The development of Fe₃O₄-ZnO-Bentonite photocatalyst material is crucial for the treatment of dye effluents, particularly in response to the rapid growth of the textile industry. Methylene blue, widely used as a textile dye, poses environmental challenges. The combination of bentonite, ZnO, and Fe₃O₄ was synthesized using the coprecipitation method to create a material capable of photodegrading methylene blue dye. Fe₃O₄-ZnO-Bentonite was synthesized using 2 g of bentonite, 8.19 g of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, and FeSO₄:FeCl₃ weight ratios (in grams) of 4.170:4.055 (composite 1), 4.170:8.109 (composite 2), and 4.170:12.164 (composite 3). Characterization of the photocatalyst materials was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) mapping. The Fe₃O₄-ZnO-Bentonite composite exhibited a crystalline structure, with band gap values of 2.94 eV (composite 1), 2.07 eV (composite 2), and 2.20 eV (composite 3). The morphology of the material was characterized by small and irregularly shaped chunks. Elemental analysis detected Fe, Zn, and Si peaks, confirming the even distribution of Fe₃O₄ and ZnO within the bentonite matrix. The synthesized Fe₃O₄-ZnO-Bentonite composite demonstrated enhanced photodegradation activity for methylene blue compared to the starting materials. Composite 3 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, achieving a degradation efficiency of 96.02% at a methylene blue concentration of 20 ppm (pH 9) within 60 minutes.

Food nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins and vitamins are essential for growth and development of man. Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta), is a common tropical root crop cultivated in many parts of the world for food formulations and consumption by man. This study was conducted to assess some aspects of the chemical constituents and nutritive chemistry of cocoyam and soya bean flours and their blends.The sun-dried samples were milled separately to size (sieve with 25µm aperture size) to obtain homogenous flours. Blends were obtained with various ratios according to the percentage of soybean/cocoyam flours (10% (10g: 90g), 20% (20:80), 30 %( 30:70), 40 %( 40:60), 50% (50:50). The proximate compositions (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen-free extract) were determined using standard methods. while mineral elements (Na and K) were determined by flame photometry and Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel for graphs, SPSS for correlation and regression studies. G-stat was used to calculate coefficient of variation. The ranges of values for the proximate composition (%) of the products were: Crude protein (4.95+1.03 – 43.29+0.46), ash (3.25+0.25 – 7.25+2.75), moisture (8.42+0.28-12.38+1.03), crude fibre (3.00+0.50 – 8.25+0.75) and nitrogen-free extract (10.60+ 7.34 - 76.02+1.83). Mineral elements(mg/kg): Fe (1.00+0.28 – 2.65+0.21), Zn (0.12+0.04 – 0.22+0.03), Cu (0.00+0.00 - 0.15+0.07), Na (0.35+0.05 – 2.40+0.14), Mg (3.45+0.43 – 12.88+0.55), Ca (4.80+0.42 -10.55+0.64), K (39.65+2.33 – 56.25+0.78) and phosphorus (206.10+ 0.05 – 326.34+4.30). Bleeding of cocoyam flour with soybean flour gave products that could be of greater nutritional value than either cocoyam or soybean flour used separately.

