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Nanotechnology has recently gained increased attention for its capability to effectively diagnose and treat various tumors. Nanocarriers have been used to circumvent the problems associated with conventional antitumor drug delivery systems, including their nonspecificity, severe side effects, burst release and damaging the normal cells. Nanocarriers improve the bioavailability and therapeutic efficiency of antitumor drugs, while providing preferential accumulation at the target site. A number of nanocarriers have been developed; however, only a few of them are clinically approved for the delivery of antitumor drugs for their intended actions at the targeted sites. The present review is divided into three main parts: first part presents introduction of various nanocarriers and their relevance in the delivery of anticancer drugs, second part encompasses targeting mechanisms and surface functionalization on nanocarriers and third part covers the description of selected tumors, including breast, lungs, colorectal and pancreatic tumors, and applications of relative nanocarriers in these tumors. This review increases the understanding of tumor treatment with the promising use of nanotechnology.

The perception of phytoremediation is efficiently utilized as an eco-friendly practice of green plants combating and cleaning up the stressed environment without harming it. The industrial revolution was followed by the green revolution which fulfilled the food demands of the growing population caused an increase in yield per unit area in crop production, but it also increased the use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Globally, the intensive use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture has led to serious health problems and irreversible environmental damage. Biofertilizers improve the growth of the plant and can be applied as an alternative to chemical/synthetic fertilizers. Cyanobacteria, bacteria, and fungi are known as some of the principal microbe groups used to produce biofertilizers that form symbiotic associations with plants. Microorganisms perform a key role in phosphate solubilization and mobilization, nitrogen fixation, nutrient management, biotic elicitors and probiotics, and pollution management (biodegradation agents), specifically bacteria which also help in atmospheric nitrogen fixation and are thus available for the growth of the plant. Management or biodegradation of hazardous chemical residues and heavy metals produced by a huge number of large-scale industries should be given primary importance to be transformed by various bacterial strains, fungi, algae. Currently, modern omics technologies such as metagenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic are being used to develop strategies for studying the ecology of microorganisms, as well as their use in environmental monitoring and bioremediation. This review briefly discusses some of the major groups of microorganisms that can perform different functions responsible for plant health, crop production, phytoremediation and also focus on the omics techniques reportedly used in environmental monitoring to tackle the pollution load.

Salinity stress is a barrier to crop production, quality yield, and sustainable agriculture. The current study investigated the plant growth promotion, biochemical and molecular characterization of bacterial strain Enterobacter cloacae PM23 under salinity stress (i.e., 0, 300, 600, and 900 mM). E. cloacae PM23 showed tolerance of up to 3 M NaCl when subjected to salinity stress. Antibiotic-resistant Iturin C (ItuC) and bio-surfactant-producing genes (sfp and srfAA) were amplified in E. cloacae PM23, indicating its multi-stress resistance potential under biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, the upregulation of stress-related genes (APX and SOD) helped to mitigate salinity stress and improved plant growth. Inoculation of E. cloacae PM23 enhanced plant growth, biomass, and photosynthetic pigments under salinity stress. Bacterial strain E. cloacae PM23 showed distinctive salinity tolerance and plant growth-promoting traits such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, ACC deaminase, and exopolysaccharides production under salinity stress. To alleviate salinity stress, E. cloacae PM23 inoculation enhanced radical scavenging capacity, relative water content, soluble sugars, proteins, total phenolic, and flavonoid content in maize compared to uninoculated (control) plants. Moreover, elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes and osmoprotectants (Free amino acids, glycine betaine, and proline) were noticed in E. cloacae PM23 inoculated plants compared to control plants. The inoculation of E. cloacae PM23 significantly reduced oxidative stress markers under salinity stress. These findings suggest that multi-stress tolerant E. cloacae PM23 could enhance plant growth by mitigating salt stress and provide a baseline and ecofriendly approach to address salinity stress for sustainable agriculture.

