In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Essential Oil and β-Bisabolol Derived from Cotton Gin Trash

Natural α-bisabolol has been widely used in cosmetics and is sourced mainly from the stems of Candeia trees that have become endangered due to over exploitation. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of cotton gin trash (CGT) essential oil and the major terpenoid (β-bisabolol) purified from the oil were investigated against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages as well as the 3t3 and HS27 fibroblast cell lines. Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) were measured using Greiss reagent, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and cytokine bead array (CBA)-flow cytometry. Non-toxic concentrations of CGT oil and β-bisabolol (1.6–50.0 µg/mL) significantly inhibited the production of the inflammatory mediators in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal inhibition by β-bisabolol was 55.5% for NO, 62.3% for PGE2, and 45.3% for TNF-α production in RAW cells. β-Bisabolol induced a level of inhibition similar to an equal concentration of α-bisabolol (50.0 µg/mL), a known anti-inflammatory agent. These results suggest β-bisabolol exerts similar in vitro effects to known topical anti-inflammatory agents and could therefore be exploited for cosmetic and therapeutic uses. This is the first study to report the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of β-bisabolol in CGT essential oil.

Chemistry of the Gasification of Carbonaceous Raw Material

The paper represents the studies of the process of carbonaceous raw material gasification. The initial material is represented by bituminous coal of grade H with the carbon (C) content of 79.2-85.3 %. Experimental studies have been used to substantiate the parameters of combustible generator gases (СО, Н2, СН4) output depending on the temperature of a reduction zone of the reaction channel and gas flow velocity along its length. It has been identified that the volume of the raw material input to be used for gasification process changes in direct proportion depending on the amount of burnt-out carbon and blow velocity. The gasification is intensified in terms of equal concentration of oxygen and carbon in the reaction channel of an underground gas generator. The gasification rate is stipulated by the intensity of chemical reactions, which depend immediately on the modes of blow mixture supply. Moreover, they depend directly on the intensity of oxygen supply to the coal mass and removal of the gasification products.

The influence of carbon component structure of graphene containing shungite on its electrical conductivity.

The investigation of the influence of carbon component structure of graphene containing shungite on its electrical conductivity is carried out. Five shungite samples from three different deposits with the same carbon content equal to 97% were selected as the object of research. It is established that the integral conductivity of specimens which is measured by four-contact method is changed in frames from 600 Sm/m to 2500 Sm/m. For the interpretation of so large scattering of data by equal concentration it was undertaken the investigation of carbon component structure on nano-level which was made by method of high-distinguish raster electron microscopy. By this method on the microscopic section of these specimens was obtained the cards of surface distribution of graphene slides and graphene packets. For the analysis of conductivity of specimens on the basis of these cards it was employed the method of independent channels. This method employs the presentation of specimen as a combination from parallel current-leading channels with following distribution of channel to cubic space blocks. The successive connection of blocks with accounting of slides orientation determines the total resistance of each channel and the parallel connections of all channels determines the specific conductivity of specimen as a whole. For the obtaining the quantity characteristics the whole card was distributed to some more small regions – fields. In this case the obtained results are averaged by the whole square of card. For the analysis of the field the method of square discretization was used. By this method the whole field id distributed to individual squares which dimension is near to the dimension of graphene packet. It was established that the character of structure in each square has two variants: first when the slides of graphene has clear determined spatial orientation ant the second when special orientation is absent and by orientation the squares are neutral. It is made the quantity analysis of neutral squares along the all specimens. It is shown that the normalized quantity of neutral squares is straight proportional to specific conductivity of specimen. The analysis of slides graphene orientation in squares with clear determined spatial orientation is carried out. For investigation of space structure of channel, the square was identified with lateral projection of block along two coordinates. The dependence of block resistance from the slide orientation is found. It is shown that the block resistance by the flowing of current across the graphene slides is more than order exceeds the resistance by the flowing of current along the slides of graphene. It is shown that the most role in formation of channel resistance play the blocks which graphene slides are oriented across the current flowing. By the adding of channels along the structure of volume unit it was founded the specific conductivity of specimen as a whole. It is established that the obtained meanings of conductivity for all specimens exceed the obtained by contact method on several times. As a reason of this exceeding it is established the absence of accounting the influence of enough small conductivity of intervals between slides and packets and also the absence of accounting of incomplete filling of squares by periodic structures. It is shown that the optimal in plane of correspondence to experiment is the introduce the normalization coefficient of conductivity of intervals which is equal to 0,2222. For the accounting of incomplete filling of squares by periodic structures it was carried out the binary discretization of most typical blocks with the resolution near 0,2 nm which is near the thickness of graphene slide. Along the obtained selection there was the averaged coefficients of filling of carbon which are equal from 0,10 to 0,15 parts for the whole volume of blocks. With the normalized conductivity of intervals and coefficients of filling of blocks it was found the integral conductivity for all specimens. It is shown that the obtained values are near the measured by contact method in the precision not more than 37%. In brief it is discussed the quality reason of apparent paradoxical increasing of integral conductivity by decreasing on structural character of carbon. It is established that the main reason of this increasing is the decreasing of contribution of graphene slides having large resistance which are oriented across the flowing of current.

Low Molecular Weight Kappa-Carrageenan Based Microspheres for Enhancing Stability and Bioavailability of Tea Polyphenols

Tea polyphenols (TP) are a widely acknowledged bioactive natural product, however, low stability and bioavailability have restricted their application in many fields. To enhance the stability and bioavailability of TP under certain moderate conditions, encapsulation technique was applied. Kappa–Carrageenan (KCG) was initially degraded to a lower molecular weight KCG (LKCG) by H2O2, and was selected as wall material to coat TP. The obtained LKCG (Mn = 13,009.5) revealed narrow dispersed fragments (DPI = 1.14). FTIR and NMR results demonstrated that the main chemical structure of KCG remained unchanged after degradation. Subsequently, LK-CG and TP were mixed and homogenized to form LK-CG-TP microspheres. SEM images of the microspheres revealed a regular spherical shape and smooth surface with a mean diameter of 5–10 μM. TG and DSC analysis indicated that LK-CG-TP microspheres exhibited better thermal stability as compared to free TP. The release profile of LK-CG-TP in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) showed a slowly release capacity during the tested 180 min with the final release rate of 88.1% after digestion. Furthermore, in vitro DPPH radical scavenging experiments revealed that LK-CG-TP had an enhanced DPPH scavenging rate as compared to equal concentration of free TP. These results indicated that LK-CG-TP microspheres were feasible for protection and delivery of TP and might have extensive potential applications in other bioactive components.

Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation Optimizations for Sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum L.) Cultivar SPF-234 with Direct Organogenesis

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is the most important food and energy crop worldwide. In the present study, an efficient Agrobacterium mediated transformation and regeneration system for sugarcane cultivar SPF-234 was established. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains EHA101and LBA4404 using vector pIG121 Hm, having GUS, HPTII and NPTII genes were used. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histochemical assays confirmed the GUS gene expression. A 620 bp fragment from GUS positive plants was amplified. The GUS expressing putative transformants were 35% of the total plants formed under 30 minute immersion time and 72 hr of incubation period. The co-cultivation media having 60 µM acetosyringone produced 66% GUS expressing plants for LBA4404 and 58% for EHA101. The maximum average number of directly produced shoot (59.5%) from leaf explant was in M6 media having 1.00 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2.5 mg/l Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). A significant decrease (17%) was observed when auxin (NAA) concentration was increased to 4.0 mg/l. The best response of shoot elongation was observed in SE4 media having equal concentration (2.00 mg/l) of both kinetin and BAP. Increased concentrations of kinetin significantly decreased shoot elongation of the subject cultivar. Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 performed better for genetic transformation of the said sugarcane cultivar.This quick and less expensive transformation and direct regeneration system could be exploited for sugarcane on commercial scale in general, and for this elite cultivar in particular.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY, POTENCY AND RECOVERY OF INTRATHECAL 0.5% ROPIVACAINE WITH FENTANYLAND 0.5% LEVOBUPIVACAINE WITH FENTANYL IN LOWER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES IN PATIENTS OF 18-60YEARS OF AGE

INTRODUCTION:The recent trend in health care centres everywhere is to provide cost effective care to the patients. There is an increasing trend towards ambulatory day care surgery and rapid discharge of the patients. The operation of inguinal hernia or incisional hernia and even simple ligation surgeries are done without much complexities nowadays and can be completed in 60-90min without much intra or postoperative complications. Hence these have become an ideal procedure for outpatient setting and thereby reducing length of hospital stay. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE:A comparative study of efcacy, potency and recovery of intrathecal 0.5% ropivacaine with fentanyl and 0.5% levobupivacaine with fentanyl in lower abdominal surgeries in patients of 18-60years of age. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This is a prospective, comparative, observational study was conducted on 60 patients undergoing various lower abdominal surgeries under subarachnoid block (SAB) at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal. This study was conducted over a period of 24-month. Approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee was taken. Awritten informed consent in the local language was taken from every patient. RESULT AND ANALYSIS: In RF 5 patients (17%) had onset at 3min, 17patients (57%) at 6min, 7 patients (23%) at 9min, 1 patient (3%) at 12min. In LBF 8 patients had onset at 0 min, 22 patients had onset at 3min. p value is less than 0.0001 which is statistically signicant. In RF, 23 patients (77%) had duration of motor block for 150min and 7 patients (23%) had for 180min. In LBF, 26 patients (87%) had duration of motor block for 210 min and 4 patients (13%) had for 180min. The p value is less than 0.0001, which is statistically signicant. SUMMARYAND CONCLUSION: This study was to compare potency, efcacy and recovery between the two groups of drugs. A potency of a drug is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity. Here both the drugs in comparison was given in equal concentration and found that levobupivacaine produced higher effect, reached Bromage 3 in lesser time than ropivacaine. So levobupivacaine was more potent drug. Efcacy is the ability to get a job done satisfactorily

