Browsing by Author "Mugani, Richard"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- In vitro antimicrobial activity of volatile compounds from the Lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf. against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fish pathogensPublication . Essadki, Yasser; Hilmi, Adel; Cascajosa-Lira, Antonio; Girão, Mariana; Darrag, El Mehdi; Rosário Martins, Maria; Romane, Abderrahmane; Zerrifi, Soukaina El Amrani; Mugani, Richard; Tazart, Zakaria; Redouane, El Mahdi; Jos, Angeles; Cameán, Ana M.; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Campos, Alexandre; Khalloufi, Fatima El; Oudra, Brahim; Barakate, Mustapha; Carvalho, Maria de FátimaLichens are symbiotic organisms with unique secondary metabolism. Various metabolites from lichens have shown antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, very few studies have investigated the antimicrobial potential of the volatile compounds they produce. This study investigates the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of volatile compounds from Pseudevernia furfuracea collected in two regions of Morocco. Hydrodistillation was used to obtain volatile compounds from samples collected in the High Atlas and Middle Atlas. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified phenolic cyclic compounds as the primary constituents, with atraric acid and chloroatranol being the most abundant. Additionally, eight compounds were detected in lichens for the first time. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was assessed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Both samples demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects against multidrug-resistant human bacteria, reference microorganisms, fish pathogens, and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1000 µg/mL to 31.25 µg/mL. This study provides the first report on the volatile compounds from Pseudevernia furfuracea and their antimicrobial effects, particularly against fish pathogens, suggesting their potential as novel antimicrobial agents for human and veterinary use. Further research is warranted to explore these findings in more detail.
- Microcystin-degrading bacteria reduce bioaccumulation in Fragaria vulgaris and enhance fruit yield and qualityPublication . Haida, Mohammed; Khalloufi, Fatima El; Essadki, Yasser; Alexandrino, Diogo A. M.; Mugani, Richard; Hejjaj, Abdessamad; Campos, Alexandre; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Carvalho, Maria F.; Díez‑Quijada, Leticia; Cameán, Ana M.; Oudra, Brahim; Alexandrino, DiogoIn Morocco, red fruit production has thrived, primarily utilizing hydroponic methods to control crops, increase fruit yield and quality, and avoid soil-related problems. However, the irrigation of these expansive hydroponic farms relies heavily on water sourced from dams, many of which are contaminated with Microcystins (MCs). To address this contamination issue, ongoing research is focused on discovering effective and cost-efficient biological solutions for eliminating MCs. In this study, we isolate and identify bacterial strains capable of degrading MCs, evaluate the rate of degradation, and investigate how soil inoculated with these bacteria affects the accumulation of MCs in plant tissue. The partial 16S rRNA analyses of three bacterial sequences were conducted, identifying them through NCBI as follows: Ensifer sp. (B1) isolated from soil, Shinella sp. (B2) from a cyanobacterial bloom, and Stutzerimonas sp. (B3) from water. These bacteria exhibited the ability to degrade MCs, with approximately 34.75%, 73.75%, and 30.1% of the initial concentration (20 µg/L) being removed after a 6-day period for B1, B2, and B3, respectively. Moreover, strawberry plants were cultivated hydroponically in a greenhouse for a duration of 90 days. These plants were subjected to extracts of cyanobacteria containing 10 and 20 µg/L of Microcystins (MC), as well as water from an artificial lake contaminated with MC, both with and without the presence of isolated bacterial strains. Among these strains, Shinella sp. exhibited the highest efficacy in mitigating MC accumulation. Specifically, it resulted in a reduction of approximately 1.159 µg of MC per kilogram of root dry weight, leading to complete elimination in the leaves and fruits. The findings also indicated that the inoculation of perlite with the three MC-degrading bacterial strains significantly enhanced growth, photosynthetic pigments, yield, biochemical constituents, and quality attributes of strawberries (p≤0.05). These promising outcomes suggest the potential of this approach for addressing the adverse impacts of crops irrigated with MC-contaminated water in future agricultural practices.