Mosquitoes cause several fatal infectious diseases. Synthetic insecticides were effective in the past but had adverse effects on nontarget organisms. Therefore, plant secondary metabolites are now recognized as effective alternatives to synthetic insecticides for controlling mosquito populations due to their reduced toxicity and cost-effectiveness. In this study, the insecticidal efficacy of secondary metabolites of Bryophyllum pinnatum was tested using larval bioassay and in silico molecular docking analysis of bioactive compounds, namely, bufadienolide, bryophyllin A, and bryophyllin C with insect proteins such as arylalkylamine N-acetyltranferase (AANAT), glutathione S-transferase (GSTs), and sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP-2). Larval bioassay was done using the methanol extract of B. pinnatum on the 4th instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, which showed 100% of larval mortality. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis shows the presence of functional groups, namely, primary amines, alkanes, carboxylic group, ester, nitro groups, cyclic alcohol, aryl, and aryl halides. The molecular docking study showed that bufadienolide exhibited remarkable binding affinity with insect target proteins. Based on in silico study and larval bioassay, we conclude that bufadienolide from B. pinnatum has insecticidal potential and can be explored as a novel botanical insecticide.

Microbial degradation strategy is one of the most beneficial methods to convert an organic biomass into valuable products. In this study, bioethanol can be produced with the help of microbes isolated from the gut of wood borer larvae Oryctes rhinoceros. Isolate and characterization of microbes and their cellulolytic ability were carried out. Two microbes from O. rhinoceros have cellulolytic activity and belong to the genes Enterobacter sp and Klebsiella sp. These two microbes are used in the hydrolysis process of rice straw and banana leaf wastes. The concentration of reducing sugars can be analysed by UV–Vis Spectrophotometer. The hydrolysed samples were kept for the fermentation process. And the functional group of the fermented samples was analysed using FTIR analysis, which confirmed the presence of an OH group in the sample. The qualitative analysis of reducing sugar released from the cellulolytic bacteria using Benedict’s test, which produce a red colour precipitate conforms to the presence of reducing sugar. The quantitative analysis of reducing sugar using DNSA method indicates a dark brown colour, On the 9th days of hydrolysis by Enterobacter sp, Klebsiella sp and combination of Enterobacter sp, Klebsiella sp, it can be seen that the reducing sugar can be obtained in the amounts of 1.35 mg/ml 1.22 mg/ml and 1.48 mg/ml, respectively, in the microbial treated samples when compared with the control. Based on the results, I concluded that the second-generation bioethanol can be produced from the agricultural wastes using the microbes isolated from the gut of Oryctes rhinoceros larvae. And evaluate the mosquitocidal activity of secondary metabolites from those bacteria against C. quinquefasciatus larvae, which shows that LC50 of the ethyl acetate extract of Enterobacter sp was 480.003 ppm and LC90 was 1709.205 ppm and they LC50 of Klebsiella sp are 276.911 ppm and LC90 is 1090.845 ppm at 72h of exposure. So, the study concluded that they are non-toxic to humans, it also reduces the use of fossil fuels and helps in the management of agricultural waste.

In this study Chitosan- Zinc oxide nanocomposite (CS-ZnO NCs) was green synthesised using Dolichandrone falcata aqueous leaf extract. The synthesized CS-ZnO NCs were characterized using UV (Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) with EDAX (Energy-Dispersive X-ray) and DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering). The formation of CS-ZnO NCs was confirmed by the absorbance peak of 327 nm. XRD analysis revealed hexagonal structure of NCs with crystalline size of 25 nm. Synthesized NCs shows the functional groups such as alcohol, amine, alkene, sulfoxide, nitro and halo compounds. SEM analysis revealed the aggregated spherical in shape of NCs. The particle size of the synthesized NCs is 54 nm. Moreover, the nanocomposites (NCs) displayed strong antioxidant activity against DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) and Metal chelating activity assays at 250 µg/mL concentration. The antibacterial properties of the CS-ZnO NCs were assessed using disc diffusion method, revealing the highest zone of inhibition on Gram positive strains. The synthesized CS-ZnO NCs showed potent anti-inflammatory activity on albumin denaturation. Additionally, NCs exhibited significant anticancer properties against skin cancer cell line A431 with IC50 value of 50.00 µg/mL. Based on our findings, biologically synthesized nanocomposites (NCs) demonstrate significant potential for various biomedical applications.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that increases blood glucose levels and delays wound healing. Several bioactive molecules found in plants have antimicrobial and pharmaceutical properties, which make them effective in controlling metabolic diseases. In this study we synthesized ZnO-NPs using aqueous leaf extract of Breynia vitis-idaea. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using UV–Vis spectrophotometer, XRD, FT-IR, SEM with EDX, zeta potential and HRTEM. The antibacterial potential of ZnO-NPs was checked using pathogenic bacteria. Antioxidant property was calculated by DPPH and phosphomolybdenum assays. α- amylase and α-glucosidase assays were done to check the anti-diabetic property. UV–Vis absorption peak of green synthesized ZnO-NPs showed the absorbance peak of 340 nm, the hexagonal wurtzite of crystal structure confirmed by XRD analysis. FT-IR spectrum revealed the functional groups namely alcohol, phenol, alkyl group, zinc carboxylate, alkenes, aromatic ring, and amino acid. SEM with EDX showed nanoparticles to be spherical in shape, with an average size of 69 nm. Zeta potential analysis shows − 21.8 mV surface charge. HRTEM analysis revealed the spherical shaped structure with the size range of 20–100 nm. ZnO-NPs inhibit the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The finding exhibits that the green synthesized ZnO-NPs have potent antibacterial and antidiabetic properties, therefore it can further explored for their biomedical applications.

