Fruit rots caused by filamentous fungi such as Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia laxa have a strong impact on crop yield and fruit commercialization, especially as they affect a wide variety of stone fruits. The antifungal efficacy of benzylidene-cycloalkanones has been previously described in in vitro assays against M. fructicola; so, this study aims to evaluate the in vivo inhibitory potential of these hybrids on fruits that have been inoculated with M. fructicola, and use molecular docking to visualize the main interactions of these molecules in the active site of the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). The results indicate that compound C achieves the highest inhibition of both Monilinia species (15.7–31.4 µg/mL), spore germination in vitro (<10 µg/mL), and has promising results in vivo, without causing phytotoxicity in fruits. The results from molecular docking suggest that hydroxyl groups play a crucial role in enhancing the binding of compound C to SDH and contribute to the formation of hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues on the enzyme active site.

This study investigates the anticancer potential of isocordoin, a prenylated chalcone found in Adesmia balsamica. In vitro assays on colorectal (HT-29), breast (MCF-7) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines, together with a non-cancerous colon cell line (CoN CCD841), revealed that isocordoin is cytotoxic, with PC-3 and MCF-7 cells showing the highest sensitivity. The selectivity index was higher for PC-3 (5.2) than for MCF-7 (3.7) and HT-29 (2.9). Isocordoin induced morphological changes suggestive of apoptosis in tumor cells. Mechanistic studies on HT-29 and MCF-7 lines indicated that isocordoin might possess antioxidant properties while promoting the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspases activation. Molecular docking showed a favorable interaction of isocordoin with caspase-3, which could explain its apoptotic effects. In silico predictions suggest that isocordoin has drug-like properties, including good absorption and permeability to the blood-brain barrier. The presence of the prenyl chain in isocordoin appears crucial for cytotoxic activity, supported by its higher lipophilicity and better interaction with caspase-3 compared to non-prenylated 2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone. Overall, isocordoin demonstrates promising anticancer activity, warranting further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent.

Bacterial canker and bacterial speck are diseases affecting tomato caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, respectively. These diseases are considered a serious threat with a strong impact on tomato production and marketing worldwide, especially because of their reduced sensitivity to traditional controls. This work reports the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Psoralea glandulosa and investigates its in vitro antimicrobial activity, along with its main compound, against three strains of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (CmVC533, CmVLC78, and CmVQ59) and one strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). The results indicate that both the EO and bakuchiol have significant antibacterial capacity, especially the EO, which reaches a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 4–16 µg/mL and 128 µg/mL, and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) between 8–16 µg/mL and 128 µg/mL for the strains of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and P. syringae pv. tomato, respectively. The EO and bakuchiol also had an inhibitory effect when applied directly onto plates seeded with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. Overall, the results from this study should be verified in the near future by in vivo studies.

Monilinia fructicola causes brown rot on a wide variety of stone fruits, causing several losses in the field and during storage of fruits. Due to the diverse biological activity of chalcones and their derivatives, they have emerged as a promising alternative for controlling phytopathogenic fungi. The aim of this study was to synthesize 3′,4′-methylenedioxychalcone derivatives and evaluate their in vitro inhibitory effect on mycelial growth and the conidial germination of M. fructicola. Additionally, a molecular docking study and the prediction of lipophilicity were carried out to investigate their chemical behavior. The results showed that compound F exhibited the most potent antifungal activity, with EC₅₀ and MIC values of 20.61 µg/mL and <10 µg/mL for mycelial growth and conidial germination, respectively, presenting an adequate lipophilicity (Log p values = 2.79), which would allow proper diffusion through the fungal cell membrane. The in silico study revealed a great number of interactions between compound F and the different active sites of the succinate dehydrogenase enzyme, suggesting a favorable interaction with a binding energy score value of −6.9 kcal/mol, similar to CBE, the native ligand of this enzyme. These types of compounds could provide preventive protection in various stone and other crops.

Background/Objectives: Candidiasis, an opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida species, is a major health problem, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Increasing resistance of yeasts such as Candida spp. to pharmacological antifungal agents makes it necessary to explore alternative treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal potential of Gomortega keule essential oil (GKEO) against Candida spp. by assessing growth and development at 24 and 48 h. Encapsulation and characterization of a stable nanoemulsion were carried out to enhance efficacy. Methods: The anti-yeast activity of both free GKEO and the nanoemulsion against Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and C. guilliermondii was evaluated using a microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) at 24 and 48 h. Results: GC-MS/MS analysis identified forty-one components in GKEO, the main ones being eucalyptol (21.41%), 4-terpineol (19.62%), and α-terpinyl acetate (13.89%). Antifungal assays revealed that both free and nanoemulsion-formulated GKEO inhibited the growth of all tested Candida strains. At 48 h, the nanoformulated GKEO achieved a MIC value of 32 µg/mL and an MFC of 64 µg/mL for C. albicans and C. glabrata and showed higher antifungal activity compared to the free oil, in particular against C. albicans, exhibiting a four-fold lower MFC value. The activity of the nanoformulation was comparable to or better than fluconazole against C. glabrata and C. guilliermondii. Conclusions: The GKEO nanoemulsion potentiated anti-yeast activity against Candida spp. The formulation improved the efficacy of GKEO, suggesting its potential as an alternative or adjunctive treatment for candidiasis.