Bioengineered sustainable phytofabrication of anatase TiO2 -adorned g-C3N4 nanocomposites and unveiling their photocatalytic potential towards advanced environmental remediation.

The ecologically friendly properties, low-cost, and readily available titanium dioxide (TiO2) materials have made them a subject of considerable interest for numerous promising applications. Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized in the current study through the utilization of a hibiscus leaf extract and the advent of TiO2-doped g-C3N4(TiCN) nanocomposites (varying 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, 1.5 mM, and 2.0 mM) by thermal polymerization. Here, the proposed study utilized multiple analytical techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, a diffraction pattern (XRD), SEM coupled with EDX analysis, TGA, and EPR, to characterize the as-prepared TiO2 nanoparticles and TiCN nanocomposites. BET analysis the adsorption-desorption isotherms of the TiCN(1.5 mM) nanocomposite, the surface area of the prepared nanocomposite is 112.287 m2/g, and the pore size is 7.056 nm. The XPS spectra support the development of the TiCN(1.5 mM) nanocomposite by demonstrating the presence of C and N elements in the nanocomposite in addition to TiO2. HRTEM images where the formation of stacked that indicates a planar, wrinkled graphitic-like structure is clearly visible. The TiCN (1.5 mM) specimen exhibited enhanced morphology, enhanced surface area, greater capacity to take in visible light, and lowered band gap when compared to g-C3N4 following z-scheme heterojunction. The sample denoted as TiCN (1.5 mM) exhibited superior performance in terms of adsorption and photocatalytic activity using rhodamine B and Bisphenol A. Furthermore, the TiCN (1.5 mM) composite exhibited satisfactory stability over four cyclic runs, indicating its potential application in minimizing the impact of organic wastewater contaminants when compared to g-C3N4.

α, ß-Amyrin prevents steatosis and insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced mouse model of NAFLD via the AMPK-mTORC1-SREBP1 signaling mechanism

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatosteatosis and steatohepatitis, is intrinsically related to obesity. Our previous study reported on the anti-obese activity of α,β-amyrin (AMY), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Protium heptaphyllum. This study investigated its ability to prevent fatty liver and the underlying mechanism using the mouse model of NAFLD. NAFLD was induced in male Swiss mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. The controls were fed a normal chow diet (ND). The mice were simultaneously treated with AMY at 10 and 20 mg/kg or fenofibrate at 50 mg/kg. Lipid levels along with metabolic and inflammatory parameters were assessed in liver and serum. The liver sections were histologically examined using H&E staining. RT-qPCR and western blotting assays were performed to analyze signaling mechanisms. Mice fed HFD developed severe hepatic steatosis with elevated triglycerides and lipid droplets compared with ND controls. This was associated with a decrease in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, an increase of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, and enhanced sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression, which have roles in lipogenesis, inhibition of lipolysis, and inflammatory response. AMY treatment reversed these signaling activities and decreased the severity of hepatic steatosis and inflammatory response, evidenced by serum and liver parameters as well as histological findings. AMY-induced reduction in hepatic steatosis seemed to involve AMPK-mTORC1-SREBP1 signaling pathways, which supported its beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Lippia sidoides, carvacrol and thymol against oral pathogens

Dental caries and periodontal disease are associated with oral pathogens. Several plant derivatives have been evaluated with respect to their antimicrobial effects against such pathogenic microorganisms. Lippia sidoides Cham (Verbenaceae), popularly known as "Alecrim-pimenta" is a typical shrub commonly found in the Northeast of Brazil. Many plant species belonging to the genus Lippia yield very fragrant essential oils of potential economic value which are used by the industry for the commercial production of perfumes, creams, lotions, and deodorants. Since the leaves of L. sidoides are also extensively used in popular medicine for the treatment of skin wounds and cuts, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the composition and antimicrobial activity of L. sidoides essential oil. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Twelve compounds were characterized, having as major constituents thymol (56.7 percent) and carvacrol (16.7 percent). The antimicrobial activity of the oil and the major components was tested against cariogenic bacterial species of the genus Streptococcus as well as Candida albicans using the broth dilution and disk diffusion assays. The essential oil and its major components thymol and carvacrol exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against the organisms tested with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.625 to 10.0 mg/mL. The most sensitive microorganisms were C. albicans and Streptococcus mutans. The essential oil of L. sidoides and its major components exert promising antimicrobial effects against oral pathogens and suggest its likely usefulness to combat oral microbial growth.

Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Alpinia speciosa

Alpinia speciosa Schum or A. nutans is a plant of the Zingiberanceae family, Known popularly as "colony" (colônia) and used as a diuretic and to control hypertensión. We have determinated the concentration of Na+ and K+ found in the alcoholic extract and in the tea concoction. They contained 51.0mEq Na+, and 132 mEq K+ in the extract, and 0,0 mEq of Na+ and 26 mEq K+ in the tea. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves demonstrated the presence of catecquic tanins, phenols and alkaloids, and also some essential oils. When injected intra-peritoneally the hydroalcoholic extract, in range of 100 a 1400 mg/Kg, (or 2500-18000 mg/Kg orally) produced in mice: writhing, psychomorot excitation, hypokinesis and pruritus. The LD50 by ip was 0.760 + or - 0.126 g/Kg and 10.0 + or - 2.5 g/Kg by oral administration for the hydroalcoholic extract. Subacute toxicity made injecting daily for 30 days the LD10 in rats caused an increase in transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas other parameters such as nlood glucose, urea and creatinine were normal. A histopathological analysis of liver, spleen, gut, lung and heart showed no alterations. The drug also produced a prolongation of the sleeping time. The hydroalcoholic extract induced int he rat and in the dog a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure in doses of 10 to 30 mg/Kg. In isolated atria the extract induced a reduction of the frequnecy and in the inotropic responses. Neither the extract nor the tea had an effect on the diuresis of the rat.

Evaluation of the purified fraction of Wilbrandia (c. f. ) verticillata for antitumour activity

Cucurbatacins are known to produce cytotoxic and anticancer activities. Two novel norcucurbitacin glucosides (Wvl and Wv2) have recently been isolated from a purified fraction obtained from the rhizome of Wilbrandia verticillata. The present study evaluates the cytotoxic and anti-tumour activities of the norcucurbitacins. We have found a regular cytotoxicity in KB cells (Cy50 = 12µg/ml) as well as a significant inhibition in the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma growth (approximately 75%).

Involvement of PAF-acether and eicosanoids in adrenaline-induced pulmonary edema in mice

The participation of platelet-activating factor (PAF,PAF-acether) in a mouse model of pulmonary edema was studied using specific antagonists.Mice were treated before induction of edema with the PAF antagonists BN52021 (10mg/kg, ip), PCA 4248 (10 mg/kg, po) or WEB2170 (10mg/kg, ip),the lipoxygenase inhibitor EP10161 (10 mg/kg,ip),the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor aspirin (250 mg/kg,po), or with the mixed cyclo-lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C(50 mg/kg, ip).The test drugs were administered to animals either 30 min (When the ip route was used) or 60 min (when given po) prior to the induction of pulmonary edema.Pulmonary edema was induced by intravenous administration of adrenaline (2 mg/kg). When the lung-body index was usedas thecriterion for comparision between groups,BN52021, PCA4248 and WEB2170 were found to have no significant effect on pulmonary edema. In contrast, EP10161, aspirinand BW755C significantly inhibited pulmonary edemaby 49%,30% and 27%,respectively. The results suggest that arachidonate metabolites are likely to play a major roe in adrenaline-induced pulmonary edema in mice, whereas PAF-acether does not seem to play an important role in this model

Effect of Astronium urundeuva (aroeira) on gastrointestinal transit in mice

In order to assess the use of Astronium urundeuva in folk medicine for treatment of diarrheal conditions, the alcoholic extract of its bark was tested on gastrointestinal transit in mice. The extract at oral doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly inhibited physostigmine-induced gastrointestinal propulsion. Considering these data together with an in-vitro anti-acetylcholine effect reported earlier from this laboratory, we suggest that anti-cholinergic effects of the plant may account in part for its anti-diarrheal activity

Possible involvement of nitric oxide in estrogen-induced uterine edema in the immature rat

