Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract Research Articles

Efficacy Of Plant Solvents Extracts Against Xanthomonas Axonopodis Pv. Citri Causing Citrus Canker

In vitro antibacterial properties of some solvents, such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, distilled water, and methanol extraction of two plants, Azadirachta indica and Eucalyptus globulus, were studied against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, the primary agent of citrus canker disease. Azadirachta indica whole plant extract had the highest extraction yield (9.08%) in distilled water and the lowest (2.9%) in petroleum ether, whereas Eucalyptus globulus extract had the highest extraction yield (9.01%) in methanol and the lowest (7.01%) in ethyl acetate solvent. By agar well diffusion and paper disc method, chloroform extract of Azadirachta indica and methanol extract of Eucalyptus globulus were found to have promising antibacterial action against Xanthomonas axanopodis pv. citri. The chloroform leaf extract of Azadirachta indica showed the maximum percentage of inhibition when compared to the methanol extract of Eucalyptus globulus.

Relative performance of fungicides and crude leaf extract of Azadirachta indica against leaf blight of onion

Relative performance of fungicides and crude leaf extract of Azadirachta indica against leaf blight of onion

Azadirachta indica leaf extract mediated biosynthesized rod-shaped zinc oxide nanoparticles for in vitro lung cancer treatment

In this work, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs – L5 and L10) are biosynthesized using 5 mL and 10 mL leaf extract of Azadirachta indica, respectively. As-prepared L5/L10 NPs revealed hexagonal wurtzite structure while their surface is attached with phytochemicals coating. FESEM micrographs confirmed 50 – 120 and 30 – 70 nm rod-shaped L5/L10 ZnO nanoparticles. DLS study showed hydrodynamic sizes 580.41/356.2 nm and zeta potential values of −47.17/−51.70 mV for L5/L10, respectively indicating their good colloidal stability. The anticancer activity of L5/L10 NPs is evaluated via MTT assay which confirmed that the cell viability of A549 cells is significantly reduced depending on the dosage of L5/L10 NPs. Moreover, IC50 values are obtained as 125.64 and 115.63 μg/mL for L5 and L10, respectively. Furthermore, flow cytometry reveals 88 % and 89.3 % arrest of the G1 phase of the cell cycle due to the anticancer effect of L5 and L10 NPs, respectively.

A Review on Herbal Soap

A herbal soap and hand sanitizer was formulated using the leaf and bark extract of Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Sapindus mukorussi and Acacia concinna powder. Ayurvedic cosmetics are also known as the herbal cosmetics the natural content in the herbs does not have any side effect on the human body most herbal supplement are based on several botanical ingredients with long histories of traditional or folk medicine usage. Among the numerous botonical ingredients available in the market today. Numerous chemical toxins microorganism present in the atmosphere may cause chemical infection and damage to skin cosmetics alone are not sufficient to take care of skin and body parts. Neem (Azadirachta indica) tree has attracted worldwide prominance owing to its wide range of medicinal properties, neem leaves and its constituents have been demonstrated to exhibit anti–inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, antibacterial, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aqueous, ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract from neem leaves. Herbal soapingredients were used reetha, neem, shikekai and tulsi., in which neem leaf and seed were found effective against some dermatophytes. Shikeki and Reetha acts as a detergent andhaving cleaning and foaming activity and Tulsi shows antiviral activity.

Anthelmintic activity of Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica against gastrointestinal nematodes of wild sheep

