Search

The thermochemical conversion of biomass into biochar (BC) provides a valuable platform towards green and sustainable synthesis of functional carbon nanomaterials for advanced technological applications. Herein, we report biosynthesis of Oryza sativa (rice husk) biochar nanocomposites incorporated with bimetallic Cu and MnO (Cu/MnO) nanoparticles as multifunctional materials (Cu/MnO@BC) towards high-performance anode in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and oxidative removal of organic dyes from aqueous solutions. The 3D network of Cu/MnO@BC nanocomposite as an anode in LIBs shows excellent initial specific discharge capacity of 1126 mhA g−1 at a current density of 0.1 Ag−1 with negligible fade in specific capacity during charge-discharge cycles due to high surface area and mesoporous structure of the nanocomposite. Further the Cu/MnO@BC nanocomposite anode displays superior reversible rate capacity that exceeds 1060 mhA g−1. The charge-discharge specific capacity and the coulombic efficiency shows excellent retention (almost 100 %) after 200 cycles of operation. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at different cycles shows negligible decrease in Li+ diffusion coefficient thereby safeguarding the structural integrity of 3D Cu/MnO@BC after charge-discharge cycles. The textile industries widely utilize Congo-Red (CR) dye in their manufacturing processes which is a renowned pollutant that adversely affects the aquatic ecosystem. This mesoporous Cu/MnO@BC biochar nanocomposite provides a novel platform towards oxidative removal of CR dye from aqueous solution. The catalytic activity of Cu/MnO@BC was explored for the efficient removal of Congo red, a prominent dye widely used in textile industries, known for its persistence and environmental impact. Coupling of the Cu/MnO@BC and H2O2 enhances the CR removal possibly owing to the hydroxyl radical (●OH) formation. 70 % of CR is removed by Cu/MnO@BC without coupling while its CR whereas the removal efficiency enhances to 90 % when coupled with H2O2. Due to ease of bio derived synthesis, excellent electrochemical properties towards energy storage, and oxidative removal of CR dye, this Cu/MnO@BC nanocomposite could be used as multifunctional material as an anode in LIBs and oxidative removal of organic dyes.

Background: Various diagnostic tools are used to assess cutaneous psoriasis, but most of it were subjective. Sympathetic skin response (SSR), skin PH and temperature objectively measure the skin barrier functions that could aid clinicians to evaluate accurately and predict skin disease incidence even before the onset of clinical symptoms. Aim and Objectives: The study's objective was to assess the utility of cutaneous parameters (skin temperature and pH) and SSRs influencing psoriatic patients' diagnosis management and treatment compared to controls. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 healthy participants and 40 psoriasis patients aged 18 to 65 years were recruited for this study. SSR, skin temperature and pH were assessed. The psoriasis disability index (PDI) was recorded from all the patients. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The results shows significantly increased skin temperature, prolonged SSR latency (bilaterally) and decreased SSR amplitude (bilaterally) among patients affected with psoriasis compared to control subjects. There is a positive correlation between SSR latency with PDI and a negative correlation between SSR amplitude and PDI in psoriasis patients. Conclusion: SSR reveals sympathetic sudomotor dysfunction and increased skin temperature in psoriasis. Furthermore, there is a link between increased SSR latency and PDI, which shows that local nervous system impairment significantly contributes to the inflammatory process in psoriasis. Thus, SSR can be used as a complementary tool for the early identification and assessment of epidermal barrier integrity in psoriasis patients, along with the clinician's standard protocols.

Arctium lappa L. is a medicinal edible homologous plant, commonly known as burdock or bardana, which belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is widely distributed throughout Northern Asia, Europe, and North America and has been utilized for hundreds of years. The roots, fruits, seeds, and leaves of A. lappa have been extensively used in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A. lappa has attracted a great deal of attention due to its possession of highly recognized bioactive metabolites with significant therapeutic potential. Numerous pharmacological effects have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo by A. lappa and its bioactive metabolites, including antimicrobial, anti-obesity, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-allergic, antiviral, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activities. Additionally, A. lappa has demonstrated considerable clinical efficacies and valuable applications in nanomedicine. Collectively, this review covers the properties of A. lappa and its bioactive metabolites, ethnopharmacology aspects, pharmacological effects, clinical trials, and applications in the field of nanomedicine. Hence, a significant attention should be paid to clinical trials and industrial applications of this plant with particular emphasis, on drug discovery and nanotechnology.

