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Nigella sativa (black cumin) has been used for a wide range of conditions, particularly inflammation, in traditional medical systems. Using albino rats (n = 36), the current study examines the anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic properties of Nigella sativa methanol extract. Diclofenac and paracetamol were the typical medications used in this trial, and the four different concentrations (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) of the methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds were employed to prevent inflammation, pain, and fever. Effective antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic inhibition were demonstrated by the methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds (96%, 89%, and 85%), respectively. The bioactive components found in seeds, such as thymol, p-cymene, and limonene, were also used in an in-silico study. The ligand molecules and proteins used for the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic action were 1DFN, 1A06, and 3LN0, respectively. With the specified protein, the molecular docking results were significant, and the binding energy values of the analgesic, anti-pyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties were effective. In silico and in vivo experiments, the methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seeds demonstrated efficacy against pain, inflammation, and fever.

In the current work, the conjugate of curcumin and ferulic acid (compound 1) was developed and then examined utilizing a battery of biochemical assays to assess its pharmacological effectiveness against lung cancer.   The compound 1 was synthesized using steglich esterification in excellent yield and then evaluated for its ability to inhibit the growth of different types of human cancer cells, including cells of the gastric cancer (SGC-7901), breast cancer (MCF7), liver cancer (HepG-2), lung cancer (A549), and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa). It exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on A549 cells compared to the other cell types, indicating its potent anti-lung cancer activity. It induces substantial suppression of many kinases, including EGFR, PI3K, mTOR, and VEGFR2. It exhibited cell cycle suppression of G2/M phase, resulting in a significant rise in apoptosis rate in A549 cells. Compound 1 showed a notable suppression of telomerase activity and a rise in the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential in A549 cells. The present study showcased the creation of a curcumin-ferulic acid conjugate (referred to as Compound 1) as a very potent anticancer medication that selectively targets lung cancer cells.

ABSTRACT The study of the processes of adsorption – desorption of metallic trace elements or heavy metals in soils is crucial for the proposal of effective strategies for mitigation, reduction or elimination of these in natural systems. This work presents a study of the processes of adsorption and/desorption of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in two Chilean soils: Alhué (VI Region, Chile) and Nueva Braunau (X Region, Chile), both of volcanic origin and agricultural use. The soil samples studied were dried and sieved (< 2 mm or < 0.63 mm). The physicochemical characterization: pH, CE, MO, COT, N, P, CIC and texture was performed using described methods. The total fraction of each metal was obtained by microwave digestion with HNO3 and HCl. The contact time needed to reach equilibrium was determined by leaving the soil with the metal solution at different times (3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours). The adsorption process was performed by a batch experiment, mixing different aliquots of metal solution with balancing solution (KNO3) 0.1 molL-1. Desorption was made from the 50/50 metal/balancing solution. The metals in the different soil samples and the total fraction in the soil were determined by AAS. The distribution of the total fraction of metals in decreasing order is in Alhué soil: Mn > Pb > Cu > Zn and in Nueva Braunau soil: Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu. It was determined that the contact time at which metals reach equilibrium is 48 hours for both soils, fitting appropriately with Elovich's model. The decreasing order of adsorption in the Alhué soil is: Cu > Zn > Pb > Mn and in the Nueva Braunau soil: Cu > Pb > Zn > Mn. The determination of the type of adsorption was made through the application of adsorption models of Langmuir and Freundlich. Cu adjusted according to the Langmuir model on both soils. Cu and Zn conformed to Freunlich's model. The desorption results are: Alhué soil: Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu and Nueva Braunau soil: Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu. The negative ΔG° (Gibbs free energy change) values obtained in the presents study indicate that the adsorption of metals onto soil samples is a spontaneous process and that the adsorption was an exothermic process excep for Mn in both soils.

