Stability, biofunctional, and antimicrobial characteristics of cannabidiol isolate for the design of topical formulations.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a high-value natural compound of Cannabis Sativa plant. It is a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid, attracting significant attention as a multifunctional active ingredient for topical applications. Although it is demonstrated that CBD can be used for specific dermatological ailments, reliable data on functionalities are limited. The present study aimed to investigate the structural stability, biofunctionality, and antimicrobial characteristics of CBD isolate to assist in the design of various topical formulations. The stability of CBD in solid and solubilized states was assessed to establish storage and formulation conditions. The performance of CBD solubilized in organic and aqueous media was evaluated for free radical scavenging, tyrosinase, and collagenase enzyme inhibition, which showed good prospects for the ingredient. The antimicrobial activity of solubilized CBD was evaluated against Gram-negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa), Gram-positive bacterial strains (S. aureus, S. epidermidis, C. acnes), and fungal strains (C. albicans, M. furfur) using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Due to the presence of surfactants in CBD aqueous solution, it displayed a lack of antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. CBD solubilized in an organic medium showed no activity against Gram-negative bacterial strains but higher activity against tested Gram-positive bacterial and fungal strains.

A Comparison of Nitrate Release from Zn/Al-, Mg/Al-, and Mg-Zn/Al Layered Double Hydroxides and Composite Beads: Utilization as Slow-Release Fertilizers.

Nitrate-loaded Zn/Al, Mg/Al, and Mg-Zn/Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized using the coprecipitation method. The slow-release properties of LDHs were measured in powder form at various pH conditions. Sodium alginate was used to encapsulate Mg/Al LDH to produce composite beads (LB) to further slow down the release of nitrate ions. The prepared LDH samples and LB were characterized by X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The surface morphologies of LDHs and LB were obtained from scanning electron microscopy analysis. The slow-release properties of the materials were evaluated using a kinetic study of nitrate release in tap water, soil solution, as well as plant growth experiments using coriander (Coriandrum sativum). The nitrate release ability of LDHs and LB was compared with a soluble nitrate source. The plant growth experiments showed that all three LDHs were able to supply an adequate amount of nitrate to the plant similar to the soluble fertilizer while maintaining the availability of nitrate over extended periods. The ability of LDHs to increase soil pH was also demonstrated.

Development of hemp seed oil nanoemulsions loaded with ascorbyl palmitate: Effect of operational parameters, emulsifiers, and wall materials.

The perceived health properties of hemp seed oil, as one of the few plant-basedsources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with an ideal ratio of 1:3, suggest its incorporation in food-grade emulsions to improve its water solubility and oxidative stability. The current research's main aim was nanoemulsification of hemp seed oil using the oil-in-water emulsification method followed by ultrasonication. The entrapment efficiency of the nanoemulsions for antioxidant ascorbyl palmitate and its impact on oxidative stability of the oil was also evaluated. Gum arabic: maltodextrin in 75:25 ratio could result in nanoemulsion with entrapment efficiency of 97.10 % for ascorbyl palmitate and radical scavenging activity of oil-soluble bioactives of 92.13 %. Moreover, incorporation of ascorbyl palmitate could effectively retard the oxidation, specifically in nanoemulsions containing gum Arabic. The optimum formulation of nanoemulsion having an average droplet size of 293 nm can be applied as an ideal vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Layered Double Hydroxides for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment: An Overview.

Agricultural practices in modern society have a detrimental impact on the health of the ecosystem, environment, and consumers. The significantly high usage rate of chemicals causes serious harm, and the sector demands the development of innovative materials that can foster improved food production and lessen ecological impacts. The majority of layered double hydroxides (LDH) are synthetic. At the same time, some of them occur in the form of natural minerals (hydrotalcite), which have recently emerged as favorable materials and provided advanced and ingenious frontiers in various fields of agriculture through practical application possibilities that can replace conventional agricultural systems. LDH can exchange anions intercalated between the layers in the interlayer structure, and there is evidence that atmospheric carbon dioxide and moisture can completely break down LDH over time. Due to certain unique properties such as tunable structure, specific intercalation chemistry, pH-dependent stability, as well as retention of the guest molecules within interlayers and their subsequent controlled release, LDHs are increasingly investigated as materials to enhance yield, quality of crops, and soil in recent times. This review aims to present the current research progress in the design and development of LDH-based materials as nanoscale agrochemicals to illustrate its relevance in making agro-practices more sustainable and efficient. Specific emphasis is given to the functionality of these materials as effective materials for the slow release of fertilizers and plant growth factors as well as adsorption of toxic agrochemical residues and contaminants. Relevant research efforts have been briefly reviewed, and the potential of LDH as new generation green materials to provide solutions to agricultural problems for improving food productivity and security has been summarized.

Materials Science Challenges in Skin UV Protection: A Review.

UV radiation is one of the critical environmental stress factors for human skin, which can trigger various problems such as pruritus, burning, erythema, premature skin aging and skin cancer. Hence, UV protection has become an indispensable daily routine and the use of topical sunscreen products is rapidly increasing. However, there are emerging concerns over the efficiency and safety of existing chemical and physical UV filters used in consumer products. Furthermore, there is no universally approved method for assessing sun protection efficiency regardless of the immediate end user need to develop safer sunscreen products that afford broad-spectrum photoprotection. It is evident that the current organic and inorganic UV filters have significant unfavorable impacts on human, environmental, and marine safety. Therefore, effective alternative UV filters should be established. This article comprehensively reviews the properties, safety, health and ecological concerns of various UV filters including TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles as well as the limitations of the testing protocols and guidelines provided by major regulatory bodies. The photoreactivity of UV filters used in sunscreen remains a major challenge, and it is crucial to develop new sunscreen ingredients, which not only protect the consumer, but also the environment.