Methanol Research Articles

Establishing a pattern of change in the quality indicators of Tokaj-type wine materials prepared by different variants

The object of this study is Tokaj-type wine materials made from white and red grape varieties grown in the foothills of the Goy-Gol region and the flat zone of the Samukh region in the Azerbaijan Republic. An important condition for the production of Tokaj wine is the high sugar content in the raw materials. Therefore, fully ripe and slightly withered grape varieties were used to prepare the wine materials. The quality indicators of wine materials prepared in three options were studied. Option 1 – preparation of Tokaj wine material by adding must with pulp from ripe grapes to alcohol; Option 2 – preparation of Tokaj wine material by adding must with pulp from grapes withered on the vine for 10–12 days to alcohol; Option 3 – preparation of Tokaj wine material by adding must with pulp from grapes withered on the vine for 4–5 days to alcohol. The most appropriate options were the first and second, according to which Tokaj wine material is produced by adding must with pulp from grapes ripened and dried on the vine for 4–5 days to alcohol. The content of sugar, volatile acids, titratable acidity, phenolic compounds, methyl alcohol, and the volume percentage of alcohol added to the must were studied in the prepared wine materials. For the preparation of wine material, it is advisable to use the white Rkatsiteli grape variety and the red Cabernet Sauvignon variety grown in the flat zone of the Samukh district. This is due to the fact that in the flat zone, grapes accumulate more sugar, and the volume percentage of alcohol added to the must is less, which is also economically advantageous. During the study, using mathematical and statistical methods, the most appropriate option was determined for the organoleptic indicators of Tokaj wines made from the Rkatsiteli grape variety, which was rated 9.8 points

Electrocardiographic Changes, Mortality, and Late Period Findings in Methyl Alcohol Poisoning

Background: Methyl alcohol poisoning (MAP) is a common commercial compound that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality when exposed to high levels. This study aims to describe MAP-related electrocardiography (ECG) changes and post-acute late complications. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted through a retrospective data review between 2017 and 2023. Patient data were recorded, including demographic information, medication use, and laboratory results. Twelve-lead ECG recordings were evaluated and the results were recorded. The cases included in the study were grouped according to QTc distance, ECG findings, late-term complications, treatment status, and mortality. Results: The mean age of all cases included in the study (n = 227) was 43.23 ± 11.11 years, 8 (3.5%) cases were female, and the age distribution was between 19 and 68 years (p = 0.792). The age distribution of QTc groups was not significant (p = 0.792). The mean QTc distance was 442.7 ± 60.1 ms in all cases (n = 227) and 514.08 ± 5.45 ms in cases with mortality (n = 49) (p < 0.001). The mean time to application of the patients to the hospital (n = 227) was 19.1 ± 4.61 h, and blood sugar was 130.7 ± 32.09 mg/dL (p < 0.001). In addition, the mean pH of the cases (n = 227) was 7.14 ± 0.2, bicarbonate was 17.17 ± 4.86 mmol/L, the base deficit was −6.21 ± 3.18 mmol/L, the anion gap was 19.36 ± 7.31 mmol/L, and lactate was 4.82 ± 2.45 mmol/L (p < 0.001). Mortality occurred in 49 (21.6%) of the patients, and all of them were in-hospital deaths. In all cases where mortality occurred, pH was below 6.93 ± 0.22 and severe acidosis was directly related to death. MAP, sinus tachycardia in 31 (13.7%) cases, bradycardia in 8 (3.5%), atrial fibrillation in 5 (2.2%), accelerated idioventricular rhythm in 3 (1.3%), and 11 (4.8%), left bundle branch block, and right bundle branch block were detected in 22 (9.7%). All of these ECG findings were newly developed conditions with no previous history. In the 6-month follow-up after discharge, 4 (1.8%) of the cases developed neurological deficit, 15 (6.6%) had acute coronary syndrome and severe heart failure, 23 (10.1%) had permanent blindness, 6 (2.7%) had renal failure, and 6 (2.7%) had pancreatitis. Conclusion: Methyl alcohol poisoning can cause various ECG changes; sinus tachycardia, nonspecific changes, and QTc prolongation are the most common findings. These changes are more pronounced in cases of severe acidosis. Patients should be warned of late signs of MAP.

