Major Plant Components Research Articles

Design of Major Components of Green Urea Production Plant

Green urea refers to urea produced using renewable energy sources such as municipal solid wastes (MSW) to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to waste management and urea production. As the economy, population, and living standards proliferate swiftly, municipal solid waste has become a significant challenge, particularly in developing countries such as Nepal. This project aims to size the major components of a green urea plant that uses decomposable and combustible waste as feedstock. 15 CSTR digesters with a volume of 53323.2 m3 produced 41473.2 m3 of biogas to convert 740.6 Tons Per Day (TPD) of decomposable waste and 220.06 TPD of combustible waste into 574.4 TPD of green urea. A circulating fluidized bed gasifier, a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, and an air separation unit using the cryogenic process were also selected. The study also involved picking a tubular steam methane reformer as the primary and an auto-thermal steam methane reformer as the secondary steam methane reformer. The shift reaction was carried out using a catalytic water gas shift reactor, and a three-bed type ammonia reactor was chosen for the Haber Bosch process. Finally, the Snamprogetti process was selected for urea synthesis. In addition, the study involves the preparation of a 2D system layout to understand the process flow and a 3D solid works drawing to visualize the plant design. The financial analysis of the green urea plant includes the calculation of CAPEX and OPEX, and it is found that total capital investment is 431.45 M$ and operating expenses are 102.2M$/year. Gasification, steam methane reformer, Air separation unit, ammonia synthesis, urea synthesis, electrolyzer, water gas shift reactor, and anaerobic digestion plant consist 7.15%, 13.55%, 3.32%, 16.13%, 26.12%, 13.37%, 13.43% and 6.93% of total capital investment respectively and 14.62%, 1.61%, 7.78%, 19.73%, 5.71%, 32.6%, 12.9% and 14.62% of total operating costs per year.

Lignin and Pluronic-based nanomicelles as promising amiodarone nanocarriers: Synthesis, physical characterization, biological, and in silico evaluations

Lignin, a major component of herbaceous plants, is one of the most abundant natural poly-mers that has lipophilic character and antipathogenic properties. Another biocompatible polymer is Pluronic F127, that can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). Herein, novel drug delivery nanosystems based on oil-in-water microemulsions made of these two biocompatible polymers were developed to load amiodarone (AM), a cationic amphipathic drug used for treating cardiac arrhythmia that displays antifungal and antibacterial properties. The use of drug delivery nanocarriers enhances the solubilization and controlled release of this medication, thus reducing its therapeutic dosage and associated side effects. The morphology, size and surface charge of the nanomiceles was characterized via scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements, respectively, which demonstrated their spherical shape, with an average diameter of 27 nm and a zeta potential of −25 mV. Very high entrapment efficiencies were attained for both types of nanomicelles (79.1% and 83.1% for lignin and F127, respectively). Furthermore, both types of AM-loaded nanomicelles exhibited a slower release profile compared to the free drug. Cytotoxicity assay with morphological examination of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells confirmed a reduction in drug toxicity upon loading onto the nanocarriers. Blood cultures in a chocolate agar medium corroborated that the antibacterial properties of AM are preserved after nanomicelle encapsulation. The interactions of AM with F127 and lignin monomers were investigated via quantum mechanical computations, which revealed the formation of strong hydrogen bonds, the most intense being between AM and lignin. Overall, these novel formulations exhibit great potential for the sustained and targeted AM delivery.

