Taxonomic identification and bioactive compounds characterization of Psilocybe cubensis DPT1 to probe its antibacterial and mosquito larvicidal competency.

Mushrooms have an important role in sustainability since they have long been used as valuable food source and traditional medicine around the world. Regrettably, they are among the most rigorously affected populations, along with several plants and animals, due to the destructive activities of mankind. Thus the authentication and conservation of mushroom species are constantly needed to exploit the remarkable potential in them. In this perspective, an attempt has been made to identify and assess the biological attributes of psychedelic mushrooms collected from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. The macromorphological features of the psychedelic mushroom DPT1 helped its presumptive identification and the molecular characters depicted by DNA marker revealed its close relationship with the genus Psilocybe. Accordingly, the psychedelic mushroom was identified as Psilocybe cubensis DPT1 and its crude ethyl acetate extract on analysis revealed the occurrence of phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and carbohydrates. Moreover, it exhibited 80% larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito at 800 ppm concentration and an array of antibacterial effects with utmost susceptibility of Proteus vulgaris, and the identification of bioactive compounds by different analytical techniques substantiate that the bioactivities might be due to the presence of phytochemicals. The results of the study indicated that the extract of P. cubensis DPT1 having notable antibacterial and mosquito larvicidal efficacies which could be probed further for the isolation of medicinally important as well as bio-control compounds.

In vitro antibacterial activity of MGDG-palmitoyl from Oscillatoria acuminata NTAPC05 against extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producers.

Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria pose a big challenge in clinical practices, warranting a new therapeutic strategy. In this study, methanol extract of the marine cyanobacterium Oscillatoria acuminata NTAPC05 was fractionated under bioassay guidance and the fractions were tested against three well-characterized ESBL-producing bacteria Escherichia coli U655, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia B929 and Enterobacter asburiae B938. Out of the four HPLC fractions, fraction 2 showed bactericidal activity against all the three ESBL producers much more efficiently (MIC 100 µg ml-1) than the fourth-generation cephalosporin (MIC >125 µg ml-1). The active fraction was subjected to time-kill test at concentrations of 1/2 × MIC, 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC, and the results substantiated the bactericidal property of the fraction against the ESBL producers. Spectral analysis revealed monogalactosyldiacylglycerol containing a palmitoyl (MGDG-palmitoyl), being reported for the first time, as the active fraction, and its bactericidal property against ESBL producers was determined. The active fraction appears to damage the bacterial membrane leading to lysis of the cell, as revealed in confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis, that was confirmed in scanning electron microscopic analysis. Cytotoxicity assay revealed the O. acuminata compound to be safe to a normal cell line HEK293 (human embryonic kidney cell). The in silico analysis of MGDG-palmitoyl revealed two successive H-bonding interactions with Leu198 of TEM1 ß-lactamase. Taken together, the MGDG-palmitoyl from O. acuminata NTAPC05 offers potential to develop analogs as a therapeutic for bacteremia caused by ESBL producers.

Expression of important pathway genes involved in withanolides biosynthesis in hairy root culture of Withania somnifera upon treatment with Gracilaria edulis and Sargassum wightii.

The investigation of seaweeds, Gracilaria edulis and Sargassum wightii extracts was carried out for the estimation of growth characteristics and major withanolides production in hairy root culture of Withania somnifera. The extract of G. edulis (50%) in MS liquid basal medium enabled maximum production of dry biomass (5.46 g DW) and withanolides contents (withanolide A 5.23 mg/g DW; withaferin A 2.24 mg/g DW and withanone 4.83 mg/g DW) in hairy roots after 40 days of culture with 48 h contact time. The obtained withanolides contents were significantly higher (2.32-fold-2.66-fold) in hairy root culture when compared to the control. RT PCR analysis of important pathway genes such as SE, SS, HMGR and FPPS exhibited substantial higher expression upon the seaweed extracts treatment in hairy root culture. This experiment would paw a platform for withanolides production in hairy root culture with the influence of sea weed extracts for pharmaceutical companies in the future.