Current Analytical Chemistry - Online First

Transition metal oxides are highly effective for dye removal due to their adaptable surface chemistry, availability, and robust mechanical and thermal properties. Among them, Bi4V2O11 nanosheets offer potential due to their morphology and high surface area. To synthesize Bi4V2O11 nanosheets and evaluate their performance in removing malachite green, focusing on the impact of adsorbent amount, contact time, and interfering ions on dye removal efficiency. This study aims to evaluate the performance of Bi4V2O11 nanosheets in removing malachite green dye from aqueous solutions and to examine the effects of adsorbent dosage, contact time, and the presence of coexisting ions on the sorption process.

Bi4V2O11 nanosheets were synthesized and used to remove the malachite green dye. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of adsorbent dose, contact time, and coexisting ions (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and tannic acid). Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model to determine the maximum sorption capacity.

Malachite green sorption using Bi4V2O11 nanosheets reached equilibrium within 240 minutes, demonstrating efficient dye removal under the tested conditions. The sorption process conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption with a maximum capacity of 47.27 mg/g. While the presence of Na⁺ and tannic acid had negligible effects on dye removal efficiency, the coexistence of Ca²⁺ significantly reduced the removal efficiency from 95% to 58%, highlighting the potential impact of divalent ions on the adsorption process.

Bi4V2O11 nanosheets are effective adsorbents for malachite green removal, demonstrating high sorption capacity and resilience to Na⁺ and tannic acid interference. However, the presence of Ca²⁺ significantly reduces removal efficiency, highlighting the need for further optimization in practical applications.

Bi4V2O11 nanosheets offer high sorption capacity and structural stability, environment friendly synthesis procedure, making them feasible for small-scale or pre-treatment applications.

Air pollution is a pressing global health and environmental issue, particularly in urban areas where both natural and human-induced factors contribute to deteriorating air quality. While extensive data exists for large industrial cities, less is known about pollution dynamics in smaller, mountainous urban centers. Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, represents a unique setting where seasonal weather patterns and limited industrial activity intersect. This study aims to analyze the air quality in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, by examining the presence of various pollutants over a five-year period (2017-2021).

A longitudinal observational study was conducted using automated air sampling systems at a central monitoring site. Chemical composition of aerosol for metals as well as carbon, sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen monoxide (NO), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide – (CO) in the atmospheric air of the city of Dushanbe in the period from 2017 to 2021 was analyzed. Atmospheric aerosol samples (C µg/m3, C max, C min) for all metals were determined. Constant monitoring of gas content in the surface layer of the atmosphere was carried out on the territory of the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Republic of Tajikistan. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze seasonal and annual trends in pollutant levels.

Metals such as Titanium (Ti), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mg), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni) and Copper (Cu) were also detected, which we found in plant organs. These results are in favor of the weather pollution caused by titanium and iron. Average monthly levels of CO, SO2, and NO2 in the atmospheric air of the city of Dushanbe in the period from 2017 to 2021 showed that the variation of air pollution varied according to the seasons and months for each year.

Air quality in Dushanbe is influenced more by geographic and seasonal factors rather than heavy industrial activity. Temporary exceedances in CO and NO2 levels reflect localized emissions from traffic and heating. The absence of toxic heavy metals indicates a relatively low long-term health risk from industrial pollution.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Dushanbe’s air quality, demonstrating generally good conditions with short-lived pollution events. Targeted seasonal interventions—such as improved traffic and heating emission controls—are recommended to mitigate transient exposure risks.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with known toxicity and bioaccumulation potential. Smoked meat, a widely consumed food, has been identified as a major dietary source of these contaminants as they are generated due to the incomplete combustion of fuels used in the smoking process. This review examines existing studies on the occurrence of PAHs, PCBs, and PCDD/Fs in smoked meat, with particular attention to the influence of smoking conditions. Factors such as smoking methods, temperature, fuel type, and co-combustion materials, including plastics and chlorine-containing compounds, are analyzed for their role in the formation and accumulation of these pollutants.

A literature search across databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published (2010 – 2024) identified relevant studies based on predefined inclusion criteria emphasizing POP levels, formation mechanisms, and analytical methods in smoked meat and related products. Key data were synthesized thematically to identify research trends and gaps.

PAHs have been the most extensively studied in smoked meat, whereas research on PCBs and PCDD/Fs remains limited despite their toxicological significance. The smoking process, particularly the type of fuel and additional materials used, plays a crucial role in the generation of these contaminants. Enhanced analytical techniques have improved detection capabilities, supporting more accurate risk assessments.

Traditional smoking methods are linked to higher POP contamination, especially with chlorine-rich or plastic-containing fuels. Despite advances in analytical techniques, gaps remain in standardizing methods and understanding halogenated POP formation, underscoring the need for harmonized protocols and targeted research on PCBs and PCDD/Fs under practical conditions.

Significant knowledge gaps remain, emphasizing the need for further research to refine smoking practices and enhance food safety standards while preserving the cultural and culinary value of smoked foods.

The chemical composition of Ophiopogonis Radix originating from different districts is somewhat different due to the different planting environment. This difference affects the pharmaceutical efficacy of Ophiopogonis Radix, and therefore poses a challenge to the quality assessment and control of Ophiopogonis Radix. This study aims to develop a method to discriminate Ophiopogonis Radix from various planting districts by using infrared (IR) spectroscopy in combination with a one-dimensional convolutional neural network.

The spectral data of Ophiopogonis Radix samples from five planting districts were collected and preprocessed with Savizkg-Golag (SG) smoothing and the Standard Normal Variate (SNV) algorithm. Back propagation (BP) artificial neural network (ANN) and one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) were employed to build the pattern recognition model for discriminating the investigated Ophiopogonis Radix samples.

The discriminant accuracy of the ANN model after SG and SNV preprocessing reached 94.42% and 96.98% respectively. The discrimination accuracy of the 1D-CNN model after SG and SNV preprocessing reached 98.67% and 99.33%, respectively. It is demonstrated that both the ANN model and the 1D-CNN model are able to discriminate Ophiopogonis Radix samples from different planting districts. Moreover, the developed 1D-CNN model shows higher discrimination accuracy than the ANN model, and SNV preprocessing is better than SG preprocessing for improving the accuracy of the discrimination model.

In this study, the classification performance differences between the SNV-ANN and SNV-CNN models were further compared and analyzed through confusion matrices. The SNV-CNN model exhibited superior classification performance compared to the SNV-ANN model.

IR coupled with 1D-CNN is a practicable and promising approach to discriminate Ophiopogonis Radix from different planting districts. Besides Ophiopogonis Radix, this approach could be used for the planting districts discrimination of other kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM). As a high-throughput and data-driven spectroscopic analysis approach, it can be applied to the standardized quality assessment of TCM.

Diabetes clinical guidelines have begun to emphasize the management of cognitive dysfunction in diabetes. Moreover, several studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in human diseases. However, no studies have elucidated whether lncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD).

The hippocampi of male mice with homozygous leptin receptor-deficient T2DM and their littermates were analyzed via high-throughput sequencing. RNA and protein sequencing data were utilized to identify differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, lncRNAs, and proteins between diabetes mellitus and control groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed for DE-mRNAs-DE-proteins. Subsequently, lncRNA-mRNA-pathway and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to verify the expression trends of key lncRNAs in DACD.

We identified upregulated and downregulated mRNAs, lncRNAs, and proteins in the diabetes group. Eleven DE-mRNAs-DE-proteins were associated with inflammatory response, lipid/steroid metabolism, and cell growth. The lncRNA-mRNA-pathway network contained 36 lncRNA-mRNA pairs linked to 8 KEGG pathways. Twenty-five lncRNAs corresponding to Apoa1 were identified as key candidates. Subcellular localization and ceRNA network analyses suggested that lncRNA 3110039I08Rik and lncRNA Gm36445 may regulate DACD. qRT-PCR confirmed their increased expression in diabetic mice.

Our findings reveal that lncRNA 3110039108Rik and Gm36445 may act as critical regulators in DACD pathogenesis through competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. These lncRNAs represent potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapeutic targets, offering new insights into the management of cognitive dysfunction in diabetes.

