Nanotechnology holds significant ameliorative potential against neurodegenerative diseases, as it can protect the therapeutic substance and allow for its sustained release. In this study, the reducing and capping agents of Urtica dioica (UD), Matricaria chamomilla (MC), and Murraya koenigii (MK) extracts were used to synthesize bio-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) against bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and against rotenone-induced toxicities in D. melanogaster for the first time. Their optical and structural properties were analyzed via FT-IR, DLS, XRD, EDS, SEM, UV–Vis, and zeta potential. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the fabricated ZnO-NPs were evaluated employing cell-free models (DPPH and ABTS) and the well diffusion method, respectively. Rotenone (500 µM) was administered to Drosophila third instar larvae and freshly emerged flies for 24–120 h, either alone or in combination with plant extracts (UD, MC, an MK) and their biogenic ZnO-NPs. A comparative study on the protective effects of synthesized NPs was undertaken against rotenone-induced neurotoxic, cytotoxic, and behavioral alterations using an acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay, dye exclusion test, and locomotor parameters. The findings revealed that among the plant-derived ZnO-NPs, MK-ZnO NPs exhibit strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, followed by UD-ZnO NPs and MC-ZnO NPs. In this regard, ethno-nano medicinal therapeutic uses mimic similar effects in D. melanogaster by suppressing oxidative stress by restoring biochemical parameters (AchE and proteotoxicity activity) and lower cellular toxicity. These findings suggest that green-engineered ZnO-NPs have the potential to significantly enhance outcomes, with the promise of effective therapies for neurodegeneration, and could be used as a great alternative for clinical development.

The pervasiveness of urinary tract infections (UTIs) with their clinical manifestations in patients with diabetes mellitus has escalated amidst the past decade or so, as myriad predisposing factors contribute to its occurrence. Although the causative agent of UTI is Escherichia coli, the etiopathogenesis can be traced back to glycosuria in ...

The rapid increase in cement demand across the globe has led to greater environmental problems. The high temperature required for cement production is attained by burning fossil fuels and other materials. Burning these materials led to high CO2 emissions, causing pollution and global warming. To overcome this, cement produced through biological means as a green alternative has emerged in recent years. Chemically, bio-cement is calcium carbonate produced through hydrolysis of urea and calcium chloride through microbes by utilizing a well-known mechanism, microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). The application includes grout formation to minimize contaminant movement, preventing dust formation on walls, self-repair ability to repair wall cracks and immobilization of sand. This application of bio-cement has a great potential to replace conventional cement in the construction sector.