Search Results (20,248)

Blue mold disease, caused by Penicillium italicum (P. italicum), presents a significant challenge to orange fruits (Citrus sinensis L.) and other citrus crops globally. Biological control, particularly Trichoderma species, offers a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate, identify, and evaluate the antagonistic activities of two Trichoderma isolates against P. italicum. These isolates were molecularly identified and assigned accession numbers PP002254 and PP002272, respectively. Both isolates demonstrated significant antifungal activity in dual culture assays. Moreover, the culture filtrates (CFs) of Trichoderma longibrachiatum PP002254 and Trichoderma harzianum PP002272 suppressed the mycelial growth of P. italicum by 77.22% and 71.66%, respectively. Additionally, CFs reduced the severity of blue mold on orange fruits by 26.85% and 53.81%, compared to 100% in the control group. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that treated P. italicum hyphae were shrunken and disfigured. Enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) in treated oranges increased, along with total soluble phenolics and flavonoids. Conversely, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased in treated fruits. These findings suggest that T. longibrachiatum PP002254 and T. harzianum PP002272 could be effective biocontrol agents for managing blue mold and other citrus postharvest diseases. Full article

This article explores the important, and yet often overlooked, solid-state structures of selected bioaromatic compounds commonly found in lignin hydrogenolysis oil, a renewable bio-oil that holds great promise to substitute fossil-based aromatic molecules in a wide range of chemical and material industrial applications. At first, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) was applied to the lignin model compounds, dihydroconiferyl alcohol, propyl guaiacol, and eugenol dimers, in order to elucidate the fundamental molecular interactions present in such small lignin-derived polyols. Then, considering the potential use of these lignin-derived molecules as building blocks for polymer applications, structural analysis was also performed for two chemically modified model compounds, i.e., the methylene-bridging propyl-guaiacol dimer and propyl guaiacol and eugenol glycidyl ethers, which can be used as precursors in phenolic and epoxy resins, respectively, thus providing additional information on how the molecular packing is altered following chemical modifications. In addition to the expected H-bonding interactions, other interactions such as π–π stacking and C–H∙∙∙π were observed. This resulted in unexpected trends in the tendencies towards the crystallization of lignin compounds. This was further explored with the aid of DSC analysis and CLP intermolecular energy calculations, where the relationship between the major interactions observed in all the SCXRD solid-state structures and their physico-chemical properties were evaluated alongside other non-crystallizable lignin model compounds. Beyond lignin model compounds, our findings could also provide important insights into the solid-state structure and the molecular organization of more complex lignin fragments, paving the way to the more efficient design of lignin-based materials with improved properties for industrial applications or improving downstream processing of lignin oils in biorefining processes, such as in enhancing the separation and isolation of specific bioaromatic compounds). Full article

Green soybean (Glycine max L.) seed contains a high procyanidin content and high antioxidant activity. Moreover, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) has proved to be advantageous in providing high extraction efficiency. Hence, this study aimed to extract procyanidins from green soybean seeds (GSSs) using UAE. This study also evaluated the inhibitory activities of tyrosinase and the cytotoxic effects of crude procyanidin extract. The extract exhibited maximum levels of bioactive components and antioxidant capacity when subjected to a temperature of 15 °C and an extraction time of 20 min. The crude procyanidin extract at a concentration of 10 mg/mL inhibited the tyrosinase enzyme by more than 60%, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value obtained for the extract was 6.85 ± 0.81 mg/mL. This result was much greater than the IC₅₀ value obtained for kojic acid (0.089 ± 0.08 mg/mL), which was used as a positive control. For the cytotoxicity assessment, the results indicated that the crude procyanidin extract showed no cytotoxicity and actually stimulated the growth of human skin fibroblast cells. More than 80% of the bioactive compounds (total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), procyanidin content (PC)) and antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP) of the crude extract powder were retained at 38.68 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g, 16.07 ± 0.01 mg CAE/g, 9.24 ± 0.01 mg PC/g, 359.8 ± 0.72 μM Trolox eq/g, and 1640 ± 2.86 μM Trolox eq/g, respectively, after 12 weeks of storage at 25 °C. The crude procyanidin extract powder was then included in a facial serum formulation and tested for pH value and physical evaluation. The stability of the crude procyanidin extract facial serum was shown to be greater for bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity when stored at a temperature of 4 °C than when stored at a temperature of 25 °C. These results suggest that the GSS extracts obtained via ultrasonication show promise for use in cosmeceutical formulations for whitening skincare products. Full article