USE OF METHANOL AS MOTOR FUEL FOR MARINE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

The international maritime organization's intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere by two times compared to 2008 by 2050 prompted manufacturers of marine engines to start actively searching for ways to solve this problem. Since significant global changes in the structure of ship power equipment are not expected during this period, the main efforts of researchers are aimed at solving the problem of reducing emissions based on piston engines, which today form the basis of ship power. The technology of the first stage of reducing greenhouse gas emissions was the conversion of marine diesels to gas fuels, and primarily to methane. These technologies, which are already widely used in water transport today, make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20...25%, but do not solve the problem completely. Today it is clear that a global solution to the problem is possible only when using as motor fuel compounds that are either carbon-free, i.e. do not contain carbon in their composition at all, or are carbon neutral, i.e. contain carbon extracted from the atmosphere by biological or technological means. One such compound is methyl alcohol or methanol. Today, most of the methanol in the world is produced either from coal or from natural gas, so the total emissions of greenhouse gases when burning such methanol even exceed emissions from burning petroleum fuels, however, unlike the latter, this compound can be obtained from biological raw materials, or by binding atmospheric carbon. Today, such methanol, which has received the name «green», is too expensive, and its production technologies require further development. This can happen only if there is international stimulation and regulation of this area of production. But the introduction of such regulation requires a clear understanding of the technical feasibility and economic and environmental feasibility of using methanol as a motor fuel. That is why leading manufacturers today are working on solving these issues. Their solution is considered the second stage on the way to the complete decarbonization of shipping, and at this stage there has been significant progress in recent years. This article is devoted to the analysis of the current state of the question regarding the use of methanol as motor fuel for ship engines of all types and sizes.

Quantitative Thin Layer Chromatography Analysis, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Polyherbal Formulation (Ammarit-Osot) Extracts

This study was carried out to develop a TLC method for quantifying one of bioactive, piperine, from polyherbal formulation (Ammarit-Osot) extracts. The extracts were prepared by different solvents such as methanol (ME) and water (WE). The mobile phase of toluene:acetone:formic acid (7:2:1, v/v/v) was used for separation. The calibration curve showed a good linearity (r2 = 0.9972) in the range of 50 – 500 ng/spot. This assay was assessed by intra-and interday precision (RSD 0.25 – 2.49%), and accuracy (101.05 – 101.56 %). The piperine content was found to be 23.06 ± 0.06 and 0.44 ± 0.03% w/w for ME and WE, respectively. Both ME and WE demonstrated significant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays, indicating their antioxidant potential. The TPC of ME and WE were 53.40 ± 2.21 and 101.18 ± 0.46 (mg GAE/g extract), respectively. The TFC of ME and WE were 43.35 ± 3.94 and 25.31 ± 1.74 (mg catechin/g extract), respectively. In addition, the cytotoxicity of extracts on RAW264.7 was investigated by MTT assay. The ME and piperine showed IC50 with 162.40 ± 7.84 and 115.68 ± 11.96 µg/mL, respectively. While the WE exhibited low cytotoxicity (IC50 > 1,000 µg/mL), the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by LPS-stimulated NO overproduction. The ME and piperine displayed the ability to inhibit NO production, but WE not inhibited. The results indicated that the different solvent extracts of Ammarit-Osot have the potential to be antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulate agent.

Exploring the Bioactive Potential of Moroccan Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus L.): Investigations on Molecular Weight Distribution and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials.

