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Environmental Science and Pollution... Nov 2021Boron nitride (BN) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) of different loadings were composited with commercial P25 TiO (Ti) through the hydrothermal method. The as-prepared...
Boron nitride (BN) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) of different loadings were composited with commercial P25 TiO (Ti) through the hydrothermal method. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies, and transmission and scanning electron microscopies. It was observed that 10% and 0.1% of BN and rGO, respectively, loaded on TiO (10BNr0.1GOTi) resulted in the best nanocomposite in terms of phenol degradation under simulated sunlight. A 93.4% degradation of phenol was obtained within 30 min in the presence of HO. Finally, to ensure the safe use of BNrGOTi nanoparticles in the aquatic environment, acute zebrafish toxicity (acutoxicity) assays were studied. The 96-h acute toxicity assays using the zebrafish embryo model revealed that the LC for the BNrGOTi nanoparticle was 677.8 mg L and the no observed effect concentration (NOEC) was 150 mg L. Therefore, based on the LC value and according to the Fish and Wildlife Service Acute Toxicity Rating Scale, BNrGOTi is categorized as a "practically not toxic" photocatalyst for water treatment.
Topics: Animals; Boron Compounds; Catalysis; Graphite; Hydrogen Peroxide; Nanocomposites; Oxides; Phenol; Phenols; Titanium; Zebrafish
PubMed: 34215986
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15083-y -
PloS One 2023The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in global shortages in supplies for diagnostic tests, especially in the developing world. Risk factors for...
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in global shortages in supplies for diagnostic tests, especially in the developing world. Risk factors for COVID-19 severity include pre-existing comorbidities, older age and male sex, but other variables are likely play a role in disease outcome. There is indeed increasing evidence that supports the role of host genetics in the predisposition to COVID-19 outcomes. The identification of genetic factors associated with the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections relies on DNA extraction methods. This study compared three DNA extraction methods (Chelex®100 resin, phenol-chloroform and the QIAamp DNA extraction kit) for COVID-19 host genetic studies using nasopharyngeal samples from patients. The methods were compared regarding number of required steps for execution, sample handling time, quality and quantity of the extracted material and application in genetic studies. The Chelex®100 method was found to be cheapest (33 and 13 times cheaper than the commercial kit and phenol-chloroform, respectively), give the highest DNA yield (306 and 69 times higher than the commercial kit and phenol-chloroform, respectively), with the least handling steps while providing adequate DNA quality for downstream applications. Together, our results show that the Chelex®100 resin is an inexpensive, safe, simple, fast, and suitable method for DNA extraction of nasopharyngeal samples from COVID-19 patients for genetics studies. This is particularly relevant in developing countries where cost and handling are critical steps in material processing.
Topics: Humans; Male; Chloroform; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; DNA; Phenol; Phenols
PubMed: 37903126
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287551 -
Viruses Nov 2023This study aimed to validate the use of liquid phenol-based chemical peeling therapy for cervical and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN and VaIN, respectively),...
This study aimed to validate the use of liquid phenol-based chemical peeling therapy for cervical and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN and VaIN, respectively), with the goal of circumventing obstetric complications associated with surgical treatment and to determine the factors associated with treatment resistance. A total of 483 eligible women diagnosed with CIN, VaIN, or both, participated in this study. Participants underwent phenol-based chemical peeling therapy every 4 weeks until disease clearance. Disease clearance was determined by negative Pap tests for four consecutive weeks or by colposcopy. HPV genotyping was conducted at the onset of the study and after disease clearance in select cases. Our preliminary analysis compared the recurrence and persistence rates between 294 individuals who received phenol-based chemical peeling therapy and 189 untreated patients. At 2 years following diagnosis, persistent disease was observed in 18%, 60%, and 88% of untreated patients with CIN1-3, respectively, and <2% of patients with CIN who received phenol-based chemical peeling therapy. Among 483 participants, 10 immune-suppressed patients required multiple treatments to achieve disease clearance, and 7 were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Of the 466 participants, except those with cancer or immune suppression, the number of treatment sessions until CIN/VaIN clearance ranged from 2 to 42 (average: 9.2 sessions). In total, 43 participants (9.2%) underwent surgical treatment. Six patients (1.3%) experienced recurrence of CIN2 or worse, suggesting that treatment failed in 46 patients (9.9%). No obstetrical complications were noted among the 98 pregnancies following this therapy. Factors associated with resistance to this therapy include immune suppression, ages 35-39 years, higher-grade lesions, and multiple HPV-type infections. Phenol-based therapy is safe and effective for CINs and VaINs. Women aged < 35 years and with persistent CIN1 or CIN2 with a single HPV-type infection are suitable candidates for phenol-based chemical peeling therapy. However, this therapy requires multiple lengthy sessions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia; Phenol; Papillomavirus Infections; Cervix Uteri; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
PubMed: 38005896
DOI: 10.3390/v15112219 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2022The Moroccan flora abounds and is an important reserve of medicinal plants. and are plants that are widely used in traditional medicine for their multiple therapeutic...
