Boric Acid Treatment Research Articles

Excitation wavelength and time dependent colour tunable room temperature phosphorescence from boron doped carbon nanodots.

Developing metal free room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have received tremendous attention due its potential application in various fields such as sensing, optoelectronics and anticounterfeiting. Herein, we have synthesized an excitation wavelength and time dependent phosphorescent boron doped carbon nanodots (BCNDs) by thermal treatment of ethanolamine and boric acid at 240°C, where boric acid act as both doping and host agents. The obtained BCNDs display blue to orange fluorescence in both aqueous medium and solid state. In addition, the BCNDs display tunable orange-yellow-green phosphorescence in solid state under UV and visible light, lasting upto 10s, visible to naked eye. The boron and nitrogen doping regulates the band gap of the BCNDs, resulting the phosphorescence colour tunability. The average phosphorescence lifetime and quantum yield of BCNDs are found to be 1.27s and 8.61% respectively. Based on the optical properties, the BCNDs are applied as security ink in information encryption and security marking. Hence, this work can promote the development of metal free phosphorescent carbon based materials which may find application in various emerging fields.

Investigation of the Effects of Boric Acid against Post Operative Testicular Adhesion Caused by Experimental Laporotomy in Rats.

Post-operative intra-abdominal adhesions, significantly affecting testicular tissue, are a prevalent and serious complication following laparoscopic surgery. This study investigated the efficacy of boric acid, known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, in preventing post-operative testicular adhesions. Forty rats, were divided into four groups: control, laparoscopy (LA), boric acid (BA), and LA + BA. Following laparoscopic surgery, BA treatment was administered for seven days. While the adhesion score was around 3 in the LA group, it was 1 or below in the LA + BA group. Testicular tissues were examined by histopathological and biochemical methods. In testis tissues, in the LA group, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased while superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels decreased; these parameters normalized with BA treatment. Additionally, the LA group exhibited reduced levels of IL-10, Bcl-2, Kisspeptin-1, and GnRH, alongside elevated levels of inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, JNK, BAX, and Caspase 3. BA treatment significantly restored these levels to normal. In conclusion, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in testicular tissues were associated with post-operative testicular adhesions. BA demonstrated potential as an anti-adhesive agent, reducing testicular adhesions and normalizing biochemical and histological parameters following laparoscopic surgery.

Thermal-treatment controlled room temperature phosphorescence of carbon dots for anti- counterfeiting

Due to the high stability, hypotoxicity and tunable optical properties, room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) carbon dots (CDs) have a great range of application in anti-counterfeiting encryption, bioimaging and optoelectronic devices, etc. Nevertheless, the synthesis procedures for RTP CDs are always pricey, burdensome and involve toxic chemicals. Herein, a facile method to produce RTP CDs materials by heat treatment of creatine and boric acid (BA) at 350 °C is reported. TEM, XRD, FT-IR and XPS are carried out and the structural characterizations showed that B–C covalent bond and CDs embedded in the rigid B2O3 matrix stabilize the triplet excitons and limit the nonradiative transition. The yellow green RTP CDs/BA displayed an ultralong lifetime of 1.286 s and last more than 5 s to naked eye. What's more, the prepared CDs/BA are successfully applied in anti-counterfeiting and information encryption. This work provides new insights to design metal-free RTP CDs with persistent luminescence for promising remarkable applications.

Evaluation of Boric Acid Treatment on microRNA-127-5p and Metastasis Genes Orchestration of Breast Cancer Stem Cells.

Coregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) is very important in carcinogenesis. miR-127-5p is known to be downregulated in breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate how boric acid (BA), known for its previously unstudied anti-cancer properties, would affect the expression of miR127-5p and genes responsible for breast cancer stem cells (BC-SCs) metastasis. BC-SCs were isolated from human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) by immunomagnetic cell separation and characterized with flow cytometry and sphere formation. The viability of BC-SCs and the determination of its IC50 value in response to boric acid (BA) were assessed via the MTT assay. Boric acid exhibited dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell viability in cells. The IC50 doses of boric acid in MCF-7 cells and BC-SCs were 45.69mM and 41.27mM, respectively. The impact of BA on the expression of metastatic genes and miR127-5p was elucidated through RT-qPCR analysis. While the expression of the COL1A1 (p < 0.05) and VIM (p < 0.01) was downregulated, the expression of the miR-127-5p, ZEB1 (p < 0.01), CDH1 (p < 0.05), ITGB1 (p < 0.05), ITGA5 (p < 0.05), LAMA5 (p < 0.01), and SNAIL (p < 0.05), was up-regulated in dose-treated BC-SCs (p < 0.001) to the RT-qPCR results. Our findings suggest that boric acid could induce miR-127-5p expression. However, it cannot be said that it improves the metastasis properties of breast cancer stem cells.

Concentration-Dependent Effects of Boric Acid on Osteogenic Differentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Vascular calcification can be triggered by oxidative stress and inflammation. Although boron possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its effect on osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has yet to be examined. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of boric acid (BA), the main form of boron in body fluids, on the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs. Following the isolation of VSMCs, the effects of BA on cell proliferation were determined by MTT. The impact of various BA concentrations on the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs was evaluated by Alizarin red S and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) stainings and the o-cresolphthalein complexone method. In addition, mRNA expressions of osteogenic-related (Runx2 and ALP) and antioxidant system-related genes (Nrf2 and Nqo1) were detected using qRT-PCR analysis. BA treatments did not alter the proliferation of VSMCs. Osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs treated with 100 and 500μM BA (moderate and high plasma concentrations) was no different from untreated cells. However, increased osteogenic differentiation was observed with the lowest blood level (2μM) and extremely high BA concentration (1000μM). Consistent with these results, mRNA expression of Runx2 increased with 2 and 1000μM BA treatments, while Nrf2 and Nqo1 expressions increased significantly with 100 and 500μM BA. BA has different effects on VSMCs at various concentrations. The low blood level and too high BA concentration appear detrimental as they increase the osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs in vitro. We propose to investigate BA's effects and mechanism of action on vascular calcification in vivo.

Biodeterioration Field Test and Mechanical Properties of Maesopsis eminii Wood Treated with Boron Preservative and Plant Oils

Boron preservatives have insecticidal and fungicidal effects. The leaching problem of boron preservative-treated wood can be overcome using oil treatment. This study evaluated the resistance in a biodeterioration field test and the mechanical properties of manii wood (Maesopsis eminii Engl.) treated with boric acid and plant oils. Manii wood samples were impregnated in two stages with boric acid and vegetable oils (neem, tamanu, and candlenut oils). The impregnation process was performed in a chamber at a pressure of 7 kg cm−2 for approximately 4 h. Next, the sample was heated at temperatures of 60 °C, 120 °C, and 180 °C. The biodeterioration field test was conducted in ground contact for 100 days. In addition, mechanical tests in terms of modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and hardness were conducted using an Instron universal testing machine. The test results prove that the combination of boric acid preservation with neem, tamanu, or candlenut oil treatment increases the resistance of manii wood to subterranean termites, especially when the treatment is accompanied by heating at 120 °C. The combination treatment of boric acid and plant oils also increases the MOE, MOR, and hardness values of manii wood.

Li7La3Zr2O12 interface functionalization via boric acid treatment: A step to contact improvement

Realization of a functional surface layer of lithium metaborate at the interface of garnet-type lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) electrolyte pellets is achieved via a mild, scalable solution-based route employing boric acid to transform and remove detrimental Li2CO3 typically formed on LLZO during exposure to humid air. The effects of this boric acid treatment are evaluated by systematic morphological and structural characterization of LLZO pellets that were subjected to different conditions. Surface-sensitive analyses via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, combined with in situ Ar-ion etching and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) measurements, are purposely employed to probe the extent and efficacy of resulting LiBO2 in removing Li2CO3 and protecting the modified LLZO surface from unwanted carbonation that disrupts its interfacial Li-ion conductivity. This key aspect has been corroborated by an aimed comparison of the different LLZO surface energy bandgap values extracted from the REELS measurements, which provides further insight into the actual impact of Li2CO3 and its replacement with a beneficial, ionically conducting LiBO2 layer. The latter substantially improves the surface adhesion of the modified LLZO pellets to molten lithium without introducing metallic-like species and provides an overall reduced impedance by unlocking the interfacial Li-ion conduction otherwise severely hampered by Li2CO3.

