Radical Scavenging Effect Research Articles

A DFT analysis of the antioxidant capacity of scopolin and scopoletin.

Scopolin and scopoletin belong to the class of coumarins and have experimentally proven natural antioxidants. Natural antioxidants are crucial in mitigating the impact of oxidants in the human body through radical scavenging. Even though scopolin and scopoletin are proven antioxidants by experimental results, their antioxidant mechanisms still remained unexplained. In this study, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to study the radical scavenging mechanisms of both scopolin and scopoletin using kinetic and thermodynamics parameters. The global parameters indicated that both scopolin and scopoletin have antioxidant properties. The band gap energy revealed that scopoletin (4.18eV) has strong antioxidant activity compared to scopolin (4.31eV). These studies found that hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) is the primary mechanism for CH3OO• radical scavenging at the C-H bond in scopolin (91.98kcal.mol-1) and the O-H bond in scopoletin (77.05kcal.mol-1) due to their lowest bond dissociation energies. The calculated activation energy ( ) for the radical scavenging reaction, reconfirmed scopoletin ( =11.19kcal.mol-1) performed as a better antioxidant compared to scopolin ( =20.91kcal.mol-1). In this study, the results of DFT calculations confirmed that scopoletin exhibits a higher antioxidant capacity, and HAT mechanism is the most effective radical scavenging mechanism. The antioxidant activity of scopolin and scopoletin was determined by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. Global parameter calculations and frontier molecular orbital analysis were conducted to assess these compounds' capacity for scavenging radicals. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), sequential electron transfer proton transfer (SETPT), and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) mechanisms were the three main mechanisms that were taken into consideration. The potential energy surface (PES) verified the most appropriate processes shown by the enthalpy calculations.

Antibacterial activity of copper-decorated CeO2 nanoparticles and preparation of antifouling polyethersulfone surface

Cerium oxide NPs (nano-CeO2), with notable performance in various biological tests like redox activity, free radical scavenging, and biofilm inhibition, emerge as significant candidates to address issues in related areas. In this research, copper-decorated nano-CeO2 (Cu@nano-CeO2) were first synthesized and then characterized using advanced techniques such as SEM-EDX, XRD, XPS, BET, and ICP-OES. The biochemical properties of the obtained Cu@nano-CeO2 nanostructure and its performance in polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were thoroughly investigated in this research study. The free radical scavenging effect of Cu@nano-CeO2 at 100 mg/L concentration was determined as 100 % with the same activity as the reference compounds Trolox and ascorbic acid. It enhanced 2.9-fold α-amylase enzyme activity at 50 mg/L. Plasmid DNA was completely degraded at 100 mg/L concentration. Cu@nano-CeO2 provided significant inhibition against tested bacterial and fungal strains, especially Gram-positives than Gram-negatives and fungus. Anti-biofilm activity was determined against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa as 98.3 and 82.1 %, respectively. Furthermore, E. coli inhibition activity of PES/Cu@nano-CeO2 1.0 wt% membrane was determined as 100 %. Owing to the promising results obtained, we can suggest that Cu@nano-CeO2 can be used in wastewater treatment.

Anti-oxidative, anti-AChE and neuroprotective effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Sansevieria cylindrica leaves and Plumeria obtusa seed pods in Wistar rats

The rising incidence of neurodegenerative diseases represents a significant global health concern. The prognosis for such diseases is often unfavorable, and patients require supportive treatment to manage their condition effectively. The present study investigated the anti-oxidative, anti-acetylcholinesterase (anti-AChE) effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Sansevieria cylindrica leaves and Plumeria obtusa seed pods in Wistar rats. Plants were authenticated followed by pharmacognostic evaluation. The antioxidant and anti-AChE activities were evaluated by scopolamine-induced oxidative stress and acetylcholine level alterations in Wistar rats. On the 0th, 7th, and 14th days during study period behavioral parameters were evaluated, including open field test, new object recognition test, and Morris water maze task. Different antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated in brain homogenate post 7 days treatment. AChE levels in rats’ brains were assessed post 14 days of treatment. Finally, histopathology of brains samples was performed. Correspondingly, in-vitro and in-silico studies were done to support the study findings.ResultsSansevieria cylindrica and Plumeria obtusa exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-AChE activities due to secondary metabolites content. Rearing and, line crossing by rats showed substantial alteration (p < 0.05) by combination of both plants at high dose. The escape latency found to be reduced significantly (p < 0.05) by Sansevieria cylindrica individually and in combination with Plumeria obtusa at all doses. The lipid peroxidation level in brain was decreased significantly than standard at 1:1 combination of plants extracts. The levels of GSH, CAT and SOD were attenuated significantly by different concentration of extracts (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The reduction in AChE levels was around 34.62% and 31.10% in male and female rats, respectively in combination of both plants at high dose compared to disease control group. It was further evident in brain histopathology. All in-vivo results were supported by in-vitro free radicals scavenging effect and in-silico study.ConclusionThe hydro-alcoholic extracts from Plumeria obtusa seed pods and Sansevieria cylindrica leaves showed a strong natural antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitions which can aid in the treatment of neurodegerative diseases including Alzheimer.

