Aconitine is a highly poisonous C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid identified and isolated from the species of the genus Aconitum. Aconitine is indicated in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and, due to its neurotoxic effects, is a very effective drug in pain release. A total of 101 relevant scientific papers were manually searched on the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed and Dovepress databases and in the books available in the library of the Department of Natural Sciences, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, Romania. In combination treatments, aconitine shows antiarrhythmic and anti-inflammatory activity, a synergistic antiproliferative effect and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, an improved biodistribution and bioavailability. Additionally, the entrapment of aconitine in engineered nanoparticles represents a promising method for reducing the toxicity of this alkaloid. This review provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the knowledge and research on the synergistic, additive and antagonistic effects of aconitine in combination treatments applied in vivo or in vitro. The summarized studies represent important clues in addressing the multitude of knowledge, which can find their utility in practical and clinical applications.

The production and extensive use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various fields necessitate thorough testing, not only in terms of their potential applications but also regarding the effects they induce on various organisms. In addition, nanoparticles generated from various anthropogenic activities, which reach or are formed in the atmosphere, have a significant impact on the health of humans and other living organisms. Recent research indicates that the effects produced by these nanoparticles are dependent on their size and applied dose. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the physiological, biochemical and cytogenotoxic effects induced by different doses of AgNPs compared to positive and negative controls in Triticum aestivum L. and Allium cepa L. A significant stimulatory effect of the treatment performed with the solution of AgNPs with a size of 20 nm, at the lowest concentration (0.02 µg mL⁻¹), in the two tested species, was obtained. The growth and weight of the seedling were significantly increased, and the mitotic index was also elevated. Additionally, this treatment variant showed the lowest percentage of chromosomal aberrations. No significant differences were observed in cell viability, total polyphenol content, proline levels, or assimilatory pigment concentrations compared to the control. Our findings show that AgNPs may exert stimulatory effects, whether significant or not, on certain physiological and biochemical parameters. However, they also interfere with cell cycle regulation and genomic stability, raising concerns regarding their environmental and biological safety. The Allium test proved to be an effective method for detecting nanoparticle-induced genotoxicity and can be recommended as a preliminary screening assay in nanoparticle safety evaluations.

Fruit peels represent an abundant source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in green nanotechnology and plant protection. This study comparatively evaluated ethanolic extracts obtained from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck), and persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) peels and the corresponding silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-containing phytosynthesis preparations. The extracts were characterized for phytochemical and antioxidant properties and used for AgNP phytosynthesis, followed by UV-Vis, FTIR, BF-STEM, and EDS characterization. Their effects on Triticum aestivum L., Zea mays L., and Cucumis sativus L., as well as their antifungal activity against selected fungal strains, were comparatively assessed. Pomegranate peel extract showed the highest total phenolic content (147.52 mg g⁻¹ fw) and the strongest antifungal activity against Penicillium hirsutum, with an inhibition zone of 30 mm, followed by orange (27 mm) and persimmon (17.33 mm) peel extracts. The AgNP-containing preparations generally produced lower inhibition zones than the corresponding crude extracts. Antioxidant activity also decreased following phytosynthesis, with the most pronounced reduction observed for the orange peel system (90.72% to 35.17%). Plant responses were species- and treatment-dependent, with maize showing the lowest overall sensitivity to the investigated treatments. Overall, the results demonstrate that conversion of fruit peel extracts into AgNP-containing preparations does not necessarily enhance their biological activity and emphasize the importance of considering both the phytochemical characteristics of the starting extracts and the biological target when developing fruit-waste-derived systems for potential plant-protection applications.

Investigating the toxicity of naturally occurring or synthesized nanoparticles for various applications is absolutely necessary for environmental protection and safety use. The aim of these research was to investigated the phytotoxicity, cytogenotoxicity and antibacterial potential of the extracts with gold-silver bimetallic nanoparticles (Au-Ag NPs) obtained from green synthesis in Asplenium scolopendrium L. and Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott spores extracts. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the Au-Ag NPs phytosynthesis based on extracts obtained from fern spores. UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis of the samples revealed the maximum absorbance, characteristic of samples with bimetallic nanoparticles, which varied depending on the Au:Ag ratio. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence and distribution of Au, Ag and other chemical elements. The presence of specific secondary metabolites in the extracts that helped in NPs biosynthesis stimulated growth processes. Good results were recorded for some Dryopteris filix-mas samples, correlated with a significantly increased mitotic index. Cell viability decreased significantly in three of the nanoformulations. Only extracts with Au-Ag NPs showed antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Escherichia coli ATCC 8739. The testing of the antibacterial potential of these extracts must be extended to other bacterial strains and other microorganisms, the search of new antimicrobial resources being an urgent necessity nowadays.