Raw Extraction Research Articles

Material Modernities: Aluminum in the Making of a Global Cultural Economy

ABSTRACT Although the human relationship with aluminum is short, the metal has affected our lives and societies more profoundly than perhaps any other. A light metal that does not corrode, aluminum is a key ingredient in airplanes, automobiles, and artillery—three industries that transformed twentieth-century society. As such, aluminum propelled Western modernity toward new understandings and cultural orientations within an increasingly globalized world. Yet as it became a defining ingredient of modernity, aluminum also helped entrench an unequal and racialized international order through extractive systems built on older infrastructures of exploitation. The aluminum supply chain that enabled twentieth-century modernity maps across an earlier transatlantic network that produced the enslaved human labor that was equally formative of our modern era. Racialized landscapes and labor at sites of raw aluminum ore extraction are central to Western modernity, though they are generally erased from its histories. Fully understanding Western industrial modernity requires centering the African lands and bodies that have shaped it, and correcting its destructive tendencies requires prioritizing alternative African visions.

Green ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds of babassu (Attalea speciosa) mesocarp: Effects of solid-liquid ratio extraction, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity

Babassu mesocarp (Attalea speciosa, Family: Arecaceae) is a by-product of kernel oil manufacture, reported as a rich source of phenolic compounds of biotechnology potential due to its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. In this work, were investigated a greener protocol to maximize the recovery of bioactive compounds by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) using ethanol as a food-grade solvent, purposing future applications in foods. Moreover, the effect of solid/liquid ratio (1:4, 1:10, and 1:25 w/v) on extraction was also evaluated. Results showed extracts with 1.2 g of mesocarp with 30 mL ethanol 94% (1:25 ratio w/v), for 20 min, at 20°C, yields high values of Total Phenolic Contents (TPC: 5124.86 ± 350.13 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (TFC: 477.45 ± 23.07 mg QE/100 g), antioxidant capacity (FRAP: 4037.56 ± 187.26 µmol TEAC/100 g, DPPH• remaining from 10 to 38% after stabilization). Moreover, the DPPH• assay also suggests that each solid-liquid ratio recovers antioxidant compounds able to react with DPPH by differential Kinect, which can conveniently favor usability and enhance oxidative stability in food applications. For example, the extract obtained by the 1:4 ratio reacted very fast with DPPH• (less than 1 min), while on the 1:25 ratio, the stabilization of DPPH• is slower, taking more than 120 min. For the first time, raw babassu mesocarp ethanolic extract inhibited Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and S. Enteritidis activity, as shown by Disk-diffusion assay. This study indicated that Ultrasound-assisted technology could be used as a greener protocol to recover high amounts of polyphenols from babassu mesocarp using food-grade solvents with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.

A Scientific Approach for Environmental Analysis: An Asynchronous Electric Motor Case Study for Stand-By Applications

In recent years, there has been growing attention from the scientific community regarding the environmental impact of commercial goods, pushing companies to adopt life cycle assessment strategies to improve their environmental profile. Only few studies have examined the environmental burdens of electric motors, specifically for stationary applications such as oil and gas plants, transmission organs, operating machines, or other industrial utilization. For this purpose, this paper presents a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the environmental sustainability of an asynchronous electric motor used for stationary applications. The motor under examination moves a stand-by hydraulic pump used in a compression plant to lubricate the bearings of centrifugal machines. The principles dictated by ISO 14040 are implemented, and a cradle-to-gate analysis is performed. This article reports in detail the inventory hypothesis and the steps that led to modeling the assessed electric motor. The results are presented for all impact categories provided by the ReCiPe methodology. Additionally, a breakdown of the eco-indicators at the single component level is proposed, focusing on the impact of raw material extraction phases and subsequent technological processes. The last section highlights which components contribute predominantly, both from a materials and processes perspective, and the environmental hotspots in the modeled supply chain are identified.

Exploring microencapsulation potential: Multicomponent spray dried delivery systems for improvement of Chlorella vulgaris extract preservation and solubility

The potential of Lutein-rich extract from Chlorella vulgaris (CHL) as a health product ingredient is hindered by stability and solubility issues. We propose a method to produce a stable microparticulate powder using spray-drying and a multicomponent carrier consisting of modified starch (OSA-MS), low molecular weight Inulin, and Lecithin. The influence of matrix selection, spray drying, and storage conditions on powder properties and chemical-physical stability was investigated. The resulting powder exhibited improved flow characteristics, wettability, and enhanced water dissolution rate of CHL. After 12 months of storage, the powder (PURIL-CHL) retained approximately 65 % of Lutein, twice the retention of the raw extract. The properties of the spray-dried powder were well-preserved, and bioactive dissolution remained above 80%. This study provides an approach to upgrade Lutein-rich CHL extract in powder form, suitable for various applications in the health products industry.