The Moroccan flora abounds and is an important reserve of medicinal plants. and are plants that are widely used in traditional medicine for their multiple therapeutic properties. The current study aims to highlight the biological activities that can justify and valorize the use of these plants. Flavonoids, total phenols, condensed tannins, and sugars were determined. The biological activities tested were antioxidant by determining the IC (defined as the concentration of an antioxidant required to decrease the initial concentration by 50%; inversely related to the antioxidant capacity), hemagglutination, and hemolytic activities. Phytochemical quantification of the seed extracts indicated that the total phenol content was largely similar for both plants and in the order of 10 mg GAE (Gallic acid equivalent)/g. On the other hand, seeds registered a higher content of flavonoids (3.09 ± 0.04 mg QE (quercetin equivalent)/g) as compared to (0.258 ± 0.058). Concerning condensed tannins, seeds present a higher amount with a value of 7.2 ± 0.025 mg/g as compared to (1.4 ± 0.22 mg/g). Concerning the total sugar content, shows a higher content (67.86 ± 0.87 mg/g) as compared to (58.17 ± 0.42 mg/g); it is also richer in mucilage with a content of 240 mg as compared to 8.2 mg for . Examination of the antioxidant activity using a DPPH (2.2-diphenyl 1-pycrilhydrazyl) test revealed that the EButOH (n-butanol extract) and EAE (ethyl acetate extract) extracts were the most active, with IC values of 48.7 and 50.65 μg/mL for the extracts and 15.7 and 52.64 μg/mL for the extracts, respectively. The results of the hemagglutination activity of the different extracts of the two plants prepared in the PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) medium showed significant agglutination for the extract (1/50) compared to the extract (1/20). An evaluation of the hemolytic effect of the crude extract of the studied seeds on erythrocytes isolated from rat blood incubated in PBS buffer compared to the total hemolysis induced by distilled water showed a hemolysis rate of 54% for and 34% for . In conclusion, the two plants studied in the current work exhibited high antioxidant potential, which could explain their beneficial properties.
Topics: 1-Butanol; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antioxidants; Flavonoids; Gallic Acid; Hemolysis; Lepidium sativum; Nigella sativa; Phenol; Phenols; Phosphates; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Proanthocyanidins; Quercetin; Ranunculaceae; Rats; Seeds; Sugars; Water
PubMed: 36144678
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185946 -
Asian Journal of Surgery Jan 2024Pilonidal sinus is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation, swelling, and pain in the sacrococcygeal region. In recent years, the rate of recurrence and wound... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Pilonidal sinus is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation, swelling, and pain in the sacrococcygeal region. In recent years, the rate of recurrence and wound complications in PSD remains high, and no treatment is universally accepted. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of phenol treatment with surgical excision treatment for PSD through a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. We searched three electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library, to comprehensively search the literature comparing phenol treatment and surgical treatment of pilonidal sinus. Fourteen publications were included, including five RCTs and nine non-RCTs. The phenol group had a slightly higher rate of disease recurrence than the surgical group (RR = 1.12, 95% CI [0.77,1.63]), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.55 > 0.05). As compared to the surgical group, wound complications were considerably less common (RR = 0.40, 95% CI [0.27,0.59]). Phenol treatment resulted in a significantly shorter operating time than surgery treatment (weighted mean difference -22.76, 95% CI [-31.13,-14.39]). The time to return to daily work was considerably shorter than in the surgical group (weighted mean difference -10.11, 95% CI [-14.58,-5.65]). Postoperative complete healing time was significantly shorter than surgical healing time (weighted mean difference -17.11, 95% CI [-32.18,-2.03]). Phenol treatment is effective for pilonidal sinus disease, and its recurrence rate is not significantly different from surgical treatment. The greatest advantage of phenol treatment is the low incidence of wound complications. Moreover, the time required for treatment and recovery are significantly lower than for surgical treatment.
