Identification Of Phytochemicals Research Articles

Phytochemical Identification of Active Components of Some Medicinal Herbs and Oils Relative to its Biological Activities in Saudi Arabia

Phytochemical Identification of Active Components of Some Medicinal Herbs and Oils Relative to its Biological Activities in Saudi Arabia

Phytochemical identification and in silico elucidation of interactions of bioactive compounds from Citrullus lanatus with androgen receptor towards prostate cancer treatment.

Androgen receptor (AR) is known to play a crucial role in the development and progression of prostate cancer, and compounds that inhibit its activity are regarded as promising for the development of drugs to treat the disease. This study aimed to investigate the AR-inhibiting potential of Citrullus lanatus fruit compounds forprostate cancer drug development. Following HPLC identification, the binding energies, molecular interactions, and pharmacological potentials of the compounds against AR were elucidated using in silico techniques such as, molecular docking, induced-fit docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ADMET prediction. Some of the compounds found to be present in Citrullus lanatus fruit included flavonoids such as proanthocyanin, naringin, flavan 3 ol, flavonones, naringenin, epicatechin, citrulline, and catechin. Naringenin exhibited the highest docking score in the molecular docking analysis, followed by resveratrol, ribalinidine, and epicatechin. These compoundsshare a common AR binding site with the standard ligand, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Some of the compounds showed favorable ADMET profiles, while others showedat least one toxicity potential. The induced-fit docking of naringenin with AR yielded a higher docking score than the initial score obtained from standard docking while preserving stable molecular contacts with the interacting amino acids. Consistent hydrogen bond interactions of naringenin with PHE 764, ASN 705, and THR 877 of AR, including a persistent pi-pi stacking contact with PHE 764, were observed from the molecular dynamic simulation. The Citrullus lanatus compounds, particularly naringenin, may therefore be considered for further research towards the development of drugs for prostate cancer therapy.

Phytochemical Screening and GC-FID Identification of Bioactive Compounds in N-hexane, Ethylacetate and Methanol Fractions of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Azanza garckeana

Azanza garckeana is a tropical African plant commonly used for food and medicine. This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant, phytochemicals and the bioactive compounds present in n-hexane, ethylacetate and methanol fractions of the methanolic extract of Azanza garckeana leaves. Phytochemical screening and antioxidant assayed were carried out using standard methods, while bioactive compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The phytochemical compositions revealed considerable level of tannins and saponins with moderate concentration of flavonoids and steroids in the methanol fraction; whereas n-hexane fraction also showed considerable amount of tannins followed by saponins and a low concentration of steroids. However, ethylacetate fraction had the highest yield of tannins, steroids, and terpenoids which were significantly (p< 0.05) higher than methanolic fraction and n-hexane fraction respectively. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic crude extract of A. garckeana leaves showed that the % DPPH radical scavenging activity of the crude extract increased with decreased in concentration when compared with the standard antioxidant (ascorbic acid). The result of GC-FID analysis revealed the presence of nineteen constituents in n-hexane fraction, while ethylacetate and methanol fractions each have twenty constituents. This result showed that Azanza garckeana leaves contain health-promoting bioactive compounds with potent antioxidants.

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Ethosomal Cream of Passiflora foetida Linn. for the Treatment of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition with the most significant and far-reaching consequences for humans. In order to cure psoriasis, an herbal ethosomal cream was developed, and one of the plants that went into its production was the Passiflora foetida Linn. plant. A large number of distinct phytochemical identification tests were carried out with the use of a broad range of reagents. The ability of an antioxidant to reduce free radicals, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), is one way that its effectiveness may be shown. Coconut oil, olive oil, and vitamin E oil are the three essential oils combined to make the final product. All of these oils bring its own unique set of medicinal benefits to the table. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis carried out on the herbal extract revealed the presence of phytoconstituents inside the sample. The overall quality of the cream that was produced was evaluated. The LC-MS approach was used to dissect the anti-inflammatory and psoriasis-fighting components included in herbal remedies. An attempt to treat psoriasis using herbal medicine was made using the ethosomes of the P. foetida Linn. plant.

Retracted: Computer-Aided Prediction and Identification of Phytochemicals as Potential Drug Candidates against MERS-CoV.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/5578689.].

