This study extends our knowledge of the diversity of marine fungi from Saudi Arabia, which is virtually unknown. Thirty-seven fungi (28 ascomycetes, eight asexual fungi, and one basidiomycete) were recorded from 457 samples of driftwood and intertidal decayed wood of Avicennia marina collected from three sites along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The three sites include two mangrove sites, namely: Yanbu and Farasan Island, while the third site is a sandy shore nearby Yanbu city. Thirty-one fungi were new records for Saudi Arabia. Swampomyces triseptatus is the only species common to the three sites. The recorded marine fungi were latitudinally distributed with fungi recorded from Yanbu (subtropical site) largely different from those at Farasan Island mangrove (tropical site) with only six common fungi recorded. Amarenographium solium was the most common fungus at Yanbu mangrove, while Lineolata rhizophorae dominated the fungal community at Farasan Island mangrove. Swampomyces armeniacus was commonly recorded at the two mangrove sites. Torpedospora radiata was the most common species recorded from driftwood samples collected at Yanbu beach. A new collection of Diatrypasimilis australiensis enabled us to make a detailed morphological study of the fungus. Mycelia with chlamydospores were isolated from the samples and subsequently sequenced, and they grouped in the Corollospora clade with various degrees of confidence, but did not sporulate on natural material or in culture.

This paper documents five new saprobic marine fungi occurring on various substrata in the marine environment.

The green chemistry method for nanocatalyst synthesis along with environmentally feasible non-edible sources are promising alternatives to fossil fuels. The current study focuses on the synthesis of copper oxide phyto-nanocatalyst and the identification of a new renewable feedstock, Citrullus colocynthis, to reduce environmental pollution. The highest biodiesel yield (95%) was obtained under optimum conditions of a 1:8 oil-to-methanol ratio and reaction temperature of 85 °C for 120 min with a 0.365 wt% catalyst concentration. The phyto-nanocatalyst was synthesized using seed oil cake after extracting oil with the salt of copper (copper oxide). The catalyst was then subjected to various analyses, namely, EDX, FT-IR, SEM, and XRD. The catalyst was proved to be efficient and effective after being reused five times and still there was a very small difference in biodiesel yield. All the analyses also show sustainable and stable results. Thus, copper oxide phyto-nanocatalyst with non-edible Citrullus colocynthis proved to be highly effective, sustainable, and a better alternative source to the future biodiesel industry.

In this study, an eco‐friendly biosynthesis of stable gold nanoparticles (T‐GNPs) was carried out using different concentrations of tomato juice (nutraceuticals) as a reducing agent and tetrachloroauric acid as a metal precursor to explore their potential application in cancer therapeutics. The synthesis of T‐GNPs was monitored by UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy, which unveiled their formation by exhibiting the typical surface plasmon absorption maxima at 522 nm. The size of T‐GNPs was found to be 10.86 ± 0.6 nm. T‐GNPs were characterised by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. T‐GNPs were further investigated for their anti‐cancer activity against human lung carcinoma cell line ( A ₅₄₉ ) and human cervical cancer cell line wherein the IC ₅₀ values were found to be 0.286 and 0.200 mM, respectively. T‐GNPs inhibited the growth of cancer cells by generating ROS and inducing apoptosis. T‐GNPs were found highly effective by virtue of their size, metallic property and capping molecules. Thus, this study opens up the prospects of using nutraceutical (tomato juice) as nutratherapeutic agent (T‐GNPs) against critical diseases like lung cancer and cervical cancer.

Curcuma longa L. is a famous spice cultivated in many countries with significant variations reported in its phytochemical contents and biological potential. For the first time, the present work is aimed to identify the major phytochemicals present in methanol:chloroform (MC) and petroleum ether (PE) extracts of Curcuma longa rhizome and leaves (by determining polyphenols and GC/MS analysis), and their in-vitro antioxidant and anti-protein denaturation potential. Results showed that the highest value (P < 0.05) of polyphenolic content was in MC extract of rhizome (51.46 ± 0.46 mg GAE/g) followed by 31.20 ± 0.53 mg GAE/g in MC leaves extract. The strong antiradical activity was evaluated in MC extract of rhizome with IC₅₀ value of 92 ± 0.02 µg/mL. MC extracts of both the rhizome and leaves exerted a potent inhibitory effect against protein denaturation with IC₅₀ values of 106.21 ± 0.53 and 108.06 ± 4.67 μg/mL (P > 0.5), respectively. GC/MS analysis showed that α-tumerone was the main component in the rhizome oil (32.44%), whereas in the leaf oil, palmitic acid was the prominent constituent (28.33%) and α-phellandrene recorded a comparable percentage (7.29). In conclusion, C. longa is a valuable source of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory constituents, as indicated by its high polyphenolic content and by its considerable in vitro antiradical and anti-protein denaturation potential.