Red Onion Research Articles

Combination Effects of African Leaf Ethanol Extract (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) with Red Onion Peel (Allium cepa L.) as Antidiabetes in Streptozotocin-induced Mice

Type 2 diabetes arises when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin. This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of reducing blood glucose levels in white male mice through the administration of an ethanol extract of African leaves and onion peel, as well as to determine the duration of these effects. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in the mice, and the experiment was conducted over a period of 21 days. The mice were divided into seven groups: Group 1 received a placebo (CMC Na 0.5%), Group 2 received glibenclamide (0.013 mg/20 g body weight), Group 3 received a single dose of African leaf extract (4.2 mg/20 g BW), Group 4 received a single dose of onion peel extract (4 mg/20 g BW), and Groups 5, 6, and 7 received combinations of African leaf and onion peel extracts at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1, respectively. The results demonstrated that the combined administration of African leaf and onion peel extracts significantly reduced blood glucose levels, with decreases of 44.701%, 49.929%, and 51.996% in the 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 group, respectively. The 1:1 combination was particularly effective, showing a reduction in blood glucose levels comparable to the positive control, which achieved a 45.957% decrease. The administration of the test preparations effectively reduced blood glucose levels over 21 days, with significant reductions observed on both the 14th and 21st days.

Effect of marination process with different formulation applied to beef on physio-chemical quality parameters and sensory properties of meat themed thesis

Marinating is a technique applied to soften, flavor and extend the shelf life of meat before cooking. In this study, it was aimed to determine the changes in physico-chemical quality parameters of beef marinated with juice and powder forms of red beet, black carrot and purple onion vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants, and to determine the level of consumer appreciation. Meat samples were marinated for 24 h at +4 °C using 1:1 immersion technique for vegetable juices and 10% massage technique for powder forms. Experimental and mixed methods were used in the study. As a result of the marinating process applied in the study, the interactions of color, cooking loss, texture (TPA), pH, dry matter, total phenolic matter and antioxidant activity content of meat samples in different forms of different materials (juice-powder), physico-chemical analyzes in different applications (raw-cooked) were examined. In addition, sensory analysis was carried out with a group of 28 semi-trained panelists for cooked meat samples. SPSS (26.0) statistical package program was used to analyze the data obtained. As a result of the research, all of the materials used in the marination process (red beet, black carrot and purple onion) showed acidic properties. In terms of total phenolic matter content, it was measured that the powder forms of the vegetables contained more total phenolic matter compared to the juice forms. The antioxidant activity content of the powdered vegetables was found to be higher than the juice formed ones.

Integrated enzymatic hydrolysis of crude red onion extract and yeast treatment for production and purification of short-chain inulin and inulin neoseries oligosaccharides

As has been confirmed in our previous study, red onion is a promising source of inulin-fructan, inulin neoseries fructan, and their fructooligosaccharides (FOSs). Short-chain FOSs (SCFOSs) are potential prebiotics as they provide many health promoting benefits. However, short-chain inulin neoseries oligosaccharides isolated from plants have scarcely been studied. After prebiotic production, a purification step is essential to produce a functional prebiotic. The aim of this study was to develop new processes of integrated enzymatic hydrolysis of crude red onion extract and yeast treatment for production and purification of SCFOSs. Endo-inulinase is a key enzyme for hydrolysis of crude red onion extract to produce SCFOSs, while Candida orthopsilosis FLA44.2 was employed for purification of the produced SCFOSs. Three different strategies, including two-step (TSP), simultaneous (SP), and semi-simultaneous (SSP) production processes, were designed and investigated as potentially simple, cost-effective, and timesaving production processes. The SP and SSP processes met the objective criteria by exhibiting desirable yields of SCFOSs and the optimal purity of SCFOSs when compared with the TSP process. Notably, the SP process was highlighted as it was simpler than the SSP process. Under optimal conditions (0.4 U of endo-inulinase/g total fructans, 5 % v/v of yeast inoculum and reaction time of 72 h), the SP process conducted in 1-dm3 flasks produced SCFOSs of 87 g/dm3 with neo-GF2 as the main constituent (42 g/dm3) and a purity of 100 %. The ratio of total SCFOSs to total fructans was 0.93 indicating that fructans of the red onion extract have been transformed to SCFOSs.