Honey intake is advantageous to human health due to its antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, all of which are attributed to the rich bioactive compound contents. Moreover, hepatoprotective, wound healing, and gastrointestinal protective properties have been documented. Honey’s nutritional value is significantly affected by its chemical composition, which varies depending on botanical and geographical origin. In particular, after Manuka honey, Sidr honey from the Ziziphus species is the most popular. The chemical compositions, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and sensory characteristics of two Sidr honey samples from Egypt and Saudi Arabia were investigated in the current study. Moisture content, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, free acidity (FA), total acidity, lactone hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, and diastase (α-amylase) activity were measured. By using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), and solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography (GC-MS) analyses, the sugar profile, non-volatile, and volatile compounds were also identified. The physicochemical analysis revealed the following results for Sidr honey from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, respectively: a moisture content of 18.03 ± 0.05% and 19.03 ± 0.06%, EC values of 1.18 ± 0.05 and 1.16 ± 0.01 mS/cm, pH values of 4.87 ± 0.08 and 5.10 ± 0.01, FA of 37.50 ± 0.05 and 36.50 ± 0.05 meq/kg, total acidity of 41.06 ± 0.05 and 37.50 ± 0.05 meq/kg, lactone of 3.49 ± 0.005 and 1 ± 0.0 meq/kg, HMF of 20.92 ± 0.02 and 11.33 ± 0.01 mg/kg, and diastase of 59.97 ± 0.05 and 8.64 ± 0.06g/100 g. Honey from Saudi Arabia and Egypt displayed 22.51 ± 0.05 and 26.62 ± 0.16 % glucose, 40.33 ± 0.06 and 35.28 ± 0.01% fructose, 8.94 ± 0.17, and 8.87 ± 0.01% sucrose, and 8.22 ± 0.006 and 8.13 ± 0.01% maltose, respectively. According to the International Honey Commission (IHC) and GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) regulations, the levels of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose were near the standard levels. Flavonoids, sugars, vitamins, and nitrogen contents were additionally measured using LC-MS/MS, whereas GC-MS was employed to identify aldehydes, ketones, phenols, acids, esters, anthraquinone, hydrocarbons, and nitrogenous compounds. The results of a study on the effect of honey’s geographic origin on its broad quality are summarized. As a result, knowing its optimal chemical and physical characteristics served as the criterion and indicator of the honey’s quality.

Objectives: The present study reports the bioactivity of 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) purified from an endophytic Streptomyces species KCA1 isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri and its antibacterial and anticancer properties. Methods: The extracellular metabolites were produced from the strain KCA1 by submerged fermentation using ethyl acetate. The crude extract was further evaluated for antibacterial activity against set of pathogens. Active metabolite from the extract was purified using chromatography techniques and detected its antibacterial activity by disc diffusion assay. The molecular structure of the active molecule was identified through various spectral study. Moreover, the bioactive metabolite 2,4-DTBP was analyzed antibacterial and anti-proliferative activity. Results: Strain KCA1 was identified as Streptomyces sp. In the preliminary screening, the crude extract exhibited broad spectrum activity against various bacterial pathogens. Based on the spectral properties, the active metabolite was identified as 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol. The MIC of active compound 2,4-DTBP inhibited E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus ATCC 29213 at 50 μg/ml and 0.78 μg/ml, respectively. The IC50 value of 2,4-DTBP was found to be 11.0 µg/ml and 116.8 µg/ml, against breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and normal VERO cell line, respectively. Conclusions: This study concluded that 2,4-DTBP, produced from the endophytic Streptomyces sp. KCA1, is the potential candidate to develop as promising antibacterial and anticancer agent.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has various unique qualities, including high mechanical strength, crystallinity, and high water‐holding capacity, which makes it appropriate for a wide range of industrial applications. But its lower yield coupled with its high production cost creates a barrier to its usage. In this study, we have demonstrated the better yield of BNC from an indigenous strain Komagataeibacter rhaeticus MCC‐0157 using a rotary disc bioreactor (RDB) having a wooden disc. The RDB was optimized based on the type of disc material, distance between the disc, and rotation speed to get the highest yield of 13.0 g/L dry material using Hestrin–Schramm (H–S) medium. Further, the bioreactor was compared for the BNC production using reported medium, which is used for static condition; the RDB showed up to fivefold increase in comparison with the static condition reported. Komagataeibacter rhaeticus MCC‐0157 was previously reported to be one of the highest BNC producing stains, with 8.37 g/L of dry yield in static condition in 15 days incubation. The designed RDB demonstrated 13.0 g/L dry yield of BNC in just 5 days. Other characteristics of BNC remain same as compared with static BNC production, although the difference in the crystallinity index was observed in RDB (84.44%) in comparison with static (89.74%). For the first time, wooden disc was used for rotary bioreactor approach, which demonstrated higher yield of BNC in lesser time and can be further used for sustainable production of BNC at the industrial level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the rate and severity patterns of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and identify antenatal and postnatal factors associated with BPD in preterm infants <32 weeks of gestational age (GA). Methods: This retrospective observational study included preterm neonates <32 weeks of gestation admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2010 and December 2017 at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. A data set of antenatal and perinatal factors were collected. BPD was defined as the need for oxygen and/or respiratory support at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA). Infants with and without BPD were compared in their antenatal and perinatal factors. Results: A total of 589 preterm infants <32 weeks were admitted. Among them, 505 (85.7%) survived to 36 weeks’ PMA and 90 (17.8%) had BPD. The combined BPD and mortality rate was 28.4%. Grades 1, 2 and 3 BPD constituted 77.8%, 7.8% and 14.4%, respectively. BPD was associated with lower GA, lower birth weight, need for intubation at resuscitation, lower Apgar scores, longer duration of ventilation, surfactant therapy and higher rates of neonatal morbidities. On binary logistic regression analysis, predictors of BPD were longer duration of ventilation, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Conclusion: In an Omani centre, 17.8% of preterm infants (<32 weeks GA) developed BPD. Various perinatal and neonatal factors were associated with BPD. However, longer duration of ventilation, IVH grades 1 and 2 and NEC stages II and III were significant predictors. Future multicentre research is necessary to provide the overall prevalence of BPD in Oman to help optimise the resources for BPD prevention and management in preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The demand of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased drastically over the past few decades. The perceptions about CAMs among general population are positive. However, the literature highlights that effectiveness and acceptance of alternative therapies among the general population is still a subject of debate. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and the response along with demographic details was collected through a validated questionnaire; the results were analyzed by using a validated data collection tool. The results were concluded based on good, moderate, and poor responses, which were evaluated through data analysis by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20.0., SPSS Inc., Chicago, III, USA. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In total, 182 (44.4%) of male and 228 (55.6%) of female respondents were selected for this study. Studies showed that a greater knowledge level was observed among female respondents (15.55 ± 2.7, P < 0.001). The selected Chinese population had relatively good knowledge (i.e., 15.63, P = 0.006). People practicing Buddhism had also good knowledge. Rural population had lesser family income and showed a good practice pattern and understanding (P = 0.006). The positive attitude was identified among women ( P < 0.001) with a mean score of 15.55 ± 2.7. Postgraduate participants were found to have diverse results with SD ± 6.23, and 77.1% had a good attitude. A statistically significant association was observed between religion and attitude of respondents (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Although a better practice was noticed in Malaysian population, more awareness is required and knowledge should be disseminated among the population to improve the overall health and quality of life in Malaysia.

