Ethanolic extract of Gracilaria spp. Attenuates the inflammatory stage of oral mucosa wound healing: An in vivo study.

Millions of bacteria present in the mouth cavity contribute to the challenging management of oral mucosa injury. On the other hand, Gracilaria spp. (red algae) is one of the widely cultivated algae that have a strong potential as a wound-healing agent for oral mucosa injury. This study aimed to investigate the wound-healing property of the red algae by observing its effect on polymorphonuclear (PMN), a neutrophil that is usually recruited during the initial wound healing. The extract was obtained through maceration and used as bioactive ingredient in gel preparation. Rattus norvegicus with incision wounds in the oral mucosa was used as the animal model. Our results revealed that rats treated with the red algae gel had significantly lower PMN on the injury site (P < 0.01) as observed on days 1, 3, and 5. Identification using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that the extract was rich in hexadecenoic acid and glycerol. The brine shrimp lethality test suggested low cytotoxicity of this extract with LC50 = 10694.93 mg/mL. In conclusion, the extract could be potentially used as bioactive ingredient in gel formulation for topical management of oral mucosa wounds. Further, research to confirm these findings is warranted.

Influence of vegetation type on infiltration rate and capacity at Ie jue geothermal manifestation, Mount Seulawah Agam, Indonesia.

Ie Jue is one of the geothermal manifestation of hot water and fumaroles in the northern zone of Mount Seulawah Agam. Because hot water in the Ie Jue manifestation is derived from meteoric water, the presence of Ie Jue hot springs is determined by rain intensity and surface infiltration rates in the vicinity of the manifestation. The purpose of this research is to determine the rate of precipitation infiltration and its link to the type of flora that grows around the manifestation. Ie Jue. The 100 m line transect approach was used to determine sampling locations. Transects were placed in stratified sampling based on the four cardinal directions from the manifestation's center, namely east, south, west, and north. In each transect, three sampling stations were placed at intervals of 0 m, 50 m, and 100 m from the manifestation's midpoint. In each transect, three sampling stations were placed at intervals of 0 m, 50 m, and 100 m from the manifestation's midpoint. At each sampling point, the vegetation type was identified, and soil temperature, moisture, pH, texture, density and organic C were measured. A single ring infiltrometer was used to quantify infiltration rate at each sampling location, and the Horton equation was used to compute infiltration capacity. The results showed that the type of tree vegetation found in the south had the maximum infiltration rate of 54 cm/h - 28.8 cm/h with a constant interval of 40 min, followed by an infiltration rate of 44.4 cm/h - 8.4 cm/h for 45 min in the north with pole vegetation type. In comparison to other regions, the south and north have exceptionally quick infiltration criteria (36.87 cm/h and 29.88 cm/h, respectively). When compared to poles, shrubs, and herbs, tree-type vegetation had the highest infiltration rate. The results showed that vegetation type, soil moisture, bulk density, and soil organic C are the most important elements influencing infiltration in the Ie jue hot spring area.

Molecular insights into the anti-inflammatory activity of fermented pineapple juice using multimodal computational studies.

Pineapple has been recognized for its potential to enhance health and well-being. This study aimed to gain molecular insights into the anti-inflammatory properties of fermented pineapple juice using multimodal computational studies. In this study, pineapple juice was fermented using Lactobacillus paracasei, and the solution underwent liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Network pharmacology was applied to investigate compound interactions and targets. In silico methods assessed compound bioactivities. Protein-protein interactions, network topology, and enrichment analysis identified key compounds. Molecular docking explored compound-receptor interactions in inflammation regulation. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to confirm the stability of interactions between the identified crucial compounds and their respective receptors. The study revealed several compounds including short-chain fatty acids, peptides, dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, and glycerides that exhibited promising anti-inflammatory properties. Leucyl-leucyl-norleucine and Leu-Leu-Tyr exhibited robust and stable interactions with mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 and IκB kinase ß, respectively, indicating their potential as promising therapeutic agents for inflammation modulation. This proposition is grounded in the pivotal involvement of these two proteins in inflammatory signaling pathways. These findings provide valuable insights into the anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds, serving as a foundation for further experimental validation and exploration. Future studies can build upon these results to advance the development of these compounds as effective anti-inflammatory agents.

