Hyphaene Thebaica Research Articles

Comparative Evaluation of Proximate, Mineral, Vitamins, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Pulp and Seeds of Doum Palm (Hyphaene thebaica) in India

Medicinal plants are natural gift that contains phytochemicals that are ecofriendly, effective and non-toxic. These chemicals can also prevent antimicrobial resistance. However, the concentration of phytochemicals and nutritional properties underlines certain variation due to geographical location, age of plant, storage condition, extraction methods, amongst others. Therefore, this study was carried out to compare the proximate, mineral, vitamins, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of pulp (DPML) and seeds of Doum palm (DPSM) (Hyphaene thebaica) in India. Proximate evaluation of DPML revealed that it had higher (p<0.05) levels of moisture (8.77 %), crude fibre (13.06 %), ether extracts (1.21 %), ash (8.21 %), carbohydrate (69.33 %) and lower protein (6.21 %) relative to DPSM which contained moisture, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash and carbohydrates at 6.93 %, 8.07 %, 11.69 %, 0.09 %, 6.44 % and 54.08 % respectively. DPML had higher (p<0.05) concentration of calcium (387.21 mg/100g), phosphorus (2956.1 mg/100g), potassium (175.1 mg/100g), manganese (28.03 mg/100g), magnesium (186.1 mg/100g), zinc (10.33 mg/100g), copper (8.61 mg/100g), sodium (228.1 mg/100g) and iron (9.11 mg/100g) compared to DPSM which contained calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, copper, sodium and iron at 206.8 mg/100g, 1600.2 mg/100g, 113.5 mg/100g, 15.14 mg/100g, 102.4 mg/100g, 10.05 mg/100g, 5.78 mg/100g, 190.2 mg/100g and 6.08 mg/100g respectively. Doum palm pulp meal contained greater concentrations (p<0.05) of vitamin A (9.38 iu/100g), vitamin B1 (26.01 μg/100g), vitamin B1 (11.73 μg/100g), vitamin B6 (57.10 μg/100g), vitamin B12 (15.61 μg/100g), vitamin C (122.6 μg/100g) and vitamin E (31.62 μg/100g) relative to 5.06 iu/100g, 21.48 μg/100g, 9.45 μg/100g, 42.08 μg/100g, 10.20 μg/100g, 95.18 μg/100g and 23.49 μg/100g reported for vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin E respectively. Doum palm pulp meal produced higher concentrations of phenols (82.10 mg/g), flavonoids (39.15 mg/g) and saponins (2.16 mg/g) and lower concentrations of tannins (11.72 mg/g) and alkaloids (6.13 mg/g) relative to doum palm seed meal (p<0.05) which contained phenols (65.72 mg/g), flavonoids (30.86 mg/g), tannins (18.83 mg/g), alkaloids (9.17 mg/g) and saponins (1.91 mg/g). DPPH was greater (p<0.05) in doum palm pulp meal with 31.82 % compared to doum palm seed meal (26.07 %). It was concluded that DPML and DPSM is loaded with nutrients and other medicinal properties making them useful in livestock production

De novo transcriptomic analysis of Doum Palm (Hyphaene compressa) revealed an insight into its potential drought tolerance.

Doum palms (Hyphaene compressa) perform a crucial starring role in the lives of Kenya's arid and semi-arid people for empowerment and sustenance. Despite the crop's potential for economic gain, there is a lack of genetic resources and detailed information about its domestication at the molecular level. Given the doum palm's vast potential as a widely distributed plant in semi-arid and arid climates and a source of many applications, coupled with the current changing climate scenario, it is essential to understand the molecular processes that provide drought resistance to this plant. Assembly of the first transcriptome of doum palms subjected to water stress generated about 39.97 Gb of RNA-Seq data. The assembled transcriptome revealed 193,167 unigenes with an average length of 1655 bp, with 128,708 (66.63%) successfully annotated in seven public databases. Unigenes exhibited significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in well-watered and stressed-treated plants, with 45071 and 42457 accounting for up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs, respectively. GO term, KEGG, and KOG analysis showed that DEGs were functionally enriched cellular processes, metabolic processes, cellular and catalytic activity, metabolism, genetic information processing, signal transduction mechanisms, and posttranslational modification pathways. Transcription factors (TF), such as the MYB, WRKY, NAC family, FAR1, B3, bHLH, and bZIP, were the prominent TF families identified as doum palm DEGs encoding drought stress tolerance. This study provides a complete understanding of DEGs involved in drought stress at the transcriptome level in doum palms. This research is, therefore, the foundation for the characterization of potential genes, leading to a clear understanding of its drought stress responses and providing resources for improved genetic modification.