Dehydration of Onion Slices for Food Processing Application Using Internet of Things-Based Smart Solar Drying System

Abstract Indian onion producers experience significant economic losses as a result of the unpredictable fluctuations in onion prices during the harvesting and postharvest stages. To address these difficulties and increase farmers' earnings, the transformation of onions into value-added goods such as onion paste, onion powder, onion sauce, and onion oil has emerged as a possible option. The objective of this project is to create a smart solar drying system based on Internet of Things (IoT) technique specifically designed for the dehydration of recently harvested red onions. In April 2023, a series of five experimental tests were carried out, examining the effects of different onion slice thicknesses ranging from 2 mm to 4 mm, with intervals of 0.5 mm. Each trial consisted of running the dryer for a duration of 9 h, specifically from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., throughout the daylight hours for three consecutive days. The experiment involved evaluating different drying characteristics, such as moisture content on dry and wet bases, shrinkage ratio, and thermal efficiency. The drying time required to achieve a 10% moisture level (w.b.) was reduced by 30.19%, 16.98%, 11.32%, and 3.77% when comparing a 4-mm slice thickness to thinner alternatives of 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, and 3.5 mm, respectively. The dryer had a superior thermal efficiency of 27.89% when the thickness was 2 mm, in contrast to 19.50% when the thickness was 4 mm. Significantly, onions that were dehydrated from slices measuring 2 mm and 2.5 mm in thickness showed exceptional suitability for the production of powdered onion.

Comparison of different green extraction methods used for the extraction of anthocyanin from red onion skin.

Green extraction primarily emphasizes developing new extraction techniques that consume less energy. It involves using safe, non-toxic alternative solvents and sustainable natural resources to ensure the production of safe and high-quality extracts. Red onion skin is an important source of anthocyanins, a subgroup of phenolic compounds. Anthocyanins are an important group of natural pigments that have attracted a lot of attention due to their health benefits. However, the instability and high sensitivity of these pigments have limited their use in food and cosmetics. Therefore, in this study, various modern green extraction methods were used, including solvent extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, subcritical water extraction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pulsed electric field extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and high hydrostatic pressure-assisted (HHPAE) extraction, to specifically extract and purify anthocyanins. The extraction efficiency, specifically targeting anthocyanins, showed the highest efficiency with HHPAE (81.84%) and the lowest with MAE (40.01%). Measurement of total anthocyanin content revealed that HHPAE and SFE methods yielded the highest anthocyanin concentrations, with 248.49 and 244.98 mg/L, respectively. Identification of anthocyanin by LC-MS revealed that the main anthocyanidins in red onion peel are pelargonidin, cyanidin, delphinidin, and petunidin. These results indicate that innovative green extraction methods, particularly HHPAE and SFE, can effectively replace conventional techniques due to their superior efficiency and enhanced preservation of anthocyanin compounds.

Nutritional Indices, Haematological and Biochemical Evaluation of Albino Rats Fed with Crunchy Snack Produced from Corn, Red Kidney Beans and Onion Flour

Nutritional Indices, Haematological and Biochemical Evaluation of Albino Rats Fed with Crunchy Snack Produced from Corn, Red Kidney Beans and Onion Flour

Insights into bioactive constituents of onion (Allium cepa L.) waste: a comparative metabolomics study enhanced by chemometric tools

