A Taxonomic Checklist of Insect Biodiversity in Loyola College Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Biodiversity, which refers to the entire array of life forms, genes, and ecosystems, was born as a result of the outcome of billions and billions of years of evolutionary development. In contrast to that, increasing the number of people and economy will impact biodiversity in the global level as it will not only destroy the ecosystems but also make them vulnerable to disruption. Preservation of biodiversity is undoubtedly one of the fundamental aspects that is necessary to keep species and genetic variations along with ecosystems. There is a large variety of insect species (more than half of all known life) and they are crucial for ecosystem functioning via pollination, nutrient recycling, and food web maintenance; However, they also act as vectors of diseases and pests. This research is focused on the insect diversity in Loyola College located in Chennai which was done through the Area Search Survey Method. Using a smartphone camera, the insects were imaged and then identified via iNaturalist. The reported data confirm the occurrence of various beetle classes, among which Lepidoptera is noted as the top order. The discussion delves into the ecological significance as well as economic influence of different insect groups which include services that they provide by way of pollination, pest control and so on. Awareness of insect biodiversity is important because of its role in ecosystem balance, agricultural stability, and human wellness

Sunlight-driven photocatalytic and anticancer properties of biogenic synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) employing Polygala elongata

The current study uses an economical and eco friendly method to produce gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) using Polygala elongata leaf (PEL) extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized materials were characterized using a range of methods, including as BET analysis, TEM-SAED, FT-IR, UV–Vis, and XRD. Biogenic AuNPs' spherical form was shown by SEM and TEM investigations, which also showed that the particles' size range was 10–20 nm, their distribution was homogeneous, and there observed minimal aggregation. The production of biogenic AuNPs was confirmed by the observation of a surface plasmon resonance peak in the absorption spectra, which was detected at 540 nm. Additionally, studies were conducted on the catalytic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anticancer characteristics of biogenic AuNPs. The biogenic AuNPs exhibited adaptable applications as a heterogeneous catalyst, achieving percentage degradations of 73 % and 88 % under UV light irradiation, particularly in catalyzing the reduction of Methylene Blue (MeB). Furthermore, the antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH free radical scavenging assay in regarding rutin, a widely used antioxidant. With a cytotoxicity value of 500 µg/ml, the produced AuNPs had a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the development of the lung cancer cell line (A549). Therefore, biogenic AuNPs hold potential applications across various research domains, spanning biological and industrial sectors, as well as in the removal of harmful contaminants in water purification