The Ethnopharmacological Properties of Green-Engineered Metallic Nanoparticles against Metabolic Disorders

Metabolic syndrome is a multifaceted pathophysiologic condition that is largely caused by an imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure. The pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome is determined by an individual’s genetic/epigenetics and acquired factors. Natural compounds, notably plant extracts, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing properties and are considered to be a viable option for metabolic disorder treatment due to their low risk of side effects. However, the limited solubility, low bioavailability, and instability of these botanicals hinder their performance. These specific limitations have prompted the need for an efficient system that reduces drug degradation and loss, eliminates unwanted side effects, and boosts drug bioavailability, as well as the percentage of the drug deposited in the target areas. The quest for an enhanced (effective) drug delivery system has led to the formation of green-engineered nanoparticles, which has increased the bioavailability, biodistribution, solubility, and stability of plant-based products. The unification of plant extracts and metallic nanoparticles has helped in the development of new therapeutics against metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cancer. The present review outlines the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases and their cures with plant-based nanomedicine

Identification of Folsomia sp. and its ornamentation characteristics from Punjab (India) using molecular and scanning electron microscopy analysis

Barcoding of DNA has become the preferred method for identifying many species, including arthropods. Currently, DNA barcodes are focused on different animal taxa, including arthropods. In light of this global trend, we used this method to identify Collembola. During the month of 2019, a survey was conducted in Jalandhar (Punjab) to identify the Collembola species living in the local fauna. DNA barcoding and scanning electron microscopy are both used in the Collembola identification process. The results indicated the existence of a wide range of Collembola species. In Punjab, the species Folsomia quadrioculata (Tullberg 1871) was discovered during the survey and identification using molecular analysis. To gain a deeper understanding of the properties of the cuticle, an SEM examination of the surface structure of Folsomia quadrioculata was performed. As a result of this discovery, a valuable genomic resource is now available that can be used for future research on the comparative genomics of Collembola as well as its evolutionary history