Catechins, theaflavins and ginger freeze-dried extract based functional drink significantly mitigate the hepatic, diabetic and lipid abnormalities in rat model.

The Current study was planned to explore the therapeutic potential of green tea, black tea and ginger based nutraceuticals (catechins, theaflavins and ginger freeze dried extract) against obesity, diabetes and renal malfunctioning. Bioevaluation study was carried out by involving 250 male Sprague Dawley rats. Accordingly, three types of studies were conducted on the basis of different diets i.e. study I (Hyperglycemic rats), study II (obese rats), study III (liver malfunctional rats) each study comprised of five groups of rats ten in each (Sample size according to power analysis) were provided the five types of drinks i.e. control, theaflavin enriched, catechins enriched, ginger extract supplemented and combination of catechins, theaflavins and ginger extract were given to the representative groups. Results showed that the body weight of rats effected significantly with functional drinks in all studies. However, catechin enriched drink (T1) resulted maximum reduction in weight during the entire study. Similarly, T2 exerted maximum decline in cholesterol level during study I, II and III by 11.03 & 10.63, 7.62 & 8.05 and 5.99 & 6.01% whereas LDL by 14.25 & 15.10, 10.45 & 12.10 and 7.25 & 8.01%, respectively (trial 1 & 2). The attenuation in serum glucose and enhancement in insulin level of rats are the indicators for the positive impact of black tea functional drinks. In this context, Catechins+theaflavins+GFD enriched drink (T4) Showed better performance than rest and caused 8.82 & 9.77, 11.03 & 12.23 and 5.83 & 5.96% reduction in glucose. Moreover, the T4 significantly improved the liver and antioxidant enzymes. Accordingly, T4 was proved effective for glutathione enhancement whilst T2 alleviated TBARS efficiently during the investigation. The normal ranges of renal function tests and hematological aspects proved the safety of resultant drinks. From the current exploration, it is concluded that drinks supplemented with theaflavin and catechins & GFD are effectual to mitigate lifestyle related malfunctioning.

Chemical Composition and Bioactivities of Essential Oil from Leaves of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Native to Punjab, Pakistan.

Herbal medicines are widely used for the treatment of different types of diseases like skin and throat infections and other diseases in developing countries. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels fruit, leaves and bark were used for the remedies of different diseases anciently. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical profile of Syzygium cumini leaves essential oil (EO) from Punjab, Pakistan. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation technique and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Free radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant activity were assessed by using DPPH radical scavenging ability, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation, bleaching of ß-carotene in linoleic acid system and reducing power assays. Antimicrobial potential was assessed by disc diffusion assay and measurement of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using resazurin microtiter-plate assay. The anti-heme biocrystallization activity of EO was also assessed. The major components (>3%) found in Syzygium cumini leaves EO were ß-farnesene (3.42 %), caryophyllenol (3.46 %), terpinen-4-ol (3.61 %), ß-myrcene (3.90 %), γ-cadinene (4.09 %), fenchol (4.22 %), cis-ß-ocimene (4.40 %) and 5-methyl-1,3,6-heptatriene (4.90 %). Excellent antioxidant, antimicrobial and weak antimalarial potential was observed. It can be concluded that Syzygium cumini leaves EO has potential application for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Variation in Phenolic Profile, ß-Carotene and Flavonoid Contents, Biological Activities of Two Tagetes Species from Pakistani Flora.

