Ganoderma applanatum-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Structural characterization,and in vitro and in vivo biomedical and agrochemical properties

This study presents the use of basidiomycete extracts as an effective platform for “green synthesis” of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Out of seven basidiomycete species, Ganoderma applanatum displayed the highest antimicrobial properties against the tested pathogens. Thus, G. applanatum methanol crude extract was fractionated using column chromatography, and the obtained fractions were subjected to an antimicrobial assay followed by phytochemical analyses using high-performance liquid chromatography to select the best fraction for synthesis of AgNPs. Fraction 3 displayed potent antimicrobial activities as evidenced by its high phenolic content, and thus was used for AgNP biosynthesis. The G. applanatum fraction 3-synthesized AgNPs were then characterized using various microscopy, spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The characteristic features of the synthesized AgNPs indicated the spherical shape of AgNPs with an average size of 20–25 nm. The synthesized AgNPs exhibit high antioxidant capacity, in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and in vivo antifungal properties against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in tomato and strawberry leaflet assays, respectively. Our results demonstrated that G. applanatum can be efficiently used in synthesis of AgNPs with potent antimicrobial properties, which can be used for both clinical and agrochemical purposes.     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by seed of Phoenix sylvestris L. and their role in the management of cosmetics embarrassment

Recently, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has attracted much curiosity in the field of life science research. In the present study, we have reported a green method for synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous seed extract of Phoenix sylvestris L. The green synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by aids of dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform-infrared. Further, the study demonstrate the comparative phytochemical analysis as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the extract and Phoenix sylvestris seed generated nanoparticles against acne-causing pathogens, that is, by using a DPPH-scavenging assay and broth microdilution method as well as Kirby–Bauer Disk diffusion method (recommended by CLSI), respectively. Moreover, a concentration-dependent time-kill kinetic studies were also carried out to determine their antimicrobial activity. The seed extract was found a better antioxidant and AgNPs exhibited highly biocidal agent against both the test pathogens, when compared to aqueous extracts. The results obtained indicate that seed extract of P. sylvestris is suitable for synthesizing stable silver nanoparticles, which act as excellent antimicrobial agents with promising treatments for cosmetics embarrassment.     

Activity of Several Plant Extracts Against Drug-sensitive and Drug-resistant Microbes

The misused antimicrobial agents can lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, fueling an ever-increasing need for new drugs. Chemical compounds in plants can act as a source of new antimicrobial. The activity of six plants had been studied on ten microbes by broth microdillution method. Time-kill test of ethanolic extract of Anredera cordifolia was performed against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, MRCNS, dan Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Time-kill test of ethanolic extract of Tinospora tuberculata was performed against MRCNS. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ethanolic extracts were different for each microbe. Killing curve determination showed that ethanolic extract of A. cordifolia leaves and T. tuberculata stem could inhibit the growth of tested bacteria. The greatest inhibitory action was produced by Tinospora tuberculata and Zingiber officinale against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Killing curve determination showed that ethanolic extract of A. cordifolia leaves and T. tuberculata stem had bacteriostatic effect against tested bacteria. T. tuberculata and A. cordifolia are potential to be developed as an antibacterial drug.     

In vitro biological activities and preliminary phytochemical screening of different extracts from Achillea sintenisii Hub- Mor

This study was designed to investigate in vitro biological activities and phytochemical composition of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from Achillea sintenisii Hub- Mor. (AS). To determine the chemical composition of AS extracts, phytochemical analyses were performed by using HPLC–ESI-Q-TOF-MS-MS. Afterwards, both extracts were investigated in terms of their effect on fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and hydrogen peroxide-induced damage. In addition to cell culture analysis, antibacterial, antioxidant, hyaluronidase inhibitory activities and total phenolic contents of the extracts were analyzed in cell-free systems. Our results demonstrated that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts did not show cytotoxic activity on fibroblasts, on the contrary, promoted fibroblast proliferation. Both AS extracts potently inhibited hyaluronidase activity and the inhibitory effect of ethanolic extract was comparable with the positive control, especially at high concentrations. The aqueous extract was the potent stimulator of collagen synthesis at 200 µg/mL concentration. Although the ethanolic extract showed antibacterial activity against all gram-positive bacteria, the aqueous extract was only effective against K. pneumoniae and B. subtilis. The ability of AS extracts, which have a rich phenolic compound content (≥50 mg GAE/g), to scavenge free radicals and protect fibroblasts against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage can be considered as a result of their antioxidant potential. Our findings scientifically support the widespread use of this plant, by demonstrating the pharmacological properties of the extracts.     

