Antifungal activity – Page 5

Chilean Aloysia Essential Oils: A Medicinal Plant Resource for Postharvest Disease Control

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Researchers tested essential oils from two Chilean herbs, Aloysia citriodora and Aloysia polystachya, against fungi that cause fruit rot after harvest. They found that oil from Aloysia citriodora, especially a compound called farnesol, effectively killed the disease-causing fungi in laboratory tests. These natural oils could replace synthetic fungicides that are becoming less effective and harmful to the environment, offering farmers a safer way to protect their fruit during storage and transport.

Antifungal potential of Rhinacanthus nasutus extracts against the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans

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Researchers studied snake jasmine (Rhinacanthus nasutus), a plant used in traditional Thai medicine, to see if it could fight fungal infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a dangerous pathogen that kills many people worldwide. They found that extract from the plant’s roots effectively slowed fungal growth and weakened the pathogen’s defenses by reducing its ability to produce protective melanin and capsules. Importantly, when combined with amphotericin B, a common antifungal drug, the plant extract worked even better together, suggesting it could enhance existing treatments.

Biocontrol of citrus fungal pathogens by lipopeptides produced by Bacillus velezensis TZ01

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Scientists discovered a beneficial bacterium called Bacillus velezensis that can protect citrus fruits from harmful fungi. This bacterium produces natural compounds called lipopeptides that kill disease-causing fungi without the need for chemical fungicides. The lipopeptides are stable and effective across different environmental conditions, making them promising for use in citrus farming as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional pesticides.

In vitro antifungal activity of plant extracts against fungal pathogens of onion (Allium cepa L.) and red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in selected districts of Western Hararghe, Ethiopia

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Onion and pepper farmers in Ethiopia lose significant crops to fungal diseases, and chemical fungicides are expensive and harmful. This study tested plant extracts from garlic, neem, and African wintersweet against disease-causing fungi. Acokanthera schimperi (African wintersweet) was most effective at stopping fungal growth, offering farmers an affordable, natural, and environmentally safe alternative to chemical fungicides.

Green Synthesized Copper-Oxide Nanoparticles Exhibit Antifungal Activity Against Botrytis cinerea, the Causal Agent of the Gray Mold Disease

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Scientists have developed tiny copper particles using environmentally friendly methods with beneficial fungi to fight gray mold, a devastating disease in vineyards and crops. These green-synthesized nanoparticles were more effective at stopping the fungus than commercial fungicides currently in use. The research shows this approach could be a sustainable alternative that reduces harmful chemicals used in agriculture while protecting crops more effectively.

Essential Oils as an Antifungal Alternative to Control Several Species of Fungi Isolated from Musa paradisiaca: Part III

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This research tested six common cooking and medicinal herbs to see which could stop the growth of fungi that spoil bananas after harvest. Scientists found that thyme oil was the most effective, followed by cinnamon and oregano, successfully preventing fungal growth at practical concentrations. These natural oils could replace synthetic chemical fungicides that harm the environment, offering a safer way to keep bananas fresh and healthy during storage and transport.

Antifungal Potential of Streptomyces-Derived Metabolites Against Fluconazole-Resistant Oral Candida albicans: In vitro Evaluation and Mechanistic Insights

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Researchers studied a type of soil bacteria called Streptomyces that produces natural compounds with strong antifungal properties. These compounds effectively killed drug-resistant Candida fungal infections that commonly affect cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The bacterial extract worked by damaging fungal cell membranes and blocking biofilm formation, which are protective structures the fungus uses to survive. While the results are promising for treating stubborn fungal infections, more research is needed to ensure safety for human patients.

In Vitro Screening of the Antifungal and Antimycotoxin Effects of a Stilbenoids-Rich Grapevine Cane Extract on Fusarium graminearum, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium expansum

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This study tested a natural extract from grapevine pruning waste to see if it could stop three dangerous fungi that produce harmful toxins in crops. The extract worked well at stopping both fungal growth and toxin production, with effects that lasted even after the extract was removed. These results suggest that grapevine waste could be turned into a natural fungicide to protect crops from contamination.

Synergistic potential and apoptosis induction of Bunium persicum essential oil and its pure components, cuminaldehyde and γ-terpinene, in combination with fluconazole on Candida albicans isolates: in vitro and in silico evaluation

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Researchers studied how an essential oil from black cumin seeds (Bunium persicum) and two of its key active components could work together with the antifungal drug fluconazole to fight Candida albicans infections, including drug-resistant strains. Using laboratory tests and computer modeling, they found that cuminaldehyde, one of the main components, was particularly effective when combined with fluconazole, killing yeast cells through multiple mechanisms. This suggests that natural plant compounds could be valuable partners with conventional antifungal medications to overcome drug resistance.

Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR

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This research identifies the best internal control genes to use when measuring gene activity in a fungus that causes pepper disease. Scientists tested eight different reference genes under various conditions like fungal growth and pepper infection, plus when treating the fungus with plant extracts. Different genes worked best for different situations: one gene was best during fungal growth, another during infection, and a third when treated with plant extracts. These findings will help future studies better understand how this disease-causing fungus works and develop better control methods.

Research Topic: Antifungal activity