Comparative Analysis of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement and Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement

Jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) is the widely preferred conventional concrete pavement for highways; however, the higher initial construction cost and extended time for traffic opening limit its applicability. Recent advancements like roller-compacted concrete pavement (RCCP) could address the above concerns of JPCP. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge and comparative studies on the performance assessment, sustainability, and economic analysis of RCCP and JPCP. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the engineering properties (density, compressive and flexural strength, and fluid flow properties), cost analysis (materials and initial construction cost), and sustainability (carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption) of both pavements. The fresh density and mechanical properties of RCCP were 8%–9% and 13%–35% higher than JPCP; thus, 44%–89% and 24%–57% reductions in water absorption and porosity were observed in the considered RCCP mixes against JPCP. The higher strength properties of RCCP significantly reduced the pavement thickness by 10%–25%, thereby lowering the materials and initial construction costs by 52%–78%. Further, sustainability assessment through the cradle-to-gate (from raw material extraction to transportation phase) and gate-to-gate (only concrete production in a ready-mix plant) approaches revealed that employment of RCCP could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions (9%–30%) and energy consumption (10%–32%) compared with JPCP mixes. The findings show that RCCP can be considered sustainable, economical, and higher-performance pavement than JPCP.

GEOMATICS ALLIED WITH BUILDINGS

We are all aware of the various Building Life Cycle stages. Before one can even start talking about the sustainability or smartness of a building, we should understand the different stages of a building, which are as follows: 1. Raw material extraction 2. Manufacturing 3. Construction 4. In use - Operation and Maintenance 5. Demolition 6. Disposal, Re-use, Recycle Each of the mentioned stages is intricately linked to the use of natural resources for energy consumption, forming the foundation for examining sustainable buildings. This paper will mainly focus briefly on how a 'GIS' can be linked to all or most of these steps. The scope of GIS is expanding every day and will also have a significant impact on architecture. When we think of "Smart Cities" or "Smart Buildings", the first thing that comes to mind is Automation or the Internet of Things, which is an integral part of the fourth phase i.e., Operation/In use. However, the reality is that a Smart Building is developed early in its Life Cycle of a Building. This paper will help people understand and grasp "how modern technologies (GIS and remote sensing) can be useful in the raw material extraction process" and "how GIS can be integrated into the process of Production, Construction, Operation and Maintenance". The study also aims to investigate the domain of demolition and the subsequent processes of disposal, reuse, and recycling, utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS). If you find this topic intriguing and captivating, I encourage you to continue reading. I genuinely hope that this paper proves to be both informative and engaging for you.

Effect of Carica papaya raw fruit extract using in vitro rat uterus preparations

Background: Uterine stimulants are medications used to induce/augment labor, induce abortion, and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Currently, available drugs carrying adverse effects, hence the present study is designed to study the effect of Carica papaya raw fruits extract in comparison with oxytocin using in vitro rat uterus preparations. Aims and Objectives: Primary and secondary aims of the present study were to evaluate the uterine stimulant effect and also the potency of C. papaya fruit extract using in vitro rat uterus preparations in comparison with oxytocin. Materials and Methods: A total of 6 female rats were taken and anesthetized with ether. By giving midline incision at abdomen from pubic symphysis, two horns of uterus were identified and collected from each rat. Uterus of each rat was subjected to Oxytocin 0.32 IU (standard), alcoholic extract of C. papaya 0.32 mg (AECP), and combination of various doses of AECP (0.64 mg, 1.28 mg, and 2.56 mg) and a fixed dose of Oxytocin (0.32 IU). Using Sherrington’s kymograph, the uterine responses of each drug and combinations were studied in terms of height of the graph. Results: The mean contraction of uterus was 6.55mm and 2.26 cm, when Oxytocin (0.32 UI) and AECP (0.32 mg) injected, respectively. When combination of Oxytocin and different doses of AECP was injected, the uterus has shown dose-dependent response, i.e., 7.13 cm (Oxytocin 0.32 IU +AECP 3.2 mg), 8.08 cm (Oxytocin 0.32 IU + AECP 6.4 mg), and 9.01 cm (Oxytocin 0.32 IU + AECP 12.8 mg). Conclusion: AECP has shown dose-dependent uterine stimulant effect. Further studies are required to find out the possible mechanism behind the uterine stimulant activity of AECP.

