Search Results (32)

Urban Park vegetation plays a crucial role in mitigating air pollution by serving as a natural sink for gaseous and particulate pollutants, thereby enhancing the ecological sustainability of cities. Identifying tree species with high tolerance to air pollution is therefore essential for effective urban park planning and management in highly polluted urban environments. This study evaluated the air pollution tolerance of selected tree species commonly found in urban parks of Kandy City, Sri Lanka, using the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). Five tree species—Terminalia catappa (Indian almond), Cassia fistula (golden shower tree), Pongamia pinnata (Indian beech), Madhuca longifolia (butter tree), and Tabebuia rosea (pink poui)—were assessed at two urban park locations representing contrasting pollution levels, identified based on ambient SO₂, NO₂, and PM_2.5 concentrations. APTI was calculated using four leaf biochemical parameters: pH, ascorbic acid content, relative water content, and total chlorophyll content. Leaf samples were collected from ten replicates of each species at both sites. Madhuca longifolia exhibited the highest APTI values (17.06 at the HP site and 25.17 at the LP site), followed by Cassia fistula, Terminalia catappa, Tabebuia rosea, and Pongamia pinnata. These findings suggest that the identified species, particularly Madhuca longifolia and Cassia fistula, are well-suited for urban greening and can contribute to mitigating air pollution impacts. However, these findings are constrained by a single cross-sectional sampling term, limited species screening, sequential data collection variances, and fixed mathematical equations. Consequently, future research should implement continuous multi-station monitoring arrays, expand species diversity, establish localized biochemical weightings, and initiate long-term multi-seasonal tracking to resolve temporal dynamics in tropical urban ecosystems. Full article

AISI 1040 steel is extensively used in structural and automotive applications, where surface integrity plays a significant role in service performance and coating adhesion. Furthermore, the selected cutting fluids are expected to effectively reduce surface roughness and tool wear by improving lubrication at the tool and workpiece interface. This study investigates the influence of SiO₂ nanoparticle-assisted Pongamia pinnata oil on surface roughness and tool wear during the machining of AISI 1040 steel using an uncoated tungsten carbide tool by varying nanoparticle concentration (Vol.%), cutting speed (m/min), depth of cut (mm), and feed rate (mm/rev). The incorporation of 0.5 (Vol.%) SiO₂ nanoparticles significantly enhances machining performance by improving surface finish and reducing tool wear. Further, a minimum surface roughness value of 1.95 microns and tool wear value of 0.047 mm were achieved at a cutting speed of 101 m/min, feed rate of 0.11 mm/rev, depth of cut of 0.25 mm and 0.5 (Vol.%) SiO₂ nanoparticle concentration. ANOVA results indicate that nanoparticle concentration is the most dominant parameter affecting both surface roughness and tool wear, contributing 85.35% to the variation in surface roughness and 82.2% to the total variation in tool wear. Cutting speed is the second most influential factor, accounting for 11.63% of surface roughness variation and 11.07% of tool wear variation, while feed rate and depth of cut exhibit minimal influence in both cases. A second-order RSM model was developed to predict surface roughness and tool wear, showing excellent agreement with experimental results. The model predicted surface roughness with an average error below 2.43%, while the second-order model for tool wear exhibited an average prediction error of 4.95%, confirming its statistical significance and predictive reliability. Desirability Function Method (DFM) analysis yielded a desirability value of 1.000, confirming the optimal combination of machining parameters at 0.5354 (Vol.%) nanoparticle concentration, a cutting speed of 45 m/min, a depth of cut of 0.50 mm, and a feed rate of 0.1298 mm/rev. Overall, this study demonstrates that 0.5 (Vol.%) SiO₂ nanoparticle-incorporated Pongamia pinnata oil is an effective and sustainable cutting fluid, significantly improving surface integrity and machining performance of AISI 1040 steel during machining. Under these settings, the predicted tool wear was 0.0614 mm, accompanied by a high composite desirability value of 0.92786, indicating excellent overall performance. Moreover, the close agreement between experimental, response surface model and BP-ANN-predicted tool wear and surface roughness confirms that the ANN model reliably and robustly captures the complex, nonlinear effects of machining parameters with minimal systematic error. Full article