Boric Acid for the Treatment of Vaginitis: New Possibilities Using an Old Anti‐Infective Agent: A Systematic Review

Introduction. Increasing microbial resistance to conventional pharmaceuticals calls for nonpharmaceutical treatments of vaginitis. This systematic review summarizes the efficacy of the antiseptic agent boric acid (BA) as a treatment option for microbial vaginitis in comparison to conventional therapies and proposes clinical recommendations. Materials and Methods. PubMed and Embase were searched for “boric acid” and “microbial vaginitis.” A protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020160146). Inclusion criteria included clinical trials, observational and interventional studies, including case series/reports. Exclusion criteria included in vitro and animal studies, non‐English language, and no BA treatment outcome. Primary outcomes included microbial, clinical, and complete cure. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, relapse/reinfection rates, evidence levels, microorganisms, treatment regimens, and follow‐up time. Data were extracted to a predefined Excel sheet. Results. Of 195 identified unique articles, 54 were retrieved and 41 met our inclusion criteria. Heterogeneity precluded the conduction of a meta‐analysis. Conclusion. An average cure rate of 76% was found for vulvovaginal candidiasis BA treatment. Recurrent bacterial vaginosis was controlled with BA and 5‐nitroimidazole with promising results. Maintenance BA was equal to maintenance oral itraconazole therapy in vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis in a retrospective study. Prolonged BA monotherapy cured three of six recurrent Trichomonas infections. Adverse events (7.3%) were typically mild and temporary. Based on our findings and the rising antimicrobial therapy resistance, we suggest intravaginal BA 600 mg/day for 2 weeks for (recurrent) vulvovaginal candidiasis and 600 mg/day for 2‐3 weeks for recurrent bacterial vaginosis. Rare resistant Trichomonas infections can be treated with BA 600 mg × 2/day for months and in combination with oral antimicrobials. We suggest a maintenance regimen of BA 600 mg × 2/week for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. In case of resistant bacterial vaginosis, we suggest BA 600 mg × 2‐3/week. Data on maintenance therapy and BA treatment of bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis are however limited.

Flame retardant biogenic building insulation materials from hemp fiber

AbstractBiogenic thermal insulation materials are in high demand because of its carbon‐sequestration nature. However, high flammability, moisture condensation, and relatively high thermal conductivity of biogenic material are major concerns for sustainable building applications. In this study, we report the fire‐retardant cellulose xerogel insulation nanocomposites derived from hemp fiber recycling and silica xerogel, in which the boric acid treatment improves its fire retardancy. The as‐prepared materials show a low thermal conductivity of 31.3 mW/m K, high flexural modulus of 665 MPa, hydrophobicity with the water contact angle of 115°, and fire retardancy with 30% weight loss over a period of burning time 10 min. Overall, this work provides an effective method for the synthesis of fire‐retardant biogenic thermal insulation materials and shows a promising way for next‐generation bio‐based insulation materials.