Anti-inflammatory activity of doum palm fruit extract used in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a frequent health concern in men over the age of 50. It is characterized by an increase in the size of the prostate, which can lead to urinary issues. In the past, the treatment of BPH was limited to surgery. However, the introduction of drugs such as Permixon, based on saw palmetto extract, has revolutionized the management of this disease. This natural plant extract is effective in relieving the symptoms of BPH and can also slow the progression of the disease. The Algerian population consumes several plants for this purpose, such as nettle, galangal, pumpkin seeds, and doum palm. The doum palm (Chamaerops humilis) is a bushy plant with fan leaves that is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. The terminal bud of this species is edible, however the doum palm has been appreciated by several societies throughout time for its multiple traditional uses and is primarily exploited for its fibers. In addition, this plant has aroused growing interest for its properties, especially in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of the doum palm by the protein denaturation method comparing it to Permixon extracts and corticosteroids in order to valorize this species and confirm its traditional use. Material and Methods: The fruits of Chamaerops humilis L. were dried, powdered, and extracted with aqueous water then screened by various chemical tests. The anti-inflammatory activity was estimated after dilution of each extract using the human serum albumin. Results: When evaluating the anti-inflammatory effect, we observed that the fruit extract exhibited significantly higher activity, with an IC50 of 446,02 mg/mL, too close to that of Permixon (IC50= 423.17 μg/mL) and exceeding that of corticosteroids (IC50= 602,21 mg/mL). All three extracts clearly demonstrated their ability to reduce inflammation. Conclusion: The aqueous extract was found to be an effective anti-inflammatory agent. These results offer promising novel perspectives in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases, especially benign prostatic hyperplasia. Keywords: anti-inflammatory activity, benign prostatic hyperplasia, doum palm, Permixon, secondary active metabolites.

The Nutraceutical and Functional Food Potentials of Dry Doum Palm Fruit (Hyphaene thebaica)

Doum palm fruit is one of the underutilized fruits and is mainly used by the local people without knowing the nutritional value and the pharmacological components associated with the fruit parts. Thus, this research was designed to evaluate the proximate composition, antioxidant activity and phytochemical content of doum palm fruit. The fruit sample was obtained from the farm and market and was portioned into six; the epicarp, mesocarp, epicarp and mesocarp blend obtained from the farm and market were all converted into flour. Proximate analysis was done using the standard method, antioxidant activity using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pierylhyrazyl DPPH method after water and solvent (ethanol) extraction of the samples at different concentrations: 50 %, 60 %, 70 % and 100 % ethanol and 100 % water, which were used for the six different flours for each that makes it up to 30 samples. While phytochemicals were identified using LC-MS. Results showed that samples collected from the farm had higher proximate composition than the ones obtained from the market. Samples from the farm showed higher antioxidant activity at 595.30 and 62.59 mgGAE/g for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively; 0.078 and 2008.9 IC50 (µg/ml) for the DPPH and Reducing power showed by the Samples from the farm. The phytochemical constituents showed that samples from the farm have more bioactive compounds than those obtained from the market. Compounds such as Phytoene, Liriodenine Xanthophylls e.t.c were detected. Thus, the findings proved the presence of a considerable amount of nutraceutical and phytochemical constituents in the dry doum palm fruit. Therefore, it can be further studied to look for ways to benefit from its rich potential in managing various ailments.

Comparative Evaluation of Proximate, Mineral, Vitamins, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Pulp and Seeds of Doum Palm (Hyphaene Thebaica) in India

Medicinal plants are natural gift that contains phytochemicals that are ecofriendly, effective and non-toxic. These chemicals can also prevent antimicrobial resistance. However, the concentration of phytochemicals and nutritional properties underlines certain variation due to geographical location, age of plant, storage condition, extraction methods, amongst others. Therefore, this study was carried out to compare the proximate, mineral, vitamins, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of pulp (DPML) and seeds of Doum palm (DPSM) (Hyphaene Thebaica) in India. Proximate evaluation of DPML revealed that it had higher (p<0.05) levels of moisture (8.77%), crude fibre (13.06%), ether extracts (1.21%), ash (8.21%), carbohydrate (69.33%) and lower protein (6.21%) relative to DPSM which contained moisture, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash and carbohydrates at 6.93 %, 8.07 %, 11.69 %, 0.09 %, 6.44 % and 54.08 % respectively. DPML had higher (p<0.05) concentration of calcium (387.21 mg/100g), phosphorus (2956.1mg/100g), potassium (175.1mg/100g), manganese (28.03mg/100g), magnesium (186.1mg/100g), zinc (10.33mg/100g), copper (8.61mg/100g), sodium (228.1mg/100g) and iron (9.11 mg/100g) compared to DPSM which contained calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, copper, sodium and iron at 206.8 mg/100g, 1600.2 mg/100g, 113.5 mg/100g, 15.14 mg/100g, 102.4 mg/100g, 10.05 mg/100g, 5.78 mg/100g, 190.2 mg/100g and 6.08 mg/100g respectively. Doum palm pulp meal contained greater concentrations (p<0.05) of vitamin A (9.38iu/100g), vitamin B1 (26.01µg/100g), vitamin B1 (11.73µg/100g), vitamin B6 (57.10µg/100g), vitamin B12 (15.61µg/100g), vitamin C (122.6µg/100g) and vitamin E (31.62µg/100g) relative to 5.06iu/100g, 21.48µg/100g, 9.45µg/100g, 42.08µg/100g, 10.20µg/100g, 95.18µg/100g and 23.49µg/100g reported for vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin E respectively. Doum palm pulp meal produced higher concentrations of phenols (82.10mg/g), flavonoids (39.15mg/g) and saponins (2.16mg/g) and lower concentrations of tannins (11.72mg/g) and alkaloids (6.13mg/g) relative to doum palm seed meal (p<0.05) which contained phenols (65.72mg/g), flavonoids (30.86 mg/g), tannins (18.83mg/g), alkaloids (9.17mg/g) and saponins (1.91mg/g). DPPH was greater (p<0.05) in doum palm pulp meal with 31.82% compared to doum palm seed meal (26.07%). It was concluded that DPML and DPSM is loaded with nutrients and other medicinal properties making them useful in livestock production.

Ifanosine: Olea europaea L. and Hyphaene thebaica L. combination, from traditional utilization to rational formulation: Preclinical and clinical efficacy on hypertensives patients

Ethnopharmacological relevanceOlea europaea L. and Hyphaene thebaica L. are commonly employed by traditional healers in Africa for treating and preventing hypertension, either individually or in a polyherbal preparation (Ifanosine). Aim of the studyThe primary aim was to assess the antihypertensive effects of Olea europaea L. leaves aqueous extract (OEL), Hyphaene thebaica L. mesocarp extract (HT), and the Ifanosine on isolated rat aorta rings. The secondary objective was to evaluate the clinical benefits of a new oral formulation of Ifanosine. Materials and methodsIn vitro studies using an isometric transducer examined the antihypertensive effects of HT, OEL, and Ifanosine on rat aorta. Ussing chambers technic were employed to measure mucosal to serosal fluxes and total transepithelial electrical conductance (Gt) to assess the intestinal bioavailability of HT, OEL, and Ifanosine. HPLC was utilized to determine the phytochemical composition of OEL and HT extracts. Subchronic toxicity investigations involved two groups of rats, treated with either water (control) or Ifanosine at 5 g/kg for 28 days. Clinical benefits of the new Ifanosine formulation were evaluated in an observational study with 32 hypertensive patients receiving a fixed oral dose of 3.5 mg three times a day for 30 days. ResultsAqueous extracts induced dose-dependent relaxation of rat aorta rings, with HT and OEL having higher IC50 values than Ifanosine (IC50 = 44.76 ± 1.35 ng/mL, 58.67 ± 1.02 ng/mL, and 29.46 ± 0.26 ng/mL, respectively). The pA2 values of OEL and HT were 1 and 0.6, respectively, while Ifanosine was 0.06. Intestinal bioavailability studies revealed better Prazosin bioavailability than plant extracts. Toxicological studies demonstrated the safety of Ifanosine, supported by histological examinations and biochemical parameters in rat blood. Biochemical analyses indicated flavonoids and phenolic acids as dominant active constituents. Clinical benefits in humans included reduced SBP, DBP, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and TAG, and increased HDL-c without overt adverse effects. ConclusionThis study validates the traditional use of OEL and HT for hypertension and advocates for alternative and combinatorial polyphytotherapy (ACP) to enhance traditional remedies.

