Importance of the work: Agricultural waste material was utilized to make carbon aerogels that can adsorb oils and be reused. Objectives: To investigate the potential of carbon aerogel made from pomelo peel (CAPP) as a potential sorbent for oils from the surface of water. Materials & Methods: The CAPPs were prepared from pomelo peel by cutting, freezing at −20°C for 24 hr and freeze-drying at −55°C or −80°C for 24 hr, followed by carbonization or pyrolyzed at 300°C (5°C/min, 1 hr) to obtain CAPP1-1, CAPP1-2, CAPP2-1 and CAPP2-2, followed by investigations based on the contact angle, morphology, sorption, reusability and grease-trap testing. Results: The average water contact angles of CAPP1-1, CAPP1-2, CAPP2-1 and CAPP2- 2 were 124.1°, 79.1°, 99.1° and 84.3°, respectively. Sorption tests were conducted by immersing the CAPPs in 15 mL of oil on water for 30 s, yielding capacities of 4.35–9.04 g/g. Mean ± SE sorption was highest with diesel oil for CAPP1-1 (6.45 ± 0.35 g/g), with palm oil for CAPP1-2 (8.19 ± 0.56 g/g), with rice bran oil for CAPP2-1 (8.08 ± 0.37 g/g) and with rice bran oil for CAPP2-2 (9.04 ± 0.36 g/g). In household grease-trap testing, CAPP1-2 had the highest palm oil removal (11.71%), followed by CAPP2-2, CAPP2-1 and CAPP1-1. After the second recycle, diesel sorption remained high (73.4–88.6%), decreasing to moderate-to-low levels (36.4–71.4%) after the third recycle. Main finding: The CAPPs derived from pomelo peels could be fabricated based on freeze-drying and carbonization using a muffle furnace or pyrolysis. Palm oil removal from a grease trap was in the range 7.88–11.71%. Reusability was confirmed through absorption-regeneration tests for diesel oil over three cycles.
Importance of the work: The modification of traditional herbal compresses into easy-touse patches provides a more convenient alternative while delivering equivalent benefits to other commercial products. Objectives: To extract active compounds for herbal compresses for the development of pain relief patches. Materials and Methods: Samples of the Thai herb ‘plai’ (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.), turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., were extracted using steam distillation, water extraction or frying with coconut oil. Then, the active compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify their components. Subsequently, these extracts were incorporated into pain relief patches formulated with a pectin and sodium alginate base. Results: The extracts from the three plants were analyzed using GC-MS, identifying γ- terpinene at 11 min, (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenl) butadiene at 29 min and levomenthol at 18 min as pain-relieving compounds. The FTIR analysis of the extracts and pain relief patches detected functional groups, consisting of C=C bending, C-O stretching, N-O stretching, C=O stretching, C-H stretching and O-H stretching. An irritation test using the 4 hr closed patch method at 0 hr, 4 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr resulted in no significant (p < 0.05) skin irritation. Main finding: The extracts were incorporated effectively into a pectin-sodium, alginate, hydrogel matrix, forming structurally stable patches, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and FTIR analyses. Skin irritation testing demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, while volunteer-based evaluation showed significant pain reduction after application. Based on these results, the developed hydrogel patch represented a practical and user-friendly alternative to conventional herbal compresses, bridging traditional medicine with modern transdermal delivery systems.
