Oblique pole-side crash assessment using the six-year-old HBM PIPER.

Side impact crashes are one of the most dangerous impact scenarios that a child can suffer. Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that the head and Thorax regions are affected severely. The objective of this work is to perform a numerical evaluation of the oblique pole-side test considering the FMVSS 214-P standard to estimate the Head, Neck, and Thorax injuries for a six-year-old child positioned in the rear seat without any Child Restraint System, two configurations were performed for the oblique pole-side impact: a nearside and a far-side positioning configuration. A six-year-old Human Body Model (HBM) denominated Scalable PIPER Child Model, and the Ford Explorer 2003 were used to perform the test in the LS DYNA® software to assess the biomechanics involved in the crash scenarios. The approach considered a comparative case study with the baseline of the six-year-old child PIPER model to ensure that the positioning adjustment has not affected the mesh quality and interior components for the PIPER child model. The outcomes obtained in case 1 show that the modified PIPER child model has slight outcomes at the shoulder and pelvis zone due to the differences in the body positioning and not by the mesh or the interior interaction between the components. The outcomes obtained in case 2 reflect that the nearside setup obtained the higher measurements for the child occupant. The A c 3 m s for Head at nearside test to overcome the Side Criteria established by the Assessment Protocol Child Occupant Protection by Euro NCAP, the kinematics behavior demonstrates the importance of researching children in side crashes to enhance child security, especially in the oblique pole side impact.

Chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated Piper betle essential oil alleviates Alzheimer's disease associated pathology in Caenorhabditis elegans.

A multifaceted approach in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition that poses health risks in the aging population is explored in this investigation via encapsulating Piper betle essential oil (PBEO) in chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) to improve solubility and efficacy of PBEO. PBEO-ChNPs mitigated AD-like features more effectively than free PBEO by delaying paralysis progression and reducing serotonin hypersensitivity, ROS levels, Aß deposits, and neurotoxic Aß-oligomers in the Caenorhabditis elegans AD model. PBEO-ChNPs significantly improved lifespan, neuronal health, healthspan, cognitive function, and reversed deficits in chemotaxis and reproduction. PBEO-ChNPs also induced stress response genes daf-16, sod-3, and hsp-16.2. The participation of the DAF-16 pathway in reducing Aß-induced toxicity was confirmed by daf-16 RNAi treatment, and upregulation of autophagy genes leg-1, unc-51, and bec-1 was noted. This study is the first to demonstrate an alternative biopolymeric nanoformulation with natural PBEO and chitosan, in mitigating AD and its associated symptoms.

Effect of film-forming solution pH on the mechanical, barrier, and biological characteristics of chitosan/Piper betel L. leaf extract coating film for mango preservation.

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of film-forming solution pH on characteristics of chitosan (CH) - Piper betel L. leaf extract (PBe) coating films and their potential applications in mango preservation. The coating films were fabricated from CH-PBe solutions in the pH range of 3-5 using a solvent evaporation technique. The analysis results (DSC and FTIR) demonstrate higher miscibility, better compatibility, and tighter intermolecular interactions between CH and active compounds in the film matrix prepared at low pH. The mechanical and barrier properties of the CH-PBe film significantly decreased with increasing pH value. Varying the film-forming pH insignificantly affected the antioxidant activity and antibacterial inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) of the resultant films. However, Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) was less vulnerable to the blend film prepared at the higher pH medium. The coating solution at pH 4 proved suitable for preserving 'Tu Quy' mangoes, according to the observation of color changes, accumulated decay rate, respiration rate, ripening index, and other related factors. The findings of this work reveal the importance of pH control in producing CH-PBe coating films for mango preservation and provide more insights into pH-affected interactions between CH matrix and polyphenols in PBe.

Identification of pancreatin inhibitors from Thai medicinal Piper plants for antidiabetic and anti-obesity activities using high-performance thin-layer chromatography-bioautographic assay.

Exploring the potential of natural products against diabetes and obesity is in demand nowadays. Pancreatic α-amylase and pancreatic lipase are the drug targets to minimize the absorption of glucose from starch and fatty acids from lipids, respectively. In this study, five Piper species, namely P. sarmentosum (Ps), P. wallichii (Pw), P. retrofractum (Pr), P. nigrum (Pn), and P. betle (Pb), which are commonly used as food ingredients and traditional medicines, were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against pancreatin using the microtiter plate method. Additionally, pancreatin inhibitors were identified through a cost-effective high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-bioautography developed using red starch and p-nitrophenyl palmitate, corresponding to anti-amylase and -lipase activities, respectively. Of the 15 samples tested, leaf samples from Pb, which had the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against pancreatin, with a relative amylase inhibitory capacity (RAIC) ranging between 4.260 × 10-5 and 4.861 × 10-5 and a reciprocal half-maximal inhibitory concentration (1/IC50, PTL) of 0.390-0.510 (mg/mL)-1. Additionally, Ps samples demonstrated the second-ranked anti-pancreatin activity. Principal component analysis indicated that total phenolic content contributed to the anti-pancreatin activities of Pb samples. The anti-pancreatin bands were isolated and identified as caffeic acid, myricetin, genistein, piperine, and eugenol. Myricetin, in the roots of Ps samples, showed notable anti-pancreatin activity, which was consistent with results from the in silico prediction toward pancreatic α-amylase and pancreatic lipase. Caffeic acid and eugenol were present in Pb samples. In conclusion, the developed cost-effective pancreatin HPTLC-bioautography efficiently identified amylase and lipase inhibitors from Piper herbs, which supported the use of these plants for antidiabetes and anti-obesity.

Spatio-Temporal Variations of Volatile Metabolites as an Eco-Physiological Response of a Native Species in the Tropical Forest.

This study evaluates the essential oil (EO) composition of Piper rivinoides Kunth, a shrub native to the Brazilian tropical rainforest, across different plant parts and developmental phases. The aim was to explore the chemical diversity of EO and its reflection in the plant's ecological interactions and adaptations. Plant organs (roots, stems, branches, and leaves) at different developmental phases were subjected to hydrodistillation followed by chemical analysis using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The results revealed a relevant variation in EO yield and composition among different plant parts and developmental phases. Leaves showed the highest yield and chemical diversity, with α-pinene and ß-pinene as major constituents, while roots and stems were characterized by a predominance of arylpropanoids, particularly apiol. The chemical diversity in leaves increased with plant maturity, indicating a dynamic adaptation to environmental interactions. The study underscores the importance of considering the ontogeny of plant parts in understanding the ecological roles and potential applications of P. rivinoides in medicine and agriculture. The findings contribute to the overall knowledge of Piperaceae chemodiversity and ecological adaptations, offering insights into the plant's interaction with its environment and its potential uses based on chemical composition.

Transcriptional regulation of hormone signalling genes in black pepper in response to Phytophthora capsici.

INTRODUCTION: Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a non-model spice crop of significant agricultural and biological importance. The 'quick wilt' disease caused by the oomycete Phytophthora capsici is a major threat, leading to substantial crop loss. The molecular mechanisms governing the plant immune responses to this pathogen remain unclear. This study employs RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis to explore the defense mechanisms of P. nigrum against P. capsici. RESULTS: Two-month-old P. nigrum plantlets were subjected to infection with P. capsici, and leaf samples were collected at 6- and 12-hours post-inoculation. RNA was extracted, sequenced, and the resulting data were processed and assembled. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted to identify genes responding to the infection. Additionally, the study investigated the involvement of Salicylic acid (SA), Jasmonic acid (JA), and Ethylene (ET) signalling pathways. Our transcriptome assembly comprised 64,667 transcripts with 96.7% completeness, providing valuable insights into the P. nigrum transcriptome. Annotation of these transcripts identified functional categories and domains, provided details on molecular processes. Gene expression analysis identified 4,714 transcripts at 6 h post-infection (hpi) and 9,416 at 12 hpi as differentially expressed, revealing dynamic regulation of immune-related genes. Furthermore, the study investigated key genes involved in biosynthesis pathways of Salicylic acid, Jasmonic acid, and Ethylene signalling. Notably, we found differential regulation of critical genes associated with these pathways while comparing data before and after infection, thereby shedding light on their roles in defense mechanism in P. nigrum defense. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive transcriptome analysis of P. nigrum response to P. capsici attack provides valuable insights into the plant defense mechanisms. The dynamic regulation of innate immunity and the involvement of key signalling pathways highlight the complexity of the plant-pathogen interaction. This study contributes to our understanding of plant immunity and offers potential strategies for enhancing P. nigrum resistance to this harmful pathogen.

