The evaluation of sterile solutions of Ilwensisaponin A and C from Verbascum pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor. on antiviral, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

Antiviral, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the 1% sterile solutions of Ilwensisaponin A and C isolated from the methanolic extract of the flowers of Verbascum pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor. were investigated. Antiviral activities of sterile solutions were evaluated against Bovine Herpes Virus Type-1 (BHV-1) (Cooper strain). Both solutions showed cytotoxic effects. However, none of the sterile solutions showed antiviral activity with CPE values. Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive response were obtained at doses of 100 mg/kg. The results of the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activities induced by carrageenan showed that these sterile solutions possess active constituents and diminish cyclooxygenase activitiy. In addition, antinociceptive activities using p-benzoquinone-induced writhing model in mice of tested solutions were found to show notable activity in statistical analysis without inducing any apparent acute toxicity as well as gastric damage. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first investigation of antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of sterile solutions of Ilwensisaponin A and C isolated from Verbascum pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor. growing in Turkey.

Effects of organically-complexed minerals on meat quality in chickens.

The impact of combined lower concentrations of organically-complexed versus inorganic copper, zinc and manganese on meat quality in chickens was investigated. A total of 200 male broiler chicks (Ross-308), 1-d-old and weighing approximately 40 g, were divided into 4 groups comprising three experimental groups and one control group, with each consisting of 50 chicks. All groups were also divided into 5 subgroups, with each containing 10 broiler chicks. All birds were given a starter diet from d 1 to d 21, and a grower diet from d 22 to d 49. The diets were formulated according to the NRC recommendations. The mineral contents of the control diet were supplied using a standard inorganic mineral premix (containing 8 mg Cu as CuSO4, 40 mg Zn as ZnSO4, and 60 mg Mn as MnO, per kg). For the experimental diets, a mineral premix was prepared using organically complexed forms of those minerals at 1/3 (L1), 2/3 (L2) and 3/3 (L3) proportions. After slaughtering and evisceration, the carcases were stored at 3 ± 0·5°C for 10-12 h, and then the breast fillets removed from the carcases, and stored in a deep-freezer (-86°C) until analysis (for 30 d). For analyses, the breast muscles were then thawed at 4-6°C for 24 h. 6. The concentration of organically complexed mineral in the diet had no statistically significant effect on pH values of breast fillets. Treatments significantly affected the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) values. Lightness (L* value) of the fillet from broilers fed the diet containing inorganic minerals was significantly lower than that for broilers fed on the diets containing organically complexed minerals. The redness (a* value) and Chroma (C* value) significantly decreased while Hues (H* value) were higher in the fillet from broilers fed organically complexed minerals compared with those fed inorganic minerals. The yellowness (b* value) was not changed by dietary treatment.

Studies on UV/NaOCl/TiO2/Sep photocatalysed degradation of Reactive Red 195.

The photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 195 (RR195) has been investigated in aqueous suspensions by using ultraviolet (UV), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and TiO(2)/Sep nanoparticles together. To get the TiO(2)/Sep nanoparticle, the nanocrystalline TiO(2) anatase phase on sepiolite was obtained using a sufficient thermal treatment by gradually increasing the temperature from 300, 400 and 500 degrees C for 3h. Then, TiO(2)/Sep materials were characterized using different spectral and technical structural analyses with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The influence of pH, catalyst amount, oxidant and initial dye concentration was investigated in all the experiments. Maximum colour and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were 99.9% and 78% respectively, at a dye concentration of 250 mg L(-1), NaOCl dosage of 50.37 mM, 0.1 g L(-1) weight of TiO(2)/Sep and pH of 5.45 in 3h. In addition, the pseudo-first order model was applied and r(2) values were noted from 0.92 to 0.99.

Removal of AOX, total nitrogen and chlorinated lignin from bleached Kraft mill effluents by UV oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide utilizing TiO(2) as photocatalyst.