EVALUATION OF COMPARATIVE IN VITRO FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL OF BARK EXTRACTS OF ACACIA CATECHU

Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the comparative 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging potential of different bark extracts of Acacia catechu. The assessment was conducted following concentration-dependent and seasonal-dependent impacts of the same using samples collected in different seasons over 2 successive years. Methods: In this, six extracts using ethanol, methanol, aqueous, acetone, chloroform, and benzene solvents were prepared. For the in vitro study, a standard DPPH solution (0.15 mM) was used to check how well the test samples got rid of free radicals. The major biochemical components of test plants, such as quercetin, gallic acid, and catechin, were used as standard drugs. Results: Among all test drug concentrations, 31.5–500 μg/mL drug concentrations were observed to be effective, whereas 15.25, 750, and 1000 μg/mL concentrations exerted negligible scavenging effects, and 125 μg/mL concentrations were found to be most effective (p<0.01 or more). The order of scavenging potential of different extracts is seen to be methanolic≥ethanolic>aqueous>acetone>chloroform>benzene. The samples collected during the rainy season were the least effective. Samples collected during the winter and summer seasons, on the other hand, were both more effective (p<0.05) at removing DPPH free radicals. Conclusion: This study helps to provide primary data on the concentration range, impact of the extraction medium, and sample collected in different seasons. Probably, these findings signify a notable progression in the investigation of the utilization of native plant species for medicinal purposes.

In-silico molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation of γ-elemene and caryophyllene identified from the essential oil of Kaempferia galanga L. against biofilm forming proteins, CrtM and SarA of Staphylococcus aureus

Medicinal plants play an important role as antimicrobials by inhibiting various key targets of diverse microorganisms. A major antimicrobial component of plants is its essential oil, which are increasingly being studied for their antimicrobial properties as well as for their potential role in the inhibition of biofilm formation. In the present study, essential oil from Kaempferia galanga L was isolated resulting in the identification of eleven compounds. Of these, two of the compounds, γ-elemene and caryophyllene were found to dock with the target proteins, CrtM and SarA of Staphylococcus aureus, which are essential for the formation of biofilm. γ-elemene demonstrated the best binding affinity with CrtM with binding energy of −8.1 kcal/mol whereas caryophyllene and its derivative isocaryophyllene showed the best binding with SarA with binding energy −6.1 kcal/mol. ADMET study of the compounds also revealed that the compounds are non-toxic and can be used as probable compounds for inhibition of biofilms. Molecular dynamic simulation studies revealed high affinity of binding and stability of the molecules with their targets. PCA analysis helped in identifying the principal motions occurring within a trajectory that are essential in inducing conformational changes. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Response to carvacrol monoterpene in the emergence of Allium cepa L. seeds exposed to salt stress.

Abiotic stresses including sodium chloride (NaCl) are known to negatively affect plant physiology and seed germination by inducing a delay in establishing seedling emergence. The monoterpene carvacrol is the major component of several aromatic plants and seems to interfere with germination and seedling growth. In this study, we investigated whether treatment with carvacrol attenuates the effects of NaCl on the germination and development of Allium cepa, where biochemical parameters were also analyzed. The results showed that the Emergency Speed Index (ESI) was near to 2.0 in the control group. The groups NaCl, carvacrol alone, and in co-treatment with NaCl exhibited an ESI below 0.8, being significantly smaller when compared to the control. NaCl + carvacrol significantly inhibited seed emergence in relation to the NaCl group. Only the content of malondialdehyde was significantly altered by NaCl.

Withaferin A and Celastrol Overwhelm Proteostasis.

Withaferin A (WA) and celastrol (CEL) are major bioactive components of plants that have been widely employed in traditional medicine. The pleiotropic activities of plant preparations and the isolated compounds in vitro and in vivo have been documented in hundreds of studies. Both WA and CEL were shown to have anticancer activity. Although WA and CEL belong to different chemical classes, our synthesis of the available information suggests that the compounds share basic mechanisms of action. Both WA and CEL bind covalently to numerous proteins, causing the partial unfolding of some of these proteins and of many bystander proteins. The resulting proteotoxic stress, when excessive, leads to cell death. Both WA and CEL trigger the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) which, if the proteotoxic stress persists, results in apoptosis mediated by the PERK/eIF-2/ATF4/CHOP pathway or another UPR-dependent pathway. Other mechanisms of cell death may play contributory or even dominant roles depending on cell type. As shown in a proteomic study with WA, the compounds appear to function largely as electrophilic reactants, indiscriminately modifying reachable nucleophilic amino acid side chains of proteins. However, a remarkable degree of target specificity is imparted by the cellular context.