Recent studies have demonstrated that annatto seeds contain a variety of metabolites with antimicrobial properties. Correspondingly, this research investigated the antimicrobial activity of extracts from annatto (Bixa orellana) seeds, pods, and their combination. As part of a strategy to convert waste into valuable resources, this study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of residual extracts derived from annatto seeds and pods. Ethanol extracts of pigment-extracted annatto seeds, pods, and their mixture were tested against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis using the agar well diffusion method. Streptomycin and ampicillin (10 mg/mL each) served as positive controls, while an ethanol-water mixture (1:1) served as the negative control. All three extracts exhibited varying activity levels against the tested bacteria. They were most effective against B. subtilis, with inhibition zones measuring 11.5 ± 0.5 mm, 14.5 ± 0.5 mm, and 23.5 ± 0.5 mm for the seed, pod, and seed-pod extract mixture, respectively. In contrast, they exhibited the least activity against E. coli, with inhibition zones of 6.0 ± 2.0 mm, 5.5 ± 1.5 mm, and 11.0 ± 0.0 mm for the respective extracts. Post-hoc Tukey's test revealed that the combination of seed and pod extracts demonstrated significantly higher antimicrobial activity than the individual extracts (p < 0.001) against all tested organisms. Notably, the combined extract demonstrated comparable activity to ampicillin against B. subtilis (p > 0.05) and significantly higher activity than streptomycin (p < 0.001) against all tested strains except S. aureus. The pronounced antimicrobial efficacy of the seed and pod extracts, especially when combined, contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential of Bixa orellana as a natural antimicrobial agent effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Kombucha is produced through the fermentation of a tea and sugar mixture with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). It contains various compounds beneficial to health, including vitamin C. The pH level and vitamin C content of kombucha are affected by fermentation temperature and time. Correspondingly, this study aimed to determine the effects of temperature and fermentation duration on the pH level and vitamin C content of butterfly pea kombucha. The research was conducted employing laboratory experimental methods, including a UV-Vis spectrophotometer to measure vitamin C content and a digital pH meter to measure pH levels. The limit of detection (LoD) and the limit of quantification (LoQ) values for the UV-Vis spectrophotometer were 0.115 ppm and 3.77 ppm, respectively. The results indicated that fermentation temperature did not affect the pH or vitamin C content. However, the pH level was affected by fermentation time, while vitamin C content was not statistically affected. The highest pH value (5.11) was observed on day 0 of fermentation, and the highest vitamin C content (2.94%) was recorded on day 6 at a temperature of 30°C.

The rhizome of Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb) has been traditionally used to treat various ailments due to its rich content of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. These compounds exhibit notable antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Temulawak rhizome extracts in n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol, focusing on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The extraction process involved successive maceration with each solvent. The antibacterial activity was tested using well diffusion and microdilution methods, determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, steroids, and triterpenoids in the extracts. The results indicated that the n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited intense antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, while all fractions showed potent activity against Escherichia coli. The MIC values ranged from 39.0625 to 625 ppm for Staphylococcus aureus and 39.0625 to 78.125 ppm for Escherichia coli, with MBC values generally higher than MIC values. These findings highlight the potential of Temulawak rhizome extracts as effective antibacterial agents.

The accumulation of plastic waste poses significant environmental and health problems. One effort to mitigate this issue is the development of bioplastics. Correspondingly, the primary materials used in this research were cellulose from teak (Tectona grandis) wood powder, chitosan, glycerol, and sorbitol. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of glycerol and sorbitol as plasticizers. Glycerol is considered cost-effective, renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly, while sorbitol, which is also non-toxic and naturally abundant, can enhance product durability by inhibiting water evaporation. Both materials exhibit good potential as plasticizers; therefore, their comparison is necessary. The research stages included extracting cellulose from teak wood powder, synthesizing cellulose-chitosan-glycerol and cellulose-chitosan-sorbitol bioplastics, and characterizing the resulting materials. The results exhibited the presence of functional groups such as –OH, C-H, and C-O, which were typical of cellulose, as well as N-H groups, characteristic of chitosan. The best quality for glycerol-based bioplastics was achieved with the addition of 0.5 mL of glycerol, yielding a tensile strength of 5.79 MPa, elongation of 10.3%, water absorption of 43.43%, and a degradation time of 17 days. For sorbitol-based bioplastics, the best quality was obtained with the addition of 1 mL of sorbitol, resulting in a tensile strength of 6.23 MPa, elongation of 13.7%, water absorption of 67.46%, and a degradation time of 14 days. Based on these results, sorbitol is more recommended than glycerol as a plasticizer in this study.

The presence of reactive oxygen species in the body must be maintained at low concentrations, as an excess can lead to oxidative stress. Coumarin, a secondary metabolite found in plants, exhibits potential as an antioxidant agent. However, the development of synthetic antioxidants based on coumarin remains limited. Computational studies enable the manipulation of coumarin structures to predict antioxidant activity. Correspondingly, this research aimed to investigate the effect of the type, number, and position of substituents on the antioxidant activity and drug score of coumarin derivatives utilizing computational methods, specifically ORCA and OSIRIS Property Explorer software. The results revealed that electron-donating substituents (e.g., OCH₃) could enhance antioxidant activity, while electron-withdrawing substituents (e.g., CHO) tended to reduce it. Substitution on the benzene ring of coumarin exerted a more significant effect on antioxidant activity compared to substitution on the pyrone ring. Compounds such as Umbelliferone, Scoparone, and 3-Bromoscoparone exhibited potential as new antioxidants due to their structural similarity to ascorbic acid or TBHQ. However, further studies are necessary to confirm their development as safe and effective antioxidants free from side effects.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus pellita) is a plant commonly found in Garut Regency, Indonesia, with its leaves showing potential for essential oil extraction. Hence, this study aimed to determine the yield, analyze the chemical composition, and evaluate the bioactivity of essential oils derived from Eucalyptus pellita leaves against Staphylococcus aureus. The essential oil was extracted utilizing Stahl distillation from leaves collected in Cisarua Village, Samarang District, Garut Regency. The chemical composition was identified through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and its antibacterial activity against S. aureus was assessed using the disc diffusion method. As a result, the average essential oil yield was 0.34%, with compounds identified as α-phellandrene (3.20%), α-terpineol (5.52%), γ-terpinene (7.07%), 1,8-cineole (7.26%), α-terpinyl acetate (13.40%), and limonene (50.47%). The bioactivity test results indicated that the inhibition zone diameter at a 25% concentration of essential oil was categorized as moderate, while concentrations of 50% and 100% demonstrated strong antibacterial activity.

The field of nanomaterial synthesis has grown substantially in recent years. However, many existing synthesis methods have significant drawbacks, such as the use of organic solvents that are harmful to the environment and the high cost of inorganic reducing agents. To address these issues, we developed a simple and cost-effective method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Anthurium bipinnatifidum extract as a reducing agent and water as a green solvent. This green chemistry approach offers a quick and straightforward synthesis process, with the optimum incubation time and volume were 1 hour and 0.5 mL, respectively. The results of this new method show promising characteristics, as demonstrated by SEM, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and FTIR analyses. Additionally, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the synthesized AgNPs was observed at 431 nm, which aligns with the typical SPR for AgNPs. The particles formed were spherical, with sizes ranging from approximately 40 to 80 nm. This research establishes an efficient new procedure for AgNPs synthesis with excellent outcomes.

Eugenol, a phenol-derived aromatic allylbenzene compound, exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities (antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic, and antiseptic) and is an active ingredient in various hygiene products. It contains three reactive groups (hydroxy, allyl, and methoxy) and undergoes several reactions, including alkylation. The modification of the hydroxyl group of eugenol through alkylation has been performed using different alkylating agents. Alkylation has been carried out in various solvents (benzene, acetonitrile, methanol, and water) and at diverse temperatures. Hence, the investigation of this alkylation reaction on eugenol remains challenging. Correspondingly, the present study investigated the alkylation of eugenol by ethyl chloroacetate in polar aprotic solvents (N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and tetrahydrofuran) at temperatures ranging from 0°C to room temperature. The product, ethyl 2-(4-allyl-2-methoxyphenoxy)acetate (3), was obtained in yields of 91%, 51%, and 47% using DMF, DMSO, and CH3CN, respectively. The product's structure was confirmed by NMR, IR spectroscopy, and HRESIMS analysis.