Emerging and classical pollutants, such as antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes and heavy metals derived from human activity, currently pose serious threats to the environment and human health. Despite the grave danger posed by these pollutants, there is still no adequate monitoring of their presence in the environment. The regular determination of these contaminants in the environment can play a crucial role in the protection of human health and the preservation of ecosystems. New analytical techniques allow the reproducible quantification of analytes at very low concentration levels. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), with selective recognition, have also been combined with quantum dots (QDs) and suggested as valuable materials in the construction of optical sensors. Several strategies have been proposed for the selective detection of these pollutants in recent years. Rather than employing expensive, time-consuming standard analytical methods, fluorescent quantum dots coupled with molecularly imprinted polymers can be used for developing simple, rapid and highly selective analytical methods for the detection of these pollutants. This review presents a brief discussion on the application of tailor-made polymeric materials in tandem with quantum dots for the rational construction of efficient sensors capable of determining the presence of these pollutants in aquatic environments.

Abstract Food safety with maintained fruit quality is an important challenge for postharvest industry of citrus fruits. The present study was designed to check the effects of gamma irradiation on postharvest fruit quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin stored at 5 ± 1 °C and 90 ± 5% Relative Humidity. In the first experiment, fruits were exposed to different doses of gamma radiation (100-500 Gy), while after analyzing the results of first experiment, in the second experiment fruits were treated with 500, 600, 800 and 1000 Gy of gamma radiation. It was observed that higher doses of gamma irradiation exhibited lower weight loss and disease incidence as well as inhibiting the increase of soluble solid content (SSC) and retained higher titratable acidity (TA) and lower SSC: TA ratio. After 90 days of storage, maximum levels ascorbic acid, total phenolic contents and total antioxidants along with catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were recorded higher in fruits treated with 800 Gy. These fruit also exhibited higher score of taste, aroma and texture during storage. Overall results suggest that pre-storage treatment of 800 Gy is the most effective treatment and have potential application for quality management of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin under long term cold storage.

Abstract In the current study, the solubility and permeability of Osthole-loaded microemulsion were enhanced, which increased bioavailability. In addition, Carbomer 940 was added for prolonged drug delivery. The microemulsion was prepared after the screening of Kukui oil, Labrasol (surfactant), and transcutol-P (co-surfactant). Pseudoternary phase diagrams were employed to find the microemulsion region. Box Behnken Design (BBD) was employed for optimizing microemulsions. Variables were related and compared using mathematical equations and response surface plots (RSP). MEBG was then compared with control gel on the basis of stability studies, drug permeation, skin irritation studies, and anti-inflammatory studies. Microemulsion preparations depicted a pH of 5.27 - 5.80, a conductivity of 139 - 185 μS/cm, a poly-dispersity index of 0.116 - 0.388, a refractive index of 1.330 - 1.427, an average droplet size of 64 - 89 nm, homogeneity, spherical shape, viscosity 52 - 185 cP. Predicted values of Optimized microemulsions showed more reasonable agreement than experimental values. The microemulsion was stable and non-irritating on Rabbit skin. MEBG showed a significant difference from control gel for percent edema inhibition from the standard. The permeation enhancing capability of MEBG using a suitable viscosity fabricates it promising carrier for transdermal delivery of Osthole.

ABSTRACT Ten coumarin class of compounds, including new fused coumarinolignoids namely, mucronin-C ( 1 ) were isolated from the methanol extract from whole plant of Daphne mucronata Royle. The structures of mucronin-C ( 1 ) and its configurations were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods including 1DNMR, 2D-NMR and HR-FAB-MS. The isolated compounds 1 - 10 were evaluated for in-vitro biological activities. The anti-inflammatory (lipoxygenase) activities of compound 1, 4, 8, 9 and 10 (IC50 = 21.7, 23.7, 25.1, 27.3 and 26.0 μg/mL, respectively) were higher compared with standard Quercetin (IC50 = 22.5 μg/mL). The antioxidant property of coumarin as evaluated by DPPH scavenging bioassay was significantly greater in compounds 1-5, 9 and 10 (IC50 = 0.7, 0.8, 1.9, 2.3, 2.8, 0.5 and 2.1 μg/mL respectively) as standard Trolox (IC50 = 0.3 μg/mL). The density functional descriptors in the progress of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) are significant to analyze the reactive sites and antioxidant ability of compounds. We have explored the reactive sites and radical scavenging activity of studied coumarin derivatives by shedding light on electron affinity, ionization potential, molecular electrostatic potential, frontier molecular orbitals and molecular descriptors analysis. First-principles calculations about one-electron transfer mechanism revealed that smaller ionization potential value of Compounds 1-5, 9 and 10 are leading to superior antioxidant activity, which is in good agreement with the experimental data.

