Metabolomics and in-vitro bioactivities studies of fermented Musa paradisiaca pulp: A potential alpha-amylase inhibitor.

The in-vitro synthesis of bio-compounds via fermentation is a promising route for bioactive molecules intended for disease control and management. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of fermentation on the antioxidants, antihyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory properties and the resultant chemometric phytochemical profiles of unripe plantain fruits. The results revealed that Escherichia coli and Propionibacterium spp. are suspected as the key fermenters. The E coli showed negative results to the pathogenicity test; Propionibacterium appeared to be opportunistic. A significant increase in the total polyphenols and protein and decreased flavonoids was recorded in the phytochemical profile of the methanolic extract of the fermented unripe plantain pulp; however, the ascorbic acid content was not significantly altered. The 1H NMR fingerprint showed that there is a closely related chemical shift among the shorter fermentation time (days 2-6) and the unfermented, while the more extended fermentation periods (days 7-12) with enhanced bioactivities were closely related based on the chemometrics analyses. Furthermore, the UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis annotated the presence of bioactive compounds in the day-9 fermented sample: polyhydroxy glucose conjugates (3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl 6-O-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside), short chain peptide (leucyl-glycyl-glycine), amino acid derivatives (4-Aminophenylalanine, and N-Acetylhistidine), linear and cyclic fatty acid derivatives (palmitoyl putrescine, ricinoleic acid, phytosphingosine, gabalid, rubrenoic acid, 2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic and cystodienioc acid). The synergistic effect of these newly formed compounds and the increase in the phenolic content of the day-9 fermented unripe plantain may account for its more potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activity. Therefore, the products obtained from the day 9 fermentation of unripe plantain pulp may serve as potential nutraceutical agents against gastro-enteric sugar digestion and absorption and sugar-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolic disease.

Green Synthesis of Genistein-Fortified Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles as a Potent Hepatic Cancer Inhibitor: Validation through Experimental and Computational Studies.

In hepatic cancer, precancerous nodules account for damage and inflammation in liver cells. Studies have proved that phyto-compounds based on biosynthetic metallic nanoparticles display superior action against hepatic tumors. This study targeted the synthesis of genistein-fortified zinc ferrite nanoparticles (GENP) trailed by anticancer activity assessment against diethylnitrosamine and N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene induced hepatic cancer. The process of nucleation was confirmed by UV/VIS spectrophotometry, X-ray beam diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and FT-IR. An in vitro antioxidant assay illustrated that the leaves of Pterocarpus mildbraedii have strong tendency as a reductant and, in the nanoformulation synthesis, as a natural capping agent. A MTT assay confirmed that GENP have a strong selective cytotoxic potential against HepG2 cancer cells. In silico studies of genistein exemplified the binding tendency towards human matrix metalloproteinase comparative to the standard drug marimastat. An in vivo anticancer evaluation showed that GENP effectively inhibit the growth of hepatic cancer by interfering with hepatic and non-hepatic biochemical markers.

Zirconium ferrite incorporated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8: a suitable photocatalyst for degradation of dopamine and sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution.

The complete removal of pharmaceutical wastes from polluted water systems is a global challenge. Therefore, this study incorporates zirconium ferrite (ZrFe2O4) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) to form ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8. The ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 is a photocatalyst for removing dopamine (DOP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from an aqueous solution. The scanning electron micrograph revealed the surfaces of ZrFe2O4 and ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 to be heterogeneous with irregularly shaped and sized particles. The transmission electron micrograph (TEM) images of ZrFe2O4 and ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 showed an average particle size of 24.32 nm and 32.41 nm, respectively, with a bandgap of 2.10 eV (ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8) and 2.05 eV (ZrFe2O4). ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 exhibited a better degradation capacity towards DOP and SMX than ZrFe2O4. ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 expressed a complete (100%) degradation of DOP and SMX during the photodegradation process. Interestingly, the process involved both adsorption and photocatalytic degradation simultaneously. ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 demonstrated high stability with a consistent regeneration capacity of 98.40% for DOP and 94.00% for SMX at the 10th cycle of treatment in a process described by pseudo-first-order kinetics. The study revealed ZrFe2O4@ZIF-8 as a promising photocatalyst for the purification of DOP and SMX-contaminated water systems.

