The impact of stress on crop productivity and the ecosystem have been magnified by climate changes and mispractices in the agriculture field. Soil microbiome is a diverse system consisting of various microorganisms. Environmental control techniques like the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are necessary to enhance crop productivity. AMF is known as stress regulating organisms that help plants within the nutrient uptake, biotic and abiotic stress management, plant protection, and consequently enhancement on crop yields. Also, host plants can tolerate many difficult situations such as water problems, salt stress, heavy metals, and temperature changes through AMF inoculation. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) enhance plant growth under stress by mediating a series of complex contact events between the two symbiotic partners resulting in a good photosynthetic and gas exchange amelioration. Plants have several tolerance mechanisms to deal with the constraints of environmental changes. The antioxidant ability is the principal tolerance mechanism; it is assisted by osmolytes accumulation and exacting absorption of ions. In this review, we will discuss the effect of AMF colonization on the host plants at different stages of growth, with comprehensively updated knowledge, their roles, and applications for plant growth enhancement and mycorrhizae role on plant resistance induction and stress management.

• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant symbiosis. • Role AMF in root development and plant growth promotion. • AMF influence and plant response under strigolactone (SL) and SL-GR24 application. • Effects and functions of SL in root development and interaction with AMF.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely distributed soil-borne microorganisms, which have a symbiotic relationship with several terrestrial plants. They play a key role in plant growth promotion and development, plant nutrient homeostasis, soil nutrient management, and induction of plant defense mechanisms against pest infestation and disease incidences. This interaction of AMF with rice plants has been studied in great detail, providing distinct perspectives on the natural basis of nutrient transport, stress management, improvement of soil health, and induction of systemic plant resistance. This review highlights the responses of (i) AMF interaction with rice plants, (ii) AMF colonization and sporulation potential in rice rhizosphere, (iii) AMF species as a source of inoculum for rice production, (iv) AMF for rice plant maintenance and durability, and (v) AMF responses to other soil microorganisms. Additionally, a new class of phytohormones known as strigolactone (SLs) has been briefly described covering the various forms of analogs, isomers, and membrane transporters. The role of SLs in pre-symbiotic molecular talks, induction of energy metabolism in mitochondria, spore germination, stimulation of hyphal branches, and the relationships of SLs synthesis with soil nutrient content provides in-depth insights into the mechanisms involved in improving AMF interactions with rice plants.

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised a severe global public health issue and creates a pandemic situation. The present work aims to study the molecular -docking and dynamic of three pertinent medicinal plants i.e. Eurycoma harmandiana, Sophora flavescens and Andrographis paniculata phyto-compounds against SARS-COV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) and main protease (Mpro)/3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro). The interaction of protein targets and ligands was performed through AutoDock-Vina visualized using PyMOL and BIOVIA-Discovery Studio 2020. Molecular docking with canthin-6-one 9-O-beta-glucopyranoside showed highest binding affinity and less binding energy with both PLpro and Mpro/3CLpro proteases and was subjected to molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for a period of 100ns. Stability of the protein-ligand complexes was evaluated by different analyses. The binding free energy calculated using MM-PBSA and the results showed that the molecule must have stable interactions with the protein binding site. ADMET analysis of the compounds suggested that it is having drug-like properties like high gastrointestinal (GI) absorption, no blood-brain barrier permeability and high lipophilicity. The outcome revealed that canthin-6-one 9-O-beta-glucopyranoside can be used as a potential natural drug against COVID-19 protease.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the appearance of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of seven wild mushrooms of the University of Chittagong campus. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods, whereas DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to elucidate the antioxidant effect. Besides, in silico studies were implemented using the targets of human erythrocyte catalase 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole, human glutathione reductase, and selected compounds. Again, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination and toxicity (ADME/T) analysis has been determined by using online tools. Both Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) Karst. and Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. showed a significant (p < .001) increase in the percentage of scavenging activity at 400 μg/ml concentration when compared with ascorbic acid. The methanol extract of G. lucidum, G. applanatum, and Rhodofomes cajanderi (P. Karst.) B. K. Cui, M. L. Han & Y. C. Dai showed strong antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ value. In addition, molecular docking studies of the previously isolated compounds from three selective mushrooms revealed that the targeted compounds along with positive controls were able to interact strongly (range: −3.498 to −8.655) with the enzymes. The study concludes that the G. lucidum, G. applanatum, and R. cajanderi mushrooms can be a strong source in the management of oxidative stress‐induced diseases.

N-nitroso compounds (NOC) are produced by the acid catalyzed reaction of nitrite with certain nitrogen compounds. The gastrointestinal tract (GI) is the main site for the formation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Bacteria present on the GI tract surface reduced the dietary nitrate or nitrite into Nitric oxide NO and other related compounds. The clinical sign of NOC carcinogenicity varies according to species, dose, and route of administration. Humans are exposed to preformed N-nitroso compounds and endogenous NOC via the environmental food chain. Several NOC are potential human carcinogens, including DENA and NDMA, but evidence from population studies is inconsistent.