Green tea (GT) is derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis implicated in a wide range of health attributes. In the present comprehensive study, methanolic, acetone and aqueous extract of leaves of C. sinensis var. sinensis [Kashmir (KW), Uttarakhand (IP & PN)] and C. sinensis var. assamica (Assam, AT) were explored for their phytoconstituents. Solvent extracts of GT cultivars showed rich presence of phytoconstituents in comparison with aqueous extracts. The methanolic extract of AT and acetone extract of KW showed highest total phenol content (18.32 ± 0.357 mg of GAE equivalent/g of sample) and total flavonoid content (29.25 ± 0.015 mg of catechin equivalent/g of sample), respectively. All the cultivars revealed higher free radical scavenging activity in the range of 73.80 ± 0.152 to 82.40 ± 0.004 % confirming antioxidant potentials. The HPLC analysis of purified residue procured from solvent partitioning depicted AT with highest concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) i.e., 154.7 ± 4.949 mg/g followed by Kashmir and Uttarakhand GT cultivars. The present study revealed that Assam GT could be a potent herbal candidate with multiple nutraceutical applications. However, significant investigation of the cultivars is to be done to further explore the EGCg-dependent activity of GT for herbal drug development.

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Background: In the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, drug repositioning emerges as a promising approach to develop efficient therapeutics in comparison to de novo drug development. The present investigation screened 130 US FDA-approved drugs including hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract infections (RTI), antibiotics and antiviral drugs for their inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2. Materials & methods: The molecular drug targets against SARS-CoV-2 proteins were determined by the iGEMDOCK computational docking tool. The protein homology models were generated through SWISS Model workspace. The pharmacokinetics of all the ligands was determined by ADMET analysis. Results: The study identified 15 potent drugs exhibiting significant inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: Our investigation has identified possible repurposed drug candidates to improve the current modus operandi of the treatment given to COVID-19 patients.

Biofouling is a serious concern and can cause health risks and financial burdens in many settings such as maritime structures, medical devices, and water treatment plants. Many technologies employing toxic biocides, antifouling toxic coatings, and chlorine have been established to prevent or impede biofouling. However, their applications are limited due to environmental and health concerns regarding biocides and coating materials. To overcome this, novel antifouling coatings employing ecofriendly, nontoxic nanomaterials and appreciable antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties have been developed. Due to intrinsic antimicrobial properties, these antifouling nanocoatings have been proven to be effective against several water-borne microorganisms. Various nanostructures of metals (silver, copper, and gold), metal oxides (zinc oxide, titanium oxide, copper oxide, and cerium oxide), carbon (graphene and carbon nanotubes), and metal nanocomposites inhibit the biocorrosion and biofilm formation caused by bacteria. Besides, antifouling technology developed based on nanocontainers releases key active substances that promote selfcleaning, anticorrosion, and antibiofilm properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nanotechnology-enabled antifouling agents developed to combat micro-and macrofouling phenomena. Moreover, the recent progress in the applications of antifouling coatings in industrial sectors such as marine (ships), water-treatment plants, and medical devices is elaborated with relevant examples. The mechanistic insights into the inhibitory action of bacterial cell growth and biofilm formation by antifouling nanocoatings are presented. The challenges associated with developing antifouling nanoproducts, their practical limitations, and prospects are also discussed.

In this study, multifunctional lithium-doped bismuth ferrite [BiFe1−xLixO3]-graphene nanocomposites (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06) were synthesized by a sol-gel and ultrasonication assisted chemical reduction method. X-ray diffraction and FESEM electron microscopy techniques disclosed the nanocomposite phase and nanocrystalline nature of [BiFe1−xLixO3]-graphene nanocomposites. The FESEM images and the EDX elemental mapping revealed the characteristic integration of BiFe1−xLixO3 nanoparticles (with an average size of 95 nm) onto the 2D graphene layers. The Raman spectra of the [BiFe1−xLixO3]-graphene nanocomposites evidenced the BiFe1−xLixO3 and graphene nanostructures in the synthesized nanocomposites. The photocatalytic performances of the synthesized nanocomposites were assessed for ciprofloxacin (CIP) photooxidation under UV-visible light illumination. The photocatalytic efficiencies of [BiFe1−xLixO3]-graphene nanocomposites were measured to be 42%, 47%, 43%, and 10%, for x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, respectively, within 120 min illumination, whereas the pure BiFeO3 nanoparticles were 21.0%. BiFe1−xLixO3 nanoparticles blended with graphene were explored as cathode material and tested in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). The linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis showed that the high surface area of BiFeO3 was attributed to efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The increasing loading rates of (0.5–2.5 mg/cm2) [BiFe1−xLixO3]-graphene composite on the cathode surface showed increasing power output, with 2.5 and 2 mg/cm2 achieving the maximum volumetric power density of 8.2 W/m3 and 8.1 W/m3, respectively. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed that among the different loading rates used in this study, BiFeO3, with a loading rate of 2.5 mg/cm2, showed the lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct). The study results showed the potential of [BiFe1−xLixO3]-graphene composite as a cost-effective alternative for field-scale MFC applications.

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Objective: The present study aims at screening phytochemicals present in Lantana camara leaves and flower extracts.Methods: Methanolic extracts of leaves and flower of L. camara were prepared by the solvent extraction method. The preliminary qualitative photochemical analysis of leaves and flower extract was done following standard procedures. For quantitative phytochemical screening, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and free radical scavenging activity of L. camara was estimated.Results: The preliminary qualitative analysis showed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, anthocyanins, carbohydrates, and proteins in the methanolic extracts of Lantana leaves and flower, while saponins, glycosides, and alkaloids were not detected in both the extracts. Quantitative assays were done for determination of TPC, TFC, and free radical scavenging activity of L. camara. The methanolic extract of Lantana flowers depicted highest TFC (15.76±0.005 mg of hydrated catechin equivalent/ml of sample) and TPC (17±0.005 mg of Gallic acid equivalents equivalent/ml of sample), while both leaves and flower extracts revealed extortionately high 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity.Conclusion: The present work depicted that L. camara leaves and flowers are rich in antioxidant activity and have a promising application as nutraceuticals for herbal drug formulations.