High-throughput screening of ancient forest plant extracts shows cytotoxicity towards triple-negative breast cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, women's breast cancer is among the most common cancers with 7.8 million diagnosed cases during 2016-2020 and encompasses 15 % of all female cancer-related mortalities. These mortality events from triple-negative breast cancer are a significant health issue worldwide calling for a continuous search of bioactive compounds for better cancer treatments. Historically, plants are important sources for identifying such new bioactive chemicals for treatments. Here we use high-throughput screening and mass spectrometry analyses of extracts from 100 plant species collected in Chinese ancient forests to detect novel bioactive breast cancer phytochemicals. First, to study the effects on viability of the plant extracts, we used a MTT and CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay employing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 and normal epithelial MCF-10A cell lines and cell cycle arrest to estimate apoptosis using flow cytometry for the most potent three speices. Based on these analyses, the final most potent extracts were from the Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) wood/root bark and Nigaki (Picrasma quassioides) wood/root bark. Then, 5 × 106 MDA-MB-231 cells were injected subcutaneously into the right hind leg of nude mice and a tumour was allowed to grow before treatment for seven days. Subsequently, the four exposed groups received gavage extracts from Amur honeysuckle and Nigaki (Amur honeysuckle wood distilled water, Amur honeysuckle root bark ethanol, Nigaki wood ethanol or Nigaki root bark distilled water/ethanol (1:1) extracts) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), while the control group received only PBS. The tumour weight of treated nude mice was reduced significantly by 60.5 % within 2 weeks, while on average killing 70 % of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells after 48 h treatment (MTT test). In addition, screening of target genes using the Swiss Target Prediction, STITCH, STRING and NCBI-gene database showed that the four plant extracts possess desirable activity towards several known breast cancer genes. This reflects that the extracts may kill MBD-MB-231 breast cancer cells. This is the first screening of plant extracts with high efficiency in 2 decades, showing promising results for future development of novel cancer treatments.

Potentially toxic elements in human scalp hair around China's largest polymetallic rare earth ore mining and smelting area.

There is a growing concern about human health of residents living in areas where mining and smelting occur. In order to understand the exposure to the potentially toxic elements (PTEs), we here identify and examine the cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in scalp hair of residents living in the mining area (Bayan Obo, n = 76), smelting area (Baotou, n = 57) and a reference area (Hohhot, n = 61). In total, 194 hair samples were collected from the volunteers (men = 87, women = 107) aged 5-77 years old in the three areas. Comparing median PTEs levels between the young and adults, Ni levels were significantly higher in adults living in the smelting area while Cr was highest in adults from the mining area, no significant difference was found for any of the elements in the reference area. From the linear regression model, no significant relationship between PTEs concentration, log10(PTEs), and age was found. The concentrations of Ni, Cd, and Pb in hair were significantly lower in the reference area when compared to both mining and smelting areas. In addition, Cu was significantly higher in the mining area when compared to the smelting area. Factor analysis (FA) indicated that men and women from the smelting area (Baotou) and mining area (Bayan Obo), respectively, had different underlying communality of log10(PTEs), suggesting different sources of these PTEs. Multiple factor analysis quantilized the importance of gender and location when combined with PTEs levels in human hair. The results of this study indicate that people living in mining and/or smelting areas have significantly higher PTEs (Cu, Ni, Cd, and Pb) hair levels compared to reference areas, which may cause adverse health effects. Remediation should therefore be implemented to improve the health of local residents in the mining and smelting areas.

MgO-modified activated biochar for biojet fuels from pyrolysis of sawdust on a simple tandem micro-pyrolyzer.

The aim of this work was to study on MgO-modified KOH activated biochar (AC) catalysts, in the pyrolysis of sawdust for the direct production of bio-jet fuels using a tandem micro-pyrolyzer. AC catalysts with various MgO contents (5 to 20 wt%) were synthesized using an impregnation method. The mesopores generated (4 to 18 nm) in the carbon has a great potential in the conversion of oxygenated to jet fuel. The importance of basic nature in the catalysts is demonstrated with the maximum bio-jet fuel yield of 29 % at 10 % MgO. Further, the temperature of 600 °C and a catalyst/sawdust ratio of 10 are identified as the optimal conditions. The nanosize of MgO and the synergism of acid and base sites seemed to enhance deoxygenation, via decarboxylation and decarbonylation, and oligomerization, which are required for jet fuel formation in high amounts from sawdust pyrolysis.

Sustainable management of municipal solid waste through waste-to-energy technologies.

Increasing municipal solid waste (MSW) generation and environmental concerns have sparked global interest in waste valorization through various waste-to-energy (WtE) to generate renewable energy sources and reduce dependency on fossil-derived fuels and chemicals. These technologies are vital for implementing the envisioned global "bioeconomy" through biorefineries. In light of that, a detailed overview of WtE technologies with their benefits and drawbacks is provided in this paper. Additionally, the biorefinery concept for waste management and sustainable energy generation is discussed. The identification of appropriate WtE technology for energy recovery continues to be a significant challenge. So, in order to effectively apply WtE technologies in the burgeoning bioeconomy, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing scenario for sustainable MSW management along with the bottlenecks and perspectives.

Performance and bacterial community dynamics of lignin-based biochar-coupled calcium peroxide pretreatment of waste-activated sludge for the removal of 4-nonylphenol.

Waste activated sludge contaminated with high levels of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) is a major environmental concern. We have synthesized lignin-based biochar (LGBC) for use as a carbocatalyst in calcium peroxide (CP)-mediated sewage sludge pretreatment. Treatment of sewage sludge with 3.1 × 10-4 M of CP and 3.0 g L-1 of LGBC removed 76% of 4-NP in 12 h, which were 3.8 and 2.4 times higher than that with the LGBC and CP alone, respectively. There was synergy between reactive oxygen species (HO•, O2•-, and 1O2) and graphitic frameworks of LGBC. Pretreatment using the LGBC/CP system enhanced the release of biodegradable organic xenobiotics from the sludge. LGBC/CP enriched Proteobacteria and Thermostilla bacterial consortium (Planctomycetes) in the sludge and promoted 4-NP biodegradation. This work provides new insights into the chemical and biological mechanisms by which LGBC promotes 4-NP biodegradation in waste activated sludge via hydroxyl radical-driven carbon advanced oxidation pretreatment.

Technical benefits of using methane as a pyrolysis medium for catalytic pyrolysis of Kraft lignin.

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of low sulfonated Kraft lignin was performed under different atmospheric environments such as N2, CH4, and the gas derived from CH4 decomposition (CH4-D). The use of Zn- or Mo-loaded HZSM-5 as catalyst led to a higher pyrolytic oil yield compared to parent HZSM-5 in CH4 and CH4-D atmospheres. The yields of benzene, toluene, and xylenes were increased by the synergistic effects from metal loading, higher H/Ceff ratio, higher acidity, and CH4 activation. The enhanced CH4 activation via metal loading resulted in higher methylation of alkyl moieties and 33% increase in the total yield of benzene, toluene, and xylenes in comparison to parent HZSM-5. A higher H/Ceff ratio of 6 via CH4 decomposition led to the formation of a hydro-pyrolysis environment. Moreover, the CH4-D environment showed H2/CH4 ratio of 0.36 in the product gas which warranted the presence of more H2 under the CH4-D pyrolysis environment.

Peroxymonosulfate activation by a metal-free biochar for sulfonamide antibiotic removal in water and associated bacterial community composition.

Antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has been commonly found in various water matrices, therefore effective decontamination method is urgently needed. Metal-free pristine coconut-shell-derived biochar (CSBC), synthesized by thermochemical conversion at 700 °C, was used for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS), an oxidant, to degrade SMX, a sulfonamide antibiotic, in water. SMX degradation, maximized at 0.05 mM concentration, was 85% in 30 min at pH 5.0 in the presence of 150 mg L-1 of CSBC. Remarkably, SMX removal reached 99% in a chloride-rich CSBC/PMS system. SMX degradation was mainly attributed to the role of CSBC in enhancing PMS activation to produce combined radical (SO4•-/HO•) and nonradical (1O2) reaction pathways. The most abundant genus in the CSBC/PMS system was Methylotenera, which belonged to the Proteobacteria phylum. Thus, from a perspective of biowaste-to-resource recycling and circular bioeconomy view point, CSBC is a potential catalytic activator of PMS for the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics from aqueous environments.

Salinity-induced microalgal-based mariculture wastewater treatment combined with biodiesel production.

Mariculture wastewater has drawn growing attention due to associated threats for coastal environment. However, most biological techniques exhibit unfavorable performance due to saline inhibition. Furthermore, only NaCl was used in most studies causing clumsy evaluation, undermining the potential of microalgal mariculture wastewater treatment. Herein, various concentrations of NaCl and sea salt are comprehensively examined and compared for their efficiencies of mariculture wastewater treatment and biodiesel conversion. The results indicate sea salt is a better trigger for treating wastewater (nearly 100% total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal) and producing high-quality biodiesel (330 mg/L•d). Structure equation model (SEM) further demonstrates the correlation of wastewater treatment performance and microalgal status is gradually weakened with increment of sea salt concentrations. Furthermore, metabolic analysis reveals enhanced photosynthesis might be the pivotal motivator for preferable outcomes under sea salt stimulation. This study provides new insights into microalgae-based approach integrating mariculture wastewater treatment and biodiesel production.

Anammox bacteria in treating ammonium rich wastewater: Recent perspective and appraisal.

The discovery of anammox process has provided eco-friendly and low-cost means of treating ammonia rich wastewater with remarkable efficiency. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that the possibility of operating the anammox process under low temperatures and high organic matter contents broadening the application of the anammox process. However, short doubling time and extensive levels of sensitivity towards nutrients and environmental alterations such as salinity and temperature are the limitations in practical applications of the anammox process. This review article provides the recent yet comprehensive viewpoint on anammox bacteria and the key perspectives in applying them as an efficient strategy for wastewater treatment.