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Ptychotis verticillata Duby, referred to as Nûnkha in the local language, is a medicinal plant that is native to Morocco. This particular plant is a member of the Apiaceae family and has a longstanding history in traditional medicine and has been utilized for therapeutic purposes by practitioners for generations. The goal of this research is to uncover the phytochemical makeup of the essential oil extracted from P. verticillata, which is indigenous to the Touissite region in Eastern Morocco. The extraction of the essential oil of P. verticillata (PVEO) was accomplished through the use of hydro-distillation via a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical profile of the essential oil was then determined through analysis utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The study findings indicated that the essential oil of P. verticillata is composed primarily of Carvacrol (37.05%), D-Limonene (22.97%), γ-Terpinene (15.97%), m-Cymene (12.14%) and Thymol (8.49%). The in vitro antioxidant potential of PVEO was evaluated using two methods: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical trapping assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The data demonstrated considerable radical scavenging and relative antioxidative power. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most susceptible bacterial strains tested, while Geotrichum candidum, Candida albicans, and Rhodotorula glutinis were the most resilient fungi strains. PVEO had broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial properties. To elucidate the antioxidative and antibacterial characteristics of the identified molecules, we applied the methodology of molecular docking, a computational approach that forecasts the binding of a small molecule to a protein. Additionally, we utilized the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) algorithm; Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME); and Pro-Tox II (to predict the toxicity in silico) tests to demonstrate PVEO’s identified compounds’ drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties, the anticipated safety features after ingestion, and the potential pharmacological activity. Finally, our findings scientifically confirm the ethnomedicinal usage and usefulness of this plant, which may be a promising source for future pharmaceutical development.

Luliconazole (LCZ) is a topical imidazole antifungal agent with broad-spectrum activity. However, LCZ encounters challenges such as low aqueous solubility, skin retention, and penetration, which reduce its dermal bioavailability and hinder its efficacy in drug delivery. The aim of the present study was to formulate, characterize, and evaluate the in vitro antifungal efficacy of luliconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (LCZ-NLCs) against a panel of resistant fungal strains. The LCZ-NLCs were synthesized using a modified emulsification-solvent evaporation technique. Characterization involved assessing parameters such as poly-dispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE %), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis, and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR). Furthermore, in vitro drug release experiments, analysis of release kinetics, cytotoxicity assessments, and in vitro antifungal susceptibility tests were performed as part of the study. The findings indicated that LCZ-NLCs displayed nanoscale dimensions, uniform dispersion, and a favorable zeta potential. The encapsulation efficiency of LCZ in NLCs was approximately 90%. FESEM analysis revealed spherical nanoparticles with consistent shape. ATR-FTIR analysis indicated no chemical interaction between LCZ and excipients. In vitro drug release experiments demonstrated that LCZ-NLCs notably improved the drug’s dissolution rate. The stability testing confirmed consistent colloidal nanometer ranges in the LCZ-NLCs samples. Additionally, cytotoxicity tests revealed no toxicity within the tested concentration. Moreover, in vitro antifungal susceptibility tests demonstrated potent antifungal activity of LCZ-NLCs against the tested resistant fungal isolates. The study findings suggest that the LCZ-NLCs formulation developed in this research could be a promising topical treatment for superficial fungal infections, especially in cases of resistant infections. However, the study needs further ex vivo and in vivo tests to ensure safety and efficacy.

Chitosan is a natural non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and mucoadhesive polymer. It also has a broad spectrum of applications such as agriculture, medical fields, cosmetics and food industries. In this investigation, chitosan nanoparticles were produced by an aqueous extract of Cympopogon citratus leaves as a reducing agent. According to the SEM and TEM micrographs, CNPs had a spherical shape, and size ranging from 8.08 to 12.01 nm. CNPs have a positively charged surface with a Zeta potential of + 26 mV. The crystalline feature of CNPs is determined by X-ray diffraction. There are many functional groups, including C꞊C, CH 2 -OH, C–O, C-S, N–H, CN, CH and OH were detected by FTIR analysis. As shown by the thermogravimetric study, CNPs have a high thermal stability. For the optimization of the green synthesis of CNPs, a Face centered central composite design (FCCCD) with 30 trials was used. The maximum yield of CNPs (13.99 mg CNPs/mL) was produced with chitosan concentration 1.5%, pH 4.5 at 40 °C, and incubation period of 30 min. The antifungal activity of CNPs was evaluated against phytopathogenic fungus; Fusarium culmorum . A 100% rate of mycelial growth inhibition was gained by the application of 20 mg CNPs/mL. The antitumor activity of the green synthesized CNPs was examined using 6 different cell lines, the viability of the cells reduced when the concentration of green synthesized CNPs increased, the IC 50 dose of the green synthesized CNPs on the examined cell lines HePG-2, MCF-7, HCT-116, PC-3, Hela and WI-38 was 36.25 ± 2.3, 31.21 ± 2.2, 67.45 ± 3.5, 56.30 ± 3.3, 44.62 ± 2.6 and 74.90 ± 3.8; respectively.

