Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications
Cynomorium coccineum L., the desert thumb, is a rather exotic, parasitic plant unable to engage in photosynthesis, yet rich in a variety of unique compounds with a wide spectrum of biological applications. Whilst extraction, separation and isolation of such compounds is time consuming, the particula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Inventions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/2/3/24 |
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| author | Sharoon Griffin Reem Alkhayer Seda Mirzoyan Astghik Turabyan Paolo Zucca Muhammad Sarfraz Muhammad Jawad Nasim Armen Trchounian Antonio Rescigno Cornelia M. Keck Claus Jacob |
| author_facet | Sharoon Griffin Reem Alkhayer Seda Mirzoyan Astghik Turabyan Paolo Zucca Muhammad Sarfraz Muhammad Jawad Nasim Armen Trchounian Antonio Rescigno Cornelia M. Keck Claus Jacob |
| author_sort | Sharoon Griffin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cynomorium coccineum L., the desert thumb, is a rather exotic, parasitic plant unable to engage in photosynthesis, yet rich in a variety of unique compounds with a wide spectrum of biological applications. Whilst extraction, separation and isolation of such compounds is time consuming, the particular properties of the plant, such as dryness, hardness and lack of chlorophyll, render it a prime target for possible nanosizing. The entire plant, the external layer (coat) as well as its peel, are readily milled and high pressure homogenized to yield small, mostly uniform spherical particles with diameters in the range of 300 to 600 nm. The best quality of particles is obtained for the processed entire plant. Based on initial screens for biological activity, it seems that these particles are particularly active against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, whilst no activity could be observed against the model nematode Steinernema feltiae. This activity is particularly pronounced in the case of the external layer, whilst the peeled part does not seem to inhibit growth of C. albicans. Thanks to the ease of sample preparation, the good quality of the nanosuspension obtained, and the interesting activity of this natural product, nanosized coats of Cynomorium may well provide a lead for future development and applications as “green” materials in the field of medicine, but also environmentally, for instance in agriculture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:43:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5b89e07384f470cae8d8d96c29b2e8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5134 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:43:09Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inventions |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5b89e07384f470cae8d8d96c29b2e8e2022-12-22T02:46:27ZengMDPI AGInventions2411-51342017-09-01232410.3390/inventions2030024inventions2030024Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal ApplicationsSharoon Griffin0Reem Alkhayer1Seda Mirzoyan2Astghik Turabyan3Paolo Zucca4Muhammad Sarfraz5Muhammad Jawad Nasim6Armen Trchounian7Antonio Rescigno8Cornelia M. Keck9Claus Jacob10Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, D-66123 Saarbruecken, GermanyDivision of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, D-66123 Saarbruecken, GermanyDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan 375049, ArmeniaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan 375049, ArmeniaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato (CA), ItalyDivision of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, D-66123 Saarbruecken, GermanyDivision of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, D-66123 Saarbruecken, GermanyDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan 375049, ArmeniaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato (CA), ItalyInstitute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35037 Marburg, GermanyDivision of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, D-66123 Saarbruecken, GermanyCynomorium coccineum L., the desert thumb, is a rather exotic, parasitic plant unable to engage in photosynthesis, yet rich in a variety of unique compounds with a wide spectrum of biological applications. Whilst extraction, separation and isolation of such compounds is time consuming, the particular properties of the plant, such as dryness, hardness and lack of chlorophyll, render it a prime target for possible nanosizing. The entire plant, the external layer (coat) as well as its peel, are readily milled and high pressure homogenized to yield small, mostly uniform spherical particles with diameters in the range of 300 to 600 nm. The best quality of particles is obtained for the processed entire plant. Based on initial screens for biological activity, it seems that these particles are particularly active against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, whilst no activity could be observed against the model nematode Steinernema feltiae. This activity is particularly pronounced in the case of the external layer, whilst the peeled part does not seem to inhibit growth of C. albicans. Thanks to the ease of sample preparation, the good quality of the nanosuspension obtained, and the interesting activity of this natural product, nanosized coats of Cynomorium may well provide a lead for future development and applications as “green” materials in the field of medicine, but also environmentally, for instance in agriculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/2/3/24antimicrobial activityCandida albicansCynomoriumhomogenizationnanoparticles |
| spellingShingle | Sharoon Griffin Reem Alkhayer Seda Mirzoyan Astghik Turabyan Paolo Zucca Muhammad Sarfraz Muhammad Jawad Nasim Armen Trchounian Antonio Rescigno Cornelia M. Keck Claus Jacob Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications Inventions antimicrobial activity Candida albicans Cynomorium homogenization nanoparticles |
| title | Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications |
| title_full | Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications |
| title_fullStr | Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications |
| title_short | Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications |
| title_sort | nanosizing cynomorium thumbs up for potential antifungal applications |
| topic | antimicrobial activity Candida albicans Cynomorium homogenization nanoparticles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/2/3/24 |
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