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Euphorbia wallichii Leaf Extract: Its Antibacterial Action against Citrus Canker Causal Agent and Antioxidant Potential

Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles are emerging as attractive alternatives to chemical pesticides due to the ease of their synthesis, safety and antimicrobial activities in lower possible concentrations. In the present study, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous extract of the medicinal plant Euphorbia wallichii and tested them against the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis, the causative agent of citrus canker, via an in vitro experiment. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, the plant species were investigated for phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The antioxidant potential of the extract was determined against a DPPH radical. The extract was also evaluated for phenolic compounds using the HPLC technique. The results confirmed the synthesis of centered cubic, spherical-shaped and crystalline nanoparticles by employing standard characterization techniques. A qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolics (41.52 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (14.2 mg QE/g) and other metabolites of medicinal importance. Different concentrations (1000 µg/mL to 15.62 µg/mL—2 fold dilutions) of AgNPs and plant extract (PE) alone, and both in combination (AgNPs-PE), exhibited a differential inhibition of X. axanopodis in a high throughput antibacterial assay. Overall, AgNPs-PE was superior in terms of displaying significant antibacterial activity, followed by AgNPs alone. An appreciable antioxidant potential was recorded as well. The observed antibacterial and antioxidant potential may be attributed to eight phenolic compounds identified in the extract. The Euphorbia wallichii leaf-extract-induced synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against X. axanopodis, which could be exploited as effective alternative preparations against citrus canker in planta in a controlled environment. In addition, as a good source of phenolic compounds, the plant could be further exploited for potent antioxidants.     

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Extracts of Wild Ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) with Antibacterial Activity against Selective Multidrug Resistant Oral Bacteria

Antibiotic resistance rate is rising worldwide. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are potent for fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), independently or synergistically. The purpose of this study was to prepare AgNPs using wild ginger extracts and to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of these AgNPs against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Enterococcus faecalis. AgNPs were synthesized using wild ginger extracts at room temperature through different parameters for optimization, i.e., pH and variable molar concentration. Synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by UV/visible spectroscopy and further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDXA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Disc and agar well diffusion techniques were utilized to determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of plant extracts and AgNPs. The surface plasmon resonance peaks in absorption spectra for silver suspension showed the absorption maxima in the range of 400–420 nm. Functional biomolecules such as N–H, C–H, O–H, C–O, and C–O–C were present in Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) (aqueous and organic extracts) responsible for the AgNP formation characterized by FTIR. The crystalline structure of ZZAE-AgCl-NPs and ZZEE-AgCl-NPs was displayed in the XRD analysis. SEM analysis revealed the surface morphology. The EDXA analysis also confirmed the element of silver. It was revealed that AgNPs were seemingly spherical in morphology. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited complete antibacterial activity against the tested MDR bacterial strains. This study indicates that AgNPs of wild ginger extracts exhibit potent antibacterial activity against MDR bacterial strains.     

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Plant Extract of Acer oblongifolium and Study of Its Antibacterial and Antiproliferative Activity via Mathematical Approaches

In this study, the antibacterial and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized with the aqueous plant extract of Acer oblongifolium leaves were defined using a simplistic, environmentally friendly, reliable, and cost-effective method. The aqueous plant extract of Acer oblongifolium, which served as a capping and reducing agent, was used to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles. UV visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the biosynthesized Acer oblongifolium silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus paramycoides and Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) were used to test the AgNPs’ antibacterial activity. The presence of different functional groups was determined by FTIR. The AgNPs were rod-like in shape. The nanoparticles were more toxic against Escherichia coli than both Bacillus cereus and Bacillus paramycoides. The AgNPs had IC₅₀ values of 6.22 and 9.43 and mg/mL on HeLa and MCF-7, respectively, proving their comparatively strong potency against MCF-7. This confirmed that silver nanoparticles had strong antibacterial activity and antiproliferative ability against MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines. The mathematical modeling revealed that the pure nanoparticle had a high heat-absorbing capacity compared to the mixed nanoparticle. This research demonstrated that the biosynthesized Acer oblongifolium AgNPs could be used as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer agent in the future.     