Research on lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) revealed a variety of active molecules and examined their biological characteristics. However, most of these studies were conducted on wild varieties, while cultivated plants were addressed less. This study aimed to characterize the biomolecules and biological activities of lemon grass growing under North African conditions in Morocco. Phenolic compound profiles of aqueous (AE), ethanol (EE), and methanol (ME) extracts and their fractions were obtained with steric exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G50 gel and identified by LC-MS/MS. Then, total polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and antioxidant activities (FRAP: scavenging value and TAC: Total Antioxidant Capacity) of the fraction were evaluated, as well as the antimicrobial activity. The obtained results showed that the ME contained eight major compounds (i.e., apigenine-7-O-rutinoside and myricitine-3-O-rutinoside). The AE showed the presence of five molecules (i.e., kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide), while EE showed the presence of three molecules (i.e., quercetine-3-O-rutinoside). Regarding the chemical characterization, the highest value of total phenolic content (TPC) was obtained in AE (25) (4.60 ± 0.29 mg/g), and the highest value of total flavonoid content (TFC) was obtained in ME (29) (0.7 ± 0.08 mg/g). Concerning the antioxidant activity, the highest FRAP was obtained in ME (29) (97.89%), and the highest total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was obtained in ME (29) (89.89%). Correlation between FRAP, TPC, and TFC was noted only in fractions of AE and ME. All tested extracts of C. citratus and their fractions showed a significant antimicrobial effect. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded for ME against E. coli. Extracts' biological activities and their fractions were governed by their active molecules. These data are new and clarify a novel aspect of bioactive molecules in the extracts of cultivated C. citratus. Equally, throughout this research, we clarified the relationship between identified molecules and their biological properties, including antioxidant and anti-microbial activities, which is new for the study area. This study is suggested as a reference for comparative studies and other assays of other biological activities for the study plant.

Exergy Analysis of Integrated Methanol and Dimethyl-Ether Co-production Towards Net Zero Waste Emission

AbstractThe energy sector, currently dominated by fossil fuels, significantly contributes to carbon emissions and climate impacts. This study addresses the urgent need for renewable energy resources and promotes the utilization of waste from Malaysia’s palm oil industry. It proposes upgrading conventional palm oil mills to integrated mills to produce valuable biofuels such as methanol (MET) or dimethyl ether (DME). Using Aspen Plus V11 for simulation, mass and energy balances were provided for feasibility analysis, including techno-economic, exergy, and carbon analysis. The integrated process demonstrated 10 to 15% higher exergetic efficiency than conventional mills, enhancing the renewability index by 40% and reducing carbon emissions to 0.50 tonne CO2 per tonne of palm oil. The integrated mills, operating at 61–64% exergetic efficiency, achieve a 28% reduction in exergy destruction when palm wastes are recovered and transformed into biofuels. Despite an 87% increase in non-renewable exergy consumption due to additional operating requirements, the overall renewability index remains high (around 0.9), demonstrating the commercial viability and environmental benefits of this approach. Overall, this study lays the foundation for integrated palm oil mill operation by utilizing palm waste to achieve net zero waste emissions, which is a positive outlook.

Metabolite profiling, in vitro antioxidant and a-glucosidase inhibitory properties of Timonius ternifolius leaves

Abstract. Vivit MB, Batuyong RG, Damian AFT, Gaoat CA, Beltran KGD, Alejo AB, Calaramo MA, Ibana FV, Batuyong MAR. 2024. Metabolite profiling, in vitro antioxidant and a-glucosidase inhibitory properties of Timonius ternifolius leaves. Biodiversitas 25: 3027-3034. The genus Timonius (Rubiaceae) possesses different pharmacological properties. One understudied endemic species under this genus from the Philippines is the Timonius ternifolius (Bartl. ex DC.) Fern.-Vill. Hence, this study investigates the physicochemical properties and phytochemical constituents of the leaf ethanolic extract (EE) and subjected to solvent partitioning to yield the following subfractions: hexane (HE), ethyl acetate (EA), and methanol (ME) extracts, which were utilized for the in vitro antioxidant, a-glucosidase and a-amylase assays. Quantitative tests of T. ternifolius leaves revealed the following physicochemical properties: herbal tea-like odor, fibrous and fluffy appearance, 50.07% moisture content, 3.10% total ash content, and a slightly acidic pH value of 5.13. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis has identified eight putative compounds namely glabrolide, aloinoside B, 2-benzyl octanal, geumonoid, (±) gomisin M1, 25-O-Acetyl-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-a-D-xylopyranoside, lucialdehyde B, and kadsuric acid. The extracts' concentrations of flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids were 1.23±0.19 mg QE/g, 20.77±0.77 mg GAE/g, and 6.07±0.53 mg/g, respectively. Antioxidant profiling among the subfractions showed EE exhibiting the highest at 59.15±2.08 µg/mL (IC50 value). Moreover, significant a-glucosidase inhibition was noted in the EE extract at 99.74%, EA at 99.71%, and ME at 99.45%. The results showed that T. ternifolius leaves are a promising lead source of pharmacologically active compounds with antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, expanding information on plant-derived alternative treatments and developing medicinal products.

