Reports about presence and toxicity of Cd²⁺ in different chemical industrial effluents prompted the researchers to explore some economical, rapid, sensitive, and accurate methods for its determination and removal from aqueous systems. In continuation of series of investigations, adsorption of Cd²⁺ onto the stem of Saccharum arundinaceum is proposed in the present work. Optimization of parameters affecting sorption potential of Cd²⁺ including pH, contact time, temperature, sorbent dose, and concentration of sorbate was carried out to determine best suited conditions for maximum removal of sorbate. To understand the nature of sorption process, linear and nonlinear forms of five sorption isotherms including Freundlich and Langmuir models were employed. Feasibility and viability of sorption process were evaluated by calculating kinetics and thermodynamics of the process, while error analysis suggested best fitted sorption model on sorption data. Thermodynamic studies demonstrated exothermic nature of reaction, while kinetic studies suggested pseudo-second order of reaction.

The present study investigates the antidiabetic potential of polyphenol extracts purified from guava pulp, seeds and leaves using an in vivo experiment on albino rats. The polyphenols from guava pulp, seeds and leaves were extracted using methanol solvent and the sonication method while being evaluated by total phenolic contents and radical scavenging activity assay. The proximate composition of powders revealed that ash, protein and total sugars were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in leaves and seeds, while vitamin C was highest in pulp. Total phenolic and antioxidant activities were highest in pulp followed by leaves and seeds. The findings of feed intake and body gain revealed that the supplementation of polyphenols, especially from pulp, significantly (p < 0.05) increased the feed intake, which resulted in increased body weight. Moreover, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, while the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased in groups fed with polyphenols from guava pulp compared to both (+ive and –ive) control groups. Furthermore, blood glucose and triglycerides were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in supplemented groups compared to the control group of diabetes mice, which resulted in the inhibition of α-amylase and glucose transport. Besides this, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet levels were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in pulp’s extract followed by leaves and seeds compared to both control groups. Overall, the antidiabetic potential of different extracts was in the following order: pulp > leaves > seeds. The findings suggest the feasibility of adding 200–250 mg/kg.bw of polyphenol extracts of pulp as an alternative to diabetic drugs.

The current research focuses on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a polar extract of taro corms and the evaluation of its antioxidant properties and wound-healing applications. Taro corm extract (100 mL) was treated with a 5 mM AgNO₃ solution (100 mL) at room temperature for the formation of AgNPs, and a color change was observed. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks in their UV-visible spectra appeared at a range of 438-445 nm. Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction were used for the characterization of the taro corms extract-mediated AgNPs (TCE-AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were crystalline and spherical, with an average size of 244.9-272.2 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.530 and zeta potential of -18.8 mV, respectively. The antibacterial potential of TCE-AgNPs was tested, and the inhibition zones detected against Cronobacter sakazakii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis were 28, 26, 18, and 13 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of TCE-AgNPs showed significant radical-scavenging activity compared to the standard used. Collagen content data collected from regenerated tissue and higher collagen content indicated rapid wound healing compared to others, which was seen in a group treated with TCE-AgNP film bandages.

The pH-sensitive polymeric matrix of basil seed gum (BSG), with two different monomers, such as acrylic acid (AA) and N, N-Methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA), was selected to use in hydrogels preparation through a free radical copolymerization technique using potassium per sulfate (KPS) as a cross linker. BSG, AA and MBA were used in multiple ratios to investigate the polymer, monomer and initiator effects on swelling properties and release pattern of captopril. Characterization of formulated hydrogels was done by FTIR, DSC/TGA, XRD and SEM techniques to confirm the stability. The hydrogels were subjected to a variety of tests, including dynamic swelling investigations, drug loading, in vitro drug release, sol–gel analyses and rheological studies. FTIR analysis confirmed that after the polymeric reaction of BSG with the AA monomer, AA chains grafted onto the backbone of BSG. The SEM micrographs illustrated an irregular, rough, and porous form of surface. Gel content was increased by increasing the contents of polymeric gum (BSG) with monomers (AA and MBA). Acidic and basic pH effects highlighted the difference between the swelling properties with BSG and AA on increasing concentration. Kinetic modelling suggested that Korsmeyer Peppas model release pattern was followed by the drug with the non-Fickian diffusion mechanism.