<b>Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of some nitrilotriacetic acid−V(III), −Sn(II), −Sm(II) and −Sm(III) complexes</b>

Four new complexes [V(NTA)(H2O) 2]&#149;H2O (1), H[Sn(NTA)] (2), H[Sm(NTA)]&#149;H2O (3), and [Sm(NTA)(H2O) 2]&#149;H2O (4) were obtained during the reactions of metal salts (VCl3, SnCl2&#149;2H2O, SnCl4, Sm(NO3)2&#149;6H2O and SmCl3&#149;6H2O) with nitrilotriacetic acid, H3NTA. The infrared and 1H-NMR spectra of the solid complexes have been obtained and assigned. Thermogravimetric analyses were also carried out. The data obtained agree with the proposed structures and show that the complexes decomposed to the corresponding metal oxide. The ligand and their metal complexes were screened for their antimicrobial activities by the agar-well diffusion technique using DMSO as a solvent against the following bacterial species: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. The obtained results were compared with some types of known antibiotics. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were calculated at 30 °C for 24−48 h. The activity data show that the complexes are more potent antimicrobials than the parent ligand

Assessment role of total phenols and flavonoids extracted from Pleurotus columbinus mushroom on the premature ovarian failure induced by chemotherapy in rats

Abstract Background Many species of mushroom contain an assortment of free radical scavengers (Phenolics and Flavonoids compounds) that have made them nutritionally beneficial and a source of expansion of drug production. In this study, we examined the preventive and remedial role of total phenol extract from Pleurotus columbines (TP) in alleviating the consequences of cyclophosphamide (CTX) on the ovaries of female rats. Rats were randomly assigned to four groups: healthy controls, cyclophosphamide (CTX), received a TP (100 mg/kg) orally daily for 14 days and curative group: CTX-TP, we determined and identified a total phenol from a mushroom extract and examined it as an antioxidant agent. To investigate the therapeutic influence, it was administrated 2 weeks after CTX. To assess the impact of TP on ovarian damage caused by CTX, ovarian hormone tests were performed such as luteinizing hormone (LH), 17-β-estradiol (E2), and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH). Besides, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum was evaluated, and histopathological analysis of the ovary was examined. Results This study indicates that treatment with TP decreased the severity of cyclophosphamide-induced ovary injury by reducing inflammation and apoptotic effects and increasing the activity of antioxidants. Conclusions TP could be used to alleviate cyclophosphamide-induced ovary injury

Optimization of culture conditions for biodiesel production from Egyptian isolate Penicillium commune NRC2016

Abstract Background Biodiesel is a type of renewable energy, an ideal substitute for petroleum diesel fuel. The present study concerns about optimization of culture conditions for biodiesel production by Penicillium commune NRC2016. Results The maximum lipid production from P. commune NRC2016 was investigated using basal liquid medium with initial pH 7.0, incubation temperature 20 °C, and after 5 days of incubation time at static condition. Six types of agro-industrial by-products (broken rice, rice straw, wheat bran, corn stalk, sweet sorghum, and bagasse) were separately used as components of semi-solid fermentation media. The highest lipid accumulation was recorded with sweet sorghum 99.1 mg/g as compared with the other by-products. Biodiesel obtained from P. commune NRC2016 was blended “B5” and the physical properties were determined and found to be as follows: density 0.8 g/ml, viscosity 2.1 mm2/s, flash point 77.0 °C, cloud point − 1.5 °C, iodine value 42.3 g I2/100 g, acid value 2.1 mg/g, pour point − 1.7 °C, and cetane number 47.8 min. Conclusions This work revealed the optimization of culture conditions for biodiesel production from Egyptian fungal strain P. commune NRC2016

Purification and characterization of two thermostable protease fractions from Bacillus megaterium

