Increasing concern surrounds the impact of pollutants on marine ecosystems, particularly the combined effects of nanoplastics and synthetic dyes. This present study evaluated the toxicity of 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) and Metanil Yellow (MY) co-exposure in Artemia salina, a model marine bioindicator. Physicochemical characterization through DLS, FTIR, and Raman analyses confirmed the interaction between PSNPs and MY, indicating dye adsorption on the surface of PSNPs and increased aggregate size after 48 h. The LC50 value for the PSNPs+MY complex, 6.76 mg/L, was significantly lower than that of pristine 14.79 mg/L components, reflecting enhanced toxicity. Mortality rates exceeded 93 % in the complex-exposed group compared to 23 % and 66 % for PSNPs and MY alone, respectively. Co-exposure resulted in elevated ROS levels and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating significant oxidative stress. The pristine treatment at 20 mg/L induced 73 % oxidative stress, while the complex exposure at 100 + 20 mg/L increased it to 86 %. Overall, the findings demonstrate that interactions between nanoplastics and dyes exacerbate toxic responses in marine organisms, posing a compounded ecological risk and highlighting the need for stricter monitoring and remediation of such emerging contaminants.

IntroductionThis study used Casper zebrafish embryos and larvae as a model to examine the creation and safety evaluation of a cisplatin-loaded ginger essential oil nanoemulsion (Cisp-GE-NE).MethodsThe Cisp-GE-NE was made using an oil-in-water ultrasonic dispersion technique with Tween 80, and it was characterised using FTIR analysis, DLS, zeta potential, and UV-visible spectroscopy. A sustained release of cisplatin was noted at pH values of 3.5, 5.5, and 7.4.ResultsWith LC50 values of 5.3 μg/mL, 14.4 μg/mL, and 3.7 μg/mL, zebrafish embryos exposed to different concentrations of Cisp-GE-NE showed decreased epiboly progression, morphological abnormalities, and significant mortality. Spinal curvature, pericardial oedema, smaller eyes, reduced swim bladder inflation, and decreased body length were among the most notable larval defects. Neurodevelopmental toxicity was indicated by behavioural studies that revealed different swimming patterns in light and dark environments.Discussion and ConclusionThe results draw attention to the possible toxicity of nanoemulsion systems based on ginger oil and stress the significance of conducting a safety assessment before their use in clinical or environmental settings.

BackgroundThe aquaculture industry has prominent role in the commercial production of fish protein needs of the world. Various technologies have emerged to improve the aquaculture industry. The alternative strategies for antibiotics and chemicals used in aquaculture to treat infectious disease are the potential probiotics and plant-derived prebiotics. As a result, farmers who depend on aquaculture were encouraged to use alternative strategies to prevent diseases. This review focuses on the effect of the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the prebiotic and probiotic bacterial strains on the aquatic pathogens.MethodsThe systematic search related to probiotics and prebiotic effect on the aquaculture industry from Scopus databases was retrieved to identify the years of publications, countries from which it was published from 2015 to 2025. The bibliometric analysis performed provided comprehensive and detailed scientific data using quantitative tools like VOSviewer software.ResultsA total of 339 publications and book chapters from the year 2005 to 2025 were retrieved for a major part of bibliometric analysis. A total of 1,475 research articles, reviews and book chapters were extracted for the VOS viewer networking. The countries from which maximum more research articles are India, China, and United States having 67, 50, and 36 publications, respectively. The top current keywords used are “probiotics,” “prebiotics,” and “aquaculture.”ConclusionBoth probiotic and prebiotics bacteria have a positive effect on immune responses, disease resistance, growth performance and tolerance against abiotic stressors of aquatic species is also discussed. The bioactive compounds and antioxidant effect of both probiotic and prebiotic bacteria are reported to have beneficial effects as a feed additive which can improve feed quality and animal health.