Production of light olefins from methanol using catalytic fixed bed reactor with different catalytic bed composition

Methanol to olefin conversion has captured the attention of the industry as olefins are feed material to many polymer industries. In this work methanol conversion to olefins was investigated over beds of (i) physical mixture of metal oxides with ZSM-5 (PMB) and (ii) metal impregnated over ZSM-5 (MLB). ZSM-5 used in the current study was pre modified by boric acid treatment for modifying catalytic active site composition. Two different metals from alkaline series: calcium and magnesium & from transition metal series: iron and copper were selected. PMB studies were performed on 1:1 (by weight) metal oxides and BZSM-5 whereas for MLB studies, 10 % metal was loaded. Performance studies of the two different bed composition were performed at 500°C, 100 ml/min N2 flow with 1 g catalyst in a fixed bed reactor. 100 % conversion was obtained on MLB studies in presence of Cu, Mg and Fe whereas in PMB studies, 100 % conversion could be obtained over FeO+BZSM-5 bed. The order of olefins yield obtained was in the following order: BZSM-5 > Mg/BZSM-5 > Cu/BZSM-5 > CuO+BZSM-5 > CaO+BZSM-5 > Fe/BZSM-5 > FeO+BZSM-5 > CaO+BZSM-5 > MgO+BZSM-5. It was observed that maximum methane yield was obtained in presence of physical mixture. Gaseous products other than olefins with high composition of C1–C4 hydrocarbons were formed in presence of Mg and Ca whereas the metal impregnated modified-ZSM-5 produced higher content of olefins with Cu loaded catalysts in both bed composition. Metal impregnated catalysts as well as physical mixtures were characterized by BET, FTIR and XRD, FESEM for surface area, topology, crystallinity etc. Spent catalysts were characterized for coke deposition using TGA.

Efficacy of boric acid used to treat experimental vascular graft infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of local boric acid (BA) and teicoplanin in prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a rat model. Fourty rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 received no treatments (control group); group 2 was uncontaminated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft group; group 3 was untreated and the PTFE graft was contaminated with 2×107 CFU/mL MRSA; group 4 received local BA (8 mg/kg) and was contaminated with with 2×107 CFU/mL MRSA; group 5 received local BA (8 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal teikoplanin (10 mg/kg), and was contaminated with 2×107 CFU/mL MRSA; On the 3rd day, grafts and serums were removed for microbiological, histological and serological tests. The amounts of culture growth in groups 4 and 5 were significantly lower compared to group 3 (p < 0.001). TNF-α was significantly higher in Group 3 than the other groups (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in serum IL-1 levels (p = 0.138). Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was not significantly different between groups 3, 4, and 5, but it was significantly higher than groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). The severity of inflammation was significantly higher in group 3 than the other groups, and fibroblastic proliferation, granulation tissue and collagen synthesis were significantly lower (p < 0.05). Our study showed that local BA and combined teicoplanin treatment is effective in preventing PVGI.

Boric Acid (Boron) Attenuates AOM-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Rats by Augmentation of Apoptotic and Antioxidant Mechanisms.

Boric acid (BA) is a naturally occurring weak Lewis acid containing boron, oxygen, and hydrogen elements that can be found in water, soil, and plants. Because of its numerous biological potentials including anti-proliferation actions, the present investigates the chemopreventive possessions of BA on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Thirty laboratory rats were divided into 5 groups: negative control (A) received two subcutaneous inoculations of normal saline and nourished on 10% Tween 20; groups B-E had two injections of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane followed by ingestion of 10% Tween 20 (B, cancer control), inoculationwith intraperitoneal 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil injection (C, reference group), or ingested with boric acid 30 mg/kg (D) and 60 mg/kg (E). The gross morphology results showed significantly increased total colonic ACF in cancer controls, while BA treatment caused a significant reduction of ACF values. Histopathological evaluation of colons from cancer controls showed bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells, and higher depletion of the submucosal glands than that of BA-treated groups. Boric acid treatment up-surged the pro-apoptotic (Bax) expression and reduced anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) protein expressions. Moreover, BA ingestion caused upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD, CAT), and lowered MDA contents in colon tissue homogenates. Boric acid-treated rats had significantly lower pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and higher anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) based on serum analysis. The colorectal cancer attenuation by BA is shown by the reduced ACF numbers, anticipated by its regulatory potentials on the apoptotic proteins, antioxidants, and inflammatory cytokines originating from AOM-induced oxidative damage.

Protective Effects of Boric Acid Taken in Different Ways on Experimental Ovarian İschemia and Reperfusion.