Chromolaena odorata Linn leaf extract - Geothermal versus nongeothermal: Phytochemical, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity screenings.

Chromolaena odorata Linn, a popular yet underutilized ethnomedicinal plant, is hypothesized to possess higher bioactive phytoconstituents when it grows in geothermal areas. In this study, the comparison of ethanolic extract from geothermal and nongeothermal C. odorata leaves was carried out based on the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity. The leaf extracts were produced from a maceration using ethanol 96%, where the products were identified using reagents and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities of both samples were measured based on their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities. Cytotoxicity was determined by brine shrimp lethality test using Artemia salina. Phenols were found to be more abundant in geothermal sample based on the qualitative screening and GC-MS analysis (i.e. higher relative abundance of phytol - 3.97%). DPPH antioxidant was higher in geothermal sample than in nongeothermal sample (median inhibitory concentration =13.04 ± 3.35 mg/L vs. 41.09 ± 4.13 mg/L, respectively). Geothermal sample was noncytotoxic (median lethal concentration [LC50] =2139.30 mg/L), whereas the nongeothermal sample had low cytotoxicity (LC50 = 491.48 mg/L). Taken altogether, geothermal C. odorata leaves contain higher bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant activities.

COVID-19 pandemic sheds a new research spotlight on antiviral potential of essential oils - A bibliometric study.

Background: Essential oils are thought as potential therapies in managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many researchers have put their efforts to tackle the pandemic by exploring antiviral candidates which consequently changes the research landscape. Herein, we aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic toward the landscape of essential oil research. Methods: This study employed bibliometric analysis based on the metadata of published literature indexed in the Scopus database. The search was performed on December 15th, 2022 by using keyword 'essential oil' and its synonyms. We grouped the data based on publication year; pre-COVID-19 (2014-2019) and during COVID-19 (2020-2024, some studies have been published earlier). Further, we separated the COVID-19-focused research from COVID-19 (2020-2024) by introducing a new keyword 'COVID-19' during the search. All metadata were processed using VoSviewer and Biblioshiny for network visualization analysis. Selections of frequently occurring keywords, clusters of keyword co-occurrence, and the list of most impactful papers were performed by two independent reviewers. Results: Metadata from a total of 35,262 publications were included for bibliometric analysis, comprised of three groups of datasets namely pre-COVID-19 (n = 18,670), COVID-19 (n = 16,592), and COVID-19-focused (n = 281). Five research topics clusters were found from pre-COVID-19 dataset, eight - from COVID-19 dataset, and nine - from COVID-19-focused dataset. COVID-19 cluster containing the keyword 'antiviral' emerged in the COVID-19 dataset, whereas none of the previous research topic clusters contained the keyword 'antiviral'. Antiviral, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibitory, and anti-inflammation activities were among the top occurring keywords in studies covering both essential oil and COVID-19. Studies on essential oil used for managing COVID-19 were most reported by authors from the United States (documents = 37, citations = 405), Australia (documents = 16, citations = 115) and Italy (documents = 23, citations = 366). Conclusion: A significant increase was found during COVID-19 pandemic for publications covering essential oil themes, but only a small portion was occupied by COVID-19 research. The COVID-19 pandemic does not alter the ongoing progress of essential oil research but rather offers a new spotlight on the antiviral potential of essential oils. Hence, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to investigate deeper the antiviral potential of essential oils.

Fatty Acid-Rich Extract from Holothuria atra for Hyperuricemia via Expressions Modulation of GLUT9a and GLUT9b in Rat Model.

