Nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in various fields such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extract is a very efficient, cost-effective, useful, and environmentally friendly method. A plant extract acts as a reducing agent in the formation of nanoparticles. Catharanthus roseus is one of the potential plants for biosynthesis of nanoparticles due to its easy availability. In the present study, the Catharanthus roseus plant extract was used to synthesize iron nanoparticles. UV-vis spectroscopy, DLS, and FTIR were performed for characterization of synthesized nanoparticles. Further antibacterial and dye degrading properties of synthesized iron nanoparticles have been investigated. It was found that Catharanthus roseus-synthesized iron nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and dye degradation activity against methyl orange dye.

Bacoside is a phytocompound found in Bacopa monnieri (BM) which is very useful to treat various disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, ulcer, bronchitis, asthma, and a number of other diseases. It is a tetracyclic triterpenoid saponins-dammarane; various types of bacosides are present in the plant BM which includes bacoside A, bacoside B, bacopaside and bacopasaponin. Due to its pharmaceutical importance, there is an increase in demand for this plant which is leading towards the extinction of the plant. In natural conditions production of bacoside is low due to various environmental factors and species variations. Production of bacoside is time-consuming and not feasible, when exploiting conventional methods. Production of bacoside can be enhanced by using biotechnological approaches such as cell suspension culture, shoot culture, root culture and hairy root culture. By providing essential media, nutrients and optimum growth conditions production of bacosides can be improved. Bioreactors can also be used for the large-scale production of bacosides as they provide a suitable environment for growth of the plant. Therefore, in this review chemistry of bacosides, biosynthesis, pharmaceutical applications and production enhancement strategies have been discussed.