Separation of crude methanol extract of Plantago major root: identification of phytochemicals and assessment of biological activities

Plantago major root extracts were used for analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The anticancer and antibacterial functions of extracts were also investigated. The dichloromethane extract of P. major had the highest inhibitory effect against Salmonella paratyphi (18.00 ± 1.4 mm) at 100 mg/mL concentration. The lowest MIC was also achieved for S. paratyphi treated with dichloromethane extract of P. major (1.5 mg/mL). The minimum MBC (2 mg/mL) was observed for dichloromethane extract of P. major root against S. paratyphi. IC50 values of dichloromethane extracts of P. major root (184.84 μg/mL) against HCT116 were lower than the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts (212.41 μg/mL and 223.93 μg/mL) at 72h. The butanol extract exhibited the most IC50 value on HEK293 (748.19 μg/mL). The biological properties of P. major extracts may be assigned to the presence of numerous compounds detected in GC/MS analysis including n-Hexadecanoic acid, Linolenic acid, Palmitic acid, methyl ester, Stearic acid.

Identification of Phytochemicals from Arabian Peninsula Medicinal Plants as Strong Binders to SARS-CoV-2 Proteases (3CLPro and PLPro) by Molecular Docking and Dynamic Simulation Studies.

We provide promising computational (in silico) data on phytochemicals (compounds 1-10) from Arabian Peninsula medicinal plants as strong binders, targeting 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLPro) and papain-like proteases (PLPro) of SARS-CoV-2. Compounds 1-10 followed the Lipinski rules of five (RO5) and ADMET analysis, exhibiting drug-like characters. Non-covalent (reversible) docking of compounds 1-10 demonstrated their binding with the catalytic dyad (CYS145 and HIS41) of 3CLPro and catalytic triad (CYS111, HIS272, and ASP286) of PLPro. Moreover, the implementation of the covalent (irreversible) docking protocol revealed that only compounds 7, 8, and 9 possess covalent warheads, which allowed the formation of the covalent bond with the catalytic dyad (CYS145) in 3CLPro and the catalytic triad (CYS111) in PLPro. Root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration (Rg) analysis from molecular dynamic (MD) simulations revealed that complexation between ligands (compounds 7, 8, and 9) and 3CLPro and PLPro was stable, and there was less deviation of ligands. Overall, the in silico data on the inherent properties of the above phytochemicals unravel the fact that they can act as reversible inhibitors for 3CLPro and PLPro. Moreover, compounds 7, 8, and 9 also showed their novel properties to inhibit dual targets by irreversible inhibition, indicating their effectiveness for possibly developing future drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Nonetheless, to confirm the theoretical findings here, the effectiveness of the above compounds as inhibitors of 3CLPro and PLPro warrants future investigations using suitable in vitro and in vivo tests.

Identification of Phytochemicals in Cleome rutidosperma DC. Methanol Extract and Evaluate its Efficacy on Some Common Rice Field Weeds

Screening different plant species for herbicidal activity and identifying new allelochemicals with novel structures and phytochemical activity could be promising candidates for reducing the negative consequences of chemical herbicides. Our study aims to investigate the allelopathic substance(s) and herbicidal efficacy of Cleome rutidosperma DC. on rice filed weeds in the lab and glasshouse. The phytochemical constituents of the methanol extract of Cleome rutidosperma were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). The allelopathic effect of C. rutidosperma has been further studied on the germination and early development of five common rice field weeds: Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl, Oryza sativa f. spontanea Roshev., Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, and Cyperus iria L. The seed germination and growth of tested weeds under lab and glasshouse conditions were compared to three concentrations of C. rutidosperma methanol extract at 2.5, 5, and 10% with the control (only distilled water). The results indicated the presence of 64 and 10 known chemicals using positive and negative ionization techniques, the majority of which were toxic. The inhibitory effect of C. rutidosperma was stronger in the lab than in the glasshouse. No seed germination of the tested species was observed when 10% C. rutidosperma extract was applied. The photosynthesis rate of C. iria exhibited a higher reduction (70.56%) compared to other species at higher doses (10%) of C. rutidosperma. These findings demonstrated that C. rutidosperma is a significant source of phytotoxic components and can be used to develop future bio-herbicides. The outcome of this study can be employed in the organic management of weeds and reduce our heavy reliance on synthetic herbicides.

