Search Results (1,705)

Postharvest spoilage of cherry tomatoes caused by pathogenic microorganisms and oxidative browning leads to significant economic losses and food waste. Natural bioactive compounds are gaining increasing attention as alternatives to synthetic pesticides. In this study, a nanoemulsion (NED) formulation of nature-derived 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol was developed and evaluated for its potential to preserve cherry tomato quality during storage. The NED was prepared using high-pressure homogenization, and demonstrated good water solubility and stability. The particles and polydispersity index of NED were an average size of 80–170 nm and 0.2389, respectively. The conductivity and zeta potential of the nanoemulsion were detected as 1.007 mS/cm and 1.611 mV, respectively. Antimicrobial assays showed that the nanoemulsion effectively inhibited the growth of major postharvest pathogens, including human-pathogenic bacterial S. aureus, and phytopathogenic fungal B. cinerea, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 1.0, 2.0 μL/mL, respectively. Preservation performance tests indicated that the nanoemulsion was effective under both room temperature and refrigerated conditions. When applied to cherry tomatoes, the NED significantly reduced surface bacterial quantity, and preserved fruit quality, as evidenced by a lower weight loss rate, and higher levels of soluble sugars, protein, total phenolics, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid, and total antioxidant capacity (all comparisons were statistically evaluated by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD test, p < 0.05). Importantly, the NED can be completely removed after three times of washing. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that NED is an effective and safe bioactive preservative under laboratory-scale conditions. However, further validation under commercial postharvest handling conditions is necessary prior to practical application. This work provides a fundamental basis for the application of nanoencapsulated natural phenolic compounds in the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables. Full article

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is a preservative used in the production of fermented beverages for its antimicrobial and reducing properties. However, its effect on the oxidation–reduction potential (ORP, redox potential) during alcoholic fermentation of apple cider has never been recorded. In this study, freshly pressed apple juice was fermented with a 30 mg/L free SO₂ addition (RED) and without an SO₂ addition (CON) prior to alcoholic fermentation. Fermentation kinetics, ORP, basic chemistry, organic acids, nitrogenous compounds, free and total SO₂, glutathione (GSH), phenolics, and volatiles were monitored during alcoholic fermentation and at racking. Additionally, sensory analysis was conducted after bottling. Sulfur dioxide had no effect on fermentation kinetics, nitrogen utilization, ethanol yield, or the volatile composition of the apple ciders at racking. The ORP (vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode) reached maximum values of 310 mV in CON and 218 mV in RED before alcoholic fermentation, and minimum values of −94 mV and −136 mV, respectively, near peak alcoholic fermentation. Mean ORP values during alcoholic fermentation were −29 mV in CON and −47 mV in RED. No statistical differences were found between the ORP of CON and RED using net area under the curve (AUC) of the ORP relative to Y = 0 mV, nor in the GSH chemistry of the ciders. The addition of SO₂ inhibited malolactic fermentation (MLF) during alcoholic fermentation. As a result, higher concentrations of malic acid and lower concentrations of lactic acid were observed in RED than in CON at racking. Sulfur dioxide additions preserved monomeric, dimeric, and increased the pool of sulfonated flavan-3-ols, likely due to PPO inhibition during the prefermentative phase and reactive oxygen species (ROS) quenching. The sensory composition of the ciders was affected whereby CON showed higher banana aroma and RED trended towards reduction aromas. Overall, SO₂ additions before alcoholic fermentation of apple cider preserved phenolics, inhibited MLF, and increased reduction aroma with no clear effect on fermentation kinetics and ORP, highlighting trade-offs between the impact of SO₂ additions on the chemical and sensory attributes of apple cider. Full article

The increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in Candida species poses a major obstacle to effective antifungal therapy. Since the efflux pumps Cdr1 and Mdr1 are key mediators of the MDR phenotype, particularly by conferring resistance to azoles, their inhibition has emerged as a promising strategy to restore antifungal susceptibility. Bioassay-guided fractionation of Solanum atriplicifolium, selected based on its ability to inhibit Mdr1 and Cdr1, led to the isolation of six previously undescribed acylhexoses, including four acylglucoses, named atriplicifolin A (1), atriplicifolin B (2), atriplicifolin C (3) and atriplicifolin D (4) and two acylinositols, named atriplicifolin E (5) and atriplicifolin F (6). Among these, compounds 3 and 4 successfully restored fluconazole sensitivity in resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains overexpressing Mdr1 (AD/CaMDR1) and Cdr1 (AD/CaCDR1), with greater activity against the latter, with minimum effective concentrations (MECs) of 6.2 and 7.5 µM, respectively. Both compounds also significantly increased the intracellular accumulation of Nile red and rhodamine 6G in AD/CaMDR1 and AD/CaCDR1 strains, again showing a stronger effect in the Cdr1-overexpressing strain, where MEC values ranged from 3.1 to 15.5 µM. Molecular dynamics simulations supported these results by revealing that compounds 3 and 4 displayed higher binding affinity for Cdr1 than fluconazole, Nile red or rhodamine 6G. Furthermore, analysis of the persistence and energetic contribution of individual ligand–transporter interactions over time, particularly within specific regions of the transporter, provided valuable insights for the rational design of novel inhibitors. Overall, these findings identify compounds 3 and 4 as promising scaffolds for the development of Mdr1 and Cdr1 modulators aimed at overcoming fungal multidrug resistance. Full article

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish a reciprocal interaction with plant roots, enhancing nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and the production of bioactive metabolites. These symbiotic fungi represent a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers to improve the quality and yield of medicinal and aromatic plants such as Oregano (Origanum compactum). In this study, we investigated the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on the chemical composition, nutritional profile, and biological activities of Oregano cultivated under greenhouse conditions. Compared with non-mycorrhizal plants, mycorrhizal-inoculated plants showed approximately 33% higher protein content and 28% higher total sugar content, while lipid concentration decreased slightly by about 7%. Mycorrhizal inoculation also promoted the accumulation of secondary metabolites, resulting in increased concentrations of total polyphenol and flavonoid contents by approximately 33% and 25%, respectively. These compositional changes were associated with markedly enhanced antioxidant capacity, exceeding that of the reference antioxidant, as well as improved antibacterial activity, characterized by larger inhibition zones and lower minimum inhibitory concentrations against tested pathogens. Overall, mycorrhizal fungal inoculation reshaped the chemical composition and the major bioactive compounds of Oregano, thereby enhancing its nutritional and antimicrobial potential. These findings highlight the potential of AMF-based cultivation strategies to improve the phytochemical quality and medicinal potential of Oregano while supporting sustainable agricultural production. Full article

The increasing prevalence of dermatophytosis and biofilm-associated infections highlights the need for new therapeutic approaches. This study evaluated the potential of Lavandula luisieri essential oil against clinically relevant dermatophytes. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antifungal activity was assessed through determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), while antibiofilm activity against Epidermophyton floccosum was evaluated by measuring biofilm biomass, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and cell viability. An ex vivo model of Trichophyton rubrum-induced skin infection was used to assess efficacy under tissue-relevant conditions. The essential oil was mainly composed of oxygenated monoterpenes, with trans-α-necrodyl acetate (19.1%), lavandulyl acetate (13.6%), camphor (8.8%), 1,8-cineole (6.1%), and trans-α-necrodol (5.3%)as major constituents. The oil exhibited antifungal activity against all tested dermatophytes (MIC: 12.5–100 μg/mL), induced hyphal morphological alterations, significantly inhibited E. floccosum biofilm formation, particularly ECM deposition, and reduced fungal dissemination in the ex vivo skin model. These findings support the antidermatophytic and antibiofilm potential of L. stoechas subsp. luisieri essential oil, although further studies are required. Full article

Mineral-scale deposition remains a persistent flow-assurance and asset-integrity constraint in oil and gas production. Calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, iron sulfide, and mixed inorganic scale deposits reduce tubing internal diameter. They also impair near-wellbore permeability, block safety-critical valves, reduce heat-transfer efficiency, and intensify under-deposit corrosion. Conventional management relies on prediction, chemical inhibition, squeeze treatments, acid dissolution, chelation, mechanical scraping, milling, jetting, and operational water management. These methods are indispensable, but each has a restricted operating envelope. Key limitations include mineral selectivity, corrosion risk, environmental discharge, intervention cost, debris generation, and poor effectiveness against chemically resistant sulfate scales, particularly BaSO₄. Ultrasound has therefore attracted interest as a non-chemical technology. Acoustic cavitation, microstreaming, pressure oscillation, mechanical vibration, and micro jetting may suppress nucleation, disturb boundary layers, weaken adhesion, and fragment brittle deposits. This review critically evaluates ultrasound-assisted scale prevention and removal, with emphasis on production tubing and oilfield relevance. Existing studies show credible mechanistic plausibility and promising laboratory performance for CaCO₃, CaSO₄/gypsum, KCl, NaCl, and membrane or heat-transfer fouling systems. It also compares performance metrics, field cases, and technology-readiness barriers. The evidence is less mature for long steel tubulars operating under high-pressure, high-temperature, multiphase production conditions. Current evidence positions ultrasound at technology-readiness level (TRL) 3–4 for CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ systems, where laboratory and bench-scale validation is established, and at TRL 2–3 for BaSO₄, where mechanistic plausibility exists but controlled experimental validation remains absent. The technology is not yet at the pilot–production transition for downhole tubing applications, but it is approaching that threshold for surface process equipment. Its most credible near-term role is as an intensifier paired with low-dose chemical inhibitors, where acoustic boundary-layer disruption can reduce the minimum inhibitory concentration threshold of inhibitors, and with mild chelating agents for early-stage BaSO₄ management, where ultrasound-enhanced mass transfer may accelerate chelant penetration into deposit microstructure. Advancing ultrasound from its current TRL toward field qualification requires targeted BaSO₄ scale validation in steel tubing systems, acoustic field mapping under HPHT multiphase conditions, mass-removal metrics, and a structured pilot programme. Full article

Fungal infections remain a major threat to human health, with non-albicans Candida (NAC) species causing more than half of all clinical cases and many strains gaining resistance to current treatments rapidly. Previously, N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) has been studied and shown to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties against various bacteria and Candida albicans. Given the previous findings, we aim here to expand the current preliminary research on AEA to investigate its antifungal activities against clinically relevant NAC species in vitro: Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candidaozyma auris. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and growth curve analysis determined planktonic inhibition. MTT metabolic assay and ATP production via BacTiter-Glo luminescence assay evaluated biofilm formation. Membrane fluidity, polarization and efflux pump activity were examined using fluorescence probes Laurdan, DiS-C3(3), and Rhodamine 6G, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed using DCFH-DA. Biofilm architecture and cell viability were analyzed by spinning disk confocal microscopy (SDCM). AEA reduced MIC values and slowed planktonic growth, while MTT and ATP assays demonstrated a pronounced dose-dependent reduction in biofilm metabolic activity. Membrane-targeted effects revealed increased fluidity and permeability at 125 µg/mL. Notably, AEA rapidly impaired efflux pump activity and induced intracellular ROS production. This effect was accompanied by reduced cell viability, increased proportions of PI-positive cells, and enhanced intracellular dye retention, as confirmed by SDCM. Together, these findings demonstrate that AEA exerts antifungal activity by disrupting membrane integrity and associated cellular functions and provide the first comparative characterization of species-specific membrane and oxidative stress responses to AEA across three major clinically relevant multidrug-resistant NAC species. Full article