Importance of the work: Water hyacinth (WH) is an invasive aquatic plant whose abundant biomass has potential as a renewable material for biodegradable planting pots (biopots). However, the effects of different WH components, including roots, petioles, and leaves, on biopot quality remain unclear. Utilizing WH biomass as an agricultural product could provide a sustainable approach to invasive weed management while supporting sustainable agriculture and the circular economy. Objectives: To determine the effect of different WH components and their proportions on the physical, mechanical, structural, and morphological properties of biopots. Materials and Methods: The biopot was produced using thermoprocesing at 150°C for 15 min based on white clay and polyvinyl acetate PVAc as a matrix. Four different compositions of raw material were tested: 100% roots; 50% roots and 50% petioles; 50% roots and 50% leaves; and 40% roots and 60% petioles. Each biopot was analyzed for physical, mechanical, structural and morphological properties. Results: The utilization of different parts of WH affected the quality of the biopot. Biopots using equal amounts of petioles and roots had improved quality. However, over-supplementation of petioles (60%) had some weakening effects, including increased water absorption and moisture content and a decreased impact resistance index (IRI) and compressive strength of the biopots. The use of 50% roots and 50% petioles contributed positively to the biopot physical-mechanical, structural and morphological properties, with mean ± SD values for density, moisture, water absorption in 30 min, IRI and compressive strength being 0.147 ± 0.006 g/cm3, 8.23 ± 0.06%, 129.57 ± 0.66%, 98.5% and 107 N, respectively. Main finding: The use of WH as a major source of biopot material could serve as an alternative for managing environmental issues associated with the spread of this aquatic weed. Biopots made from 50% WH roots and 50% petioles showed favorable physical and mechanical properties, suggesting their potential as an alternative to conventional polybags for sustainable agriculture. Further studies should evaluate WH biopot biodegradation, durability, economic feasibility and large-scale production potential.
Importance of the work: The application of multi-epitope antigen design for TiLV remains limited, prompting investigation of its potential as an alternative antigen strategy for TiLV vaccine development. Objectives: To develop the TL5,6 protein by fusing predicted epitopes from TiLV segments 5 and 6 and to perform an initial evaluation of its immunoreactivity. Materials and Methods: Predicted B-cell epitopes from TiLV segment proteins 5 and 6 were used to design the TL5,6 protein. Structural and physicochemical properties were analyzed bioinformatically. TL5,6 was expressed in Escherichia coli and then purified and formulated with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant for immunization in Nile tilapia. Serum immunoreactivity was assessed based on dot blot assay, while molecular docking and immune simulation were used as supportive computational analyses. Results: TL5,6 was developed using molecular design and immunoinformatic analysis, in which the B-cell epitopes of segments 5 and 6 were combined into a single molecule. A soluble form of the TL5,6 protein was expressed successfully and purified from E. coli BL21 (DE3). The dot blot analysis showed that the serum obtained from TL5,6- immunized fish reacted with both the S5196–272 and S6200–317 antigens and also recognized TiLV particles. Molecular docking analysis predicted an interaction between TL5,6 and TLR4, with the lowest binding energy of -1,170 kJ/mol and 29 hydrogen bonds observed at the interface region. Furthermore, immune simulation predicted increased Thcell and B-cell populations, elevated IgM and IgG levels and upregulation of IL-2 and IFN-γ related responses following TL5,6 immunization. Main finding: TL5,6 demonstrated preliminary immunoreactivity and may serve as a potential antigen for future TiLV vaccine development. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its protective efficacy, including quantitative immune analyses and challenge experiments
Importance of the work: Antagonistic fungi offer a sustainable, eco-friendly biocontrol approach for disease management, providing an effective alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. Objectives: To evaluate and propose a biological control agent from an endophytic fungal strain against three fungal pathogens: Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) and Stenocarpella maydis. Materials and Methods: The selected fungal endophyte was characterized based on morpho-cultural assessment on artificial media and ultrastructural examination using scanning electron microscopy. Molecular identification used the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Antagonistic potential against selected fungal phytopathogens was evaluated using dual-culture assays to determine its efficacy as a prospective biological control agent. Results: The endophytic fungus was morpho-culturally characterized and molecularly identified based on ITS region sequencing, revealing 100% sequence identity with Talaromyces wortmannii. The dual-culture assays demonstrated potential antagonistic activity of T. wortmannii FP-25 against C. lunata, Foc TR4 and S. maydis. Radial growth inhibition increased significantly from day 6 to day 12, with linear mixed-effects modeling confirming significant treatment × incubation interactions. Based on other studies, the antagonistic mechanisms may involve mycoparasitism, secretion of cell wall-degrading enzymes and production of antifungal secondary metabolites. Distinct temporal suppression patterns were observed among the evaluated phytopathogens. Main finding: The endophytic fungus T. wortmannii FP-25 acted as an effective potential biocontrol agent, suppressing pathogen inocula via competition and potential antibiosis. Its activity against multiple economically important fungal phytopathogens and its timedependent antagonism support its potential application in integrated disease management and represents the first report of biocontrol activity of T. wortmannii FP-25 against C. lunata, Foc TR4 and S. maydis in the Philippines
