Mixture Of Extracts Research Articles

Developmental formulation of sustainable plant consortium based pesticide and its prominent pesticidal activity

AbstractChemical pesticides in crop protection pose long‐term threats to living beings due to their harmful side effects. Plant consortium, a mixture of diverse plant extracts and biomedicine, has gained attention for integrated pest management. Developmental formulations increase bioavailability of bioactive constituents, enhancing desired biological activities. The present study is undertaken to evaluate the pesticidal activity of the plant consortium composed of Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, and Capsicum annuum against Spodoptera litura under laboratory condition. Followed by measuring pesticidal activity, ecotoxicity of prepared formulation was investigated. The plant consortium was prepared from the selected plant extracts through green science principles. The presence of possible bioactive compounds in plant consortium prepared from ethanolic extracts of selected plants was determined using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC‐MS). Pesticidal activity of the prepared consortium was investigated against S. litura by determination of cumulative mortality, lethal concentration. Active principles of pesticidal activity associated with plant consortium was readily extracted in ethanol. Prepared consortium revealed notable pesticidal activity against S. litura larval stages by recording high mortality and least LC50 and LC90. The plant consortium has not shown any ecotoxic effect which was confirmed by no sign of toxic effects on plant growth parameters of seedlings. Ecotoxicity of proposed consortium was also studied by measuring the soil parameters and phytotoxicity assessment. The present study suggests the possible utilization of presently proposed plant consortium as an effective pesticidal agent without affecting ecosystem.

Eco-friendly and high-performance extraction of flavonoids from lemon peel wastes by applying ultrasound-assisted extraction and eutectic solvents

This work aimed to develop an optimized extraction process to achieve an environmentally friendly proposal to recover flavonoids from lemon peel wastes using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and eutectic mixtures as solvents. The eutectic mixture choline chloride:acetic acid (ChCL:AA; 1:2 mol/mol) displayed the best extraction performance of the target compounds, here represented by hesperidin and narirutin. In Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) approach, we identified the ideal conditions for flavonoid recovery: a solvent-to-feed ratio (R(S/F)) of 30 (v/m), 40% water content (m/m), and a static time of 40 min. Combined with a dynamic extraction time of 6 min (under cavitation), those parameters yielded optimal results in flavonoid recovery. The 320 W ultrasound power achieved the maximum yield of the target compounds (5.25 mghesperidin/gbiomass and 0.21 mgnarirutin/gbiomass). Besides, our results showed that the ChCL:AA solvent enhanced the thermal stability of flavonoids, showcasing remarkable potential as a stabilizing agent for various applications. Ultrasound-assisted extractions were superior in extraction performance compared to conventional techniques, namely maceration and magnetic stirring.

Feeding strategies for Sporosarcina pasteurii cultivation unlock more efficient production of ureolytic biomass for MICP.

The bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii is the most commonly used microorganism for Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) due to its high urease activity. To date, no proper fed-batch cultivation protocol for S. pasteurii has been published, even though this cultivation method has a high potential for reducing costs of producing microbial ureolytic biomass. This study focusses on fed-batch cultivation of S. pasteurii DSM33. The study distinguishes between limited fed-batch cultivation and extended batch cultivation. Simply feeding glucose to a S. pasteurii culture does not seem beneficial. However, it was exploited that S. pasteurii is auxotrophic for two vitamins and amino acids. Limited fed-batch cultivation was accomplished by feeding the necessary vitamins or amino acids to a culture lacking them. Feeding nicotinic acid to a nicotinic acid deprived culture resulted in a 24% increase of the specific urease activity compared to a fed culture without nicotinic acid limitation. Also, extended batch cultivation was explored. Feeding a mixture of glucose and yeast extract results in OD600 of ≈70 at the end of cultivation, which is the highest value published in literature so far. These results have the potential to make MICP applications economically viable.

