In this study, kaempferol (KFL) shows hepatoprotective activity against zearalenone (ZEA)-induced oxidative stress and its underlying mechanisms in in vitro and in vivo models were investigated. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of various hepatic ailments and is normally regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). ZEA is a mycotoxin known to exert toxicity via inflammation and ROS accumulation. This study aims to explore the protective role of KFL against ZEA-triggered hepatic injury via the PI3K/Akt-regulated Nrf2 pathway. KFL augmented the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, which may stimulate antioxidative and antiapoptotic signaling in hepatic cells. KFL upregulated Nrf2 phosphorylation and the expression of antioxidant genes HO-1 and NQO-1 in a dose-dependent manner under ZEA-induced oxidative stress. Nrf2 knockdown via small-interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the KFL-mediated defence against ZEA-induced hepatotoxicity. In vivo studies showed that KFL decreased inflammation and lipid peroxidation and increased H₂O₂ scavenging and biochemical marker enzyme expression. KFL was able to normalize the expression of liver antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GSH and showed a protective effect against ZEA-induced pathophysiology in the livers of mice. These outcomes demonstrate that KFL possesses notable hepatoprotective roles against ZEA-induced damage in vivo and in vitro. These protective properties of KFL may occur through the stimulation of Nrf2/HO-1 cascades and PI3K/Akt signaling.

• Antifungal activities of safe natural components against Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxins production. • Silver nanoparticles enhanced the antifungal activities of J. procera extract. • No correlation between the inhibition of fungal growth and mycotoxins production.

Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most important fungal mycotoxins excreted by different Fusarium species in many types of grains and food commodities. It has high damage impact on human and animal immune systems. Objective: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) as an inhibitor for the DON toxin excreted from some Fusarium spp., which were isolated from barely, wheat, and corn grains. Methods: Ag-NPs were estimated on Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, using levels of 5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm, while the effect on DON was conducted with ELISA. Tri13 and Tri7 primers were used to evaluate the impact of Ag-NPs on the DNA of tested toxigenic Fusarium isolates. Results: Results revealed that the relative density values (Rd, %) of the isolated Fusarium from barley, wheat, and corn grains were 41.27, 26.47, and 30.76%, respectively. The predominant fungus was F. graminearum and F. culmorum in wheat and barley, respectively. The maximum inhibition diameters used for concentrations were 0.5, 2.8, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.31 mm, respectively. The impact of Ag-NPs on genomic structure was limited. Results demonstrated that Ag-NPs have the ability to reduce the linear growth of Fusarium spp. and eliminate the DON toxin to 34.44, 34.60, and 34.89% at 50, 75, and 100 ppm. Conclusions: Ag-NPs are considered nontransgenic substances, and their impact on Fusarium DNA under tested concentrations has been neglected. Ag-NPs may work as an alternative to fungicides to reduce fungal growth and eliminate DON mycotoxins.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is considered the main crop in deserts and arid areas such as Saudi Arabia. Five Streptomyces species and other fungal species were isolated from date palm rhizosphere soil of several cultivars, such as Barhi, Khalas, Sullaj, and Sukkari, in the Ghat and El-Gouf regions. Streptomyces strains were isolated on Biolog universal growth agar medium and were identified following Biolog methods. The predominant Streptomyces isolated from this present survey was S. plicatus followed by S. rimosus, S. rutgersensus, and S. griseus. The number of soilborne fungi in the tested soil decreased with the increased number of isolated Streptomyces. There was a significant positive correlation between the date palm cultivar and the number of isolated Streptomyces. The in vitro effects of isolated Streptomyces species on some toxigenic fungi were also studied. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoaffinity column chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to study the mycotoxins. The concentration of most of the tested mycotoxins was reduced significantly with the presence of the Streptomyces isolates. Results indicate that some Streptomyces isolates established in date palm rhizosphere have the ability to reduce production of mycotoxins of some toxigenic fungi; thus they have the potential of reducing the subsequent disease occurrence. Therefore they can be applied in wider range as biocontrol agents.