The impact of nitrogen and phosphorus deposition alternations, as well as apoplastic litter quality and quantity, on soil nutrient cycling and soil carbon pool processes in forest ecosystems is of considerable importance. Soil ecological enzyme chemistry is a powerful tool for elucidating the nutrient limitations of microbial growth and metabolic processes. In order to explore the responding mechanisms of soil ecological enzyme chemistry to the simultaneous changes in apoplast input and nitrogen and phosphorus deposition in temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, an outdoor simulating experiment was conducted. The results demonstrate that the treatments involving apoplastic material and nitrogen and phosphorus additions had significantly impacted soil nutrient levels across different forest types. Apoplastic treatments and N-P additions had a significant effect on the soil total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soil total soluble nitrogen (TSN), soil available phosphorus (SAP), soil total nitrogen (TN), soil total phosphorus (TP), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). However, the effects on soil microbial biomass (MBN) and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) were insignificant. The apomictic treatments with N and P addition did not result in a statistically significant change in soil C-hydrolase activities (β-1,4-glucosidase BG, β-1,4-xylosidase BX, cellobiohydrolase CBH, phenol oxidase POX, and peroxidase PER), N-hydrolase activities (β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase NAG and L-leucine aminopeptidase LAP), or P-hydrolase activities (Acid phosphatase AP). Although the apomictic treatments did not yield a significant overall impact on carbon hydrolase activity, they influenced the activity of specific enzymes, such as CBH, LAP, and PER, to varying degrees. The effects on BG, BX, CBH, AP, and C-hydrolase activities were significant for different stand types. The impact of apomictic treatments and N-P additions on soil nitrogen hydrolase activities was inconsequential with a minimal interactive effect. The highest correlation between PER, LAP, and N-hydrolase activities was observed in conjunction with elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus addition (N3L0, original litter treatment, and high amounts of N and P addition). These findings may provide a theoretical foundation for the management of ecosystem function in broad-leaved Korean pine forests. Full article

Inonotus hispidus (Bull.) P. Karst., is a medicinal fungus, which parasitizes broad-leaved tree such as Morus alba L., Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr., and Ulmus macrocarpa Hance. To elucidate the internal relationship between I. hispidus and its hosts, this study analyzed endophytic bacteria and fungi in the roots of M. alba and F. mandshurica growing I. hispidus using the 16S rDNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing technologies; and conducted widely targeted metabolomics research using UPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that Cyanobacteria and unidentified chloroplasts had the highest relative abundance at the phylum and genus levels, respectively. For endophytic fungi, Ascomycota was dominant at the phylum level, while Pleosporales gen Incertae sedis and Oncopodiella were the dominant genera in the roots of M. alba and F. mandshurica, respectively. Widely targeted metabolomics identified 562 differential metabolites and 46 metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis revealed that Xanthobacteraceae, Pseudorhodoplanes, and Bauldia were potential regulators of phenolic acids and phenylpropanoids biosynthesis. Additionally, the genus Oncopodiella was primarily associated with the enrichment of lipids, amino acids, sugars, phenolic acids, and other compounds. This result provides significant insights into the size of the fruiting body, resource development, and active ingredients of I. hispidus from different tree sources. Full article

Soil salinization, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect plant growth. To mediate and boost plant tolerance against this abiotic stress, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis is commonly thought to be an effective tool. So, the main purpose of this study was to estimate the role of AMF (applied as a consortium of Claroideoglomus etunicatum Claroideoglomus eutinicatum, Funneliformis mosseae Funliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus fasciculatum, and R. intraradices species) symbiosis in mitigating deleterious salt stress effects on the growth parameters (shoot length (SL), root length (RL), shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), root surface area (RSA), total root length (TRL), root volume (RV), root diameter (RD), number of nodes and leaves) of Cenchrus ciliaris L. plants through improved accumulations of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll _a, chlorophyll _b, total chlorophyll), proline and phenolic compounds. The results of this experiment revealed that the roots of C. ciliaris plants were colonized by AMF under all the applied salinity levels (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 mM NaCl). However, the rate of colonization was negatively affected by increasing salinity as depicted by the varied colonization structures (mycelium, vesicles, arbuscules and spores) which were highest under non-saline conditions. This association of AMF induced an increase in the growth parameters of the plant which were reduced by salinity stress. The improved shoot/root indices are likely due to enhanced photosynthetic activities as the AMF-treated plants showed increased accumulation of pigments (chlorophyll _a, chlorophyll _b and total chlorophyll), under saline as well as non-saline conditions, compared to non-AMF (N-AMF) plants. Furthermore, the AMF-treated plants also exhibited enhanced accumulation of proline and phenolic compounds. These accumulated metabolites act as protective measures under salinity stress, hence explaining the improved photosynthetic and growth parameters of the plants. These results suggest that AMF could be a good tool for the restoration of salt-affected habitats. However, more research is needed to check the true efficacy of different AMF inoculants under field conditions. Full article

As a globally cultivated and economic crop, beets are particularly important in the cane sugar and feed industries. Beet pigments are among the most important natural pigments, while various chemical components in beets display beneficial biological functions. Phenolic substances and betalains, as the main bioactive compounds, determine the functional characteristics of beets. This review categorizes the basic types of beets by the chemical composition of bioactive substances in their leaves, stems, and roots and emphatically summarizes the research progress made on the functions of two major substances in different types of beets: phenolic compounds and betalain pigments. This study provides useful insights for the comprehensive and effective application of beets in the health food and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Insect infestation triggers multiple defense responses in plants, both locally at the infection site and systemically throughout the plant, including the production of feeding deterrents, toxins, defensive proteins, enzymes, and secondary metabolites. Our study aimed to compare the endogenous levels of antioxidative enzymes, photosynthetic pigments, phytohormones, total phenols, and flavonoids in bark-beetle-infested and uninfested trees. We evaluated the surviving trees in bark-beetle-infested stands, assessing both the condition and defense of uninfested and infested beech (Fagus sylvatica), pine (Pinus sylvestris), and fir (Abies alba) trees. Sampling was performed at six affected sites in the Czech Republic, targeting trees that were resilient to significant health deterioration caused by abiotic and biotic factors. The results showed different levels of most of the measured compounds in the three species. Among all the tested species, photosynthetic pigment levels showed the strongest association with infestation status, which was generally lower in the infested plants. For chlorophyll a, extremely significant reductions were observed from 123 ± 20.6 to 101 ± 17.9 μg/g dry weight (DW) in pine, from 231 ± 33.1 to 199 ± 22.2 μg/g DW in beech, and from 60 ± 5.66 to 51.3 ± 6.27 μg/g DW in fir. In contrast, enzymatic activities indicated only isolated instances of significant association, whereas antioxidative properties (total phenolic content, flavonoids, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity) were not significantly associated with infestation status. There was a statistically significant increase in glutathione reductase activity in infested fir and pine trees. However, this difference was not statistically significant in beech. In contrast, a significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity was detected in infected beech trees. Phytohormones have emerged as the most diverse group of analyzed compounds. Cytokinins were the most distinct, with many of them being significantly increased in infested pines, whereas both beech and fir showed only one significant association. Additionally, derivatives of jasmonic acid also showed a distinct pattern of change associated with bark beetle infestation, with the levels of three out of the four analyzed jasmonates being significantly decreased in infested pines, whereas no effects were observed in beeches and firs. Notably, many phytohormones were significantly elevated in the infested pine, whereas both beech and fir exhibited only one significant association. Overall, the data showed that pines responded differently to bark beetles than to beeches or firs. The greatest changes in phytohormones were observed in pine, whereas the most significant changes in photosynthetic pigments were observed in beech and fir trees. Full article