Wild Pepper (Piper laetispicum) Fruit Quality Traits at Different Developmental Stages.

High-quality Piper laetispicum (Piper laetispicum C. DC) is the key to the development of foods, natural medicines, and cosmetics. Its crude fat, ash, piperine, protein, and aroma compounds were determined in this experiment. Principal component (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analyses (HCA) were used to evaluate the aroma compounds at different developmental stages. The main aroma compounds identified using steam distillation combined with GC-MS were sabinene (34.83-76.14%), α-copaene (5.11-19.51%), linalool (2.42-15.70%), trans-caryophyllene (2.37-6.57%), α-pinene (1.51-4.31%), and germacrene D (1.30-4.10%). The aroma metabolites at different developmental stages were analysed using non-targeted metabolomes, and linalool was found to be the most abundant. Based on the experimental results, there were more nutrient compounds in young Piper laetispicum than in the last three developmental stages. The aromatic metabolites contributed the most to PC1. There were also more different metabolites of aroma between the young and expanding stages. Therefore, regarding quality, young fruits have great potential.

Groundwater quality in high-sulfur coal mining region of India: Spatial distribution, source control, and health risk assessment.

The groundwater quality in the vicinity of the Makum coalfield, renowned for its high-sulfur coal deposits, was investigated. The oxidation of sulfur in the coal generates acid mine drainage (AMD), a global environmental challenge that contaminates natural resources. The region's high sulfur coal content intensifies AMD formation, necessitating a comprehensive assessment of its impact on human health and the environment. This study analyzes the water quality parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, K+, HCO3-, SO4-2, F-, Cl -, and NO3- in groundwater, findings concerning low pH levels (5.8) and fluoride concentration (0.15 mg/L) compared to standards. Groundwater chemistry was analyzed to identify the sources controlling water composition through Gibbs diagrams, Piper diagrams, and saturation indices. The Gibbs diagram shows that rock weathering is the crucial factor controlling groundwater chemistry, while the Piper diagram indicates Ca-Cl as the Principal water type. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of groundwater chemistry reveals that carbonate dissolution primarily occurs due to minerals like calcite, dolomite, and gypsum, findings supported by saturation indices. The present study yielded an average water quality index of 40.19, indicating excellent to good water quality in 51 out of 52 samples analyzed. The average hazard index values for adults and children were 0.60 and 0.58, respectively, indicating that 49 of 52 samples pose negative non-carcinogenic risks associated with nitrate and fluoride contamination. The irrigation indices, graphical representations such as the Wilcox and Doneen classification, and the USSL diagram elucidate the suitability for irrigation purposes. Moreover, the Principal Component Analysis identified the sources of ions as originating from geogenic processes and mining activities. The study stresses environmental assessments, health risk management, and sustainable practices for groundwater in high-sulfur coal mining areas.

Hydroxyl-Amide Alkaloids from Pepper Roots: Potential Sources of Natural Antioxidants and Tyrosinase Inhibitors.

Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a widely used spice plant known for its fruits and roots, which serve as flavor enhancers in culinary applications and hold significant economic value. Despite the popularity of pepper fruits, their roots remain relatively understudied, with limited research conducted on their bioactive components. This study focused on discovering and separating the primary bioactive amide alkaloids found in pepper roots. The process involved using the antioxidant activity of crude fractions and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking analysis platform. The process led to the discovery of 23 previously unknown hydroxyl-amide alkaloids. Notably, compounds 11, 12, and 14 showed excellent antioxidant activity, while compound 11 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase. Theoretical exploration of enzyme-ligand interactions was conducted through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The findings of this study highlight the potential of hydroxyl-amide alkaloids as antioxidant products and natural food preservatives in the pharmaceutical and food cosmetic industries.

Alkaloids from Piper longum L and Their Anti-inflammatory Properties.

Piper longum L.(PL)  is considered one of the most important species traditionally used for treating various ailments and has indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. In this study, we isolated the chemical compounds of PLleaves,andmeasuredNO, IL-6, iNOS, as well as COX-2 protein levels. In addition, molecular docking analysis were used to further understand anti-inflammation effect of the compounds. We identified one new alkaloid named piperlongumine A (1) with ten known compounds (2-11). The new compound (1) and two other alkaloids 2E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(pyrrol-1-yl)propanone (7) and piperchabamide A (8) significantlyreduced NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with the IC50 values of 0.97 ± 0.05 mM, 0.91 ± 0.07mM, 1.63 ± 0.14 mM, respectively. Moreover, at concentration of 2 mM, compound 1 inhibited approximately 98 ± 0.64 % of IL-6 secretion, and decreased  iNOS and COX-2 protein level by about 96 and 19 folds compared to LPS treatment alone, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 1, 7, and 8 were predicted to bind and inhibit IL-6, TNF-a, and iNOS, with compound 1 showing the highest binding energy of -7.09 kcal/mol. This study provides new insights for potential anti-inflammatory drug design and warrants further investigation.

Anti-inflammatory potential of Piper betleoides C. DC., a promising Piper species of Northeast India: in vitro and in vivo evidence and mechanistic insight.

The present study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the leaf hydroalcoholic extract of Piper betleoides C. DC., also known as "Jangli Paan" in Northeast India, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated both cell culture (RAW264.7, macrophage cells) and animal (albino rat) model of inflammation. Treatment with leaf hydroalcoholic extract of Piper betleoides (PBtE) dose-dependently (5, 10, and 20 µg/mL) decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1) and increased anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines in LPS-treated macrophages. Similarly, treatment with PBtE also prevented the alternation in mRNA expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, CCL-2, IL-6, and IL-10) in LPS-treated macrophages. Dose-dependent supplementation with PBtE further reduced the production of intracellular ROS and increased the phagocytosis efficacies in LPS-treated cells. Further in vivo studies demonstrated that treatment with PBtE dose-dependently (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight) prevented the dysregulation of the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10) and reduced the circulatory levels of prostaglandin (PGE2) and nitric oxide products (nitrite) in LPS-treated animals. In addition, alternation of blood cell profiling and the liver as well as kidney dysfunctions were also prevented by the treatment with PBtE in LPS-treated rats. The anti-inflammatory potential of PBtE was comparable to those seen in sodium diclofenac (positive control) treated group. LC-MS analyses showed piperine, piperlongumine, piperolactam-A, and dehydropipernonaline and GC-MS analyses demonstrated phytol, caryophyllene, and falcarinol as the phytochemicals present in Piper betleoides, which might play an important role in preventing inflammation and associated pathophysiology. Different treatments didn't cause any toxicity in cell culture and animal models. This study for the first time demonstrated the promising anti-inflammatory potential of the leaf hydroalcoholic extract of Piper betleoides.

Arsenic-contaminated groundwater of the Western Banat (Pannonian basin): Hydrogeochemical appraisal, pollution source apportionment, and Monte Carlo simulation of source-specific health risks.

