Background: Achillea millefolium L. is an herbal aromatic plant of family Asteraceae reported to have various medicinal activities in the literature. The current study evaluated the potential of chitosan nanoparticles of A. millefolium as an effective strategy for targeted treatment of bacterial diseases and urolithiasis. Methods: A. millefolium was collected from Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, and its inflorescence extracted in water by maceration. Chitosan nanoparticles of A. millefolium (AMCSNPs) were prepared by ionic gelation method using 0.1% chitosan, different concentrations of the cross-linking agent sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP; 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%) and different concentrations of A. millefolium extract (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%). Characterization of AMCSNPs was done using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antibacterial screening of AMCSNPs was performed by well-diffusion method. Antiurolithiatic screening of AMCSNPs was done by nucleation and aggregation assay. Results: The best chitosan nanoparticles of A. millefolium (AMCSNPs) were obtained with 0.1% chitosan, 1% STPP and 20% A. millefolium. These AMCSNPs showed maximum zone of inhibition of 30±0.5 mm using the well-diffusion method against both Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) and maximum antiurolithiatic activity with 68% inhibition shown at aggregation stage. Conclusions: The current study suggests that AMCSNPs are an excellent strategy for targeted drug delivery for treatment of bacterial diseases and urolithiasis.

Infectious diseases caused by bacteria have become a public health issue. Antibiotic therapy for infectious disorders, as well as antibiotic overuse, has resulted in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) possesses a wide surface area, high porosity, variable functionality, and potential drug carriers. We have established a clear method for making a nanoscale APE@ZIF-8 nanocomposite agent with outstanding antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and cephalosporin-carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CCREC). We present a unique approach for encapsulating molecules ofAjuga parviflora extract (APE) with ZIF-8. APE@ZIF-8 has a positive charge. By electrostatic contact with the negatively charged bacterial surface of S. aureus and E. coli, APE@ZIF-8 NPs produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage bacterial cell organelles. As a result, the APE@ZIF-8 nanocomposite offers limitless application potential in the treatment of infectious disorders caused by drug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Introduction: Euphorbia hirtaL. is a common weed plant belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. Thepresent study brings out the importance of weed plants like E. hirtain medicine and health thecare system. Material and Methods:Plant E. hirtahas been collected from thegarden of Department of Botany, University of Delhi and plant leaves were extractedin ethanol by thesoxhlet method. Antibacterial screening has been done by disc-diffusion method. Theantioxidant potential has been determined by TPC, TFC, FRAP, Total antioxidants through phosphomolybdate assay and by DPPH radical scavenging activity. FTIR and GCMS analysis havebeen done for characterization.Result and Discussions:Plant E. hirtashowed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus, Bacilus subtilisand Pseudomonas aeruginosawith maximum ZOI diameter 19±0.5mmagainst S.aureusandP.aeruginosaboth. Plant E. hirtaL. showedsignificant antioxidant potential with 196.32 mg/g, 39.7133 mg/g, 595.99 mg/g, 525.84 mg/g values for TPC, TFC, FRAP activity and total antioxidants through phosphomolybdate assay respectively. Plant E. hirtaalso showedsignificant radical scavenging activity against DPPH free radical with amaximum % inhibition 68.505% at 1000μg/ml concentration. FTIR and GCMS of plant E. hirtahave confirmed the presence of various active functional groups and compounds.Conclusion:The current study justifies the importance of E. hirta L. a common weed asasource of natural antioxidants having antibacterial potential and its role in herbal medicines.©2022iGlobal Research and PublishingFoundation. All rights reserved.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS ChemicalsAll chemicals (Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, gallic acid, ethanol, sodium nitrite solution, aluminum chloride, rutin, TPTZ solution, acetate buffer, ferric chloride solution, chemicals for phosphomolybdate reagent, ABTS •+ , potassium persulfate, potassium phosphate buffer, chemicals for AU, Tris, NaCl, calcium chloride, sodium oxalate) used were of good quality and analytical grade. DPPH was procured from Sigma Aldrich. Collection, identification, and extraction of A. millefoliumPlant A. millefolium was collected from Poonch District, Jammu and Kashmir at two different growth stages i.e. vegetative (V) and mature separated into stem + leaves (S+L) and inflorescence (I). For identification of plant herbarium specimens were submitted in the (RHMD) NISCAIR with reference ID's NISCAIR/RHMD/consult/2017/3084-33 and