Synthesis of neodymium ferrite incorporated graphitic carbonitride (NdFe2O4@g-C3N4) and its application in the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin and ampicillin in a water system.

Purification of antibiotic-contaminated drinking water sources is faced with limitations. Therefore, this study incorporated neodymium ferrite (NdFe2O4) in graphitic carbonitride (g-C3N4) to form NdFe2O4@g-C3N4 as a photocatalyst for removing ciprofloxacin (CIP) and ampicillin (AMP) from aqueous systems. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a crystallite size of 25.15 nm for NdFe2O4 and 28.49 nm for NdFe2O4@g-C3N4. The bandgap is 2.10 and 1.98 eV for NdFe2O4 and NdFe2O4@g-C3N4, respectively. The transmission electron micrograph (TEM) images of NdFe2O4 and NdFe2O4@g-C3N4 gave an average particle size of 14.10 nm and 18.23 nm, respectively. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images showed heterogeneous surfaces with irregular-sized particles suggesting agglomeration at the surfaces. NdFe2O4@g-C3N4 (100.00 ± 0.00% for CIP and 96.80 ± 0.80% for AMP) exhibited better photodegradation efficiency towards CIP and AMP than NdFe2O4 (78.45 ± 0.80% for CIP and 68.25 ± 0.60% for AMP) in a process described by pseudo-first-order kinetics. NdFe2O4@g-C3N4 showed a stable regeneration capacity towards degradation of CIP and AMP with a capacity that is above 95% even at the 15th cycle of treatment. The use of NdFe2O4@g-C3N4 in this study revealed its potential as a promising photocatalyst for removing CIP and AMP in water systems.

Production of Biodiesel from Underutilized Algae Oil: Prospects and Current Challenges Encountered in Developing Countries.

Biofuel continues to thrive as an outstanding source of renewable energy for the global community. Several resources have been proposed as sources of feedstocks for biofuel; however, some of these have shortcoming. The use of biomass such as algae as a source of feedstock for biofuel is undoubtedly sustainable and green. Unfortunately, the use of algae oil for biodiesel production is underutilized in developing countries. Therefore, this study focuses on finding a better understanding of the evolving prospects and current challenges facing biodiesel production from algae oil in developing countries. The study revealed that less attention is given to the use of algae oil in biodiesel production due to poor enlightenment on biotechnology, high poverty rates, government policies, business strategies, and poor funding of research. Interestingly, several species of algae that can serve as sustainable feedstocks for biodiesel production have been identified in developing countries. It is evident that algae oil has properties that qualify it for the production of biodiesel with fuel properties that meet both the American Society for Testing and Materials and the European standards for biodiesel.

Apocynin loaded silver nanoparticles displays potent in vitro biological activities and mitigates pyrogallol-induced hepatotoxicity.

Drug-loaded nanoparticles are currently gaining attention due to their improved drug delivery properties. Apocynin, a natural polyphenolic compound, is a component of many plants. It has many medicinal and pharmacological properties. Pyrogallol is an anti-psoriatic agent. However, its clinical usage is limited due to its cumulative and dose-dependent hepatotoxicity. The objective of this study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles coated with Apocynin (Apo-AgNPs), and investigate the antioxidant and liver protective effects of Apo-AgNPs on pyrogallol-induced toxicity in rats. The nanoparticles were characterized and it was determined that the synthesis technique results in homogeneously dispersed core-shell Ag structures with spherical forms and an average diameter of 13 nm (6.3 nm). Our results showed that Apo-AgNPs exhibited potent antioxidant and excellent membrane stability activities in vitro. In rats, Apo-AgNPs (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly prevented pyrogallol-induced elevations of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatinine, urea, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and decreased blood levels of uric acid. Moreover, Apo-AgNPs restored the decreased activities of the liver antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, as well as non-enzyme antioxidant glutathione, as well as significantly decreased catalase activities which were induced by pyrogallol treatment. Histological studies indicated that pyrogallol -induced liver damage was alleviated following Apo-AgNPs treatment in rats. Apo-AgNPs significantly suppressed the up-regulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein expression. These results indicated that Apo-AgNPs protected the rats from damage via preserving the antioxidant defense systems, lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines, and expression of COX-2 and NF-κB in rats.

