Nutraceutical potential of Pennisetum typhoides microgreens: In vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities and in silico Staphylococcus aureus FtsZ inhibition

Investigating the effectiveness of LED lighting in the production of rich sprouts for food purposes

In recent times, there has been a surge in interest in the impact of diet and physical activity on human health, with the goal of expanding lifespan and enhancing the quality of life. This has Light-emitting diode (LED) to interventions centered on incorporating healthy foods, including fresh sprouts, which are rich in antioxidant compounds and beneficial phytonutrients for human consumption. Various factors, such as temperature, nutritional solution, and types of light quality and intensity, can influence the nutritional value of sprouts. This study evaluates the impact of LED light with red-blue-ultraviolet (6:3:1; R:B:UV) and three levels of intensity (control, 120, and 150 μmol/m²s^-1) on five different sprout species, namely wheat, barley, mung bean, alfalfa, and soybean, after seven days of germination. The research investigates the effects on various parameters, including photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a, b, total), carotenoid, activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and soluble proteins, soluble sugars, starch, vitamin C, and element content such as potassium, iron, and phosphorus. The results indicate that the LED treatments and increasing light intensity significantly improve the physiological and antioxidant properties of edible sprouts, with the 150 μmol/m²s^-1 treatment producing the most beneficial outcomes. Additionally, increasing light intensity reduces starch content while enhancing the content of photosynthetic pigments, soluble carbohydrates, vitamin C, element concentration, antioxidant enzymes, and soluble proteins. Among the five species of edible sprouts, barley had the highest content of photosynthetic pigments, while soybean and mung beans had the lowest content. Mung beans and alfalfa had the highest and lowest concentrations of potassium and iron, respectively. In terms of phosphorus concentration, soybean and barley sprouts showed the highest and lowest concentrations, respectively.

The Antibacterial Activity of Thymol Against Drug-Resistant Streptococcus iniae and Its Protective Effect on Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Streptococcus iniae is a zoonotic pathogen, which seriously threatens aquaculture and human health worldwide. Antibiotics are the preferred way to treat S. iniae infection. However, the unreasonable use of antibiotics leads to the enhancement of bacterial resistance, which is not conducive to the prevention and treatment of this disease. Therefore, it is urgent to find new efficient and environmentally friendly antibacterial agents to replace traditional antibiotics. In this study, the antibacterial activity and potential mechanism of thymol against S. iniae were evaluated by electron microscopy, lactate dehydrogenase, DNA and protein leakage and transcriptomic analysis. Thymol exhibited potent antibacterial activity against S. iniae in vitro, and the MIC and MBC were 128 and 256μg/mL, respectively. SEM and TEM images showed that the cell membrane and cell wall were damaged, and the cells were abnormally enlarged and divided. 2MIC thymol disrupted the integrity of cell walls and membranes, resulting in the release of intracellular macromolecules including nucleotides, proteins and inorganic ions. The results of transcriptomic analysis indicated that thymol interfered with energy metabolism and membrane transport, affected DNA replication, repair and transcription in S. iniae. In vivo studies showed that thymol had a protective effect on experimental S. iniae infection in channel catfish. It could reduce the cumulative mortality of channel catfish and the number of S. iniae colonization in tissues, and increase the activities of non-specific immune enzymes in serum, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, lysozyme and acid phosphatase. Taken together, these findings suggested that thymol may be a candidate plant agent to replace traditional antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of S. iniae infection.