Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-10-03"
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- Small steps to the big picture for health‐promoting applications through the use of chickweed (Stellariamedia): In vitro, in silico, and pharmacologicalnetwork approachesPublication . Cusumano, Gaia; Angeles Flores, Giancarlo; Cetiz, Mehmet Veysi; Kurt, Umran; Ak, Gunes; Saka, Enver; Aly, Shaza H.; Eldahshan, Omayma A.; Singab, Abdel Nasser; Zengin, Gokhan; Senkardes, Ismail; Rodrigues, Maria J.; Custódio, Luísa; Emiliani, Carla; Angelini, PaolaStellaria media L., also called chickweed, is widespread in all parts of the world. In the present study, we investigated the bio-logical properties and chemical profiles of different extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, ethanol/water, and water) of S. media. Thechemical profiles were examined using UHPLC/MS/MS technique. Regarding the biological properties, antioxidant propertiesas well as enzyme-inhibiting and cytotoxic effects of the extracts were demonstrated by in vitro methods. To obtain further in-formation about the structure-ability relationship, network pharmacology and molecular docking were also performed. Twelvephenolic compounds were identified in the extracts and most of them were flavonoids (apigenin, kaempferol derivatives, etc.).The water extract showed the best free radical scavenging activity, while the ethanol was the most active in reducing power tests.When inhibiting AChE, the ethyl acetate extract showed the best inhibitory effect. The water extract has a good cytotoxic effecton HepG2 (cell viability: 33.9% at a concentration of 100 g/mL). The analysis, performed using the STRING database, includedthese 45 cancer-associated targets. The identified hub genes were TP53, CDKN2A, PTEN, KRAS, and HRAS. In moleculardocking analysis, acacetin- O-hexoside- O-deoxyhexoside and napigenin-7- O-hexoside exhibit remarkable binding energies withproteins. Consequently, S. media can be potential raw materials for designing functional formulations in the pharmaceutical,nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.
- Insights on microplastic contamination from municipal and textile industry effluents and their removal using a cellulose-based approachPublication . Magalhães, Solange; Paciência, Daniel; Rodrigues, João M. M.; Lindman, Björn; Alves, Luís; Medronho, Bruno; Rasteiro, Maria da GraçaThe rampant use of plastics, with the potential to degrade into insidious microplastics (MPs), poses a significant threat by contaminating aquatic environments. In the present study, we delved into the analysis of effluents from textile industries, a recognized major source of MPs contamination. Data were further discussed and compared with a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. All effluent samples were collected at the final stage of treatment in their respective WWTP. Laser diffraction spectroscopy was used to evaluate MP dimensions, while optical and fluorescence microscopies were used for morphology analysis and the identification of predominant plastic types, respectively. Electrophoresis was employed to unravel the prevalence of negative surface charge on these plastic microparticles. The analysis revealed that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide were the dominant compounds in textile effluents, with PET being predominant in municipal WWTP effluents. Surprisingly, despite the municipal WWTP exhibiting higher efficiency in MP removal (ca. 71% compared to ca. 55% in textile industries), it contributed more to overall pollution. A novel bio-based flocculant, a cationic cellulose derivative derived from wood wastes, was developed as a proof-of-concept for MP flocculation. The novel derivatives were found to efficiently flocculate PET MPs, thus allowing their facile removal from aqueous media, and reducing the threat of MP contamination from effluents discharged from WWTPs.