Antioxidant Activity Test of Barangan Banana Peel (Musa Acuminata Linn) Etanol Extract With DPPH Method

Barangan banana (Musa acuminata linn) is also called Medan banana which is often found in North Sumatra. Banana peels are known to contain phenolic compounds that have potential as antioxidants. This study aims to determine the antioxidant activity of raw and ripe banana peel extract of Barangan banana (Musa acuminata linn) using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-pikrihidrazil) method. The data obtained was calculated to determine the antioxidant activity. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of Barangan raw banana peel IC50 = 32,52 μg/mL, the ethanol extract of Barangan ripe banana peel IC50 = 83,60 μg/mL, and the vitamin C comparator obtained an IC50 value of 5,00. Raw banana peel extract has higher antioxidant activity than ripe banana peel extract.

Screening for Bioactive Compounds in Extracts from Leaves, Leafstalks, and Fruits of Ficus Carica

Aqueous, Ethanol extracts and Fig's milk were preliminary phytochemically screened and tested against some pathogenic bacteria. Qualitatively analysis revealed Tannin, Saponin, Flavonoids and Terpenoids and phlobatannins and Steroids gave positive results. Quantitative analysis showed that the highest percentage of alkaloid was 41% in fig milk and 39% in plant leaves. In addition, the crude extracts of fig's milk as well as of the raw plant extracts were tested (using the Disc Diffusion Method) for their antimicrobial activity against the bacterial pathogens. The influences of aqueous and ethanol extracts on some pathogenic: two strains of gram-positive bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia.., and two strains of gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella SPP and Klebsiella aerogenes. , and the sensitivity of the microorganisms to the extracts of plant’s species were compared with each other and with designated antibiotics by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zones, After incubation, the zone of inhibition was measured in mm, a good inhibition of more than 6 mm were observed indicating the effective antibacterial activity of the bioactive compounds in both of the plants leaves extracts and fig's milk. Moreover, the including results of the antibacterial activities of plants leaves extracts and fig's milk were discussed regarding their phytochemical components which exhibited that have a good inhibition zone against six tested bacterial strains.

Separation of Mixtures of Rutin and Quercetin: Evaluating the Productivity of Preparative Chromatography

AbstractThe flavonoid rutin is present in significant amounts in the flower buds of Sophora japonica L. It offers numerous desired pharmacological effects. Under certain extraction conditions quercetin is found as a hydrolysis product which needs to be separated from rutin. This paper describes the application of liquid chromatography to solve this task. Based on the determination of adsorption equilibrium constants and column efficiencies, the productivity of the separation process is estimated, and scale‐up considerations are presented. A comparison with alternatively directly crystallizing rutin from raw extracts is also reported.

Binary-Convolution Data-Reduction Network for Edge–Cloud IIoT Anomaly Detection

Industrial anomaly detection, which relies on the analysis of industrial internet of things (IIoT) sensor data, is a critical element for guaranteeing the quality and safety of industrial manufacturing. Current solutions normally apply edge–cloud IIoT architecture. The edge side collects sensor data in the field, while the cloud side receives sensor data and analyzes anomalies to accomplish it. The more complete the data sent to the cloud side, the higher the anomaly-detection accuracy that can be achieved. However, it will be extremely expensive to collect all sensor data and transmit them to the cloud side due to the massive amounts and distributed deployments of IIoT sensors requiring expensive network traffics and computational capacities. Thus, it becomes a trade-off problem: “How to reduce data transmission under the premise of ensuring the accuracy of anomaly detection?”. To this end, the paper proposes a binary-convolution data-reduction network for edge–cloud IIoT anomaly detection. It collects raw sensor data and extracts their features at the edge side, and receives data features to discover anomalies at the cloud side. To implement this, a time-scalar binary feature encoder is proposed and deployed on the edge side, encoding raw data into time-series binary vectors. Then, a binary-convolution data-reduction network is presented at the edge side to extract data features that significantly reduce the data size without losing critical information. At last, a real-time anomaly detector based on hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) is established on the cloud side to identify anomalies. The proposed model is validated on the NAB dataset, and achieves 70.0, 64.6 and 74.0 on the three evaluation metrics of SP, RLFP and RLFN, while obtaining a reduction rate of 96.19%. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves new state-of-the-art results in anomaly detection with data reduction. The proposed method is also deployed on a real-world industrial project as a case study to prove the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Skin microbiota metabolism of natural products from comfrey root (Symphytum officinale L.)

