With the breakthrough in advance technologies, researchers are looking to devise novel approaches to control different types of deadly cancers. Progress in medicinal plants research and nanotechnology has drawn scientist’s attention toward green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles by exploiting plants secondary metabolites owing to its advantage over routinely used physical and chemical synthesis (simple, one step approach to reduce and stabilize bulk silver into silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), cost effectiveness, energy efficient, biocompatibility and therapeutic significance). Owing to control size, shape and functional surface corona, AgNPs hold considerable potentiality for therapeutic applications by opting different mechanistic pathways such as mitochondrial disruption, DNA fragmentation, cell membrane disruption, interruption of cellular signaling pathways, altered enzyme activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production leading to apoptosis etc In this review, we discussed the green synthesized AgNPs in the possible cancer treatment by harnessing phytochemicals present in plant extract. In addition, this review also provides recent advances and achievements in utilization of green synthesized AgNPs in cancer treatment and proposes mechanistic action for their anticancer and cytotoxic potential. By understanding the mechanistic action of AgNPs responsible for their therapeutic efficacy will help to devise customized therapies and treatment against cancer as a potential cancer therapeutic tool.
Due to increased number of herbicide resistant weeds, it is needed to explore the allelopathic potential of plants as an alternative. The research was conducted to investigate allelopathic effects of Carica papaya L. leaf powder and aqueous extract on seeds as well as pre-germinated seeds of Avena fatua L., Helianthus annuus L., Rumex dentatus L., Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. on filter paper and soil in Weed Management Program Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection at PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. Germination percentage (%), radicle length (cm) and plumule length (cm) were parameters observed for ‘Plant leaf powder bioassay’ and ‘Aqueous extract method’. Most significant growth inhibition was observed in A. fatua seedlings in filter paper method. A. fatua radicle length was reduced by C. papaya aqueous extract (80%) and leaf powder (89%) bioassays. Plumule length was reduced under the influence of aqueous extract (57-73%) and powdered material (59-77%). The inhibitory effects on other test species were in sequence of H. annuus followed by Z. mays and R. dentatus. The aqueous extract showed non-significant effect on wheat seed germination, radicle and plumule growth. It is suggested that C. papaya aqueous extract can be used as source of weed management in wheat crop.
The freshwater algae grow in a wide range of aquatic habitats across the globe and are rich in secondary metabolites. The present study was designed to conduct the phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of water net (Hydrodictyon reticulatum), an algal weed from Pakistan. The pure and dried algal mass was crushed into a fine powder and four solvent-based extracts were used for phytochemical screening. The results of preliminary qualitative screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenols, quinones, steroids, resins, anthraquinones, glycosides, lignin, proteins, saponins, tannins, reducing sugars, alkaloids, terpenoids, fats, and oils, whereas the quantification results revealed the high quantities of total ash, crude proteins, crude fiber, alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids, and chlorophyll a. The studied methanolic extracts with maximum concentration (150 μg/ml) showed significantly (p-value ≤ 0.05) higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The IC50 values of the crude methanolic extract of water net were found very close to streptomycin (positive control) against both bacterial pathogenic species of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. This study concluded that the crude extracts of water net possessed antibacterial activity at par to streptomycin drug, and requires further detailed study for the separation, identification, and testing of the pure phytochemical compound to be used by the nutraceutical and or pharmaceutical industry.
This study was aimed at evaluating allelopathic activity of various solvent extracts of Pinus roxburghii (Pine tree) against some important weeds viz. Phalaris minor (bunchgrass), Avena fatua (wild oat), Chenopodium album (pigweed), Euphorbia helioscopia (sun spurge) and Rumex dentatus (toothed dock) of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) by employing sandwich method (powdered needles) on filter paper, soil and agar. The data attained from statistical analysis revealed that methanolic needle extract possessed the highest germination percentage inhibition for T. aestivum, followed by C. album and A. fatua applied in soil. Similarly, maximum radical length suppression was observed for R. dentatus, followed by C. album. The plumule length retardation was noted best in R. dentatus, followed by A. fatua. The application of methanolic P. roxburghii extract was responsible for reduction in seed germination, radical and plumule length of wheat. Based on results, it can be concluded that methanolic Pinus needles extract possesses potential inhibitory effects that required for further detailed analysis to establish allelopathic potential and onward application to be used as phytoherbicide.
The experiment was designed to study allelopathic effect of Rhazya stricta Decne. against selected weeds of wheat crop by using aqueous, hexane and methanolic extracts on filter paper and soil. The germination percentage, radicle length and plumule length were observed. The results revealed that R. stricta methanolic extract showed the highest degree of seed germination percentage inhibition of C. album, P. minor and R. dentatus with 47%, 43% and 42%, respectively in soil, and minimum germination for C. album (53%). The same extract caused significant radical length reduction of R. dentatus and A. fatua measuring 51% and 50%, respectively. The highest degree of inhibition in plumule length was measured for A. fatua and R. dentatus with 55% and 34%, respectively by R. stricta methanolic extract. Based on the results, it can be concluded that R. stricta showed good allelopathic activity that may be used in future herbicide screening program to launch in the market.
An efficient protocol has been developed for a rapid callus induction in Leptadenia pyrotechnica. Nodal, internodal and pod explants from mature plant of L. pyrotechnica were cultured after surface sterilization on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with plant growth regulators (PGRs) cytokinins and auxins individually and with various combinations. Nodal segments proved the best explants (90% callus induction) compared with internodal and pod explants (5% and no callus induction respectively). Different treatments were employed for surface sterilization of explants revealing that combination of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl 2) and mercuric chloride (MC) were found significant. Minimum contamination (7%) occurred at 30% NaOCl 2 + 2 g/L MC, while 80% occurred at 30% NaOCl 2 + 1 g/L MC. The nodal segments cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA that produced maximum callus (90%) within four weeks. It was followed by 60% callus induction at 5 mg/L NAA + 2.5 mg/L benzyl-adenine (BA) and 30% at 10 mg/L 2,4-D + 3 mg/L 2ip + 3 g/L activated charcoal (AC), while only 20% appeared at control (without hormone application). This is the first successful attempt to establish consistent callus formation protocols from nodal stem segments of L. pyrotechnica. This study may contribute in conservation management of this native plant species found especially in the deserts of Pakistan.
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