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Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) doped with 3 wt% erbium nitrate film was prepared by casting from solution. The effect of plasma treatment on optical properties of composite film was investigated. The optical absorbance was measured in the wavelength region of 200–800 nm. . Electronic transition was proved to be direct allowed for pristine and plasma treated film. Tauc’s plots were used to determine the optical band gap (Eopt) of the samples under study. The energy gap was 5.30 eV for untreated composite film and the treated samples at 10, 20 and 30 min have lower values of optical band gap, 5.22, 5.20 and 4.90 eV respectively. It was also found that the Urbach energy values (Ee) were decreased under different plasma treatment times. It begins with 1.46 eV for untreated sample till it reaches 0.72 eV for 30-minute treated sample. Wemple–DiDomenico model parameters such as, oscillator energy, dispersion energy and zero-frequency refractive index values were calculated and their variations with plasma were studied. The color parameters for composite film are noticeably affected under plasma treatment.

The current study is the first to document a vast swarm of the pelagic tunicate Thalia democratica inshore of the Egyptian Mediterranean waters. On the May 05, 2021, a swarm of the Salpida T. democratica was discovered inshore of the coast of Stanley. The swarm coincided with a red tide bloom in the research area. The documented species is given a brief redescription with illustrative photographs, taxonomic annotations, habitat notes, and distribution.

In this study, biosynthesized nanoparticles using chitosan, Ulva fasciata, and Avicennia marina leaves extracts (A, B, and C, respectively), were evaluated as paint additives to control marine fouling on different substrates. These biocidal nanoparticle compounds were prepared using a green biosynthesis method. Their characterizations were conducted using Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy. Each nanoparticle compound was mixed with a prepared paint, resulting in three formulations for each (e.g. 1C, 2C, 3C), containing 20%, 40%, and 60% by weight. Painted PVC, wood, and steel with these nine paints, and the control were immersed in seawater for different periods. After two months of immersion, the least number of fouling species, (one species) was recorded on both the wood and steel panels that were coated with paint (1C). Meanwhile, after four months, the least numbers of fouling (four and six species) were recorded on wood and steel panels that were coated with paint (3C). After around seven months of immersion, the least numbers of fouling species (five and ten) were recorded on wood and steel panels that were coated with paints (1C and 3C), respectively. The steel panel coated with (3C), harbored ∼2% of the total number of barnacles found on the control, after 7 months of immersion. The superior antifouling agent efficiency of extract (C) nanoparticles can be attributed to its constituents of polyphenols, ammonium compounds, and high concentrations of alcohols, besides the presence of both aromatic and aliphatic amide and amide derivatives.

Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cuf.and other Moringa species have traditionally been used to treat various diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the methanolic extract of M. stenopetala leaf and its fractions on selected tumor cells. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. The comet assay was used toassess DNA damage, and gel electrophoresis was used to determine DNA fragmentation. Gene expression was analyzed by qPCR using two specific genes for each cancer cell line. Fractionation of the methanolic extract (E−1) on Diaion HP-20 yielded five fractions (Fr-2 to Fr-6); only Fr-4 and Fr-6 were cytotoxic to breast cancer cells (MCF-7; IC50 = 58.3 ± 0.93 and 35.8 ± 2.44 μg/mL, respectively), human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2; IC50 = 57.8 ± 1.57 and 39.3 ± 1.90 μg/mL, respectively), and Fr-4 was cytotoxic to human colon cancer cells (HCT-116; IC50 = 94.2 ± 4.9 μg/mL). In addition, exposure of the cancer cells to Fr-4 and Fr-6 resulted in a high level of DNA damage. Moreover, relative expression of MTAP and CDKN2A in MCF-7 were increased, whereas expression of p21 and p53 in HCT-116, and APC and TERT in HepG2 were decreased, similar to that of doxorubicin. LC-qTOF-MS was used to identify metabolites in E−1, the majority of which were enriched in Fr-4. Two terpenes (loliolide and dihydroactinidiolide), the majority of the flavonoids, and niazirin were about two fold enriched in Fr-4, whereas the majority of the lipids were 4–10 fold enriched. However, Fr-6 hardly showed compounds other than the two terpenes that were enriched 1.5 and 7 fold. The findings suggest that Fr-4 and Fr-6 are promising sources of compounds possessing cytotoxic and genotoxic properties.

Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities of Euphorbia schimperiana total extract, fractions, and isolated secondary metabolites were investigated. The cytotoxicity assays were assessed against four human cancer cell lines HCT116, MCF7, HePG2, and PC3 as well as against normal cell line RPE1. The plant total extract, fractions, and pure compounds were more effective against PC3 and HepG2 cell lines than HCT116 and MCF7. Significant results were observed for ethyl acetate and n-hexane fractions against PC3 with IC50 of 4.7 μg/ml for ethyl acetate, however, n-hexane exhibited 100% cytotoxicity up to 6.25 μg/ml. The antibacterial potential activity was achieved on four pathogenic Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria. The results showed that ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions had more valuable results (p

Growing evidence has indicated that vitamin D (Vit D) regulates cell proliferation and differentiation in cancer cells. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate the possible beneficial effects of Vit D on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver preneoplasia. The effect of Vit D on HepG2 cells was investigated using MTT assay. Additionally, liver preneoplasia was induced in Swiss male albino mice by giving overnight fasted animals 5 consecutive doses of DEN (75 mg/kg/week). Oral treatment with Vit D (200 IU/kg/day) was initiated either 2 weeks before DEN (first protocol) or 1 week after the first dose of DEN injection (second protocol). At the end of the experiment, tissue levels of GGT, DPP-4, TNF-α, IL-6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 were also estimated. Moreover, the histopathological study of liver tissue and immunohistochemical detection of GST-P, PCNA, and NF-κB were performed. Vit D exerted a significant cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells via significantly increasing BAX, p53, and BAX/Bcl2 ratio, and significantly decreasing Bcl2 mRNA expression. In both in vivo protocols, Vit D was capable of normalizing relative liver weight, PCNA, altered hepatocellular foci, and ductular proliferation. Moreover, Vit D significantly reduced the DEN-induced elevation of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, DDP-4, TNF-α, IL-6, CYP2E1, liver DNA damage, GST-P, NF-κB, nuclear hyperchromasia/pleomorphism, cholestasis, and inflammatory cell aggregates, but significantly increased CYP3A4 content. In conculsion, current results reflect the potential impact of Vit D in the management of early stages of liver cancer.