Due to rapid urbanization and industrial growth, groundwater globally is continuously deteriorating, posing significant health risks to humans. This study employed a comprehensive methodology to analyze groundwater in the Western Banat Plain (Serbia). Using Piper and Gibbs plots, hydrogeochemistry was assessed, while the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) was used to evaluate groundwater quality. Pollution sources were identified using positive matrix factorization (PMF) accompanied by Pearson correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis, while Monte Carlo simulation assessed health risks associated with groundwater consumption. Results showed that groundwater, mainly Ca-Mg-HCO3 type, is mostly suitable for drinking. Geogenic pollution, agricultural activities, and sewage were major pollution sources. Consumption of contaminated groundwater poses serious non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Additionally, arsenic from geogenic source was found to be the main health risks contributor, considering its worryingly elevated concentration, ranging up to 364 µg/L. These findings will be valuable for decision-makers and researchers in managing groundwater vulnerability. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Groundwater is severely contaminated with As in the northern part of the study area. The predominant hydrochemical type of groundwater in the area is Ca-Mg-HCO3. The PMF method apportioned three groundwater pollution sources. Monte Carlo identified rock dissolution as the primary health risk contributor. Health risks and mortality in the study area are positively correlated.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing and biofilm attenuation by a di-hydroxy derivative of piperlongumine (PL-18).

Bacterial communication, Quorum Sensing (QS), is a target against virulence and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections. 16 derivatives of Piperlongumine (PL), an amide alkaloid from Piper longum L., were screened for QS inhibition. PL-18 had the best QSI activity. PL-18 inhibited the lasR-lasI, rhlR-rhlI, and pqs QS systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PL-18 inhibited pyocyanin and rhamnolipids that are QS-controlled virulence elements. Iron is an essential element for pathogenicity, biofilm formation and resilience in harsh environments, its uptake was inhibited by PL-18. Pl-18 significantly reduced the biofilm biovolume including in established biofilms. PL-18-coated silicon tubes significantly inhibited biofilm formation. The transcriptome study of treated P. aeruginosa showed that PL-18 indeed reduced the expression of QS and iron homeostasis related genes, and up regulated sulfur metabolism related genes. Altogether, PL-18 inhibits QS, virulence, iron uptake, and biofilm formation. Thus, PL-18 should be further developed against bacterial infection, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation.

Anti-Infection of Oral Microorganisms from Herbal Medicine of Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav.

The WHO Global Status Report on Oral Health 2022 reveals that oral diseases caused by infection with oral pathogenic microorganisms affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. Oral health problems are caused by the presence of S. mutans, S. sanguinis, E. faecalis and C. albicans in the oral cavity. Synthetic anti-infective drugs have been widely used to treat oral infections, but have been reported to cause side effects and resistance. Various strategies have been implemented to overcome this problem. Synthetic anti-infective drugs have been widely used to treat oral infections, but they have been reported to cause side effects and resistance. Therefore, it is important to look for safe anti-infective alternatives. Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies suggest that Red Betel leaf (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav) could be a potential source of oral anti-infectives. This review aims to discuss the pathogenesis mechanism of several microorganisms that play an important role in causing health problems, the mechanism of action of synthetic oral anti-infective drugs in inhibiting microbial growth in the oral cavity, and the potential of red betel leaf (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav) as an herbal oral anti-infective drug. This study emphasises the importance of researching natural components as an alternative treatment for oral infections that is more effective and can meet global needs.

Kavalactones support motivation to move during intensive training in males preparing for military special operations forces.

BACKGROUND: Military special operators, elite athletes, and others requiring uninterrupted optimal performance currently lack options for sleep and mood support without performance-inhibiting effects. Kavalactones, derived from the root of the kava plant (Piper methysticum Forst), have been shown to elevate mood and wellbeing by producing a feeling of relaxation without addiction or cognitive impairment. METHODS: In this placebo-controlled, crossover study (NCT05381025), we investigated the effects of 2 weeks of kavalactones use on cortisol (diurnal salivary), sleep (RSQ-W; Restorative Sleep Questionnaire, Weekly), mood (DASS-21; Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21), and motivation state to expend (Move) or conserve (Rest) energy (CRAVE; Cravings for Rest and Volitional Energy Expenditure, Right Now) in a cohort of 15 healthy, physically fit young males engaged in a rigorous, two-a-day preparation class for special operations forces qualification. RESULTS: Cortisol, sleep, and mood were within normal, healthy parameters in this cohort at baseline. This remained unchanged with kavalactones use with no significant findings of clinical interest. However, a statistically similar, positive slope for within-group Move scores was seen in both groups during kavalactones loading (first group Move slope 2.25, second group Move slope 3.29, p = 0.299). This trend was seen regardless of order and with no apparent effects on the Rest metric (all p ≥ 0.05). Moreover, a significant between-group difference appeared after 1 week of kavalactones use in the first phase (p = 0.044) and persisted through the end of the first loading period (p = 0.022). Following the 10-day washout, this between-groups divergence remained significant (p = 0.038) but was reversed by 1 week after the crossover (p = 0.072), with Move scores once again statistically similar between groups and compared to baseline at study end. Furthermore, the group taking kavalactones first never experienced a significant decrease in Move motivation state (lowest mean score 21.0, highest 28.6, all p ≥ 0.05), while the group receiving kavalactones in the last 2 weeks of the study had Move scores that were statistically lower than baseline (lowest mean score 8.6, highest 25.9, all p ≤ 0.05) at all time points but the last (p = 0.063) after 2 weeks of kavalactones exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We report a novel finding that kavalactones may support performance by maintaining or rescuing the desire to expend energy in the context of significant physical and mental strain in well-conditioned individuals, even in a context of already normal cortisol, sleep, and mood.

