A new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been recognized as a cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19 disease. In the absence of stable treatments for COVID-19, the possibility that vitamins: B 1, C, D, and E, omega-3, minerals (magnesium and manganese), and herb thyme may have unspecified effects on infection with COVID-19 would be considered. Various reports have revealed that vitamins B 1, C, D, and E, omega-3, magnesium, manganese, and thyme may affect the human innate system, for example, thiamine may play beneficial roles in human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), treating megadose ascorbic acid can assist prevent cold and flu symptoms, vitamin D can decrease the risk of developing COVID-19, vitamin E has been evaluated against the influenza virus in mice, and omega-3 fatty acids supplementation has been efficient in reducing the severity and frequency of sickle cell rate. Magnesium may be effective in patients with a mutation in the interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase, as well as manganese associates with the metabolism of glucose and fats, vitamin C, and B, accelerating protein synthesis, endocrine regulation, stimulating hematopoiesis, improving innate function, and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Moreover, thyme extract can have beneficial antiviral effects against human papillomavirus (HPV) and influenza A (IAV). The possibility that the vitamins B 1, C, D, E, omega-3, magnesium, manganese, and thyme appear to affect the human innate system warrants further study, especially in light of the recent COVID-19 epidemic.

THIS STUDY aimed to explore the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on
physiological parameters of Solanum nigrum calli and the possibility of using it as a
remediator for contaminated media. In vitro experiments were conducted to understand the
mechanism of S. nigrum in the remediation of ZnO NPs (0, 50 and 100 mg L-1 used). The
dry weight of calli subjected to the lowest concentration of ZnO NPs was increased (1.8 fold
higher than the control). The activities of lipoxygenase and antioxidant enzymes in the callus
were stimulated at the highest level of ZnO NPs. The treatment of ZnO NPs did not change the
activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and phenolic compounds while reducing the activity
of polyphenol oxidase. The contents of phosphorus and potassium were decreased under
ZnO NPs treatments. Amino acids, soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates, and Zn content
were elevated in the ZnO NPs-treated-callus. The infrared spectroscopy analysis proved the
differences between most macromolecules. The results indicate that this plant can be used in
the remediation of ZnO NPs in the contaminated media.

There is a growing demand for exploiting cost-effective carbon sources for mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae. Fucoidan and alginate were extracted from the brown seaweed Cystoseira trinodis and were subjected to hydrolysis using H2O, HCl, or NaOH for the mixotrophic cultivation of Dunaliella salina. The algal biomass was enhanced to 0.46 g L−1 and biomass productivity reached 41.83 mg L−1 day−1 using alkali hydrolyzed alginate, which was ∼1.6-fold higher than the values under the photoautotrophic conditions. Lipid content was increased to 21.81% w/w using alkali hydrolyzed fucoidan which was 1.78-times higher than the control. Several biodiesel quality parameters were calculated and indicated that mixotrophic cultivation enhanced the biodiesel properties. The biochemical composition showed that amino acid and insoluble and soluble protein productivities were promoted 2-3-folds in relation to the control. Similarly, glycerol and soluble carbohydrate (starch) productivities were increased ∼ 1.4-times, while insoluble carbohydrate productivity was 3.3-times higher than the control. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the starch content of D. salina was reduced in compensatory of lipid accumulation. In addition, the algal growth behavior was statistically fitted using modified logistic model which indicated that lag-phase and maximum growth rate were 0.75–3.89 day and 0.019–0.066 day−1, respectively.