Environmental and Economic Impacts of Hydropower Plants

The generating of electricity is the primary application of hydroelectric energy. The major components of hydroelectric power plants are dams, rivers, and turbines. Plants use dams to construct reservoirs that store water. The Importance of Hydropower In contrast to wind and solar, hydropower offers dispatch able electricity using low-risk methods. Hydropower is the most dependable and well-established source of clean, renewable energy. The potential energy of the water turbine and generator generates the vast bulk of hydroelectric power. One advantage of hydroelectric power is that it allows you to control the river flow downstream. Every country has difficulties due to how much of the total energy consumption it makes up. Encountered in the development of hydropower are noted. Connected to hydropower plants have the potential to offer additional advantages including flood control, irrigation, and water supply. Furthermore, hydropower is seen as a potential and sustainable source of energy, with a global economic influence.

Polysaccharide-Based Double-Network Hydrogels: Polysaccharide Effect, Strengthening Mechanisms, and Applications.

Polysaccharides are carbohydrate polymers that are major components of plants, animals, and microorganisms, with unique properties. Biological hydrogels are polymeric networks that imbibe and retain large amounts of water and are the major components of living organisms. The mechanical properties of hydrogels are critical for their functionality and applications. Since synthetic polymeric double-network (DN) hydrogels possess unique network structures with high and tunable mechanical properties, many natural functional polysaccharides have attracted increased attention due to their rich and convenient sources, unique chemical structure and chain conformation, inherently desirable cytocompatibility, biodegradability and environmental friendliness, diverse bioactivities, and rheological properties, which rationally make them prominent constituents in designing various strong and tough polysaccharide-based DN hydrogels over the past ten years. This review focuses on the latest developments of polysaccharide-based DN hydrogels to comprehend the relationship among the polysaccharide properties, inner strengthening mechanisms, and applications. The aim of this review is to provide an insightful mechanical interpretation of the design strategy of novel polysaccharide-based DN hydrogels and their applications by introducing the correlation between performance and composition. The mechanical behavior of DN hydrogels and the roles of varieties of marine, microbial, plant, and animal polysaccharides are emphatically explained.

Common Plant Bioactive Components Adopted in Combating Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Small Ruminant – A Review

The high cost incurred by rural farmers on chemical anthelmintics, the reduction of the efficacy of this class of drugs and the development of resistant strains of Helminth has necessitate the search for suitable alternatives. However, there are still research gaps in the use plant secondary metabolites with no proper documentation of the active compound(s), standard administration route, mode of action, and standardization of its use in small ruminant animals. This review focuses on the use of bioactive components of plants and plant extracts in combating gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in ruminant animals. It highlights the importance of the use of plants in both ruminant nutrition and health, the flaws of conventional methods of treatment and the need for suitable alternatives. It further documents the major bioactive components of plants used in the treatment of GIN in ruminants and their mode of action on nematodes’ eggs, larva and adult worms. It is very clear that there exists a gap in research to validate the in vitro testing of some useful compounds in vivo owing to the identification of active components as most of them work in synergism with others, the dosing of the extracts is not uniform as the molecular weight of the selected compounds differs in most cases. Hence, this informs the need for collaborative research to validate the use of bioactive compounds and subsequent drug development to replace costly conventional anthelmintic that are constantly losing efficacy.

Mechanism of Antifungal Activity of Piperine against Botrytis cinerea

P iperine is a major component of plants of the Piperaceae family which is widely used in medical science. Botrytis cinerea is one of the most important phytopathogenic fungi causes postharvest losses in fruits and vegetables. To verify the possibility of using piperine as a botanical fungicide against B. cinerea, we determined the in vivo and in vitro antifungal activity of piperine against B. cinerea and investigated its antifungal mechanism effects on the mycelial surface, membrane integrity, soluble protein content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, succinate dehydrogenase and the malondialdehyde content of B. cinerea. The in vitro antifungal activity assay indicated that the EC50 value of piperine against B. cinerea was 58.66 μg/mL and the in vivo antifungal assay showed that piperine at 400 μg/mL suppressed 93.88% growth of B. cinerea on Lycopersic esculentum. The antifungal mechanism assay showed that piperine could inhibit mycelial growth of B. cinerea by reducing antioxidant activity, inhibiting the tricarboxylic acid pathway, and lysing the cell membrane. All these results indicated that piperine as a natural component has the potential to control B. cinerea and can be considered as a botanical fungicide for postharvest disease control of gray mold.

