Recent Patents on Plant-Derived Nanoparticles and their Potential Application Towards Various Cancer Therapeutics.

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology plays a vital role in the field of medicine. Especially various nanoparticles such as silver, gold, platinum are involved in the treatment of different types of cancer. The effective nanoparticles were synthesized using techniques like chemical, physical, electrochemical and biological methods. In order to overcome the limitations existing in the synthesis of nanoparticles, researchers turned their attention toward the biological single step nanoparticle synthesis method by using plant and plant products. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to overcome the side effects encountered in the existing anti- cancer agents like nonspecificity and fast excretion, and plant-derived nanoparticles that are ecofriendly, cost-effective and biologically active could serve as a promising alternative. CONCLUSION: From the thorough literature review and recent patents, it is understood that the plantderived nanoparticles exhibited an excellent anti-proliferation anti-tumor activity towards different types of cancers without affecting the normal cells. Especially, the traditional chemotherapeutic drugs obtained from the plant source incorporated with the nanoparticles show remarkable results against anti cancer studies. The present review focused on some of the existing herbal plant derived nanoparticles, formulations and their potential application in cancer therapeutics.

Coronavirus disease - COVID-19: new perceptives towards epidemic to pandemic.

The sudden outbreak and uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shocked the world to a degree never seen before. Due to the wide spread transmission of the virus, the number of infected cases worldwide has surpassed 16,421,958 and global death toll has spiked up to 6,52,308 from December 2019 to 27 July 2020. The virus has been labelled as a pandemic by the WHO. Virologists have found that this virus outbreak is similar to past outbreaks of viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome that caused severe respiratory syndrome and transmitted rapidly in humans. These single stranded RNA viruses come under the genera of ß-coronaviruses which ultimately infect lungs and respiratory tract. Even though the origin, source and intermediate hosts of this virus is unknown, transmittance from human-to-human through various paths has been identified globally. As of today, there are no approved drugs and vaccines. Several clinical trials are being conducted today to evaluate vaccines against the virus. The aim of our present review is to furnish brief details about the statistics, diagnosis, epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of COVID-19 to assist researchers and the society at large to come to grip with the deadly disease.HighlightsCumbersome outbreak of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a pandemicAt June 19, 2020, as per WHO report 8,618,787 infected cases and 457,275 dead were recorded globallyMajor spread was found to be human to human transmissionsPeople with positive COVID-19 were infected with severe respiratory syndromeMore animal and clinical studies have to be done to overcome this pandemic.

Cellulosimicrobium funkei-like enhances the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris by modulating oxidative damage under Chromium(VI) toxicity.

Contamination of agriculture land by heavy metals is a worldwide risk that has sped up noticeably since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Hence, there arise the demands of heavy metal tolerant plant growth promoting bacterial strains for specific metal contaminated agricultural sites restoration. In this study, 36 bacterial isolates were screened out from the rhizospheric soil of Phaseolus vulgaris. Among these, two bacterial strains AR6 and AR8 were selected based on their higher Cr(VI) tolerance (1200 and 1100 µg/mL, respectively) and the maximum production of plant growth promoting substances. In the molecular characterization study, both the bacterial strains showed 99% homology with Cellulosimicrobium funkei KM032184. In greenhouse experiments, the exposure of Cr(VI) to P.vulgaris inhibited the growth and photosynthetic pigments and increased the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant expressions. However, rhizosphere bacterial inoculations alleviated the negative effect of Cr(VI) and enhanced the seed germination rate (89.54%), shoot (74.50%),root length (60%), total biomass (52.53%), chlorophyll a (15.91%), chlorophyll b (17.97%), total chlorophyll (16.58%) and carotenoid content (3.59%). Moreover, bacterial inoculations stabilized and modulated the antioxidant system of P. vulgaris by reducing the accumulation of Cr in plant tissues. The present finding shows the Cr(VI) tolerance and plant growth promoting properties of the rhizosphere bacterial strains which might make them eligible as biofertilizer of metal-contaminated soils.

Annona muricata leaf extract-mediated silver nanoparticles synthesis and its larvicidal potential against dengue, malaria and filariasis vector.

Mosquitoes transmit several diseases which cause millions of deaths every year. The use of synthetic insecticides to control mosquitoes caused diverse effects to the environment, mammals, and high manufacturing cost. The present study was aimed to test the larvicidal activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Annona muricata plant leaf extract against third instar larvae of three medically important mosquitoes, i.e., Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The different concentrations of green synthesized Ag Nanoparticles (AgNPs; 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 µg mL(-1)) and aqueous crude leaf extract (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 µg mL(-1)) were tested against the larvae for 24 h. Significant larval mortality was observed after the treatment of A. muricata for all mosquitoes with lowest LC50 and LC90 values, viz., A. aegypti (LC50 and LC90 values of 12.58 and 26.46 µg mL(-1)), A. stephensi (LC50 and LC90 values of 15.28 and 31.91 µg mL(-1)) and C. quinquefasciatus (LC50 and LC90 values of 18.77 and 35.72 µg mL(-1)), respectively. The synthesized AgNPs from A. muricata were highly toxic than aqueous crude extract. The nanoparticle characterization was done using spectral and microscopic analysis, namely UV-visible spectroscopy which showed a sharp peak at 420 nm of aqueous medium containing AgNPs, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the average crystalline size of synthesized AgNPs (approximately 45 nm), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study exhibited prominent peaks 3381.28, 2921.03, 1640.17, 1384.58, 1075.83, and 610.77 cm(-1). Particle size analysis (PSA) showed the size and distribution of AgNPs (103 nm); field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis showed a spherical shape, size range from 20 to 53 nm; and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) reflects the chemical composition of synthesized AgNPs. Heat stability of the AgNPs was confirmed between the temperatures 20 to 70 °C. The result suggests that green synthesized AgNPs from A. muricata has the potential to be used as a low-cost and eco-friendly approach for the control of selected mosquitoes.

Development of a chewable tablet from Dugdhamalakyadi Yoga: An Ayurvedic preparation.

BACKGROUND: Amalaki (Embelica officinalis Gaertn.) is one of the most celebrated herbs in the Indian system of traditional medicine. It is one of the best Rasayana-s (health promoting) drug. In Dugdhamalakyadi yoga, Amalaki (Embelica officinalis Gaertn.) powder is administered along with milk in case of svarabhanga (hoarseness of voice). Here an attempt is made to convert this formulation into chewable tablet without altering its property to improve its palatability, shelf life and fixation of proper therapeutic dose. METHODOLOGY: Chewable tablets were prepared by wet granulation method. Here, Amalaki powder was prepared initially and it was mixed with additives and preservatives. Granules were prepared from this mixture by adding binding agent, finally compressed in to tablets. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The physico-chemical analysis of Amalaki standard are: Foreign Matter-Nil, Acid insoluble Ash-0.51%w/w, Water soluble Ash-2.01% w/w, Alcoholic Extractives-44.48%, Aqueous Extractives 67.52%, pH-3.1, Moisture content-8.19%. Quality control test for chewable tablet was carried out and found satisfactory with general characteristics of tablet viz. hardness 1.8, disintegration time 15-20 min, friability 0.5%, weight variation +/- 3%. The TLC of Amalaki powder showed 3 spots with Rf value 0.14, 0.4, and 0.73 and the chewable tablets showed 2 spots with Rf value 0.31 and 0.89 under 254 nm. The adaptation of modern techniques or methods to convert the Ayurvedic formulations without altering its therapeutic property is necessary to made them suitable for the present trends of newer drug delivery dosage forms.