Brown seaweeds (Phaeophyceae) contain high amounts of phlorotannins, which are bioactive compounds and can be utilized as potential sources of drug development and alternative functional foods. The main aim of this research was to measure total phlorotannin content (TPhC), evaluate phytochemical profiles (by using seven different polarity solvents), as well as determine proximate composition, for 10 species of brown seaweeds sampled along the south-eastern coast of India: three belonging to the genus Turbinaria, two from the genus Padina and five from the genus Sargassum. Proximate analysis (which included moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrates) were performed according to standard protocols. The collection and use of data from seven different solvent extractions (aqueous, ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, hexane and petroleum ether) on a total of 12 different classes of phytochemicals as part of phytochemical screening. The TPhC of seaweed samples was determined using phloroglucinol as a standard with the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and phytochemicals were evaluated using hierarchical clustering. Ethyl-acetate produced fewer varieties of phytochemicals than any of the other solvent extractions, and aqueous extracts had the highest variety of phytochemicals. Hierarchical clustering was performed on chemotaxonomic separation by taxonomic family. The differences in TPhC compounds based on solvent type and specimen variation were highlighted. The highest concentration of TPhC was found in T. ornata (628.47 ± 0.45 µg PE/g) using the acetone solvent, followed by S. cristaefolium (503.19 ± 0.21 µg PE/g). Of the nonpolar solvents tested for extracting phlorotannin, acetone and ethanol showed better extraction efficiency than the polar solvents. The following data indicate that brown macroalgae from the coast of India contain a diverse range of phytochemicals, with particularly high levels of phlorotannins in S. cristaefolium and T. ornata. There is also a significant correlation between the use of specific solvents and the extraction of the desired bioactive compounds. This has implications for future bioprospecting and use in industry for previously overlooked marine organisms.
Focusing on firms in the United States, this study empirically examined the moderating role of financial technology (Fintech) in carbon emissions and corporate risk-taking using a dataset of 2012–2022 from Bloomberg. Apart from the application of ordinary least squares (OLS) for this study’s baseline model, generalised method of moments (GMM) and fixed effect panel quantile regression were also employed to strengthen the robustness of the results. The obtained results revealed that the performance of Fintech firms in terms of (lower) carbon emissions and (higher) corporate risk-taking significantly surpassed the performance of non-Fintech firms. Moreover, the presence of Fintech significantly attenuated the negative influence of carbon emissions on corporate risk-taking. This study’s findings enriched the current literature and addressed the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on climate change. Overall, this study presented significant interdisciplinary insights on the role of Fintech in climate change, which would benefit both academicians and policymakers in the fields of corporate governance and sustainability. It is recommended for future research to further explore the moderating role of fintech in different sectors or within the global context.
Biogenic synthesis of metal nanoparticles has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional physicochemical methods, offering environmental compatibility, economic viability, and scalability. In the present investigation, five plant extracts derived from Cucurbita maxima were employed as reducing and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Successful nanoparticle formation was evidenced by the development of a characteristic dark brown coloration, arising from surface plasmon resonance phenomena.Comprehensive characterization of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was performed using UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) with zeta potential analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, confirming their nanoscale dimensions, morphology, crystallinity, and functional group involvement. The antimicrobial efficacy of the synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated against clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio cholerae, and Escherichia coli. All formulations demonstrated pronounced antibacterial activity, highlighting the therapeutic potential of Cucurbita maxima–mediated silver nanoparticles. These findings underscore the promise of plant-based green synthesis routes for developing effective antimicrobial nanomaterials.
The adherence of patients with diabetes to disease management guidelines is essential for effective foot care behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate compliance of patients with diabetes mellitus II with foot care behaviour. This is a cross-sectional study including 111 patients from a General hospital. A demographics questionnaire and the Nottingham Assessment of Functional Foot Care questionnaire were used. It was found that patients who suffered from diabetes longer and had chronic somatic diseases had significantly more protective foot care behaviour (p=0.038, p=0,048, respectively). Moreover, greater compliance with therapy was significantly associated with more protective footcare behaviour (p=0.035). Continuous support of patients with Diabetes mellitus in obtaining skills and knowledge regarding their foot care is vital for their medical management. Based on the results of the present study, it is evident that patients who had suffered from diabetes longer had significantly more protective footcare behaviour; participants with a chronic somatic or psychological disease and comorbidities also had significantly more protective footcare behaviour. Additionally, greater compliance to therapy was significantly associated with more protective footcare behaviour. Increasing knowledge about diabetes management can improve diabetic self-care practice, while intensive health education on footcare to patients with DM can improve diabetic foot care behaviour. Therefore, there is a great need to provide continuous health education to patients about diabetic foot self-care in order to improve compliance with therapy, leading to effective footcare behaviour.
Oxidation is an fundamental component of aerobic life processes. Free radicals are produced when a material transfers electrons or hydrogen to an oxidizing agent during a chemical process. These very reactive free radicals then set off a series of events that cause cellular damage. The aim of this work was to study the antioxidant and protein glycation activity of Partially Purified Polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes (PLE). PLE demonstrated significant antioxidant properties via assessing radical scavenging, reducing power, cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity, inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and ferrous ion-chelating ability. On other hand, Protein glycation resulted is outstanding increase in fructosamine formation, accumulation of fluorescent advanced glycation end products (AGEs), increased protein carbonyl content, and protein aggregation, alongside with a significant decrease in free thiol groups, indicating rigorous glycoxidative damage to proteins the PLE notably activity in a dose-dependent manner and the PLE at superior concentrations, the protective effects of PLE were comparable to control gruops. The results indicate that PLE provide various protective benefits through antioxidant and antiglycation mechanisms, highlighting their probable use as natural substances in the oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products.
