, respectively, more than the standard antibiotic/antifungal agent. Low values ranging from 7.80 to 15.62 µg/mL of MIC and MBC were recorded for E. faecalis, E. coli, and C. albicans. From the 1- diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, promising antioxidant activity was recorded for C. sempervirens extract with IC50 of an 8.97 µg/mL. Moreover, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity assays (TAC) confirmed the antioxidant activity of the extract, which was expressed as the ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE) of 366.9 ± 0.2 µg/mg and 102 ± 0.2 µg/mg of extracts, respectively. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition % were determined to express the antidiabetic activity of the extract in vitro, with promising IC50 value (27.01 µg/mL) for α-amylase compared to that of acarbose (50.93 µg/mL), while IC50 value of the extract for α-glucosidase was 19.21µg/mL compared to that of acarbose 4.13 µg/mL. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) revealed the role of C. sempervirens extract as an anticoagulant agent if compared with the activity of heparin. Binding interactions of hesperetin and gallic acid were examined via the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) Dock software against E. faecalis (PDB ID: 3CLQ), C. albicans (PDB ID: 7RJC), α-amylase (PDB ID: 4W93), and α-glucosidase (PDB ID: 3TOP). The obtained results shed light on how molecular modeling methods might inhibit the tested compounds, which have the potential to be useful in the treatment of target proteins.

The use of eco-friendly methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles and its nano-composite has become a public demand nowadays to reduce the risks of chemical methods. In the current study, green synthesis of Cu-doped ZnO based polymers nan-ocomposite was performed. Various instrumental analysis including UV–vis, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, TEM and Thermal gravimetric were used to characterize nano-composite. Highly antibacterial activity of the synthesized nano-composite was recorded against tested microorganisms with promising efficacy against bacteria namely; Bacillus subtilis , Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium and yeast ( Candida albicans ) but unfortunately not against black fungus ( Mucor circinelloides ) and filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. niger. Anti-inflammatory of nano-composite represented by hemolysis inhibition was observed at using low concentration (100 µg/mL) with enhancing 23.85% compared with free nano-composite while at high concentrations 500 and1000 µg/mL the anti-inflammatory activity was approximately similar with enhancing 3.91% and 1.99%, respectively. Antioxidant of the nano-composite was better than the antioxidant of free nano-composite at all tested concentrations, moreover the IC 50 of the nano-composite (91.16 µg/mL) was less than the IC 50 , (203.65 µg/mL) of the free nano-composite.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is proving to be an unprecedented disaster that lays its dark shadow on global health, economics and personal freedom. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) epidemics provide scientific data that is useful in better understanding and resolution of COVID-19. Similarities among SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have been investigated in the light of available data. SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 evolved in bats and have positive-sense RNA genomes of 27.9 kb, 30.1 kb and 29.9 kb, respectively. Molecular and serological tools used for diagnosis of SARS and MERS patients resemble COVID-19 diagnostic tools. Stability and longevity data of SARS and MERS epidemics contribute in the current pandemic precaution policies. Trials to produce vaccines for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV failed, therefore different strategies were employed for SARS-CoV2 vaccines production and during the past period antiviral agents, Convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies provide potential treatments for sever patients. The mortality rate caused by the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV reached 15% and 37%, respectively. The first declarations about mortality rate of SARS-CoV-2 was around 2-4% but now this rate differed globally and reached more than 13% in some countries. A realistic COVID-19 outbreak scenario suggest that the pandemic might last for three years with fluctuation in the number of infected cases, unless vaccination process goes faster and/or antiviral drug is discovered.

Currently, it’s critical to develop efficient and focused processes for the extraction and separating the naturally occurring bioactive substances in the plant extracts. Helicobacter pylori is involved in the pathophysiology of several disorders, from gastritis without symptoms to stomach cancer. Induction of releasing bioactive compounds from rosemary plant extract with the evaluating of its anti- H. pylori , anti-hemolytic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and healing properties was the aim of the present study. Rosemary plant was treated by moist heat, then extracted and analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) compared to un-moist plant. The concentration of detected compounds except ferulic acid in moist rosemary extract (MRE) was more than that un-moist rosemary extract (UMRE). Concentrations of rosmarinic acid (34299.24 and 28341.54 µg/mL), ellagic acid (4106.39 and 2785.53 µg/mL), gallic acid (3763.63 and 2611.37 µg/mL), rutin (2456.26 and 1263.93 µg/mL) were recognized in MRE and UMRE, respectively. Well diffusion approach against H. pylori reflected that the inhibition zone caused by MRE was more (29.50 ± 0.5 mm) than that caused by NMRE (22.00 ± 1.0 mm). Moreover, MRE exhibited less minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (3.9 µg/mL) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) (7.8 µg/mL) than UMRE (62.5 µg/mL). Hemolysis in the existence of H. pylori was more affected by MIC (25, 50, and 75%) of UMRE (12 ± 1.33, 4.3 ± 0.75, and 1.8 ± 0.33%) than MRE (19.7 ± 1.2, 6.0 ± 1.66, 3.3 ± 0.33%), respectively. Radical scavenging activity via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reflected low IC 50 value (3.45 µg/mL) of MRE compared to UMRE (5.02 µg/mL). Moreover, antioxidant potential via total antioxidant capacity and Ferric reducing antioxidant power indicated that the MRE was more actually than NMRE. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition was attractive using MRE with IC 50 values of 3.18 ± 0.33 and 3.91 ± 0.25 µg/mL, compared to IC 50 values of 7.34 ± 0.33 and 21.23 ± 0.87 µg/mL, respectively using UMRE.

Fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination are two of the greatest hazards of silage. The present work was carried out to evaluate the impact of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and cellulolytic enzymes on the maize silage (MS) quality. Fungal analysis of different MS samples showed different mycotoxigenic fungi. The highest frequency (62.8%) was associated with Fusarium spp. Four species with different relative densities were found: F. graminearum (71.1%), F. culmorum (15.2%), F. proliferatum (11.2%), and F. oxysporum (2.50 %). High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed the presence of trichothecene, nivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins mycotoxins in MS inoculated by F. graminearum. The inhibition % of trichothecene, nivalenol, and zearalenone synthesis was 50.2%, 47.5%, and 23.5%, respectively, in MS inoculated by Lactobacillus bulgaricus after a 30 d incubation period. Trichoderma harzianum succeeded in producing cellulolytic enzymes, i.e., carboxymethyl cellulase, manganase peroxidase, and laccase, with a maximum production of 350 µg/mL, 5.47 µg/mL, and 16.0 µg/mL, respectively, after 21 d using MS as the substrate. Treatment by the extracted cellulolytic enzyme with L. bulgaricus enhanced unfavorable conditions for MS fungal contamination, i.e., the production of lactic acid, a lowered pH, and increased L. bulgaricus colony-forming units, compared to the addition of enzyme extract or L. bulgaricus alone.

Currently, nanoemulsions (NEs) have been broadly applied for the target delivery and improved biological utilities of natural constituents. The present study aimed to prepare jojoba nanoemulsion (JOJ NE) and chitosan/jojoba nanoemulsion ( CS/JOJ NE) by exploring the biological activities. JOJ NE and CS/JOJ NE have been successfully fabricated through an ultrasonic emulsification process. Zetasizer showed that the sizes of JOJ NE and CS/JOJ NE droplets are 76 ± 5 nm and 20 ± 3 nm, respectively. However, CS/JOJ NE showed a greater size with narrower PDI than the CS/JOJ NE owing to the presence of positively charged chitosan as shells incorporating the nanodroplets. Furthermore, surface charge results proved the high stability of the developed NE systems owing to the repulsive forces abundant within the systems. Finally, thermodynamic stability was investigated for 4 weeks, and the results confirmed the high stability of both emulsions. Various constituents were detected in jojoba oil via GC–MS analysis such as β-sitosterol, lupeol, and olean-12-en-3á-ol, acetate. CS/JOJ NE reflected more antibacterial activity than JOJ NE. For example, inhibition zones of B. subtilis and S. aureus were 31 mm and 20.67 mm using CS/JOJ NE and 24.67 mm and 17 mm using JOJ NE, respectively. MIC of CS/JOJ NE was 15.62 and 62.5 µg/mL, while MIC of JOJ NE was 125 and 500 µg/mL against B. subtilis and K. pneumoniae , respectively. MBC of CS/JOJ NE was 31.25 µg/mL for B. subtilis and 125 µg/mL for K. pneumoniae and C. albicans . Biofilm of B. subtilis was more sensitive followed by K. pneumoniae , S. aureus , and E. coli with an anti-biofilm percent of 94.42, 84.61, 84.66, and 88.64%, respectively, at CS/JOJ NE 75% of MBC. CS/JOJ NE was more effective than JOJ NE on the ultrastructure of tested bacteria. CS/JOJ NE exhibited α-amylase inhibitory with IC 50 (133.8 µg/mL) less than JOJ NE (284.08 µg/mL).

In the last decade, the urgent need to explore medicinal plants or drug development has increased enormously around the world to overcome numerous health problems. In the present investigation, HPLC indicated the existence of 18 phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the Cupressus sempervirens extract. Hesperetin represents the greatest concentration (25,579.57 µg/mL), while other compounds, such as pyro catechol, rutin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and quercetin, were recognized in concentrations of 2922.53 µg/mL, 1313.26 µg/mL, 1107.26 µg/mL, 389.09 µg/mL, 156.53 µg/mL, and 97.56 µg/mL, respectively. The well diffusion method documented the antibacterial/antifungal activity of C. sempervirens extract against E. faecalis, E. coli, C. albicans, S. typhi, S.aureus, and M. circinelloid with 35, 33, 32, 25, 23, and 21 mm inhibition zones, respectively, more than the standard antibiotic/antifungal agent. Low values ranging from 7.80 to 15.62 µg/mL of MIC and MBC were recorded for E. faecalis, E. coli, and C. albicans. From the 1- diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, promising antioxidant activity was recorded for C. sempervirens extract with IC[sub.50] of an 8.97 µg/mL. Moreover, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity assays (TAC) confirmed the antioxidant activity of the extract, which was expressed as the ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE) of 366.9 ± 0.2 µg/mg and 102 ± 0.2 µg/mg of extracts, respectively. α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition % were determined to express the antidiabetic activity of the extract in vitro, with promising IC[sub.50] value (27.01 µg/mL) for α-amylase compared to that of acarbose (50.93 µg/mL), while IC[sub.50] value of the extract for α-glucosidase was 19.21µg/mL compared to that of acarbose 4.13 µg/mL. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) revealed the role of C. sempervirens extract as an anticoagulant agent if compared with the activity of heparin. Binding interactions of hesperetin and gallic acid were examined via the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) Dock software against E. faecalis (PDB ID: 3CLQ), C. albicans (PDB ID: 7RJC), α-amylase (PDB ID: 4W93), and α-glucosidase (PDB ID: 3TOP). The obtained results shed light on how molecular modeling methods might inhibit the tested compounds, which have the potential to be useful in the treatment of target proteins.

The influence of copper and its nanoparticles was studied relative to growth and ultrastructure of Aspergillus niger. Laccase production by A. niger using corn cobs as substrate at different concentrations of CuSO4 and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) is reported. Fungus growth was induced at 100 ppm of CuNPs and CuSO4, while at 300 ppm, the growth inhibition was 65.6% and 86.9%, respectively. Fungus sporulation was reduced to 30.4% and 47.6% at 300 ppm of CuNPs and CuSO4, respectively, compared to the control (100%). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that CuSO4 and CuNPs treatments encouraged the deformed appearance of the fungus at 200 ppm and 300 ppm, particularly CuNPs. The CuNPs and CuSO4 induced laccase production at 1.67 U/mL and 1.51 U/mL at optimum concentrations 0.15 mM and 0.25 mM, respectively. The optimum concentrations of CuNPs and CuSO4 led to reduced incubation periods of 12 d and 14 d, respectively, required to produce the highest amount of laccase (1.66 U/mL and 1.53 U/mL), while without treatments, the incubation period increased to 16 d required for the highest amount of laccase production (1.36 U/mL). Induction of laccase production at acidic pH and at 30 °C was recorded with the addition of CuSO4 and CuNPs, while its effects were slight at pH above 6.