BackgroundOnion waste was reported to be a valuable source of bioactive constituents with potential health-promoting benefits. This sparked a surge of interest among scientists for its valorization. This study aims to investigate the chemical profiles of peel and root extracts of four onion cultivars (red, copper-yellow, golden yellow and white onions) and evaluate their erectogenic and anti-inflammatory potentials.MethodsUPLC-QqQ-MS/MS analysis and chemometric tools were utilized to determine the chemical profiles of onion peel and root extracts. The erectogenic potential of the extracts was evaluated using the PDE-5 inhibitory assay, while their anti-inflammatory activity was determined by identifying their downregulating effect on the gene expression of IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated WBCs.ResultsA total of 103 metabolites of diverse chemical classes were identified, with the most abundant being flavonoids. The organ’s influence on the chemical profiles of the samples outweighed the influence of the cultivar, as evidenced by the close clustering of samples from the same organ compared to the distinct separation of root and peel samples from the same cultivar. Furthermore, the tested extracts demonstrated promising PDE-5 and anti-inflammatory potentials and effectively suppressed the upregulation of pro-inflammatory markers in LPS-stimulated WBCs. The anti-inflammatory activities exerted by peel samples surpassed those of root samples, highlighting the importance of selecting the appropriate organ to maximize activity. The main metabolites correlated with PDE-5 inhibition were cyanidin 3-O-(malonyl-acetyl)-glucoside and quercetin dimer hexoside, while those correlated with IL-1β inhibition were γ-glutamyl-methionine sulfoxide, γ-glutamyl glutamine, sativanone, and stearic acid. Taxifolin, 3’-hydroxymelanettin, and oleic acid were highly correlated with IL-6 downregulation, while quercetin 4’-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin 4’-O-glucoside, and p-coumaroyl glycolic acid showed the highest correlation to IFN-γ and TNF-α inhibition.ConclusionThis study provides a fresh perspective on onion waste as a valuable source of bioactive constituents that could serve as the cornerstone for developing new, effective anti-PDE-5 and anti-inflammatory drug candidates.

Irrigation Method Matters: Contamination and Die-off Rates of Escherichia coli on Dry Bulb Onions After Overhead and Drip Irrigation in Washington State (2022–2023)

Two U.S. outbreaks of salmonellosis in 2020 and 2021 were epidemiologically linked to red onions. The 2020 outbreak investigation implicated the production of agricultural water as a likely contamination source. Field trials were designed to investigate the prevalence and survival of Escherichia coli (surrogate for Salmonella) on dry bulb onions after the application of contaminated irrigation water at the end of the growing period. Irrigation water was inoculated at 3 log most probable number (MPN)/100 mL (2022 and 2023) or 5 log MPN/100 mL (2023, drip only) with a cocktail of rifampin-resistant E. coli and applied with the final irrigation (0.4 acre-inch/0.4 ha-cm) to onions. Onion bulbs (40 or 80) were sampled immediately after irrigation and throughout field curing (4 weeks) and E. coli was enumerated using an MPN method. For drip irrigation, at 3 log MPN/100 mL E. coli was detected on 13% of onions at 24 h but not detected at 0 h; at 5 log MPN/100 mL for drip irrigation applied to saturated soil, E. coli was detected in 63% of onions at 0 h. Prevalence significantly (P < 0.05), decreased after 7 d of curing with cell densities of 1–1,400 MPN/onion. At the end of field curing in 2023, 1/80 of onions had detectable E. coli (2.04 MPN/onion). E. coli was detected in a significantly smaller percentage of onions (2022: 13%; 2023: 68%) after a contaminated drip irrigation event compared to overhead irrigation (98–100%; P < 0.05). After overhead irrigation, E. coli was detected in onions (1–1,000 MPN/onion) on day 0. Prevalence decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after 7 d of field curing in both years (2022: 15%; 2023: 7%). E. coli was not detected on Calibra onions (80/year) at the end of field curing in either year but was detected at <12 MPN/onion in 2.5–3.75% of onions (n = 80) for other cultivars. These data confirm limited contamination risk associated with drip irrigation water quality and begin to quantify contamination risks associated with overhead irrigation of dry bulb onions.

