Antifungal molecular details of MNQ-derived novel carbon dots against Penicillium digitatum

Yongchun Liu; Wei Li; Keyue Wu; Bingfu Lei; Jianying Chen; Xiaoyong Zhang; Hongtao Lei; Xuewu Duan; Riming Huang

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135687

Antifungal molecular details of MNQ-derived novel carbon dots against Penicillium digitatum

Food Chem. 2023 Jul 1:413:135687. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135687. Epub 2023 Feb 11.

Authors

Yongchun Liu¹, Wei Li², Keyue Wu¹, Bingfu Lei², Jianying Chen², Xiaoyong Zhang³, Hongtao Lei⁴, Xuewu Duan⁵, Riming Huang⁶

Affiliations

¹ University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
² Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
³ University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: zhangxiaoyong@scau.edu.cn.
⁴ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
⁵ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
⁶ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: huangriming@scau.edu.cn.

PMID: 36804745
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135687

Abstract

It is urgent to develop high-efficiency and low-toxicity natural antifungal agents on green mold caused by Penicillium digitatum. The effect of 2-methoxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (MNQ) inhibition of P. digitatum was not very satisfactory. MNQ-derived carbon dots (MNQ-CDs) synthesized through a solvothermal route were used as antifungal agents against P. digitatum. The antifungal activity of prepared MNQ-CDswas enhanced compared to MNQ, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was 2.8 μg/mL. A total of 441 genes and 122 metabolites have undergone significant changes. The omics data revealed that MNQ-CDs primarily modified the metabolism of aromatic amino acids and synthesis of the cell membrane in P. digitatum, thereby inhibiting its propagation. Furthermore, compared with MNQ, MNQ-CDs had a better control effect on the green mold of citrus fruits, and could more significantly inhibit the propagation of P. digitatum. This study provides a new idea for the design of new and efficient antifungal materials.

Keywords: 2-methoxy-1; 4-naphthoquinone; Antifungal mechanism; Carbon dots; Citrus; Omics analysis; Penicillium digitatum.

MeSH terms

Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
Carbon / metabolism
Citrus*
Fruit
Naphthoquinones* / pharmacology
Penicillium*

Substances

Antifungal Agents
Carbon
Naphthoquinones

Supplementary concepts

Penicillium digitatum