Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Introduction: Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is an economically and medicinally significant plant valued for its essential oil. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) act as potent elicitors, triggering defense responses that include the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, the impact of AgNPs on peppermint’s physico-biochemical traits and essential oil performance remains underexplored.
Aims:  This study aimed to evaluate the effects of AgNPs on various physico-biochemical characteristics and essential oil performance in peppermint. The analyzed parameters, including H₂O₂, soluble proteins, phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX), and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), were examined to determine the optimal concentrations for enhanced metabolic activity.
Materials and methods: Rhizomes were planted in pots and grown under controlled greenhouse conditions, including a daytime temperature of 25°C, a photoperiod of 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness, and a relative humidity of 60. At the ten-leaf stage, plants underwent foliar spraying with 0 (control), 1, and 2 mM AgNPs. The AgNPs solution was prepared, characterized via UV-Vis spectroscopy, and SEM (20 nm quasi-spherical particles). A completely randomized design with three replicates was used to assess parameters including H₂O₂ content, soluble proteins, phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoids), and essential oil performance. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and LSD tests (p<0.05).
Results: AgNPs significantly elevated all measured parameters compared to the control in a generally concentration-dependent manner: Treatment with 1 and 2 mM AgNPs increased H₂O₂ content by 2- and 3-fold, respectively. Treatment with 2 mM AgNPs resulted in a 2.4-fold increase in protein content. 1 and 2 mM AgNPs resulted in a 2.8- and 2.6-fold increase in leaf phenolic content, respectively. Concentrations of 1 and 2 mM AgNPs resulted in a 1.8- and 2.6-fold increase in leaf flavonoid content, respectively. Treatment with 2 mM AgNPs resulted in a 3.3-fold increase in SOD activity. Treatment with 2 mM AgNPs had a significant positive effect (about a 2.2-fold) on CAT enzyme activity. However, treatment with 1 mM AgNPs failed to affect CAT enzyme activity. AgNPs 1 and 2 mM increased APX enzyme activity by 1.7 and 2.5 times, respectively. Treatment with 1 and 2 mM AgNPs increased total chlorophyll concentration by 2.4- and 3-fold, respectively. 1 and 2 mM AgNPs increased carotenoid concentration by 1.8- and 3.5-fold, respectively. Treatment with 1 and 2 mM increased essential oil yield by 2.2- and 2.3-fold, respectively.
Discussion: AgNPs significantly increased the level of H₂O₂, soluble proteins, phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX), chlorophyll, carotenoids, and essential oil yield. Although the mechanisms of plant response to AgNP elicitors are not well understood, we proposed that the improvement in peppermint’s physico-biochemical traits in our study was due to the following series of mechanisms: AgNPs induce ROS (e.g., H₂O₂) generation through NADPH oxidase activation and electron leakage from organelles. This oxidative stress activates MAPK cascades and calcium signaling, which upregulate transcription factors (MYB, bHLH). These transcription factors subsequently enhance the expression of phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes (e.g., PAL) and terpenoid biosynthesis genes, leading to increased essential oil biosynthesis and accumulation. AgNP elicitors also improve antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, APX) to mitigate ROS damage. In addition to the enzymatic antioxidant system, AgNPs enhance components of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, including phenols and phenoloids. Furthermore, these nanoparticles upregulate key chlorophyll biosynthesis genes (HEMA1, CHLH), while suppress degradation-related genes (NYC1, PAO), resulting in elevated photosynthetic pigment concentrations.
Conclusion: Foliar application of 2 mM AgNPs significantly enhances peppermint’s antioxidant capacity, photosynthetic efficiency, and essential oil biosynthesis by modulating ROS-mediated signaling. Therefore, this concentration is recommended for maximizing peppermint’s medicinal and economic potential. Future studies should explore broader concentration ranges and early gene expression responses (6–12 h post-treatment).

Abstract Nanotechnology is an emerging branch of science that is widely used in various fields including medicine. Nanoparticles (NPs) are produced by various compounds in size, shape, and different chemical properties, which can be used in a variety of biological and biomedical applications. Metal NPs are used widely in many fields and have various properties making them appropriate for use in medical applications.
Zinc is an essential trace element for almost all living organisms. Due to possessing a significant role in versatile biological processes, including fetal development, natural growth, wound healing, metabolism, immunity, cognitive functions, sperm generation, bone mineralization, neurological, and enzymatic processes.
In recent decades, zinc oxide NPs have been one of the most popular types of NPs with numerous biological applications due to their biocompatibility and low toxicity and are used in a wide range of commercial applications including applications in many different industries such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, dyes, rubber, tissue engineering, antibacterial agents, and anti-cancer. Nowadays, significant scientific interest has been directed toward the application of nanomaterials in the modulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation for further application in regenerative medicine. Zinc is one of the most plentiful trace metals in the human body and was reported to be essential for the regeneration of bone. ZnO-NPs exhibit attractive antibacterial properties. Particular emphasis was given to bactericidal and bacteriostatic mechanisms with a focus on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS has been a major factor for several mechanisms including cell wall damage due to ZnO-localized interaction, enhanced membrane permeability, internalization of NPs due to loss of proton motive force, and uptake of toxic dissolved zinc ions.  ZnO NPs present certain cytotoxicity in cancer cells and induce cancer cell death via the apoptosis signaling pathway. This autophagy induction was positively correlated with the dissolution of ZnO NPs in lysosomes to release zinc ions, and zinc ions released from ZnO NPs were able to damage lysosomes, leading to impaired autophagic flux and mitochondria.
ZnO nanostructures, featuring antimicrobial activity, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis, have been also combined with additive manufacturing technologies with the final aim of designing novel advanced hybrid scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Zinc deficiency is positively correlated with diabetes and may also affect the progress of Type 2 diabetes. Several zinc complexes have been synthesized and proven to be effective in rodent models of diabetes.
ROS are generated by metal oxide nanoparticles which considerably help in fibroblast proliferation. The interlinkage of the fibroblast cells and zinc oxide nanoparticles was impacted by the surface area and particle size of the nanoparticles. Zinc oxide nanoparticles dressing increases apoptosis, bacteria clearance, platelet activation, tissue necrosis, re-epithelialization, tissue scar formation, debris removal, angiogenesis, and stem cell activation through wound healing. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (DDS) can overcome the aforementioned limitations by releasing the drugs in a slow and sustained manner and delivering them to the desired area of the body system. This article provides an overview of some of the research relating to the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles in biological sciences.

Abstract Aim: 7-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (7-BIO) is a well-known glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibitor with anticancer effects on different cancer cell lines. However, due to its low water solubility, absorption and high gastrointestinal toxicity, it has been inapplicable in clinics so far. In the present study, bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) were prepared as drug carriers.
 Material and methods: to be conjugated with 7-BIO to increase the effectiveness and reduce the toxicity. The nanoparticles were synthesized and conjugated with 7-BIO and their sizes were analysed by using scanning electron microscopy. Also, the viability and apoptosis in the cells treated with 7-BIO conjugated nanoparticles were examined by MTT assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining (AO/EB), respectively. The significance of the data variation was evaluated by using ANOVA test.
Results: 10 mg/ml albumin led to spherical nanoparticles (NPs) of 89.42±7 nm in diameter with mono dispersity. MTT assay showed that 7Bio-loaded BSA NPs had a higher toxic effect on MCF-7 cell line compared to the free 7-BIO. Also, AO/EB staining showed that the apoptosis was induced by 7-BIO treatments. 7-BIO is known to specifically inhibit GSK3β phosphorylate GSK3β, which was also evident in our treated breast cancer cell line MCF-7 both with free and loaded BSA NPs 7Bio.
 Conclusion: The albumin nanoparticles conjugated with the GSK3 inhibitor effectively decreased the viability of the proliferating breast cancer cell line MCF-7, pointing at its possible clinical impact in future.
 
 

Abstract Aim: Effects of two nanoparticles were investigated on the expression of STR, DAT and D4H genes in periwinkle.
Material and Methods: For this purpose, concentrations of 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg per liter of cobalt and zinc oxide nanoparticles were used. Sampling was carried out at 0, 8, 24 and 48 hours after treatment.
Results: Gene expression analysis was performed by the SQ-RT-PCR method. In general, both elicitors influenced gene expression. But, the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the gene expression were more pronounced than cobalt oxide nanoparticles. The highest expression of STR and D4H genes were occurred in 0.5 mg per liter of zinc oxide nanoparticles after 8 hours treatment, while in the case of DAT gene, it occurred in concentration of 1 mg per liter of this nanoparticle. Moreover, Cobalt oxide nanoparticles in most of the studied concentrations and time intervals caused decreases in gene expression.
Conclusion: Both nanoparticles had significant effects on gene expression of vinblastine and vincristine pathways.

Abstract Aim: This study examined the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on some hematological tests of Rainbow catfish as a valuable ornamental and food fish species. Material and Methods: 40 fish (average size 12 g) were exposed to different concentrations (1 and 20 µg/L) of AgNPs (average hydrodynamic diameter 54.8 nm) and silver nitrate under constant-renewal condition for 10 days plus a control group (10 fish). At the end of the first and tenth days of exposure, blood samples were taken and conventional hematological tests measured. Results: The mean red blood cell counts (RBC), hematocrit and hemoglobin were increased in 20 µg/L of AgNPs on first day (p < 0.05). There was, however, no differences between treatments at the last day of exposure (P>0.05). In both first and last, there was no changes in the secondary hematological indices (P>0.05). High dose of AgNPs in last day led to increase of white blood cell count (WBC) relative to the control group and first day (p < 0.05). Significant changes in differential white blood cell count (DWBC) were also observed of AgNPs and silver nitrate in both times (p < 0.05). On the tenth day, glucose in both AgNPs treatments was increased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Significant changes in RBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin, WBC, DWBC and glucose in high dose of AgNPs may indicate toxic effect of AgNPs.