Hot Water Extraction Research Articles

Isolation and characterization of a nephroprotective polysaccharide from Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl against LPS-induced acute kidney injury mice

The structure and bioactivity of a novel polysaccharide from Dendrobium Chrysotoxum Lindl (DCP-1) were investigated. The crude polysaccharides of Dendrobium Chrysotoxum Lindl (DCP) were extracted by hot water extraction, and the protein was removed by enzymatic hydrolysis and Sevage. After purification, the chemical structure of polysaccharides was identified by infrared spectroscopy, methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Then, a mouse model of acute kidney injury (AKI) was constructed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and pretreated with DCP. Structure characterization demonstrated that the number-average molecular weight and mass average molar mass of DCP-1 were 28.43 kDa and 15.00 kDa, respectively. DCP-1 mainly consisted of mannose (37.8 %) and glucose (55.6 %). The main linkage types of DCP-1 were contained 1,4-Linked Manp and 1,4-Linked Glcp. And DCP-1 was demonstrated to be an O-acetylglucomannan with β-ᴅ-configuration in pyranoid form. Besides, the bioactivity of DCP was further investigated. The results showed that DCP exhibited notable anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced AKI mice. After treated with DCP, the creatinine (CREA) and urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum were successfully down-regulated in AKI mice. DCP treatment prevented the characteristic morphological changes of LPS-induced renal tubular injury. The results showed that DCP treatment significantly reduced the concentration of oxidative damage indicators (MDA, SOD) and the expression of inflammatory indices (TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, COX-2). In general, the newly extracted polysaccharide DCP showed excellent nephroprotective effect, which enabled it to be an ideal natural medicine for kidney diseases therapy.

Phytochemical Screening and Chemical Compounds of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Hot Water Extract

In this study, the phytochemical composition and chemical compounds present in Moringa oleifera leaf hot water extract were investigated. The extraction process involved using hot water to retain a wide range of bioactive constituents. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were employed to characterize the extract's phytochemical profile. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was employed to identify and quantify specific chemical compounds. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various classes of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids and phenolics. These bioactive compounds have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Additionally, the FTIR analysis unveiled a spectrum of chemical constituents, including phenol compounds, flavonoids and alkaloids compounds, known for their potential health benefits.
 Keywords: Bioactive, Chemical Compounds, Hot Water Extract, Moringa Oleifera, And Phytochemicals

Injection administration of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, husk extract enhances physiological and immune-neuroendocrinological regulation of Macrobrachiumrosenbergii

The study aimed to investigate the effects of injecting mangosteen husk hot-water extracts (MHE) on immune and physiological factors in Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Different doses of MHE (10, 20, and 40 μg prawn−1) were injected into the prawns, and various immune and physiological parameters were evaluated. The results revealed that higher doses of MHE (20 and 40 μg prawn−1) led to significant increases in immune parameters, improved phagocytic activity, and clearance efficiency. However, certain parameters, such as phenoloxidase activity per granulocyte, plasma glucose, and lactate levels were decreased after injection. Moreover, prawns injected with MHE and subjected to hypothermal stress exhibited changes in haemolymph dopamine and norepinephrine. Prawns injected with MHE for 7 days showed increased survival rates when challenged with Lactococcus garvieae. The relative survival percentages were 11.8%, 46.6%, and 47.1% for MHE doses of 10, 20, and 40 μg prawn−1 injection, respectively, indicating enhanced resistance to the pathogen. In conclusion, injecting MHE can act as an immunostimulant and physiological and neuroendocrine regulator for prawns, enhancing their resistance to L. garvieae.

Impact of Bark-Sourced Building Blocks as Substitutes for Fossil-Derived Polyols on the Structural, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane Networks.

