Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have piqued the curiosity of researchers all over the world due to their extensive biological activity. They are less toxic and biodegradable with the capacity to greatly boost pharmacophore bioactivity. ZnO-NPs are the most extensively used metal oxide nanoparticles in electronic and optoelectronics because of their distinctive optical and chemical properties which can be readily modified by altering the morphology and the wide bandgap. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using extracts of therapeutic plants, fungi, bacteria, algae, etc., improves their stability and biocompatibility in many biological settings, and its biofabrication alters its physiochemical behavior, contributing to biological potency. As such, ZnO-NPs can be used as an effective nanocarrier for conventional drugs due to their cost-effectiveness and benefits of being biodegradable and biocompatible. This article covers a comprehensive review of different synthesis approaches of ZnO-NPs including physical, chemical, biochemical, and green synthesis techniques, and also emphasizes their biopotency through antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiviral, wound healing, and cardioprotective activity. Green synthesis from plants, bacteria, and fungus is given special attention, with a particular emphasis on extraction techniques, precursors used for the synthesis and reaction conditions, characterization techniques, and surface morphology of the particles.

Alkaloids are a type of natural compound possessing different pharmacological activities. Natural products, including alkaloids, which originate from plants, have emerged as potential protective agents against neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) and chronic inflammations. A wide array of prescription drugs are used against these conditions, however, not free of limitations of potency, side effects, and intolerability. In the context of personalized medicine, further research on alkaloids to unravel novel therapeutic approaches in reducing complications is critical. In this review, a systematic survey was executed to collect the literature on alkaloids and their health complications, from which we found that majority of alkaloids exhibit anti-inflammatory action via nuclear factor-κB and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and neuroprotective interaction through acetylcholinesterase (AChE), COX, and β-site amyloid precursor protein activity. In silico ADMET and ProTox-II-related descriptors were calculated to predict the pharmacological properties of 280 alkaloids isolated from traditional medicinal plants towards drug development. Out of which, eight alkaloids such as tetrahydropalmatine, berberine, tetrandrine, aloperine, sinomenine, oxymatrine, harmine, and galantamine are found to be optimal within the categorical range when compared to nicotine. These alkaloids could be exploited as starting materials for novel drug synthesis or, to a lesser extent, manage inflammation and neurodegenerative-related complications.

In the middle of an ever‐changing landscape of diabetes care, precision medicine, and lifestyle therapies are becoming increasingly important. Dietary polyphenols are like hidden allies found in our everyday meals. These biomolecules, found commonly in fruits, vegetables, and various plant‐based sources, hold revolutionary potential within their molecular structure in the way we approach diabetes and its intimidating consequences. There are currently numerous types of diabetes medications, but they are not appropriate for all patients due to limitations in dosages, side effects, drug resistance, a lack of efficacy, and ethnicity. Currently, there has been increased interest in practicing herbal remedies to manage diabetes and its related complications. This article aims to summarize the potential of dietary polyphenols as a foundation in the treatment of diabetes and its associated consequences. We found that most polyphenols inhibit enzymes linked to diabetes. This review outlines the potential benefits of selected molecules, including kaempferol, catechins, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid, in managing diabetes mellitus as these compounds have exhibited promising results in in vitro, in vivo, in silico, and some preclinical trials study. This encompassing exploration reveals the multifaceted impact of polyphenols not only in mitigating diabetes but also in addressing associated conditions like inflammation, obesity, and even cancer. Their mechanisms involve antioxidant functions, immune modulation, and proinflammatory enzyme regulation. Furthermore, these molecules exhibit anti‐tumor activities, influence cellular pathways, and activate AMPK pathways, offering a less toxic, cost‐effective, and sustainable approach to addressing diabetes and its complications.

Despite ongoing vaccination programs against COVID-19 around the world, cases of infection are still rising with new variants. This infers that an effective antiviral drug against COVID-19 is crucial along with vaccinations to decrease cases. A potential target of such antivirals could be the membrane components of the causative pathogen, SARS-CoV-2, for instance spike (S) protein. In our research, we have deployed in vitro screening of crude extracts of seven ethnomedicinal plants against the spike receptor-binding domain (S1-RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Following encouraging in vitro results for Tinospora cordifolia, in silico studies were conducted for the 14 reported antiviral secondary metabolites isolated from T. cordifolia—a species widely cultivated and used as an antiviral drug in the Himalayan country of Nepal—using Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking (GOLD), Molecular Operating Environment (MOE), and BIOVIA Discovery Studio. The molecular docking and binding energy study revealed that cordifolioside-A had a higher binding affinity and was the most effective in binding to the competitive site of the spike protein. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies using GROMACS 5.4.1 further assayed the interaction between the potent compound and binding sites of the spike protein. It revealed that cordifolioside-A demonstrated better binding affinity and stability, and resulted in a conformational change in S1-RBD, hence hindering the activities of the protein. In addition, ADMET analysis of the secondary metabolites from T. cordifolia revealed promising pharmacokinetic properties. Our study thus recommends that certain secondary metabolites of T. cordifolia are possible medicinal candidates against SARS-CoV-2.

A comprehensive metabolic profiling of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don was performed using tandem mass spectrometry, along with an evaluation of the biological activities of its various solvent extracts. Among these, the methanolic leaf extract exhibited mild radical scavenging activity, low to moderate antimicrobial activity, and limited cytotoxicity in both the brine shrimp lethality assay and MTT assay against HeLa and A549 cell lines. High-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS) analysis led to the annotation of 34 metabolites, primarily alkaloids. These included 23 indole alkaloids, two fatty acids, two pentacyclic triterpenoids, one amino acid, four porphyrin derivatives, one glyceride, and one chlorin derivative. Notably, two metabolites—2,3-dihydroxypropyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate and (10S)-hydroxypheophorbide A—were identified for the first time in C. roseus. Furthermore, Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) analysis revealed 18 additional metabolites, including epoxypheophorbide A, 11,12-dehydroursolic acid lactone, and 20-isocatharanthine. These findings highlight the diverse secondary metabolite profile of C. roseus and support its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic development.