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Nanotechnology provides innovative tools for medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) are of particular biomedical interest due to their biocompatibility, magnetic properties, and therapeutic potential. Harnessing the phytoconstituents of F. indica for nanoparticle fabrication offers a sustainable approach to generate biofunctional nanomaterials with enhanced therapeutic efficacyIn this study, Fe2O3 NPs were biosynthesized using F. indica extract through a green and cost-effective method. The nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), confirming their rectangular (average size of 65 nm) morphology, functional group interactions, and elemental composition of iron and oxygen. The bio-fabricated Fe2O3 NPs displayed broad pharmacological activities: strong antileishmanial (71
Acne-associated and other skin-related bacterial infections are increasingly difficult to manage because of antimicrobial resistance and the need for safer therapeutic alternatives. Portulaca oleracea is a medicinal plant with recognized bioactive potential, yet its antibacterial activity can potentially be enhanced through nano-elicitation. Unlike studies that examine nanoparticles as direct antimicrobials, this work investigated green-synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles as foliar elicitors to improve the antibacterial potential of P. oleracea extracts. This approach links sustainable nanoparticle synthesis with medicinal-plant priming to generate extracts with greater activity against acne-associated pathogens. Zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and alpha-iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous Psidium guajava leaf extract and verified by standard physicochemical characterization. P. oleracea plants received foliar applications of 100 ppm nanoparticle suspensions under greenhouse conditions, after which methanolic aerial-part extracts were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Cutibacterium acnes. Iron oxide treatment produced the strongest response without visible phytotoxicity. By day 25, FeNP-treated plants reached 10.7 ± 0.7 cm in height and 12 ± 1 leaves, compared with 9.1 ± 0.6 cm and 10 ± 1 leaves in untreated controls. Extracts from FeNP-treated plants also showed the highest antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 20.0 ± 1.7 mm against S. aureus, 15.7 ± 1.5 mm against E. coli, and 18.3 ± 1.5 mm against C. acnes. These findings show that foliar nano-elicitation, particularly with FeNPs, can enhance plant growth and strengthen the antibacterial potential of P. oleracea. Because phytochemical changes were inferred indirectly from FTIR patterns and antibacterial response rather than direct metabolite quantification, future studies should perform quantitative phytochemical profiling and confirm extract potency through MIC and MBC assays.
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous primarily in aquatic environment where they travel freely from one place to another. Higher surface area with strong hydrophobicity made them a perfect candidate to sorb different pollutants in aquatic ecosystem. This study investigates occurrence and distribution of MPs in Qasimpur canal running in Multan city and carries large quantity of sewage waste and industrial effluents. Twenty-five surface water samples were taken and examined regarding the abundance of microplastic, morphology, color distribution, and related heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb) and microbial contamination (total coliform and E. coli). Findings exhibit that MPs concentration is between 25 and 6 MPs L-1. Relative distribution of MPs shows that fibers (32.01%) were prevalent in water sample followed by fragment (20.39%) while sheet and pellet were least among water samples. Weight distribution of MPs types also exhibit that fibers were dominated in water. MPs were also distributed on the basis of color where blue and white is dominant colors among all. Heavy metals were detected to be in concentrations that are much higher than permitted concentrations of heavy metals in WHO standards and heavy metal pollution index (HPI) estimates that pollution level was dangerous. Accuracy of methods used to analyze was +/- 3, which proves the validity of the received results. Synergistic relationship between MPs and heavy metals implies that microplastics are vectors in transportation of contaminants, which is dangerous to ecology and human health. Findings from current work provide insight in accumulation, distribution and abundance of microplastics within flowing water. Results offer a scientific foundation of pollution control and environmental management measures in urban water bodies.
Zea mays L. (maize) is a globally important cereal crop whose productivity is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, particularly drought and salinity. Biochar (BC) and plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3) have been proposed as sustainable strategies to enhance crop performance under adverse conditions; however, evidence for their combined effects under controlled stress environments remains limited. This pot experiment (10 kg soil per pot) was conducted under a Completely Randomized Design to evaluate BC and GA3, alone and in combination, under drought stress (40
Drought stress is a major environmental signal that disrupts plant growth and metabolic homeostasis, particularly in water-sensitive leafy vegetables, such as spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Plant hormones play a central role in decoding stress signals and coordinating adaptive responses. This study investigated the role of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) in regulating drought-induced physiological, biochemical, and ionic signaling in spinach. A pot experiment was conducted using two spinach cultivars (V1 = Desi, V2 = Lahori) subjected to well-watered and drought conditions (50% field capacity), combined with foliar GA applications (0, 100, and 200 ppm). Drought stress markedly altered plant behavior by suppressing growth traits, photosynthetic pigment synthesis, and redox balance, while increasing reactive oxygen species accumulation. GA application, particularly at 200 ppm, significantly modulated drought stress signaling by activating antioxidant defense systems [CAT (51.1%), POD (44.2%), and SOD (42.6%)], reducing oxidative damage indicators [H₂O₂ (3.6%) and MDA (25.3%)], and restoring metabolic stability. In addition, GA regulated ionic homeostasis by limiting Na⁺ (11.2%) accumulation and promoting K⁺ (96.6%) and Ca²⁺ (46.3%) uptake in both roots and shoots, reflecting improved stress adaptation. Cultivar-specific responses indicated higher signaling sensitivity and adaptive capacity in the Desi variety under drought stress. Overall, these findings demonstrate that gibberellic acid acts as a key regulatory signal that orchestrates antioxidant, metabolic, and ionic responses, thereby increasing drought stress adaptability in spinach.