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are serious issue for health of wild sheep kept in captivity. Chemically synthesized anthelmintics are regularly used to control these parasites. In recent years anthelmintic resistance and remnant of drugs in animal products leads to use of medicinal plants as alternative to anthelmintics. In current study, the efficacy of aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic dried leaf extracts of medicinal plants Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica were tested for in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activities against Haemonchus, Trichuris, Coccidia and Trichostrongylus; naturally acquired nematodes isolated from wild sheep (Ovis orientalis orientalis). Six concentrations of these plants extract (1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/ml) were evaluated using egg hatching assay (EHA) and larval development assay (LDA) in three replicates. To compare treatment effects, untreated and treated (0.1% ivermectin) controls were used. The aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic leaf extracts showed anthelmintic activities against isolated genera of nematodes but the inhibition was maximum (99%) in ethanol extract of M. oleifera followed by methanol extract (97%) at maximum concentration tested at (50mg/ml). The overall findings of this study shows that Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica leaf extracts possess significant anthelmintic efficacy against GINs of sheep and these could be a natural alternative to synthetic anthelmintics to treat the worm infections in animals.

Cellulase Enzyme Based Wet‐Pretreatment of Lotus Fabric to Improve Antimicrobial Finishing with A. indica Extract and Enhance Natural Dyeing: Sustainable Approach for Textile Finishing

AbstractLotus fibers/textile products have gained interest in recent years as a sustainable alternative of man‐made textiles as well as natural cellulose fibers. Lotus is an important cash crop; lotus fibers are derived from stem residues left in pond after harvesting which otherwise considered as a waste. Though the lotus fibers are chiefly composed to cellulose, non‐cellulosic impurities intrinsically present which causing problems during processing and finishing. In this study, application of cellulase enzyme explored for eco‐friendly wet processing of commercially available lotus fabric as pre‐treatment to improve the surface properties of the fabric. The enzymatic treatment for wet processing of lotus fabric optimized with respect to different process variables such as concentration of enzyme, pH, MLR, time, temperature. The optimum condition for the enzymatic treatment is 2 % enzyme concentration, 5.5 pH, 1 : 20 MLR, at 55 °C for 60 minutes. Effect of the enzymatic treatment on surface properties of the lotus fabric characterized by Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), water contact angle, whereas on bulk properties studied by % weight loss, X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile strength measurement, wet out time, water absorption percentage. The treatment resulted in removal of non‐cellulosic impurities, improvement in surface properties of the fabric such as increase in wettability, changes in surface morphology and roughness. Improvement in surface properties of lotus fabric due to the cellulase enzyme treatment results in favorably better absorption of natural product to impart antimicrobial property and also enhancement in natural dyeing. In this study, leaf extract of Azadirachta indica (Neem Tree) in water, methanol, and water‐methanol utilized to impart antimicrobial activity to the lotus fabric. The extracts analyzed by phytochemical screening and HPLC for qualitative and quantitative assessment of antimicrobial constituents. Quercetin and Azadirachtin is main antimicrobial constituents present in the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica, which found maximum in the water‐methanol extract of leaves of Azadirachta indica. The antimicrobial activity of the enzyme treated lotus fabric finished with water‐methanol extract of leaves Azadirachta indica has been determined qualitatively as well as quantitatively using zone of Inhibition and modified Hohenstein test. In the case of fabric treated with the enzyme and finished with water‐methanol extract of leaves Azadirachta indica, 97 % of reduction for S. aureus and 94 % of reduction for E.coli achieved with good durability of the antimicrobial finish up to three washing cycle whereas for the untreated fabric, antimicrobial finish lost after first washing. The enzyme treatment also resulted in improvement in dye uptake for the lotus fabric with commercial natural dyes Jaipuri Pink and Apsara yellow. For both the dyes, more than 300 % improvement in color depth observed with improvement in wash fastness in case of the enzyme treated lotus fabric.

Impact of certain plant extracts on different larval and cocoon characters of silkworm bombyx mori linn

Silkworm Bombyx mori L. feeds on the leaves of mulberry tree which is only the host plant for silkworm. The improvement of larval feeding is enrichment of mulberry leaves with supplementary nutrients. The present study has been aimed at investigating various economic traits of the silkworm cocoon, when fed on mulberry leaves fortified with the effect of leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum (“Queen of Herb” Tulsi), Azadirachta indica (Neem or Nim tree) and Vitex negunda (Nirgundi or Sindvar) medicinal leaf extract at different concentration viz., 0.1%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% on silkworm was studied. There was significant improvement in silk ratio % and filament length at 2.5% concentration of different medicinal plant leaf extract but the cocoon and shell weight decreased in comparison to control. In was significantly increased the larvae, economic traits like cocoon weight, shell weight, pupa weight, shell percentage, filament length, fibroin, sericin and denier of silk filament. Extract has growth promoting effect on silkworm, which helps to enhance the commercial qualities of silk and can be used in sericulture for yield improvement.

A Review on Herbal Soap

A herbal soap and hand sanitizer was formulated using the leaf and bark extract of Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Sapindus mukorussi and Acacia concinna powder. Ayurvedic cosmetics are also known as the herbal cosmetics the natural content in the herbs does not have any side effect on the human body most herbal supplement are based on several botanical ingredients with long histories of traditional or folk medicine usage. Among the numerous botonical ingredients available in the market today. Numerous chemical toxins microorganism present in the atmosphere may cause chemical infection and damage to skin cosmetics alone are not sufficient to take care of skin and body parts. Neem (Azadirachta indica) tree has attracted worldwide prominance owing to its wide range of medicinal properties, neem leaves and its constituents have been demonstrated to exhibit anti–inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, antibacterial, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aqueous, ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract from neem leaves. Herbal soapingredients were used reetha, neem, shikekai and tulsi., in which neem leaf and seed were found effective against some dermatophytes. Shikeki and Reetha acts as a detergent andhaving cleaning and foaming activity and Tulsi shows antiviral activity.

Development of Wash-Durable Antimicrobial Cotton Fabrics by In Situ Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Investigation of Their Antimicrobial Efficacy against Drug-Resistant Bacteria.

An environment friendly and wash-durable silver nanoparticle treatment of cotton fabrics was carried out by in situ reduction of silver nitrate using Azadirachta indica leaf extract. The wash durability of the silver nanoparticles treatment on the cotton fabric was improved by pretreating the fabrics by mercerization and by adopting hydrothermal conditions of 120 °C temperature and 15 psi pressure for the in situ synthesis. The silver nanoparticle treated fabrics were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, colorimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The coating of silver nanoparticles was seen to be dense and uniform in the scanning electron micrographs of the treated fabrics. An evaluation of the antibacterial efficacy of the silver nanoparticle treated fabric against antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains was carried out. The antibacterial efficacy was found to be the highest against Bacillus licheniformis, showing 93.3% inhibition, whereas it was moderate against Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%) and Escherichia coli (10%). The transmittance data of a UV spectrophotometer (290–400nm) was used for measuring the UV protection factor of the silver nanoparticle treated fabrics. All the silver nanoparticle treated fabrics showed good antimicrobial and UV protection activity. The treatment was also seen to be durable against repeated laundering. This paper contributes the first report on a novel green synthesis approach integrating mercerization of cotton fabrics and in situ synthesis of nanoparticles under hydrothermal conditions using Azadirachta indica leaf extract for improved wash durability of the multifunctional fabric.

Effects of a Dried Neem Leaf Extract on the Growth Performance, Meat Yield and Meat Quality in Skeletal Muscle of Broiler Chickens Under High-Temperature Conditions

We aimed to examine the effects of cyclical high ambient temperature (HT) and dried Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract (DNE) supplementation on the growth performance, muscle lipid peroxidation level, and muscle drip loss of broiler chickens. Twenty-four 15-day old broiler chickens (Chunky strain ROSS 308) were divided into four treatment groups that were fed diets with or without 2.0% DNE under thermoneutral (25 ± 1°C) or cyclical HT (35 ± 1°C for 8 h/day) conditions. Supplementation of DNE did not affect the growth performance of the chicks, but HT reduced their feed intake, the weights of breast muscle and heart. In addition, supplementation with DNE ameliorated the negative effects of cyclical HT on feed intake and breast muscle mass. Furthermore, cyclical HT increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and drip loss over 48 h of storage of the breast muscle, and these effects were ameliorated by DNE. Collectively, we conclude that dietary supplementation with DNE reduces the muscle MDA concentration and drip loss of broiler chickens kept under HT conditions.

