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Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) from Prunus × yedoensis leaf extract (PYLE), and their application for removal of phosphate and their antibacterial activity, were studied for the first time. NPs were obtained using a green chemistry approach from 0.1 M TiO2 and PYLE at ratio of 1:1 (v/w). Initial confirmation of production of TiO2 NPs was provided by a color change from white to light yellow, then calcination was performed at 500 °C for 1 h. The TiO2 NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the optimal amount of TiO2 NPs for removal of phosphate was 10 mg/l (10 ppm) with duration of 25 min. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of TiO2 NPs was also investigated using two different bacteria (Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli) in aqueous medium. The results revealed highly efficient sunlight-driven photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of TiO2 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methanolic extract of the leaves of Chinese Hawthorn was investigated for its activity against chloroquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum using the method of parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay. Four oligomeric procyanidins, such as epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin ( 1), epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→6)-epicatechin ( 2), epicatechin-(4β→6)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin ( 3), and epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8) ( 4), were isolated and evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial activity, as well as for their cytotoxic potential on SK-OV-3 cancer cell lines. Three procyanidins showed notable growth inhibitory activity against chloroquine-sensitive strains of P. falciparum with IC50 values of 2.7 μM (SI values of >55.5). The compounds showed no significant cytotoxicity (IC50 > 150 μM) toward the SK-OV-3 cancer cell line. This is the first report on the antiplasmodial activity of these oligomeric procyanidins from Chinese Hawthorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizomes parts of Angelica purpuraefolia were extracted and the major essential oils composition and immunotoxic effects were studied. The analyses were conducted by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) revealed that the essential oils of A. purpuraefolia. The A. purpuraefolia essential oil (APEO) yield was 0.37%, and GC/MS analysis revealed that its major constituents were β-Phellandrene (32.11%), Nerolidol (10.11%), Pyrimidine derivative (27.33%), Heptadecane (4.33%), and Celorbicol (6.33%). The essential oil had a significant toxic effect against early fourth-stage larvae of Aedes aegypti L with an LC50 value of 31.21 ppm and an LC90 value of 87.22 ppm. The results could be useful in search for newer, safer, and more effective natural immunotoxic agents against A. aegypti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Research Article V2O5/RGO/Pt nanocomposite on oxytetracycline degradation and pharmaceutical effluent detoxification by Mohan, H et al., DOI: 10.1002/jctb.6238. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of antibiotics in the environment has promoted the development of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, and novel approaches are needed to effectively remove antibiotics from water and mitigate this worldwide problem. A reduced graphene oxide‐V2O5 (RGOV) nanocomposite was synthesized and used for photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) in aqueous solution. The Sol–Gel method was employed for V2O5 synthesis from e‐waste‐based vanadium nitrate, and a one pot solvothermal method was used to synthesize RGOV. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (EDAX) confirmed V‐O‐C bonds on the surface of the RGOV nanocomposites. A decrease in the band gap of V2O5 from 2.21 to 2.13 eV was supported by diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. OTC adsorption onto the nanocomposite increased with an increase in RGO concentration and saturated at 17% for RGOV with 30% graphene oxide. The composite degraded 90% of the OTC present in aqueous solution (50 mg/L). Platinum (1%) doping further increased OTC degradation by the nanocomposite to 98.7%. Optimum conditions for maximum OTC degradation are (1) an initial OTC concentration of 50 mg/L, (2) a RGOV nanocomposite dose of 0.5 g/L, and (3) a 40 min incubation time. Our results support the potential use of RGOV nanocomposite for OTC photodegradation. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13123, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WO 3 /Zeolite/V 2 O 5 (TZV) composite synthesized through co-precipitation was used for the degradation of Bisphenol-A (BpA). XRD and Raman spectra were employed to ascertain the crystallinity of the composite. The pristine nature of the compound without any free particles over the zeolite surface was established through FESEM, thus, substantiating the composite character of the material. The enhancement in activity after doping with WO 3 was ascertained by DRS-UV. Photocatalytic degradation studies clearly established the superiority of TZV 10 over bare V 2 O 5 . Complete BpA degradation (100%) was attained at 50 min of incubation with 0.75 g/L TZV-10 in acidic medium (pH 3) for an initial BpA concentration of 100 mg/L. HPLC-MS/MS analysis was used to decipher the degradation pathway. The catalyst was stable even after 9 cycles. Phytotoxicity studies and lake water treatment results proved the environmental efficiency of the synthesized material., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase cleaves the ethylene precursor ACC into alpha-ketobutyrate and ammonia. The decreased level of ethylene allows the plant to be more resistant to a wide environmental stress including plant pathogens. In the present study, we characterized the ACC deaminase activity of a Pseudomonas entomophila strain PS-PJH isolated from the red pepper rhizosphere region of red pepper grown at Jinan, Korea. The isolate produced 23.8 +/- 0.4 micromol of alpha-ketobutyrate/mg of protein/h during ACC deamination under in vitro conditions. Polymerase chain reaction for acdS gene showed that the isolated P. entomophila strain PS-PJH carry sequences similar to the known acdS genes. Results of the multiple sequence alignment revealed >99% identity (nucleotide and amino acid) with acdS gene of Pseudomonas putida strains AM15 and UW4. The isolated bacteria promoted 43.3 and 34.1% of growth in Raphanus sativus and Lactuca sativa plants, respectively. Based on the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer region sequences, the isolate was identified as P. entomophila. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to report the acdS gene in P. entomophila.