The Impact of Light Wavelength and Darkness on Metabolite Profiling of Korean Ginseng: Evaluating Its Anti-Cancer Potential against MCF-7 and BV-2 Cell Lines.

Korean ginseng is a source of functional foods and medicines; however, its productivity is hindered by abiotic stress factors, such as light. This study investigated the impacts of darkness and different light wavelengths on the metabolomics and anti-cancer activity of ginseng extracts. Hydroponically-grown Korean ginseng was shifted to a light-emitting diodes (LEDs) chamber for blue-LED and darkness treatments, while white fluorescent (FL) light treatment was the control. MCF-7 breast cancer and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells were used to determine chemo-preventive and neuroprotective potential. Overall, 53 significant primary metabolites were detected in the treated samples. The levels of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, and Re, as well as organic and amino acids, were significantly higher in the dark treatment, followed by blue-LED treatment and the FL control. The dark-treated ginseng extract significantly induced apoptotic signaling in MCF-7 cells and dose-dependently inhibited the NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Short-term dark treatment increased the content of Rd, Rc, Rb1, Rb2, and Re ginsenosides in ginseng extracts, which promoted apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway in BV-2 microglial cells. These results indicate that the dark treatment might be effective in improving the pharmacological potential of ginseng.

Enhancement of the flavone contents of Scutellaria baicalensis hairy roots via metabolic engineering using maize Lc and Arabidopsis PAP1 transcription factors.

Baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin are valuable natural flavonoid compounds produced by Scutellaria baicalensis. In this study, we showed that the maize transcription factor Lc can enhance the production of these three flavonoids in hairy root cultures of S. baicalensis by comprehensively upregulating flavonoid biosynthesis pathway genes (SbPAL1, SbC4H, and Sb4CL) and baicalein 7-O-glucuronosyltransferase (UBGAT), ultimately yielding total flavonoid contents of up to 80.5 ± 6.15 mg g-1 dry weight, which was 322% greater than the average value of total flavonoid contents produced by three GUS-overexpressing lines. Similarly, the Arabidopsis transcription factor PAP1 was found to enhance flavonoid accumulation by upregulating SbPAL1, SbPAL2, SbPAL3, SbC4H, Sb4CL, SbCHI, and UBGAT, ultimately yielding total flavonoid contents of up to 133 ± 7.66 mg g-1 dry weight, which was 532% greater than the average value of total flavonoid contents produced by three GUS-overexpressing lines. These findings indicate that metabolic engineering in S. baicalensis can be achieved using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation and that the production of baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin can be enhanced via the overexpression of ZmLc and AtPAP1 in hairy root cultures. These results also indicate that ZmLc and AtPAP1 can be used as positive regulators of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway of S. baicalensis hairy root cultures.

Effect of Light and Dark on the Phenolic Compound Accumulation in Tartary Buckwheat Hairy Roots Overexpressing ZmLC.

Fagopyrum tataricum 'Hokkai T10' is a buckwheat cultivar capable of producing large amounts of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids (anthocyanins), phenolic acids, and catechin, which have antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we revealed that the maize transcription factor Lc increased the accumulation of phenolic compounds, including sinapic acid, 4-hydroxybenzonate, t-cinnamic acid, and rutin, in Hokkai T10 hairy roots cultured under long-photoperiod (16 h light and 8 h dark) conditions. The transcription factor upregulated phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway genes, yielding total phenolic contents reaching 27.0 ± 3.30 mg g-1 dry weight, 163% greater than the total flavonoid content produced by a GUS-overexpressing line (control). In contrast, when cultured under continuous darkness, the phenolic accumulation was not significantly different between the ZmLC-overexpressing hairy roots and the control. These findings suggest that the transcription factor (ZmLC) activity may be light-responsive in the ZmLC-overexpressing hairy roots of F. tataricum, triggering activation of the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Further studies are required on the optimization of light intensity in ZmLC-overexpressing hairy roots of F. tataricum to enhance the production of phenolic compounds.

