Nanoparticulate Silica Internalization and Its Effect on the Growth and Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

In recent years, foliar applications of nanoparticles are increasingly being employed in agricultural fields as fertilizers to enhance crop yields. However, limited studies are available on the foliar uptake of nanoscale nutrients and their interaction with plants. In this study, we reported the effects of foliar spray with varied concentrations of nanoscale silica (N-SiO2) and bulk tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS at 2000 ppm) on the growth and yield of groundnut. Nanosilica was prepared by a sol-gel method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction. The size and zeta potential of N-SiO2 were found to be 28.7 nm and 32 mV, respectively. The plant height, number of branches, total dry weight, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, number of nodules, and ascorbic acid content were increased significantly with the N-SiO2 foliar application at 400 ppm over control. The number of filled pods increased significantly by 38.78 and 58.60% with N-SiO2 at 400 ppm application over TEOS and control, respectively. The pod yield per plant in N-SiO2 at 400 ppm increased by 25.52 and 31.7% higher over TEOS and control, respectively. Antioxidant enzyme activities enhanced significantly in N-SiO2 at 200 and 400 ppm over control, indicating a stimulatory effect on the plant growth. In addition, confocal microscopy revealed that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-N-SiO2 entered through stomata and then transported to vascular bundles via apoplastic movement. Our study for the first time demonstrated that N-SiO2 can significantly modulate multiple complex traits in groundnut through an eco-friendly and sustainable approach.

Nano-ellagic acid: inhibitory actions on aldose reductase and α-glucosidase in secondary complications of diabetes, strengthened by in silico docking studies.

Increased blood sugar levels in prolonged diabetes lead to secondary complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy, which gradually end in death. Synthesis of nano-phytomedicines from active phytoconstituents for novel emerging applications in the field of pharmaceuticals is of huge interest among researchers. In the present investigation, encapsulated ellagic acid (NEA) was synthesized at four different concentrations (0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%) using ZnO nanoparticles as encapsulating agent. The surface morphology (fiber-like structures) of the nanoparticles were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size (161-297 nm) and zeta potential (- 54.9-38.4 mV) were determined by dynamic light scattering technique. Further, the α-glucosidase and aldose reductase enzymes were significantly inhibited by the 0.4% of NEA compared to the other concentrations which strengthened our studies in overcoming the secondary complications of diabetes. The interaction analysis between ellagic acid and insulin receptor found Hit 1 among 10 executed ∆G score and energy of - 5.76, - 4.63 kcal/mol and formed polar bond with Arg 113 with - 1.175 Å distance. The residues Arg115, Lys116, Phe118, Ile115, Arg1131, Arg1155, Ile1157, Lys1165 and Phe1186 were found in ligand-protein interactions. ADME/T analysis of hit 1 was within the acceptable range without any toxic functional groups, providing a framework for developing novel therapeutics.

Supplementation of whole grain flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum) along with high cholesterol diet and its effect on hyperlipidemia and initiated atherosclerosis in Wistar albino male rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Flaxseeds are known to have varying antihypercholesterolemic and antiatherogenic activity due to its lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, alpha-linolenic acid, and omega-3 fatty acids. The beneficial effect of whole grain dietary flaxseed was evaluated experimentally in high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed Wistar albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats (200 g) were divided into four groups of 12 rats each. Group I rats kept as control and given basal rat chew diet, Group II as positive control for induction of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis by addition of 1% cholesterol and 15% saturated edible oil to the 1000 g of standard rat chew diet (HCD), Group III rats fed with whole grain flaxseed powder at 7.5 g/kg of rat/day in the standard rat chew diet and kept as flaxseed control, and Group IV rats supplemented with flaxseed at 7.5 g/kg of rat/day along with HCD and maintained for 90 days. RESULTS: Group II rats revealed significantly (p<0.05) higher total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very LDL-C and significantly (p<0.05) reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), whereas tissue antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S transferase (GST) were significantly (p<0.05) reduced, and lipid peroxidation products of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level were nonsignificantly (p<0.05) increased in the heart and liver tissues. Flaxseeds supplementation along with HCD significantly ameliorated the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C along with cellular antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, SOD, GPx, GR, GST, and non-significant amelioration of TBARS in the heart and liver tissues compared to Group II rats. Majority of the histopathologically initiated atherosclerotic changes in the aorta and fatty change in the liver of Group II were not observed in the flaxseed supplemented Group IV; however, interestingly proliferation of endothelial cells with new vascular channel formation in the liver and in between cardiac muscle fibers was observed in Group I and Group IV rats. CONCLUSION: The present study established the hypercholesterolemia with initiated atherosclerotic lesion in the aorta but unable to establish the atheromatous plaque in the aorta. Flaxseed supplementation along with HCD showed significant antihypercholesterolemic effect and ameliorated the changes of initiated atherosclerosis in the aorta. It needs further studies to explore all the possible beneficial effects and angiogenic properties of flaxseeds in the laboratory animals and human trials.

