Antimicrobial activity and physicochemical properties of Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil

This study was aimed to assess the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil and characterize the physicochemical properties. Seeds were collected from the local central market, Khartoum-Sudan (2019). The samples were dried under shade and grinded, then the oil was extracted with a Soxhlet extractor using n-hexane. The percentage yield of the extract was found to be 25.64%. The seed oil was tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (G-), Escherichia coli (G-), Bacillus subtilis (G+), Staphylococcus aureus (G+), and Candida albicans to assess their antimicrobial properties. The extract of B. aegyptiaca seed oil has antimicrobial activity against most of the organisms tested. The fatty acid profile of the B. aegyptiaca seed oil was analyzed by GC/MS. The results revealed that the presence of five fatty acids, including saturated linoleic acid, oleic acid, and unsaturated palmate and stearic acids, also a unique antioxidant compound butylated hydroxytoluene. The physiochemical properties of the seed oil showed that the oil contained kinetic viscosity (57 cp), density (0.917 g/cm3), refractive index (1.472), acid value (49.96 mg/kg), saponification value (248.75 mg/g), ester number (234.79 mg/kg) and peroxide number (0.02 mg/kg). Through physiochemical analysis, it was found that oil can be used for human consumption due to the percentage yield of unsaturated acids (81%). In addition, the results of the antioxidant activity of the seeds oil showed that the seed oil had moderate antioxidant activity.

Biosorption Removal of Methylene Blue Dye from Aqueous Solutions using Phosphoric Acid-Treated Balanites Aegyptiaca Seed Husks Powder

Water contamination caused by the presence of synthetic dye is one of the world's major environmental concerns. This work aims to explore the potential application of non-carbonized phosphoric acid-treated Balanites aegyptiaca "heglig" seed husks powder (BASHP) as a bio-sorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal from water bodies. BASHP was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characteristics of BASHP, such as the iodine number, point of zero charges, solubility, and specific surface area (SMB) were also estimated. The biosorption of MB onto the BASHP surface was studied in batch mode under various conditions (contact time, shaking speed, solution temperature, initial solution pH, ionic strength, initial dye concentration, and biosorbent dosage). The adsorption kinetics and isotherm were better described by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. More than 97% of MB was removed, and the maximum biosorbed amount of MB (qmax) was 72.99 mg/g. Thermodynamics findings revealed that the proposed biosorption is an endothermic and spontaneous process. These findings showed that BASHP is a potentially eco-friendly, easily available, and low-cost material for removing hazardous dyes (e.g., methylene blue) from an aquatic environment, as well as a promising method for reducing agricultural solid waste (e.g., seed husks).

Removal of methylene blue using balanites aegyptiaca bark powder as low-cost and eco-friendly biosorbent

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the potential application of Balanites aegyptiaca bark powder (BABP) for removing a basic textile dye, methylene blue (MB), from aqueous solutions. Design/methodology/approach The biosorbent (BABP) was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and point of zero charge (pHPZC). Batch mode was selected to study the biosorption of MB onto BABP surface at different experimental conditions (shaking speed, contact time, initial solution pH, ionic strength, solution temperature, biosorbent dosage and initial dye concentration). Besides, the reusability of BABP for MB biosorption was also examined. Findings The biosorption results revealed that approximately 96% of MB was removed successfully at the optimized operational conditions. Pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively, better described the adsorption kinetics and isotherms. The monolayer biosorption capacity (qmax) for MB was about 97.09 mg/g. According to thermodynamics findings, the MB biosorption onto BABP is an exothermic and spontaneous process. The results demonstrate that BABP can be considered as potential eco-friendly, readily available and low-cost biosorbent for hazardous textile dyes removal from water bodies and also provides a promising method for minimization of agricultural solid wastes (e.g. plant barks). Originality/value The utilization of Balanites aegyptiaca bark powder (BABP), solid waste material, as low-cost and eco-friendly biosorbent for the removal of hazardous basic textile dye (methylene blue) from the aquatic environment.

Physicochemical Potential of Balanites aegyptiaca Seed Kernel Oil from Northern Cameroon for Biodiesel valorization

This research work reports the physicochemical potentialities of Balanites aegyptiaca kernel oil for biodiesel valorization. Balanites seed was sampling from Pitoa, Maroua and Moutourwa localities located from North Cameroon and the kernel oil was extracted using Soxhlet apparatus. The physicochemical and the free fatty acid composition of kernel oils was determined. Among the three samples, those of Pitoa shows the higher oil yield (56.6 %). All the Refractive index of these oils were ranged in ASTM and their kinematic viscosities were small compared to the EN ISO 3104 standard. The Acid values measured were all less than EN 14104 standard and the iodine values were in accordance with EN 14111 standard, whereas, the saponification value for the samples of Maroua (139.5 ± 0.07) was higher than those of Pitoa (123.6 ± 0.04) and Moutourwa (131.5 ± 0.06) and the Peroxide values measured were lower than 10 meq/Kg. Unsaturated fatty acids were higher for the sample of Maroua (78.8 %) than those of Moutourwa (76.9%) and Pitoa (77.7 %). This research work indicate that B.aegyptiaca kernel oil obtainable from North Cameroon as higher yield (50.7-56.6%). The kernel oil shows good physicochemical properties and fatty acids profile which can be valorised as a feedstock for the production of biodiesel. Place and Duration of Study: School of Chemical Engineering and Minerals Industries - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ngaoundere – Cameroon work takes place between October 2020 and Jun 2021.

