Papers by Muhammad Hamayun
Microorganisms
Lipases are versatile biocatalysts and are used in different bioconversion reactions. Microbial l... more Lipases are versatile biocatalysts and are used in different bioconversion reactions. Microbial lipases are currently attracting a great amount of attention due to the rapid advancement of enzyme technology and its practical application in a variety of industrial processes. The current review provides updated information on the different sources of microbial lipases, such as fungi, bacteria, and yeast, their classical and modern purification techniques, including precipitation and chromatographic separation, the immunopurification technique, the reversed micellar system, aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), aqueous two-phase flotation (ATPF), and the use of microbial lipases in different industries, e.g., the food, textile, leather, cosmetics, paper, and detergent industries. Furthermore, the article provides a critical analysis of lipase-producing microbes, distinguished from the previously published reviews, and illustrates the use of lipases in biosensors, biodiesel production, and t...
Frontiers in Plant Science
Rapid industrialization and global warming have threatened the plants with multiple abiotic stres... more Rapid industrialization and global warming have threatened the plants with multiple abiotic stresses, such as heavy metals and drought stress. For crop cultivation, the conventional approach of cleaning the soils by excavation is very costly and not feasible for large scale. Establishing toxin-free and drought-resistant crops is a major challenge in the environment under natural and anthropogenic pressure. In the past decades, copper contamination of agricultural land has become an emerging concern. For dry land reclamation, several new strategies, including bioremediation (phytoremediation and microbial remediation), have been used. Owing to the potential of Cu hyperaccumulators, the current project aims to enhance the drought tolerance and the phytoremediation potential of Solanum lycopersicum L. with the inoculation of copper and 12% polyethylene glycol (PEG)–induced drought stress–tolerant endophytic fungus Porostereum spadiceum AGH786 under the combined stress of copper heavy m...
Fundamental and Applied Agriculture
The aim of the present investigation was to assess the allelopathic potential of 25 Bangladeshi l... more The aim of the present investigation was to assess the allelopathic potential of 25 Bangladeshi legume plants against the seedling development of the allelopathic-sensitive plant Raphanus sativus L. Five distinct concentrations of these plant species' aqueous leaf extracts viz., 1:05, 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, and 1.25 (w/v) were employed. Every time, distilled water (with no extract) was acted as a control, and the bioassay test was repeated three times. The inhibitory actions relied on concentration and the shoot growth was less responsive to plant extracts than the root development. The shoot growth of R. sativus was less inhibited (70%) by lentil (Lens culinaris) leaf extract whilst African dhaincha (Sesbania aculeate L) at concentration of 1:05 (w/v) provided the highest inhibition (100%). At a concentration of 1:10 (w/v), the root of Krishnochura (Delonix regia), Sada koroi (Albizia procera), Radhachura (Peltophorum pterocarpum), Minjiri, (Cassia siamea), Polash (Butea monosperma)...
PLOS ONE
Endophytic fungi from the Chilli were used to help okra plants exposed to cadmium (Cd) or chromiu... more Endophytic fungi from the Chilli were used to help okra plants exposed to cadmium (Cd) or chromium (Cr) stress. Initially, the strain Ch06 produced higher amounts of indole acetic acid (IAA) (230.5 μg/mL), sugar (130.7 μg/mL), proteins (128.2 μg/mL), phenolics (525.6 μg/mL) and flavonoids (98.4 μg/mL) in Czapek broth supplemented with Cd or Cr. The production of IAA and other metabolites in such a higher concentration suggested that Ch06 might improve plant growth under heavy metal stress. For this reason, an experiment was designed, in which biomass of Ch06 (at 2g/100g of sand) were applied to the okra plants exposed to Cd or Cr stress (at 100 or 500 μg/g). The results exhibited that Ch06 improved the total chlorophyll (36.4±0.2 SPAD), shoot length (22.6±0.2 cm), root length (9.1±0.6 cm), fresh weight (5±0.6 g), dry weight (1.25±0.01 g), sugars (151.6 μg/g), proteins (114.8 μg/g), proline (6.7 μg/g), flavonoids (37.9 μg/g), phenolics (70.7 μg/g), IAA (106.7 μg/g), catalase (0.75 en...
Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia
Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the most prevalent disease worl... more Toxoplasmosis caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the most prevalent disease worldwide. The infections in human are extremely dangerous if they happen during pregnancy because they may lead to miscarriage or congenital abnormalities, which predominantly affect the central nervous system. The main objective of current study was to identify the risk factors for toxoplasmosis and its prevalence among pregnant women in Mardan. The blood serum was tested using the ELISA and the latex agglutination test. Through interviews, sociodemographic and prospective risk factor data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. Our findings, obtained from ELISA and latex agglutination tests, showed considerably higher toxoplasmosis rates of 23% and 11%, respectively. The geographic distribution of toxoplasma infection in district Mardan revealed a high prevalence in Shah Baig village through ELISA (28%) and latex test (12%) followed by Ibrahim Khan Killi (24%) and (16%), while l...
Agronomy
Fungal endophytes are not widely known for their role in bioactive metabolite production and sali... more Fungal endophytes are not widely known for their role in bioactive metabolite production and salinity stress alleviation in different crop plants. Presently, we investigated the salt stress (NaCl, KCl, and H2SO4) mitigation capabilities of fungal endophyte Candida membranifaciens (FH15) isolated from Euphorbia milii L. The pure culture filtrate (CF) of C. membranifaciens revealed siderophore production and solubilization of phosphate, with high levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA: 35.8µg/mL), phenolics (70 µg/mL), and flavonoids (50 µg/mL) by using a UV spectrophotometer. The LC/MS analysis of the CF showed different phenols and flavonoids that were identified as Salicylic acid, Baicalein, Aconitic acid, Feruloylquinic acid, Coniferyl aldehyde hexoside, Pentose, Chlorogenic acid, Myricetin, Propoxyphene, and Amino-flunitrazepam. Inoculation of maize seedlings with C. membranifaciens significantly (p = 0.05) enhanced the fresh and dry biomass, carotenoid, and chlorophyll contents under ...
Molecules
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder involving persistent spontaneous seizures and uncontrolled ne... more Epilepsy is a neurological disorder involving persistent spontaneous seizures and uncontrolled neuronal excitability that leads to cognitive impairments and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Currently available antiepileptic drugs present side effects and researchers are trying to discover new agents with properties to overcome these drawbacks. The aim was to synthesize magnesium oxide (MgO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles from Datura alba fresh leaf extracts and evaluate their anti-epileptic potential in mice kindling or a repetitive seizures model. The phytoassisted synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using spectroscopy; FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and EDX. Analysis of the NPs confirmed the crystalline pleomorphic shape using the salts of both zinc and magnesium possibly stabilized, functionalized and reduced by bioactive molecules present in plant extract. By using several characterization techniques, NPs were confirmed. UV-Vis spectroscopy of biologically produced ZnO and M...
Frontiers in Plant Science
Climate change is a major cause of the world's food security problems, and soil salinity is a... more Climate change is a major cause of the world's food security problems, and soil salinity is a severe hazard for a variety of crops. The exploitation of endophytic fungi that are known to have a positive association with plant roots is preferred for improving plant growth, yield, and overall performance under salt stress. The current study thus rationalized to address how salt stress affected the growth, biochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and the ionic status of maize associated with endophytic fungus (Stemphylium lycopersici). According to the findings, salt stress reduced chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, total protein, sugars, lipids, and endogenous IAA levels. Enhanced values of chlorophyll a/b ratio, carotenoids, secondary metabolites (phenol, flavonoids, and tannins), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase), proline, and lipid peroxidation were noticed in maize plants under salt stress. Increased i...
Journal of Fungi
Downy mildew (DM), caused by P. cubensis, is harmful to cucurbits including luffa, with increased... more Downy mildew (DM), caused by P. cubensis, is harmful to cucurbits including luffa, with increased shortcomings associated with its control through cultural practices, chemical fungicides, and resistant cultivars; there is a prompt need for an effective, eco-friendly, economical, and safe biocontrol approach. Current research is therefore dealt with the biocontrol of luffa DM1 through the endophytic fungi (EF) consortium. Results revealed that T. harzianum (ThM9) and T. virens (TvA1) showed pathogen-dependent inducible metabolic production of squalene and gliotoxins by higher gene expression induction of SQS1/ERG9 (squalene synthase) and GliP (non-ribosomal peptide synthetase). Gene expression of lytic enzymes of EF was also induced with subsequently higher enzyme activities upon confrontation with P. cubensis. EF-inoculated luffa seeds showed efficient germination with enhanced growth potential and vigor of seedlings. EF-inoculated plants showed an increased level of growth-promotin...