Topics: Humans; Phenol; Pilonidal Sinus; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Wound Healing; Pain; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37419810
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.06.111 -
BMC Complementary and Alternative... Jun 2019There is increasing interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries to substitute synthetic chemicals with naturally occurring compounds possessing bioactive...
Chemical composition and bioactivity of essential oils and Ethanolic extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. and Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut. from the Algerian Saharan Atlas.
BACKGROUND
There is increasing interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries to substitute synthetic chemicals with naturally occurring compounds possessing bioactive properties. Plants are valuable sources of bioactive compounds. The present study investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities of ethanolic extracts (EEs) and essential oils (EOs) from two species in the Lamiaceae family, Ocimum basilicum L. and Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut., cultivated in the Algerian Saharan Atlas.
METHODS
The total flavonoid contents of the plants' ethanolic extracts were determined by the aluminium chloride method, while the total phenols were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of the plants and were analysed by GC-MS. The free radical-scavenging ability and antioxidant potential of the plants' EEs and EOs were probed using the 2, 2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging, ABTS radical-scavenging, ferric-reducing power and phosphomolybdenum assays. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against several pathogens characteristic of gram-negative bacteria (three species), gram-positive bacteria (three species) and fungi (two species). The microdilution method was used to estimate the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The oils' anticancer potential against several cancer types was also studied using the MTT assay and reported as the toxic doses that resulted in a 50% reduction in cancer cell growth (LD).
RESULTS
Phenolic compounds in the EEs from both plants were analysed by HPLC and demonstrated a rich flavonoid content. Chemical analysis of the essential oil from Ocimum basilicum revealed 26 unique compounds, with linalool (52.1%) and linalyl acetate (19.1%) as the major compounds. A total of 29 compounds were identified in the essential oil from Thymus algeriensis, with α-terpinyl acetate (47.4%), neryl acetate (9.6%), and α-pinene (6.8%) as the major compounds. The ethanolic extracts and essential oils from both plants exhibited moderate antioxidant activities and moderate to weak antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, anticancer activities against the examined human cancer cell lines were associated with only the EOs from both plants, with LD values ranging between 300 and 1000 μg/mL.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that the bioactive compounds found in the ethanolic extracts and essential oils from Ocimum basilicum and Thymus algeriensis, with diverse antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities, may have beneficial applications in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical technologies.
Topics: Algeria; Anti-Infective Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Bacteria; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Fungi; Humans; Ocimum basilicum; Oils, Volatile; Phenol; Plant Oils; Thymus Plant
PubMed: 31227024
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2556-y -
Antioxidant activity and phenol and flavonoid contents of eight medicinal plants from Western Nepal.Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Oct 2014The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoids contents of selected medicinal plants form the Western region of Nepal.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoids contents of selected medicinal plants form the Western region of Nepal.
METHODS
The antioxidant activity of selected medicinal plants were determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity; total ferric ion reducing ability through spectroscopic analysis. The content of total phenols was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, whereas Aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for flavonoid determination.
RESULTS
Extracts of Syzygium Operculatus (87%), Astilbe Rivularis (83%) and Mallotus Philippnensis (88%) showed significant free radical scavenging activity with effective concentration (EC50) close to that of ascorbic acid. Syzygium Operculatus (96%), Astilbe Rivularis (97%) and Mallotus Philippnensis(97%) had potent reducing power in concentration dependent fashion. Those plant extract with higher free radical scavenging and ferric reducing effect also showed the greater content of both phenols and flavonoids, suggesting the correlation between polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. Those plant extracts which showed better antioxidant activity assays, also demonstrated higher total phenol and flavonoid contents. These three plants showed the presence of higher amount of phenols and flavonoids.
CONCLUSION
This study may provide the scientific basis for the traditional use of those plants and may provide valuable idea for further research.
Topics: Antioxidants; Flavonoids; Nepal; Phenol; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 25417410
DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30067-4 -
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Nov 2022Diets rich in (poly)phenols have been associated with positive effects on neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Several low-molecular weight...
SCOPE
Diets rich in (poly)phenols have been associated with positive effects on neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Several low-molecular weight (poly)phenol metabolites (LMWPM) are found in the plasma after consumption of (poly)phenol-rich food. It is expected that LMWPM, upon reaching the brain, may have beneficial effects against both oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, and possibly attenuate cell death mechanisms relate to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD.
METHODS AND RESULTS
This study investigates the neuroprotective potential of two blood-brain barrier permeant LMWPM, catechol-O-sulfate (cat-sulf), and pyrogallol-O-sulfate (pyr-sulf), in a human 3D cell model of PD. Neurospheroids were generated from LUHMES neuronal precursor cells and challenged by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP ) to induce neuronal stress. LMWPM pretreatments were differently neuroprotective towards MPP insult, presenting distinct effects on the neuronal transcriptome. Particularly, cat-sulf pretreatment appeared to boost counter-regulatory defense mechanisms (preconditioning). When MPP is applied, both LMWPM positively modulated glutathione metabolism and heat-shock response, as also favorably shifting the balance of pro/anti-apoptotic proteins.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings point to the potential of LMWPM to trigger molecular mechanisms that help dopaminergic neurons to cope with a subsequent toxic insult. They are promising molecules to be further explored in the context of preventing and attenuating parkinsonian neurodegeneration.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Phenol; Neuroprotection; 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; Dopaminergic Neurons; Sulfates; Neuroprotective Agents
PubMed: 34964254
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100959 -
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Nov 2022This study presents a workflow to construct a Dietary Exposome Library (DEL) comprised of phytochemicals and their metabolites derived from host and gut microbiome...
SCOPE
This study presents a workflow to construct a Dietary Exposome Library (DEL) comprised of phytochemicals and their metabolites derived from host and gut microbiome metabolism for use in peak identification/annotation of untargeted metabolomics datasets.
METHODS AND RESULTS
An evidence mapping initiative established target analytes related to the consumption of phytochemical-rich foods. Analytes were confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS(n)) analysis of human biospecimens from dietary intervention studies of (poly)phenol-rich diets. One hundred and sixty six verified compounds were subsequently analyzed on an untargeted metabolomics platform to acquire chromatographic and high-resolution mass spectral data for construction of a DEL. The DEL facilitated identification/annotation of 123 metabolites associate with exposure to (poly)phenol enriched diets, which included aromatic ketones, benzoic acids, ellagic acids, caffeoylquinic acids, catecholamines, coumarins, hippuric acid, hydroxytoluenes, phenylamines, stilbenes, urolithins, valerolactones, and xanthonoids, in untargeted metabolomics datasets acquire from human plasma and urine reference materials.
CONCLUSIONS
The DEL focusing on (poly)phenols and their metabolites of dietary exposure facilitated identification/annotation of ingested food components and their associated pathways in untargeted metabolomics datasets acquired from human biospecimens. The DEL continues to expand with the aim to provide evidence-based data for dietary metabolites in exposome research and inform the development of dietary intervention strategies.
Topics: Humans; Chromatography, Liquid; Phenols; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Phenol; Exposome; Metabolomics; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 35106906
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202100922 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Sep 2022Hydrogen peroxide (HO) molecules play important roles in many green chemical reactions. However, the high activation energy limits their application efficiency, and...
Hydrogen peroxide (HO) molecules play important roles in many green chemical reactions. However, the high activation energy limits their application efficiency, and there is still huge controversy about the activation path of HO molecules over the presence of *OOH intermediates. Here, we confirmed the formation of the key species *OOH in the heterogeneous system, via in situ shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), isotope labeling, and theoretical calculation. In addition, we found that compared with *HO, *OOH was more conducive to the charge transfer behavior with the catalyst and the activation of an O-O bond. Furthermore, we proposed to improve the local coordination structure and electronic density of the YFeO catalyst by regulating the surface relaxation with Ti modification so as to reduce the activation barrier of HO and to improve the production efficiency of •OH. As a result, the kinetics rates of the Fenton-like (photo-Fenton) reaction had been significantly increased several times. The •OH free radical activity mechanism and molecular transformation pathways of 4-chloro phenol (4-CP) were also revealed. This may provide a clearer vision for the further study of HO activation and suggest a means of designing catalysts for efficient HO activation.
Topics: Catalysis; Hydrogen Peroxide; Iron; Light; Phenol; Photochemical Processes
PubMed: 36037332
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205562119