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The eco‐friendly and cost‐effective biological synthesis of nanomaterials is rapidly gaining attention. This study synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract of Senna italica leaves and silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ). The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV‐Vis spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). UV‐Vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of AgNPs, displaying a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 445 nm. TEM and SEM analyses revealed spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 12.7 to 24 nm. FTIR spectra identified bands at 1636 and 3496 cm −1 , corresponding to C=O and O‐H groups, indicating their role in stabilizing the nanoparticles. XRD analysis revealed diffraction planes at 111, 200, 220, and 311, consistent with the face‐centered cubic structure of silver. The AgNPs demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against fungi and Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, with Escherichia coli showing the highest sensitivity (MIC = 0.014 μ g/mL). SEM analysis of E. coli showed that untreated cells retained their normal morphology, whereas AgNP‐treated cells appeared shriveled and deformed. These results underscore the potential of Senna italica –derived AgNPs as effective antimicrobial agents. Future studies will be aimed at investigating the detailed mechanisms underlying the effects of AgNPs on bacterial cell structure and growth.

Nowadays, endophytic fungi represent a rich source of biological active compounds. In the current study, twelve endophytic fungal species were isolated from Avicennia marina leaves. From the isolates, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium rubens and Alternaria alternata recorded the highest isolation frequency (80%), relative density (12.5%) and antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial and anticancer activities of P. rubens were more effective than those of A. niger and A. alternata; therefore, its identification was confirmed via the ITS rRNA gene. Filtrate extracts of P. rubens, A. alternata and A. niger were analyzed using GC-MS and showed different detected constituents, such as acetic acid ethyl ester, N-(4,6-Dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)-4-(4-nitrobenzylideneamino) benzenesulfonamide, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid. Filtrate extract of P. rubens exhibited the presence of more compounds than A. alternata and A. niger. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus were more inhibited by P. rubens extract than A. alternata or A. niger, with inhibition zones of 27.2 mm, 22.21 mm, 26.26 mm, 27.33 mm, 28.25 mm and 8.5 mm, respectively. We observed negligible cytotoxicity of P. rubens extract against normal cells of human lung fibroblasts (WI-38 cell line), unlike A. alternata and A. niger extracts. Proliferation of prostate cancer (PC-3) was inhibited using P. rubens extract, exhibiting mortality levels of 75.91% and 76.2% at 200 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL of the extract. Molecular docking studies against the crystal structures of C. albicans (6TZ6) and the cryo-EM structure of B. subtilis (7CKQ) showed significant interactions with benzenedicarboxylic acid and N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)-4-(4-nitrobenzylideneamino) benzenesulfonamide as a constituent of P. rubens extract. N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)-4-(4-nitrobenzylideneamino) benzenesulfonamide had the highest scores of −6.04905 kcal/mol and −6.590 kcal/mol towards (6tz6) and (7CKQ), respectively.

Sage oil plays a vital role in various fields, including health and food. The effects of UV radiation (UVR) can increase the bioactive content of medicinal plants, but there has been little research on how this affects sage oil. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of UVR on the sage oil phytoconstituents and its biological activity. GC-MS analysis detected 20, 23, and 25 different compounds in sage un-exposed and exposed to UVR for 30 and 60 min, respectively. Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata were suppressed with inhibition zones 21.62 ± 1.22, 16.20 ± 1.23, and 8.20 ± 0.66 mm by sage oil, while the exposed sage oil to UVR for 60 min exhibited 26.50 ± 1.33, 21.43 ± 2.12, and 20.25 ± 0.50 mm inhibition zone, respectively. The required IC50 to inhibit butyrylcholinesterase, α-amylase, and protein denaturation was 95.3, 14.9, and 10.7 µg/mL in sage oil that was not exposed to UVR, and 35.1, 7.1, and 7.1 µg/mL in exposed sage oil to UVR for 60 min, respectively. There were negligible effects between the unexposed and exposed sage oil to UVR for 30 and 60 min against Hela cells with IC50 193.19 ± 0.98, 149.71 ± 0.18, and 148.19 ± 0.66 µg/mL, respectively.

Acalypha indica, a plant used in traditional medicine, was evaluated for its phenolic composition and bioactivity. The methanolic extract of its aerial parts (stem and leaves) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), identifying 17 phenolic compounds, including rutin (53.8 µg mL⁻¹), chlorogenic acid (53.3 µg mL⁻¹), gallic acid (36.3 µg mL⁻¹), and ferulic acid (33.3 µg mL⁻¹) as the primary constituents. These compounds correlated with the extract’s antioxidant activity, confirmed by the DPPH radical-scavenging assay, yielding an IC₅₀ of 6.8 µg mL⁻¹. The extract showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zones exceeding that of Gentamycin. It also demonstrated moderate activity against Gram-negative bacteria, such as Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays showed bactericidal effects at 7.8 µg mL⁻¹. Additionally, the extract inhibited biofilm formation and hemolysin production, suggesting anti-virulence potential. The Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition assays indicated anti-inflammatory effects (IC₅₀ = 11 µg mL⁻¹). Cytotoxicity tests on PC-3 prostate and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells revealed reductions in cell viability, with IC₅₀ values of 11.52 and 10.31 µg mL⁻¹, highlighting the therapeutic potential of Acalypha indica.

Green routes for the bio-designing of bicomponent nanocomposites and their utilizations have attracted many investigators. Bio-designing of CuO@ZnO nanocomposites was performed using spent mushroom substrate (SMS). Ultraviolet-spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), besides X-ray diffraction (XRD) were exploited to characterize the synthesized CuO@ZnO. The dimensions of CuO@ZnO nanocomposites ranged from 31.4 and 95.9 nm. Both FT-IR and EDX analyses displayed the presence of some organic constituents from the SMS that joined to the surface of the fabricated CuO@ZnO nanocomposite. CuO@ZnO nanocomposite succeeded in inhibiting Candida albicans with an inhibition zone of 33.5 ± 2 mm. C. albicans biofilm was affected by CuO@ZnO nanocomposite with biofilm inhibition of 25.08, 68.70, and 88.56% at 25, 50, and 75% of minimum inhibitory concentration, respectively. Molecular docking studies showed substantial binding affinities, as well as common hydrogen bonds. Optimum binding sites for CuO and ZnO nanoparticles were found to have binding affinities of interactions with 4YDE, 3DRA, and 1EAG proteins of C. albicans, resulting in, respectively, -2.7942, -3.30097, and -2.52129 kcal/mol, and -3.78244, -4.6029, and -4.1352 kcal/mol values. The findings suggest that CuO@ZnO nanocomposite can effectively suppress C. albicans growth.

This study was conducted to examine the ameliorative effects of foliar application of some micro-algal (Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis) and some medicinal plant leaves (Salix alba, Psidium guajava, and Olea europaea) extracts on Phaseolus vulgaris (Bean) under salinity stress. On a loamy soil, a pots trial was carried out on bean plants grown under salinity stress. Growth characteristics, pigments, osmolytes, total phenol, and antioxidant enzyme contents were determined. S. platensis extract application showed the greatest improvement in shoot length and fresh weight of shoot, which rose 23.5% and 65.1%, respectively compared to the control. The utilized bio-stimulants, particularly S. platensis extracts, remarkably increased the chlorophyll content compared to the control under salinity stress. The photosynthetic pigment, soluble sugars, and soluble protein levels were strengthened by foliar application of bio-stimulant extract. Proline and antioxidant enzyme levels are significantly reduced using algal and plant extracts treatment. These findings support the treatment’s increased contribution to reducing salt stress and their detrimental effects on bean plants.The findings of this study indicate that the use of these biostimulants, especially S. alba, P. guajava, and O. europaea leaf extracts can be considered as an unconventional, ecofriendly, and novel tool in the mitigation of salinity stress.

The production of lignocellulytic enzymes by microwave-radiated Pleurotus sajor-caju was assayed. Wheat straw was employed as substrate to P. sajor-caju for production of laccase, manganese peroxidase (MnPase), filter-paperase (FPase), carboxmethyl cellulase (CMCase), and cellulase (as evaluated using microcrystalline cellulose). P. sajor-caju exposed to 10 s of microwave radiation (MR) showed maximum growth with colony radius of 7.17 ± 0.45 cm, while with increasing the exposure time up to 50 s the growth decreased up to 2.67 ± 0.22 cm. Moreover, it failed to grow at 80 s of exposure time. Cellulase, MnPase, FPase, CMCase, and laccase activities were induced to 37 ± .0.54, 49 ± 2.36, 189 ± 2.12, 0.37 ± 0.06, and 1.58 ± 0.03 U/mL compared to that at control 31 ± 0.25, 46 ± 1.25, 177 ± 1.65, 0.28 ± 0.03, and 1.37 ± 0.12 U/mL, respectively as a result of P. sajor-caju exposure to 10 s of MR. As the exposure time increased, these enzymes activity decreased. Different levels of moisture with surfactant (polysorbate 80) were applied to optimize the enzymes activities at 10 s of exposure time. The optimum activities 3.15 ± 0.23, 0.62 ± 0.06, 269 ± 5.36, 65 ± 1.63, and 48 ± 0.98 U/mL were recorded for cellulase, MnPase, FPase, CMCase, and laccase, respectively at 70% of moisture and 0.15 mL/L of polysorbate 80.