Strobilanthes cordifolia has emerged as a promising material in traditional medicine. In this study, we have made an attempt to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles derived from S. cordifolia leaf. The team employed a wide range of techniques including UV, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM with EDAX, HR-TEM with SAED, DLS, Zeta potential, BET and PZC analysis to thoroughly examine the properties of the NPs. FTIR analysis provided evidence of various functional groups within the NPs. XRD analysis demonstrated the crystal nature and phase purity of the NPs. SEM analysis showcased the spherical shape of the particles, while TEM revealed their rod-like shape with sizes averaging at approximately 10 nm. DLS analysis indicated the average particle size, and the high zeta potential value confirmed the stability and BET analysis deciphered the specific surface area of the biosynthesized NPs. The NPs confirmed strong antioxidant properties with DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals. Enzyme studies confirmed good anti-cholinergic activity and anti-inflammatory efficacy, highlighting their potential therapeutic benefits. The NPs demonstrated promising wound healing properties. Overall, this research study sheds light on the medicinal aspects of zinc oxide nanoparticles from S. cordifolia leaf extract and it offers exciting prospects for future exploration and development in this field.

Impatiens chinensis plant is a various medicinal properties and use in the field of biomedicine in several decades. In present of the study, successfully green synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using the leaf extract of I. chinensis. The synthesized CuNPs were thoroughly characterized using various techniques such as UV, FTIR, XRD, and SEM with EDAX, TEM, particle size and Zeta potential analysis. The UV-Vis analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of CuNPs, as indicated by absorbance peak at 313 nm. FTIR spectra revealed the different functional groups and molecular bonding interactions of the CuNPs, while XRD analysis unveiled the crystalline nature of the NPs. SEM imaging confirmed the spherical structure of the CuNPs and EDAX confirmed the Copper (Z), Oxygen (O) and CuL (Cl) elements. TEM imaging confirming the spherical shape and identifying the SAED pattern. Moreover, the particle size analysis the size of 63.1 nm identified and the zeta potential range of -27.1 mv confirmed their stability. To evaluate the antibacterial activity of different pathogenic bacteria using various zone of inhibitions. CuNPs antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH (53.20%), ABTS (52.37%) and Hydroxyl scavenging assays (51.02%). The evaluate CuNPs for their potential anti-cancer properties in MCF-7 cell lines, showing (65.34%) inhibition. Overall, the findings of this study green-synthesized CuNPs as multifunctional agents with antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. These nanoparticles hold potential for biomedical applications, providing sustainable solutions for a range of health related challenges.

Salvia coccinea, a plant known for its medicinal properties, has been extensively utilized in biomedicine. In a recent study, green synthesizing of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using the leaf extract of S. coccinea. The synthesized ZnONPs were thoroughly characterized using various techniques such as UV, FTIR, XRD, SEM with EDAX, TEM, particle size and Zeta potential analysis. The UV-vis analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnONPs, as indicated by a distinct peak observed at 377 nm. FTIR spectra confirmed the various functional groups and molecular bonding interactions of the ZnONPs. XRD analysis revealed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. SEM imaging confirmed the predominantly spherical structure of the ZnONPs, while EDAX confirmed the presence of Zinc (Z) and Oxygen (O) elements. TEM imaging revealed their rod-like shape with an average size of approximately 5nm. Particle size analysis indicated a size of 14.2 nm and the high zeta potential value of -17.3mv confirmed their stability. The synthesized ZnONPs exhibited antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria inhibitions. The antioxidant activity, as evidenced by DPPH and ABTS was highest inhibitions. Further evaluated the synthesized ZnONPs on human disease cell lines were also investigated from potential of anti-cancer properties in MCF-7 (68.96%) and A431 (64.73%). Overall, the findings of this study highlight the potential of the green synthesized ZnONPs as multifunctional agents with antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. These nanoparticles hold promise for applications in biomedicine, suggesting sustainable solutions for addressing various health related challenges.

Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly Metarhizium and Beauveria species, are emerging as effective biocontrol agents for combating lepidopteran pests in agricultural and forestry settings. This review provides a comprehensive overview of their modes of action, secondary metabolites, extracellular enzymes, and infection mechanisms. These fungi employ various strategies, including the secretion of proteolytic enzymes, chitinolytic enzymes, esterases, and lipases, to penetrate the insect cuticle and initiate infection. The process involves spore recognition, adhesion, germination, and differentiation into infective structures. The impact of fungal strains on the insect immune system and the commercial availability of fungal pesticides are also discussed. Furthermore, the advancements in genetically engineered mycotoxins and the key challenges facing their implementation are addressed, in addition to listing future research directions. This review offers valuable insights for researchers involved in the development and application of entomopathogenic fungi for sustainable pest management practices.

Vector management is an important challenge and burden to developing countries. Frequent and indiscriminate application of chemical insecticides for vector control has resulted in the development of resistance and undesirable effects on beneficial organisms. Hence an alternative approach is needed for the mosquito control programme. The present study investigated the insecticidal activity and spectral analysis of Ocimum canum methanol leaf extract against three mosquito species. One out of four fractions (F1-F4), the 4th fraction, revealed showed good insecticidal activity in larva and adult Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi (0.114, 0.325 and 0.173 ppm) and (1.798, 1.061 and 0.871 ppm). The mortality was found to be dosage dependant. Spectral analysis of 1H NMR and 13C NMR indicates the presence of 6 protons at δH value of 7.45 (s) and 3 protons at δH value of 7.85 (s) ppm. FT-IR identified the possible band near the capping region at 3417.16 cm-1. LC-MS confirmed the eugenol compound with 99.79% purity at the molecular weight of 164. Further, eugenol docking analysis revealed high homology similarity with insect odorant binding protein 3OGN and AchE protein 2BG9. Overall, the result suggests that isolated eugenol compounds were found to be effective for the eco-friendly management of mosquito vectors. These findings could be useful for designing an efficient mosquitocidal compound in the future.

Eranthemum roseum, a species in the genus Eranthemum is widely known for its traditional therapeutic properties. This study focused on the leaf extract to identify bioactive compounds and evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-proliferative and molecular docking studies. The leaf extract was found to be rich in phytoconstituents including phenols and flavonoids. GC–MS analysis of extract revealed the presence of major bioactive compounds N (Epsilon)-Methyl-L-Lysine (66.26

In this study, synthesized AgNPs were produced using an aqueous leaf extract of Hardwickia binata. The highest absorption wavelength was found to be at 454 nm. The study evaluated the antibacterial activity of the synthesized AgNPs and found that they exhibited the highest zone of inhibition against B. subtilis, indicating good antibacterial activity. The antioxidant activity evaluated using DPPH, ABTS assays and further analyzed the synthesized AgNPs for their anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity. In an environmental related study, the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye using the synthesized AgNPs. The results showed that the MB dye was completely degraded within 210 min, suggesting that the synthesized AgNPs have potential as treatment option for dye-containing wastewater. The findings of the study synthesized AgNPs the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and good dye degradation properties. The current research holds promise for addressing the issue of removing hazardous dyes from wastewater discharged by many industries.

This research is conducted using zinc doped silver nanocomposite on Eranthemum roseum leaf extract. E. roseum has its own medicinal properties due its bioactive compounds. Silver and Zinc also has its own medicinal properties due to its microbial properties. Our work is aimed to combine nanoparticles with plant extract to explore the medicinal properties. The synthesized Ag-ZnO NCs is characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDAX) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. The XRD analysis confirms the crystal nature of the Ag-ZnO NCs. The average shape of the nanocomposite was obtained using SEM as spherical, EDAX analysis confirming the presence of Ag, Zn and Oxygen and TEM conforms the oval shape of nanoparticles Antibacterial activity shows highest level of activity against K. pneumoniae and B. subtilis. DPPH Activity of Ag-ZnO NCs highest inhibition of 52.56 % while the ABTS analysis of Ag-ZnO NCs shows 54.28 %. Hypoglycemic activity α-amylase and α- glucosidase assay of Ag-ZnO NCs obtained good activity with maximum level of inhibition 63 % and 60 %. Anti-proliferative assay shows good activity against cancer causing cells in HepG2 human liver cancer line with 67.11 %. Larvicidal potential of Ag-ZnO NCs recorded good mortality rate against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. This study confirms the maximum activity of Ag-ZnO NCs and acts as Larvicidal, Anti-proliferative, Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic agents.

This work describes the hydrothermal method for synthesizing a novel nanocomposite: Nickel -doped Cerium oxide on reduced graphene oxide (Ni-CeO2/rGO). The resulting material exhibits exceptional electrocatalytic behavior, showing promise for supercapacitor applications. The Phase morphology, elemental analysis, surface area and oxidation state were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction studies (PXRD), Raman spectrum, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett Teller (BET) and XPS respectively. Electrochemical analysis involving cyclic voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic charge/ discharge, and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The specific capacitance is 262.1Fg-1, 504Fg-1, and 728Fg-1 for CeO2, CeO2/rGO, Ni-CeO2/rGO it depicts its suitability for energy storage. This study establishes the Ni-CeO2/rGO nanocomposite as a highly effective material for advanced energy storage applications.

Over the last few decades, the use of nanoparticles and nanomaterials for developing novel crop protection products has become a scientific and technological standard worldwide. In agroforestry, the application of nanotechnology is considered vital for the production of value-added forest materials, like smart nano-packaging, paper, coating material, building construction, and others. Nanotechnology also finds applications in the management of soil fertility and water quality. Nanotechnology has shown competence in remediating contaminated soils and in enhancing the bioavailability of useful nutrients for plant growth and yield. The role of nanotechnology in the development of biopesticides has also emerged as a promising solution for insect pest control. Nano-biopesticides in the form of biologically derived active compounds integrated with nanoparticles have applications in the management of insect pests in agriculture and forestry. In this chapter, the latest developments in the application of nanotechnology for the protection of agricultural crops, enhancing their fertility, and forest products are discussed.

The fruit and other parts of Momordica cymbalaria are known to have medicinal properties. The study investigates the chemical composition and functional groups of M. cymbalaria fruits to assess the insecticidal potential of its bioactive metabolites. In silico approach was used to understand the mechanism behind the insecticidal nature of these metabolites. Ethyl acetate extract has 18 compounds, whereas 20 compounds were identified in methanol using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. The extracts contain several functional groups, including alkanes, esters, carboxylic acids, amides and aromatic groups. The insecticidal bioassay using methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of M. cymbalaria on Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae shows that the LC50 value for A. aegypti was 65.7 ppm, for C. quinquefasciatus was 96.9 ppm and for ethyl acetate and methanol extract is 282.36 and 388.09 ppm. Molecular docking of secondary metabolites was performed with five insect proteins, namely, odorant binding protein (OBP), cytochrome P450 (CYP450), prophenol oxidase (PPO), arylalkylamine n-acetyltransferease (aaNAT) and sterol carrier protein (SCP). Results show that methyl 6-cis, 9-cis, 11-trans-octadecatrienoate has high binding affinity with sterol carrier protein (SCP-2) besides showing binding with other insect proteins. The data suggest that methyl 6-cis, 9-cis, 11-trans-octadecatrienoate has multiple insecticidal actions and may serve as a green insecticide.

The biological synthesis of nanoparticles finds application in the development of novel insecticides and bioremediation agents. In this study, bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized using copper and zinc salts along with Penicillium citrinum secondary metabolite. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed for their insecticidal and photocatalytic efficacy on Culex quinquefasciatus larvae and organic dyes, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and HR-TEM. The results showed fungal metabolite synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles were too toxic for Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, with LC50 and LC90 values of 1016.51 ppm, 4948.12 ppm for 24 h exposure; 184.80 ppm, 718.16 ppm for 48 h exposure, and 59.07 and 338.76 ppm for 72 h exposure, respectively. The Cu-Zn bimetallic nanoparticles showed mild photocatalytic activity on Xylenol orange (36%). This study shows that bimetallic NPs synthesized from Penicillium citrinum are advantageous for mosquito control as well as having photocatalytic dye degradation properties.

Synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using medicinal plants increasing rapidly due to its eco-friendly to environment. In this study Zinc oxide nanoparticle is synthesized using the leaf extract of plant E. roseum. Synthesized NPs was characterized using UV- Vis Spectroscopy analysis where the peak observed at 374 nm with band gap of 2.5 eV, FTIR and XRD analysis validate pure hexagonal structure, Spherical shape of NPs was confirmed by SEM with EDX analysis and main compounds are zinc 75 % and oxygen 22 %. Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis confirms the oval shaped ZnO NPs Biological activity of E. roseum ZnO NPs such as antioxidant assay DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical activity shows good inhibition against free radicals. The In-vitro Hypoglycemic effects has maximum inhibition of 96 % on α- amylase activity and 87 % on α- Glycosidase activity. Anti-inflammatory activity recorded 93 % maximum inhibition at Albumin denaturation assay and 75 % at Membrane stabilization assay. E. roseum ZnO NPs shows 67.79 % on HepG2 Anti-proliferative cells line. AO/EtBr staining assays confirms the apoptosis effect. Larvicidal activity shows highest mortality of 98.44 % on species C. quinquefasciatus. Photocatalytic dyedegradation of Methylene blue dye shows 65 % of dye degradation.