N‐doped Porous ZIF@PDA/Pt Catalysts with Ultra‐Low Pt for Methanol Oxidation

AbstractMetal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) materials, due to their unique porous structure, large surface area, low density, and customizable ligands, have the potential to serve as catalytic carriers. They can address the limitations of pure platinum (Pt), including susceptibility to toxicity and poor stability during catalytic processes. In this study, ZIF‐8@ZIF‐67 derived N‐doped carbon‐loaded ultra‐low Pt catalysts (ZIF@PDA/Pt‐x‐y) were prepared using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) as carriers. Meanwhile, the effects of dopamine hydrochloride (DA) incorporation and reaction temperature on the topography structure and electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized samples were mainly investigated. The introduction of polydopamine (PDA) relieved the loss of the nitrogen source of ZIF due to high temperature. The electrocatalytic performances of synthetic samples for methanol oxidation were investigated using electrochemical methods, and ZIF@PDA/Pt‐5‐900 exhibited the most favorable catalytic effect. Compared to other samples and the Pt/C catalyst (20 %), ZIF@PDA/Pt‐5‐900 demonstrated the largest electrochemically active surface area (ECSA, 66.25 m2 mgPt−1), higher electrocatalytic amount activity (1719.28 mA mgPt−1) and superior stability. Overall, this finding offers a new approach for preparing catalysts for direct methan ol fuel cells (DMFCs).

Nematicidal Potential of Green Chiretta Extracts Against Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. Incognita: In vitro Assessment for Agricultural Application

Root-knot nematodes pose a persistent threat to various economically important crops in Thailand, with limited available management strategies for farmers. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of aqueous (AE), methanolic (ME), ethanolic (EE), ethyl acetate (EAE), and chloroform (CE) crude extracts derived from green chiretta in controlling Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. incognita under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated significant inhibitory effects of all crude extracts, except for CE, against both nematode species. Notably, AE (10 and 20 mg/mL), ME (20 mg/mL), and EE (20 mg/mL) treatments exhibited maximum inhibition of hatching, leading to a considerable reduction in nematode hatch rates by 87.5 - 96.8 % for M. enterolobii and 88.5 - 96.5 % for M. incognita, compared with distilled water (DW). In terms of second-stage juveniles (J2s) mortality, AE (10 and 20 mg/mL), ME (20 mg/mL), and EAE (20 mg/mL) demonstrated the highest nematicidal activity, resulting in mortality rates of 94.2 - 100 % for M. enterolobii and 92.2 - 99.2 % for M. incognita. Chemotaxis assays revealed a repellent effect of all extracts on both nematode species, except for the ethyl acetate extract (EAE), which attracted M. incognita J2s without affecting M. enterolobii J2s. The observed efficacy was attributed to the higher concentrations of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenoids, in the extracts compared to CE. Based on these in vitro findings, it is suggested that AE, ME, EE, and EAE of green chiretta exhibit significant nematicidal activity against M. enterolobii and M. incognita. Further evaluation under greenhouse and field conditions is warranted to ascertain the practical applicability and effectiveness of these extracts in a real-world agricultural setting.

Controlled organic solvent transport in ultramicroporous carbon membranes

The drive to decarbonize chemical processes necessitates exploring low-energy solutions for separating complex liquid mixtures ubiquitous in food, pharmaceuticals, petrochemical, and synthetic fuel production industries. This report comprehensively investigates conceptualizing and implementing two novel organic solvent separation processes: Organic Solvent Forward Osmosis (OSFO) and Organic Solvent Pressure Assisted Osmosis (OSPAO). The intrinsic molecular specificity of ultramicroporous carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes allowed the unprecedented separation of a complex mixture of short-chain alcohols (e.g., methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol) at room temperature. A new hybridized membrane-based separation methodology, OSPAO, that combines the elements of organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) and OSFO is introduced. CMS-based OSPAO demonstrated a marked enhancement in the flux of organic species permeate, considerably improving separation efficiencies. The separation modalities presented in this report underscore the essential role of osmosis in the differentiation of organic solvents, thereby contributing valuable insights to osmosis-based separation technologies.

