The occupational exposure of toxic metals is an important concern, because of its potential accumulation in living organisms, leading to long term toxic effects. The occupational and environmental ...contacts of toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) have been evaluated by determination of them in biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of adolescent and adults, workers of battery recycling and welding workshops. The age matched adolescent and adult residing in nonindustrial areas were also selected, termed as referent/control subjects. The blood and scalp hair samples of workers and controls were analyzed for Cd and Pb using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry previously decomposed the matrices using acid mixture. The biochemical parameters of workers of both age groups were also evaluated. The average concentrations of Cd and Pb in blood and scalp hair samples of adolescent workers were three fold higher as compared with control subjects. The drinking water in containers of both workshops contained Pb and Cd in two to four and five to thirteen folds, respectively, higher than recommended permissible limits of WHO. The significant correlations between the blood lead levels and hemoglobin (%) in adolescent (r = −0.78). The positive correlation was observed among incidence of blood pressure with Pb and Cd concentrations in biological samples of workers (adults) (r = 0.65 to 0.83). These findings suggest that occupational exposure of toxic metals might be created adverse impacts on workers due to ill management of workshops.
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•The occupational exposureof toxic metals on workers of battery recycling and welding workshops.•The environmental samples of workshops were highly contaminated with toxic metals.•The biological samples of adolescent have 3 to 4 fold higher values of toxic metals than control.•Adolescent and adults working in workshops have many physiological disorders.
In present study total arsenic, inorganic arsenic species and fluoride ion contaminations in underground water of Diplo and Chachro sub district of Tharparkar, Pakistan were investigated. The ...concentrations of total As, inorganic As species, F− and others physicochemical parameters were reported in terms of basic statistical parameters, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, sodium absorption ratio and saturation indices. The As3+ was determined by cloud point extraction using ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) as complexing reagent, and complex was extracted by surfactant-rich phases in the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114; after centrifugation the surfactant-rich phase was diluted with 0.1 mol/L HNO3 in methanol. While total inorganic arsenic (iAs) was determined by solid phase extraction using titanium dioxide (TiO2) as an adsorbent, after centrifugation, the solid phase was prepared to be slurry for determination. The extracted As species were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration of As5+ in the water samples was calculated by the difference of the total iAs and As3+, while F− and other anions were determined by ion chromatography. The positive correlation of F− and As species with Na+ and HCO3− showed that the water with high salinity and alkalinity stabilized the As species and F− in the groundwater. The positive correlation (r = 0.640, p = 0.671) was observed between total As and it species with F−. Results showed that underground water samples of these two areas of Tharparkar were severely contaminated with arsenic and fluoride ion, which are exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guideline value, and United States Environmental Protection Agency, maximum contaminant level of 0.01 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, respectively.
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► Simultaneously evaluated the contamination of F− and arsenic in underground water. ► Speciation of arsenic by cloud point and solid phase extraction methods. ► Application of multivariate statistical methods for groundwater quality assessment. ► Correlation of As and F− with other physicochemical parameters was carried out.
Cosmetics have been a part of routine body care not only for the upper classes, but also for the middle and lower classes, since the dawn of civilization. Lightening ingredients, which were ...previously only used under dermatological supervision, are increasingly being introduced into cosmetic formulations as the publicand#39;s interest in skin whitening grows. Contamination of cosmetics with heavy metals is a significant concern. Cosmetics containing heavy metals pose a major risk to human health. Heavy metal toxicity in humans has been linked to long-term or high-level exposure to toxins found in the atmosphere, such as air, water, food, and a variety of consumer goods such as cosmetics and toiletries. In the present study, the association between cadmium exposure via cosmetic products (Lipstick (N= 15), Face powder (N= 13), Eye Liner (N= 11) and Eye shadow (N= 15)} and dermatitis cosmetic female patients (N= 252), residing in Hyderabad city, Sindh, Pakistan, was investigated. The matrices of biological (scalp hair, blood, serum and nails) of referents and dermatitis cosmetic female patients (Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Rosacea, Allergic contact dermatitis and Irritant contact dermatitis) and cosmetic samples were oxidized with the help of HNO3 (65%) and H2O2 (30%) mixture at the ratio of 2:1 with the aid of microwave oven. The oxidized biological and cosmetic samples were subjected to electrothermal atomic emission spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The LOD and LOQ for Cd determination in digests samples were found to be 0.81 and 0.28 and#181;g/ L, respectively. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference materials. The cosmetic products (Lipstick, Face powder, Eye Liner and Eye shadow) of different brands contain Cd, concentrations in the ranges of 1.63– 2.30 μg/g, 0.40 – 0.76 μg/g, 1.05 – 3.60 μg/g and 1.05 – 4.53 μg/g respectively. The outcome of this research significantly showed the higher level of Cadmium in biological specimen (blood and scalp hair) of different types of female dermatitis patients as compared to referent subjects (Pandlt;0.001). To ensure human safety and protection, continuous monitoring of cosmetic products, especially with regard to heavy metals adulteration, should be implemented.