Comparison of Effects of Azadirachta indica Mouth Rinse on Streptococcus mutans and P. gingivilis

Background: Leaves of Azadirachta indica have been studied vastly to observe their pharmacological properties. The leaves of the Neem tree and the constituents present in the leaves have reported antibacterial, antihyperglycaemic, immunomodulatory, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, antiviral, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic properties. Conventional mouthwashes, containing chlorhexidine, used for their antimicrobial effect against bacteria in the oral cavity have certain adverse effects including alteration in taste, tartar formation and staining of teeth, restoration, and sometimes tongue. Hence the study was aimed to analyze the antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica mouth rinse against Streptococcus mutans and P. gingivilis colonies.
 Methodology: It was an in-vivo preclinical experimental study conducted at Baqai Medical and Dental College Karachi., from February 2022 to March 2022. The calculated sample size was n =60. The participants were given an envelope for group randomization. The organisms were grown on appropriate media and extract was prepared and diluted. The extract was diluted in distilled water at 1:4 (Extract: Distilled water) concentration. Study participants were instructed to not brush their teeth before sampling. Study participants were divided into three groups (negative control, positive control, Neem tree extract rinse group) each group had 20 participants. Diluted neem tree extract was given to the experimental group for rinses, distilled water was given to the negative control group and positive controls were given a standard commercially available mouth rinse. The next sample of plaque was collected after two hours to observe the effects of neem tree leaves extract on bacterial colonies.
 Results: The growth of colonies was calculated on growth media plates in samples collected before rinsing and samples that were taken after the rinsing. The pre and post samples showed a significant (p-value <0.05) decrease in the number of colonies in the positive control group (conventional rinse) and neem leaf extract group. The intragroup comparison of negative and positive control showed a significant difference in the number of colonies and the same was observed with the neem leaf extract rinse. However, the positive control and the Neem leaves extract comparison was insignificant.
 Conclusion: The Azadirachta indica leaf extract has better or equal efficacy against oral microflora when compared with the standard chlorhexidine containing conventional mouth wash.

Antibiofilm Activity of Azadirachta indica and Catharanthus roseus and Their Synergistic Effects in Combination with Antimicrobial Agents against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans Strains and MRSA

The rapid emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance has become a global public health concern that threatens the effective treatment of infectious diseases. One major approach adopted to overcome antimicrobial resistance is the use of plant extracts individually and/or with combination of antibiotics with plant extracts, which may lead to new ways of treating infectious diseases and essentially representing a potential area for further future investigations. In this study, the antifungal activities of Azadirachta indica leaf and Catharanthus roseus flower extracts against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains (isolated from pregnant women with vulvovaginal candidiasis) and anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were evaluated by agar well diffusion, microdilution, and biofilm inhibition assays. Subsequently, the determination of the combined antimicrobial activity of the individual plant extracts with (fluconazole and voriconazole) and (ampicillin, tetracycline, and streptomycin) against C. albicans strains and MRSA, respectively, was evaluated by checkerboard microdilution assay. Results from the study showed that the antimicrobial activity of the two plant extracts determined by time-kill kinetics was fungistatic with their MICs ranging from 0.1 to 4 mg/mL. Interestingly, all extracts were proved as good biofilm inhibitors of resistant C. albicans and MRSA from 10.1 to 98.82%. Their combination interaction with fluconazole, voriconazole, ampicillin, tetracycline, and streptomycin ranged from synergy to antagonism as per the parameters used. Overall, these results showed that A. indica leaf and C. roseus flower extracts have significant antifungal property. Furthermore, A. indica leaf and C. roseus flower extracts alone or in combination with fluconazole and voriconazole could provide a promising approach to the management of candidiasis caused by drug-resistant strains as well as their interaction with the antibacterial agents to combat the common infections caused by MRSA.

