Eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles is viewed as an alternative to the chemical method and initiated the use of microorganisms for synthesis. The present study has been designed to utilize plant pathogenic fungi Sclerotinia sclerotiorum MTCC 8785 strain for synthesis and optimization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) production as well as evaluation of antibacterial properties. The AgNPs were synthesized by reduction of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution after incubation of 3–5 days at room temperature. The AgNPs were further characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reaction parameters including media, fungal biomass, AgNO3 concentration, pH and temperature were further optimized for rapid AgNPs production. The antibacterial efficacy of AgNPs was evaluated against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 by disc diffusion and growth kinetics assay at the concentration determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). AgNPs synthesis was initially marked by the change in colour from pale white to brown and was confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Optimization studies showed that potato dextrose broth (PDB) media, 10 g of biomass, addition of 2 mM AgNO3, pH 11 and 80 °C temperature resulted in enhanced AgNPs synthesis through extracellular route. TEM data revealed spherical shape AgNPs with size in the range of 10 nm. Presence of proteins capped to AgNPs was confirmed by FTIR. AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus at 100 ppm concentration, corresponding MIC value. S. sclerotiorum MTCC 8785 mediated AgNPs was synthesized rapidly under optimized conditions, which showed antibacterial activity.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extract is a cheap, easily accessible and natural process in which the phyto‐constituents of the plants act as capping, stabilising and reducing agent. The present study explored the biosynthesis of AgNPs using aqueous leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia and characterised via various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis and X‐ray diffraction. Here, TEM confirmed the spherical morphology with 25–50 nm size of synthesised AgNPs. Further, anticancer efficiency of AgNPs synthesised using T. cordifolia leaves were evaluated against human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 by MTT, trypan blue assay, apoptotic morphological changes using Annexin V‐FITC and Propidium iodide (PI), nuclear morphological changes by DAPI (4, 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole dihydrochloride) staining, reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential determination. Results confirmed the AgNPs synthesised using T. cordifolia leaves are found to be highly toxic against human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Dengue has become a worldwide affliction despite incessant efforts to search for a cure for this long-lived disease. Optimistic consequences for dengue vaccine are implausible as the efficiency is tied to previous dengue virus (DENV) exposure and a very high cost is required for large-scale production of vaccine. Medicinal plants are idyllic substitutes to fight DENV infection since they constitute important components of traditional medicine and show antiviral properties, although the mechanism behind the action of bioactive compounds to obstruct viral replication is less explored and yet to be discovered. This review includes the existing traditional knowledge on how DENV infects and multiplies in the host cells, conscripting different medicinal plants that obtained bioactive compounds with anti-dengue properties, and the probable mechanism on how bioactive compounds modulate the host immune system during DENV infection. Moreover, different plant species having such bioactive compounds reported for anti-DENV efficiency should be validated scientificallyviadifferentin vitroandin vivostudies.

Modern agriculture is currently enduring rapid changes in defiance of the continuing increase of the global population and the various consequent environmental challenges. Crop quality is becoming as important as crop yield and can be characterized by several parameters. Extensive use of chemical fertilizers leads to food safety concerns globally; hence, the use of mycorrhizal symbionts have proven to be beneficial for the sustainable growth of the agricultural cropping system. Microflora inhabiting the soil entails various ecological interactions which are associated with agricultural performances. Amongst these microflora, mycorrhizal fungi are the critical suppliers of nutrients, with restricted diffusion capacities of minerals such as phosphorus, nitrate, zinc, sulfur etc. Mycorrhizae are the obligatory biotrophs that depend upon their host plant for the nutritional requirements. They act as the key contributors to sustainable agro-ecological enforcement and impact globally on the eco-systemic processes. These soil inhabitants devote themselves to the continuous nutrient flow and extemporize resistance against various environmental stresses like drought, flood, metal toxicity, salinity, etc. This review briefly highlights the taxonomic co-evolution, factors affecting mycorrhizal behaviors (phytohormonal regulation), and the concise mechanistic approach (improved water status, photosystems, stomatal conductance, ionic uptake, C & N fixation) to combat various environmental stresses (biotic/abiotic). Plant growth regulators play a crucial role in this symbiotic establishment with the plant roots. Auxins, brassinosteroids, and strigolactones are responsible for the establishment of mycorrhizal association. On the other hand, ethylene, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acids can promote or downregulate this process in the plants. Whereas, gibberellic acids and salicylic acids negatively impact on mycorrhizal association. The hormonal homeostasis (in response to fungal associations) leads to the activation of transcriptional and signaling cascades which ensues various physio-morphological changes for the benefit of the plant. The role of phytohormones in the regulation of plant-fungus mutualism, and the impact of mycorrhization on the activation of molecular and transcriptional cascades, have been described along with the potential applications of agricultural produce and soil rehabilitation.

The present review focuses on a dreaded vector-mediated leishmaniasis, with the existing therapeutic approaches including a variety of drugs along with their limitations, the treatment with natural compounds, and different types of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). As evidenced, various metallic NPs, comprising silver, silver oxide, gold, zinc oxide, titanium, lead oxide, etc., played a curative role to treat leishmaniasis, are also presented. Keeping in view the advance success of vaccines against the prevalent dreaded diseases in the past and the present scenario, efforts are also being made to develop vaccines based on these NP formulations.