Abstract
Fucoidanase and alginate lyase are promising biocatalysts for several biotechnological applications. The sequentially extracted
fucoidan and alginate from the brown macroalgae Sargassum latifolium were used for the optimization of a cost-effective culture
medium for fucoidanase and alginate lyase production by the marine fungus Dendryphiella arenaria. Plackett–Burman statistical
design was conducted for initial determination of the importance of 11 independent variables on enzyme potentiation, and the
significant variables were further optimized using Box–Behnken design. The optimum conditions for fucoidanase production
were fucoidan (1.5% w/v), NaCl (1.5%), urea (0.3%), and incubation period (2 days), which gives ~ 4 U mL−1 of crude
fucoidanase. While, alginate (1.5% w/v), NaCl (4%), NH4Cl (0.3%), and incubation period (6 days) were the optimum conditions
that enhanced alginate lyase production to ~ 24 U mL−1
. Additionally, a new protocol for the enzymatic saccharification of
fucoidan and alginate was optimized using Box–Behnken design with respect to substrate concentration, enzyme dosage, and
temperature. The enzymatic saccharification of citric acid-extracted fucoidan gave a maximum yield of reducing sugar
365 mg g−1 fucoidan, while the alkali-extracted alginate gave 439.66 mg g−1 alginate. The results showed that the two enzymes
could be exploited for the efficient production of reducing sugars from fucoidan and alginate, which are the key substrate for
producing biofuels from brown macroalgal biomass

Abstract. Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) can bioconvert lignocellulosic residues due to the secretion of extracellular enzymes. The production of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes by five Pleurotus spp. (P. ostreatus, P. columbinus, P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju, and P. floridanus), developed in the solid and liquid state of fermentation using three agro-wastes (rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and cotton waste), as substrate was evaluated in this work. The total nitrogen and potassium percentage were the highest in the case of rice straw, (0.96% and 0.60%). Also, the biological efficiency (BE), from these results, was the highest in the case of P. sajor-caju and P. columbinus recorded 64.4% on rice straw. It was observed that the submerged liquid fermentation (SmF) was suitable for the growth of all Pleurotus species. Also, the high value of enzymatic activity was determined through this study was, higher in the submerged liquid fermentation SmF, than those produced during solid-state culture (SSF). Among proteolytic enzymes, protease produced by the five Pleurotus spp. presenting the highest enzymatic activity (23.80 U/mL) on SmF and (22.56 U/mg) on SSF. Considering the oxidative enzymes, laccase produced, the highest value (1.99 U/mL) of laccase activity of filtrate was estimated from P. ostreatus cultivated on sugarcane bagasse of SmF. Low enzyme level (0.39 U/mg) was manganese peroxidase, obtained from P. floridanus cultivated on the cotton waste of SSF. The enzymatic levels of α-amylase, β-amylase, cellulose, cellobiohydrolase, laccase, and lignin peroxidase were from 2.9-0.50 U/mL.

For the past few decades, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have been applied as effective inoculants to enhance plant growth and productivity. The rhizosphere-inhabiting microorganisms which result in improvement of growth and protection of plant can be collectively defined as plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM). Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improve plant growth and supports the plant to endure abiotic and biotic stresses. Plant growth
promoting fungi (PGPF) are known to colonize the region of the root of plants, and they enhance the plant nutrient uptake. The utilization of proper preparations of beneficial microorganisms is an inevitable demand to diminish the inputs of inorganic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides; moreover, it’s one of the most promising trends for sustainable agriculture and maintaining agricultural productivity. The production of strong inhibitory compounds by PGPF affects many plant pathogens. Fungi are omnipresent on organic compounds. The majority is saprobes and decomposes dead organic matter. Many excellent reviews about endophytic fungi in woody plants have already been published. However, only limited studies focused on the rhizosphere free living fungi efficacy for plant growth promotion. This review will consider the mode of actions of these fungi to better understand the promising contributions of PGPF in enhancing plant growth and protection.

