Three new α-glucosidase inhibitor benzo-isochromenes from Datura stramonium.

Three new α-glucosidase inhibitory benzo-isochromenes were isolated from the chloroform fraction of Datura stramonium. Their structures were established with the help of modern spectroscopic techniques and were assigned the names as 1,6,8-triimethoxy-2-methyl-3,4-dihydrobenzoisochromene-5,10-diol, 3,6-dimethoxy-5-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoisochromene-9,11-dione and demethylflavasperon for compounds 1-3 respectively. The α-glucosidase inhibiting activity of compound 2 showed strong inhibition with an IC50 value of 27.5 µM, while compound 1 exhibited moderate activity with IC50 value of 60.2 µM compared to positive control (acarbose).

Biologically Synthesized Copper Nanoparticles Show Considerable Degradation of Reactive Red 81 Dye: An Eco-Friendly Sustainable Approach.

Diospyros kaki leaf extract was used in this study as a favorable basis for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible spectroscopy approaches were used to characterize the biologically synthesized copper nanoparticles. The XRD analysis showed that copper nanoparticles were face-centered cubic structure. Various experimental levels like conc. of dye, concentration of Cu NPs, pH, reaction time, and temperature were optimized to decolorize reactive red 81 dye using the synthesized Cu NPs. Reactive red 81 dye was decolorized maximum using Cu NPs of 0.005 mg/L. Additionally, reactive red 81 dye was decolorized at its maximum at pH = 6, temperature = 50°C. Our study reported that chemical oxidation demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) deduction efficacies were 74.56% and 73.24%. Further degradation study of reactive red 81 dye was also carried out. Cu NPs have the ability and promising potential to decolorize and degrade reactive red 81 dye found in wastewater.

A Comparative Study of Diospyros malabarica (Gaub) Extracts in Various Polarity-Dependent Solvents for Evaluation of Phytoconstituents and Biological Activities.

Keeping in mind the ascribed repute of Diospyros malabarica (D. malabarica), this investigation was commenced to assess the effect of diverse solvents on extraction yields, phytochemical components and antioxidant capability, and in vitro biological activities of D. malabarica for pharmaceutically active constituents to combat various infections. To screen phytochemicals both qualitatively (flavonoids, terpenoid, saponins, tannins) and quantitatively like total phenolic and flavonoid contents, Diospyros malabarica parts include the following: root, leaves, bark, stem, ripe, and unripe fruit were sequentially extracted with organic solvents such as petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, and water in increasing order of polarity from less polar to more polar solvents. Furthermore, biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory were explored. The results revealed that all the tested solvents displayed a vital role in the extraction yield, the content of phytochemicals, and the studied biological activities. Methanol was found as the best solvent followed by the ethanol for the extraction, representing the highest extraction yield (18.3%), rich diversity of phytochemicals, and the highest total phenolic contents (602 ± 0.001 µg EAG/mg of extract) and total flavonoid contents (455 ± 0.6 µg EQ/mg of extract) in bark extract. Furthermore, methanol bark extract showed high in vitro antibacterial activity (30.25 mm ± 0.9), antifungal activity (18.25 mm ± 0.2), anticancer activity (48%), antidiabetic activity (68%) and anti-inflammatory activity (62%) followed by ethanol amongst other extracts of D. malabarica. Accordingly, methanol might be as an ideal solvent to get maximum content of phytochemicals, promising antioxidants, and in vitro biological activities from bark extract amongst other extracts of D. malabarica compared to pet ether, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane and may act as free radical rummager because phytochemical constituents exhibit antioxidant capability. Our findings suggest that phytochemical compounds (flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, and terpenoids) found in the bark extract of D. malabarica may be attributed to evaluate potent anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities.

Biologically Synthesized Peptides Show Remarkable Inhibition Activity against Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme: A Promising Approach for Peptide Development against Autoimmune Diseases.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) regulates several biological functions besides its vital role in immune functions. ACE is elevated in immune cells in inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis, granuloma, chronic kidney disease, and also autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type I diabetes. No significant information prevails in the literature regarding the isolation, identification, and profiling of potential ACE inhibitory peptides. In the present study, indigenous crop varieties like seeds (peanut, corn, oat, sunflower, chickpea, parsley, cottonseed, papaya, sesame, and flaxseed) were used to evaluate their ACE inhibition activity. Variables including hydrolysis time, enzyme-to-substrate ratio (E/S), pH, and temperature were standardized to acquire the most suitable and optimum ACE inhibition activity. Seeds of cotton, chickpea, and peanuts displayed remarkably maximum ACE inhibition activity than other plants. The study disclosed that maximum ACE inhibitory activity (86%) was evaluated from cottonseed at pH 8.0, temperature of 45°C, hydrolysis time of 2 hrs, and enzyme to the substrate (E/S) ratio of 1 : 5 followed by peanuts (76%) and chickpea (55%). SDS-PAGE confirmed that vicilin protein is present in cottonseed and peanut seed while cruciferin and napin proteins are present in chickpeas. LC-MS/MS analysis disclosed potential novel peptides in hydrolyzed cottonseed that can be ascribed as potential ACE inhibitors which have never been reported and studied earlier. The current study further showed that cottonseed peptides due to their promising ACE inhibitory activity can be a valuable source in the field of ACE inhibitor development.