Frontiers in Marine Science
Salinity stress has hindered the growth and yield of crops globally. The demands for inducing sal... more Salinity stress has hindered the growth and yield of crops globally. The demands for inducing salt stress tolerance by natural and biological sources with potent antioxidants and growth-promoting metabolites have been the main focus of the recent era. Therefore, the current research was conducted to extract salt stress tolerance-ameliorating metabolites and growth-promoting hormones from the marine brown macroalgae Sargassum wightii Greville ex J. Agardh with maximum antioxidant potential used as a liquid fertilizer for okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). In the current study, the biochemical analysis showed that Sargassum aqueous extract (SAE) was rich in growth-promoting metabolites, antioxidants, and hormones. Meanwhile, overaccumulation of glycine betaine attracted the focus of the current research dealing with salt stress tolerance amelioration in A. esculentus. The plants supplemented with SAE (2% and 4%) and 0.04% ascorbic acid (AsA) alone and in combinations were subjected to ...
Current Microbiology
The role of the most fungal endophytes in the host plant growth and production of metabolites und... more The role of the most fungal endophytes in the host plant growth and production of metabolites under stress conditions is still unknown. Fungal endophytes occur in almost all plants to benefit the host plants exposed to biotic and abiotic stress. In the present work, we investigated salt (NaCl) stress alleviation capability of a fungal endophyte (Porostereum spadiceum-AGH786). The culture filtrate (CF: 1.5 mL.) of P. spadiceum-AGH786 contained IAA (158 µg/ml), SA (29.3 µg/ml), proline (114.6 µg/ml), phenols (167.4 µg/ml), lipids (71.4 µg/ml), sugar (133.2 µg/ml), flavonoids (105.04 µg/ml). Smaller amounts of organic acids, such as butyric acid (5.8 µg/ml), formic acid (2.34 µg/ml), succinic acid (2.02 µg/ml), and quinic acid (2.25 µg/ml) were also found in CF of P. spadiceum-AGH786. Similarly, the CF displayed antioxidant activity in 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. Moreover, wheat plants colonized by P. spadiceum-AGH786 showed significantly (P = 0.05) higher polyphenol oxidases activity (2.2 mg/g DW) under normal conditions as compared to the NaCl-treated plants. We also observed that P. spadiceum-AGH786 improved biomass (0.30 g) of wheat plants subjected to 140 mM NaCl stress. The results conclude that the wheat plant colonization by P. spadiceum-AGH786 greatly improved the plant growth under 70 mM and 140 mM NaCl stress. Thus, the biomass of the P. Spadiceum-AGH786 can be used in saline soil to help the host plants.
Antioxidants, 2021
Different physical and chemical techniques are used for the decontamination of Cr+6 contaminated ... more Different physical and chemical techniques are used for the decontamination of Cr+6 contaminated sites. The techniques are expensive, laborious, and time-consuming. However, remediation of Cr+6 by microbes is viable, efficient, and cost-effective. In this context, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Acinetobacter bouvetii P1 isolated from the industrial zone was tested for its role in relieving Cr+6 induced oxidative stress in sunflower. At the elevated Cr+6 levels and in the absence of P1, the growth of the sunflower plants was inhibited. In contrast, the selected strain P1 restored the sunflower growth under Cr+6 through plant growth–promoting interactions. Specifically, P1 biotransformed the Cr+6 into a stable and less toxic Cr+3 form, thus avoiding the possibility of phytotoxicity. On the one hand, the P1 strengthened the host antioxidant system by triggering higher production of enzymatic antioxidants, including catalases, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxi...
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, Dec 31, 2009
Fourteen medicinal plant species, growing in different parts of Pakistan, have been used to prepa... more Fourteen medicinal plant species, growing in different parts of Pakistan, have been used to prepare two herbal products Mussafeen and Itreeful ustokhudus by the Qarshi Industry Pvt Ltd. These products were selected to compare the proximate parameters and micronutrients composition with medicinal plants used therein. In proximate analysis carbohydrate, protein, fiber, fat, ash and energy values while in case of micronutrients; Cu, Ni, Pb, Co, Zn, Fe and Cd were assayed. The proximate parameters of each medicinal plants used in herbal products were different, however, Fumaria offcinalis has higher to moderate values of ash, fat, carbohydrates and protein contents compared to other species used in the herbal formulations. Looking at the herbal product's proximate analysis, Mussafeen had highest percentage of fats, ash, proteins, and fibers compared to Itreeful ustokhudus herbal products. In micronutrient's analysis, Sphaeranthus hiritus, Fumaria offcinalis and Cuscuta reflexa had higher concentration of Co, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni and Pb compared to other composite materials of the herbal products. In case of herbal formulations, Itreeful ustokhudus has the highest concentrations of almost all nutrients, that is, Cu, Zn and Cd, while Mussafeen has highest concentrations of Fe, Pb and Ni. However, the concentrations were found well below the threshold levels of the standards mentioned by the World Health Organizations.