Chemical Composition and Storage Stability of Crunchy Snacks Produced from Corn, Red Kidney Beans and Onion Flour

Corn flour is a very important ingredients in producing crunchy snacks. However, the use of other plant sources to supplement corn flour in producing crunchy snacks is not uncommon. This study thus investigated the chemical composition and storage stability of crunchy snack produced from corn, red kidney beans and onion flour. Three samples EOD: Corn: Red Kidney Bean: Onion (70:25:5%); XYZ: Corn: Red Kidney Bean: Onion (70:20:10%); FAV: Corn: Red Kidney Bean: Onion (70:15:15%) and a control ABC: Oyato crunchy snack, were analysed for proximate, mineral, free fatty acid (FFA), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), saponification value (SV), peroxide value (PV), Microbial population and Sensory properties. Proximate Composition; moisture content ranged from 4.03 - 15.33% and crude protein content ranged from 3.33 – 9.52% among the samples. Mineral Composition; P, Ca, Na and Cd ranged between, 31.52 – 51.63 mg/100g, 3.57-4.53 mg/100g, 181.80-314.40 mg/100g, and not detected respectively for the samples. FFA had first month 2.45 – 5.33% and second month 3.14 – 5.33%. Storage stability; TBA first month had 0.18 to 0.51 mgMDA/Kg and second month 1.67 – 2.36 mgMDA/Kg; SV first month had 7.04 - 68.85 mgKOH/g and second month 7.65 to 103.70 mgKOH/g; PV first month had 3.50 to 20.00 meq/Kg and second month 8.50 to 21.50 meq/Kg. The microbial population was relatively low and within safe limits, total viable and fungi count 1.5-7.0×102 Cfu/g and 2.5-9×102 cfu/g after the first month respectively; total viable and fungi count 9.0-45×102 cfu/g and 5.0-25×102 cfu/g after second month respectively. There were no significant differences (p&lt; 0.05) in the crunchiness, mouthfeel and overall acceptability of formulated crunchy snack samples and the commercial crunchy snack. The crunchy snacks investigated in this study has a good sensory evaluation and storage stability.

Efikasi Bakterostatik Kulit Bawang Merah Pada Ikan Bandeng (Chanos chanos) Selama Penyimpanan Suhu Ruang

Biochemical and physicochemical changes result in a decrease in fish freshness. The decline in quality of fresh fish can be influenced by several things, one of which is storage temperature, where the higher the storage temperature, the faster the fish rots. Red onion skin contains flavonoid compounds which function as bacteriostatics, namely quercetin. The aim of this research is to provide scientific information about the bacteriostatic efficacy of shallot skin on histamine inhibition in milkfish during room temperature storage. The research design used was a Randomized Block Design (RAK) with three treatment factors with two replications. Based on the research results, it was found that it showed the best concentration and had a significant effect on the quality (pH, histamine and TPC) of crushed milkfish during 48 hours of storage at room temperature with the addition of 3% shallot skin. The results of the organoleptic test showed that the red onion skin of crushed milkfish experienced a decrease in organoleptic values for each parameter (Appearance, Smell, Texture) for 48 hours so it was necessary to increase the concentration of red onion skin.

Increasing Red Onion Production on a Household Scale Using Coconut Water and NPK as a Growth Stimulant