Phytochemicals with antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) are considered potential in-feed anti-mycotoxigenic agents that may complement conventional post-harvest control strategies. Therefore, we screened fourteen phytochemicals, including seven quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), for anti-F. graminearum activity, evaluated their individual and combined efficacy in inhibiting mycelial growth, spore germination, and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, and explored the underlying mechanisms via transcriptomic analysis. Matrine (MT), sophoridine (SR), and sophocarpine (SC) exhibited antifungal activity against F. graminearum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 5, 4, and 4 mg/mL, respectively. The three QAs at their MICs completely inhibited mycelial growth and DON production in liquid cultures, but were less effective on potato dextrose agar plates and in pig feed. Particularly pronounced antifungal activity and inhibitory effects on DON production were observed when the three QAs were applied in combination with berberine hydrochloride (BBR). The observed inhibition appears to be attributed to dysregulated expression of the TRI cluster genes and ERG biosynthesis genes, coupled with significant modulation of steroid biosynthesis (ko00100) and central carbon/lipid metabolism pathways. These findings provide preliminary experimental evidence supporting the further exploration of QA–BBR combinations to control fungal proliferation and DON accumulation in pig feed. Full article

Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) persists in engineered water systems and is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease. Despite its clinical importance, little is known about whether environmental populations are undergoing gradual changes in their antimicrobial susceptibility. Here, we compared the antimicrobial susceptibility of 95 environmental L. pneumophila isolates collected in 2013–2014 with those obtained in 2024–2025 from the same sites in a drinking water distribution system (DWDS) using Epsilometer (E-test). The analyses showed both temporal and spatial variation: Ciprofloxacin activity remained relatively stable, whereas levofloxacin exhibited a broader minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range among contemporary isolates, with the minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit the growth of 90% of isolates (MIC₉₀) doubling from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/L, suggesting increased variability and the emergence of less susceptible subpopulations. Tigecycline showed a marked site-specific increase in MIC values, with the mean MIC at site D increasing from 0.26 mg/L in the 2013–2014 isolates to 1.86 mg/L in the 2024–2025 isolates, indicating reduced susceptibility at this site. Among macrolides, erythromycin exhibited the lowest MIC values across both isolate collections, whereas azithromycin showed higher MIC values. Moreover, isolates recovered from adjacent sites within the same DWDS exhibited significantly different susceptibility profiles, possibly reflecting the influence of local environmental conditions. These findings emphasize that L. pneumophila susceptibility is not static but is likely shaped by ecological and temporal factors. The study underscores the importance of long-term environmental surveillance to track the evolution of this pathogen and provides new insights into how micro-scale dynamics within water systems can influence antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Full article

Background/Objectives: Solid bone cement is a poor vehicle for delivering antibiotics, and porous bone cement lacks mechanical robustness. Inspired by the different structural phases of bone, we hypothesized that porous shell cements (PSCs) could be synthesized to be both mechanically resilient and effective in eluting antibiotics. Our objective was to synthesize and characterize PSCs and compare their physicochemical properties to solid and porous cements. Methods: PSCs were synthesized with thin versus thick outer porous shells and compared to homogenous solid and porous cements as controls. Porosity and architecture were assessed through scanning electron microscopy and microcomputed tomography. Mechanical properties were quantified by compression testing. Antibiotic release kinetics and antibiotic activity were measured via release assays, disc diffusion assays, and minimum inhibitory concentration tests. Results: PSCs exhibit both solid and porous regions within a single bone cement construct with enhanced surface area to volume ratios in porous regions. Cements with porous regions have lower synthesis heat during polymerization. The mechanical strength of PSCs correlates with the ratio of solid core to porous shell thickness. The addition of the porous shell layer significantly increases antibiotic elution and increases the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains. Conclusions: We are able to synthesize customizable PSCs that balance the mechanical strength of solid bone cement with the antibiotic release profile of porous cement as a new biomaterial strategy to prevent orthopaedic device infection. Full article