IL-6 Inhibitory Compounds from the Aerial Parts of Piper attenuatum and Their Anticancer Activities on Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines.

Piper attenuatum Buch-Ham, a perennial woody vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, is traditionally used in Southeast Asia for treating various ailments such as malaria, headache, and hepatitis. This study described the isolation and identification of three new compounds, piperamides I-III (1-3), which belong to the maleimide-type alkaloid skeletons, along with fifteen known compounds (4-18) from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of P. attnuatum. Their chemical structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, ESI-Q-TOF-MS, and 1D/2D NMR). All the isolates were evaluated for their ability to inhibit IL-6 activity in the human embryonic kidney-Blue™ IL-6 cell line and their cytotoxic activity against ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3/SKOV3-TR) and chemotherapy-resistant variants (cisplatin-resistant A2780/paclitaxel-resistant SKOV3). The compounds 3, 4, 11, 12, 17, and 18 exhibited IL-6 inhibition comparable to that of the positive control bazedoxifene. Notably, compound 12 displayed the most potent anticancer effect against all the tested cancer cell lines. These findings highlight the importance of researching the diverse activities of both known and newly discovered natural products to fully unlock their potential therapeutic benefits.

Effects of n-hexane fraction of Piper guineense seed extract on Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride-induced hypertension in rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the n-hexane fraction of the ethanolic seed extract of PG (NFESEPG) on hypertension induced by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in rats. Specifically, the study examined the impact of NFESEPG on blood pressure, oxidative stress markers, NO concentration, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and arginase activities, and cardiac biomarkers in hypertensive rats. The study involved collecting, identifying, and processing the PG plant to obtain the ethanolic seed extract. The extract was then partitioned with solvents to isolate the n-hexane fraction. Hypertension was induced in rats by oral administration of L-NAME for 10 days, while concurrent treatment with NFESEPG at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg/day) was administered orally. Blood pressure was measured using a noninvasive tail-cuff method, and various biochemical parameters were assessed. Treatment with both doses of NFESEPG significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Additionally, NFESEPG administration increased NO concentration and decreased ACE and arginase activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and cardiac biomarkers in hypertensive rats. The findings indicate that NFESEPG effectively lowered blood pressure in hypertensive rats induced by L-NAME, potentially through mechanisms involving the modulation of oxidative stress, NO bioavailability, and cardiac biomarkers. These results suggest the therapeutic potential of NFESEPG in managing hypertension and related cardiovascular complications.

The Potential of Co-Fermentation of Whole-Plant Cassava with Piper sarmentosum: A Comprehensive Study of Fermentation Quality, Antioxidant Activity, Bacterial Community Structure, and Microbial Ecological Networks in Novel Foods.