Evaluation of Electrical and Thermal Conductivity of Polymeric Wastes Doped with Activated Charcoal Produced from Doum Palm (Hyphane thebaica L.) Bark

Evaluation of Electrical and Thermal Conductivity of Polymeric Wastes Doped with Activated Charcoal Produced from Doum Palm (Hyphane thebaica L.) Bark

Effects of dietary Hyphaene thebaica powder on reproductive performance, physiological parameters, growth, and disease resistance in Clarias gariepinus

Effects of dietary Hyphaene thebaica powder on reproductive performance, physiological parameters, growth, and disease resistance in Clarias gariepinus

Ethnobotanical Survey of Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Products and their uses among Inhabitants of Katsina Metropolis

Hyphaene thebaica, commonly known as doum palm, is one of the most important plants in Africa. Parts of the plant, such as fibers, leaflets, and roots, are used to weave baskets and ropes, and the nuts are used in traditional medicines. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to document the availability of the products made from H. thebaica in the Katsina metropolis. Data were gathered through oral interviews with the product sellers using a questionnaire designed for this purpose. Results showed a total of 46 products, and the products made from the leaves were found to be more frequent, with 51% availability, followed by stem and trunk products with 26%, and products from the fruits with 18%, while products made from the roots have the lowest percentage of 5.

Mesoporous biochar derived from Egyptian doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) shells as low-cost and biodegradable adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange dye: Characterization, kinetic and adsorption mechanism

The present research work reports the preparation of Hyphaene thebaica derived-biochar (HTBC) and its applicability as eco-friendly and low-cost adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye. The main physicochemical characteristics of HTBC including its morphology, crystallinity and chemical function groups were determined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that HTBC adsorbent was found to be constituted by heterogeneous surface with mesoporous having a surface area of 33.38 m2/g and pore diameter of 23.53 nm, and carboxylic and amine functional groups. Adsorption experiments were conducted using batch mode, by varying key adsorption parameters such as contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dosage and concentration. Adsorption isotherm modelling revealed that the Langmuir model (higher R2 and lower χ2) provided a better fit for MO adsorption onto HTBC, while the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Under optimized conditions (pH 2, HTBC dose of 0.03 g, initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L, 313 K, 270 rpm), the maximum Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity for MO adsorption onto HTBC was found to be 264.922 mg/g. According the thermodynamic parameters, it can be deduced that MO adsorption on HTBC was exothermic and spontaneous. Adsorption mechanism can be attributed to various interactions, including electrostatic attraction, H-bonding, and π-π interaction. In light of these findings, biochar from Hyphaene thebaica shells can be considered a cost-effective and biodegradable adsorbent with significant potential for the treatment of water contaminated with anionic dyes.

Morphological, chemical, thermal and mechanical analysis of doum fibers as potential reinforcement of polymer composites

The research article addresses, a novel natural cellulosic fiber namely Doum Palm Leaf Stalk Fibers (DPLSF) were extracted from Doum palm tree ( Chamaerops humilis L.) are rich in cellulose, relatively inexpensive, and readily available in Algeria. The characteristic analysis on morphological, physiochemical, thermal and mechanical proprieties of the extracted raw and treated DPLSF with 20% sodium bicarbonate at various times of treatment were exanimated by optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction method (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermos gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SEM micrographs of the longitudinal topographic surface of the DPLSF after chemical treatment with sodium bicarbonate at various times treatment indicated that the removed the waxy layer and impurities from surface and formed a roughened surface. XRD analysis further confirmed the treatment’s positive effect on the fibers, with the crystallinity index increasing from 71.43% to 81.03%. However, FTIR analysis showed minimal changes in the peak position and intensity of transmittance. The TGA/DTG results revealed a significant mass loss in treated DPLSF, while thermal stability improved from 290°C to 330°C. Additionally, we analyzed the mechanical tensile properties of the treated fibers and observed that fibers treated at 20% NaHCO3 for 24 h exhibited the highest Young's modulus 8.63 GPa. To validate the experimental findings, we compared individual DPLSF results to a numerical simulation using ABAQUS code. This study underscores the potential of DPLSF as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fibers, offering immense promise for diverse applications.

