Current ethanol production technology has a dire need for efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars. The conversion requires pretreatment of the biomass, one of the most expensive steps, and thus it is quite necessary to identify the most cost-effective and high-efficiency conversion method. In this study, rice straw (RS) biomass was pretreated using 4% NaOH alkali, soaked for 4 h, and autoclaved for 30 min. The structural and morphological changes were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis in both native and alkali-treated RS. The FTIR analysis revealed that native RS contains a considerable amount of lignin that was removed after the pretreatment process. The XRD pattern of the RS revealed an increasing crystallite size of the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. The study of SEM clearly showed the distorted structure and surface porosity after the pretreatment process. Enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency was checked by comparing the commercial enzymes and microbial hydrolysis extracted from a fungal isolate. The best-reducing sugar yield obtained was 0.62 g/L, achieved at optimized conditions from the commercial enzymes. Fermentation efficiency was checked using the yeast isolate Saccharomyces cerevisiae in both the native and pretreated substrate, and the highest ethanol concentration (21.45%) was achieved using 20% w/v biomass loading, enzyme loading (2:1:1), and fermentation for a week at 30°C and pH 4.5. This concentration was higher than that of the untreated RS (3.67%). The ethanol thus produced was further checked for analysis by the ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has drawn huge attention in the last decade due to their eco-friendly, biocompatible nature. Phyto-assisted synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is widespread in the field of nanomedicine, especially for antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Here in the present research work, investigators have used the stem extract of the Himalayan plant Hippophae rhamnoides L, for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). The synthesized of CuNPs were analyzed by using sophisticated instruments, i.e., Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The size of the synthesized CuNPs was varying from 38 nm to 94 nm which were mainly spherical in shape. Further, the potential of the synthesized CuNPs was evaluated as an anticancer agent on the Hela cell lines, by performing an MTT assay. In the MTT assay, a concentration-dependent activity of CuNPs demonstrated the lower cell viability at 100 μg/mL and IC₅₀ value at 48 μg/mL of HeLa cancer cell lines. In addition to this, apoptosis activity was evaluated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining, Annexin V, and Propidium iodide (PI) staining, wherein the maximum ROS production was at a dose of 100 µg per mL of CuNPs with a higher intensity of green fluorescence. In both DAPI and PI staining, maximum nuclear condensation was observed with 100 μg/mL of CuNPs against HeLa cell lines.

Chronic infections often involve notorious pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, demanding innovative antimicrobial strategies due to escalating resistance. This investigation scrutinized the antibacterial prowess of bile salts, notably taurocholic acid (TCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), and ox bile salt (OBS), against these pathogens. Evaluations encompassed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, scrutiny of their impact on biofilm formation, and anti-virulence mechanisms. UDCA exhibited the highest efficacy, suppressing S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms by 83.5% and 78%, respectively, at peak concentration. TCA also significantly reduced biofilm development by 81% for S. aureus and 75% for P. aeruginosa. Microscopic analysis revealed substantial disruption of biofilm architecture by UDCA and TCA. Conversely, OBS demonstrated ineffectiveness against both pathogens. Mechanistic assays elucidated UDCA and TCA’s detrimental impact on the cell membrane, prompting the release of macromolecular compounds. Additionally, UDCA and TCA inhibited protease and elastase synthesis in P. aeruginosa and staphyloxanthin and lipase production in S. aureus. These results underscore the potential of UDCA and TCA in impeding biofilm formation and mitigating the pathogenicity of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.

Staphylococcus aureus is a biofilm-forming bacterium responsible for various human infections, one particularly challenging to treat due to its antibiotic resistance. Biofilms can form on both soft tissues and medical devices, leading to persistent and hard-to-treat infections. Combining multiple antimicrobials is a potential approach to overcoming this resistance. This study explored the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin against S. aureus biofilms, aiming to evaluate any synergistic effects. Results showed that UDCA and ciprofloxacin co-treatment significantly reduced biofilm formation and disrupted pre-formed biofilms more effectively than either agent alone (p < 0.01). The combination also displayed a slight synergistic effect, with a fractional inhibitory concentration of 0.65. Additionally, the treatment reduced the production of extracellular polymeric substances, increased reactive oxygen species production, decreased metabolic activity, altered cell membrane permeability, and lowered cell surface hydrophobicity in S. aureus. Furthermore, it diminished biofilm-associated pathogenic factors, including proteolytic activity and staphyloxanthin production. Overall, the UDCA–ciprofloxacin combination shows considerable promise as a strategy to combat infections related to staphylococcal biofilms, offering a potential solution to the healthcare challenges posed by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus.

Qualitative Screening of Bioactive Compounds in Roots of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Pooja Dadhwal & Harish Kumar Dhingra* Abstract Sea buckthorn is a deciduous ancient plant, which gained worldwide attention mainly of its extensive nutritional and medicinal potential. Presence of various kinds of bioactive compounds makes it more potent and increases its nutritional value. […]