Green nanotechnology has acquired immense demand due to its cost-effective, eco-friendly and benevolent approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Among the biological methods, plants aid as a significant green resource for synthesizing nanoparticles that are safe and non-toxic for human use. In the present investigation, Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using bulbs extract of Allium ampeloprasum under the influence of sunlight irradiation and characterized using different techniques. Distinct in-vitro assays were performed to test the antioxidant and anticandida potential of the synthesized AgNPs. Results suggested the efficient and rapid sunlight-driven synthesis of AgNPs using A. ampeloprasum extract. UV–Vis spectrum showed absorption peak at 446 nm which confirmed the formation of AgNPs. FTIR analysis suggested the presence of functional groups associated with flavonoids and sulfur compounds in A. ampeloprasum extract. The synthesized AgNPs showed Face Centred Cubic (FCC) structure with an average size of 35 nm. Spherical, quasi spherical, triangular and ellipsoidal morphology of the NPs were observed from the TEM micrograph. The synthesized AgNPs showed pronounced free radical scavenging potential for DPPH, ABTS∙+ and H2O2 radicals. The anticandida potency of the synthesized AgNPs was observed as follows: C. albicans ≥ C. tropicalis ≥ C. glabrata ≥ C. parapsilosis ≥ C. krusei. Results showed that sunlight driven nanoparticle synthesis of AgNPs is rapid, facile and exhibit enhanced antioxidant and antifungal activity.

Candida infections and related mortality have become a challenge to global health. Nontoxic and natural bioactive compounds from plants are regarded as promising candidates to inhibit these multidrug resistant strains. In the present study, in vitro assays and in silico molecular docking approach was combined to evaluate the inhibitory effect of crude extracts from Allium ampeloprasum and its variety A. porrum on Candida pathogens. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids in higher quantity. Spectral studies of the extracts support the presence of phenols, flavonoids and organosulfur compounds. Aqueous extract of A. ampeloprasum showed a total antioxidant capacity of 68 ± 1.7 mg AAE/ g and an IC50 value of 0.88 ± 2.1 mg/ml was obtained for DPPH radicals scavenging assay. C. albicans were highly susceptible (19.9 ± 1.1 mm) when treated with aqueous A. ampeloprasum extract. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were within the range of 19–40 μg/ml and the results were significant (p ≤ 0.05). In silico molecular docking studies demonstrated that bioactive phytocompounds of A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum efficiently interacted with the active site of Secreted aspartyl proteinase 2 enzyme that is responsible for the virulence of pathogenic yeasts. Rosmarinic acid and Myricetin exhibited low binding energies and higher number of hydrogen bond interactions with the protein target. Thus the study concludes that A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum that remain as underutilized vegetables in the Allium genus are potential anti-candida agents and their pharmacologically active compounds must be considered as competent candidates for drug discovery.

The objective of this study was to test the antibacterial activity of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) against bacterial pathogens by green synthesizing them from aqueous extracts of garlic husk. The synthesized Cu NPs were examined by UV-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy at (200–400 nm), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential analysis. The findings supported the capping, reduction, and production of Cu NPs with an average crystalline size of 14 nm in the husk extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration technique (MIC test) was used to measure the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera) and Gram-negative (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus) microorganisms. The lowest concentration required for inhibiting the growth of the bacterial strains ranged from 34.7 to 43.04 μg/ml. The above findings suggest that greenly synthesized Cu NPs made from garlic agro-waste may have potential uses in the realm of nanomedicine as an antibacterial drug in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections due to their superior antibacterial activity.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health challenge, and the large loads of biocides dumped into the environment augment the spread of antifungal resistance and environmental contamination. Therefore, eco‐friendly antifungal agents must be developed to combat antibiotic resistance and to reduce environmental contamination. In the present investigation, Allium sativum (Hill garlic‐Malai Poondu) extract was used as a green resource to achieve silver nanoparticle (AgNP) production. AgNPs were characterized by various spectral and microscopic analyses. In vitro free radical scavenging assays were instigated to determine the antioxidant capacity of the AgNPs, and the antifungal activity was assessed using Agar well‐diffusion assay again pathogenic fungal strains. The mean particle size of the AgNPs was calculated as 35.1 nm with face‐centered cubic (FCC) structure. AgNPs exhibited free radical scavenging activity against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrzyl (DPPH), 2,2‐azino‐bis (3‐etilbenzotiazolin)‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) radicals. Scavenging of DPPH radicals by AgNPs was impressive, and an IC₅₀ value of 6.3 ± 0.4 μg/ml was obtained in this assay. Among the tested Candida strains, the order of the least susceptibility on exposure to AgNPs synthesized using Hill garlic extract was as follows: C.glabrata ≤ C.tropicalis ≤ C.parapsilosis ≤ C.krusei ≤ C.albicans. The study highlights the synthesis of environment‐friendly nanoparticles using Hill garlic extract with enhanced antifungal properties.

The multifunctional features of noble metal nanoparticles (MNPs) were exploited in various biomedical applications, which eventually demanded the development of a sustainable green synthesis approach. In the present study, Quercetin (Q) was employed as a promising green reductant for the generation of noble metal nanoparticles such as silver (Q-AgNPs), gold (Q-AuNPs), and bimetallic (Q-Ag-AuNPs) towards biomedical perspective. Initially, the NPs were successfully synthesized in a size-controlled manner via optimizing temperature, pH, metal ion concentration, and stoichiometric ratio of the reaction mix. The redox reaction and conversion of metal ions (Ag+ and Au3+) into their respective metal nano-forms were confirmed through their surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) in UV-visible spectroscopy. In addition, different instrumentation like FT-IR, XRD, HR-TEM, and XPS analyses were performed to confirm the size, shape, and chemical composition of fabricated NPs. The bactericidal effect of fabricated NPs was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Moreover, the cytotoxic potential was screened against breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (HCT-116) carcinoma cell lines. This work revealed that the flavonoid-functionalized noble metal NPs were associated with good antibacterial and anticancer potential against selected cancer cell lines.