This study presents a new approach for quantifying the antibiotic cefoperazone (CPZ) in spiked urine and tap water samples using an indirect kineticspectrophotometry method. The method involves the oxidation of CPZ by permanganate (MnO4-) in an alkaline media. The progress of the reactionis monitored by tracking the increase in manganate (MnO42- ) at 610 nm. The optimization of chemical-dependent variables was achieved through the utilization of multivariate statistical methods. The optimized values were 5 minutes of reaction time, KMnO4 of 1.11 · 10 -3 mol L−1, and NaOH of0.27 mol L−1. Under these conditions, calibration curves were constructed. The detection limits obtained in urine and tap water spiked samples were3.75 · 10−7 mol L−1 and 3.74 · 10−7 mol L−1, respectively. The results showed that intraday and interday recoveries ranged from 98.25 to 102.7%, indicating acceptable differences between observed and expected values according to the confidence percentage established as a criterion of acceptability; thus, demonstrating repeatability in results as well as satisfactory accuracy for this kinetic analytical method.

Rainbow trout skin and viscera are considered non-commercial by-products with high protein content. This research aimed to determine the incidence of pasteurization and ultrasonication during the obtaining of antioxidant peptides by the hydrolysis of trout skin proteins with Alcalase and Flavourzyme. Solutions of freeze-dried skin were prepared (20 % w/v), and two pretreatments were performed: pasteurization (90 ºC for 10 min) and a combination of pasteurization and ultrasonication (40 kHz x 15 min). Hydrolysis was for 8 hours with Alcalase (pH 9, 55°C) and Flavourzyme (pH: 7, 50°C) sampling every 2 hours. The degree of hydrolysis was determined by TNBS and SDS-PAGE. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH and FRAP. The ultrasonication does not affect the release of peptides with antioxidant capacity. In addition, greater antioxidant capacity was determined in hydrolysates with Flavourzyme. Results would allow establishing the conditions for the optimized obtaining of this type of peptide fractions.  

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a vital phytogenetic resource in arid regions. The roots and leaves are traditionally used for various purposes, including medicine. Despite extensive research on date palm fruits, the biochemical properties of its by-products remain underexplored. This study investigates the bioactive compounds in the leaves and roots of date palm cultivars. A reflux apparatus was used to extract total phenolic content (TPC), measured using the Singleton and Rossi method, while total flavonoid content (TFC) was determined using aluminum trichloride. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, and HPLC-DAD analysis identified and characterized phenolic acids. The results revealed very high TPC levels in both leaves and roots supporting their traditional uses, reaching up to 825.63 ± 0,1 mg GAE/100 g dry weight in TAD leaves. TFC ranged from 18.81±0,15 to 117.85±0,2 mg EQ/100 g dry weight and correlated significantly with TPC. The extracts demonstrated significant antiradical efficacy compared to vitamin C, suggesting that all parts of the date palm are excellent sources of natural antioxidants. Twelve cell wall-bound and soluble phenolic acids were identified, several of which were previously unreported in this plant. Leaves predominantly contained ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and sinapic acid, while roots were rich in p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Additionally, several hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids implicated in plant defense mechanisms were identified. These findings highlight the dual importance of conserving local plant biodiversity and exploring date palm phenolics for applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and organic agriculture.Haut du formulaireBas du formulaire  