The objective of present study was to evaluate the variation in phenolic profile, ß-carotene, flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Tagetes erecta and Tagetes patula (T. erecta and T. patula) through different in vitro assays. Antioxidant activity was determined through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation assays and antibacterial and antifungal activities studied using the disc diffusion and resazurin microtiter-plate assays against bacterial and fungal strains. Moreover, total phenolics (TP), total carotenoids (TC) and total flavonoids (TF) were also determined. Highest (TP 35.8 mg GAE/g) and TF (16.9 mg CE/g) contents were found in MeOH extract of T. patula. T. erecta extract showed higher TC contents (6.45 mg/g) than T. patula extract (6.32 mg/g). T. erecta exhibited the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC50 ) (5.73 µg/mL) and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation (80.1%). RP-HPLC revealed the presence of caffeic acid, sinapic acid and ferulic acid in Tagetes extracts, m-coumaric acid in T. erecta whereas chlorogenic acid in T. patula extract only. Both extracts possessed promising antimicrobial activity compared to the ciprofloxacin and flumequine (+ve controls) against Bacillus subtilis and Alternaria alternate. Both extract were rich source of polyphenols exhibiting excellent biological activities.

Acute effects of different dietary polysaccharides added in milk on food intake, postprandial appetite and glycemic responses in healthy young females.

In the present study we compared the postprandial glycemic and satiety responses of different dietary polysaccharides when added in milk (2% M.F.). The objective of this study was to evaluate different polysaccharides against postprandial glucose, appetite responses and food intake at subsequent meal. In a repeated measures design, 30 females (18-30 years) consumed 250 ml milk 2% M.F. (control), or milk with carrageenan (2.5 g), guar gum (2.5 g) and alginate (2.5 g), followed by an ad libitum pizza meal after 120 min. Alginate and guar gum addition resulted in lower caloric intake at subsequent pizza meal. The post-treatment (0-120 min) glucose and average appetite were suppressed by alginate and guar gum (p < 0.0001), with more pronounced effect of guar gum. However, alginate resulted in lower blood glucose (p < 0.0001) compared with control and carrageenan during post-treatment. Alginate and guar gum added beverages would be beneficial in short-term regulation of postprandial glycemia and satiety.

Removal of Heavy Metals by Adsorption onto Activated Carbon Derived from Pine Cones of Pinus roxburghii.

Activated carbon derived from cones of Pinus roxburghii (Himalayan Pine) was used as an adsorbent for the removal of copper, nickel and chromium ions from waste water. Surface analysis was carried out to determine the specific surface area and pore size distribution of the pine cone derived activated carbon. Optimal parameters, effect of adsorbent quantity, pH, equilibrium time, agitation speed and temperature were studied. Equilibrium data were evaluated by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Langmuir isotherm afforded the best fit to the equilibrium data with a maximum adsorption capacity of 14.2, 31.4 and 29.6 mg/g for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Cr(VI) respectively. Maximum adsorption of Cu(II), Ni(II) was observed in the pH range 4.0 to 4.5, whereas the best adsorption of Cr(VI) was observed at pH 2.5. It was found that 180 minutes was sufficient to gain adsorption equilibrium. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Recent advances in chitosan-based materials; The synthesis, modifications and biomedical applications.

The attention to polymer-based biomaterials, for instance, chitosan and its derivatives, as well as the techniques for using them in numerous scientific domains, is continuously rising. Chitosan is a decomposable naturally occurring polymeric material that is mostly obtained from seafood waste. Because of its special ecofriendly, biocompatible, non- toxic nature as well as antimicrobial properties, chitosan-based materials have received a lot of interest in the field of biomedical applications. The reactivity of chitosan is mainly because of the amino and hydroxyl groups in its composition, which makes it further fascinating for various uses, including biosensing, textile finishing, antimicrobial wound dressing, tissue engineering, bioimaging, gene, DNA and drug delivery and as a coating material for medical implants. This study is an overview of the different types of chitosan-based materials which now a days have been fabricated by applying different techniques and modifications that include etherification, esterification, crosslinking, graft copolymerization and o-acetylation etc. for hydroxyl groups' processes and acetylation, quaternization, Schiff's base reaction, and grafting for amino groups' reactions. Furthermore, this overview summarizes the literature from recent years related to the important applications of chitosan-based materials (i.e., thin films, nanocomposites or nanoparticles, sponges and hydrogels) in different biomedical applications.

Enhanced Solubility and Biological Activity of Dexibuprofen-Loaded Silica-Based Ternary Solid Dispersions.