후코이단/이고들빼기 혼합물에 의한 HepG2 간암세포의 apoptosis 유도

In the present study, we investigated whether a mixture of fucoidan and Crepidiastrum denticulatum extract (FCE) had the potential to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatment. The results demonstrated that FCE significantly reduced cell viability and induced the release of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and DNA fragmentation in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FCE treatment also increased the protein expression level of p53, the release of cytochrome c, and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, FCE dose-dependently increased protein expression levels of Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 and -9. However, FCE decreased the protein expression level of Bcl-2. These results suggest that FCE inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway. The present study demonstrates that FCE can be used as an anti-cancer agent for liver cancer based on apoptosis mechanism.

In-vitro Anti-inflammatory Activity for Combination of Ethanol Extract from Sappan Wood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) and Red Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roxb.)

Sappan wood and red ginger rhizome have been utilized as herbal medicine due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, analgesic, and immunomodulatory activities. Previous study revealed that sappan wood and red ginger rhizome showed good anti-inflammatory activity. However, the studies are focused on single extract. There are no research about combining the sappan wood extract and red ginger rhizome extract for antiinflammatory agent. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of the combination of sappan wood and red ginger rhizome ethanol extracts for antiinflammatory properties using red blood cell (RBC) membrane stabilization test. The tested samples consisted of sappan wood ethanol extract, red ginger rhizome ethanol extract, combination formulas (F1, F2, and F3), and positive control (diclofenac sodium). F1 comprises a 1:1 mixture of ethanol extract of sappan wood and red ginger rhizome, while F2 and F3 are composed of 2:1 and 1:2, respectively. The IC50 values for sappan wood ethanol extract, red ginger rhizome ethanol extract, and formulas F1, F2, and F3 were 47.63, 181.26, 101.93, 94.98, and 104.98 ppm, respectively. Statistical analysis using the one-way Anova followed by the Games-Howell post-hoc test revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the IC50 of each sample. For single extracts, sappan wood is better as an anti-inflammatory. Meanwhile, in the formulations, Formula F2 is superior as an anti-inflammatory agent

The role of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from Citrus aurantium Leaves in some Vegetative and physiological characteristics of fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum- graecum L.)

The research was crried out in the plant tissue culture laboratory and the green house of Department of plant Biotechnology in College of Biotechnology/AL-Nahrain University. The aim of it, is the Green-synthesis of silver nanoparticles by using an aqueous extract of Citrus aurantium leaves and characterizied the silver nanoparticles, using visible method depend on colour changing of the solution(mixture of aqueous extract of C. aurantium leaves and 1mMol of AgNO3 under 60C ̊), UV-Visible spectroscopy method and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), then study the effects of foliar spray of of AgNPs on some vegetative and physiological characteristics of Fenugreek Plant (Trigonella foenum- graecum L.), such as fresh and dry weight, length of shoot, carbohydrates, proteins and proline. The result showed the positive effect of using AgNPs on these characteristics.

Antidiabetic effect of the mixture of Cissus polyantha and Rytigynia senegalensis in high-fat diet and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats

BackgroundIn traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices, many plants of the Cissus and Rytigynia genera are used to treat many diseases including diabetes mellitus.The aim of this study was to evaluate the modulating effects of the mixture of the aqueous extracts of Cissus polyantha and Rytiginia senegalensis (CPRS) on some enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative profile, and cardiovascular parameters in diabetic rats. MethodsDiabetes was induced by a diet enriched in high-fat for 30 days associated with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (35 mg/kg). Rats with a blood glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL were selected and divided into groups. Groups 1 and 2 received distilled water. Group 3 received metformin (40 mg/kg). Groups 4 and 5 received CPRS at doses of 50 and 111 mg/kg, respectively. Glycaemia, body mass, food and water intake, insulinemia, insulin resistance and insulin secretion indices, lipid profile and cardiovascular risk indices, oxidant profile, glycogen and liver enzymes were evaluated. Histology of the pancreas and heart was performed. ResultsCPRS (50 and/or 111 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) reduced water and food consumption, blood glucose, HOMA-IR, coronary risk index, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and malondialdehyde levels, as well as glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-biphosphatase activities in diabetic animals. In contrast, CPRS (50 and/or 111 mg/kg) caused an increase (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) in body mass, insulinemia and HDL-c levels, reduced glutathione and hepatic glycogen. HOMA-β, insulin distribution, atherogenic and cardioprotective indices as well as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glucokinase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were also increased after CPRS administration. CPRS regenerated pancreatic islet β cells and decreased leukocyte infiltration in cardiomyocytes of diseased animals. ConclusionCPRS has hypoglycemic, antidyslipidemic, and antioxidant effects, thus validating its use in traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Technoeconomic analysis and feasibility of co-solvent mixtures in the liquid-liquid extraction of aromatics

