Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences最新文献

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Laccase as a ligninolytic enzyme has been known for its green-catalysis mechanism, which has the potential to be applied to food industries. Lignocellulose found in agro-industrial waste is promising for laccase production as a substrate, that could be encountered in pineapple (<i>Ananas comosus</i>) and Arabica coffee (<i>Coffea arabica</i>) industrial residue. To boost enzyme activity, laccase characterization was performed using <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i> under solid-state fermentation. This study aims to determine the lignocellulosic waste substrate that can produce the highest laccase activity and evaluate the effect of lignocellulosic substrate types under solid-state fermentation. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> There were 3 variants of lignocellulosic substrates used, consisting of pineapple peel, pineapple leaf and coffee husk. Characterization was carried out during pre-production by determining lignocellulose composition by Van Soest method and qualitative assay of <i>G. lucidum</i> laccase, continued with post-production including dry cell weight, pH measurement during fermentation and laccase activity. Laccase activity was statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). <b>Results:</b> The characterization indicated that the type of substrate used had the potential to be used as a substrate in laccase production from <i>G. lucidum</i> under solid-state fermentation. The highest laccase activity was obtained on sample coffee husk S₃ on the 8th day of incubation with average values of laccase activity 2622.07±68.49 U/L. Based on ANOVA results, types of lignocellulosic waste substrates used have significant effects on laccase activity. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i> has the potential to produce laccase enriched with pineapple waste and coffee husk substrates under solid fermentation.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Oroxylum indicum</i>, a plant commonly used in traditional medicine to address various human ailments, has recently gained attention as a promising candidate in this regard due to its rich phytochemical composition and potential antibacterial properties. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of <i>O. indicum</i> extracts, specifically from its leaves and stems, against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Stems and leaves of <i>O. indicum</i> were extracted using ethanol, hexane and dichloromethane. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was initially evaluated through the disc diffusion method, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined using the broth microdilution method. The inhibition zone diameters (mm) were statistically analyzed using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) in SAS software at a p-value threshold of <0.05. <b>Results:</b> The ethanolic stem and leaf extracts of <i>Oroxylum</i> <i>indicum</i> produced the largest inhibition zone of 11 mm against <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>, highlighting a significant antibacterial response. Further analysis showed that the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded at 1.56 mg/mL in these ethanolic extracts, effective against both <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> and <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was observed at 6.25 mg/mL for these bacteria, indicating a potent bactericidal effect. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study represents the first documented instance of <i>O. indicum</i> extracts effectively targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, thereby underscoring their potential as a foundation for developing new antibiotics. The findings pave the way for further research and development, contributing to the critical pursuit of novel therapeutic agents to combat resistant bacterial infections.

<b>Background and Objectives:</b> This study characterized a bacterial strain, BN122, isolated from the root tissues of purple sticky rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L. var. glutinosa). Identified as <i>Streptomyces antimicrobicus</i> based on 16S rDNA analysis and physical-chemical properties, the aim was to isolate and evaluate the antibacterial and anticancer activities of its bioactive compounds. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The major compounds were purified from BN122's culture extract using column chromatography and TLC. The NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed their identities as Cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Val), Cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Leu), Cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Trp) and Cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Phe). The antibacterial and anticancer activities of these compounds were subsequently assessed. Statistical significance was determined using SPSS software. <b>Results:</b> Isolated compounds exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 32 to 256 μg/mL, while minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were between 128 and 512 μg/mL. Compounds demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity against cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 32.00 to 57.08 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231 cells, 85.73 to 158.93 μg/mL for HeLa cells and 276.89 to 323.48 μg/mL for HepG2 cells. Notably, these compounds exhibited moderate toxicity towards non-cancerous Vero cells (IC₅₀ = 482.73 to 680.87 μg/mL). <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings suggested that <i>Streptomyces antimicrobicus</i> BN122 produces compounds with promising antibacterial and anticancer properties. Further research on these compounds could contribute to developing novel therapeutic strategies for bacterial infections and certain cancers.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Black soybeans [<i>Glycine max</i> (L.) Merr] are among the important crops, but the cultivated resources are normally low-yielding, susceptible to diseases and low profit. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the genetic diversity of black soybean germplasms for breeding programs. This study investigates the genetic diversity of 22 black soybean varieties by RAPD and ISSR markers. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty two black soybean genotypes in Vietnam were evaluated for genetic diversity by using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Data were scored following a binary matrix and analyzed using NTSYSpc 2.1 (Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System). <b>Results:</b> All 20 RAPD and 11 ISSR markers produced scorable bands. As 230 loci were investigated over the population, of which 107 were polymorphic, accounting for 46.5%. The collection of 22 black soybean varieties had a relatively close relationship with high genetic similarity coefficients, ranging from 0.71-0.99. Two main genetic clusters were classified. The RAPD markers showed better performance than ISSR markers in evaluating the genetic diversity of these 22 black soybean varieties. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results of this study display that 22 Vietnamese black soybean varieties are relatively identical in genetics. The study is suitable for breeding programs to improve black soybean varieties.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Digestive function and health status can impact the productivity of quail. This study evaluated the effects of Noni (<i>Morinda citrifolia</i>) leaf shoot meal (NLSM) supplementation on the gastrointestinal morphology, jejunal histopathology, visceral organ characteristics and hematological profile of quails. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 300 quails (aged 4-14 weeks) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments: T0 (0% NLSM), T1 (2%), T2 (4%), T3 (6%) and T4 (8%) with four replicates of 10 birds each. A completely randomized design was applied. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range test with a 0.05 level of significance. <b>Results:</b> About 8% NLSM significantly (p<0.05) increased the percentage of duodenum and relative colon length, while 2-6% NLSM highly significantly (p<0.01) increased the percentage and relative length of jejunum, ileum and colon. Villi area was significantly increased (p<0.01) by 8% NLSM, villus height by 2% and villus height to crypt depth (H:D) ratio by 4%. No significant effects were observed on abdominal fat or major visceral organs (liver, heart, kidney). Hematological analysis revealed that 8% NLSM significantly (p<0.05) increased erythrocyte counts and decreased leukocyte percentages; it also significantly (p<0.01) reduced lymphocyte and eosinophil counts. <b>Conclusion:</b> Dietary supplementation with 2-8% NLSM improves nutrient absorption by enhancing gastrointestinal morphology without adverse effects. Moreover, NLSM positively influences immune function, as evidenced by improved hematological parameters and reduced thymus and bile sizes, indicating better physiological and immunological status in quails.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Actinomycins, like actinomycin D, are known anticancer agents that inhibit transcription by binding to DNA. The goal of this study was to isolate and characterize new actinomycete strains from <i>Alpinia purpurata</i> roots, identify their bioactive compounds and evaluate their cytotoxicity. The study further aimed to understand their mechanisms through molecular docking and predict their drug-like properties using ADMET studies. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Actinomycetes were isolated from <i>A. purpurata</i> roots and screened for antibacterial activity. The most promising strain, AL024, was identified by morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bioactive compounds were purified from AL024's crude extract using TLC and their structures were determined with ESI-HRMS and NMR. The cytotoxicity of these compounds and the crude extract was assessed against various human cancer cell lines (HeLa, HepG2, MDA-MB-231) and non-cancerous Vero cells via MTT assay. Molecular docking simulated DNA binding and <i>in silico</i> ADMET platforms predicted pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles. <b>Results:</b> Fifty-six actinomycete strains were isolated, with AL024 showing the best antibacterial activity. Identified as <i>Streptomyces mutabilis</i>, AL024 produced actinomycin V (compound 1) and actinomycin D (compound 2) at 1.22 and 0.96 mg/g of crude extract, respectively. Both compounds were cytotoxic to cancer cells (IC₅₀: 2.45-8.45 μg/mL) but also affected normal Vero cells (IC₅₀: 7.43-8.46 μg/mL). Docking showed both intercalate into GpC DNA, with actinomycin V exhibiting stronger binding. The ADMET predictions indicated good water solubility and Caco-2 permeability but low oral absorption and potential hepatotoxicity, though they were non-mutagenic and acutely non-toxic. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Streptomyces mutabilis</i> AL024 from <i>A. purpurata</i> is a valuable source of actinomycin V and D. These compounds show promising anticancer activity <i>in vitro</i> but also exhibit general cytotoxicity and predicted hepatotoxicity. Further research is essential to assess their therapeutic window and safety for drug development.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Curcuma mangga</i>, commonly known as mango ginger, is a medicinal plant renowned for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and digestive health benefits, attributed to its high content of curcuminoids and essential oils. This study aims to assess the antibacterial potential of <i>C. mangga</i> extracts against five antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains and five standard pathogenic reference strains. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>C. mangga</i> rhizomes were dried, ground into powder and individually extracted using ethanol, dichloromethane and hexane. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the microbroth dilution method to find the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Statistical analysis was performed using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) to show significant differences among mean values at a 95% confidence level. <b>Results:</b> The dichloromethane and hexane extracts exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, showing the lowest MIC value of 0.049 mg/mL against multidrug-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> and <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i>. The dichloromethane extract showed the strongest bactericidal effect against <i>S. maltophilia</i>, with the lowest MBC value of 1.56 mg/mL. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study is the first to prove that <i>C. mangga</i> extracts exhibit significant antibacterial and bactericidal activity against several antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including multidrug-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> and <i>S. maltophilia</i>. These findings highlight the potential of <i>C. mangga</i> as a natural antimicrobial agent and lay the groundwork for the development of plant-based alternatives to address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Blumea balsamifera</i>, <i>Morus alba</i> and <i>Limnocharis flava</i> are rich in bioactive compounds. However, reports on their antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria remain limited, prompting this study to evaluate the efficacy of their leaf extracts against skin infection-causing bacteria, including multidrug-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> 101 and two reference strains: <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> TISTR518 and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> TISTR1383. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Plant samples were extracted using solvents of varying polarity. The preliminary assessment of antibacterial activity was done using the disc diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were established using the broth microdilution assay. The diameters of the inhibition zones (mm) were statistically analyzed using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) implemented in SPSS software. <b>Results:</b> The <i>B. balsamifera</i> leaf extracts, utilizing ethanol and ethyl acetate, exhibited the largest inhibition zone of 20 mm against <i>B. subtilis</i> 101. The lowest MIC value, 0.098 mg/mL, was observed in <i>B. balsamifera</i> leaf extracts with ethanol and ethyl acetate against<i> B. subtilis</i> 101. Additionally, the lowest MBC value, 0.78 mg/mL, was obtained from <i>B. balsamifera</i> leaf extracts with ethyl acetate against <i>A. baumannii</i>. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study is the first to report the potential of <i>B. balsamifera</i> extracts against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including multidrug-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> and <i>A. baumannii</i>. These findings suggest that <i>B. balsamifera</i> extracts could be developed as natural antibacterial agents to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.

<i>Searsia lancea </i>(L.f.) F.A.Barkley is an evergreen tree well-known for its edible fruits and is also widely used in traditional medicine. The current study was aimed at documenting medicinal and traditional uses of <i>S. lancea</i> and its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Research articles on nutraceutical and ethnopharmacological properties of <i>S. lancea</i> were searched from online databases such as PubMed^®, Web of Science, SciELO, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect^®, SpringerLink^® and Scopus^® and also pre-electronic literature obtained from the university library. <i>Searsia lancea</i> is used as ethnoveterinary medicine and as traditional medicine for fever, measles, sores, wounds, diabetes, sexually transmitted infections, gastrointestinal problems and skin and respiratory infections. Chemical compounds identified from <i>S. lancea</i> include alcohol, alkane, amide, flavonoids, naphthalene, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, tannins, steroids, anthraquinones and volatile compounds. <i>Searsia lancea </i>crude extracts demonstrated anthelmintic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anticholinesterase (AChE), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and nematicidal activities. This review highlights the need for detailed nutraceutical and ethnopharmacological studies of <i>S. lancea</i> focusing on its nutritional, phytochemical, biological and toxicological properties, <i>in vivo</i> and clinical studies.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Chelated minerals have been shown to enhance animal performance and increase feed consumption, improving feed utilization. So, the present study aimed to determine the effect of adding each zinc at 50 mg, copper at 3 mg and selenium at 0.2 mg, all in chelated form, to the diets on growth performance, digestibility, meat quality, immune response, carcass traits, blood biochemical characteristics and economic efficiency of rabbits. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> In this experiment, 60 V-Line strain rabbits of mixed sex with an average body weight of 834 g were randomly and individually distributed into five experimental treatments (12 rabbits per treatment). The study included 5 groups, each comprising 12 rabbits. The first group (C) served as the control and received the basal diet without supplements. The second and third groups were given the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg zinc and 3 mg copper, respectively. The fourth group received the basal diet with 0.2 mg of selenium, while the fifth group was supplemented with a combination of zinc, copper and selenium. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA (GLM, SAS) and treatment means were compared by Duncan's test at p<0.05. <b>Results:</b> Rabbits fed diets supplemented with the tested mineral additives showed significant improvements in feed conversion ratio, final body weight and weight gain compared to the control group. These groups also exhibited higher nutrient digestibility, as indicated by dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). However, giblets yield (%) was significantly higher in the control group, whereas dressing percentage followed an opposite trend. Additionally, rabbits receiving mineral-supplemented diets demonstrated better economic efficiency than those on the control diet. <b>Conclusion:</b> That supplementing growing rabbit diets with zinc (50 mg), copper (3 mg) and selenium (0.2 mg) significantly enhanced body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, immune response and economic efficiency over an 8-week growing period. These trace elements act as effective growth promoters, likely due to their digestive-enhancing, antimicrobial and performance-boosting properties. The findings confirm that zinc, copper and selenium positively influence both productivity and economic outcomes in growing rabbits.