Ethnopharmacological relevanceComfrey root (Symphytum officinale L., Boraginaceae) has been used in folk medicine for a long time to treat different diseases. It is recommended for swellings, phlebitis, contusions, gastro-duodenal ulcers, respiratory diseases, and metrorrhagia. Currently, preparations from S. officinale are only topically used due to its wound-healing effects, and for reducing inflammation and the treatment of broken bones, tendon damage, painful joints and muscles. Although it is a widespread plant material, little is known about the interaction of externally applied preparations of comfrey with the human skin microbiome. Aim of the studyThe study aims to determine the interaction between human skin microbiota and the comfrey root extracts, by monitoring the biotransformation of the constituents present in the extract and evaluating changes in the population of the skin microbiota in an ex vivo setting. Material and methodsThe comfrey root extract was incubated with the human skin microbiota from ten healthy donors. The UHPLC-DAD-MSn analysis determined the composition of the raw extract and the microbial metabolites. Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted and examined by amplification sequencing of the 16S rDNA to determine changes in the bacterial composition. ResultsThe hydroethanolic extract of comfrey root primarily consists of phenolic acids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and their derivatives, and lignans. The natural products present in the extract underwent biodegradation by the skin microbiota, leading to the formation of smaller molecules. It was observed that the skin microbial metabolism primarily focused on modifying the derivatives of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It resulted in the production of deacetylated and deesterificated compounds. However, it did not lead to the conversion of these compounds into free alkaloids. ConclusionsThe microbiota-triggered biotransformation of the comfrey root extract was observed. A few N-oxides were metabolized to deacetylated and deesterificated forms in ex vivo conditions. It suggests that the intermittent external applications of comfrey preparations perchance are unlikely to pose a substantial risk. While it even may serve as a potential factor influencing the extract activity in treating skin diseases.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Attenuates Cell Damage in Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Transgenic Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Line-Derived Neural-Like Cells: A Preliminary Study for Potential Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Centella asiatica (L.) (C. asiatica) is commonly known in South East and South East Asia communities for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. Besides being traditionally used to enhance memory and accelerate wound healing, its phytochemicals have been extensively documented for their neuroprotective, neuroregenerative, and antioxidant properties. The present study aims to investigate the effects of a standardized raw extract of C. asiatica (RECA) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic death in neural-like cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cell line. Pre-treatment with H2O2 for 24 hours, in a dose-dependent manner, damaged neural-like cells as marked by a decrease in cell viability, substantial increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and increase in apoptotic rate compared to untreated cells. Treatment with RECA for 48 hours remarkably restored cell survival and promoted neurite outgrowth in the H2O2-damaged neurons by increasing cell viability and decreasing ROS activity. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that RECA upregulated the level of antioxidant genes such as thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) of treated cells, as well as the expression level of neuronal-specific markers such as Tuj1 and MAP2 genes, suggesting their contribution in neuritogenic effect. Our findings indicate that RECA promotes neuroregenerative effects and exhibits antioxidant properties, suggesting a valuable synergistic activity of its phytochemical constituents, thus, making the extract a promising candidate in preventing or treating oxidative stress-associated Alzheimer's disease.

Arabinoxylan from Corn Fiber Obtained through Alkaline Extraction and Membrane Purification: Relating Bioactivities with the Phenolic Compounds.

Arabinoxylan has prebiotic properties, as it is able to resist digestion in the small intestine and undergoes fermentation in the large intestine. In this work, arabinoxylan was extracted from corn fiber using an alkaline solution and further purified with membrane processing. It was found that the extracts were mainly composed of xylose (50-52%), arabinose (37-39%), galactose (9%) and glucose (1-4%), with an A/X ratio of 0.72-0.77. All the extracts were composed of phenolic compounds, including ferulic acid derivatives such as dimers, trimers and tetramers. The purified extract had a lower concentration of ferulic and p-coumaric acid (0.004 and 0.02 mg/mgdry_weight, respectively) when compared to raw extract (19.30 and 2.74 mg/mgdry_weight, respectively). The same effect was observed for the antioxidant activity, with purified extracts having a lower value (0.17 ± 0.02 µmol TEAC/mg) when compared to the raw extract (2.20 ± 0.35 µmol TEAC/mg). The purified extract showed a greater antiproliferative effect against the HT29 cell line with EC50 = 0.12 ± 0.02 mg/mL when compared to the raw extract (EC50 = 5.60 ± 1.6 mg/mL). Both raw and purified extracts did not show any cytotoxicity to the Caco-2 cell line in the maximum concentration tested (10 mg/mL).

