Pulp and paper industry in the world have been growing fast. As a result, there has been a massive request for pulp and paper raw materials. The raw materials used in papermaking can be classified into three groups: wood, non-wood, and recycled wastepaper. The Non-wood raw material is an important fiber resource in the regions where forest resources are limited. The current usage of non-wood plant fibers, as rice straws, corn stalks, cotton stalks, and bagasse would play a chief role in increasing papermaking raw materials. Using of non-wood plant fibers in the paper industry associated with some problems, including collection, transportation, storage and handling, washing, bleaching, papermaking, chemical recovery, supply of raw material and the properties of finished paper. Recently, a high-tech innovation in all the fields of papermaking has made non-wood more reasonable with wood as a raw material for papermaking. Although till now, use of non-wood fibers for pulp and paper manufacture was focused in countries with limited wood supply, it is now showing a growing effort even in countries with acceptable wood source due to environmental concerns. Consequently, the future of non-wood plant fibers as pulping and papermaking raw material looks bright.

Chitosan films are increasingly being applied in the biomedical field owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, mucoadhesive nature, hemostatic properties, antibacterial and biological activities. This study aimed to enhance the mechanical properties of chitosan films by doping niosomal sage nanoparticles (NS-SagNPs) at various concentrations (100–300 μg). The NS-SagNPs were prepared by a thin-film hydration process with an average particle size of 21.5 nm. The doped chitosan films were fabricated through a simple casting method. FTIR and DSC measurements confirmed the successful incorporation of NS-SagNPs in the chitosan films. The mechanical properties of the doped films were improved and the most significant improvement was found in tensile strength and elasticity when the NS-SagNPs loading was increased to 300 μg. Based on these results, chitosan films doped with NS-SagNPs have the advantageous feature of sage and show enhanced mechanical properties compared with pure chitosan, rendering them more suitable for biomedical applications.

Mohamed H. El-Sayed, Abd El-Nasser A. Kobisi, Islam A. Elsehemy, and Mohamed A. El-Sakhawy. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2023;33:607-20. https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.2301.01001

Essential oils (EOs), derived from medicinal and aromatic plants, are natural mixtures of volatile, oily compounds with varying compositions and antibacterial mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms of EOs and their components (EOCs) is essential for predicting their impacts on various microbes and their interactions with antibiotics. This understanding is the key to developing effective strategies to combat and overcome bacterial resistance. This review employs a thematic synthesis of research, first presenting the main chemical structures of EOCs before categorizing their proposed antibacterial mechanisms. The mechanisms of EOs and EOCs include membrane disruption, leading to increased permeability, inhibition of energy production, protein dysfunction, interference with nucleic acids (DNA/RNA), efflux pump inhibition and interference with other cellular processes such as virulence mechanisms (e.g., quorum sensing, biofilm formation and toxin production). A significant advantage is their ability to act synergistically with antibiotics, making them effective not only against antibiotic‐sensitive bacteria but also against resistant strains. Through these various mechanisms, EOs present a promising and effective approach to overcoming bacterial infections in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance.

Spirulina happens to be a special type of blue-green algae that originally emerged 3.5 billion years ago and was used as a source of nutrition. Spirulina gets its name from the filaments’ spiral or helical structure, but its true name is taxonomically Genus Arthrospira which encompasses several species. The most common species are S. fusiformis, S. maxima, and S. platensis. It is rich in various nutrients and chemical components including protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, pigments, chlorophyll, and enzymes. Spirulina’s active molecules and rich nutrients make it have several pharmacological activities and uses including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, immune system booster, anticancer, antiviral activity, and neuroprotective properties. It is also utilized as a nutritional supplement and for weight loss. Moreover, several studies confirm that Spirulina improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose levels in rat models as well as diabetic patients. The reason behind this unique behavior could be credited to the presence of several active components in it, but the action’s fundamental mechanism is still a matter of debate. Several studies have suggested different mechanisms including anti-inflammatory activity, increased insulin sensitivity, inhibition of gluconeogenesis, antioxidant activity, modulating gut microbiota composition, improved glucose homeostasis, and insulin receptor activation. Therefore, it became clear that Spirulina is a mine of active substances used as a nutritional supplement and reduces blood glucose levels or used in conjunction with other treatments to tackle type 2 diabetes. Further exploration is required to fully explain its effects on human physiology and determine optimal dosages for treatment.