It is desired to improve the efficiency of liquid-liquid extraction processes in the fuel industry by reducing energy consumption and operational costs as well as reducing risk to health, safety and the environment. Co-solvent mixtures for extraction consisting of butane-1,4-diol, propane-1,2,3-triol (glycerol), and 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol (hexylene glycol) were assessed in terms of capital costs, operating costs and total annual costs relative to a baseline process that is employed for the liquid-liquid extraction of toluene from n-heptane. Commercial solvents such as sulfolane, morpholine-4-carbaldehyde (NFM), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used for the baseline processes that were simulated in ASPEN Plus V10. The capital costs ranged between 5.8–6.2 million US dollars, while the energy intensity ranged between 1000 - 1400 kJ/kg. The total annual costs for all solvents studied varied between 2.4 - 2.6 million dollars. The results highlighted that these co-solvent mixtures may offer some benefits in terms of total annual cost when the impact of solvent choice is holistically considered.

Individual and Dual Cytotoxicity of the Combination of Passiflora Caerulea Leaf Extract and Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles against A549, U937, and Hela Cells

Background: The study addresses the underexplored realm of cytotoxicity evaluation involving binary mixtures of Passiflora caerulea leaf extracts and Titanium nanoparticles (TiO2NPs). The focus lies on understanding the combined effects of these components on cancer cells (A549, U937, and HeLa). Methods: In vitro cytotoxicity assessments were employed to evaluate the toxicity of P. caerulea leaf extracts, TiO2NPs, and their combination. The study utilized MTT, NRU, and LDH assays to measure cellular viability. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione levels were assessed alongside the aforementioned assays. Results: The toxicity percentage exhibited dose-dependent behavior for P. caerulea leaf extracts, TiO2NPs, and their combination. Interestingly, when P. caerulea leaf extract and TiO2NPs were combined, the reduction in cell viability was noticeably more than when the exposures were made separately. Moreover, the production of ROS was higher in the combined toxicity scenario, and a more pronounced decrease in glutathione levels was observed compared to individual exposures. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the combined effects of P. caerulea leaf extract and TiO2NPs induce greater cytotoxicity compared to their impacts. This underscores the potential for synergistic cytotoxicity in combined exposure scenarios, warranting further exploration of combined effects in future studies.

Effects of a proprietary mixture of extracts from Sabal serrulata fruits and Urtica dioica roots (WS®1541) on prostate hyperplasia and inflammation in rats and human cells.

Introduction: Phytotherapeutics, particularly extracts from Sabal serrulata (saw palmetto) fruit or Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) root, are popular for the treatment of male lower urinary symptoms in many countries, but their mechanism of action is poorly understood. We performed in vivo and in vitro studies to obtain deeper insight into the mechanism of action of WS®1541, a proprietary combination of a Sabal serrulata fruit and an Urtica dioica root extract (WS® 1473 and WS®1031, respectively) and its components. Methods: We used the sulpiride model of benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats and tested three doses of WS®1541 in comparison to finasteride, evaluating weight of prostate and its individual lobes as well as aspects of inflammation, oxidative stress, growth and hyperplasia. In human BPH-1 cells, we studied the effect of WS®1473, WS®1031, WS®1541 and finasteride on apoptosis, cell cycle progression and migrative capacity of the cells. Results: WS®1541 did not reduce prostate size in sulpiride treated rats but attenuated the sulpiride-induced changes in expression of most analyzed genes and of oxidized proteins and abrogated the epithelial thickening. In vitro, WS®1473 and WS®1031 showed distinct profiles of favorable effects in BPH-1 cells including anti-oxidative, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects, as well as inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal-transition. Conclusion: This data supports a beneficial effect of the clinically used WS®1541 for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with mild to moderate benign prostate syndrome and provides a scientific rationale for the combination of its components WS®1473 and WS®1031.