Pharmacological Features of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid: A Pentacyclic Triterpenoid of Therapeutic Potential.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (belonging to the family Leguminosae), commonly known as Licorice, is a popular medicinal plant that has been used in traditional medicine worldwide for its ethnopharmacological efficacy in treating several ailments. Natural herbal substances with strong biological activity have recently received much attention. The main metabolite of glycyrrhizic acid is 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18βGA), a pentacyclic triterpene. A major active plant component derived from licorice root, 18βGA has sparked a lot of attention due to its pharmacological properties. The current review thoroughly examines the literature on 18βGA, a major active plant component obtained from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. The current work provides insight into the pharmacological activities of 18βGA and the potential mechanisms of action involved. The plant contains a variety of phytoconstituents such as 18βGA, which has a variety of biological effects including antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, nephroprotective, antidiabetic, antileishmanial, antiviral, antibacterial, antipsoriasis, antiosteoporosis, antiepileptic, antiarrhythmic, and anti-inflammatory, and is also useful in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension, antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia, and cerebral ischemia. This review examines research on the pharmacological characteristics of 18βGA throughout recent decades to demonstrate its therapeutic potential and any gaps that may exist, presenting possibilities for future drug research and development.

Development and validation of analysis method for sennoside B in Cassia angustifolia using UPLC-MRM/MS

Cassia angustifolia is a commonly found wild plant from the family Caesalpinaceae that originates from Yemen and Hadramaut province in Southern Arabia, where it is called Arabian senna. The leaves of the plant have been used to treat a variety of ailments such as constipation, malaria, anemia, loss of appetite, and indigestion. Sennosides A and B are the major glycosides found in the leaves and pods of C. angustifolia and are important ingredients in purgative medicines. These compounds are considered as the major active components of Cassia plants and are responsible for their therapeutic activities. To assess the quality and quantity of sennosides A and B, an appropriate analytical method is required, which must be simple, accurate, precise, and widely used. The UPLC-ESI-MRM/MS method was used in this study to validate the analytical method in determining the contents of Sennoside B in senna leaves extract. The validation parameters included specificity, system suitability, linearity, sensitivity (LOD, LOQ), accuracy, and precision. The results indicated that the optimization of MRM using the direct infusion method provided good separation when eluted using liquid chromatography. The validation parameters for system suitability obtained RSD under 2%. The linearity of sennoside B showed excellent results (R2 = 0.999) in the concentration range of 0.98–62.5 µg/ml. The LOD and LOQ values of sennoside B were 0.011 µg/mL and 0.034 µg/ml, respectively. The accuracy values of sennoside B met the predetermined criteria, with RSD < 2% and % recovery of 97-102%. The quantitative analysis revealed that Cassia angustifolia extract contained 0.43 ±0.06 mg/g of sennoside B.

Native and exotic plants play different roles in urban pollination networks across seasons

