Nanotechnology Approaches for the Remediation of Agricultural Polluted Soils.

Soil pollution from various anthropogenic and natural activities poses a significant threat to the environment and human health. This study explored the sources and types of soil pollution and emphasized the need for innovative remediation approaches. Nanotechnology, including the use of nanoparticles, is a promising approach for remediation. Diverse types of nanomaterials, including nanobiosorbents and nanobiosurfactants, have shown great potential in soil remediation processes. Nanotechnology approaches to soil pollution remediation are multifaceted. Reduction reactions and immobilization techniques demonstrate the versatility of nanomaterials in mitigating soil pollution. Nanomicrobial-based bioremediation further enhances the efficiency of pollutant degradation in agricultural soils. A literature-based screening was conducted using different search engines, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, from 2010 to 2023. Keywords such as "soil pollution, nanotechnology, nanoremediation, heavy metal remediation, soil remediation" and combinations of these were used. The remediation of heavy metals using nanotechnology has demonstrated promising results and offers an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to address this critical issue. Nanobioremediation is a robust strategy for combatting organic contamination in soils, including pesticides and herbicides. The use of nanophytoremediation, in which nanomaterials assist plants in extracting and detoxifying pollutants, represents a cutting-edge and environmentally friendly approach for tackling soil pollution.

Nano-based biofuel production from low-cost lignocellulose biomass: environmental sustainability and economic approach.

The use of nanomaterials in biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass offers a promising approach to simultaneously address environmental sustainability and economic viability. This review provides an overview of the environmental and economic implications of integrating nanotechnology into biofuel production from low-cost lignocellulosic biomass. In this review, we highlight the potential benefits and challenges of nano-based biofuel production. Nanomaterials provide opportunities to improve feedstock pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and catalysis, resulting in enhanced process efficiency, lower energy consumption, and reduced environmental impact. Conducting life cycle assessments is crucial for evaluating the overall environmental footprint of biofuel production. An economic perspective that focuses on the cost implications of utilizing nanomaterials in biofuel production is also discussed. A comprehensive understanding of both environmental and economic dimensions is essential to fully harness the potential of nanomaterials in biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass and to move towards sustainable future energy.

Boosting plant resilience: The promise of rare earth nanomaterials in growth, physiology, and stress mitigation.

Rare earth elements (REE) have been extensively used in a variety of applications such as cell phones, electric vehicles, and lasers. REEs are also used as nanomaterials (NMs), which have distinctive features that make them suitable candidates for biomedical applications. In this review, we have highlighted the role of rare earth element nanomaterials (REE-NMs) in the growth of plants and physiology, including seed sprouting rate, shoot biomass, root biomass, and photosynthetic parameters. In addition, we discuss the role of REE-NMs in the biochemical and molecular responses of plants. Crucially, REE-NMs influence the primary metabolites of plants, namely sugars, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, enzymes, polyols, sorbitol, and mannitol, and secondary metabolites, like terpenoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and sulfur-containing compounds. Despite their protective effects, elevated concentrations of NMs are reported to induce toxicity and affect plant growth when compared with lower concentrations, and they not only induce toxicity in plants but also affect soil microbes, aquatic organisms, and humans via the food chain. Overall, we are still at an early stage of understanding the role of REE in plant physiology and growth, and it is essential to examine the interaction of nanoparticles with plant metabolites and their impact on the expression of plant genes and signaling networks.

Comprehensive study on the differential extraction and comparison of bioactive health potential of the Broccoli (Brassica oleracea).

Introduction: Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that has been shown to have numerous potential therapeutic benefits because of its bioactive compounds. Methods: In this study, we compared the bioactive efficacy of cooked and uncooked (fresh) stems and florets of broccoli extracted with three different solvents: acetonitrile, methanol, and aqueous extracts. The extraction yield and antioxidant and antibacterial potential of different broccoli extracts were examined. Results: Fresh and boiled floret stem extracts increased the extraction yield. The extraction yields were higher for the methanol and acetonitrile extracts than for the aqueous extracts. The antioxidant efficacy of the different extracts was studied using ABTS, DPPH, and metal ion reduction assays. The acetonitrile and aqueous extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activities than the methanolic extracts in different antioxidant assays. In addition, increased antioxidant activity was observed in fresh florets and boiled broccoli stems. TPC and TFC contents were higher in the methanolic extracts than in the aqueous extracts. Similar to antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory activities were found to be higher in the acetonitrile and aqueous extracts, particularly in boiled stems and fresh florets. Broccoli extracts have been shown to be active against Bacillus subtilis and moderately effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: Acetonitrile and aqueous extraction of broccoli might be an ideal choice for extraction methods, which show increased extraction yield and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials. Utilization of phytomolecules from natural sources is a promising alternative approach to synthetic drug development.

Development of Oral Bio-banks Past, Present and Future; Challenges and Opportunities.

Biobank involves collecting, processing, storing, and organizing biosamples, along with relevant personal and health information such as medical history, family records, genetics data, and lifestyle details, for medical research and clinical care. Oral biobanking is a recently evolved field alongside the rising of precision medicine due to recent research findings in oral oncology and other oral complaints, namely caries and periodontal disease. The common samples in oral biobanks are matured and primary teeth, dental pulp cells, oral biopsies, oral rinses, saliva, and swabs from the buccal region. Moreover, biobank should not conceive of as a static collection of samples and data but as a dynamic resource for developing novel techniques that meet current scientific demands through international networking. However, the major bottlenecks associated with oral biobanks are privacy, processing of samples, normalization of data, extended durability of interest markers of banked samples, and financial sustainability of biobanks. Thus in this correspondence, we argue that an alternative approach is urgently needed to protect the interests of many stakeholders.

A clinical study and future prospects for bioactive compounds and semi-synthetic molecules in the therapies for Huntington's disease.

A neurodegenerative disorder (ND) refers to Huntington's disease (HD) which affects memory loss, weight loss, and movement dysfunctions such as chorea and dystonia. In the striatum and brain, HD most typically impacts medium-spiny neurons. Molecular genetics, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress (OS), mitochondrial, and metabolic dysfunction are a few of the theories advanced to explicit the pathophysiology of neuronal damage and cell death. Numerous in-depth studies of the literature have supported the therapeutic advantages of natural products in HD experimental models and other treatment approaches. This article briefly discusses the neuroprotective impacts of natural compounds against HD models. The ability of the discovered natural compounds to suppress HD was tested using either in vitro or in vivo models. Many bioactive compounds considerably lessened the memory loss and motor coordination brought on by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP). Reduced lipid peroxidation, increased endogenous enzymatic antioxidants, reduced acetylcholinesterase activity, and enhanced mitochondrial energy generation have profoundly decreased the biochemical change. It is significant since histology showed that therapy with particular natural compounds lessened damage to the striatum caused by 3-NP. Moreover, natural products displayed varying degrees of neuroprotection in preclinical HD studies because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, maintenance of mitochondrial function, activation of autophagy, and inhibition of apoptosis. This study highlighted about the importance of bioactive compounds and their semi-synthetic molecules in the treatment and prevention of HD.

Decoding the role of the gut microbiome in gut-brain axis, stress-resilience, or stress-susceptibility: A review.

