Spectral analysis, in vitro cytotoxicity and antibacterial studies of bioactive principles from the leaves of Conocarpus lancifolius, a common tree of Jazan, Saudi Arabia

The objective of the present study was to analyse the bioactive compounds of the leaves of Conocarpus lancifolius (C. lancifolius). The GC-MS analysis of the hot methanolic extract of the leaves (HMEL) of C. lancifolius exhibited the bioactive compounds such as 1-(3-Methoxy-2-nitrobenzyl) iso quinoline, morphin-4-ol-6,7-dione, 1-bromo-N-methyl-, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester, 2,2':4',2”-terthiophene, ethyl iso-allocholate, caryophyllene oxide, campesterol, epiglobulol, cholestan-3-ol, 2-methylene-, (3á,5à)-, dasycarpidan-1-methanol, acetate (ester) and oleic acid, eicosyl ester. The FT-IR analysis of HMEL of C. lancifolius showed a unique peak at 3184, 2413, 1657 cm-1 representing coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid. The HMEL of C. lancifolius was actively inhibiting the proliferation of breast cancer cells MCF-7 ATCC at the concentration of 72.66 ± 8.21 µg/ml as IC50 value. The HMEL of C. lancifolius also revealed a good spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cultures screened in this work. The activity observed has shown more or less similar effects against screened bacteria. However, the magnitude of potentiality was significantly lesser compared to standard ciprofloxacin disc at p< 0.001 level (99% confidence intervals). Furthermore, the study demonstrating the bioactive compounds can be isolated from the leaves of C. lancifolius.

Extraction of Dyes from Sunflower Petal and Their Fourier Transform Infrared Characterization

Three solvents of different polarities (water, methanol and 1% NaOHsolution) were used to extract dyes that produced different shades fromdried sunflower (Helianthus annuus) petal. The extraction proceduresusing different solvent types were carried out separately. The dye extractswere thereafter subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry(FT-IR) analysis for characterization in terms of functional groups. Theintensities of the extracted dyes on the shade of colours obtained on piecesof cotton material varied from yellow in methanolic extract to light yellowin aqueous and black in 1% NaOH solution extracts. The results obtainedfrom the FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of several useful functionalgroups such as N-H, C=H, O-H and C=O in the extracts.

Study on the Evaluation of Thermal Damage According to the Manufacturing Conditions of Korean Paper

In this study, we aimed to analyze the chemical changes that occur in Korean paper in an accelerated deterioration environment of 105℃. We selected the Korean paper produced with different types of cooking agents (plant lye, Na2CO3) and during different manufacturing seasons (winter, summer). The degree of deterioration of the Korean paper was confirmed by measuring the brightness, yellowness, and pH level, and the degree of change in each vibrational region of cellulose as deterioration progressed through infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The FT-IR analysis showed that, as deterioration progressed, the absorbance of the amorphous region in cellulose decreased, whereas the absorbance of the crystalline region slightly increased. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Raman spectroscopy were performed to verify the changes in the crystalline and amorphous regions in cellulose indicated by the FT-IR results. Furthermore, the crystallinity index (CI) was calculated; it showed a slight increase after deterioration; therefore, CI was confirmed to follow the same trend as that observed for absorbance in the FT-IR results. In addition, as a result of Raman spectroscopic analysis, the degree of decomposition of the amorphous region in the cellulose under the manufacturing conditions was confirmed by the fluorescence measured after the deterioration.

Characteristics of Cesium Adsorption by Alginate Bead Adsorbent with Layer-by-Layer Synthesis of Prussian Blue

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop an adsorbent to which Prussian blue (PB) is stably immobilized to remove radioactive cesium (Cs).Methods : Prussian blue-Alginate (PA) bead and Prussian blue-Alginate with Layer-by-layer synthesis (PAL) bead were synthesized by immobilizing PB respectively.Results and Discussion : As a results of XRD and FT-IR analysis, PB was successfuuly immobilized in alginate bead and PA, PAL bead. SEM (EDS) and TG analysis data were confirmed that the PB content of the PAL bead to which the LBL synthesis method was applied was improved by 6.31%. It was confirmed that the Cs adsorption capacity was improved through the LBL assembly process. The maximum adsorption amount (qm) of PA bead was 25.783 mg/g, and PAL bead was mg/g. In addition, as a result of UV-vis analysis of washing water after synthesis of PA bead and PAL bead, it was confirmed that the PB desorption of the PAL bead was lower indicating that the stability was also improved by LBL synthesis.Conclusions : We developed an adsorbent which prussianblue immobilized on alginate bead for selective removal cesium in aqueous solution. PB was immobilized by LBL synthesis method qm of PAL beads was 28.294 mg/g. It was expected to applied effectively and stably to radioactive cesium contaminated water.

Phytochemical and antimicrobial analyses of Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extracts

The present study is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extract using petroleum ether, methanol and water as solvents. The antimicrobial activity of P. amboinicus leaf extracts were examined against the selected bacterial and fungal isolates namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans using agar well diffusion method. FT –IR analysis was performed to identify the presence of functional groups in the methanol extract. The results of the study revealed the presence of distinctive active secondary metabolites in the tested leaf extract. The results revealed that the methanol extract exhibited maximum antimicrobial activity against the tested bacterial and fungal isolates when compared with aqueous and petroleum ether extracts. The FT-IR analysis reveals the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl, amines, alkynes, ketones and carboxylic acid in the methanolic extract of P. amboinicus. Thus, P. amboinicus leaves are effective against the selected microbes and recommends that the plant derived phytochemicals are comparatively safer than synthetic alternative, thereby contributing insightful remedial benefits for the treatment of diseases.

