Anxiolytic effect of Echium amoenum in mice

Abstract Putative activity of hydroalcoholic and aqueous infusion extracts of Echium amoenum L. was investigated in mice using the rotarod model of motor coordination and the el evated plus m aze model of anxiety. The extracts were administered intraperitonealy (i.p.) once, one hour before performing the tests. Preliminary phytochemical study of the plant, with standard procedures, showed that it contains saponins, flavonoids, unsaturated terpenoids and sterols. There was no evidence of t anins, alkaloids and cyanogeni c glycosides. The hydroal coholic extract of Echium amoenum in the dose range employed (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) had no significant effect on motor coordination while the aqueous extract (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) disrupted motor coordination signi ficantly. Intraperitoneal injection of aqueous extract (5, 10, 20, 30, 62.5, 80 and 125 mg/kg) showed a significant dose-dependent increas e in time spent in open arm (OAT) with no significant change in open arm entri es (OAE), closed arm entries (CAE) and total arm entries (TAE). The anxiolytic effect was most evident in 125 mg/kg group. It is almost evident that the extract produces its anxiolytic effect in the doses in which no change in motor activity is observable. Comparison of the dose response curve with the anxiolytic dose response of diazep am (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) in the same setting showed that the maximal effi cacy o f the extract is signi ficantly lower than di azep am. Becaus e o f di fferent maximal effi caci es we were not able to cal culate Extract/diazepam pot ency ratio but it does not seem to be more than 1/100. It is concluded that single administration of aqueous extract of Echium amoenum L. produces a signifi cant but mild to moderate anxiolytic effect

Oxidação com Persulfato de Amônio da Biomassa Lignocelulósica e da Biomassa de açaí para a Extração da Nanocristais de Celulose: Estado da arte

The growing interest in the production of Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) is due to the search for new materials. CNCs have shown good performance in polymeric composites because of their nanometric dimensions and strength. CNCs production have had a positive impact because of its low energy consumption, also any lignocellulosic biomass, different from wood can be used. The conventional extraction method of CNCs is the acid hydrolysis using sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or a mixture between them. Recently, alternative methods of extraction have aroused interest as they are eco-friendly and efficient. One of them highlights the use of inorganic persulfates solutions in a single process stage, where no pretreatment is necessary. Thus, the CNCs are extracted directly without the previous removal of lignin and hemicellulose. The main advantage of this method is the lower consumption of water, solvents and energy. On the other hand, marketing of acai pulp from the Amazonian region has had an accelerated growing in the internal and foreign markets because of the antioxidant, energetic and nutritious properties of the fruit. Consequently, the generation of biomass has been extrapolated, and the policies about better use of this resource are still modest, resulting in the random dispose and discard of these processing wastes and in environmental problems. This article presents a state-of-the-art of achievement on CNCs extraction through Ammonium Persulfate Oxidation of lignocellulosic biomass, and also the acai berry biomass.O interesse pela produção de Nanocristais de Celulose (NCCs) tem surgido pela procura de novos materiais. Os NCCs apresentam bom desempenho em compósitos poliméricos, por suas dimensões manométricas e sua rigidez. Sua produção impacta positivamente por seu baixo consumo energético e porque seus precursores podem ser qualquer biomassa lignocelulósica, diferente da madeira. A rota de extração convencional dos NCCs é a hidrólise ácida, usando ácido sulfúrico, ácido clorídrico ou uma mistura entre eles. Recentemente, tem-se registrado métodos alternativos de extração, que despertam o interesse para seu estudo por serem ambientalmente amigáveis e eficientes. Um deles destaca o uso de uma solução de persulfatos inorgânicos em uma única etapa de processo, sem prétratamento. Assim, os NCCs são extraídos diretamente sem a remoção prévia da lignina e da hemicelulose. A vantagem é o menor consumo de água, solventes e energia. Por outro lado, a comercialização da polpa de açaí desde a várzea amazônica tem crescido a um ritmo acelerado no mercado interno e externo, pelas propriedades, energéticas e nutricionais da fruta. Consequentemente, a geração de biomassa residual tem-se extrapolado, e as políticas sobre aproveitamento são ainda tímidas, resultando no despejo e descarte aleatório destes resíduos processados e em problemas ambientais. Este artigo apresenta um estado-da-arte sobre os desenvolvimentos em extração de NCCs da biomassa lignocelulósica pela oxidação com Persulfato de Amônio, destacando-se a utilização da biomassa do açaí.El interés por la producción de Nanocristales de Celulosa (NCCs) ha surgido de la búsqueda por nuevos materiales. Los NCCs presentan buen desempeño en compuestos poliméricos por sus dimensiones nanométricas y su alta rigidez. Su producción impacta positivamente pues se requiere bajo consumo energético y, su fuente de extracción, puede ser cualquier biomasa lignocelulósica diferente de la madera. La ruta de extracción convencional de los NCCs es la hidrólisis ácida usando ácido sulfúrico o ácido clorhídrico o una mezcla entre ellos. Recientemente, se han registrado métodos alternativos de extracción, que han despertado interés en su estudio por ser ambientalmente amigables y eficientes. Uno de ellos destaca el uso persulfatos inorgánicos en una sola etapa de proceso, sin pretratamiento. Así, los NCCs son extraídos directamente sin la remoción previa de la lignina y de la hemicelulosa. La ventaja es el menor consumo de agua, solventes y energía. Por otro lado, la comercialización de la pulpa de açaí, desde la Amazonia ha crecido a un ritmo acelerado en el mercado interno y externo, lo cual se debe a las propiedades antioxidantes, energéticas y nutricionales de la fruta. Consecuentemente, la generación de la biomasa residual se ha extrapolado, y las políticas sobre aprovechamiento son todavía modestas, resultando en disposición y descartes aleatorios de los residuos procesados y en problemas ambientales. Este artículo presenta una revisión sobre los desarrollos en extracción de NCCs de la biomasa lignocelulosica por el método de oxidación con Persultafo de Amonio, destacándose la utilización de la biomasa del açaí

Mathematical modeling and genetic algorithm optimization of clove oil extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide

In the present study, a mathematical modeling for extraction of oil from clove buds using supercritical carbon dioxide was performed. Mass transfer is based on local equilibrium between solvent and solid. The model was solved numerically, and model estimation was validated using experimental data. For optimization, the clove oil equilibrium constant between solid and supercritical phase was determined by a theoretical method using fugacity concept, consequently the genetic algorithm for obtaining optimal operational conditions was used. The optimal conditions which obtained the highest amount of clove oil were pressure of 10 MPa and temperature of 304.2 K

Enlightenment and Islam in Iran: The Case of Mirza Fath Ali Akhundzadeh

Mirza Fath Ali Akhundzadeh is considered one of the most important and influential personalities in the religious-social life of contemporary Iran. He began his cultural activities writing dramas and criticizing the religious-social situation of the society he lived in. He said that this resembled Protestantism. In addition to this, he also dealt theoretically with the criticism of religion and issues related to it. This article is an attempt to survey the basic features of his intellectual system and his main objections to religion-in particular the religion of Islam-as they are reflected in his major works. Hence, a comprehensive view of his life as well the events that influenced his ideas have been presented herein

Modelling and optimization of supercritical CO2 extraction of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) using genetic algorithm

Modelling and optimization of the extraction of St. John's Wort using supercritical fluid is the subject of this study. Applying conservation of mass, two partial differential equations were written for solute concentration in both solvent and solid phase. The equilibrium constant of St. John's Wort extract between solid and solvent phase was determined using genetic algorithm optimization technique. The differential equations were solved using numerical techniques simultaneously and were compared with experimental data. The results showed a good agreement between model results and experimental data. Simulation and optimization according to genetic algorithm have shown that 313 K and 20 MPa were the optimum temperature and pressure for supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of St. John's Wort

Application Of Intelligent Methods For The Prediction And Optimization Of Thermal Characteristics In A Tube Equipped With Perforated Twisted Tape

