Issue 3

Plant nanotoxicology is an emerging and less-explored area of research for the plant stress biologists. The present study assesses the toxicity of bulk-CuO and nano-CuO (size <50 nm and surface area = 29 m² g^-1) on maize (Zea mays cv. hybrids triple white Hi Tech.) seedlings. Five successive levels of stress (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L^-1) suspensions of CuO and CuONP were imposed and seedling growth performance was studied along control at 8 days of experiment. Modulation of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, APX and POD) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenolics and total flavonoids) activities under both-CuO stresses were investigated in detail to get an overview of their-stress response of maize. Seed germination was completely stopped under 150 and 200 mg L^-1CuONP. Generally, CuONP stress was most violent and 100 mg L^-1CuONP showed the same or more drastic effect in 150 and 200 Cu bulk. Photosynthetic pigments, shoot and root lengths reduced under both stresses by about 50% of control. Soluble proteins and total antioxidants increased gradually till it reached about 200% of control at 150 mg L^-1CuO and about 200-300% at 100 mg L^-1CuONP. In addition, increased reducing power activity coupled with both stresses which reached to 400% of control at 150 mg L^-1CuO and 100 mg L^-1CuONP. Moreover, superoxide dismutase increased by 800% of control at 100 mg. L^-1CuONP.

Plant-associated microorganisms, especially endophytic fungi, represent an untapped resource for the discovery of biologically active natural products. The objectives of this study were to isolate, identify endophytic fungi, and produce their bioactive metabolites from the leaves of two varieties of Egyptian artichoke namely: French Hyrious and Egyptian Baladi. In addition, assess of their total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The results of this novel study show a total of 35 endophytic fungal species belonging to 14 genera were isolated from both artichoke leaves with gross total counts of colonizing endophytic fungi ranged from 71 to 123 cfu which is matching 78.89% to 136.67% of colonization frequency. All taxa recovered were assigned to Ascomycetes. In addition, there is high species richness and diversity indices of endophytic filamentous fungi in the leaves Baladi Artichoke as compared to its French rival.  Alternaria alternata were found to be the most frequently isolated dominant species. The TAC, TPC and TFC of the fungal cultures ranged from 163 to 681 mgAAE/gDW, 10.38 to 40.30 mgGAE/ gDW, and 13.92 to 173.55 mgQE/gDW, respectively. Furthermore, LC-ESI-MS/MS confirmed the presence of 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid in the methanolic extract of A. alternata. Hence, this novel study suggested that the metabolites produced by endophytic fungi associated with Egyptian artichoke could be explored as an economic and potential natural resources with diverse pharmaceutical and biological activities.

Diplocyclos Palmatus biomass activated carbon (DPAC) was used in this work to remove lead (II) ion from the synthetic wastewater. The DPAC was characterized for structural, surface morphology by SEM, functional group was analyzed by FT-IR and XRD analysis. Removal of Pb2+ was studied by batch method and various experimental parameters namely effect of Pb2+ concentration, contact time, effect of temperature; pH and effect of matrix were also studied. Kinetic modelling studies showed that the adsorption of Pb2+ ion follows pseudo second order mechanism and Langmuir isotherm model was found to fit better for this study. Thermodynamic study shows a negative value for ΔG indicating the process is spontaneous. Box Behnken Design using response surface methodology as DOE was carried out in this work. RSM modelling was found to be successful in predicting the removal efficiency with R2 greater than 0.95.

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and as endocrine disrupting compounds, have recently recognized as the next set of pollutants due to their toxic effects on human health and aquatic organisms at very low concentrations. One of effective methods to remove these emerging contaminants present in the aquatic environment is a membrane bioreactor (MBR). In this review, 27 CECs belonged to diverse categories of PPCPs were surveyed from the point of view of the removal efficiency by several types of MBR modules with various operational conditions, such as a type of MBR, hydraulic retention time and sludge retention time. As a result, this review provided the overall ranges in the removal efficiency of 27 CECs by different MBR filtrations and modules. Certain categories of PPCPs such as analgesics/anti-inflammatory drugs (acetaminophen and ibuprofen), steroids/hormones (estriol and testosterone) and stimulant (caffeine) have relatively higher removal rates, while antimicrobial agent (TCEP) is rarely removed in the different MBRs. For further implementation of CEC removal by a MBR system, physical characteristics/biological fate of a wide variety of CECs, individual/synergistic effects which may occur during MBR operation, and application of advanced MBR technologies should be studied.