Red onion (Allium ascalonicum L.) is a horticultural plant needed by household consumers as a complement to cooking spices and traditional medicines. Shallot production does not meet market demand in Riau, so it is necessary to bring in shallots from other regions. Efforts to increase shallot production continue to be made to meet market demand in Riau. One of the efforts that can be made to increase the production of shallot plants is through the use of natural growth hormones (ZPT). This research aims to determine the respective effects and interactions of giving concentrations of coconut water and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of shallot production. This research is a factorial experiment prepared using a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 2 factors, namely the concentration of coconut water and the dose of NPK fertilizer. Factor I: Coconut water concentration which consists of 4 levels, namely: A0 = without coconut water, A1 = 50% coconut water (500 ml coconut water + 500 ml water), A2 = 75% coconut water (750 ml coconut water + 250 ml water) and A3 = 100% coconut water (1000 ml coconut water). Factor II: NPK fertilizer dose consisting of 3 levels, namely: N1 = NPK 125 kg.ha-1, N2 = NPK 250 kg.ha-1, and N3 = NPK 375 kg.ha-1. . Data from the analysis of variance were further tested using Duncan's multiple range test at the 5% level. The research results showed that the combination of coconut water with a concentration of 100% and NPK fertilizer with a dose of 250 kg.ha-1 increase plant height, increase tuber diameter, increase fresh tuber weight per m2 and weight of storable tubers per m2.

Phytochemical characterization of selected agro-waste extracts as kinetic inhibitors in methane hydrates formation

In this study of gas hydrate inhibition, the bio-active components (phytochemicals) and the influence of functional moieties and chemical structures on selected bio-inhibitors' performance were investigated by advanced analytical techniques. The agro-waste materials of interest are: orange mesocarp (Citrus sinensis (L)) extract (OME), red onion skin (Allium cepa) extract (ROSE), kolanut tesla (Cola acuminata) extract (KTE), coconut coir dusk (Cocos nucifera) extract (CCDE) and peanut skin (Arachis hypogea) extract (PSE). A CO2-enhanced supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique was used to extract the bioactive components from their parent materials. After the extraction, advanced analytical techniques including FTIR, NMR and HP-TLC with densitometry were used to identify and isolate functional groups, structurally characterize and quantify the bioactive compounds in the extracts primarily focusing on phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins. A Bruker 500MZ NMR spectrometer and a CAMAG-semi-automatic HP-TLC system were used for the structural characterization and quantification respectively. Based on the number of anti-oxidants and radicals scavenging characteristics of the individual extracts' polyphenolic and tannin components, the expected hydrates inhibition capacities of the bio-extracts are in the magnitude: CCDE > ROSE > PSE > OME > KTE. The extracts are readily biodegradable and non-toxic and therefore do not pose ecological threat unlike PVP with only 31.50% biodegradation rate and may result in serious ecological risks in offshore environments. Lastly, the numbers of hydroxyl (OH) and meth-oxyl (MeoH) groups are the principal factors that influence the bio-inhibitors performance with hydroxyl group number being more important than that of the meth-oxyl group.

EKSPLORASI SERANGGA PADA TANAMAN BAWANG MERAH YANG DITUMPANGSARIKAN DENGAN CABAI MERAH (STUDI KASUS DI KECAMATAN GRONG GRONG KABUPATEN PIDIE)

Intercropping is a method that is widely used by farmers, this is because this method allows farmers to plant not just one type of plant but more. There are many advantages of this tumpeng sari system, such as increased plant production and optimal use of land. In plants, a diversity of insects appear that live and visit because of the influence of this tumpeng sari system. The aim of the research was to describe the types of insects found on shallot plants intercropped with red chilies. The purposive sampling survey method was used in the research, which was practically carried out on a stretch of land with red onions intercropped with red chilies. The research shows the results that insects trapped in shallot fields intercropped with chilies consist of 10 orders and 47 families, the order Araneae, the order Blatodea, the order Coleoptera, the order Dermaptera, the order Hemiptera, the order Diptera, the order Hymenoptera, the order Isoptera, the order Lepidoptera, the order Mantodea, while for There are two natural enemies of parasitoids, namely the order Hymenoptera, Diptera, for predatory insects the order found is the order Mantodea, order Orthoptera, order Lepidoptera, order, Hymenoptera, order Hemiptera, order Diptera, order Dermaptera, order Coleoptera order Araneae, while the order herbivorous insects found were the order Orthoptera, order Hemiptera, order Diptera, order Lepidoptera, order Coleoptera, a group of parasitoid insects with the highest number of individuals from the families Ichneumonidae and Braconidae, a group of predatory insects with the highest number of individuals from the family Reduviidae, and formicidae, a group of herbivorous insects with the highest number of individuals. high number of individuals from the Orthoptera family

Flavonoid-metal ion Complexes as Potent Anticancer metallodrugs: A comprehensive Review.

