Fahdah Ayed Alshammari

Mosquitoes pose a significant problem worldwide because of the diseases they transmit. Due to its antimicrobial and disinfectant properties, Commiphora myrrha (C. myrrha) has long been a popular choice in traditional medicine. This study aimed to extract C. myrrha using three different solvents—methanol, acetone, and chloroform—to identify their biochemical components and assess their larvicidal activity. The extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and their effects were evaluated against Aedes aegypti. We identified 29, 41, and 19 phytoconstituents in the acetone, methanol, and chloroform extracts, respectively, with most belonging to the sesquiterpene and phenol categories. Larval mortality rates were recorded as follows: chloroform (100%), methanol (90%), and acetone (95%) extracts of C. myrrha at a concentration of 1000 ppm, 24 h post-treatment. After 72 h, the C. myrrha extracts showed effectiveness with LC₅₀ values of 118.33, 127.67, and 142.13 ppm for chloroform, acetone, and methanol, respectively. The chloroform extract was the most effective in reducing the average number of eggs laid per day (234 eggs) compared to the untreated control group (1513 eggs) at 1000 ppm. These findings provide scientific evidence of the larvicidal efficacy of C. myrrha extracts and serve as valuable resources for developing plant-based pharmaceuticals.

Green synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles of noble metals is highly desirable in nanomedicine because of their potential use as anticoagulant, thrombolytic and anticancer agents. In this study, it was discovered that the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger proved effective in producing bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles. A. niger culture supernatant was able to produce Ag-AuNPs by reducing the solution of chloroauric acid/silver nitrate (1.0:1.0 mM) within 2 min at 100 °C and pH 8. Experimental Ag-AuNP detection was performed by visually observing the color change to reddish brown. The produced nanoparticles displayed maximal absorbance at 530 nm in UV–vis spectroscopy. According to transmission electron microscopy, most of the nanoparticles were spherical, with a mean diameter of 8–10 nm. The biosynthesis of Ag-AuNPs by A. niger was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analytical techniques. Its zeta potential was discovered to be -34.01 mV. The biosynthesized Ag-AuNPs exhibited effective thrombolytic and antiplatelet aggregation actions by totally preventing and dissolving the blood clot which was verified by microscopic examination, amelioration of blood coagulation assays, and carrageenan-induced tail thrombosis model. The findings verified the effectiveness of biosynthesized Ag-AuNPs as a powerful antitumor agent against HepG2 and A549 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 15.57 and 27.07 μg/mL, respectively. Crystal violet assay validated the cytopathic effects of Ag-AuNPs on A549 and HepG2 cell lines. Therefore, the produced Ag-AuNPs from A. niger are a promising candidate in the management of thrombosis. Graphical Abstract

Carbapenem antibiotic resistance is an emerging medical concern. Bacteria that possess the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) protein, an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of carbapenem antibiotics, have exhibited remarkable resistance to traditional and even modern therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to identify potential natural drug candidates sourced from the leaves of Artemisia judaica (A. judaica). The phytoconstituents present in A. judaica dried leaves were extracted using ethanol 80%. A reasonable amount of the extract was used to identify these phytochemicals via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). One hundred twenty-two bioactive compounds from A. judaica were identified and subjected to docking analysis against the target bacterial protein. Four compounds (PubChem CID: 6917974, 159099, 628694, and 482788) were selected based on favorable docking scores (−9, −7.8, −7.7, and −7.5 kcal/mol). This computational investigation highlights the potential of these four compounds as promising antibacterial candidates against the specific KPC protein. Additionally, in vitro antibacterial assays using A. judaica extracts were conducted. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the bacterium K. pneumonia was 125 μg/mL. Well–disk diffusion tests exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 10.3 ± 0.5 mm to 17 ± 0.5 mm at different concentrations, and time–kill kinetics at 12 h indicated effective inhibition of bacterial growth by A. judaica leaf extracts. Our findings have revealed the pharmaceutical potential of Artemisia judaica as a natural source for drug candidates against carbapenem-resistant pathogens.

Renewable energy can be harnessed from wastewater, whether from municipalities or industries, but this potential is often ignored. The world generates over 900 km³ of wastewater annually, which is typically treated through energy-consuming processes, despite its potential for energy production. Environmental pollution is a most important and serious issue for all and their adulterations to the aquatic system are very toxic in very low concentrations. Photocatalysis is a prominent approach to eliminating risky elements from the environment. The present study developed Zinc oxide (ZnO), Copper-doped Zinc oxide (CuZnO), and Cobalt-doped Zinc oxide (CoZnO) nanostructures (NSs) by facile hydrothermal route. The crystalline and structural stability of the synthesized nanostructures were evident from XRD and FESEM analysis. Metal, and oxygen bond and their interaction on the surfaces and their valency were explored from XPS spectra. Optical orientations and electron movements were revealed from UV-Visible analysis. After 100 min exposure time with 1 g of catalyst concentration 60%, 70%, and 89% of dye degraded, for dye concentration (5 mg/L to 50 mg/L), the huge variation observed (70% to 22%), (80% to 16%), (94% to 10%). The highest photodegradation rate (55%, 75%, 90%) was observed on pH~12 using ZnO, CoZnO, and CuZnO respectively. Photodegradation of methylene blue confirmed the largest surface area, rate of recombination, photo-excited charge carriers, photo-sensitivity range, and radical generations of ZnO, CuZnO, and CoZnO. The present study, therefore, suggested that CuZnO would be preferred to produce nanomaterials for industrial wastewater treatment like methylene.