Identification of Phytochemicals with Inhibitory Potential Against Beta-lactamase Enzymes via Computer-aided Approach

IntroductionAntibacterial drugs have been widely used for the past century to treat diseases, but their efficacy has been limited by multi-resistant pathogens, particularly those that utilize beta-lactamase enzymes. The inhibition of beta-lactamase enzymes holds great promise for reducing the influence of such pathogens. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the mechanism of inhibition of phytochemicals with antibacterial activity against two classes of beta-lactamases using computational methods. Methods: To achieve this objective, a total of thirty phytochemicals were docked against SHV-1 beta-lactamase and AmpC beta-lactamase after procurement from Protein Data Bank. The pharmacokinetics (ADMET) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis study were also conducted to unravel the nature of the top six most promising compounds on each protein. ResultsThe results showed that a significant percentage of the compounds had binding affinities greater than that of avibactam, the positive control. Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside showed the most promising results against SHV-1 beta-lactamase with an affinity of −9.4 kcal/mol, while luteolin was found to be the most promising candidate against AmpC beta-lactamase with an affinity of −8.5 kcal/mol. DFT analysis demonstrated the reactivity of these compounds, and the ADMET study indicated that they were relatively safe. ConclusionIn conclusion, the study's findings suggest that the selected compounds have significant potential to inhibit beta-lactamase and may be used in combination with antibiotics against organisms that produce beta-lactamase. This study provides a basis for further research in a wet-lab setting to validate the results.

A Study on Evaluation of the Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant property in various extract preparations of Dicliptera cuneata Nees

Background: Dicliptera cuneata Nees plant belongs to family Acanthaceae. This plant is commonly called as karunkuruntu (tamil) and pinchakusuma (telugu). This is inhabited in deciduous to moist deciduous forests. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant property in various extract preparations of this plant through standard procedures. Method: Chemical test for identification of various phytochemicals (flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, glycosides, steroids) in chloroform, ethanolic, alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Dicliptera cuneata Nees was evaluated using standard methods as described in previous literature. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was performed using DPPH method. Results: Saponins, tannins and flavonoids were detected in chloroform and ethanolic extract. Hydroalcoholic extract contained alkaloids along with flavonoids and saponins. Terpinoids were detected in ethanolic and hexane extracts. Hexane and chloroform extracts of this plant showed very less antioxidant properties in comparison to ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts. And in comparison, to ethanolic extract, hydroalcoholic extract showed good antioxidant property in a dose dependent manner. Ethanolic extract showed %inhibition of 26.60, 30.09, 32.93, 34.40, 36.70 at 10µg, 100µg, 300µg, 500µg, 1000µg/ml of concentration respectively. Hydroalcoholic extract showed % inhibition of 24.95, 35.32, 58.07, 59.44, 74.58 at 10µg, 100µg, 300µg, 500µg, 1000µg/ml concentrations respectively. Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extract of Dicliptera cuneata Nees may be considered as potent antioxidant and may be tested for its efficacy in other in-vitro and in-vivo models.

Extraction, Characterization, Biocompatibility, and Antioxidant Activity of Dillenia Indica L. Fruit Polysaccharide

AbstractThe current investigation describes extraction and characterization of aqueous‐soluble polysaccharide (DIFP) from mature Dillenia indica L., fruits to explore its biocompatibility and antioxidant properties (in vitro). In this work, employing the hot‐water extraction method, a whitish brown colored, tasteless, odorless DIFP is extracted (14.45% yield). The findings of the phytochemical identification showed that the extracted DIFP contained both mucilage and carbohydrates. The purity of DIFP is revealed by the examination of three different ash values. 1H NMR spectroscopy, FT‐IR spectroscopy, DSC, and P‐XRD analyses of extracted DIFP are carried out. The results of hemocompatibility (in vitro) experiments, in particular, the determinations of hemolysis percentage (0.80%) and thrombogenicity percentage (5.55%), indicated that the DIFP exhibited nonhemolytic and nonthrombogenic properties. The in vivo acute toxicity evaluation in Swiss Albino male mice clearly presented the absence of any mortality (within 24 h) after intraperitoneal administration of the extracted DIFP (up to 1500 mg kg−1), indicating its nontoxicity, in vivo. Different in vitro tests of antioxidant activity, such as DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging, showed a strong antioxidant effect of extracted DIFP. The extracted DIFP (from mature DIFs by hot‐water extraction method) can be used as a natural antioxidant in a variety of applications.

Phytochemical identification by LC-ESI MS/MS method of the Iris barnumiae methanolic extract and its antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects

Phytochemical identification by LC-ESI MS/MS method of the Iris barnumiae methanolic extract and its antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects

Exploring the Phytoconstituents, Bioactivity, and Applications: Comprehensive Analysis of Methanol Leaf Extract from Mangifera indica L. using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

The purpose of this study is to examine extraction, isolation and identification of useful phytochemicals from Methanol leaf extract of Mangifera indica L. by using GCMS. The Methanol extract of GCMS study shows the significant Phytoconstituents like triterpene, fatty acids, monoterpene, aromatic flavoring agent, esters, n-alkanes, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, diterpene, olefin, monoglyceride, monoterpenoid phenol, keton, poly unsaturated poly acid were found to present in major and minor amount. As per literature review most of components show various bioactivities with useful applications in different fields. Mangifera Indica plant leaves is capable to play a major role in medicine formulation and helps to build the capacity to form a secondary metabolite like steroids, alkaloids, flavonoides, phenols etc. These identified phytochemicals can be useful to heal many diseases and improvement of health of human beings. Across India, many plants are available with significant medicinal values, among them Mangifera indica L leaves having number of very useful phytochemicals present in its leaves material. Mangifera indica L is one of the most important plants with high medicinal value, which is manifested in present study.