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy and brine shrimp lethality assay of Alstonia scholaris stem bark extract mediated ZnONPs.

Alstonia scholaris is one of the most important medicinal plants and herein, we present the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using the bark extract of Alstonia scholaris, and evaluation of their antimicrobial efficacy. Stable ZnO nanoparticles were formed by treating 90 mL of 1 mM zinc nitrate aqueous solution with 10 mL of 10% bark extract. The formation of Alstonia scholaris bark extract mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopic analysis and recorded the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at 430 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) analysis revealed that primary and secondary amine groups in combination with the proteins present in the bark extract is responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the ZnONPs. The crystalline phase of the nanocrystals was determined by XRD analysis and morphology was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hydrodynamic diameter (26.2 nm) and a positive zeta potential (43.0 mV) were measured using the dynamic light scattering technique. The antimicrobial activity of Alstonia scholaris ZnONPs was evaluated (in-vitro) using disc diffusion method against fungi, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria which were isolated from the biofilm formed in drinking water PVC pipelines. The results obtained suggested that ZnO nanoparticles exhibit a good anti-fungal activity than bactericidal effect towards all pathogens tested in in-vitro disc diffusion method (170 ppm, 100 ppm and 50 ppm). Further, the toxicity of biosynthesized ZnONPs was tested against Alstonia scholaris to evaluate the cytotoxic effect that displayed LC50 value of 95% confidence intervals.

In vitro evaluation of acaricidal activity of novel green silver nanoparticles against deltamethrin resistance Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

An investigation was undertaken to study, for the first time, in vitro acaricidal activity of green silver nanoparticles on deltamethrin resistance Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The compounds tested were neem coated silver nanoparticles (N-Ag NPs), deltamethrin neem coated silver nanoparticles (DN-Ag NPs), 2, 3 dehydrosalannol (2,3 DHS), 2, 3 DHS coated silver nanoparticles (2, 3-DHS-Ag NPs), Quercetin dihydrate (QDH) and QDH coated silver nanoparticles (QDH-Ag NPs). Also included in this study, for the purpose of comparison, were neem leaf extract (NLE), silver nitrate (AgNO3) and deltamethrin (D). Acaricidal activity on larvae and adults of R. (B.) microplus was tested by larval packet test (LPT) and adult immersion test (AIT) respectively. In the LPT, 100% mortality was obtained at concentrations (ppm) of 360, 6000, 260, 200, 50, 300, 85, 600 and 200 for the compounds, D, NLE, Ag NO3, N-Ag NPs, DN-Ag NPs, 2, 3 DHS, 2, 3 DHS-Ag NPs, QDH, QDH-Ag NPs respectively. In AIT, the proportions of mortality and oviposition inhibition were proportionate but the reproductive index was inversely proportional to the concentration of the compounds used. The effect of DN-Ag NPs on mortality was the highest (93.33%) at 50ppm concentration. The mean reproductive index (0.01) and oviposition inhibition (99.16%) values were statistically significant when compared to control group. DN-Ag NPs showed significantly (P<0.05) lower LC50 (3.87ppm; 21.95ppm) and LC99 (53.05ppm; 90.06ppm) values against both the larvae and adults of R. (B.) microplus. The oviposition inhibiting ability of various compounds was determined to assess the reproductive performance of adult female ticks. The DN-Ag NPs had potent oviposition inhibitory activity with significantly lower IC50 and IC99 values compared to the rest of the treatments at 0.034 and 51.07ppm respectively. These results showed that the DN-Ag NPs had significant acaricidal activity against R. (B.) microplus.

