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Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were prepared by a facile, one-pot, greener approach using aqueous leaf extract of the medicinal plant Nuna (Morinda tinctoria) and were analyzed by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The TEM images confirmed that the as-prepared greener Nuna (Nu)-mediated ZnO NPs (Nu-ZnO NPs) were spherical in shape, with an average diameter of 8–10 nm. Further, the single phase and crystallinity of the Nu-ZnO NPs were observed by PXRD pattern. In addition, the biogenic Nu-ZnO NPs showed high cytotoxicity in human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells in vitro. These tiny spherical bodies produced profound toxicity according to the MTT assay, with IC50 of 46 µg/mL. Apoptosis and morphological changes were studied using acridine orange/ethidium bromide and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole fluorescence staining and MTT assays. Finally, the anticancer efficacy of biosynthesized Nu-ZnO NPs was imparted by dysregulation of cell division through arrest of growth-promoting and inhibiting signals in the S phase, with further reduction in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. In conclusion, Nu-ZnO NPs conferred MCF-7 cell toxicity by modulating proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

Organic reduction of nanomaterials is an inexpensive and ecologically feasible method and the major challenge of this method is the optimization. The reduction of metal ions with the conjugation involves either by the extraction from natural materials like plants, algae, fungus, and bacteria or the micro-organisms, which includes the intracellular synthesis of these particles. The present investigation deals with the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) reduced by Spirulina platensis. The reduced nanoparticle by the microorganism was materialized to inhibit the pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from the aquaculture system of Tamil Nadu. The highest distribution percentage of V. parahaemolyticus was recorded in the farm water collected from shrimp farms of Nagapattinam than in the Cuddalore district. The presence of secondary metabolites in qualitative estimation and in GCMS revealed the presence of 32 compounds in both acetone and methanol extract. The essential fatty acids eicosane was found to have antibiotic potency against shrimp infected with pathogenic bacteria. The synthesized Spirulina SNPs were characterized by a biophysical technique like UV-Vis spectrophotometer, EDAX, XRD, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The analysis revealed a spherical structure without any agglomerates whose reduction absorption was at 200–450 nm. The well diffusion method, it showed inhibition of human and marine pathogen V. parahaemolyticus, whose inhibitory zone was at 15.30 ± 2.21 and 15.19 ± 2.48 mm respectively. Thus, the Spirulina mediated silver nanoparticles are found to be a simple, economical, and eco-friendly biomaterial to be a potent antibiotic against the shrimp bacteria.

We investigated the effect of encapsulated Chitosan-nanoparticles by using Salvia leucantha essential oil on the insecticidal activity against H. armigera, S. litura and P. xylostella. The encapsulated nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis, SEM, EDX, FTIR and ZP. Phytochemical analysis of essential oil revealed that the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, phenolics, and glycosides etc., and GC/MS analysis identified at least 12 compounds, the most abundant constituents were bornyl acetate, 1-Octadecanesulphonyl Chloride, spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide. Bioassays was conducted to find out the toxicity against H. armigera and LC50 values of essential oil was 175.39 ppm (larva I) 542.09 ppm (pupa), and encapsulations of essential oil was 14.56 ppm (I) 63.28 ppm (pupa), respectively. Life history parameters and food efficiency utilization measures were significantly affected with concomitant decline in the activities of digestive enzymes after treatment of encapsulated Chitosan-nanoparticles for H. armigera, S. litura and P. xylostella. From the results the nanomatierals are effective and eco-friendly bio-insecticides for not only control bollworm and also other lepidopteran insects such as Spodoptera litura and Plutella xylostella at different crop ecosystem.

Background: Variations in climatic conditions, irrigation facility and insect/pest management have brought about a massive impact on tea production. Among these the quality of the irrigation water and atmosphere related uncertainties were minimizing the tea production in right quantity and quality. The water utilized for irrigation systems can vary in quality depending on the nature and amount of dissolved salts. Minerals get dissolved into the irrigation water from various sources. They start from the disintegration of the stones and soil, including the decay of lime, gypsum and others broken up soil minerals. Salts go along with the water to the place wherever it is to being utilized. On account of the evaporation and filtration by sand particles, the salts present in the irrigation water get concentrated when the crop consumes water. Methods: Quality of the irrigation water was checked by assessing the pH, electrical conductivity, cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) and anions (Cl-, HCO3-, CO32-). For evaluating the irrigation water quality and there are seven irrigation water samples collected from seven tea planting districts (Valparai- Tamil Nadu, Coonoor - Tamil Nadu, Gudalur - Tamil Nadu, Wayanad - Kerala, Munnar - Kerala, Vandiperiyar - Kerala, Koppa - Karnataka) in the southern states of India. Result: After evaluations of water quality from various techniques indicated that the water in tea growing locations of the southern states of India is chemically sufficient for agricultural applications.