The current study was designed to formulate ternary solid dispersions (TSDs) of dexibuprofen (Dex) by solvent evaporation to augment the solubility and dissolution profile, in turn providing gastric protection and effective anti-inflammatory activity. Initially, nine formulations (S1 to S9) of binary solid dispersions (BSDs) were developed. Formulation S1 comprising a 1:1 weight ratio of Dex and Syloid 244FP® was chosen as the optimum BSD formulation due to its better solubility profile. Afterward, 20 TSD formulations were developed using the optimum BSD. The formulation containing Syloid 244FP® with 40% Gelucire 48/16® (S18) and Poloxamer 188® (S23) successfully enhanced the solubility by 28.23 and 38.02 times, respectively, in pH 6.8, while dissolution was increased by 1.99- and 2.01-fold during the first 5 min as compared to pure drug. The in vivo gastroprotective study in rats suggested that the average gastric lesion index was in the order of pure Dex (8.33 ± 2.02) > S1 (7 ± 1.32) > S18 (2.17 ± 1.61) > S23 (1.83 ± 1.04) > control (0). The in vivo anti-inflammatory study in rats revealed that the percentage inhibition of swelling was in the order of S23 (71.47 ± 2.16) > S18 (64.8 ± 3.79) > S1 (54.14 ± 6.78) > pure drug (18.43 ± 2.21) > control (1.18 ± 0.64) after 6 h. ELISA results further confirmed the anti-inflammatory potential of the developed formulation, where low levels of IL-6 and TNF alpha were reported for animals treated with S23. Therefore, S23 could be considered an effective formulation that not only enhanced the solubility and bioavailability but also reduced the gastric irritation of Dex.

Fagonia arabica L.: A Review of its Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Traditional Uses.

BACKGROUND: Fagonia arabica, belonging to family Zygophyllaceae, is a medicinal plant widely distributed in the desert areas of the world, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India and South Africa. The present review aims to explore the published information on the traditional uses, ethnobotanical knowledge, phytochemistry and various biological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, thrombolytic activities and anticoagulant effects of Fagonia arabica with critical analysis on the gaps and future perspectives. METHOD: A literature survey was performed by searching the digital libraries and the scientific databases including Scopus, Google Scholar, SciFinder, ACS, Web of Science and published books. RESULTS: Fagonia arabica plant has been reported to have a wide range of traditional uses in sore mouth, smallpox, hematological, neurological, endocrinological, inflammatory, cooling agent in stomatitis, vertigo and endothermic reaction in the body. Several bioactive constituents, including glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids and trace elements, were recorded from Fagonia arabica plant. The isolation and identification of two flavonoid glycosides (kaempferol-7- O-rhamnoside and acacetin-7-O-rhamnoside) were also reported. Fagonia arabica has been studied for its wide range of biological activities, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective and anticoagulant. CONCLUSION: It is apparent from the literature that Fagonia arabica plant possesses a wide range of medicinal and pharmacological uses and has been studied for its various pharmacological activities and medicinal applications. Critical analysis reveals that the plant has huge potential for pharmaceutical and pharmacological applications.