Identification of the Female-Produced Sex Pheromone of the Dotted White Geometrid Naxa seriaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

The dotted white geometrid moth, Naxa seriaria Motschulsky (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), is a pest of Oleaceae in Korea, Japan, and China. In this study, we identified (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-heneicosapentaene (C-21 pentaene) as the only compound in extracts of the pheromone glands of female N. seriaria causing a response from receptors on the antennae of males in analyses by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection. The synthetic sex pheromone elicited dose-dependent electrophysiological responses from antennae of male N. seriaria. In field tests, more male moths were captured in traps baited with synthetic C-21 pentaene than in unbaited traps, and increasing the loading of C-21 pentaene in the lure increased catches of male moths. Significantly more male N. seriaria moths were caught in delta traps than in bucket traps. Based on these results, C-21 pentaene is proposed to be the major, if not the only, component of the sex pheromone of N. seriaria.

Genome-wide transcriptome profiling of the medicinal plant Zanthoxylum planispinum using a single-molecule direct RNA sequencing approach.

High-throughput RNA sequencing has revolutionized transcriptome-based studies of candidate genes, key pathways and gene regulation in non-model organisms. We analyzed full-length cDNA sequences in Zanthoxylum planispinum (Z. planispinum), a medicinal herb in major parts of East Asia. The full-length mRNA derived from tissues of leaf, early fruit and maturing fruit stage were sequenced using PacBio RSII platform to identify isoform transcriptome. We obtained 51,402 unigenes, with average 1781 bp per gene in 82.473 Mb gene lengths. Among 51,402, 3963 unigenes showed variety of isoform. By selection of one representative gene among each of the various isoforms, we finalized 46,306 unique gene set for this herb. We identified 76 cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and related isoforms that are of the wide diversity in the molecular function and biological process. These transcriptome data of Z. planispinum will provide a good resource to study metabolic engineering for the production of valuable medicinal drugs and phytochemicals.

Comparison Between Early Functional Rehabilitation and Cast Immobilization After Minimally Invasive Repair for an Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the outcomes of patients with Achilles tendon rupture treated with minimally invasive repair and early functional rehabilitation with the outcomes of similar patients treated with cast immobilization. After undergoing minimally invasive surgery, a below-knee splint with the foot in 30° of plantarflexion was applied to each patient for the first week. Patients were then assigned to a cast immobilization group (IG; n = 25) or a functional group (FG; n = 16). Data were collected during outpatient checks at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Outcomes of interest included range of motion (ROM), heel height, calf circumference, pain and functional score, return to work and light sports activity, and complications. The time interval for return to work in the FG was faster than that in the IG (p = .026). There was no clinically important difference between the 2 groups with regard to heel height, ROM, return to sports, calf circumference, visual analog scale, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, or Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score at every outpatient check except ROM difference at 6 weeks and heel height at 3 months. Rerupture occurred in 2 patients (1 [4%] in the IG and 1 [6.25%] in the FG). Early functional rehabilitation seemed to be as safe as traditional postoperative immobilization with a similar functional result and complications, but it was advantageous for the early phase of rehabilitation only.

An Arabidopsis divergent pumilio protein, APUM24, is essential for embryogenesis and required for faithful pre-rRNA processing.

Pumilio RNA-binding proteins are largely involved in mRNA degradation and translation repression. However, a few evolutionarily divergent Pumilios are also responsible for proper pre-rRNA processing in human and yeast. Here, we describe an essential Arabidopsis nucleolar Pumilio, APUM24, that is expressed in tissues undergoing rapid proliferation and cell division. A T-DNA insertion for APUM24 did not affect the male and female gametogenesis, but instead resulted in a negative female gametophytic effect on zygotic cell division immediately after fertilization. Additionally, the mutant embryos displayed defects in cell patterning from pro-embryo through globular stages. The mutant embryos were marked by altered auxin maxima, which were substantiated by the mislocalization of PIN1 and PIN7 transporters in the defective embryos. Homozygous apum24 callus accumulates rRNA processing intermediates, including uridylated and adenylated 5.8S and 25S rRNA precursors. An RNA-protein interaction assay showed that the histidine-tagged recombinant APUM24 binds RNAin vitro with no apparent specificity. Overall, our results demonstrated that APUM24 is required for rRNA processing and early embryogenesis in Arabidopsis.

Transcriptome and metabolome analysis in shoot and root of Valeriana fauriei.

