Bioactive Compounds of Ganoderma boninense Inhibited Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Growth by Affecting Their Cell Membrane Permeability and Integrity

Evaluation of the potential of endophytic Trichoderma sp. isolated from medicinal plant Ampelopsis japonica against MRSA and bioassay-guided separation of the anti-MRSA compound

Endophytic fungi have been recognized as a valuable source for the production of biologically active compounds with potential applications in various domains. This study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi from Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino and assess their anti-MRSA activity. Meanwhile, chromatographic separation techniques were applied to analyze the constituents of endophytic fungal secondary metabolites. The isolate BLR24, which exhibited strong inhibition activity against MRSA, was identified as Trichoderma virens based on morphological characteristics and ITS sequence analyses. The ethyl acetate extract of BLR24 (EA-BLR24) showed good anti-MRSA activity with the MIC and MBC values of 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, separately. The inhibition of biofilm formation was up to 34.67% under MIC concentration treatment. Meanwhile, EA-BLR24 could significantly reduce the expression of biofilm-related genes (icaA, sarA, and agrA) of MRSA. Based on LC-MS/MS analysis, twenty compounds in EA-BLR24 could be annotated using the GNPS platform, mainly diketopiperazines. The anti-MRSA compound (Fr.1.1) was obtained from EA-BLR24 by bioassay-guided fractionation and determined as gliotoxin. The results indicated that endophytic Trichoderma virens BLR24 isolated from the medical plant A. japonica roots could be a promising source of natural anti-MRSA agents. Endophytic fungal secondary metabolites are abundant in biologically active compounds. Endophytic fungi from medicinal plants could be a source yielding bioactive metabolites of pharmaceutical importance.

From gut to skin: exploring the potential of natural products targeting microorganisms for atopic dermatitis treatment

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Recent studies have revealed that interactions between pathogenic microorganisms, which have a tendency to parasitize the skin of AD patients, play a significant role in the progression of the disease. Furthermore, specific species of commensal bacteria in the human intestinal tract can have a profound impact on the immune system by promoting inflammation and pruritogenesis in AD, while also regulating adaptive immunity. Natural products (NPs) have emerged as promising agents for the treatment of various diseases. Consequently, there is growing interest in utilizing natural products as a novel therapeutic approach for managing AD, with a focus on modulating both skin and gut microbiota. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms and interplay between the skin and gut microbiota in relation to AD. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent clinical and fundamental research on NPs targeting the skin and gut microbiota for AD treatment. We anticipate that our work will contribute to the future development of NPs and facilitate research on microbial mechanisms, based on the efficacy of NPs in treating AD.

The Phytochemistry of Ganoderma Species and their Medicinal Potentials

The Ganoderma genus is known for its diverse use as a functional food and therapeutic agent. This fungus has over 428 species, with Ganoderma lucidum being the most studied. The Ganoderma species produce several secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, phenols, and triterpenes, which are largely responsible for their therapeutic properties. Throughout this review, several extracts obtained from Ganoderma species have been studied to delve into their therapeutic characteristics and mechanisms. Such properties like immunomodulation, antiaging, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities have been demonstrated by several Ganoderma species and are supported by a large body of evidence. Although its phytochemicals play a vital role in its therapeutic properties, identifying the therapeutic potentials of fungal-secreted metabolites for human health-promoting benefits is a challenging task. Identification of novel compounds with distinct chemical scaffolds and their mechanism of action could help suppress the spread of rising pathogens. Thus, this review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of the bioactive components in different Ganoderma species and the underlying physiological mechanisms.

Antioxidant-polyphenols of saw palmetto seeds: statistical optimized production and improved functional properties under solid-state fermentation by Trichoderma reesei

Saw palmetto seeds (SPS) contain essential phenolic compounds that provide antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic benefits when added to food. Maximized/improved production of these valuable phenolic compounds is the main purpose of this study. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is a promising processing technique that positively alters the levels of health-promoting compounds in plants and plant residues. Here, a central composite design matrix (16 runs) and response surface methodology were experimentally applied to investigate the best SSF conditions and their interactions for maximum production of phenolic compounds from SPS. A good correlation between actual and expected results was observed with higher multiple coefficients (R2 ~ 0.93–0.97) and strongly significant P values (< 0.0001) proving the accuracy of the statistical model/design. Under optimized SSF conditions, temperature 30 °C, moisture 10%, pH 7.0, and fermentation time 6 days, the total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity of SPS were maximized by 11-fold and 46–49 folds, respectively. According to HPLC analysis, the contents of all identifying polyphenols were 3.3–30.0 times greater in fermented SPS extract (FSPS) than in the unfermented SPS extract (UFSPS). The FSPS extract also contained four new/additional polyphenols (vanillic, p-coumaric, cinnamic, and quercetin). FSPS extract demonstrated much greater antibacterial and antifungal activities than UFSPS extract against various human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Consequently, the FSPS-phenolic compounds can be exploited as a food supplement and an antimicrobial remedy.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Stem Bark Essential Oil and Extracts of Solanecio gigas

Herbal medication developed from natural resources has to have antibacterial and antioxidant effects. The aim of this research is to look at the chemical makeup of Solanecio gigas (S. gigas) stem bark essential oil (EO), as well as the effectiveness of EO and extracts (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol) against human pathogenic bacteria and their antioxidant activity. The GC-MS analysis identified 23 components, accounting for 98.7% of the total oil containing Methylene chloride (49.2%), sabinene (10.5%), 1-nonene (11.3%), Terpinen-4-ol (6.9%), Camphene (4.3%), γ-terpinene (3.6%), α-phellandrene (2.9%) β-myrcene (2.6%), 1,2,5-Oxadiazol-3-carboxamide, 4,4′-azobis-2,2′-dioxide (2.4%), α-terpinene (1.9%), 1-Octanamine, N-methyl- (1.9%), ρ-cymene (1.6%) as major components. The antibacterial efficacy of the EO and extracts (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/ml) was demonstrated by the inhibitory zones (8.5 ± 0.47–23.3 ± 0.36 and 7.2 ± 0.25–22.0 ± 0.45 mm), respectively. The MIC values of the extracts and the EO were 120–150 and 240 to <1100 μg/ml, respectively. The EO also demonstrated a significant antibacterial impact. The EO and methanolic extract had free radical scavenging activities with IC₅₀ value, 13.8 ± 0.48 and 4.2 ± 0.04 μg/ml, respectively. In comparison to the other extracts, the methanolic extract had the greatest phenolics (100.2 ± 0.13 μg GAE/mg of dry extract) and flavonoid contents (112.1 ± 0.18 μg CE/mg of dry extract).

Investigation on visible light-driven antimicrobial and mechanistic activity of GO/TiO2(V–N) nanocomposite against wound pathogens

GO/TiO2(V–N) is fabricated as a visible light driven efficient antimicrobial material. In the presence of light, GO/TiO2(V–N) was employed as a photocatalytic active material against wound pathogens.