Our results identified two novel lncRNAs that may play critical roles in DACD.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), BSS refers to impaired circulation or stagnation of blood flow and formation of bruises. The primary therapeutic strategy to treat BSS involves invigorating blood circulation. PRR is a widely used TCM herb for treating acute and critical diseases caused by BSS. However, the anticoagulant effects of different compounds of PRR on BSS remain elusive. The aim of the study was to investigate the pharmacological role of different chemical constituents of Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR) in the modulation of anticoagulation in Blood Stasis Syndrome (BSS). This study aimed to analyze the therapeutic effect of PRR on BSS and to assess the ameliorative effect of different chemical constituents of PRR on blood circulation, clotting time, and platelet aggregation in rats with acute BSS.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) was used to screen the targets of PRR, and genes causing BSS were predicted using PharmGKB, OMIM, and TTD databases. Intersected genes between PRR and BSS targets were visualized in Venn diagrams. Core target networks of Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) and cross-targets were constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.1, and the cross-targets were enriched using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database. Furthermore, the effects of PRR on platelet aggregation, plasma viscosity, and whole blood viscosity in the rats with BSS were examined by blood rheology and other methods. The serum levels of Endothelin-1 (ET-1), Nitric Oxide (NO), Thromboxaneb2 (TXB2), and 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1 α (6-keto-PGF1α) in the rats were measured by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method.

The main active compounds of PRR, including total glycosides, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, were identified using the TCMSP database. A total of 31 cross-targets were obtained from the intersection between 129 active targets of PRR and 345 causative genes of BSS. PPI network identified genes such as Albumin (ALB), SRC Proto-Oncogene, Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (SRC), and AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1) as the core targets of PRR in alleviating BSS. Enrichment analysis showed that the common targets were mainly associated with several biological processes, including lipid and atherosclerosis, adherens junction, and focal adhesion. Following the intervention with PRR extract, the whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were reduced, and platelet aggregation was inhibited in the model rats in comparison to the model group. Moreover, PRR treatment also promoted thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), increased the level of NO and 6-keto-PGF1α, but reduced the level of Fibrinogen content (FIB) and ET-1 and TXB2 in the serum of the model rats.

The present research systematically explored the anticoagulant effect of the chemical constituents of PRR on BSS in rats, applying network pharmacology analysis.

The current findings provided a theoretical foundation for the pharmacological basis of using PRR in the management of BSS.

Inflammatory disorders profoundly affect quality of life, with existing treatments often limited by resistance, adverse effects, and administration challenges. Andrographis paniculata, highly esteemed for its potent anti-inflammatory efficacy, harbors andrographolide, a pharmacologically active compound whose clinical utilization is impeded by its limited aqueous solubility and reduced oral bioavailability.

To address these limitations, we synthesized a mixture of andrographolide sulfonated derivatives to improve solubility. The major derivatives were isolated and analyzed qualitatively by NMR and UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using a zebrafish inflammation model, and the most active derivatives were further analyzed through network pharmacological analysis to uncover the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

The synthesis of andrographolide sulfonate derivatives enhanced andrographolide’s solubility. Structural characterization of the seven predominant derivatives was performed. Testing in a zebrafish model revealed that andrographolide and three sulfonated derivatives substantially reduced inflammation. Network pharmacology analysis identified significant connections in the “active compounds-inflammation targets-pathways-therapeutic effects” network, highlighting important biological processes and six key molecular targets (PRKCA, PRKCB, MAPK14, IL6, CASP3, and CDK4) associated with the anti-inflammatory actions of these derivatives.

This integrative chemical–bioinformatic workflow significantly enhances the solubility of andrographolide while preserving its anti-inflammatory potency and identifying six key inflammatory targets. It therefore provides a transferable blueprint for optimising hydrophobic natural products and accelerating anti-inflammatory drug discovery.

Overall, this study not only improves the solubility and maintains the anti-inflammatory efficacy of andrographolide through sulfonation but also elucidates the underlying potential mechanisms of action of its sulfonated derivative mixture.

Geographical location plays a critical role in the distribution and potency of medicinal plants. Climate, soil composition, and other factors significantly affect the chemical composition of plants and their medicinal properties. This study aims to investigate how the expression of biodiversity manifests in the phytocompound of Hydrocotyle rotundifolia from different biogeographical locations across the Indian subcontinent.