BACKGROUND: Valeriana fauriei is commonly used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in many countries. Several constituents with various pharmacological properties are present in the roots of Valeriana species. Although many researches on V. fauriei have been done since a long time, further studies in the discipline make a limit due to inadequate genomic information. Hence, Illumina HiSeq 2500 system was conducted to obtain the transcriptome data from shoot and root of V. fauriei. RESULTS: A total of 97,595 unigenes were noticed from 346,771,454 raw reads after preprocessing and assembly. Of these, 47,760 unigens were annotated with Uniprot BLAST hits and mapped to COG, GO and KEGG pathway. Also, 70,013 and 88,827 transcripts were expressed in root and shoot of V. fauriei, respectively. Among the secondary metabolite biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were large groups, where transcripts was involved. To characterize the molecular basis of terpenoid, carotenoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, the levels of transcription were determined by qRT-PCR. Also, secondary metabolites content were measured using GC/MS and HPLC analysis for that gene expression correlated with its accumulation respectively between shoot and root of V. fauriei. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the transcriptome using Illumina HiSeq system in shoot and root of V. fauriei. Also, we have demonstrated gene expressions associated with secondary metabolism such as terpenoid, carotenoid, and phenylpropanoid.

Whole genomic characterization of Korean porcine G8P[7] reassortant rotaviruses.

This study analyzed eleven genomic segments of three Korean porcine G8P[7] group A rotavirus (RVA) strains. Phylogenetically, these strains contained two bovine-like and nine porcine-like genomic segments. Eight genes (VP1, VP2, VP6 and NSP1-NSP5) of strains 156-1 and 42-1 and seven genes (VP1, VP2, VP6 and NSP2-NSP5) of strain C-1 clustered closely with porcine and porcine-like animal strains and distantly from typical human Wa-like strains. The VP3-M2 genotype of these strains clustered closely with bovine-like strains, but distantly with typical human DS-1-like strains. These data indicate that multiple reassortments involving porcine and bovine RVA strains in Korea must have occurred.

A study on macronutrient self-selection after acute aerobic exercise in college females.

[Purpose] This study was conducted to determine whether acute aerobic exercise (climbing) is associated with changes in the dietary intake pattern. [Subjects and Methods] Food intake and physical activity data for 15 female college students were sampled for 3 days and categorized according to routine activity or high-intensity activity such as hiking. Nutrient intake based on the data was analyzed using a nutrition program. [Results] Carbohydrate and protein intake was significantly decreased after exercise compared to before acute aerobic exercise, but lipid intake showed no significant difference. Calorie intake was significantly decreased after exercise compared to before exercise; however, calorie consumption was significantly increased after exercise. [Conclusion] Aerobic exercise causes a decrease in total calories by inducing reduction in carbohydrate and protein intake. Therefore, aerobic exercise is very important for weight (body fat) control since it causes positive changes in the food intake pattern in female students.

Molecular cloning and characterization of genes involved in rosmarinic acid biosynthesis from Prunella vulgaris.

Prunella vulgaris L., commonly known as "self-heal" or "heal-all," is a perennial herb with a long history of medicinal use. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate:coenzyme-A (CoA) ligase (4CL) are important enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway and in the accumulation of rosmarinic acid (RA), which is a major secondary metabolite in P. vulgaris. In this study, we isolated cDNAs encoding PvPAL, PvC4H, and Pv4CL from P. vulgaris using rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amino acid sequence alignments of PvPAL, PvC4H, and Pv4CL showed high sequence identity to those of other plants. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was used to determine the transcript levels of genes involved in RA biosynthesis in the flowers, leaves, stems, and roots of P. vulgaris. The transcript levels of PvPAL, PvC4H, and Pv4CL1 were the highest in flowers, whereas Pv4CL2 was the highest in roots. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis also showed the highest RA content in the flowers (3.71 mg/g dry weight). We suggest that the expression of the PvPAL, PvC4H, and Pv4CL1 genes is correlated with the accumulation of RA. Our results revealed that P. vulgaris flowers are appropriate for medicinal usage, and our findings provide support for increasing RA production in this plant.

Enhancement of chlorogenic acid production in hairy roots of Platycodon grandiflorum by over-expression of an Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factor AtPAP1.

To improve the production of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in hairy roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, we induced over-expression of Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factor production of anthocyanin pigment (AtPAP1) using an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation system. Twelve hairy root lines showing over-expression of AtPAP1 were generated. In order to investigate the regulation of AtPAP1 on the activities of CGA biosynthetic genes, the expression levels of seven P. grandiflorum CGA biosynthetic genes were analyzed in the hairy root line that had the greatest accumulation of AtPAP1 transcript, OxPAP1-1. The introduction of AtPAP1 increased the mRNA levels of all examined CGA biosynthetic genes and resulted in a 900% up-regulation of CGA accumulation in OxPAP1-1 hairy roots relative to controls. This suggests that P. grandiflorum hairy roots that over-express the AtPAP1 gene are a potential alternative source of roots for the production of CGA.

Experimental Investigation into the Mechanical and Piezoresistive Sensing Properties of Recycled Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Self-Sensing Applications.

This study investigates the mechanical and piezoresistive sensing properties of recycled carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites (rCFRPs) for self-sensing applications, which were prepared from recycled carbon fibers (rCFs) with fiber lengths of 6, 12, 18, and 24 mm using a vacuum infusion method. Mechanical properties of the rCFRPs were examined using uniaxial tensile tests, while sensing characteristics were examined by monitoring the in situ electrical resistance under cyclic and low fatigue loads. Longer fibers (24 mm) showed the superior tensile strength (92.6 MPa) and modulus (8.4 GPa), with improvements of 962.1% and 1061.1%, respectively. Shorter fibers (6 mm) demonstrated enhanced sensing capabilities with the highest sensitivity under low fatigue testing (1000 cycles at 10 MPa), showing an average maximum electrical resistance change rate of 0.7315% and a gauge factor of 4.5876. All the composites displayed a stable electrical response under cyclic and low fatigue loadings. These results provide insights into optimizing rCF incorporation, balancing structural integrity with self-sensing capabilities and contributing to the development of sustainable multifunctional materials.

O- and N-Methyltransferases in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid producing plants.

BACKGROUND: Secondary metabolites such as benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIA) have attracted considerable attention because of their pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications. Methyltransferases (MTs) can add methyl groups to alkaloid molecules, altering their physicochemical properties and bioactivity, stability, solubility, and recognition by other cellular components. Five types of O-methyltransferases and two types of N-methyltransferases are involved in BIA biosynthesis. OBJECTIVE: Since MTs may be the source for the discovery and development of novel biomedical, agricultural, and industrial compounds, we performed extensive molecular and phylogenetic analyses of O- and N-methyltransferases in BIA-producing plants. METHODS: MTs involved in BIA biosynthesis were isolated from transcriptomes of Berberis koreana and Caulophyllum robustum. We also mined the methyltransferases of Coptis japonica, Papaver somniferum, and Nelumbo nucifera from the National Center for Biotechnology Information protein database. Then, we analyzed the functional motifs and phylogenetic analysis. RESULT: We mined 42 O-methyltransferases and 8 N-methyltransferases from the five BIA-producing plants. Functional motifs for S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferases were retained in most methyltransferases, except for the three O-methyltransferases from N. nucifera. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the methyltransferases were grouped into four clades, I, II, III and IV. The clustering patterns in the phylogenetic analysis suggested a monophyletic origin of methyltransferases and gene duplication within species. The coexistence of different O-methyltransferases in the deep branch subclade might support some cases of substrate promiscuity. CONCLUSIONS: Methyltransferases may be a source for the discovery and development of novel biomedical, agricultural, and industrial compounds. Our results contribute to further understanding of their structure and reaction mechanisms, which will require future functional studies.

Contents of paeoniflorin and albiflorin in two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora and characterization of paeoniflorin biosynthesis genes in peony.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH PURPOSE: Paeoniflorin and albiflorin are monoterpene glycosides that exhibit various medicinal properties in Paeonia species. This study explored the terpene biosynthesis pathway and analyzed the distribution of these compounds in different tissues of two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora to gain insights into the biosynthesis of monoterpene glycosides in P. lactiflora and their potential applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two Korean landraces, Hongcheon var. and Hwacheon var, of P. lactiflora were used for the analyses. Contents of the paeoniflorin and albiflorin were analyzed using HPLC. RNA was extracted, sequenced, and subjected to transcriptome analysis. Differential gene expression, KEGG, and GO analyses were performed. Paeoniflorin biosynthesis genes were isolated from the transcriptomes using the genes in Euphorbia maculata with the NBLAST program. Phylogenetic analysis of of 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DOXPS), geranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GPPS), and pinene synthase (PS) was carried out with ClustalW and MEGA v5.0. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Analysis of paeoniflorin and albiflorin content in different tissues of the two P. lactiflora landraces revealed significant variation. Transcriptome analysis yielded 36,602 unigenes, most of which were involved in metabolic processes. The DEG analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns with correlations between landraces. The isolation of biosynthetic genes identified 173 candidates. Phylogenetic analysis of the key enzymes in these pathways provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. The sequencing and analysis of DOXPS, GPPS, PS revealed distinct clades and subclades, highlighting their evolutionary divergence and functional conservation. Our findings highlight the roots as the primary sites of paeoniflorin and albiflorin accumulation in P. lactiflora, underscoring the importance of tissue-specific gene expression in their biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: this study advances our understanding of monoterpene glycoside production and distribution in Paeonia, thereby guiding further plant biochemistry investigations.