Extract mixture of plants (OXYLIA) inhibits fat accumulation by blocking FAS-related factors and promoting lipolysis via cAMP-dependent PKA activation.

Obesity is characterized by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, leading to the excessive accumulation of triglycerides in adipose tissue. This study investigated the potential of Oxylia to prevent obesity in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6J mice were fed with one of the following five diets - AIN93G normal diet (normal control), 60% (HFD; control), HFD containing metformin at 40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) (Met; positive control), HFD containing Oxylia at 30 mg/kg b.w. (O30), or HFD containing Oxylia at 60 mg/kg b.w. (O60) - for 15 weeks. Mice under an HFD supplemented with Oxylia had decreased body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, and adipose tissue mass. In addition, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, and VLDL/LDL cholesterol levels were lower in the O60 groups than in the HFD-fed control group. Moreover, Oxylia supplementation decreased the expression of adipogenesis-related mRNAs and lipogenesis-related proteins while increasing the expression of lipolysis-related proteins in white adipose tissue and thermogenesis-related proteins in brown adipose tissue. These findings suggest that Oxylia has potential as a functional food ingredient for the prevention and treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Neuroprotective effect of bromelain on BDNF-TRKB signalling pathway in chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression model

BackgroundBromelain is a mixture of protease enzyme extract from the fruit or stem of the pineapple plant. It has a wide range of biological actions, and it is most commonly used as an anti-inflammatory agent. This study was designed to investigate the antidepressant effect of bromelain on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced depression in rat models by targeting various molecular mechanisms.ResultWe studied the in silico analysis of the antidepressant potential of bromelain by docking with various proteins involved in the pathophysiology of depression. As a result of in silico studies, bromelain showed good binding energy with IL1β, 5-HT, BDNF, CREB, and TrkB. The mRNA expression of BDNF, TrkB, AKT, ERK, and IL-1β was studied by qRT-PCR. Gene expression studies showed a significant decrease in BDNF, TrkB, AKT, and ERK in chronic unpredictable stress, whereas there was a significant increase in the case of the bromelain- and fluoxetine-treated group. Since neuroinflammation is also one of the major concerns in the pathophysiology of depression, pro-inflammatory cytokines were also studied along with apoptotic markers using ELISA. ELISA results showed a significant increase in inflammatory cytokines in CUS, and it was significantly decreased in the case of the bromelain- and fluoxetine-treated group. Similarly, there was an increased concentration of pro-apoptotic protein in the CUS group, whereas it was decreased in the bromelain and fluoxetine groups.ConclusionsFrom the results, it is clear that bromelain exerts an antidepressive effect by preventing neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration and by enhancing neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.Graphical abstract

Possibilities of treatment of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle with phytotherapy

