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Iron nanoparticles have been biosynthesized by a new Aspergillus flavipes isolate. Size of biosynthesized iron nanoparticles was in a range of 32.7 and 47.6 nm, their surface charge was − 33.5 ± 5.3 and they showed semihard ferromagnetic behavior. Salt concentration, volume of added culture filtrate and pH have been optimized using response surface methodology. A significant effect for the added culture filtrate and a mutual interaction between this factor and the pH has been detected. Model validation results showed 3.3% deviation from the statistically predicted values which reflects the accuracy of the employed model. Optimization process has increased the quantity of iron in the prepared samples and the amount of produced iron nanoparticles to a fourfold. The optimized conditions have stimulated the formation of nanoparticles in a tetrahedron shape rather than the truncated tetrahedron shape without affecting their size or surface charge. The biosynthesized iron nanoparticles have recorded a good decolorization activity for methylene blue. They showed 57 ± 4.3 decolorization percent after 6 h when tested with only 0.1 mg/ml concentration. Moreover, 50 ppm concentration has exerted a detectable antifungal activity against Alternaria solani. This study represents a new competitive green synthesis method for magnetic iron nanoparticle.

Fifty-four endophytic fungal species were isolated from 10 medicinal plants growing on different geographical Egyptian habitats; 48 of them were morphologically identified, at least to genus level and all belonged to ascomycetes. Ethanolic extracts of 49 isolates were screened for their antibacterial activities against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria; they were also screened for their antifungal activities against Candida albicans and Fusarium solani. Twenty-six isolates showed antibacterial activities at least against one tested bacterial strain and seven isolates showed antibacterial activities against both Gram-negative and-positive bacteria. Moreover, cytotoxicity of these extracts were tested against one normal cell line MRC-5 and another cancer cell line MCF-7 using MTT assay. It was found that a group of seven isolates exerted a reduced toxicity towards the normal cell line, but had a higher toxic effect on the cancer cell line. These isolates represent a promising source for anticancer compounds with low cytotoxicity against the normal cell lines.

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