Arsenic contamination in water has caused severe health problems around the world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the geological and anthropogenic aspects of As pollution in surface and ...groundwater resources of Jamshoro Sindh, Pakistan. Hydride generator atomic absorption spectrophotometry (HG-AAS) is employed for the determination of arsenic in water samples, with detection limit of 0.02
μg
l
−1. Arsenic concentrations in surface and underground water range from 3.0 to 50.0, and 13 to 106
μg
l
−1, respectively. In most of the water samples As levels exceeded the WHO provisional guideline values 10
μg
l
−1. The high level of As in under study area may be due to widespread water logging from Indus river irrigation system which causes high saturation of salts in this semi-arid region and lead to enrichment of As in shallow groundwater. Among the physico-chemical parameters, electrical conductivity, Na
+, K
+, and SO
4
2− were found to be higher in surface and ground water, while elevated levels of Ca
2+ and Cl
− were detected only in ground water than WHO permissible limit. The high level of iron was observed in ground water, which is a possible source of As enrichment in the study area. The multivariate technique (cluster analysis) was used for the elucidation of high, medium and low As contaminated areas. It may be concluded that As originate from coal combustion at brick factories and power generation plants, and it was mobilized promotionally by the alkaline nature of the understudy groundwater samples.
Introduction:
Breast cancer poses a significant global challenge, prompting researchers to explore novel approaches for potential treatments.
Material and Methods:
For
in vitro
study we used thin ...layer chromatography (TAC) for phytochemical screening, total antioxidant capacity (TLC) assay for antioxidant capacity, and hemolytic activity test for toxicity of Neuropilins (NRPs). We performed bioinformatic analyses to predict protein structures, molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and virtual screening to reveal interactions with oncogenes. We conducted 200 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and MMGBSA calculations to assess the complex dynamics and stability.
Results:
We identified phytochemical constituents in
Nigella sativa
leaves, including tannins, saponins, steroids, and cardiac glycosides, while phlobatannins and terpenoids were absent. The leaves contained 9.4% ± 0.04% alkaloids and 1.9% ± 0.05% saponins. Methanol extract exhibited the highest yield and antioxidant capacity, with Total Flavonoid Content at 127.51 ± 0.76 mg/100 g and Total Phenolic Content at 134.39 ± 0.589 mg GAE/100 g. Hemolysis testing showed varying degrees of hemolysis for different extracts. In-silico analysis indicated stable Neuropilin complexes with key signaling pathways relevant for anti-cancer therapy. Molecular docking scores at different possesses (0, C-50, C −80, C-120,C −150, C −200 ns) revealed strong hydrogen bonding in the complexes and showed −12.9, −11.6, and −11.2 binding Affinities (kcal/mol) to support their stability. Our MD simulations analysis at 200ns confirmed the stability of Neuropilin complexes with the signaling pathways protein PI3K. The calculated binding free energies using MMGBSA provided valuable quantitative information on ligand potency on different time steps. These findings highlight the potential health benefits of
N. sativa
leaves and their possible role in anti-cancer treatments targeting angiogenesis.
Conclusion:
Nigella sativa
leaves have shown significant medical potential due to their bioactive compounds, which exhibit strong properties in supporting organogenic processes related to cancer. Furthermore, studies have highlighted the promising role of neuropilins in anticancer treatment, demonstrating stable interactions and potential as targeted therapy specifically for breast cancer.
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•To quantify the Cr species in ASE of different types of snuff products consumed in Pakistan.•Speciation of chromium by m-CPE method, prior to analysis by ETAAS.•Risk assessment for ...chromium exposure via snuff products.
A modified cloud point extraction method (m-CPE) was developed for the speciation of chromium species (Cr3+ and Cr6+) in artificial saliva extracts (ASE) of snuff products. In this method, Cr3+ was complexed with 8-hydroxyquinoline, which was trapped in nonionic surfactant (Triton X-114), prior to analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer (ETAAS). Whereas, the total extractable Cr was determined by reducing Cr6+ to Cr3+ using Na2SO3 as a reducing reagent. Several parameters were optimized for the developed m-CPE. Under the most favorable conditions, enrichment factor, enhancement factor and limit of detection for the proposed method were 60, 134 and 0.04μgL−1, respectively having relative standard deviation <5%. Health risks associated with the intake of total Cr in snuff products was also assessed. Estimated daily intake of Cr via sniffing 10g/day of dry and moist snuff products was found below the maximum tolerable daily intake whereas the calculated risk for cancer due to Cr was observed in the acceptable range of 10 E−6–E−4.
