Screening of medicinal plants traditionally used in Peruvian Amazon for in vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential

Plants mentioned in this study have numerous records in traditional Peruvian medicine being used in treatment of cancer and other diseases likely to be associated with oxidative stress. Amongst the eight plant species tested, only Dysphania ambrosioides exhibited combinatory antioxidant and anti-proliferative effect on a broad spectrum of cancer cells (DPPH and ORAC values = 80.6 and 687.3 μg TE/mg extract, respectively; IC₅₀ against Caco-2, HT-29 and Hep-G2 = 129.2, 69.9 and 130.6, respectively). Alkaloids and phenolic compounds might significantly contribute to anticancer/antioxidant activity of this plant. The results justify the traditional medicinal use of this plant. Our findings further suggest that D. ambrosioides might serve as a prospective material for further development of novel plant-based antioxidant and/or anti-proliferative agents. Detailed analysis of chemical composition together with toxicology assessments and in vivo antioxidant/anti-proliferative activity of this plant should be carried out in order to verify its potential practical use.     

Formulation of Environmentally Safe Graffiti Remover Containing Esterified Plant Oils and Sugar Surfactant

The removal of graffiti or over-painting requires special attention in order to not induce the surface destruction but to also address all of the important eco-compatibility concerns. Because of the necessity to avoid the use of volatile and toxic petroleum-based solvents that are common in cleaning formulations, much attention has recently been paid to the design of a variety of sustainable formulations that are based on biodegradable raw materials. In the present contribution we propose a new approach to graffiti cleaning formulations that are composed of newly synthesized green solvents such as esterified plant oils, i.e., rapeseed oil (RO), sunflower oil (SO), or used cooking oil (UCO), ethyl lactate (EL), and alkylpolyglucosides (APGs) as surfactants. Oil PEG-8 ester solvents were synthesized through the direct esterification/transesterification of these oils using monobutyltin(IV) tris(2-ethylhexanoate) and titanium(IV) butoxide catalysts under mild process conditions. The most efficient formulations, determined by optimization through the response surface methodology (RSM) was more effective in comparison to the reference solvents such as the so-called Nitro solvent (denoting a mixture of toluene and acetone) and petroleum ether. Additionally, the optimal product was found to be effective in removing graffiti from glass, metal, or sandstone surfaces under open-field conditions in the city of Wrocław. The performed studies could be an invaluable tool for developing future green formulations for graffiti removal.     

Green Synthesis of CeO2 Nanoparticles from the Abelmoschus esculentus Extract: Evaluation of Antioxidant,Anticancer, Antibacterial,and Wound-Healing Activities

Metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized by the biological method represent the most recent research in nanotechnology. This study reports the rapid and ecofriendly approach for the synthesis of CeO₂ nanoparticles mediated using the Abelmoschus esculentus extract. The medicinal plant extract acts as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The characterization of CeO₂ NPs was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro cytotoxicity of green synthesized CeO₂ was assessed against cervical cancerous cells (HeLa). The exposure of CeO₂ to HeLa cells at 10–125 µg/mL caused a loss in cellular viability against cervical cancerous cells in a dose-dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of the CeO₂ was assessed against S. aureus and K. pneumonia. A significant improvement in wound-healing progression was observed when cerium oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into the chitosan hydrogel membrane as a wound dressing.     

Chemical characterisation of bioactive compounds in Medicago sativa growing in the desert of Oman

Medicago sativa Linn growing in Omani desert were chemically characterised using flame photometry, inductively coupled plasma, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. HPLC analyses were performed to determine the phenolics and flavonoids present in M. sativa. The major compounds detected in M. sativa leaves were protchaechenic acid (3.22%), hydroxyl benzoic acid (1.05%), β-Phenyl caffate (0.97%) and kaempherol (0.89%). Pterostilbene, a cholesterol-lowering compound, was detected in M. sativa.     

Modelling of Dewatering and Desalting Processes for Large-capacity Oil Treatment Technology

This paper is devoted to analysis of oil treatment technology in the case of complex industrial process realization and further selection of technological mode. Mathematical modelling method is used to improve the efficiency of dewatering and desalting processes. The simulation system based on module modelling principle is developed. Every module is described in terms of appropriate combination of phenomena and processes. Problems of oil treatment analysis of complex structured technological scheme and searching of effective dewatering and desalting processes technological modes are solved.     