CoNiFe Triple System Films Formation by Electrochemical Deposition

High-permeability films of CoNiFe triple system form the basis for high-density magnetic data storage. Electrochemical deposition of CoNiFe films, as contrasted with «dry» processes, gives more homogeneous coating with lesser defect level and allows reinforcing the films thickness without stresses. This study investigates the nature of the phenomena taking place at electrochemical deposition of CoNiFe films and leading to the difference in the relative content of the elements in the electrolyte and in the film. The hydrogen exponent of chloride electrolytes was examined in the temperature range of 25–70 °C and electrochemical deposition of CoNiFe films at 70 °C was studied. It was demonstrated that CoCl2, NiCl2, FeCl2 salt solutions with concentration from 0,006 to 1 mole/l are characterized by complex process of ion balance formation in single and mixed solutions. The deposition of CoNiFe films was carried out from chloride electrolyte with a component content ratio of 1:1:1 at an average concentration of 0,083 mole/l of each component. It has been established that the content of the component in the film at electrochemical deposition of three-component solution CoCl2, NiCl2, FeCl2 with equal concentration of each component did not correspond to the composition of the electrolyte but was closest to the composition of the electrolyte at a decrease in the concentration of each component at high current density.

Inclusion Complex of Resveratrol with γ-Cyclodextrin as a Functional Ingredient for Lemon Juices

Microencapsulated resveratrol (RSV) is a pertinent ingredient in functional foods to be used in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. Gamma-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) was evaluated for its RSV inclusion ability. Inclusion procedures comprised mixing equal concentration of an aqueous solution of γ-CD with an ethanol solution of RSV and freeze-drying to obtain a solid material. Solid-state characterization by vibrational spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the formation of the γ-CD·RSV complex in a ratio of 1:1. PXRD suggested that cyclodextrin molecules in the complex are stacked in infinite channels holding the RSV inside, with a wide inter-channel space where 14 water molecules are retained. Fresh lemon juices supplemented with 0.625 mg/mL of RSV in its free (RSV-juice) or complexed (γ-CD·RSV-juice) form were stored along 28 days under dark and room temperature or at 4 °C. Initially, the RSV level in γ-CD·RSV-juice was about nine times higher than in RSV-juice (43.1% and 4.8%, respectively), suggesting that the RSV complexation promoted its solubility in the lemon juice, a fact that was still noticed after 28 days of storage. Moreover, regardless the fact that the antioxidant capacity was similar among the juices, the loss of antiradical ABTS•+ capacity in γ-CD·RSV-juice was reduced compared to that of the RSV-juice. Overall, this study allowed concluding that γ-CD can serve as a carrier of RSV, promoting its solubility and eventually protecting its antioxidant stability in lemon juices for at least 28 days.

Allelopathic effect of Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn. on rice (Oryza sativa L.) germination and seedling growth

The allelopathic effect of Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn., a broadleaf paddy weed that hinders rice production in Thailand, was investigated. Different parts of S. zeylanica were used to determine their inhibitory effect on seed germination, and shoot and root length of rice in a laboratory. Aqueous extracts of leaves and stems had an inhibitory effect on rice germination and seedling growth more than 50% that of control at concentrations higher than 50 g L-1, whereas all concentrations of root extracts had no effect on rice seeds. At the concentration of 100 g L-1, leaf and stem extracts completely (100%) inhibited rice seed germination. The inhibitory effect was increased with increasing concentrations. Additionally, leaf extracts contained higher total phenolics (7.36 mg GE g-1 DW) and total flavonoids (254.19 µg QE g-1 DW) than extracts of other parts. In glasshouse conditions, soil incorporation with dried whole plant residue had a significant inhibitory effect on rice emergence, seedling height, and dry weight when compared with extracted residue at an equal concentration. The decomposition of S. zeylanica in the soil was also evaluated regarding rice seedling growth. The maximum inhibition was achieved 1-3 days after the application of plant residues. At the 30th day, the inhibition disappeared, suggesting that residue decomposition in the soil has been finished. These results support that S. zeylanica has an allelopathic effect on paddy fields, which may cause a reduction in rice growth and yield.