In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were successfully fabricated through the harnessing of metabolites present in the cell filtrate of a newly isolated and identified microalga Arthrospira platensis (Class: Cyanophyceae). The formed ZnO-NPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Data showed the efficacy of cyanobacterial metabolites in fabricating spherical, crystallographic ZnO-NPs with a size ≈30.0 to 55.0 nm at a wavelength of 370 nm. Moreover, FT-IR analysis showed varied absorption peaks related to nanoparticle formation. XPS analysis confirms the presence of Zn(II)O at different varied bending energies. Data analyses exhibit that the activities of biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were dose-dependent. Their application as an antimicrobial agent was examined and formed clear zones, 24.1 ± 0.3, 21.1 ± 0.06, 19.1 ± 0.3, 19.9 ± 0.1, and 21.6 ± 0.6 mm, at 200 ppm against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, respectively, and these activities were reduced as the NPs concentration decreased. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined as 50 ppm for S. aureus, 25 ppm for P. aeruginosa, and 12.5 ppm for B. subtilis, E. coli, and C. albicans. More interestingly, ZnO-NPs exhibit high in vitro cytotoxic efficacy against cancerous (Caco-2) (IC50 = 9.95 ppm) as compared with normal (WI38) cell line (IC50 = 53.34 ppm).
The aqueous extract of marine green macroalgae, Ulva fasciata Delile, was harnessed for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). The conversion to ZnO-NPs was characterized by color change, UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, SEM-EDX, and XRD. Data showed the formation of spherical and crystalline ZnO-NPs with a size range of 3–33 nm. SEM-EDX revealed the presence of Zn and O in weight percentages of 45.3 and 31.62%, respectively. The phyco-synthesized ZnO-NPs exhibited an effective antibacterial activity against the pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The bacterial clear zones ranged from 21.7 ± 0.6 to 14.7 ± 0.6 mm with MIC values of 50–6.25 µg mL−1. The catalytic activity of our product was investigated in dark and visible light conditions, using the methylene blue (MB) dye. The maximum dye removal (84.9 ± 1.2%) was achieved after 140 min in the presence of 1.0 mg mL−1 of our nanocatalyst under the visible light at a pH of 7 and a temperature of 35 °C. This percentage was decreased to 53.4 ± 0.7% under the dark conditions. This nanocatalyst showed a high reusability with a decreasing percentage of ~5.2% after six successive cycles. Under the optimum conditions, ZnO-NPs showed a high efficacy in decolorizing the tanning wastewater with a percentage of 96.1 ± 1.7%. Moreover, the parameters of the COD, BOD, TSS, and conductivity were decreased with percentages of 88.8, 88.5, 96.9, and 91.5%, respectively. Moreover, nano-ZnO had a high efficacy in decreasing the content of the tanning wastewater Cr (VI) from 864.3 ± 5.8 to 57.3 ± 4.1 mg L−1 with a removal percentage of 93.4%.
Although Lactobacillus plant arum has been isolated in large numbers from ripenedcheeses, the knowledge of its proteolytic system is very limited. This study was undertaken with the aim of obtaining a clearer picture of the peptide hydrolases of sorne L. plantarum strains. A comparison with the closely related species L. casei was also considered.
Between August and September 2009, twenty four (24) Tilapia species, twelve (12) from each site were sampled from Jakara River and Kusalla dam in Kano, Nigeria with the view to determine the level of some heavy metals in the muscles of the fishes so as to assess their safety or otherwise for human consumption. The weight of each of the samples was determined using Gallenkamp weighing balance and recorded to the nearest grams. The fishes were dissected to separate the muscles from head, viscera and bones. Five grams of the muscle from each sample was digested using concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide solutions prepared in the ratio of 1:1. The digested samples were aspirated using 210 VGP Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer from which copper, zinc and lead were determined. The fish samples analysed from Jakara River had the mean copper, zinc and lead concentrations of 0.46+0.14mg/kg, 15.83+5.05 mg/kg and 0.57+0.20mg/kg and those from Kusalla dam had the means of 0.38+0.31mg/kg, 12.04+2.99 mg/kg and 0.54+0.29mg/kg respectively. Comparison of the above means with FAO standards for Cu (30mg/kg), Zn (30mg/kg) and Pb (0.50mg/kg) revealed that the mean concentrations of copper and zinc are safe for human consumption. However, the mean lead concentration exceeded the limit prescribed for human consumption. This suggests the possible adverse health effect such as damage to the gastrointestinal tract and chronic damage to the Central Nervous System among others that the people consuming Tilapia species from both study sites could be exposed to. It was recommended that considerable attention be paid to the lead content in fresh water fish at both sites by appropriate authorities due to its possible health implication on the consumers. Furthermore, continuous monitoring of heavy metals load in fish will be needed in Jakara River and Kusalla dam. Similarly, measures should be put in place to control the inflow of raw effluent into the river as they are largely the possible sources of these metals.
Herein, two seaweed extracts (Sargassum latifolium and Corallina elongate), and two commercial seaweed products (Canada power and Oligo-X) with a concentration of 5% were used to alleviate the drought stress on wheat plants. The extract of C. elongate had the highest capacity to ameliorate the deleterious effects of water scarcity followed by S. latifolium and the commercial products. The drought stress reduced wheat shoots length and the contents of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), carbohydrates, and proteins. While the highest increment in the total carbohydrates and protein contents of the wheat shoot after two stages, 37-and 67-days-old, were noted in drought-stressed plants treated with C. elongate extract with values of (34.6% and 22.8%) and (51.9% and 39.5%), respectively, compared to unstressed plants. Decreasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, peroxidase, superoxidase dismutase, and polyphenol oxidase in drought-stressed plants treated with algal extracts indicated amelioration of the response actions. Analysis of phytohormones in wheat plants exhibited increasing GA3 and IAA contents with percentages of (20.3–13.8%) and (72.7–25%), respectively. Interestingly, all morphological and metabolic characteristics of yield were improved due to the algal treatments compared with untreated drought-stressed plants. Overall, the algal extracts, especially those from seaweed of C. elongate, could represent a sustainable candidate to overcome the damage effects of water deficiency in the wheat plant.
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