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Vitex altissima Leaf Extract in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Vitex altissima has been conventionally utilized for its wide-ranging properties in the management of oxidative stress and inflammation. The present investigation was centered on the quantification of the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Vitex altissima. The samples were evaluated for their ability to impede the activity of proteinase, denature proteins, and stabilize the membrane of human red blood cells (HRBC). The present study investigated the inhibitory impact of extracts on the production of total cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase-5 (5-LOX), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitric oxide (NO) using the RAW 264.7 cell line. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties were assessed through the employment of both DPPH assay and reducing power assay. According to the findings, the methanolic extract of Vitex altissima (VAME) was identified as the most efficacious fraction with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The findings indicate that the extracts exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of proteinase, protein denaturation, and hemolysis of HRBC membrane, which is beneficial. The extracts of Vitex altissima, when treated at concentrations that are not cytotoxic, were observed to have a significant effect in reducing the activity of COX, 5-LOX, and MPO in RAW 264.7 cell line treated with LPS. This resulted in a decrease in NO levels. The dose-dependent increase in in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Vitex altissima suggests its potential use as a pharmacological agent for the management of diseases related to inflammation. Additional comprehensive phytochemical investigations, in conjunction with in vitro and in vivo analyses, are necessary to identify the active constituent within the extract.

Sustainable manufacturing of new construction material from alkali activation of volcanic tuff

The current climate emergency leads to reduction of virgin raw material extraction and promotes circular economy. In this framework, alkali activation of unemployed fraction of grey tuff, combined with glass waste, provides a range of sustainable construction materials. For the sake of sustainability, tuff powder was subjected to rapid attack (30 min), operated by a ‘weak’ alkaline solution (3 M NaOH), and then left to dry at low temperature (75 °C) for 72 h. The addition of Triton X-100 surfactant was considered to obtain foams starting from slurries with different liquid-to-solid ratio. A thermal treatment was applied to selected samples, at low temperature (700 °C). Despite the ‘mild’ activation conditions, all products survived after immersion in boiling water or acid solution, already in the unfired state, according to the formation of a multiphasic gel. The strength-to-density ratio, especially for foams, in both unfired and fired form, compares well with that of already existing construction materials (e.g. it could exceed 5 MPa cm3/g).

Solvent extraction of superfine pulverized coal. Part 3. Small angle X-ray scattering characterization

Because of the unique physicochemical textures induced by reduced particle size, superfine pulverized coal presents attractive characteristics in different utilization processes, including solvent extraction. In this work, the synchrotron radiation-based small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with high precision was used to quantitatively characterize all the products during the coal extraction process, including raw coal, extract, and residue. In addition, the evolutions of pore structures (solid state) and aggregate configurations (liquid state) were focused on. The results show that the fractal dimensions of pore surfaces are mainly related to the pore sizes and corresponding quantity distributions. When the particle size is less than 14 μm, the comminution induced mechanical effect on the pore surface gradually changes from impact to polish during the superfine grinding. Additionally, the fractal dimension decreases with the decline of particle size and ash content, whilst increases for the lower ranked coals. As for the extraction process, the extraction effect of tetrahydrofuran on anthracite coal is relatively better, while pyridine is more effective for bituminous coal. The diverse driving force caused by particle size effect leads to different radii of the gyration of the extracted aggregates, indicating the selected bituminous coal has active sites that are susceptible to reacting with aromatic compounds, while anthracite has a large number of active sites that accept electrons. Finally, the surface fractal dimension of the extraction residue declines about 2% and 4% for HN and NMG coal respectively, and the decreasing trend declines for larger coal particles. Interestingly, this decreasing trend of bituminous coal is more evident, which indicates the pore surface of bituminous coal is easier to react with solvent. The research sheds light on thoroughly depicting the pore structure of coal and residue at a molecular level, which promotes a better understanding of the solvent extraction mechanisms. The results also provide a new perspective for constructing more comprehensive coal molecular models in the future.

