Curcumin has acquired an important position in the treatment of various diseases. But its use, as a chemotherapeutic agent, is limited due to its low water solubility, poor bioavailability, and its sensitive nature at the physiological pH. To overcome this, curcumin was loaded into chitosan phosphate nanoparticles (CPNs). The loading efficiency was found to be 84%. DLS studies revealed the average particle size of CPNs and curcumin-loaded CPNs as 53 and 91 nm, respectively, and TEM results supplemented these values. A sustained release pattern was noticed and the amount of curcumin released in acidic pH was higher than at physiological pH. The curcumin nanoformulation exhibited proficient activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungus. Cytocompatibility of the nanoformulations against peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and murine monocyte-macrophage cell line was confirmed by incubating with PBMCs and murine monocyte-macrophage cell line.

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The Eastern Himalayan foothills constitute an important part of the Indo-Burma hotspot due to their richness in biodiversity and representative nature for the region. This contribution enhances the data bank on the variation in rich floral diversity from northeast India. Here, we present the first palynological report for the region on palaeovegetation and past climate variations as reflected in the Subankhata swamp of Assam. This is an attempt to show the affinity of the vegetation records of this swamp with Indo-Burma flora based on the remarkable similarity in the trend of vegetation changes over a time period of about 27,000 yrs. The studied palynoassemblage reflects six different vegetational and climatic phases (S-I to S-VI) since the Late Pleistocene. The first phase (S-I) comprises compact organic clay with a little silt. During this phase, a vast lowland savanna forest existed in a cool and dry climate regime similar to what was observed during the Ice Age. Later, during the S-II phase, the forest initially continued with little alteration in tree taxa under a relatively less cool and dry climate. Thereafter, the establishment of forest occurred under the influence of moderate monsoons that led to the onset of a warm and humid climate during the S-III phase which mainly comprises organic clay with silt. During the span of the S-IV phase, vegetation consisting of Dipterocarpaceae, Mesua ferrea, Elaeocarpus and Syzygium are found, indicating warm and humid climatic conditions with high rainfall. The clearance of forest by humans has also been noted in this period. Subsequently, during the S-V zone, the beginning of a gradual decline in arboreals suggests an acceleration in forest clearance, possibly due to human activities as the climate turned warm and less humid. Entering the S-VI zone (probably Late Holocene), a drastic decline occurred in major tree elements, implying relatively dry climatic conditions indicating weakened monsoonal activity. The trend in our findings shows a clear affinity of these variations in the region with the whole Indo-Burma range since the Late Pleistocene.

The present study was designed to synthesize Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in aqueous medium using leaf extract of Gynocardia odorata R. Br. (Achariaceae). The synthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using different technique such as UV-Visible Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The reduction of Ag ions to initiate nucleation and subsequent Ostwald Ripening to form nanoparticles was made possible by the presence of various antioxidants in the leaves of Gynocardia odorata. These antioxidants served both as reducing and capping agents. The synthesized Ag-NPs were found to be polydispersed in nature and spherical in shape. With the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) optical absorption band peak at ~440 nm was observed using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. FTIR confirmed the presence of methoxy and allyl groups in the synthesized Ag-NPs and nearly 15-45 nm diameter spherical shaped NPs was validated using TEM. The synthesized Ag-NPs were stable for a long period (more than six months) and showed good antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains and the effect was higher as compared to the normal aqueous extract.

In the present study silver nanoparticles (AgNP s ) were synthesized using leaves of bamboo plant, Bambus vulgaris and the size of the nanoparticles was confirmed using XRD, EDAX, SEM, TEM, PSA analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized NP s showed a good antibacterial activity against the waterborne isolates, E. coli, Staphyllococcus aureus, Vibrio cholera and Salmonella sp. Further the anti algal activity of the NP s was tested against the algae, Dictyosphaerium pulchellum, and Algoriphagus chordate. The SEM studies revealed that the AgNP s breaks the cell wall of algae and inhibits the growth. The safe dose of AgNP s can be used in aquaculture farms, household water tanks and other small water bodies to wipe out waterborne pathogens and algal bloom.