Background: Iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) synthesized using the homeopathic medicine Thuja occidentalis mother tincture represent a promising candidate in nanomedicine due to their broad therapeutic potential. This study focuses on the characterization and biological evaluation of these nanoparticles synthesized through a green route. Methods: Iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) were prepared using a green synthesis approach with Thuja occidentalis mother tincture as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles were characterized by Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Results: The anticancer activity of Thuja occidentalis-functionalized iron nanoparticles (TIONPs) was evaluated against AGS gastric cancer cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, revealing a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. Antioxidant activity was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, while anti-inflammatory potential was assessed via the albumin denaturation assay. Both tests demonstrated significant efficacy of the nanoparticles. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Thuja occidentalis-functionalized iron nanoparticles (TIONPs) effectively target cancer cells, scavenge free radicals, and inhibit protein denaturation. The synthesis of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) using Thuja occidentalis mother tincture is a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy, providing an avenue for developing safe nanomaterials with diverse biomedical applications.

The relevance of carbon dots (CDs) in a variety of application areas has drawn a lot of interest. The CDs for enhanced antibacterial activity and the sensitive identification of pathogenic bacteria are described. The CDs and N-CDs were produced using a microwave, which provided a quick, one-pot, and economical method. CDs and N-CDs showed a high stability for up to 3 months, with an average diameter of 5.761 ± 0.263 nm and 4.226 ± 0.210 nm, respectively. The higher inhibition zone and decreased bacterial growth demonstrated the enhanced antibacterial properties of N-CDs compared to CDs. A regression calibration curve was set up for quantitatively measuring Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) using CDs and N-CDs resulting in a high square of correlation coefficient with r2 > 0.99. Electrostatic interaction explains the tenable mechanism. CDs and N-CDs were tested to assess their ability to probe bacteria in orange juice. The analytical performance was validated using recovery tests with an acceptable range and relative standard deviation resulting in a good value of less than 4%. Nanosensor carried out in orange juice confirmed the viability of this sensing strategy and its potential to expand the detection of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria.

The present study was based on green protocols for synthesizing cobalt sulfide nanoparticles using saffron stigma flower extract (Crocus sativus), as saffron is considered a potent traditional medicine. The novel cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanoparticles prepared by the green approach for the first time with saffron improved showed cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity, as well as significant antitumor activity of Hela, A549, and MCF 7 cells viz in vitro studies. The saffron-cobalt sulfide nanoparticles underwent characterization using various techniques which include the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Advances in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and the energy dispersive X-ray analysis spectroscopy. Both XRD, and FTIR confirmed the synthesis of pure cobalt sulfide nanoparticles. The resulting saffron-based cobalt sulfide nanoparticles exhibited a nanosphere structure, as confirmed by HRTEM, indicating the formation of nanosphere and microstructures. In vitro studies were conducted to assess the cytotoxicity and cell viability of Hela cells, A549, and MCF-7 cells. And, antibacterial studies were performed against various bacterial strains using different concentrations of cobalt sulfide nanoparticles derived from the red stigma of saffron (Crocus sativus) only the red stigma extract. The MTT assay analysis, cell viability, and morphological studies demonstrated the cytotoxic studies of the synthesized cobalt sulfide nanoparticles on cancer cells. The antibacterial test of the nanoparticles was also evaluated, revealing significant zones of inhibition (mm) against pathogens and cobalt sulfide nanoparticles using saffron extract, showcasing their potent cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antitumor activities with promising biomedical applications.

Plant-microbe interactions play pivotal roles in sustaining crop productivity and soil fertility, offering promising avenues for sustainable agricultural practices. This review paper explores the multifaceted interactions between plants and various microorganisms, highlighting their significance in enhancing crop productivity, combating pathogens, and promoting soil health. Understanding these interactions is crucial for harnessing their potential in agricultural systems to address challenges such as food security and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the introduction of beneficial microbes into agricultural ecosystems by bio-augmentation reduces the negative effects of intensive, non-sustainable agriculture on the environment, society, and economy, into the mechanisms underlying the application of plant growth promoting microbes as microbial inoculants/biofertilizers; their interactions, the factors influencing their dynamics, and the implications for agricultural practices, emerging technologies and strategies that leverage plant-microbe interactions for improving crop yields, soil fertility, and overall agricultural sustainability.

Nature has various medicinal properties worldwide, and natural environmental sources are the source of many alternative contemporary medications. Many civilizations employ plants as medicine, and because of their bioactive chemicals, they may produce potent pharmaceuticals. Synthesis of Silver nanoparticles of these valuable plants possesses great potential in the modern therapeutic sector. Chamaecostus cuspidatus, commonly known as the Insulin plant due to its abundant secondary metabolites, provides a hypoglycemic effect and has considerable antioxidant and anticancer properties. The total alkaloid, tannins, and phenolic contents in methanolic and aqueous AgNP extracts of C. cuspidatus were quantified using a spectrophotometric approach. The DPPH assay is a quick and straightforward approach to assessing putative antioxidants, with ascorbic acid as the standard. In ascorbic acid, %inhibition is 50.8 at 10 mu g/ml, the highest with the lowest IC50 value, i.e.,-3.3. Compared to ascorbic acid, the percentage inhibition of methanolic and AgNP extract at 10 mu g/ml is 12.57 and-0.57, respectively, and IC50 was calculated as 0.52 and-0.03. The MTT assay was carried out to detect anticancer activity. The IC50 value was calculated using a linear regression equation, and it was found to be 123.32 mu g/ml in methanolic extract and 101.66 mu g/ml in AgNP extract. Extracts with IC50 values between 21 and 200 mu g/mL were considered moderately cytotoxic by the National Cancer Institute and the Geran protocol.

This study developed a sustainable hydrochar (HC) adsorbent from pineapple crown waste (PCW), an agricultural byproduct, through co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) with magnesium acetate (MgAc) to investigate its dye adsorption capacity. Incorporating MgAc during carbonization modified the HC's structure, increasing oxygen-functional groups for better adsorption properties. Structural and functional analyses using SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, TGA, DTA, XPS, XRD, BET, and CHN analyzer confirmed that the modified HC exhibited excellent affinity for methylene blue (MB) dye among other azo dyes, attributed to electrostatic attraction, pi-pi interactions, hydrogen bonding, and pore filling/intra-particle diffusion between active sites of MB and hydrochar's carbon backbone and functional groups. These findings highlight co-HTC with MgAc as a green, economical process for converting waste into a practical, eco-friendly material for dye removal, supporting waste valorization and environmental remediation efforts.

Now, metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are considered to have important scientific applications. Considering the toxicity of these nanomaterials is an important research issue for scientists. In this sense, an important solution to provide lower levels of toxicity and therefore to facilitate unimpeded use in products for human consumption is the green and eco synthesis of nanoparticles. Despite this naive approach, the biological synthesis of metal oxide NPs using microorganisms and plant extracts holds great promise for the fabrication of biocompatible and cost-effective particles with potential applications in healthcare and drug delivery. An important time of ​​attention is deadly cancer and therapies to control it, the introduction of nanotechnology is to improve current therapeutic practices. The oxides and NPs have been perceived as remedial factors with long obsolescence and therapeutic markers, and few immunogenic properties have been punched. Currently, biosynthesized metal oxide nanoparticles have been extensively studied and analyzed for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but their efficacy in clinical trials is unknown. It provides a comprehensive overview of recent research on the green synthesis of metal oxide NPs, characterization methods, biomedical and scientific applications globally reported, and indications for further improvements. Moreover, the scientific applications of nanoparticles, including silver (Ag), titanium (Ti), cerium (Ce), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper oxide nanomaterials, were highlighted. The review ventilates the importance of environmentally and eco-friendly synthesis of metal oxides in terms of therapeutic, energetic, and environmental pharmaceutical applications using several novel approaches. This study will provide new knowledge on new cost-effective and nanomedicine drugs for future directions.