Standardization and Evaluation of Triphala Juice and Quantification of Gallic Acid as a Biomarker by Analytical Techniques

Background:: Standardization of Triphala Juice was performed by using the WHO Guidelines. The Parameters included Preliminary Analysis, Phytochemical Identification, Heavy Metal Estimation, etc. A new simple, specific, precise and accurate UV Spectrophotometric, High-Performance Liquid Methods: Chromatography and High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography method has been developed for the Estimation of Gallic Acid in pure form. The UV- Spectrophotometric method was developed using Schimadzu 1800 UV - Visible spec-trophotometer using methanol as a solvent. The method was shown to be linear, with a detection wavelength of 273 nm for Gallic Acid. The separation was achieved on the Schimadzu Prominence-I RP-HPLC and the column used was C18 column using mobile phase consisting of mixture of Methanol: 0.1% OPA (50:50). The detection was carried out at 280 nm with a flow rate of 0.7ml/min. The retention time for Gallic Acid was found 3.89 minutes. The calibration curve was found linear (r2 = 0.999) for RP- HPLC method. The HPTLC method was developed using Aetron Sprayline instrument, Methanol as solvent and mobile phase consisting of Toluene: Ethyl Acetate: Formic Acid: Methanol (3:3:0.9:0.2). The method was found linear and the wavelength of detection for Gallic Acid was 254nm, respectively. The percentage recoveries for both methods were found in the 98.0- 102.0% range. Results:: The methods were validated in accordance with International Conference on harmoniza-tion acceptance criteria for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness and system suita-bility. The excipients did not interfere in the determination of Gallic acid in Triphala Juice. Conclusion:: The suggested approach was effectively implemented for the quantitative determina-tion of gallic acid in Triphala juice, which would aid in quality control

Identification of antiviral phytochemicals from cranberry as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro)

Cranberry phytochemicals are known to possess antiviral activities. In the current study, we explored the therapeutic potential of cranberry against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting its main protease (Mpro) enzyme. Firstly, phytochemicals of cranberry origin were identified from three independent databases. Subsequently, virtual screening, using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches, led to the identification of three lead phytochemicals namely, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, β-carotene and epicatechin. Furthermore, in vitro enzymatic assays revealed that cyanidin 3-O-galactoside had the highest inhibitory potential with IC50 of 9.98 μM compared to the other two phytochemicals. Cyanidin 3-O-galactoside belongs to the class of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins extracted from frozen cranberry also exhibited the highest inhibitory potential with IC50 of 23.58 μg/ml compared to the extracts of carotenoids and flavanols, the class for β-carotene and epicatechin, respectively. Finally, we confirm the presence of the phytochemicals in the cranberry extracts using targeted LC-MS/MS analysis. Our results, therefore, indicate that the identified cranberry-derived bioactive compounds as well as cranberry could be used for therapeutic interventions against SARS-CoV-2.

Identification of Potential Phytochemicals Against Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2: A Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Approach

Identification of Potential Phytochemicals Against Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2: A Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamic Approach

Chemotaxonomy, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of selected aromatic plants from Tabuk region-KSA

Chemotaxonomy is a valuable tool for obtaining taxonomic insights, which are most effectively employed in combination with other forms of data to establish a system of classification that closely reflects natural connections. The utilization of plant secondary metabolites possessing diverse therapeutic qualities signifies the growing exploitation of natural products in the medical discipline. The objectives of the current study encompassed the identification of phytochemicals in the extracts of nine species of medicinal plants, the examination of their chemotaxonomic properties, and the assessment of the antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities exhibited by the extracts. GC-MS technology was employed for the identification of phytochemical compounds. The study utilized ClassyFire, an automated chemical classification system that incorporates an extensive and computable classification, to categorize chemicals. The chemical classification of plants was examined by the application of principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). The bactericidal properties of plants were assessed against four harmful bacterial species using the disc diffusion technique. The antioxidant properties of plant extracts were assessed employing the DPPH free radical scavenging methodology, and the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) was determined using dose response models. The calculator being referred to is the Quest Graph™ EC50 Calculator. In the plant extracts, the analysis disclosed the occurrence of 160 phytochemicals, classified into 36 phytochemical classes. The results of CA and PCA demonstrated the proximity and associations among Asteraceae species, while indicating the divergence of the two Lamiaceae species. Achillea fragrantissima and Ducrosia flabellifolia demonstrated the most diversity in phytochemical classes, while Thymus vulgaris displayed the highest level of dominance. Pulicaria undulata and T. vulgaris had the most notable antibacterial activity. D. flabellifolia and P. incisa demonstrated the highest levels of antioxidant activity. Ethanol exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy compared to other solvents. The remarkable biological activities exhibited by these plant extracts can be ascribed to the copious presence of certain chemicals, predominantly sesquiterpenoids, monoterpenoids, benzene and its derivatives, naphthalenes, fatty acyls, and phenols. The susceptibility of Gram-positive bacterial species to plant extracts was shown to be higher in comparison to Gram-negative bacterial species.

The antiproliferative activity of Varronia dardani (Taroda) J.S. Mill. roots against human melanoma cells and the isolation of a new hydroanthraquinone

The Caatinga is a unique Brazilian semi-arid biome in the north-east of the country, containing endemic plant species. Among these, Cordiaceae are traditionally used by local communities for the treatment of various diseases such as gastric pain, menstrual colic and arthritis. In this work, the antiproliferative activity of the species Varronia dardani was evaluated in chemoresistant human melanoma cells. The ethanolic extract of V.dardani root exerted high antiproliferative activity in A2058 cells and was selected for further phytochemical characterization and bioguided purification of antimelanoma compounds. The isopropanol fraction was the most active and contained a novel hydroanthraquinone which was isolated, characterized and named vardanone. This molecule is the first hydroanthraquinone reported in V. dardani and UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed that it was composed of a mixture of isomers. When tested in melanoma cells, vardanone didn’t induce the inhibition of A2058 cell growth, indicating that the fraction's antimelanoma activity is attributable to other molecules which will be further characterized. This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of a hydroanthraquinone in V. dardani and paves the way for the identification of new antimelanoma phytochemicals in this species.

Isolation of a novel isoprenylated phenolic compound and neuroprotective evaluation of Dodonaea viscosa extract against cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury in rats

Dodonaea viscosa grows widely in Saudi Arabia, but studies evaluating its neuroprotective activity are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to isolate and identify the secondary metabolites and evaluate the neuroprotective effects of D. viscosa leaves. The isolation and identification of phytochemicals were performed using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The neuroprotective potential of the extract was evaluated against focal cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury in rat model. Neurobehavioural deficits in the rats were evaluated, and their brains were harvested to measure infarct volume and oxidative biomarkers. Results revealed the presence of three compounds: a novel isoprenylated phenolic derivative that was elucidated as 4-hydroxy-3-(3ʹ-methyl-2ʹ-butenyl) phenyl 1-O-β-D-apiosyl-(1ʹʹʹ → 6ʹʹ)- β-D-glucopyranoside (named Viscomarfadol) and two known compounds (isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and epicatechin (4–8) catechin). Pre-treatment of the rats with the extract improved neurological outcomes. It significantly reduced neurological deficits and infarct volume; significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde levels; and significantly elevated antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione) activities. These results indicate that D. viscosa is a promising source of bioactive compounds that can improve neurological status, decrease infarct volume, and enhance antioxidant activities in rats with cerebral ischaemic injury. Thus, D. viscosa could be developed into an adjuvant therapy for ischaemic stroke and other oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders. Further investigations are warranted to explore other bioactive compounds in D. viscosa and evaluate their potential neuroprotective activities.

Pelatihan Identifikasi Cepat Fitokimia pada Mahasiswa STIFI BP Palembang

Identification of phytochemicals is an important preliminary test that pharmacy students need to know and understand. As is known, that natural ingredients are an important aspect that plays a role in herbal medicine. One of the most prominent uses of plants is as a medicinal ingredient. In determining the traditional use of natural materials, it is necessary to know which groups of chemical compounds are contained in natural materials. Chemical compounds contained in natural products are grouped into alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and terpenoids. To determine the class of compounds in natural products, it is necessary to carry out preliminary tests quickly, namely by testing phytochemicals. Phytochemical identification training is aimed at STIFI Bhakti Pertiwi Palembang students who conduct field studies at Anai Land, Padang Pariaman Regency, Padang, West Sumatra. This field study activity is held as a support for natural product chemistry lectures. Phytochemical testing was carried out in groups guided by each. Students who have received training can carry out phytochemical testing of natural ingredients as a provision for final project research.