Nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesis using plant extract and evaluation of their antibacterial effects on Streptococcus mutans

The production of macrofungi (mushrooms) as well as their economic value have been steadily increasing globally. The use of functional foods, dietary supplements, and traditional medicines derived from macrofungi is increasing as they have numerous health benefits as well as abundant nutrients. Macrofungi are diverse with complex and highly varied growth conditions and bioactive constituents, most macrofungal resources have not yet been fully explored and applicated, leading to an urgent need for appropriate strategies to address the problem. Increasing attention has been paid to the macrofungal cultivation and application, in particular, potential prebiotics. Herein, the present review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in the cultivation, newly identified bioactive constituents, and their effects on gut microbiota as well as the potential ways in which they affect human health. Moreover, the macrofungal food development is discussed to improve food nutritional value and change the quality characteristics of food. Finally, the review addresses consumer safety concerns and the prospective genetic manipulation of macrofungi. We hope that this review can provide a comprehensive research reference for ensuring the safety and efficacy, along with maximizing the value and profitability of macrofungi production.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1541-4337.12602

Macrofungi: A review of cultivation strategies, bioactivity, and application of mushrooms.

Opportunities and challenges for co-delivery nanomedicines based on combination of phytochemicals with chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment.

In this study, the hydrothermal method was used to synthesis of silver indium sulfide/nickel molybdenum sulfide (AgInS2/NiMoS4) nanostructure and decorated on Palygorskite (Plg) as an excellent carrier of antibacterial materials. The performance of the prepared AgInS2/NiMoS4/Plg composites was investigated for light-driven antibacterial process and detection of uric acid from biological samples. The result shows the highest antibacterial activity of the AgInS2/NiMoS4/Plg with the minimum inhibitory concentrations about 0.2-0.3 mg/mL. The prepared AgInS2/NiMoS4/Plg as sensor depicted enhanced peroxidase-like activity for detection of acid uric. The detection limit of acid uric by AgInS2/NiMoS4/Plg was about 26.1 nM. Therefore, the AgInS2/NiMoS4/Plg can be developed in the bactericidal process and sensing in complex biological systems. 

Synergistic activities of silver indium sulfide/nickel molybdenum sulfide nanostructures anchored on clay mineral for light-driven bactericidal performance, and detection of uric acid from gout patient serum.

Currently, the world is facing a Coronavirus pandemic with a grave deficiency of specific therapy for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Moreover, scientists attempt to discover the most refined approach to prevent this condition. Regarding COVID-19 infection, herbal medicines with immunomodulatory effects may offer patients a promising preventive treatment option. Several ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are effective during this worrisome Coronavirus pandemic i.e. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Curcuma longa L. etc. TCM was shown to be utilized with over 90% efficacy when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020. In addition to herbal treatments and nutraceutical drugs, dietary supplements such as vitamins and amino acid derivatives also play a significant part in COVID-19 management. Diet can assist in regulating inflammation, while nutraceuticals can aid in the prevention of viral invasion. Functional amino acids (e.g., arginine, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, taurine, and tryptophan) and glutathione, which are all abundant in animal-sourced foodstuffs, are crucial for optimum immunity and health in humans and animals. The goal of this article is to thoroughly evaluate recent statistics on the effectiveness of herbal medicines in COVID-19, the antiviral activity of nutraceuticals, and the significance of these results in creating dietary supplements that would enhance innate immunity and contribute as preventive measures against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccmp.2022.100021

Herbal Remedies, Nutraceuticals, and Dietary Supplements for COVID-19 Management: An Update

Endophytic fungi infect plant tissues by evading the immune response, potentially stimulating stress-tolerant plant growth. The plant selectively allows microbial colonization to carve endophyte structures through phenotypic genes and metabolic signals. Correspondingly, fungi develop various adaptations through symbiotic signal transduction to thrive in mycorrhiza. Over the past decade, the regulatory mechanism of plant-endophyte interaction has been uncovered. Currently, great progress has been made on plant endosphere, especially in endophytic fungi. Here, we systematically summarize the current understanding of endophytic fungi colonization, molecular recognition signal pathways, and immune evasion mechanisms to clarify the transboundary communication that allows endophytic fungi colonization and homeostatic phytobiome. In this work, we focus on immune signaling and recognition mechanisms, summarizing current research progress in plant-endophyte communication that converge to improve our understanding of endophytic fungi.

A Critical Review on Communication Mechanism within Plant-Endophytic Fungi Interactions to Cope with Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene, is distributed in a variety of plants, such as birch, eucalyptus and plane trees. It shows a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, antimalarial, anti-HIV and antitumor effects. Among them, the antitumor activity of betulinic acid has been extensively studied. However, obtaining betulinic acid from natural resources can no longer meet the needs of medicine and nutrition, so methods such as chemical synthesis and microbial biotransformation have also been used to prepare betulinic acid. At the same time, with the development of synthetic biology and genetic engineering, and the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoid, the biosynthesis of betulinic acid has also been extensively researched. This article reviews the preparation of betulinic acid and its pharmacological activities, in order to provide a reference for the research and utilization of betulinic acid.

A Review on Preparation of Betulinic Acid and Its Biological Activities.

Glycolipid biosurfactants are natural amphiphiles and have gained particular interest recently in their biodegradability, diversity, and bioactivity. Microbial infection has caused severe morbidity and mortality and threatened public health security worldwide. Glycolipids have played an important role in combating many diseases as therapeutic agents depending on the self-assembly property, the anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and the antimicrobial properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects. Besides, their role has been highlighted as scavengers in impeding the biofilm formation and rupturing mature biofilm, indicating their utility as suitable anti-adhesive coating agents for medical insertional materials leading to a reduction in vast hospital infections. Notably, glycolipids have been widely applied to the synthesis of novel antimicrobial materials due to their excellent amphipathicity, such as nanoparticles and liposomes. Accordingly, this review will provide various antimicrobial applications of glycolipids as functional ingredients in medical therapy.

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/2/227/pdf

Contributions of Glycolipid Biosurfactants and Glycolipid-Modified Materials to Antimicrobial Strategy: A Review.

Flavonoids belong to a class of plant secondary metabolites that have a polyphenol structure. Flavonoids show extensive biological activity, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-cancer, and antibacterial properties, so they are widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. However, traditional sources of flavonoids are no longer sufficient to meet current demands. In recent years, with the clarification of the biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids and the development of synthetic biology, it has become possible to use synthetic metabolic engineering methods with microorganisms as hosts to produce flavonoids. This article mainly reviews the biosynthetic pathways of flavonoids and the development of microbial expression systems for the production of flavonoids in order to provide a useful reference for further research on synthetic metabolic engineering of flavonoids. Meanwhile, the application of co-culture systems in the biosynthesis of flavonoids is emphasized in this review.

Hanghang Lou

Papers

A Critical Review on Communication Mechanism within Plant-Endophytic Fungi Interactions to Cope with Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

A Review on Preparation of Betulinic Acid and Its Biological Activities.

Contributions of Glycolipid Biosurfactants and Glycolipid-Modified Materials to Antimicrobial Strategy: A Review.

Metabolic Engineering of Microbial Cell Factories for Biosynthesis of Flavonoids: A Review.

Synergistic antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of ultrasound and MEL-A against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.