The hydrophilic extractives isolated from black alder (Alnus glutinosa) bark through hot water extraction were characterized as novel renewable macromonomers capable of forming polyurethane (PU) networks based on a commercial polyisocyanate, with partial or complete replacement of petroleum-derived polyol polyether. The bark-sourced bio-polyol mainly consists of the xyloside form of the diarylheptanoid oregonin, along with oligomeric flavonoids and carbohydrates, resulting in a total OH group content of 15.1 mmol·g-1 and a molecular weight (Mn) of approximately 750 g∙mol-1. The 31P NMR data confirmed a similar proportion of aliphatic OH and phenolic groups. Three-component PU compositions were prepared using polyethylene glycol (Mn = 400 g∙mol-1), bio-polyol (up to 50%), and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate, which were pre-polymerized in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution with tin organic and tertiary amine catalysts. The resulting mixture was cast and subjected to thermal post-curing. Calculation and experimental data confirmed the crosslinking activity of the bark-sourced bio-polyol in PU, leading to an increase in glass transition temperature (Tg), a decrease in sol fraction yield upon leaching of cured PU networks in THF, a significant increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength. The macromonomers derived from bark promoted char formation under high temperature and oxidative stress conditions, limiting heat release during macromolecular network degradation compared to bio-polyol-free PU. It was observed that amine catalysts, which are active in urethane formation with phenolic groups, promoted the formation of PU with higher Tg and modulus at tensile but with less limitation of heat liberation during PU macromolecular structure degradation. The high functionality of the bark-derived bio-polyol, along with the equal proportion of phenolic and aliphatic OH groups, allows for further optimization of PU characteristics using three variables: increasing the substitution extent of commercial polyethers, decreasing the NCO/OH ratio, and selecting the type of catalyst used.

Complex sulfated galactans from hot water extracts of red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis comprise carrageenan and agaran structures

Hot water extraction from the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis yielded three extracts which showed sulfated galactans with a D:L-galactose ratio non consistent with carrageenan or agaran backbones. The major extract was fractionated by cetrimide precipitation and redissolution with increasing sodium chloride concentrations due to their low solubility. Seven fractions were obtained, and studied by methylation analysis, desulfation-methylation, and NMR spectroscopy of the partially hydrolyzed and the native samples. Fractions with the highest yield were those obtained at high concentrations of NaCl. They comprised both agaran and crageenan structures in considerable amounts. The main agaran structures were β-D-galactose 4-sulfate and β-D-galactose 2-sulfate units linked to α-L-galactose 2,3-disulfate residues, and β-D-galactose linked to α-L-galactose 3-sulfate or 6-sulfate, or substituted with single stubs of β-D-xylose on C3, while the carrageenan structures comprised β-D-galactose (2-sulfate) linked to α-D-galactose 3-sulfate or 2,3-disulfate, and β-D-galactose 2,4-disulfate linked to α-D-galactose 2,3-disulfate. Between the less sulfated fractions, the one obtained by solubilization in 0.5 M NaCl was mainly constituted by agarans, which included 3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactose units. Anticoagulant activity was assayed by general coagulation tests (aPTT and TT), showing a moderate action compared with heparin. This is the first detailed study of the sulfated galactans from the order Bonnemaisoniales.

Extraction, Purification, and Structural Characterization of Polysaccharides from Sanghuangporus vaninii with Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

In order to obtain homogeneous Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, a response surface method (RSM) was used to compare the polysaccharide extraction rate of hot water extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction from Sanghuangporus vaninii. The optimal conditions for ultrasonic-assisted extraction were determined as follows: an extraction temperature of 60 °C, an extraction time of 60 min, a solid-liquid ratio of 40 g/mL, and an ultrasonic power of 70 W. An SVP (Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharides) extraction rate of 1.41% was achieved. Five homogeneous monosaccharides were obtained by gradient ethanol precipitation with diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (DEAE) and SephadexG-100 separation and purification. The five polysaccharides were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography, the ultraviolet spectrum, the Fourier transform infrared spectrum, TG (thermogravimetric analysis), the Zeta potential, and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). The five polysaccharides had certain levels of antioxidant activity in vitro. In addition, we the investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharides derived from Sanghuangporus vaninii on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and Kupffer cells. Further, we found that SVP-60 significantly inhibited the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and promoted the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Our study provides theoretical support for the potential application of Sanghuangporus vaninii in the field of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro.

Optimization of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and anti-gout properties of polyherbal formulation.

An increase in gout prevalence has drawn attention among society and this situation drives the exploration of more favourable treatment using traditional medicinal plants which are rich in phenolic and flavonoid to avoid the side effects of modern medication. However, there are only few studies regarding the optimization of phytochemicals and anti-gout properties of medicinal plants and their combinations. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal formulation of Strobilanthes crispus, Orthosiphon stamineus Benth and Stevia rebaudiana with maximum total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as minimum IC50 of invitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and to examine their correlations among the formulations. Plant extracts from hot water infusion were tested for the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and enzyme inhibition through Folin-ciocalteu assay, aluminium chloride method and xanthine oxidase inhibition assay, respectively. Simplex-centroid mixture design was applied in this study and 13 polyherbal formulations were generated by Design Expert Software. Linear, special cubic and quadratic models were selected to describe the interaction effect between polyherbal formulations and their responses. Low IC50 value (13.90 μg/mL) of xanthine oxidase activity was found in the binary combination of O.stamineus and S.rebaudiana and this probably related to its high phenolic and flavonoid contents as xanthine oxidase inhibition and phytochemicals were correlated. The suggested optimal formulation was comprised of 44.26 % O.stamineus and 55.74 % S.rebaudiana and it could be developed as an alternative treatment for gout.

Synergistic Protective Effect of Fermented Schizandrae Fructus Pomace and Hoveniae Semen cum Fructus Extracts Mixture in the Ethanol-Induced Hepatotoxicity.

Schizandrae Fructus (SF), fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Hoveniae Semen cum Fructus (HSCF), the dried peduncle of Hovenia dulcis Thunb., have long been used for alcohol detoxification in the traditional medicine of Korea and China. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the potential synergistic hepatoprotective effect of a combination mixture (MSH) comprising fermented SF pomace (fSFP) and HSCF hot water extracts at a 1:1 (w:w) ratio against ethanol-induced liver toxicity. Subacute ethanol-mediated hepatotoxicity was induced by the oral administration of ethanol (5 g/kg) in C57BL/6J mice once daily for 14 consecutive days. One hour after each ethanol administration, MSH (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was also orally administered daily. MSH administration significantly reduced the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. Histological observation indicated that MSH administration synergistically and significantly decreased the fatty changed region of hepatic parenchyma and the formation of lipid droplet in hepatocytes. Moreover, MSH significantly attenuated the hepatic triglyceride accumulation through reducing lipogenesis genes expression and increasing fatty acid oxidation genes expression. In addition, MSH significantly inhibited protein nitrosylation and lipid peroxidation by lowering cytochrome P450 2E1 enzyme activity and restoring the glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in liver. Furthermore, MSH synergistically decreased the mRNA level of tumor necrosis factor-α in the hepatic tissue. These findings indicate that MSH has potential for preventing alcoholic liver disease through inhibiting hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Antimicrobial Effects of Aqueous Extract of Garcinia Kola Nuts on Salmonella Isolates from Chicken Dropping in Southern Taraba, North East, Nigeria