The study analyzed the amount of genistein in the aerial part of H. rotundifolia across three different biogeographical zones using a precise, simple, and highly reproducible validated HPTLC method and adopted different standard spectroscopic methods for soil characterization.

The quantity of genistein was found to be highest (0.74%) in the plants growing in the soil of the northeast region, where the available nitrogen (23.45 Kgha^-1) and potassium (267.354 Kgha^-1) were also highest among the three regions.

Correlating the soil characters and climatic factors, it may be concluded that the Northeast region, with its favorable soil conditions and climatic support, is the ideal location for growing this plant and producing genistein.

This information is invaluable for applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and environmental studies because understanding the distribution and concentration of phytocompounds across different locations can have numerous applications in these fields.

Gum tragacanth is used as a substance to increase viscosity, stabilize, emulsify, and suspend other substances. In recent years, it has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cosmetics, and food adjuvants. Therefore, characterizing its temperature-dependent viscosity is crucial for its pilot-scale applications. Therefore, the main objective of the present work is the characterization of the temperature dependent coefficient of viscosity and surface tension of gum tragacanth to establish it as an alternative source of natural gums for commercial applications.

The effect of temperature on the rheological behaviours of the polymeric solution was studied. Furthermore, the Arrhenius, Gibbs–Helmholtz, Frenkel–Eyring, and Eotvos equations were utilized to compute the temperature coefficient, viscosity, surface tension, activation energy, Gibbs free energy, Reynolds number, and entropy of fusion, respectively.

It was determined that the activation energy of gum tragacanth was 1559.70 kJ/mol. Changes in entropy and enthalpy were found to be 56.34 and 1122.80 kJ/mol, respectively. The Reynold number's computed value was 0.0053.

Discussion: As the temperature increased, there was a noticeable decrease in both surface tension as well as apparent viscosity. In contrast to Albizia lebbac gum, the current study found that solutions made from Gum Tragacanth seed polymers had a smaller impact by changes in temperature.

Gum tragacanth polymer's exceptional physicochemical qualities make it a promising excipient for drug formulation in the years to come, paving the way for its widespread use in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

To investigate the pharmacodynamic material basis and potential mechanism of Aster tataricus L. total flavonoids (ATF) in treating isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF)-induced drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in C57BL/6 mice

ATF was extracted using ultrasonic extraction and purified with AB-8 macroporous adsorbent resin. A DILI model was established in male C57BL/6 mice using INH and RIF. Histopathological changes were assessed by HE staining, and serum levels of ALT and AST, as well as liver levels of SOD, MDA, GSH-Px, and T-AOC, were measured. UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS was used to analyze ATF and serum components in DILI mice, followed by network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking validation.

TThe extraction rate of ATF was 31.9%, and the purification rate was 83.1%. ATF treatment alleviated cell necrosis and inflammation, reduced organ index, and normalized biochemical indices, with the best effects observed at low doses. UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS identified 15 blood-entry components, 9 prototype components, and 4 core targets with high binding energies.

Efficient extraction and purification methods for total flavonoids from Aster tataricus L. were developed. Their pharmacological basis and potential targets for treating DILI were identified, providing a theoretical basis for DILI treatment.

This study provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of DILI using ATF. The developed extraction and purification methods efficiently obtained ATF, and its pharmacological basis and potential targets were identified. This research offers a new direction for exploring natural products from Traditional Chinese Medicine for DILI treatment.

Mango is a kind of popular fruit in consumer market, which is rich in nutrients, fiber, and vitamins. People have different taste preferences for different varieties of mango. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a non-destructive, green, and economical technology that serves for rapid detection. Several machine learning methods are applied for deep mining from the detected NIR data. It is beneficial for consumers to give rapid recognition of the cultivar of mangos.

Partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), back propagation neural network (BPNN), and convolutional neural network (CNN) are taken into consideration for model training. Grid search on parametric scaling is carried out for model optimization based on these methods. A special design of a dual-convolutional neural network (dCNN) is proposed and validated.