Методологічні основи визначення і контролю витрат біопалив у процесі руху автомобіля

The paper proposes a methodological approach to determine and control fuel consumption (biofuels) of a car that has known design parameters and moves in known conditions at known modes. It is noted that at this stage it is more attractive to use mixed fuels based on gasoline or diesel fuel with the addition of various impurities of biological origin. For gasoline-based fuels, impurities can be methyl or ethyl alcohol, for diesel fuel – vegetable oils, as well as their methyl and ethyl esters of these oils. A structural and logical scheme has been developed, which explains the main provisions of the proposed determining method and controlling the biofuels consumption. In the structural and logical scheme, the following groups of parameters that take place during the car movement are highlighted: parameters of the conditions, the driving mode design. The mutual influence of parameters among themselves and between groups, the influence of the biological component concentration on its consumption, which must be taken into account to determine and control the consumption of biofuels during the movement of the car, was analyzed. It is shown that when switching to the use of biofuel, there is a change in the indicator coefficient of the internal combustion engine, which also affects the change in consumption.It has been proven that in the process of using biofuel, important factors affecting its consumption are density, lower heat of combustion, and the theoretically required amount of air for kg of biofuel combustion, which depends on the volumetric a specific biological component concentration in it. It has been proven that in the biofuel use process, important factors affecting its consumption are density, lower heat of combustion and the theoretically necessary amount of air for combustion in 1 kg of biofuel, which depends on the volumetric a specific biological component concentration. Taking into account the relative indicators of the «main» fuel (lower combustion heat, density and theoretically necessary air amount for the combustion of 1 kg impurities), it was established that the smallest increase in fuel consumption by the car engine during operation occurs when rapeseed oil is added to diesel fuel.

Static layer melt crystallization of dimethyl carbonate: Binary thermodynamic phase diagram analysis and process optimization

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is one kind of important solvent for lithium battery electrolyte. The purifying method of DMC is crucial for obtaining high purity product of it. Using a green and sustainable technology makes more sense in the face of increasing environmental burdens. In this study, a static layer melt crystallization method was used to achieve the purification of high purity DMC from a mixture of DMC and its major impurities. The partial binary phase diagrams between DMC and the main impurity - methanol (MT) - were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. Effect of process parameters such as crystallization temperature, cooling rate, sweating temperature, and heating rate on the distribution coefficient Kf and yield Y were evaluated using One-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) experiment and response surface experiment, respectively. The phenomenological relationships between different parameters and distribution coefficient and yield were discussed and revealed. Eventually, under the optimized process conditions, the purity of DMC was increased from 96 % to 99.847 %, and the single yield could reach 70 %.

Effectiveness of some plant extracts in biocontrol of induced onion basal rot disease in greenhouse conditions

One of Egypt’s most notable and historically significant vegetable crops is the Liliaceae plant, Allium cepa L. In this study, the effectiveness of methanolic extracts of Artemisia absinthium leaves, Calotropis procera latex, Moringa oleifera seeds, and Syzygium aromaticum clove was investigated in vitro and, in a greenhouse, setting against Fusarium oxysporum, the pathogen that causes onion basal rot in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. The S. aromaticum extract exhibited the inhibition peak (63.3%), whereas the A. absinthium extract had the lowest inhibition impact against F. oxysporum growth (41.1%). The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis revealed that 82 important compounds, with abundances ranging from low to high, were present in the tested S. aromaticum’s methanolic extract. The primary components were acetaldehyde, hydroxy- and 2-propanone, 1,1,3,3-tetrachloro-(42.71%), 1,2-ethanediol, and methyl alcohol (34.01%). In comparison to the infected control, the disease severity was significantly reduced by 20% with the use of a plant extracts mixture and Dovex 50% and increased by 62.22% with the use of an extract from A. absinthium. When compared to the infected control, onion plant fresh weight and dry weight were considerably higher under the clove extract therapy. The plant extracts used in this study’s testing contain a number of active ingredients, including amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes, which is probably why they have such positive impacts. The application of a combination of plant extracts was suggested as a feasible strategy for improving the growth and productivity of onion plants by the study’s findings. More research is needed to comprehend the mechanisms by which plant extracts promote plant development and to optimize the concentration and timing of administration.

