In most cases, cancer develops due to abnormal cell growth and subsequent tumour formation. Due to significant constraints with current treatments, natural compounds are being explored as potential alternatives. There are now around 30 natural compounds under clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Tulsi, or Holy Basil, of the genus Ocimum, is one of the most widely available and cost-effective medicinal plants. In India, the tulsi plant has deep religious and medicinal significance. Tulsi essential oil contains a valuable source of bioactive compounds, such as camphor, eucalyptol, eugenol, alpha-bisabolene, beta-bisabolene, and beta-caryophyllene. These compounds are proposed to be responsible for the antimicrobial properties of the leaf extracts. The anticancer effects of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.) have earned it the title of “queen of herbs” and “Elixir of Life” in Ayurvedic treatment. Tulsi leaves, which have high concentrations of eugenol, have been shown to have anticancer properties. In a various cancers, eugenol exerts its antitumour effects through a number of different mechanisms. In light of this, the current review focuses on the anticancer benefits of tulsi and its primary phytoconstituent, eugenol, as apotential therapeutic agent against a wide range of cancer types. In recent years, tulsi has gained popularity due to its anticancer properties. In ongoing clinical trials, a number of tulsi plant compounds are being evaluated for their potential anticancer effects. This article discusses anticancer, chemopreventive, and antioxidant effects of tulsi.

Malaria is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Malaria is a significant health problem and the leading cause of socioeconomic losses in developing countries. WHO approved several antimalarials in the last 2 decades, but the growing resistance against the available drugs has worsened the scenario. Drug resistance and diversity among Plasmodium strains hinder the path of eradicating malaria leading to the use of new technologies and strategies to develop effective vaccines and drugs. A timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for any disease, including malaria. The available diagnostic methods for malaria include microscopy, RDT, PCR, and non-invasive diagnosis. Recently, there have been several developments in detecting malaria, with improvements leading to achieving an accurate, quick, cost-effective, and non-invasive diagnostic tool for malaria. Several vaccine candidates with new methods and antigens are under investigation and moving forward to be considered for clinical trials. This article concisely reviews basic malaria biology, the parasite's life cycle, approved drugs, vaccine candidates, and available diagnostic approaches. It emphasizes new avenues of therapeutics for malaria. Graphical Abstract

Biofloc technology (BFT) is one of the most sustainable aquaculture system, which is based on the principle of nutrient recycling and addition of carbon to enable heterotrophic microorganisms to the system. To evaluate the performance of the biofloc culture system for Cyprinus carpio fingerlings, a 60‐day growth trial was conducted. The fingerlings (n = 600) of average body weight (4.92 g ± 0.14) were stocked in 12 circular fiberglass tanks (300 L, volume 10.59 cft) to form three biofloc treatments (T1, T2, and T3) along with one control group. The carbon sources for treatments were sugarcane molasses, tapioca, and wheat. The C/N ratio of 15 was maintained for all treatments. After 60 days of rearing, the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila, and the relative percentage survival (RPS) was observed over 14 days. A haematological, nonspecific immune, and stress parameters were analyzed using blood and serum samples collected at intervals of 20, 40, and 60 days. According to the results, the carbon sources affected the water quality parameters but were still adequate for fish welfare. An increased biofloc volume was observed with tapioca. Growth performance and better feed conversion ratio were recorded in biofloc with the tapioca group. The hematological parameters, including haemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), white blood cells and lymphocytes were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in biofloc‐based tapioca group than in other treatments and control. Further, the serum protein, globulin, albumin, total immunoglobulin, and respiratory burst activity were also found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in biofloc with tapioca as carbon source. However, the lysozyme activity was higher in biofloc with the wheat group. The RPS in tapioca was significantly higher, followed by biofloc with wheat. In conclusion, the tapioca‐based biofloc can improve C. carpio growth, haematology, and nonspecific immune response under zero water exchange.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. Most of the available medication are losing their efficacy. Therefore, it is crucial to create fresh leads to combat malaria. Green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently attracted a lot of attention in biomedical research. As a result, green mediated AgNPs from leaves of Terminalia bellirica, a medicinal plant with purported antimalarial effects, were used in this investigation. Initially, cysteine-rich proteins from Plasmodium species were studied in silico as potential therapeutic targets. With docking scores between -9.93 and -11.25 kcal/mol, four leaf constituents of Terminalia bellirica were identified. The green mediated silver nanoparticles were afterward produced using leaf extract and were further examined using UV-vis spectrophotometer, DLS, Zeta potential, FTIR, XRD, and FESEM. The size of synthesized TBL-AgNPs was validated by the FESEM results; the average size of TBL-AgNPs was around 44.05 nm. The zeta potential study also supported green mediated AgNPs stability. Additionally, Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) cultures were used to assess the antimalarial efficacy, and green mediated AgNPs could effectively inhibit the parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs). In conclusion, this novel class of AgNPs may be used as a potential therapeutic replacement for the treatment of malaria.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases constitute a substantial hazard to the livestock industry. The rising costs and lack of availability of synthetic chemical acaricides for farmers with limited resources, tick resistance to current acaricides, and residual issues in meat and milk consumed by humans further aggravate the situation. Developing innovative, eco-friendly tick management techniques, such as natural products and commodities, is vital. Similarly, searching for effective and feasible treatments for tick-borne diseases is essential. Flavonoids are a class of natural chemicals with multiple bioactivities, including the inhibition of enzymes. We selected eighty flavonoids having enzyme inhibitory, insecticide, and pesticide properties. Flavonoids’ inhibitory effects on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE1) and triose-phosphate isomerase (TIM) proteins of Rhipicephalus microplus were examined utilizing a molecular docking approach. Our research demonstrated that flavonoids interact with the active areas of proteins. Seven flavonoids (methylenebisphloridzin, thearubigin, fortunellin, quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside), quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl-β-glucopyranoside), rutin, and kaempferol 3-neohesperidoside) were the most potent AChE1 inhibitors, while the other three flavonoids (quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside), isorhamnetin, and liquiritin) were the potent inhibitors of TIM. These computationally-driven discoveries are beneficial and can be utilized in assessing drug bioavailability in both in vitro and in vivo settings. This knowledge can create new strategies for managing ticks and tick-borne diseases.

The rise and widespread occurrence of bacterial resistance has created an evident need for novel antibacterial drugs. Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) is a crucial bacterial protein that forms a ring-like structure known as the Z-ring, playing a significant role in cell division. Targeting FtsZ is an effective approach for developing antibiotics that disrupt bacterial cell division and halt growth. This study aimed to use a virtual screening approach to search for bioactive phytoconstituents with the potential to inhibit FtsZ. The screening process proceeded with the filtering compounds from the IMPPAT library of phytochemicals based on their physicochemical properties using the Lipinski rule of five. This was followed by molecular docking, Pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) filter, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), prediction of activity spectra for biologically active substances (PASS), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These filters ensured that any adverse effects that could impede the identification of potential inhibitors of FtsZ were eliminated. Following this, two phytocompounds, Withaperuvin C and Trifolirhizin, were selected after the screening, demonstrating noteworthy binding potential with FtsZ’s GTP binding pocket, acting as potent GTP-competitive inhibitors of FtsZ. The study suggested that these compounds could be further investigated for developing a novel class of antibiotics after required studies.