Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) have recently received much interest due to their low toxicity, high bioavailability, and wide applications. This study synthesized Se NPs using selenious acid as a starting material and leaf extract from Elaeagnus indica as a reducing agent. Spectroscopic and electron microscopy investigations have demonstrated the production of aggregated amorphous Se NPs with phytochemicals. Furthermore, the reduction of selenious acid into Se NPs by phytochemicals present in the leaf extract of E. indica was confirmed in a prominent band at 269 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. The biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles have a 10–15 nm particle size distribution. The agar well diffusion assay exhibited remarkable dose-dependent, wide-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of the Se NPs against all the tested microorganisms. Moreover, the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (10 µg/mL) was noted against Salmonella Typhimurium and Fusarium oxysporum. The prepared Se NPs degraded methylene blue dye by about 89% after 6 h of exposure to sunlight. In conclusion, the synthesis of Se NPs using E. indica leaf extract shows promise as a method for producing Se NPs with significant antimicrobial activity and potential for methylene blue photodegradation. These properties make them potentially valuable in various fields, including water treatment and biomedical applications, in the future.

As contemporary technology advances, scientists are striving to identify new approaches to managing several diseases. Compared to the more popular physiochemical synthesis, the plant-derived combination of metallic nanoparticles using plant secondary metabolites as a precursor has a number of benefits, including low expenses, low energy consumption, biocompatibility, and medicinal usefulness. This study intends to explore the impacts of using plant-derived synthetic materials including metallic nanoparticles (NPs), emphasizing the benefits of their broad use in next-generation treatments for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and vector diseases. This comprehensive analysis investigates the potential of plant-derived remedies for diseases and looks at cutting-edge nanoformulation techniques aimed at addressing the function of the nanoparticles that accompany these organic substances. The purpose of the current review is to determine how plant extracts contribute to the synthesis of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), Gold nanoparticles (GtNPs), and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). It provides an overview of the many phytocompounds and their functions in biomedicine, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, this study placed a special focus on a range of applications, including drug delivery systems, diagnostics and therapy, the present benefits of nanoparticles (NPs), their biomedical uses in medical technology, and their toxicities.

Gochujang, fermented red pepper paste, is a grain-based Korean traditional food. The quality of gochujang produced by cottage industries is not well-documented. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the quality of gochujang from 35 traditional cottage industries for physicochemical and microbial characteristics, along with volatile compound contents. In addition to microbial characteristics, salinity, pH, free amino nitrogen, and alcohol content were evaluated. Ethanol was detected as the predominant alcohol and 57% of tested gochujang products harbored >1% of total alcohol content, which was above the recommended level for halal products. Gochujang products contained hexadecanoic and linoleic acids predominantly and several volatile compounds belonging to the classes of alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, nitrogen-containing compounds, and terpenes. A wide range of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (2.79–8.73 log CFU/g) and yeast counts (1.56–7.15 log CFU/g) was observed. Five distinct yeast species were identified, including Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Eight gochujang products were found to be contaminated with Bacillus cereus (>4 log CFU/g). This study suggests that there is a need to limit B. cereus contamination in cottage industry products and reduce alcohol content to comply with halal food guidelines.

Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) have gained significant attention due to their excellent bioavailability, low toxicity, and diverse applications in the medical and industrial fields. In this study, ZrO₂ NPs were synthesized using zirconyl oxychloride and the aqueous leaf extract of Toddalia asiatica as a stabilizing agent. Analytical techniques, including various spectroscopy methods and electron microscopy, confirmed the formation of aggregated spherical ZrO₂ NPs, ranging from 15 to 30 nm in size, with mixed-phase structure composed of tetragonal and monoclinic structures. UV–visible spectroscopy showed a characteristic band at 281 nm with a bandgap energy of 3.7 eV, indicating effective stabilization by the phytochemicals in T. asiatica. EDX analysis revealed that the NPs contained 37.18 mol.% zirconium (Zr) and 62.82 mol.% oxygen. The ZrO₂ NPs demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic activity, degrading over 95% of methylene blue dye after 3 h of sunlight exposure. Additionally, the ZrO₂ NPs exhibited strong antibacterial effects, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, and significant antioxidant activity, with low IC₅₀ values for hydroxyl radical scavenging. In conclusion, the green synthesis of ZrO₂ NPs using T. asiatica leaf extract is an effective, eco-friendly method that produces nanoparticles with remarkable antioxidant, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic properties, highlighting their potential for applications in water treatment, environmental remediation, and biomedicine.