Diversity of Indicator and Dominant Plant Species along Elevation Gradients in Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve, KSA

It is essential to protect and preserve biodiversity, especially in habitats in which natural resources are scarce. The differing flora and vegetation distribution on the broad, arid landscape at the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nature Reserve has yet to be investigated. Based on GPS coordination and the transitional zone of plant communities, 48 symmetric plots of 50 × 50 m2 were distributed evenly over six elevations. In this study, we recorded 70 species in 33 families and elucidated floristic traits correlated with elevation. High species richness was recorded for the families Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Chenopodiaceae. High numbers of chamaephyte and phanerophyte species were observed. In the chorotype, the mono-regional component contained 47% of the species, the bi-regional component 35.7%, and multi-regional and worldwide species comprised 10% and 7%, respectively. This study noted the growth habits of 23 herbs, 15 shrubs, 10 trees, and a single species of grass, vine, climber, and mistletoe. Diversity indices, indicator species, dominant plant communities, and soil profiles were compared for the defined zones of elevation. Alpha and beta diversity were high at elevations of ≥1000, 800, and ≤100 ma.s.l., compared to elevations of 600 m, 400 m, and 200 m. The highest species richness and species turnover were recorded at elevations of ≥1000, 800, and ≤100 m, while species evenness was greater at elevations of 600, 400, and 200 m. Vegetation analyses and indicator species (based on relative abundance) showed species variation with elevation. Species domination was influenced by physical soil structure and soil chemistry. Microclimates, including temperature and relative humidity variations, were found to be a significant driver in the ecosystem, resulting in varying plant diversity and species distribution at different elevations. Through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), we used an autocorrelation of elevations, plant species, and soil properties to identify three phytogeographic categories that were presumed to be a proxy of microclimate change: Category I: elevations 1000 m and 800 m, including Retama raetam, Zilla Spinosa, and Vachellia gerrardii linked with sandy soil; Category II: elevations 600 m and 400 m, including species Haloxylon salicornicum, Rhazya stricta, and Leptadenia pyrotechnica linked with enriched soils containing CaCO3 and HCO3 and having a clay texture; and Category III: elevations 200 m and 100 m, including Zygophyllum coccineum, Tamarix nilotica, and Hyphaene thebaica, which thrived in salinity and silt soils. The spatial vegetation patterns of the xeric environment and its transition zones in Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nature Reserve were also documented. It is recommended that microclimate effects on species nominated for vegetation restoration or afforestation be considered for the optimal management of this important nature reserve.

Review on functional values of doum palm fruit

Consumers are currently demanding less use of artificial additives in food products, so more attention had been paid to search for naturally occurring substances that are anticipated to be safe and health-promoting. This is true for plant materials that act as alternative sources of many bioactive compound. Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) is one of the underutilized fruits that contains many valuable compounds. Doum fruit should be regarded as potential source of natural antioxidant, antimicrobial, dietary fiber, and more, capable of offering significantly low cost and nutritional compound that are safer for human consumption and their use in food products will increase quality and added value. Foods that possess additional physiological effects beyond their nutritional functions of providing nutrients are called functional foods. Functional food can provide nutraceuticals with the therapeutic value that is capable of protecting against various diseases. From this point of view, the present study was designed to review literatures on the natural source of valuable compounds in doum palm fruit.

Room temperature bio-engineered multifunctional carbonates for CO2 sequestration and valorization

This contribution reports, for the first time, on an entirely green bio-engineering approach for the biosynthesis of single phase crystalline 1-D nano-scaled calcite CaCO3. This was validated using H2O as the universal solvent and natural extract of Hyphaene thebaica fruit as an effective chelating agent. In this room temperature green process, CaCl2 and CO2 are used as the unique source of Ca and CO3 respectively in view of forming nano-scaled CaCO3 with a significant shape anisotropy and an elevated surface to volume ratio. In terms of novelty, and relatively to the reported scientific and patented literature in relation to the fabrication of CaCO3 by green nano-chemistry, the current cost effective room temperature green process can be singled out as per the following specificities: only water as universal solvent is used, No additional base or acid chemicals for pH control, No additional catalyst, No critical or supercritical CO2 usage conditions, Only natural extract of thebaica as a green effective chelating agent through its phytochemicals and proper enzematic compounds, room Temperature processing, atmospheric pressure processing, Nanoscaled size particles, and Nanoparticles with a significant shape anisotropy (1-D like nanoparticles). Beyond and in addition to the validation of the 1-D synthesis aspect, the bio-engineered CaCO3 exhibited a wide-ranging functionalities in terms of highly reflecting pigment, an effective nanofertilizer as well as a potential binder in cement industry.