Plastic materials are extensively used in the healthcare sector for the packaging of pharmaceuticals and related accessories. Even though plastics are considered to be inert, they can leach chemical additives and degradation products. The present study investigated the organic and inorganic composition of the leachate and its biological implications. The study used polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), expanded polyethylene (EPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging materials for the investigation. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were used for fingerprinting the characteristic functional group vibrations of each polymer. The release of a wide spectrum of organic compounds, including phthalates were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrum (GC-MS). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used to detect the migrated inorganic constituents (metals). A concentration dependant increase in mortality was observed in Artemia franciscana treated with PP and EPE leachates with highest mortality rate of 15% and 18.33% respectively. The changes in the oxidative stress markers indicate that pharmaceutical plastic leachates induce strong oxidative damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels increased with increasing leachate concentration. In comparison with the control of 42.01, the PET samples showed a higher range of 90.97 ROS level. The total protein (TP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) followed a similar increasing trend with increasing leachate concentration, confirming lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. The MDA was highest in PS samples of 2.986 nm compared to that of 0.097 nm in control, also the TP was highest in PP samples (118 µg/mL) compared to that of control (86.50 µg/mL) and the other polymers. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in contrast displayed a decreasing trend, with the lowest SOD activity of 0.0393 U/mg in EPE compared to 0.4779 U/mg in control. The variations in ROS, TP, LPO and SOD were highly significant (p < 0.001), confirming strong treatment effects. Overall, these findings highlight that pharmaceutical packaging materials are not chemically inert. Instead, they release biologically active compounds that disrupt the metabolic and antioxidant defense pathways of aquatic organisms. This study emphasizes the need for improved regulatory oversight for safer packaging strategies to minimize health and ecological risks associated with plastic leaching.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial step in metastasis formation. It enhances the ability of cancer cells' to self-renew and initiate tumors, while also increasing resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. Among the signaling pathways a few signaling pathways such as Notch, TGF-beta, and Wnt-beta catenin are critically involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) acquisition. Therefore, regulating EMT is a key strategy for controlling malignant cell behavior. This is done by interconnecting other signaling pathways in many cancer types. Although there is extensive preclinical evidence regarding EMT's function in the development of cancer, there is still a deficiency in clinical translation at the therapeutic level. Thus, there is a need for medications that are both highly effective and with low cytotoxic for modulating EMT transitions at ground level. Thus, this led to the study of the evaluation and efficiency of phytochemicals found in dietary sources of fruits and vegetables and also the combination of small molecular repurposed drugs that can enhance the effectiveness of traditional cancer treatments. This review summarises major EMT-associated pathways and their cross talks with their mechanistic insights and the role of different dietary phytochemicals (curcumin, ginger, fennel, black pepper, and clove) and their natural analogs and also repurposed drugs (metformin, statin, chloroquine, and vitamin D) which are commonly used in regulating EMT in various preclinical studies. This review also investigates the concept of low-toxicity and broad spectrum (“The Halifax Project”) approach which can help for site targeting of several key pathways and their mechanism. We also discuss the mechanisms of action, models for our dietary phytochemicals, and repurposed drugs and their combinations used to identify potential anti-EMT activities. Additionally, we also analyzed existing literature and proposed new directions for accelerating the discovery of novel drug candidates that are safe to administer.

Natural products from certain marine microorganisms have been used as an alternative to antibiotics in recent times for the treatment of infectious diseases in aquaculture. Marine Actinomycetes are the most prolific secondary metabolite producers. The aim of the present study was to extract the bioactive compounds from marine Actinomycetes extracts which can be used as a bioactive feed in treating the bacterial infection in prawns. This study investigated the antibacterial potential of Actinomycetes isolated from marine sediments against two aquatic pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahemolyticus. A total of 17 distinctive colonies were screened and amongst them, 2 showed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The strains were characterized based on cultural, morphological, and biochemical methods. 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the isolates as Microbacterium marinum and Kocuria rhizophila falling under Actinomycetes. 7 purified compounds extracted from the two strains showed a good inhibition zone of 10-17 mm against A. hydrophila and 11-21 mm against V. parahemolyticus respectively. The survival rate of Macrobrachium rosenbergii after the bioactive feed treatment was found to be 80-90 %. The immunological, biochemical and antioxidant enzymatic activities showed increased activities and disease resistance. The gene expression analysis with immune genes by qRT-PCR revealed enhanced immune response. A difference in the data was regarded as statistically significant when the p significance value was less than or equal to 5 (p ≤ 0.05). The present study developed an alternative antimicrobial therapeutic treatment as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics against aquatic bacterial pathogens that can benefit the aquaculture farmers.

Micro-nano plastics have emerged as a major ecological concern. The nanoplastics (NPs) pose a huge threat to microscopic animals. Our study aims to decipher the effect of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) of 50 and 100 nm sizes on a bdelloid rotifer (Philodina roseola). Both sizes of PSNPs were analyzed using field emission Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Dynamic light scattering analyses. The LC50 values for 50 and 100 nm PSNPs at 48 h upon interaction with the rotifers were 16.36 and 22.94 mg/L respectively. The total protein and superoxide dismutase levels decreased with an increase in concentration in both PSNPs upon interaction at various concentrations (4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/L). Whereas the lipid peroxidase and reactive oxygen species levels increased with an increase in concentration for both PSNPs at similar concentrations. Further, both PSNPs were found to cause internal organ damage in rotifers. A delay in the hatching rate was observed when the rotifers interacted with both PSNPs in addition to the decrease in the hatching rate of F1 generation. Therefore, PSNPs pose a threat to the natural life cycle in the rotifers.

Salinity stress significantly affects rice production worldwide. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of bacteria-mediated synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) to mitigate salinity stress in rice. IONPs were characterized using DLS, UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD and revealed 30-40 nm particles with cubic and spherical morphologies. Greenhouse studies showed enhanced growth parameters in IONP-treated plants under both normal and salt stress conditions. Treatment with 100 ppm IONPs under salinity stress resulted in enhanced shoot length (278.6%), root length (122.9%), and wet weight (180.0%) compared to the control plants. Similarly, post-harvest analysis revealed that IONPs improved chlorophyll content (206.8%), reduced proline accumulation (43.9-56% decrease), and modulated superoxide dismutase activity (9.2-22.6% decrease) compared to the control plants. Furthermore, IONPs enhanced soil dehydrogenase activity (185.5-479.5%) under salt stress, which indicated improved soil microbial activity. In addition, treatment with IONPs significantly reduced the accumulation of Na+ (58.49%) and Cl- (35.5%) ions in rice plants and enhanced the availability of soil nitrogen and phosphorus compared with the salt-stressed control. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that these effects might be mediated by the modulation of peroxisomal functions. This study demonstrated the potential of IONPs as a promising tool for enhancing rice crop performance under saline conditions with implications for sustainable agriculture in salt-affected areas.

There is a growing apprehension on the toxic effects of various pollutants on marine ecosystems. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of the combination of 200 nm fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics (F-PSNPs) and chromium(III) nitrate nonahydrate (CNN) on their toxicity in Artemia salina, a marine crustacean. The interaction between CNN and F-PSNPs in natural seawater resulted in the formation of micron-sized particles. This interaction also caused a decrease in F-PSNP fluorophore intensity. Reduced residual CNN concentration within the mixture indicated CNN binding to F-PSNPs. Acute toxicity tests were conducted on Artemia salina using different concentrations of F-PSNPs alone, CNN alone, and the F-PSNPs + CNN complex. The study assessed the potential toxicity of these emerging contaminants by examining the mortality rates, hatching success, morphological changes, and biochemical alterations in Artemia salina. Exposure to the F-PSNPs + CNN complex resulted in a decreased hatching success, an increased mortality rate, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, catalase, lipid peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and reduced total protein content, and the independent action model suggested an additive toxic effect of the complex. Significant differences were noted between the impact of the complex and the individual. However, the accumulation of these particles in organisms may affect the food chain. These findings underscore the potential environmental risks associated with the concurrent exposure of aquatic organisms to nanoplastics and other co-contaminating heavy metals.

Growing apprehension surrounds the toxic effects of various pollutants in marine ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate how the combination of 200 nm Fluorescence polystyrene nanoplastics (F-PSNPs) and chromium (III)...

The spread of bacterial infections through hand is a serious issue globally, which directed to the need for effective antibacterial hand sanitizers. This study highlights a user-friendly and water-based antibacterial gel containing the active extracts of jujube and Aloe vera, carbopol 940 as a gelling agent, Isacguard as a preservative and triethylamine as a stabilizing agent. The presence of antibacterial and antioxidant phytochemicals like terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids were analysed. Broth dilution using the bacteria that was observed widely in hand was done for antibacterial efficiency testing of the extracts, which directed to standardize the concentration of extracts in the gel. The physiochemical properties and organoleptic properties of gel was studied. The cytotoxicity study using Artemia salina was performed and showed that there was no cell death up to the gel concentration of 80 ppm. Further, the efficacy was tested using the finger imprint method. The study revealed that the aloe-jujube gel had significant antioxidant and potential antibacterial properties. Overall, the gel is a safe and effective water-based hand hygiene product, that may be recommended for healthcare sector.

Paracetamol/Acetaminophen has two binding sites on HSA. NPS has a stronger binding affinity to HSA compared to that of paracetamol. The NPS-HSA interaction causes an alteration in the secondary structure of HSA, resulting in decrease in the binding affinity of paracetamol to HSA.

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) have become a ubiquitous environmental threat that can harm living organisms.

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) when exposed to nanopermethrin (NPER) exacerbate toxicity on Artemia salina. In the environment, NPs act as a vector for other pollutants mainly heavy metals and pesticides. Nanopesticides are efficient compared to their bulk form. The adsorption of NPER on PSNPs was studied systematically and it was found that the binding of NPER is inversely proportional to its concentration. NPER adsorption on PSNPs followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with an adsorption percentage of 1.7%, 3.7%, 7.7%, 15.4%, and 30.8% when PSNPs were incubated with 2 mg L-1,4 mg L-1, 8 mg L-1, 16 mg L-1, and 32 mg L-1 of NPER. The adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm. The increased hydrodynamic size of the NPER/PSNP complex was observed. Different characterization studies were performed for NPER, PSNPs, and their complex using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The LC50 value for the NPER/PSNP complex treated with Artemia salina was 3.127 mg L-1, compared to LC50 NPER which was found to be 4.536 mg L-1. PSNPs had a lower mortality rate in Artemia salina, where 50% mortality (LC50) was not observed at their working concentration. Both the nanoforms led to morphological changes in Artemia salina. Reactive oxygen species increased to 87.94% for the NPER/PSNP complex, 78.93% for NPER, and 23.65% for PSNPs. Greater amounts of ROS in the cells may have led to SOD degradation. Superoxide dismutase activity for the NPER/PSNP complex was 1.2 U mg-1, NPER was 1.3 U mg-1, and PSNPs was 2.1 U mg-1. A lipid peroxidation study reveals that the melondialdehyde synthesis by NPER/PSNPs complex, NPER and PSNPs were found to be 2.21 nM mg-1, 1.59 nM mg-1, and 0.91 nM mg-1 respectively. Catalase activity in a complex of NPER/PSNPs, NPER, and PSNPs was found to be 1.25 U mg-1, 0.94 U mg-1, and 0.49 U mg-1. This study envisages the individual and combined toxicity of nanopesticides and PSNPs on aquatic organisms. Increased plastic usage and new-age chemicals for agriculture could result in the formation of a PSNPs-NPER complex potentially causing highly toxic effects on aquatic animals, compared to their pristine forms. Therefore, we should also consider the other side of nanotechnology in agriculture.

