Phytosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles for enhanced antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic properties: A greener approach to environmental sustainability

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) production from phytochemicals is a sustainable process and an eco-friendly method, and this technique has a variety of uses. To accomplish this, we developed zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using the medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia (TC). Instruments such as UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM with EDX, and high-resolution TEM were applied to characterize the biosynthesized TC-ZnONPs. According to the UV-vis spectra, the synthesized TC-ZnONPs absorb at a wavelength centered at 374 nm, which corresponds to a 3.2 eV band gap. HRTEM was used to observe the morphology of the particle surface and the actual size of the nanostructures. TC-ZnONPs mostly exhibit the shapes of rectangles and triangles with a median size of 21 nm. The XRD data of the synthesized ZnONPs exhibited a number of peaks in the 2θ range, implying their crystalline nature. TC-ZnONPs proved remarkable free radical scavenging capacity on DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and NO (Nitric Oxide). TC-ZnONPs exhibited dynamic anti-bacterial activity through the formation of inhibition zones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18 ± 1.5 mm), Escherichia coli (18 ± 1.0 mm), Bacillus cereus (19 ± 0.5 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (13 ± 1.1 mm). Additionally, when exposed to sunlight, TC-ZnONPs show excellent photocatalytic ability towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. These findings suggest that TC-ZnONPs are potential antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic agents.

Fungus-mediated biosynthesis and characterization of TiO₂ nanoparticles and their activity against pathogenic bacteria

In the present study, the biosynthesis of TiO(2) nanoparticles (TiO(2) NPs) was achieved by a novel, biodegradable and convenient procedure using Aspergillus flavus as a reducing and capping agent. Research on new, simple, rapid, eco-friendly and cheaper methods has been initiated. TiO(2) NPs were characterized by FTIR, XRD, AFM, SEM and TEM studies. The X-ray diffraction showed the presence of increased amount of TiO(2) NPs which can state by the presence of peaks at rutile peaks at 100, 002, 100 and anatase forms at 101 respectively. SEM observations revealed that synthesized TiO(2) NPs were spherical, oval in shape; individual nanoparticles as well as a few aggregate having the size of 62-74 nm. AFM shows crystallization temperature was seen on the roughness of the surface of TiO(2). The Minimum inhibitory concentration value for the synthesized TiO(2) NPs was found to be 40 μg ml(-1) for Escherichia coli, which was corresponding to the value of well diffusion test. This is the first report on antimicrobial activity of fungus-mediated synthesized TiO(2) NPs, which was proved to be a good novel antibacterial material.

Efficacy of indigenous plant extracts on the malaria vector Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae)

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Mosquito control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of plant origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The purpose of the present study was to assess the ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Andrographis paniculata, Eclipta prostrata and Tagetes erecta leaves tested for oviposition-deterrent, ovicidal and repellent activities against malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae).

METHODS

The dried leaves of the three plants were powdered mechanically and extracted with ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. One gram of crude extract was first dissolved in 100 ml of acetone (stock solution). From the stock solution, test solution concentrations of 31.21- 499.42 mg/l for oviposition- deterrence assay and repellency and 15.60 - 998.85 mg/l were used in ovicidal assay. The percentage oviposition- deterrence, hatching rate of eggs and protection time were calculated. One-way analysis of variance was used for the multiple concentration tests and for per cent mortality to determine significant treatment differences.

RESULTS

The percentage of effective oviposition repellency was highest at 499.42 mg/l and the lowest at 31.21 mg/l in ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of A. paniculata, E. prostrata and T. erecta. The oviposition activity index (OAI) value of ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of A. paniculata, E. prostrata and T. erecta at 499.42 mg/l were -0.91, -0.93, -0.84, -0.84, -0.87, -0.82, -0.87, -0.89 and -0.87, respectively. Mortality (no egg hatchability) was 100 per cent with ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of A. paniculata, E. prostrata and T. erecta at 998.85 mg/l. The maximum adult repellent activity was observed at 499.42 mg/l in ethyl acetate extracts of A. paniculata, E. prostrata and methanol extracts of T. erecta, and the mean complete protection time ranged from 120 to 150 min with the different extracts tested.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS

The acetone extract of A. paniculata, methanol extract of E. prostrata and T. erecta showed good oviposition-deterrent, ovicidal and repellent activities respectively. These results suggest that the leaf extracts of A. paniculata, E. prostrata and T. erecta may have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the An. subpictus.

Larvicidal activity of medicinal plant extracts against Anopheles subpictus & Culex tritaeniorhynchus

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year and the development of resistance to chemical insecticides resulting in rebounding vectorial capacity. Plants may be alternative sources of mosquito control agents. The present study assessed the role of larvicidal activities of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol dried leaf and bark extracts of Annona squamosa L., Chrysanthemum indicum L., and Tridax procumbens L. against the fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae).

METHODS

Larvicidal activities of three medicinal plant extracts were studied in the range of 4.69 to 1000 mg/l in the laboratory bioassays against early 4 th instar larvae of An. subpictus and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. The mortality data were subjected to probit analysis to determine the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) to kill 50 and 90 per cent of the treated larvae of the respective species.

RESULTS

All plant extracts showed moderate effects after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest toxic effect of bark methanol extract of A. squamosa, leaf ethyl acetate extract of C. indicum and leaf acetone extract of T. procumbens against the larvae of An. subpictus (LC 50 = 93.80, 39.98 and 51.57 mg/l) and bark methanol extract of A. squamosa, leaf methanol extract of C. indicum and leaf ethyl acetate extract of T. procumbens against the larvae of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (LC50 =104.94, 42.29 and 69.16 mg/l) respectively.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the bark ethyl acetate and methanol extract of A. squamosa, leaf ethyl acetate and methanol extract of C. indicum, acetone and ethyl acetate extract of T. procumbens have the potential to be used as an ecofriendly approach for the control of the An. subpictus, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus.

Studies on effects of indigenous plant extracts on malarial vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera:Culicidae)

Mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. Use of synthetic insecticides to control vector mosquitoes has caused physiological resistance and adverse environmental effects in addition to high operational cost. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The present investigations were made to evaluate the repellent, ovicidal and oviposition-deterrent potential of leaf hexane and chloroform extracts of Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, Andrographis paniculata, Cocculus hirsutus, Eclipta prostrata and Tagetes erecta against Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera:Culicidae). The hexane extract of A. lineata was more effective in exhibiting the repellent action against the mosquito as compared with A. marmelos extract. Complete protections for 150 min were found in hexane extract of A. lineata at 500 ppm against An. subpictus bites. Mean percent hatchability of the ovicidal activity was observed 24 h after treatment. The percent hatchability was inversely proportional to the concentration of extract and directly proportional to the eggs. No hatchability was observed with hexane and chloroform extracts of A. lineata, A. paniculata and hexane extract of T. erecta were exerted at 1,000 ppm. The percentage of effective oviposition repellency of 93.07, 93.95, 98.03, 90.43, 92.63, 81.53, 94.81, 97.50, 97.26, 92.22, 82.85 and 72.77 at 500 ppm and the lowest repellency of 62.03, 53.64, 73.47, 59.05, 57.95, 48.17, 62.22, 72.99, 75.48, 67.77, 40.57 and 52.11 at 31.25 ppm in hexane and chloroform extracts of A. marmelos, A. lineata, A. paniculata, C. hirsutus, E. prostrata and T. erecta, respectively. The oviposition activity index (OAI) values revealed that the solvent plant extracts have deterrent effect, and they caused a remarkable negative response resulting in oviposition of very few eggs. These results clearly reveal that the hexane extract of A. lineata, served as a potential repellent, ovicidal and oviposition- deterrent against An. subpictus.

