By Box-Behnken Design Research Articles

Polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus employing subcritical water extraction: Extraction optimization, physiochemical properties and bioactivities analysis

As one of the main components in Inonotus obliquus, polysaccharides was potentially to be developed for the special physiochemical properties and bioactivity. However, the low extraction efficiency of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides (IOP) significantly hindered the in-depth research and development. To achieve a higher extraction yield of IOP, subcritical water was selected and optimized by Box-Behnken Design (BBD) with a more reasonable yield investigation method in the present study. In addition, for the comparative analysis, the physiochemical properties and bioactivity of the subcritical water extracted polysaccharides (IOP-S), purified polysaccharides (IOP-P) and hot water extracted polysaccharides (IOP-W) were all investigated and analyzed. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were 200°C, 13.24 min and 30:1 (mL/g), which corresponded to a polysaccharide yield of 14.14±0.17 %. With simple purified process, the IOP-P with high purity (total sugar content of 87.55 %) was suitable for the further study. Compared to IOP-W, a wider molecular weight range (3.4–98 kDa) of polysaccharide was found in IOP-S, as well as higher sugar and polyphenol content, which might be the main reason for the well antioxidant and digestion enzyme inhibition activity. There were also various differences in the monosaccharide composition, micro-morphology and other physiochemical properties, which all suggested that the subcritical water could efficiently extract a special IOP for the fourthly study and development. In summary, the present study proved that subcritical water extraction could significantly improve the extraction efficiency of IOP, and the basic information in physiochemical properties and bioactivities of IOP would promote the development of IOP in the future.

Desalination Performance Evaluation of hBN@UiO‐66 MOF Incorporated Hollow Fiber Membrane using Membrane Distillation

AbstractIn the present study, the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) modified hollow fiber (HF) membranes have been synthesized by dry‐jet wet phase inversion technique for desalination via direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). UiO‐66 metal‐Organic framework (MOF) and surface‐modified UiO‐66 with h‐BN nanomaterial have been incorporated with PVDF‐HF membrane. The various analytical methods like FE‐SEM, FTIR, PXRD, TGA, tensile strength, were used to characterize prepared MOF and HF membranes. It was observed from DCMD results that the h‐BN@UiO‐66/PVDF (M3) HF membrane gives higher flux than UiO‐66/PVDF (M2) and pure PVDF (M1) membrane. In the present investigation, response surface methodology (RSM) by box‐behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the DCMD system and evaluate the behavior of operating parameters such as feed temperature, feed concentration, and feed flow rate. The optimum operating values of feed temperature, feed flow rate, and feed concentration were found as 65 °C, 1 LPM, and 1.5 wt.%, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the M3 HF membrane gives the highest flux of 26.78 L/m2 ⋅ h compared to M2 and M1 membranes. During DCMD, salt rejection is almost greater than 99.8 % for all prepared membranes. Other salts like potassium chloride (KCl), Magnisium Sulphate (MgSO4), and calcium sulphate (CaSO4) are also used to check salt rejection of all membranes at optimum operating conditions. Moreover, the M3 membrane exhibits stable permeate flux and high salt rejection (>99.9 %) at optimized process parameters over 80 h running. Overall, the present study provides the positive effects of h‐BN nanoparticles and UiO‐66 MOF on HF membrane to improve performance in DCMD.

Preparation of Luvangetin Nanoemulsions: Antimicrobial Mechanism and Role in Infected Wound Healing.