Kinematic simulations of static radiographs provides discriminating features of multiple hip pathologies.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of ambulatory disability. Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) may lead to premature osteoarthritis in a young adult population. Current clinical assessments of DDH and FAI include clinical history, static radiological metrics, and physical examinations. Methods involving dynamic radiography such as fluoroscopy are costly and time-consuming for both patient and physician. Therefore, our aim was to simulate dynamic gait on 3D static radiological images of hips to generate "virtual interference" points between the femur and acetabulum with three methods of center-of-rotation (COR): static spherical, dynamic spherical, and dynamic ellipsoidal. We simulated the gait kinematics on pre-segmented CT images for three groups: DDH (N=10), FAI (N=10), and asymptomatic normal (N=11). The femoral head was divided into four medial quadrants to compare the ratios of virtual interference within the regions along the gait cycle and as a temporal mean. We hypothesized that discriminating characteristics would exist between the two pathologies and for the dynamic COR methods to have more discriminating characteristics than the static COR method. For each COR method, we found the temporal mean of virtual interference to be significantly different in almost every region between the hip conditions. The significance was most distinct when using the static spherical method of COR. These results are promising to individual clinical assessments of hip pathologies using static radiographs and ultimately work towards preventing premature hip disease.

Histomorphological and Redox Delineations in the Testis and Epididymis of Albino Rats Fed with Green-Synthesized Cellulose.

It has also become increasingly necessary to diversify the production of cellulose for biomedical applications. In this study, cellulose-green-synthesized from Sesamum indicum (GSC)-was administered orally to rats for 14 days as follows: control, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg GSC. The impact of GSC on the antioxidant status and histomorphology of the testes and epididymis were studied. GSC had no effects on organ weights and organosomatic indices. In the testes, GSC caused nonsignificant changes in superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and nitric oxide levels, whereas it significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde levels. In the epididymis, GSC significantly decreased superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide levels, but caused a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione levels. Furthermore, at ×200 magnification, testicular morphology appeared normal at all doses, however, extravasation of the germinal epithelium of the epididymis was observed at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg GSC. Conversely, at ×400 magnification, spermatogenic arrest (testes) and chromatolytic alterations (epididymis) were observed at the higher doses (200 and 400 mg/kg GSC). This study reports on the effect of green-synthesized cellulose on testicular and epididymal histology and redox status and further extends the frontiers of research on cellulose.

Amine-modified kaolinite clay preserved thyroid function and renal oxidative balance after sub-acute exposure in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Kaolinite clay is an abundant natural resource in Nigeria with several industrial applications. Incidentally, the wide-scale use of kaolinite clay is hampered by its small surface area. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of amine-modified clay on electrolyte, thyroid, and kidney function markers. METHODS: Modification of kaolinite clay with an amine functional group was achieved using surface grafting technique. Characterization with a scanning electron microscope and Brunauer-Emmett Teller surface area analyzer confirmed this modification. However, there is sparse information on the effect of amine-modified kaolinite clay on electrolyte homeostasis, thyroid, and renal function. Rats were administered amine-modified kaolinite clay at the doses of 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg body weight. RESULTS: After 14 days of repeated-dose treatment, there were no significant changes in levels of albumin, uric acid, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, ratio of triiodothyronine to thyroxine, and relative kidney organ weight. Furthermore, there were no changes in the concentration of potassium, although amine-modified kaolinite clay significantly decreased sodium, calcium, and total cholesterol levels. Amine-modified kaolinite clay, at all treatment doses, also preserved the renal histoarchitecture and oxidative balance in rats. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on the effect of amine-modified kaolinite clay on renal markers and thyroid function, and further deepens our understanding of their biochemical action. This baseline data may boost the prospect of using amine-modified kaolinite clay in the treatment of contaminated water.

Salubrious effects of a vermiculite-cellulose-based bionanocomposite on oxidative stress indices and histomorphology of male Wistar rats.