In the present study, a feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) was developed to estimate the Nusselt number (Nu), friction factor (f), and thermal performance (eta) in a tube equipped with perforated twisted tape. The MSE and R-2 values of the best network (4-10-3-3) are 0.04 and 0.9965, respectively. In addition, empirical equations were developed using the genetic algorithm. The MSE values of power-law equations for Nu, f and eta are 2.7369, 4.13E-06, and 5.09E-05, respectively. Estimation of the developed ANN was found to be superior in comparison with the corresponding power-law equations.701304

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of lycopene from tomato processing by-products : mathematical modeling and optimization

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction of lycopene from tomato processing byproducts, namely, tomato peel and seed, was mathematically modeled. Mathematical modeling of the SC-CO2 extraction data was implemented using the mass conservation law that resulted in two partial differential equations for solvent and solid phases. The model was then employed to investigate the effects of temperature (40–80 °C), pressure (30–50 MPa), and peel to seeds ratio (30/70 to 70/30) on the lycopene yield. The maximum lycopene yield of 1.32 mg/kg of raw material was obtained at 80 °C, 50 MPa, and peel/seeds ratio of 70/30. The lycopene yield had a direct relationship with external mass transfer coefficient, but inverse relationship with the partition coefficient of the solute between the solid and the fluid phase and particle diameter; however, the amount of oleoresin was only a function of the initial mass fraction of extractable solute in the solid phase and mass of feed2411825This work is supported by Bioprocessing and Bioengineering program (grant no. 2018-67021-27720/project accession no. 1015253) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). We thank Lisbeth Yepez for the assistance in HPLC analysis, and ConAgra Brands for providing tomato peel and see

Biocatalytic production of isoamyl acetate from fusel oil in supercritical CO2

Isoamyl acetate esters were enzymatically synthesized from fusel oil, a by-product generated in bioethanol industrial plants, in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) using immobilized lipase (Lipozyme 435). Effects of enzyme load (2.5–10.0 %), substrates’ molar ratio (acetic anhydride to fusel oil; 1:1–4:1), acyl donor (acetic anhydride, ethyl acetate, and acetic acid) and solvent type (SC-CO2, n-hexane, and solvent-free system) on the biocatalytic isoamyl acetate conversion and the specific productivity were investigated. Higher volumetric expansions of the reaction medium were observed at higher temperature (60 °C) between 10 and 20 MPa. A monophasic system was observed at 15 MPa and 60 °C. Acetic anhydride and SC-CO2 were the best acyl donor and solvent, respectively. An elementary mathematical model was adjusted to the experimental data. 15 MPa, 60 °C, 2:1 substrates’ molar ratio and 2.5 % of enzyme concentration yielded the highest conversion (88.4 ± 0.5 %) and specific productivity (36.9 ± 0.2 %)164CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP141078/2016-2; 303063/2018-12952/20112017/23670-217th European Meeting on Supercritical Fluid

Photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Blue 21 dye using ZnO nanoparticles: experiment, modelling, and sensitivity analysis

This paper presents the photocatalysis, adsorption, and photolysis of C.I. Reactive Blue 21 dye using synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The density, mean particle diameter, surface area, and porosity of the catalyst were 5550 kg/m3, 1.19 × 10−7, 16,830 m2/kg, and 0.08, respectively. The impact of catalyst mass per volume of solution (0.2–1.0 kg/m3) was experimentally investigated in terms of the percentage of dye degradation. Due to the small catalyst porosity, adsorption contributed little to overall degradation. However, the photolysis of the dye was around 12.5%, which occurred predominantly between 0 and 5 min. In the second part of the present study, the photocatalytic degradation of C.I. Reactive Blue 21 was modelled mathematically based on the mass conservation law in the solution and catalyst. The model had two adjustable variables: the convection mass transfer coefficient and the photocatalytic reaction rate constant. The model was solved numerically using the finite difference method and was validated with the experimental data. The validated model was employed to examine the impact of catalyst size and initial pollutant concentration on the photocatalytic degradationCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES159085