AbstractProtease enzyme from Bacillus megaterium was successively purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-200. The purification steps of protease resulted in the production of two protease fractions namely protease P1 and P2 with specific activities of 561.27 and 317.23Umg−1 of protein, respectively. The molecular weights of B. megaterium P1 and P2 were 28 and 25KDa, respectively. The purified fractions P1 and P2 were rich in aspartic acid and serine. Relatively higher amounts of alanine, leucine, glycine, valine, thereonine valine and glutamic acid were also present. The maximum protease activities for both enzyme fractions were attained at 50°C, pH 7.5, 1% of gelatine concentration and 0.5 enzyme concentrations. P1 and P2 fractions were more stable over pH 7.0–8.5 and able to prolong their thermal stability up to 80°C. The effect of different inhibitors on the protease activity of both enzyme fractions was also studied. The enzyme was found to be serine active as it had been affected by lower concentrations of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Complete dehairing of the enzyme-treated skin was achieved in 12h, at room temperature

Production and optimization of α-amylase from thermo-halophilic bacteria isolated from different local marine environments

Abstract Background Amylases are among the most important enzymes which are of great significance for biotechnology and have almost completely replaced chemical hydrolysis of starch in the starch processing industry. The present study was concerned with the production and optimization of extracellular α-amylase from Bacillus sp. NRC22017. Results The effect of various fermentation conditions on α-amylase production through shake-flask culture was investigated. Bacterial strain produces α-amylase was isolated from water in Wadi El-Natron. Based on microbiological, biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene sequences, the isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. NRC22017 and was later used for further studies. Maximum yield of α-amylase is 15.15 ± 0.47 U/ml from Bacillus sp. NRC22017; this strain is characterized with high temperature and high salinity in cultivated culture, and achieved maximum yield of α-amylase at pH 6.0 with inoculum size of 500 μl at 45 °C and aerobically incubation period of 72 h. The optimum volume of the fermentation medium was found to be 20 ml in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flask; the best starch and meat extract plus peptone concentration that provided the highest enzyme production from Bacillus sp. NRC22017 were found to be 2% and 1.05% (w/v) respectively. Conclusion Enzyme production was higher after optimizing the production conditions as compared to the basal medium

Bioactive compounds from marine <em>Stachybotrys</em> sp. QL23

322-328During our ongoing search for bioactive compounds from microorganisms, the marine fungus Stachybotrys sp. QL23 was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Qarun Lake, El Fayoum governorate, Egypt and biologically screened to produce bioactive compounds. The fungal extract showed moderate to high activity against Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria assayed. The genotypic characterisation of Stachybotrys sp QL23 has been deduced basically on its 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Pre-chemical studies of the strain extract using different chromatographic techniques afforded the major bioactive metabolites, ergosterol (1) and linoleic acid (2), and their chemical structures were assigned using 1D and 2D NMR and Spectroscopy and HR-EI mass spectrometry. In this article, we present the isolation and taxonomical characterisation of the producing fungal strain, along with the study of antimicrobial activity of the strain extract and compounds 1-2 using a set of microorganisms. The study of the QL23 using cervix carcinoma cell line (KB-3-1) extract has been reported as well

Bioactive compounds from marine Stachybotrys sp. QL23

During our ongoing search for bioactive compounds from microorganisms, the marine fungus Stachybotrys sp. QL23 was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Qarun Lake, El Fayoum governorate, Egypt and biologically screened to produce bioactive compounds. The fungal extract showed moderate to high activity against Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria assayed. The genotypic characterization of Stachybotrys sp QL23 has been deduced basically on its 18S rDNA gene sequencing. Pre-chemical studies of the strain extract using different chromatographic techniques afforded the major bioactive metabolites, ergosterol (1) and linoleic acid (2), and their chemical structures were assigned using 1D and 2D NMR and Spectroscopy and HR-EI mass spectrometry. In this article, we present the isolation and taxonomical characterization of the producing fungal strain, along with the study of antimicrobial activity of the strain extract and compounds 1-2 using a set of microorganisms. The study of the QL23 using cervix carcinoma cell line (KB-3-1) extract has been reported as well