ABSTRACT Microbiological deterioration, particularly by molds, is a major issue in fruit spoilage. This study developed an edible coating made from banana peel pectin, cinnamon essential oil (CEO), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) using the Pickering emulsion technique as a prospective technology to maintain fruit quality. The most stable emulsion containing 0.05% CNC was selected based on the cream index, combined with 0.5% CEO and 0.5% pectin solution, then applied to fruits and cast into films. GC‐MS analysis of CEO revealed the presence of cinnamaldehyde, caryophyllene, and eugenol. SEM analysis of the pectin/CNC/CEO formulation showed a smooth and homogeneous film surface with a thickness of 0.02 ± 0.01 mm. The pectin/CNC/CEO coating effectively inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum , while reducing volume shrinkage and color degradation of fruits during storage. These findings demonstrate mechanical stability, homogeneous morphology, and antifungal activity, highlighting its potential to extend shelf life and preserve the quality of fresh fruits naturally and sustainably.
ABSTRACT Zopiclone is a cyclopyrrolone derivative and the first developed Z‐hypnotic drug widely prescribed for the short‐term management of insomnia. But due to its strong sedative and amnesic properties, it is often used as a date rape drug in drug‐ facilitated sexual assaults (DFSA). Thus, a simple and sensitive detection method based on cellulose paper sorptive extraction (CPSE) coupled with LC‐MS/MS for zopiclone in blood and urine has been established. Under the optimum extraction conditions, a linear relationship was achieved in the range of 1.32–1000 ng/mL with the correlation coefficient (r 2 ) of 0.9987 for biological samples. The LOD was established to be 0.122 ng/mL and LOQ 0.407 ng/mL. The relative recovery greater than 90% was obtained from spiked samples of blood and urine. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 6.136%. The combination of CPSE with LC‐MS/MS offers an alternative analytical approach for the detection of zopiclone in biological samples. The developed method was further evaluated for its environmental and practical sustainability using the greenness metric approach, BAGI (Blue Applicability Grade Index). The results confirmed that the method not only met analytical performance requirements but also demonstrated eco‐friendliness and high practical applicability. This dual evaluation highlights the method's suitability for routine laboratory use in forensic investigations.
ABSTRACT This study introduces a novel and efficient route for synthesizing a bentonite‐supported nickel oxide (NiO) nanocomposite. A newly synthesized diselenide‐bridged dinuclear nickel(II) complex, with 6,6'‐((1E,1'E)‐((diselenediylbis(4,1‐phenylene))bis (azanylylidene))‐bis(methanylylidene))bis(3‐methoxyphenol) [Ni 2 (SemO) 2 ], was utilized as a single‐source precursor. This complex was immobilized onto natural bentonite and subsequently calcined at 600°C to yield well‐dispersed, face‐centered cubic (FCC) NiO nanoparticles. Unlike conventional impregnation methods that often result in agglomeration, this precursor‐based approach leverages the thermal decomposition of the pre‐adsorbed complex to achieve superior structural control. Comprehensive characterization via x‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis confirmed the formation of phase‐pure NiO with a high specific surface area. The resulting nanocomposite exhibits exceptional structural properties that position it as a highly promising candidate for advanced catalytic applications and environmental remediation, offering a distinct advantage over materials prepared through traditional techniques.
ABSTRACT This study aimed to design and synthesize a series of Schiff bases derived from indole and evaluate their biological activity as antimicrobial compounds (against bacteria and fungi). Five imine derivatives (R1–R5) were synthesized via a condensation reaction between indole‐3‐carbaldehyde and various primary amines (4‐aminoacetophenone, 2‐aminobenzothiazole, 2‐aminothiazole, 2‐aminopyridine, and 5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐2‐thiol). The chemical structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed using FTIR and 1 H‐NMR spectroscopy, with the results clearly showing the formation of azomethine (C═N) bonds, along with other groups depending on the type of amine used. Biological studies have shown that the compounds possess varying degrees of antimicrobial activity, exhibiting moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus, while showing weak or no activity against some Gram‐negative bacteria. In contrast, all the compounds demonstrated significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, with compound R4 showing the highest efficacy. These results suggest that indole derivatives of Schiff bases represent promising structural platforms for developing highly potent antifungal compounds.
ABSTRACT This study presents an environmentally amiable method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO‐NPs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) using an aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera seeds as a reducing and capping agent. The biosynthesis was validated through specific color changes and thoroughly characterized using UV–visible studies, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray technique, FESEM‐EDX, and GC–MS. GC–MS analysis identified several biologically active phytochemicals, such as phytol, hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, and octadecanoic acid, which facilitated the formation and stabilization of the nanoparticles. Characterization showed that the silver nanoparticles were nearly spherical (average size ≈28 nanometers), the single‐crystal copper oxide nanoparticles were ≈35 nanometers, and the hexagonal zinc oxide nanoparticles were ≈42 nanometers. All of them exhibited a consistent shape and good crystallinity. The nanoparticles demonstrated exceptional efficacy as antioxidants in DPPH tests and in reducing power, along with notable antibacterial and antifungal properties against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Streptococcus , and Candida albicans . The research confirms that the oil palm fungus is an environmentally friendly source for producing multifunctional nanomaterials applicable in biomedical and environmental fields.