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•Synthesize zirconium oxide nanoparticles using Salvadora oleoides leaves extract and successfully characterized.•Fabricated amino phenylboronic acid-zirconium oxide nanoparticle ...modified gold electrode.•Selective, sensitive, reproducible, with a wide dynamic detection range and a best alternative to ion selective electrode for trace detection for fluoride.
A novel fluoride selective voltammetric method has been developed by using the 3-amino phenylboronic acid (APBA)-zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles modified gold (APBA-ZrO2-NPs/Au) electrode for sensitive detection of F− at trace levels in water and toothpaste. A co-precipitation approach was applied to synthesize ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2-NPs) using Salvadora oleoides leaves extract and characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for morphological and structural analysis. The APBA-ZrO2-NPs/Au electrode was fabricated by coated of ZrO2-NPs on the surface of Au electrode by drop costing method followed by electrochemical polymerization of APBA. The reduction response of peak current of potassium ferricyanide was achieved by the interaction of the phenylboronic acid with F−to produce the boronate anions. Thus, the method was optimized in detailed for successive electrochemical detection of F−. Two linear relations were observed in reduction peak current and logarithm of F− concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10–9 – 3.0 × 10–4 M and 3.0 × 10–4 – 1.0 × 10–2M, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated as 3.0 × 10–10 and 1.0 × 10–9 M, respectively. Interference of other competing anions, including chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, sulphate, carbonate, and nitrate, was also investigated. Furthermore, the developed APBA-ZrO2-NPs/Au was employed to the fast detection, wide range of response, and high selectivity of F− in water and toothpaste samples.
•Rhizopus oryzae lipase efficiently hydrolyzed castor oil at ambient conditions.•A high yield of FFA 90% was achieved at only 0.01% (w/v) enzyme dose.•First time ATR-FTIR spectroscopy used to ...quantify lipolytic activity of castor oil.•FTIR method showed better performance from chemical method of FFA analysis.
A rapid and environmental friendly Attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic method was developed for monitoring the Rhizopus oryzae lipase (ROL) catalyzed hydrolysis of castor oil in oil-in-water emulsion system. A calibration curve was constructed using partial least square (PLS) model by gravimetric addition of oleic acid (10–50%) in castor oil to detect the carbonyl absorption of free fatty acids (FFA) in the region (1690–1730cm−1). The correlation co-efficient (R2) and root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) by PLS model were found to be 0.999 and 0.316, respectively. ROL was found to be an efficient biocatalyst to produce free fatty acids (FFA) from castor oil. Factors affecting the rate of hydrolysis such as enzyme concentration (0.01%, w/v), pH (7), temperature (37°C), oil–water ratio (1:4) and reaction time (12h) were optimized. Under all set of conditions the ROL effectively hydrolyzed castor oil up to 90% yield of fatty acids. The methodology is fairly environmental friendly in both cases, i.e. using lipase for hydrolysis of castor oil and analyzing the product through FTIR spectroscopy.
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•Biosynthesis of nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe2O4-NPs)•Analytical characterization of Biosynthesized of nickel ferrite nanoparticles.•Fabrication of Biosynthesis of nickel ...ferrite nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (NiFe2O4-NPs/GCE)•Electrochemical characterization of NiFe2O4-NPs/GCE.•Optimization of experimental parameters for the electrochemical detection of ceftriaxone.•Analytical performances of NiFe2O4-NPs/GCE for quantitative detection of Ceftriaxone.•Stability, reproducibility, and interference study•Real sample applications
Ceftriaxone (Cef) is an anti-bactericidal medicine and belongs to the group of third generation antibiotics. Usually, antibiotics are analyzed by spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. However, electrochemical-based analysis is one of the most convenient, cost-effective, fast, and accurate tools for the measurement of a variety of analytes. In this project, a green methodology was adopted to synthesize nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe2O4-NPs) by using fagonia plant extract. Biosynthesized NiFe2O4-NPs were characterized by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy as well as advanced spectroscopic techniques for the confirmation of surface morphology, crystallite nature, and particle size distribution. An efficient electrochemical sensor was fabricated as NiFe2O4-NPs modified glassy carbon electrode (NiFe2O4-NPs/GCE) for the selective detection of Cef. To study the electron transfer behaviour a new fabricated sensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. An electrochemical approach was developed for the quantification of Cef in the dynamic range of 10 x10-9–3.2 x10-6 M (R2 = 0.998) with a detection limit (1.6 x10-9 M). The analytical characteristics including reproducibility, accuracy, and precession of the developed method were studied in detail. The sensor was successfully applied to real sample analysis (pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids) for the determination of Cef and showed an excellent % recovery from 92.20 to 102.50.
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