Search

The Indian Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is a naturally occurring spice with significant biological properties. It is primarily found in India and Indonesia, but can also be cultivated in other coastal areas. Clove is commonly used as a natural preservative and in the production of natural medicines. One of the notable benefits of clove is its ability to help treat diseases caused by various bacteria and fungi, including E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Z. mobilis, and C. albicans. Additionally, clove possesses antioxidant properties that can help reduce cell damage caused by free radicals. Clove has also shown potential in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and reducing the activity of enzymes such as amylase, glucosidase, and lipase, which can be beneficial for managing diabetes. The study demonstrated that Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Indian clove leaf extract exhibited promising antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities. This suggests that these nanoparticles could have versatile applications in antimicrobial therapy, cancer treatment, diabetes management, and antioxidant supplementation. However, further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these activities and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these nanoparticles in more complex biological systems. In summary, clove possesses diverse biological properties and has potential applications in various therapeutic areas. The synthesis of AgNPs from clove leaf extract shows promise in multiple fields, but more research is required for a deeper understanding of its mechanisms and broader applications.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are establishing themselves as an important class of nanomaterials due to their exceptional physicochemical properties and wide range of applications. Due to their affordability, lack of toxicity, and strong biocompatibility, ZnO NPs find extensive use in the field of biomedicine. ZnO NPs are promising in biomedicine, especially for their ability as anticancer and antimicrobial agents. The ecologically sustainable preparation of metallic NPs using different plant extracts is a viable alternative to more conventional synthesis methods. The present study investigates the effects of changing the physical conditions on ZnO NPs synthesis from Bixa orellana (B. orellana) extract using the precipitation method. Confirmation and characterization of the ZnO NPs were achieved by analytical techniques. EDS results verified that highly pure ZnO NPs were synthesized. X-ray diffraction analysis verified the crystal nature of the synthesized NPs and their crystalline particle size of 82.66 nm. The XRD graphs strongly indicate the formation of wurtzite ZnO due to the presence of the (100), (002), and (101) planes. The antibacterial activity was assessed through the utilization of agar disc diffusion. The findings revealed that ZnO NPs exhibited significant efficacy in inhibiting the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The zone of inhibition with the greatest diameter (22 mm) was reported for the bacterial strain B. cereus. The present investigation provides evidence that B. orellana leaves extract is capable of producing ZnO NPs, which play a crucial role in its antibacterial action. Additional investigation is necessary to validate the role of diverse phytochemicals in the synthesis of ZnO NPs and their applications in diverse fields such as agriculture, cosmetics, food, and healthcare.

Bixa orellana (B. Orellana) is a frequently utilized plant that has grown in significance in pharmaceutical applications. The leaves extract of B. orellana was used in the current study for preliminary phytochemical analysis in terms of both quantitative and qualitative, which indicates the presence of phenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated antifungal activity at 30 mm zone of clearance against Candida albicans and antibacterial activity at 16 mm zone of clearance against Bacillus nakamuria by well diffusion method against different strains. The plant extract showed a MIC of 20 µg/mL and MBC of 157.11 µg/mL against E. coli by ELISA and broth dilution method, respectively. To evaluate the phytochemicals in the extract, further purification of the extract by TLC, column chromatography, and component analysis by GC–MS, which reported 18 components, and UV spectrum were performed. A number of therapeutic applications for the extract were observed, including antidiabetic activity (anti-glucosidase) of 98.34% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, anti-lipase of 100% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, and anti-amylase activity of 100% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, antioxidant activity (anti-DPPH activity) of 59.74% inhibition at 100 µg/mL, anthelmintic at 1 min by 1000 µg/mL, antifibrinolytic at 20 secs by 1000 µg/mL and cytotoxic activity against A549 lung cell lines, wherein, the cell viability was below 40 % at the highest dose (100 µg/mL), with an IC50 value of 39.9 µg/mL.

The major goal of the study was to isolate bacteria synthesizing protease enzyme from a soil sample taken in Dandeli, Karnataka, India. Furthermore, screening, production, and optimization of medium components for maximum protease activity, partial purification of crude enzymes, and application of protease produced by Bacillus nakamurai were carried out. At 72 hrs and pH 6, the optimum incubation time, pH, and temperature were evaluated (acidic and thermophilic). As a substrate, casein was employed. Plackett-Burman screening was performed, and KH2PO4, xylose, MnCl2, and peptone were discovered to be essential components in protease production media. Following the production and optimization processes, partial purification was performed using ammonium sulfate precipitation, with the maximum protease activity at 60% ammonium sulfate, and further dialysis was performed using precipitated enzyme, yielding enzyme activity of 0.747 U/mL. The protease enzyme proved effective at removing egg yolk stains as well as degrading (dehairing) chicken feathers and hairs from goat skin. Bacillus nakamurai PL4 can be utilized for the industrial-scale production of proteases to fulfill current demands. Thus, such optimized parameters can optimize protease production and their application across various industries.