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An estimated 35% of the world's population depends on wheat as their primary crop. One fifth of the world's wheat is utilized as animal feed, while more than two thirds are used for human consumption. Each year, 17–18% of the world's wheat is consumed by China and India. In wheat, spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is one of the major diseases which affects the wheat crop growth and yield in warmer and humid regions of the world. The present work was conducted to evaluate the effect of green synthesized silver nanoparticles on the biochemical constituents of wheat crops infected with spot blotch disease. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Mangifera indica leaf extract and their characterization was performed using UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, and PSA. Characterization techniques confirm the presence of crystalline, spherical silver nanoparticles with an average size of 52 nm. The effect of green synthesized nanoparticles on antioxidative enzymes, e.g., Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Reductase (GR), Peroxidase (POX), and phytochemical precursor enzyme Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase (PAL), and on primary and secondary metabolites, e.g., reducing sugar and total phenol, in Bipolaris sorokiniana infected wheat crop were studied. Inoculation of fungal spores was conducted after 40 days of sowing. Subsequently, diseased plants were treated with silver nanoparticles at different concentrations. Elevation in all biochemical constituents was recorded under silver nanoparticle application. The treatment with a concentration of nanoparticles at 50 pp min diseased plants showed the highest resistance towards the pathogen. The efficacy of the green synthesized AgNPs as antibacterial agents was evaluated against multi drug resistant (MDR) bacteria comprising Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (n = 6) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 7) and Gram-positive bacteria Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n = 2). The results show promising antibacterial activity with significant inhibition zones observed with the disc diffusion method, thus indicating green synthesized M. indica AgNPs as an active antibacterial agent against MDR pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimicrobial, phytochemical contents of extracts obtained from the leaf extract of mature Euphorbia pilulifera (E. pilulifera) were examined in this research work. Using ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of Euphorbia pilulifera, phytochemical metabolites were studied. Further using chromatography, different components were separated and its antimicrobial activity was studied. Different types of bacterial organisms were used for evaluating the antimicrobial activity. The results indicated that leaf extracts are more sensitive towards organisms. Thus the presence of phytochemicals in the leaf extract can be used for the treatment of different diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of Sm and Mg co-doped ceria electrolyte of Ce1-xSmx-yMgyO2-δ (x = 0.2; y = 0.00, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.175) were synthesized by sol-gel process. The prepared samples were sintered at 1100 and 1400 °C for 4 h. The bulk densities were measured by Archimedes method. XRD measurements indicate that the synthesized samples were in single-phase cubic fluorite structure (space group Fm3m). The cell parameters decrease with the concentration of Mg, and 2θ values slightly shift towards right. The particle sizes obtained were between 7.14 and 17.44 nm. The sintered sample achieved 95% of theoretical density. FTIR spectra of samples sintered at 1400 °C indicates weak interactions between 3550-3400 cm-1 and 1600-1300 cm-1 are attributed to O-H stretching modes and strong bonds 850-450 cm-1 are assigned to characteristic Ce-O vibrations. The surface morphology and chemical composition were analyzed by SEM and EDS, SEM micrographs show spherical faceted grains, and the samples were crack free, dense material with some pores on surface which are inconsistent with density results. The average grain size obtained was 0.5 μm. Particle size obtained by TEM was in agreement with that obtained by XRD. The high-density ceria co-doped ceramic can be used as electrolyte in SOFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bionanotechnology is a branch of science that has revolutionized modern science and technology. Nanomaterials, especially noble metals, have attracted researchers due to their size and application in different branches of sciences that benefit humanity. Metal nanoparticles can be synthesized using green methods, which are good for the environment, economically viable, and facilitate synthesis. Due to their size and form, gold nanoparticles have become significant. Plant materials are of particular interest in the synthesis and manufacture of theranostic gold nanoparticles (NPs), which have been generated using various materials. On the other hand, chemically produced nanoparticles have several drawbacks in terms of cost, toxicity, and effectiveness. A plant-mediated integration of metallic nanoparticles has been developed in the field of nanotechnology to overcome the drawbacks of traditional synthesis, such as physical and synthetic strategies. Nanomaterials′ tunable features make them sophisticated tools in the biomedical platform, especially for developing new diagnostics and therapeutics for malignancy, neurodegenerative, and other chronic disorders. Therefore, this review outlines the theranostic approach, the different plant materials utilized in theranostic applications, and future directions based on current breakthroughs in these fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]