Cytotoxic activity and induction of inflammatory mediators of the methanol:chloroform extract of Fusarium moniliforme

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of natural (Z)-13-docosenamide derived from Penicillium chrysogenum

Introduction

The synthesis of natural compounds with strong biological activity from affordable sources has proven challenging for scientists. As a natural resource rich in a variety of bioactive substances, fungal metabolites have the potential to be used in medical applications to serve a global purpose towards a sustainable future.

Methods

A total of 25 filamentous fungi were isolated, and their secondary metabolites were assessed for their antimicrobial efficiency.

Results

The extracellular extract of the strain Penicillium chrysogenum Pc was selected for its high bioactivity compared with the other whole isolates. The GC-MS analysis of the extracellular extract of P. chrysogenum Pc was found to contain approximately 16 variable compounds. After several separation and purification processes using flash chromatography, HPLC, TLC, NMR, and FTIR, the most bioactive compound was identified as (Z)-13-docosenamide or erucylamide with a molecular formula of C22H43NO and a molecular weight of 337.0. The purified (Z)-13-docosenamide possessed antimicrobial activity with an MIC of approximately 10 μg/mL for the tested pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli), and 20 μg/mL against the tested fungi (Penicillium aurantiogriseum and Aspergillus fumigatus). Furthermore, MTT assay showed that (Z)-13-docosenamide inhibited cellviability and the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma, in vitro, with an IC {sb}{/sb}50 of 23.8 ± 0.8 μg/mL.

Conclusion

The remarkable bioactivity of (Z)-13- docosenamide makes it a potential candidate to assist the pipeline for the creation of antibacterial and anticancer drugs, which will help to reduce the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and fatalities related to cancer.

Anticandidal effectiveness of greenly synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles against candidal pathogens

Drug resistance of pathogenic candidal strains to conventional antifungal agents represents a significant health issue contributing to high morbidity worldwide. Hence, the aim of the current study focused on evaluating the antifungal and synergistic activities of the green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles formulated using Laurus nobilis leaf extract. The biogenic ZnONPs were hexagonal in shape with average particle size diameter of 37.98 nm and pure crystalline structure as detected by XRD data. The highest antifungal activity of biogenic ZnONPs was detected against Candida parapsilosis strain demonstrating relative inhibitory zone diameters of 17.13 ± 0.74 and 25.78 ± 0.47 mm, at the concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/disk, respectively. Moreover, the biogenic ZnONPs demonstrated the highest synergistic activity with clotrimazole antifungal agent against Candida glabrata followed by Candida auris strains. MTT assay revealed that the biogenic ZnONPs showed low toxicity demonstrating relative IC50 value of 774.45 µg/mL against normal lung fibroblast cells which further affirmed their biosafety for application. In conclusion, the bioinspired ZnONPs could be utilized for the formulation of effective antifungal agents against drug resistant candidal strains and also could be combined with antifungal agents to boost their antifungal efficiency.

Synergistic Anticandidal Effectiveness of Greenly Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Antifungal Agents against Nosocomial Candidal Pathogens

The high prevalence of fungal resistance to antifungal drugs necessitates finding new antifungal combinations to boost the antifungal bioactivity of these agents. Hence, the aim of the present investigation was to greenly synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of Salvia officinalis and investigate their antifungal activity and synergistic efficiency with common antifungal agents. The biofabricated ZnO-NPs were characterized to detect their physicochemical properties. A disk diffusion assay was employed to investigate the antifungal effectiveness of the greenly synthesized ZnO-NPs and evaluate their synergistic patterns with common antifungal agents. The Candida tropicalis strain was detected to be the most susceptible strain to ZnO-NPs at both tested concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/disk, demonstrating relative suppressive zones of 19.68 ± 0.32 and 23.17 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ZnO-NPs against the C. tropicalis strain was 40 µg/mL, whereas the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was found to be 80 µg/mL. The highest synergistic efficiency of the biogenic ZnO-NPs with terbinafine antifungal agent was detected against the C. glabrata strain, whereas the highest synergistic efficiency was detected with fluconazole against the C. albicans strain, demonstrating relative increases in fold of inhibition area (IFA) values of 6.82 and 1.63, respectively. Moreover, potential synergistic efficiency was detected with the nystatin antifungal agent against the C. tropicalis strain with a relative IFA value of 1.06. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis affirmed the morphological deformations of candidal cells treated with the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs as the formation of abnormal infoldings of the cell wall and membranes and also the formation of pores in the cell wall and membranes, which might lead to the leakage of intracellular constituents. In conclusion, the potential synergistic efficiency of the biogenic ZnO-NPs with terbinafine, nystatin, and fluconazole against the tested candidal strains highlights the potential application of these combinations in formulating novel antifungal agents of high antimicrobial efficiency. The biogenic ZnO nanoparticles and antifungal drugs exhibit powerful synergistic efficiency, which highlights their prospective use in the formulation of efficient antimicrobial medications, including mouthwash, ointments, lotions, and creams for effective candidiasis treatment.