Increased exposure to stress is associated with stress-related disorders, including depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative conditions. However, susceptibility to stress is not seen in every individual exposed to stress, and many of them exhibit resilience. Thus, developing resilience to stress could be a big breakthrough in stress-related disorders, with the potential to replace or act as an alternative to the available therapies. In this article, we have focused on the recent advancements in gut microbiome research and the potential role of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in developing resilience or susceptibility to stress. There might be a complex interaction between the autonomic nervous system (ANS), immune system, endocrine system, microbial metabolites, and bioactive lipids like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), neurotransmitters, and their metabolites that regulates the communication between the gut microbiota and the brain. High fiber intake, prebiotics, probiotics, plant supplements, and fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) could be beneficial against gut dysbiosis-associated brain disorders. These could promote the growth of SCFA-producing bacteria, thereby enhancing the gut barrier and reducing the gut inflammatory response, increase the expression of the claudin-2 protein associated with the gut barrier, and maintain the blood-brain barrier integrity by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins such as claudin-5. Their neuroprotective effects might also be related to enhancing the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1). Further investigations are needed in the field of the gut microbiome for the elucidation of the mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis contributes to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Multifunctional Nanocarriers for Alzheimer's Disease: Befriending the Barriers.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) have been increasing in incidence in recent years and are now widespread worldwide. Neuronal death is defined as the progressive loss of neuronal structure or function which is closely associated with NDDs and represents the intrinsic features of such disorders. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases (AD, PD, and HD, respectively) are considered neurodegenerative diseases that affect a large number of people worldwide. Despite the testing of various drugs, there is currently no available therapy that can remedy or effectively slow the progression of these diseases. Nanomedicine has the potential to revolutionize drug delivery for the management of NDDs. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) has recently been developed to improve drug delivery efficiency and is currently subjected to extensive studies. Nanoengineered particles, known as nanodrugs, can cross the blood-brain barrier while also being less invasive compared to the most treatment strategies in use. Polymeric, magnetic, carbonic, and inorganic NPs are examples of NPs that have been developed to improve drug delivery efficiency. Primary research studies using NPs to cure AD are promising, but thorough research is needed to introduce these approaches to clinical use. In the present review, we discussed the role of metal-based NPs, polymeric nanogels, nanocarrier systems such as liposomes, solid lipid NPs, polymeric NPs, exosomes, quantum dots, dendrimers, polymersomes, carbon nanotubes, and nanofibers and surfactant-based systems for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we highlighted nanoformulations such as N-butyl cyanoacrylate, poly(butyl cyanoacrylate), D-penicillamine, citrate-coated peptide, magnetic iron oxide, chitosan (CS), lipoprotein, ceria, silica, metallic nanoparticles, cholinesterase inhibitors, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, metal chelators, anti-amyloid, protein, and peptide-loaded NPs for the treatment of AD.

Functional role of microRNA in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress in agronomic plants.

The increasing demand for food is the result of an increasing population. It is crucial to enhance crop yield for sustainable production. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have gained importance because of their involvement in crop productivity by regulating gene transcription in numerous biological processes, such as growth, development and abiotic and biotic stresses. miRNAs are small, non-coding RNA involved in numerous other biological functions in a plant that range from genomic integrity, metabolism, growth, and development to environmental stress response, which collectively influence the agronomic traits of the crop species. Additionally, miRNA families associated with various agronomic properties are conserved across diverse plant species. The miRNA adaptive responses enhance the plants to survive environmental stresses, such as drought, salinity, cold, and heat conditions, as well as biotic stresses, such as pathogens and insect pests. Thus, understanding the detailed mechanism of the potential response of miRNAs during stress response is necessary to promote the agronomic traits of crops. In this review, we updated the details of the functional aspects of miRNAs as potential regulators of various stress-related responses in agronomic plants.

Cheminformatics and systems pharmacology approaches to unveil the potential plant bioactives to combat COVID-19.

COVID-19 was a global pandemic in the year 2020. Several treatment options failed to cure the disease. Thus, plant-based medicines are becoming a trend nowadays due to their less side effects. Bioactive chemicals from natural sources have been utilised for centuries as treatment options for a variety of ailments. To find out the potent bioactive compounds to counteract COVID-19, we use systems pharmacology and cheminformatics. They use the definitive data and predict the possible outcomes. In this study, we collected a total of 72 phytocompounds from the medicinally important plants such as Garcinia mangostana and Cinnamomum verum, of which 13 potential phytocompounds were identified to be active against the COVID-19 infection based on Swiss Target Prediction and compound target network analysis. These phytocompounds were annotated to identify the specific human receptor that targets COVID-19-specific genes such as MAPK8, MAPK14, ACE, CYP3A4, TLR4 and TYK2. Among these, compounds such as smeathxanthone A, demethylcalabaxanthone, mangostanol, trapezifolixanthone from Garcinia mangostana and camphene from C. verum were putatively target various COVID-19-related genes. Molecular docking results showed that smeathxanthone A and demethylcalabaxanthone exhibit increased binding efficiency towards the COVID-19-related receptor proteins. These compounds also showed efficient putative pharmacoactive properties than the commercial drugs ((R)-remdesivir, favipiravir and hydroxychloroquine) used to cure COVID-19. In conclusion, our study highlights the use of cheminformatics approach to unravel the potent and novel phytocompounds against COVID-19. These phytocompounds may be safer to use, more efficient and less harmful. This study highlights the value of natural products in the search for new drugs and identifies candidates with great promise.

Multitargeted pharmacokinetics, molecular docking and network pharmacology-based identification of effective phytocompounds from Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr for inflammation and cancer treatment.

According to worldwide health data, cancer, and inflammatory illnesses are on the rise and are among the most common causes of death. Across the world, these types of health problems are now considered top priorities for government health organizations. Hence, this study aimed to investigate medicinal plants' potential for treating cancer and inflammatory disorders. This network pharmacology analysis aims to learn more about the potential targets and mechanisms of action for the bioactive ingredients in Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr L. The compound-target network and protein-protein interaction analysis were built using the STRING database. Using Network Analyst, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes, pathway enrichment was performed on the hub genes. 1-hexadecanol was shown to inhibit drug-metabolizing enzymes in a pharmacokinetic investigation. Those samples of 1-hexadecanol were found to be 1-hexadecanol (BBB 0.783), GI High, Pgp Substrate Yes, CYP2C19 Inhibitor Yes, CYP2D6 Yes, and HI -89.803. The intermolecular binding energies for 1-hexadecanol (4-DRI, -8.2 kcal/mol) are evaluated. These results from a study on S. androgynus used molecular docking and network pharmacology to gain insight into the prime target genes and potential mechanisms identified for AKT1, mTOR, AR, PPID, FKBP5, and NR3C1. The PI3K-Akt signalling pathway has become an important regulatory node in various pathological processes requiring coordinated actions. Stability and favourable conformations have been resolved by considering nonbonding interactions such as electrostatic and hydrogen bonds in MD simulations of the perfect molecules using the Desmond package. Thus, using an appropriate platform of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments, this study provides for the first time a clearer knowledge of the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory molecular bioactivities of S. androgynus. Further in vitro and in vivo confirmations are strongly needed to determine the efficacy and therapeutic effects of 1-hexadecanol in the biological process.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

In Silico Analysis of the Effect of Hydrastis canadensis on Controlling Breast Cancer.

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is a significant type of cancer among women worldwide. Studies have reported the anti-carcinogenic activity of Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) in cancer cell lines. Hydrastis Canadensis could help eliminate toxic substances due to its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and other properties. The design phase includes the identification of potential and effective molecules through modern computational techniques. Objective: This work aims to study Hydrastis Canadensis's effect in controlling hormone-independent breast cancer through in-silico analysis. Materials and Methods: The preliminary screening of reported phytochemicals includes biomolecular networking. Identifying functionally relevant phytochemicals and the respective target mutations/genes leads to selecting 3D proteins of the desired mutations being considered the target. Interaction studies have been conducted using docking. The kinetic and thermodynamic stability of complexes was studied through molecular dynamic simulation and MM-PBSA/GBSA analysis. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic features have been predicted. The mechanism-wise screening, functional enrichment, and interactional studies suggest that canadaline and Riboflavin effectively interact with the target proteins. Results: Hydrastis Canadensis has been identified as the effective formulation containing all these constituents. The phytoconstituents; Riboflavin and Canadensis showed good interaction with the targets of hormone-independent breast cancer. The complexes were found to be kinetically and thermodynamically stable. Conclusions: Hydrastis Canadensis has been identified as effective in controlling 'hormone-independent or basal-like breast cancer' followed by 'hormone-dependent breast cancer: Luminal A' and Luminal B.

Value Addition Employing Waste Bio-Materials in Environmental Remedies and Food Sector.

Overall, combating food waste necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes education, infrastructure, and policy change. By working together to implement these strategies, we can help reduce the negative impacts of food waste and create a more sustainable and equitable food system. The sustained supply of nutrient-rich agrifood commodities is seriously threatened by inefficiencies caused by agricultural losses, which must be addressed. As per the statistical data given by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, nearly 33.33% of the food that is produced for utilization is wasted and frittered away on a global level, which can be estimated as a loss of 1.3 billion metric tons per annum, which includes 30% cereals, 20% dairy products 35% seafood and fish, 45% fruits and vegetables, and 20% of meat. This review summarizes the various types of waste originating from various segments of the food industry, such as fruits and vegetables, dairy, marine, and brewery, also focusing on their potential for developing commercially available value-added products such as bioplastics, bio-fertilizers, food additives, antioxidants, antibiotics, biochar, organic acids, and enzymes. The paramount highlights include food waste valorization, which is a sustainable yet profitable alternative to waste management, and harnessing Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence technology to minimize food waste. Detail of sustainability and feasibility of food waste-derived metabolic chemical compounds, along with the market outlook and recycling of food wastes, have been elucidated in this review.

Association of nanoparticles and Nrf2 with various oxidative stress-mediated diseases.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates the cellular antioxidant defense system at the posttranscriptional level. During oxidative stress, Nrf2 is released from its negative regulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and binds to antioxidant response element (ARE) to transcribe antioxidative metabolizing/detoxifying genes. Various transcription factors like aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and epigenetic modification including DNA methylation and histone methylation might also regulate the expression of Nrf2. Despite its protective role, Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling is considered as a pharmacological target due to its involvement in various pathophysiological conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, hepatotoxicity and kidney disorders. Recently, nanomaterials have received a lot of attention due to their unique physiochemical properties and are also used in various biological applications, for example, biosensors, drug delivery systems, cancer therapy, etc. In this review, we will be discussing the functions of nanoparticles and Nrf2 as a combined therapy or sensitizing agent and their significance in various diseases such as diabetes, cancers and oxidative stress-mediated diseases.

A Recent Update on the Impact of Nano-Selenium on Plant Growth, Metabolism, and Stress Tolerance.

Selenium (Se) is a microelement that plays an important nutrient role by influencing various physiological and biochemical traits in plants. It has been shown to stimulate plant metabolism, enhancing secondary metabolites and lowering abiotic and biotic stress in plants. Globally, the enormous applications of nanotechnology in the food and agricultural sectors have vastly expanded. Nanoselenium is more active than bulk materials, and various routes of synthesis of Se nanoparticles (Se-NPs) have been reported in which green synthesis using plants is more attractive due to a reduction in ecological issues and an increase in biological activities. The Se-NP-based biofortification is more significant because it increases plant stress tolerance and positively impacts their metabolism. Se-NPs can enhance plant resistance to various oxidative stresses, promote growth, enhance soil nutrient status, enhance plant antioxidant levels, and participate in the transpiration process. Additionally, they use a readily available, biodegradable reducing agent and are ecologically friendly. This review concentrates on notable information on the different modes of Se-NPs' synthesis and characterization, their applications in plant growth, yield, and stress tolerance, and their influence on the metabolic process.

Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Pantoea stewartii and Priestia aryabhattai and Their Antimicrobial, Larvicidal, Histopathological, and Biotoxicity Potential.

In recent years, green nanotechnology has gained considerable importance for the synthesis of nanoparticles due to its economic viability and biosafety. In the current study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using two bacterial isolates, H2 and H3, which were isolated from soil samples collected from the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, and identified at the species level as Pantoeastewartii (H2) and Priestiaaryabhattai (H3) by sequencing their 16s rRNA genes. Intracellularly synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and particle size analysis. AFM studies show that both of the bacterial synthesized Ag NPs were circular-shaped and disaggregated, with an average size distribution of 4 nm for Pantoeastewartii and 3.6 nm for Priestiaaryabhattai. Furthermore, their larvicidal activity, antimicrobial, histopathological, and biotoxicity effects were determined. The synthesized Ag NPs exhibited potent larvicidal activity against fourth instars of Ae.aegypti, An.stephensi, and Cx.quinquefasciatus exposed to a 50 µg/mL concentration for 24 h based on their LC50 and LC90 values. Histopathological studies of the affected mosquito larvae clearly show damage to the epithelial cells, food bolus, basement membrane, muscles, and midgut parts. The maximum antimicrobial activity of Priestiaaryabhattai-synthesized Ag NPs was observed for Streptomyces varsoviensis MTCC-1537, and that of Pantoea stewartii-synthesized Ag NPs was against Escherichia coli MTCC-43. The toxicity test on non-target organisms such as Artemia nauplii and zebrafish embryos indicates no visible abnormalities or mortality after their exposure for 48h. It is concluded that silver nanoparticles can easily be synthesized using Pantoea stewartii (H2) and Priestia aryabhattai (H3) as capping and reducing agents. Silver nanoparticles showed potent larvicidal activities and could potentially be used in integrated vector control programs because they are safe for other inhabitants of the same aquatic environment as mosquito larvae.