There is a current interest from the food packaging, biomedical and agricultural sectors in hybrid materials formed from clays and natural polymeric compounds. However, research investigating the toxicity of vermiculite-cellulose nanocrystal (VERN) hybrid on the testes of Wistar rats is rare. Twenty rats, divided into control and treatment groups, were orally administered distilled water, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg bw VERN daily for two consecutive weeks. At the termination of experiments, the testicular organo-somatic index, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities were not significantly changed by VERN relative to the controls. Contrarily, myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde levels were depleted in the testes of treated rats. Moreso, VERN increased follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, and decreased testosterone levels at the 20 mg/kg dose. Histology of the testes revealed healthy looking Leydig cells at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg VERN. Overall, these results indicate that oral exposure of VERN was not overly deleterious to the redox and structural histoarchitecture in the testes of rats.

Renal toxicological evaluations of sulphonated nanocellulose from Khaya sengalensis seed in Wistar rats.

Nanocellulose is currently gaining attention due to its unique properties. This attention includes its application as building blocks for developing novel functional materials, plant drug and also in drug delivery systems. However, its safety remains largely untested or less understood. Thus, sulphonated nanocellulose (KSS) was prepared from cellulose (KSC) isolated from Khaya senegalensis seed (KS). KS, KSC and KSS were characterized using Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), particle size distribution (PSD), zeta potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of KSS on selected renal markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats was also investigated. Thus, male rats were randomly assigned to four groups of five animals each and were treated with KSS (0, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg BW) for 14 days. Thereafter, biomarkers of renal oxidative damage, inflammation and immunohistochemical expressions of iNOS, COX-2, Bcl-2 and p53 were evaluated. The results revealed KSS to have crystallinity of 70.40%, it was monomodal and has a flaky surface with agglomerations. KSS had no effect on markers of kidney function and oxidative damage, although there was a generalized hypernatremia after 14 days of exposure. Lastly, KSS enhanced the antioxidant status and immunohistochemical expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the kidney of the rats. While the biomedical applications of KSS may appear plausible, our data suggests that it could induce renal toxicity via the combined impacts of electrolyte imbalance and inflammation.

Disinfection of water with new chitosan-modified hybrid clay composite adsorbent.

Hybrid clay composites were prepared from Kaolinite clay and Carica papaya seeds via modification with chitosan, Alum, NaOH, and ZnCl2 in different ratios, using solvothermal and surface modification techniques. Several composite adsorbents were prepared, and the most efficient of them for the removal of gram negative enteric bacteria was the hybrid clay composite that was surface-modified with chitosan, Ch-nHYCA 1:5 (Chitosan: nHYCA = 1:5). This composite adsorbent had a maximum adsorption removal value of 4.07 × 106 cfu/mL for V. cholerae after 120 min, 1.95 × 106 cfu/mL for E. coli after ∼180 min and 3.25 × 106 cfu/mL for S. typhi after 270 min. The Brouers-Sotolongo model was found to better predict the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax ) of Ch-nHYCA1:5 composite adsorbent for the removal of E. coli with a qmax of 103.07 mg/g (7.93 × 107 cfu/mL) and V. cholerae with a qmax of 154.18 mg/g (1.19 × 108 cfu/mL) while the Sips model best described S. typhi adsorption by Ch-nHYCA 1:5 composite with an estimated qmax of 83.65 mg/g (6.43 × 107 cfu/mL). These efficiencies do far exceed the alert/action levels of ca. 500 cfu/mL in drinking water for these bacteria. The simplicity of the composite preparation process and the availability of raw materials used for its preparation underscore the potential of this low-cost chitosan-modified composite adsorbent (Ch-nHYCA 1:5 ) for water treatment.

Nitrilotriacetic acid functionalized Adansonia digitata biosorbent: Preparation, characterization and sorption of Pb (II) and Cu (II) pollutants from aqueous solution.

Nitrilotriacetic acid functionalized Adansonia digitata (NFAD) biosorbent has been synthesized using a simple and novel method. NFAD was characterized by X-ray Diffraction analysis technique (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer, Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR), particle size dispersion, zeta potential, elemental analysis (CHNS/O analyzer), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The ability of NFAD as biosorbent was evaluated for the removal of Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The particle distribution of NFAD was found to be monomodal while SEM revealed the surface to be heterogeneous. The adsorption capacity of NFAD toward Pb (II) ions was 54.417 mg/g while that of Cu (II) ions was found to be 9.349 mg/g. The adsorption of these metals was found to be monolayer, second-order-kinetic, and controlled by both intra-particle diffusion and liquid film diffusion. The results of this study were compared better than some reported biosorbents in the literature. The current study has revealed NFAD to be an effective biosorbent for the removal of Pb (II) and Cu (II) from aqueous solution.