Larvicidal efficacy of medicinal plant extracts against Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. Natural products of plant origin with insecticidal properties have been used in recent years for control of a variety of pest insects and vectors. The present study was based on assessments of the larvicidal activity to determine the efficacies of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of ten medicinal plants tested against fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi Liston and lymphatic filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). The larvicidal activity was assessed by the procedure of WHO with some modification. The highest larval mortality was found in leaf acetone of Adhatoda vasica, bark ethyl acetate of Annona squamosa, methanol leaf and flower of Cassia auriculata, leaf ethyl acetate of Hydrocotyle javanica, methanol leaf and seed of Solanum torvum and leaf hexane extracts of Vitex negundo against the fourth instar larvae of An. stephensi and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The calculated LC90 for acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol and hexane extracts of dried leaf and bark of A. vasica, A. squamosa, S. torvum, and V. negundo were in the range of 70.38-210.68 ppm. Our results suggest that the leaf methanol extract of S.torvum and bark ethyl acetate extract of A. squamosa from Southern India have the potential for use to control mosquitoes. Therefore, this study provides the larvicidal activity against An. stephensi and Cx. quinquefasciatus of plant extracts.

Adulticidal and larvicidal efficacy of some medicinal plant extracts against tick, fluke and mosquitoes

The adulticidal and larvicidal effect of indigenous plant extracts were investigated against the adult cattle tick Haemaphysalis bispinosa Neumann, 1897 (Acarina: Ixodidae), sheep fluke Paramphistomum cervi Zeder, 1790 (Digenea: Paramphistomatidae), fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effect of leaf hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Annona squamosa L., Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, Gloriosa superba L., Mukia maderaspatensis (L.) M.Roem, Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov. and Phyllanthus emblica L. were exposed to different concentrations. All plant extracts showed moderate toxic effect on parasites after 24h of exposure; however, the highest mortality was found in leaf hexane extract of A. squamosa, methanol extracts of G. superba and P. emblica against H. bispinosa (LC(50)=145.39, 225.57 and 256.08ppm); methanol extracts of C. asiatica, G. superba, P. daemia and P. emblica against P. cervi (LC(50)=77.61, 60.16, 59.61, and 60.60ppm); acetone, ethyl acetate extracts of A. squamosa, methanol extract of C. asiatica, acetone extracts of G. superba, ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol extracts of P. daemia against A. subpictus (LC(50)=17.48, 18.60, 26.62, 18.43, 34.06, 13.63, and 50.39ppm); and chloroform, ethyl acetate extracts of A. squamosa, ethyl acetate extract of P. daemia, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of P. emblica against C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC(50)=63.81, 60.01, 31.94, 69.09, and 54.82ppm), respectively. These results demonstrate that methanol extracts of C. asiatica, G. superba, P. daemia and P. emblica extracts may serve as parasites control even in their crude form.

Evaluation of larvicidal and nymphicidal potential of plant extracts against Anopheles subpictus Grassi, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles and Aphis gossypii Glover

The acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol extracts of peel and leaf extracts of Citrus sinensis, Ocimum canum, Ocimum sanctum and Rhinacanthus nasutus were tested against fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi, Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) and feeding deterrence to nymphs of cotton pest, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae). The larval and nymph mortality were observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal and nymphicidal effects; however, the highest mortality was found in peel chloroform extract of C. sinensis, leaf ethyl acetate extracts of O. canum and O. sanctum and leaf chloroform extract of R. nasutus against the larvae of A. subpictus (LC(50) = 58.25, 88.15, 21.67 and 40.46 ppm; LC(90) = 298.31, 528.70, 98.34 and 267.20 ppm), peel methanol extract of C. sinensis, leaf methanol extract of O. canum, ethyl acetate extracts of O. sanctum and R. nasutus against the larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC(50) = 38.15, 72.40, 109.12 and 39.32 ppm; LC(90) = 184.67, 268.93, 646.62 and 176.39 ppm), peel hexane extract of C. sinensis, leaf methanol extracts of O. canum and R. nasutus and leaf ethyl acetate extract of O. sanctum against the nymph of A. gossypii (LC(50) = 162.89, 80.99, 73.27 and 130.19 ppm; LC(90) = 595.40, 293.33, 338.74 and 450.90 ppm), respectively. These results suggest that the peel methanol extracts of C. sinensis and O. canum, ethyl acetate leaf extract of O. sanctum and leaf chloroform and ethyl acetate extract of R. nasutus have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. subpictus, C. tritaeniorhynchus and A. gossypii.