Background and Objective: Medicinal plants represent an important source of alternative medicine for the management of various diseases. The present study was undertaken to assess the potential of Lawsonia inermis ethanol (Li.Et) and chloroform (Li.Chf) extracts as memory-enhancing agents in experimental animals. Materials and Methods: Li.Et and Li.Chf were phytochemically characterized via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Samples were tested for nootropic potentials at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg (per oral in experimental animals (p.o.)). Swiss albino mice of either sex (n = 210) were divided into 21 × 10 groups for each animal model. Memory-enhancing potentials of the samples were assessed using two methods including “without inducing amnesia” and “induction of amnesia” by administration of diazepam (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Piracetam at 400 mg/kg (i.p.) was used as positive control. Cognitive behavioral models including elevated plus maze (EPM) and the passive shock avoidance (PSA) paradigm were used. Biochemical markers of oxidative stress such as glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were analyzed in the brain tissue of treated mice. Results: In 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals scavenging assay, Li.Et and Li.Chf exhibited 70.98 ± 1.56 and 66.99 ± 1.76% inhibitions respectively at 1.28 mg/mL concentration. GCMS results revealed the presence of important phytochemicals. Both samples (Li.Et and Li.Chf) at 25 mg/kg (p.o.) dose significantly (p < 0.05) improved learning and memory as indicated by decline in transfer latency and increase in step down latency in EPM and PSA models respectively. Li.Et and Li.Chf at 25 mg/kg (p.o.) showed considerable increase in GSH (2.75 ± 0.018 ***), SOD (2.61 ± 0.059 ***) and CAT (2.71 ± 0.049 ***) levels as compared to positive and negative control groups. Conclusions: This study provides the preliminary clue that L. inermis may be a potential source of memory-enhancing and anti-oxidant compounds and thus warrant further studies.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination is an increasing environmental and agricultural concern due to the persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulative nature of metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). These pollutants are primarily introduced through industrial effluents, mining, and agrochemicals, negatively impacting soil health, crop productivity, and food safety, ultimately posing serious risks to both ecosystems and human health. Conventional remediation methods can be costly, labor-intensive, and environmentally disruptive. Heavy metals like Cd, Pb, Hg, and As disrupt cellular homeostasis, inhibit photosynthesis, generate oxidative stress, and interfere with nutrient uptake, leading to significant yield losses in plants. In response to these stresses, plants utilize complex molecular mechanisms for tolerance, including the activation of antioxidant enzymes, upregulation of metal transporters, production of metal-chelating molecules, and modulation of stress-responsive genes and transcription factors. In contrast, bioremediation offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative by leveraging the detoxification capabilities of plants, microbes, and their symbiotic interactions. Techniques such as phytoremediation, microbial-assisted remediation, and integrated strategies involving biochar and organic amendments have demonstrated promising results in restoring heavy metal-contaminated soils. Recent advancements in molecular biology and synthetic biology have further improved the efficiency of bioremediation through the genetic engineering of hyperaccumulator plant species and metal-resistant microbes. This review examines the toxic effects of heavy metals on plants and highlights innovative, nature-based remediation strategies, emphasizing their potential for scalable and sustainable environmental cleanup.

Soil salinity is one of the significant abiotic threats to crops that deteriorates crop yields, and the world’s increasing population faces serious food problems due to abiotic threats. It is one of the major abiotic problems affecting more than 30% of irrigated land across the globe. The concentrations of various salts, such as NaCl, KCl, Na 2 SO 4 , and Na 2 CO 3 , cause saline stress; however, NaCl is the most abundant salt in the soil. Salinity could affect seed germination due to osmotic potential or due to specific toxic ion effects, and it decreases germination percentage and increases germination time, and high salt stress is responsible for delaying seed germination. Therefore, it is necessary to alleviate the negative impact of soil salinity during seedling growth periods, so the growth of crops in salt-affected soil will be much more enhanced. Seed priming is the utmost effective technique that could mitigate the harmful impact of soil salinity. This methodology not only minimizes the salinity tolerance but also strengthens the defense system of crops. In this technique, the hydration level within the seeds is controlled by applying pre-sowing treatments, allowing specific pre-germinative metabolic processes to occur and preventing radical emergence. Seed priming also decreases the seed germination time and improves antioxidant enzyme activities, stopping or minimizing reactive oxygen species’ adverse effects. It enhances the seedling performance with rapid and homogenous germination and vigorous and dynamic growth of the seedling, achieving a physiological situation leading to quick and enhanced emergence and germination of various crops. This review covers the mechanisms of seed priming, salinity tolerance, seed priming crosstalk with salinity tolerance, and seed priming techniques that induce biochemical, physiological, and morphological mechanisms in saline stress. Further research needs to be performed on advanced seed priming methods such as priming with nanoparticles and seed priming with physical agents (UV radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, and microwaves) to minimize the negative impact of salinity stress on different crops under different harsh environmental conditions.