The objective of this study was to explore the preservation of food products through the co-fermentation of whole-plant cassava and Piper sarmentosum (PS) without additives. We assessed fermentation quality, antioxidant activity, bacterial community structure, function profile, and microbial ecological network features. Our results demonstrate that co-fermentation of whole-plant cassava with 10% PS significantly improves food quality. The co-fermented samples exhibited enhanced lactic acid concentrations and increased antioxidant activity, with reduced pH values and concentrations of acetic acid, butyric acid, and ammonia-N(NH3-N) compared to whole-plant cassava fermented alone. In addition, PS addition also optimized microbial community structure by elevating the total abundance of lactic acid bacteria and influenced bacterial predicted functions. Furthermore, our analysis of co-occurrence networks reveals that co-fermentation impacts microbial network features, including module numbers and bacterial relative abundances, leading to altered complexity and stability of the networks. Moreover, out study also highlights the impact of ferment undesirable bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and unclassified_Muribaculaceae playing crucial roles in microbial network complexity and stability. These findings provide valuable insights into the anaerobic fermentation process and offers strategies for regulating food fermentation quality.

GIS based geostatistical modelling and trends analysis of groundwater quality for suitable uses in Dhaka division.

Preserving the quality of groundwater has become Bangladesh's primary challenge in recent years. This study explores temporal trend variations in groundwater quality on a broader scale across 18 stations within the Dhaka division over 35 years. The data set encompasses an analysis of 15 distinct water quality parameters. Modified Mann-Kendal, Sens Slope and Mann-Kendal tests were performed to determine the trend's variation and slope. In addition, the spatial-temporal changes in the quality of groundwater are studied through Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and Piper diagram was applied to identify the unique hydrochemical properties. This is the first study conducted on this area using various trends analysis and no in-depth study is available highlighting the trends analysis of groundwater quality on a larger magnitude. In contrast, the correlation matrix reveals a high association between Mg2+ and SO42-, Na+ and Cl- that affects salinity and overall hardness at the majority of sites. The Piper diagram also demonstrates that the groundwater in Madaripur Sadar has major salinity issues. The analysis reveals a distinctive dominance of bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions across all sampling stations, with (HCO3-) equivalent fractions consistently ranging from 0.70 to 0.99 which can cause a significant impact on groundwater uses. This extensive analysis of long-term groundwater quality trends in the Dhaka Division enables researchers to comprehend the overall transition of groundwater quality for hardness related complications in future. Moreover, it can be a baseline study considering the valuable implications and future steps for sustainable water resource management in this region.

Cubeb (Piper cubeba L.): nutritional value, phytochemical profiling and dermacosmeceutical properties.

Introduction: Cubeb, Piper cubeba L., has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and culinary practices, with a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. Objective: Herein, we determined the phytochemical profile, mineral, fatty acids, and amino acid contents of P. cubeba berries and assessed the dermacosmeceutical properties of their water extract and essential oil (EO). These included assessing their antioxidant and antibacterial activities as well as their in vitro inhibitory activities against tyrosinase and elastase enzymes. In addition, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were performed on the major identified compounds of the EO. Results and discussion: A total of forty-three compounds belonging to organic acids, phenolic acids and flavonoids were found in the water extract, while 36 volatile compounds were identified in the EO with Z-isoeugenol, dihydroeugenol, ß-pinene, E-caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole as major constituents. The berries were found to be rich in sodium and iron, have moderate zinc content along with low contents of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Amino acid analysis revealed a considerable concentration of isoleucine and phenylalanine, whereas 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid and linoleic acid were identified as the major fatty acids. In the DPPH and FRAP assays, the water extract elicited considerable antioxidant activity compared to the reference compounds. Enzyme inhibitory assays revealed that the EO had a potential to inhibit tyrosinase and elastase enzymes with IC50 values of 340.56 and 86.04 µg/mL, respectively. The water extract and EO completely inhibited the bacterial growth at MIC of 50 mg/mL and 20%, respectively. At sub-MIC concentrations, the extract and the EO substantially reduced the biofilm formation by up to 26.63 and 77.77%, respectively, as well as the swimming and swarming motilities in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics showed that the five main components of P. cubeba EO could be the major contributors to the elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the promising potential of P. cubeba as a valuable source of natural compounds that can be utilized for the development of innovative pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and dermacosmeceutical agents.