Green synthesis and chemical characterization of Thymus vulgaris leaf aqueous extract conjugated gold nanoparticles for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in comparison to doxorubicin in a leukemic mouse model

Antibiofilm and antibacterial activities of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles against Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae pv. Syringae: in vitro and in silico investigations

Today, many infections in plants are related to biofilm-developing bacteria. These infections can result in severe agricultural losses. Thus, this study aims to investigate the synergistic antibiofilm activity of Thymus vulgaris extract on the inherent antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles against Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Additionally, to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of phytocompounds' antibacterial activity, the molecular interactions of T. vulgaris phytochemicals with the TolC protein and TonB-dependent siderophore receptor were investigated through in-silico studies. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs (ZnO@GS) and chemically synthesized ZnO (ZnO@CHS) were evaluated using XRD and SEM techniques, showing a crystalline structure for both powders with average sizes of 50, and 40 nm, respectively. According to FT-IR and EDS spectroscopy, ZnO@GS was covered with thyme extract. Based on the in vitro results, all samples of ZnO NPs exhibited considerable antibacterial activity against both bacteria. At the same time, thyme aqueous extract alone proved considerably less effective at all tested concentrations. Compared to ZnO@CHS and thyme extract, the antibacterial efficacy of ZnO@GS against E. amylovora (MIC = 512 μg/mL) and P. syringae pv. syringae (MIC = 256 μg/mL) was significantly improved upon surface covering with thyme phytocompounds. Moreover, their antibiofilm properties were enhanced by almost 20 % compared to ZnO@CHS. In addition, molecular docking investigations showed that most of the phytocompounds could form stable interactions with the TonB-dependent siderophore receptor (P. syringae) plug domain and the TolC (E. amylovora) external channel. In vitro and in silico studies demonstrate that using the green approach for synthesizing ZnO NPs via thyme extract can notably boost its antibacterial and antibiofilm effects on the tested phytopathogenic bacteria.

Theranostic Potentials of Gold Nanomaterials in Hematological Malignancies

Simple Summary

Hematological malignancies (HMs) cover 50% of all malignancies, and people of all ages can be affected by these deadly diseases. In many cases, conventional diagnostic tools fail to diagnose HMs at an early stage, due to heterogeneity and the long-term indolent phase of HMs. Therefore, many patients start their treatment at the late stage of HMs and have poor survival. Gold nanomaterials (GNMs) have shown promise as a cancer theranostic agent. GNMs are 1 nm to 100 nm materials having magnetic resonance and surface-plasmon-resonance properties. GNMs conjugated with antibodies, nucleic acids, peptides, photosensitizers, chemotherapeutic drugs, synthetic-drug candidates, bioactive compounds, and other theranostic biomolecules may enhance the efficacy and efficiency of both traditional and advanced theranostic approaches to combat HMs.

Abstract

Hematological malignancies (HMs) are a heterogeneous group of blood neoplasia generally characterized by abnormal blood-cell production. Detection of HMs-specific molecular biomarkers (e.g., surface antigens, nucleic acid, and proteomic biomarkers) is crucial in determining clinical states and monitoring disease progression. Early diagnosis of HMs, followed by an effective treatment, can remarkably extend overall survival of patients. However, traditional and advanced HMs’ diagnostic strategies still lack selectivity and sensitivity. More importantly, commercially available chemotherapeutic drugs are losing their efficacy due to adverse effects, and many patients develop resistance against these drugs. To overcome these limitations, the development of novel potent and reliable theranostic agents is urgently needed to diagnose and combat HMs at an early stage. Recently, gold nanomaterials (GNMs) have shown promise in the diagnosis and treatment of HMs. Magnetic resonance and the surface-plasmon-resonance properties of GNMs have made them a suitable candidate in the diagnosis of HMs via magnetic-resonance imaging and colorimetric or electrochemical sensing of cancer-specific biomarkers. Furthermore, GNMs-based photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, radiation therapy, and targeted drug delivery enhanced the selectivity and efficacy of anticancer drugs or drug candidates. Therefore, surface-tuned GNMs could be used as sensitive, reliable, and accurate early HMs, metastatic HMs, and MRD-detection tools, as well as selective, potent anticancer agents. However, GNMs may induce endothelial leakage to exacerbate cancer metastasis. Studies using clinical patient samples, patient-derived HMs models, or healthy-animal models could give a precise idea about their theranostic potential as well as biocompatibility. The present review will investigate the theranostic potential of vectorized GNMs in HMs and future challenges before clinical theranostic applications in HMs.

Recent Advances in Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Bioactive Metallic Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) are elements derived from a cluster of atoms with one or more dimensions in the nanometer scale in the range of 1–100 nm. The bio nanofabrication of metallic NPs is now an important dynamic area of research, with major significance in applied research. Biogenic synthesis of NPs is more desirable than physical and chemical synthesis due to its eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, lower energy consumption, and multifunctional nature. Plants outperform microorganisms as reducing agents as they contain large secondary biomolecules that accelerate the reduction and stability of the NPs. The produced NPs can then be studied spectroscopically (UV-Visible, XRD, Raman, IR, etc.) and microscopically (SEM, TEM, AFM, etc.). The biological reduction of a metallic ion or its oxide to a nanoparticle is quick, simple, and may be scaled up at room temperature and pressure. The rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) microbes due to the immoderate use of antibiotics in non-infected patients is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. The contemporary development of a new class of antibiotics with different mechanisms of action to kill microbes is crucial. Metals and their oxides are extremely toxic to microbes at unprecedentedly low concentrations. In addition, prevailing infections in plants and animals are raising significant concerns across the globe. NPs’ wide range of bioactivity makes them ideal antimicrobial agents in agricultural and medical fields. The present review outlines the synthesis of metallic NPs from botanicals, which enables the metals to be in a stabilized form even after ionization. It also presents a valuable database on the biofunctionalization of synthesized NPs for further drug development.