We examined whether nitric oxide mediates estrogen-induced uterine edema in the immature rat. Immature Wistar rats (19-21 days) received estradiol-17 beta (E2) in a single sc dose of 10 micrograms/animal and 6 h later the animals were sacrificed and the changes in uterine wet and dry weights were determined. E2 treatment caused a 93 per cent increase in uterine wet weight (control, N = 6, 39.88 +/- 3.2 mg; E2 treated, N = 6, 76.8 +/- 4.9 mg), but not in dry weight, suggesting that it induces uterine edema. Pretreatment with L-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a competitive antagonist of nitric oxide synthetase, at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg, ip, caused a dose-related reduction (59 and 86 per cent ) in the uterine wet weight increase induced by E2. Furthermore, L-arginine (300-600 mg/kg, sc), the nitric oxide precursor, was able to reverse L-NAME (20 mg/kg)-induced decreases in uterine weight by 47 and 62 per cent , respectively. The results suggest that nitric oxide is the principal mediator involved in estrogen-induced uterine edema in the immature rat

Anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory effects of ternatin, a flavonoid isolated from Egletes viscosa Less

Ternatin, a tetramethoxy flavone isolated from Egletes viscosa Less (Compositae), was tested for its efficacy in modulating mouse passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and rat carrageenan-induced pleurisy. Ternatin (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, ip) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of IgG antibody-mediated 1.5-h homologous PCA as well as IgE antibody-mediated 48-h homologous PCA in 2-month old mice (N = 5 per group). The inhibitory activity of ternatin was more potent on IgE-mediated PCA (47-79%) than on IgG (45-59%). In the rat carrageenan pleurisy test, ternatin (25 and 50 mg/kg, ip) reduced the response to carrageenan at 5 h both by decreasing exudate volume (33-40%) and leukocyte number (60%) in 5-6-month old rats (N = 6 per group). In contrast, indomethacin (2 mg/kg, po), a known cyclooxygenase inhibitor, showed greater potency in the inhibition of exudate volume (57%) and leukocyte number (77%). These results show that ternatin has both anti-inflammatory and anti-anaphylactic properties and suggest that it may be a useful alternative to anti-allergic drugs of the disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) type for use in bronchial asthma

Effect of calcium-entry blockers on the diurectic response to hydrochlorothiazide in the rat

The influence of the calcium-entry blockers, verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem on hydrochlorothiazide-induced diuresis was determined in hydrated conscious rats. Nifedipine significantly inhibited hydrochlorothiazide-induced 5-h excreted urine volume and urinary sodium with little effect on potassium excretion. Both verapamil and diltiazem significantly enhanced sodium excretion with no effects on either urine colume or potassium excretion. These results are of interest in view of the current use of nifedipine as an anti-hypertensive agent, alone or in combination with a thiazide diuretic

Inhibition of formaldehyde-induced arthritis by a purified fraction prepared from Wilbrandia (cf) verticillata which contains novel norcucurbitacin glucosides

The anti-inflammatory activity of a purified fraction of the rhizome of Wilbrandia (cf) verticillata, which contains two novel norcucurbitacin glucosides, is reported. The increase of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice (N = 5) was inhibited 69% and 90% by 50 and 100 mg/kg of the purified fraction, po (P<0.01). Acetylsalicylic acid (200 mg/kg), po, inhibited the response by 62% under the same conditions (P<0.05). The purified fraction (100 mg/kg, po) also significantly inhibited paw swelling in the rat formaldehyde-induced arthritis model on 8 of 10 days and reduced the swelling by 63% on day 10. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, ip) was more effective than the extract under the same conditions. These data partially characterize the anti-inflammatory activity of the purified fraction from this plant which is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of arthritis and related disorders

Taurine modulates chemical nociception in mice

The effect of taurine on nociception was investigated in adult male Swiss mice using the formalin and acetic acid tests. Taurine (50-200 mg/kg) injected sc into the animals (N = 6 per group) 30 min before formalin injection into the right hind paw reduced formalin-induced early phase (0-5 min) licking activity by 30-42 per cent , but had no effect on the late phase (20-25 min) response. Writhing responses induced by acetic acid injected ip were also significantly inhibited by 49 per cent and 56 per cent by doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg taurine, respectively. In both tests taurine demonstrated antinociception which was significantly blocked by naloxone (1 mg/kg, sc, administered simultaneously with taurine). The naloxone-sensitive antinociceptive action of taurine was probably mediated via modulation of endogenous pain-regulatory systems that involve opioid peptides, neuropeptides like substance P and amino acids such as glutamate and aspartate

Studies on the anti-ulcerogenic activity of Astronium urundeuva Engl: II. Aqueous extract

The effects of the aqueous extract of Astronium urundeuva Engl. on aspirin and restraint plus hustmine-induced ulceration in rats are described. The extract significantly inhibited aspirin-induced gastric lesions as well restraint plus histamine-induced ulceration in rats