Biosynthesized Gold Nanoparticles Integrated Ointment Base for Repellent Activity Against Aedes aegypti L.

The present study focused on preparing a nano-ointment base integrated with biogenic gold nanoparticles from Artemisia vulgaris L. leaf extract. As prepared, nano-ointment was characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and the morphology of the nano-ointment was confirmed through a scanning electron microscope. Initially, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide results showed nano-ointment cytocompatibility at different concentrations (20-200 µg/mL) against L929 cells. The in vitro hemolysis assay also revealed that the nano-ointment is biocompatible. Further studies confirmed that nano-ointment has repellent activity with various concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm). At 100 ppm concentration, the highest repellent activity was observed at 60-min protection time against the Aedes aegypti L. female mosquitoes. The results indicated that the increasing concentration of nano-ointment prolongs the protection time. Moreover, the outcome of this study provides an alternative nano-ointment to synthetic repellent and insecticides after successful clinical trials. It could be an eco-friendly, safer nano-bio repellent, which can protect from dengue fever mosquitoes.

Pulsed magnetic field: a contemporary approach offers to enhance plant growth and yield of soybean.

The possible involvement of pulsed magnetic field (PMF) pretreatment in development and yield of soybean was investigated. Seeds were subjected to 20 days with 1500 nT at 10.0 Hz of PMF for 5 h per day. PMF pretreatment increased the plant height, fresh and dry weight, and protein content with the changes of protein profile in 8 days old seedlings. In addition, activity of enzymes such as ß-amylase, acid phosphatase, polyphenol oxidase and catalase was enhanced while α-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, protease and nitrate reductase activities declined due to PMF exposure. However, a considerable increment of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Mg, K and Na contents with reduced level of Ca was found in PMF treated seedlings. The number of leaves, pods, seeds and length of pods, and weight of seeds were also remarkably higher in PMF treatment in contrast to controls. The results suggest that pretreatment of PMF plays important roles in improvement of crop productivity of soybean through the enhancement of protein, mineral accumulation and enzyme activities which leads to increase the growth and yield.