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Hydrogen (H2) is one of the most promising renewable energy sources, anaerobic bacterial H2 fermentation is considered as one of the most environmentally sustainable alternatives to meet the potential fossil fuel demand. Bio-H2 is the cleanest and most effective source of energy provided by the dark fermentation utilizing organic substrates and different wastewaters. In this study, the bio-H2 production was achieved by using the bacteria Acinetobacter junii-AH4. Further, optimization was carried out at different pH (5.0–8.0) in the presence of wastewaters as substrates (Rice mill wastewater (RMWW), Food wastewater (FWW) and Sugar wastewater (SWW). In this way, the optimized experiments excelled with the maximum cumulative H2 production of 566.44 ± 3.5 mL/L (100% FWW at pH 7.5) in the presence of Acinetobacter junii-AH4. To achieve this, a bioreactor (3 L) was employed for the effective production of H2 and Acinetobacter junii-AH4 has shown the highest cumulative H2 of 613.2 ± 3.0 mL/L, HPR of 8.5 ± 0.4 mL/L/h, HY of 1.8 ± 0.09 mol H2/mol glucose. Altogether, the present study showed a COD removal efficiency of 79.9 ± 3.5% by utilizing 100% food wastewater at pH 7.5. The modeled data established a batch fermentation system for sustainable H2 production. This study has aided to achieve an ecofriendly approach using specific wastewaters for the production of bio-H2.

Early childhood caries (ECC), a severe form of caries due to cross-kingdom interaction of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans, is a serious childhood dental disease that affects majority of the children with poor background. The present study investigated the anti-infective potential of thymol against C. albicans and S. mutans dual species for the management of ECC. Thymol, a plant derivative of the monoterpene group, has been well known for its numerous biological activities. Thymol at 300 μg/ml concentration completely arrested growth and proliferation of dual species of C. albicans and S. mutans. Rapid killing efficacy of pathogens, within a span of 2 min, was observed in the time kill assay. In addition, at sub-inhibitory concentrations, thymol effectively diminished the biofilm formation and virulence of both C. albicans and S. mutans such as yeast-to-hyphal transition, hyphal-to-yeast transition, filamentation, and acidogenicity and acidurity, respectively, in single and dual species state. qPCR analysis was consistent with virulence assays. Also, through the invertebrate model system Galleria mellonella, in vivo toxicity and efficacy of the phytocompound was assessed, and it was found that no significant toxic effect was observed. Moreover, thymol was found to be proficient in diminishing the infection under single and dual state in in vivo condition. Overall, the results from the present study illustrate the anti-infective potential of thymol against the ECC-causing dual species, C. albicans and S. mutans, and the applicability of thymol in medicated dentifrice formulation.

The development of effective and reliable drugs in the fight against malaria and cancer represents a crucial challenge in modern parasitology. The present investigation focuses on a simple and novel strategy for the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using β-caryophyllene isolated from the leaf extract of Murraya koenigii, as reducing and stabilizing agent. UV–visible spectroscopy of the Ag NPs in aqueous suspension revealed strong surface plasmon resonance at 420 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectrum showed the various characteristic peaks of reducing functional groups. X-ray diffraction indicated 2 theta values confirming the Bragg’s refraction index of Ag NPs. Scanning electron microscopy showed the nanoparticle spherical shapes while transmission electron microscopy showed nanoparticle sizes ranging from 5 to 100 nm, with an average size of 29.42 nm. Ag NPs exhibited promising activity on chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) (IC50: 2.34 ± 0.07 µg/ml), as well as significant cytotoxic activity on lung cancer cells (IC50: 9.39 ± 0.08 µg/ml). Overall, β-caryophyllene synthesized Ag NPs could be further considered as a promising source for the development of cost effective and safer alternative drugs to treat malaria and cancer.

The bio-reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) into well dispersed gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was achieved using the Albizia amara Roxb. plant extract. The formation of GNPs was confirmed by a change of color from yellowish green to purple with a characteristic peak at 543 nm. Further, the characterization of the synthesized GNPs showed their crystalline nature, functional groups, size and dispersed shapes, purity and Bragg’s reflections of face centered cubic structure. The zeta potential analysis revealed that A. amara GNPs did not aggregate and were quite stable which is in agreement with the constancy found during the dynamic light scattering measurements. During the DPPH assay, the GNPs and leaf aqueous extract showed the scavenging activity of 74 and 65 %, respectively and their in vitro IC50 inhibitory values (µg ml−1) were; 47.77 (HeLa) and 72.28 (Vero). The Gram positive, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96) was found to be more sensitive to GNPs (16 mm) than the leaf aqueous extract (12 mm). In view of the recorded free radical, cytotoxic and antibacterial effects, the GNPs of A. amara could be a potential source for further research towards therapeutic development.

A 75-day 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two levels of dietary protein (32 and 40%) and two different carbon sources (rice flour–R and molasses-M), and without carbohydrate (control–C) in black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon juveniles (3.37 ± 0.04 g) at 100 nos. m−3 in 100 L fibre reinforced plastic tanks. Biofloc volume and total suspended solid were higher in molasses added groups (32 + M and 40 + M) followed by rice flour (32 + R and 40 + R) and controls (32C and 40C). Molasses and rice flour addition significantly reduced (P

The Lantana camara Linn root extract derived gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were characterized by Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, fourier transform-infrared, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction pattern and energy dispersive X-ray analyses. In DPPH assay, the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Au NPs and gallic acid was 24.17 and 5.39 μg/ml, whereas, for cytotoxicity assay, the IC50 of Au NPs was 17.72 and 32.98 μg/ml on MBA-MB-231 and Vero cells, respectively. Thus, the Au NPs possess significant in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic properties which could be considered as potential alternate for the development of anticancer drug in future.

The ethanolic extract of Hypnea muciformis (red algae) was tested for hepatoprotective activity against experimentally induced liver damage by Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in male albino rats. The levels of serum enzymatic and biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase, 5' nucleotidase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, triglycerides, lipid peroxides and albumin were determined. The CCI4 induced lesions in the liver significant increased the levels of serum marker enzymes SGPT and SGOT, bilirubin, creatinine and decreased urea. The oral treatment with ethanolic extract of H. muciformis exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity by reducing the CCL4 caused changes in the biochemical parameters such as total protein, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea. These parameters were restored towards the normal levels as shown by the enzymatic tests. In addition, H. muciformis significantly decreased the liver weight of CCl4 intoxicated rats. Apparently the H. muciformis extract interfered with the free radical formation, which resulted in hepatoprotective activity. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the LD50 value was more than 3 g/kg body weight. These results clearly indicated that this seaweed contained some active principles in its ethanolic extract which acted as an antidote against the hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4.