Azadirachta indica has several medicinal uses, especially its leaves. Over 4000 years ago, Ayurvedic medicine used it for its therapeutic benefits. This study examined the biological activity of Neem crude extracts and green-chemically produced Ag-NPs. TPCs and TFCs were measured for polyphenolic burden in consecutive extracts. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP experiments measured antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against seven strains of food-borne pathogenic bacteria and eight mycotoxigenic fungi. At 1000 μg/mL, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Neem leaves had 80.10% and 69.41% in DPPH and 71.42% and 74.61% in ABTS assays for the antioxidant activity, compared to 93.58% for BHT. At 800 μg/mL, both extracts showed antioxidant activity with 57.52 and 57.87 μM in the FRAP assay, compared to 139.97 μM for Ascorbic acid. Both extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity with 0.02 to 0.35 mg/mL as antibacterials, 0.03 to 2.17 mg/mL as antifungals, and 0.04 to 0.42 mg/mL as antibacterials. Compared to Neem crude extract, Neem Ag-NPs had the lowest MIC values as antibacterials and antifungals at 0.05 to 0.07 mg/mL and 0.07 to 0.20 mg/mL, respectively. Neem Ag-NPs and crude extract boost antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Research on the use of different parts of the Moringa oleifera plant as a nutritional and pharmaceutical resource for human and animals has increased in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and the TPCs and TFCs of Moringa leaves, the antimicrobial activities of Moringa successive ethanolic, aqueous, crude aqueous extracts, and green-chemically synthesized characterized Ag-NPs. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract recorded the highest activity against E. coli. On the other side, the aqueous extract showed higher activity, and its effects ranged from 0.03 to 0.33 mg/mL against different strains. The MIC values of Moringa Ag-NPs against different pathogenic bacteria ranged from 0.05 mg/mL to 0.13 mg/mL, and the activity of the crude aqueous extract ranged from 0.15 to 0.83 mg/mL. For the antifungal activity, the ethanolic extract recorded the highest activity at 0.04 mg/mL, and the lowest activity was recorded at 0.42 mg/mL. However, the aqueous extract showed effects ranging from 0.42 to 1.17 mg/mL. Moringa Ag-NPs showed higher activity against the different fungal strains than the crude aqueous extract, and they ranged from 0.25 to 0.83 mg/mL. The MIC values of the Moringa crude aqueous extract ranged from 0.74 to 3.33 mg/mL. Moringa Ag-NPs and their crude aqueous extract may be utilized to boost antimicrobial attributes.

Mango fruit (cv. Seddik) is known as a delicate fruit for storage after harvest. Herein, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and guar gum-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used as fruit coatings, and their effects on postharvest storage behavior and quality attributes were investigated. AgNPs were synthesized using a chemical reduction approach and then combined with CMC and guar gum as coating bases. Mango fruits were coated with the developed and pre-characterized CMC-AgNPs and guar gum-AgNPs, and then packed and stored at 13 °C for 4 weeks. The results showed an increase in weight loss, respiration rate, total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, and total carotenoids over the storage period. However, this increase was comparatively less significant in coated fruits compared to uncoated fruits. Firmness and titratable acidity (TA) significantly decreased during storage, but this decrease was less in coated fruits. Silver traces in fruit pulp samples were not detected. These findings showed the efficacy of CMC-AgNP and guar gum-AgNP coatings in delaying mango fruit ripening and maintaining fruit quality during cold storage. Therefore, these coatings could be promising alternative materials for extending the postharvest life and marketing period of mango fruit.

In this study, we describe the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and evaluate the impact of alginate-based ZnO NPs (Alg–ZnO NPs) on microbiological activity, storage behavior, and physico-chemical properties of ‘Kiett’ mango fruit. The fruits were coated with alginate and Alg–ZnO NPs and then stored at 13 °C; uncoated mango fruits were used as controls. ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized, confirming the formation of spherically shaped particles with sizes ranging from 12 to 15.1 nm and a zeta potential equal to 31 mV. Alg–ZnO NPs exhibited the same inhibition capacities against the growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The cold-stored fruits showed an increase in weight loss, respiration rate, total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, and total carotenoids over the storage period. However, this increase was comparatively less significant in coated fruits than in uncoated ones. Alg–ZnO NP treatment maintained better fruit quality, controlled the decay incidence, and increased the shelf life of the mango fruits. Firmness and titratable acidity (TA) significantly decreased during storage, but this decrease was reduced in coated fruits. We conclude that Alg–ZnO NP treatment could be a promising safe alternative for maintaining fruit quality, extending the storage period, and increasing the shelf life of mango fruits ‘cv. Kiett’.

Natural polymers are bioactive compounds that are used in the treatment of several disorders. Natural lignin, an amorphous polymer, offers significant potential for use as a building block in the production of bio-renovation materials. This study used an alkaline solvent technique to extract lignin from two Egyptian cotton cultivar byproducts, Giza 86 and 90. We then created nano-lignin to recycle cotton stalks into an environmentally beneficial product. The characterization of L86, L90, LNP86, and LNP90 was carried out using particle size, zeta potential, FT-IR, and TEM. Antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay and antimicrobial activity were determined for lignin and nano-lignin. Seven pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and five mycotoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium proliferatum and Penicillium verrucosum) were used for antimicrobial activity. The results showed high antioxidant efficiency for LNP90, with an IC₅₀ of 10.38 µg/mL. The antimicrobial activity showed positive growth inhibition for all studied microorganisms, with significant differences in nano-lignin compared to ordinary lignin. lignin and nano-lignin were effectively applied to treated textiles for medical purposes. The study concluded that single-use medical textiles with anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties, made from lignin and nano-lignin, could benefit patients intolerant to antibiotics.

Background: Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and infectious bronchitis (IB) are two common respiratory diseases of poultry that inflict great economic burden on the poultry industry. Developing an effective agent against both viruses is a crucial step to decrease the economic losses. Therefore, for the first time green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Cyperus rotundus L. aqueous extract was evaluated in vitro as a potential antiviral against both viruses. Results: Silver nanoparticles from Cyperus rotundus were characterized by the spherical shape, 11–19 nm size, and zeta potential of − 6.04 mV. The maximum nontoxic concentration (MNTC) was 50 µg mL⁻¹ for both viruses without harmful toxicity impact. The study suggested that some of the compounds in C. rotundus extract (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and naringenin) or its silver nanoparticles could interact with the external envelope proteins of both viruses, and inhibiting extracellular viruses. Conclusions: The results highlight that C. rotundus green synthesized silver nanoparticles could have antiviral activity against infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chickens. Graphical