INFLUENCE OF AUXIN ON IN VITRO SECONDARY METABOLITES PRODUCTION FROM BALANITES AEGYPTIACA CALLUS CULTURES

The present work was conducted in order to investigate the effect of auxin type (2,4-D and NAA) and concentration (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mg/l) on Balanites aegyptiaca callus cultures growth and production of secondary metabolites. Obtained results demonstrated that supplementation MS medium with 2,4-D at 2.0 mg/l could enhanced and recorded the ultimate values of callus fresh weight, antioxidant activity (%), total flavonoids, total phenolic compounds and total saponins contents and yields of Balanites aegyptiaca L. callus.

In-silico discovery of antidiabetic drug potential of Balanites aegyptiaca leaf’s phenolic compounds

<i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> leaf is very effective in managing diabetes and rich in phenolic compounds. However, the modes of action of the phytochemicals are mainly unknown. Thus, the present in silico drug discovery study on some phenolic compounds was designed to evaluate potential mechanisms of action of the antihyperglycemic phytochemicals of <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> leaf extract. The study deployed in silico drug-like studying techniques such as; predicted activity spectra of substances (PASS), molecular docking, prediction of adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), Lipinski’s rule of 5 (PLOP). The study reveals six compounds with good drug-like properties: cLogp, hydrogen bond donor/acceptor (<5/ < 10), and molar refractivity. In addition, ADMET and drug properties like kinase inhibitors, ion channel modulators, and nuclear receptors were positive for the compounds. Each phenolic compound showed one or more antidiabetic activities like insulin promoter, insulin sensitizer and inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Docking result predicted that the phenolic compounds inhibited either α-amylase or α-glucosidase while one of the compounds; 2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-phenol inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase with binding energies of -4.4 and -4.2 kcal/mol against -3.8 and -4.8 kcal/mol by Acarbose. The study revealed that phenolic compounds from <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> leaf possessed drug-like properties, including the ability to interact with α-amylase and α-glucosidase, a vital target protein in the management of diabetes mellitus. The data from the in silico study is a step toward the pharmaceutical discovery of the antidiabetic drug potential of <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> leaf.

Variations des caractéristiques physiques et mécaniques du bois de Balanites aegyptiaca en fonction de trois provenances

Balanites aegyptiaca est une espèce caractéristique et emblématique des zones sèches d’Afrique et d’Asie. Elle revêt une grande importance socio-économique dans toute sa zone naturelle de répartition du fait de ses multiples usages. Toutefois, les propriétés technologiques de son bois sont mal connues, d’où des utilisations parfois inappropriées mais qui pourraient être élargies. Afin de mieux adapter ses applications à ses caractéristiques, nous avons déterminé les indicateurs de stabilité physique (masse volumique, infradensité, retrait radial total, retrait tangentiel total, retrait volumique total et point de saturation des fibres) et les indicateurs de comportement mécanique (module d’élasticité longitudinal, contrainte de rupture en flexion et compression) de ce bois. Quatre-vingt-treize éprouvettes prélevées dans 13 arbres provenant des zones sahélienne et soudanienne tchadiennes, et de la zone sahélienne sénégalaise ont été testées. Les résultats obtenus montrent que, pour les trois provenances, le bois de B. aegyptiaca est mi-lourd (797 kg/m3) avec une stabilité dimensionnelle moyenne : l’anisotropie de retrait est supérieure à 2 (2,2), le retrait radial total et le retrait tangentiel total sont moyens, respectivement égaux à 4 % et 8,5 %. Ses caractéristiques mécaniques sont moyennes (contraintes de rupture en compression et flexion statique respectivement égales à 49,4 MPa et 104,5 MPa) à faible (module d’élasticité longitudinal de 10 473 MPa). Une comparaison des résultats obtenus en fonction des zones de prélèvement a mis en évidence des tendances variables selon les caractéristiques étudiées. Ces variations entre les trois provenances restent cependant limitées. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que le bois de B. aegyptiaca pourrait être utilisé de façon appropriée sous forme de matériau pour une plus large gamme d’emplois, sous réserve de la mise en place d’une gestion adaptée permettant sa restauration par plantation.