Recent advances in nanotechnology offer promising solutions for controlling postharvest fungal diseases, a primary cause of economic losses in Carica papaya production. This study assessed the antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) from Syzygium aromaticum buds (BSA) and Zingiber officinale rhizomes (RZO), alone and in combinations, as well as their nanoemulsion, against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium equiseti, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the main pathogens causing papaya rot. EOs were extracted, characterized by GC-MS, and tested individually or in combinations (v/v: 70/30, 50/50, 30/70: BSA/RZO) via the food poisoning method. The optimal combination (70/30: BSA/RZO) showed synergistic effects (FICI: 0.4869-0.8615) and was formulated into a nanoemulsion (NEOco_70/30: BSA/RZO) using low-energy emulsification. The nanoemulsion exhibited a polydispersity index of 0.1330, specific surface area of 2.9 m2/g, mean droplet size of 130 nm, and zeta potential of 34 mV, with excellent physicochemical and rheological stability. EO_BSA was dominated by eugenol (88.08
Highly sensitive detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is of great significance for the early diagnosis and prognosis assessment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Conventional single carbon dot fluorescent probes are inherently limited by weak fluorescence intensity, challenging biofunctionalization and unsatisfactory detection sensitivity. Herein, we report an immunoassay strategy based on red-emissive silica-encapsulated carbon dots (R-CDs@SiO2) for highly amplified fluorescence signals, significantly enhancing detection sensitivity and selectivity. Additionally, under optimized conditions, the method demonstrated the limit of detection of 0.005 ng/mL (n = 3) and achieved recovery rates ranging from 93.6
p-Hydroxyphenethyl anisate (HP) has been identified as a natural compound with whitening activity in melanoma cells and zebrafish. Considering that glycosylation can enhance the solubility, stability, and bioactivity of natural products, we investigated whether HP could serve as a substrate for glycosylation enzymes. Molecular docking predicted favorable interactions between HP and amylosucrase as well as glycosyltransferases, suggesting the potential formation of α- and β-glucosides. Enzymatic reactions confirmed the production of phenethylanisate-4′-O-α-glucoside (HP-α-glc) and phenethylanisate-4′-O-β-glucoside (HP-β-glc). The structures were validated by mass spectrometry, enzymatic digestion (HP-α-glc), or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HP-β-glc). Biological evaluation revealed that both glucosides suppressed melanogenesis in murine B16-F1 melanoma cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that HP-β-glc not only inhibited tyrosinase activity but also downregulated the expression of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase at both the protein and mRNA levels, thereby attenuating melanogenesis through transcriptional regulation. Consistently, in vivo assays demonstrated that HP-β-glc effectively inhibited pigmentation in zebrafish embryos without inducing developmental toxicity, and its effect was comparable to that of the positive control, raspberry ketone. These findings highlight the enzymatic glycosylation of HP as a viable strategy to generate bioactive derivatives with improved functional properties. In particular, HP-β-glc retains the anti-melanogenic activity of HP, providing mechanistic evidence and preclinical validation for its potential application as a safe and effective skin-whitening agent.
Diabetes nephropathy (DN) is a severe diabetic complication that is currently one of the most important causes of death in diabetic patients. Previous trials have shown that the combination of Gegen flavonoids and Huangqi saponins (FS) exerts renal protection in DN. The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic roles of FS in DN. Fourteen ingredients of the drug-containing serum were analyzed by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS. The network pharmacology indicated that the AGEs-RAGE axis and NF-κB signaling pathway may be the prominent pathways for FS against DN. FS was validated to reduce inflammation and influence cell apoptosis, thereby protecting the kidneys of DN rats. In addition, FS led to the recombination of the rat microbial community, enhanced the richness and diversity of the colon microbiota, and alleviated the renal burden by preserving the intestinal barrier and reducing endotoxin infiltration into the bloodstream. Furthermore, FS suppressed M1 macrophage polarization in both the kidneys and intestines and reduced the release of inflammatory mediators, thereby attenuating kidney injury. These findings suggest that FS ameliorates DN by interrupting the detrimental gut–kidney feedback loop through regulation of the NF-κB pathway, reshaping the colon microbiota, protecting the intestinal barrier, and controlling macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype, which serves as a shared inflammatory amplifier in the kidney and colon.
The upsurge in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens poses a dire global public health concern, limiting the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Natural polyphenols and their derivatives have attracted immense attention due to their versatile pharmacological potentials encompassing antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum sensing activities. However, a comprehensive understanding of polyphenols combating MDR pathogens and the mechanistic interactions needs to be elucidated. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of natural polyphenols and polyphenol-based formulations against MDR bacterial pathogens, along with inherent molecular targets, using an integrated network pharmacology approach. A systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane databases, including peer-reviewed publications from 2015 to 2025. Studies reporting polyphenolic compounds and derivatives against MDR bacteria were derived based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seventeen studies (n = 17), including one clinical trial, met the inclusion criteria solely on polyphenolic compounds against MDR bacteria. Evidence indicates that natural polyphenols and their derivatives exert antimicrobial effects through multiple mechanisms, including efflux pump inhibition, quorum-sensing interference, biofilm disruption, and membrane damage. Further, nanoformulated polyphenols and metal–polyphenol complexes demonstrated enhanced stability, bioavailability, and synergistic activity with antibiotics for combating MDR pathogens. Network pharmacology analysis revealed significant interactions between polyphenols and virulence-related genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, highlighting their potential as multi-target anti-virulence agents. Thus, multi-target mechanisms, combined with antibiotic adjuvant potentials and nanodelivery approaches, envisage future translational research, clinical validation, and sustainable AMR therapies that align with global One Health initiatives and SDG 3.
