Sanskriti University

This review aims to explore the molecular mechanisms through which herbal drugs modulate insulin resistance, a central feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome. Specifically, it focuses on the roles of three critical intracellular signaling pathways—AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)—in mediating the antidiabetic effects of various phytochemicals. Recent studies have identified several bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, such as berberine, curcumin, resveratrol, and ginsenosides, that influence insulin sensitivity by targeting AMPK, PPARs, and mTOR pathways. These compounds enhance glucose uptake, promote lipid oxidation, reduce inflammation, and restore metabolic homeostasis. Evidence also suggests significant crosstalk among these pathways, indicating the potential of multi-targeted herbal therapies. However, challenges such as poor bioavailability, lack of standardization, and limited clinical validation remain significant barriers to clinical translation. Herbal medicines offer promising alternatives or adjuncts to conventional antidiabetic therapies by modulating key metabolic pathways involved in insulin resistance. Their multitargeted actions on AMPK, PPARs, and mTOR pathways highlight their therapeutic potential. Future research should focus on improving bioavailability, standardizing formulations, and conducting large-scale clinical trials to validate efficacy and safety. A deeper mechanistic understanding and integration with personalized medicine approaches could further enhance the clinical utility of herbal interventions in managing insulin resistance and T2DM.

Desflurane is a fluorinated ether anesthetic with several clinical benefits, including resistance to defluorination (reducing nephrotoxicity), rapid emergence, cardioprotective properties, and faster recovery of airway reflexes than other volatile agents. However, its use is increasingly restricted because of environmental concerns, and the European Union has finalized regulations to phase out its use from January 2026, citing its global warming potential. Although its 100-year global warming potential exceeds that of comparable agents, the most appropriate emission metric remains debated. Radiative forcing estimates indicate that current atmospheric concentrations of desflurane contribute approximately 0.00014 W/m2, compared with 2.33 W/m2 for CO2, suggesting a minimal overall impact. Since sevoflurane yields lower values for all indicators, it should be prioritized when volatile anesthetics are used, whereas desflurane should be reserved for specific situations. Moreover, alternative anesthetics, including intravenous agents, have their own environmental burdens related to plastic waste, drug disposal, and energy consumption, indicating that restricting desflurane alone will not eliminate anesthetic-related environmental impacts. This review assesses the balance between desflurane’s clinical utility and environmental effects, identifies contexts in which it offers clinical advantages, summarizes its greenhouse gas contributions, and discusses mitigation strategies, including low-flow anesthesia, anesthetic gas capture and recycling. Judicious, environmentally conscious use of desflurane may allow it to remain an additional anesthetic option in selected clinical contexts, alongside other inhaled and intravenous anesthetics, while efforts to minimize its environmental footprint continue.

This study presents a comprehensive first-principles investigation of the structural, magnetic, mechanical, thermal, electronic, and optical properties of MnBi4Te7 and MnBi6Te10 through spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT). Ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) configurations have been studied to determine the magnetic ground state and the material properties of each. The AFM arrangement is shown to be the ground state by total energy calculations, which indicate its energetic stability. Little variation in the measured lattice parameters in FM and AFM states is observed, suggesting weak magneto-structural coupling. The elastic constants meet the Born stability criteria, indicating that the model is mechanically stable, with the AFM phase slightly stiffer. Thermal characteristics indicate that the Debye temperatures of layered materials are moderate and can lead to controlled thermal expansion, a property that defines layered materials. Electronic band-structure and density-of-states analyses show that both compounds are indirect-band-gap semiconductors with band edges formed primarily by hybridized Te/Bi p-states and Mn d-states. Optical characteristics such as the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, and energy-loss function exhibit a strong response in the low-energy region, particularly near 1 eV. Although FM and AFM are similar in optical characteristics, there are small shifts in the position of peaks in some magnetic orders. Electron localization function (ELF) analysis confirms mixed ionic–covalent bonding with negligible difference between magnetic states. The conclusion from these results is that the electronic and optical fine features are strongly influenced by magnetic ordering, whereas structural, mechanical, and thermal properties remain largely unaffected.

Abstract In this study, graphitic carbon nitride, often known as g-C₃N₄, has also been shown to be a highly attractive photocatalyst that works well with visible light. However, its performance has been adversely affected by its relatively large bandgap, sluggish charge transfer, and rapid recombination of electrons and holes. Here, we apply density functional theory (DFT) to compare pure-state g-C₃N₄ and g-C₃N₄ doped with scandium (Sc) and investigate their structural, electronic, optical, and vibrational characteristics. After optimizing the structure, this led to a slight expansion of the lattice, where Sc fills the heptazine pore locations, resulting in an increase in overall stability. We observe that the hybridization between Sc 3d and N 2p decreases the bandgap from around 2.1 eV to around 1.9 eV. This also shifts the conduction band edge to more negative potentials and increases visible light absorption. The difference in charge density and Bader charge calculation suggests a large transfer from Sc to N, which leads to a local polarization field, allowing us to separate electrons from the holes. No imaginary modes are present in the phonon dispersion spectra, which indicates dynamic stability. Furthermore, mode hardening indicates more rigidity of lattices. The effect of these factors and combined energy generation with photocatalytic activity allows an efficient synthesis of solar hydrogen and a low emission of CO₂, and a degradation of pollutants and utilization of it in an energy storage system. Thus, Sc-doped g-C₃N₄ is a strong, stable, and productive platform for photocatalysis enhancement.