Colorimetric sensing of cephradine through polypropylene glycol functionalized gold nanoparticles.

The development of metal nanoparticle-based facile colorimetric assays for drugs and insecticides is an emerging area of current scientific research. In the present work, polypropylene glycol was used for stabilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in a simple one-pot two-phase process and subsequently employed it for the specific detection of cephradine (CPH). The characterization of the prepared PPG-AuNPs was conducted through various analytical techniques such as UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), zeta potential and zetasizer techniques.

Preparation, characterization, and binding profile of imprinted semi-IPN cryogel composite for aluminum.

Human body is greatly exposed to aluminum due to its high abundance in the environment. This nonessential metal is a threat to the patients of chronic renal disorders, as it is easily retained in their plasma and quickly accumulates in different tissues. Thus, there is great need to remove it from the aqueous environment.

A review on detection of heavy metals from aqueous media using nanomaterial-based sensors.

The extensive release of heavy metals into the natural water bodies has become globally prevalent from past few decades. Heavy metal toxicity is becoming a serious threat to human and the environment. Due to their prolonged half-life, potential accumulation in different parts of body, and non-biodegradability, metal ions are being obvious entities that can cause several hazardous health risks.

Salicylaldehyde derivative of nano-chitosan as an efficient adsorbent for lead(II), copper(II), and cadmium(II) ions.

In this study, a biodegradable natural polymer chitosan was modified with salicylaldehyde to prepare salicylaldehyde functionalized chitosan nanoparticles (N-Ch-Sal). The N-Ch-Sal was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The salicylaldehyde functionalized chitosan nanoparticles (N-Ch-Sal) (~80 nm) were then used for the adsorption of three heavy metals viz.

Banana peel: an effective biosorbent for aflatoxins.

This work reports the application of banana peel as a novel bioadsorbent for in vitro removal of five mycotoxins (aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2) and ochratoxin A). The effect of operational parameters including initial pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature were studied in batch adsorption experiments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and point of zero charge (pHpzc) analysis were used to characterise the adsorbent material.

Geochemical controls of high fluoride groundwater in Umarkot Sub-District, Thar Desert, Pakistan.

Groundwater samples (n=152) were collected in the Thar Desert of the Umarkot Sub-District, Pakistan to evaluate the geochemical controls on the occurrence of high fluoride (F(-)) levels within the study area. Fluoride concentrations range from 0.06 to 44.

A rapid Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method for direct quantification of paracetamol content in solid pharmaceutical formulations.

A transmission FTIR spectroscopic method was developed for direct, inexpensive and fast quantification of paracetamol content in solid pharmaceutical formulations. In this method paracetamol content is directly analyzed without solvent extraction. KBr pellets were formulated for the acquisition of FTIR spectra in transmission mode.

Are bioactive-rich fractions functionally richer?

Plant bioresources are relied upon as natural, inexpensive, and sustainable remedies for the management of several chronic diseases worldwide. Plants have historically been consumed for medicinal purposes based on traditional belief, but this trend is currently changing. The growing interest in the medicinal properties of plant bioresources stems from concerns of side effects and other adverse effects caused by synthetic drugs.

Occurrence of ochratoxin A in poultry feeds and feed ingredients from Pakistan.

A study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in complete poultry feeds (n=80) and poultry feed ingredients (n=286) from Pakistan. All samples were first analyzed by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), samples with OTA concentrations above the European Union maximum regulatory limit (MRL, 100 μg/kg) were further confirmed by HPLC-FLD. Contamination frequency and mean OTA levels were 31% and 51 μg/kg in feed ingredients, and the corresponding values for complete feeds were 38% and 75 μg/kg.

Natural co-occurrence of aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol in poultry feed in Pakistan.

Two hundred and fifteen broiler poultry feed samples were analysed over the time period of one year for the co-occurrence of aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol (DON). These were determined by GC-MS and ELISA, respectively. LOD values for aflatoxins and DON were 0.

Core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer-based solid-phase microextraction fiber for ultra trace analysis of endosulfan I and II in real aqueous matrix through gas chromatography-micro electron capture detector.

In this study, core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer selective for endosulfan I and II was prepared by copolymerization of Fe3O4@SiO2-methacrylamide composites and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide. The synthesized polymer was thoroughly characterized by FT-IR, TGA, and SEM. The adsorption properties of the MIP and NIP were demonstrated by equilibrium rebinding experiments, pseudo-second-order kinetic model, LF-isotherm and Scatchard analysis.

Impact of seawater on distribution of fluoride and other ions in groundwater of Diplo area, Thar Desert Pakistan.

The role of seawater dilution, along with other water-quality components, has been studied to determine the causes of spatial distribution of high fluoride concentrations in the groundwater of the Diplo sub-district, Thar Desert, Pakistan. Fluoride ion concentration ranges of up to 7.60 mg/L were discovered, with mean and median values of 1.

Comparison of chemical composition of Aerva javanica seed essential oils obtained by different extraction methods.

Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Juss.