There is a growing demand for exploiting cost-effective carbon sources for mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae. Fucoidan and alginate were extracted from the brown seaweed Cystoseira trinodis and were subjected to hydrolysis using H2O, HCl, or NaOH for the mixotrophic cultivation of Dunaliella salina. The algal biomass was enhanced to 0.46 g L−1 and biomass productivity reached 41.83 mg L−1 day−1 using alkali hydrolyzed alginate, which was ∼1.6-fold higher than the values under the photoautotrophic conditions. Lipid content was increased to 21.81% w/w using alkali hydrolyzed fucoidan which was 1.78-times higher than the control. Several biodiesel quality parameters were calculated and indicated that mixotrophic cultivation enhanced the biodiesel properties. The biochemical composition showed that amino acid and insoluble and soluble protein productivities were promoted 2-3-folds in relation to the control. Similarly, glycerol and soluble carbohydrate (starch) productivities were increased ∼ 1.4-times, while insoluble carbohydrate productivity was 3.3-times higher than the control. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the starch content of D. salina was reduced in compensatory of lipid accumulation. In addition, the algal growth behavior was statistically fitted using modified logistic model which indicated that lag-phase and maximum growth rate were 0.75–3.89 day and 0.019–0.066 day−1, respectively.

The present study investigated the use of algae biorefinery waste and wastepaper in the preparation of cost-effective and eco-friendly xerogels for the removal of congo red (CR) and Fe2+. The xerogel properties such as density, swelling degree and porosity were modified by incorporating alginate extracted from the brown seaweed Cystoseira trinodis. The developed biosorbents exhibited a light and porous network structure and were characterized by a fast uptake of CR and Fe2+ and adsorption efficiency was increased at pH 6–8. The equilibrium adsorption capacity was found to be 6.20–7.28 mg CR g−1 biosorbent and 8.08–8.39 mg Fe2+ g−1 biosorbent using different xerogels. The adsorption of CR obeyed first-order kinetics, while, Fe2+ followed second-order kinetics. Intraparticle diffusion model suggested a boundary layer effect. The adsorption capacity was maximally obtained as 41.15 mg g−1 and 169.49 mg g−1 for CR and Fe2+ using wastepaper/Spirulina and wastepaper/alginate/Spirulina xerogel, respectively. Temkin isotherm fitted better to the equilibrium data of CR adsorption than Langmuir and Freundlich models. While, equilibrium data of Fe2+ exhibited a best fit to both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Additionally, the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm suggested that adsorption mechanism of CR or Fe2+ is predominately physisorption. Investigation of thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH° and ΔS° and ΔG° confirmed the feasibility, spontaneity, randomness and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. Electrostatic attraction, H-bonding and n-π interactions were mainly involved in the biosorption process of CR. The results of this study showed that the developed xerogels could be effectively applied for dye and heavy metal removal at low concentrations.

The present study investigated the use of algae biorefinery waste and wastepaper in the preparation of cost-effective and eco-friendly xerogels for the removal of congo red (CR) and Fe2+. The xerogel properties such as density, swelling degree and porosity were modified by incorporating alginate extracted from the brown seaweed Cystoseira trinodis. The developed biosorbents exhibited a light and porous network structure and were characterized by a fast uptake of CR and Fe2+ and adsorption efficiency was increased at pH 6–8. The equilibrium adsorption capacity was found to be 6.20–7.28 mg CR g−1 biosorbent and 8.08–8.39 mg Fe2+ g−1 biosorbent using different xerogels. The adsorption of CR obeyed first-order kinetics, while, Fe2+ followed second-order kinetics. Intraparticle diffusion model suggested a boundary layer effect. The adsorption capacity was maximally obtained as 41.15 mg g−1 and 169.49 mg g−1 for CR and Fe2+ using wastepaper/Spirulina and wastepaper/alginate/Spirulina xerogel, respectively. Temkin isotherm fitted better to the equilibrium data of CR adsorption than Langmuir and Freundlich models. While, equilibrium data of Fe2+ exhibited a best fit to both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Additionally, the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm suggested that adsorption mechanism of CR or Fe2+ is predominately physisorption. Investigation of thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH° and ΔS° and ΔG° confirmed the feasibility, spontaneity, randomness and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. Electrostatic attraction, H-bonding and n-π interactions were mainly involved in the biosorption process of CR. The results of this study showed that the developed xerogels could be effectively applied for dye and heavy metal removal at low concentrations.

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