Flavonoids and their analogous are mainly found in pink lady apples, green and black tea (catechins), celery and red peppers, onions, broccoli and spinach, berries, cherries, soybean, citrus fruits, and fungi. The different derivatives of flavonoids belonging to polyphenolic compounds such as 3,4',5,7-Tetrahydroxyflavylium (pelargonidin), 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)chromenylium-3,5,7-triol (cyanidin), 3,3',4',5,5',7-Hexahydroxyflavylium (delphinidin), 3,3',4',5,7-Pentahydroxy-5'-methoxyflavylium (petunidin), and 3,4',5,7-Tetrahydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavylium (malvidin) can act as good chelating agents for metal-chelate complex formation. These flavonoid-metal complexes have been reported to have various biomedical and pharmacological activities. Flavonoid-metal ion complexes display a broad spectrum of biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, and cytotoxic activity. The literature survey showed that flavonoid metal complexes have potential therapeutic properties against various cancerous cells. The objective is to gain insight into the current perspective and development of novel anticancer metallodrug drugs. The flavonoid-metal ion complexes can be prepared by reacting flavonoid ligand with appropriate metal salt in aqueous or alcoholic reaction medium under stirring or refluxing conditions. In this review article, the various reported methods for the synthesis of flavonoid-metal complexes have been included. The utility of synthetic methods for flavonoid-metal complexes will support the discovery of novel therapeutic drugs. In this review study, short libraries of flavonoid-metal ion complexes were studied as potential anticancer agents against various human cancer cell lines. The review report reveals that metal ions such as Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rh, Ru, Ga, Ba, Sn etc., when binding to flavonoid ligands, enhance the anticancer activity compared to free ligands. This review study covered some important literature surveys for the last two decades. It has been concluded that flavonoid metal complexes have been associated with a wide range of biological properties that could be noteworthy in the medicinal field. Therefore, to develop a new anticancer drug, it is essential to determine the primordial interaction drug with DNA under physiological or anatomical conditions. The study of numerous flavonoid metal complexes mentioned in this paper could be the future treatment against various cancerous diseases.

Maximizing the Management of Red Onion and Crispy Rice Crackers Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Purworejo Village, Ngantang Subdistrict, Malang Regency as Efforts to Expand Market Share

Maximizing the Management of Red Onion and Crispy Rice Crackers Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Purworejo Village, Ngantang Subdistrict, Malang Regency as Efforts to Expand Market Share

Optimizing the Growth and Production of Red Onion (Allium cepa L.) by Applying Biofertilizer and NPK Fertilizer

Optimizing the Growth and Production of Red Onion (Allium cepa L.) by Applying Biofertilizer and NPK Fertilizer

The Effect of Applying Organic Skin and Coconut Dregs Compost on The Growth and Yield of Purple Eggplant Plants Fertilizer of Red Onion (Solanum melongena L.)

The Effect of Applying Organic Skin and Coconut Dregs Compost on The Growth and Yield of Purple Eggplant Plants Fertilizer of Red Onion (Solanum melongena L.)