Ovarian ischemia is a gynecological emergency that occurs as a result of ovarian torsion, affects women of reproductive age, and reduces ovarian reserve. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of boric acid taken in different ways on histopathological changes, autophagy, oxidative stress, and DNA damage caused by ischemia and reperfusion in the ovary of adult female rats. We established seven groups of 70 adult female rats: untreated control, intraperitoneal boric acid group (IpBA), oral boric acid group (OBA), ischemia/reperfusion group (ischemia/2h reperfusion; OIR), ischemia/reperfusion and local boric acid group (OIR + LBA), ischemia/reperfusion and intraperitoneal boric acid group (OIR + IpBA), and ischemia/reperfusion and oral boric acid group (OIR + OBA). On the 31st day of the experimental procedure, both ovaries were harvested for histologic (hematoxylen and eosin and Masson trichrom), biochemical (ELISA and AMH, MDA, SOD, and CAT analyses), and comet evaluation. In the OIR group, hemorrhage, edema, inflammation, and diminished follicle reserve were seen in the ovary. Boric acid treatment reduced the ovarian ischemia/reperfusion damage, and the follicles exhibited similar morphological features to the control group. Moreover, boric acid treatment decreased the levels of Hsp70, NF-KB, COX-2, and CD31, which increased as a result of OIR. On the other hand, SCF and AMH levels, which decreased as a result of OIR, increased with boric acid treatment. The levels of autophagy markers (Beclin-1, LC3, and p62) reached values close to those of the control group. According to the biochemical findings, it was concluded that boric acid is also effective on oxidative stress, and the AMH level was particularly high in the OIR + OBA group, consistent with the immunohistochemical staining result. In addition, it was observed that the DNA damage caused by OIR reached values close to those of the control group, especially in the OBA after OIR. This study showed the therapeutic effects of boric acid on OIR injuries; thus, boric acid may be a potential therapeutic agent for ovarian protection and fertility preservation in cases that may cause ovarian torsion.

Boric Acid Exhibits Anticancer Properties in Human Endometrial Cancer Ishikawa Cells.

Objective This study aims to explore the potential anti-cancer properties of boric acid (BA) in human endometrial cancer Ishikawa cells by assessing its influence on cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. Methods The impact of BA at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 100 mM on cell viability was assessed in Ishikawa cells and normal fibroblast L929 cells (used as the control) through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Spectrophotometric measurements were performed to determine the total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in BA-treated cells, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of cytochrome c and caspase 3, both of which are constituents of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, changes in the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the cells were analyzed using ELISA and immunofluorescence staining. Results The exposure of Ishikawa cells to BA for 24 hours led to a dose-dependent decline in cell viability, with an IC50 value of 40 mM. BA dose-dependently increased cytochrome c and caspase 3 levels in cancer cells. In Ishikawa cells, BA treatment led to a significant elevation in OSI. Moreover, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in BA-treated cells. On the other hand, in L929 cells, BA decreased OSI in a dose-dependent manner but did not change TNF-α and IL-1β levels. Concentrations up to 80 mM had no effect on cell viability and apoptosis, but BA at 80 mM concentration decreased viability and increased cytochrome c and caspase 3 levels in L929 cells. Conclusion BA inhibited cell viability, triggered apoptosis, induced oxidative stress, and suppressed inflammatory responses in endometrial cancer cells. Notably, at its IC50 concentration, BA had no cytotoxic effect on normal fibroblasts. Given its favorable properties, BA may provide a valuable therapeutic option to impede the development and progression of endometrial cancer.

Boric Acid Alleviates Gastric Ulcer by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation-Related Multiple Signaling Pathways.