Urban areas often host exotic plant species, whether managed or spontaneous. These plants are suspected of affecting pollinator diversity and the structure of pollination networks. However, in dense cityscapes, exotic plants also provide additional flower resources during periods of scarcity, and the consequences for the seasonal dynamics of networks still need to be investigated. For two consecutive years, we monitored monthly plant–pollinator networks in 12 green spaces in Paris, France. We focused on seasonal variations in the availability and attractiveness of flower resources, comparing native and exotic plants at both the species and community levels. We also considered their respective contributions to network properties over time (specialization and nestedness). Exotic plants provided more abundant and diverse flower resources than native plants, especially from late summer on. However, native plants received more visits and attracted more pollinator species at the community level; and during certain times of the year at the species level as well. Exotic plants were involved in more generalist interactions, increasingly so over the seasons. In addition, they contributed more to network nestedness than native plants. These results show that exotic plants are major components of plant–pollinator interactions in a dense urban landscape, even though they are less attractive than natives. They constitute a core of generalist interactions that increase nestedness and can participate in the overall stability of the network. However, most exotic species were seldom visited by insects. Pollinator communities may benefit from including more native species when managing urban green spaces.

A Medicinal Potential worth of Caesalpinia bonducella

The welfare of people all around the world is shaped in large part by herbal remedies. In medicine, healing plants are used to treat ailments that affect a person as well as a potential way to keep them healthy. One of the pans tropical leguminous scandent plants, Caesalpinia bonduc is thought to have scientific uses by many researchers and has been used as a source of medicine by locals for a very long time. The Caesalpiniaceae genus is wellorganized, including Caesalpinia bonducella. Then, it is referred to as C. crista Linn and C. bonducella Flem. Common names for it include Fever Nut, Bonduc Nut, and Nicker Nut. The plant is available in the tropical countries of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, and China. Every major chemical component of the Caesalpinia bonduc plant is present, including isoflavones, steroidal saponin, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, amino acids, phenolics, and phytosterols. The objective of the current study oversimplifies the chemical components and pharmacological and therapeutic uses of Caesalpinia bonduc. © Copyright 2023 Kuwait Scholars Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Synthesis of Carvacrol Derivatives as Potential New Anticancer Agent against Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains a major public health concern among all cancer diseases due to the toxicity and side-effects of the available commercially synthesized drugs. Natural product-derived synthesized anticancer drugs are now of promising interest to fight against cancer death. Carvacrol is a major component of most essential oil-bearing plants with potential pharmacological activity, especially against various cancer cell lines. Among the other organometallic compounds, copper complexes have been reported to be effective anticancer agents against various cancer cell lines, especially lung and leukemia cancers, due to the nontoxic nature of copper in normal cells since it is an endogenic metal. In this study, we synthesized three carvacrol derivatives, i.e., carvacrol aldehyde, Schiff base, and copper–Schiff base complex, through an established synthesis protocol and characterized the synthesized product using various spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against different cancer cell lines, including human lung cancer (A549) and human fibroblast (BALB-3T3). Our findings showed that the copper–Schiff base complex derived from carvacrol inhibited the proliferation and migration of the A549 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. This activity might be due to the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration at the G2/M cell-cycle phase, as well as apoptosis, possibly through the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the activity of the copper–Schiff base complex of carvacrol against A549 cell lines. Our result highlights that a new synthesized copper complex from carvacrol could be a novel potential drug in the treatment of lung cancer.

Local Content Requirements Policy in Indonesia’s Power Plant Development

One of the elements that can increase national resilience is the strength of the domestic industrial sector. A proven and reliable electricity supply is very important in supporting the operations of the industrial sector. Accordingly, a reliable electricity supply is an important and strategic element in the realization of national security. To reduce dependency on imported materials, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) has imposed Local Content Requirements (LCR) mechanism in the electricity sector, especially for the major components of power plants, namely steam turbines, and generators. The ambitious electricity infrastructure development program which dominantly relies on the Coal-Fired Power Plant (CFPP) requires reliable electrical components that support upstream industries which face problems if LCR should be applied. The objective of this study is to analyze the opportunity costs of replacing the required import of steam turbines and generators, as well as to provide recommendations on how LCR would be best be applied in Indonesia, despite its controversies to support the economic development of a country. The result of the study shows the total value of opportunity cost that GOI is likely to gain from imported steam turbines and generators cost for CFPP is ranged at USD 2,896,152,000 - 7,362,750,000 throughout 2019-2028.

Change of Several Plant Nutrient Elements by Plant Species and Organ

Nutrient elements, one of the major factors shaping plant development, are the major components of plants, and, after being taken from the soil, they are present in different organs of plant at different concentrations. The speciation of nutrient elements within plant body is vital importance for determining the contribution to plant development, knowing the transfer between organs within the body of organs, clearly understanding the factors influencing plant development, and shaping the plant development. In the present study, the change of the concentrations of K and Mg (macronutrient elements) and Cu (micronutrient elements) by species and organ in woody species Prunus cerasifera, Platanus orientalis, Acer negundo, Fraxinus excelsior, Catalpa bignonioides, Aesculus hippocastanum, and Tilia platypyllos. As a result, it was found that the changes of elements by species were statistically significant in all the organs, and, in general, the highest concentrations were observed in leaves. The study results revealed that the concentrations of these elements might significantly vary between the organs in the same species, which varies significantly by the species.

A Review on Medicinal Uses of Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon)

Cinnamomum verum is a spice plant that is well-known for its medicinal and pharmacological qualities. The old botanical synonym for this tree, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, is derived from Sri Lanka's former name, Ceylon. Since ancient times, Cinnamomum zeylanicum has been frequently used as a medicinal condiment. It's native to Sri Lanka and India's southern states. Cinnamomum verum belongs to the Lauraceae family and is also known by the synonym Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume. It's a dried bark that's been stripped of its outer cork and underlying parenchyma. Cinnamomum verum is a popular medicinal herb with a wide range of applications It has long been used to flavour food and in pharmaceutical preparations to treat a variety of ailments. For commercial purposes, it is commonly used as candies, chewing gums, mouthwash, and toothpaste in the current period. Many volatile oils, primarily cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate, are abundant in the plant. Eugenol is the active principal ingredient linked to a variety of biological functions. This herb is found in almost every pharmacological system on the planet. Each of these features is essential for human health development. Antimicrobial, wound healing, antidiabetic, anti-HIV, anti-anxiety, and anti-are Parkinson's among of the plant's key medical characteristics. The major components of the Cinnamomum verum plant include eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, copane, and camphor. The pharmacological effects of cinnamon aldehyde have been extensively researched. Every aspect of the plant was thoroughly examined in this study, from its morphological description to its phytochemical profile and therapeutic action. In this review, we've attempted to compile a comprehensive list of its medical and pharmacological qualities.
 Keywords: Cinnamomum verum, Dalchini, Medicinal Properties, volatile oils, Antimicrobial, Anti-HIV, antidiabetic

IMU를 활용한 보일러 튜브 및 배관 스캐너 위치 추적

This paper proposes an IMU method for location tracking in power plants and indoor environments without GPS. IMU-based sensors use accelerometer, angular accelerometer, earth magnetometer, and altimeter. It is a method for recognizing the movement of pedestrians or moving objects. However, errors can be caused, as noise and bias increase due to long-term measurement. VIO-SLAM type sensor T265, which uses a combination of cameras and IMU, and can accurately track paths in invisible spaces, is used in this study. In addition, this type of sensor can be corrected in real time with a filter function inserted into the sensor and errors can be minimized. As a comparison experiment with the encoder, it is possible to evaluate the location of the scanner within a ±10 mm error from the actual distance in 1,500 × 700 (mm) space. The usefulness of this method is verified by measuring real specimens of boiler pipes and tubes, which are the major components of power plants.

Tailored Functionalization of Natural Phenols to Improve Biological Activity.

Phenols are widespread in nature, being the major components of several plants and essential oils. Natural phenols’ anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, pharmacological and nutritional properties are, nowadays, well established. Hence, given their peculiar biological role, numerous studies are currently ongoing to overcome their limitations, as well as to enhance their activity. In this review, the functionalization of selected natural phenols is critically examined, mainly highlighting their improved bioactivity after the proper chemical transformations. In particular, functionalization of the most abundant naturally occurring monophenols, diphenols, lipidic phenols, phenolic acids, polyphenols and curcumin derivatives is explored.