Equisetum Hyemale - Derived Unprecedented Bioactive Composite for Hard and Soft Tissues Engineering

Although Bioactive Glasses (BG) has been progressively optimized, their preparation still uses toxic reagents and calcination at high temperatures to remove organic solvents. The drawbacks related to the BG synthesis were overcome by treating the ashes from the Equisetum hyemale plant in an ethanol/water solution to develop a bioactive composite [glass/carbon (BG-Carb)]. The BG-Carb was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and its chemical composition was assessed by inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) gas adsorption analysis showed a specific surface area of 121 m2 g-1. The formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) surface layer in vitro was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)analyse before and after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analyses confirmed HA in the sample before the immersion in SBF solution and after immersion in SBF solution; and increase of the HA layer on the sample surface, after the immersion in SBF solution. The BG-Carb samples showed no cytotoxicity on MC3T3-E1 cells and osteo-differentiation capacity similar to the positive control. Altogether, the BG-Carb material data reveals a promising plant waste-based candidate for hard and soft tissue engineering.

Comparison of Shibataea kumasasa and Equisetum hyemale as vertical greenery system for thermal and light shade in student’s architectural design studio in Surabaya

Vertical greenery system (VGS) is commonly used for facade shading. It has many advantages in its natural aesthetic, air filter, carbon sequestration, and many more. This research is the continuation of the previous research in 2019, which used Shibataea kumasasa as VGS. It was found that using Shibataea as VGS has reduced the indoor air temperature by 0.5-2°C on average, with 5°C maximum temperature difference. On the other hand, it decreased more light (in range 26-95%), made the illuminance of the room lower than the standard requirement. A studio room should have minimum 5% daylight factor or 500 lux, while on the room measurement, the lowest was 20 lux in the morning hours, the highest was only 200 lux in the afternoon. As an attempt to look for vegetation with better performance, this research uses another bamboo species, Equisetum hyemale to be examined and then being compared to Shibataea. The result is that for the thermal shade, Equisetum performs less effectively than Shibataea. As for light shade, the Shibataea reduces more illuminance than Equisetum, thus makes it a less favorable alternative. The balance of thermal-light effective performance maintained by the leaf area index can be the focus of future research.

Az Equisetum × moorei és E. hyemale nyírségi elterjedésének kritikai áttekintése

A hibrid eredetű Moore-zsurló (Equisetum × moorei Newman) összetévesztése a téli zsurlóval (Equisetum hyemale L.) számos országban ismert probléma. Közleményünkben áttekintjük a határozáshoz alkalmazott bélyegek egy részét, kiemelve azok tényleges használhatóságát. Megvizsgál­tuk a téli zsurló régebbi irodalmakban megadott nyírségi állományait és a Debreceni Egyetem Herbári­umában található nyírségi példányokat. Megállapítottuk, hogy többségük valójában Moore-zsurló. A téli zsurló előfordulását csak Bátorligeten tudtuk megerősíteni. Számos új adatot közlünk a Moore-zsurló nyírségi előfordulásáról is. A két taxon jobb elkülönítéséhez javasoljuk a hajtások felszínének terepen is elvégezhető mikromorfológiai vizsgálatát, valamint a levélhüvely magasságának megfigyelését.

Analysis of potential of Napier grass, Vetiver and Equisetum plants for the treatment of domestic greywater using box-type constructed wetlands

The management of wastewater generated as a byproduct of various human activities from agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors is a matter of global concern today. Greywater is a class of wastewater generated from the domestic sector. Greywater management can be done effectively by treating greywater at the source itself. In this context, constructed wetlands (CWs) come handy with low-tech, environmental, and economic-friendly options. In the present study, box-type horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands were designed and the efficiency of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides), and Equisetum (Equisetum hyemale) were assessed in treating domestic greywater. There was a drastic significant increase in DO with 47.0% in Vetiver, 92.5% in Napier grass, and 97.2% in Equisetum. The average percent pollutant removal of some major parameters was 92.4% for turbidity, 92.7% for acidity, 81.3% for BOD, 91.0% for COD with Napier grass. In the case of Vetiver, the removal percent was 82.5% turbidity, 87.9% acidity, 81.8% BOD, and 92.9% COD. For Equisetum, the average pollutant removal efficiency varied with 94.6% turbidity, 91.4% acidity, 80.0% BOD, and 88.1%COD. The study thus proves the efficiency of all the three plants to be used in box-type constructed wetlands.

GASTROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF EQUISETUM HYEMALE IN EXPERIMENTAL GASTRIC ULCER RAT MODELS

Equisetum hyemale is traditionally used for dyspepsia and stomach pain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Equisetum hyemale in gastric ulcer rat models. Gastric ulcer models were induced by ethanol (5 mL/kg bw), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (200 mg/kg bw) and pylorus ligation separately. The pH, total acidity, ulcer scoring index and histopathological evaluation were performed. Oral administration of Equisetum hyemale extract (250 and 500 mg/kg bw) significantly reduced the development of gastric lesions in all gastric ulcer models. The pH, total acidity and ulcer scoring index also decreased significantly when compared with the Diseased control group. Histopathological studies are in good agreement with the biochemical findings. Equisetum hyemale might show its gastroprotective activity by decreasing oxidative damage, blockage of H2 receptors activation, increase prostaglandins secretion and formation of mucus layer in different gastric ulcer models. The findings of the present study validate the traditional use of Equisetum hyemale to treat stomach pain, however the determination of phytochemical compounds responsible for gastroprotective activity is required for further confirmation.

New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 4

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: diatom alga Stauroneis neofossilis, parasitic fungus Anthracoidea arenariae, horsetail Equisetum hyemale, liverwort Harpanthus flotovianus, mosses Fissidens exilis and Rhizomnium punctatum, monocots Epipactis helleborine subsp. orbicularis, Himantoglossum calcaratum subsp. rumelicum and Schoenus nigricans and dicots Calluna vulgaris, Mahonia aquifolium and Willemetia stipitata subsp. albanica.