Oxidative stress and inflammation have pivotal roles in gastric ulcer development caused by alcohol consumption. Trace element boric acid taken into the human and animal body from dietary sources displays strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. However, the mechanisms underlying these actions of boric acid remain unclear, and its effectiveness in preventing gastric lesions is unknown. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of boric acid in alcohol-induced gastric ulcer and elucidate its potential mechanisms. Gastric ulcer was induced by 75% oral ethanol administration in rats, and the effectiveness of prophylactic boric acid treatment at 100mg/kg concentration was assessed by histopathological examination, ELISA assay and qRT-PCR. Gross macroscopic and histopathological evaluations revealed that boric acid alleviated gastric mucosal lesions. Boric acid decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and the overall oxidation state of the body while improving antioxidant status. It reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The mRNA expression of JAK2 and STAT3 was decreased while the expression of AMPK was increased with boric acid pretreatment. Moreover, Sema3A and PlexinA1 levels were elevated upon boric acid pretreatment, and homocysteine levels were reduced. Our results demonstrated that boric acid protects gastric mucosa from ethanol-induced damage by regulating oxidative and inflammatory responses. In addition, our findings suggested that the gastroprotective activity of boric acid could be attributed to its regulatory function in the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling modulated by AMPK and that Sema3A/PlxnA1 axis and homocysteine are potentially involved in this process.

Upcycling wheat and barley straws into sustainable thermal insulation: Assessment and treatment for durability

This study investigates the potential of wheat and barley straws as sustainable alternatives to conventional insulation materials. The focus is on evaluating the risk of mould growth in straw-filled wall assemblies across different climate types, while comparing the physical, thermal, hygroscopic, and durability properties of wheat and barley straws. Additionally, the effectiveness of boric acid as an antifungal treatment on straws is assessed. The findings reveal that both barley and wheat straws exhibit low thermal conductivity, ranging from 45 to 65 mW m−1 K−1 for bulk density of 60 to 100 kg m−3. Notably, barley straws demonstrate lower sorption capacity, higher vapour diffusion, lower thermal conductivity, and reduced mould growth intensity, rendering them more suitable as insulation material. The application of boric acid treatment effectively enhances the mould resistance of straw without adversely affecting their hygric and thermal properties. Consequently, boric acid treatment is recommended for wheat straw under unfavourable climatic conditions.

Boron-resistant Alternaria alternata (OG14) mitigates boron stress by improving physiological and antioxidative response in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Effect of Alternaria alternata (OG14) isolated from a rock lichen (Xanthoria sp.) was investigated on the relief of boron stress in wheat. To determine the tolerance level to B stress, the fungus was grown at increasing boric acid (BA) concentrations in the range of 0.0–2.5 M. No significant change in colony development of the fungus was observed up to 1 M BA application compared to the control but after this dose, it decreased depending on the increase in the BA dose. When the element content of wheat seedlings was evaluated by ICP-MS, BA application increased B content together with Mg, P, K, Fe contents of the seedlings to very high levels compared to the control. However, fungus + BA treatments decreased the content of B and the other elements in the seedlings. The BA applications resulted in an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species, including H2O2 and O2.−as well as lipid peroxidation in the seedlings. However, when the fungal inoculation was performed under the same BA conditions, the levels of these parameters decreased. The fungus inoculation stimulated the activity of all studied enzymes compared to BA applications. BA applications alone increased non - enyzmatic the oxidized ascorbate level more than the reducing ascorbate, leading to a decrease in the AsA/DHA ratio. The results show that A. alternata treatment can mitigate the negative effects of B stress on wheat seedlings by reducing ROS, LPO, B content, increasing the capacity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and improving root and shoot length.

