Plumeria alba flower extract-mediated synthesis of recyclable chitosan-coated cadmium nanoparticles for pest control and dye degradation.

In the current scenario, many synthetic chemicals have used long-term to control pests and mosquitoes, leading to the resistance of strains and toxicity effect on human beings. To overcome the adverse problem in recent advances, the scientific community is looking into nanofabricated pesticides and mosquitoes. This study aims to synthesize the recyclable chitosan-coated cadmium nanoparticles (Ch-CdNps) using Plumeria alba flower extract, which was further applied for insecticidal and mosquitocidal activities. The synthesized Ch-CdNps were confirmed by UV spectroscopy and FTIR analysis. The XRD, TEM, and DLS results confirmed the crystallinity with a spherical shape at 80-100 nm. The insecticidal activity proves that Ch-CdNps inhibited Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura at 100 ppm. In mosquitocidal, LC50 values of larvicidal of 1st instar were 4.116, 4.33, and 4.564 µg/mL, and the remaining three stages of instars, pupicidal, adulticidal, longevity, fecundity, and ovicidal assays inhibit the Anopheles stephensi followed by Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Further, the first-order kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange was confirmed. Based on the obtained results, Ch-CdNps can inhibit the pest, mosquitoes, and photocatalytic degradation.

Lichens in Genus Parmelia: An Overview and their Application.

Parmelia that belongs to the Parmeliaceae Family is a foliose lichen combined with one or two groups of fungi in Phylum Ascomycota or Basidiomycota and algae, which might be green algae or blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). It is generally called "Stone Flower," "Charila," "Pattharphool," or "Shilaaapushpa" in India. Lichen can be generally found growing on walls, old trees and spread largely across India, especially in the mountain area. It is a source of edible organisms for people residing in some regions of Nepal and it is also cultivated in hillsides of Kashmir. It has been found that lichen contains a lot of distinctive chemical compounds such as evernic acid, lecanoric acid, lobaric acid, norstictic acid, physodic acid, and salazinic acid. Some species of this lichen are recommended traditionally for controlling diseases such as boils, bronchitis, inflammations, excessive salivation, toothache, vomiting, etc. It has also applied as an indicator for biomonitoring, astringent, carminative, demulcent, bitter, resolvent, emollient, laxative, sporofic, sedative, diuretic and considered for treating sores, bronchitis, excessive salivation, vomiting, tooth-ache, boils and inflammations. It has been utilized for preparing traditional food and acts as a bioindicator for air pollution and radiation. It shows antibacterial, antioxidant, antimycobacterial and antifungal activities, including haemolytic, anaesthetic, spasmolytic and antispasmodic and antitumour activities. It also has several unique phytoconstituents that could be in charge of different therapeutic activities, but the majority of them are still unexplored. The review mainly focuses on various facets, such as common names, synonyms, traditional uses, botanical descriptions, and pharmacological activities of seven species of Parmelia.

Quercitrin a bioflavonoid improves the antioxidant status in streptozotocin: induced diabetic rat tissues.

Quercitrin, a bio flavonoid, was investigated for its antioxidant potential in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Rats were induced diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). The levels of fasting plasma glucose and insulin were estimated. Lipid peroxidative products and antioxidants were estimated in pancreas, liver, and kidney. Histopathological studies were carried out in these tissues. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in the levels of fasting plasma glucose and lipid peroxidative products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides) and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in plasma insulin, enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase), and nonenzymic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, vitamin C, and E) in diabetic pancreas, liver, and kidney were observed. Oral administration of quercitrin (30 mg/kg) for a period of 30 days significantly (P < 0.05) decreased fasting plasma glucose, increased insulin levels, and improved the antioxidant status of diabetic rats by decreasing lipid peroxidative products and increasing enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants. Normal rats treated with quercitrin (30 mg/kg) showed no significant (P < 0.05) effect on any of the parameters studied. Histopathological studies of the pancreas, liver, and kidney showed the protective role of quercitrin. Thus, our study clearly shows that quercitrin has antioxidant effect in STZ-induced experimental diabetes.