The application of different Stevia rebaudiana leaf extracts in the “green synthesis” of AgNPs

ABSTRACT

The present work reports a method for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by reducing Ag ions from silver nitrate solution using alcoholic, aqueous and alcoholic-aqueous Stevia rebaudiana extracts. Depending on a particular extract different sizes of AgNPs could be observed – 40?nm in aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic extracts and significantly bigger 170?nm in case of alcoholic extract. Synthesis of AgNPs was analyzed within spectra range of 300–700?nm. The performed research provided information that aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic extracts are excellent sources for synthesis of AgNPs; however AgNPs were unstable in the case of alcoholic extract. The aqueous-alcoholic extract showed the best properties during studies. Antioxidant potential, antimicrobial properties and cytotoxicity were determined. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-triphenyl-hydrazyl) method showed that antioxidant activity of an extract containing AgNPs was higher compared to Stevia extract alone. Bacterial inhibition studies had shown substantial antibacterial properties of AgNPs, which was much higher than Stevia extract alone and silver nitrate.     

Chemical characterization and anti-breast cancer effects of silver nanoparticles using Phoenix dactylifera seed ethanolic extract on 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a] anthracene-induced mammary gland carcinogenesis in Sprague Dawley male rats

The aim of the recent research was to investigate the anti-breast cancer effects of silver nanoparticles using Phoenix dactylifera seed ethanolic extract (AgNPs). After preparation of Phoenix dactylifera seed extract, GC/MS was performed to detect the compounds. The findings indicated that 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)- methyl ester (40.95%) and Dodecanoic acid methyl ester (20%) were the most frequent constituents found in P. dactylifera. These nanoparticles were spherical with a size range of 17-19 nm and characterized using various analytical techniques including UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy to determine the presence of AgNPs in the solution. We studied functional groups of P. dactylifera extract in the reduction and capping process of AgNPs by FT-IR, crystallinity and FCC planes by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and surface morphology, shapes, and size of AgNPs by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). DPPH free radical scavenging test was used to test the antioxidant properties of P. dactylifera and AgNPs, which revealed high antioxidant potential similar to butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as the positive control. The results of cytotoxicity analysis indicated that P. dactylifera and AgNPs were toxic for MCF-7 cells. In vivo design, induction of breast cancer was done by 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a] anthracene (DMBA) in 50 animals. After 10 days, the animals were randomly divided into six subgroups, including healthy control, untreated control, two groups receiving the P. dactylifera at 2 and 6 mg/kg and two groups receiving the AgNPs at 2 and 6 mg/kg concentrations. Both doses of P. dactylifera and AgNPs (especially AgNPs6) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced the weight and volume of liver, mammary gland, kidney, spleen, ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride, total and conjugated bilirubin, urea, creatinine, glucose, ferrous, ferritin, erythropoietin, GR, IL1, IL6, IL12, IL18, IFNY, and TNFα and increased HDL, total protein, albumin, WBC, lymphocyte, neutrophils, platelet, RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, SOD, CAT, GPx, IL4, IL5, IL10, IL13, and IFNα compared to the untreated group. Moreover, P. dactylifera and AgNPs (especially AgNPs6) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) treated breast cancer with reduction of organs free of metastasis compared to the untreated group. Seemingly, the AgNPs can be used for the treatment of breast cancer.     