Effect of Doun Palm Mesocarp Meal (Hyphaene Thebaica) As Partial Replacement for Maize on Growth Performance and Haematological Indices of Weaned Pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Doum palm mesocarp meal (DPMM) as partial replacement for maize on the growth performance and heamatological indices of weaned pigs. A total of 50 crossbred pigs with an initial weight of 7.12 ± 0.01 kg and weaned at 21 days of age were individually housed in pens and fed five experimental diets. Diet 1 (Corn based diet without doum palm mesocarp meal, DPMM was used to partially replace maize at 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 2% in diet 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The experimental diet were adequate in all nutrients and fed ad libitum for 56 days in a completely randomized design. DPPM contained crude protein (6.09 %), crude fibre (11.49 %), ether extract (1.75 %), ash (6.26 %) and energy (2933.7 kcal/kg). Average weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not influenced (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Pack cell volume, red blood cell, platelet, mean platelet volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell, neutrophils, basophils, monocytes and lymphocytes were higher (P>0.05) in T3, T4 and T5 than in T1 and T2. All values were within optimum ranges for healthy pigs. Result showed that DPMM can be used to partially replace maize up to 20 % without negatively affecting the performance and health status of weaned pigs.

Adsorptive efficiency of hull-based activated carbon toward copper ions (Cu2+) removal from aqueous solution: Kinetics, modelling and statistical analysis

Activated carbons represent powerful materials for water depollution. In this study, two carbon materials were synthesized by a simple and eco-friendly method using Neem and Hyphaene thebaica biomass waste. The material preparation aimed to reach high surface activity and low cost in order to develop an adsorbent for the removal of harmful substances from water, such as heavy metals. The prepared carbon materials were characterized using various techniques, including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The adsorption of Cu (II) ions on activated carbon from Neem (CAN) and Hyphaene thebaica (CAH) hulls was systematically investigated using a batch method by varying several key operational parameters such as contact time, pH, adsorbent dose and the effect of concentration. The results obtained from the study indicated that the maximum uptake capacity was 277 mg/g for CAN and 210 mg/g for CAH at pH 5 after 15 min of equilibrium time in contact with 500 mg/L of initial concentration of copper ions solution. Marczewski-Jaroniec and Sips isotherm models fitted well the experimental data with high R2, adj-R2 and less value or errors analysis for either CAN or CAH. Besides, the kinetic study showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-first-order model for CAN and a pseudo-second-order for CAH. Thus, this study shows that Neem and Hyphaene thebaica hulls represent a valuable biomass source for the production of activated carbon for heavy metal remediation.

Glyceamic Modulatory Effects of a Recipe from Some Commonly Consumed Fruit Pulps in Normal and Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Plants continue to play an important role in the treatment and management of many diseases, including diabetes mellitus, in many developing economies. Most often, a cocktail of plant mixtures is normally used in traditional practice rather than single plant, which are believed to offer more benefits. Adansonia digitata, Hyphaene thebaica, Ziziphus spina-christi, and Ziziphus mauritiana are some of those plants that are reported to have medicinal benefits and, most importantly, anti-diabetic activity. This study evaluated the hypoglyceamic and antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extracts of the fruit pulps and a recipe combining all the fruits in experimental rats. Aqueous extracts of the different fruits and the recipe were orally administered to normoglyceamic and Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, and their blood glucose was monitored over a period of 3 hours in the screening study. Two different doses of the recipe were also administered daily for four (4) weeks to STZ-diabetic rats to study the antidiabetic potential of the recipe. All the extracts did not significantly reduce the fasting blood glucose (FBG) of the normoglyceamic rats in the hypoglyceamic screening study. In the antidiabetic screening study, all the extracts lowered the FBG of their respective groups with percent reductions of 32%, 21%, 17%, and 46%, respectively, for Z. spina-christi, Z. mauritiana, A. digitata and H. thebaica extractives. The maximum percent reduction observed for the recipe was 25.5%. The daily administration of the recipe for four weeks also produced significant reductions that were not dose dependent. The 200 mg/kg bd. wt. dose showed a maximum reduction of 59.9%. The percentage reductions observed in the recipe-treated group were, however, lower than the percentage reductions seen in the insulin and glibenclamide-treated groups. The study confirms the antidiabetic properties of the individual fruits and the recipe, and thus confirms the traditional use of the fruits in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Green Synthesis of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles Using Hyphaene thebaica Fruit Extract and Their Photocatalytic Application