On some Issues of the Object and Subject of the Crime Provided for by Article 234.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

The article examines the object and subject of the crime under Art. 2342 of the Russian Criminal Code. The article contains a comparative analysis of the target and subject matter of the crimes under Art. 234, 2342, 238 of the Russian Criminal Code. During the analysis the characteristic features inherent in the target and subject matter of the crimes under Art. 2342 of the Russian Criminal Code. There was made a conclusion that crime under Art. 2342 of the Russian Criminal Code encroaching on two additional targets. The author came to the conclusion that the subject matter of the crime can only be methanol and methanol-containing liquids that are in illegal circulation. Problematic issues of defining methanol-containing liquid as a subject of illicit trafficking in methyl alcohol have been identified.

Portulaca oleracea L seed extracts counteract diabetic nephropathy through SDF-1/IL10/PPARγ–mediated tuning of keap1/Nrf2 and NF-κB transcription in Sprague Dawley rats

Background & objective: While oxidative stress is the key player driving diabetic nephropathy (DN), firm glycemic control remains the pillar prophylactic measure. Purslane was extensively described as a potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agent owing to its rich content of antioxidants. Therefore, this report aimed to assess the renoprotective potentials of methanol (MO) and methylene chloride (MC) fixed oil extracts of purslane seeds in a diabetic nephropathy (DN) model.MethodsPurslane seeds were extracted using absolute methanol and methylene chloride, and type-1 diabetes was induced with a single 55 mg/kg dose of Streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 100 mmol/L citrate buffer (pH 4.5), and then diabetic animals were received MO, MC, for 42 consecutive days to compare their antidiabetic effect relative to the reference drug “Losartan”. Renal functions and DN biomarkers were weekly assessed, and the relative expression of different oxido-inflammatory mediators was quantified in diabetic kidneys by RT-PCR. Data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9.0.2.ResultsThe oral administration of MO and MC extracts (250 mg/kg/day) significantly ameliorated the body weight loss (P < 0.0001 / each), fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) (P < 0.0001 / each), urine volume (P < 0.0001 / each), as well as serum creatinine (P < 0.0001 / each), uric acid (P = 0.0022, 0.0052), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P = 0.0265, 0.0338); respectively, compared with the untreated diabetic rats. In addition, both extracts restored the effectuality of antioxidative machinery in diabetic kidneys as indicated by a significant reduction of ROS accumulation and lipid peroxidation; higher GSH content, and promoted activity of glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase antioxidant enzymes (P < 0.0001 / each). Histologically, both extracts alleviated the DN-structural alterations including the glomerular congestion and tubular degeneration, with MC-treated kidneys showing near to normal architecture. The transcription profiles of all treated kidneys revealed a significantly downregulated expression of TNF-α, IL-6, Keap1 and NF-κB genes, concomitant with a significant upregulation of SDF-1, IL-10, Nrf2, HO-1, and PPARγ gene expression (P < 0.0001 / all).ConclusionThese findings highlight the remarkable DN-prophylactic potentials of purslane extracts mediated by neutralizing the hyperglycemia-induced ROS accumulation, and circumventing the downstream inflammatory cascades, surpassing the reference angiotensin receptor blocker; i.e. Losartan.

Examining dietary supplements containing Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) for potential botanical-drug interactions involving CYP3A4 inhibition