Aim: The onerous threat of antimicrobial resistance to public health highlights the need for continuous research that will discover more potential medicinal plants that possess inhibitory potentials on bacteria especially those with multidrug-resistant qualities. Hence, this study investigated the antibacterial effect of hot and cold aqueous extracts of Garcinia Kola on Salmonella isolates.
 Study Design: This is experimental research involving fecal sample of chicken.
 Place and Duration of Study: This research was carried out in Wukari metropolis.
 Study Design: Sterile universal containers were used to collect one gram each of chicken fecal samples from domestic chicken coops and dissolved in Buffered Peptone Water to recover injured cell. A loop-full of the sample was streaked on prepared Salmonella-Shigella Agar plates. Suspected isolates were confirmed molecularly using PCR to identify the invA virulent gene from the isolate. Hot and cold water served as a menstruum for extracting bioactive contents from Garcinia Kola. Following evaporation of the crude hot and cold-water extracts, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, and 2.0 mg of the extract were respectively dissolved into 10 ml of distilled water. The Agar-well diffusion method was used in conducting the antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
 Results: Significant zone of inhibition (ZIB) of 9 mm, 12 mm and 17 mm was observed for isolates subjected to 0.50 mg-10 ml, 1.00mg-10 ml, and 2.00 mg-10 ml concentrations of cold-water extracts respectively while No zone of Inhibition (NZI) was observed at 0.25 g-10 ml concentrations. For hot water extracts, growth inhibition ranging from 9 mm, 11 mm, 15 mm, and 23 mm was respectively noticed for concentrates of 0.25 mg-10 ml, 0.50 mg-10, 1.00 mg-10 ml, and 2.00 mg-10 ml. Heavy growth persisted for the negative control plate which contained distilled water without extracts. Augmentin 30 µg was used as a positive control (≥31 mm).
 Conclusion: This research simply has amplified the medicinal importance of the consumption of Garcinia Kola particularly as it relates to the management of gastroenteritis caused by Zoonotic Non-enteric Salmonella. However, the clinical toxicity and safety of the plant need more understanding.

Acute toxicity of tire wear particles and leachate to Daphnia magna

Tire wear particles (TWP) are a new pollutant widely present in the environment, and have been identified as microplastics (MPs), which are receiving increasing attention due to their toxic effects on aquatic organisms. In this study, D. magna was used as test organism, and the leachate from TWP was prepared by hot water extraction for 30 (30-E) and 120 min (120-E). The acute toxic effects of particles and leachate on D. magna were studied under different exposure concentrations. The results showed that zinc and pyrene were the highest detected contaminants in the leachate. The 48 h-LC50 values for particles and leachate were determined to be 56.99, 461.30 (30-E), and 153.00 mg/L (120-E), respectively. Following a 48 h exposure period, the immobilization of D. magna exposed to the particles and their leachate were increased with the concentration increase. The physical damage of the gut was found to be a possible mechanism for particle-induced biotoxicity. The compounds leached from TWP were responsible for the acute toxicity of leachate. Particles usually demonstrated a greater degree of toxicity in comparison to their leachate, especially at environmentally relevant concentrations. Exposure to particles and leachate resulted in the inhibition of swimming speed, swimming acceleration, filtration rate, and ingestion rate in D. magna. Furthermore, thoracic limb activity was observed to be inhibited. The heart rate of D. magna was significantly increased by the presence of particles at a concentration of 200 mg/L and leachate at concentrations of 400 and 800 mg/L (120-E). The observed alterations in behavior and physiological endpoints may be related to oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in the organism. Reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities indicated that D. magna may suffer from excessive oxidative stress, whereas the increase of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity may serve as a biomarker of susceptibility to evaluate the environmental risks of TWP and corresponding leachates as potential aquatic pollutants.. Therefore, a more comprehensive risk assessment of TWP in the environment is necessary.

Comparative Study on Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Polysaccharides from Vinegar-Baked Radix Bupleuri Using Different Methods.

