Nanoparticles (NPs) are elements derived from a cluster of atoms with one or more dimensions in the nanometer scale in the range of 1–100 nm. The bio nanofabrication of metallic NPs is now an important dynamic area of research, with major significance in applied research. Biogenic synthesis of NPs is more desirable than physical and chemical synthesis due to its eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, lower energy consumption, and multifunctional nature. Plants outperform microorganisms as reducing agents as they contain large secondary biomolecules that accelerate the reduction and stability of the NPs. The produced NPs can then be studied spectroscopically (UV-Visible, XRD, Raman, IR, etc.) and microscopically (SEM, TEM, AFM, etc.). The biological reduction of a metallic ion or its oxide to a nanoparticle is quick, simple, and may be scaled up at room temperature and pressure. The rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) microbes due to the immoderate use of antibiotics in non-infected patients is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. The contemporary development of a new class of antibiotics with different mechanisms of action to kill microbes is crucial. Metals and their oxides are extremely toxic to microbes at unprecedentedly low concentrations. In addition, prevailing infections in plants and animals are raising significant concerns across the globe. NPs’ wide range of bioactivity makes them ideal antimicrobial agents in agricultural and medical fields. The present review outlines the synthesis of metallic NPs from botanicals, which enables the metals to be in a stabilized form even after ionization. It also presents a valuable database on the biofunctionalization of synthesized NPs for further drug development.

Paris polyphylla Smith (family: Melanthiaceae), a high-value medicinal herb endemic to the Himalayan region, has drawn much attention recently due to its immense use in the traditional healthcare system since ancient times. In the present review, an extensive database on P. polyphylla was systematically searched from databases such as Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Science, and the online service E-library.ru and SCImago (https://www.scimagojr.com/). Information on species, ecology, distribution, trade, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, biotechnology, and molecular biology was gathered from 1979 to 2023 using 116 research publications. Major steroidal saponins such as Paris saponin I, V, VI, VII, and H have been found substantially effective in anticancer activity, abnormal uterine bleeding, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and menorrhagia. Traditional breeding and propagation techniques cannot keep up with the worlds growing demand for herbal drugs. Therefore, it is critically necessary to take conservation measures and develop novel techniques for growing and cultivating this economically significant and highly valuable therapeutic herb. The advanced biotechnological approaches like micropropagation and genetic analysis introduced long back are either rare or lacking in the case of P. polyphylla. It contains a wealth of information that will serve as a baseline data source for various stakeholders, researchers working on various research aspects, and policymakers to define appropriate utilization and conservation plans for a high-value commercial medicinal plant called P. polyphylla. The review provides an updated overview and critical assessment of secondary data regarding the past and recent applications and interventions of P. polyphylla.

Himalayan mountain forests have been a potential candidate for the investigation of perturbations due to the complex geography in which they sustain and the sensitivity of the species toward human disturbance and climate change. Among various tree species, brown oak (Quercus semecarpifolia), a very important component of the Himalayan mountains, has been identified as a keystone species due to its substantial economic and ecological benefits. Maintenance of microclimate and suitable habitats with a rich source of natural resources makes Q. semecarpifolia the most preferred forest for luxuriant growth of ground flora, shelter for fauna, and multipurpose uses by the local people. In a climax community, it plays a critical role in environmental balance both at the local and regional levels. Unfortunately, it has become one of the most overexploited tree species of the Himalayan region over the last few decades due to its high demand for dry season fodder and firewood. The wide range of seedling distribution 348–4,663 individuals ha^–1 is evidence of the disturbance accompanied by poor regeneration in Q. semecarpifolia forests. Moreover, litter accumulation and grass cover adversely affect seed germination. The ecological cost of oak forest degradation is perhaps more important and damage is irreversible. Thus, continuous demand and extensive threats accompanied by poor regeneration have drawn the attention of stakeholders to conserve this species. However, propagation protocol, especially the pre-sowing treatment of the species, has not been impressive for large-scale multiplication. This review is comprehensive information on distribution, phenology, regeneration pattern, human threat, conservation approaches, and management of Q. semecarpifolia in the Himalayan region.

Since the COVID‐19 outbreak, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐COV‐2) virus has evolved into variants with varied infectivity. Vaccines developed against COVID‐19 infection have boosted immunity, but there is still uncertainty on how long the immunity from natural infection or vaccination will last. The present study attempts to outline the present level of information about the contagiousness and spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants of interest and variants of concern (VOCs). The keywords like COVID‐19 vaccine types, VOCs, universal vaccines, bivalent, and other relevant terms were searched in NCBI, Science Direct, and WHO databases to review the published literature. The review provides an integrative discussion on the current state of knowledge on the type of vaccines developed against SARS‐CoV‐2, the safety and efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccines concerning the VOCs, and prospects of novel universal, chimeric, and bivalent mRNA vaccines efficacy to fend off existing variants and other emerging coronaviruses. Genomic variation can be quite significant, as seen by the notable differences in impact, transmission rate, morbidity, and death during several human coronavirus outbreaks. Therefore, understanding the amount and characteristics of coronavirus genetic diversity in historical and contemporary strains can help researchers get an edge over upcoming variants.