Recently, the utilization of biological agents in the green synthesis of nanoparticles has been given interest. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from an aqueous extract of macrofungus (mushroom), namely Phellinus adamantinus, in a dark room using 20 µL of silver nitrate. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were confirmed by analyzing them using a UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible) spectrophotometer. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were optimized at different pH and temperatures with various dosages of AgNO₃ (silver nitrate) and fungal extracts. The synthesized AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) were characterized using TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray) analyses, which confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles. The size of the nanosilver particles was found to be 50 nm with higher stability. The mycosynthesized AgNPs showed effective antibacterial activity against strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be 3.125 μg/mL by MIC assay. The MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) was performed to study cytotoxicity, and reduced cell viability was recorded at 100 μg/mL. Silver-Polygalacturonic acid-Polyvinyl alcohol ((Ag-PGA)-PVA) nanofiber was prepared using the electrospinning method. The in vitro wound scratch assay was demonstrated to study the wound-healing efficacy of the prepared nanofiber. The wound-healing efficacy of the AgNP-incorporated nanofiber was found to be 20% after 24 h. This study will lay a platform to establish a unique route to the development of a novel nanobiomaterial and its application in antibacterial and wound-healing therapy.

Particulate matter has been increasing worldwide causing air pollution and serious health hazards. Owing to increased time spent indoors and lifestyle changes, assessing indoor air quality has become crucial. This study investigated the effect of watering and drought and illumination conditions (constant light, light/dark cycle, and constant dark) on particulate matter2.5 (PM2.5) removal and surface characterization of leaf in a botanical plant-based biofilter system. Using Ardisia japonica and Hedera helix as experimental plants in the plant-based biofilter system, PM2.5, volatile organic carbon, and CO₂, as the evaluators of indoor air quality, were estimated using a sensor. Morphological and chemical changes of the leaf surface (i.e., roughness and wax) associated with PM2.5 removal were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The highest PM2.5 removal efficiency, stomata closure, high leaf roughness, and wax layer were observed under drought with constant light condition. Consequently, PM2.5 removal was attributed to the combined effect of leaf roughness and wax by adsorption rather than stomatal uptake. These results suggest that operating conditions of indoor plant-based biofilter system such as watering (or drought) and illumination may be applied as a potential strategy for enhancing PM2.5 removal.

Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts were prepared via immersion in extraction solvents (hot water, DMSO, hexane, ethanol, and methanol) which have various physical properties, such as different polarity and dielectric constant values. Methanolic C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts showed broad antibacterial activity against isolated airborne bacteria. All methanolic C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts were analyzed using GC-MS and Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene and curzerene were found as the main terpenoids. In addition, the methanolic C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts were found to have antiviral activity (81.2% viral RNA inhibition) against the H1N1 influenza virus. Biochars (wood powder- and rice husk-derived) coated with C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts also showed antiviral activity (22.6% and 24.3% viral RNA inhibition) due to the adsorption of terpenoids onto biochar. C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extract using methanol as the extraction solvent is a promising agent with antibacterial and antiviral efficacy that can be utilized as a novel material via adsorption onto biochar for air filtration processes, cosmetics, fertilizers, drug delivery, and corrosion inhibition.

In this study, we aimed to develop a novel directional electromagnetic field (EMF) application method for promoting plant growth using a solenoid coil-based cultivation system. The emergence of plant shoots from seeds, shoot elongation, root proliferation, and plant growth hormones were monitored in the presence of a directional EMF using our solenoid coil system. To observe the effect of the directional EMF on seed germination, radish and sugarcane seedlings were cultivated in the system. At the seed germination stage, the EMF applied had no significant effect on germination or growth. However, after germination, shoot growth was sensitive to a directional EMF, as it was promoted by different conditions in a plant-species-dependent manner. The maximum growth promotion rates were 25.65% ± 4.21% and 38.57% ± 12.81% for radish and sugarcane, respectively. Similarly, plant root proliferation and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) analyses indicated that directional EMF application was associated with root proliferation and hormone synthesis. Plant growth in the experimental system proved controllable; either growth stimulation or reduction were possible as the system operating conditions were made to vary. Our findings indicate that the application of a specific directional EMF could serve as an electrical plant stimulant (or electrical fertilizer).

Objectives : In this study, the absorption of heavy metals in the soil from smoking areas using indoor plants and electrical grounding was investigated to increase the utility of indoor plants for soil decontamination.Methods : Soil from plant pots in a smoking area was collected for the experimental plant pot preparations. Some of the prepared pots were connected to electrical ground via an electrode. Kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were seeded, and their growth were observed. After 30 days of the cultivation, TOC (Total Organic Carbon), and metagenomics profiles in the soil was analyzed. To estimate the behavior of the heavy metals in soil and plants, Cadmium concentrations in the samples were analyzed using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry).Results and Discussion : The connection of the electrical ground to the plant pot induced the rapid growth of plant (48.2 ± 2.3% increase in stem growth), compare to the plant in the pot without the electrical ground. TOC analysis showed that the soil from the grounded pots showed the highest value, compared to the control soil (3.08 ± 1.22%), and the soil from the pot without ground connection (2.3 ± 0.1%). The ICP-MS analysis indicated that the plant body in the grounded pot had the highest cadmium concentration at 0.33 ± 0.018 μg/kg. Using the metagenomic analysis, biomineralization related bacterial species (Nocardioides sp., Streptomyces sp., Sphingomonas sp. etc.) were identified from the grounded soil sample. These results suggested that the indoor plant cultivation with the electrical ground connection as an electrical fertilizer enhances the cadmium absorption by plant, exudate secretion from the plant root, and bacterial flora change in the rhizosphere.Conclusion Cadmium in the soil from the smoking area was absorbed by indoor plant with the electrical ground. Therefore, the application of the electrical ground connection (earth) to the electrically insulated outdoor plant pots might enhance the plant growth rate and physiological activity. This application could be a novel soil decontamination method using plants.

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of plants on smoking area and its environment. For this purpose, two different smoking areas (with and without plants) were selected, and the number of smokers and spitting behaviors were monitored. Soil and leaves samples of each smoking area were taken to analyze the concentration of cadmium and distribution of soil microorganisms. Through this investigation, the role of plants in smoking area for the cadmium and microorganisms was estimated. Methods:In the selected smoking areas, number of smokers and the number of spitting behaviors were monitored. Cadmium (Cd) concentrations of leaves, topsoil and rhizosphere obtained from the smoking areas were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The microorganisms in soil samples were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing based metagenomics.Results and Discussion:In the case of smoking area with plants, number of smokers and number of total spitting behaviors were 176.67 ± 7.85 and 918.67 ± 40.8 times per hour, respectively. In smoking area without plants, the 153.67 ± 5.44 (smokers) and (829.8 ± 29.36 (spitting behavior) per hour were observed. Among the collected samples from the smoking areas, the highest Cd values (347.117 ± 24.542 μg/kg) were found in leaves of smoking area. In the case of smoking area without plants, the top soil samples showed the highest Cd concentration (295.77 ± 16.64 μg/kg). The results indicate that Cd released from cigarette ash, saliva and smoke can be accumulated in plants and soil. The results suggested that the presence of plants in the smoking area protect the accumulation of Cd in surrounding environments (soil and atmosphere). The metagenomic analysis of the soil samples showed that smoking and spitting behavior also affected microbial system in the smoking areas. The results showed that the microorganisms in smoking area were closely related to the heavy metal removing activities. Conclusion:Results suggested that the cadmium distribution in the smoking areas was significantly affected by the presence of live plants. In addition, the presence of plants in the smoking area induced the difference species microorganisms. These results suggested that the presence of plants in smoking area can protect the spread of cadmium to the surrounding environment.