RESUMO
The study aimed to reveal the phytochemical profile, free radical scavenging potential, and anticancer activity of Solanum lycopersicum L. leaf extract (SLLE). According to the study, SLLE contains plant secondary metabolites that are beneficial for health, like phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, and terpenoids. The SLLE has shown potential free radical scavenging potential in DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging analysis and its EC50 values (concentration required to inhibit 50% of free radicals) were determined as 481.29 ± 33.82 and 527.56 ± 20.34 µg/mL, respectively. The SLLE has the ability to scavenge free radicals and could be used to treat illnesses brought on by oxidative stress. The anticancer activity of SLLE was assessed by MTT, LDH, micro-morphological, live/dead dual staining, and caspase-3 analysis. In the MTT assay, the IC50 value (concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell viability) of SLLE was determined as 190.41 ± 4.77 µg/mL. Furthermore, SLLE has shown potential anticancer activity by adversely affecting the plasma membrane integrity and escalating the caspase-3 levels. In the biomedical field, SLLE could be highly useful to treat cancer.
RESUMO
The present research focused on the green, non-toxic, low-cost synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using aqueous extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus leaves as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Thus, synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by nanotechnological applications, i.e., ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The nanotechnological applications showed that as-synthesized ZnO NPs have bandgap energy of 2.97 eV, zeta potential of ?1.2 mV, crystalline in nature (JCPDS data card no-89-1397), and an average size of 30 to 60 nm. The FTIR showed that ZnO NPs have coated with plant secondary metabolites and assisted in the process of green synthesis. The ZnO NPs exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The ZnO NPs showed potential anticancer activity against human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and determined the IC50 value as 65.83 ± 2.57 µg/mL by MTT assay. Furthermore, ZnO NPs were used as nano-catalyst for dye degradation of methylene blue, methyl orange, and malachite green with NABH4 as a reducing agent. The ZnO NPs exhibited potent dye degradation capability and followed pseudo-first order kinetics. The study concluded that ZnO NPs could be highly useful as anticancer and antibacterial agents in the biomedical field, and as an environmental cleaning agent for dye degradation in textile industries.
RESUMO
The study is directed to establish the minimizing effects of Syzygium aromaticum, Ocimum sanctum, and Cananga odorata essential oils on the growth and ochratoxin A (OTA) level of Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum in maize grains. S. aromaticum essential oil (SAEO), O. sanctum essential oil (OSEO), and C. odorata essential oil (COEO) were extracted by hydro-distillation technique, and a total of 50, 44, and 48 chemical constituents were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively.The SAEO and OSEO belong to the chemotype of eugenol, whereas, COEO was found to be the chemotype of thymol, limonene, and ?-ylangene. The antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) was determined by the micro-well dilution technique. The SAEO showed superior antifungal activity compared to OSEO, COEO, and synthetic antifungal agent nystatin, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values against A. ochraceous and P. verrucosum were noticed as 1251 ± 42.32 and 1878 ± 28.47 µg/mL, and 0815 ± 22.69 and 1146 ± 51.19 µg/mL, respectively.The antifungal mechanism of EOs was unveiled by assessing the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), ergosterol content, and membrane integrity. The antifungal investigations found that EOs caused fungal mortality by increasing the intracellular ROS, depleting ergosterol synthesis, and distracting membrane integrity. Finally, antifungal and antimycotoxin activity of EOs was demonstrated in maize grains. The SAEO, OSEO, and COEO have reduced the complete fungal growth and OTA level of A. ochraceous and P. verrucosum correspondingly at 2500 and 2500, 3500 and 2500, and 3500 and 3500 µg/g in maize. The EOs could act as natural antifungal agents; protect foodstuffs from fungal infection and mycotoxins during storage.