For the comparison of different methods, the optimal SVM, PLS-DA, BPNN, and CNN methods observed the discrimination accuracy of 86.49%, 83.68%, 85.61%, and 88.60% for model training, respectively. The proposed dCNN method performs better in the model testing progress than all of the conventional methods, observing the highest accuracy of 89.34%.

Results reveal that most of the machine learning methods are effective as the chemometric support to the NIR technology in the application of mango classification. They are prospectively applied to other analytes for data mining in the field.

The proposed dCNN architecture is validated as feasible to improve the model prediction effect, which is expected to help widen the application of the green and economical NIR technology.

This study aims to identify key genes by analyzing gene expression changes induced by prolonged sleep deprivation (SD) and to explore their potential relationship with immune regulation and neurobehavioral disorders.

Microarray data of SD at different time points were obtained to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The functions of DEGs and the biological pathways involved were explored. Additionally, significant DEGs were screened as key genes for SD. Finally, immune scores and immune cell scores were calculated. The relationships between key genes, immune scores, and immune-related pathways were explored.

The relevant DEGs were identified, including USP32P1, TREML1, PF4V1, GPR146, DEFA1B, and CLEC1B. Among these, CLEC1B, GPR146, PF4V1, and TREML1 were upregulated in SD samples, while DEFA1B and USP32P1 were downregulated. These key genes were involved in the biological processes, including DNA repair, KRAS signaling, and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, PF4V1, GPR146, TREML1, and CLEC1B exhibited a significant negative correlation with immune scores and were closely associated with various immune regulatory pathways, like antigen processing and presentation, B cell receptor signaling, and T cell receptor signaling pathways.

This study, based on microarray data, investigated the dynamic changes in gene expression induced by SD and their underlying mechanisms. Six key genes with differential expression levels and distinct enriched biological processes were identified.

The altered expression of 6 identified genes induced by SD and their underlying molecular mechanisms may provide a foundation for the early diagnosis and personalized treatment of SD-related diseases.

Paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis contains medicinal properties to treat various cancer diseases. Thus, extracting paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis had aroused a wide of research interests.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) has high extraction efficiency, and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) have the advantages of being green, natural, and non-toxic. As a result, the UAE-NADES were introduced to extract paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis. The ideal NADES composed of choline chloride and malic acid was achieved at a molar ratio of 1:1, with the optimal extraction parameters identified through single-factor experiments. Response Surface Methodology of rotatable Central Composite Design (RSM-rCCD) was applied to further optimize the extraction conditions.

The ultimate optimum circumstances of ultrasonic power is 240 W, extraction time is 49 min, solid/liquid ratio is 1:18, extraction temperature is 38°C, and the maximum extraction yield reached 5.94 mg/g. Their IC50 values of paclitaxel extract for free radicals of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and OH (Hydroxyl) were 20.53, 40.79 and 270.98 mg/L, respectively.

Compared with traditional solvents, NADES has higher extraction efficiency and yield for paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis.

This article demonstrates the increased extraction yield of paclitaxel, which has strong antioxidant activity.

Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim. is a commonly used Tibetan medicine that has been used for a long time to clear heat and detoxify, remove dampness and diuresis, treat sores, and nourish. It has favorable biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fatigue. However, to date, only a handful of studies have utilized traditional separation and purification methods to investigate the chemical constituents of Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim. This scarcity of comprehensive and systematic research on its chemical composition impedes the further exploration of its biological activity and clinical applications.

It is imperative to develop an effective, dependable, and expeditious methodology for the systematic analysis and comprehensive characterization of the diverse chemical constituents found in Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim through cracking pathways and patterns.

This study used negative ion mode UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and 8 reference standards to comprehensively investigate the collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS/MS) fragmentation pathway of chemical components in Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim. A method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with data analysis software was established for screening and identifying targeted and non-targeted components of Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim.

A total of 150 compounds were identified in Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim, including 43 acylglucoside, 36 iridoid glycosides, 19 lignans, 41 flavonoids, and 11 other compounds.

This research has meticulously crafted an efficient and comprehensive methodology for the detection of intricate compounds. It has been successfully implemented in the analysis and identification of chemical constituents within Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim, thereby laying a solid foundation for further in-depth exploration of this species. Moreover, this work serves as a valuable reference for the study of other traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.

