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Crop loss brought on by phytopathogens is a significant issue that affects the entire world. Synthetic pesticides have been used for years to prevent economic losses caused by phytopathogens, raising severe worries about the environment and public health. Therefore, today, there is growing interest in using helpful microorganisms to control plant pathogens. In this way, Aspergillus chevalieri AGH-1 OP593083 and Aspergillus egyptiacus AGH-4 OP593080 isolated from wheat rhizosphere have been applied as plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) for combating early blight disease caused by Alternaria solani (A. solani) and inducing the defense system and growth promotional strategies in Vicia faba. Two milligrams per milliliter ethyl acetate crude extracts of A. chevalieri and A. egyptiacus demonstrated effective antifungal efficacy against A. solani with an inhibition zone of 18 and 16 mm respectively compared with 20 mm attained by fluconazole as a positive control. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were (0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml) for A. chevalieri and A. egyptiacus extracts respectively. Data showed that A. chevalieri was the best isolate producing indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophores (+ + +) followed by A. egyptiacus (+ +). Also, the best isolates capable of phosphate solubilization in the soil was A. egyptiacus (+ + +), followed by A. chevalieri (+ +). It is interesting that the PGPF isolates used, whether single or mixed, showed a significant improvement in all growth and yield as well as photosynthetic pigments in Vicia faba. Moreover, A. chevalieri and A. egyptiacus played an important role in improving plant immunity by increasing phenol, proline, and antioxidant enzymes (POD and PPO) activities, as well as reducing oxidative stress by reducing MDA and H2O2. We can conclude that A. chevalieri and A. egyptiacus are considered eco-friendly safe strong inducers of Vicia faba plant immunity alternatives to chemical pesticides against A. solani early blight to preserve plant, soil, and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few researchers have focused on the biological efficacy of Limonium plants. In this concern, no investigations were commenced to delve into the in vitro and ex vivo biological actions of Limonium pruinosum in Egypt. Therefore, this work aims to assess for the first time the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities of Limonium pruinosum extract in addition to studying its ability to suppress the transcription of cell cycle–stimulating genes. L. pruinosum ethyl acetate extract exhibits considerable antibacterial and antibiofilm activity versus E. coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Results revealed that L. pruinosum exerts antioxidant effectiveness concerning DPPH, nitric oxide (NO), and hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging ability with an IC50 (35.88 ± 2.2, 51.31 ± 1.06, and 65.87 ± 1.19 μg/mL) respectively. The results proved the effectiveness of L. pruinosum in closing wounds in gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) by (79.9343 ± 1.98%) compared with control (68.3637 ± 2.32%) in 48 h. Additionally, L. pruinosum had anticancer activity contrary to breast cancer MCF-7 and liver cancer HepG-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 96.73 ± 2.18 and 81.81 ± 0.99 μg/mL, respectively, while it had no cytotoxic activity against (Wi-38) normal cells. Also, L. pruinosum extract provoked considerable early- and late-apoptotic cell populations and was effective in inducing cell death of MCF-7. Our findings evoked that L. pruinosum has promising antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound healing activities and a good breast tumor suppressor arresting the cell cycle-stimulating genes, which may be an auspicious approach for the treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]