A woman’s reproductive system is one of the sensitive indicators of the female health. Its disorders indicate the development of any pathological process in the organism, which is often manifested by changes in specific functions. The impact of constant stress during the war on women who are in the frontline territories is becoming especially relevant today. In modern conditions, when psycho-emotional stress is a part of daily existence, it leads to the formation of pathologies that reduce the quality of life and fertility of a woman.The objective: to study the impact of stress on the female organism and the formation of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle and to analyze the effect of phytotherapy in the complex treatment of such conditions in women.Materials and methods. 50 women of reproductive age (18–45 years old) with various forms of stress-induced menstrual cycle disorders, which developed during their stay in the front-line territories, were under observed. The patients were diagnosed with the following disorders of the menstrual cycle: absent of menstruation, light and infrequent menstruation, heavy, frequrnt and irregular menstrustions, pain and other contitions related to female sexual organs and menstrual cycle.All patients had clinical and laboratory, hormonal and instrumental examinations to determine the form of menstrual cycle disorder. Together with the basic therapy of the specified pathologies, all patients were prescribed a dietary supplement, which included a mixture of plant powder extracts: Vitex agnus-castus – 43,87 mg, Angelica sinensis – 43,87 mg, Filipendula vulgaris – 43,87 mg, Petroselinum crispum – 18,06 mg, Apium graveolens – 18,06 mg, Galium verum – 16,13 mg, Calendula officinalis – 16,13 mg, for 3 months, 2 capsules 2 times a day with with the aim of achieving hormone-correcting, sedative, analgesic, diuretic effects. Control clinical-hormonal and instrumental studies were conducted after 3 months.Results. During the study reduction of complaints was observeed (emotional lability – by 68%, periodic headache – by 36%, sleep disturbances – by 48%, anxiety – by 50%, fatigue – by 60%), as well as the normalization of the hormonal level – a decrease of prolactin concentration in 2 times, cortisol and follicle-stimulating hormone – 1.5 times, luteinizing hormone – 1.7 times, estradiol – 1.3 times, and an increase of progesterone level – in 7 times.A decrease or disappearance of clinical symptoms the menstrual cycle disorders, namely, a normalization of the frequency, duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle, a decrease in the amount of blood loss and manifestations of dysmenorrhea were determined.Conclusions. Phytotherapy, the composition of which contains a preparation with a blend of plant powder extracts: Vitex agnus-castus– 43,87 mg, Angelica sinensis – 43,87 mg, Filipendula vulgaris – 43,87 mg, Petroselinum crispum – 18,06 mg, Apium graveolens – 18,06 mg, Galium verum – 16,13 mg, Calendula officinalis – 16,13 mg, is effective in complex treatment of various forms of stress-induced menstrual cycle disorders.

QUANTITATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MAULI BANANA STEM AND BASIL LEAVES EXTRACT MIXTURE

Background: Mauli banana stem extract and basil leaves extract are ingredients that has been involved in in vitro and in vivo researches for their pharmacognosy and therapeutic applications. Preliminary phytochemical test of both individual extract revealed the presence of triterpenoid, tannin, phenolic, saponin, steroid, alkaloid, and flavonoid compound. A combination of mauli banana stem and basil leaves extract is believed to work synergistically and may have a more beneficial effect than in single herbal extract. Purpose: To analyze the results of quantitative phytochemical of mauli banana stem and basil leaves extract mixture. Method: Non-experimental research with quantitative laboratory examination to determine sample content. Results: The result showed that mauli banana stem and basil leaves extract mixture contain triterpenoid (30%), saponin (24,75%), flavonoid (15%), alkaloid (22%), phenolic (8%), steroid (4,62%), and tannin (0,03%). Conclusion: Mauli banana stem and basil leaves extract mixture correlated with an increase in majority of the bioactive compound compared to the single extract and would serve as a promising source for phytomedicine. The bioactive compound with the highest content was triterpenoid with 30%, while the lowest was tannin with 0,03%. Keywords: Basil leave extract, Mauli banana stem extract, Quantitative phytochemical test

Evaluation of the Effects of Whey Protein and Moringa Oleifera Leaves Extract Mixture on Osseointegration in Rabbits.

Osteogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Whey protein and M. oleifera gel prompted us to evaluate their role alone or in combination on osseointegration in rabbits. In this study, 24 titanium implants were inserted in the femurs of six rabbits. One implant was placed without treatment, and another one was coated with a mixture of whey protein and M. oleifera gel for each side. The animals were divided into two groups of 2- and 6-week intervals and evaluated using histopathological and immunohistochemical techniques. Histological evaluation revealed a significant difference between the experimental and the control groups after two weeks in osteoblast and osteocyte counts. The experimental group had mature bone development after six weeks of implantation, while the control group had a woven bone. Immunohistochemical results showed that the experimental group, compared to the control group, exhibited early positive expression of osteoblast cells at two weeks after the experiment. Based on histopathological observations, the experimental group showed a tiny area of collagenous fiber in 6th week after the implantation. A mixture of whey protein and M. oleifera could accelerate osseointegration and healing processes.

Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using christia vespertilionis aerial parts extract: A sustainable approach for antibacterial efficacy assessment

Metal nanoparticles typically exhibit sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers and can be produced by several techniques, such as green synthesis and chemical synthesis. This study focuses on the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) using aerial extract of Christia vespertilionis. The observation of CuO-NPs formation was made based on the variations in colour exhibited by the extract mixture following the introduction of copper (II) sulphate (CuSO4). The synthesised nanoparticles underwent characterization utilising various instrumentation techniques, including UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDX, and TGA. The antibacterial activity of these nanoparticles was assessed by using disc diffusion method, against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The investigation also encompassed an examination of the combined effect of the nanoparticles and the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin on antibacterial activity. In this study, it was noted that the maximum absorbance of the CuO-NPs occurred at a wavelength of 253nm. The functional groups of the CuO-NPs were confirmed through FTIR spectrum. TEM analysis revealed the average particle size of the CuO-NPs as 62.16 nm. Additionally, examination of SEM images revealed that the particles exhibited irregular shapes while maintaining a homogeneous distribution. The nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria in comparison to the Gram-negative bacteria that were examined. Significant synergistic effect was shown when the CuoNPs were used with the antibiotic against the bacteria tested. In conclusion, the study conducted demonstrates favorable outcomes as an antibacterial agent and recommended to conduct additional research to investigate the mechanism of action and toxicity of this agent.

Evaluation of some bio pesticidal plants in the management of Meloidogyne incognita

Utilization of compounds in extracts derived from medicinal plants is in vogue now for managing Meloidogyne incognita on crops owing to the unpopular use of synthetic nematicides especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, extracts from Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Hyptis suaveolens obtained using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol were tested for their efficacy in inhibiting egg hatching and inducing larval mortality of Meloidogyne incognita obtained from tomato bioassay maintained in Screenhouse. The extracts obtained from each solvent were reconstituted using Tween80+Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and evaluated on hatching inhibition and larval mortality of Meloidogyne incognita at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%. Furadan served as standard checks while distilled water and Tween80+(DMSO) as controls. Two separate experiments were conducted with 39 treatments each arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four repetitions on the laboratory bench for the hatching inhibition and larval mortality. Ninety (90) µL of each extract was added to 10 µL suspension containing either 15 eggs or second-stage larvae of Meloidogyne incognita pipette into cavity glass blocks. Hatching inhibition and larval mortality readings were recorded at 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours. Results indicated that Neem and Hyptis mixture at all concentrations extracted using any of the solvents gave 100% egg hatching inhibition from the 6th to the 36th h after treatment application. Only Neem and Hyptis mixture at 0.5% extracted in chloroform gave 100% larval mortality at the 6th h till the 36th h among the lowest concentration of the mixtures of the plant extracts. Combined solvent extracts of the two plants showed the highest activity in both hatching inhibition and larval mortality but individual solvent extracts showed the highest activity only at the highest rates used. The acute toxicity test of the most effective solvent extract of Neem and Hyptis at 0.5% extracted in Chloroform did not cause any sign of toxicity or death in the test animals.

Effects of mixed extract from two tropical plants on gut microbiome and metabolome in piglets.