Microplastics in vacuum packages of frozen and glazed icefish (Neosalanx spp.): A freshwater fish intended for human consumption

It is widely accepted that human is exposed to microplastics through food consumption, however data occurrence in foodstuffs are still little and basically limited to seafood. In this study, the presence of microplastics was investigated in icefish (Neosalanx spp.) samples sourced from various mass-market retailers in Italy, supplied as frozen, glazed and vacuum-packed product. Icefish is a small freshwater fish widely imported in Europe from China as surrogate of other fish species subjected to commercial restriction, consumed whole after cooking in several culinary preparation. The samples (~10 g of icefish from each of the 40 packs tested) were digested using a solution of 10% potassium hydroxide and filtered through a 5 μm pore-size filter. Filters of the samples were observed under a stereomicroscope and the chemical composition of the items detected were analysed by FTIR spectroscopy. A total of 163 items were counted in 37 (92.5%) samples with a mean value of 0.42±0.28 items/g w.w. Fibers were the most detected morphotype and several plastic polymers, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene, were identified by FT-IR analysis. As store-bought samples, the sources of microplastics could be substantially related to contamination during food processing. However, an intravital exposure to microplastics present in the surroundings waters cannot be ruled out. More foodstuffs need to be investigated for microplastic presence. In this study, microplastic occurrence was reported in freshwater biota intended for human consumption sampled directly from supermarket contributing to the risk assessment of human exposure to microplastics via food consumption.

FTIR INVESTIGATION ON CRYSTALLINITY OF HYDROXYPROPYL METHYL CELLULOSE-BASED POLYMERIC BLENDS

Two series of polymeric blends have been prepared based on hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC)/polyacrylic acid (PAA) (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) and HPMC/sodium alginate (SA) (1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:40) and investigated by Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). IR analysis confirmed the interaction between the polymeric components in the blend and the degree of structural organization. Crystallinity changes in the blends were observed as a function of a number of experimental parameters, such as temperature, composition and HPMC concentration, by determining the quantitative crystallinity indexes: Total Crystallinity Index (TCI), Lateral Order Index (LOI) and Hydrogen Bond Index (HBI).

The Physicochemical Analysis of Bayerite Al(OH)3 → γ-Al2O3 Transformation

It was obtained aluminum hydroxide in the form of bayerite by precipitation with ammonia. The precipitation pH was found by the potentiometric titration. Based on the data of thermal, X‑ray diffraction and IR‑analysis it was identified the sequence of bayerite transitions up to 800 °C. The study of nitrogen adsorption- desorption allowed to determine a specific surface, a volume, and dimensions of pores for boehmite and γ- Al2O3 as 135±2 and 238±10 m2/g; 0.38 and 0.51 cm3/g; 1.7 and 3.8 nm, relatively. The value of effective activation energy for boehmite →γ- Al2O3 transition ((136±5) kJ/mol) was found by means of non- isothermal method (by Avrami equation)

Linear Dextrin as Potential Insulin Delivery System: Effect of Degree of Polymerization on the Physicochemical Properties of Linear Dextrin–Insulin Inclusion Complexes

In the current study, linear dextrin (LD) was prepared using waxy potato starch debranched with pullulanase, which has attracted immense interest in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries as a versatile ingredient. Various LDs were separated on the basis of their differential solubility in aqueous/ethanol solutions of different volumetric ratios. Three LD products—LD Fabrications with 40% ethanol (F-40); LD Fabrications with 50% ethanol (F-50); and LD Fabrications with 60%, 70%, and 80% ethanol (F-M)—were obtained with an average degree of polymerization (DP) values of 31.44, 21.84, and 16.10, respectively. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed that the reaction mainly involved hydrogen bonding and a hydrophobic interaction between LD and insulin in the process of inclusion complex formation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that insulin was encapsulated in LD. The results of circular dichroism (CD) showed that the changes in the secondary structure of insulin were negligible during the release from the inclusion complexes. The order of encapsulation capacity is as follows: the complex composed of F-M and insulin (F-M-INS) > the complex composed of LD and insulin (LD-INS) > the complex composed of F-50 and insulin (F-50-INS) > and the complex composed of F-40 and insulin (F-40-INS). F-M-INS inclusion complexes showed a better effect on reducing the release of insulin in gastric juice and promoting the release of insulin in intestinal juice and blood plasma than LD-INS.

Thermophysical and structural properties of manganese ferrite nanoparticles

This paper discusses the results of the research carried out to study the structure, optical properties and thermophysical properties of a sample (nanopowder with a true density of 4.96 g/cm3, a particle size of 60 nm and a purity of 98.5%, SkySpring Nanomaterials, USA) with high purity. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction, the crystalline phase of MnFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles was completely obtained and the values of the lattice parameters were determined. The results of the MID-IR analysis showed that the absorption coefficient [Formula: see text] reaches its maximum value at 748 cm[Formula: see text] wave number. The optical properties of the as-prepared nanostructures were also investigated by VERTEX 70 V diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). As can be seen from the results of the DSC analysis, the effects occurring in the temperature range up to [Formula: see text]C clearly reflect the nature of the phase transitions and the amount of energy generated in the ferrite samples.