This study evaluated natural extracts from plant biomass for UV protection and oxidative stress reduction. Conducted in Bucharest, Romania, it focused on medicinal mushrooms and pomegranate bark. The biotechnological process involved a two-phase extraction: hot water processing of Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Inonotus obliquus, and Tremella mushrooms, followed by ethanol extraction with pomegranate bark and green tea. The spectrophotometric analysis identified phenolics and flavonoids. The ethanol extract showed higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity, particularly in DPPH radical scavenging. UVB exposure tests demonstrated its protective effect, comparable to vitamin B3, delaying oxidative stress onset by 30 min. This research underscores the potential of using natural biomass extracts in skincare, promoting environmental sustainability and economic viability by converting agricultural waste into valuable bioactive compounds. Full article

Cotoneaster zabelii is a medicinal plant that is beneficial due to its polyphenol-rich leaves. In the course of optimizing the harvest time for C. zabelii cultivated in Poland, the leaf samples were collected monthly during the annual plant vegetation season, and the hydromethanolic leaf extracts were evaluated for their phenolic composition and model biological activities, including antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. The phenolic profiles were analyzed using UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS³, HPLC-PDA, and spectrophotometric methods (total phenolic content, TPC) to understand their seasonal variability and its correlation with bioactive properties. The identified phenolic compounds included caffeic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols (especially (−)-epicatechin and procyanidins B-type), and flavonoids like quercetin mono- and diglycosides. Leaves harvested in July and October contained the highest polyphenolic levels and demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in most tests. The leaves harvested in July, September, and October showed optimal anti-inflammatory effects, whereas the highest antihyperglycemic activity was observed in the leaves collected from June to July. Regarding polyphenolic levels and bioactivity, the summer and autumn months appear to be the most advantageous for harvesting leaf material of optimal quality for phytotherapy. Full article

Wound healing is a complex and coordinated process involving interactions between cells and various messenger systems. This study conducted in vivo tests to determine the healing effect of propolis (PR)-based cream derived from the Amazon stingless bee, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, reared in açaí (Euterpe oleracea) monoculture, on induced wounds in rats. Data were obtained by monitoring injuries on 14 Wistar rats, divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3), each receiving specific treatments: propolis-based cream (PR), collagenase (PC) and neutral cream (NC). Over the seven days of treatment, the lesions were measured using photographic records and ImageJ software to evaluate the healing effectiveness of the test cream. ImageJ software version 1.53g was used to compare the wound diameters for each treatment. After seven days, histopathological analyses of the induced lesions were performed. It was observed that collagenase (PC) and the test cream (PR) did not differ significantly in terms of wound diameter reduction. However, the propolis-based cream directly influenced the lesion maturation process and exhibited a milder inflammatory response compared to the positive control (PC). This effect is possibly associated with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds identified by GC/MS analysis in the propolis. Notably, this is the first report describing propolis of Scaptotrigona aff. postica obtained from açaí monocultures with strong healing potential, highlighting the identification of a high concentration of phenolic compounds that aid directly in wound repair. Full article

The enhanced and direct immobilization of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchannel surfaces to create a miniaturized enzymatic reactor for the biocatalytic oxidation of phenols is demonstrated. Enzyme immobilization occurs by physical adsorption after oxygen plasma treatment, which micro-nanotextures the PMMA surfaces. A five-fold enhancement in immobilized enzyme activity was observed, attributed to the increased surface area and, therefore, to a higher quantity of immobilized enzymes compared to an untreated PMMA surface. The enzymatic reaction yield reached 75% using a flow rate of 2.0 μL/min for the reaction mixture. Additionally, the developed microreactor was reused more than 16 times without affecting the enzymatic conversion yield. These results demonstrate the potential of microchannels with plasma micro/nanotextured surfaces for the rapid and facile fabrication of microfluidic enzymatic microreactors with enhanced catalytic activity and stability. Full article