Abstract

Aims

The use of methotrexate (MTX), a classical immunosuppressant and anti-cancer agent, is associated with multiple organ toxicities, including the intestinal injury. Components of the renin-angiotensin system are expressed in the intestinal epithelium and mucosal immune cells where they provoke pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant action. The present study was conducted to investigate the potential ability of perindopril (PER), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), to attenuate MTX-induced intestinal injury with emphasis on the role of the pro-inflammatory TLR4/NF-κB and c-Fos/c-Jun pathways alongside PPAR-γ and SIRT1 cytoprotective signals.

Materials and methods

The intestinal injury was induced by a single-dose injection of 20 mg/kg of MTX i.p at the end of the 5th day. PER was administrated once daily in a dose of 1 mg/kg, i.p, for five days before MTX and five days later.

Results

Herein, perindopril attenuated the intestinal injury as seen by lowering the histopathological aberrations and preserving the goblet cells in villi/crypts. These beneficial actions were associated with downregulating the expression of the pro-inflammatory angiotensin II and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 cytokines, alongside upregulating the anti-inflammatory angiotensin (1–7) and IL-10. At the molecular level, perindopril downregulated the TLR4/NF-κB and c-Fos/c-Jun pathways in inflamed intestine of rats. Moreover, it attenuated the pro-oxidant events by lowering intestinal MDA and boosting GSH, SOD, and GGT antioxidants together with PPAR-γ and SIRT1 cytoprotective signals. The aforementioned findings were also highlighted using molecular docking and network pharmacology analysis.

Conclusions

Perindopril demonstrated notable mitigation of MTX-induced intestinal injury through suppression of TLR4/NF-κB and c-Fos/c-Jun pathways alongside the augmentation of PPAR-γ/SIRT1 cytoprotective signals.

We report here a considered novel study on the structural, FTIR spectra and optical properties of pure and co-doped Zn_0.90-xFe_0.1M_xO with ((M=Cu, Ni and (x = 0.00, 0.10) & (0.00 < y < 0.20)) at different sintering temperatures T_s (T_s = 850 ^oC for series I and 1000 ^oC series II). Although the ZnO wurtzite structure is conformed for all samples, some secondary lines with little intensity are formed. But the number of these lines is higher for series I than for series II. The (c/a) value and U-parameter are almost constant for all samples, while Zn-O bond length L is slightly increased. The porosity and crystallite size are decreased by Fe, and also for (Fe+Cu) samples, and their values for series I are lower than for series II. The residual stress is tensile for most samples. Interestingly, the Young’s, rigid and bulk modulus, Poisson’s ratio and Debye temperature , obtained from FTIR analysis, are increased by Fe addition with a further increase for Fe+Ni) samples for both series. A ductile nature is obtained for pure, Fe and (Fe+Cu) samples; whereas a brittle nature is approved for (Fe+Ni) samples. On the other hand, the energy gap (E_g), residual lattice dielectric constant (ε_L) and carrier density N are increased by Fe addition, followed by a further increase for (Fe+Cu) samples, while the vice is versa for the inter-atomic distance R. For example, E_g was increased from 3.153 eV for pure ZnO to 3.974 eV for (Fe+Cu) samples (i.e. 0.821 eV more), while it was decreased to 2.851 eV for (Fe+Ni) samples (i.e. 0.302 eV less). A direct behavior is obtained between E_g and both elastic modulus (Y,β), lattice and micro strains (ε_L, ε_m), dislocation density (δ), residual stress (σ) and carrier density N, whereas a reverse behavior is obtained between E_g and both crystallite size (D), porosity (PS) and inter-atomic distance (R). These results are explained in terms of the generated blocked states of the conduction band as indicated by the Burstein Moss effect. These novel findings reveal that the co-doping has intense ZnO and moderate metal oxide modes in the ZnO matrix structure, which makes ZnO co-doped with (Fe+Cu) more suitable for gas sensors and optoelectronic devices. In contrast, ZnO co-doped with (Fe+Ni) samples is strongly recommended for altering plastic deformation. To our knowledge, the present investigation can be considered the first study and probably has never been discussed elsewhere, which highlights the present investigation.