The ravine Quebrada de Camiña, in northern Chile, is valued for regional agriculture, however, it retains high levels of As. From four locations (Chapiquilta, Camiña, Moquella, and Francia), environmental factors that affect the mobility of As were evaluated through the characterization of water quality and soil physicochemistry used for local crops of white garlic, beetroots and carrots; Contamination Factors, Geoaccumulation Index (CF-IGEO), and operational speciation by BCR protocol in soils; Bioaccumulation Factors (BAF) and Translocation Factors (TF) for root-stem-bulb-leaves of Camiña white garlic plants, and BAF in beetroots and carrots. The results showed that water used in crops are slightly alkaline, mineralized with B and Na+-Ca2+/Cl--SO42-, that mobilize As (0.49 ± 0.02 mg/l) to the soils and are part of the fraction available and assimilable by the vegetables. The CF-IGEO of saline soils showed low easily oxidized organic carbon, neutral pH and high levels of B, with moderate to considerable degree of total As contamination (123 ± 34 mg/kg); in fact, after soil As extraction protocol, 19% of As is found in the more available fractions and 79% in the residual phase, while a positive correlation with total As was observed. White garlic plants bioaccumulate As in roots (177 ± 18 mg/kg) and stems (81.0 ± 8.1 mg/kg), while the edible bulb (0.451 ± 0.054 mg/kg) and the leaves (0.073 ± 0.025 mg/kg) do not present a consumption risk. As translocations from root to stem and from bulb to leaves are observed. As in freeze-dried samples of beetroot (4.45 ± 0.98 mg/kg) and carrot (3.26 ± 3.50 mg/kg) showed fluctuation, exceeding national and international food standards.

We have designed and prepared polylactic acid (PLA)-based porous support for the controlled release of essential oils from Drimys winteri, common name Canelo (CEO). The chemical composition of the essential oil was characterized by HS/GC-MS. The interaction with the PLA-based porous support was determined by FTIR-ATR spectrophotometry. Our results showed that the manufactured PLA support allows the controlled release of essential oils over time, at 21 °C. The PLA/essential oil support showed a non-contact antifungal activity against B. cinerea. In addition, pure compounds (standards) detected in the gas phase of CEO essential oil were independently studied to identify which of these molecules is responsible for the growth control action of the fungus. In conclusion, the PLA/CEO porous support is an alternative to protect against infections such as B. cinerea, offering a potential use of this strategy to preserve fresh functional foods in the post-harvest stage, as an atmosphere modifier.

This study presents the development and characterization of two electroactive actuators, ACT-L1 and ACT-L2, based on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and two different ionic liquids: EMIBF4 (L1) and EMIN[(CN)2] (L2). The actuators were designed in a three-layer configuration and characterized using SEM, AFM, FT-IR, IEC, and Young’s modulus analysis.SEM and AFM images revealed that electrode layers with L2 exhibited spherical grains and increased roughness, while FT-IR confirmed modifications in the polymer’s crystalline structure due to CNFs and ionic liquid incorporation. The electrolyte films exhibited similar chemical and mechanical properties regardless of the ionic liquid used, except for roughness.Performance evaluation demonstrated that both actuators showed stable and reproducible movement under a ±2.0 V voltage window. However, ACT-L1 achieved a maximum displacement of 400 µm, significantly outperforming ACT-L2 (17 µm), likely due to morphological differences in the electrolyte surface. The strain generated by ACT-L1 under ±2.0 V and 0.1 Hz was comparable to previously reported multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) actuators.These results suggest that CNF-based actuators offer a promising and cost-effective alternative to CNT-based artificial muscles for applications in robotics, biomedical devices, and other fields.  

A composite of Ni-MOF-5 (NixZn4-xO(HCOO)3(BCD)3 (0<x<4)) and activated carbon were synthesized through a microwave synthesis method with reflux. Various characterization techniques were performed, including XRD, TGA, SEM, EDS, FT-IR, and BET isotherm. The surface study of the material shows the presence of crystals with a cubic structure of Ni-MOF-5 with sizes smaller than 10 µm. A superficial area of 718 m2/g and thermostability with a mass loss of 4.72% at 459°C of the metal-organic framework were observed. The results for different CO2 concentrations at 1 bar and 25 °C show that the adsorption capacity had a linear relationship between % CO2 and the amount of CO2 adsorbed by the hybrid material. The results also showed that by increasing the working temperature in the CO2 adsorption process and keeping the percentage of CO2 constant, the amount of adsorbed CO2 decreases linearly. The adsorption kinetics of CO2 on the prepared hybrid material are consistent with the intraparticle diffusion model, where diffusion is the rate-limiting step. The adsorption of CO2 is energetically and kinetically favorable due to the micro-mesoporosity of the material that allows the entry of CO2 molecules into the pores.