Etch characteristics of maskless oxide/nitride/oxide/nitride (ONON) stacked structure using C4H2F6-based gas.

Oxide/Nitride/Oxide/Nitride (ONON; SiO2/SiNx/SiO2/SiNx) stacked structure is widely used in the 3D vertical structure of semiconductor cells. Previously, to form a 3D cells, photoresist (PR) was patterned and repeatedly trimmed on the top of ONON after the etching of one ON layer. Due to the time-consuming process of etching layer-by-layer of ON layer, two-step etch processing using C4F8-based or C4F6-based gases composed of maskless ONON stack feature etching and followed one ON layer-by layer etching by PR trimming in the ONON stack feature are employed these days. However, the two-step etching method resulted in poor etch profiles of maskless ONON stack feature in addition to high global warming potential of C4F8 and C4F6. In this study, we investigated the etching of maskless ONON stack feature using C4H2F6-based gas having a low global warming potential and the effects of C4H2F6-based gas on the etch characteristics of maskless ONON stack feature such as etch rate, etch profile, change in critical dimensional (CD), and etch selectivity between SiO2 and SiNx have been investigated. C4H2F6-based gas showed the highest etch rates compared to C4F6 and C4F8-based gases in addition to the etch selectivity of ~ 1:1 between SiO2 and SiNx due to hydrogen included in the gas structure. In addition, the change in horizontal CD was lower in the order of C4H2F6, C4F6, and C4F8-based gases due to the more effective sidewall passivation in the order of C4F8, C4F6, and C4H2F6-based gases. The thicker carbon-based polymer layer on the sidewall also played an important role in maintaining the shape of the top edge shape of maskless ONON stack feature when etching a line feature in an environment without a mask.

Seasonal occurrence of bark and woodboring Coleoptera in stands of Pinus densiflora (Pinales: Pinaceae) and Larix kaempferi (Pinales: Pinaceae) and monitoring method using multifunnel traps baited with pine volatiles.

This study investigated the seasonal occurrence of bark and woodboring Coleoptera in Pinus densiflora (Pinales: Pinaceae), and Larix kaempferi (Pinales: Pinaceae) stands using multifunnel traps baited with pine volatiles in Korea. The number and species of bark and woodboring beetles caught in traps baited with ethanol, α-pinene, and ethanol+α-pinene were compared to determine the effective attractants. In addition, the effects of other pine volatiles, such as (-)-ß-pinene, ß-caryophyllene, (±)-limonene, ß-myrcene, and 3-carene, were investigated. A total of 13,134 woodboring beetles from 150 species were collected from pine and larch stands from 2019 to 2020. Tomicus minor (Hartig) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were more attracted to traps baited with α-pinene, whereas Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Phloeosinus pulchellus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were more attracted to traps baited with ethanol. Hylurgops interstitialis (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Shirahoshizo genus group, Rhagium inquisitor (Linne) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Rhadinomerus maebarai (Voss & Chûjô) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were more frequently attracted to traps baited with ethanol+α-pinene than to traps baited with other attractants. The addition of 3-carene to ethanol+α-pinene enhanced the capture of H. interstitialis, R. inquisitor, and Hylobius (Callirus) haroldi (Faust) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Acaricidal and Insecticidal Activities of Essential Oils and Constituents of Tasmannia lanceolata (Poir.) A.C.Sm. (Canellales: Winteraceae) Against Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) and Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The negative side effects of synthetic pesticides have drawn attention to the need for environmentally friendly agents to control arthropod pests. To identify promising candidates as botanical pesticides, we investigated the acaricidal and insecticidal activities of 44 plant-derived essential oils (EOs) against Tetranychus urticae Koch and Myzus persicae Sulzer. Among the tested EOs, Tasmannia lanceolata (Poir.) A.C.Sm. (Tasmanian pepper) essential oil (TPEO) exhibited strong acaricidal and insecticidal activity. Mortality rates of 100% and 71.4% against T. urticae and M. persicae, respectively, were observed with TPEO at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Polygodial was determined to be the primary active component after bioassay-guided isolation of TPEO using silica gel open-column chromatography, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Polygodial demonstrated acaricidal activity against T. urticae with mortality rates of 100%, 100%, 61.9%, and 61.6% at concentrations of 1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mg/ml, respectively. Insecticidal activity against M. persicae was also evident, with mortality rates of 88.5%, 85.0%, 46.7%, and 43.3% at respective concentrations of 1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 mg/ml. Insecticidal and acaricidal activities of TPEO were greater than those of Eungjinssag, a commercially available organic agricultural material for controlling mites and aphids in the Republic of Korea. These findings suggest that TPEO is a promising candidate for mites and aphids control.

