Bougainvillea flower extract mediated zinc oxide’s nanomaterials for antimicrobial and anticancer activity

Biogenic silver nanoparticle synthesis using orange peel extract and its multifaceted biomedical application

The aim of this study was to employ an agro-industrial byproduct, specifically Citrus sinensis peels, as a reservoir of polyphenols. The natural chemicals present in C. sinensis peels serve as reducing agents in an environmentally benign method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This methodology not only provides a more environmentally friendly method for synthesizing nanoparticles but also enhances the value of agricultural waste, emphasizing the sustainable utilization of resources. In our study, AgNPs were successfully synthesized using peel aqueous exact of C. sinensis and then their various biological activity has been investigated. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Furthermore, their effectiveness in inhibiting growth and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans has been investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for E. coli and S. aureus were both 32 μg/mL, and for C. albicans, it was 128 µg/mL. At 250 µg/mL of AgNPs, 94% and 92% biofilm inhibition were observed against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Furthermore, AgNPs demonstrated significant toxic effects against human prostate cancer cell line DU145 as investigated by anti-apoptotic, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) assays. We also conducted uptake analysis on these pathogens and cancer cell lines to preliminarily investigate the mechanisms underlying their toxic effects. These findings confirm that AgNPs can serve as a cost-effective, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly resource for green synthesis of medicinal AgNPs. Moreover, this approach offers an alternative recycling strategy that contributes to the sustainable use of biological by-products.

Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles and Ag-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite Utilizing Sansevieria trifasciata for High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitors

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of a biofabricated nanomaterial derived from Sansevieria trifasciata root extract, evaluating its structural, morphological, and optical properties for use in asymmetric supercapacitors. The nanomaterial comprises pristine ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and a 1% Ag-doped ZnO nanocomposite (Ag@ZnO NC), synthesized through a green-assisted sol-gel autocombustion method. Employing techniques such as X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible near-infrared, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-rayspectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, the study confirms a hexagonal wurtzite structure and nanocrystallites with spherical and hexagonal shapes (30 nm). Optical analysis reveals a red shift in the band gap with Ag doping, indicating improved conductivity. The material shows potential applications in solar cells, optoelectronics, spintronics, wastewater treatment, and high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors. Raman spectra validate the wurtzite phase and identify intrinsic defects. Electrochemical tests demonstrate remarkable supercapacitive behavior with a 94% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles, highlighting its promise as advanced asymmetric supercapacitors.

Sustainable fabrication of dimorphic plant derived ZnO nanoparticles and exploration of their biomedical and environmental potentialities

Although, different plant species were utilized for the fabrication of polymorphic, hexagonal, spherical, and nanoflower ZnO NPs with various diameters, few studies succeeded in synthesizing small diameter ZnO nanorods from plant extract at ambient temperature. This work sought to pioneer the ZnO NPs fabrication from the aqueous extract of a Mediterranean salt marsh plant species Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. and assess the role of temperature in the fabrication process. Various techniques have been used to evaluate the quality and physicochemical characteristics of ZnO NPs. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS) was used as the primary test for formation confirmation. TEM analysis confirmed the formation of two different shapes of ZnO NPs, nano-rods and near hexagonal NPs at varying reaction temperatures. The nano-rods were about 25.3 and 297.9 nm in diameter and in length, respectively while hexagonal NPs were about 29.3 nm. The UV-VIS absorption spectra of the two forms of ZnO NPs produced were 370 and 365 nm for nano-rods and hexagonal NPs, respectively. FT-IR analysis showed Zn-O stretching at 642 cm-1 and XRD confirmed the crystalline structure of the produced ZnO NPs. Thermogravimetric analysis; TGA was also used to confirm the thermal stability of ZnO NPs. The anti-tumor activities of the two prepared ZnO NPs forms were investigated by the MTT assay, which revealed an effective dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on A-431 cell lines. Both forms displayed considerable antioxidant potential, particularly the rod-shaped ZnO NPs, with an IC50 of 148.43 µg mL-1. The rod-shaped ZnO NPs were superior candidates for destroying skin cancer, with IC50 of 93.88 ± 1 µg mL-1 ZnO NPs. Thus, rod-shaped ZnO NPs are promising, highly biocompatible candidate for biological and biomedical applications. Furthermore, both shapes of phyto-synthesized NPs demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. The outcomes highlight the potential of phyto-synthesized ZnO NPs as an eco-friendly alternative for water and wastewater disinfection.

Bougainvillea glabra Choisy bracts extract in free and liposomal forms reduce hyperplasia induced by let-60gain-of-function in Caenorhabditis elegans

In this study, we evaluated the toxicological and antiproliferative effects of B. glabra Choisy bract extract (BGCE) in its free and loaded into liposomes forms administered to C. elegans mutants with let-60 gain-of-function (gf). Our results demonstrated that the concentration up to 75 μg CAE/mL of BGCE was safe for the worms. Notably, we developed BGCE-loaded liposomes to extend the pharmacological window up to 100 μg CAE/mL without toxicity. In addition, the extract and liposomes reduced the number and area of the multivulva formed in let-60 gf mutants. There was also an increase in the apoptotic signaling in the germline cells and increased longevity mediated through DAF-16 nuclear translocation with GST-4 activation in the treated animals. Our findings demonstrated that the BGCE-loaded liposomes possess antitumoral effects due to the activation of the apoptotic signaling and DAF-16 nuclear translocation.

Biogenic Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Mediated by the Extract of Terminalia catappa Fruit Pericarp and Its Multifaceted Applications

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were biosynthesized by using the pericarp aqueous extract from Terminalia catappa Linn. These NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and XRD studies of the nanoparticles reported mean size as 12.58 nm nanocrystals with highest purity. Further SEM analysis emphasized the nanoparticles to be spherical in shape. The functional groups responsible for capping and stabilizing the NPs were identified with FTIR studies. DLS studies of the synthesized NPs reported ζ potential as -10.1 mV and exhibited stable colloidal solution. These characterized ZnO-NPs were evaluated for various biological applications such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, genotoxic, biocompatibility, and larvicidal studies. To explore its multidimensional application in the field of medicine. NPs reported a potential antimicrobial activity at a concentration of 200 μg/mL against bacterial strains in the decreasing order of Streptococcus pyogenes > Streptococcus aureus > Streptococcus typhi > Streptococcus aeruginosa and against the fungi Candida albicans. In vitro studies of RBC hemolysis with varying concentrations of NPs confirm their biocompatibility with IC50 value of 211.4 μg/mL. The synthesized NPs' DPPH free radical scavenging activity was examined to extend their antioxidant applications. The antiproliferation and genetic toxicity were studied with meristematic cells of Allium cepa reported with mitotic index (MI index) of 1.2% at the concentration of 1000 μg/mL. NPs exhibited excellent Larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae with the highest mortality rate as 98% at 4 mg/L. Our findings elicit the therapeutic potentials of the synthesized zinc oxide NPs.

Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (Nyctinaginacea): review of phytochemistry and antimicrobial potential

The Bougainvillea glabra or bougainvillea is a climbing plant native from South America belonging to the Nyctaginaceae family. The bougainvillea is recognized worldwide for its horticultural importance, due to the color of its bracts, commonly known as "flowers," made up of bracts, which are the striking parts, and the true flowers, which are white and small. Bougainvillea is widely known in traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases such as cough, asthma, and bronchitis, gastrointestinal diseases, also for its antibacterial and insecticidal capacity. The antimicrobial potential of the involucre of this plant has not been studied, despite research showing a high phytochemical presence of secondary metabolites such as alkanes, phenols, terpenes, and betalains. This review compiles information about the traditional uses of B. glabra, its botanical description, ecological relevance, phytochemistry, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, such as the toxicology of bracts and flowers.

Complete Chloroplast Genomes and Phylogenetic Relationships of Bougainvillea spectabilis and Bougainvillea glabra (Nyctaginaceae)

Bougainvillea L. (Nyctaginaceae) is a South American native woody flowering shrub of high ornamental, economic, and medicinal value which is susceptible to cold damage. We sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of B. glabra and B. spectabilis, two morphologically similar Bougainvillea species differing in cold resistance. Both genomes showed a typical quadripartite structure consisting of one large single-copy region, one small single-copy region, and two inverted repeat regions. The cp genome size of B. glabra and B. spectabilis was 154,520 and 154,542 bp, respectively, with 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding, 37 transfer RNA, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. In addition, the genomes contained 270 and 271 simple sequence repeats, respectively, with mononucleotide repeats being the most abundant. Eight highly variable sites (psbN, psbJ, rpoA, rpl22, psaI, trnG-UCC, ndhF, and ycf1) with high nucleotide diversity were identified as potential molecular markers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between B. glabra and B. spectabilis. These findings not only contribute to understanding the mechanism by which the cp genome responds to low-temperature stress in Bougainvillea and elucidating the evolutionary characteristics and phylogenetic relationships among Bougainvillea species, but also provide important evidence for the accurate identification and breeding of superior cold-tolerant Bougainvillea cultivars.

Potential use of bio functionalized nanoparticles to attenuate triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 cells)

This study showed that bio-functional silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were synthesized in aqueous extracts of Gymnema sylvestre leaves and tested for toxicity assessment against triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC). Biofunctional nanoparticle (NPs) samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The results showed that the phytofabrication of AgNPs resulted in a dark brown, UV-vis maximum absorbance peak at 413 nm. The AgNPs were crystalline and spherical, with sizes ranging from 20 to 60 nm, as confirmed by the XRD pattern and TEM images. Another phytofabrication of ZnONPs exhibited a white precipitate corresponding to a UV-Vis maximum absorption peak at 377 nm and a fine micro flower morphology with a particle-sized tribution between 100 and 200 nm. In addition, FT-IR spectra showed that bioorganic compounds are associated with NPs that respond to reduced Ag⁺ ions and AgNPs tabilizers. Invitro cytotoxicity studies revealed the potent anti-cancer effects of phytofabricated AgNPs and ZnONPs on TNBC cells. Furthermore, the AO/EB double staining assay results proved that apoptotic cells are distinguished by greenish-yellow fluorescence of the cell nuclei with IC₅₀ concentrations of 44 ± 0.8 µg/mL for AgNPs and 26.2 ± 0.5 µg/mL for ZnONPs, respectively. Based on our results, we expect that the anticancer function of the biofunctional NPs is due to the apoptotic activation of TNBC cells by increased ROS. Therefore, the presented study demonstrated that biofunctional AgNPs and ZnONPs have excellent prospects for the anti-cancer activity that can be used in pharmaceutical and medical fields.

Albalawi H, Darwish DBE, Sharaf EM. Inhibition Mechanism of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Zinc Oxide Nanorods via Suppresses Penicillin-Binding Protein 2a

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes life-threatening infections. Zinc oxide is well known as an effective antibacterial drug against many bacterial strains. We investigated the performance of zinc oxide nanorods synthesized by Albmiun as a biotemplate as an antibacterial drug in this study; the fabrication of zinc oxide nanorods was synthesized by sol-gel methods. We performed physicochemical characterization of zinc oxide nanorods by physiochemical techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and TEM and investigation of their antimicrobial toxicity efficiency by MIC, ATPase activity assay, anti-biofilm activity, and kill time assays, as well as the mecA, mecR1, blaR1, blaZ, and biofilm genes (ica A, ica D, and fnb A) by using a quantitative RT-PCR assay and the penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) level of MRSA by using a Western blot. The data confirmed the fabrication of rod-shaped zinc oxide nanorods with a diameter in the range of 50 nm, which emphasized the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles with regular shapes. The results show that zinc oxide nanorods inhibited methicillin-resistant S. aureus effectively. The MIC value was 23 μg/mL. The time kill of ZnO-NRs against MRSA was achieved after 2 h of incubation at 4MIC (92 μg/mL) and after 3 h of incubation at 2MIC (46 μg/mL), respectively. The lowest concentration of zinc oxide nanorods with over 75% biofilm killing in all strains tested was 32 μg/mL. Also, we examined the influence of the zinc oxide nanorods on MRSA by analyzing mecA, mecR1, blaR1, and blaZ by using a quantitative RT-PCR assay. The data obtained revealed that the presence of 2× MIC (46 μg/mL) of ZnO-NRs reduced the transcriptional levels of blaZ, blaR1, mecA, and mecR1 by 3.4-fold, 3.6-fold, 4-fold, and 3.8-fold, respectively. Furthermore, the gene expression of biofilm encoding genes (ica A, ica B, ica D, and fnb A) was tested using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). The results showed that the presence of 2× MIC (46 μg/mL) of ZnO-NRs reduced the transcriptional levels of ica A, ica B, ica D, and fnb A. Also, the PBP2a level was markedly reduced after treatment with ZnO-NRs.

Phytochemical-Based Nanomaterials against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: An Updated Review

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) is a growing global health threat, leading to the search for alternative strategies to combat bacterial infections. Phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, have shown potential as antimicrobial agents; however, therapy with these agents has certain limitations. The use of nanotechnology combined with antibacterial phytochemicals could help achieve greater antibacterial capacity against ARB by providing improved mechanical, physicochemical, biopharmaceutical, bioavailability, morphological or release properties. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the current state of research on the use of phytochemical-based nanomaterials for the treatment against ARB, with a special focus on polymeric nanofibers and nanoparticles. The review discusses the various types of phytochemicals that have been incorporated into different nanomaterials, the methods used to synthesize these materials, and the results of studies evaluating their antimicrobial activity. The challenges and limitations of using phytochemical-based nanomaterials, as well as future directions for research in this field, are also considered here. Overall, this review highlights the potential of phytochemical-based nanomaterials as a promising strategy for the treatment against ARB, but also stresses the need for further studies to fully understand their mechanisms of action and optimize their use in clinical settings.

Therapeutic Applications of Biogenic Silver Nanomaterial Synthesized from the Paper Flower of Bougainvillea glabra (Miami, Pink)

In this research, Bougainvillea glabra paper flower extract was used to quickly synthesize biogenic silver nanoparticles (BAgNPs) utilizing green chemistry. Using the flower extract as a biological reducing agent, silver nanoparticles were generated by the conversion of Ag⁺ cations to Ag⁰ ions. Data patterns obtained from physical techniques for characterizing BAgNPs, employing UV-visible, scattering electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), suggested that the nanoparticles have a spherical to oval form with size ranging from 10 to 50 nm. Spectroscopy and microscopic analysis were used to learn more about the antibacterial properties of the biologically produced BAgNPs from Bougainvillea glabra. Further, the potential mechanism of action of nanoparticles was investigated by studying their interactions in vitro with several bacterial strains and mammalian cancer cell systems. Finally, we can conclude that BAgNPs can be functionalized to dramatically inhibit bacterial growth and the growth of cancer cells in culture conditions, suggesting that biologically produced nanomaterials will provide new opportunities for a wide range of biomedical applications in the near future.

Ingestion and effects of green synthesized cadmium sulphide nanoparticle on Spodoptera Litura as an insecticidal and their antimicrobial and anticancer activities

The current study investigated the multifunctional properties of Cadmium Sulphide Nanoparticles synthesized using a green synthesis method (CdS NPs) using a green feedstock, Nopal Cactus fruit extract. The biological activities of the CdS NPs were thoroughly investigated, including their insecticidal, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The different concentrations (0.005-0.04%) of CdS NPs were fed to the larvae of Spodoptera litura, and their ingestion effects were observed on the different biological, biochemical, and oxidative stress markers. There are significant dose-dependent changes in the biochemical parameters like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and MDA level as a marker of lipid peroxidation in the treated larvae were studied. In the highest concentration (0.04%), significant larval mortality (46.66%), malformation (pupae and adult) (27.78%), inhibition of adult emergence (43.87%), as well as reduced fecundity (25.28%), and fertility (22.74%) as compared to control was observed. CdS NPs have been investigated for antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. In vitro anticancer activities were carried out to decrease the viability of the Pancreatic cancer cell line. The cells showed 18% and 12% viability at a 200 μg/ml concentration when incubated with CdS NPs for 24 and 48 h, respectively, confirming its potent anticancer property. The lack of cytotoxicity against the (RBC) endorses the biocompatible nature of synthesized CdS NPs. It was observed that green synthesized CdS NPs could be used as a promising insecticidal, antibacterial, and anticancer agent.

Biosynthesis and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extract of Senecio chrysanthemoides

Nanotechnology has recently appeared as an important study subject in modern material sciences. Greener synthesis of nanoparticles has gained the attention of many scientists because of its integral characteristics such as effectiveness, eco-friendly, and low cost. In the present study by following the green synthesis approach, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were formed for the very first time by using Senecio chrysanthemoides leaf extract as a reducing agent. The UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to study the synthesized ZnO NPs, and the specific peak was found to be at 349 nm. The characteristic Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) peak was found to be at 449 cm^-1 which displays the peak of ZnO molecules. The surface morphology of the ZnO NPs was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) study showed that the synthesized ZnO NPs are present at the weight percentage of 66.38%. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum confirmed the hexagonal phase wurtzite structure, with the average particle size of 31 nm, and demonstrated the crystalline structure of ZnO NPs. Additionally, to all these experiments, we compared the anti-inflammatory properties of biogenic ZnO NPs to a standard drug. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs have revealed an effective anti-inflammatory activity at a higher concentration (100 mL^-1) and showed 73% inhibition in comparison with diclofenac sodium drug. Zinc oxide was shown to be compatible with diclofenac sodium, according to the results. The ZnO NPs produced using the greener synthesis process have the potential to be used in a broad range of fields and also used as a good anti-inflammatory agent.

Paeoniflorin combined with norfloxacin ameliorates drug-resistant Streptococcus suis infection

BACKGROUND

The increased resistance of bacterial pathogens to fluoroquinolones (FQs), such as norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, supports the need to develop new antibacterial drugs and combination therapies using conventional antibiotics. The LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing (QS) system can regulate the complex group behaviour of Streptococcus suis and impact its susceptibility to FQs.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the combination of paeoniflorin and norfloxacin as a novel and effective strategy against FQ-resistant S. suis.

METHODS

FIC, AI-2 activity assay, real-time RT-PCR and biofilm inhibition assays were performed to investigate the in vitro effect of paeoniflorin combined with norfloxacin. Mouse protection and mouse anti-infection assays were performed to investigate the in vivo effect of paeoniflorin combined with norfloxacin.

RESULTS

FIC results showed that paeoniflorin and norfloxacin exert a synergistic bactericidal effect. Evidence was brought that paeoniflorin reduces the S. suis AI-2 activity and significantly down-regulates the transcription of the FQ efflux pump gene. In addition, paeoniflorin can inhibit biofilm formation, thereby promoting the ability of norfloxacin to kill S. suis. Finally, we showed in a mouse model that paeoniflorin in association with norfloxacin is effective to treat S. suis infections.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlighted the inhibitory potential of paeoniflorin on the LuxS/AI-2 QS system of S. suis, and provided evidence that it can inhibit the FQ efflux pump and prevent biofilm formation to cooperate with norfloxacin in the treatment of resistant S. suis-related infections.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Sea Lavender (Limonium pruinosum L. Chaz.) extract: characterization, evaluation of anti-skin cancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials

In the present study, a green, sustainable, simple and low-cost method was adopted for the synthesis of ZnO NPs, for the first time, using the aqueous extract of sea lavender, Limonium pruinosum (L.) Chaz., as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. The obtained ZnO NPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The UV-Vis spectra of the green synthesized ZnO NPs showed a strong absorption peak at about 370 nm. Both electron microscopy and XRD confirmed the hexagonal/cubic crystalline structure of ZnO NPs with an average size ~ 41 nm. It is worth noting that the cytotoxic effect of the ZnO NPs on the investigated cancer cells is dose-dependent. The IC₅₀ of skin cancer was obtained at 409.7 µg/ml ZnO NPs. Also, the phyto-synthesized nanoparticles exhibited potent antibacterial and antifungal activity particularly against Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans (ATCC 10221). Furthermore, they showed considerable antioxidant potential. Thus, making them a promising biocompatible candidate for pharmacological and therapeutic applications.

Pantranscriptome combined with phenotypic quantification reveals germplasm kinship and regulation network of bract color variation in Bougainvillea

Bracts are the metamorphic non-flower organ in angiosperm plants. The variation of the color and shape of bracts was found to be neo-functionalized (i.e., similar to petals), garnering research interest as a pollinator attractor. Bougainvillea is known for its specialized, large, and colorful bracts, which contrast with its tiny colorless flowers. As a plant whose bracts vary greatly in terms of coloration, the molecular mechanisms for Bougainvillea bract coloration and polychroism are largely unknown. The lack of genomic information for Bougainvillea largely hinders studies into the evolution and genetic basis of bract color variation. In this study, a pan-transcriptome of bracts obtained from 18 Bougainvillea glabra accessions was employed to investigate the global population-level germplasm kinship and the gene regulation network for bract color variation. Our results showed that the bracts of B. glabra accessions have largely differentiated International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L-a-b values. Moreover, germplasm kinship detected using principal component analysis, phylogeny, and admixture analysis showed three optimal subgroups, two of them distinctly clustered, which were not directly correlated with bract color variation at the population level. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between accessions of high vs. low L-a-b values revealed several considerable upregulated genes related to bract color L-a-b variation. A weighted gene co-expression network was constructed, and eight co-expressed regulation modules were identified that were highly correlated with variation in bract CIE L-a-b color values. Several candidate DEGs and co-expressed hub genes (e.g., GERD, SGR, ABCA3, GST, CYP76AD1, CYP76C, and JAZ) that were tightly associated with bract color variation were eventually determined responsible for L-a-b colorations, which might be the core regulation factors contributing to the B. glabra bract color variation. This study provides valuable insights into the research on germplasm kinship, population-level pan-transcriptome expression profiles, and the molecular basis of color variation of key innovative bracts in horticultural Bougainvillea.

Crest to Trough Cellular Drifting of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide and Silver Nanoparticles

Green nanotechnology facilitates the blooming of zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) with distinct flowerlike and spherical morphologies, respectively. The well-characterized NPs with an average size of 35 nm (ZnO) and 25 nm (Ag) were functionalized on the cresty plates for antibacterial inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the flowerlike ZnONPs exhibiting 90.9% inhibition and AgNPs exhibiting 100% inhibition. Further, the in vivo underwater troughs for hematological, immunological, and serological analysis in Labeo rohita exhibited 102 > 575 > 104 and 206 > 109 > 81% at concentrations of 1, 2, and 3 mg/L with 4-day and 15-day treatment, respectively, over ZnONPs. However, AgNPs exhibited 257 > 408 > 124 and 86 > 202 > 43% with 4-day and 15-day treatment, respectively, at the same concentrations. The classical ZnNPs and AgNPs exhibited excellent inhibition potential and significant transfiguration of hematological, enzymological, and protein parameters as safe nanomedicine, but ZnONPs were found to be 58, 69, 29 and 34, 51, 70% more active than AgNPs with 4-day and 15-day treatment, respectively. Therefore, the onset of ROX and antioxidant arena favors beneficial cellular drifting of NPs.

Applicability of bio-synthesized nanoparticles in fungal secondary metabolites products and plant extracts for eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria risks in non-clinical environments

The abundance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the prawn pond effluents can substantially impact the natural environment. The settlement ponds, which are the most common treatment method for farms wastewater, might effectively reduce the suspended solids and organic matter. However, the method is insufficient for bacterial inactivation. The current paper seeks to highlight the environmental issue associated with the distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) from prawn farm wastewater and their impact on the microbial complex community in the surface water which receiving these wastes. The inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in prawn wastewater is strongly recommended because the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment causes water pollution and public health issues. The nanoparticles are more efficient for bacterial inactivation. They are widely accepted due to their high chemical and mechanical stability, broad spectrum of radiation absorption, high catalytic activity, and high antimicrobial activity. Many studies have examined the use of fungi or plants extract to synthesis zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). It is evident from recent papers in the literature that green synthesized ZnO NPs from microbes and plant extracts are non-toxic and effective. ZnO NPs inactivate the bacterial cells as a function for releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and zinc ions. The inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria tends to be more than 90% which exhibit strong antimicrobial behavior against bacterial species.

Biosynthesis, characterisation and antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide and nickel doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using Euphorbia abyssinica bark extract

Biosynthesis of metallic oxide nanoparticles is being used and preferred over physical and chemical methods of synthesis since it is simple, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and green. The aim of this study was to synthesise ZnO and nickel doped ZnO nanoparticles using Euphorbia abyssinica bark extract for antimicrobial activity studies via agar disk diffusion method against some selected microbes. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The study results revealed that the biosynthesised nanoparticles had good crystalline nature, with crystal sizes in the range of nanoparticles and structures of hexagonal wurtzite. Both undoped ZnO and nickel doped ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activity against four bacterial strains and two fungal genus. Generally, nickel doped ZnO NPs were found to possess more antimicrobial activities than undoped ZnO NPs. Specially, 4% and 5% nickel doped ZnO NPs showed significantly enhanced activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus and Fusarium.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Conocarpus Lancifolius plant extract and their antimicrobial and anticancer activities

Due to drug addiction and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens, the disease load and medication intake have risen worldwide. The alternative treatment for drug-resistant infections is Nano formulation-based antimicrobial agents. The plant extract of Conocarpus Lancifolius fruits was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles in the current study, and it was further employed as an antimicrobial and anticancer agent. Nanoparticles have been characterized by UV-visible spectrometer revealed the notable peak of λmax = 410-442 nm, which confirms the reduction of silver ion to elemental silver nanoparticles, and the biological moieties in the synthesis were further confirmed by FTIR analysis. The stability and crystalline nature of materials were approved by XRD analysis and expected the size of the nanomaterials of 21 to 173 nm analyzed by a nanophox particle-size analyzer. In vitro, synthesized materials act as an antibacterial agent against Streptococcus pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zones of 18 and 24 mm have been estimated to be antibacterial activity against both bacteria. The potency of up to 100% of AgNPs for bacterial strains was incubated overnight at 60 μg/ml. Based on our results, biogenic AgNPs reveal significant activity against fungal pathogen Rhizopusus stolonifera and Aspergillus flavus that cause leading infectious diseases. Additionally, nanomaterials were biocompatible and demonstrated the potential anticancer activities against MDA MB-231 cells after 24-hour exposure.

Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and comparison of 2,4-dinitrophenol removal efficiency using photocatalytic, sonocatalytic, and adsorption processes

In the present work, the extract of a paper-flower species called Bougainvillea spectabilis was used to green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized ZnO NPs was confirmed by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, and FTIR techniques. Then, the ability of ZnO NPs to remove 2,4-dinitrophenol from aqueous solutions was investigated using photocatalytic and sonocatalytic processes. All experiments were carried out in a batch system and the effects of pH, NPs dosage, concentration, and contact time were evaluated. The findings of this study showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model could well describe the removal of 2,4-dinitrophenol by ZnO NPs. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and BE-T isotherm models were also assessed in a dark condition. The Freundlich isotherm model was able to provide the best fit with the experimental data. Examination of the results showed that the degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol at the presence of ultraviolet (UV) and ultrasonic (US) waves was able to increase the removal efficiency to about twice as much as removal by adsorption alone. Also, The obtained results showed that the maximum removal of 2,4-dinitrophenol under photocatalytic and sonocatalytic conditions occurred at the presence of 25 mg of NPs, solution pH of 4, and 2,4-dinitrophenol concentration of 20 ppm. The best rates of photocatalytic and sonocatalytic degradation under the optimal conditions were 84.42% and 77.13% during 60 min, respectively. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol by ZnO NPs is a spontaneous and endothermic process in the direction of increasing entropy. The zinc oxide NPs have better performance in the removal of 2,4-dinitrophenol at the presence of UV and US waves.

Paeoniflorin reduce luxS/AI-2 system-controlled biofilm formation and virulence in Streptococcus suis

Streptococcus suis (S. suis), more specifically serotype 2, is a bacterial pathogen that threatens the lives of pigs and humans. Like many other pathogens, S. suis exhibits quorum sensing (QS) system-controlled virulence factors, such as biofilm formation that complicates treatment. Therefore, impairing the QS involving LuxS/AI-2 cycle in S. suis, may be a promising alternative strategy for overcoming S. suis infections. In this study, we investigated paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpenoid glycoside compound extracted from peony, as an inhibitor of S. suis LuxS/AI-2 system. At a sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (1/16 MIC; 25 μg/ml), PF significantly reduced biofilm formation by S. suis through inhibition of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production, without affecting bacterial growth. Moreover, evidence was brought that PF reduces AI-2 activity in S. suis biofilm. Molecular docking indicated that LuxS may be the target of PF. Monitoring LuxS enzymatic activity confirmed that PF had a partial inhibitory effect. Finally, we showed that the use of PF in a mouse model can relieve S. suis infections. This study highlighted the anti-biofilm potential of PF against S. suis, and brought evidence that it may as an inhibitor of the LuxS/AI-2 system to prevent S. suis biofilm-related infections. PF can thus be used as a new type of natural biofilm inhibitor for clinical application.

A critical analysis of environmental sustainability metrics applied to green synthesis of nanomaterials and the assessment of environmental risks associated with the nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is one of the most relevant scientific areas today due to its multiple applications in fields such as medicine, environmental remediation, information technology and energy conversion. This importance has led to the need to advance in the development of environmentally sustainable and safe nanomaterials by incorporating the principles of green chemistry during their synthesis and in their applications. However, this qualitative framework of thought does not offer minimum criteria for the use of the term "green", and therefore, this adjective is commonly used to refer to bio-based or nanotechnological processes without taking into account their net ecological impact. In this context, environmental sustainability metrics can be applied to nanotechnology to compare, optimize and quantify the environmental sustainability of synthesis procedures. This review provides an overview of green chemistry and its application in nanotechnology, but also an analysis of the use of green chemistry principles in the development of bio-based nanobiotechnology and nanosynthesis, with special emphasis on the use of sustainability's metrics for the quantitative analysis of nanomaterial synthesis protocols. These include: Atom Economy, E-factor, Process Mass Intensity, Energy Intensity, and Life Cycle Analysis.

Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins of Bougainvillea glabra Uncovered Polymorphism and Active Site Divergence

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are toxic proteins that can inhibit protein synthesis. RIPs purified from Bougainvillea have low nonspecific toxicity, showing promise for processing applications in the agricultural and medical fields. However, systematic research on the polymorphism of Bougainvillea RIPs is lacking, and it is worth exploring whether different isoforms differ in their active characteristics. The transcriptional and translational expression of type I RIPs in Bougainvillea glabra leaves was investigated in this study. Seven RIPs exhibited seasonal variation at both the mRNA and protein levels. The isoforms BI4 and BI6 showed the highest transcriptional expression in both the summer and autumn samples. Interestingly, BI6 was not detected in the protein level in any of the samples. However, the bioinformatics analysis showed that RIPs derived from the same species were gathered in a different cluster, and that the active sites changed among the isoforms during evolution. The significant discrepancy in Bougainvillea RIPs mainly locates at both termini of the amino acid sequence, particularly at the C terminus. Post-translational modifications may also exist in Bougainvillea RIPs. It is concluded that the reason for the polymorphism of Bougainvillea RIPs may be that these proteins are encoded by multiple genes due to genetic processes such as gene duplication and mutation. According to the results of sequence analysis, the possible functional differences of B. glabra RIP isoforms are discussed with regard to the observed discrepancy in both active sites and structures.

Bougainvillea glabra (choisy): A comprehensive review on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bougainvillea glabra (Choisy). (Family: Nyctinaginacea) is a valuable ornamental plant with culinary uses and also utilized in traditional medicine for treating common ailments. It is traditionally employed against several diseases such as diarrhoea, hypotension, intestinal disorders, stomachache, nausea, inflammation-related ailments, and in pain management. Though widely validated via in vitro and in vivo models, to date no endeavour has been made to compile in a single review the traditional, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of B. glabra.

AIMS

To provide an up-to-date, authoritative review with respect to the traditional uses, chemical composition, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties, and toxicological estimations accomplished either utilizing the crude extracts or, wherever applicable, the bioactive compounds isolated from B. glabra. Besides, a critical evaluation of the published literature has been undertaken with regards to the current biochemical and toxicological data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Key databases per se, Ovid, Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google scholar amongst others were probed for a systematic search using keywords to retrieve relevant publications on this plant. A total of 52 articles were included for the review depending on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

The studies conducted on either crude extracts, solvent fractions or isolated pure compounds from B. glabra had reported a varied range of biological effects comprising antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Phytochemical analysis of different parts of B. glabra unveiled 105 phytochemicals, belonging to phenolic, flavonoid, betacyanin, terpenoid, glycoside and essential oils classes of secondary metabolites.

CONCLUSION

Most of the pharmacological activities of crude extracts from this plant have been reported. A very few studies have reported the isolation of compounds responsible for observed biological potential of this plant. Moreover, the toxicity studies of this plant still need to be explored comprehensively to ensure its safety parameters. Additional investigations are recommended to transmute the ethnopharmacological claims of this plant species in folklore medicines into scientific rationale-based information.

Synthesis, characterization and bioactivity of thio-acetamide modified ZnO nanoparticles embedded in zinc acetate matrix

ZnO nanoparticles embedded in zinc acetate matrix were synthesized by chemical route. The effect of thio-acetamide concentration during its synthesis was probed by structural, morphological, optical and bioactivity studies. XRD characterization indicated the formation of dominant phase of zinc acetate along with the low intensity peak of wurtzite ZnO. Morphological transition from bulky-like feature to flower-like feature via flake-like feature, is evidenced with increasing thio-acetamide molar concentrations. The optical band gap of samples decreased from ∼3.29 to 3.24 eV whereas the emitted color shifted from near green to blue region with increasing of molar concentration of thio-acetamide from 0 to 30% in the sample. The nanoparticles exhibited antimicrobial activity against seven (7) common human pathogenic bacteria including drug resistant varieties K. pneumonaie and S. aureus. The nanoparticles formed pores in the biological model membranes made from egg-phosphatidyl choline. Our study reveals that the thio-acetamide modified ZnO nanoparticles embedded in zinc acetate matrix could be used as potential drug lead to fight drug resistance against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus.

Comparative Analysis of Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Wild and Cultivated Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae)

Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae) is a popular ornamental plant group primarily grown for its striking colorful bracts. However, despite its established horticultural value, limited genomic resources and molecular studies have been reported for this genus. Thus, to address this existing gap, complete chloroplast genomes of four species (Bougainvillea glabra, Bougainvillea peruviana, Bougainvillea pachyphylla, Bougainvillea praecox) and one Bougainvillea cultivar were sequenced and characterized. The Bougainvillea cp genomes range from 153,966 bp to 154,541 bp in length, comprising a large single-copy region (85,159 bp-85,708 bp) and a small single-copy region (18,014 bp-18,078 bp) separated by a pair of inverted repeats (25,377-25,427 bp). All sequenced plastomes have 131 annotated genes, including 86 protein-coding, eight rRNA, and 37 tRNA genes. These five newly sequenced Bougainvillea cp genomes were compared to the Bougainvillea spectabilis cp genome deposited in GeBank. The results showed that all cp genomes have highly similar structures, contents, and organization. They all exhibit quadripartite structures and all have the same numbers of genes and introns. Codon usage, RNA editing sites, and repeat analyses also revealed highly similar results for the six cp genomes. The amino acid leucine has the highest proportion and almost all favored synonymous codons have either an A or U ending. Likewise, out of the 42 predicted RNA sites, most conversions were from serine (S) to leucine (L). The majority of the simple sequence repeats detected were A/T mononucleotides, making the cp genomes A/T-rich. The contractions and expansions of the IR boundaries were very minimal as well, hence contributing very little to the differences in genome size. In addition, sequence variation analyses showed that Bougainvillea cp genomes share nearly identical genomic profiles though several potential barcodes, such as ycf1, ndhF, and rpoA were identified. Higher variation was observed in both B. peruviana and B. pachyphylla cp sequences based on SNPs and indels analysis. Phylogenetic reconstructions further showed that these two species appear to be the basal taxa of Bougainvillea. The rarely cultivated and wild species of Bougainvillea (B. pachyphylla, B. peruviana, B. praecox) diverged earlier than the commonly cultivated species and cultivar (B. spectabilis, B. glabra, B. cv.). Overall, the results of this study provide additional genetic resources that can aid in further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies in Bougainvillea. Moreover, genetic information from this study is potentially useful in identifying Bougainvillea species and cultivars, which is essential for both taxonomic and plant breeding studies.

Recent Advances in Zinc Oxide Nanostructures with Antimicrobial Activities

This article reviews the recent developments in the synthesis, antibacterial activity, and visible-light photocatalytic bacterial inactivation of nano-zinc oxide. Polycrystalline wurtzite ZnO nanostructures with a hexagonal lattice having different shapes can be synthesized by means of vapor-, liquid-, and solid-phase processing techniques. Among these, ZnO hierarchical nanostructures prepared from the liquid phase route are commonly used for antimicrobial activity. In particular, plant extract-mediated biosynthesis is a single step process for preparing nano-ZnO without using surfactants and toxic chemicals. The phytochemical molecules of natural plant extracts are attractive agents for reducing and stabilizing zinc ions of zinc salt precursors to form green ZnO nanostructures. The peel extracts of certain citrus fruits like grapefruits, lemons and oranges, acting as excellent chelating agents for zinc ions. Furthermore, phytochemicals of the plant extracts capped on ZnO nanomaterials are very effective for killing various bacterial strains, leading to low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Bioactive phytocompounds from green ZnO also inhibit hemolysis of Staphylococcus aureus infected red blood cells and inflammatory activity of mammalian immune system. In general, three mechanisms have been adopted to explain bactericidal activity of ZnO nanomaterials, including direct contact killing, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and released zinc ion inactivation. These toxic effects lead to the destruction of bacterial membrane, denaturation of enzyme, inhibition of cellular respiration and deoxyribonucleic acid replication, causing leakage of the cytoplasmic content and eventual cell death. Meanwhile, antimicrobial activity of doped and modified ZnO nanomaterials under visible light can be attributed to photogeneration of ROS on their surfaces. Thus particular attention is paid to the design and synthesis of visible light-activated ZnO photocatalysts with antibacterial properties.

Biogenic fabrication of nanomaterials from flower-based chemical compounds, characterization and their various applications: A review

Nanotechnology is evolving as a significant discipline of research with various applications. It includes the materials and their applications having one dimension in the range of 1-100 nm. Many chemical and physical protocol have been utilized for the nanoparticles (NPs) fabrication. These protocols are costly, hazardous and consumes high energy. Thus, researchers are inclined towards biological synthesis of NPs using plant and or herbal extract as these methods are simple, sustainable, ecofriendly and cost-effective. Flower is an important part of plants, and contained several phytochemicals such as flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, sterol and xanthones which acts as an important precursor for NPs synthesis. These compounds acted as reducing as well as stablishing agent during fabrication processes. They have been thoroughly characterized by various techniques. The fabricated NPs have shown potential antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal infections. They have been also used as potential therapeutic agent for human breast cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma cell, colorectal adenocarcinoma cell and pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Overall, the aim of this review article to facilitates the recent understanding of flower-mediated NPs fabrication (a sustainable and ecofriendly resource), their application in different disciplines and challenges.

Blood-brain barrier amenable gold nanoparticles biofabrication in aged cell culture medium

Green fabrication of nanoscale materials is highly desirable because of associated adverse effects with conventional nanomaterial biomedical applications. Moreover, the higher selective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the brain ailments treatment through conventional chemotherapy, thus providing room for nanotechnology-based modalities for BBB traversing. In this contribution, we have biosynthesized gold nanoparticles from the HAuCl4 solution in the aged cells culture medium. This approach is highly facile without any other chemical utilization. The cell culture medium age and cell number can tune the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) size from 2 to several hundred nm. The 24 h MTT assay and cell uptake studies in vitro and murine models' vital organs (liver, kidney, spleen, lung, and heart) study up to 48 h demonstrated that biosynthesized AuNPs were biocompatible and BBB amenable. Interestingly, the transferrin and cell culture medium isolated proteins were found factors responsible for HAuCl4 solution biomineralization and size control. Moreover, the protein corona on biosynthesized AuNPs could help them traverse BBB both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting their potential applications for brain disease theranostics. In conclusion, the biosynthesis of AuNPs from aged cells medium is highly facile, green, and biocompatible for brain disease theranostics.