Influence of Extraction Solvent on the Phenolic Profile and Bioactivity of Two Achillea Species

The phenolic composition, as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two poorly investigated Achillea species, Achillea lingulata Waldst. and the endemic Achillea abrotanoides Vis., were studied. To obtain a more detailed phytochemical profile, four solvents with different polarities were used for the preparation of the plant extracts whose phenolic composition was analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS (ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). The results indicate that both of the investigated Achillea species are very rich in both phenolic acids and flavonoids, but that their profiles differ significantly. Chloroform extracts from both species had the highest yields and were the most chemically versatile. The majority of the examined extracts showed antimicrobial activity, while ethanolic extracts from both species were potent against all tested microorganisms. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated. It was found that the ethanolic extracts possessed the strongest antioxidant activities, although these extracts did not contain the highest amounts of detected phenolic compounds. In addition, several representatives of phenolic compounds were also assayed for these biological activities. Results suggest that ethanol is a sufficient solvent for the isolation of biologically active compounds from both Achillea species. Moreover, it was shown that the flavonoids naringenin and morin are mainly responsible for these antimicrobial activities, while caffeic, salicylic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, p-hydroxybenzoic, and rosmarinic acid are responsible for the antioxidant activities of the Achillea extracts.     

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Spondias mombin Extract and Their Antimicrobial Activity against Biofilm-Producing Bacteria

Multidrug resistant bacteria create a challenging situation for society to treat infections. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the reason for biofilm bacteria to cause chronic infection. Plant-based nanoparticles could be an alternative solution as potential drug candidates against these MDR bacteria, as many plants are well known for their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms. Spondias mombin is a traditional plant which has already been used for medicinal purposes as every part of this plant has been proven to have its own medicinal values. In this research, the S. mombin extract was used to synthesise AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized and further tested for their antibacterial, reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity properties. The characterization results showed the synthesized AgNPs to be between 8 to 50 nm with -11.52 of zeta potential value. The existence of the silver element in the AgNPs was confirmed with the peaks obtained in the EDX spectrometry. Significant antibacterial activity was observed against selected biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. The cytotoxicity study with A. salina revealed the LC50 of synthesized AgNPs was at 0.81 mg/mL. Based on the ROS quantification, it was suggested that the ROS production, due to the interaction of AgNP with different bacterial cells, causes structural changes of the cell. This proves that the synthesized AgNPs could be an effective drug against multidrug resistant bacteria.     

Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the sesquiterpene lactones cnicin and onopordopicrin

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of chloroform extracts from the weeds Centaurea tweediei and C. diffusa, and the main sesquiterpene lactones isolated from these species, onopordopicrin and cnicin, respectively, were assayed. Results show that the chloroform extracts from both Centaurea species possess antibacterial activities against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Remarkable antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was also measured. Both the extracts and the purified sesquiterpene lactones show high cytotoxicity against human-derived macrophages. Despite this cytotoxicity, C. diffusa chloroform extract and cnicin are attractive candidates for evaluation as antibiotics in topical preparations against skin-associated pathogens.     

Bioactive extracts from Senecio samnitum Huet

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of extracts from Senecio samnitum Huet are reported. Extracts from S. samnitum were able to inhibit the in vitro proliferation of four human tumor cell lines. The dichloromethane extract demonstrated effective cytotoxic activity with IC50 of 22.89 microg mL(-1) on the Caco-2 cell line and the EtOAc extract had IC50 value of 11.91 microg mL(-1) against the COR-L23 cell line. The n-hexane extract displayed the best antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. The antifungal activity of all extracts was also seen, particularly against the dermatophytes Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum gypseum for the methanol and n-hexane extracts.     

Sambucus Nigra Extracts–Natural Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Compounds

Due to the health-promoting properties of elderberry fruits, which result from their rich chemical composition, this raw material is widely used in herbal medicine and the food industry. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the antibacterial activity of the elderberry fruit extracts. The research showed that the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts determined their antibacterial activity. The research showed that the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts determined their antibacterial activity. The following phenolic acids were predominant: chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, and t-cinnamic acid. Their average content was, respectively, 139.09, 72.84, 51.29 mg/g extract. Rutin and quercetin (their average content was 1105.39 and 306.6 mg/g extract, respectively) were the dominant flavonoids. The research showed that the elderberry polyphenol extracts exhibited activity against selected strains of bacteria within the concentration range of 0.5–0.05%. The following bacteria were the most sensitive to the extracts: Micrococcus luteus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas fragii, and Escherichia coli. Of the compounds under analysis, apigenin, kaempferol and ferulic, protocatechuic, and p-coumarin acids had the greatest influence on the high antibacterial activity of elderberry extracts. The results of the microbiological and chemical analyses of the composition of the extracts were analyzed statistically to indicate the bioactive compounds of the greatest antimicrobial significance.     