Preparation of composite hydrogel with mechanical stability and temperature response for tea polyphenol release

The method of adding additives at once not only increases costs, but also poses a risk of excessive consumption. Therefore, the slow-release technology was employed for improving the utilization efficiency and edible safety of additives in this work. The poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and polylactic acid (PLA) composite hydrogels with sheath-core structure were fabricated by in-situ spinning method. The mechanical bearing capacity of PNIPAM hydrogel was improved by controlling the structure of PLA electrospun fiber membrane. The results showed that the compression resistance of the samples coated with PLA was increased 931 % at 50 % deformation. In addition, the surface wettability of samples was studied to ensure the stable water permeability. The composite hydrogel was used for the sustained release of tea polyphenol (TP) antioxidant. The release effect of TP at different temperatures, and radical scavenging effect of 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2-Phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetraMethyliMidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl) (PTIO) were investigated. It was found that the release rate for TP could reach to 77.8 % at 30 °C. The radical clearance rates of ABTS and PTIO were 99.2 % and 46.6 %, respectively. This work provides effective ideas for the use of antioxidants in food preservation processes.

The radical scavenging activity of 1-methyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide: theoretical insights into the mechanism, kinetics and solvent effects.

1,4-Dihydronicotinamide derivatives, including 1-methyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (MNAH), are derivatives of the active center of nicotinamide coenzyme (NADH) and are therefore potent radical scavengers. MNAH serves as a useful model of NADH that allows for modeling studies to address the activity of this important biomolecule. In this work, MNAH activity was evaluated against typical free radicals using quantum chemical calculations in physiological environments, with a secondary aim of comparing activity against two physiologically relevant radicals of markedly different stability, HO˙, and HOO˙, to establish which of these is a better model for assessing antioxidant capacity in physiological environments. The HO˙ + MNAH reaction exhibited diffusion-limited overall rate constants in all media, including the gas phase. The HOO˙ antiradical activity of MNAH was also good, with overall rate constants of 2.00 × 104 and 2.44 × 106 M-1 s-1, in lipid and aqueous media, respectively. The calculated rate constant in water (k overall(MNAH + HOO˙) = 3.84 × 105 M-1 s-1, pH = 5.6) is in good agreement with the experimental data (k exp(NADH + HOO˙) = (1.8 ± 0.2)×105 M-1 s-1). In terms of mechanism, the H-abstraction of the C4-H bond characterized the HOO˙ radical scavenging activity of MNAH, whereas HO˙ could react with MNAH at several sites and following either of SET (in polar media), RAF, and FHT reactions, which could be ascribed to the high reactivity of HO˙. For this reason the results suggest that activity against HOO˙ is a better basis for comparison of anti-radical potential. In the broader context, the HOO˙ scavanging activity of MNAH is better than that of reference antioxidants such as trans-resveratrol and ascorbic acid in the nonpolar environment, and Trolox in the aqueous physiological environment. Therefore, in the physiological environment, MNAH functions as a highly effective radical scavenger.