Effects of polyphenol-rich traditional herbal teas on obesity and oxidative stress in rats fed a high-fat-sugar diet.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Zingiber officinalis teas are traditionally used for the therapies of various diseases, including obesity. The present research work was planned to appraise the potential of polyphenol-rich extracts of selected herbal plants in obesity and related biochemical parameters of high-fat-sugar diet-induced obese rats. Three herbal teas were prepared from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers and Zingiber officinalis rhizomes and their mixture (3:1, respectively). Total phenolic contents (TPC) of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Zingiber officinalis extracts were found to be 5.82 and 1.45 mg/g of dry plant material, measured as GAE, while total flavonoid contents (TFC) were 9.17 and 1.95 mg/g of dry plant material, measured as CE, respectively. Two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg BW) of each tea were administered and body weight, BMI, kidney, liver, and atherogenic indices, TC, TG, HDL, LDL, VLDL, BT, AST, ALT, AP, SC, MDA, SOD, GSH, and TAC of rats groups were measured. Data showed that higher doses of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis significantly reduced the rat's BMI (0.50 g/cm2) in comparison with the high-fat-sugar diet group (0.79 g/cm2). All treatment groups, especially H-500 group, showed a significant decrease in the elevated kidney and liver weights and atherogenic index in comparison with HFSDC groups. Higher doses of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis significantly decreased the levels of AST, ALT, AP, and SC in comparison with the HFSDC group. A significant decrease in the levels of serum TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL was observed in all the treatment groups in comparison with the HFSDC group. Furthermore, all the teas, especially higher doses of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, prevented the alterations in MDA, SOD, and GSH levels of experimental groups, thus showing the potential against oxidative stress. It can be concluded from these results that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis teas exhibited strong protective effects against obesity and oxidative stress, especially at higher doses.

Synthesis and Characterization of Na-Zeolites from Textile Waste Ash and Its Application for Removal of Lead (Pb) from Wastewater.

Massive production of carcinogenic fly ash waste poses severe threats to water bodies due to its disposal into drains and landfills. Fly ash can be a source of raw materials for the synthesis of adsorbents. Rag fly ash as a new class of raw materials could be a cheap source of Al and Si for the synthesis of Na-zeolites. In this work, NaOH activation, via a prefusion- and postfusion-based hydrothermal strategy, was practiced for the modification of rag fly ash into Na-zeolite. Morphology, surface porosity, chemical composition, functionality, mineral phases, and crystallinity, in conjunction with ion exchangeability of the tailored materials, were evaluated by SEM, ICP-OES, XRF, FTIR, XRD, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) techniques. Rag fly ash and the synthesized Na-zeolites were applied for the removal of Pb (II) from synthetic wastewater by varying the reaction conditions, such as initial metal ion concentration, mass of adsorbent, sorption time, and pH of the reaction medium. It was observed that Na-zeolite materials (1 g/100 mL) effectively removed up to 90-98% of Pb (II) ions from 100 mg/L synthetic solution within 30 min at pH ≈ 8. Freundlich adsorption isotherm favors the multilayer heterogeneous adsorption mechanism for the removal of Pb (II). It is reasonable to conclude that recycling of textile rag fly ash waste into value-added Na-zeolites for the treatment of industrial wastewater could be an emergent move toward achieving sustainable and green remediation.

In Silico Designing of Mg12O12 Nanoclusters with a Late Transition Metal for NO2 Adsorption: An Efficient Approach toward the Development of NO2 Sensing Materials.

Gas sensors are widely used for detection of environmental pollution caused by various environmental factors such as road traffic and combustion of fossil fuels. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the leading pollutants of the present age, which causes a number of serious health issues including acute bronchitis, cough, and phlegm, particularly in children. Nowadays, researchers are focused on designing new sensor materials for detection and removal of NO2 from the environment. In this line, we have made an attempt to design NO2 sensing materials by using theoretical techniques. Here, we have reported decoration of Mg12O12 nanoclusters with a late transition metal (Cu) by employing density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) basis set. The decoration of metal on Mg12O12 gives two geometries (M1 and M2) with adsorption energies of -363.81 and -384.09 kJ/mol, respectively. Adsorption of NO2 on pristine Mg12O12 expressed an adsorption energy value of -62.36 kJ/mol. Adsorption of NO2 on Cu-decorated Mg12O12 nanocages delivered two geometries (N1 and N2) with adsorption energies of -442.56 and -447.64 kJ/mol. Metal-decorated Mg12O12 nanoclusters offer better adsorption of NO2 as compared to pristine Mg12O12 . Adsorption of NO2 on Cu-Mg12O12 nanoclusters also causes narrowing of band gap of magnesium oxide nanoclusters. Large dipole moment, high Q NBO with large electrophilic index in NO2-Cu-Mg12O12 nanoclusters suggested that metal-decorated Mg12O12 nanoclusters are efficient candidates for NO2 adsorption. Different geometric parameters and results of global reactivity descriptors show that NO2-Cu-Mg12O12 nanoclusters are quite stable in nature with least reactivity. Thus, conceptualized systems are potential candidates for applications in NO2 sensing materials.