BackgroundBotanical dietary supplements (BDS) are consumed more by cancer patients than otherwise healthier patients to alleviate side effects of chemotherapy drugs or increase quality of life. The enzyme responsible for the metabolism of most anticancer drugs is CYP3A4, an enzyme predominantly located in the liver. HypothesisOur research team examined the potential risk between CYP3A4-interactive cancer drugs and Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) berry and found that the compounds that passively and non-passively diffused from methanol açaí extract displayed significant inhibition of liver CYP3A4 – suggesting the potential for interactions between açaí and drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 if used synchronously. This study aims to identify the compounds responsible for the CYP3A4 inhibition using the newly automated Bioactivity – Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) tool. MethodsDietary supplement capsules from two manufacturers (F1 and F2) containing aqueous extracts of açaí fruits were extracted separately by methanol (ME) and acidic methanol (AC) and standardized to cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (CG) concentration at a human-relevant dose. After solvent removal, a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) was utilized to filter intestinal passive diffusion of the four extract constituents so that compounds could be tested for inhibition of hepatic CYP3A4. Passively and non-passively diffused constituents of extracts from PAMPA assays were injected into the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and characterized for visualization and comparison of chemical entities. To elucidate the non-passively diffused compounds responsible for significant CYP3A4 inhibition, the Bioactivity – GNPS tool was used to hypothesize which compounds within the formulation extract were potentially active to accelerate their identification. ResultsThere was no significant inhibition of CYP3A4 by passively diffused constituents for any extract. There was, however, significant inhibition by non-passively diffused constituents of both F1ME and F1AC extracts with 50 % CYP3A4 inhibition at the donor compartment concentrations 5.764 and 15.58 ng/ml CG, respectively. Six compounds were predicted to be inhibitors of CYP3A4 from methanol F1 extract, including betaine and 5 unknown compounds. ConclusionThis indicates that BDS containing açaí may not inhibit CYP3A4 through passively diffused compounds. Compounds from açaí BDS that inhibit CYP3A4 may be absorbed through other mechanisms, such as transporters.

Phytochemical evaluation of Ziziphus mucronata and Xysmalobium undulutum towards the discovery and development of anti-malarial drugs

BackgroundThe development of resistance by Plasmodium falciparum is a burdening hazard that continues to undermine the strides made to alleviate malaria. As such, there is an increasing need to find new alternative strategies. This study evaluated and validated 2 medicinal plants used in traditional medicine to treat malaria.MethodsInspired by their ethnobotanical reputation of being effective against malaria, Ziziphus mucronata and Xysmalobium undulutum were collected and sequentially extracted using hexane (HEX), ethyl acetate (ETA), Dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MTL). The resulting crude extracts were screened for their anti-malarial and cytotoxic potential using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, respectively. This was followed by isolating the active compounds from the DCM extract of Z. mucronata using silica gel chromatography and structural elucidation using spectroscopic techniques (NMR: 1H, 12C, and DEPT). The active compounds were then targeted against P. falciparum heat shock protein 70–1 (PfHsp70-1) using Autodock Vina, followed by in vitro validation assays using ultraviolet–visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy and the malate dehydrogenase (MDH) chaperone activity assay.ResultsThe extracts except those of methanol displayed anti-malarial potential with varying IC50 values, Z. mucronata HEX (11.69 ± 3.84 µg/mL), ETA (7.25 ± 1.41 µg/mL), DCM (5.49 ± 0.03 µg/mL), and X. undulutum HEX (4.9 ± 0.037 µg/mL), ETA (17.46 ± 0.024 µg/mL) and DCM (19.27 ± 0.492 µg/mL). The extracts exhibited minimal cytotoxicity except for the ETA and DCM of Z. mucronata with CC50 values of 10.96 and 10.01 µg/mL, respectively. Isolation and structural characterization of the active compounds from the DCM extracts revealed that betulinic acid (19.95 ± 1.53 µg/mL) and lupeol (7.56 ± 2.03 µg/mL) were responsible for the anti-malarial activity and had no considerable cytotoxicity (CC50 > µg/mL). Molecular docking suggested strong binding between PfHsp70-1, betulinic acid (− 6.8 kcal/mol), and lupeol (− 6.9 kcal/mol). Meanwhile, the in vitro validation assays revealed the disruption of the protein structural elements and chaperone function.ConclusionThis study proves that X undulutum and Z. mucronata have anti-malarial potential and that betulinic acid and lupeol are responsible for the activity seen on Z. mucronata. They also make a case for guided purification of new phytochemicals in the other extracts and support the notion of considering medicinal plants to discover new anti-malarials.