Bird’s-foot trefoil (BFT) is an underutilized perennial legume of increasing importance for sustainable agriculture in Europe, particularly within the Hemi-boreal zone of the Baltic states. It is a resistant, symbiosis-forming, and abiotic stress resistance making it a nitrogen-fixing soil, high potential of biodiversity conservation, pasture restoration, and low input farming systems. Yet, molecular genetic investigations of BFT with systematic investigations populations, of Lithuania, of Latvia, and of Estonia, are practically non-existent, to develop a critical knowledge gap in the agricultural development of the region and conservation planning. This gap is filled by this review through (1) synthesizing global evidence on BFT genetic diversity, population structure, adaptive traits, and characteristics revealed by molecular markers; (2) surveying the little information on the same already available distribution, habitat diversity, and ecotypic variation of the Baltic region; (3) the critical assessment of the applicability of the findings of neighboring European, Transcaucasian, and Central Asian races to Baltic Hemi-boreal states; and (4) setting out a research framework and future research priorities in Baltics-specific genetic studies. We point out the action of ecological gradients, climatic anthropogenic activities, pressures, and biotic interactions on population differentiation and adaptability based on research of the neighboring lands and ecological zones. By directly filling in the existing gap of lack of Baltic-specific molecular data, our analysis creates a level of cognition, which is a synthesis of global comprehension research and a knowledge road map of addressing gaps of knowledge that are critical. The findings underscore that BFT needs genetic diversity to be able to persist despite alteration. Hemi-boreal status and satisfaction of European Union biodiversity and agriculture sustainability goals. Local genetic resources will be tapped through the collection of customized germplasm, which will be molecularly characterized and bred according to their specific ecotype. This approach is essential for developing robust forage systems and supporting productive grassland restoration in the Baltic States. The findings underscore that genetic diversity in BFT is essential for its persistence under changing Hemi-boreal conditions and for meeting European Union biodiversity and agriculture sustainability goals. High genetic diversity provides the adaptive foundation necessary for breeding stress-tolerant cultivars, enhancing nitrogen fixation efficiency, and maintaining ecosystem resilience under climate variability and evolving agricultural practices. The conservation of local genetic resources, molecular characterization, and breeding of ecotypes will be crucial for utilizing these resources to develop resilient forage systems and promote efficient grassland recovery in the Baltic States, where baseline genetic diversity data remains limited.

When Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) is present in the water, food supply, or both, it leads to the rapid development of typhoid fever. Because lettuce is an ideal host for S. Typhi's survival, lettuce grown in animal manure can be the probable source of typhoid fever. Prompt identification and proper antibiotic treatment can lessen the burden of typhoid fever on the public health system. A male farmer, age 29, was admitted to our hospital with a serious major complaint of abdominal pain, lack of appetite, and runny diarrhea. The newly hospitalized patient had a 2-week history of high-grade fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, watery diarrhea, back pain, and generalized body aches. Blood culture is the most accurate test for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Blood culture was positive and showed sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and other drugs. To cure the typhoid, 500 mg of ciprofloxacin was administered twice daily for 7 days. Pathogenic components, species that are infected, and host immunity all play a role in typhoid fever pathogenesis. Typhoid fever is common in underdeveloped countries due to tainted food or hazardous water sources. This report's main goals are to draw attention to the significance of food safety procedures and to the potential dangers of consuming raw vegetables.

Foliar application of micronutrients and plant growth regulators (PGRs) is one of the strategies of plant-feeding direct through leaves to allow rapid uptake irrespective of soil condition. This is the best way to enhance nutrient balance and its accumulation in the crops that, in turn, lead to improved crop yield and quality. This research studied the effect of boron (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) and gibberellic acid (GA3; 0, 20, 40, and 60 ppm) on quality fruit production of pear. Fruit weight, yield (kg/tree), minimum fruit drop (%) and disease incidence (%) were significantly enhanced in fruit sprayed with 75 ppm boron while fruit firmness (kg/cm), total soluble solids (° Brix), fruit juice pH, ascorbic acid content, and minimum titratable acidity (%) significantly increased in pear fruit sprayed with 100 ppm boron. The highest contents of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants (%) were observed in pear fruit sprayed with 100 ppm of boron and 60 ppm of GA3. Maximum fruit firmness, total soluble solids (° Brix), fruit juice pH, ascorbic acid with minimum titratable acidity (%) were recorded in plants sprayed with 60 ppm GA3. Boron (100 ppm) and GA3 (60 ppm) could be applied at the fruit set stage to obtain the quality fruit production of pear.

The use of agricultural chemicals has adversely affected soil health and the environment. Organic farming practices, particularly vermicompost (VC), are gaining attention for their potential to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This study investigated VC rate applications on lettuce growth, yield, soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, enzyme activity, biological parameters, and biochemical aspects under greenhouse conditions in Samsun, Turkey during 2022–2023. Experimentally, VC was applied at rates of V1: 1%, V2: 2%, and V3: 4% w/w, with a control group without VC application, V0: 0% w/w. Batavia lettuce, which is sensitive to environmental conditions and nutrient deficiency, was subjected to these treatments in a randomized complete block design, replicated thrice. Results showed consistent improvements in plant dry weight across all VC treatments, with the 2% application rate (V2) yielding the highest increase in lettuce yield (56.43%). Soil pH varied across treatments, with V1 being slightly alkaline and V3 showing high electrical conductivity and increased nitrogen content. Phosphorus content increased in all treatments, while potassium varied, with V3 having the highest values. Soil enzyme activities increased with VC concentrations, with V3 showing the highest urease activity. Pearson correlations confirmed positive associations with growth parameters and soil enzymatic activity. These findings highlight vermicompost as a sustainable solution for lettuce production and soil improvement.