X-ray structure determination of a chiral synthon,essential for the synthesis of 25-2H-stigmasterol

Synthesis of sterols with varying side chains, including deuterium labeled stigmasterol and sitosterol may be performed via the Wittig-Horner coupling of a 22 aldehyde derived from stigmasterol and a suitable sulfoxide derivative of the side chain. The X-ray structure determination of this synthon have been performed since it is a crucial step in order to know the absolute configuration of the chiral carbon atoms. Crystallographic data were as follows:a=7.437(2),b=10.103(4),c=10.274(3)Å, =100.32(6)^o, =759.4 ų, space group P2₁ (No.4),Z=2,D _c=1.239 g cm^–3.     

Immune modulation properties of herbal plant leaves: Phyllanthus niruri aqueous extract on immune cells of tuberculosis patient - in vitro study

Disease progression in Tuberculosis (TB) is dependent on host’s immune system. Phyllanthus niruri, a traditional herb, has long been used to boost immune system in Indonesian society. This study aimed to observe the potential role of P. niruri in inducing immune cells activity in TB patients by in vitro approach. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and macrophages were collected from active pulmonary TB patients. After stimulation with graded doses of P. niruri aqueous extract, cell proliferation, phagocytic activity and nitric oxide (NO) release were analysed. P. niruri aqueous extract induced proliferation of PBMCs, increased NO release, and improved macrophages phagocytic activity. These effects were observed in a dose-dependent manner. This may lead to further research for the potential role of P. niruri as immunomodulatory adjuvant therapy for TB patients.     

ZIF‐8@SiO2 core–shell microsphere extraction coupled with liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of four plant growth regulators in navel oranges

Monodisperse silica spheres that comprised a rhombic‐dodecahedral zeolitic imidazolate framework core–shell microsphere were applied in the sample pretreatment of navel orange. A rapid and efficient liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method was established for simultaneously quantifying four plant growth regulators, 6‐benzylaminopurin, indole‐3‐acetic acid, indolepropionic acid, 3‐indolebutyric acid, in navel oranges. A satisfactory result was obtained, i.e., the peak area of the four plant growth regulators against concentration was linear with good correlation coefficients of 0.99987–0.99991. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection were 3.0–59.4 μg/L for the four plant growth regulators. This method was applied to the simultaneous analysis of the four plant growth regulators in commercial samples, and all the detections were confirmed by acquiring transitions for each pesticide in the samples.     

燃煤电站布袋除尘器和静电除尘器脱汞性能比较

采用国际上通用的Ontario Hydro方法（OHM）对中国五个燃煤电站布袋除尘器（FF）/静电除尘器（ESP）前、后的烟气进行采样,应用美国EPA标准方法测定了烟气中Hg0、Hg2+和HgP的浓度。应用DMA80测定固体样品（煤、底灰、ESP飞灰）中的汞浓度。由汞平衡得出各个环节中汞所占的份额。由此得到FF和ESP脱除烟气中汞的性能。安装FF的电站1和2的综合脱除效率约为80%和20%,安装ESP的电站3、4和5的综合脱除效率分别为6%、20%和4%左右。这说明FF比ESP有更加优良的脱汞性能,而且FF/ESP脱除烟气中的汞受到很多因素的影响。     

Dynamic materials derived from biobased furans: towards the ‘sleeping giant’ awakening

This focus article presents the author’s view on the problems in the development of biorefining strategies based on the use of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), the key product derived from renewable plant biomass that was recognized as the ‘sleeping giant’ of the sustainable chemistry. The several key problems that hinder the large-scale production of HMF and its applicability in the laboratory organic synthesis and industry are discussed. This minireview is also focused on the development of the dynamic cross-linked polymers with controlled three-dimensional structure based on Diels–Alder reaction of biobased HMF-derived furans with maleimides. Realization of scalable technologies for an efficient production of such ‘smart’ analogues of the traditional petrochemical-based materials could be the basis for the realization of the competitive HMF-promoted biorefining.