Boron stress signal is transmitted through the TOR pathway

Although boron is an essential element for many organisms, an excess amount of it can cause toxicity, and the mechanism behind this toxicity is not yet fully understood. The Gcn4 transcription factor plays a crucial role in the boron stress response by directly activating the expression of the boron efflux pump Atr1. More than a dozen transcription factors and multiple cell signaling pathways have roles in regulating the Gcn4 transcription factor under various circumstances. However, it is unknown which pathways or factors mediate boron signaling to Gcn4. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, we analyzed the factors that converge on the Gcn4 transcription factor to assess their possible roles in boron stress signaling. Our findings show that the GCN system is activated by uncharged tRNA stress in response to boron treatment and that GCN1, which plays a role in transferring uncharged tRNAs to Gcn2, is necessary for the kinase activity of Gcn2. The SNF and PKA pathways were not involved in mediating boron stress, even though they interact with Gcn4. Mutations in TOR pathway genes, such as GLN3 and TOR1, abolished Gcn4 and ATR1 activation in response to boric acid treatment. Therefore, our study suggests that the TOR pathway must be functional to form a proper response against boric acid stress.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Boric Acid Treatment on Brain Tissue and Cognitive Functions in Rats with Experimental Alzheimer's Disease.

Oxidative stress has an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia. Boric acid (BA) contributes significantly to the protection of the brain by reducing lipid peroxidation and supporting antioxidant defense. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of BA treatment in AD rats. Four groups were formed as Control (C), Alzheimer's (A), Alzheimer's + Boric acid (ABA), Boric acid (BA). Intracerebroventricular injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) was preferred to create an AD. After 4 weeks, BA was applied 3 times every other day. The Radial Arm Maze Test (RAMT) was used to evaluate memory and learning abilities. Biochemical and histopathological evaluations were made in the hippocampus. Initial RAMT inlet/outlet (I/O) numbers were similar. Two weeks after STZ injection, I/O numbers decreased in group A and ABA compared to group C and BA (p<0.05). After the second BA application, I/O numbers increased in the ABA group compared to the A group (p<0.05). In group A, PON-1, TOS and OSI levels were higher and TAS levels were lower than in groups BA and C. After BA treatment, PON-1 and OSI levels were lower in the ABA group than in the A group (p<0.05). Although there was an increase in TAS value and a decrease in TOS, this did not make a statistical difference. The thickness of the pyramidal cell in CA1 and the granular cell layers in the dentate gyrus, and the number of intact and degenerated neurons in the pyramidal cell layer were similar between the groups. Significant improvement in learning and memory abilities after BA application is promising for AD. These results show that BA application positively affects learning and memory abilities, and reduces oxidative stress. More extensive studies are required to evaluate histopathological efficacy.

Studying the influence of the addition of nano-titanium dioxide on the rheological, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polycarbonate/wood flour

In this work, the thermal stability of wood flour (WF) was modified using a boric acid treatment. To further understand the impacts of incorporating various proportions of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles loaded on polycarbonate (PC)/wood flour. The rheological, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and interfacial properties were studied. Various properties of the resultant PC/WF/TiO2 nanocomposites were then characterized. The viscosity of the nanocomposite was shown to decrease with shear rate and temperature. XRD investigation indicated that, by introducing TiO2 nanoparticles into PC/WF, the amorphous phase decreased, and the degree of crystallinity increased, as compared to bare PC/WF, from 65.78 to 42.29. In addition, the TGA profile showed that the nanocomposites have a higher resistance to thermal degradation than PC/WF alone. It was observed that the char residue resulting from the TGA of PC/WF/10%wt TiO2 increased to 5.69% compared to pure PC/WF (1.32%). It was found that an appropriate amount of TiO2 in PC/WF caused a significant increase in tensile strength, elongation at break, and on impact strength. These were attributed to an increase in the interface of the dispersed phase. The incorporation of nanoparticles enhanced the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites, which was found to be higher when a TiO2 content of ∼3 wt% was used. The electrical conductivity of the PC/WF/TiO2 nanocomposite (&lt;3 wt%) hindered the movement of free-moving ions, therefore reducing the nanocomposite’s electrical conductivity. However, at &gt; 3 wt% of TiO2, due to the aggregation of nanoparticles, TiO2 nanoclusters formed in the PC/WF composite. Therefore, the additional space so created for the movement of conduction ions at the interface may have resulted in increased ion mobility. This could be the one of explanations for the increased electrical conductivity associated with higher wt% of TiO2. Results showed that treating the PC/WF/TiO2 nanocomposites with boric acid decreased both the rate of heat release and the total heat release.