Fatty Acid Composition and Lipid Profile of Diospyros mespiliformis, Albizia lebbeck, and Caesalpinia pulcherrima Seed Oils from Nigeria.

The screening of lesser-known underutilized seeds as source of food has been a way of finding solution to food insecurity in developing nations. In this regard, oil as a class of food was extracted from the seeds of Diospyros mespiliformis (4.72 ± 0.2%), Albizia lebbeck (6.40 ± 0.60%), and Caesalpinia pulcherrima (7.2 ± 0.30%). The oils were finally analyzed for their fatty acid composition, lipid classes, fatty acid distribution in the lipid fractions, and molecular speciation of the triacylglycerols, glycolipids, and phospholipids. The fatty acid composition of the oils varied with C18:2 fatty acid being the most dominant in the oils. Neutral lipids were the most abundant lipid class found in the oils while molecular species of the triacylglycerol with equivalent carbon chain number C40 was majorly present in the oils of Diospyros mespiliformis and Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The present study presents lesser-known underutilized seeds as possible sources of food.

Chemical composition and molecular speciation of the triacylglycerol of the oils of Lonchocarpus sericeus and Lonchocarpus cyanescens.

Proximate composition of the seeds and chemical analysis of the oils of Lonchocarpus sericeus and Lonchocarpus cyanescens were determined. The oil content of the seed of L. cyanescens is 29.71 ± 0.20% while that of L. sericeus is 28.00 ± 0.50%. The seeds as well as the oils of L. cyanescens and L. sericeus were found to be rich in K, Na and Fe. Linolenic (C18:3) and oleic (C18:1) acid are the dominant fatty acids while the neutral lipids the dominant lipid class in the oils. Phytol, sterols, beta-tocopherol and hydrocarbons were identified in the unsaponifiable matters of the oils using GC-MS. The HPLC results revealed the presence of glycolipids, which are monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosylmonoacylglycerol and monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol. Molecular speciation of the triacylglycerol revealed the presence of molecular species with equivalent carbon chain numbers C(36) (L. sericeus) and C(50) (L. cyanescens) to be dominantly present in the oils.

Synthesis of Azidohydrin from Hura crepitans Seed Oil: A Renewable Resource for Oleochemical Industry and Sustainable Development.

The replacement of petrochemicals by oleochemical feedstocks in many industrial and domestic applications has resulted in an increase in demand for biobased products and as such recognizing and increasing the benefits of using renewable materials. In line with this, the oil extracted from the seed of Hura crepitans was characterized by an iodine value of 120.10 ± 0.70 g Iodine/100 g and a saponification number of 210.10 ± 0.40 mg KOH/g with the dominant fatty acid being C18:2 (52.8 ± 0.10%). The epoxidised fatty acid methyl esters prepared from the oil were used to synthesise the azidohydrin with a yield of 91.20%. The progress of the reaction was monitored and confirmed using FTIR and NMR. This showed the seed oil of Hura crepitans as a renewable resource that can be used to make valuable industrial and domestic products.

Solvent free hydroxylation of the methyl esters of Blighia unijugata seed oil in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium permanganate.

Extraction of oil from the seed of Blighia unijugata gave a yield of 50.82 ± 1.20% using hexane in a soxhlet extractor. The iodine and saponification values were 67.60 ± 0.80 g iodine/100 g and 239.20 ± 1.00 mg KOH/g respectively with C18:1 being the dominant fatty acid. Unsaturated methyl esters of Blighia unijugata which had been previously subjected to urea adduct complexation was used to synthesize methyl 9, 10-dihydroxyoctadecanoate via hydroxylation in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium permanganate (CTAP). The reaction was monitored and confirmed using FTIR and GC-MS. This study has revealed that oxidation reaction of mono unsaturated bonds using CTAP could be achieved under solvent free condition.