Communities in DSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Green Surfactants and Nanomaterial Composites: Advanced Materials for Improved Applications
(CRC Press, 2026) Sudheer, Farhat A. Ansari, Afifa, Rizwan
Emerging research on new biological materials for supporting metallic nanoparticles has surged in recent times, mostly driven by their enhanced ecological compatibility and lower risk to health. Their stability frequently plays a crucial role in determining their function and prolonged durability. Presently, there is an increasing interest in using biosurfactants because of their long-lasting advantages. Biosurfactants find utility in diverse economic and industrial fields, including the processing of food, medicinal use, and agribusiness. Biologic surfactants form durable coats around nanoparticles to prevent aggregation and give them sustained integrity. A compilation of significant scientific studies on the stability and encapsulation of nanoparticles of metal nanoparticles as biosurfactants is described in this chapter. A thorough analysis of the inherent characteristics and environmental factors of metal nanoparticles covered with biosurfactants is also presented in this work. Furthermore, this study also emphasizes future methods and possible remedies for stabilizing nanoparticles in nanoparticle manufacturing using biosurfactants. This work aims to verify that the stabilized nanoparticles demonstrate biocompatible characteristics, rendering them appropriate for use in various areas.
Neuroprotective Interventions with Camellia sinensis and Withania somnifera: Molecular and Antioxidant Strategies Against Cognitive Decline and Neurodegeneration
(Deep Science Publishing, 2025) Chetna Verma, Layeeq Ahmad2, Ashish Patel, Johny Lakra, Jagruti Yuvraj Satkar
Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, are characterized by progressive neuronal loss, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired synaptic signaling. Among natural phytotherapeutics, Camellia sinensis (green tea) and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) have emerged as promising neuroprotective agents due to their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive-enhancing properties. Bioactive polyphenols such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from C. sinensis and withanolides from W. somnifera modulate key molecular pathways, including Nrf2/ARE, NF-kB, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK, thereby attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that these phytochemicals enhance neuronal survival, promote synaptic plasticity, reduce amyloid-ẞ aggregation, and restore mitochondrial homeostasis Also, their synergistic antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects offer perspectives for integrative approaches to cognitive decline. This chapter provides an overview of the molecular areas, therapeutic potential and translational follows-up of C. sinensis and W. somnifera on neurodegeneration as a neuroprotective agent in this area
Utilization of Peels of Citrus Fruit for Extracting Essential Oil Using Steam Distillation and Soxhlet Extraction
(Book Rivers, 2026) Saimah Khan, Yusra Khatoon
The widely cultivated citrus plants in the family Rutaceae are orange, lemon, and sweet lime. The production and consumption of these fruits are relatively high worldwide. On the other hand, the peels of these fruits also contribute to environmental pollution, as they are often discarded as waste. The utilization of waste peel is a point of interest. The waste peel can be used to obtain essential oil for various applications. Citrus essential oil is widely used in food, the chemical industry, medical treatment, and other fields because of its pleasant aroma, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial activity. Citrus fruit peel waste can be an effective feedstock for the isolation of natural bioactive compounds, such as limonene, a high-value-added chemical widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industrial applications. In this project, a cost-effective method is used to obtain essential oil from citrus fruit peels. Extraction is performed using Steam distillation and the Soxhlet apparatus. In this study, the peels of three fruits, namely orange, sweet lime, and lemon, were extracted using Steam distillation and Soxhlet apparatus, and their percentage yield was calculated. From the results, it is concluded that the percentage yield of all three fruit peel samples using Steam distillation follows the order: Orange peel EO > Lemon peel EO > Sweet lime peel EO. From the results, it is concluded that the percentage yield of all three fruit peel samples
Extraction of Piperine from Black Pepper
(Book Rivers, 2026) Saimah Khan, Zeba Ali Mumtaj, Mohd Arsh Khan
Black pepper is cultivated and harvested in tropical regions of Sri Lanka and India. Black pepper is one of the most commonly consumed spices, and its pungency is mostly due to the presence of alkaloid known as piperine. Piperine is found in black pepper (piper nigrum) and white pepper. Piperine represents diverse biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, pesticide anti-Alzheimer’s, antidepressant and most importantly piperine is known as the bioavailability enhancer (it is one of the most promising bio enhancers to date). Furthermore, different combinations of piperine with available marketed drugs to improve the bioavailability have also been included. This naturally occurring alkaloid has numerous demonstrated health effects and beneficial therapeutic properties; nevertheless, its biological applications are limited due to its poor solubility in an aqueous environment. This paper presents isolation from pepper using soxhlet extraction and steam distillation process. The methods under study involve the extraction of piperine with various solvents such as ethanol and dichloromethane. Then isolation and purification were followed by separate classical methods for respective extracts. Then identification of the compound was confirmed by various analytical methods melting point, FT-IR Spectroscopy compared it with authentic piperine which resulted in better pure piperine crystals as that of authentic piperine.
Fabrication, characterization and adsorption kinetics of Polyaniline towards organic pollutant
(Book Rivers, 2026) Fiza Khan, Amrita, Adeeba Meraj, Nafees Ahmad
Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized through efficient polymerization process of aniline monomer in an acidic medium. The structural properties of PANI were thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm the formation of the polymer and assess its crystallinity. To evaluate the adsorption performance of PANI, methylene blue (MB), a commonly used dye, was employed as the adsorbate. A series of adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms of PANI. The results showed that the adsorption kinetics of PANI followed both the pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order models, indicating that the adsorption process involved both physical and chemical interactions. These findings demonstrate that PANI is a promising, effective, and cost-efficient adsorbent material for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions.