Purpose
Herbal residues from the production and processing of medicinal plants are usually discarded as waste material.
Plantago major
is an edible plant, traditionally used for medicinal purposes, ...having wide application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, usually in the form of liquid extracts and tinctures. In this work, extracts of
P. major
leaves waste remaining after industrial tincture production and dried leaves used initially for tincture production were investigated and compared.
Methods
The chemical composition was obtained by FTIR analysis, whereas polyphenolic profile was assessed by HPLC. Antioxidant activity, sun protection factor (SPF), cytotoxic activity against colon carcinoma (HCT116) and melanoma (Hs294T) human cell lines as well as antistaphylococcal activity against
S. aureus
ATCC strains and one clinical isolate were also evaluated.
Results
FTIR analysis revealed wider chemical diversity in waste samples than in initial plant material. Among detected phenolics, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, and rutin were the most abundant in all extracts, whereas luteolin was even higher in the waste. Waste extracts had a significantly lower sun protection factor (SPF) when compared to initial dried leaves. On the contrary, cytotoxic activity of waste extracts against tested human cell lines were more efficient when compared to initial dried leaves, which can be attributed to the higher luteolin content in tincture residues. Both waste and initial dried leaves extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested
S. aureus
strains at higher tested concentrations.
Conclusion
P. major
waste remaining after industrial tincture production represents high-value material with great valorization potential.
Graphic abstract
The dinuclear platinum(II) complexes, {PtCl(NH3)2}2(μ‐1,6‐nphe)(ClO4)2 (Pt1) and {Pt(en)Cl}2(μ‐1,6‐nphe)(ClO4)2 (Pt2) (en is a bidentate‐coordinated ethylenediamine and 1,6‐nphe is the bridging ...1,6‐naphthyridine ligand) were synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. The DNA‐binding evaluation of complexes Pt1 and Pt2 was done by UV–Vis, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and their interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The cytotoxic activity of these complexes was determined against mouse breast (4T1) and colon (CT26) cancer cell lines, human breast (MDA‐MB‐468), colon (HCT‐116), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines as well as mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSC). Complex Pt1 showed higher cytotoxic capacity toward solid cancer cell lines compared with Pt2 and lower cytotoxic capacity toward mMSC cells compared with cisplatin. Furthermore, molecular mechanism studies showed that Pt1 complex induced 4T1 and A549 cell apoptosis therefore increasing expression of pro‐apoptotic caspase‐3 and decreasing expression of anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 and Ki‐67. Antitumor capacity of Pt1 complex might be manifested at least in two ways: by facilitating apoptosis and by inhibiting tumor cells proliferation.
Two new dinuclear platinum(II) complexes, cis‐{PtCl(NH3)2}2(μ‐1,6‐nphe)(ClO4)2 (Pt1) and {Pt(en)Cl}2(μ‐1,6‐nphe)(ClO4)2 (Pt2), were synthesized, spectroscopically characterized, and their cytotoxic activity were evaluated against panel of tumor cell lines and mesenchymal stem cells (mMSC). Complex Pt1 showed higher cytotoxic capacity toward solid cancer cell lines compared with Pt2. Pt1 complex increased expression of pro‐apoptotic caspase‐3 and decreased expression of anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2. Antitumor capacity of Pt1 complex might be manifested at least in two manners: by facilitating apoptosis and by inhibiting tumor cells proliferation.
The district heating system in Serbia, with an installed capacity of 6600 MW, currently supplies 58 towns with thermal energy. As a candidate country for accession to the European Union, Serbia faces ...the obligation to reduce the level of its GHG emissions as part of environmental reforms. This paper presents a basic scenario and three alternatives for final energy consumption in the district heating sector for the years 2015, 2020, and 2025. It is suggested that demand for heating will increase 10% up to 2020 and by 15% up to 2025, in relation to 2015 levels, while the share of each energy carrier will not change. Changing the structure of energy sources for heat supply assumes a decrease in the share of coal and liquid fuel, and increases in the use of biomass and natural gas. The results obtained were compared to the General Index of Sustainability which is a measure of the complexity of the proposed energy scenario. The paper considers the formation of related energy indicators as quantitative tools for the analysis of changes. It also proposes a methodology for multi-criteria analysis in the sustainability assessment of complex energy systems based on the stochastic evaluation of criteria (sets of indicators and sub-indicators). In this way, the results of the multi-criteria assessment can help in the decision-making process in cases where economic, social and ecological criteria are considered to be influential.
Greenhouse gases emission as well as total energy consumption in buildings of public importance, such as schools, municipal buildings, health care centers, can be significantly reduced by increasing ...buildings? energy efficiency. Buildings? energy consumption adds up to 37% of total energy consumption in the EU countries. In the Republic of Serbia this amount is significantly higher, about 50%. School buildings are considered as one of the most diverse structures from the point of energy-efficient design and construction. The main aim of this paper is to determine the most appropriate settings for possible improvements in energy efficiency and temperature comfort inside a typical primary school classroom in Serbia. The energy efficiency analysis was performed during the heating season for the naturally ventilated primary school classroom located in the eastern Serbia region. The analysis was performed using novel CFD model, suggested in this paper. The suggested model was used to solve two hypothetical scenarios. The first scenario simulates the temperature field in classroom with current energy characteristic envelope of the school building. The calculated numerical data from the first scenario were compared with in-situ measurements values of temperature and wall heat fluxes and showed satisfying accuracy. The second scenario was simulated to indicate possible improvements, which would allow energy consumption decrease and thermal quality enhancement. The analyzed results, calculated using the suggested numerical model under the second scenario conditions, showed that using appropriate set of measures, it is possible to obtain desired temperature comfort levels without need for increase in the building energy consumption.