Sustainable synthesize of beetroot extract-silver-iron oxide (BE-Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles for antioxidant studies

In this work, beetroot extract is used to synthesize the silver-iron oxide (Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles, which are then characterized and used for the antioxidant studies. Phenolic components were found to coat the nanoparticles, according to FT-IR analysis. Tannins and flavonoids in the extract serve as stabilizing and reducing agents. SEM revealed spherical bimetallic nanoparticles that were roughly 40 nm in size. Crystallinity and purity were shown by XRD examination, which also revealed unique reflection peaks. Particle size and zeta potential values clearly confirm that, the prepared bimetallic nanoparticles are in nano size and it is stable in nature. Furthermore, in this study, the antioxidant properties of produced bimetallic nanoparticles are examined, and their efficacy is compared to that of beetroot extract. Beetroot extract-silver-iron oxide (BE-Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles showed improved radical scavenging effectiveness when compared to DPPH. Moreover, bimetallic nanoparticles demonstrated increased radical scavenging efficacy in relation to DPPH and H2O2. Surprisingly, at 20 mg/ml, the BE-Ag-Fe2O3) bimetallic nanoparticles showed good scavenging activity, reaching 84.65%. The produced bimetallic NPs had greater antioxidant activity than the plant extract, according to an analysis of the total antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity data. Electron donation property of main constituent of beetroot extract was analysed by density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Consequently, this work implies that beetroot extract assisted bimetallic NPs could be a flexible material with a range of uses in the biomedical area.Graphical

Four Tremulanes and Two Pyroglutamate-Containing Dipeptides from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Phaeosphaeriopsis sp. P11.

Four new tremulane sesquiterpenes, named phaeosphaerienols A-D (1-4), and two new pyroglutamate-containing dipeptides, named phaeosphaeratides A-B (5-6), were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Phaeosphaeriopsis sp. P11, together with a new 2-furancarboxylic acid derivative (7). Structurally, pheaosphaerienols A-C (1-3) are rare tremulanes containing a 1,10-epoxide moiety. The structures of these compounds were established by extensive NMR spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and Marfey's derivatization method. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic, antibacterial, and DPPH free radical scavenging effects. However, none of the compounds exhibited obvious activities.

Preparation Process Optimization of Glycolipids from Dendrobium officinale and the Difference in Antioxidant Effects Compared with Ascorbic Acid.

This study investigates the optimal extraction of DOG using response surface methodology, focusing on liquid-solid ratios, ethanol concentrations, extraction temperatures, and extraction times, while preliminarily analyzing DOG's structural properties. Additionally, the differences in antioxidant effects between DOG and ascorbic acid based on intestinal flora metabolism were further evaluated. The optimal parameters for DOG extraction were determined as follows: liquid-solid ratio of 20 mL/g, ethanol concentration of 70%, extraction temperature of 70 °C, and extraction time of 2.5 h, yielding 2.64 ± 0.18%. In addition, DOG was identified as a diglyceride, mainly composed of glucose, mannose, linoleic acid, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, and presented certain direct free radicals scavenging effects. In animal experiments, unlike the direct free scavenging effects of ascorbic acid, DOG increased intestinal Bacteroides acidifaciens abundance in mice, up-regulated piceatannol expression, and down-regulated 1-naphthol expression, which contributed to antioxidant effects by enhancing the activities of SOD and GSH-Px while reducing MDA content. DOG was a diglyceride isolated from D. officinale residues after hot water extraction, and presented strong antioxidant effects by regulating intestinal flora metabolism. These findings could promote the efficient utilization of D. officinale and support further development of DOG in functional food applications.

Hydrazide-hydrazones as novel antioxidants - in vitro, molecular docking and DFT studies

The pathogenesis of many diseases, such as obesity, depression, cancer, cataract, and neurodegenerative diseases, is related to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Structures possessing radical-scavenging properties act as antioxidants and they could prevent the progression of the aforementioned diseases. Therefore, the current work was focused on the resynthesis and the antioxidant evaluation of 13 hydrazide-hydrazones. Two in vitro tests - DPPH and ABTS, were applied for the determination of the antioxidant capacities. The free-radical scavenging assays displayed that the hydrazide-hydrazone synthesized after condensation with a salicylaldehyde (5b) is the most potent antioxidant. The in vitro evaluation through the ABTS test showed that the former structure has greater antioxidant properties compared with the used standard - Trolox (6-Hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid). In concentrations of 31 µM, the pyrrole-based structure showed 35.77% radical-scavenging effects. A possible binding conformation of the most active hydrazide-hydrazone in the active site of NADPH oxidase was visualised through docking simulations. The active amino acids involved in the stabilisation of the complexes were discussed. DFT studies demonstrated that 5b is a stable structure with good hydrogen and electron donating properties. Overall, the pyrrole-based hydrazide-hydrazone possesses promising antioxidant properties, however further in vitro/in vivo biological evaluations are required.

Synthesis and characterization of 3,5-bis((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzamide and Zn(II) complex: Investigation of chromic, fluorescence and DPPH radical scavenging behaviours

Novel amido-Schiff base 3,5-bis((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzamide (2a) has been obtained by the reaction of Schiff base 1a with 2-hydroxyaniline in the presence of coupling agent N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Schiff base (1a) which serves as the starting compound in amide synthesis was produced from the condensation of 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid with salicylaldehyde in a 1:2 mol ratio. Tetrahedral geometry with 1:1 [M:L] stoichiometry Zn(II) complex (3a) was newly synthesized by the complexation reaction of ligand 2a with zinc(II) nitrate. 1a and 2a displayed a broad emission band at λem = 456 and 472 nm with a blue fluorescent in pure DMSO, while 3a emitted a strong greenish-blue fluorescent with the λem = 485 nm (λexc = 365 nm). The fluorescence efficiency of 1a was poor compared to the others. The λem in aqueous DMSO solution (v/v, 1:1) had ∼8–33 nm red-shift with respect to that of pure solution. The λem gave ∼1–15 nm red-shift with very low emission efficiency in acidic DMSO media. The results suggested that the aggregation caused quenching properties of 1a–3a in pure, aqueous, and acidic DMSO system with a 50 % water fraction. The fluorescence of the compounds appeared to be visibly very bright in basic DMSO media. All the compounds were also screened for antioxidant activity using UV–Vis spectroscopy. They were found to be not effective DPPH radical scavengers in DMSO.

Evaluating the concentration dependent dual effects of β-Glucan on cancerous skin cells and mitochondria isolated from melanoma-induced animal model

Introduction Melanoma is still one of the deadliest cancers whose prevalence has increased in recent decades. Today, many polysaccharides and their bioactive compounds have been of special importance in modern biotechnology. They have various biological and therapeutic properties. they can regulate and strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce bacterial and viral infections. According to studies, these compounds also have antitumor properties. we investigated the cytotoxic effects of β-Glucan obtained from solid-state fermentation (SSF) of edible medicinal mushroom Lentinus edodes on cancerous skin cells. Materials and methods The mitochondria were isolated from melanoma cells via differential centrifugation and treated with various concentrations (30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 240 µg/ml) of β-Glucan extract. Then, they were subjected to MTT, ROS, MMP decline, mitochondrial swelling, cytochrome c release, and flow cytometry assays. Results The results of the MTT assay showed that IC50 of β-Glucan extract was 60 μg/ml, and it induced a selectively significant (P < 0.05) concentration-dependent decrease in the SDH activity in cancerous skin mitochondria. At higher concentrations, no such effect was observed. The ROS results also showed that 30, 45, and 60 µg/ml concentrations of β-Glucan extract significantly increased ROS. However, no such effect was observed at higher concentrations. MMP decline and the release of cytochrome c in cancer groups mitochondria and swelling were significantly increased at 30, 45, and 60 µg/ml compared to the control group. At higher concentrations, no such effect was observed. β-Glucan extract at 60 µg/ml concentration increased apoptosis on melanoma cells, while it had no effect on control non-tumour cells. Discussion and conclusion Based on these results, β-Glucan extract at 30, 45, and 60 µg/ml showed a cytotoxic effect, while no such effect was observed at higher concentrations. Overall, it seems that β-Glucan has antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects on cancer cells at higher concentrations.

Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Polysaccharide Isolated from Undaria pinnatifida Sporophyll Extracts.

Undaria pinnatifida is a temperate brown alga known to exert free radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the skin-whitening effects of U. pinnatifida sporophyll extracts (UPEs) in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The crude polysaccharide fraction (UPF) was obtained via ethanol precipitation. Four polysaccharide fractions (UPF1-4) were isolated and purified using ion-exchange column chromatography, and their anti-melanogenic activity was evaluated. UPF3 exhibited the highest anti-melanogenic activity, showing the highest sulfate (39.79%), fucose (143 μg/mg), and galactose (208 μg/mg) contents. UPF3 significantly inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. We also evaluated the melanogenic signaling pathway to determine the mechanism of action of UPF3 in melanongenesis. UPF3 reduced the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase, which play important roles in melanin production. Therefore, UPF3 has high potential for use in skin-whitening functional pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Neuroprotective effect against amyloidogenic transthyretin aggregates - Induced cytotoxicity on human neuroblastoma cell by phenolic-rich Centella asiatica extract

Transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive and life-threatening neurodegenerative disease caused by aggregation of the plasma transport protein, transthyretin, for which treatment is rare and cure unavailable. Centella asiatica is a small edible herb with a long history of neurological application in ethnomedicine. This work investigated whether hydrophilic extract of C. asiatica (CAB) could suppress the toxic effects of transthyretin amyloid aggregate (TTRa) in cell model derived from the same in vivo target. TTRa was prepared via thermal-induced aggregation. Chemical cross-linking and Tricine-SDS-PAGE, Thioflavin-T fluorescence, and TEM analyses confirmed that TTRa matched the profile of TTRL55P nonfibrillar amyloid aggregates. PrestoBlue cell viability assay revealed that exposure of IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells to TTRa (2–8 μM) resulted in significant cytotoxicity. Conversely, exposure of IMR-32 cells to CAB did not adversely affect their viability. In addition, when IMR-32 cells were co-treated with TTRa and varied concentrations of CAB, the toxic effect of TTRa was significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited dose-dependently. The extract was found to possess potent radical scavenging effects, and quantitative RP-HPLC analysis showed that asiaticoside and phenolics were its main components. The cytoprotective effect against TTRa, antioxidant property, and good safety profile collectively suggest that CAB could be applied in the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics against transthyretin amyloidosis.

Determination of Superoxide Radical Scavenging Activity and Total Antioxidant Capacity by Modified DMPD Method

Among the reactive oxygen species, Superoxide radicals can produce dangerous species that cause lipid peroxidation. Therefore, the determination and scavenging of superoxide radicals is critical. Our study is based on the interaction of the superoxide radical produced from the β-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced disodium salt hydrate and phenazine methosulfate (NADH-PMS) system with N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (DMPD) to form the pink colored DMPD-quinone (DMPDQ) radical. In the presence of scavengers with superoxide radical scavenging activity (antioxidants, herbal teas) the color intensity decreases due to reduced DMPDQ radical production. The absorbance of the colored reference solution and the sample solution containing the radical scavenger was measured at 552 nm. The difference in absorbance (ΔA) between the reference solution and the sample solution was found. ΔA is proportional to the scavenger concentration. In the study, the superoxide radical scavenging effect of trolox (TR) and different AOXs was investigated. The superoxide radical scavenging effect of three different herbal tea infusion solutions was measured with this method. From the graph drawn between herbal tea concentrations and percentage inhibition values, 50% inhibition (EC50) values of herbal teas were found. EC50 method values were compared with the EC50 values of the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-etilbenzotiyazolin-6-sülfonik asit (ABTS) method. In addition, ABTS, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and this study total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values of herbal tea infusions were calculated and compared.

Investigation of Cytotoxic Effects of Tragopogon reticulatus Against HepG2 and MCF-7 Cell Lines and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Effects Against Some Microorganisms

Plants have been used for various purposes throughout history. This subject has received increasing attention in the field of traditional medicine in recent years. Tragopogon reticulatus, as a forage grass plant in turkey, is a species that stands out with rich vitamin and mineral content. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of T. reticulatus. Two separate extracts were prepared at different concentrations using hexane and methanol solvents obtained from the T. reticulatus plant, and cytotoxic activity was evaluated by the MTT Assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method on human liver cancer (HepG2) and human breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. The antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained from methanol and hexane was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity method. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion method, and bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium, and Candida albicans fungus were used in the study. The hexane extract obtained from the T. reticulatus plant showed a high cytotoxic activity of 44% in the MCF7 cell line, while it showed a 51% dead cell count in the HepG2 cell line. When the antioxidant results were evaluated, it was determined that the DPPH radical scavenging effect of the hexane extract exhibited the most effective activity at 19%. When the antimicrobial results were evaluated, it was determined that the concentrations prepared with hexane exhibited the most effective activity with a zone diameter of 16 mm against B. megaterium. These findings suggest that T. reticulatus plant extracts can be considered as a potential source. These results may shed light on future research into the biological effects of the plant and contribute to the development of new treatment methods.

An in vitro and in silico study of the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Nauclea latifolia fruit

The current study assessed the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Nauclea latifolia fruit in vitro and in silico. The aqueous infusion of the fruit was analysed for its in vitro antioxidant capacity using ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide (NO), and 2,2'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals scavenging activities. Its inhibitory effects on carbohydrate digestive enzymes was also determined. The phytoconstituents of the fruit were docked with carbohydrate digestive enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and the compounds were further evaluated for ADME parameters. The total phenolic content of N. Latifolia was 44.56 ± 0.78 mg g-1 GAE. N. latifolia aqueous extract exhibited remarkable ferric reducing power (IC50 value of 5.58 µg/mL) when compared to the control Trolox (IC50 value of 6.42 μg/mL). The extract displayed definite capability in inhibiting nitric oxide production than its radical scavenging effect on DPPH with IC50 values of 5.04 and 9.10 μg/mL, respectively. Aqueous extract further exhibited comparable inhibitory activity of the carbohydrate digestive enzymes compared to the standard drug, Acarbose. Moreover, the extract significantly increased glucose uptake in yeast in a dose-dependent manner. N. latifolia fruit aqueous extact's compound profiling with GCMS revealed several phenolic compounds with 2-mercaptophenol, exhibiting the highest in abundance. In silico study revealed that compounds 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and 4‑methoxy-2‑pent-3-en-2-ylphenol, showed higher binding affinity against α-amylase (-28.8651 kcal/mol), and α-glycosidase (-31.0689 kcal/mol), respectively. Furthermore, the ADME properties of the compounds revealed oral bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity properties. These results suggest the possible antioxidant and antidiabetic potential N. Latifolia.

Efficient reductive recovery of arsenic from acidic wastewater by a UV/dithionite process

The removal of arsenic (As(III)) from acidic wastewater using neutralization or sulfide precipitation generates substantial arsenic-containing hazardous solid waste, posing significant environmental challenges. This study proposed an advanced ultraviolet (UV)/dithionite reduction method to recover As(III) in the form of valuable elemental arsenic (As(0)) from acidic wastewater, thereby avoiding hazardous waste production. The results showed that more than 99.9 % of As(III) was reduced to As(0) with the residual concentration of arsenic below 25.0 μg L−1 within several minutes when the dithionite/As(III) molar ratio exceeded 1.5:1 and the pH was below 4.0. The content of As(0) in precipitate reached 99.70 wt%, achieving the purity requirements for commercial As(0) products. Mechanistic investigations revealed that SO2·‒ and H· radicals generated by dithionite photolysis under UV irradiation are responsible for reducing As(III) to As(0). Dissolved O2, Fe(III), Fe(II), Mn(II), dissolved organic matter (DOM), and turbidity slightly inhibited As(III) reduction via free radicals scavenging or light blocking effect, whereas other coexisting ions, such as Mg(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), F(−I), and Cl(−I), had limited influence on As(III) reduction. Moreover, the cost of treating real arsenic-containing (250.3 mg L−1) acidic wastewater was estimated to be as low as $0.668 m−3, demonstrating the practical applicability of this method. This work provides a novel method for the reductive recovery of As(III) from acidic wastewater.

Insights into free radicals scavenging, α-Amylase inhibition, cytotoxic and antifibrotic activities unveiled by Peganum harmala extracts

BackgroundPeganum harmala L. is used in traditional medicine to treat several health ailments. Hence, the present work aimed to investigate the DPPH free radical scavenging, α-amylase, cytotoxic, and antifibrotic effects of the hydrophilic extract and fixed oil obtained from P. harmala seeds.MethodsThe hydrophilic extract and fixed oil of P. harmala were assessed for their abilities to scavenge DPPH free radicals and inhibit α-amylase using reference bioassays. The cytotoxicity was assessed on several cancer and normal cell lines, including B16F1, Caco-2, COLO205, HeLa, Hep 3B and Hep G2, MCF-7, and HEK-293 T cells. The MTS assay was used to evaluate the antifibrotic capabilities utilizing the human hepatic stellate (LX-2) cell line.ResultsP. harmala plant fixed oil has potent DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 dose of 79.43 ± 0.08 µg/ml. Besides, the hydrophilic extract has a poor anti-α-amylase effect compared with the antidiabetic drug Acarbose, with IC50 doses of 398 ± 0.59 and 25.11 ± 1.22 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the growth of MCF-7, Hep3B, HepG2, HeLa, COLO205, CaCo2, B16F1, and HeK293t was inhibited by P. harmala hydrophilic extract with IC50 doses of 121.34 ± 1.71, 268.3 ± 0.75, 297.20 ± 1.00, 155.60 ± 1.14, 150.01 ± 0.51, 308.35 ± 0.53, 597.93 ± 1.36, and 5.38 ± 0.99 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, at 1000 µg/ml, 5-Fluorouracil reduced fibrosis cells by 0.089%, while the hydrophilic extract decreased the number of LX-2 cells by 5.81%.ConclusionP. harmala plant-fixed oil exhibits potential antioxidant properties. While the hydrophilic extract showed limited effectiveness as an anti-α-amylase agent and demonstrated notable cytotoxic effects against various tested cancer cell lines. Furthermore, this extract significantly reduces the number of LX-2 fibrotic cells. These findings emphasize the therapeutic potential of these products in managing various health disorders and warrant further investigation into their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.

Evaluation of the Phytochemical Screening of Methanolic Seed Extracts of Tribulus terrestris: An In Vitro Application of Anti-cancer, Anti-oxidant, and Anti-microbial Activities.

Tribulus terrestris, a plant known for its pharmacological properties, was investigated in this study for its potential anticancer effects against oral cancer cells. The study aimed to explore the phytochemical composition of T. terrestris seed extract and evaluate its cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Methanolic seed extracts of T. terrestris were obtained and subjected to phytochemical analysis to identify bioactive compounds. The cytotoxic effect of the extract on oral cancer cells was evaluated using the MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide)assay, while pro-apoptotic effects were assessed through dual fluorescent staining. Antioxidant activity was measured using hydrogen peroxide and erythrocyte aggregation assays, while anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated through inhibition of albumin denaturation. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and phenols in T. terrestris seed extract. The extract demonstrated concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against oral cancer cells, with 100 μg/mL showing significant growth inhibition. Pro-apoptotic effects were observed, with characteristic morphological changes in cancer cells treated with the extract. Antioxidant activity was demonstrated by the extract, with methanol fraction of a flower (MFF) exhibiting the highest capacity, followed by total trichome fraction (TTF), and a positive correlation between phenolic content and free radical scavenging effectiveness was noted. Antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, was also observed, with higher concentrations showing increased efficacy. The study concludes that methanolic extracts of T. terrestris possess significant anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. These findings highlight the potential of T. terrestris as a candidate for further research and clinical applications, either alone or in combination with other agents, for the treatment of oral cancer and associated conditions.

Yttrium doped cerium oxide as free radical scavenger for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Yttrium doped cerium oxide (CeO2·Y2O3) was studied as a free radical scavenger for PEMFCs. MEA with CeO2·Y2O3 was compared with MEAs with CeO2 and without free radical scavenger. MEAs before and after 50 h of open circuit voltage hold accelerated stress test show better performance retention with CeO2·Y2O3 than CeO2. MEAs with CeO2·Y2O3 and CeO2 perform better than the pristine MEA without free radical scavenger. ECSA, MA, and EIS of the MEAs were analyzed to confirm the effect of free radical scavengers on MEA performance and durability. XRF confirmed the improved Ce ions retention in MEAs with CeO2·Y2O3 than pure CeO2, indicating improved stability of Ce ions after doping with Yttrium. Effluents from the anode and cathode of the fuel cells were collected and analyzed by fluoride ion selective electrodes at 25 h and 50 h of the accelerated stress test. The fuel cell with CeO2·Y2O3 as a free radical scavenger has the lowest fluoride emission rate. Furthermore, the ex-situ Fenton study combined with ICP-MS analysis shows better stability of Ce in CeO2·Y2O3. This study indicates that yttrium-doped cerium oxide has better stability against dissolution and enhances the stability of polymer components against free radicals compared with CeO2, which will benefit the long-term durability of the PEMFCs.