The yellow polyphenolic pigment known as curcumin, originating from the rhizome of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa L., has been utilized for ages in ancient medicine, as well as in cooking and food coloring. Recently, the biological activities of turmeric and curcumin have been thoroughly investigated. The studies mainly focused on their antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impacts. This review seeks to provide an in-depth, detailed discussion of curcumin usage within the food processing industries and its effect on health support and disease prevention. Curcumin’s bioavailability, bio-efficacy, and bio-safety characteristics, as well as its side effects and quality standards, are also discussed. Finally, curcumin’s multifaceted uses, food appeal enhancement, agro-industrial techniques counteracting its instability and low bioavailability, nanotechnology and focused drug delivery systems to increase its bioavailability, and prospective clinical use tactics are all discussed.

Optimization of some experimental growth conditions for biosilver nanoparticles synthesized using supernatant of Bacillus pseudomycoides MT32 were studied. The optimized growth conditions were obtained at 2mM silver nitrate concentration, 30°C temperature degree, 6.5 pH level, 40 h incubation time, 140 rpm agitation speed, medium type was Nutrient broth (NB) and supernatant and silver nitrate ratio was 20:30. Characterizations of the produced nanoparticles were done using seven advanced instruments. The ultraviolet-visible spectrashowed an absorption peak at 420 nm. Transmis sion Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the mean diameter of the formed SNPs was 25 to 43 nm. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with a spherical structure and their size ranges from 32 to 86 nm. From dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential analyses, the average SNPs size was 63.39 nm and the Zeta potential was −18.3 mV. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) exhibited strong signal in the silver region and confirmed the formation of SNPs. The SNPs also exhibited traces of agglomeration. From antifungal studies in vitro, the produced SNPs are capable of suppression, in different extents, of ten commercially plant pathogenic fungi and the recorded values of MIC and MFC were varied due to the type of fungi used, and they were in a range of 70-90, and 75-100 µg / l, respectively. The antifungal activity of the SNPs produced by Bacillus pseudomycoides MT32 is useful in solving different problems in crops production as well as in animals' nutrition.

No abstract

Addition of heavy metals to soils from sources such as biosolid application, smelter emissions, fertilizers, and the like may produce soil solution concentrations of Zn and Cd that can potentially restrict nodulation of legume crops such as white clover. To assess the effects of Zn and Cd on the early stages of nodulation of white clover, a solution culture study was conducted. Rhizobia [Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii] of a metal‐sensitive strain (USDA 2063) and a metal‐tolerant strain (USDA 2046) were inoculated into nutrient solution with white clover seedlings containing EGTA to buffer Zn2+ and Cd2+ activities. The calculated activities of Zn2+ were p = 8.00, 5.70, 5.25, and 5.00; the calculated activities of Cd2+ were p = 10.50, 9.50, 8.75, and 8.50. Phase‐contrast microscopy was used after staining roots with methylene blue to observe root hair infection at intervals of 1, 12, 24, 72, and 168 h. Few differences were observed between the sensitive and tolerant rhizobial strains. At the lowest Zn concentration, initial attachment of bacteria to root hairs was observed within 1 h. At the highest Zn concentration, attachment was not observed until 12 h. Also, at the highest Zn concentration, a delay was observed for up to 60 h and 4 d, respectively, for the first signs of root hair curling and infection thread formation. Shoot weight decreased with increasing Zn concentration. Few Cd‐induced effects on early stages of nodule development were observed. Cadmium was more toxic to plant growth than Zn. These results show that in addition to direct effects on the macro and microsymbiont, the process of nodulation is susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals.

No abstract

Nanotechnology and nanoparticles (NPs) researches have attracted a lot of interest in recent decades, and there is growing attention to find more effective ways for their synthesis. The use of biological approach, (using various microorganisms), as bio-nanofactories provides a clean and promising alternative process for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. This study confirmed the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by a cost effective, safe and environment-friendly technique using silver nitrate and supernatants of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis ssp spizizenii MT5 as a bio reducing agent. Supernatants of the tested microbe growing on nutrient broth (NB) were used for fabrication of AgNPs. Some parameters of optimization i.e., incubation time, silver nitrate concentration, mixing ratio of culture supernatant and silver nitrate, media type, temperature degree and pH level were studied. The biosynthesis of AgNPs in the cell extract filtrate was confirmed and characterized by biophysical methods using the advanced available instruments. The determined conditions for the bioinspired synthesis of AgNPs revealed that incubation time was 40 h, silver nitrate concentration was 3mM, supernatant and silver nitrate ratio was 1:4, medium type was nutrient broth (NB), agitation speed was 160 rpm, temperature degree was 35°C and pH level was 7. Characterizations of the produced bio silver nanoparticles were done using the advanced available methods. The ultraviolet-visible spectrum showed an absorption peak at 420 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the mean diameter of the formed AgNPs was 38 to 49 nm. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with a facecentered spherical structure. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential analysis showed that the average AgNPs size was 31.42 nm and the zeta potential was-20.8mV, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR) confirmed the presence of elemental silver and the dual function of biomolecule responsible for the bio reduction and stabilization of AgNPs in the reaction mixtures. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph indicated that produced AgNPs are spherical in shape. However, it also showed an indeterminate morphology. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) exhibited strong signal in the silver region which confirms the formation of AgNPs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial load in lines producing canned orange at local plant. In addition, this study was conducted to give information about the quality (i.e., total viable count (TVC) and total yeasts and molds (TYM)), hygiene (coliforms and Clostridium spp.) and safety (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) of some canned fruits kept on the shelf in markets. The final products of canned orange, grapefruit, peach, pineapple, cocktail and cherry had some TVC and TYM. The counts of these microbial populations ranged between 1.43 to 2.40 log cfu/g and1.0 to 1.85 log cfu/g, respectively. Clostridium spp., Staph. aureus and E. coli were totally absent in all canned fruits. The majority of the sampling sites examined were moderately contaminated (1.0 to 2.21 log cfu/g or ml or cm 2 or can) by spoilage bacteria (coliforms, Bacillus spp. Staphylococci, Pseudomonas spp., and other bacteria) and fungi (Penicillium, Aspergillus spp. and other fungi) by workers, tables, water and peeling machines. The presence of this flora seemed to be associated with high numbers of one or more specific groups of the house-flora on the sampling sites and personal hands that as source of contamination. These findings further indicate that inadequate hygiene practices within processing line may result in loss of microbial control. It was shown that the hygienic status of the processing environment and equipment play an essential role in the microbial stability and safety of the final products.

Aeromonas isolates from Nile tilapia fish, fish ponds and River water were identified as well as their bacteriophage specific. Also evaluation of antibacterial effect of both nanoparticles and phage therapy against the pathogenic Aeromonas veronii AFs 2 . Differentiation of Aeromonas spp. was done on the basis of 25 different biochemical tests and confirmed by sequencing of 16s rRNA gene as (A. caviae AFg, A. encheleia AWz, A. molluscorum AFm, A. salmonicida AWh, A. veronii AFs 2 , A. veronii bv. veronii AFi). All of the six Aeromonas strains were resistant to β-actam (amoxicillin/ lavulanic acid) antibiotics. However, the resistance to other antibiotics was variable. All Aeromonas strains were found to be resistant to ampicillin, cephalexin, cephradine, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, rifampin and cephalothin. Sensitivity of 6 Aeromonas strains raised against 7 concentrations of chitosan nanoparticles. Using well diffusion method spherically shaped silver nanoparticles AgNPs with an average size of ~ 20 nm, showed a great antimicrobial activity against A. veronii AFs 2 and five more strains of Aeromonas spp. At the concentration of 20, 24, 32 and 40 µg/ml. Thermal inactivation point was 84 o C for phage AvF07 which was sensitive to storage at 4 o C compared with the storage at -20 o C. Intraperitoneal injection in fish using phage AvF07 together with A. veronii AFs 2 , no mortality was shown until the end of experiment (14 days). However, mortality of 43.8% or 50% was obtained after 2 or 3 days, respectively, when chloramphenicol was injected instead of phage.