Comparative Study of ZnO Nanomaterials Synthesized by Green and Electrospinning Methods

This article presents a comparative study between the ZnO nanocone and nanofibers. ZnO nanocones were synthesized through the green route, using Azadirachta indica leaf extract media, and ZnO nanofibers were synthesized by the electrospinning process. The microstructural parameters of the prepared nanomaterials were investigated using powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Rietveld refinement analysis. The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of single-phase ZnO with hexagonal wurtzite structure having an average crystallite size of 21 nm and 54 nm for the conical and fibrous nanoparticles, respectively. The field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the mean radius of nanofibers was 25-30 nm while the mean height and mean base radius of nanocones were 181 nm and 91 nm respectively. Elastic properties were estimated using elastic compliances S11 (6.0678×10-12 m2N-1), S12 (-2.2602×10-12 m2N-1), S13 (-1.3579×10-12 m2N-1), S33 (5.5196×10-12 m2N-1) and S44 (22.6833×10-12 m2N-1) which were calculated using the THERMO-PW code, based on the density functional theory. The calculated elastic constants of the two nanostructures yielded similar values as expected. However, the elastic limit of the two nanostructures differs due to their morphological anomaly. Moreover, the optical bandgap of nanofibrous ZnO was lower than that of nanoconical ZnO.

Effect of Azadirachta indica and Tamarindus indica leaf extract and evaporative cooling on the quality characteristics and shelf life of sapota (Manilkara zapota)

Tropical fruits such as Sapota (Manilkara zapota) are highly perishable. The main reasons for the quality deterioration of these fruits are field heat and microbial attack, which can be reduced by proper cooling techniques and by using antimicrobial agents. The present study was undertaken to extend the shelf life of Sapota using evaporative cooling and antimicrobial coating, namely, neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and tamarind leaves (Tamarindus indica), at different concentrations (20, 50 and 100%). Coated Sapota fruits were stored for 24 days, whereas uncoated fruits were stored for only 7 days. Both the selected antimicrobial extracts showed antimicrobial activity, and the cooling efficiency of the evaporative cooling chamber was 81-85%. Fruits were cooled to 15-18°C (core temperature), which could enable retention of physio-chemical properties. The results indicated that fruits coated with the highest level (100%) of antimicrobial extract coating (neem leaves and tamarind leaves) and stored under evaporative cooling conditions had the lowest percentage loss in weight (5-7% after 24 days of storage) and good retention of total soluble solids (1-2%), pH (2-3%) and total sugars (3-5%). Thus, coating Sapota fruits with neem leaves and tamarind leaf extracts and storing them under evaporative cooling conditions can be a better way to enhance the shelf life of sapota.

Effect of plant extracts on structural & morphological features of CuO nano structured material

Cupper oxide (CuO) nano structured material has been synthesized by using eco-friendly simple solution method using plant leaf extracts(Mangifera indica, Carica papaya and Azadirachta indica) as a reducing agent. The obtained material is subjected to calcination at 500 °C for further studies. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transmittance Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed for the structural confirmation of the calcined CuO samples.The CuO prepared by using Mangifera indica, Carica papaya and Azadirachta indica leaf extracts exhibited flake shape, irregular and spherical structures respectively in scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs.In addition, the UV-Visible absorption spectrum was recorded and the energy gap determined by using Tauc relation was 3.5, 3.75 and 3.9eV for Mangifera indica, Carica papaya and Azadirachta indica respectively.

