Green Synthesis of Gold and Iron Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Nanotechnology has vast applications in almost all fields of science and technology. The use of medicinal plants for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles has gained much attention nowadays. In the current research work, six medicinal plants were used for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and iron nanoparticles (FeNPs). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by different techniques including UV-visible spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, the activities of green synthesized nanoparticles were screened in vitro using, for example, antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and DNA protection assays. Both FeNPs and AuNPs had spherical shapes with an average size less than 50 nm and were found to have good antimicrobial and nontoxic effects. Furthermore, FeNPs from Ficus microcarpa demonstrated high drug loading efficiency (65%) as compared to an anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac potassium, DFP). We also evaluated the drug delivery potential, as well as anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties, of nanoparticles in vivo. Interestingly, AuNPs of Syzygium cumini exhibited strong anti-inflammatory potential as compared to DFP and diclofenac-loaded FeNPs of Ficus microcarpa. The results suggest potential pharmacological applications of biogenic synthesized AuNPs and FeNPs which can be explored further. The study revealed that the green synthesized AuNPs and FeNPs provide a promising approach for the synthesis of drug-loaded nanoparticles and consequently in the field of targeted drug delivery.

Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal Two New Species of Sporocadaceae From Hainan, China

Species of Sporocadaceae have often been reported as plant pathogens, endophytes or saprobic, commonly isolated from a wide range of plant hosts. The isolated fungi were studied through a complete examination based on multi-locus phylogeny of a combined dataset of ITS/TUB2/TEF1-α, in conjunction with morphological characteristics. Nine strains isolated from Schima superba, Ficus microcarpa and Ilex chinensis in Hainan Province, China, represented four species, viz, Monochaetia schimae sp. nov., Neopestalotiopsis haikouensis sp. nov., Neopestalotiopsis piceana and Pestalotiopsis licualacola.

THE ALIEN PSYLLID MACROHOMOTOMA GLADIATA KUWAYAMA, 1908 (HEMIPTERA PSYLLOIDEA HOMOTOMIDAE): SPREAD AND DAMAGE OF A RECENTLY RECORDED PEST OF FICUS MICROCARPA TREES IN TUNISIA

During an inventory study of Psylloidea species carried out in Tunisia, the alien psyllid, Macrohomotoma gladiata Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera Psylloidea Homotomidae), recently recorded in the country, has been detected on ornamental Ficus microcarpa, in public and private parks and gardens in many locations of the urban areas of the governorates of Tunis and Ariana, showing a fast spread in the area. This psyllid species has been observed causing damages and vegetative disorders to Ficus trees, especially white wax secretion, leaf wrapping and honeydew excretion on leaves and twigs. The number of infested trees increased from our first observations in late 2020 to early 2021. An Anthocoris sp. (Hemiptera Anthocoridae) has been observed to naturally prey on M. gladiata in many investigated locations.

Structural analysis and construction of thermostable antifungal chitinase

Chitin is a biopolymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine with β-1,4-bond and is the main component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of many fungi. Chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the β-1,4-bond in chitin and degrades chitin into oligomers. It has been found in a wide range of organisms. Chitinase from Gazyumaru (Ficus microcarpa) latex exhibits antifungal activity by degrading chitin in the cell wall of fungi and is expected to be used in medical and agricultural fields. However, the enzyme's thermostability is an important factor; chitinase is not thermostable enough to maintain its activity under the actual applicable conditions. We solved the crystal structure of chitinase to explore the target sites to improve its thermostability. Based on the crystal structure and sequence alignment among other chitinases, we rationally introduced proline residues, a disulfide bond, and salt bridge in the chitinase using protein engineering methods. As a result, we successfully constructed the thermostable mutant chitinases rationally with high antifungal and specific activities. The results provide a useful strategy to enhance the thermostability of this enzyme family.

The evolution of parasitism from mutualism in wasps pollinating the fig, Ficus microcarpa, in Yunnan Province, China

Theory identifies factors that can undermine the evolutionary stability of mutualisms. However, theory’s relevance to mutualism stability in nature is controversial. Detailed comparative studies of parasitic species that are embedded within otherwise mutualistic taxa (e.g., fig pollinator wasps) can identify factors that potentially promote or undermine mutualism stability. We describe results from behavioral, morphological, phylogenetic, and experimental studies of two functionally distinct, but closely related, Eupristina wasp species associated with the monoecious host fig, Ficus microcarpa, in Yunnan Province, China. One (Eupristina verticillata) is a competent pollinator exhibiting morphologies and behaviors consistent with observed seed production. The other (Eupristina sp.) lacks these traits, and dramatically reduces both female and male reproductive success of its host. Furthermore, observations and experiments indicate that individuals of this parasitic species exhibit greater relative fitness than the pollinators, in both indirect competition (individual wasps in separate fig inflorescences) and direct competition (wasps of both species within the same fig). Moreover, phylogenetic analyses suggest that these two Eupristina species are sister taxa. By the strictest definition, the nonpollinating species represents a “cheater” that has descended from a beneficial pollinating mutualist. In sharp contrast to all 15 existing studies of actively pollinated figs and their wasps, the local F. microcarpa exhibit no evidence for host sanctions that effectively reduce the relative fitness of wasps that do not pollinate. We suggest that the lack of sanctions in the local hosts promotes the loss of specialized morphologies and behaviors crucial for pollination and, thereby, the evolution of cheating.

Characterisation of breeding habitat of Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura (Mammalia: Sciuridae) in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India

The Grizzled Giant Squirrel (GGS) Ratufa macroura (Pennant, 1769) is a ‘Near Threatened’ and endemic giant squirrel distributed in southern India and Sri Lanka. In India, the species is distributed in more than 10 locations between Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka in the north and Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu in the south. A study was conducted in the riparian habitats of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala to understand the habitat characteristics, including the drey site use of GGS. The vegetation of the GGS habitat was studied using the quadrat method, and the dreys were counted using the transects. A total of 95 species of trees were identified from the riverine vegetation, and the GGS used 36 species of trees for drey construction. Most of the dreys were found on Mangifera indica, Terminalia arjuna, Ficus microcarpa, Diospyros ebenum, and Pongamia pinnata. However, the GGS may prefer trees such as Mitragyna parviflora, Diospyros ebenum, Ficus microcarpa, Albizia procera, Acacia nilotica, and Acacia leucophloea for drey construction. The study also highlights the usage of large trees with extensive crown by the GGS for various activities such as feeding, resting, moving, and nesting, thus signifying the necessity for protecting the remaining riverine habitat at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to ensure the long-term conservation of GGS. We recommend an urgent restoration by restocking with already existing, native tree species of the riverine habitat due to the extremely poor regeneration of trees in the riverine habitat that support the only population of the GGS in Kerala.

Tyrictaca hyalina (Kallies & Arita, 2001) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae: Tinthiini)—a description of pupa and the introduction into Europe on an infested Ficus microcarpa

The clearwing moth, Tyrictaca hyalina (Kallies & Arita, 2001) (Tinthiini, Sesiidae), was reared from cultivated Ficus microcarpa L.f. which were imported from China to Poland. Tyrictaca hyalina is native to southeast Asia and was probably reared before from the same imported Ficus plants in Germany and France. This article presents the first description of the pupal morphology of Tyrictaca. We compare the description of pupal morphology of T. hyalina to known morphological features of the pupae of other Tinthiini species. The morphological characters of adult and male genitalia are also presented.