DEGRADATION ESTIMATION OF ROSUVASTATIN CALCIUM IN PHARMACEUTICAL TABLET FORMULATION

Objectives: The present objective was to undertaken the Rosuvastatin Calcium degradation in the tablets formulations with a rapid, economic, consistent, specific and simple analytical procedure. Methods: The analytical RP-HPLC was validated with mobile phase composition of methyl alcohol : cyanomethane : water (45:35:20,v/v). The detection was achieved with a flow 1.0 ml/min by using octylsilane column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 µ), at 248 nm. Results: The established analytical procedure of Rosuvastatin Calcium was validated statistically for reproducibility, accuracy, specificity as per ICH-guideline. The correlation coefficient was 0.999 with the linearity concentration range 140-260 µg/ml. The percentage recovery was achieved 99.86 to 106.12 and RSD% of precision was 0.599. The specificity was confirmed by excellent photolytic and thermal stability of Rosuvastatin Calcium. The degradation statistical recovery of Rosuvastatin Calcium in dry, wet and thermal stage ware 99.25%, 99.52 % and 99.64% respectively validated. The developed peaks in the chromatograms of alkali, oxidation and acid decomposition of Rosuvastatin Calcium were confirmed by screening the degradation peaks and the recovery percentage were found 23.16 %, 85.59 % and 66.33 % respectively. Conclusions: The stress conditions of Rosuvastatin Calcium in degradation study is successfully developed and it is also important in stability to determined the highest lipid lowering agent in the body that block the manufacturing of cholesterol. The stress conditions like in aqueous acidic hydrolysis, oxidative, alkaline hydrolysis, thermal and photolytic degradation study was validated with a simple, cost efficient, linear, accurate, selective, specific, high performance liquid chromatography with a simple effortless mobile phase containing methyl alcohol, cyanomethane and water.

Solvent selection and studies of the anti-corrosion efficacy of Heliotropium curassavicum leaves extract on API L X60 steel in 5 wt% hydrochloric acid solution

Corrosion is a huge challenge in the manufacturing industry during sticky oxides, grease, and rust removal from metal surfaces. It is often managed by the use of inhibitors and current interest is on sustainable inhibitors with less to zero harmful effects. This study explores the efficacy of Heliotropium curassavicum leaves extracts (HCLEs) in retarding the deterioration of API X60 grade steel in 5 wt% HCl solution and the influence of extracting solvent namely acetone (ACE), ethanol (ETH), water (WAT), butanol (BUT), methanol (MET), isopropanol (ISO), and ethyl acetate (ETA) on performance. The characterization of the HCLEs was achieved by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopies while the weight loss, electrochemical, and surface examination approaches were used for anticorrosion property evaluation. The results disclose that irrespective of extracting solvent, the extracts could suppress the dissolution of the substrate under the studied conditions. The best performance is, however, noted for ethanolic HCLE where 300 mg/L protected the substrate surface by 51.46% at 25 °C. Hence, ethanolic HCLE was selected for detailed studies and results indicate that the steel surface can be protected by 78.42% if 1000 mg/L of extract is used. Furthermore, the performance of the extract improves upon an increase in the temperature of the corrodent. The findings suggest that ethanolic HCLE could be considered for material protection during HCl pickling.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Jasminum officinale L. f. var. grandiflorum (L.) Kob. Leaf Extracts

The investigation of phytochemicals and their effects on plants is currently receiving significant attention due to the well-known fact that plants contain secondary metabolites that have high levels of usefulness in various applications. These applications include food additives, biopesticides, and pharmaceuticals. In a recent study, we thoroughly examined the total phenolic content (TPC), and the antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of Jasminum officinale L.f. var. grandiflorum (L.) Kob. (also known as Spanish jasmine) leaf extracts, providing valuable insights into its potential benefits. Our study performed a crude methanol (ME) extraction of Spanish jasmine leaves with acid-base solvent partitioning, resulting in an acidic fraction (AE), a neutral fraction (NE), and an aqueous fraction (AQ). The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine the TPC of the extracts. The AE fraction displayed the highest TPC (79.8±0.61 mgGAE/g dry weight), followed by the NE and AQ fractions. The extracts were further evaluated for their antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay. The AE fraction had the highest antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 4.6±0.40 µg/mL. The main active compound, oleuropein, was isolated and determined using spectral data. The isolated compound displayed excellent antioxidant activity with an EC50 value of 13.0±0.06 µg/mL. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the Spanish jasmine leaf extracts was calculated using the disc diffusion method based on the minimum inhibitory concentration. The AE fraction exhibited activity against the Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, with a MIC value of 0.78 µg/mL. The AE fraction also displayed the highest degree of activity against Staphylococcus strains, including drug-resistant