A Theoretical Framework of Zinc-Decorated Inorganic Mg12O12 Nanoclusters for Efficient COCl2 Adsorption: A Step Forward toward the Development of COCl2 Sensing Materials.

Gas sensors are widely explored due to their remarkable detection efficiency for pollutants. Phosgene is a toxic gas and its high concentration in the environment causes some serious health problems like swollen throat, a change in voice, late response of nervous systems, and many more. Therefore, the development of sensors for quick monitoring of COCl2 in the environment is the need of the time. In this aspect, we have explored the adsorption behavior of late transition metal-decorated Mg12O12 nanoclusters for COCl2. Density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level is used for optimization, frontier molecular orbital analysis, dipole moment, natural bonding orbitals, bond lengths, adsorption energies, and global reactivity descriptor analysis. Decoration of Zn on pure Mg12O12 delivered two geometries named as Y1 and Y2 with adsorption energy values of -388.91 and -403.11 kJ/mol, respectively. Adsorption of COCl2 on pure Mg12O12 also delivered two geometries (X1 and X2) with different orientations of COCl2. The computed adsorption energy values of X1 and X2 are -44.92 and -71.32 kJ/mol. However, adsorption of COCl2 on Zn-decorated Mg12O12 offered two geometries named as Z1 and Z2 with adsorption energy values of -455.22 and -419.04 kJ/mol, respectively. These adsorption energy values suggested that Zn decoration significantly enhances the adsorption capability of COCl2 gas. Further, the narrow band gap and large dipole moment values of COCl2-adsorbed Zn-decorated Mg12O12 nanoclusters suggested that designed systems are efficient candidates for COCl2 adsorption. Global reactivity indices unveil the great natural stability and least reactivity of designed systems. Results of all analyses suggested that Zn-decorated Mg12O12 nanoclusters are efficient aspirants for the development of high-performance COCl2 sensing materials.

Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil: antiproliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

The aim of this work was to investigate and compare the antiproliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil, native to Pakistan. The essential oil content from the leaves of R. officinalis was 0.93 g 100g(-1). The GC and GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components determined in R. officinalis essential oil were 1,8-cineol (38.5%), camphor (17.1%), α-pinene (12.3%), limonene (6.23%), camphene (6.00%) and linalool (5.70%). The antiproliferative activity was tested against two cancer (MCF-7 and LNCaP) and one fibroblast cell line (NIH-3T3) using the MTT assay, while, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the reduction of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and measuring percent inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The disc diffusion and modified resazurin microtitre-plate assays were used to evaluate the inhibition zones (IZ) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R. officinalis essential oil, respectively. It is concluded from the results that Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil exhibited antiproliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Adsorption of Phosgene Gas on Pristine and Copper-Decorated B12N12 Nanocages: A Comparative DFT Study.

Nanostructured gas sensors find diverse applications in environmental and agricultural monitoring. Herein, adsorption of phosgene (COCl2) on pure and copper-decorated B12N12 (Cu-BN) is analyzed through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Adsorption of copper on B12N12 results in two optimized geometries, named Cu@b66 and Cu@b64, with adsorption energies of -193.81 and -198.45 kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption/interaction energies of COCl2 on pure BN nanocages are -9.30, -6.90, and -3.70 kJ/mol in G1, G2, and G3 geometries, respectively, whereas the interaction energies of COCl2 on copper-decorated BN are -1.66 and -16.95 kJ/mol for B1 and B2, respectively. To examine the changes in the properties of pure and Cu-BN nanocages, geometric parameters, dipole moment, Q NBO, frontier molecular orbitals, and partial density of states (PDOS) are analyzed to comprehensively illustrate the interaction mechanism. The results of these parameters reveal that COCl2 binds more strongly onto copper-doped BN nanocages. Moreover, a higher charge separation is observed in COCl2-Cu-BN geometries as compared to copper-decorated BN geometries. Therefore, these nanocages may be considered as potential candidates for application in phosgene sensors.

