Antioxidant compounds and activities of the stem, flower, and leaf extracts of the anti-smoking Thai medicinal plant: Vernonia cinerea Less

Nitinet Ketsuwan,1 Jirakrit Leelarungrayub,1 Suchart Kothan,2 Supawatchara Singhatong3 1Department of Physical Therapy, 2Department of Radiologic Technology, 3Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Abstract: Vernonia cinerea (VC) Less has been proposed as a medicinal plant with interesting activities, such as an aid for smoking cessation worldwide. Despite its previous clinical success in smoking cessation by exhibiting reduced oxidative stress, it has not been approved. The aim of this study was to investigate various antioxidant activity and active compounds that have not been approved, including the protective activity in human red blood cells (RBCs), from the stem, flower, and leaf extracts of VC Less in vitro. These extracts were tested for their antioxidant activity in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for their active compounds: total tannin, five catechin (C) compounds (epicatechin gallate [ECG], C, epicatechin [EC], epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG], and (-)-epigallocatechin [EGC]), flavonoid, nitrite, nitrate, caffeine, and nicotine. Moreover, antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated in 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-treated RBCs. The results showed that the flower and leaf of VC Less had higher activity than the stem in scavenging DPPH radicals. The tannin content in the flower and leaf was higher than that in the stem. The leaf had the highest content of the five catechins (C, EC, EGCG, ECG, and EGC), the same as in the flavonoid, when compared to the stem and flower. Furthermore, the leaf extract had higher nitrate and nitrite than the stem. Nicotine content was found to be higher in the leaf when compared to the flower. In addition, the leaf showed protective activity in glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl, with a dose response in AAPH-oxidized RBCs, the same as in standard EGCG. Thus, this study concluded that radical scavenging and antioxidant compounds such as catechins, flavonoid, nitrate and nitrite, and nicotine are present in different VC Less parts and are included in the AAPH-oxidized RBC model. Keywords: antioxidant activity, anti-smoking aid, bioactive compounds, Vernonia cinere

Tri-doped Ln3+ ions in barium zinc borate glasses: Luminescence behavior at room and cryogenic temperatures

The research work carried out in the paper reports on the effect of BaO and tri doped Er3+, Tb3+, and Gd3+ ions on luminescence characteristics in zinc borate glasses. The work emphasizes the effect of BaO on tri-doped lanthanide ions in borate glasses. The addition of 5 mol% BaO content in the glasses shows more non-bridging oxygens and decreases with addition of BaO content (10 mol%). Glasses show emissions at 311 nm, 543 nm, and 1540 nm for Gd3+, Tb3+, and Er3+ ions, respectively. The Judd-Ofelt method was applied to bring out the significance of the oscillator strength of Tb3+ ions. Higher value of Ω2 was observed in the present glasses indicating their rare-earth covalency is more around Tb3+ ions. Low-temperature luminescence studies were studied for the T2 glass sample for Tb3+ ions. Cryogenic temperature luminescence studies were studied to bring out the significance of 5D4 to 7FJ (J = 3, 2, 1, 0) which is not normally visible at room temperature. The energy is transferred from the Gd3+ to the Tb3+ ions by the Gd3+ ions acting as sensitizers, which helps to adjust the excitation wavelength. Yellowish-green-emitting glasses were observed by illuminating UV light and verified as such from the CIE diagram. The prepared glasses are potential candidate for visible-emitting around yellowish-green colour emitting capability and NIR emitting optical devices and broadband amplifier applications

Effects of manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise versus routine physical therapy on brain biomarkers in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain in Thailand: a study protocol for a single-blinded randomised controlled trial

Introduction Structural brain alterations in pain-related areas have been demonstrated in patients with non-specific neck pain. While manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise is an effective management for neck pain, its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The primary objective of this trial is to investigate the effects of manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise on grey matter volume and thickness in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. The secondary objectives are to assess changes in white matter integrity, neurochemical biomarkers, clinical features of neck pain, cervical range of motion and cervical muscle strength.Methods and analysis This study is a single-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Fifty-two participants with chronic non-specific neck pain will be recruited into the study. Participants will be randomly allocated to either an intervention or control group (1:1 ratio). Participants in the intervention group will receive manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise for 10 weeks (two visits per week). The control group will receive routine physical therapy. Primary outcomes are whole-brain and regional grey matter volume and thickness. Secondary outcomes are white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity), neurochemical biomarkers (N-acetylaspartate, creatine, glutamate/glutamine, myoinositol and choline), clinical features (neck pain intensity, duration, neck disability and psychological symptoms), cervical range of motion and cervical muscle strength. All outcome measures will be taken at baseline and postintervention.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval of this study has been granted by Faculty of Associated Medical Science, Chiang Mai University. The results of this trial will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.Trial registration number NCT05568394

Luminescence properties and energy transfer of Nd3+- Er3+/ Nd3+-Pr3+ co-doped LFP glasses system

The motivation for this research is that the emission spectra using directly pumped laser diodes have not yet been found. We want to explore the luminescence properties of a co-doped laser material utilizing a diode laser as an optical pump. The research method used standard melt-quench and was stimulated by a laser diode (808 and 980 nm). The double doped of Nd3+- Er3+/Nd3+-Pr3+ ions with glasses system of lithium-fluorophosphate (LFP) had a strong band emission at 1056 nm, which transitioned at 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 and showed a drop in intensity from co-doping with Er3+ and Pr3+ ions. The fluorescence width at half maximum (FWHM) of the glasses is calculated to identify whether the sample may be used as a laser application. The FWHM values are found to be 22–28 nm. Decay time values were shown to decrease with increasing concentrations of Er3+ and Pr3+ ions and were used for energy transfer calculations. The Quantum Yields (QYs), efficiency in the transfer of energy and the possibility transfer energy were measured and calculated that confirm the possibility of energy transfer from Nd3+ to Er3+ and Pr3+ ions. Since, the emission spectrum at 1535 nm was found, this is a good reason for it to be used as an optical device

Lead-borate glass system doped with Sm3+ ions for the X-ray shielding applications

The impact of varying Sm2O3 content on radiation shielding properties of 15PbF2: (65-x) B2O3: 20K2O:xSm2O3 (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5 mol %) glass samples, was investigated by studying their physical, radio-luminescence and X-ray-shielding characteristics. The density of glasses increased with an increase in Sm2O3 contents. Evaluating the X-ray shielding parameters like mass and linear attenuation coefficients, half- and tenth- value layer, lead equivalent thickness and mean free path, it was found that the linear and mass attenuation coefficients decrease with a rise in Sm3+ concentration in the 70–120-kVp-energy range. The half- and tenth-value layers of the developed glasses increase with increasing energy and vary randomly with changing Sm2O3 contents. Comparing the determined HVL data with that of the concrete, red brick, commercial window, and X-ray window at 120 keV, it is found that the developed glass performs better shielding. The obtained results revealed that this glass has excellent potential and could be used as a radiation-shielding material in various applications