The unique properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), such as size, surface charge, and the ability to release silver ions, contribute to DNA damage, inducing of oxidative stress, and apoptosis in cancer cells. Thus, the potential application of AgNPs in the field of biomedicine, and cancer therapy are rapidly increasing day by day. Therefore, in this study, AgNPs were synthesized by extract of Chuanminshen violaceum, and then the synthesized CM-AgNPs were fully characterized. The biological activity of CM-AgNPs was investigated for antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The cytotoxic activity of CM-AgNPs was tested for various kinds of cancer cells including MKN45 gastric cancer cells, HCT116 human colon cancer cells, A549 human lung cancer cells, and HepG2 liver cancer cells. Among these cancer cells, the induced apoptosis activity of CM-AgNPs on HCT116 cancer cells was better and was used for further investigation. Besides, the CM-AgNPs exhibited great antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 50% free radical scavenging activity, and CM-AgNPs also showed a significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, our pilot data demonstrated that the green synthesis of CM-AgNPs would be considered a good candidate for the treatment of HCT116 cancer cells, with its strong antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects.

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) contribute to catalyzing the glycosylation of numerous functional natural products and novel derivatives with improved bioactivities. UDP-glucose sterol glucosyltransferase (SGT) is normally involved in the synthesis of sterol glycosides in a variety of organisms. SGT was derived from Salinispora tropica CNB-440 and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Novel 12-O-glucosylginsenoside Rh2 was identified using HPLC, high-resolution MS (HR-MS), and NMR analysis. The cell viability assay was performed on 12-O-glucosylginsenoside-treated AGS stomach cancer, HeLa cervical cancer, U87MG glioma, and B16F10 melanoma cell lines. Protein structure modeling, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations were performed using AutoDock 4.2 and GROMACS 2020.1 software. The SGT gene is comprised of 1284 nucleotides and codes for 427 amino acids. The 12-O-glucosylginsenoside Rh2 may be a potential anticancer agent due to its potent viability inhibition of cancer cells. Structural analysis showed critical perspectives into the intermolecular interactions, stability, and binding energetics of the enzyme–ligand complex, with outcomes complementing the experimental data, thereby deepening our understanding of the structural basis of SGT-mediated glycosylation and its functional implications. This report presents a novel ginsenoside, 12-O-glucosylginsenoside Rh2, utilizing reshuffled SGT derived from S. tropica, and provides a promising candidate for anticancer drug research and development.

We synthesized QM-AgNPs (Dianthus superbus L.-AgNPs, Qu Mai-AgNPs) by an economical and environmentally friendly method using Dianthus superbus L. extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The resulting QM-AgNPs were comprehensively characterized and evaluated for their antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activities. Herein, TEM analysis revealed that the QM-AgNPs were predominantly spherical, polydisperse, and exhibited a core particle size ranging from 11 to 18 nm. In contrast, DLS analysis showed a larger hydrodynamic diameter (primarily 60–87 nm), reflecting the hydrated shell and surface biomolecular corona. The crystalline nature of QM-AgNPs was confirmed by XRD and SAED spectra while FTIR spectroscopy indicated the presence of functional groups from the plant extract that may contribute to nanoparticle stabilization. Functional assessments demonstrated that QM-AgNPs exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with efficient DPPH radical scavenging, and selective cytotoxicity against A549 cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Moreover, QM-AgNPs showed significant antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), likely due to membrane disruption and the leakage of intracellular contents. To explore practical applications, we developed a GEL@AgNPs coating system for the postharvest preservation of grapes. As a result, the reduced weight loss and decay rate suggest a potential role for QM-AgNPs in extending fruit freshness. Comprehensive shelf-life studies are planned to further substantiate the potential of QM-AgNPs as an effective material for active food packaging applications.