In this study, we performed a quantitative analysis of 12 compounds derived from Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) and guava leaf extract(GE). In addition, we investigated the effects of mixed extract (ME) of PSE and GE (1:1) on piglets' gut microbiome and metabolome. A total of 200 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 21-day-old) were randomly assigned into two groups with five replicates of 20 piglets/pen having the same initial body weight. Piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with ME at 0 (T0) or 200 mg/kg (T1) for 3 weeks. The quantitation results by ultraperformance liquid chromatography linked to triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry showed that vitexin 2-O-rhamnoside and pellitorine were the greatest abundant among six compounds detected in the PSE. In addition, quercetin, isoquercitrinand avicularin were found to be the richest of all detected compounds in the GE. Findings on experimental animals indicated that three differential metabolites, comprising L-alanine, sarcosineand dihydrofolic acid, in T1 compared with T0 groups, have exactly opposite levels trends in serum and faeces. Moreover, two metabolic pathways (i.e., urea cycle and glutamate metabolism) differed significantly in the serum and faeces of piglets between T0 and T1 (p < 0.05). At the same time, T1 had significantly higher relative abundances of Agathobacter and Alloprevotella than T0 at genus level (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the genus Agathobacter correlated positively with carbamoyl phosphate (p < 0.01) and oxoglutaric acid (p < 0.05), and negatively with succinic acid (p < 0.01) and ornithine (p < 0.05). These four differential metabolites were also involved in the urea cycle and/or glutamate metabolism pathways. The results here indicated that the tested plant extract mixture represents a worthy feed additive with obvious antioxidative properties.

Seaweed extract as an effective dough conditioner in bread manufacturing

Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) contains many functional components that can influence the dough and bread matrix. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of a liquid extract obtained from sugar kelp as a dough conditioner. The study employs a central composite design to investigate the interactions among three factors: an untreated extract, a heat-treated extract (targeting heat-sensitive components), and the presence of NaCl (natively abundant in kelp and potentially masking other functional components). The objective is to uncover the influences of the potential functional components and determine whether the liquid extract can function as a dough conditioner. The response surface methodology was used to analyze the impact on several volume and texture measurements and determine an optimal formula. A mixture of the heat-treated extract and untreated extract at different concentrations significantly enhanced loaf height and resilience while firmness decreased, compared to the conventional bread. The results show that a liquid extract obtained from sugar kelp can function as an effective dough conditioner in wheat bread.

A mixture of extracts from natural ingredients reduces the neurotoxic polarization of microglia via modulating NF-κB/NF-E2-related factor 2 activation.

Neurotoxic microglia-provoked neuroinflammation is implicated in cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Supplementation with Ginkgo biloba, phosphatidylserine, Curcuma longa, and propolis is reported to improve the cognitive functions of elderly people; however, the underlying mechanisms of this combination of natural ingredients are unknown. We investigated the effects of a mixture of extracts from propolis, Coffea arabica, Gotu kola, phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, and Curcuma longa (mixture) on microglia polarization after exposure to amyloid β1-42 (Aβ1-42, 1 μM) and lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgLPS, 1 μg/mL), using MG6 and BV2 microglial cells. Exposure to Aβ1-42 and PgLPS (AL) raised the mRNA expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, nuclear translocation of p65 NF-κB in MG6 cells and BV2 cells, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in MG6 cells. The mixture dramatically suppressed the mRNA expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, but significantly promoted that of IL-10, TGFβ1, and BDNF in AL-exposed MG6 and BV2 cells. Furthermore, the mixture significantly suppressed the nuclear translocation of p65 NF-κB but significantly promoted that of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in AL-exposed MG6 and BV2 cells. Furthermore, the mixture significantly ameliorated mitochondrial ROS production but increased mitochondrial membrane potential in MG6 cells. These observations strongly suggest that the mixture demotes the neuropathic polarization of microglia by modulating NF-κB/Nrf2 activation and improving mitochondrial functions. This study supplies the potential mechanisms of the efficacy of a combination of natural ingredients that can be applied in the prevention of cognitive decline in AD and aging by targeting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.