Paecilomyces variotii xylanase was, produced in stirred tank bioreactor with yield of 760 U/mL and purified using 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation and ultra-filtration causing 3.29-fold purification with 34.47% activity recovery. The enzyme purity was analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirming its monomeric nature as single band at 32 KDa. Zymography showed xylan hydrolysis activity at the same band. The purified enzyme had optimum activity at 60 °C and pH 5.0. The pH stability range was 5–9 and the temperature stability was up 70 °C. Fe²⁺and Fe³⁺ exhibited inhibition of xylanase enzyme while Cu²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ stimulated its activity. Mercaptoethanol stimulated its activity; however, Na₂-EDTA and SDS inhibited its activity. The purified xylanase could hydrolyze beechwood xylan but not carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel or soluble starch. Paecilomyces variotii xylanase K_m and V_max for beechwood were determined to be 3.33 mg/mL and 5555 U/mg, respectively. The produced xylanase enzyme applied on beech xylan resulted in different types of XOS. The antioxidant activity of xylo-oligosaccharides increased from 15.22 to 70.57% when the extract concentration was increased from 0.1 to 1.5 mg/mL. The enzyme characteristics and kinetic parameters indicated its high efficiency in the hydrolysis of xylan and its potential effectiveness in lignocellulosic hydrolysis and other industrial application. It also suggests the potential of xylanase enzyme for production of XOS from biomass which are useful in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Bee products, e.g., chitosan and propolis (Pro), have extraordinary importance in many disciplines including food biopreservation. Fish meat is highly susceptible to vast spoilage, especially catfish (Clarias gariepinus) products. The current work involved the extraction of bees’ chitosan nanoparticles (BCht), Pro, Pro-mediated SeNPs and their composites, to evaluate them as potential antimicrobial and preservative nano-compounds, for the preservation of catfish fillets and augment their quality. BCht was extracted from bees (Apis mellifera) corpses and had a 151.9 nm mean particle diameter. The Pro was used for biosynthesis of SeNPs, which had 11.2 nm mean diameters. The entire compounds/composites exhibited powerful antibacterial acts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium, where S aureus had the uppermost resistance. BCht/Pro/SeNPs were the most forceful toward all bacterial strains. The constructed edible coatings (ECs) from produced compounds/composites (BCht, Pro, Pro/SeNPs, Pro/BCht and BCht/Pro/SeNPs) had elevated efficiency for preserving catfish fillets during cold storages for 7 days. The microbiological (total counts, psychrophilic bacteria, yeast and molds), spoilage chemical parameters (TVB-N, TBARS) and sensorial attributes (appearance, odor, color, overall quality) of ECs-treated fillets indicated the nanocomposite’s efficiency for protecting the fish from microbial growth, the progress of chemical spoilage indicators and maintaining the sensorial quality of treated stored fillets. The most effective nanocomposite for maintaining the entire fillet’s quality was the BCht/Pro/SeNP. The based ECs on BNCt, Pro/SeNPs and their nanocomposites could be endorsed for prospective employment in the biopreservation of various seafoods.

The isolation and assessment of the active constituents in polar and non-polar crude extracts of Saussurea costus roots as antifungal agents, against Candida albicans and non-C. albicans (NAC) species, was the aim of this current investigation. The SEM “Scanning electron microscopy” imaging provided potential action modes of n-hexane extract (nhhE) toward Candida spp., whereas the TLC-DB “Thin layer chromatography-direct bioautography” was employed for detecting the anticandidal compounds. nhhE had the greatest biocidal activity against all strains and clinical isolates of Candida spp. with maximum zones of inhibition. SEM revealed the occurrence of irregular, dense inclusions of C. albicans cell walls after treatment with nhhE for 12 h. Complete morphological distortions with lysed membranes and deterioration signs appeared in most treated cells of C. parapsilosis. The most effectual compound with anticandidal activity was isolated using TLC-BD and identified as sesquiterpene by GC/MS analysis. The infra-red analysis revealed the presence of lactone ring stretching vibrations at 1766.72 cm⁻¹. The anticandidal activity of nhhE of S. costus roots was confirmed from the results, and the treated cotton fabrics with nhhE of S. costus possessed observable activity against C. albicans. Data could recommend the practical usage of S. costus extracts, particularly nhhE, as influential natural bioactive sources for combating pathogenic Candida spp.

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels that occurs either due to insufficient insulin production or mounting resistance to its action. The purpose of this study was to investigate if methanolic extracts of Lepidium sativum seeds, Ficus carica, and Punica granatum leaves had any effect on blood sugar levels in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats, as well as to explore the most effective extract. Method. Healthy male albino rats weighing 185-266g were divided into nine groups of eight rats each: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic rats with dietary supplements of L. sativum, F. carica, and P. granatum methanolic extracts, and diabetics treated with insulin. All of the rats were fed on ordinary diet with nutritional pellets and were given water ad libitum. To induce diabetes, all animals were administered with STZ intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 60mg/kg body weight. For five weeks, the crude plant extracts were given orally to various groups of rats at doses of one hundred and two hundred mg/kg body weight. After that, animal groups were sacrificed and blood samples were taken. Results. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the highest amounts of polyphenolic compounds were present in L. sativum seeds and P. granatum leaves, while leaves of F. carica showed the highest amounts of alkaloid and flavonoid content compared to other extracts. Oral administration of F. carica and L. sativum extracts at the dosage of 100 and 200mg/kg significantly reduced glucose, lipid profile, kidney, and liver enzyme levels. A significant increase in HbAlc levels was also observed with L. sativum extract at a dose of 200mg/kg compared to diabetic controls. Mellitus rats supplemented with 100 and 200mg/kg methanolic extracts of P. granatum had higher serum triglycerides and lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than normal control rats. F. carica extract is more effective than L. sativum and P. granatum extracts in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its consequences.