Strategies based on halo- and thermostable enzymes are promising and attractive for biotechnological applications. Three fungal isolates, namely Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Alternaria alternata, and were subjected to chitinase production using a medium with different concentrations of NaCl up to 10%. C. cladosporioides was found to be the main chitinase producer at high concentration of NaCl; therefore, its identification was confirmed using 18S rDNA. The highest chitinase production (88.67 U/mL) was obtained by C. cladosporioides, followed by A. flavus (76.17 U/mL), and A. alternata (70.67 U/mL) at 5% NaCl, while their production without NaCl was 35.07 U/mL, 22.83 U/mL, and 21.33 U/mL, respectively. Thermal stability of chitinase was recorded at 50 °C at 20 min. Chitinase halostability at 20 min indicated that 10% NaCl was the optimum level, with activity 88.3 U/mL. Safranin dye decolorization by C. cladosporioides was enhanced to 88.25% via the addition of 5% NaCl to growth medium containing chitin. The inhibitory activity of chitinase was detected against C. lunata and F. oxysporium with or without NaCl. Culex pipiens larvae were more affected by C. cladosporioides chitinase produced at 5% than 10% NaCl. Energy scores of the molecular docking investigations confirmed the insecticidal activity of chitinase against C. pipiens larvae.

Chitinolytic activity and antibiosis are gaining prominence in various biotechnological fields. Dead fungal biomass (DFB) was used as a mycostimulator of chitinase production and antibiosis by Aspergillus fumigatus. The presence of DFB stimulated the synthesis of various secondary metabolites by A. fumigatus that were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis such as 6,8-Di-C-á-glucosylluteolin; bistrimethylsilyl N-acetyl eicosasphinga-4,11-dienine; curan-17-oic acid, 19,20-dihydroxy-, methyl ester, (19S)-; spiro[5à-androstane-3,2′-thiazolidine; retinal; Androsta-1,4-dien-3-one; Panaxydol; Costunolide; Cyclo-(glycyl-L-tyrosyl); and 2-amino ethane thiolsulfuric acid. Chitinase activity was 42.9 Units/mL with the presence DFB, where it was 10.3 Units/mL without DFB. The maximum activity of chitinase was observed at 1.5 g of dead fungal biomass, at 4 h, 50 °C and pH 6. Thermodynamic properties showed ∆H° and ∆S° values of 126 KJ mol-1 and 432 J mol-1 K-1, respectively, indicating an endothermic reaction up to 60 °C. Deviation in ∆G° values confirmed that the reaction at 10 to 20 °C is a nonspontaneous reaction, and at 30 to 60 °C the reaction has a spontaneous nature. DFB encouraged the antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor circinelloides, and Candida albicans with 2.3, 2.2, 2.8, 0.8, 0.7, and 2.2 mm inhibition zones, respectively.

This study was conducted to examine the ameliorative effects of foliar application of some micro-algal (Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis) and some medicinal plant leaves (Salix alba, Psidium guajava, and Olea europaea) extracts on Phaseolus vulgaris (Bean) under salinity stress. On a loamy soil, a pots trial was carried out on bean plants grown under salinity stress. Growth characteristics, pigments, osmolytes, total phenol, and antioxidant enzyme contents were determined. S. platensis extract application showed the greatest improvement in shoot length and fresh weight of shoot, which rose 23.5% and 65.1%, respectively compared to the control. The utilized bio-stimulants, particularly S. platensis extracts, remarkably increased the chlorophyll content compared to the control under salinity stress. The photosynthetic pigment, soluble sugars, and soluble protein levels were strengthened by foliar application of bio-stimulant extract. Proline and antioxidant enzyme levels are significantly reduced using algal and plant extracts treatment. These findings support the treatment's increased contribution to reducing salt stress and their detrimental effects on bean plants.The findings of this study indicate that the use of these biostimulants, especially S. alba, P. guajava, and O. europaea leaf extracts can be considered as an unconventional, ecofriendly, and novel tool in the mitigation of salinity stress.