Sustainable isolation of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)-based yellow natural colorant for dyeing of bio-mordanted cotton.

Sustainability in the utilization of products in all fields particularly food textiles, solar cells, etc. is of prime concern to the global community. In this study, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) as a source of herbal-based coloring agent for cotton dyeing has been explored under the influence of ultrasonic (US) waves. Methanolic extract of licorice bark after US treatment for 20 min has shown excellent color depth (K/S) onto ultrasonically treated cotton fabric at 65°Cfor 45 min. Applying bio-mordants, it has been found that acacia extract (1%), henna (5%), and pomegranate and turmeric extracts (7%) as pre-bio-mordant, whereas acacia, turmeric, and henna extracts (7%) and pomegranate extract (5%) as post-bio-mordants, exhibited superb color strength. Salts of Al (7%) and salts of Fe (3%) as pre chemical mordants, while salts of Al (3%) and salts of Fe (5%) as post chemical mordants, have given good results. Overall, it has been found that salt of Fe (3%) as pre-chemical mordant and extract of turmeric (7%) as post bio-mordant have shown superb color strength. It can be concluded that US treatment being an environmentally safe means has only improved the color strength of colorant onto cotton fabric and the adding of bio-mordants has contrived the method more sustainable.

Ecofriendly application of coconut coir (Cocos nucifera) extract for silk dyeing.

The worldwide resurgence of natural dyes in all fields is due to the carcinogenic effects of effluent loads shed by synthetic industries. Coconut coir (Cocos nucifera) containing tannin as a source of natural colorants has been selected for coloration of bio-mordanted silk under the influence of ultrasonic radiations at various dyeing conditions. For extraction of tannin dye from cocos powder, different media were employed, and dyeing variables such as dyeing time, dye bath pH, dyeing bath temperature, and the effect of salts on dyeing were optimized. For achieving new shades with excellent color characteristics, bio-mordants in comparison with chemical mordants were employed. It has been found that acid-solubilized extract after ultrasonic treatment for 45 min has yielded high color strength, when coconut coir extract of 4 pH from 6g of cocos powder, containing 5g/100mL salt solution as exhaust agent, was used to dye silk at 75°C for 65 min. Among bio-mordants turmeric (K/S=13.828) and among chemical mordants iron has shown excellent results (K/S=2.0856). Physiochemical analysis of fabric before and after US treatment shows that there is no change in the chemical structure of the fabric. It is found that ultrasonic waves have excellent potential to isolate the colorant followed by dyeing and environmental friendly mordanting at optimal conditions, but also the usage of herbal-based plant anchors, i.e., bio-mordants, has made the natural dyeing process more sustainable and clean.

Green synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles using Allium cepa peels for degradation of Congo red direct dye: an environmental remedial approach.

Direct dyes are used in different textile operations and processings. The textile industries are disposing of unused direct dyes into the aquatic environment which is posing a serious alarming threat to aquatic lives. The current study deals with the synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles using Allium cepa peels aqueous extract. Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Synthesized NiO-NPs were used to remove Congo red direct dye. Various experimental factors like concentration of dye and nanoparticles, pH, and temperature were optimized. Congo red direct dye was decolorized up to 90% at optimized conditions (Congo Red Direct dye concentration 0.02%, catalyst dose 0.003 g·L-1, pH 6, and temperature 50 °C). The real textile industry effluent disclosed 70% decolorization at optimized conditions. The percent reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was found to be 73.24% and 74.56% in the case of Congo red dye catalytic treatment and the percent reduction in TOC and COD was found to be 62.47% and 60.23%, respectively, in the treatment of textile effluent using nickel oxide nanoparticles as a catalyst. Treated and untreated dye samples were exposed to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-Visible spectral analyses too. The reaction products were studied by degradation pathway.

Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles using Citrullus colocynthis stem extract for remediation of Reactive Yellow 160 dye.