Pengelolaan Populasi Hama Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) dengan Tanaman Refugia pada Tanaman Bawang Merah

This study aims to manage the population of Spodoptera exigua pests using refuge plants in onion crops. The research employed a non-factorial randomized complete block design with 4 treatments, namenly P0 (red onion without refuge plants/ control), P1 (red onion intercropped with Marigold), P2 (red onion intercropped with Zinnia), and P3 (red onion intercropped with combination both Marigold and Zinnia), with each treatment being replicated 6 times. The study comprised 24 experimental units, with each unit containing 4 plants, resulting in a total of 96 plants. The results revealed that the highest population density occurred in treatment P0 (red onion without refuge plants/ control) with a percentage of 0.55 %, while the lowest population density was observed in treatment P3 (red onion intercropped with combination both Marigold and Zinnia) with a percentage of 2.1x10-17 %. The analysis indicated significant differences between treatments P0 and P3. The conclusion drawn from this study is that treatment P3, involving the combination of Marigold and zinnia, yielded the most effective results for managing the population of S. exigua pests in red onion cultivation. Keywords: red onion, population, refuge plants, S. exigua

Development of White Cabbage, Coffee, and Red Onion Extracts as Natural Phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) Inhibitors for Cognitive Dysfunction: In Vitro and In Silico Studies.

Human cognition fundamentally depends on memory. Alzheimer's disease exhibits a strong correlation with a decline in this factor. Phosphodiesterase-4 B (PDE4B) plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative disorders, and its inhibition is one of the promising approaches for memory enhancement. This study aimed to identify secondary metabolites in white cabbage, coffee, and red onion extracts and identify their molecular interaction with PDE4B by in silico and in vitro experiments. Crushed white cabbage and red onion were macerated separately with ethanol to yield respective extracts, and ground coffee was boiled with water to produce aqueous extract. Thin layer chromatography (TLC)-densitometry was used to examine the phytochemicals present in white cabbage, coffee, and red onion extracts. Molecular docking studies were performed to know the interaction of test compounds with PDE4B. TLC-densitometry analysis showed that chlorogenic acid and quercetin were detected as major compounds in coffee and red onion extracts, respectively. In silico studies revealed that alpha-tocopherol (binding free energy (∆Gbind) = -38.00 kcal/mol) has the strongest interaction with PDE4B whereas chlorogenic acid (∆Gbind = -21.50 kcal/mol) and quercetin (∆Gbind = -17.25 kcal/mol) exhibited moderate interaction. In vitro assay showed that the combination extracts (cabbage, coffee, and red onion) had a stronger activity (half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.12 ± 0.03 µM) than combination standards (sinigrin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin) (IC50 = 0.17 ± 0.03 µM) and rolipram (IC50 = 0.15 ± 0.008 µM). Thus, the combination extracts are a promising cognitive enhancer by blocking PDE4B activity.

Antimicrobial Properties of Newly Developed Silver-Enriched Red Onion-Polymer Composites.

Simple low-cost, nontoxic, environmentally friendly plant-extract-based polymer films play an important role in their application in medicine, the food industry, and agriculture. The addition of silver nanoparticles to the composition of these films enhances their antimicrobial capabilities and makes them suitable for the treatment and prevention of infections. In this study, polymer-based gels and films (AgRonPVA) containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced at room temperature from fresh red onion peel extract ("Ron"), silver nitrate, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Silver nanoparticles were synthesized directly in a polymer matrix, which was irradiated by UV light. The presence of nanoparticles was approved by analyzing characteristic local surface plasmon resonance peaks occurring in UV-Vis absorbance spectra of irradiated experimental samples. The proof of evidence was supported by the results of XRD and EDX measurements. The diffusion-based method was applied to investigate the antimicrobial activity of several types of microbes located in the environment of the produced samples. Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC BAA 747, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442; yeasts Candida parapsilosis CBS 8836 and Candida albicans ATCC 90028; and microscopic fungi assays Aspergillus flavus BTL G-33 and Aspergillus fumigatus BTL G-38 were used in this investigation. The greatest effect was observed on Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, defining these films as potential candidates for antimicrobial applications. The antimicrobial features of the films were less effective against fungi and the weakest against yeasts.