A fluorescence probe based on iron oxide quantum dots (IO-QDs) was synthesized using the hydrothermal method for the determination of tetracycline (TCy) and ciprofloxacin (CPx) in aqueous solution.

This mentioned topic explores the potential of nano-fertilizers as a smart approach to enhance crop growth and productivity. Nano-fertilizers, consisting of nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties, offer numerous advantages over traditional fertilizers, including improved nutrient absorption, controlled release, reduced environmental impact, and targeted delivery. The paper discusses the mechanisms underlying the enhanced nutrient uptake and utilization by plants facilitated by nano-fertilizers. It also examines the effects of nano-fertilizers on crop physiology, yield, and quality parameters. Furthermore, the review highlights the challenges and potential risks associated with the use of nano-fertilizers, such as nanoparticle toxicity and environmental concerns. Finally, future perspectives and research directions in the field of nano-fertilizers for sustainable agriculture are presented.

Saponins are a broad category of molecules categorized based on their chemical structure and found worldwide. Because of their complicated chemical structure and extensive therapeutic and pharmacological effects, saponins, derived from naturally occurring medicinal plants, have sparked a lot of research interest. Saponin applications have grown in popularity in recent years because of a variety of factors, including their biological (anti-cholesterol and anti-cancer) medical and pharmaceutical activities. Researchers have concentrated on bridging the gap between their chemical structure and biological activity because of their complex chemical composition and lesser-known applicability as a natural anticancer drug. The aim of the study was to identify and describe steroidal saponins from natural plant sources like Crotalaria verrucosa, as well as to evaluate their biological activity against breast and prostate cancer cells. Our data strongly suggest that steroidal saponins may aid in cancer prevention. The findings of our study strongly indicate that steroidal saponins exhibit potential in cancer prevention. By bridging the knowledge gap between the chemical composition of these compounds and their biological effects, this research contributes valuable insights into the promising role of saponins, particularly steroidal variants, as potential natural agents in the fight against cancer

This study developed a dual-readout system utilizing fluorescence and colorimetry based on iron oxide quantum dots (IO-QDs) for detecting tetracycline (TCy). IO-QDs were synthesized within 6 h using L-leucine as a surface modifier, achieving a more efficient route. Upon interaction with TCy, IO-QDs exhibited a significant decrease in fluorescence response and observable color changes, while fluorescence lifetime remained consistent regardless of TCy presence. Moreover, IO-QDs' fluorescence response remained stable across various temperatures. The Förster resonance energy transfer distance of less than 2 nm and a quenching constant of 2.90 × 1012 M-1s-1 indicated static quenching in the presence of TCy. Additionally, significant changes in observed and corrected fluorescence efficiency suggested the involvement of the inner filter effect in the fluorescence quenching of IO-QDs. The synthesized IO-QDs were then utilized for selective and rapid fluorescence-based TCy detection, showing a linear range of 0.5 to 80 μM. Simultaneously, a colorimetric method for TCy detection was established, demonstrating a good linear relationship within the range of 0.5 to 20 μM. The detection limits for TCy were determined as 0.539 and 0.329 μM using fluorescence and colorimetric approaches, respectively. Furthermore, IO-QDs were applied to detect real samples, and the dual-readout probe exhibited satisfactory recoveries, confirming the practical reliability of the developed method for analyzing milk and drinking water samples.

Enormous quantities of organic wastes such as sewage sludge (SS) and aquatic weed compost (AWC) are produced in large quantities on the banks of Dal Lake Kashmir. It is a challenging task for authorities to manage them properly. Therefore, the study's purpose was to evaluate these organic wastes agricultural use potential. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications comprised of nine treatment combinations of SS, AWC and inorganic fertilizers. In the present study, the conjoint use of SS with chemical fertilizer recorded maximum build-up of soil microbial biomass carbon (MCB), urease and dehydrogenase activity with treatment T-1. There were significant correlations between soil MCB and from urease and dehydrogenase activity (r(2) = 0.95 and 0.97; P < 0.05), respectively. The micronutrient and heavy metal concentrations in kale exposed to SS and AWC were significantly higher than those in the untreated plants, with the highest concentration found in sole application of SS (T-7). However, heavy metal concentrations were within the acceptable limits and did not overcome the maximum phytotoxic levels. The study's finding leads to conclusion that SS along with chemical fertilizers (T-1) can improve the enzymatic activity in soil, quality parameters and nutrient content in plants thereby enhancing the yield.

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) have wide interest owing to their unique fluorescence and electronic characteristics. In this work, novel NCDs were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal treatment method utilizing durian seed waste (DS) and glutamine (Gln) as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The as prepared NCDs were utilized as a fluorescent ink and a chemical sensor toward tartrazine. The optical properties of N-DS-CDs possessed a bright blue emission color under UV-light radiation and a strong emission peak at 432 nm excited at 340 nm with the excitation-dependent emission behavior and fluorescent quantum yield (FL-QY) of 17.24±0.13

In this study, copper oxide nanospheres (CuO-NSs) were synthesized using Long pepper (Piper longum) extract. The biomolecules present in Piper longum extract are mainly responsible for reducing metal ions to metal nano -particles. The synthesized CuO-NSs were characterized using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. SEM and TEM images indicated that the as-prepared CuO-NSs were floral spherical nanospheres shaped with a size distribution ranging from 4 to 400 nm. Besides, the synthesized CuO-NSs have shown crucial biological activity against pathogenic bacterial strains, viz. Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of CuO-NSs was scrutinized by an exemplary disk diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration of CuO-NSs against various strains of bacteria. Furthermore, as-synthesized CuO-NSs was also applied as a po-tential material for hemolysis activity and determined its cytotoxicity effect on A549 cells. CuO-NSs has been tested in A549 cells, and the results of different characterization techniques confirmed that the synthesized CuO-NSs exhibited unique optical, morphological, antibacterial, and anticancer behaviors. The study elucidates the Piper longum effectiveness on uncontrolled cell division parameters, and different cancer reductions from in-vitro analysis. The Long pepper (Piper longum) extract with CuO-NSs could significantly stimulate carcinogenic con-ditions because of discrete standards that penetrate the target cells and good potential against the bacterial strains.

The tape food is making through the fermentation process using yeast as a primary ingredient. A yeast supplement can be used to improve the fermentation process. In this study, the effect of garlic extract as a natural yeast supplement in making the yellow cassava tape was evaluated. A non factorial completely randomized design with five treatments and four repetitions was performed as a research approach. The collected data were processed using an additive linear ANOVA model. The results show that a mixture with 3.0 g garlic extract highly improved the alcohol production for fermenting the yellow cassava tape. Based on the statistical analysis, F-cal (3.99) was higher than F-tab (2.90). The use of different garlic extract amounts exhibited a better improvement of the fermentation process than without the use of the garlic extract. An insufficient or excessive amount of yeast can affect alcohol production. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the exact garlic extract amount as the additional yeast supplement to produce cassava tape.

Vegetation analysis provides the prerequisites to understand the overall community structure and function of any ecosystem and is a fundamental requirement for the precise evaluation of biodiversity. Although many studies have assessed floristic attributes of specific areas, there are still unexplored regions, as is the case of the mountain region in the Kashmir Himalayas. Current research highlighted the recent findings of the scientific characterization of floristic and ecological aspects on the forest flora found in the Bhimber hills, Pakistan. Floristically, a total of 93 species belonging to 80 genera in 41 families were recorded. The species distribution patterns across the families were disproportionate with half of the species contributed by 8 families and 25 families were monotypic. Based on the floristic analysis, Asteraceae was the largest family with 12% of species followed by Poaceae with (11%) species. PAST software, a multivariate ecological community analysis was used to classify the species similarities and differences among the different habitat types. According to the habitat wise distribution, 21% of species were growing in the natural forest habitat, while 15% of species were dispersed in highly distributed habitats along roadsides and 8% on pedestrians. In terms of functional diversity, the herbaceous growth form was dominant (58%). The biological spectrum revealed therophytes as the dominant life form as it indicates the disturbed habitat vegetation. The phytogeographical analysis revealed that the maximum (69%) species were native, while the minimum (31%) species were exotic. Thus, the study of these functional and habitat diversity patterns can significantly improve our understanding of the ecological aspects of the flora in the geographical location. This information may additionally be useful in devising management plans to ensure sustainable utilization and better management of forest landscapes in this Himalayan region.

Carbon dots (CDs) have generated much interest because of their significant fluorescence (FL) properties, extraordinary photophysical attributes, and long-term colloidal stability. CDs have been regarded as a prospective carbon nanomaterial for various sensing applications because of their low toxicity, strong and broad optical absorption, high chemical stability, rapid transfer properties, and easy modification. To improve their functionality, CD/polymer composites have been developed by integrating polymers into CDs. CD/polymer composites have diversified because of their easy preparation and applications in sensing, optoelectronics, semiconductors, molecular delivery, and various commercial fields. Many review articles are available regarding the preparation and applications of CDs. Some review articles describing the production and multiple applications of the composites are available. However, no such article has focused on the types of precursors, optical properties, coating characteristics, and specific sensing applications of CD/polymer composites. This review aimed to highlight and summarize the current progress of CD/polymer composites in the last five years (2017–2021). First, we overview the precursors used for deriving CDs and CD/polymer composites, synthesis methods for preparing CDs and CD/polymer composites, and the optical properties (absorbance, FL, emission color, and quantum yield) and coating characteristics of the composites. Most carbon and polymer precursors were dominated by synthetic precursors, with citric acid and polyvinyl alcohol widely utilized as carbon and polymer precursors, respectively. Hydrothermal treatment for CDs and interfacial polymerization for CDs/polymers were frequently performed. The optical properties of CDs and CD/polymer composites were almost identical, denoting that the optical characters of CDs were well-maintained in the composites. Then, the chemical, biological, and physical sensing applications of CD/polymer composites are categorized and discussed. The CD/polymer composites showed good performance as chemical, biological, and physical sensors for numerous targets based on FL quenching efficiency. Finally, remaining challenges and future perspectives for CD/polymer composites are provided.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an important plant in medicine. The Kashmir Valley (J&K, India) is one of the world's largest and finest saffron producing regions. However, over the past decade, there has been a strong declining trend in saffron production in this area. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are free living soil bacteria that have ability to colonize the surfaces of the roots and ability to boost plant growth and development either directly or indirectly. Using the efficient PGPR as a bio-inoculant is another sustainable agricultural practice to improve soil health, grain yield quality, and biodiversity conservation. In the present study, a total of 13 bacterial strains were isolated from rhizospheric soil of saffron during the flowering stage of the tubers and were evaluated for various plant growth promoting characteristics under in vitro conditions such as the solubilization of phosphate, production of indole acetic acid, siderophore, hydrocyanic acid, and ammonia production and antagonism by dual culture test against Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum. All the isolates were further tested for the production of hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase, and chitinase. The maximum proportions of bacterial isolates were gram-negative bacilli. About 77% of the bacterial isolates showed IAA production, 46% exhibited phosphate solubilization, 46% siderophore, 61% HCN, 100% ammonia production, 69% isolates showed protease activity, 62% lipase, 46% amylase, 85% cellulase, and 39% showed chitinase activity. Three isolates viz., AIS-3, AIS-8 and AIS-10 were found to have the most plant growth properties and effectively control the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum. The bacterial isolates were identified as Brevibacterium frigoritolerans (AIS-3), Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. Phenolicus (AIS-8) and Bacillus aryabhattai (AIS-10) respectively by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Therefore, these isolated rhizobacterial strains could be a promising source of plant growth stimulants to increase cormlets growth and increase saffron production.