A series of 3-substituted oxindole derivatives 3a-j was synthesized. The target compounds 3a-j were investigated for their potential antibacterial and antifungal activities. S. aureus, MRSA, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, and E. coli were used for testing the antibacterial activity, while Candida albicans and Aspergillus spp, were used for antifungal activity of the tested compounds. Compounds 3i and 3j exhibited the strongest activity, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria. Antifungal activity was tested against Aspergillus spp . and Candida albicans using the agar diffusion method, with a final concentration of 10,000 µg/mL per well. Eight compounds inhibited Aspergillus spp., while only compound 3g was active against C. albicans . Compound 3f displayed the highest antifungal activity (inhibition zone = 20 mm) compared with itraconazole with a final concentration of 100 µg/mL per well (30 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing confirmed compound 3f as the most potent antifungal, with an MIC of 7.5 µg/mL against Aspergillus niger , lower than that of clotrimazole (12.5 µg/mL). Further investigations showed that compound 3f exerted its effect by disrupting fungal cell wall integrity without binding ergosterol. Docking studies of compound 3f in the active sites of chitin deacetylase AngCDA (PDB ID: 7BLY) and the 1,3-β-glucan synthase (8JZN) enzymes proved its dual-target mechanism ability to inhibit the cell wall biosynthesis. These findings highlight compound 3f as a promising lead scaffold for the development of new antifungal agents targeting fungal cell wall biosynthesis.

Discovery of novel anticandidal agents with clarified mechanisms of action, could be a rationalist approach against diverse pathogenic fungal strains due to the rise of resistance to existing drugs. In support to this hypothesis, in this paper, a series of benzimidazole-oxadiazole compounds were synthesized and subjected to antifungal activity evaluation. In vitro activity assays indicated that some of the compounds exhibited moderate to potent antifungal activities against tested Candida species when compared positive control amphotericin B and ketoconazole. The most active compounds 4h and 4p were evaluated in terms of inhibitory activity upon ergosterol biosynthesis by an LC-MS-MS method and it was determined that they inhibited ergosterol synthesis concentration dependently. Docking studies examining interactions between most active compounds and lanosterol 14-α-demethylase also supported the in vitro results.

Rhazya stricta , a perennial shrub native to the Middle East and South Asia, has been used in traditional medicine for various therapeutic purposes, including antimicrobial action. The current study aimed to compare the antifungal properties of 96% and 50% ethanolic extracts of R. stricta leaves and their biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The phytochemical constituents of both extracts were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The AgNPs were characterized using FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, DLS, and TEM, confirming bioactive chemicals’ effective production and existence. The antifungal efficacy was tested on five pathogenic fungi: Drechslera halodes , Drechslera tetramera , Macrophomina phaseolina , Alternaria alternata , and Curvularia australiensis. The 96% ethanol extract inhibited fungal growth the most, with D. halodes , C. australiensis , and A. alternata all experiencing almost 100% inhibition. AgNPs also showed strong antifungal efficacy, with those generated from 96% ethanol extract outperforming those from 50% ethanol extract. This study highlights the potential of R. stricta extracts and their biogenic AgNPs as environmentally friendly antifungal agents, which supports their use in long-term antimicrobial therapy.

Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are of significant interest due to their widespread application. In order to make nontoxic cost-effective AgNPs, several microorganisms have been utilized. In the present study, emphasis was given to Anabaena variabilis–mediated AgNPs synthesis. Optimal conditions for extract preparation were heating of extraction mixture at 100 °C for 5 min, while for AgNPs synthesis, optimal conditions were 1:9 v/v (cell extract: AgNO3 (1 mM)), pH 7.4, and 30 °C reaction temperatures. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized initially by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and the maximum absorbance peak was obtained at 440 nm. XRD technique confirmed their crystalline nature. SEM with EDX showed 66% elemental silver by weight, which signified the purity of AgNPs. DLS study showed nearly monodispersed nature of AgNPs. TEM observation confirmed the synthesis of 11–15 nm spherical NPs. FTIR analysis of synthesized AgNPs showed the functional moieties responsible for their bioactivity. The biomolecules of AgNPs were confirmed by LCMS/MS. Anabaena variabilis–mediated AgNPs showed good antibacterial and antifungal activity. In combination with standard antibiotic (streptomycin) and antifungal agents (amphotericin B, fluconazole), AgNPs showed significant synergistic effect. The blend of antibacterial and antifungal properties, coupled with their intrinsic “green” and facile synthesis, made these biogenic nanoparticles attractive in nanomedicine.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have great potential for use in the fields of biomedicine, building materials, and environmental protection because of their antibacterial properties. However, there are few reports regarding the antifungal activities of NPs on plants. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal roles of NPs against , which is a notorious worldwide fungal pathogen. Three common carbon nanomaterials, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, fullerene, and reduced graphene oxide, and three commercial metal oxidant NPs, copper oxide (CuO) NPs, ferric oxide (Fe O ) NPs, and titanium oxides (TiO ) NPs, were independently added to water-agar plates at 50 and 200-mg/L concentrations. Detached rose petals were inoculated with spores of and co-cultured with each of the six nanomaterials. The sizes of the lesions on infected rose petals were measured at 72 h after inoculation, and the growth of fungi on the rose petals was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The six NPs inhibited the growth of , but different concentrations had different effects: 50 mg/L of fullerene and CuO NPs showed the strongest antifungal properties among the treatments, while 200 mg/L of CuO and Fe O showed no significant antifungal activities. Thus, NPs may have antifungal activities that prevent infections in plants, and they could be used as antifungal agents during the growth and post-harvesting of roses and other flowers.

The mold Monascus, also called red yeast rice, anka, or koji, has been used as the natural food coloring agent and food additives for more than 1000 years in Asian countries. It has also been used in Chinese herbology and traditional Chinese medicine due to its easing digestion and antiseptic effects. However, under different culture conditions, the ingredients in Monascus-fermented products may be changed. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the ingredients, as well as the bioactivities of Monascus-derived natural products, is important. Here, through the thorough investigation into the chemical constituents of M. purpureus wmd2424, five previously undescribed compounds, monascuspurins A–E (1–5), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of mangrove-derived fungus Monascus purpureus wmd2424 cultured in RGY medium. All the constituents were confirmed via HRESIMS and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Their antifungal activity was also evaluated. Our results showed that four constituents (compounds 3–5) possessed mild antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium italicum, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is worth mentioning that the chemical composition of the type strain Monascus purpureus wmd2424 has never been studied.

Soil fungi are known to contain a rich variety of defense metabolites that allow them to compete with other organisms (fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and insects) and help them occupy more preferential areas at the expense of effective antagonism. These compounds possess antibiotic activity towards a wide range of other microbes, particularly fungi that belong to different taxonomical units. These compounds include peptaibols, which are non-ribosomal synthesized polypeptides containing non-standard amino acid residues (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid mandatory) and some posttranslational modifications. We isolated a novel antibiotic peptide from the culture medium of Emericellopsis alkalina, an alkalophilic strain. This peptide, called emericellipsin A, exhibited a strong antifungal effect against the yeast Candida albicans, the mold fungus Aspergillus niger, and human pathogen clinical isolates. It also exhibited antimicrobial activity against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, emericellipsin A showed a significant cytotoxic effect and was highly active against Hep G2 and HeLa tumor cell lines. We used NMR spectroscopy to reveal that this peptaibol is nine amino acid residues long and contains non-standard amino acids. The mode of molecular action of emericellipsin A is most likely associated with its effects on the membranes of cells. Emericellipsin A is rather short peptaibol and could be useful for the development of antifungal, antibacterial, or anti-tumor remedies.