Citric Acid Assisted Phytoremediation of Chromium through Sunflower Plants Irrigated with Tannery Wastewater.

Heavy metals are rapidly polluting the environment as a result of growing industrialization and urbanization. The presence of high concentrations of chromium (Cr), along with other pollutants, is widespread in tannery wastewater. In Pakistan, as a result of a severe shortage of irrigation water, farmers use tannery wastewater to grow various crops with a consequent decline in plants' yield. This experiment was performed to assess growth revival in sunflower plants irrigated with 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% tannery wastewater, by foliar application of 0, 2.5, and 5.0 mM citric acid (CA). The wastewater treatment curtailed biomass accumulation, the growth rate, and chlorophyll contents by exacerbating the oxidative stress in sunflowers. Foliar application of CA considerably alleviated the outcomes of Cr toxicity by curbing the Cr absorption and oxidative damage, leading to improvements in plant growth, biological yield, and chlorophyll contents. It is concluded that foliar application of CA can successfully mitigate the Cr toxicity in sunflower plants irrigated with tannery wastewater.

Environmentally responsive and anti-bugs textile finishes - Recent trends, challenges, and future perspectives.

Bugs, such as microorganisms and insects, are present in the environment and sometimes can be health-hazardous if the living environment is not maintained following proper hygienic regulations. In the present scenario of increasing public awareness, environmental consciousness, and growing demand for easy-care, and disinfected textiles, the manufacturing of protective and easy-to-care textiles has become a key necessity of the modern world. Comfortable, clean, hygienic, antimicrobial, and insect repelling properties of textile goods are gaining the accelerating research momentum as a basic requirement to produce multifunctional textiles. These functional finishes have numerous applications such as in-home textiles, bed nets, and tenting, camping gear as well as in military uniforms. Synthetic antimicrobial and insect repellents are quite effective against insects and microscopic organisms but are slightly toxic to the human being and the environment. To overcome these problems, researchers are considering natural agents for functional finishes, but their effectiveness is less durable to textile material. Besides needful advantages, the excessive use of dyes in finishing processes heavily required washing cycles and ultimately release various types of hazardous dyes or wasteful effluents in the environment. This review reports the chemical composition and recent developments in textile finishes, particularly antimicrobial and insect repellent textile finishes. A large number of commonly used antimicrobial agents (i.e. chitosan, zwitterionic compounds, silver and silver-based compounds, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, imidazolium salts, triclosan and quaternary ammonium salts) and insect repellent textile finishes (i.e. N­N­diethyl­m­toluamide, permethrin, cypermethrin, pyrethrum, picaridin, bioallethrin, citriodiol and essential oils) have been presented. Finally, the review is wrapped up with major research gaps/challenges, concluding remarks, and future opportunities in this area of research.

Alleviation of cadmium accumulation in maize (Zea mays L.) by foliar spray of zinc oxide nanoparticles and biochar to contaminated soil.

Due to the increase in area of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils worldwide, effective measures are necessary to minimize the Cd accumulation in cereals including maize (Zea mays L.) plant. A study was therefore performed to explore the effectiveness of foliar spray of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle (NPs) alone (0, 50, 75, 100 mg/L) or combined with soil application of biochar (1.0% w/w) on biomass, antioxidant enzyme activity and Cd concentrations in maize plants grown on a Cd-contaminated soil. The results depicted that ZnO NPs alone or in combination with biochar improved the height of maize plants, number of leaves, shoot and roots dry biomass, chlorophyll concentrations and gas exchange attributes. All the amendments reduced the electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide contents while improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaf and roots of maize over the control. The application of 50, 75 and 100 mg/L ZnO NPs reduced the Cd contents in shoots by about 12%, 23, and 61%, and in roots by 18%, 33%, and 53%, respectively, over the control. The Cd concentrations in shoot decreased by 15%, 28%, and 68% and in roots by 14%, 35, and 55% after biochar combined with foliar spray of 50, 75 and 100 mg/L ZnO NPs, respectively. All the amendments improved the Zn concentrations in maize shoots and roots whereas reduced the soil bioavailable Cd. Overall, biochar combined with foliar spray of ZnO NPs could be recommended for safely growing the crops on Cd-contaminated soils.