Incorporation of luvangetin in nanoemulsions for antimicrobial and therapeutic use in infected wound healing. Luvangetin nanoemulsions were prepared by high-speed shear method and characterized based on their appearance structure, average droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), electric potential, storage stability. Optimized formulation of luvangetin nanoemulsion by Box-Behnken design (BBD). The antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial mechanism of luvangetin nanoemulsions against common hospital pathogens, ie, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), were investigated using luvangetin nanoemulsions. The biosafety of luvangetin nanoemulsion was evaluated through cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay experiments using human normal epidermal cells and endothelial cells. Finally, the effect of luvangetin nanoemulsion on healing of infected wounds was investigated in B6 mice. Luvangetin nanoemulsion formulation consists of 2.5% sunflower seed oil, 10% emulsifier Span-20 and 7 minutes of shear time, and with good stability. Luvangetin nanoemulsion produces antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli by disrupting the structure of bacterial cell membranes. Luvangetin nanoemulsion are biologically safe for HaCat and HUVEC. Luvangetin nanoemulsion showed good therapeutic effect on MRSA infected wounds in mice. For the first time, developed a new formulation called luvangetin nanoemulsion, which exhibited superior antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria. Luvangetin nanoemulsion has a favorable effect in promoting infected wound healing. We have combined luvangetin, which has multiple activities, with nanoemulsions to provide a new topical fungicidal formulation, and have comprehensively evaluated its effectiveness and safety, opening up new possibilities for further applications of luvangetin.

Optimization of deep eutectic solvent based ultrasonic assisted microextraction for determination of zearalenone residues in foods

A sensitive and simple ultrasonic assisted microextraction procedure based on the use of green deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was designed for the extraction of zearalenone (ZEN) residues in grains, foods and milks. Optimization of key parameters and experimental modelling were achieved by Box-Behnken design (BBD) based on surface response methodology. DES-UA-ME procedure was based on the extraction of ZEN molecules into DES prepared from a mixture of phenyl acetic acid and trimethyl glycine in a 2:1 molar ratio at pH 3.8 under ultrasonication for 11 min at 33 °C. After the phase separation step, the DES-rich phase containing ZEN was placed in an UV-Vis spectrophotometer for quantitative analysis of ZEN at 260 nm. The analytical merits of the DES-UA-ME procedure were investigated using optimum conditions for both standard calibration solutions (SCS) and matrix-matched calibration solutions (MMCS). Linearity for the SCS and MMCS was 3–800 ng mL−1 (r2:0.995) and 5–450 ng mL−1 (r2:0.992), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for SCS were 0.9 ng mL−1 and 3 ng mL−1, respectively, while the LOD and LOQ for MMCs were 1.6 ng mL−1 and 5 ng mL−1, respectively. Enrichment factors for SCS and MMCS was 157 and 139 for, respectively. Validation of the DES-UA-ME procedure was tested by analysis of two certified reference materials containing ZEN. There was no significant difference between the measured amounts and the reference amounts. In the final stage, the DES-UA-ME procedure was applied to selected samples separately for both SCS and MMCS.

Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Fagopyrum tataricum Bran

In this study, eleven kinds of flavonoids were identified from F. tataricum bran (FTB) by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that four compounds, including rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and nicotiflorin, were the most significant components. Subsequently, natural deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (NADES-UAE) was employed to extract flavonoids from FTB. Among the six kinds of NADES prepared, choline chloride–ethylene glycol (ChCl-EG) was identified as a promising candidate for extracting flavonoids due to its superior extraction performance. The extraction conditions were statistically investigated using response surface methodology conducted by Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimal operational conditions were as follows: ultrasonic time 268 s, ultrasonic temperature 76 °C, and liquid–solid ratio 43 mL/g, which resulted in a high total flavonoid yield of 40.29 mg/g. Afterwards, the efficient extraction mechanism of NADES-UAE was comprehensively explored through FT-IR spectra, COSMO model, and microstructural analysis. In conclusion, NADES-UAE extraction is considered a green, efficient, and sustainable method for FTB flavonoids.

Quercetin-loaded transliposomal gel for effective management of skin cancer: In vitro and cell line efficacy studies

In this research work, Quercetin-loaded transliposomes (QUR-TL) were developed for dermal application against skin cancers. The utilization of nano-formulation for dermal application presents several notable advantages. Using an ethanol injection method followed by sonication, the QUR-loaded TL was developed and optimized by Box-Behnken Design (BBD). The optimized QUR-TL exhibited the vesicle size of 200.1 nm, polydispersity-index of 0.181, zeta potential of −31.89 mV and an entrapment efficiency of 82.1 %. The morphology of the optimized QUR-TL assessed by Transmission Electron Microscopy has revealed the spherical shape of the vesicles. In vitro release of QUR from QUR-TL was higher as compared to QUR-Suspn. Ex vivo skin permeation has shown ≈2-fold increased permeation of QUR from QUR-TL gel (QUR-TLG) as compared to QUR-conventional gel (QUR-CFG). This demonstrated a prolonged release pattern and an increased permeability of QUR from QUR-TLG. The QUR-TL has shown 1.3-fold higher antioxidant activity as compared to pure-QUR (QUR-SOL). The CLSM demonstrated an enhanced penetration of QUR-TLG, which was substantiated by the quantification of QUR during the dermatokinetics investigation. The QUR-TLG was evaluated for its cytotoxic potential against the B16F10 melanoma cells, which has shown lowest IC50 value (9.3 μM) as compared to QUR-CFG (16.8 μM) and QUR-SOL (23 μM). This suggested strong evidence of QUR indication for skin cancers. Conclusively, QUR-TLG has significantly (p < 0.05) targeted the deeper layers of skin and can be regarded as a promising carrier for topical application of QUR or other lipophilic drugs for the management of skin cancers.

Quality by design (QbD) approach-based development of optimized nanocarrier to achieve quality target product profile (QTPP)-targeted lymphatic delivery

Background. Insulin, commonly used for diabetes treatment, needs better ways to improve its effectiveness and safety due to its challenges with poor permeability and stability. Various system has been developed for oral peptide delivery. The non-targeted system can prevent gastric and enzymatic degradation of peptides but cannot increase the bulk transport of peptides across the membrane. However, the non-selectivity is the limitation of the existing system. Numerous carbohydrate-binding receptors overexpressed on intestinal macrophage cells (M-cells) of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. It is the most desirable site for receptor-mediated endocytosis and lymphatic drug delivery of peptides. Objective. The prime objective of the study was to fabricate mannose ligand conjugated nanoparticles (MNPs) employing a quality-by-design approach to address permeability challenges after oral administration. Herein, the study’s secondary objective of this study is to identify the influencing factor for producing quality products. Considering this objective, the Lymphatic uptake of NPs was selected as a quality target product profile (QTPP), and a systematic study was conducted to identify the critical formulation attributes (CFAs) and critical process parameters (CPP) influencing critical quality attributes (CQAs). Mannosylated Chitosan concentrations (MCs) and TPP concentrations were identified as CFAs, and stirring speed was identified as CPP. Methods. MNPs were prepared by the inotropic gelation method and filled into the enteric-coated capsule to protect from acidic environments. The effect of CFAs and CPP on responses like particle size (X) and entrapment (Y) was observed by Box-Behnken design (BBD). ANOVA statistically evaluated the result to confirm a significant level (p < 0.05). The optimal conditions of NPs were obtained by constructing an overlay plot and determining the desirability value. HPLC and zeta-seizer analysis characterized the lyophilized NPs. Cell-line studies were performed to confirm the safety and M-cell targeting of NPs to enhance Insulin oral bioavailability. Results. The morphology of NPs was revealed by SEM. The developed NPs showed a nearly oval shape with the average size, surface potential, and % drug entrapment were 245.52 ± 3.37 nm, 22.12 ± 2.13 mV, and 76.15 ± 1.3%, respectively. MTT assay result exhibited that MNPs safe and Confocal imaging inference that NPs selectively uptake by the M-cell. Conclusion. BBD experimental design enables the effective formulation of optimized NPs. The statistical analysis estimated a clear assessment of the significance of the process and formulation variable. Cell line study confirms that NPs are safe and effectively uptake by the cell.

Development and optimization of kaempferol loaded ethosomes using Box-Behnken statistical design: In vitro and ex-vivo assessments.

Kaempferol (KMP) belong to flavonoid class have developed in ethosomal formulation and were evaluated for their potential to treat diabetic foot ulcers. Even though ethosomes are highly deformable, they can pass through human skin intact. KMP ethosomes were formulated using the cold method and optimized by Box-Behnken design (BBD) (three-factor, three-level (33 )). The formulation variables used for optimization are drug concentration of KMP, soylecithin content, and ethanol percentage. The optimized formulation was examined using transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, in-vitro release, ex-vivo permeation studies, and storage stability. The optimized KMP ethosomes was found to have vesicle size (VS) of 283 ± 0.3 nm and zeta potential (ZP) of -29.67 ± 0.3 mV, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.36, % entrapment efficiency (%EE) of 91.02 ± 0.21%, drug loading (%) of 46.23 ± 2.5% followed by good storage stability at 4°C/60 ± 5% RH. In vitro drug release of optimized KMP ethosomes was 88.2 ± 2.75%, which was approximately double when compared with pure KMP release, that is 49.9 ± 1.89%. The release kinetics for optimized KMP ethosomes follows the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. An apparent permeation coefficient of 356.25 ± 0.5 μg/cm2 was determined and compared with pure KMP (118.46 ± 0.3 μg/cm2 ) for 24 h. According to the study, ethosomes can be a cutting-edge strategy that offers a new delivery method for prolonged and targeted distribution of KMP in a variety of dosage forms including oral, topical, transdermal, and so forth.

NaOH-urea pretreatment enhanced H2 and CH4 yields via optimizing mixed alkali ratio, pretreatment time, and organic loading rate during anaerobic digestion of corn stover

This work studied the impact of NaOH-urea pretreatment on corn stover for H2 and CH4 production through two-stage anaerobic digestion. Results showed that the NaOH-urea pretreatment process improved CH4 production more significantly compared to H2. Optimized by Box-Behnken design (BBD) experiments, the CH4 cumulative yield was increased by 34.2 % at NaOH: urea = 3.2: 26.8, time = 15.7 min, and organic loading rate (OLR) = 23.4 w/v. Microbial community diversity analysis showed that the hydrogen and methane production stages formed communities dominated by Bacteroidales and Methanobacteriales, respectively. In addition, NaOH-urea pretreatment enhanced the metabolite energy recovery efficiency by 28.5–40.9 %. Finally, the return on investment (ROI) of the NaOH-urea pretreatment process reached 26.1 % with significant economic benefits. This research proposed a chemical pretreatment process for anaerobic digestion of corn stover by optimizing the pretreatment conditions of NaOH- urea.

Obtaining Acid-sensitive Prosaikogenin F by Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Saikosaponin A

Background Prosaikogenin F (PSF) has stronger anti-cancer bioactivity than saikosaponin A (SSA), however, it was hardly isolated due to its trace amount in the raw material of Radix Bupleuri (RB). In addition, the active chemical constituent was unstable under acidic conditions owing to a 13,28-epoxy-ether moiety at the D ring of its aglycone. Objectives This study was to develop an appropriate method for obtaining acid-sensitive PSF from SSA abundant in RB. Materials and Methods Enzymatic hydrolysis was employed and snailase was selected due to its good hydrolysis performance under nearly neutral circumstances. Hydrolysis conditions were then optimized by one-factor-at-a-time experimentation before response surface methodology (RSM) by Box-Behnken Design (BBD). Results The reaction system was constructed in Na2HPO4-NaH2PO4 buffer (pH 6.0) containing snailase/SSA (44:1) at 39°C, then the hydrolysis lasted for 12 h. Therefore, the highest conversion ratio of SSA was achieved at 100.0%. Conclusion The newly proposed method is eco-friendly for obtaining acid-sensitive PSF, which lays a solid foundation for its development to be an anti-cancer new drug.

Development of ascorbyl palmitate-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to increase the stability of Camelina oil

In this study, ascorbyl palmitate (AP) incorporated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs-AP) was fabricated using the hot-homogenization method. The amounts of AP, Tween 80, glyceryl stearate, and oleic acid were optimized by Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to obtain a high percentage of encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency. Then, the optimum NLCs-AP, free-AP with rosemary essential oil (REO), NLCs-AP with REO, and tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) at a concentration of 75 ppm were added to camelina oil. Then peroxide value (PV), anisidine value (AV), TOTOX value (TV), oxidative stability using Rancimat, total phenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity in camelina oil samples were evaluated during 90 days of storage at the ambient temperature. The optimum NLCs-AP had a particle size of 133.4 nm and a PDI of 0.29. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed a spherical and smooth surface of the optimum NLCs-AP. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transfer spectroscopy infrared (FTIR) analyses implied that there was no interaction between AP and NLCs. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model was the best model for the evaluation of the release kinetics. The amounts of PV, AV, and TV of camelina oil containing the optimum NLCs-AP were slightly higher than the oil containing TBHQ. The highest oxidative protection, TPC, and antioxidant activity percentage were achieved in camelina oil containing NLCs-AP with REO. Conclusively, the optimum NLCs-AP had excellent potential for encapsulation of AP, and the mixture of REO and NLCs-AP could be applied for giving suitable oxidative stability in camelina oil.

Extraction and functional properties of pigment from pumpkin peels by a novel green deep eutectic alcohol two-phase system

Pumpkin peel pigments contain a variety of natural antioxidants carotenoids including α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoflavin, and xanthine, etc.. Conventional extraction methods generally have low yields and high energy consumption. To explore a green and efficient extraction process, firstly, different kinds and proportions of deep eutectic solvent (DES) alcohol two-aqueous phase system were prepared, and then ultrasound-assisted cellulase was used to optimize the parameters by Box-Behnken design (BBD) on the basis of single factor experiment. The results showed that the extraction solvent was determined as DES (choline chloride: triethylene glycol = 1 : 3) and ethanol = 6 : 4, the yield of the pigments was 2.460% ± 0.037% at cellulase dosage of 2.10%, solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 40 g/mL, ultrasonic power of 300 W for 40 min. The inhibition rate of the pigments to α-amylase and sucrase was 82.20% ± 0.90% and 75.63% ± 1.19%, respectively, at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. They could significantly prolong the survival rate of Caenorhabditis elegans under hydrogen peroxide stress (p < 0.05), and the mean lifespans of C. elegans reach 9.047 ± 0.296 h, which was significantly higher than that of the negative control (2.717 ± 0.125 h) and the positive control group (5.067 ± 0.327 h). They also significantly enhanced the activities of T-SOD (>77.17%) and CAT (>112.09%) and reduced the level of MDA (p < 0.05), indicating that the pigments played an important role in alleviating oxidative stress damage, and with great development value as a recyclable resource.

Simultaneous extraction and determination of alkaloids and organic acids in Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis by vortex-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion extraction coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS.

A simple and efficient vortex-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion with a ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (VA-MSPD-UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied for simultaneous extraction and determination of seven alkaloids and three organic acids from Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis. The optimal extraction conditions of the target components were obtained by Box-Behnken design (BBD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM). The results of the method validation showed that this analytical method displayed good linearity with a correlation coefficient (r) no lower than 0.9990. The recoveries of ten active ingredients from Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis ranged from 95.9% to 103% (RSD ≤ 2.77%). The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day precisions were all below 2.97%. The present method exhibited not only lower solvent and sample usage, but also shorter sample processing and analysis time. Consequently, the developed VA-MSPD-UHPLC-MS/MS method could be successfully and effectively used for the extraction and analysis of ten active components from Uncariae Ramulas Cum Unicis.

Quality risk assessment and DoE – Practiced validated stability-indicating chromatographic method for quantification of Rivaroxaban in bulk and tablet dosage form

AbstractA systematic DoE and Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) approach was utilized for the development and validation of a novel stability indicating high-performance thin–layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for Rivaroxaban (RBN) estimation in bulk and marketed formulation. A D-optimal design was used to screen the effect of solvents, volume of solvents, time from spotting to development and time for development to scanning. ANOVA results and Pareto chart revealed that toluene, methanol, water and saturation time had an impact on retention time. The critical method and material attributes were further screened by Box-Behnken design (BBD) to achieve optimal chromatographic condition. A stress degradation study was carried out and structure of major alkaline degradant was elaborated. According to the design space, a control strategy was used with toluene: methanol: water (6:2:2) and the saturation time was 15 min. A retention factor (RF) of 0.59 ± 0.05 was achieved for RBN using chromatographic plate precoated with silica gel at detection wavelength 282 nm with optimized conditions. The linear calibration curve was achieved in the concentration range of 200–1,200 ng/band with r2 &gt; 0.998 suggesting good coordination between analyte concentration and peak areas. The quadratic model was demonstrated as the best fit model and no interaction was noted between CMAs. The optimized HPTLC method was validated critically as stated in International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q2 (R1) guideline and implemented successfully for stress degradation study of RBN. The developed HPTLC method obtained through AQbD application was potentially able to resolve all degradants of RBN achieved through forced degradation study. The obtained results demonstrate that a scientific AQbD approach implementation in HPTLC method development and stress degradation study drastically minimizes the number of trials in experiments, ultimately time and cost of analysis could be minimized.

A new sample treatment strategy based on supramolecular solvent for determination of herbicide residues in water samples by Box-Behnken design

This paper describes a sensitive, simple and green analytical method for pretreatment of sulfonylurea and pyrethroid herbicides in water samples by supramolecular solvent-based liquid phase microextraction (SUPRAS-LPME). The SUPRAS was rapidly formed by nonanoic acid and tetrahydrofuran (THF)/water solution. The attractive features of SUPRAS-LPME include the simplicity, high enrichment factor, low cost and less consumption of organic solvents. The main influencing factors including type and volume of fatty acids, volume of THF, ionic strength, vortex time and volume of formic acid were optimized in detail, and then the significant variables were optimized by Box-Behnken design (BBD). Under the optimized condition, the proposed method shows high precision (RSDs < 13.7 %), low limits of detection (0.5–10 μg L-1) and limits of quantitation (10–45 μg L-1), acceptable recovery (71.3 %-95.9 %). The proposed method was successfully applied for analysis of sulfonylurea and pyrethroid herbicides in water samples, making it an alternative analytical strategy for determination of trace analytes at the microgram per liter range with desirable sensitivity.

Enrichment of the flavonoid fraction from Eucommia ulmoides leaves by a liquid antisolvent precipitation method and evaluation of antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo.

Eucommia ulmoides leaves originate from the dry leaves of the Eucommia ulmoides plant. Flavonoids are the main functional components of Eucommia ulmoides leaves. Some flavonoids such as rutin, kaempferol and quercetin are rich in Eucommia ulmoides, and they have outstanding antioxidant efficacy. However, the poor water solubility significantly affects the bioavailability of flavonoids. In this study, we used a liquid antisolvent precipitation (LAP) method to enrich the main flavonoid fractions in Eucommia ulmoides leaves, and prepared nanoparticles by the LAP method to increase flavonoids' solubility and antioxidant properties. The technological parameters were optimized by Box-Behnken Design (BBD) software and were displayed as follows: (1) total flavonoids (TFs) concentration: 83 mg mL-1; (2) antisolvent-solvent ratio: 11; (3) deposition temperature: 27 °C. Under optimal processing conditions, the purity and recovery rate of TFs were 88.32% ± 2.54% and 88.08% ± 2.13%, respectively. In vitro experiments showed that the radical scavenging IC50 values for DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions were 16.72 ± 1.07, 10.76 ± 0.13, 227.68 ± 18.23 and 335.86 ± 15.98 μg mL-1, respectively. In vivo studies showed that the obtained purified flavonoid (PF) (100, 200, 400 mg kg-1) treatment is able to improve CCl4-induced liver and kidney damage through adjusting, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. These results demonstrated that the LAP method is capable of extracting TFs from Eucommia ulmoides leaves with high bioaccessibility.

Optimization of ultrasonic extraction, structural characterization, and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Radix Pueraria Lobata, a Chinese medicinal plant

In this study, the response surface methodology was used to optimize the ultrasonic extraction of polysaccharides from Radix pueraria lobata. The first parameter of interest was ultrasonic extraction to investigate its effect on the polysaccharide content within Radix pueraria lobata. Based on single-factor experiments analysis, the independent variables including time, solid–liquid, and times were used for further optimization of the extraction of RPL polysaccharides by Box-Behnken design (BBD). Optimal conditions showed that the maximum polysaccharide content was 1.235 mg/g. The molecular weight (Mw), Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR) spectroscopy were used for structural characterization in this study. The scavenging activities of Radix Pueraria lobata against DPPH, ABTS, and OH were remarkable, and they were concentration dependent.

Magnetic Dispersive Solid‐Phase Extraction Using Toner Powder for Trace Determination of Heavy Metals in Vegetables and Aqueous Media by FAAS: Box‐Behnken Design

AbstractIn this work, toner powder as a magnetic adsorbent coupled with a dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) method was proposed for the pre‐concentration and separation of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ in vegetable samples and aqueous environments. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used for the final analysis of the ions. Adsorbent characterization was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and vibrating‐sample magnetometer (VSM). The effect of experimental factors on the extraction efficiency was investigated by Box‐Behnken design (BBD). The maximum recovery percentage was found to be 95.40%, 95.40%, and 97.40% for Pb2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+, respectively. In the optimum conditions, the linearity ranges were obtained 12–200, 1–150, 0.4–100 μg L−1 for the Pb, Cd, and Zn ions, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method was found 3.60, 0.30, and 0.11 μg L−1 for the Pb2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+, respectively. The suggested procedure indicated to be appropriate, cost‐effective, and eco‐friendly for extraction of mentioned metal ions in different vegetables and water samples with high precision and accuracy.

Parameter optimization: Effect of Humidity and Fabrication Process on Flexural Strength of Kenaf/Polylactic Acid Biocomposite

Biocomposite from kenaf reinforced polylactic acid (Kenaf/PLA) has the potential to replace a synthetic reinforcement and matrix in polymer composite applications. Kenaf is well known as a natural fiber that can be replaced with synthetic fiber and reinforced with synthetic resin, whether thermoset or thermoplastic. An increase in environmental impact drives increased usage of a biodegradable polymer such as PLA in the application of biocomposite. However, moisture uptake from the humidity and elevated temperature exposure during fabrication of composite is mostly a factor that affects the properties of biocomposite. Therefore, this study aims to optimize the factors consisting of humidity exposure, temperature and time holding during hot press using the design of experiment (DOE) by Box-Behnken Design (BBD) approach. The kenaf/PLA was exposed to the humidity range from 40% up to 80% before undergoing composite fabrication. Then produce the composite using a hot press molding where the parameter consists of elevated temperature (range from 160 &lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C up to 200 &lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C) and time holding (range from 3 minutes up to 10 minutes) that possibly affects the mechanical properties of kenaf/PLA. These three factors were evaluated based on optimizing maximum results on flexural properties, where all the combination factors were assessed using DOE. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that humidity exposure and hot press temperature are essential factors affecting kenaf/PLA flexural strength. The results indicated that the selected humidity and hot press parameters were 40 %RH, 160 &lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C press molding temperature, and a 3-minute heating duration for optimal flexural strength. The parameter will obtain 111.61 MPa of flexural strength. Implementing the chosen factor can produce the kenaf/PLA biocomposite with an optimum flexural strength of 111.61 MPa.

Adsorption study of removal of lead ions using Prosopis juliflora and prediction by artificial neural network modeling

The batch mode process is used to remove the lead (II) ions from the wastewater by employing the seed powder of Prosopis juliflora. The effect of concentration of lead ions (20 – 60 mg/L), time (70 – 120 min), and pH (4 – 6) were investigated by Box-Behnken Design (BBD) in response to surface methodology and Feed Forward Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The maximum removal of lead (II) ions was found to be 89.6277 % during the time 119.69 at pH 5.69 from the Box-Behnken design (BBD). An ANN model was developed having 10 neurons in the hidden layer. The SEM photos depict the adsorbent's surface texture as well as lead (II) metal ion adsorption.