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The advent of COVID-19 has kept the whole world on their toes. Countries are maximizing their efforts to combat the virus and to minimize the infection. Since infectious microorganisms may be transmitted by variety of routes, respiratory and facial protection is required for those that are usually transmitted via droplets/aerosols. Therefore this pandemic has caused a sudden increase in the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, and many other important items since, the evidence of individual-to-individual transmission (through respiratory droplets/coughing) and secondary infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). But the disposal of these personal protective measures remains a huge question mark towards the environmental impact. Huge waste generation demands proper segregation according to waste types, collection, and recycling to minimize the risk of infection spread through aerosols and attempts to implement measures to monitor infections. Hence, this review focuses on the impact of environment due to improper disposal of these personal protective measures and to investigate the safe disposal methods for these protective measures by using the safe, secure and innovative biological methods such as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ultraviolet (UV) lights for killing such deadly viruses.

In the present paper, a multivariate statistical modeling study of water quality data from different places of Kozhikode Gity, Kerala, India, has been conducted applying multiple linear regression (MLR), structural equation modeling (SEM), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) modeling. First, we combined water quality data from different places in the study area over different time periods to obtain a unified multiple linear regression (MLR) model. By mixing three data sets from different places and time periods in four different ways, different regression models were formed with total dissolved solids (TDS) as the dependent variable and calcium, magnesium, nitrate, sodium, chloride, potassium, total hardness, and sulfate as independent variables. The effectiveness of each model was then tested against a data set, which corresponded to a different period and location. One unmixed model and three mixed models showed similar performance. An SEM was developed for the data set, which is obtained by mixing all the three data sets. The same regression coefficients are found for the SEM and the corresponding MLR. An improvement in the sample size as a result of mixing of data sets could be thought of as the reason for this phenomenon. We thus selected the MLR obtained by mixing all three data sets as our unified model. For the mixed data set, we then developed an ANFIS model with calcium, magnesium, nitrate, sodium, chloride, potassium, total hardness, and sulfate as input variables and TDS as the output variable. On the external data set, the ANFIS model showed a better performance than the MLR model.

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using hot water neen leaf extract (NLF) as reducing and stabilizing agent are reported and evaluated for antibacterial activity against chilli seed borne pathogens. The effect of extract concentration, contact time, pH and temperature on the reaction rate and the shape of the Ag nanoparticles were investigated. The data revealed that the rate of formation of the nanosilver size decreased significantly in the basic medium with different concentration (1 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM). Synthesized was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoparticle synthesis using different concentration of silver nitrate and 5 mM was getting nano sized silver particles AgNPs. The silver nanoparticles were with an average size of 55 to 350 nm and mostly rod shape. The antifungal activity of synthesized AgNPs was observed in seed health test and different concentration of silver NPs (750 mg, 1000 mg and 1250 mg) were used for seed health test. The AgNPs at 750 mg concentration significantly inhibited the seed borne pothogens. Thus AgNPs showed broad spectrum antifungal activity at lower concentration and may be a good alternative therapeutic approach in future.

This study was aimed to develop the nanoform of a commercial fungicide Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) with broad spectrum of action for improving its antifungal activity against Macrophomina phaseolina. The fungicide commercially available as Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) was converted into its nanoform using ball milling method and assessed for its efficacy against the soil borne fungal pathogen M. phaseolina at various concentrations, namely 5, 10, 15, and 25 ppm using poisoned food technique. Nanoform of the fungicide was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). The average particle size of nano Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) was about 108 nm. Fungicidal potential of nanoform was better in comparison to the conventional ones. Nanoform of the fungicide was effective at 10 ppm and it exerted hyphal abnormality, hyphal lysis and abnormality of sclerotial formation on M. phaseolina when tested under in vitro than control. This study suggests the possibility to enhance the antifungal activity of fungicide Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) towards the control of M. phaseolina. Key words: Antifungal, nanoformulations, chilli, Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG), Macrophomina phaseolina.

A series of oxime ester-derivatives were prepared by utilizing the schizandrin (1), a major compound isolated from Schisandra grandiflora, which is deployed in different traditional system of medicine. The in vitro antiproliferative activities of the synthesized compounds were assessed against a selected panel of human cancer cell lines (A549, RKO P3, DU145 and Hela) and normal cell (HEK293). Several of these derivatives were found more potent in comparison to parent compound, schizandrin (1). Particularly, 4a and 4b demonstrated potent activity against DU-145 and RKOP3 cell lines with IC50 values of 3.42 µM and 3.35 µM respectively. To characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in antitumoral activity, these two compounds, 4a and 4b were selected for further studies. Cell cycle analysis revealed that both the compounds were able to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. To know the extent of apoptosis in DU145 and RKOP3 cell lines, Annexin V-FITC were performed. Moreover, the tubulin polymerization assay indicated that 4a and 4b exhibits potent inhibitory effect on the tubulin assembly. Molecular docking studies and competitive binding assay also indicated that 4a and 4b effectively bind at the colchicine binding site of the tubulin.

In the present study, inorganic bulk and nano nutrients of zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical reduction method and invigourated with chilli seeds cv. PKM 1 each at 750, 1000 and 1250 mg kg−1 by using template-free aqueous solution. After nanoparticles invigouration, the seeds were analyzed for various parameters such as germination (%), shoot length, root length, and seedling vigour. Other important parameters, such as electrical conductivity and antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and lipid peroxidase), were also analyzed, which in turn reflected the enhancement of seed quality of chilli seeds when they were invigourated with ZnO, TiO2 and silver nanoparticles. The results indicated that the chilli seeds invigourated with ZnO nanoparticles at 1000 mg kg−1 enhanced the germination and seedling vigour in aged seeds.

In continuation of our investigation of pharmacologically-motivated natural products, we have isolated bergenin (1) as a major compound from Mallotus philippensis, which is deployed in different Indian traditional systems of medicine. Here, a series of bergenin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids were synthesized and evaluated for their potentials against a panel of cancer cell lines. Several of the hybrid derivatives were found more potent in comparison to parent compound bergenin (1). Among them, 4j demonstrated potent activity against A-549 and HeLa cell lines with IC50 values of 1.86 µM and 1.33 μM, respectively, and was equipotent to doxorubicin. Cell cycle analysis showed that 4j arrested HeLa cells at G2/M phase and lead to accumulation of Cyclin B1 protein. Cell based tubulin polymerization assays and docking studies demonstrated that 4j disrupts tubulin assembly by occupying colchicine binding pocket of tubulin.