Recent advances on polysaccharides, lipids and protein based edible films and coatings: A review.

Food is a vital product for the survival of human beings and with passage of time quality concerns of consumers are rising. Edible films and coatings are thin layers applied on food products to protect them and improve their quality. Films/coatings are prepared from naturally occurring renewable sources (polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and composites) which we can eat without disposing them. These films are environment friendly and contain antioxidants, anti-browning agents and colorants. Various methods (spraying, brushing, electro-spraying) are used to apply a coating on food material to protect them from microbial growth, prolonging their shelf life and improving other quality aspects like sensory attributes, appearance, originality and freshness of ingredients. In addition to edible films, some special additives like glycerol, sorbitol etc. is used to improve the efficiency of edible films and coatings. Chemistry and nature of these films and coatings vary in the vast range of hydrophilic and hydrophobic boundaries to cover the whole range of food products. In recent times, herbal coatings are widely used for the coating purposes e.g. Aloe Vera, citral and eugenol essential oils. However, some challenges presented are focusing the scientific attention for viable solution.

A review on versatile applications of blends and composites of pullulan with natural and synthetic polymers.

Pullulan is a non-ionic, linear, water-soluble and a neutral polysaccharide. It is composed of α-(1,6) repeated maltotriose units via α-(1,4) glycosidic bond having chemical formula (C6H10O5)n. It shows non-immunogenic, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and non-mutagenic properties. It is used in food edible coatings, films, as flocculant, foaming agent and adhesive. It may also be used as a carrier for bioactive compounds and a protective packaging for food and pharmaceutical products. Therefore, it is blended with different polymers such as carrageenan, mucilages, chitosan, cellulose, sodium alginate, starch, polyethyleneimine, whey-protein, polyisopropylacrylamide, histone, jeffamine, polyamidoamine, pemulen, hyaluronic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and caboxymethyl cellulose. In this article, a comprehensive overview of combination of pullulan with natural and synthetic polymers and their applications in biomedical field involving drug delivery system, tissue engineering, wound healing and gene therapy, is presented. It also describes the utilization of pullulan based materials in food industry, water treatment and pharmaceutical industry. All the technical scientific issues have been addressed; highlighting the recent advancements.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles alter the wheat physiological response and reduce the cadmium uptake by plants.

An experiment was performed to explore the interactive impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and cadmium (Cd) on growth, yield, antioxidant enzymes, Cd and zinc (Zn) concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum). The ZnO NPs were applied both in Cd-contaminated soil and foliar spray (in separate studies) on wheat at different intervals and plants were harvested after physiological maturity. Results depicted that ZnO NPs enhanced the growth, photosynthesis, and grain yield, whereas Cd and Zn concentrations decreased and increased respectively in wheat shoots, roots and grains. The Cd concentrations in the grains were decreased by 30-77%, and 16-78% with foliar and soil application of NPs as compared to the control, respectively. The ZnO NPs reduced the electrolyte leakage while increased SOD and POD activities in leaves of wheat. It can be concluded that ZnO NPs (levels used in the study) could effectively reduce the toxicity and concentration of Cd in wheat whereas increase the Zn concentration in wheat. Thus, ZnO NPs might be helpful in decreasing Cd and increasing Zn biofortification in cereals which might be effective to reduce the hidden hunger in humans owing the deficiency of Zn in cereals.