Antibiotic drug resistance is a global public health issue that demands new and novel therapeutic molecules. To develop new agents, animal secretions or products are used as an alternative agent to overcome this problem. In this study, earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) coelomic fluid (PCF), and body paste (PBP) were used to analyze their effects as antibiofilm agents against four bacterial isolates MH1 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa MT448672), MH2 (Escherichia coli MT448673), MH3 (Staphylococcus aureus MT448675), and MH4 (Klebsiella pneumoniae MT448676). Coelomic fluid extraction and body paste formation were followed by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), biofilm formation time kinetics, and an antibiofilm assay, using heat and cold shock, sunlight exposure auto-digestion, and test tube methods. The results showed that the MIC values of PCF and PBP against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli bacterial isolates ranged from 50 to 100 μg/mL, while, the results related to biofilm formation for P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae strains were observed to be highly significantly increased (p < 0.005) after 72 h. E. coli produced a significant (p < 0.004) amount of biofilm after 48 h. Following time kinetics, the antibiofilm activity of PCF and PBP was tested at different concentrations (i.e., 25–200 μg/mL) against the aforementioned four strains (MH1–MH4). The findings of this study revealed that both PBP (5.61 ± 1.0%) and PCF (5.23 ± 1.5%) at the lowest concentration (25 μg/mL) showed non-significant (p > 0.05) antibiofilm activity against all the selected strains (MH1-MH4). At 50 μg/mL concentration, both PCF and PBP showed significant (p < 0.05) biofilm inhibition (p < 0.01) at 100 μg/mL of PCF and PBP, while it showed highly significant (p < 0.001) biofilm inhibition at 150 and 200 μg/mL concentrations. Moreover, more than 90% biofilm inhibition was observed at 200 μg/mL of PCF, while in the case of the PBP, <96% biofilm reduction (i.e., 100%) was also observed by all selected strains at 200 μg/mL. In conclusion, earthworm body fluid and paste have biologically active components that inhibit biofilm formation by various pathogenic bacterial strains. For future investigations, there is a need for further study to explore the potential bioactive components and investigate in depth their molecular mechanisms from a pharmaceutical perspective for effective clinical utilization.

Protozoa, helminths and ectoparasites are the major groups of parasites distributed worldwide. Currently, these parasites are treated with chemotherapeutic antiprotozoal drugs, anti-helminthic and anti-ectoparasitic agents, but, with the passage of time, resistance to these drugs has developed due to overuse. In this scenario, nanoparticles are proving to be a major breakthrough in the treatment and control of parasitic diseases. In the last decade, there has been enormous development in the field of nanomedicine for parasitic control. Gold and silver nanoparticles have shown promising results in the treatments of various types of parasitic infections. These nanoparticles are synthesized through the use of various conventional and molecular technologies and have shown great efficacy. They work in different ways, that include damaging the parasite membrane, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) disruption, protein synthesis inhibition and free-radical formation. These agents are effective against intracellular parasites as well. Other nanoparticles, such as iron, nickel, zinc and platinum, have also shown good results in the treatment and control of parasitic infections. It is hoped that this research subject will become the future of modern drug development. This review summarizes the methods that are used to synthesize nanoparticles and their possible mechanisms of action against parasites.

The emergence of drug-resistant lice, acari, and their associated pathogens (APs) is associated with economic losses; thus, it is essential to find new appropriate therapeutic approaches. In the present study, a subtractive proteomics approach was used to predict suitable therapeutics against these vectors and their infectious agents. We found 9701 proteins in the lice (Pediculus humanus var. corporis) and acari (Ixodes scapularis, Leptotrombidium deliense), and 4822 proteins in the proteomes of their APs (Babesia microti, Borreliella mayonii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia recurrentis, Rickettsia prowazekii, Orientia tsutsugamushi str. Boryong) that were non-homologous to host proteins. Among these non-homologous proteins, 365 proteins of lice and acari, and 630 proteins of APs, were predicted as essential proteins. Twelve unique essential proteins were predicted to be involved in four unique metabolic pathways of lice and acari, and 103 unique proteins were found to be involved in 75 unique metabolic pathways of APs. The sub cellular localization analysis of 115 unique essential proteins of lice and acari and their APs revealed that 61 proteins were cytoplasmic, 42 as membrane-bound proteins and 12 proteins with multiple localization. The druggability analysis of the identified 73 cytoplasmic and multiple localization essential proteins revealed 22 druggable targets and 51 novel drug targets that participate in unique pathways of lice and acari and their APs. Further, the predicted 42 membrane bound proteins could be potential vaccine candidates. Screening of useful inhibitors against these novel targets may result in finding novel compounds efficient for the control of these parasites.