Inflammatory response in Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients treated using raw liquid extract of Morinda lucida (Oowo) leaf in some traditional homes in Nigeria

Study Background: Morinda lucida is a medicinal plant used in Nigeria for Plasmodium falciparum infection treatment due to its phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities. Traditional medicine is accepted in Nigeria for its effectiveness. The plant’s various parts treat fever, malaria, diabetes, ulcers, and gonorrhea. It contains alkaloids, anthraquinones, anthraquinols, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and glycosides. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the inflammatory response in P. falciparum-infected patients treated with the raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaves in traditional homes in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in ten traditional homes in Saki, Nigeria. Fifty P. falciparum-infected participants receiving treatment in traditional homes were recruited, along with 50 participants receiving conventional malaria treatment in hospitals and 50 noninfected participants as controls. Blood samples were collected for the estimation of parasite density by microscopy, plasma interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels by ELISA. The raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaves was prepared and administered to the patients. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the results among the different groups. Results: The results showed a significant difference in plasma IL-10, TNF-α levels, and parasite density across the different groups. Treatment with the raw liquid extract led to a decrease in plasma IL-10 levels and an increase in plasma TNF-α levels and parasite density in the infected patients. No significant difference was observed between traditional home and hospital patients in terms of IL-10 levels and parasite density. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the raw liquid extract of M. lucida leaves may modulate the inflammatory response in P. falciparum-infected patients. Further studies are needed to explore the therapeutic potential of this plant in the treatment of malaria.

Evaluating Carbon Footprint in the Life Cycle Design of Residential Concrete Structures in Jordan

The construction industry is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, and there is a growing global interest in reducing the environmental impact of carbon dioxide emissions associated with building construction and operation. Concrete, the most commonly used material in construction, is known to release a substantial amount of environmentally harmful waste throughout its life cycle, including production, construction, operation, and demolition. The worldwide production and consumption of concrete contribute to approximately 5% of all human-related CO2 emissions each year. To assess the carbon footprint of concrete manufacturing and its application in construction projects, a comprehensive approach called life cycle assessment (LCA) is necessary. This paper presents a new process-based LCA approach to analyze carbon emissions and evaluate the carbon footprint of concrete from raw material extraction to the end-of-life stage. To address carbon emissions throughout the life cycle of concrete structures in the Middle East, the study adopts a case study approach, focusing on selected concrete structures in Jordan. The findings from these case studies highlight that the operational phase of concrete structures is the primary contributor to carbon emissions. By thoroughly examining the carbon cycle within structures and their interactions with the surrounding ecosystem, significant reductions in CO2 emissions, environmental deterioration, and its consequences can be achieved. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-07-07 Full Text: PDF

Phytochemical Characteristics and Antimicrobial Effects of <i>Nonea rossica</i> (Boraginaceae) Extracts

Abstract—A phytochemical and microbiological analysis of a widespread Russian species, Nonea rossica Steven (Boraginaceae) was carried out. As an object of study, we used the aerial part (herb) of N. rossica, harvested during flowering stage from a steppe meadow in the Novosibirsk region. The qualitative composition of biologically active compounds (BAC) was determined by thin layer chromatography, using two solvent systems: ethyl acetate–ethanol–dimexide and ethyl acetate–anhydrous formic acid–glacial acetic acid–water. The quantification of their amount was carried out by spectrophotometry (flavonoids expressed as rutin, hydroxycinnamic acids – as caffeic acid, and coumarin-like compounds – as coumarin). The raw material ethanolic extracts of different concentrations (20, 40, 70 and 95%) were used in pharmacological research. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the serial dilution method. Strains of gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 FDA 209P and Bacillus cereus ATCC 10702) and fungi – Candida albicans NCTC 885-653 were used as test cultures. The presence of bioactive phenolic compounds (hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, coumarins) was established and their quantitative content was determined. It was observed that the highest yield of bioactive phenolic compounds resulted from using 40–70% ethanol as extractant. The microbiological activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Nonea rossica herb was studied. It was determined that antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, and antifungal activity against Candida albicans were exhibited by 40–70% ethanolic extracts of Nonea rossica, where equal content of caffeic acid and coumarin was measured. The synergistic interaction of these compounds determines the established bactericidal and fungistatic properties of such extracts.