In current years, pollution caused by synthetic dyes has become one of the most serious environmental issues. By rapidly developing industrial units, effluents having synthetic dyes are directly or indirectly being discharged into the environment. Bio-sorption is cost-effective way for the eradication of toxic dyes present in textile effluent. The present study involves the synthesis of nickel nanoparticles using Citrullus colocynthis stem extract. The characterization of synthesized nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) was done by SEM. The synthesized Ni-NPs were used to degrade the Reactive Yellow 160 dye following the optimization of different experimental parameters. The maximum decolorization (91.4%) was obtained at 0.02% dye conc., 9 mg/L conc. of Ni-NPs, pH 7 at 40 °C. TOC and COD were used to assess the efficiency of this experiment. Percent reduction in COD and TOC was found to be 84.35% and 83.24% respectively. The degradation pathway of dye under study confirmed the formation of non-toxic end-products.

Anti-diabetic activity of aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas L. in alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats and its effects on biochemical parameters in diabetic rats.

Diabetes is a condition where the fasting blood glucose level elevated above the normal range (80-120mg/dL). This increase in blood glucose level may be due to the insulin deficiency i.e. insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM or type I) or due to insulin resistance i.e. non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or type II). Diabetes leads to severe complications in the body even life treating complications e.g. nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy increased vascular permeability and delayed wound healing if left untreated. Different drugs are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, but synthetic drugs are costly and possess severe side effects. So, more emphasis is being placed on the use of traditional medicines because these sources have fewer side effects than the synthetics drugs and are economical. So the white skinned sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) peel-off was selected for its anti-diabetic effect as well as to see its effects on biochemical parameters. Both young (3-4 months) and old (up to 1 year) Wistar rats were selected for current study. It was found that the aqueous extract of WSSP peel-off had shown beneficial effects. In addition to the decrease in blood glucose level it also decreased protein glycation level total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol. Increase in HDL-cholesterol was also observed after treating the rats with aqueous extract of Ipomoea batatas. Additionally, WSSP peel-off had also shown positive results on total protein concentration, albumin, globulin, and plasma enzymes (SGOT and SGPT). Further research would be needed in order to purify the anti-diabetic components and it should be available in compact dose form for all diabetic patients.

Sorafenib tosylate, Ribavirn and Sofosbuvir combination therapy for HCV virus infected patients with decompensated liver cancer.

Hepatitis C is the most common health problem worldwide and is major cause of death due to proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma. The medicines available for HCV treatment overcome up-to 95% complications of HCV. However, liver cancer needs some additional care. Normally Sorafenib tosylate 200 mg is recommended for liver cancer. There is no such trial in which this drug could effectively be used in combination of direct acting antivirals for HCV. The study was conducted for HCV patients (n=30) with liver cancer having decompensated stage. Combination of Sorafenib tosylate, Ribavirn and Sofosbuvir were used for the pharmacokinetics of these medicines. Child pugh score less then 7 (CP A) in adults during treatment phase (received 12 weeks of Sorafenib tosylate 200 mg, Ribavirn and Sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily) have no side effect while child pugh score 7-9 (CP B) have evidence of hypertension. The main efficiency end point sustained virology response with overcoming liver cancer as well in 12 weeks after end treatment (SVR-LLC 12). Mean pharmacokinetic exposure to Sorafenib tosylate 200 mg, Ribavirn and Sofosbuvir at week 8th was 2.1, 1.5,1.2 times greater in CP B than in CP A. Adverse effects (AEs) were observed in 12 out of 30 patients but not severe as lethal for life. Treatment with Sorafenib tosylate, Ribavirn and Sofosbuvir for twelve weeks was harmless and well accepted, 100 % patients achieve (SVR LLC 12) with 10-fold cure rate more than previous ones. The combination therapy of Sorafenib tosylate, Ribavirn and Sofosbuvir was found helpful for the management of decompensated liver cancer.

Chemical Composition and in-Vitro Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils Extracted from Seven Eucalyptus Species.

Eucalyptus is well reputed for its use as medicinal plant around the globe. The present study was planned to evaluate chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from seven Eucalyptus species frequently found in South East Asia (Pakistan). EOs from Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus melanophloia, Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus microtheca were extracted from leaves through hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the EOs was determined through GC-MS-FID analysis. The study revealed presence of 31 compounds in E. citriodora and E. melanophloia, 27 compounds in E. crebra, 24 compounds in E. tereticornis, 10 compounds in E. globulus, 13 compounds in E. camaldulensis and 12 compounds in E. microtheca. 1,8-Cineole (56.5%), α-pinene (31.4%), citrinyl acetate (13.3%), eugenol (11.8%) and terpenene-4-ol (10.2%) were the highest principal components in these EOs. E. citriodora exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against the five microbial species tested (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus solani). Gram positive bacteria were found more sensitive than Gram negative bacteria to all EOs. The diphenyl-1-picrylhydazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and percentage inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation were highest in E. citriodora (82.1% and 83.8%, respectively) followed by E. camaldulensis (81.9% and 83.3%, respectively). The great variation in chemical composition of EOs from Eucalyptus, highlight its potential for medicinal and nutraceutical applications.