The cyclodextrin-based metal-organic complex (CD-MONT-2) exhibits Pb (II)-rings-based luminescence and water-stable properties. In this paper, it was successfully utilized as a multifunctional material, applied as a fluorescent probe for Ag⁺ and an adsorbent for Congo red.

X-ray powder diffraction analysis (PXRD), fluorescence analysis (FL), UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier infrared spectrum (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and SEM X-ray energy dispersive spectrum (SEM-EDS) were employed to study and prove the mechanism Ag2O-involved.

The fluorescence intensity clearly decreases as Ag+ solution (1 mM in H2O) is added continuously. At a dose of 1.67 mM, the maximum fluorescence “turn-off” condition is reached, and at 432 nm, the fluorescence quenching percentage is almost 65%. ^{The adsorption capacity ofCD-MONT-2for Congo Red is 22.95 mg/g, with a removal rate of 71.98%.} Methyl orange follows with an adsorption capacity of 7.46 mg/g and a removal rate of 22.83%. The adsorption ability of rhodamine B by CD-MONT-2 is poor, the adsorption amount is 6.76 mg/g, and the removal rate is 19.75%.

The multifunctional CD-MONT-2 is utilized as an Ag⁺ probe through fluorescence quenching and naked-eye detection with good sensitivity and selectivity. The max fluorescence quenching percentage is 65% with the Ag⁺ concentration of 1.67 mM, and the LOD is calculated to be 0.3856 mM. As an adsorbent, we found that the Congo red (anionic dyes) could be efficiently adsorbed. The adsorption performance may come from the mutual attraction of positive and negative charges, and the interaction between CD-MONT-2-OH and Congo red-NH2. The kinetic results indicate that the adsorption process of CD-MONT-2 on CR is more in line with the pseudo second-order kinetic fitting model and is influenced by chemical reactions.

Particulate matter poses a significant risk to human health, particularly fine particulate matter, as it is difficult to eliminate and leads to severe health issues. Conversely, urban woody plants are experiencing ambient pollution directly and continuously adjusting to the dynamic contaminants, thereby improving the urban environment for their living circumstances. Thus, studies conducted at the level of individual leaves can offer important insights into the productivity of an ecosystem.

Leaf samples from three common woody plant species (Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior, and Tilia tomentosa) in Budapest, Hungary, were collected throughout a vegetation phase. After ultrasonic wash-off, the chemical properties of dust deposits on the leaf surface were investigated.

Our results showed a higher concentration of wash-off fine particulate from F. excelsior than from A. platanoides and T. tomentosa, and the precipitation, maximum wind speed, and ambient particulate matter content did not demonstrate a significant impact on it. Thus, the fine particulate matter washed off from woody plant leaves involves a more dynamic and complex procedure. The analysis of chemical parameters demonstrated the interaction of particulate matter and the leaves; pH values varied, and the total electric conductivity was significantly higher than the accepted limits. The excessive concentration of sulphate and chloride in wash-off particulate matter indicated significant interference caused by human activities and secondary suspension.

Given that F. excelsior is more susceptible to having wash-off fine particulate matter, which can contribute to secondary suspension, the capability of A. platanoides and T. tomentosa to retain fine particulate may contribute to their effects in phytoremediation.

Combination therapy with polyphenol-rich natural spices has gained acceptance as a proactive approach for modulating human health owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, bioavailability is a significant hurdle in determining the actual potential of any herbal drug.

To improve the absorption of herbal drugs and to enhance their ability to affect the immune system, phospholipid complexes were developed for accommodating Curcumin with extracts of commonly found dietary spices like Piper longum, Piper nigrum, and Zingiber officinale aiming to have an effective immunomodulatory phytoformulation subduing the bioavailability limitation of Curcumin and delivery hurdle of phytoextracts for combination therapy. Since combination therapy with polyphenol-rich natural spices had surfaced as an effective mode of immunomodulation, phospholipid complexes were designed for encapsulating polyphenol-rich natural spices and Curcumin together and assessed for the most efficient phospholipid complexes with improved invitro therapeutic outcomes.

A quick and easy procedure for assessing the developed formulation using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) was developed. Antioxidant potential was measured by DPPH and Lipid peroxidation. Further immunomodulation was assessed in macrophages by NO inhibition assay and phagocytosis capacity.

The results showed that polyherbal phospholipid complexes exerted 2-fold enhanced antiradical properties (DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation) as compared to Curcumin and significant inhibition of ROS in H2O2-induced human macrophages. Moreover, these polyherbal formulations were more effective in promoting macrophage proliferation, inhibiting LPS-induced NO production in macrophages, and enhancing phagocytosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Thus, phospholipid complexes offer a practical approach for developing nutraceuticals with augmented bioactivity of herbal components.

Liubao tea residues, often discarded as waste, may contain valuable bioactive compounds as polysaccharides. To characterize the physicochemical properties of polysaccharides extracted by 4 mol/L KOH (KTP) and investigate its effects on macrophage activation and immune response.

KTP was extracted using an alkaline method. Physicochemical characterization was performed using monosaccharide analysis, molecular weight assessment, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, and NMR spectroscopy. Immunomodulatory effects were evaluated through macrophage activation assays, focusing on NO production, cytokine release, and NF-κB pathway modulation.

Monosaccharide analysis identified KTP as a composite of arabinose, mannose, galactose, glucose, and xylose with distinct variations in abundance. Molecular weight analysis revealed KTP as a heterogeneous polysaccharide with fractions KTP-1 and KTP-2 of different molecular sizes. Structural characterization analysis showed specific functional groups, bond arrangements, and helical conformations, elucidating KTP’s intricate surface morphologies and semi-crystalline nature. Additionally, immunomodulatory studies demonstrated KTP’s activation of macrophage pathways via the NF-κB pathway, increasing nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokine production dose-dependently.

This study reveals KTP's rich structural diversity and potent immunomodulatory activity, highlighting its potential as a natural immune booster and possible application in developing functional foods.

Crab hemolymph are rich in medicinally important secondary metabolites.

The objective of this study was to isolate, identify, and establish the crab hemolymph-derived secondary metabolites for the antifungal activity.

Several brachyuran crabs were investigated against 10 pathogenic strains. The disc diffusion method was used to investigate hemolymph extracts to identify potential brachyuran crabs showing antifungal activity. The moderately purified hemolymph was taken for RP-HPLC using a C-18 column. The obtained GC-MS-NIST formula/compound details were used to unveil the possible structures of obtained compounds. Individual compounds were confirmed by comparing the obtained structures with 1H NMR & 13C NMR results. The isolated Sparsomycin was subjected to a molecular docking Crystal Structure of Fungal RNA Kinase (PDB ID: 5U32).

Notably, most of the crab species in this study exhibited activity against various strains of fungi. The current findings demonstrated that the hemolymph of the crab Dromia dehaani exhibits broad-spectrum activity against pathogenic fungi. The D. dehaani showed the uppermost antimicrobial activity, and the most potent extracts obtained from the sponge crab, D. dehaani, displayed activity against several fungal organisms that included Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. D. dehaani was selected for detailed investigations as the hemolymph of D. dehaani has the potential to be developed as an anti-microbial agent to treat infections.

The compounds isolated, identified, and established as antifungal agents could be the future drugs for restricting major fungal infections.

This study introduces basil seeds as a novel, low-cost, and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of ciprofloxacin from aqueous solutions. The primary innovation of this work lies in the use of readily available basil seeds, which have not been widely explored for this purpose, to achieve high adsorption capacity and efficiency.

The adsorption process was systematically optimized by adjusting parameters such as time, temperature, pH, and ciprofloxacin concentration, with results showing maximum adsorption at 40 minutes, 70°C, and pH 7. Additionally, the study investigates the influence of interfering factors like competing ions and organic matter in water, providing a more realistic assessment of the material’s effectiveness.

The findings demonstrate that basil seeds offer a promising alternative to conventional adsorbents, presenting both environmental and economic advantages for water treatment applications.

This work significantly advances current knowledge by proposing a sustainable solution for pharmaceutical pollutant removal from contaminated water.

Wetlands are vital carbon sinks, with coastal salt marshes being particularly effective in carbon sequestration. Understanding how different vegetation types influence soil carbon storage and microbial composition can enhance our knowledge of these ecosystems’ roles in global carbon cycling.