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA) ranks fifth in Asia in terms of area. It features broad biodiversity, including interesting flora, and was the historical origin of Islam. It is endowed with a large variety of plants, including many herbs, shrubs, and trees. Many of these plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine. The aim of this review is to evaluate the present knowledge on the plants growing in SA regarding their pharmacological and biological activities and the identification of their bioactive compounds to determine which plants could be of interest for further studies. A systematic summary of the plants’ history, distribution, various pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds, and clinical trials are presented in this paper to facilitate future exploration of their therapeutic potential. The literature was obtained from several scientific search engines, including Sci-Finder, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, MDPI, Wiley publications, and Springer Link. Plant names and their synonyms were validated by ‘The Plant List’ on 1 October 2021. SA is home to approximately 2247 plant species, including native and introduced plants that belong to 142 families and 837 genera. It shares the flora of three continents, with many unique features due to its extreme climate and geographical and geological conditions. As plants remain the leading supplier of new therapeutic agents to treat various ailments, Saudi Arabian plants may play a significant role in the fight against cancer, inflammation, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To date, 102 active compounds have been identified in plants from different sites in SA. Plants from the western and southwestern regions have been evaluated for various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycation, and cytotoxic activities. The aerial parts of the plants, especially the leaves, have yielded most of the bioactive compounds. Most bioactivity tests involve in vitro assessments for the inhibition of the growth of tumour cell lines, and several compounds with in vitro antitumour activity have been reported. More in-depth studies to evaluate the mode of action of the compounds are necessary to pave the way for clinical trials. Ecological and taxonomical studies are needed to evaluate the flora of SA, and a plan for the conservation of wild plants should be implemented, including the management of the protection of endemic plants.

The honey bee is an important economic insect due to its role in pollinating many agricultural plants. Unfortunately, bees are susceptible to many pathogens, including pests, parasites, bacteria, and viruses, most of which exert a destructive impact on thousands of colonies. The occurrence of resistance to the therapeutic substances used against these organisms is rising, and the residue from these chemicals may accumulate in honey bee products, subsequently affecting the human health. There is current advice to avoid the use of antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and other drugs in bees, and therefore, it is necessary to develop alternative strategies for the treatment of bee diseases. In this context, the impact of nosema diseases (nosemosis) on bee health and the negative insults of existing drugs are discussed. Moreover, attempts to combat nosema through the use of alternative compounds, including essential oils, plant extracts, and microbes in vitro and in vivo, are documented.