The protective effect of biochanin A (BCA) on the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemistry of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in vivo was investigated. There was a significant reduction in liver weight and hepatocyte propagation, with much lower cell injury in rat groups treated with BCA (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) following a TAA induction. These groups had significantly lower levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The liver homogenates showed increased antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum biomarkers associated with liver function, namely alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma glutamyl transaminase (GGT), returned to normal levels, comparable to those observed in both the normal control group and the reference control group. Taken together, the normal microanatomy of hepatocytes, the inhibition of PCNA and α-SMA, improved antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx), and condensed MDA with repairs of liver biomarkers validated BCA’s hepatoprotective effect.

The Journal retracts the article “Hepatoprotective Effects of Biochanin A on Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Experimental Rats”

This research delineates the synthesis and subsequent application of a hydrogel nanocomposite enriched with titanium dioxide (TiO${}_2$) nanoparticles as an adsorbent for pollutants and an antibacterial agent. The nanocomposite was prepared using a hydrothermal method, facilitating the efficient incorporation of TiO${}_2$ nanoparticles. Physicochemical characterizations revealed the nanocomposite’s augmented adsorption capabilities, specifically for pollutants such as Congo red dye (CR), Amoxilline drug (AMX), and Chlorophenol (CPH). Notably, the study demonstrated that the nanocomposite could be completely regenerated and desorbed in water, attesting to its potential for recyclability. The antibacterial potential of the nanocomposite was also investigated, demonstrating significant efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and Klebsiella spp.) compared to Gram-positive strains. The findings of this study emphasize the potential applicability of the hydrogel nanocomposite as an efficient, reusable agent for pollutant removal and antibacterial activity, providing pertinent insights for environmental remediation and biomedical applications.

This research investigated the preparation and efficacy of a SA-g-p(AAc-co-AM)/ZnO hydrogel composite with enhanced biological activity. The hydrogel was synthesized using the sodium alginate biopolymer through the co-polymerization method. Our findings indicate that introducing zinc oxide nanoparticles to the hydrogel amplified its biological activity. The disc diffusion technique was applied to evaluate the antimicrobial properties against two Gram-positive bacteria isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epigenetics) and two Gram-negative bacteria (E.coli, Klebsiella spp.). The antimicrobial activities of three surfaces—ZnO, SA-g-p(AAc-co-AM) hydrogel, and SA-g-p(AAc-co-AM)/ZnO hydrogel composite—were assessed. Characterization of these prepared surfaces was executed using FE-SEM and EDX. The results highlighted that the ZnO NPs exhibited minimal antibacterial activity against both types of bacteria. Conversely, the SA-g-p(AAc-co-AM)/ZnO hydrogel composite demonstrated heightened antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus (30 mm) and Streptococcus epigenetics (25 mm). The Gram-negative bacteria, E.coli and Klebsiella spp., recorded inhibition zones of 13 mm and 12 mm, respectively. The SA-g-p(AAc-co-AM) hydrogel showed diminished antibacterial activity relative to the composite, attributed to the absence of zinc oxide. Overall, the isolated effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles indicated a minimal antibacterial influence on all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains.