Biodegradable nanocomposite films have been developed by incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into the gelatin biopolymer matrix for food packaging applications. AgNPs were biologically synthesized using industrial food waste, namely, cassava tuber peels. The cassava peels mediated synthesized AgNPs exhibited a maximum absorbance peak at 434.4 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy results revealed spherical shaped particles with a size range of 10–45 nm. The presence of elemental silver and crystalline nature of AgNPs was confirmed by Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analyzes. AgNPs showed significant antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images of the films showed the successful incorporation of AgNPs into the gelatin matrix. AgNPs integration has demonstrated improvement in the mechanical and barrier properties of nanocomposite films. The gelatin–AgNPs nanocomposite films have resulted in an excellent notable increase in the shelf life of sapodilla fruits. This confirms that the gelatin–AgNPs nanocomposite films are ideal for the food packaging industry to extend the shelf life of packaged food. Practical applications The use of silver nanoparticles as an antimicrobial in the field of food technology has been of great interest in recent years. The present study highlights the importance of the use of industrial food waste for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its incorporation into the gelatin matrix for the preparation of thin nanocomposite film. Gelatin–AgNPs nanocomposite film showed enhanced UV‐shielding and antimicrobial properties, which increased the shelf life of sapodilla fruits. AgNPs incorporated gelatin nanocomposite film could prove to be an effective antimicrobial food packaging material and an efficient way to extend the post‐harvest life of food.

Green synthesis of functionalized gold nanoparticles has been considered to be more biocompatible and has gained much attention in recent years. The ecofriendly synthesis, long half-life of drugs, low cost, and nontoxicity make them an appealing potential option for the biomedical field. The leaf aqueous extract of 10 different plants, namely, Araucaria heterophylla (Ah), Lagerstroemia indica (Li), Combretum indicum (Ci), Melia azedarach (Ma), Muntingia calabura (Mc), Hygrophila auriculata (Ha), Rivina humilis (Rh), Callistemon lanceolatus (Cl), Pterygota alata (Pa), and Vateria indica (Vi) was used for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Among them, six plants supported the synthesis of stable AuNPs. The generation of ruby red from pale yellow color proved AuNPs synthesis and which was further confirmed by the absorption peak in UV-Vis spectroscopy. Enhanced antioxidant activity was found with Pa-AuNPs compared with other phytosynthesized AuNPs. Pa-AuNPs were thus characterized by HR-TEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. Pa-AuNPs exhibited potent dose-dependent anticancer efficacy and an effective dose of IC 50 mediated apoptosis and necrosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Pa-AuNPs significantly enhanced the generation of ROS, in effect inducing mitochondrial membrane sensitization to trigger the cascade of apoptosis. The research highlights the effectiveness of AuNPs on cancer cells in vitro and, in turn, a progressive step toward novel biomedical applications. These findings indicate that phytosynthesized AuNPs may be an enticing anti-cancer strategy for breast cancer without eliciting toxicity to normal cells. K E Y W O R D S apoptosis, biomedical, cytotoxicity, gold nanoparticles, ROS 1 | INTRODUCTION Cancer is malignant, intrusive growth that infects surrounding tissues and metastasizes to other areas of the body. The alteration of the oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and microRNA genes is the probable cause for cancer development. Cancer is predicted to claim 9.6 million lives worldwide by 2019, with breast cancer as one of the most diagnosed cancers in the world. In 2019, about 2 million new cases of breast cancer have arisen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemicals, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti‐quorum sensing (QS) properties of methanol extract of Muntingia calabura L. leaves against biofilm‐forming strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antioxidant potential of M. calabura methanol leaf extract was evaluated using a radical scavenging assay. Since the findings were so promising, the study aims to screen the phytochemical profiles using qualitative and quantitative approaches and to expand the investigation to anti‐QS activity. The antibacterial activity was assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration against pathogenic Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive biofilm‐forming bacterial strains using an agar well diffusion plate method. Muntingia calabura methanol leaf extract was most potent against P. aeruginosa. The QS controlled virulence factors in P. aeruginosa is significantly inhibited by M. calabura leaf extract. The microscopy images revealed a major reduction in P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. Interestingly, M. calabura leaf extract was not toxic to Vero cell line. These findings make M. calabura a strong candidate for new antimicrobial and anti‐QS herbal agents.

Musa kattuvazhana K.C.Jacob, the only indigenous wild banana growing naturally in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, was first taxonomically documented in a monograph on Madras Bananas by Jacob (1952). Jacob described the species based on the plant found at Suryampat, Kalpatta, and N. Malabar regions in India, and later attempted to introduce the taxon in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, but he noticed an unusual erect inflorescence in the plant. Jacob submitted the type at MADRAS herbarium, Coimbatore (Madras Herbarium No. 88134). In the same year, Nayar (1952), from the Singampatti hill range of Western Ghats in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, reported Musa banksii (F.Muell) var. singampatti T.G.Nayar based on the occurrence of basal female flowers and irregular angulate seeds. The name fell into obscurity and apparently might have evaded the observation of Jacob. Simmonds (1956, 1960) reported that the basal flowers are functionally female not hermaphrodite in M. banksii var. singampatti, and suggested its close affinity with Musa acuminata ssp. burmannica N.W.Simmonds, which was further supported by De Langhe & Devreux (1960). Karthikeyan et al. (1989) enumerated the members of the family Musaceae in India wherein M. Kattuvazhana was listed. Hakkinen & Vare (2008) also supported the interpretation of Simmonds and pointed out that the variation certainly does not represent an infraspecific taxon of M. banksii and suggested it could be either a distinct species or perhaps a variety of Musa flaviflora N.W.Simmonds, which, however, Singh et al. (2001) and Uma et al. (2005) did not accept, stating the presence of seeds. Later, Joe et al. (2016) taxonomically described M. kattuvazhana from Idukki and Thrissur districts of Western Ghats in Kerala. Joe et al. derived M. acuminata ssp. burmannica, and M. banksii var. singampatti as its synonyms based on the morphological data from the literature, and classified the taxon as critically endangered species under IUCN. The reduction of M. banksii var. singampatti as a synonym of M. kattuvazhana was accepted by Govaerts and compiled in the database of World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP, 2020). Hareesh et al. (2017) reported the occurrence of M. kattuvazhana in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which seems to be misidentified