Malaria, the exterminator of ~1.5 to 2.7 million human lives yearly, is a notorious disease known throughout the world. The eradication of this disease is difficult and a challenge to scientists. Vector elimination and effective chemotherapy for the patients are key tactics to be used in the fight against malaria. However, drug resistance and environmental and social concerns are the main hurdles in this fight against malaria. Overcoming these limitations is the major challenge for the 21st-century malarial researchers. Adapting the principles of nano-biotechnology to both vector control and patient therapy is the only solution to the problem. Several compounds such as lipids, proteins, nucleic acid and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully used for the control of this lethal malaria disease. Other useful natural reagents such as microbes and their products, carbohydrates, vitamins, plant extracts and biodegradable polymers, are also used to control this disease. Among these particles, the plant-based particles such as leaf, root, stem, latex, and seed give the best antagonistic response against malaria. In the present review, we describe certain efforts related to the control, prevention and treatment of malaria. We hope that this review will open new doors for malarial research.

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Nano-biotechnology: a new approach to treat and prevent malaria

The present study reports an eco-friendly phyto-synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous flower extract of Cassia angustifolia. Preliminarily, the synthesis of AgNPs from flower extract was visually confirmed by color change. Further formation, shape, size, and stability of the synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, XRD, FT-IR, DLS, and zeta potential analyses. SEM images showed that the synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with an average size of 10–80 nm. Phyto-chemical analysis and FT-IR studies confirmed the role of phyto-compounds in the flower extract for the capping, formation, reduction, and stabilization of AgNPs. The antioxidant ability of AgNPs and plant extract was evaluated by DPPH, H2O2, and FRAP assays. The percentage of antioxidant activity was increased with increasing concentration of AgNPs. In addition, cytotoxic activity of the AgNPs was evaluated in human breast cancer cells (MCF 7). Phyto-synthesized AgNPs showed dose-depended manner (IC50 − 73.82 ± 0.50 μg/mL) of cytotoxic activity against MCF 7 cancer cells.

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity of Phyto-synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Cassia angustifolia Flowers

This work reports the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extract of Plumbago auriculata, and evaluates their antibacterial and larvicidal activities. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by various spectroscopy techniques, such as FTIR, XRD, TEM, EDX, Zeta potential, and DLS. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, synthesized nanoparticles inhibited the fourth instars larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus at the concentration of 45.1 and 41.1 µg/mL respectively. Results of dose-dependent studies showed that synthesized nanoparticles were also effective at low concentrations. Molecular docking studies performed with the salivary protein and odorant-binding protein of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus demonstrated that the naphthoquinone compound plumbagin exhibited reliable binding affinity towards the two enzymes. The findings thus reveal that the plant extract and its nanoparticles can be a better alternative to available chemicals to control mosquitos.

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Efficacy of Antimicrobial and Larvicidal Activities of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extract of Plumbago auriculata Lam.

Green biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using Acalypha wilkesiana extract control root-knot nematode

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and the antibacterial activities has provided enormous data on populations, geographical areas, and experiments with bio silver nanoparticles’ antibacterial operation. Several peer-reviewed publications have discussed various aspects of this subject field over the last generation. However, there is an absence of a detailed and structured framework that can represent the research domain on this topic. This paper attempts to evaluate current articles mainly on the biosynthesis of nanoparticles or antibacterial activities utilizing the scientific methodology of big data analytics. A comprehensive study was done using multiple databases—Medline, Scopus, and Web of Sciences through PRISMA (i.e., Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The keywords used included ‘biosynthesis silver nano particles’ OR ‘silver nanoparticles’ OR ‘biosynthesis’ AND ‘antibacterial behavior’ OR ‘anti-microbial opposition’ AND ‘systematic analysis,’ by using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms, Boolean operator’s parenthesis, or truncations as required. Since their effectiveness is dependent on particle size or initial concentration, it necessitates more research. Understanding the field of silver nanoparticle biosynthesis and antibacterial activity in Gulf areas and most Asian countries also necessitates its use of human-generated data. Furthermore, the need for this work has been highlighted by the lack of predictive modeling in this field and a need to combine specific domain expertise. Studies eligible for such a review were determined by certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study contributes to the existence of theoretical and analytical studies in this domain. After testing as per inclusion criteria, seven in vitro studies were selected out of 28 studies. Findings reveal that silver nanoparticles have different degrees of antimicrobial activity based on numerous factors. Limitations of the study include studies with low to moderate risks of bias and antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles. The study also reveals the possible use of silver nanoparticles as antibacterial irrigants using various methods, including a qualitative evaluation of knowledge and a comprehensive collection and interpretation of scientific studies.

Muhammad Javed Ansari

Papers

Antimicrobial potentials of medicinal plant's extract and their derived silver nanoparticles: A focus on honey bee pathogen

In vivo pharmacological investigation of Monotheca buxifolia and Bosea amherstiana using animal models.