Microplastics pollution in the Surma River, Bangladesh: A rising hazard to upstream water quality and aquatic life.

The ecological health of freshwater rivers is deteriorating globally due to careless human activities, for instance, the emission of plastic garbage into the river. The current research was the first assessment of microplastics (MPs) pollution in water, sediment, and representative organisms (fish, crustacean, and bivalve) from the Surma River. Water, sediment, and organisms were sampled from six river sites (Site 1: Charkhai; Site 2: Golapganj; Site 3: Alampur; Site 4: Kazir Bazar; Site 5: Kanishail and Site 6: Lamakazi), and major water quality parameters were recorded during sampling. Thereafter, MPs in water, sediment, and organism samples were extracted, and then microscopically examined to categorize selected MPs types. The abundance of MPs, as well as size, and color distribution, were estimated. Polymer types were analyzed by ATR-FTIR, the color loss of MPs was recorded, the Pollution Load Index (PLI) was calculated, and the relationship between MPs and water quality parameters was analyzed. Sites 4 and 5 had comparatively poorer water quality than other sites. Microplastic fibers, fragments, and microbeads were consistently observed in water, sediment, and organisms. A substantial range of MPs in water, sediment, and organisms (37.33-686.67 items/L, 0.89-15.12 items/g, and 0.66-48.93 items/g, respectively) was recorded. There was a diverse color range, and MPs of <200 µm were prevalent in sampling areas. Six polymer types were identified by ATR-FTIR, namely Polyethylene (PE), Polyamide (PA), Polypropylene (PP), Cellulose acetate (CA), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and Polystyrene (PS), where PE (41%) was recognized as highly abundant. The highest PLI was documented in Site 4 followed by Site 5 both in water and sediment. Likewise, Sites 4 and 5 were substantially different from other study areas according to PCA. Overall, the pervasiveness of MPs was evident in the Surma River, which requires further attention and prompt actions.

Assessment of dietary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate exposure in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: Bioaccumulation, and effects on behaviour, growth, hematology and histology.

Microplastics (MPs) have been recognized as emerging aquatic pollutants receiving major concern due to their detrimental effects on aquatic life. Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is a model species considered in toxicological studies to address the effects of pollutants in freshwater animals. However, comprehensive knowledge comparing the impacts on fish across various MPs polymers is scarce. Therefore, the overarching aim of the current study was to examine the bioconcentration of MPs polymers: polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and their toxic effects on growth, and behavioral responses, hematology, and histology of gills, liver, and intestine in O. niloticus. Fishes were subjected to a 21-day dietary exposure to MPs by assigning them into six treatment groups: T1 (4% of PVC), T2 (4% of PP), T3 (4% of PET), T4 (8% of PVC), T5 (8% of PP), T6 (8% of PET), and control (0% of MPs), to assess the effects on fish across the polymers and dosage. Results showed several abnormalities in anatomical and behavioral parameters, lower growth, and high mortality in MPs-exposed fish, indicating a dose-dependent relationship. The elevated dosage of polymers raised the bioavailability of PVC, PP, and PET in gills and gut tissues. Noteworthy erythrocyte degeneration referred to cytotoxicity and stress imposed by MPs, whereas the alterations in hematological parameters were possibly due to blood cell damage, also indicating mechanisms of defense against MPs toxicity. Histopathological changes in the gills, liver, and intestine confirmed the degree of toxicity and associated dysfunctions in fish. A higher sensitivity of O. niloticus to PET-MPs compared to other polymers is likely due to its chemical properties and species-specific morphological and physiological characteristics. Overall, the present study reveals valuable insights into the emerging threat of MPs toxicity in freshwater species, which could be supportive of future toxicological research.

A novel terpenoid glycoside and other bioactive constituents from the seeds of Cichoriumintybus.

Phytochemical investigation of the seeds of Cichorium intybus L (C. intybus) led to isolate n-hexacosane (CI-1), an aliphatic higher ketone, n-nonacosan-3-one (CI-2), two aliphatic acid esters characterized as n-octacosanyl decanoate (CI-3) and n-tricosanyl hexadecanoate (CI-4), two mixed glycerides identified as as glyceryl-1-(hexadec-7- enoyl)-2- tetradecanoyl-3-hexadecanoate (Cl-5) and glyceryl-1- (eicos-9-enoyl)-2,3, bis-eicosanoate (Cl-6), and three e steroidal constituents and their structures were elucidated as as stigmast-5, 22-dien-3ß -ol-21-oic acids (Cl-7), stigmasterol-3ß-d-glucopyranoside (Cl-8) and stigmast-5, 22-dien-3-ß-ol-3-ß-d-glucuronopyranoside (Cl-9). The dry seeds powder was defatted and finally extracted with ethanol by using a maceration method. The ethanol was evaporated near to dryness and silica gel was added to the extract and a slurry with the help of methanol solvent was prepared. The slurry was loaded to the column by using petroleum ether and was eluted with a mixture of chloroform and methanol. A series of test tubes were collected and each test tube with 2 mL eluents was collected. Based on the thin layer chromatography (TLC) the content of nine test tubes were considered as pure compounds. The solvent was evaporated from the test tube at room temperature. All the nine compounds from the column were characterized by using Infrared (IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass spectrometry (MS). Eight compounds were previously isolated from the plant and they showed various biological activities. A new compound was isolated for the first time from the plant kingdoms. Based on the chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis the new compound was characterized as stigmasterol carboxylic acid (CI-9). The isolated new compound could be used to treat liver and cardiac diseases.

Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Tetraena simplex extracts of various polarities.

Nowadays, infectious and oxidative stress-related diseases are leading to many deaths worldwide. Tetraena simplex, a new species (synonym) that is mainly grown in Oman, has traditionally been used as a medicine for asthma. This study aimed to assess antioxidant and antibacterial activities of T. simplex extracts of various polarities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and agar gel diffusion assays. Among the six extracts prepared, ethyl acetate extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and hexane extract showed the lowest antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity of the extracts decreased in the order of ethyl acetate > dichloromethane > water > butanol > methanol > hexane. Similarly, antibacterial activities, indicated as inhibition zones, of the six extracts at four concentrations were assessed against two gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus) and three gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus bacilli). No extract showed antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria at any concentration. Therefore, the ethyl acetate extract of T. simplex may be used as an antioxidant or a food supplement as an alternative to synthetic drugs.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of different organic crude extracts from the local medicinal plant of Thymus vulgaris L.

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and analyze the chemical composition in different crude extracts of from the leaves of locally grown of Thymus vulgaris L (T. vulgaris) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). METHODS: The shade dried leaves powder was extracted with methanol by using Soxhlet extractor. Methanol crude extracts of T. vulgaris and the derived fractions of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol were obtained. RESULTS: Qualitative analyses of various organic crude extracts of T. vulgaris by using GC-MS showed that there were different types of high and low molecular weight compounds. Most of the isolated and identified compounds by GC-MS in the crude extracts are basically biologically important. Further, the T. vulgaris leaf possessed certain characteristics that can be ascribed to cultivation on a domestic plantation. The crude extracts were prepared from the powder leaves of T. vulgaris for respective compounds can be chosen on the basis of above GC-MS analysis. CONCLUSIONS: All the major compounds were identified and characterized by spectroscopic method in different organic crude extracts of T. vulgaris are biologically active molecules. Thus the identification of a good number of compounds in various crude extracts of T. vulgaris might have some ecological role.