Hemolytic and Antimicrobial Activities Differ Among Saponin-rich Extracts From Guar, Quillaja, Yucca, and Soybean

Hemolytic and antibacterial activities of eight serial concentrations ranged from 5-666 µg/mL of saponin-rich extracts from guar meal (GM), quillaja, yucca, and soybean were tested in 96-well plates and read by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plate-well as 650 nm. Hemolytic assay used a 1% suspension of chicken red blood cells with water and phosphate buffered saline as positive and negative controls, respectively. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli were evaluated using ampicillin and bacteria without saponin-rich extract as positive and negative controls, respectively. The 100% MeOH GM and commercial quillaja saponin-rich extracts were significantly the highest in both hemolytic and antibacterial activities against all bacteria at the same concentration tested. Soybean saponin-rich extract had no antibacterial activity against any of the bacteria at the concentrations tested while yucca saponin-rich extract had no antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacteria at the concentrations tested. GM and quillaja saponin-rich extracts were hemolytic, while yucca and soybean saponin-rich extracts were not hemolytic at the concentrations tested. No saponin-rich extract source had antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium or E. coli at the concentrations tested. Both GM and quillaja saponin-rich extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Saponin-rich extracts from different plant sources have different hemolytic and antibacterial activities.     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using olive leaf extract and its antibacterial activity

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using hot water olive leaf extracts (OLE) as reducing and stabilizing agent are reported and evaluated for antibacterial activity against drug resistant bacterial isolates. The effect of extract concentration, contact time, pH and temperature on the reaction rate and the shape of the Ag nanoparticles are investigated. The data revealed that the rate of formation of the nanosilver increased significantly in the basic medium with increasing temperature. The nature of AgNPs synthesized was analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The silver nanoparticles were with an average size of 20–25 nm and mostly spherical. The antibacterial potential of synthesized AgNPs was compared with that of aqueous OLE by well diffusion method. The AgNPs at 0.03–0.07 mg/ml concentration significantly inhibited bacterial growth against multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This study revealed that the aqueous olive leaf extract has no effect at the concentrations used for preparation of the Ag nanoparticles. Thus AgNPs showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity at lower concentration and may be a good alternative therapeutic approach in future.     

The Chemical Profiling,Docking Study,and Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of the Endophytic fungi Aspergillus sp. AP5

Growing data suggest that Aspergillus niger, an endophytic fungus, is a rich source of natural compounds with a wide range of biological properties. This study aimed to examine the antimicrobial and antibiofilm capabilities of the Phragmites australis-derived endophyte against a set of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. AP5 was isolated from the leaves of P. australis. The chemical profile of the fungal crude extract was identified by spectroscopic analysis using LC-HRESIMS. The fungal-derived extract was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity towards a set of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella sp., Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Moreover, antibiofilm activity toward four resistant biofilm-forming bacteria was also evaluated. Additionally, a neural-networking pharmacophore-based visual screening predicted the most probable bioactive compounds in the obtained extract. The AP5-EtOAc extract was found to have potent antibacterial activities against S. aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella sp., while it exhibited low antibacterial activity toward P. Vulgaris and P. aeruginosa and displayed anticandidal activity. The AP5-EtOAc extract had significant antibiofilm activity in S. aureus, followed by P. aeruginosa. The active metabolites’ antifungal and/or antibacterial activities may be due to targeting the fungal CYP 51 and/or the bacterial Gyr-B.     

Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Chenopodium murale leaf extract

Silver is known for its antimicrobial effects and silver nanoparticles are gaining their importance due to their antimicrobial activities. The aims of the current study were to use plant extract for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and to evaluate their antibacterial and antioxidant activity in vitro. The results indicated that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can be synthesized in a simple method using Chenopodium murale leaf extract. The TEM analysis showed that the sizes of the synthesized AgNps ranged from 30 to 50 nm. The essential oil of C. murale leaf extract was formed mainly of α-Terpinene, (Z)-Ascaridole and cis-Ascaridole. The total phenolic compounds and total flavonides were higher in AgNPs-containing plant extract compared to the plant extract. AgNPs-containing leaf extract showed a higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activity compared to C. murale leaf extract alone or silver nitrate. It could be concluded that C. murale leaf extract can be used effectively in the production of potential antioxidant and antimicrobial AgNPs for commercial application.     

Assessment of Antimicrobial Properties of Phenolic Acid Extracts from Grain Infected with Fungi from the Genus Fusarium

Problems related with biological contamination of plant origin raw materials have a considerable effect on prevention systems at each stage of food production. Concerning the antimicrobial action of phenolic acids, studies were undertaken to investigate antibacterial properties against bacterial strains of Escherichia coli (EC), Pseudomonas fluorescence (PF), Micrococcus luteus (ML) and Proteus mirabilis (PM), as well as antifungal properties targeting microscopic fungi Fusarium spp., extracts of phenolic compounds coming from inoculated grain from various genotypes of cereals. This study evaluated the antimicrobial action of phenolic acids extracts obtained from both naturally infested and inoculated with microorganisms. For this purpose a total of 24 cereal cultivars were selected, including 9 winter and 15 spring cultivars. The analyses showed a bactericidal effect in the case of 4 extracts against Micrococcus luteus (ML), 14 extracts against Pseudomonas fluorescence (PF), 17 extracts against Escherichia coli (EC) as well as 16 extracts against Proteus mirabilis (PM). It was found that 3 out of the 24 extracts showed no antibacterial activity. In turn, fungicidal action was observed in the case of 17 extracts against Fusarium culmorum (FC) (NIV), 16 extracts against FC (3AcDON), 12 extracts against Fusarium graminearum (FG) (3AcDON), while 12 other extracts showed antifungal action against FG (NIV) and 19 extracts against Fusarium langsethiae (FL). Based on the conducted analyses it was found that grain of small-grained cereals exposed to fungal infection is a source of bioactive compounds exhibiting antimicrobial properties. It was observed that the qualitative and quantitative profiles of polyphenols vary depending on the cereal cultivar. This extracts may be used to develop an antimicrobial preparation applicable in organic farming.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity properties of biosynthesized gold and silver nanoparticles using D. brittonii aqueous extract

Recently, the production of nanoparticles using biological resources has gained considerable attention due to their application for animal and human well-being. In this study, we used a green synthesis to fabricate gold and silver nanoparticles by reducing HAuCl₄ and AgNO₃ into AuNPs and AgNPs, respectively, using Dudleya brittonii (DB) extract. The physio-chemical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed using a UV–vis spectrophotometer, FESEM, EDX, HR-TEM, AFM and FT-IR. Furthermore, the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of DB-AuNPs and DB-AgNPs against livestock pathogenic bacteria and different cell lines, as well as anti-oxidant activity, were investigated. DB synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs were mostly spherical with a few triangular rods and sizes ranging of 5–25 nm and 10–40 nm, respectively. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal studies demonstrated the DB-AuNPs and DB-AgNPs have good antibacterial activity against E. coli and other livestock pathogens, including Y. pseudotuberculosis and S. typhi. Cell studies revealed that the higher concentrations of both DB-AuNPs and DB-AgNPs (1 µg/ml to 1 mg/ml) showed potent cytotoxicity in chicken cells after 24 hrs, whereas the middle and lower concentrations of DB-AuNPs and DB-AgNPs did not show cytotoxicity in selected cell lines after 24 hrs. In addition, the DB synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs exhibited good free scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, the biosynthesized nanoparticles can be utilized by the livestock industry to develop an effective source against livestock microbial infections.