Larvicidal activity of saponin from Achyranthes aspera against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

The acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol leaf extracts of Acalypha indica, Achyranthes aspera, Leucas aspera, Morinda tinctoria and Ocimum sanctum were studied against the early fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. The larval mortality was observed after 24 h exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in the ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera. In the present study, bioassay-guided fractionation of A. aspera led to the separation and identification ofa saponin as a potential mosquito larvicidal compound, with LC50 value of 18.20 and 27.24 ppm against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data confirmed the identification of the active compound. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of the saponin from the ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera. This study investigates the potential of crude extracts from commonly used medical herbs in India as an environmentally safe measure to control the vector of dengue and lymphatic filariasis.

Screening for antifeedant and larvicidal activity of plant extracts against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), Sylepta derogata (F.) and Anopheles stephensi (Liston)

Plant extracts, especially botanical insecticides, are currently studied more and more because of the possibility of their use in plant protection. Biological activity of five solvent plant extracts were studied using fourth instar larvae of gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), cotton leaf roller Sylepta derogata (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and malaria vector Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae). Antifeedant and larvicidal activity of acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol peel, leaf and flower extracts of Citrus sinensis, Ocimum canum, Ocimum sanctum and Rhinacanthus nasutus were used in this study. During preliminary screening, the extracts were tested at 1,000 ppm concentration. The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in peel chloroform extract of C. sinensis, flower methanol extract of O. canum against the larvae of H. armigera (LC50 = 65.10,51.78, LC90 = 277.39 and 218.18 ppm), peel methanol extract of C. sinensis, flower ethyl acetate extract of O. canum and leaf acetone extract of O. sanctum against the larvae of S. derogata (LC50 = 20.27,58.21,36.66, LC90 =113.15,285.70 and 668.02 ppm), peel methanol extract of C. sinensis, leaf and flower ethyl acetate extracts of O. canum against the larvae of A. stephensi (LC50 = 95.74,101.53,28.96, LC90 = 303.20,492.43 and 168.05 ppm), respectively. These results suggest that the chloroform and methanol extract of C. sinensis, ethyl acetate flower extracts of O. canum and acetone extract of O. sanctum have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the agricultural pests H. armigera, S. derogata and medically important vector A. stephensi.

Mosquito larvicidal activity of gluanol acetate, a tetracyclic triterpenes derived from Ficus racemosa Linn

The larvicidal activity of crude hexane, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, acetone, and methanol extracts of the leaf and bark of Ficus racemosa (Moraceae) was assayed for their toxicity against the early fourth-instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). The larval mortality was observed after 24-h exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in bark acetone extract of F. racemosa. In the present study, bioassay-guided fractionation of acetone extract led to the separation and identification of a tetracyclic triterpenes derivative; gluanol acetate was isolated and identified as new mosquito larvicidal compound. Gluanol acetate was quite potent against fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. (LC(50) 14.55 and LC(90) 64.99 ppm), Anopheles stephensi Liston (LC(50) 28.50 and LC(90) 106.50 ppm) and C. quinquefasciatus Say (LC(50) 41.42 and LC(90) 192.77 ppm). The structure was elucidated from infrared, ultraviolet, (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), (13)C-NMR, and mass spectral data. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of the reported compound from F. racemosa.

Impact of supplementing newborn infants with vitamin A on early infant mortality: community based randomised trial in southern India

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of supplementing newborn infants with vitamin A on mortality at age 6 months.

DESIGN

Community based, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

SETTING

Two rural districts of Tamil Nadu, southern India.

PARTICIPANTS

11 619 newborn infants allocated 24 000 IU oral vitamin A or placebo on days 1 and 2 after delivery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Primary outcome measure was mortality at age 6 months.

RESULTS

Infants in the vitamin A group had a 22% reduction in total mortality (95% confidence interval 4% to 37%) compared with those in the placebo group. Vitamin A had an impact on mortality between two weeks and three months after treatment, with no additional impact after three months.

CONCLUSION

Supplementing newborn infants with vitamin A can significantly reduce early infant mortality.