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In the present work, a facile, eco-friendly, and cost-effective approach is described to remove Cr3+ toxic metal ions in an aqueous solution by nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) synthesized via a green method utilizing Sterculia foetida leaf extract. The synthesized nickel nanoparticles were characterized by EDS (Energy- Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy), XRD (X-Ray diffraction), FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy) spectroscopic methods. The spectroscopic signature studies revealed that the synthesized NiNPs are of spherical to irregular in shape with a mean particle size of 10±20 nm. The FT IR spectra confirmed the presence of OH, CC and CHO cross-linked stretching, CO and CCl stretching, representing the functional groups of polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids type compounds in the synthesized nanoparticles. The EDS spectra confirmed the presence of nickel in the synthesized nanoparticles with a metal composition of 52.2%. In the XRD spectra, sharp diffraction peak two angles of green-produced NiNPs, which correspond to 111, 200 and 221 crystal planes, confirm the lattice structure of NiNPs. The synthesized NiNPs were used for the reduction of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions. The result revealed that immobilization of chromium heavy metals is an effect of initial concentration, ie. 100 µg mL-1 of Cr3+ concentration at 1 g L-1 of NiNPs adsorbent dosage within an average contact time of 1 h at 75 RPM. The present investigation revealed that these newly synthesized NiNPs might be potentially utilized for many environmental remediation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research is focused on investigating the phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of Aegialitis rotundifolia Roxb. leaf. Different solvent extracts of A. rotundifolia Roxb. leaves are screened for secondary metabolites by qualitative and quantitative analysis. The resultant phytochemical screening proves that the plant leaves consist of various secondary metabolites. The quantitative analysis proves that phenolic compounds and flavonoids are dominant among them. Four different antioxidant activity methods, namely, ABTS radical scavenging activity, phosphomolybdate assay, peroxide activity and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), are used for assessing the activity of the leaf extract. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaf have high potency of antioxidant activity and reported dose-dependent activity. Similar promising antioxidant results are also reported for ABTS radical scavenging activity (82.4% reduction at 200 µg mL-1 of ethanol and 90.0% reduction at 200 µg mL-1 of aqueous extract), phosphomolybdate assay (82.4% reduction at 200 µg mL-1 of ethanol and 74.5 % reduction at 200 µg mL-1 of aqueous extract) and peroxide activity (92.1 % reduction at 200 µg mL-1 of ethanol and 93.1 % reduction at 200 µg mL-1 of aqueous extract). The antioxidant activity reported with ethanol (157.4 mmol Fe2+/g) and aqueous extract (129.8 mmol Fe2+/g) was also studied by analyzing with FRAP reduction. The obtained findings confirmed the high antioxidant activity of plant leaf extract and its application for pharmacological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of different seed priming treatments improves seed germination and thus increases plant growth and yield potential. Eco-friendly, cost-effective, simple, and effective seed treatments need to be developed for a high-consuming crop like chickpea (Cice rarietinum Lin.). In the present study, manganese oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using an aqueous extract of roots of Kigelia africana (lam.) Benth and used as nano priming agents for chickpea seeds. The synthesized nanoparticles were found to have rod-like morphology with heterogeneous size distribution. The nanoparticle's average size was found to be 67 nm with a metal content of 52.04 %. The sprout's emergence was found to be high in nanometal-treated chickpea seeds than in untreated and metal treated seeds. The seedling rate after ten days of sowing was found to be high in nanoparticle-treated seeds. The nanometal treatment shows low mean germination time, high germination rate, root length and shoot length of the chickpea compared to untreated samples. The present study results demonstrates that seed priming with manganese oxide nanoparticles could enhance seed germination and growth through an eco-friendly and sustainable nanotechnological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]