Mosquitoes are the major vectors of many diseases such as the malaria, filariasis, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis. Mosquitoes propagate quite successfully in a variety of aquatic habitats such as drinking water system, manmade water bodies, and sewage contaminated aquatic system. Since, water is essential for all life, without it, life won’t progress and at the same time, the quality of the water also important. With the unique structural features present in chitosan bio-polymer helps to bind effectively with fine suspended particles, pollutants, bacteria, heavy metals etc. The biocompatible and biodegradable nature of chitosan makes it a potential candidate for mosquito breeding water purification purposes. In this regard, chitosan has been extracted from freshwater crab shells Scylla serrata and reduced for silver nanoparticle synthesis. It has been utilized as a potent tool in control of young instars of Aedes aegypti and its breeding water purification. Bio-synthesized chitosan-reduced silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (E-DAX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In laboratory condition, the chitosan silver nanocomplex was found to possess toxicity against young instars (I, II, III, and IV) of Aedes aegypti at the concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 ppm followed by chitosan treatment alone. The surface stagnant water from dengue vector breeding site checked the water purification parameters, such as water temperature (WT), pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC) by using “μP Based Water & Soil Analysis Kit” (Model 1160). Further, from the results it is clearly postulated that the biomolecules present in the chitosan not only showed biopesticidal activity against mosquito larvae and pupae but also nullified the contaminants in the water and made human usage.

In the present study we tested the biological effect of crab shell-chitosan reduced silver nanoparticles (Cs-AgNPs) and characterized viz., UV–vis Spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDAX and XRD. After the treatment of Cs-AgNPs at different larval stages (Larva I, II, III, IV & pupa) of C. quinquefasciatus and for Helicoverpa armigera (III, IV larval stages) found to be lethal at concentration (LC50) of chitosan fabricated nanoparticles for larval instars and pupa, when compare to individual chitosan treatment. Significant reduction of egg output, hatchability and fecundity were noticed after the treatment of Cs-AgNPs (25–50 ppm) and (150–300 ppm) of chitosan alone. Predatory efficiency of guppy fish against mosquito larvae was also not significantly affected by nanoparticles applications. Tested nanoparticle was also possessed anti-bacterial properties against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Salmonella aureus.

Mosquitoes represent a key threat for millions of humans worldwide, since they act as vectors for malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, filariasis, and encephalitis. In this study, we tested chitosan-synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ch–AgNP) using male crab shells as a source of chitosan, which acted as a reducing and capping agent. Ch–AgNP were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XRD. Chitosan and Ch–AgNP were tested against larvae and pupae of the malaria vector Anopheles sundaicus under laboratory and field conditions. Antibacterial properties of Ch–AgNP were tested on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus vulgaris using the agar disk diffusion assay. The standard predation efficiency of the mosquito natural enemy Carassius auratus in laboratory conditions was 60.80 (on larva II) and 19.68 individuals (on larva III) per day, while post-treatment with sub-lethal doses of Ch–AgNP, the predation efficiency was boosted to 72.00 (on larva II) and 25.80 individuals (on larva III). Overall, Ch–AgNP fabricated using chitosan extracted from the male crab shells of the hydrothermal vent species Xenograpsus testudinatus may offer a novel and safer control strategy against A. sundaicus mosquito vectors, as well as against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria.

Mosquitoes are arthropods of huge medical and veterinary relevance, since they vector pathogens and parasites of public health importance, including malaria, dengue and Zika virus. Currently, nanotechnology is considered a potential eco-friendly approach in mosquito control research. We proposed a novel method of biofabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using chitosan (Ch) from crab shells. Ch-AgNP nanocomposite was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDX and XRD. Ch-AgNP were tested against larvae and pupae of the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi obtaining LC50 ranging from 3.18 ppm (I) to 6.54 ppm (pupae). The antibacterial properties of Ch-AgNP were proved against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi, while no growth inhibition was reported in assays conducted on Proteus vulgaris. Concerning non-target effects, in standard laboratory considtions the predation efficiency of Danio rerio zebrafishes was 68.8% and 61.6% against I and II instar larvae of A. stephensi, respectively. In a Ch-AgNP-contaminated environment, fish predation was boosted to 89.5% and 77.3%, respectively. Quantitative analysis of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and LPO from hepatopancreas of fresh water crabs Paratelphusa hydrodromous exposed for 16 days to a Ch-AgNP-contaminated aquatic environment were conducted. Notably, deleterious effects of Ch-AgNP contaminating aquatic enviroment on the non-target crab P. hydrodromous were observed, particularly when doses higher than 8-10ppm are tested. Overall, this research highlights the potential of Ch-AGNP for the development of newer control tools against young instar populations of malaria mosquitoes, also highlighting some risks concerned the employ of nanoparticles in aquatic environments.