A critical review and analysis of the literature relevant to the phenolic content of eucaryotic microalgae was performed. Several issues were identified and discussed. In summary, the main problems with the reporting on the phenolic content of microalgae are the following: (1) despite its usefulness in the determination of phenolic content in plant samples, the Folin–Ciocalteu assay is non-suitable for microalgal research due to the high presence of interfering compounds in microalgal extracts such as chlorophyll and its derivatives in organic extracts and free aromatic amino acids or nucleotides in aqueous extracts; (2) while there is chromatographic evidence for the presence of simple phenolic acids in most microalgal clades, the lack of critical enzymes of phenolic biosynthesis in most microalgae, as well as the high variability of phenolic profiles even in the same genus, require more extensive research before conclusions are drawn; (3) the accumulation and metabolism of external phenolics by microalgae has been almost universally neglected in studies focusing on the phenolic content of microalgae, even when natural seawater or complex organic media are used in the cultivation process. Despite these issues, the literature focusing on the bioremediation of waste streams rich in phenolics through microalgae demonstrates the ability of those organisms to adsorb, internalize, and in many cases oxidize or transform a wide range of phenolic compounds, even at very high concentrations. Simple phenolics found in waste streams, such as olive mill waste, have been shown to enhance the antioxidant activity and various bioactivities of microalgal extracts, while complex biotransformation products of phenolics have also been characterized. In conclusion, the de novo biosynthesis of phenolic compounds via eucaryotic microalgae requires further investigation with better designed experiments and suitable analytical methods, while the response of microalgae to phenolic compounds in their growth medium is of great practical interest, both in terms of waste treatment and for the production of functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Full article

This study investigated the impact of Pediococcus pentosaceus strains not only on biogenic amine (BA) content, but also on antioxidant indices, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and total phenolic content, in kisra, an African sourdough flatbread. Among forty-six lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from naturally fermented kisra sourdough, two strains (K-B21, K-B01) identified as P. pentosaceus, were selected due to their low BA-producing and high BA-degrading ability for kisra fermentation. Inoculation with P. pentosaceus K-B21 or P. pentosaceus K-B01 completely prevented the formation of tyramine and cadaverine during kisra fermentation. The levels of putrescine, histamine, spermine, and spermidine in kisra were reduced by about 90%, >31%, 55–61%, and 9–25%, respectively, by the two strains, compared to the control (natural fermentation). Additionally, DPPH scavenging activity was 83–84% in the control and inoculated groups of kisra. The total phenolic content was 1977.60 μg/g in the control and insignificantly lower in the inoculated groups (1850–1880 μg/g) than the control. These results suggest that P. pentosaceus K-B21 and K-B01 are promising candidates for use as sourdough starter cultures to produce kisra bread of higher quality, including both its safety and health functionality. Full article

Vase life directly affects the ornamental value of cut flowers, and extending vase life has been a research focus in the floriculture industry. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Nano-Se provide a new direction to extend the life of cut-flower vase life. In order to explore the postharvest quality of Nano-Se on cut-flower roses, this study treated cut-flower roses with different concentrations of Nano-Se (200, 400, and 600 mM) using a commercially available preservative solution as a base solution. The results showed that appropriate concentrations of Nano-Se significantly increased the vase life of cut-flower roses and helped to maintain high petal moisture content. Nano-Se at concentrations of 200, 400, and 600 mM extended the vase life of cut roses by 4.3, 5.7, and 3.7 d, respectively. As the vase period extended, the Nano-Se treatment group effectively delayed the decline in antioxidant enzyme activities such as peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), maintained the soluble sugar (SS) and soluble protein (SP) contents in the cut roses, and inhibited the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), reducing their accumulation. A correlation analysis of the physiological indexes of cut roses showed that vase life was positively correlated with POD and CAT activities, SS and SP contents, and total phenolic acid content and negatively correlated with MDA and H₂O₂ contents. This study provides a solid theoretical basis for the diversification of preservatives and the development of new preservatives for fresh-cut roses, which is expected to provide significant economic benefits. Full article