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The pulp and paper industry is the sixth largest polluter discharging a variety of gaseous, liquid, and solid wastes into the environment. Effluents from bleached Kraft mill effluents (BKME) are polluting waters to a great extent These effluents cause considerable damage to the receiving waters if discharged untreated since they have high levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorinated compounds (measured as AOX), suspended solids (mainly fibers), fatty acids, tannins, resin acids, lignin and its derivatives, sulfur and sulfur compounds, etc. This study aimed to remove adsorbed organic halogen (AOX), total nitrogen, and lignin-degrading products in the wastewater (4,500 m(3)/h) from the paper mill in the pulp and paper industry, which is discharged to sea from a plant located in western Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The photocatalytic degradation of AOX, total nitrogen, and chlorinated lignin in BKME have been investigated in different parameters, such as time, H(2)O(2) and TiO(2) concentration. In addition, for investigating the effect of chlorine on the removal of lignin, pure lignin solution was prepared in equal amounts to chlorinated lignin degradation products found in BKME. The same experiments were conducted for this solution. Experiments were carried out in photocatalytic reactor made of Pyrex glass. The mercury lamp was used as a radiation source. All irradiation was carried out under constant stirring. The existence of dissolved O(2) is an important factor which increases the photocatalytic degradation. Hence, we used an air pump for the aeration of the wastewater solutions. The temperature of the wastewater was controlled and adjusted to 25 degrees C by thermostat pump in conjunction with a cooler. At the end of all experiments, AOX, total nitrogen and lignin concentrations were analyzed according to standard methods. All experiments were performed in duplicate and average values were used. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: When the effect of H(2)O(2) and time were investigated, it was observed that the AOX concentration increased from 3.0 to 11.0 mg/L by only UV. However, when H(2)O(2) was added, AOX concentration decreased from approximately 3.0 to 0.0 mg/L. The optimal conditions for the removal of AOX appear to be an initial H(2)O(2) concentration of 20.0 mL/L and reaction time of 50 min. In addition, at the same experiment conditions, it was seen that the total nitrogen concentration decreased from 23.0 to 15.0 mg/L by only UV and by increasing H(2)O(2) concentration, the concentration of 20.0 mL/L H(2)O(2) appears to be optimal (9.0 mg/L). The AOX, total nitrogen and lignin degradation products and pure lignin go through a minimum when the concentration of H(2)O(2) and TiO(2) increases at constant pH and UV intensity. The kinetics for the degradation of AOX, total nitrogen and lignin degradation products followed a pseudo-first order law with respect to the products, and the degradation rates (min(-1)) for the UV/TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) system were higher than that of the corresponding values for the UV/H(2)O(2) system. CONCLUSIONS: The AOX, total nitrogen and lignin concentration go through a minimum when the concentration of H(2)O(2) and TiO(2) increases at constant pH and UV intensity. It was found that the UV/TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) system has proved capable of the degradation of total nitrogen as well as chlorinated and degraded lignin in BKME. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: The photocatalytic process can be considered a suitable alternative for the remove of some compounds from the BKME. Nevertheless, further studies should be carried out to confirm the practical feasibility of BKME. Another result obtained from the study is that pre-purification carried out with UV/TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) photocatalytic process may constitute an important step for further purification processes such as adsorption, membrane processes, etc.

Adsorption kinetics of maxilon yellow 4GL and maxilon red GRL dyes on kaolinite.

Kaolinite, a low-costly material, is the most abundant phyllosilicate mineral in highly weathered soils. In this work, the adsorption kinetics of maxilon yellow 4GL (MY 4GL) and maxilon red GRL (MR GRL) dyes on kaolinite from aqueous solutions was investigated using the parameters such as contact time, stirring speed, initial dye concentration, initial pH, ionic strength, acid-activation, calcination and solution temperature. The equilibrium time was 150 min for both dyes. The results showed that alkaline pH was favorable for the adsorption of MY 4GL and MR GRL dyes and physisorption seemed to play a major role in the adsorption process. It was found that the rate of adsorption decreases with increasing temperature and the process is exothermic. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order equation for both dyes investigated in this work with the k(2) values lying in the region of 1.79 x 10(4) to 107.87 x 10(4)g/mol min for MY 4GL and 3.44 x 10(4) to 72.09 x 10(4)g/mol min for MR GRL. The diffusion coefficient values calculated for the dyes were in the range of 3.76 x 10(-9) to 62.50 x 10(-9)cm(2)/s for MY 4GL and 1.98 x 10(-9) to 44.00 x 10(-9)cm(2)/s for MR GRL, and are compatible with other studies reported in the literature. The thermodynamic activation parameters such as the enthalpy, entropy and free energy were determined. The obtained results confirmed the applicability of this clay as an efficient adsorbent for cationic dyes.

Growth performance of purebred Awassi, Morkaraman and Tushin lambs and their crosses under semi-intensive management in Turkey.

Growth performance of 168 Awassi (A), Morkaraman (M), Tushin (T) purebred lambs and their crosses AxM, MxT, AxM and TxM reared under semi-intensive management in Turkey were evaluated. The lambs grazed on pasture for 84 days and were provided with a concentrate diet (1.5-2.0% of their live weight). Birth weight and average daily weight gain during the pre-grazing period for M, A, T, MxT, AxM and TxM crossbred lambs were 2.91, 3.61, 3.70, 4.30, 2.63, and 3.79kg and 186, 129, 160, 160, 163, and 168g, respectively. Corresponding estimates were 20, 15, 15, 17, 20 and 19kg for initial fattening weight; 168, 169, 160, 176, 174 and 184g for average daily weight gain on fattening, and 34, 30, 28, 32, 35, and 34kg for final fattening weight, respectively. The amounts of concentrate consumed per kg weight gain in addition to grazing on pasture for purebred and crossbred lambs were 1.89, 1.86, and 1.97 and, 1.78, 1.82, and 1.71kg, respectively. The genotype of lamb and type of birth significantly affected the birth weight. Besides the genotype and the type of birth, age of dam and sex had a significant influence on the average daily weight gain during the pre-grazing period. Average daily weight gain during the fattening period was significantly affected by sex.