Medicinal plants are rich source of traditional herbal medicine around the globe. Most of the plant’s therapeutic properties are due to the presence of secondary bioactive compounds. The present study analyzed the High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fractions of Puncia granatum (peel) extracts (aqueous, chloroform, ethanol and hexane) against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). All the fractions having antibacterial activity was processed for bioactive compounds identification using LC MS/MS analysis. Among total HPLC fractions (n = 30), 4 HPLC fractions of P. granatum (peel) showed potential activity against MDR pathogens. Fraction 1 (F1) and fraction 4 (F4) collected from aqueous extract showed maximum activity against P. aeruginosa. Fraction 2 (F2) of hexane showed antibacterial activity against three pathogens, while ethanol F4 exhibited antibacterial activity against A. baumannii. The active fractions were processed for LC MS/MS analysis to identify bioactive compounds. Valoneic acid dilactone (aqueous F1 and F4), Hexoside (ethanol F4) and Coumaric acid (hexane F2) were identified as bioactive compounds in HPLC fractions. Puncia granatum peel extracts HPLC fractions exhibited potential inhibitory activity against MDR bacterial human pathogens. Several bioactive compounds were identified from the HPLC fractions. Further characterization of these compounds may be helpful to conclude it as therapeutic lead molecules against MDR pathogens.

This study enhanced germanium (Ge) enrichment in the liquid fermentation of the edible fungus Lyophyllum decastes in order to boost its biological activity, particularly its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Through the use of single-factor and Plackett–Burman designs, the experiments revealed critical parameters affecting Ge enrichment, including Ge oxide concentration, potato powder concentration, and peptone levels. The optimization of the Box–Behnken response surface methodology resulted in a Ge concentration of 3.61 mg/L, significantly enhancing the biomass, protein, polysaccharide, and flavonoid content in the mycelium. In contrast to traditional fermentation, Ge-rich fermentation enhanced the mycelial biomass by 30.97% and elevated the organic Ge content 50.19-fold. An analysis of the antioxidants revealed that the Ge-enriched mycelial water extract exhibited heightened activity, augmenting TNF-α production in RAW264.7 cells by 73.29% at a concentration of 200 μg/g. These findings indicate that the Ge-enriched fermentation of L. decastes holds promise for functional applications in health-supportive products due to its robust antioxidant and immune-enhancing capabilities.