In metal cutting industries, optimizing the thermal conductivity and viscosity of vegetable oil-based cutting fluids is critical for ensuring efficient heat dissipation, effective lubrication, and sustainability, directly influencing tool life and machining performance. This study presents a comprehensive experimental analysis employing statistical methods, particularly Taguchi’s Design of Experiments, to evaluate the thermal conductivity and viscosity of Pongamia pinnata, sunflower, and coconut oil incorporated with Silicon Dioxide (SiO₂), Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN), and Cupric Oxide (CuO) nanoparticles across different emulsion ratios and nanoparticle volume fractions. The results revealed that Pongamia pinnata oil containing 0.5 (Vol.%) SiO₂ nanoparticles at an emulsion ratio of 1:7 achieved the maximum thermal conductivity, measured at 0.637 W/mK. Additionally, the results revealed that Pongamia pinnata oil at an emulsion ratio of 1:13 exhibited the highest viscosity of 1.33 mPa·S, confirming that both the type of cutting oil and the emulsion ratio are the primary factors influencing viscosity. Further, the ANOVA analysis for thermal conductivity and viscosity highlights that the type of cutting fluid is the dominant factor, accounting for 90.58% of the total variance in thermal conductivity and 70.47% in viscosity, each with a highly significant p-value of 0.00, underscoring its decisive impact on the stability of both properties. Overall, this research offers important guidance for the selection and formulation of vegetable oil-based emulsions with nanoparticle additives. The results support the development of advanced nano lubricants with enhanced performance, catering to the increasing requirements of diverse industrial applications. Full article

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) pose a critical threat to global public health, largely driven by the enzymatic activity of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2), a class A serine β-lactamase that hydrolyzes most β-lactam antibiotics. While β-lactamase inhibitors like avibactam offer temporary relief, emerging KPC variants demand novel, sustainable inhibitory scaffolds. This study aimed to identify and characterize potential natural inhibitors of KPC-2 from Pongamia pinnata, leveraging a comprehensive in silico workflow. A curated library of 86 phytochemicals was docked against the active site of KPC-2 (PDB ID: 3DW0). The top-performing ligands were subjected to ADMET profiling (pkCSM), and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations (GROMACS) to evaluate structural stability and interaction persistence, using avibactam as control. Ponganone V exhibited the most favorable binding energy (−9.0 kcal/mol), engaging Ser70 via a hydrogen bond and forming π–π interactions with Trp105. Glabrachromene II demonstrated a broader interaction network but reduced long-term stability. ADMET analysis confirmed high intestinal absorption, non-mutagenicity, and absence of hERG inhibition for both ligands. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Ponganone V maintained compact structure and stable hydrogen bonding throughout the 100 ns trajectory, closely mirroring the behavior of avibactam, whereas Glabrachromene II displayed increased fluctuation and loss of compactness beyond 80 ns. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further supported these findings, with Ponganone V showing restricted conformational motion and a single deep free energy basin, while avibactam and Glabrachromene II exhibited broader conformational sampling and multiple energy minima. The integrated computational findings highlight Ponganone V as a potent and pharmacologically viable natural KPC-2 inhibitor, with strong binding affinity, sustained structural stability, and minimal toxicity. This study underscores the untapped potential of Pongamia pinnata phytochemicals as future anti-resistance therapeutics and provides a rational basis for their experimental validation. Full article