Now a days the well-organized strategy to induce apoptosis in cancer chemotherapy is to produce anti-cancer agent without any side effects is in needy. Hence the present investigation was aimed to explore the anticancer potentials of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius reduced zinc nanoparticles capped with chitosan against MCF 7 cell line (breast cancer cells)and studied for its optical and surface charge properties. The size, shape, dispersion and uniform distribution of biosynthesized zincoxide nanoparticle was examined using Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM) respectively. The spherical and cubic nanocrystals were found to be lethal against MCF 7 cells on MTT assay at dose dependant manner (20–80 μg/ml) whose IC50 value 42 μg/ml. Bright field light microscopic study showed the apoptotic morphology of treated and control MCF-7 cells. Fluorescence staining A/O:EB and DAPI methods further cleared the chromosome condensation, nuclear fragmentation and confirms the apoptosis induced by Ch-Ap-ZnONPS within IC50 concentrations. Significant cell cycle arrest at particular stage of G2/M was achieved with the nanocomplex treatment at dose dependant manner. Finally, it was observed that the apoptotic gens and protein expressions of MCF-7 cell line were up and down regulation with the treatment of Ch-Ap-ZnONPS when compared to normal cells.

Earthworm powder (EWP), a natural boon for medicine, has showed a wide variety of biological activities, which make it a good candidate for the treatment of many oxidative stress-mediated diseases. The present study is aimed to evaluate its therapeutic potential by estimating the levels of lipid peroxidation and assaying activities for various antioxidants in ISO-induced myocardial infarction bearing rats. Subcutaneous injection of ISO (85 mg/kg body weight administered subcutaneously) to Wistar male rats for 2 consecutive days caused myocardial damage in rat heart, which was determined by the increased activity of lipid peroxidation (LPO). The heart tissue antioxidant enzymes, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the non-enzymatic antioxidant, like reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and vitamin E levels were altered in MI rats. Further, EWP (200 mg/kg body weight suspended in saline) administration attenuated the antioxidant mechanism from lipid peroxidation. Thus, the modulatory effects of EWP on attenuating the lipid peroxidation, upregulation of both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants, and DNA fragmentation afford an assurance for the treatment of myocardial infarction in the future.

Objective To evaluate the acute toxicity effects of earthworm powder (EWP) obtained from Eudrillus euginae on wistar male rats. Methods The animals are treated orally with EWP at the doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg bodyweight daily for 12 days. Results There was no significant mortality and changes in body weight noticed at all the doses tested. No gross significant changes observed in the hematological indices (HB, RBC and WBC), Hepatic, serum markers (AST, ALT, ALP, and protein) and renal indices (Urea, Uric acid and Creatinine). The EWP did not show any significant effects in the clinical signs, behavioral changes and examined toxicological endpoints in experimental animals. The histopathological studies provide supports to the safety data of above parameter of EWP dosing. Conclusions Thus, it can be inferred from the present study that EWP (Eudrillus euginae) is devoid of toxic effects in rats and suggested to utilize the EWP as novel medicine.

The present study was designed to discover the potential cardioprotective function of earthworm powder (EWP) extracted from Eudrilus eugeniae on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into four groups, with six rats in each group. Certain rats were pretreated with EWP (200 mg/kg bwt) (Group III), and a myocardial infarction was then induced by subcutaneous injection of ISO (85 mg/kg bwt) (Group II). Oral pretreatment of 200 mg/kg bwt of EWP for 28 days significantly (p > 0.05) improved the blood profile levels, including (a) the lipid profile of total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acids (FFA), and triglycerides (TG); (b) low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and protein; and (c) A/G ratio, glucose and uric acid levels. The electrophoretic pattern of elevated lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) levels was recovered by EWP treatment as evidenced by comparison with ISO-induced rats with cardiac damage. The above results indicate that EWP (200 mg/kg bwt) provides a cardioprotective effect by attenuating the blood profile, lipid profile, biochemical levels, and LDH patterns in rats that experienced an ISO-induced myocardial infarction.