The phytochemical constituents in Priva cordifolia leaf extracts and their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. were determined along with antioxidant property . HepG2 cells were used to test the hepatoprotective and cytoprotective effects of P. cordifolia leaf extracts by evaluating the levels of liver enzymes AST and ALT. The inhibitory zone against E. coli and Pseudomonas sp. by the ethanolic extract was effective than the aqueous extract. At 100 mu g mL(-1), the ethanolic extract had the highest Fe3+ reducing ability of 89.52% and improved cell viability and decreased AST and ALT levels in CCl4-damaged HepG2 cells.

Gut probiotic bacteria play a significant role in the host health, immunity, and survival. In aquaculture, changes in the gut microbiome of fishes affect the overall productivity and product quality. In the scenario of growing plastic pollution and associated microplastic prevalence, the current study was designed to investigate the interactions and impact of prepared polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) of irregular surface morphology on a probiotic bacteria Bacillus tropicus ACS1, isolated from the gut of Oreochromis mossambicus (commonly called as Tilapia). The cell viability was significantly increased along with changes in bacterial growth kinetics upon exposure to varying concentrations of PS-MPs. The microplastic exposure also increased the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and induced slight changes in the IR spectra of the EPS. A peak representing a carbonyl linkage that could be attributed to the glycosidic linkages between sugars disappeared following exposure to higher concentrations of PS-MPs. The interaction between the bacteria and the microplastics was visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the colonization of the bacteria with active biofilm formation was observed. The investigation of PS-MP induced oxidative stress in the bacteria revealed the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase in anti-oxidant enzyme concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase. The study provides new insights into the effect of microplastics on gut probiotics of an economically significant aquaculture species.

Aquaculture industries are currently facing a wide array of challenges including emergence of antimicrobial resistance among pathogens, increased susceptibility to diseases, lack of healthy fingerlings and overall decrease in productivity. Probiotics are safer alternatives to antimicrobials and serves as a solution all these concerns. Oreochromis mossambicus is a commercially significant fish species of the cichlid family due to its richness in micro and macronutrients, adaptability and feed efficacy. Management of pathogenic infections and availability of healthy fingerlings are two major challenges faced by the tilapia farmers at present. The current research was conducted to identify a potent bacterial strain from the intestine of O. mossambicus with active probiotic properties. A potent Bacillus strain that surpassed the safety assessments and exhibited antagonistic activity against the potential aquaculture pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes were selected for determination of specific probiotic properties. The strain was found tolerant to 0.3% bile, acidity up to pH 2 and 5% NaCl concentrations, substantiating its potential to survive the hostile gut environment of the host fish. Additionally, the strain exhibited auto aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity, which are essential probiotic properties. It showed 63±3.32%. hydrophobicity and 56.65±1.65% auto aggregation in spectrophotometric studies. Moreover, it also demonstrated proteolytic activity that could benefit the host in the digestion processes. As the strain exhibited desirable probiotic traits, it was subjected to molecular characterization and identified as Bacillus tropicus ACS1. Further research is warranted to elucidate its complete potential in promoting the health, immunity and productivity of aquaculture industries.

The multifaceted applications and versatility of plastics has resulted in an exponential growth in the production and consumption of plastic products. Micronanoplastics (MNPs) in the oceans, generated from freely discarded macroplastics or of primary origin, is capable of interacting with the dynamic and complex population of biotic and abiotic components of the ocean. All organisms, ranging from the fundamental species of the food web to the uppermost levels, are exposed to different types and concentrations of MNPs throughout their span of life. Oceans can currently be regarded as a pool of all pollutants including MNPs. To discover the actual risk concerning MNPs, it is critical to understand the behavior and interactions of MNPs in the aquatic environment. The following sections encapsulate the investigations pertaining the mechanisms of interactions of MNPs with persistent pollutants, natural colloids, microorganisms dissolved organic and inorganic matter, as well as the factors controlling these interactions.