Zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver-zinc oxide (Ag/ZnO) nanocomposite were synthesized by a green method using Zn(CH₃COO)₂ and AgNO₃ as precursors for zinc and silver respectively; and Urginea epigea bulb extract as a reducing/capping agent. The nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Their elemental composition was studied using EDX analysis, while elementary mapping was used to show the distribution of the constituent elements. The powder X-ray diffraction confirmed hexagonal phase ZnO, while the Ag/ZnO nanocomposites identified additional planes due to cubic phase Ag nanoparticles. The absorption spectrum of the nanocomposite indicated a red shifting of the absorption band of the metallic ZnO and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band's appearance in the visible region due to the metallic Ag nanoparticles. The analysis from the TEM image showed the particles were of spherical morphology with a mean size of 35 nm (ZnO) and 33.50 nm (Ag/ZnO). The biological activity of the nanoparticles was studied for their antibacterial and antioxidant capacity so as to assess their ability to hinder bacterial growth and capture radical species respectively. The results demonstrated that the modification of ZnO with silver nanoparticles enhanced the antibacterial potency but reduced the antioxidant activity. This biogenic method offers a facile approach to nanoparticles for biological purposes, and the strategy may be extended to other metal oxide and their composites with metallic silver nanoparticles as a more effective approach compared to the physical and chemical routes.

Due to the deterioration of natural resources, low agricultural production, significant postharvest losses, no value addition, and a rapid increase in population, the enhancement of food security and safety in underdeveloped countries is becoming extremely tough. Efforts to incorporate the latest technology are now emanating from scientists globally in order to boost supply and subsequently reduce differences between the demand and the supply chain for food production. Nanotechnology is a unique technology that might increase agricultural output by developing nanofertilizers, employing active pesticides and herbicides, regulating soil features, managing wastewater and detecting pathogens. It is also suitable for processing food, as it boosts food production with high market value, improves its nutrient content and sensory properties, increases its safety, and improves its protection from pathogens. Nanotechnology can also be beneficial to farmers by assisting them in decreasing postharvest losses through the extension of the shelf life of food crops using nanoparticles. This review presents current data on the impact of nanotechnology in enhancing food security and reducing postharvest losses alongside the constraints confronting its application. More research is needed to resolve this technology’s health and safety issues.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has garnered wide research interest due to inherent properties such as eco-friendliness, compatibility with substrates, and cost-effectiveness. Here, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were successfully synthesized for the first time using Capsicum chinense fruit extract. The optical property of the green and conventionally synthesized ZnO-NPs was characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, which exhibited absorption peaks at 302 and 481 nm, respectively, and the morphology of the NPs was analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopies (TEM and SEM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed that the hexagonal wurtzite phase was obtained, with high crystalline nature, while the electron dispersion X-ray study (EDX) revealed the purity of ZnO-NPs. The cytotoxicity assay of the biosynthesized and conventionally synthesized ZnO-NPs was evaluated using human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) and cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines treated with various concentrations of the ZnO-NPs and they exhibited reasonable activity. Antioxidant activity of the ZnO-NPs was measured using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the green ZnO-NPs exhibited higher activity compared to conventional ZnO-NPs. These findings proved that aqueous extracts of C. chinense fruit are effective for the biosynthesis of ZnO-NPs with anticancer and antioxidant potential.

The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in poultry production not only promotes the emergence of pathogenic multi-drug resistant bacteria, but it also compromises product quality, threatens animal and human health, and pollutes the environment. However, the complete withdrawal of AGP without alternatives could result in uncontrollable disease outbreaks that would jeopardize large-scale poultry intensification. Thus, the use of phytogenic products as potential alternatives to in-feed AGP has attracted worldwide research interest. These phytogenic products contain numerous biologically active substances with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities that can enhance poultry health, growth performance, and meat quality characteristics. In addition, the incorporation of phytogenic products as feed additives in poultry diets could result in the production of high-quality, drug-free, and organic poultry products that are safe for human consumption. Thus, this review examines the current evidence on the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of a selection of phytogenic products, their effects on nutrient utilization, and physiological and meat quality parameters in poultry. The paper also reviews the factors that could limit the utilization of phytogenic products in poultry nutrition and proposes solutions that can deliver efficient and sustainable poultry production systems for global food and nutrition security.

The green synthesis approach to nanoparticles has been widely received as an alternative to the conventional methods, specifically for applications in areas such as biology, agriculture and medicine, where toxicity is of great concern. In this study, copper oxide (CuO) and titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using an aqueous extract of Mucuna pruriens utilis seed. The morphology and structural characterization of the NPs were achieved by using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement, while the elemental composition was studied using electron diffraction X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A monoclinic phase of CuO and anatase phases of TiO₂ with high crystallinity were confirmed from the diffraction patterns of the XRD. Both TEM and SEM micrographs of the CuO confirmed short rod-shaped nanostructure, while spherical morphologies were obtained for the TiO₂ NPs. The EDS study indicated that the composition of the samples conformed with the identified products in the XRD and attest to the purity of the NPs. The nanoparticles exhibited a dose-dependent profile in MTT cytotoxicity assay with some cell specificity. However, the anticancer potential of these NPs was still lower than that of the standard anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil.