Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Flower-like MnMoO4 Nanostructures and Their Photocatalytic Performance.

This article describes an affordable method for the synthesis of MnMoO4 nanoflowers through the microwave synthesis approach. By manipulating the reaction parameters like solvent, pH, microwave power, and irradiation duration along this pathway, various nanostructures can be acquired. The synthesized nanoflowers were analyzed by using a powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) to determine their crystalline nature, morphological and functional group, and optical properties, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed for the examination of elemental composition and chemical states by qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results of the investigations demonstrated that the MnMoO4 nanostructures with good crystallinity and distinct shape were formed successfully. The synthesized MnMoO4 nanoflowers were tested for their efficiency as a photocatalyst in the degradation studies of methylene blue (MB) as model organic contaminants in an aqueous medium under visible light, which showed their photocatalytic activity with a degradation of 85%. Through the band position calculations using the electronegative value of MnMoO4, the photocatalytic mechanism of the nanostructures was proposed. The results indicated that the effective charge separation, and transfer mechanisms, in addition to the flower-like shape, were responsible for the photocatalytic performance. The stability of the recovered photocatalyst was examined through its recyclability in the degradation of MB. Leveraging MnMoO4's photocatalytic properties, future studies may focus on scaling up these processes for practical and large-scale environmental remediation.

Sensing of Quercetin With Cobalt-Doped Manganese Nanosystems by Electrochemical Method.

BACKGROUND: The pressing need for precise, quick, and affordable detection of diverse biomolecules has led to notable developments in the realm of biosensors. Quercetin, a biomolecule rich in flavonoids predominantly found in our diet, is sensed by the electrochemical method. The electrochemical properties show remarkable improvement when Mn2O3 (MO) is doped with cobalt (Co).  Aim: This study aimed to investigate the biomolecule sensing of quercetin using Co-doped MO by electrochemical method.  Materials and methods: Co-doped MO nanospheres were prepared by hydrothermal method. The crystal structure of the synthesized material was evaluated by using X-ray diffraction analysis. The sample morphology was assessed by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. The cyclic voltammetry technique was used for the detection of quercetin biomolecules.  Results: The synthesized Co-doped MO appeared to be spherical in morphology in FE-SEM. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed the only presence of Co, Mn, and O, which confirmed the purity of the sample. The modified electrode sensed the biomolecule with a higher current of 7.35 µA than the bare glassy carbon electrode of 6.1 µA. CONCLUSION: The Co-doped MO exhibited enhanced conductivity, reactivity, and electrochemical performance. This tailored approach will help in the optimization of material properties toward specific biomolecule sensing applications.

Merremia emarginata Extract Potentiates the Inhibition of Human Colon Cancer Cells (HT-29) via the Modulation of Caspase-3/Bcl-2-Mediated Pathways.

Background This study investigates Merremia emarginata's curative effectiveness against colon cancer cells. M. emarginata, often known as Elika jemudu, is a Convolvulaceae family plant. The inhibitory ability of anticancer herbal extracts against cancer cell growth and mediators is tested.  Aim This study aims to evaluate the potent anticancer activity of M. emarginata against colon cancer cell line (HT-29). Materials and methods M. emarginata leaves were gathered and processed using solvent extraction. Anticancer activity on colon cancer cells was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and cysteine aspartic acid protease-3 (caspase 3), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) mRNA expressions. The data was reported as the mean ± SD of three separate experiments done in triplicate. The statistical analysis was carried out using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with a p-value less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results The cell viability test showed a gradual decrease in cell growth and proliferation as the concentration increased. The ethanolic extract of M. emarginata was found to be cytotoxic against colon caller cell lines. The extract was able to induce apoptosis of cancer as revealed by Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and caspase-3 (p<0.05 and p<0.001) signaling pathways. Conclusion M. emarginata extracts showed good anticancer activity against colon cancer cell lines. Further work is required to establish and identify the chemical constituent responsible for its anticancer activity.

Evaluation of Antibacterial and Anti-oxidant Activities of Suaeda monoica Extract for Its Potential Application.

BACKGROUND:  An assessment of Suaeda monoica extract's antimicrobial and antioxidant properties was undertaken in light of its possible application as an oral care product. The maintenance of optimal dental health is just as important as overall wellness. Food particles become trapped in the mouth cavity, making it easy for oral bacteria to infect. AIM:  The study sought to ascertain the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of salt marsh Suaeda monoica extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Leaves of Suaeda monoica, collected, dried and powdered, were dissolved in 70% methanol and the extract of 25-100 µg/ml was analyzed for antioxidant activity through total antioxidant assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and total reducing power. Suaeda monoica antibacterial activity was also performed and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined for 75 µg/ml, 100µg/ml, and 150 µg/ml concentrations and tetracycline in 10mcg/disc as a control against three different oral pathogens: Staphylococcus mutans, Streptococcus aureus, and Klebsiella spp. RESULTS:  At varying concentrations of 75 mg/ml to 150 mg/ml, Suaeda monoica extracts are efficacious with varying concentrations against the investigated bacterial strains. In the present study, in the DPPH assay, total reducing power, and total antioxidant activity assay, there was an increase in inhibitory percentage as the concentration increased from 25-100 µg/ml, showing maximum inhibition at 100 µg/ml concentration. CONCLUSION:  The results of the investigation show that Suaeda monoica has significant antibacterial and antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner and can be potentially used as an oral care agent after it is assessed for clinical use.

Ag@Ag8W4O16 nanoroasted rice beads with photocatalytic, antibacterial and anticancer activity.

Increasing resistance of pathogens and cancer cell line towards antibiotics and anticancer agents has caused serious health problems in the past decades. Due to these problems in recent years, researchers have tried to combine nanotechnology with material science to have intrinsic antimicrobial and anticancer activity. The metals and metal oxides were investigated with respect to their antimicrobial and anticancer effects towards bacteria and cancer cell line. In the present work metal@metal tungstate (Ag@Ag8W4O16 nanoroasted rice beads) is investigated for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using Mueller-Hinton broth and the anticancer activity against B16F10 cell line was studied. Silver decorated silver tungstate (Ag@Ag8W4O16) was synthesized by the microwave irradiation method using Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB). Ag@Ag8W4O16 was characterized by using various spectroscopic techniques. The phase and crystalline nature were analyzed by using XRD. The morphological analysis was carried out using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). Further, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectral analysis were carried out in order to ascertain the presence of functional groups in Ag@Ag8W4O16. The optical property was investigated using Diffuse Reflectance Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (DRS-UV-Vis) and the band gap was found to be 3.08eV. Surface area of the synthesized Ag@Ag8W4O16 wasanalyzed by BET analysis and Ag@Ag8W4O16 was utilized for the degradation of organic dyes methylene blue and rhodamine B. The morphology of the Ag@Ag8W4O16 resembles roasted rice beads with breath and length in nm range. The oxidation state of tungsten (W) and silver (Ag) was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).