The improvement of adhesive character of an acrylovinylic macromolecular compound

The effect of a vegetable extract during the synthesis of an acrylovinylic copolymer on its pressure sensitive adhesive properties is examined. It is concluded that the vegetable extract presence induces improvement of the adhesion/cohesion balance. At the same time, introduction of this compound into the copolymer composition leads to a diminution of the macromolecular product conversion. Evidence is obtained by the determination of the peel strength of the copolymer film–support complex on glass supports.     

Two New Dammarane Glycosides from the Acid Hydrolysis Product of Panax Notoginseng

In our continuing research works on Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, a famous traditional Chinese herb medicine1, two new dammarane glycosides named notoginsenosides T1 (1) and T2 (2) were isolated from the mild acid hydrolysis products of the root saponins. We report herein the structure elucidation of these two novel glycosides.Notoginsenosides T1(1) was obtained as white solid, [(] = +14.49 (0.50, MeOH). Its negative mode HR-FAB-MS spectrum showing the quasimolecular ion peak a…     

Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst with high reusability for synthesis of 1,2‐dihydroquinoline derivatives

Nano materials find wide applications due to their behavior at nano scale. TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) was synthesized using Neem leaf extract. This is simple, rapid, eco‐friendly, cheaper and green tools for TiO₂ NPs synthesis using agricultural waste at lower applied temperature. Characterization of the extracted TiO₂ NPs was confirmed by XRD, SEM, EDAX, TEM, HR‐TEM, SAED, and FT‐IR, respectively. The catalytic activity of TiO₂ NPs was investigated in synthesis of 1,2‐dihydroquinoline derivatives with excellent yields and low cost. Purification of the synthesized 1,2‐dihydroquinoline derivatives carried out by easy work‐up of non‐chromatographic methods.     

Dyeing wool and cotton fibres with acidic extract of Hibiscus rosa sinensis flower

Abstract

The focus of this work is to extract a natural dye for colouring camel wool as a substitute for synthetic dyes used in the Sadu House of Kuwait. Their target is to keep the tradition of tent and rug production natural in all its manifestations. Therefore, our task was to find an abundant source that provides a colour preferably red to purple. Hibiscus rosa sinensis (HRS) is an abundantly available plant in Kuwait that was explored for extraction of the red dye to colour camel wool permanently. The powdered petals of red flowers of HRS was extracted with 5% acetic acid which yielded a deep red colour that showed a great potential for woollen fibre dyeing. The use of mordants like alum and some metal salts manifested a wide range of fixed colours which intensified at 85 °C. The colours produced had excellent fastness and was accepted by the Sadu House.     

Ultra-fast sustainable synthesis,optimization and characterization of guava phenolic extract functionalized nanosilver with enhanced biomimetic attributes

There had been some reports demonstrating the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using guava (Psidium guajava (L.) extract); however, detailed and in-depth interrogation of the vital synthesis parameters for rapid, facile, efficacious synthesis at room temperature, and robust characterization of the as-prepared nanoparticle is currently lacking. This study presents a comprehensive delineation of the sustainable phyto-fabrication of biogenic guava phenolic extract functionalized silver nanoparticles (GVE-SNP) based on guava phenolic extract as the sole reductant/stabilizer, as well as the synthesis optimization, thorough physicochemical characterization and potential biological applications of the as-prepared nanosilver. The results revealed that successful synthesis of GVE-SNP was instantaneous and maximum intensity of the plasmonic peak at 425 nm was achieved in less than 10 min. GVE-SNP was found to present stable, well-dispersed, round, uniform, and crystalline nanoparticles of about 5.88 nm. The FTIR and RAMAN spectra indicated that GVE-SNP surface was properly capped by bioactives from GVE. The nanoparticles displayed potent radical scavenging activity against ABTS⁺ and DPPH. Also, GVE-SNP exhibited a significant and dose–response inhibitory effect against tyrosinase. Furthermore, the nanoparticles displayed good cytotoxicity against L929 fibroblast and were found to possess strong antimicrobial properties, inhibiting the growth of S. aureus and S. epidermidis.     

Assessment of heavy metals,fungicide quintozene and its hazardous impurity residues in medical Panax notoginseng (Burk) F.H.Chen root

A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction approach and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with programmed temperature vaporization sampling technology were used to determine fungicide quintozene and its hazardous impurity hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in Panax notoginseng root, which is commonly used as a rare traditional Chinese medicine worldwide. The mean recoveries were in the ranges of 94–125 and 84–119% for quintozene and HCB with relative standard deviations of 6.2–16.1% at three concentrations: 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg kg^?1. Heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, copper and lead were simultaneously detected by an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry approach after digestion with nitric acid. The above methods were used to analyze 50 samples of P. notoginseng roots collected at markets and planting bases from the special local producing areas, namely, Honghe, Kunming and Wenshan in Yunnan province, China. Quintozene and HCB in root samples were determined at <0.0015–1.50 and <0.0015–0.125 mg kg^?1. In the 50 samples, 28, 16, 56, 6 and 2% exceeded the maximum permissible levels in medicinal plants (WM/T2‐2004) for quintozene, arsenic, cadmium, lead and copper. [Correction added on 28 January 2019, after first online publication: the percentages in the preceding sentence have been corrected]. The results showed that the method is robust and suitable for measuring quintozene, its hazardous impurity and heavy metals in P. notoginseng roots.     

