Effect of ZnO Nanocomposite by Direct and In Direct Sonication Method

The zinc oxide well known for its dielectric property and the anticorrosion, widely used in solar cells. This section deals about the development of the both mechanical and electrical property of Kevlar by adding the ZnO nano composites inside vinyl ester resin. The zinc oxide mixed well with the polyvinyl ester resin without disturbing the chemical behavior of the ZnO. The synthesis of zinc oxide with polyvinyl ester resin done by the direct and indirect sonication process. The kevlar fiber taken as the specimen for this research. The ZnO � polyvinyl ester resin mixed together using the manual without affecting the hydrophobic behavior of the polyvinyl ester resin, the zinc oxide and polyvinyl ester resin mixed with hardener (HY956) with the standard ratio of 5:1. The size of zinc oxide is 75nm. The results show that the direct sonication process giving better tribological properties when compared to indirect sonication process. From the plot and tables it is understood that the kevlar performs superior with ZnO nanocomposites

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF AGLAIA ELAEAGNOIDEA AND THEIR EFFICACY ON ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL GROWTH

Phytochemicals are extensively found at different levels in many plants and serves as basic raw material in the manufacturing of medicine, nutrition, cosmetics, dyeing and other industries. The present study aimed to lighten the medicinal uses of the leaves and stem bark of Aglaia elaeagnoide plant in the treatment of different ailments such as astringent, antidiarrhoeal, antidysenteric, skin diseases, tumours in Indian medicine of Ayurveda. In the present work we investigated the phytochemical screening to find out new sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial activity source from the leaf and stem bark of Aglaia elaeagnoidea with different solvents such as chloroform, ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether and water. Phytochemical screening of all crude extracts of leaf and bark reveals the presence of alkaloids, steroids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, quinones, xanthoproteins, terpinoids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, leucoanthocyanins, saponins and emodins. In vitro antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of leaf and bark exhibited maximum phenolic compounds and scavenging activity. Phenolic compounds of leaf and bark exhibit positive correlation to antioxidant activity. All the crude extracts of leaf and bark showed low to moderate inhibition zone against Staphylo coccus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Vibrio vulnificus and Candida albicans. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of different crude extracts of bark exhibited more efficacy compared to the leaf extracts. Thus, further development of new phytochemicals for the treatment of different disorders by using sustainable approach opens up possibilities in the usage of these as antioxidant and antimicrobial in various medicinal composition

Assessment of minimum inhibitory concentration to vancomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and mupirocin against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates by antibiotic gradient strips

Background: Staphylococcus aureus infections are one of the most common and serious hospital-acquired infections seen in developing countries. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important human pathogen and normally colonized in body parts including skin, nose, perineum and throat. MRSA is resistant not only to all β-lactam groups but also other antibiotics including aminoglycosides, tetracycline and macrolides. In the present study the efficacy of agents used in the management of MRSA infections was determined by antibiotic gradient testing. Methods: A total of 60 clinical isolates of MRSA strains were collected from various diagnostic labs in central Kerala. Clinical isolates were reconfirmed as MRSA by gram staining, yellow-coloured colonies on mannitol salt Agar (MSA). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion method as recommended by CLSI guidelines. S. aureus isolates resistant to cefoxitin (30 µg) was identified as MRSA. Antibiotic gradient testing was performed to determine the MIC of vancomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and mupirocin against MRSA isolates. Results: All the 60 MRSA isolates tested were sensitive to vancomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and mupirocin (100%) and none of the MRSA isolates show resistance.  Conclusions: Results of present study indicates that these agents may be used alongside vancomycin in management of infection caused by MRSA

Litsea Deccanensis Ameliorates Myocardial Infarction in Wistar Rats: Evidence from Biochemical and Histological Studies

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of methanolic extract of Litsea deccanensis (MELD) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying cardiac markers, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, and histological changes. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with MELD (100 and 200 mg/kg) daily for a period of 21 days. After 21 days of pretreatment, isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to rats at an interval of 24 h for 2 days to induce myocardial infarction. Isoproterenol-induced rats showed significant (P < 0.05) increase in the levels of serum creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and lipid hydro peroxides. The serum lipid levels were altered in the isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. The histopathological findings of the myocardial tissue evidenced myocardial damage in isoproterenol-induced rats. The oral pretreatment with MELD restored the pathological alterations in the isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. The MELD pretreatment significantly reduced the levels of biochemical markers, lipid peroxidation and regulated the lipid profile of the antioxidant system in the isoproterenol-induced rats. An inhibited myocardial necrosis was evidenced by the histopathological findings in MELD pretreated isoproterenol-induced rats. Our study shows that oral pretreatment with MELD prevents isoproterenol-induced oxidative stress in myocardial infarction. The presence of phenolic acid and flavonoid contents were confirmed by preliminary phytochemical tests. The reducing power and free radical scavenging activities of the MELD may be the possible reason for it pharmacological actions

Solar Photocatalytic Removal of Chemical and Bacterial Pollutants from Water Using Pt/TiO2-Coated Ceramic Tiles

Semiconductor photocatalysis has become an increasingly promising technology in environmental wastewater treatment. The present work reports a simple technique for the preparation of platinum-deposited TiO2 catalysts and its immobilization on ordinary ceramic tiles. The Pt/TiO2 is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Deposition of Pt on TiO2 extends the optical absorption of the latter to the visible region which makes it attractive for solar energy application. Optimum loading of Pt on TiO2 was found to be 0.5%. The Pt/TiO2 is coated on ceramic tiles and immobilized. This catalyst was found effective for the solar photocatalytic removal of chemical and bacterial pollutants from water. Once the parameters are optimized, the Pt/TiO2/tile can find application in swimming pools, hospitals, water theme parks, and even industries for the decontamination of water

Catalytic and recyclability properties of phytogenic copper oxide nanoparticles derived from Aglaia elaeagnoidea flower extract

The phytogenic synthesis method to highly active, recoverable and recyclable heterogeneous copper oxide nanocatalyst and encapsulated within biomaterial that acts as a nontoxic and renewable source of reducing and stabilizing agent. The biosynthesized CuO NPs were characterized using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA–DSC), techniques. The formation of CuO NPs with the size 20–45 nm range is shown in TEM image. Significantly, in aqueous phase CuO NPs have high catalytic activity for the reduction of Congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of the sodium borohydride (NaBH4) at room temperature. In addition, CuO NPs catalyst can be easily recovered by centrifugation and reused for 6 cycles with more than 90% conversion efficiency. CuO nanocatalyst, leaching after catalytic application was investigated by ICPAES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy). CuO NPs possess great prospects in reduction of pernicious dyes and nitro organic pollutants in water