Aristolochia bracteolata flower extract based phytosynthesis and characterization of AgNPs: Antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities potential assessment.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the Aristolochia bracteolata water flower extract-mediated AgNPs synthesis and assess their antimicrobial potential. According to the experimental and analytical results, A. bracteolata flower extract can produce valuable AgNPs. The characteristic features of these AgNPs were assessed with UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscopy, as well as. Under UV-vis. spectrum results, showed major peak at 430 nm and recorded essential functional groups responsible for reducing, capping, and stabilizing AgNPs by FT-IR analysis. In addition, the size and shape of the synthesized AgNPs were found as 21.11-25.17 nm and spherical/octahedral shape. The A. bracteolata fabricated NPs showed remarkable antimicrobial activity against fish bacterial pathogens (V. parahaemolytics, Serratia sp., B. subtilis, and E. coli) as well as common fungal pathogens (A. niger, C. albicans, A. flavus, and A. terreus) at the quantity of 100 µg mL-1 than positive controls. Nevertheless, it was not effective against human bacterial pathogens. It concludes that AgNPs synthesized from A. bracteolata aqueous flower extract have excellent antimicrobial activity and may have a variety of biomedical applications.

Cytogenotoxicity assessment in Allium cepa roots exposed to methyl orange treated with Oedogonium subplagiostomum AP1.

The present study is an attempt to assess the cytogenotoxic effect of untreated and methyl orange treated with Oedogonium subplagiostomum AP1 on Allium cepa roots. On the fifth day, root growth, root length, mitotic index, mitotic inhibition/depression, and chromosomal abnormalities were measured in root cells of Allium cepa subjected to untreated and treated methyl orange dye solutions. Roots exposed to treated dye solution exhibited maximum root growth, root length and mitotic index, whereas roots exposed to untreated dye solution had the most mitotic inhibition and chromosomal abnormalities. Allium cepa exposed to untreated dye solution revealed chromosomal aberrations such as disoriented and abnormal chromosome grouping, vagrant and laggard chromosomes, chromosomal loss, sticky chain and disturbed metaphase, pulverised and disturbed anaphase, chromosomal displacement in anaphase, abnormal telophase, and chromosomal bridge at telophase, spindle disturbances and binucleate cells. The comet test was used to quantify DNA damage in the root cells of A. cepa subjected to untreated and treated methyl orange solutions in terms of tail DNA (percent) and tail length. The results concluded that A. cepa exposed to methyl orange induced DNA damage whereas meager damage was noted in the treated dye solution. As a result, the research can be used as a biomarker to detect the genotoxic effects of textile dyes on biota.

Assessment, characterization, and quantification of microplastics from river sediments.

Microplastic (MP), as a pollutant, is currently posing a biological hazard to the aquatic environment. The study aims to isolate, quantify, and characterize the MP pollutants in sediment samples from 14 study sites at Kaveri River, Killa Chinthamani, Tiruchirappalli, South India. With Sediment-MP Isolation (SMI) unit, density separation was done with a hydrogen peroxide solution. Four forms of MPs namely, fragments, films, foams, and fibers with orange, white, green, and saffron red were observed. The plenitude and distribution of four forms of MPs and natural substrates were geometrically independent, with large amounts of microfragments within the research region accounting for 79.72% variation by Principal Component Analysis. FT-IR analyses of MPs showed the presence of polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that the MPs have differential surface morphology with rough surfaces, porous structures, fissures, and severe damage. Most MPs comprised Si, Mg, Cu, and Al, according to energy dispersive X-ray analyses. The combined SMI, instrumental analyses and evaluation (heat map) of MPs in river sediments help assess contamination levels and types of MPs. The findings might provide an insight into the status of MPs in Kavery River sediments that could help in formulating regulations for MPs reduction and contamination in rivers eventually to protect the environment.