Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the major representative aetiologies of recalcitrant nosocomial infections. Genotypic and phenotypic alterations in A. baumannii have resulted in a significant surge in multidrug resistance (MDR). Of all the factors responsible for the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), efflux protein pumps play a paramount role. In pursuit of a safe alternative for the prevention and control of A. baumannii infections, bioactive compounds from the aerial parts of the medicinal plant Artemisia pallens were studied. GC-MS analysis of the ethanol extract of A. pallens detected five major compounds: lilac alcohol A, spathulenol, lilac alcohol C, n-hexadecanoic acid, and vulgarin. In silico examinations were performed using the Schrödinger suite. Homology modelling was performed to predict the structure of the efflux protein of A. baumannii-LAC-4 strain (MDR Ab-EP). The identified bioactive compounds were analysed for their binding efficiency with MDR Ab-EP. High binding efficiency was observed with vulgarin with a glide score of −4.775 kcal/mol and stereoisomers of lilac alcohol A (−3.706 kcal/mol) and lilac alcohol C (−3.706 kcal/mol). Our molecular dynamic simulation studies unveiled the stability of the ligand–efflux protein complex. Vulgarin and lilac alcohol A possessed strong and stable binding efficiency with MDR Ab-EP. Furthermore, validation of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties of the ligands strongly suggested that these compounds could serve as a lead molecule in the development of an alternate drug from A. pallens.

Development of resistance to synthetic pesticides by mosquitoes, environmental pollution, high operational cost and harmful effects on nontarget organisms had lead to the development of alternative approaches to synthetic pesticides in the vector control strategies. In this study the larvicidal efficacy of fabricated silver nanoparticles from the aqueous flower extract of Butea monosperma has been investigated against the juvenile stages of Aedes aegypti. The green synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X Ray Diffraction spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Bioassay test was carried out by following the procedure of WHO. Our findings indicate that the silver nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous flower extract of Butea monosperma possess effective larvicidal and pupicidal activity against Aedes aegypti. Hence Butea monosperma could be utilized for developing eco-friendly insecticide as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.

Transmission of pathogens by mosquito vectors pose serious challenges to public health. Controlling the vectors is a promising option in preventing the spread of infectious agents. Several chemical approaches though effectively control mosquitoes, proved to cause side effects including resistant mosquito species and environmental contamination. Green chemistry mediated nanoparticles synthesis is simple, quick, economically modest and environmentally safe and hence could be a safe alternative. The purpose of this review is to categorise, analyse, and organise the main findings from research papers on plant extract mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) with potential larvicidal properties. The investigation involved analysing the published literature from different scientific databases. The main focus was on identifying scientific reports on the green synthesized ZnO-NPs that showed the larvicidal potency (LC50) less than 25 μg/mL. Further, the review discusses the various methods of synthesis of ZnO-NPs and their mechanism of toxicity against mosquito larvae. The consolidated and organized information presented in this review can be effectively utilized for the design, development, and optimization of phyto-mediate nanoparticles synthesis with potential larvicidal activity. The summarized data provides a foundation for further research and application in the field of herbal insecticides, particularly focusing on their larvicidal properties.