This research aims to investigate the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of the biocompatibility and antibacterial activity of novel zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by Punica granatum peel and coffee ground extracts as the reducing and capping agents. Chemically synthesized ZnONPs were prepared using zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide as reducing precursors. ZnONPs were characterized using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Peaks of UV spectra were 300 nm for ZnONPs_PPE, 320 nm (ZnONPs_CE), 290 nm, and 440 nm (ZnONP_Chem), thereby confirming ZnONPs formation. The X-ray diffractograms revealed their hexagonal structure. TEM micrographs of the biosynthesized ZnONPs revealed their hexagonal pattern and nanorod shape for ZnONPs_Chem with particle sizes of 118.6 nm, 115.7 nm, and 111.2 nm, respectively. The FTIR analysis demonstrated the presence of proteins, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups on ZnONPs surfaces that act as reducing and stabilizing agents. ZnONP_Chem shows the antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Punica peel and coffee ground extracts are effective reducing agents for green ZnONPs synthesis with a lower cytotoxic effect on Vero cells than ZnONPs_Chem with IC50 = 111, 103, and 93 μg/mL, respectively.
Allelopathy is a major factor that influences the establishment of native species in eucalyptus forests. In this study, different concentrations of aqueous leaf extract of Eucalyptus globulus (5%, 10%, 5%, 25%) were evaluated for allelopathic impacts on growth and cytogenetic behaviour of barley (Hordeum vulgare) plant. Results revealed a pronounced inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract on seed germination and seedling growth of barley plant. Cytogenetic analysis showed retardation of mitotic activity as well as occurrence of high percentage of chromosomal aberrations in Hordeum plants. Both recorded growth and cytogenetic effects were dose-dependent. At concentration 25%, the lower value of mitotic index (MI=5.09%) and the higher percentage of chromosome abnormalities (CA=35.25%, compared to control (9.1% and 5.25%), respectively. The observed abnormalities were disturbance, stickiness, laggards, vagrants, bridges and micronuclei. The results confirmed the presence of water-soluble allelochemicals in Eucalyptus extract which caused potential phytotoxic, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in barley. Hence, it is recommended that barley should not be planted close to Eucalyptus trees due to adverse effects on its growth.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were extensively used in different fields worldwide. There is a continued increase in their productions to fulfill various uses. Biological and chemical AgNP syntheses were the most popular mechanisms in this field. Agrowastes are rich in proteins, phenolics, and flavonoids that could act as bioreductant agents in AgNP biological synthesis. The present study was aimed at synthesizing AgNPs via chemical and biological methods using trisodium citrate, pomegranate fruit peel, and coffee ground waste extracts. Moreover, silver nanoparticles were monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and characterized using zeta potential, size distribution mean, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Four pathogenic bacterial strains (Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and MRSA) were used to assess the antimicrobial effect of the synthesized AgNPs (2, 4, and 8 mg/ml). Results report the successful formation of silver nanoparticles chemically (AgNPs_Chem) and biologically by using pomegranate peel extract (AgNPs_PPE) and coffee ground waste extract (AgNPs_CE) due to the change of color to dark brown that is confirmed by UV-vis sharp absorption spectra at specific wavelengths. Characterization using SEM and XRD revealed their crystalline shape with a mean size of AgNPs _ Chem = 62.75 , AgNPs _ CE = 273.7 nm , and AgNPs _ PPE = 591.9 nm . AgNPs_Chem show higher negativity of zeta potential (−46.7 mV) than AgNPs_CE (−12.6 mV), followed by AgNPs_PPE (−7.98 mV), which had the least stability. All the synthesized AgNPs show antimicrobial potential on all selected strains. However, 8 mg/ml shows the most effective concentration and has more efficiency on K. pneumoniae than others. Overall, the results highlight that the use of agrowastes could be an ecofriendly way to synthesize AgNPs biologically that have the same antimicrobial effect as the chemically synthesized AgNPs.
Nano-fertilizers are innovative materials created by nanotechnology methodologies that may potentially replace traditional fertilizers due to their rapid absorption and controlled distribution of nutrients in plants. In the current study, phosphorous-containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAP) were synthesized as a novel phosphorus nano-fertilizer using an environmentally friendly green synthesis approach using pomegranate peel (PPE) and coffee ground (CE) extracts. nHAPs were physicochemically characterized and biologically evaluated utilizing the analysis of biochemical parameters such as photosynthetic activity, carbohydrate levels, metabolites, and biocompatibility changes in Punica granatum L. Cytocompatibility with mammalian cells was also investigated based on MTT assay on a Vero cell line. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analysis were used to characterize the nHAPs for size and surface charge as well as morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nHAPs were found to have different shapes with average sizes of 229.6 nm, 120.6 nm (nHAPs_PPE) and 167.5 nm, 153 nm (nHAPs_CE) using DLS and TEM, respectively. Overall, the present results showed that the synthesized nHAPs had a negative impact on the selected biochemical, cytotoxic, and genotoxic parameters, indicating that the evaluation of nHAP synthesized by this approach has a wide range of applications, especially as a nano-fertilizer.
Eucalyptus trees litter plays a crucial role in structuring plant populations and regulating crop quality. To help characterize the allelopathic impact of Eucalyptus plantations and understand the interactions between tree litter and understorey plant populations, we performed two different genomic approaches to determine soybean (Glycine max) crop plant response to biotic stress induced by leaf residues of Eucalyptus globulus trees. For assessing cell death, a qualitative method of DNA fragmentation test (comet assay) was employed to detect cleavage of the genomic DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments and help to characterize the apoptotic event among the experimental samples. In addition, quantitative method of genome analysis at the transcriptional level also was conducted to investigate the expression responses of soybean genome to allelochemicals. Expression of specific genes, which are responsible for the breakdown of proteins during programmed cell death PCD (cysteine proteases and their inhibitors), was examined using semi-quantitative RT-PCR (sqPCR). Results of both conducted analyses proved significant genetic effects of Eucalyptus leaf residues on soybean crop genome, revealed by steady increase in DNA damage as well as variation in the transcript levels of cysteine proteases and inhibitors. Further detailed studies using more sensitive methods are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus plantations on crops.
S ALT stress is a main factor limiting plant growth and productivity. Salicylic acid (SA) has been shown to alleviate the adverse effects of different environmental stresses on plants. To investigate the protective role of salicylic acid (SA) in alleviating salt stress on Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) plant, a pot experiment was conducted to measure the growth parameters such as plant height and branch number. An antioxidant defense system, represented by catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX), was evaluated at both biochemical and transcriptional levels. NaCl was applied at 0, 25, 50 and 100mM and 0, 0.2 and 0.4mM of SA were used. The exposure of rosemary plant to salt conditions resulted in significant reduction of plant height, branches number and increases in the three measured antioxidant enzyme activities, compared to control. The foliar application of SA effectively increased growth rates and enhanced the activities of CAT, SOD and POX enzymes. The PCR (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that the relative transcript levels of SOD, CAT, and POX genes were changed and up-regulated compared to the control due to NaCl stress and SA treatments, reached the highest expression level by applying 25mM NaCl and 0 SA treatments. The results implied that SA regulated the transcript levels of the antioxidant genes, resulting in the increased contents of antioxidant enzymes and enhanced salt tolerance.
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