Green synthesis of MnxZn(1−x)O nanostructure using Azadirachta indica leaf extract and its microstructural and optical study

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanostructures doped with manganese (Mn: 5% and 10%) were prepared by the green synthesis method using the leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica. The microstructural investigation of the prepared nanopowders was carried out with the Rietveld refinement of the x-ray diffraction data. The phase analysis of the x-ray diffraction data confirmed that the synthesized nanoparticles have the hexagonal wurtzite structure in all cases. The Williamson Hall method was used to analyze the data obtained after the Rietveld refinement analysis to find some important microstructural parameters such as crystallite size, strain, stress, and energy density. The size of the crystallites is almost the same in both cases and the values for strain, stress, and energy density increase with increasing Mn concentration. Functional groups and molecular interactions were identified by the Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy spectra. UV-visible spectra show that the bandgap energy decreases with increasing Mn content. This property can help to fabricate a photodetector that can operate at a wavelength longer than the cut-off wavelength of ZnO. The morphology of the synthesized nanostructure was studied by field emission scanning electron microscope. The energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy data confirm the elemental compositions in the synthesized Mn-doped ZnO, which means that the desired nanostructures were successfully synthesized by the green method.

Antibacterial activities of plant leaf extracts against multi-antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus associated with skin and soft tissue infections

BackgroundThe antibacterial activities of aqueous leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina, Azadirachta indica and Acalypha wilkesiana against multidrug resistance (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus associated with skin and soft tissue infections were investigated.MethodsStaphylococcus aureus (n = 183) from the skin and soft tissue infections with evidence of purulent pus, effusions from aspirates, wounds, and otorrhea were biotyped, and evaluated for biofilm production. The phenotypic antibiotic resistance and MDR strains susceptibility to plant leaves extract were determined using disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution assays respectively. The correlation of plant extract bioactive components with inhibitory activities was determined.ResultsHigh occurrence rate of S. aureus were recorded among infant and adult age groups and 13.2% mild biofilm producers from the wound (p < 0.05). Of 60.2% MDR strains with overall significant MARI of more than 0.85 (p < 0.05), high resistant rates to linozidine (92.7%; 95% CI:7.27–10.52), ofloxacin (94.2%; 95% CI:6.09–8.15), chloramphenicol (91.2%; 95% CI:6.11–8.32), gentamicin (97.3%; 95% CI:6.20–8.22), ciprofloxacin (92.7%; 95% CI: 5.28–7.99) and vancomycin (86.6%; 95% CI:6.81–9.59) were observed. Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica showed significant antimicrobial activity at 100 mg/ml and 75 mg/ml, with low susceptibility of less than 10% to 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 75 mg/ml Moringa oleifera. Alkaloids, saponin and terpenoids were significant in Moringa oleifera, Acalypha wilkesiana, Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina leaves extracts (p < 0.05). High inhibitory concentrations at IC50; 3.23, 3.75 and 4.80 mg/ml (p = 0.02, CI: − 0.08 – 11.52) and IC90; 12.9, 7.5, and 9.6 mg/ml (p = 0.028, CI: 2.72–23.38) were shown by Acalypha wilkesiana, Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa oleifera respectively. Comparative outcome of the plant extracts showed Acalypha wilkesiana, Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa oleifera to exhibit significant inhibition activities (p < 0.05) compared to other extracts. Significant median inhibitory concentration (15.3 mg/ml) of Azadirachta indica were observed (p < 0.01) and strong associations of phytochemical compounds of Azadirachta indica (eta = 0.527,p = 0.017), Vernonia amygdalina (eta = 0.123,p = 0.032) and Acalypha wilkesiana (eta = 0.492,p = 0.012) with their respective inhibitory values.ConclusionObserved high occurrence rate of skin and soft tissue infections caused by biofilm-producing MDR S. aureus requires alternative novel herbal formulations with rich bioactive compounds from Moringa oleifera, Acalypha wilkesiana, Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina as skin therapeutic agents.

Biostimulation of Anaerobic Digestion Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs) for Increasing Biogas Production from Cattle Manure.

