In the present study, we explored the antibacterial potential of ZnO–nanoparticles that were biomimetically synthesized employing conditioned culture supernatant of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The in situ synthesized ZnO–NPs were characterized employing various biophysical techniques including UV-vis spectroscopy, electron microscopy, DLS and XRD analysis etc. Electron microscopic studies revealed the disintegration of bacterial cell wall upon interaction with synthesized ZnO–NPs. Various employed tests provided evidence that synthesized ZnO–NPs effectively inhibited less susceptible Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates. Moreover, the synthesized ZnO–NPs inhibited the biofilm synthesis of tested microbes in vitro. Finally, the biomimetically synthesized ZnO–NPs successfully treated the S. aureus mediated experimental skin infection in BALB/c mice as well.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous biologically active gas produced in mammalian tissues. It plays a very critical role in many pathophysiological processes in the body. It can be endogenously produced through many enzymes analogous to the cysteine family, while the exogenous source may involve inorganic sulfide salts. H2S has recently been well investigated with regard to the onset of various carcinogenic diseases such as lung, breast, ovaries, colon cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. H2S is considered an oncogenic gas, and a potential therapeutic target for treating and diagnosing cancers, due to its role in mediating the development of tumorigenesis. Here in this review, an in-detail up-to-date explanation of the potential role of H2S in different malignancies has been reported. The study summarizes the synthesis of H2S, its roles, signaling routes, expressions, and H2S release in various malignancies. Considering the critical importance of this active biological molecule, we believe this review in this esteemed journal will highlight the oncogenic role of H2S in the scientific community.
Plants, being the significant and natural source of medication for humankind against several ailments with characteristic substances hidden on them, have been recognized for many centuries. Accessibility of various methodologies for the revelation of therapeutically characteristic items has opened new avenues to redefine plants as the best reservoirs of new structural types. The role of plant metabolites to hinder the development and movement of pathogenic microbes is cherished. Production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases is an amazing tolerance mechanism that hinders the antibacterial treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria and is a serious problem for the current antimicrobial compounds. The exploration of the invention from sources of plant metabolites gives sustenance against the concern of the development of resistant pathogens. Essential oils are volatile, natural, complex compounds described by a solid odor and are framed by aromatic plants as secondary metabolites. The bioactive properties of essential oils are commonly controlled by the characteristic compounds present in them. They have been commonly utilized for bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, antiparasitic, insecticidal, medicinal, and antioxidant applications. Alkaloids are plant secondary metabolites that have appeared to have strong pharmacological properties. The impact of alkaloids from Callistemon citrinus and Vernonia adoensis leaves on bacterial development and efflux pump activity was assessed on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Plant-derived chemicals may have direct antibacterial activity and/or indirect antibacterial activity as antibiotic resistance modifying agents, increasing the efficiency of antibiotics when used in combination. The thorough screening of plant-derived bioactive chemicals as resistance-modifying agents, including those that can act synergistically with antibiotics, is a viable method to overcome bacterial resistance. The synergistic assessment studies with the plant extract/essential oil and the antibiotic compounds is essential with a target for achieving a redesigned model with sustainable effects which are appreciably noticeable in specific sites of the plants compared to the entirety of their individual parts.
Considering the significance of biological and eco-friendly nanomaterials, in the present study, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles from the exopolysaccharide of recently recovered bacterial strain CEES51 from the Red Sea coastal area of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the isolated bacteria, and it was identified as Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens and assigned an accession number MH707257.1 GenBank. The bacterial strain is an excellent exopolysaccharide producer and survived at hypersaline (30%) and high-temperature (50°C) conditions. The bacterial exopolysaccharides were employed for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles at room temperature. UV-visible spectrophotometer optimized the synthesized nanoparticles, and their size was determined by Nanophox particle size analyzer and dynamic light scattering. Additionally, the X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy studies also approved its crystalline nature and the involvement of organic functional groups in their formation. The synthesized nanomaterials were tested for their antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against pathogenic microorganisms Bacillus subtilis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The antimicrobial property showed time, and dose-dependent response with a maximum of zone inhibition was observed at around 22 and 18 mm at a dose of 50 µg/well against B. subtilis and S. aureus and a minimum inhibitory concentration of 8 and 10 µg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the synthesized silver nanoparticles possessed a substantial antibiofilm property and were also found to be biocompatible as depicted by red blood cell lysis assay and their interaction with peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Therefore, Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens is found to be an excellent source for exopolysaccharide synthesis that assists in the silver nanoparticle production.
Biomimetic synthesis of nanoparticles offers a convenient and bio friendly approach to fabricate complex structures with sub-nanometer precision from simple precursor components. In the present study, we have synthesized nanoparticles of Amphotericin B (AmB), a potent antifungal agent, using Aloe vera leaf extract. The synthesis of AmB nano-assemblies (AmB-NAs) was established employing spectro-photometric and electron microscopic studies, while their crystalline nature was established by X-ray diffraction. AmB-nano-formulation showed much higher stability in both phosphate buffer saline and serum and exhibit sustained release of parent drug over an extended time period. The as-synthesized AmB-NA possessed significantly less haemolysis as well as nephrotoxicity in the host at par with Ambisome®, a liposomized AmB formulation. Interestingly, the AmB-NAs were more effective in killing various fungal pathogens including Candida spp. and evoked less drug related toxic manifestations in the host as compared to free form of the drug. The data of the present study suggest that biomimetically synthesized AmB-NA circumvent toxicity issues and offer a promising approach to eliminate systemic fungal infections in Balb/C mice.