Dark background-surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic detection of nanoplastics: Thermofluidic strategy.

This study aims to develop a cost-effective and time-efficient method for detecting nanoplastics, which have recently garnered significant attention due to their potential harmful impact on the water environment (XiaoZhi, 2021; Gigault et al., 2021; Mitrano et al., 2021; Ferreira et al., 2019). Although several techniques are available to accumulate data on microplastics, there is currently no universally accepted analytical technique for detecting nanoplastics (Gigault et al., 2021; Mitrano et al., 2021; Mitrano et al., 2019; Cai et al., 2021a; Allen et al., 2022). In this study, we have developed a substrate that exhibits Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) (Zhou et al., 2021; Lv et al., 2020; Lê et al., 2021; Hu et al., 2022; Chang et al., 2022; Yang et al., 2022; Xu et al., 2020; Jeon et al., 2021; Lee and Fang, 2022; Vélez-Escamilla and Contreras-Torres, 2022; Liu et al., 2022; Xie et al., 2023) activity over a large area and a dark background in optical (darkfield mode) vision, enabling the detection of sparkling nanoplastics on the substrate. This darkfield-based strategy allows for the point-by-point detection of single nanoplastics, offering cost and time-saving advantages over other resource-intensive analytical techniques. Our findings reveal the presence of PP nanoplastics in commonly used laboratory equipment, individual PE nanoplastics from a hot water-contained commercial paper cup, and the first detection of natural nanoplastics in coastal seawater. We believe that this technique will have a universal application in establishing a global map of nanoplastics and advancing our understanding of the environmental life cycle of plastics.

Impact of Sodium Silicate Supplemented, IR-Treated Panax Ginseng on Extraction Optimization for Enhanced Anti-Tyrosinase and Antioxidant Activity: A Response Surface Methodology (RSM) Approach.

Ginseng has long been widely used for its therapeutic potential. In our current study, we investigated the impact of abiotic stress induced by infrared (IR) radiations and sodium silicate on the upregulation of antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase levels, as well as the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) variety Yeonpoong. The RSM-based design was used to optimize ultrasonic-assisted extraction time (1-3 h) and temperature (40-60 °C) for better anti-tyrosinase activity and improved antioxidant potential. The optimal extraction results were obtained with a one-hour extraction time, at a temperature of 40 °C, and with a 1.0 mM sodium silicate treatment. We recorded maximum anti-tyrosinase (53.69%) and antioxidant (40.39%) activities when RSM conditions were kept at 875.2 mg GAE/100 g TPC, and 3219.58 mg catechin/100 g. When 1.0 mM sodium silicate was added to the media and extracted at 40 °C for 1 h, the highest total ginsenoside content (368.09 mg/g) was recorded, with variations in individual ginsenosides. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, and F2 were significantly affected by extraction temperature, while Rb2 and Rc were influenced by the sodium silicate concentration. Moreover, ginsenoside F2 increased with the sodium silicate treatment, while the Rg3-S content decreased. Interestingly, higher temperatures favored greater ginsenoside diversity while sodium silicate impacted PPD-type ginsenosides. It was observed that the actual experimental values closely matched the predicted values, and this agreement was statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Our findings suggest that the application of IR irradiation in hydroponic systems can help to improve the quality of ginseng sprouts when supplemented with sodium silicate in hydroponic media. Optimized extraction conditions using ultrasonication can be helpful in improving antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity.