Water-soluble graphitic carbon nitride for clean environmental applications.

The removal of halogenated dye and sensing of pharmaceutical products in the water bodies with quick purification time is of high need due to the scarcity of drinking water. The present work reported on the preparation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for quick time water contaminant adsorption, followed by synthesizing silver nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon nitride for pharmaceutical product sensing using in-situ SERS technique. The prepared graphitic carbon nitride is used to study the adsorption behavior of water contaminants at room temperature, in the presence of methylene blue (MB) as an adsorbate model. The water-soluble graphitic carbon nitride, even at low concentration, possesses an excellent ability to adsorb halogenated organic dye. As a result, the dyes are found to adsorb within ∼5s even without any additional physical or chemical activation. From the UV-Vis absorption investigations, it has been perceived that in the presence of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) the dye adsorption efficacy is observed nearly 80% with the well fitted linearly of R2 = 0.9731. Effective in-situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies for Ag nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon nitride has been carried out and the obtained result shows good sensing performance of the material towards acetaminophen drug. This method opens the possibility of the Nobel metal decorated graphitic carbon nitride for real-time sensing of SERS-based drug products along with the development of high-performance sensing of the target analyte in the future.

Ameliorative effect of ferulic acid against renal injuries mediated by nuclear factor-kappaB during glycerol-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.

The pathogenesis of glycerol-induced myoglobinuric acute renal failure involves ischemia, vascular congestion and reactive oxygen metabolites. In this study, we have investigated for the first time, the role of ferulic acid in attenuating glycerol-induced nephrotoxicity. Male Wistar rats were injected intramuscularly with 8 mL/kg body weight of 50% glycerol, glycerol + ferulic acid at the dose of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg body weight. After 24 h, the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys were removed for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Furthermore, determinations of lipid peroxidation (LPO) as well as antioxidant enzymes were also analyzed; blood, urine samples were collected in order to quantify renal function and nitric oxide generation, respectively. Glycerol-induced rats showed a significant increase in the level of urinary markers assessed in serum as well as kidney and these were reversed upon ferulic acid treatment. A significant increase in urine nitric oxide, serum as well as kidney LPO, decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione were observed in glycerol-induced rats. Immunohistochemical study in glycerol-induced rats demonstrated an increase in the level of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB). All these effects induced by glycerol were reduced upon treatment with ferulic acid in a dose-dependent manner. To conclude, ferulic acid enhances antioxidants and decreases NF-κB, thereby protecting the cells against stress induced by glycerol.

Ameliorative effects of curcumin against renal injuries mediated by inducible nitric oxide synthase and nuclear factor kappa B during gentamicin-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.

The ameliorative role of curcumin in attenuating gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity has been reported earlier however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Gentamicin was injected intraperitoneally (100 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 6 days. Curcumin was administered orally (200 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 7, 15 and 30 days. Gentamicin-induced rats showed significant increase in the levels of kidney markers and the activities of urinary marker enzymes, which was reversed upon curcumin treatment. A significant increase in kidney lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed in gentamicin-induced rats. Immunohistochemical, Western blot and RT-PCR studies in gentamicin-induced rats also demonstrated an increase in the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). All these effects induced by gentamicin were reduced upon treatment with curcumin in a time dependent manner. To conclude, curcumin enhances antioxidants, and decreases iNOS and NF-κB, thereby protecting the cells against oxidative stress induced by gentamicin.