In this study, a polar extract of Aconitum lycoctonum L. was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), followed by their characterization using different techniques and evaluation of their potential as antioxidants, amylase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The formation of AgNPs was detected by a color change, from transparent to dark brown, within 15 min and a surface resonance peak at 460 nm in the UV–visible spectrum. The FTIR spectra confirmed the involvement of various biomolecules in the synthesis of AgNPs. The average diameter of these spherical AgNPs was 67 nm, as shown by the scanning electron micrograph. The inhibition zones showed that the synthesized nanoparticles inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and negative bacteria. FRAP and DPPH assays were used to demonstrate the antioxidant potential of AgNPs. The highest value of FRAP (50.47% AAE/mL) was detected at a concentration of 90 ppm and a DPPH scavenging activity of 69.63% GAE was detected at a concentration of 20 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs. 500 µg/mL of the synthesized AgNPs were quite efficient in causing 91.78% denaturation of ovalbumin. The AgNPs mediated by A. lycoctonum also showed an inhibitory effect on α-amylase. Therefore, AgNPs synthesized from A. lycoctonum may serve as potential candidates for antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agents.

Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology have revolutionized the medical field, particularly in the treatment and prevention of disease. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are considered one of the best supreme and most important nanomaterials with a variety of compulsive nanomaterial having diverse array of multifunctional bioapplications. The current study focuses on the green biosynthesis of AgNPs using polysaccharides extracted from Olea europaea leaves. The synthesized AgNPs were thoroughly analyzed and characterized using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques including, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The absorption peak at 440 nm showed a high plasmon resonance band, confirming the formation of green AgNPs by the reduction of Ag⁺ ions to Ag⁰. FTIR analysis showed the appearance and extension of different functional groups. The results of EDX and SEM confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs with spherical shape, crystalline structure, and an average size of 64.42 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs possessed improved antimicrobial activities, indicating the importance of biosynthesized NPs in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the biosynthesized AgNPs were biocompatible and exhibited anti-inflammatory activity (86.29%), almost similar to that of a standard drug (87.78%) at a concentration of 500 µL/mL. The polysaccharides obtained from O. europaea could be considered as effective reducing agent, leading to an environmentally friendly synthesis of stable and biologically important AgNPs with a wide range of applications.

The green synthesis of multifunctional nanomaterials from agricultural waste is a major target in sustainable biomedicine. This study reports the eco-friendly, one-pot synthesis of copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Cu–TiO ₂ NPs) using an aqueous peel extract of Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm. f. The formation of the nanoparticles was observed using the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, with an absorption edge below 400 nm with a redshift in the visible range (400–650 nm). X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a mixed anatase-rutile crystalline phase, with an average crystallite size of 45.6 nm, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed irregularly shaped agglomerated nanoparticles with an average diameter of 48 ± 0.46 nm. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) revealed irregular, highly agglomerated nanoparticles with a primary size range of 49 ± 07 nm, while X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the oxidation states of Ti, O, and Cu, validating successful doping. Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis further confirmed uniform Cu incorporation into the TiO₂ lattice. In vitro testing showed a dose-dependent antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 9144), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145), with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 15 to 20 µg/mL. The highest zone of inhibition for Cu-TiO₂NPs was 21.00 ± 0.29 mm against S. epidermidis at 30 µg/mL, similar to the effect observed with ceftriaxone (30 µg/mL). The nanoparticles exhibited high antioxidant capacity, with a ferric reducing antioxidant potential of 67.5 ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE) µg/mL and a 54% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity at 500 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, which indicated dose-dependent cytotoxicity in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, with an IC ₅₀ of 150 µg/mL after 24 h. The stabilization of the L-ascorbic acid-Cu–TiO₂NPs complex was investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT), and molecular docking revealed strong interactions with the target bacteria. This study uniquely integrates sustainable waste valorization, comprehensive in vitro bio evaluation, and computational validation of lemon peel-derived Cu-TiO ₂ NPs for biomedical applications.

Nanotechnology offers promising opportunities in combating infectious agents, especially multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR), which is a major concern in modern times. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are effective in delivering therapeutic agents to living systems due to their biocompatibility and bioactivity, making them effective against infectious microbes and also allowing them to be applied as an effective anticancer instrument. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of ZnO-NPs against P. aeruginosa, a multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterium in combination with Piperacillin-Tazobactam, as well as the in vitro effect of anticancer activity on MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines. Piperacillin-Tazobactam, are beta-lactam antibiotics highly effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and recommended for the empirical treatment of Febrile Neutropenia (FN) after chemotherapy. ZnO-NPs of variable size (designated as ZnO-NPs-A, ZnO-NPs-B, and ZnO-NPs-C with 35±2.5 nm, 50±2 nm, and 65±3 nm mean sizes, respectively) and Piperacillin-Tazobactam alone and in combination were used for the study. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) producing MDR P. aeruginosa strain sensitivity profiling towards different combinations of ZnO-NPs and Piperacillin-Tazobactam was measured. There was no synergistic effect observed against growth inhibition of P. aeruginosa. The combined dose of ZnO-NPs-A and Piperacillin-Tazobactam showed great antibacterial efficacy even as compared to the pure drug against P. aeruginosa. Similarly, the Piperacillin-Tazobactam with ZnO-NPs-C showed the least cell viability as compared to the drug alone. The study showed a significant decrease in cell viability with the combined application of Piperacillin-Tazobactam and ZnO-Nps in comparison to the individual treatments.

Two straightforward, affordable, accurate, and spectrophotometric techniques gross developed to assess norfloxacin, formulations, and biological samples. The oxidation of norfloxacin will be done in technique (A) in acid solution with help of Fe(III). A wavelength of 511 nm with a correlation coefficient of 0.9879 was produced by the resulting Fe(II) coupled with 1,10-phenanthroline and the red colour complex. A uniform absorbance ranging from 1 to 30 µg/mL was discovered. Similarly, in procedure (B), in an acidic medium, Ce(IV) was added to norfloxacin. After reacting with a specific amount of methyl orange, the residual Ce(IV) is then determined. An absorbance measurement at 508 nm and a correlation coefficient of 0.9966 indicate a straight-line relationship between the two variables for concentration range is 1–15 µg/mL. The procedures were developed after a careful analysis of the several elements that influence the reaction process. After calculations, the LOD (limits of detection) and LOQ (limit of quantification) were determined to be 1.098 and 1.111 µg/mL for method A and 2.875 and 3.368 µg/mL for method B respectively. The method B has also been applied for the determination of norfloxacin in spiked human plasma and urine samples. The percentage recoveries ranged from 98.74 to 103.43% and from 98.17 to 100.85% for plasma and urine samples, respectively. Proposed techniques have been successfully used for the examination of biological fluids, formulations for medicines as well as pure norfloxacin following statistical validation through recovery studies.

Article Retraction of “Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and biological potentials of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the polar extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. (Cyperaceae)” was published on January 1, 2024 in the journal Green Processing and Synthesis (volume 13, issue 1).