The increasing environmental and health concerns about synthetic pesticides have compelled researchers to investigate more sustainable, plant-based substitutes for pest management. Due to their unique modes of action and biodegradability, essential oils (EOs) represent effective bio-pesticides. This study examines the biological activities of Artemisia vulgaris (Asteraceae) EO (AVEO) against Aceria pongamiae Keifer (Eriophyidae), a destructive gall mite on Pongamia pinnata (Fabaceae), using fumigation, contact toxicity, and repellency assays for the first time. AVEO was isolated through hydro-distillation, yielding 0.86 ± 0.14% v/w and analyzed by GC-MS/MS, with camphor (28.94%), 4-tert-butylaniline (19.79%), α-pinene (6.61%), eucalyptol (6.39%), fenchol (6.03%), and camphene (5.43%) identified as major constituents. The bioassay of fumigation (0.25–1 µL/mL air) showed LC₅₀ values decreased significantly from 1.29 (24 h) to 0.43 µL/mL air (72 h), while LC₅₀ values of contact toxicity bioassay (2.50–10 µL/mL) declined from 37.37 to 4.56 µL/mL over the same period. Repellency reached 86.11% (Class V) at 0.1 µL/mL (72 h), indicating intense concentration and time-dependent efficacy. These results indicate AVEO’s potential as a green acaricide, highlighting potent fumigant, contact, and repellent activities against A. pongamiae, positioning it as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic acaricides for sustainable pest control practices with reduced environmental degradation. Full article

Urban green spaces are increasingly recognized for their potential to mitigate climate change by reducing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, enhancing carbon sequestration efficiency in limited urban green areas remains a significant challenge for sustainable urban planning. Trees are among the most cost-effective and efficient natural carbon sinks, surpassing other types of land cover in terms CO₂ absorption and storage. The present study aimed to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of four native tree species, Pongamia pinnata, Azadirachta indica, Melia azedarach, and Dalbergia sissoo, in urban parks across Multan City, Pakistan. A total of 456 trees of selected species within six parks of Multan City were inventoried to estimate the biomass and carbon stock using species-specific allometric equations. Soil organic carbon at two soil depths beneath the canopy of each tree was also estimated using Walkley–Black method. The findings revealed that the highest mean tree biomass (2.16 Mg ha⁻¹), carbon stock (1.04 Mg ha⁻¹) and carbon sequestration (3.80 Mg ha⁻¹) were estimated for Dalbergia sissoo, while Melia azedarach exhibited the lowest (0.12 Mg ha⁻¹, 0.06 Mg ha⁻¹ & 0.23 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively) across all six parks. The soil carbon stocks ranged from 48.86 Mg ha⁻¹ to 61.68 Mg ha⁻¹ across all study sites. These findings emphasize the importance of species selection in urban green planning for carbon sequestration. Strategic planting of effective native trees like Dalbergia sissoo can mitigate climate change and provide urban forest ecosystem services. Full article

The amalgamation of nanomaterials with bio-lubricants presents a promising approach to enhance the performance and efficiency of mechanical systems. To address the overuse of conventional lubricants, a viable strategy involves harnessing the potential of naturally available lubricants to operate effectively under extreme operating conditions, such as high loads and high-temperature and high-friction environments. The incorporation of nanomaterials, with their high surface area, extended thermal conductivity, and enhanced load-carrying capacity, offers an effective means of producing alternatives to traditional lubricants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating nanomaterials in small percentages of 2%, 4%, and 6% into bio-lubricants to reduce friction and improve their tribological performance. A systematic analysis of the effects of nanomaterials on lubrication parameters, such as shear rate, shear stress, torque, and viscosity, was performed. The experimental results indicate that the incorporation of nanomaterials into bio-lubricants aligns their parameters closely with those of commercial lubricants, suggesting their potential as a viable alternative in the lubricant industry. Full article

Wild fruits and vegetables (WFVs) have been vital to local communities for centuries and make an important contribution to daily life and income. However, traditional knowledge of the use of wild fruits is at risk of being lost due to inadequate documentation. This study aimed to secure this knowledge through intermittent field visits and a semi-structured questionnaire. Using various ethnobotanical data analysis tools and SPSS (IBM 25), this study identified 65 WFV species (52 genera and 29 families). These species, mostly consumed as vegetables (49%) or fruits (43%), were predominantly herbaceous (48%) in wild and semi-wild habitats (67%). 20 WFVs were known to local communities (highest RFC), Phoenix sylvestris stood out as the most utilized species (highest UV). Surprisingly, only 23% of the WFVs were sold at markets. The survey identified 21 unique WFVs that are rarely documented for human consumption in Pakistan (e.g., Ehretia obtusifolia, Euploca strigosa, Brassica juncea, Cleome brachycarpa, Gymnosporia royleana, Cucumis maderaspatanus, Croton bonplandianus, Euphorbia prostrata, Vachellia nilotica, Pongamia pinnata, Grewia asiatica, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Morus serrata, Argemone mexicana, Bambusa vulgaris, Echinochloa colonum, Solanum virginianum, Physalis angulata, Withania somnifera, Zygophyllum creticum, and Peganum harmala), as well as 14 novel uses and five novel edible parts. Despite their ecological importance, the use of WFVs has declined because local people are unaware of their cultural and economic value. Preservation of traditional knowledge through education on conservation and utilization could boost economies and livelihoods in this and similar areas worldwide. Full article

Production of biodiesel from edible vegetable oils using homogenous catalysts negatively impacts food availability and cost while generating significant amounts of caustic wastewater during purification. Thus, there is an urgent need to utilize low-cost, non-food feedstocks for the production of biodiesel using sustainable heterogeneous catalysis. The objective of this study was to synthesize a novel supported nano-magnetic catalyst (CaO/Fe₂O₃/feldspar) for the production of biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) from waste and low-cost plant seed oils, including Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard), Carthamus oxyacantha (wild safflower) and Pongamia pinnata (karanja). The structure, morphology, surface area, porosity, crystallinity, and magnetization of the nano-magnetic catalyst was confirmed using XRD, FESEM/EDX, BET, and VSM. The maximum biodiesel yield (93.6–99.9%) was achieved at 1.0 or 1.5 wt.% catalyst with methanol-to-oil molar ratios of 5:1 or 10:1 at 40 °C for 2 h. The CaO/Fe₂O₃/feldspar catalyst retained high activity for four consecutive cycles for conversion of karanja, wild mustard, and wild safflower oils. The effective separation of the catalyst from biodiesel was achieved using an external magnet. Various different physico-chemical parameters, such as pour point, density, cloud point, iodine value, acid value, and cetane number, were also determined for the optimized fuels and found to be within the ranges specified in ASTM D6751 and EN 14214, where applicable. Full article

A novel Li-impregnated TiO₂ catalyst loaded on feldspar mineral (Li-TiO₂/feldspar) was synthesized via a wet impregnation method and was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Using these techniques, it was possible to confirm the catalyst’s structural organization with a high crystallinity. This catalyst was used in the transesterification of five waste plant oils of Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple), Pongamia pinnata (karanja), Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard), Ricinus communis (castor) and Carthamus oxyacantha (wild safflower). The catalytic tests were performed at temperatures ranging from 40 to 80 °C, employing a variable methanol/ester molar ratio (5:1, 10:1, 15:1, 20:1 and 25:1) and different catalyst concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%) relative to the total reactants mass. Conversion of 98.4% of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) was achieved for Pongamia pinnata (karanja). The main fatty acids present in bitter apple, karanja, wild mustard, castor and wild safflower oils were linoleic acid (70.71%), oleic acid (51.92%), erucic acid (41.43%), ricinoleic acid (80.54%) and linoleic acid (75.17%), respectively. Li-TiO₂/feldspar produced more than 96% for all the feedstocks. Fuel properties such as iodine value (AV), cetane number (CN), cloud point (CP), iodine value (IV), pour point (PP) and density were within the ranges specified in ASTM D6751. Full article

The increasing scarcity of active substances approved for use in plant protection is reflected in the growing effort to find suitable plant protection alternatives. Products based on plant oils could provide a promising environmentally friendly solution. In previous research in laboratory conditions, the synergistic effect of neem and karanja oils on Leptinotarsa decemlineata (CPB) larvae was observed. The aim of this current study was to verify whether the synergistic effect would also be observed in field conditions. The active substances used included azadirachtin A (NeemAzal^® T/S); in both a reduced dose of 10.6 g/ha and a normal dose of 26.5 g/ha (Neem1, Neem2), Pongamia pinnata oil (Rock Effect New–REN); in a reduced dose of 1987.6 g/ha, and a mixture of both reduced doses (MIX). The protective effect was expressed by a visual estimation of the damaged leaf area on the potato plant. The MIX variant was always among the least damaged variants throughout the experiments, while the control was always the most damaged variant. A synergistic effect was observed at site I in 2021 when the MIX variant was more than 10 times less damaged than the control; in other cases, it was around 3 times less damaged. Treatment with MIX provided a protective effect comparable to NeemAzal^® T/S in the full dose. This mixture can therefore be used to expand the portfolio of suitable preparations against CPB larvae in potato production. Full article

Biodiesel is a clean-burning, alternative diesel replacement fuel that may be used in existing diesel engines in either pure or blended form without or with modest modifications. In some countries, biodiesel is recommended as a potential alternative to diesel fuel since it is a renewable energy source that is environmentally benign. The main problems with the widespread commercialization of biodiesel are its high viscosity and its limited feedstock, due to which complete replacement of diesel fuel is not possible and the use of blends of biodiesel and petrodiesel are being used increasingly worldwide. The paper presents a behavioral study of the petro-based diesel, and their blend (B20, B40, B60, B80) with Pongamia and Jatropha biodiesel. The results reveal a considerable viscosity lowering due to the dilution effect of increasing diesel concentration in both the cases. In addition, improvements in oxidation stability in both cases have also been observed. The research shows that as the biodiesel concentration increases, the stability of blends decreases. In blending Jatropha curcus methyl ester with EURO-III and EURO-IV HSD, the ester’s viscosity decreased as the diesel level in the blends increased, and blends comprised up to 80 percent biodiesel remained below the viscosity limit. Pongamia pinnata blends with both fuels above 60% diesel; however, exceeds the stipulated viscosity limit of 4.50 cSt at 40 °C. Full article

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel in many developing and developed countries worldwide. Biodiesel has significant and numerous economic, environmental, and social benefits. However, the problem with conventional biodiesel production is the high industrial production cost, mainly contributed by the raw materials. Therefore, catalysts and feedstock are essential in increasing total biodiesel production rates and minimizing production costs. Magnetic nano-catalysts play a crucial role in heterogeneous catalysis due to their easy recovery, recyclability, excellent selectivity, and fast reaction rates, owing to their larger surface area. This research activity used heterogeneous magnetic nano-catalysts of ICdO, ISnO, and their modified form, to produce biodiesel. The synthesized nano-catalysts were made through co-precipitation and found quite efficient for transesterifying Pongamia pinnata oil. The effect of various parameters on biodiesel yield in the presence of prepared magnetic nano-catalysts has been studied. In the transesterification supported by ISnO, high yield, i.e., 99%, was achieved after 2 h of reaction time at 60 °C. The nano-catalysts were magnetically recovered and reused 4–5 times without any change in their activity. All the synthesized magnetic nano-catalysts performed SEM analysis. Each fraction of the produced biodiesel was assessed for different quality parameters, and the results were per ASTM standards. The components present in biodiesel produced from Pongamia pinnata oil were determined by GCMS. Full article

Nanoparticles provide a promising and alternative platform of eco-friendly technologies that encompasses better cost-resilient remedies against one of the most economically harnessing insect pests of cotton. The main goal of this research was to provide a better management strategy through biologically synthesizing (sunlight exposure method) green nanoparticles from leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica and Pongamia pinnata and proving their bioefficacy on H. armigera (2nd instar). Characterization of bio-synthesized silver nanoparticles was carried out using UV-Visible spectroscopy for confirming the formation of nanoparticles, a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA) for determining the size/distribution of particles, and a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for analyzing the surface topology of nanoparticles. The results obtained from PSA analysis showed that A. indica and P. pinnata-based silver nanoparticles had an average diameter of 61.70 nm and 68.80, respectively. Topographical images obtained from SEM proved that most of the green synthesized silver nanoparticles were spherical in shape. A. indica-based silver nanoparticles were found to be comparatively more efficient and have higher insecticidal activity compared to P. pinnata-based nanoparticles. A. indica-based AgNPs recorded larval mortality of 60.00 to 93.33 percent at the concentrations of 500 to 2000 ppm, followed by P. pinnata-based nanoparticles, with 60.00 to 90.00 percent larval mortality. Shelf-life studies revealed that A. indica-based AgNPs had the maximum negative zeta potential of −58.96 mV and could be stored for three months without losing bioefficacy and up to six months with negligible reduction in bioefficacy. Symptoms caused by silver nanoparticles were leakage of body fluids, sluggishness, inactiveness, brittleness, etc. Full article

Application of the herbicide glyphosate in crops is a common practice among farmers around the world. Tomato is one of the crops that are treated with glyphosate to fight weed growth and loss of crop. However, tomato plants often show phytotoxic effects from glyphosate. In this study, the ability of pongamia oil derived from Pongamia pinnata (known also as Millettia pinnata) tree to alleviate the herbicide glyphosate toxicity effects in tomato (S.lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-tom) plants was tested. Tomato plants were treated with a mixture of a dose of (GLY) glyphosate (10 mg kg⁻¹) and different doses of pongamia oil (PO) foliar spray (5, 10, 50, and 100 mM) and compared with the herbicide or oil control (glyphosate 10 mg kg⁻¹ or pongamia oil PO 50 mM). Some morphological features, non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants, and gene expression were observed. Glyphosate-treated plants sprayed with PO 50 mM (GLY + PO 50) showed increased root biomass (0.28 g-p ≤ 0.001), shoot biomass (1.2 g-p ≤ 0.01), H₂O₂ (68 nmol/g), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; 40 mg-p ≤ 0.001), catalase (CAT; 81.21 mg-p ≤ 0.05), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; 80 mg-p ≤ 0.01) and glutathione reductase (GR; 53 min/mg-F_4,20 = 15.88, p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, these plants showed reduced contents of Malondialdehyde (MDA; 30 nmol/g-F_4,20 = 18.55, p ≤ 0.01), O₂ (0.6 Abs/g), Prolne (Pro; 345 µg/g), Glutathine (GSH; 341 nmol/mg-p ≤ 0.001), ascorbate (AsA; 1.8 µmol/gm), ascorbic acid (AA; 1.62 mg-p ≤ 0.05) and dehydroascorbate (DHAR; 0.32 mg p ≤ 0.05). The gene expression analysis was conducted for seven oxidative stress related genes besides the house-keeping gene Actin as a reference. The gene CYP1A1450 showed the highest mRNA expression level (6.8 fold ± 0.4) in GLY-treated tomato plants, whereas GLY-treated plants + PO 50 showed 2.9 fold. The study concluded that foliar spray of 50 mM pongamia oil alleviated the toxic effects of glyphosate on tomato plants in the form of increased root and shoot biomass, SOD, CAT, APX, and GR activity, while reduced MDA, O₂, Pro, GSH, AsA, AA, DHAR, and gene CYP1A1450 expression. Full article