Assay of phenolic compounds from four species of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana L.) fruits: comparison of three base hydrolysis procedure for quantification of total phenolic acids.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the flavonoid profile in four species of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) fruit. The 12 flavonoids identified were quercetin 3-O-robinobioside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3'-O-galactoside, quercetin 3'-O-glucoside, quercetin 3'-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3'-O-pentosylhexoside, quercetin 3-O-6'malonylglucoside, quercetin 3'-O-malonylglucoside, luteolin 7-O-6'malonylglucoside, luteolin 7-O-malonylglucoside, myricetin 3-O-galactoside, and naringenin tri glycoside.

Antidiabetic properties of germinated brown rice: a systematic review.

Diet is an important variable in the course of type 2 diabetes, which has generated interest in dietary options like germinated brown rice (GBR) for effective management of the disease among rice-consuming populations. In vitro data and animal experiments show that GBR has potentials as a functional diet for managing this disease, and short-term clinical studies indicate encouraging results. Mechanisms for antidiabetic effects of GBR due to bioactive compounds like γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), γ-oryzanol, dietary fibre, phenolics, vitamins, acylated steryl β-glucoside, and minerals include antihyperglycemia, low insulin index, antioxidative effect, antithrombosis, antihypertensive effect, hypocholesterolemia, and neuroprotective effects.

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate: application to sample clean-up prior to gas chromatographic determination.

The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) selective for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) an environmental endocrine disruptor was prepared by suspension polymerization using methacrylamide as functional monomer and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide as cross-linker. The imprinted polymer was employed for solid-phase extraction of DEHP from water samples of environmental importance and characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The adsorption properties of the imprinted polymer were demonstrated by equilibrium rebinding experiments, Pseudo-second-order kinetic model, Sips isotherm and Scatchard analysis.

Chemical composition of essential oil from Calligonum polygonoides Linn.

The essential oil from air dried buds and roots of Calligonum polygonoides Linn., has been extracted from dry steam distillation and analysed for chemical composition by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In total, 27 and 10 compounds were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively, accounting for 68.

Development and implication of a capillary electrophoresis methodology for ciprofloxacin, paracetamol and diclofenac sodium in pharmaceutical formulations and simultaneously in human urine samples.

This work studies the development of a simple and fairly rapid methodology for simultaneous determination/separation of three frequently co-administered drugs; ciprofloxacin (CIP), paracetamol (PCT) and diclofenac sodium (DIC) using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection at 260 nm. Separation was achieved in only 6.5 min with a simple buffer of sodium tetraborate (50 mM) at pH 9.

Assessment of pesticide residues in commonly used vegetables in Hyderabad, Pakistan.

The aim of present study was to assess pesticide residues in vegetables in the Hyderabad region of Pakistan. The concentrations of six pesticides were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass selective detector (GC-MSD) in locally produced vegetables purchased from wholesale markets. A total of 200 samples of eight vegetables viz.

Simple gas chromatographic method for the quantification of total cholesterol in fish meats.

Six fish species-Cirrhinus mrigala (Morakhi), Labeo rohita (Danbhro), Catla catla (Thalli), Wallago attu (Jarko), Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass), and Cyprimus carpio (Gulfam)--commonly found in the Pakistani Indus river, were selected for fat and cholesterol evaluation. Fat content was quantified by the Folch method and cholesterol content was determined by a simple GC method. The application of the proposed method to quantify cholesterol content revealed variations among the six breeds evaluated.

Simultaneous assessment of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper in poultry feeds by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry.

In the present work four metals (Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu) were determined simultaneously in 28 commercial broiler poultry feeds by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) using hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The digestion of poultry feeds was carried out with concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide (2:1) with the help of microwave heating. Acetate buffer of pH 5 was used as a supporting electrolyte.

Lithological influences on occurrence of high-fluoride groundwater in Nagar Parkar area, Thar Desert, Pakistan.

Factors regulating the occurrence of high fluoride (F(-)) concentrations in groundwater near Nagar Parkar Town, SE corner of Pakistan have been investigated considering lithological influences. F(-) ion concentrations in groundwater range up to 7.85 with mean value of 3.

An excellent fluoride sorption behavior of modified amberlite resin.

The article describes a convenient method for the modification of Amberlite XAD-4 resin by introducing thio-urea binding sites onto the aromatic rings. The modified (ATU) resin has been employed for the quantitative sorption of fluoride ions in batch as well as column experiments. The parameters (i.

A capillary zone electrophoretic method for simultaneous determination of seven drugs in pharmaceuticals and in human urine.

A simple, sensitive, and novel method has been developed and validated for the separation and simultaneous quantitation of seven structurally different drugs-pipemidic acid and ofloxacin quinolone antibiotics, pseudoephedrine decongestant, piroxicam anti-inflammatory, thiamin, pyridoxine, and cobalamin-in a mixture by capillary zone electrophoresis. Factors affecting the separation were pH, concentration of buffer, and applied voltage. Separation was carried out in < 9 min with a 50 mM sodium tetraborate buffer, pH 10, and an applied voltage of 30 kV in an uncoated silica capillary tube.

An economically viable method for the removal of selected divalent metal ions from aqueous solutions using activated rice husk.

Biosorption of divalent metal ions, i.e. Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) onto rice husk activated (RHA) is investigated over pH range (1-10) via batch adsorption technique.