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Mosquito control is facing a challenge worldwide, due to ineffectiveness of chemical insecticides. Identification of novel and ecofriendly insecticides is the need of the hour. In the present study mosquito control efficacy, antioxidants and anti-cancerous potential of silver nanoparticle conjugated with Carmona retusa (Vahl) Masam nanoparticles. Synthesized nanoparticles had UV absorption maximum at 420 nm, size ranging between 20 and 40 nm based of TEM, has cubic structure, C-H bending and Ag Metal bands. Results show high free radical scavenging ability of C. retusa derived silver nanoparticles as evidenced by DPPH radical and H2O2 radical assay. C. retusa derived nanoparticles produce 80% inhibition in MCF-7 cell line at concentration of 500 μg/ml. High larvicidal activity with LC50 values of 116.681 ppm for Anopheles stephensi, 198.766 ppm for Aedes aegypti, and 83.553 ppm for Culex quinquefasciatus were observed. Based on the findings of the study we suggest that C. retusa plant mediated AgNPs has anticancerous and mosquito larvicidal property and could be bioprospected for drug development and mosquito control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles has received considerable attention due to their cost-effective, eco-friendly and medicinal values. In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesised using the aqueous leaf extracts of Piper nigrum. TEM images revealed that the particle is spherical with 20–50 nm in size. Furthermore, to evaluate the toxicity of synthesized Ag NPs, fish Labeo rohita were exposed to two different concentrations (2.5 µg/L as the treatment I and 5 µg/L as treatment II) for 35 days, and antioxidant parameters and histology of gill, liver and kidney were examined. A biphasic response in the activity of glutathione S-transferases (GST) was observed in gill and liver of fish. GST activity in the kidney of fish was significantly increased when compared to control group. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity in organs/tissue of fish were found to be increased while peroxidase (POD) activity was significantly decreased. Histopathological changes such as hyperplasia, proliferation of epithelial cells and fusion of lamellae were observed in both the concentrations. In liver, necrosis, nuclear degeneration and dilation of sinusoids were observed. Subsequently, the representative effects of POD activity were assessed based on the Box–Behnken Equation, 3-D contour plot and ANOVA analysis through response surface methodology analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile and green route for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is of significant intriguing, as it provides simple, rapid, clean, nontoxic, easily available, energy-efficient, cost-effective fabrication method. We reported environmentally benign and unexplored plant Aglaia elaeagnoidea flower extract for the synthesis of spherical and crystalline silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles with an excellent robustness against agglomeration. The resultant nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spec., FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDAX, and TEM techniques. The uniqueness of our method lies in fast synthesis (10 min for Ag NPs) and ultra rapid homogeneous and heterogeneous complete degradation of Methylene Blue and Congo Red within few seconds using the synthesized Ag and Au NPs as the catalyst, respectively. Whereas more than 90% conversion of 4-Nitrophenol to 4-Aminophenol within few minutes for homogenous and few seconds for heterogeneous method using Ag and Au NPs were obtained. Hence, the results of this study demonstrate the possible application of biosynthesized of Ag and Au NPs as nanocatalyst in waste water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]