Seaweeds can play a vital role in plant growth promotion. Two concentrations (5 and 10 mg/mL) of soluble polysaccharides extracted from the green macroalgae Ulva fasciata and Ulva lactuca were tested on Zea mays L. The carbohydrate and protein contents, and antioxidant activities (phenols, ascorbic, peroxidase, and catalase) were measured, as well as the protein banding patterns. The soluble polysaccharides at 5 mg/mL had the greatest effect on the base of all of the parameters. The highest effects of soluble polysaccharides on the Zea mays were 38.453, 96.76, 4, 835, 1.658, 7.462, and 38615.19, mg/mL for carbohydrates, proteins, phenol, µg ascorbic/mL, mg peroxidase/g dry tissue, and units/g tissue of catalase, respectively. The total number of protein bands (as determined by SDS PAGE) was not changed, but the density of the bands was correlated to the treatments. The highest band density and promoting effect were correlated to 5 mg/mL soluble polysaccharide treatments extracted from Ulva fasciata in Zea mays, which can be used as a biofertilizer.

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles in nanosized form has acquired great interest in the area of nanomedicine as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative compared to other chemical and physical methods. This study deals with the eco-friendly green synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) utilizing Juniperus phoenicea leaf extract and their characterization. The biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs was completed in 3 h and confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, a strong band at 205.4 nm distinctly revealed the formation of NPs. Transmissions electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the synthesized TiO2 NPs are spherical in shape, with a diameter in a range of 10–30 nm. The XRD major peak at 27.1° congruent with the (110) lattice plane of tetragonal rutile TiO2 phase. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis revealed synthesized TiO2 NPs average particle size (hydrodynamic diameter) of (74.8 ± 0.649) nm. Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) revealed the bioactive components present in the leaf extract, which act as reducing and capping agents. The antimicrobial efficacy of synthesized TiO2NPs against, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative), Yeast strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and fungi (Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium digitatum) assayed by a disc diffusion method. TiO2NPs inhibited all tested strains by mean inhibition zone (MIZ), which ranged from the lowest 15.7 ± 0.45 mm against K. pneumoniae to the highest 30.3 ± 0.25 against Aspergillus niger. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) values were 20 μL/mL and 40 μL/mL of TiO2NPs were observed against Asp. niger. Moreover, it showed significant inhibitory activity against human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells with IC50 = 50.13 ± 1.65 µg/mL. The findings concluded that biosynthesized TiO2 NPs using Juniperus phoenicea leaf extract can be used in medicine as curative agents according to their in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities.

Nowadays, plants bioactive compounds are considered as a new source of therapy, especially for the elaboration process of more effective drugs. 80% of the actual drug substances are purely natural and originate from plants, representing a new hope, especially for the treatment of chronic illnesses. The aim of this study is to characterize the phytochemical composition of C. tougourensis via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) approach. This method allowed the identification of 45 compounds in the n-butanol extract (n-BuOH), in which 12 compounds were in majority, namely; 2H-Furo [2,3-b] indole, 3,3a,8,8atetrahydro-2,3-dimethyl- (16.12%), Benz [c] pyran-1,3-dione, 4,4-dimethyl- (14.87%), Octadecanoic acid,9-oxo-, methyl ester (9.69%), Hydromorphone (7.94%), Acetamide, N-[3-[2-(2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-indolyl)-1-oxoethyl]p (6.14%), 2,6-Di-n-propyl-4-(2-furyl)pyridine (6.11%), Norhydrocodone (5.98%), Anthracene, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro- (4.72%), 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzonitrile, N-oxide (4.47%), 3-O-Methyl-d-glucose (2.94%), 3,5-Diethyl-4-(2-furyl) pyridine (2.75%) and 3H-Pyrrolo [3,2-f] quinoline, 5-methoxy-1,2,7,9-tetramethyl- (2.30%). Concerning the ethyl acetate (EA) extract; 23 compounds were identified, in which 13 compounds were in majority, namely; [Bi-1,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl]-3,3,′6,6′-tetrone, 4,4′-dihydroxy-2,2,′5,5′-tetramethyl- (27.31%), Thiosulfuric acid, S-(2-aminoethyl) ester (15.07%), 2-Pentadecanone, 6,10,14-trimethyl- (8.91%), 3-Methyl-4-(phenylthio)-2-prop-2-enyl-2,5-dihydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide (7.12%), Tetrapentacontane, 1,54-dibromo- (5.74%), Heptacos-1-ene (5.03%), Propionic acid, 3-iodo-, tetradecyl ester (4.92%), 2-Methyl-E-7-octadecene (4.68%), 7,8-Epoxylanostan-11-ol, 3-acetoxy- (3.65%), 4-Fluoro-1-methyl-5-carboxylic acid, ethyl(ester) (3.15%), Tetrapentacontane, 1,54-dibromo- (2.79%), Undec-10-ynoic acid, tetradecyl ester (2.77%), 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol (2.72%).

The impact of boron’s pre-harvest treatments on the quality of early grapes cultivars “Perlette” and “King’s Ruby” under room and storage temperatures were explored. The vines were exhibited to foliar applications with 0, 0.20, 0.30, and 0.40% boron at 15 d break after spraying fruit till maturity. Foliage studies for photosynthesis activity, pre- and post-harvest, and overall analysis of fruits were performed each 7d intervals for 4 wk. A 0.30% boron enhanced the vines’ physicochemical properties of the photosynthesis activity. Meanwhile, boron was used to improve ascorbic acid, which improved the postharvest properties of grapevine while decreasing the repulsive phenolic content. Grape cv. “Perlette” and “King’s Ruby” delivered 31.12 and 33.65 percent more than the control, respectively, at 0.30 percent of boron. TSS were about 8.9 and 13.7% in cvs at the same period. ‘Perlette’ and Kings Ruby, compared with the untreated treatment. Grapes treated with 0.30% yielded (18.08 and 32.18%) and (27.25 and 18.65%) higher overall phenolic content and antioxidants in cvs. ‘Perlette and’ King’s Ruby’ respectively. After 28 days, 0.30 percent of the foliar treatment loses 56.06 and 49.88 percent of the sugar in the grapes, respectively. Grapes from ‘Perlette’ and ‘King’s Ruby,’ individually. Thus, in comparable semi-arid regions, the use of boron foliar treatment might be advised for increasing the postharvest life of grapes.

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