Abstract The purpose of present study was to prepare transdermal therapeutic system that could enhance dissolution of poorly aqueous soluble drug Celecoxib and thus increase its skin permeation. Solubility studies screened triacetin as oil, cremophor RH 40 as surfactant and Polyethylene Glycol 400 as co-surfactant. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were constructed to find out microemulsion region. Independent variables (oil, Smix and water) concentration was used at high (+1) and low levels (-1) that would generate 17 different combinations of microemulsions. Microemulsions were characterized, optimized and evaluated. pH, viscosity, conductivities, refractive index, droplet size and poly-dispersity-index was investigated. Prepared microemulsions were oil in water, thermodynamically stable, isotropic, transparent, deflocculated and within narrow range of size. Mathematical equations and response surface plots related the independent and dependent variables. Optimum microemulsion ME6 was further incorporated with carbomer 940 gel base to produce microemulsion based gel. ME6 and its gel showed significant difference (p<0.05) from control gel. Stability studies showed prepared MEBG of celecoxib was stable during storage period. Skin irritation studies found the gel was safe and non-irritating to skin. Anti-inflammatory studies showed significant difference (p<0.05) compared to control gel. Thus, the therapeutic system was successfully developed and optimized using Box Behnken statistical design.

Abstract This paper presents the first comprehensive report on traditional uses of medicinal shrubs of Rawalakot city, district Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Ethobotanical data obtained from 120 informants were analyzed by relative frequency citation, use value, family use value, informant consensus factor, fidelity level and Jaccard index. In total, 41 shrubs belonging to 24 families and 34 genera were documented. Rosaceae was reported the most dominant family in the area (six species) and Berberidaceae showed maximum family use value (0.68). Leaves (35%) and fruits (33%) were the most commonly used plant parts and most of the medicines were prepared in the form of decoction. The high informant consensus factor value (0.94) was recorded for diabetic disease category. Medicinal plants with high fidelity level values (100% each) were Berberis lycium, Cydonia oblanga, Ricinus communis, Ziziphus jujuba and Nerium oleander. Berberis lycium was the most significant shrub in the area with highest use value (0.68). Relative frequency citation value was maximum for Rubus ellipticus (0.30), Nerium oleander and Indigofera heterantha (0.10 each). Percentage of similar plant uses ranged from 21.05 to 0.62% and dissimilarity percentage ranged from 32.50 to 0.66%. Out of the 41 shrub species, six were reported with new therapeutic uses and may represent new bioresources. These were Debregeasia salicifolia (diabetes), Desmodium elegans (anti-cancerous), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (jaundice), Hypericum oblongifolium (arthritis), Sarcococca saligna (tuberculosis), Rubus niveus (chronic cough) and Otostegia limbata (renal disorders). We suggest that species reported with high use value should be involved in cultivation and agricultural practices for their sustainable use and those reported with new therapeutic uses should be employed in further biotechnological, pharmacological and clinical studies in order to validate their traditional uses.

A simple extractive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the quantification of mirtazapine. This method is based on the formation of ion-association complex of mirtazapine drug with bromocresol purple dye. The absorbance of the complex was measured at 400 nm. The method was successfully applied to the determination of mirtazapine in their pharmaceutical formulations. The method shows a linear range from 0.2-10 μg mL-1 with a molar absorptivity of 1.53 '10 4 L mol-1 cm-1. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 0.096 μg mL-1 and 0.32μg mL-1 respectively. The developed methodology was successfully applied for the determination of mirtazapine in commercial formulation and the percentage recovery was found 99.91 ± 0.15. The developed methodology promises a feasible, low cost and an efficient method for the routine analysis.