High temperature is one of the leading threats to the plants that severely affects crop quality a... more High temperature is one of the leading threats to the plants that severely affects crop quality as well as quantity. Endophytic fungi might be a new tool to safeguard crops against the perilous effects of global warming. In this context, we isolated a thermal stress mitigating endophytic fungus from the fern Dryopteris filix L. The phylogenetic study and 18S rRNA sequence similarity confirmed the potential strain as Aspergillus violaceofuscus. The culture filtrate of A. violaceofuscus exhibited higher concentration of secondary metabolites that enhanced the total chlorophyll content, plant height and biomass of sunflower and soybean seedlings under heat stress. Conversely, the A. violaceofuscus associated plants achieved low levels of reactive oxygen species, abscisic acid, catalase, ascorbic acid oxidase, proline and an overall improved the nutritional value. The current study suggests that A. violaceofuscus can be used as heat stress adaptive tool in crops to achieve sustainable a...
We have isolated five endophytic fungi from the roots of Capsicum annuum, Cucumis sativus and Gly... more We have isolated five endophytic fungi from the roots of Capsicum annuum, Cucumis sativus and Glycine max. The culture filtrates (CF) of these endophytes were screened on dwarf mutant rice (Waito-C) and normal rice (Dongjin-byeo). Endophyte CAC-1A significantly inhibited the growth of Waito-C and Dongjin-byeo. Endophyte CAC-1A was identified as Paraconiothyrium sp. by sequencing the ITS rDNA region and phylogenetic analysis. The ethyl acetate fraction of Paraconiothyrium sp. suppressed the germination of Lactuca sativa and Echinochloa crus-galli seeds. The ethyl acetate fraction of the endophyte was subjected to bioassay-guided isolation and we obtained the phytotoxic compound ascotoxin (1) which was characterized through NMR and GC/MS techniques. Ascotoxin revealed 100% inhibitory effects on seed germination of Echinochloa crus-galli. Compound (1) was isolated for the first time from Paraconiothyrium sp.
Antibacterial potential of plants traditionally used for
Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2022
Most of the plant species are susceptible to various ecological constraints, including high tempe... more Most of the plant species are susceptible to various ecological constraints, including high temperature stress. Endophytic fungi can defend the host crops from the extreme effects of thermal stress. We isolated fungal endophytes from a wild plant species Sonchus asper L. to study its effect on the physicochemical characteristics of Helianthus annuus L. and Glycine max L. exposed to high temperature stress. Biochemical and physiological parameters, such as chlorophyll contents, total biomass and height of the Helianthus annuus and Glycine max were promoted, whereas the production of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) and lipid peroxidation were inhibited in the fungal inoculated plants. Furthermore, higher amounts of ROS-degrading antioxidants [CAT (catalase), SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase), GR (glutathione-reductase) and AAO (ascorbic acid oxidase)], sugars, proteins, lipids and phenolics were noted in host crops. Lower concentration of proline and ABA on the other hand was observed in plants inoculated with fungal strain and exposed to heat stress. The potent strain was found to be Stemphylium solani after amplification of the ITS region of 18 S rDNA. The results concluded that S. solani can be handy in mitigating heat stress in food crops.
Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2021
Salt stress is one of the abiotic stresses which negatively affects the growth and yield of diffe... more Salt stress is one of the abiotic stresses which negatively affects the growth and yield of different plants worldwide. The purpose of the present investigation was to analyze the physiological and biochemical parameters of maize plants exposed to salt stress with or without fungal association. The results indicated that salinity negatively affected the growth attributes, biochemical parameters and ionic status in maize. In contrast, WSQ association has improved the growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, IAA and metabolites, N, P, Ca, K and Mg concentrations in maize. Moreover, WSQ association reduced lipid-peroxidation, Na, Cl, Na/K and Ca/K ratio in maize during salinity stress. The results of the present study concluded that the endophyticfungal strain WSQ can serve as a good strategic-tool to improve maize growth under salt-stress.
Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2021
High temperature is an imperative abiotic stress in the present age causing huge loss to agricult... more High temperature is an imperative abiotic stress in the present age causing huge loss to agricultural crops. Global warming cause fast water losses from the soil surface that increases the risk of drought and salinity [1]. Different ecological stresses cause overproduction of ROS that leads to oxidative damage of chlorophylls, lipids and proteins, and distracts cell functional-integrity. ROS consists of hydroxyl radical (OH), singlet oxygen (1 O 2), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2)
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Papers by Muhammad Hamayun