The impact of the extraction method on the physiochemical characteristics and anti-inflammatory effect of polysaccharides from vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri (VBCPs) was studied. Five extraction methods were employed to obtain the VBCPs: hot water extraction (HW), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UA), enzyme-assisted extraction (EA), citric acid-assisted extraction (CA), and ammonia-assisted extraction (KA). The results showed that the extraction method affects the yield, characteristics, and anti-inflammatory effect of the polysaccharides significantly. KA produced the highest yield, Ara content, and the strongest effect of enhancing IL-10 secretion. VBCP-EA exhibited the largest molecular weight (Mw), the highest Man content, and the poorest effect on inhibiting NO, VBCP-UA possessed more Gal than other VBCPs, the lowest Mw, and a comparable effect on inhibiting NO and TNF-α with VBCP-KA and VBCP-CA. All VBCP self-assembled into nanoparticles in solutions, and VBCP-KA presented the lowest particle size. The structure-activity analysis showed that Mw and Man content are negatively correlated and Ara content is positively correlated with the NO inhibition and IL-10 secretion effects; Rha and Gal A content are positively correlated and Glu is negatively correlated with the TNF-α inhibiting effect. The above results indicated that KA is an efficient method for obtaining anti-inflammatory VBCP, which provides new insight into the extraction of VBCP.

Sonication of sesame meal protein isolates modified its microstructural and functional properties

In this study, changes in the structure and functional properties were investigated by dispersing sonicated sesame meal protein isolates (SMPI) at various pHs (pH 4, 6, and 8). SMPI, obtained through hot-water extraction from sesame meal, a food by-product, were sonicated at powers of 100, 150, and 200 W for 30 min. As a result, sonication significantly reduced the particle size of SMPI without affecting their SDS-PACE protein bands. Increasing the sonication power led to noticeable modifications in the secondary and tertiary structures of SMPI, as evidenced by a decrease in the FT-IR transmission intensity and the fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, the sonication process significantly improved the solubility and emulsifying properties of SMPI at pH values above the isoelectric point, while also increasing water and oil absorptions by 1.71- and 1.2-fold, respectively. Therefore, the sonicated SMPI (SSMPI) can be a promising candidate for reusability as a natural plant protein-based food materials, offering improved solubility and emulsifying properties.

Fibrinolysis Enhancing Activity of Roasted Barley Extract (Mugicha) and Its Simulated Digestate

Barley tea (Mugicha), commonly consumed in Japan and other East Asian countries, is prepared by decocting roasted barley (Hordeum vulgare) seed with hot or cold water. Although barley tea is commonly consumed, studies on its health benefits are limited, especially regarding its bioactivity against thrombosis. During the evaluation of functional foods and drinks, barley tea extract was found to exhibit potential fibrinolysis-enhancing activity induced by urokinase. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the application of barley tea as a functional food and conduct a preliminary investigation to reveal the effects of barley tea on thrombosis. Hot water extract of roasted barley was treated with pancreatin and separated via various techniques using macroporous resin and silica gel and tangential flow filtration with an ultra-filtration membrane. The low-molecular-weight fraction of the roasted barley tea extract was found to possess activity. We further purified the extract and found that the activity of each fraction decreased. Thus, the different fractions of the roasted barley extract may not exhibit the activity individually, instead additive or synergistic effects of multiple components may occur. The results suggest the potential use of barley extract as a functional food to prevent thrombosis.

Kolanut-mediated magnesium oxide nanostructures for biomedical applications: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, larvicidal, anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities

This study was aimed at using hot water extracts of pod (KP), seed (KS), leaf (KL) and seed shell (KSS) of Cola nitida (kola nut) for the synthesis of nano-sized magnesium oxide and evaluation for biomedical applications. The nano-sized MgO were biosynthesized for the first time using kola nut extracts and characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). The antimicrobial, antioxidant, larvicidal, anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities of the nano-sized MgO were evaluated. The crystalline polygonal-shaped nano-sized MgO absorbed maximally in the range of 270–280 nm and FTIR spectra indicated the involvement of phenolic compounds and proteins in their biosynthesis. At 40 µg/ml, nano-sized MgO showed growth inhibition of 41.2–79.3% against eight multi-drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella granulomatis, and inhibition of 60.2–88.4% on Rhizopus stolonifer, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus. DPPH scavenging activities of 26.1–90.4% were obtained for 1–40 µg/ml of MgO nanostructures, while mortality of 13.33–100% against anopheline larvae was achieved at 30 µg/ml. The nanostructures also prevented blood coagulation and completely dissolved preformed blood clots within 10 min which is herein reported for the first time. This report has shown that Cola nitida can be employed for sustainable synthesis of nano-sized MgO with potent biomedical applications.

