Plants are an essential component of our daily diet, and their nutritional value has been thoroughly studied for many years. The ability of plants to adapt to changing environmental conditions through signaling systems is an essential component of their survival. Plants undergo an array of physiological alterations to respond to stress from biotic sources. Secondary compounds frequently accumulate in crops that are sensitive to stress, particularly those with several eliciting agents or signaling molecules. Plants contain various types of bioactive compounds, including phytosterols, alkaloids, glycosides, and polyphenols, which make them valuable for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The increased production of secondary metabolites via elicitation has opened up a new field of study with the potential to provide substantial financial gains for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. These elicitors are pharmacological compounds that activate specific transcription factors and up-regulate genes to activate metabolic pathways. Thus, the current review discusses the mechanism of biotic elicitation and various elicitation techniques using biotic (proteins, carbohydrates, rhizobacteria, fungi, and hormones) elicitors that may increase the yield of secondary metabolites, particularly in medicinal plants, which is advantageous to the agrochemical and therapeutic industries.

Essential oils are concentrated liquids of intricate combinations of volatile substances, extracted from various plant parts. Several bioactive substances with antibacterial and antioxidant activities are abundant in essential oils. Some essential oils have also been employed in medicine. Due to the risk associated with employing synthetic preservatives, the use of essential oils as natural additives for extending the shelf life of food products has also drawn considerable attention. They are used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries for their functional properties. There are various methods for extraction, but both the quality and the percentage yield of essential oil never remain the same. So, innovative and non-conventional techniques of essential oils extraction from medicinal plants were evoled to get quantitative and qualitative yield. In the present article, we searched and reviewed innovative techniques used for the extraction of essential oils from medicinal and aromatic plants through electronic searches of PubMed, Medline, Wiley, Scopus, and Google Scholar. For the extraction of essential oils, several innovative/non-conventional techniques have been reported in literature. Extraction of essential oil by using innovative techniques retards the risk of losing the essential components of plants, maintains the quality, reduces chemical risk, extraction time, acts eco-friendly, and increases the percentage yield of the essential oils. This paper presents the success story of innovative extraction methods of essential oils in accordance with sustainable development and environmental protection.

Psychrophiles are an exclusive group of microbes that thrive in extremely cold environments, such as polar regions and deep-sea. These cold-loving microbes have developed a range of adaptations that enable them to function at low temperatures, including the production of cold-adapted enzymes. These enzymes are highly active and stable in cold environments, making them valuable biocatalysts for various industrial processes. The potential applications of psychrophilic enzymes are vast, including in the food, pharmaceutical, and bioremediation industries. Cold-adapted enzymes are particularly useful in low-temperature applications, such as in the production of coldprocessed foods and cold-water detergents. They can also be used in the production of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals that require low-temperature conditions. Additionally, psychrophilic enzymes can be used in bioremediation processes, where lowtemperature conditions are often encountered. Metagenomic studies have revealed the potential for discovering new psychrophilic enzymes from uncultivated microorganisms in cold environments. The use of recombinant DNA technology has enabled the production of large quantities of psychrophilic enzymes for industrial applications. Psychrophiles represent a novel and promising source of cold-adapted industrial enzymes. The use of these enzymes in various industries has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. With ongoing research and technological advancements, more diverse and efficient cold-adapted enzymes will likely be discovered from psychrophilic microorganisms, further expanding the array of applications for these enzymes in the future.

Antibiotic resistance poses an escalating global crisis as pathogens like the ESKAPE organisms – Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species—are evolving to evade our antibacterial arsenal. We desperately need innovative strategies to fill the pipeline with effective treatments. BioSAXS, which maps antibiotic targets using X-ray scattering and biophysics, and artificial intelligence, which expedites drug creation and screening, are two promising approaches. In addition to conventional antibiotics, scientists are investigating immunotherapies, phage treatment, antimicrobial peptides, and synergistic combinations. Major challenges still exist, though, in turning these insights into licensed medical interventions. Enhanced public-private partnerships, improved data sharing, and incentives like milestone prizes could help spur the development of new antimicrobials. Regulators should consider pathways to accelerate approval for therapies that address urgent needs against resistant infections. The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted concerning gaps in infectious disease preparedness that must be addressed. With global coordination and increased funding, we can reignite antimicrobial discovery and development to combat superbugs before routine injuries and illnesses become untreatable again. Overcoming the scientific and economic challenges will require commitment from all stakeholders. We urgently need imagination and resolve to build a robust pipeline of novel therapies to meet the threat of modern “superbugs” before the antibacterial era comes to an end.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a manifestation of evolution in real-time in response to chemical warfare against bacteria through the medicinal and non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents. Antibiotic resistance, which is a result of fast genetic evolution in bacteria, not only contributes to worldwide disease outbreaks but also reduces people's ability to effectively control significant human illnesses. Since sulfonamide and penicillin were first used in clinical settings in the 1930s and 1940s, respectively, many have believed that antibiotics are completely effective against infectious infections. However, due to the extensive use of antibiotics, a significant public health issue known as antibiotic resistance is currently evident.

Whole-grains are important food resources for human beings, therefore, there is a need to pay special attention to increase their production to feed the world’s rapidly increasing population. Whole-grains are highly rich in nutrition and bioactive properties due to the available health-promoting biologically active metabolites such as phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are antioxidant-rich secondary metabolites having immense health benefits. Owing to their strong antioxidant activities, they have anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-diabetic properties; they exhibit anti-aging effects and can also cure cardiovascular diseases, obesity, etc. Numerous epidemiological studies have proven the inverse correlation between the consumption of whole cereal grains and reduce chronic diseases. This review article focuses on biologically active components of wheat grains, namely phenolic compounds, including their chemical structures, classification, biosynthesis, bioactivity, and bioavailability. Health benefits and functional potential of consumption of whole cereal grains have also been discussed.