The effect of synthesised IONPs employing a nontoxic leaf extract of Azadirachta indica as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent for increasing biogas and methane output from cattle manure during anaerobic digestion (AD) was investigated in this study. Furthermore, the UV-visible spectra examination of the synthesized nanoparticles revealed a high peak at 432 nm. Using a transmission electron microscope, the average particle size of IONPs observed was 30–80 nm, with irregular, ultra-small, semi-spherical shapes that were slightly aggregated and well-distributed. IONPs had a polydisparity index (PDI) of 219 nm and a zeta potential of −27.0 mV. A set of six bio-digesters were fabricated and tested to see how varying concentrations of IONPs (9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 mg/L) influenced biogas, methane output, and effluent chemical composition from AD at mesophilic temperatures (35 ± 2 °C). With 18 mg/L IONPs, the maximum specific biogas and methane production were 136.74 L/g of volatile solids (VS) and 64.5%, respectively, compared to the control (p < 0.05), which provided only 107.09 L/g and 51.4%, respectively. Biogas and methane production increased by 27.6% and 25.4%, respectively using 18 mg/L IONPs as compared to control. In all treatments, the pH of the effluent was increased, while total volatile fatty acids, total solids, volatile solids, organic carbon content, and dehydrogenase activity decreased. Total solid degradation was highest (43.1%) in cattle manure + 18 mg/L IONPs (T5). According to the results, the IONPs enhanced the yield of biogas and methane when compared with controls.

Effect of dietary supplementation of Neem, Azadirachta indica leaf extracts on enhancing the growth performance, chemical composition and survival of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss has a great nutritional value and delicious taste. A 90-days experimental trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary leaf extract of neem tree Azadirachta indica as a feeding supplement on the growth performance and proximate composition of O. mykiss. Four experimental diets were designed as T1 (with 5% A. indica leaf extract), T2 (with 7% of A. indica leaf extract), T3 (with 10% A. indica leaf extract), and T4 (control group feed with a regular diet with 0% A. indica leaf extract). The average initial weight of fry 0.4 ± 0.14 g was stocked at 25 fish/tank with two replicates per treatment (4 × 2 = 8). After 90 days of the experimental trial, One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and survival rate among the treatment groups (p < 0.05). The highest final body weight (48.10 g) and weight gain (47.70 g) was observed in T2 with 7% A. indica leaf extract, which was significantly different from the other treatments (p < 0.05). The lowest FCR was recorded in T2 (1.90), which was significantly different compared to other treatment groups (p < 0.05). Inclusion of A. indica leaf extract in formulated feed for rainbow trout had significant effects in the hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic index and Fulton’s condition factor (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the survival rate of rainbow trout fry treated with different experimental diets (p > 0.05). The phenomenal regression indicates that 7.5% A. indica inclusion is optimum for best growth performance for rainbow trout under a controlled environment. Thus, the present study suggests that the dietary leaf extract has performed an excellent nutritional supplement by enhancing growth performance and health conditions of rainbow trout in the hatchery conditions.

Role of Ag Nanoparticles on Photoluminescence Emissions, Antibacterial Activities, and Photocatalytic Effects in ZnO-Ag Nanocomposites Synthesized via Low Temperature Green Synthesis Method Using Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract

ABSTRACT A facile synthesis of ZnO–Ag nanocomposites (NCs) and their photoluminescence (PL), antibacterial and photocatalytic activities have been reported. Three different samples of ZnO–Ag NCs were prepared by varying the amount of biogenic Ag nanoparticles (NPs) in a fixed concentration of ZnO NPs. The formations of NC along with its associated properties were confirmed through various contemporary characterisation techniques. An enhancement of the ultraviolet PL emission with a corresponding reduction of visible PL emission was found with increase in the content of Ag in the NCs. Result of antibacterial assay showed that ZnO–Ag NCs were more efficient to perform antibacterial effects for Gram-negative bacteria than the Gram-positive bacteria. It was also observed that the NC having higher amount of Ag exhibited better antibacterial effects for both types of bacteria. The excellent photocatalytic activity was also observed for the NCs showing the highest antimicrobial effects among the samples.