Biofabrication of silver nanoparticles using Andrographis paniculata.

New and novel strategies are of recent interest in the development of silver nanoparticles. The plant extracts are eco-friendly, economical and cost effective for synthesis of nanoparticles. In this paper, we represent biofabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Andrographis paniculata and the synthesized AgNPs was monitored by ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The morphology and crystalline nature of AgNPs were determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The size and the stability were detected by using Nanoparticle analyzer. The average size of the AgNPs was found to be 54 ± 2 nm and the Zeta potential was found to be -50.7 mV. The synthesized AgNPs have very good antifungal activity.

Application of phytogenic zerovalent iron nanoparticles in the adsorption of hexavalent chromium.

Zerovalent iron nanoparticles (ZVNI) were synthesized using a rapid, single step and completely green synthetic method from the leaf extracts of Eucalyptus globules and were characterized using the techniques Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Zeta potential measurement. The FT-IR analysis reveals that the polyphenolic compounds present in the leaf extract may be responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the ZVNI. These nanoparticles were utilized for the adsorption of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) and the concentration of Cr (VI) was determined using UV-Vis spectrometer after treating with ZVNI. Response and surface contour plots were drawn with the help of Mini-tab software to explain the adsorption of Cr (VI). The adsorption efficiency of Cr (VI) reaches to the highest value (98.1%) when the reaction time was about 30 min. and the ZVNI dosage was 0.8 g/L. The effective parameters such as adsorbent (ZVNI) dosage, initial Cr (VI) concentration and the kinetics were also examined.

Simple and rapid biosynthesis of stable silver nanoparticles using dried leaves of Catharanthus roseus. Linn. G. Donn and its anti microbial activity.

Nanoparticles have been used to alter and improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of various types of drug molecules. The plant extracts are eco-friendly, economical and cost effective for synthesis of large scale of nanoparticles. In this paper we represent the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from room dried leaves of Vinca rosea. The AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy. The AgNPs are crystalline in nature, were determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), and also the size of the NPs was calculated by using Hariba Nanoparticle analyzer and the stability was calculated by using the Zetapotential. The nanoparticles obtained from leaf extracts were of size 27±2 and 30±2 respectively and Zetapotential of AgNPs was found to be -63.1 mV, so it indicates the dispersion and stability. The synthesized AgNPs have very good antimicrobial activity.

Green synthesis and spectral characterization of silver nanoparticles from Lakshmi tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf extract.

A simple method for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extract of Lakshmi tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf as a reducing and stabilizing agent. AgNPs were rapidly synthesized using aqueous extract of tulasi leaf with AgNO(3) solution within 15 min. The green synthesized AgNPs were characterized using physic-chemical techniques viz., UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Characterization data reveals that the particles were crystalline in nature and triangle shaped with an average size of 42 nm. The zeta potential of AgNPs were found to be -55.0 mV. This large negative zeta potential value indicates repulsion among AgNPs and their dispersion stability.

Biofabrication of Ag nanoparticles using Moringa oleifera leaf extract and their antimicrobial activity.

OBJECTIVE: To formulate a simple rapid procedure for bioreduction of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaves extract of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera). METHODS: 10 mL of leaf extract was mixed to 90 mL of 1 mM aqueous of AgNO3 and was heated at 60 - 80 °C for 20 min. A change from brown to reddish color was observed. Characterization using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was performed. RESULTS: TEM showed the formation of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 57 nm. CONCLUSIONS: M. oleifera demonstrates strong potential for synthesis of silver nanoparticles by rapid reduction of silver ions (Ag(+) to Ag(0)). Biological methods are good competents for the chemical procedures, which are eco-friendly and convenient.