An edible sea cucumber Holothuria atra has been hypothesized to have medicinal benefits against hyperuricemia owing to its bioactive compounds, including mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Herein, we aimed to investigate the fatty acids-rich extract produced from H. atra to treat hyperuricemic rats (Rattus novergicus). The extraction was carried out using n-hexane solvent and then administered to potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic rats, with allopurinol acting as a positive control. The extract (50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight) and allopurinol (10 mg/kg) were administered QD through an oral route using a nasogastric tube. Serum uric acid, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and blood urea nitrogen of the abdominal aortic blood were investigated. Our results suggested that the extract was rich in polyunsaturated (arachidonic acid) and monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid), in which its administration of 150 mg/kg could significantly reduce serum uric acid (p < 0.001), AST (p = 0.001), and ALT (p = 0.0302). The anti-hyperuricemic activity could be associated with the modulation of GLUT9 by the H. atra extract. In conclusion, the n-hexane extract from H. atra is a potential serum uric acid-lowering agent targeting GLUT9, where further investigations are crucially warranted.

Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis Classification for Patchouli Oil Adulteration Detection by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Combination with Chemometrics.

This study aims to test chemometrically partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classification models to detect the adulteration of patchouli oil (PO) with gurjun balsam oil (GBO) by utilization of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Unsupervised analysis was tested using the pattern recognition method using the principal component analysis model against the original spectrum at wavenumbers 4000-500 cm-1 and at the fingerprint area (1800-600 cm-1). Model testing was also carried out on the spectrum that had been pre-processed using the standard normal variate, second derivative Savitzky-Golay, and normalization approaches. Variable Y samples used were certified reference material (CRM), PO, GBO, and PO forged with GBO (PGBO) with a counterfeiting ratio of 0.5 (v/v) to 10% (v/v) with an interval of 0.5%. The same treatment was carried out on testing of the PLS-DA model. In pattern recognition tests, the best separation of the original spectrum was obtained at wavenumbers 1800-600 cm-1. The model was further tested on PLS-DA by making assumptions or codes for CRM, PO, GBO, and PGBO as +2, +1, 0, and -1, respectively. The results of the model analysis showed that even at the lowest counterfeiting ratio (0.5%), the presence of counterfeiting material was detected by the PLS-DA model. The RMSEC value is close to zero with a value of 0.22, and the R square is close to 1, which is 0.954. This very significant separation is clearly illustrated in the loading plot and bi-plot due to the contribution of chemical compounds in the GBO that undergo vibration at wavenumbers 603, 786, and 1386 cm-1. Validation of the PLS-DA model was carried out strongly using the PLS model, and it showed that the difference between the calibration concentration and the prediction was very low (average 0.45) with an accuracy percent above 99%. The efficacy of the model is further substantiated by the consistent and precise values of sensitivity and selectivity, obtained from both the training set and test set.

Ethanolic Extract from Limonia acidissima L. Fruit Attenuates Serum Uric Acid Level via URAT1 in Potassium Oxonate-Induced Hyperuricemic Rats.

A high prevalence of hyperuricemia among adult and older adult populations has intrigued the development of its therapy based on natural products. Our objective was to investigate the antihyperuricemic activity of the natural product from Limonia acidissima L. in vivo. The extract was obtained through the maceration of L. acidissima fruits using an ethanolic solvent and was tested for its antihyperuricemic activity against potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic rats. Serum uric acid, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were observed before and after the treatment. Expression of urate transporter 1 (URAT1) was also measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Antioxidant activity based on a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, along with total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), were measured. Herein, we present the evidence of the serum uric acid lowering effect of the L. acidissima fruit extract along with improved AST and ALT (p < 0.01). The reduction of serum uric acid was in accordance with the decreasing trend of URAT1 (1.02 ± 0.05-fold change in the 200 mg group), except in a group treated with 400 mg/kg body weight extract. At the same time, BUN increased significantly in the 400 mg group (from 17.60 ± 3.286 to 22.80 ± 3.564 mg/dL, p = 0.007), suggesting the renal toxicity of the concentration. The IC50 for DPPH inhibition was 0.14 ± 0.02 mg/L with TPC and TFC of 143.9 ± 5.24 mg GAE/g extract and 390.2 ± 3.66 mg QE/g extract, respectively. Further studies should be carried out to prove this correlation along with the safe concentration range of the extract.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Corn Starch/Patchouli Oil Hydrogel Films Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized in Pogostemon cablin Benth Leaves' Extract.

Research on the manufacture of hydrogel films from polyvinyl alcohol, corn starch, patchouli oil, and silver nanoparticles, (PVA/CS/PO/AgNPs, respectively) was completed. The silver nanoparticles used in this study resulted from green synthesis using local patchouli plants (Pogostemon cablin Benth). Aqueous patchouli leaf extract (APLE) and methanol patchouli leaf extract (MPLE) are used in the synthesis of phytochemicals (green synthesis), which are then blended in the production of PVA/CS/PO/AgNPs hydrogel films, which are then cross linked with glutaraldehyde. The results demonstrated that the hydrogel film was flexible, easy to fold, and free of holes and air bubbles. The presence of hydrogen bonds between the functional groups of PVA, CS, and PO was revealed using FTIR spectroscopy. SEM analysis revealed that the hydrogel film was slightly agglomerated and did not exhibit cracking or pinholes. The analysis of pH, spreadability, gel fraction, and swelling index showed that the resulting PVA/CS/PO/AgNP hydrogel films met expected standards except for the organoleptic properties of the resulting colors, which tended to be slightly darker in color. The formula with silver nanoparticles synthesized in methanolic of patchouli leaf extract (AgMENPs) had the highest thermal stability compared to hydrogel films with silver nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous of patchouli leaf extract (AgAENPs). The hydrogel films can be safely used up to 200 °C. The antibacterial studies revealed that the films inhibited the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermis, as determined by the disc diffusion method, with the best antibacterial activity being against Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, the hydrogel film F1, loaded with silver nanoparticles biosynthesized in aqueous of patchouli leave extract (AgAENPs) and light fraction of patchouli oil (LFoPO) performed the best activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermis.

Knowledge management strategy for managing disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: SWOT analysis based on the analytic network process.

Indonesia has significant expertise in disaster management due to its disaster geography. Collective expertise and knowledge are valuable resources for lowering disaster risk and enhancing disaster resilience. Additionally, in the current pandemic situation, a clearer understanding of COVID-19 is growing, which could make a difference in how effectively we respond to this and future pandemics. Therefore, it is crucial to record and maintain information related to the event in order to handle any crisis and COVID-19 pandemic appropriately. The goal of this study is to explore KM implementation approaches for handling disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. In order to collect data for this study, 20 experts were interviewed and 30 experts participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). SWOT analysis was utilised in this study to find different KM implementation strategies. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) was used to prioritize several previously discovered strategies. The study finds that the approach which must be prioritised is to ensure that knowledge products can be accessed by the public, and they must include the community (family) as subjects in establishing knowledge management methods (not only the government or institutions).

Monkeypox outbreak 2022: What we know so far and its potential drug targets and management strategies.

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The disease can result in flu-like symptoms, fever, and a persistent rash. The disease is currently spreading throughout the world and prevention and treatment efforts are being intensified. Although there is no treatment that has been specifically approved for monkeypox virus infection, infected patients may benefit from using certain antiviral medications that are typically prescribed for the treatment of smallpox. The drugs are tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir, all of which are currently in short supply due to the spread of the monkeypox virus. Resistance is also a concern, as widespread replication of the monkeypox virus can lead to mutations that produce monkeypox viruses that are resistant to the currently available treatments. This article discusses monkeypox disease, potential drug targets, and management strategies to overcome monkeypox disease. With the discovery of new drugs, it is hoped that the problem of insufficient drugs will be resolved, and it is not anticipated that drug resistance will become a major issue in the near future.

Evaluation of atopic dermatitis severity using artificial intelligence.

Atopic dermatitis is a prevalent and persistent chronic inflammatory skin disorder that poses significant challenges when it comes to accurately assessing its severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate deep learning models for automated atopic dermatitis severity scoring using a dataset of Aceh ethnicity individuals in Indonesia. The dataset of clinical images was collected from 250 patients at Dr. Zainoel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia and labeled by dermatologists as mild, moderate, severe, or none. Five pretrained convolutional neural networks (CNN) architectures were evaluated: ResNet50, VGGNet19, MobileNetV3, MnasNet, and EfficientNetB0. The evaluation metrics, including accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score, were employed to assess the models. Among the models, ResNet50 emerged as the most proficient, demonstrating an accuracy of 89.8%, precision of 90.00%, sensitivity of 89.80%, specificity of 96.60%, and an F1-score of 89.85%. These results highlight the potential of incorporating advanced, data-driven models into the field of dermatology. These models can serve as invaluable tools to assist dermatologists in making early and precise assessments of atopic dermatitis severity and therefore improve patient care and outcomes.

Characterization of red algae (Gracilaria verrucosa) on potential application for topical treatment of oral mucosa wounds in Rattus norvegicus.

Wound healing in the mouth has its challenges due to masticatory movements and the presence of bacteria that can inhibit its process. The aim of this study was to analyze the contents of red algae (Gracilaria verrucosa) from Indonesia, and its potential as a wound-healing agent for oral wounds using animal model. Red algae content was determined by phytochemical tests and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The wound was made by making an incision on the gingival mucosa of Rattus norvegicus and the parameters assessed were bleeding time, number of fibroblast cells, and time of wound closure. Three doses of G. verrucosa gel were used (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) and the gels were applied twice a day, at 6:00 and 18:00. Application was carried out topically by applying 0.1 ml of gel to the incision wound using a 1 mL syringe. Our phytochemical test indicated that the G. verrucosa contained alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, and phenols. The dominant contains of the G. verrucosa were glycerol (36.81%), hexadecenoic acid (20.74%), and cholesterol (7.4%). The hemostasis test showed that the 2.5% G. verrucosa extract gel had the shortest bleeding time, 33.98±2.66 seconds. On the seventh day of the initial proliferation phase, the number of fibroblasts was not significantly different among groups. On day 14, the number of fibroblasts was only significantly different between 10% G. verrucosa and untreated group (p=0.007). On day 28, however, both 5% and 10% G. verrucosa were significantly higher compared to untreated group, both had p=0.010. Daily clinical examination showed that animals that were given 2.5% and 5% of G. verrucosa extract gel experienced wound closure on day 10. Animals treated with 10% of extract gel, all wounds healed on day 9. This study suggested that G. verrucosa extract could accelerate wound closure and wound healing.

Clinical and oral microbiome pattern of halitosis patients with periodontitis and gingivitis.

Halitosis is caused by a bacterial proteolytic process that induces the production of volatile sulfur compounds, odor-causing gases. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical oral hygiene state and oral microbiome pattern of halitosis patients with periodontitis and gingivitis. The oral hygiene state of halitosis patients with periodontitis and gingivitis was assessed using the oral hygiene index simplified (OHI-S), decay missing filled teeth (DMFT), and tongue biofilm. The dorsum of the tongue and subgingival swabs were cultured for bacteria, and bacterial morphology was evaluated using Gram staining. Evaluation of the bacterial genus using the Bergey's systematic bacteriology diagram as a guide. A total of ten patients with periodontitis and gingivitis were included. Our data indicated that the scores of OHI-S and DMFT were different significantly between halitosis patients with periodontitis and gingivitis (both had p<0.001) while tongue biofilm score was not different between groups. On the dorsum of the tongue, periodontitis patients had a significant higher oral microbiome population (85.65x106 CFU/mL) compared to those with gingivitis (0.047x106 CFU/mL) with p=0.002. In contrast, the number of microbiomes in the subgingival had no significant different between periodontitis and gingivitis. On the dorsum of the tongue, six bacterial genera were isolated from periodontitis cases and seven genera were detected from gingivitis patients. On subgingival, 10 and 15 genera were identified from periodontitis and gingivitis, respectively. Fusobacterium, Propionibacterium, Eubacterium and Lactobacillus were the most prevalent among periodontitis cases while Porphyromonas was the most prevalent in gingivitis patients. In conclusion, although OHI-S and DMFT are different between periodontitis and gingivitis, overlapping of bacterial genera was detected between periodontitis and gingivitis cases.

In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of Tacca Tubers (Tacca leontopetaloides) from Banyak Island, Aceh Singkil Regency, Indonesia, as Antihypercholesterolemia Agents.

Tacca leontopetaloides (T. leontopetaloides) contain a number of active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, steroids, and alkaloids. The active compounds from plants have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzym A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. This study aims to investigate the potential active compounds in the ethanolic extract of Tacca tubers (T. leontopetaloides) from the Banyak Islands, Aceh Singkil Regency, Aceh Province both in vitro and in silico. Tacca tubers contain secondary metabolites including flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids and saponins, according to phytochemical screening. In vitro investigation of ethanolic extract of Tacca tuber revealed inhibitory activity of HMG Co-A reductase with an IC50 value of 4.92 ppm. Based on the in silico study, active compound from the extract, namely Stigmasterol with the highest binding affinities with HMG Co-A reductase (-7.2 kcal/mol). As a comparison, the inhibition of HMG Co-A reductase activity by simvastatin with an IC50 4.62 ppm and binding affinity -8.0 Kcal/mol. Our findings suggest that the ethanolic extract of Tacca tuber (T. leontopetaloides) from Banyak Islands, Aceh Province has the potential to inhibit the activity of HMG Co-A reductase.

Cytotoxicity and phytochemical profiles of Phyllanthus emblica stem barks with in silico drug-likeliness: Focusing on antidiabetic potentials.

Out of numerous reported medicinal plants, Phyllanthus emblica has been reported to possess a strong antidiabetic potential and other pharmacological effects. This research aimed to identify the phytoconstituents in the extracts of P. emblica stem barks and hypothesize their antidiabetic potentials based on in silico drug-likeliness. Simplicia of P. emblica powder was sequentially macerated at room temperature (24 h) using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvents. Phytochemical profiles of the extract were investigated qualitatively using reagents, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. All phytocompounds were then analyzed for their pharmacological properties and predicted bioactivities on molinspiration. Cytotoxicity of each extract was evaluated using the brine shrimp lethality test. As many as 18 compounds (from GC-MS), were identified in all extract samples from P. emblica stem barks. Based on in silico drug-likeliness, methanol extract contained the most potentially bioactive compounds (16α-hydroxycleroda-3,13 (14) Z-dien-15,16-olide; 14-. beta.-H-pregna; and isochiapin B). Isochiapin B was revealed as the only compound that had no violation of the rule of five. All three compounds could hypothetically contribute to the antidiabetic activity of the methanol extract from P. emblica stem barks by inhibiting diabetes-related enzymes and interacting with nuclear receptors. Moderate cytotoxicity of ethyl acetate and methanol extract, respectively, further suggests their bioactivities.

Optimization of Castor Oil-Based Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) with Active Agent 1,10-Phenanthroline for Aqueous Pb2+ Analysis.

This research has successfully fabricated ion selective electrode (ISE) for Pb2+ using castor oil (Ricinus communis L.)-based polyurethane (PU) membrane with 1,10-phenanthroline as the active agent. The sensitivity of the Pb2+ ISE obtained is 27.25 mV/decade with a linear range of [Pb(NO3)2] of 10−10−10−5 M and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.959. The system response reaches stability after 25 s of measurement. The Pb2+ has a detection limit of 10−10 M and gives a stable response at pH 7−8 with a 15-day lifetime. The investigation of the selectivity of the ISE was performed using the mixed solution method with log Kij values of <1. The selectivity order of Pb2+ ISE against the foreign ions is Ag2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Mg2+ > Cu2+ > Fe3+ > Cr3+> Zn2+ > Cd2+. The Pb2+ ISE shows acceptable reproducibility and repeatability with standard deviation values of 0.065 and 0.0079, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra confirmed that 1,10-phenanthroline was responsible for the formation of the Pb2+ ion entrapment via complexation. Other characterizations (crystallinity, micro-surface morphology, and mechanical strength) suggest the degradation of the membrane structure integrity after the application. The analysis results of Pb levels using the Pb2+ ISE in artificial and wastewater samples were not significantly different from the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) measurement.

hUMSC vs. hUMSC-Exosome: Which One Is Better for Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by abnormal brain cell activity that results in seizures. It causes progressive damage to neurons. Epilepsy treatment currently focuses mostly on symptoms, which also have risks of unwanted side effects. There is currently no effective treatment to prevent epileptogenesis and the resulting neural damage. Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell (hUMSC) and exosome therapy are examples of cellular therapies that may be used to treat degenerative diseases, such as epilepsy, or cell damage. However, there is still little research on the use of hUMSCs or hUMSC-exosomes for treating epilepsy. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to compare the potential and risk of hUMSCs and hUMSC-exosomes as therapies for epilepsy. This article provides a brief summary of hUMSCs and hUMSC-exosomes in multiple aspects, such as the isolation and purification method, the mechanism of action, immunological compatibility, tumorigenicity, the risk of transmitting disease, stability upon storage, the potential of new composition with other substances, and also ethical and political issues. We conclude that hUMSCs and hUMSC-exosomes have therapeutic potential for epilepsy, with hUMSC-exosomes being safer due to their reduced immunogenicity.

Green Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Using Calotropis gigantea from Ie Seu-Um Geothermal Area, Aceh Province, Indonesia.

Herein, we report our success synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extracts from the leaves and flowers of Calotropis gigantea growing in the geothermal manifestation Ie Seu-Um, Aceh Besar, Indonesia. C. gigantea aqueous extract can be used as a bio-reductant for Ag+→Ag0 conversion, obtained by 48h incubation of Ag+, and the extract mixture in a dark condition. UV-Vis characterization showed that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks of AgNPs-leaf C. gigantea (AgNPs-LCg) and AgNPs-flower C. gigantea (AgNPs-FCg) appeared in the wavelength range of 410-460 nm. Scanning electron microscopy energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) revealed the agglomeration and spherical shapes of AgNPs-LCg and AgNPs-FCg with diameters ranging from 87.85 to 256.7 nm. Zeta potentials were observed in the range of -41.8 to -25.1 mV. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay revealed AgNPs-FCg as the most potent antimicrobial agent with inhibition zones of 12.05 ± 0.58, 11.29 ± 0.45, and 9.02 ± 0.10 mm for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, respectively. In conclusion, aqueous extract from the leaves or flowers of Calotropis gigantea may be used in the green synthesis of AgNPs with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities.

Haematological Features of White Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Infected with S. pyogenes and Administered with Probiotics (Yogurt).

This study aimed to study the inhibition activity of lactic acid bacteria probiotics deriving from Acehnese fermented Etawa goat's milk (yogurt) against Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial infection in rats (Rattus norvegicus). Haematological analysis of the rats' blood was performed on the following parameters: platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes, where the data were further processed using ANOVA and Duncan's test with a confidence level of 95% (0.05). The results revealed that administering yogurt containing probiotics could reduce infections in the throats of rats caused by S. pyogenes. Based on the haematology examination, the probiotic yogurt could maintain the number of platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Statistical significance was obtained when the infected rats were administered with a ±1.00 mL/day dose for seven days of treatment (p < 0.05).