Search

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are a significant food crop cultivated around the world. Caffeic acid (CA) can enhance plant growth by promoting antioxidant activity and stimulating root development, contributing to overall plant health and vigor. Cobalt sulfate (CoSO 4 ) boosts plant growth by promoting nitrogen (N) fixation, healthier root development, and chlorophyll synthesis, enhancing photosynthesis and overall plant health. Nanoparticle-coated urea (NPCU) improves nutrient uptake, promoting plant growth efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This study investigates the effects of combining CA, CoSO 4 , and NPCU as amendments on potatoes with and without NPCU. Four treatments, control, 20 μM CA, 0.15 mg/L CoSO 4 , and 20 μM CA + 0.15 mg/L CoSO 4 with and without NPCU, were applied in four replications using a completely randomized design. Results demonstrate that the combination of CA + CoSO 4 with NPCU led to an increase in potato stem length (~ 6%), shoot dry weight (~ 15%), root dry weight (~ 9%), and leaf dry weight (~ 49%) compared to the control in nutrient stress. There was a significant rise in chlorophyll a (~ 27%), chlorophyll b (~ 37%), and total chlorophyll (~ 28%) over the control under nutrient stress also showed the potential of CA + CoSO 4 with NPCU. In conclusion, the findings suggest that applying CA + CoSO 4 with NPCU is a strategy for alleviating potato nutrient stress., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Biomedical applications for various types of nanoparticles are emerging on a daily basis. Hence this research was performed to evaluate the antifungal (Aspergillus sp., Alternaria sp., Trichophyton sp., Candida sp., and Penicillium sp.), cytotoxicity (MCF10A cell lines), and antioxidant (DPPH) potential of Coleus aromaticus mediated and pre-characterized TiO 2 NPs were studied with respective standard methodology. Interestingly, the TiO 2 NPs exhibited significant antifungal activity on pathogenic fungal strains like Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp. (31 ± 1.4), Penicillium sp. (31 ± 1.9) Trichophyton sp. (27 ± 2.1), and Candida sp. (26 ± 2.3) at high concentration (250 μg mL -1 ). However, the considerable levels of zone of inhibitions on fungal pathogens were recorded at 100 μg mL -1 of TiO 2 NPs as well as it was considerably greater than positive control. It also demonstrated dose based anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities. The plant-mediated TiO 2 NPs demonstrated a maximum DPPH scavenging efficiency of 91% at a dosage of 250 μg mL -1 , comparable to the positive control's 94%. Furthermore, TiO 2 NPs at 100 μg mL -1 concentration did not cause cytotoxicity in MCF10A cell lines. At higher concentrations (250 μg mL -1 ), the nanoparticles showed the lowest cytotoxicity (17%). These findings suggest that C. aromaticus-mediated TiO 2 NPs have significant biomedical applications. However, in-vivo studies are needed to learn more about their (C. aromaticus-mediated TiO 2 NPs) potential biomedical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The majority of industrial products are identified as persistent organic pollutants after their date of expiry, which is highly harmful to the ecosystem and human health and also going to be banned around the world. Paint latex is one of those pollutants which become a hazardous waste material after stocking for a long time. Approximately 20% of color paints do not get used for their desired purpose after getting sold out and end up in a landfill. Now a day's construction industry is inclining towards the various types of geo-polymer concrete since it does not require cement. But that geo-polymer concrete has too much less workability as compared to the same grade of control cement concrete. To achieve the desired workability as well as other properties of geo-polymer concrete by using waste paint latex as performance improving admixture is the main motive of the present research. Fourteen different mixes of control and calcined clay-based geo-polymer concrete have been prepared by adding up to 3% waste paint latex of weight of cementitious materials and a detailed study has been done on various properties such as workability, rheology, shrinkage, strength and its microstructure. The presence of nanoparticles of TiO 2 in waste paint latex has helped to produce extra hydration products, by which the mechanical properties, durability and microstructure of both traditional and geo-polymer concrete have increased. It has been concluded that a higher dose of waste paint latex improves the workability but the strength and durability properties of traditional and geo-polymer concrete improve up to 2-2.5% of waste paint latex replaced to water., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Non-enzymatic glycation of biomolecules results in advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are responsible for secondary complications in diabetes. Inhibiting methyl glyoxal (MGO) induced advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation is the only way to alleviate diabetic complications. This study aimed to look into the abilities of herbal extract Kigelia africana and K. africana synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to inhibit the emergence of MG-derived AGEs. The study intended to determine antioxidant and AGE inhibition of the plant extract and ZnONPs. ZnONPs were tested for the efficiency of anti-diabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wister rats. We discovered that the MGO-trapping effects on the prevention of AGE production were mediated by the downregulation of the amplification of MGO-trapping impacts on the hypoglycemic and antihyperlipidemic mechanisms of ZnONPs. According to histological findings, the treatment with ZnONPs also successfully lowers inflammation in the hepatic and renal tissues. Overall, future mechanistic research could establish ZnONPs potential anti-diabetic properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)