Highlights Purslane is a portulacaceae family and is a very good source of alpha-linoleic acid. Alpha-linoleic acid is omega-3 fatty acid that plays a vital role in preventing diseases. Analysis of antioxidant activity of purslane oil and appraisal of its viability is very crucial. Physicochemical determination of oil from purslane revealed the highest oil content in seed. Illustrating chemical properties of purslane increase considerate on its dietary importance.

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) seed is a rich source of proteins, dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and other essential nutrients and phytochemicals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the physicochemical properties and biological activities of garden cress (L. sativum) seed and leaf oil extracts using solvent extraction methods. The result indicated that oil yield (25.75 ± 2.48%) and specific gravity (0.84 ± 0.08) were significantly ( P < 0.05 based on least significance difference t-test) higher for seed oil extract. Seed oil also presented significantly ( P < 0.05 ) higher antioxidant activities with respect to ascorbic acid content (24.21 ± 3.04%) and DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (26.55 ± 0.21%) values. The leaf oil extract has exhibited stronger antibacterial activity with a maximum zone of inhibition (18.50 mm), a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.05 µg/ml, and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.05 µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. Leaf oil extract has also demonstrated stronger antifungal activity with a maximum zone of inhibition (18.50 mm), MIC (0.25 µg/ml), and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 0.50 µg/ml against Aspergillus Niger. The result suggesting that leaf oil presented superior antimicrobial but inferior antioxidant potential than seed oil in garden cress.

Allium species including garlic and leek exhibits a broad range of medicinal and nutritional properties. Therefore, this study investigates the physicochemical and biological activities of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and leek (A. ampeloprasum L. var. Porrum) oil extracts. The result indicated that physicochemical properties indicated that significantly higher oil yield (21.25%), ACV (2.66 mg/g), FFA (1.34%), and PV (4.10 meq/kg) and also antioxidant activities with respect to 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH (27.60 ± 1.55%), hydrogen peroxide (12.35 ± 0.92%) free radical scavenging activities, and ascorbic acid content (25.30 ± 3.25%) were obtained for leek leaf oil extract. Stronger antibacterial activity with a maximum zone of inhibition (16.00 mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (0.20 µg/ml), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) (0.40 µg/ml) was recorded for leek oil extract against S. pyogenes. However, garlic oil has presented stronger antifungal activity with a maximum zone of inhibition (13.50 mm), MIC (0.40 µg/ml), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) (0.75 µg/ml) against Candida albicans. It is concluded from the results of this investigation that oils extracts of garlic bulb and leek leaves demonstrated significant biological activities that can be used as sources for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients.

Background: The occurrence of multidrug resistant pathogenic microbes has initiated the development of natural antimicrobial agents from plants. Oils from herbal sources have drawn scientific interest due to their potential source of bioactive compounds. Objective: This study was aimed to examine the physicochemical and biological activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of the oil extracted from basil leaves and flowers. Methods: The physicochemical properties of the oil extracts were measured based on oil yield, specific gravity, acid value, free fatty acids and peroxide values whilst the antioxidant activities were assessed by ascorbic acid, DPPH (2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging activities. The antimicrobial experiment was conducted based on disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Results: The result of antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum indicated that significantly higher DPPH (86.45%) for leaf oil extract. The strongest antibacterial activity with maximum zone of inhibition (15.47mm), minimum inhibitory concentration MIC (0.09µg/ml), and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration MBC (0.19 µg/ml) was exhibited by the flower oil extract against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923. The strongest antifungal activity with maximum zone of inhibition (15.90mm), MIC (0.125µg/ml, the least value), and minimum fungicidal concentration MFC (0.09µg/ml) were recorded for leaf oil against Candida albicans. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that the sweet basil flower and leaf oil extracts can be potential antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activity.

Comprehensive study of novel microbial organisms capable of degrading fluorene is crucial to develop essential strategies for further application on enhanced bioremediation technologies. Many fluorene-degrading bacteria have been studied; however, little information about the genome sequences of these organisms, which would facilitate investigation of the molecular mechanisms of fluorene degradation, is available. In this study, a bacterial strain designated SMT-1, which uses fluorene as its sole carbon source, was isolated from Laogang landfill in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, and identified as a Pseudomonas sp., based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Maximum growth and degrading activity of strain SMT-1 were observed at 30°C, pH 7.0 and 200 r/min in mineral salt medium containing 0.4 mm fluorene. We obtained a draft genome sequence of strain SMT-1 to gain insight into the genetic mechanisms for the degradation of aromatic compounds. Sequences greater than 1 kb in length were obtained by Illumina sequencing; strain SMT-1 was found to contain 5542 predicted genes. This working draft genome comprises 68 contigs and DNA scaffolds and has a total size of 6 108 237 bp and a calculated G + C content of 61.59%. Amino acid metabolism clusters were enriched in SMT-1 genes annotation, with the highest abundant observed for the “ABC transporters” subcategories, followed by transcription, energy production and conversion, and inorganic ion transport and metabolism. The genomic information for SMT-1 provides a useful resource for elucidating the molecular mechanism of fluorene catabolism.