Debaryomyces hansenii is considered an unconventional yeast with a strong biotechnological potential, which can produce and store high amounts of lipids. However, relatively little is known about its lipid metabolism, and genetic tools for this yeast have been limited. The aim of this study was to explore the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway in D. hansenii. To this end, we employed recently developed methods to generate multiple gene deletions and tag open reading frames with GFP in their chromosomal context in this yeast. We found that, similar as in other yeasts, the β-oxidation of fatty acids in D. hansenii was restricted to peroxisomes. We report a series of experiments in D. hansenii and the well-studied yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that show that the homeostasis of NAD⁺ in D. hansenii peroxisomes is dependent upon the peroxisomal membrane protein Pmp47 and two peroxisomal dehydrogenases, Mdh3 and Gpd1, which both export reducing equivalents produced during β-oxidation to the cytosol. Pmp47 is the first identified NAD⁺ carrier in yeast peroxisomes.

The present study explores the simple and eco-friendly green synthesis of silver (AgNPs) and gold (AuNPs) nanoparticles using aqueous flower extract of Bombax ceiba, commonly known as silk cotton. The extract, rich in flavonoids, serves as both a reducing and capping agent, facilitating the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirming their formation and stability. The antibacterial activity of the AgNPs, AuNPs, and crude flavonoids was evaluated against several bacterial strains, including Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, using the agar well diffusion method. Our results show that AgNPs exhibit significant antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, with a marked zone of inhibition observed for S. typhi and E. coli. The inhibition zone increased with higher concentrations of AgNPs. In contrast, AuNPs and flavonoid solutions demonstrated only mild antibacterial effects, with no significant inhibition observed at lower concentrations (1–6 µL). The antibacterial efficacy of AgNPs was comparable to that of standard antibiotics, such as Azithromycin for Gram-positive bacteria and Ciprofloxacin for Gram-negative bacteria, suggesting their potential as effective antimicrobial agents. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles and the crude flavonoid extract highlights the promising use of Bombax ceiba flower extract in the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles with potential biomedical applications.

A medicinal plant is any plant that in one or more of its organs contains substances that can be used by it or their constituent for therapeutic purposes. The present work was done to evaluate pharmacognostic, fluorescence, proximate and phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extracts of Cistanche tubulosa (Orobanchaceae) along with antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity against four bacterial strains S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi along with five fungal strains such as F. oxyfurum, P. notatum, Candida albicans, A. fumigatus, and A. niger evaluate using agar well diffusion method. The powder drug study of various tissues of plants revealed higher concentrations (20.29 mg/l) of essential macro and micronutrients. Fluorescence analysis of the stem powdered with various chemical reagents showed different colors. Proximate analysis showed the presence of crude substances such as proteins (8.5 %), fat (1.5 %), fibres (6.6 %), carbohydrates (73.87 %), moisture contents (3.23 %) and ash contents (6.3 %) respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins and dozen other important secondary metabolites. The presence of these bioactive constituents associated with the antimicrobial activity of S. aureus showed the maximum zone of inhibition (15.1 ± 3.7 mm), while in antifungal activity C. albicans showed the highest zone of inhibition (11.0 ± 3.15 mm). The pharmacognostic study, fluorescence analysis and antimicrobial activity are helpful in the standardization of the drug establishing a good support for the use of C. tubulosa in traditional medicine.

The pharmacological properties of Senna italica and Senna velutina are well-established; however, no comparative study has been performed between methanol S. italica seed extract (MSISE) and methanol S. velutina seed extract (MSVSE) for their antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. The aim of the present study is to investigate the bioactive components and biological activities of MSISE and MSVSE. The antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial properties were investigated. In comparison to the MSVSE, the MSISE had a higher total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl technique showed higher antioxidant activity at high doses of MSISE than MSVSE with a half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC ₅₀ ) value of 113.41 and 162.42 μg/mL, respectively. The MSISE exhibits higher anticancer activity and potential anticancer effects at lower concentrations against Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and HepG2 cells than MSVSE. The MSISE IC₅₀ for MCF-7 and HepG2 were 146.12 and 95.82 μg/mL, respectively, whereas the MSVSE IC ₅₀ were 141.95 and 196.12 μg/mL, respectively. The MSISE demonstrated a higher antibacterial efficacy, with 7.81–31.25 μg/mL minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), compared to 15.62–62.5 μg/mL MIC for the MSVS. These findings suggest that MSISE could have a potential impact on cancer and bacterial infection treatment; thus, further in vivo and clinical research is essential.

Valorization of fruit-derived biomass requires efficient biocatalysts capable of converting pectin-rich residues into value-added products and improving downstream food-processing operations. Bacillus subtilis AY1, isolated from decomposed apples, was optimized for extracellular pectinase production, followed by purification, biochemical characterization, mathematical modeling, stability evaluation, and apple juice clarification. Optimization increased activity from 0.543 ± 0.015 to 1.453 ± 0.176 U/mL, corresponding to a 167.5% increase. Purification yielded 33.18 U/mg specific activity, 3.16-fold enrichment, 24.85% recovery, and an apparent molecular mass of approximately 32 kDa. Maximum enzyme activity occurred at 45 °C, pH 6, 50 min, and 2.5% pectin. Thermal response-surface modeling revealed a significant temperature × time interaction, while the enzyme retained 27% activity after 186 days at 4 °C. Apple juice treatment achieved 54.5 ± 0.2% transmittance and significantly increased reducing capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity. The novelty lies in integrating biomass-derived bacterial isolation, process optimization, mathematical modeling, enzyme stability, and food application. Future work should evaluate enzyme immobilization, scale-up, and valorization of pectin-rich agro-industrial residues.