Analysis of antifungal and anticancer effects of the extract from Pelargonium zonale

The extract from Pelargonium zonale stalks exhibits activity against Candida albicans and exerts an effect on the HeLa cell line. The action against C. albicans cells was analysed using light, CLSM, SEM, and TEM microscopes. The observations indicate that the extract influenced fungal cell morphology and cell metabolic activity. The morphological changes include cell wall damage, deformations of cell surfaces, and abnormalities in fungal cell shape and size. Cells of C. albicans treated with the extract exhibited disturbances in the budding pattern and a tendency to form agglomerates and multicellular chains. The P. zonale extract caused a significant decrease in the metabolic activity of C. albicans cells. Cells died via both apoptosis and necrosis. The antitumor activity of the extract was analysed using the MTT assay. The P. zonale extract exhibited minor cytotoxicity against the HeLa cell line but a dose-dependent cytopathic effect was noticed. The P. zonale extract is a promising source for the isolation of antifungal and anticancer compounds.     

Significant difference in active metabolite levels of ginseng in humans consuming Asian or Western diet: The link with enteric microbiota

After ingestion of ginseng, the bioavailability of its parent compounds is low and enteric microbiota plays an important role in parent compound biotransformation to their metabolites. Diet type can influence the enteric microbiota profile. When human subjects on different diets ingest ginseng, their different gut microbiota profiles may influence the metabolism of ginseng parent compounds. In this study, the effects of different diet type on gut microbiota metabolism of American ginseng saponins were investigated. We recruited six healthy adults who regularly consumed different diet types. These subjects received 7 days' oral American ginseng, and their biological samples were collected for LC‐Q‐TOF‐MS analysis. We observed significant ginsenoside Rb₁ (a major parent compound) and compound K (a major active metabolite) level differences in the samples from the subjects consuming different diets. Subjects on an Asian diet had much higher Rb₁ levels but much lower compound K levels compared with those on a Western diet. Since compound K possesses much better cancer chemoprevention potential, our data suggested that consumers on a Western diet should obtain better cancer prevention effects with American ginseng intake compared with those on an Asian diet. Ginseng compound levels could be enhanced or reduced via gut microbiota manipulation for clinical utility.     

Phytochemical investigation of ethyl acetate extract from Curcuma aromatica Salisb. rhizomes

Three phytochemicals, curcumin 1, demethoxycurcumin 2 and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside 3 have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica. Chemical structures of all the three isolates were determined using spectroscopic and chemical analyses. β-Sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside has been isolated for the first time from this plant.     

Green synthesis,characterization and anti-cancer capability of Co0.5Ni0.5Nd0.02Fe1.98O4 nanocomposites

In this study, Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nd_0.02Fe_1.98O₄ nanoparticles CoNiNd (NPs) were synthesized by combustion method linked with biosynthesis with and without different plant extracts such as Lavender, Ginger, Flax-Seed, Lemon Juice, Tragacanth Gum, and Dates Fruit. Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nd_0.02Fe_1.98O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) with plant extracts (CoNiNd plant extracts) were analyzed by XRD, TEM and SEM methods. The structure of Co-Ni spinel ferrite was confirmed by XRD and the shape and the size of nanoparticles were examined via SEM and TEM and the size was found between 17 and 25 nm. The anti-cancer activity of NPs on cancer cells such as human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116) and human cervical cells (Hela) were investigated. The cytotoxicity of was examined by MTT assay and followed by measuring the inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values after 48 h treatments. The cell viability assay confirmed a decrease in the cancer cell viability post NPs treatments and showed dose-dependent inhibitory action. The treatments of CoNiNd (NPs) and CoNiNd plant extracts via Lavender plant extract showed most profound inhibitory action on both cancer cells than extracts other plant extracts. The IC₅₀ values were for HCT-116 cells were found to be in range of 15.75–42.55 µg/mL and 13.44 to 35.65 µg/mL for HeLa cells. In contrast, the treatment of CoNiNd (NPs) and CoNiNd plant extracts showed inhibitory action but the percentage of inhibition was higher in HEK-293 cells. Our results showed that CoNiNd (NPs) and CoNiNd plant extracts possess potential application in the colon and cervical cancer treatments and we recommend molecular analysis of NPs mediated cancer cell death for future applications.