This study investigates soil physicochemical properties, soil carbon storage, and microbial community composition and diversity at three depths (10, 30, and 60 cm) in five salt marsh plots from five coastal salt marshes: Bare flat (a non-vegetated marsh) and plots dominated by Imperata cylindrica, Solidago canadensis, Suaeda spp., and Phragmites australis. Carbon storage was evaluated by measuring soil organic carbon (SOC) content. At the same time, high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze microbial communities, aiming to elucidate their relationships with soil carbon storage and wetland vegetation.

The average SOC contents in the five plots were in the order of S. canadensis (13.33 g·kg^–1) > Bare flat (11.45 g·kg^–1) > Suaeda spp. (8.10 g·kg^–1) > I. cylindrica (6.15 g·kg^–1) > P. australis (5.80 g·kg^–1). S. canadensis and Bare flat marshes had the highest carbon content, which is mainly attributed to the presence of the most abundant carbon-fixation microbes, Fulvivirgaceae (family) and Acidobacteria RB41 (genus), in the soil of these two plots. Both organic and dissolved organic carbon contents at 10 cm were higher than those at the other two depths for all five marshes.

The Bare flat exhibited strong carbon sequestration capability, second only to the invasive S. canadensis plot among the five plots surveyed. It also showed the highest microbial abundance and the greatest number of carbon-sequestration-related functional genes. The S. canadensis plot exhibited the lowest microbial community diversity and abundance despite having the highest carbon storage capacity. As an invasive species, S. canadensis should be removed to mitigate its ecological impact.

Heavy metals (HMs) such as Cr, Hg, Pb, etc., are major threats to human health due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. So, the determination of HMs concentrations in waters is an actual and important task.

In this paper, the method includes a preliminary concentration of HMs and other analytes (Ag, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cr, Hg, In, Pb, Sn, and Zn) from water solutions on the graphene oxide and subsequent analysis of slurries of sorbent by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ETV-ICP-OES) is developed for the first time.

The high efficiency of analytes sorption on graphene oxide made it possible to significantly increase the sensitivity of the analysis. The limits of detection of Ag, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cr, Hg, In, Pb, Sn, and Zn from 0.7 to 300 ng L^-1 are achieved for ETV-ICP-OES analysis. The use of electrothermal vaporization for sample introduction allows the analysis of sorbent suspensions and avoids the desorption stage, reduces sample dilution, increases the preconcentration factor, and improves limits of detection (LODs) of analytes by 2-33 times compared to routine inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry analysis (ICP-OES) with sorption preconcentration.

For Ba, Be, Bi, Cr, In, Pb, Sn, and Zn ETV-ICP-OES provides LODs from 2 to 33 times lower compared to conventional ICP-OES analysis with sorption preconcentration due to higher preconcentration factor and transport efficiency of introducing of the analytes concentrates into the ICP. The developed method was applied to the analysis of real tap and mineral water samples. The results of analysis by ETV-ICP-OES with preconcentration of trace elements and ICP-OES were in good agreement. As a result of lower LODs of analytes, ETV-ICP-OES analysis provides the determination of concentrations of Ba, Bi, Sn, and Pb in tap and mineral water samples.

L-cysteine (L-Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) are the most representative of biothiol, which exist widely in organisms. L-Cys is one of the essential amino acids, which can be absorbed from protein-rich food and plays a considerable role in various physiological processes. Hcy is a vital intermediate in normal mammalian metabolism of methionine but does not occur in the diet. Therefore, it is significant to exploit a rapid and sensitive strategy to measure L-Cys and Hcy.

Herein, we designed an “on-on” fluorescent platform for detecting L-Cys and Hcy with gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) as probes. During the sensing process, cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) acted as mediating substances to connected AuNCs and L-Cys (or Hcy), and triggered aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect.

The linear ranges achieved with fluorimetry of L-Cys and Hcy were 0.1-10.0 μM and 0.1-20.0 μM, respectively. Moreover, this fluorescent probe was successfully used to determine the L-Cys concentration in actual samples, and showed excellent recovery.

Furthermore, the mechanism for sensing L-Cys and Hcy has been exhaustively investigated.