Studies on the Malting Parameters of Two Acha Species Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua

The malting parameters of two acha species (Digitaria exilis-white and Digitaria iburua-black), a small annual herbaceous indigenous African cereal grain were studied. This study was aimed at assessing the brewing potential of the two acha species. The research was carried out in Microbiology Laboratory of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The brewing properties assessed were; moisture content, cold water extract, hot water extract, diastatic power, total nitrogen, cold water soluble protein, total soluble protein and free amino nitrogen. Extraction, digestion, titration, colorimetric and spectrophotometric methods were used to assess the above brewing properties. The moisture content of the white species malt (11.0 - 12.4%) was higher than that of the black (10.3 – 11.2%) and increased with germination time but decreased after the peak (4th) day. The lower moisture content of the black acha malts gave a resultant effect of more extract production from cold water extract ( CWE 27.5, 30.10%), hot water extract (HWE 278, 304ol/kg) and diastatic power (DP 19 ,23oL) of the two acha malts on the fourth (peak) day of germination. The peak values for total nitrogen (1.6, 1.75%), cold water soluble protein (120, 128%), total soluble protein (6.2, 7.5%) and free amino nitrogen (FAN 105, 114.5%) were also higher for the black acha on the peak day of germination. The correlation studies between the HWE (R2=0.9903, 0.9551), Cold water soluble protein (CWS-P- R2= 0.9809, 0.9285) and Diastatic power for the black and white species, respectively, were positively significant depicting a strong relationship between the correlated parameters. The black acha malt recorded more extract yield than the white acha and the result of the two acha species assessed showed that they possess brewing properties.

Effect of ultrasound pretreatment and soaking time on Quinoa malting.

In this study, malt was produced from quinoa seeds using different ultrasound treatment with different intensities (20%, 60%, and 100%), ultrasound times (5, 10, and 15 minutes), and soaking times (2, 6, and 10 hours) at a frequency of 20 kHz. The seeds were soaked in water at 25°C during exposure to ultrasound waves. The results showed that an increase in soaking time led to a higher malting yield and percentage of soluble solids (°Brix), followed by a downward trend. This trend was intensified by longer exposure to ultrasound waves at higher intensities. The interaction effect of ultrasound wave and soaking time on physicochemical properties showed a downward trend, followed by an upward trend in cold-water and hot-water extract yields, reducing sugar, soluble nitrogen, color, and Kolbach index, with increasing levels of the variables. Finally, quinoa malt treated with an ultrasound intensity of 100% for 15 minutes and soaked for 6hours exhibited the best physicochemical characteristics.

Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf improves constipation of rats induced by low-fiber-diet: A proteomics study

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe leaf of Moringa oleifera Lam., a medicinal and edible herb for thousands of years in Ayurveda, is used as Pancha (na) karma (purgative) during and after the body cleansing process, to treat constipation, reduce cholesterol and body weight. Aim of studyThe aim was to investigate the diarrhea effects and possible mechanism of M. oleifera leaves in constipation rats. Materials and methodsThe hot water extract of M. oleifera leaves (WEMOL) was prepared and analyzed using LC-20AT HPLC system. The constipated rat model was induced by feeding with low fiber diet for 21 days. After oral administration of WEMOL for 7 days, the excretion parameter analysis, gastro-intestinal propulsion, histological analysis by HE and Alcian blue staining, and gastrointestinal hormone in rat's digestive tract through ELISA were used to evaluate the laxative effect of WEMOL. Label-free quantitation (LFQ) with LC-MS/MS, bioinformatics and Western blot were used to discover and verify the signal pathways and key proteins of WEMOL related to diarrhea. ResultsThe contents of isoquercitrin and astragalin were 2.7 mg/g and 1.7 mg/g, respectively in WEMOL. The stool number, weight, and water content of constipation rats were significantly reduced, indicating model had been established successfully. WEMOL (1.25 and 2.5 g/kg) increased water content of feces and the levels of Gas, MTL, NPY in gastric antrum and VIP, SP in colon of constipation rats, improved the muscle layer thickness and mucin secretion of colon. The proteomics revealed a total of 1731 differential proteins and 9 signaling pathways, WEMOL increased the expression of Vamp2, Gnai3, and Prkacb. ConclusionsThe laxative mechanism of WEMOL maybe modulate the signaling pathways mediated by 5-HT and Ach receptors, related to gastrointestinal motility and intestinal fluid secretion. It can be considered as the scientific connotation of Pancha (na) karma of M. oleifera leaves in ayurveda.

Synergistic Effect of Benincasa hispida Peel Extract and KI on the Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in HCl

This study employed Benincasa hispida peel as a raw material for the preparation of Benincasa hispida peel extract (BHPE) via hot water extraction and freeze-drying processes. The synergistic effect of BHPE and KI on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1 M HCl was investigated. The compositional analysis shows that BHPE consists mainly of a mixture of sugars, characterized by a high density of hydroxyl groups and unsaturated functional groups, characteristic of highly effective corrosion inhibitors. Electrochemical experiments and surface analysis show that the composite of BHPE and KI can effectively provide protection to mild steel. Moreover, the synergistic coefficient of BHPE and KI under various concentration conditions was greater than 1, and the highest corrosion inhibition efficiency was 94.4%. In addition, the corrosion inhibition mechanism of BHPE was thoroughly investigated using quantum chemistry (QC) and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS).

Effects of Solid Fermentation on Polygonatum cyrtonema Polysaccharides: Isolation, Characterization and Bioactivities.

Polygonati Rhizoma is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with complex pre-processing steps. Fermentation is a common method for processing TCM to reduce herb toxicity and enhance their properties and/or produce new effects. Here, in this study, using Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we aimed to evaluate the potential application of solid fermentation in isolating different functional polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. With hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration, multiple neutral and acidic polysaccharides were obtained, showing different yields, content, compositions and functional groups after fermentation. Combining in vitro experiments and in vivo aging and immunosuppressed mouse models, we further compared the antioxidant and immunomodulating bioactivities of these polysaccharides and found a prominent role of a natural polysaccharide (BNP) from fermented P. cyrtonema via Bacillus subtilis in regulating intestinal antioxidant defense and immune function, which may be a consequence of the ability of BNP to modulate the homeostasis of gut microbiota. Thus, this work provides evidence for the further development and utilization of P. cyrtonema with fermentation, and reveals the potential values of BNP in the treatment of intestinal disorders.

Water Purification Using Ceramic Pots Water Filter

In this study, ceramic pot filters are made from clay and burn-out materials (sawdust) that give pore sizes capable of capturing contaminants. Manufacturing specifications were selected to achieve some results. Clay and sawdust are mixed in a 50% volume ratio each and sawdust was subjected to hot water extraction to give a treated sample. Filters produced comprised of untreated, treated, and a mixture of treated and untreated sawdust samples, some of which were dipped in a solution of silver nanoparticles while others were not dipped (treated undipped, treated dipped, mixed dipped, mixed undipped, untreated undipped, untreated dipped). The effectiveness of the produced filters for the removal of contaminants such as dissolved solids, turbidity, and metals was tested using water collected from the Ikeji Arakeji River in Osun, Nigeria. The results showed the filter with treated sawdust undipped in a solution of silver nano gave the best result in the removal of the contaminants. Also, the filter with the mixtures of treated and untreated sawdust gave a better result compared to the standard. While the standard gave a better result than the untreated undipped ceramic filter pot. In conclusion, with proper cleaning and maintenance of the filters, they can effectively provide treated water suitable for drinking to rural people affected by polluted water sources.