Cobalt oxide, a multifunctional, anti-ferromagnetic p-type semiconductor with an optical bandgap of ~2.00 eV, exhibits remarkable catalytic, chemical, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. In our study, cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4 NPs) were prepared by the green synthesis method using dried fruit extracts of Hyphaene thebaica (doum palm) as a cost-effective reducing and stabilizing agent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) depicts stable hollow spherical entities which, consist of interconnected Co3O4 NPs, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicates the presence of Co and O. The obtained product was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) that showed a sharp peak at (220), (311), (222), (400), (511) indicating the high crystallinity of the product. The Raman peaks indicate the Co3O4 spinel structure with an average shift of Δν~9 cm−1 (191~470~510~608~675 cm−1). In the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum, the major bands at 3128 cm−1, 1624 cm−1, 1399 cm−1, 667 cm−1, and 577 cm−1 can be attributed to the carbonyl functional groups, amides, and Co3O4 NPs, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized NPs was evaluated by degrading methylene blue dye under visible light. Approximately 93% degradation was accomplished in the reaction time of 175 min at a catalyst loading of 1 g/L under neutral pH. This study has shown that Co3O4 is a promising material for photocatalytic degradation.

Processing of tropical agro-industrial waste for particleboard manufacture: Dimensional stability and mechanical performance

Agro-industrial by-product shells are an interesting ecological and economical option to reduce the use of wood in particleboard formulation. However, knowledge of the thermal stability and physical properties of these shells is required for their use in construction materials. In this work, Doum Palm (DPS) and Balanite (BS) tropical fruit shells from the sub-Saharan region of Cameroon were characterised and processed as fillers for the manufacture of polyester-bonded particleboard. Gravimetric tests showed that water absorption and porosity were minimal for BS compared to DPS. In addition, thermogravimetric analyses indicated that both shells had almost the same thermal stability. Fifteen classes of particleboard were then manufactured by hot pressing from the prepared blends with particle sizes of 500–1250 μm, 1250–2500 μm and 2500–4000 μm, with Balanite/palm Doum (B/D) hybridisation ratios of 0/70, 20/50, 35/35, 50/20 and 70/0 by volume. The dimensional stability and mechanical performance of the samples were analysed by means of water immersion tests, and bending and internal adhesion tests, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant increase in density in samples containing at least 20% BS regardless of particle size, resulting in a decrease in porosity and water sensitivity with an increasing B/P ratio. The performance of the samples was much better when both shells were used in equal proportions (35/35), with density (612 kg.m−3), thickness swelling (8%) and internal bond strength (1.12 MPa) in accordance with EN312. In addition, the bending strength (4.3 MPa) and stiffness (510 MPa) were in line with literature values for shell-based particleboards. These performances make DPS and BS promising biobased fillers for the manufacture of particleboards for construction purposes.

Promising photocatalytic activity under visible light of ZnWO4 nanocrystals prepared via green synthesis approach

In this work, we report on the biosynthesis of zinc tungstate ZnWO4 nanocrystals using Hyphaene thebaica L. Mart, fruit extracts for visible light photocatalytic application. The structure, nanostructure, and optical properties, as well as the photocatalytic activities of for biosynthesized zinc tungstate on Methylene blue, were investigated in detail. The zinc tungstate was in a pure crystalline phase without the presence of any impurities or secondary phases. The morphological analysis indicates the presence of spherical and uniformly distributed nanoparticles with an average crystallite particle size of 24 nm, and additionally the presence of rod-like particles. The bandgap energy value has been estimated to be 2.8 eV.The photocatalytic activities of ZnWO4 were investigated by the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. A series of reactions, with different initial MB concentrations (1.10−5mol/L, 2.10−5mol/L and 3.10−5mol/L) were implemented using 1 g/L of ZnWO4 catalyst under visible light irradiation. The biosynthesized ZnWO4 achieved an outstanding degradation activity of 98.4% for methylene blue dye after 90 min under visible light emission. The green chemistry was an efficient route to prepare ZnWO4 with high photocatalytic efficiency under visible light irradiation and this improvement is related to oxygen deficiency.