Background/Objectives: Extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens severely limit antimicrobial treatment options. This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of six essential oils obtained from Romanian medicinal plants against extensively drug-resistant clinical isolates and interpreted the antibacterial findings in the context of their previously reported chemical composition. Methods: Forty-one non-duplicate clinical isolates were included: (i) Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 21); (ii) Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 14); (iii) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 4); and (iv) Providencia stuartii (n = 2). The chemical composition of the six essential oils from Thymus vulgaris, Thymus pannonicus, Satureja montana, Mentha × smithiana, Mentha × piperita, and Lavandula angustifolia had been previously characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the corresponding compositional data were used in the present study. Antibacterial activity was assessed using disk-diffusion, disk-volatilization, and broth-dilution assays to determine minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations. Results: Satureja montana contained 60.9% carvacrol, T. vulgaris 44.6% carvacrol, and T. pannonicus 34.9% thymol. S. montana showed the strongest overall antibacterial activity, followed by T. vulgaris and T. pannonicus. A. baumannii isolates showed the greatest overall inhibitory response; S. montana produced direct-contact inhibition zones ≥ 25 mm in all 21 isolates and vapor–phase zones of 25–29 mm in 17 of 21 isolates. K. pneumoniae showed oil-dependent inhibition patterns, while the findings for the two P. stuartii isolates were interpreted descriptively because of the limited subgroup size. The four P. aeruginosa isolates showed the lowest overall inhibitory response, particularly in the vapor phase assay. MIC and MBC findings broadly supported the diffusion-based results, whereas L. angustifolia showed the weakest overall activity. Conclusions: Essential oils rich in phenolic monoterpenes, particularly those containing carvacrol or thymol, showed promising in vitro activity against extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative clinical isolates. These findings do not establish clinical efficacy and require confirmation in larger isolate collections using standardized assays, including cytotoxicity, biofilm, formulation, and synergy studies. Full article

Plant pathogenic fungi pose a major threat to global crop production and food security, necessitating the development of sustainable control agents. This study investigated the antifungal potential of Pseudophaeolus soloniensis, a wood-decaying fungus. A wild strain was isolated from Hebei, China, and identified via morphology and ITS sequencing. A bioactive crude extract (P1) was obtained through optimized solid-state fermentation on A3M medium. Its antimicrobial spectrum was evaluated against major phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Fusarium graminearum, Aspergillus flavus) and model bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) using mycelial growth inhibition, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and agar diffusion assays. P1 exhibited strong, selective activity, showing significantly greater inhibition against S. aureus than E. coli and pronounced effects against F. graminearum (43.79% inhibition at 20 µg/mL) and A. flavus (73.5% at 0.2 mg/mL). A hormetic-like response was observed for F. oxysporum. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed a diverse secondary metabolome, including flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, and saponins. These results establish P. soloniensis as a promising source of bioactive metabolites for developing eco-friendly fungicides. Full article

Background/Objectives: Delonix regia seeds contain phytochemicals with therapeutic potential, but their activity against Helicobacter pylori and biomedical properties remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to characterize the phenolic and amino acid composition of D. regia seed extract (DRSE) and evaluate its anticancer, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antibacterial, antibiofilm and urease-targeted docking activities. Methods: DRSE was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and amino acid analysis. Biological effects were assessed using MTT cytotoxicity, scratch wound-healing, bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation, prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT), antibacterial and crystal violet antibiofilm assays. Gallic acid and vanillin were docked against H. pylori urease (PDB ID: 1E9Y). Results: Gallic acid was the predominant phenolic compound (1417.90 µg/g), while aspartic and glutamic acids dominated the amino acid fraction. DRSE showed preferential cytotoxicity toward A431 carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ = 108.97 ± 0.68 µg/mL) compared with HFB4 fibroblasts (IC₅₀ = 318.56 ± 2.06 µg/mL), yielding a selectivity index of 2.92. Scratch closure was comparable to the control (81.71% versus 80.85%), although the migration rate increased to 16.12 µm. DRSE inhibited protein denaturation by 91.20% (IC₅₀ = 6.39 ± 0.19 µg/mL) and prolonged PT and PTT to 27.37 and 90.50 s, respectively. It inhibited H. pylori with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of 31.25 µg/mL and suppressed biofilm formation by 95.39%. Gallic acid and vanillin showed comparable urease docking scores of −4.72 and −4.71 kcal/mol. Conclusions: DRSE showed selective anticancer, anti-H. pylori, antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and moderate pro-migratory activities. Mechanistic, safety and in vivo studies are warranted. Full article

This study is the first report on the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Chaerophyllum bulbosum L. sampled from the Armenian flora. Essential oil (EO) and hydrosol were obtained from the aerial parts by hydrodistillation, and their chemical compositions were determined by GC–MS, identifying a total of 48 volatiles. The EO was composed of 60.42% monoterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives and 18.75% sesquiterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives, while the hydrosol was composed of 75% oxygenated monoterpenes, with the remaining 20% and 5% being monoterpenes and sesquiterpenoids respectively. Pulegone (21.55%) was identified as the major constituent. With regard to the non-volatile fraction, the methanolic extract displayed a total phenolic content of 1.17 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g dry weight and a total flavonoid content of 0.62 ± 0.02 mg QE/g, as well as significant antioxidant capacity, with IC₅₀ values of 2.87 ± 0.06 μg Trolox/g dried plant sample for the DPPH^• assay and 46.87 ± 1.2 μmol Fe²⁺/g dried plant sample for the FRAP assay. The evaluation of EO and hydrosol antimicrobial properties revealed notable antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with inhibition zones ranging from 13.5 to 20 mm. The respective minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 0.4 to 6.0 mg/mL for the EO and from 62.5 to 400 μL/mL for hydrosol, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranged from 0.8 to 10.0 mg/mL and from 125 to 800 μL/mL, respectively. Streptococcus mutans was the most susceptible microorganism (MIC = 0.4 mg/mL), whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most resistant (MIC = 6.0 mg/mL). Both the EO and hydrosol exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, with inhibition zones of 13.0 ± 1.2 mm and 11.0 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. The MIC and MBC values were 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL for the EO, while the respective values for the hydrosol were 400 and 800 μL/mL. These findings highlight the C. bulbosum plant as a promising source of bioactive compounds with significant activity against Gram-positive bacteria and moderate antifungal effects that may be associated with the high content of pulegone, a monoterpene known for its membrane-disruptive properties. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has intensified the search for natural alternatives for the control of plant pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory activity of plant extracts obtained from agro-industrial byproducts, including pomegranate peel (Punica granatum), chestnut peel (Castanea sativa), and grape pomace (Vitis vinifera), against the bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi and the fungus Colletotrichum fioriniae. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the disk diffusion and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) methods. Antifungal activity was evaluated for all extracts through mycelial growth inhibition, spore quantification, and viability assays. Based on its overall antimicrobial performance and extraction yield, the P. granatum extract was selected for evaluation in a detached olive fruit bioassay. The results showed that the pomegranate peel extract exhibited an inhibition halo of $9.80\pm 0.10$ mm against Pseudomonas savastanoi, with a MIC of 5.0 mg/mL and a predominantly bacteriostatic effect. Regarding antifungal activity, the Castanea sativa extract showed the highest inhibition of mycelial growth, reaching 27.27% after 3 days and reducing sporulation by up to 44.36%, whereas the Punica granatum and Vitis vinifera extracts exhibited only moderate inhibitory effects. In the sporulation assay, all extracts reduced spore production and increased early conidial germination, a transient response not accompanied by enhanced fungal development. In the detached olive fruit bioassay, pre-treatment with the P. granatum extract delayed disease progression and reduced final disease severity from 100% in the positive control to 64%, whereas simultaneous application of the extract and the pathogen did not provide a protective effect. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of plant-derived agro-industrial byproducts as sources of bioactive compounds for sustainable plant disease management strategies. Full article