and
(subfam. Polygonoideae) are used in traditional cuisines and folk medicine in various cultures. Previous studies indicated that phytochemicals obtained from Polygonoideae plants could sensitize ...chemoresistant cancer cells and enhance the efficacy of some cytostatics. Here, the cytotoxic properties of chemically characterized ethanol extracts obtained from
and
, individually and in combination with doxorubicin (D), were determined against hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Phenolic composition, cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and the expression of Keap1 and Nrf2 were examined by following methods: LC-MS/MS, LC-DAD-MS, MTT, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR. Extracts were rich in dietary polyphenolics. Synergistic cytotoxicity was detected for extracts combined with D. The observed synergisms are linked to the interference with apoptosis, cell cycle, and expression of Keap1-Nrf2 genes involved in cytoprotection. The combined approach of extracts and D could emerge as a potential pathway of chemotherapy improvement.
Background: Early prediction of COVID-19 patients’ mortality risk may be beneficial in adequate triage and risk assessment. Therefore, we aimed to single out the independent morality predictors of ...hospitalized COVID-19 patients among parameters available on hospital admission. Methods: An observational, retrospective−prospective cohort study was conducted on 703 consecutive COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the University Clinical Center Kragujevac between September and December 2021. Patients were followed during the hospitalization, and in-hospital mortality was observed as a primary end-point. Within 24 h of admission, patients were sampled for blood gas and laboratory analysis, including complete blood cell count, inflammation biomarkers and other biochemistry, coagulation parameters, and cardiac biomarkers. Socio-demographic and medical history data were obtained using patients’ medical records. Results: The overall prevalence of mortality was 28.4% (n = 199). After performing multiple regression analysis on 20 parameters, according to the initial univariate analysis, only four independent variables gave statistically significant contributions to the model: SaO2 < 88.5 % (aOR 3.075), IL-6 > 74.6 pg/mL (aOR 2.389), LDH > 804.5 U/L (aOR 2.069) and age > 69.5 years (aOR 1.786). The C-index of the predicted probability calculated using this multivariate logistic model was 0.740 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Parameters available on hospital admission can be beneficial in predicting COVID-19 mortality.
The effect of partial replacement of cement by unprocessed calcareous fly ash on fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete was investigated. Concrete mixes containing 27.5%, 35%, ...42.5%, 50%, 57.5% and 65% of fly ash based on the total weight of binder (cement + fly ash) were tested. All the mixes were designed to have the same volume proportions of paste, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. Properties investigated were slump flow, J-ring, V-funnel, L-box and sieve segregation of fresh concrete mixes and compressive and flexural strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, water absorption, volume of permeable voids and density of hardened concrete. The results showed that increase in fly ash content from 27.5% to 50% leads to improvement in workability without significant effect on segregation resistance and hardened concrete properties. Further increase in fly ash content results in worsening of both fresh and hardened concrete properties.
Background/Aim. Reactive thrombocytosis, as a paraneoplastic syndrome, is often observed in cancer patients. A variety of tumor-related humoral factors and cytokines con-tribute to tumor-stimulated ...thrombopoiesis. However, the exact role of these cytokines in the pathogenesis of thrombocytosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze systemic values of cytokines and clinical-pathological characteristics in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients with and without thrombocytosis. Methods. Fifty nine CRC patients were involved in this study and divided into two groups according to the number of platelets. We recorded and analyzed the data about: age, gender, size of the cancer, localization, metastasis, vascular or lymph vessel invasion, nuclear grade, histological differentiation rate, tumor, nodus, metastasis (TNM) stage and concentration of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-33, IL-12, IL-17 and interferon (IFN)-? in both groups. Results. CRC patients with thrombocytosis had significantly higher nuclear grade of the cancer (p = 0.002); higher percentage of detectable metastatic lesions in the liver (p = 0.002), lung (p = 0.001), peritoneal carcinomatosis (p = 0.001), detectable invasion of blood (p = 0.012) and lymph vessels (p = 0.010). Concentrations of tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and se-rum values of IL-1 a nd I L-33 were significantly higher in CRC patients with thrombocytosis. IL-1/IL-12 (p = 0.016), IL-1/IFN-? (p = 0.007), IL-1/IL-17 (p = 0.006), IL-33/IL- 12 (p = 0.001), IL-33/IFN-? (p = 0.001), IL-33/IL-17 (p = 0.002), and IL-33/IL-1 (p = 0.006) ratios were significantly higher in CRC patients with thrombocytosis in comparison to CRC patients without thrombocytosis. Analysis of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves showed that values of IL-1 area under curve (AUC) = 0.718; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.567?0.868; sensitivity 69.2%, specificity 62.9% and IL-33 (AUC = 0.763; 95% CI: 0.614? 0.911; sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 65.7%), could be serve as possible markers for paraneoplastic thrombocytosis in CRC patients. Conclusion. IL-1 a nd I L-33 significantly correlated to high thrombocyte number in patients with more aggressive CRC.
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