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Abstract The antifungal drugs available and mostly used for the treatment of candidiasis are facing fungal resistance, toxicity phenomena and they highlight limited antifungal cell targets. The aim of this study is to assess the antibiofilm potential and to determine the chemical content of Aeollanthus cucullathus. The chemical composition was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and the bioguided fractionation was performed through silica gel column chromatography. The inhibition parameters were determined by micro-dilution technique. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated using 24 wells macroplate antibiofilm inhibition assay. The interpretation of the biofilm inhibition was performed using an Ultra Violet-spectrophotometer and a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for quantitative and qualitative biofilm analysis. The extraction of the secondary metabolites produced a yield ranging from 1.52 up to 11% respectively for organic solvent and water solvent extracts. The chemical analysis revealed the presence of four major compounds; tetratetracontane (17.02% and 28.72%), dodecane, 6-phenyl (10.49%) and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono (2-ethyl) (7.36%). Tetratetracontane were found in Hexane and Hexane ethyl acetate extracts respectively with an amount of 17.02% and 28.71%. The minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 0.625 up to 5 mg/mL both for Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. The extract inhibited the biofilm formation up to 0.0625 mg/mL for C. albicans and up to 0.10 mg/mL against C. glabrata. Ascorbic acid (17%) and its derivatives (50.76%) were identified in Aeollanthus cucullathus fractions. The results obtained highlighted the preventive potential of Aeollanthus cucullathus against biofilm formation and the presence of potent biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cyanobacteria are potential prokaryotes found in diverse environment of freshwater and marine water ecosystem. They are well known applicant practised in ancient agriculture technique for improving the soil fertility, water holding capacity and texture of the soil. The availability, low cost and fast growth has considered them as superior candidate for biotechnological applications. In the recent years, cyanobacteria are been used to produce plant growth promoting hormones or substances for facilitating effective plant growth. The present study is focussed on validating the plant growth promoting ability of two heterocystous cyanobacteria strains (Anabaena variabilis , Nostoc calcicola) in five crop plant. The cyanobacterial strains were characterized by biochemical and plant growth promoting parameters like Chlorophyll content and IAA production. As result of this study, in vitro experiments revealed 100% of seed germination by Cyanobacteria growth promoting substances (CGPS) of Anabaena variabilis in the grains of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolour , while 90% germination in Nostoc calcicola. Statistical analysis proved the growth root length, plant height, weight of fresh and dry root, number of leaves in CGPS treated and untreated plant in pot. Further the CGPS was characterized using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), FT-IR and HPLC analysis. The dominant auxins in the two isolates were IAA in the range of 0.0372–1.2327 μg g−1 dry weight was detected. However, IAA production by Anabaena variabilis proved as potential candidate for promoting plant growth. In addition, Anabaena variabilis can also be utilized as a biofertilizer for the crops cultivated in normal fields. Highlights • Cyanobacteria are efficient plant growth promoting sources to help growth of food crops. • Cyanobacterial intracellular products contains large number of enzymes and growth promoting hormones. • Use of heterocystous cyanobacterial biomass as fertilizer will provide multiple benefits to plant and soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study, estimation and characterization of Psoralen were done for Jasmonic Acid treated in vitro plants of Psoralea corylifolia L. The elicitor Jasmonic Acid at different concentrations (50,100,150, 200 and 250 µM/L) was used along with 6% sucrose and plant growth regulators to enhance psoralen content in leaves and roots of P. corylifolia . Shoot tip explant cultured on MSB 5 medium containing 2.0 mg/L BAP showed higher induction and proliferation of multiple shoots with 82.2% of response and 16.3 shoots/explant. In vitro rooting was best achieved with 82.6% of response and 18.6 roots/shoot at 0.8 mg/L IAA. JA at 150 µM/L concentration was found to enhance Psoralen content in leaves and roots of in vitro regenerated plants of P. corylifolia . The presence and structure of psoralen in methanolic extract of leaves and roots were confirmed through HPLC (retention time 21.007 in root, 20.659 in leaf sample), UV (213 nm), FT-IR, and NMR (C 11 H 6 O 3 ). The amount of Psoralen in JA treated leaf and root sample were found to be higher 1.17 mg/mL and 3.93 mg/mL respectively when compared to naturally growing P. corylifolia (0.56 mg/mL). The methanolic extract of root sample showed effective antimicrobial activity against tested bacterial and fungal pathogens. The present work provides the possibility of increasing production of psoralen in in vitro plants of P. corylifolia using Jasmonic Acid as an elicitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sponge associated hydrocarbon emulsifying marine fungi Aspergillus sp. MSF1 was isolated from the marine sponge Dendrilla nigra. Production of biosurfactant was confirmed with different screening methods including hemolytic activity, oil displacement test, drop collapsing test, and emulsification index. The production was optimized under submerged fermentation conditions. An enhanced biosurfactant production was achieved with pH 7, 30°C, 2% NaCl, 1% MgCl2, 1% asparagine and glucose and yeast extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Among the different media, the Sabouraud's dextrose broth showed the highest emulsification activity. The surface active compound was separated using three step differential solvents fractionation and the active fraction was obtained in diethyl ether. Based on the estimation of macromolecules, TLC, FTIR and HPLC analysis, the surface active compound was characterized as rhamnolipid. Emulsification activity of the cell free supematant and different solvent extracts were compared with chemical surfactants including SDS and Tween80. The surface active compound showed potential activity against the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans and Gram negative bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract MgO nanoparticles (MgONPs) have been widely used as antibacterial agents with the advantages of them being nontoxic and their unique biological properties. In this study, we synthesized MgONPs by co-precipitation method and characterized them by XRD, SEM and EDS analysis. The antibiofilm activity of MgONPs as observed quantitatively by crystal violet assay and their action on biofilm architecture were assessed in both Gram-positive and Gram negative uropathogenic bacteria. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of synthesized MgONPs was evaluated against human breast cancer, MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes of apoptosis were observed by Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide (AO/EB) staining using a fluorescent microscope. MgONPs inhibited more than 50% of the biofilms in most of the tested uropathogenic bacteria; notably 80% inhibition in the case of K. pneumoniae. MgONPs successfully inhibited the viability of MCF-7 cells at a concentration of 50 μg.mL−l. Given their antibiofilm properties; MgONPs could be used as a potential nanomaterial for in vivo applications such as coating for a medical implant. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) synthesis and characterization. • Reduction of the biofilm forming uropathogens upon treatment with MgONPs. • MgONPs induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cell line. • It can be used as a coating material for medical implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized using Podophyllum hexandrum L. [•] AuNPs induces the oxidative stress to cell death in human cervical carcinoma cells. [•] It activates the caspase-cascade to cellular death. [•] It is actively blocks G2/M phase of cell cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]