Cinnamon Oil Encapsulated with Silica Nanoparticles: Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Insecticidal Activity Against the Rice Moth, Corcyra cephalonica.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) essential oil has vast potential as an antimicrobial but is limited by its volatility and rapid degradation. To decrease its volatility and prolong the efficacy of the biocide, cinnamon essential oil was encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The characterization of MSNs and cinnamon oil encapsulated with silica nanoparticles (CESNs) was estimated. Additionally, their insecticidal activity against the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) larvae was evaluated. The MSN surface area decreased from 893.6 to 720 m2 g-1 and the pore volume also decreased from 0.824 to 0.7275 cc/g after loading with cinnamon oil. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and N2 sorption by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) confirmed the successful formation and evolution of the synthesized MSNs and CESN structures. The surface characteristics of MSNs and CESNs were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Compared with the sub-lethal activity values, the order of toxicity after 6 days of exposure was MSNs ˃ CESN ˃ cinnamon oil ˃ silica gel ˃ peppermint oil. The efficacy of CESNs gradually increases its toxicity more than MSN after the 9th day of exposure.

Morphological, phytochemical and anti-hyperglycemic evaluation of Brachychiton populneus

Abstract Brachychiton populneus (Schott & Endl.) R.Br., Malvaceae, is one of five Brachychiton species cultivated in Egypt. Little information was found concerning the morphological, phytochemical and biological investigations of B. populneus. Morphological investigations of B. populneus were performed on fresh and dried leaves. Air-dried, ground leafy branches were extracted with 70% methanol/water yielding B. populneus extract. Seventeen flavonoids were isolated and identified using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; eleven of them were reported for the first time from this plant. Potential activity of B. populneus extract against alloxan inducing oxidative stress and diabetes in male rats was preliminary investigated (four groups of ten rats /group). B. populneus extract (500 mg/kg bw i.p.) exhibited significant acute anti-hyperglycemic activity with blood glucose levels of 227.3 and 157.6 mg/dl after 4 and 24 h, respectively, compared to alloxan and standard Diamicron (5 mg/kg bw p.o.) groups, as well as to a normoglycemic control group at p < 0.05. The extract reverted the body weight values of the alloxan-induced diabetic rats to that of control animals after 24 h. In addition, B. populneus extract counteracted the effect of the oxidative stress induced by alloxan causing significantly increase in the glutathione content level (2.35 mmol/l) and relative decrease in the malondialdehyde level (21.31 nmol/l) and nitric oxide content (1.98 µmol/l) in serum after 24 h of treatment compared to alloxan-induced diabetic rats (1.01 mmol/l, 118.9 nmol/l, 4.69 µmol/l, respectively) and to normoglycemic control at p < 0.05. These effects appear to be related to the flavonoid principles. The intergeneric relationship of the genus Brachychiton and other related genera assessed well-supported differentiation between them. Furthermore, a significant dissimilarity was observed at interspecific level.

An in-vitro study of the physico-mechanical properties of a new esthetic restorative versus dental amalgam / Estudo in vitro das propriedades mecânicas de uma nova restauração estética versus amálgama dentário

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the compressive strength (CS), diametraltensile strength (DTS), surface hardness (SH), and surface roughness (SR) of a ceramic-reinforcedglass ionomer in comparison to a high-copper dental amalgam. The microstructure was alsoexamined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A ceramic-reinforced glass ionomer (AmalgomerCR), and a spherical high-copper dental amalgam (GS.80) were used in this study. Specimens werefabricated from the tested materials according to the instructions of each manufacturer. The CS,DTS, SH, and SR were measured after storing the specimens for 1 day and 1 week in water at 37oC. Independent-samples t-test and paired–samples t-test were used to determine which specimengroups were significantly different for each test. One representative specimen of each materialwas prepared and examined for microstructure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).RESULTS: At 1 day, ceramic-reinforced glass ionomer exhibited significantly-higher CS and DTS,lower SR. At 1 week, it exhibited significantly-higher CS and lower SR. The results of SH were notsignificantly different between the tested materials at both storage periods. CONCLUSION: Thephysico-mechanical properties of the tooth-colored ceramic-reinforced glass ionomer were soclose and sometimes significantly superior to dental amalgam.

OBJETIVOS: O propósito deste estudo foi determinas a resistência à compressão, resistência àtensão diametral, dureza de superfície e aspereza de superfície de um ionômero de vidro reforçadocom cerâmica em comparação com amálgama dentário com alto conteúdo de cobre. Amicroestrutura foi também examinada. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Um ionômero de vidroreforçado com cerâmica (Amalgomer CR) e um amálgama com limalha esférica com alto conteúdode cobre (GS.80) foram utilizados neste estudo. Os corpos de prova foram produzidos com osmateriais testados, de acordo com instruções dos fabricantes. O CS, DTS, SH e SR foram medidosapós estocagem dos corpos de prova por um dia e uma semana em água a 37 o C. Amostrasforam testadas (t-test e t-test emparceiradas), usadas para determinar qual grupo de corpos deprova foram diferentes significativamente para cada teste. Um espécime representativo de cadamaterial foi preparado para avaliação da microestrutura utilizando microscopia eletrônica (SEM).RESULTADOS: Após um dia, o ionômero de vidro reforçado por cerâmica exibiusignificativamente maiôs CS e DTS e menor SR. Após uma semana, exibiu significativamentemaior CS e menor SR. Os resultados do SH não foram significativamente diferentes entre osmateriais testados em ambos os períodos de estocagem. CONCLUSÃO: As propriedades físicomecânicasdo ionômero de vidro com cor de dente, reforçado com cerâmica, foram semelhantes ealgumas vezes superiores ao amálgama dentário.