The emergence of chemoresistant cancers and toxicity related to existing chemotherapeutic agents, demand the search for new pharmacophore with enhanced anti-cancer activity and least toxicity. For this purpose, three new sesquiterpenes were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of the aerial parts of the plant Polygonum barbatum and evaluated for their anti-cancer potential. The structural elucidation and characterization of the isolated compounds 1–3 were performed using various spectroscopic techniques such as mass, UV, IR, and extensive 1D/2D–NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the compounds 1–3 were subjected to screening of anti-cancer activity against different cell lines followed by brief analysis of apoptotic and anti-angiogenic potentials of the potent hit against non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line. All the compounds 1–3 were subjected to anti-proliferative potential against non-small cell lung carcinoma (NCI-H460), breast cancer (MCF-7), cervical cancer (HeLa) and normal mouse fibroblast (NIH-3 T3) cell lines. Among these, compound 3 was found to be more cytotoxic against NCI-H460 and MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 17.86 ± 0.72 and 11.86 ± 0.46 μM respectively). When compared with the standard drug cisplatin compound 3 was found to have more potent activity against NCI-H460 (IC50 = 19 ± 1.24 μM) as compared to MCF-7 cell lines (IC50 = 9.62 ± 0.5 μM). Compound 3 induced apoptosis in NCI-H460 cells in a dose dependent manner. It significantly downregulated, the expression of anti-apoptotic (BCL-2 L1 and p53) and increased the expression of pro-apoptotic (BAK and BAX) genes. Besides apoptosis, it also significantly reduced the cell migration and downregulated the angiogenic genes (i.e. VEGF and COX-2), thereby, inhibiting angiogenesis in NCI-H460 cells. Compound 3 possesses potent anti-proliferative potential as well as induced apoptosis and inhibited the cell migration of the cancerous cells by altering the gene expression, responsible for it.

In the current research study, iron-zinc co-doped TiO₂ was reported as an energy efficient material for the degradation of DIPA and inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus under visible light irradiation. In addition, molecular docking simulation was performed to provide further insight into possible targets for inhibiting bacterial development. The synthesized nanocomposites were screened and optimized for different synthesis and reaction parameters. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were evaluated through different characterization techniques. The wet impregnation (WI) approach was among the most successful methods for the synthesis of Fe-Zn-TiO₂ nanocomposite (NC) utilizing anatase titanium. Moreover, 66.5% (60 min reaction time) and 100% (190 min reaction time) chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was obtained through optimized NC, i.e., 0.1Fe-0.4Zn metal composition and 300 °C calcination temperature. The energy consumption for the best NC was 457.40 KW h m⁻³. Moreover, 0.1Fe-0.4Zn-TiO₂-300 was more efficient against S. aureus compared to E. coli with 100% reduction in 90 min of visible light irradiations. Furthermore, 0.1Fe-0.4Zn-TiO₂-300 NC showed that the binding score for best docked conformation was −5.72 kcal mol⁻¹ against β-lactamase from E. coli and −3.46 kcal mol⁻¹ from S. aureus. The studies suggested the Fe-Zn in combination with TiO₂ to be a possible inhibitor of β-lactamase that can be further tested in enzyme inhibition studies.

In current study, bioreduction of tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl₄·3H₂O) was carried out using leaves extract of Quercus incana for nanoparticle synthesis. The nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet visible spectrum (UV), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were generally clumpy agglomerates of polydispersed particles, with an average size in the range 5.5–10 nm. The Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) qualitative analysis and FT-IR data supported the presence of bioactive compounds, which are responsible for the metal reduction and nanoparticles stabilization. The biocompatibility of synthesized GNPs was evaluated via antibacterial activity by using human bacterial pathogens. The results showed that synthesized GNPs showed enhanced antibacterial activity against all bacterial pathogens.