Anti-human Glioma Cancer Potentials of Neobavaisoflavone as Natural Antioxidant Compound and Its Inhibition Profiles for Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Enzymes with Molecular Modeling and Spin Density Distributions Studies

In this study, the carcinogenic potential of Neobavaisoflavone as a natural antioxidant compound and the inhibitory profiles of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase were investigated by molecular modeling and spin density distribution studies. To evaluate the antioxidant properties of neobavaisoflavone, DPPH test was performed in the presence of butyl hydroxytoluene as a control. Neobavaisoflavone cell viability was low compared to normal human glioma cancer cell lines, namely LN-229, U-87 and A-172 cell lines, without any effect of cytotoxicity on normal cell line. Neobavaisoflavone inhibited half of DPPH at 125 μg/mL. The best effects of Neobavaisoflavone antihypertensive glioma against the above cell lines were in the LN-229 cell line. In addition, the significant anti-cancer potential of human glioma Neobavaisoflavone against the popular human glioma cancer cell lines is related in this study. IC₅₀ values were calculated by Neobavaisoflavone diagrams, 63.87 nM for AChE and 112.98 nM for BuChE, % Activity- [Inhibitor]. According to the above results, Neobavaisoflavone can be used to treat a variety of human glioma cancers in humans. In addition, molecular modeling calculations were performed to compare the biochemical activities of the Neobavaisoflavone molecule with enzymes. After molecular insertion calculations, ADME/T analysis was performed to investigate the properties of the neobavaisoflavone molecule, which will be used as a drug in the future. Then, different parameters for the antioxidant activity of the neobavaisoflavone molecule were calculated.

Green Metallic Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: Evaluation Models and Cancer Applications

Metal-based nanoparticles are widely used to deliver bioactive molecules and drugs to improve cancer therapy. Several research works have highlighted the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles by green chemistry, using biological entities to minimize the use of solvents and control their physicochemical and biological properties. Recent advances in evaluating the anticancer effect of green biogenic Au and Ag nanoparticles are mainly focused on the use of conventional 2D cell culture and in vivo murine models that allow determination of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration, a critical parameter to move forward clinical trials. However, the interaction between nanoparticles and the tumor microenvironment is not yet fully understood. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more human-like evaluation models or to improve the existing ones for a better understanding of the molecular bases of cancer. This review provides recent advances in biosynthesized Au and Ag nanoparticles for seven of the most common and relevant cancers and their biological assessment. In addition, it provides a general idea of the in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models used for the anticancer evaluation of green biogenic metal-based nanoparticles.

Antidiabetic effects of the ethanolic extract of Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in a mice model

Medicinal plants can protect different organs against diabetes-induced oxidative stress due to their antioxidant compounds. The present study was designed to investigate the potential of Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch (A. saralicum) ethanolic extract to alleviate the adverse effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in male BALB/c mice. Seventy male mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10). Diabetes was experimentally induced by STZ (60 mg/kg bw). A. saralicum ethanolic extract with doses 5, 20, 80, and 320 mg/kg was administrated for 20 consecutive days in diabetic animals. Based on the obtained results, the untreated diabetic mice showed high blood glucose level, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), white blood cells count (WBC), and platelets, as well as liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine. Administration of different doses of A. saralicum extract significantly reduced blood glucose level similar to glibenclamide. Also, the levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes restored toward normal level. All hepatic and renal function parameters as well as hematological parameters were improved following treatment with A. saralicum extract particularly at high doses. Histopathological studies showed a decrease in hepatic, renal, and pancreatic damage after treatment with A. saralicum extract. The results of the present work indicate that A. saralicum ethanolic extract can attenuate diabetic hepato-renal, pancreatic, and hematological damages.

Environmentally Safe Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Plant Water Extracts

Due to their simplicity of synthesis, stability, and functionalization, low toxicity, and ease of detection, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are a natural choice for biomedical applications. AuNPs’ unique optoelectronic features have subsequently been investigated and used in high-tech applications such as organic photovoltaics, sensory probes, therapeutic agents, the administration of drugs in biological and medical applications, electronic devices, catalysis, etc. Researchers have demonstrated the biosynthesis of AuNPs using plants. The present study evaluates 109 plant species used in the traditional medicine of Middle East countries as new sources of AuNPs in a wide variety of laboratory environments. In this study, dried samples of bark, bulb, flower, fruit, gum, leaf, petiole, rhizome, root, seed, stamen, and above-ground parts were evaluated in water extracts. About 117 plant parts were screened from 109 species in 54 plant families, with 102 extracts demonstrating a bioreduction of Au³⁺ to Au⁰, revealing 37 new plant species in this regard. The color change of biosynthesized AuNPs to gray, violet, or red was confirmed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, TEM, FSEM, DLS, and EDAX of six plants. In this study, AuNPs of various sizes were measured from 27 to 107 nm. This study also includes an evaluation of the potency of traditional East Asian medicinal plants used in this biosynthesis of AuNPs. An environmentally safe procedure such as this could act as a foundation for cosmetic industries whose quality assessment systems give a high priority to non-chemically synthesized products. It is crucial that future optimizations are adequately documented to scale up the described process.