Science Essence Journal

Evaluation of Rhinacanthus nasutus for Utilizing as Sebum-controlled Facial Toner

Naphatsorn Ditthawutthikul — 2024-09-21

Rhinacanthus nasutus has been officially registered as traditional herbal medicine since 2011 as a tincture form of medication. It has properties in treating skin diseases caused by fungus, ringworm, and athlete's foot. The major bioactive compounds in R. nasutus are rhinacanthins. For cosmetics, R. nasutus extract (RNE) has been formulated as shampoos, soap bars, and liquid soaps. However, facial toner with RNE has not yet been found. Therefore, an objective of this study is to develop a sebum-controlled facial toner containing RNE. The total tannin content was studied and compared using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric assay. The astringent test was studied on hemoglobin precipitation. RNE showed astringent activity at AC₅₀ by 1.06 ± 0.08 mg/mL while tannic acid as standard showed astringent activity at AC₅₀ by 0.03 ± 0.00 mg/mL. Cytotoxic effect against human fibroblasts was evaluated with sulforhodamine B assay, and the result showed that RNE was safe in a concentration range between 0.001 to 1.0 mg/mL. In the development of toner, RNE was selected at concentration level of 0.20 %w/w, based on cell survival and astringent activity. At this concentration, it had astringent activity at 58.04% cell survival rate at 73.04%. Stability of formulated toners were evaluated by 6 heating-cooling cycles. The results showed that all formulas had an appropriate stability profile. The result from this study suggested that in order to formulate an efficient sebum-controlled toner containing RNE, other plant extracts with high astringent potency should be further combined. Further studies on R. nasutus herb such as anti-collagenase and anti-tyrosinase activities should be considered to confirm the potential of using RNE as cosmetic products.

Determination of Fe3+ in Water Samples by Reduced Schiff Base Ligand

Sunti Doungchandeng — 2024-12-25

This research presents the development of a method for the quantification of Fe³⁺ using a reduced Schiff base ligand, which was synthesized via a simple two-step process with a high yield of 84%. The quantification of Fe³⁺ was analyzed using UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The selective binding of ligand with various cations (Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ag⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) was investigated. The results revealed that the reduced Schiff base ligand specifically formed a complex with Fe³⁺, indicated by a new absorption peak in the 350–400 nm range due to ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT). In contrast, other cations induced no significant spectral changes. Quantitative studies of Fe³⁺ showed that the absorbance at 380 nm increased linearly with Fe³⁺ concentration, displaying a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9994 within the Fe³⁺ concentration range of 2.00 × 10^–6 to 1.00 × 10^–3 M. The method exhibited a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.22 × 10^–6 M and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.03 × 10^–5 M. The reduced Schiff base ligand was successfully applied for Fe³⁺ quantification in real water samples, corresponding to the results obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Enhancing Science Communication Skills for Future Science Teachers: A Redesign of Inquiry-Based Learning

Chaninan Pruekpramool — 2024-12-25

Science communication skills are crucial for science teachers but are often neglected in traditional inquiry-based learning. This study addresses this gap by revising the inquiry-based learning model to integrate communication strategies, aiming to promote the science communication skills of pre-service science teachers in Thailand. The study involved 25 third-year pre-service science teachers enrolled in a science program at a Rajabhat University in central Thailand. Research instruments included lesson plans, science communication skills tests, and a science learning achievement test. Data analysis was conducted using percentage, mean, standard deviation, relative gain score, and a t-test for dependent samples. The redesigned inquiry learning model featured five steps: engagement, exploration and inference, logical explanation, analytical elaboration, and evaluation. Results showed that after learning with this model, pre-service teachers achieved the highest mean scores in summarizing scientific concepts, followed by interpreting data with scientific evidence, and explaining scientific phenomena. Additionally, the relative gain scores of science communication skills increased significantly, moving from moderate to very high levels across seven phases. The posttest mean score for science learning achievement was also significantly higher than the pretest score. This innovative approach demonstrates the potential of combining inquiry-based learning with communication strategies to effectively enhance the science communication skills and overall learning achievements of future science teachers.

On Algorithms for Computing Derivations and Antiderivations of Leibniz Algebras

Pawaran Hongsopa — 2024-12-28

The concepts of antiderivation and biderivation were first introduced for right Leibniz algebras in 1993. In this paper, we extend these definitions to left Leibniz algebras and develop Maple software programs specifically for computing derivations and antiderivations of Leibniz algebras. As an application, we provide a complete classification of biderivations for non-Lie Leibniz algebras of dimensions up to three over the complex field.

Evaluation of Biological Activities and Cytotoxicity of Microporus vernicipes PW17-173 and Microporus xanthopus PP17-16 Mushroom Extracts for Natural Cosmetics Applications

Dr. Nuttika Suwannasai — 2024-12-28

Mushroom extracts, known for their rich content of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, phenolic acids, vitamins, and minerals, are increasingly recognized for their potential as cosmeceuticals. This study evaluated Microporus vernicipes PW17-173 and Microporus xanthopus PP17-16, collected from northeastern Thailand. The mushrooms were cultured in yeast malt broth, and four extracts were prepared using ethanol and ethyl acetate: culture broth ethyl acetate (BA), culture broth ethanol (BE), mycelium ethyl acetate (MA), and mycelium ethanol (ME). These extracts were assessed for antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-inflammatory activities. The BA extracts from both species exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, followed by the ME and BE extracts. Anti-tyrosinase assays revealed low IC₅₀ values for BA extracts, with M. vernicipes showing 0.591±0.013 mg/mL and M. xanthopus 0.335±0.055 mg/mL. In anti-inflammatory tests, all extracts from M. vernicipes demonstrated lower IC₅₀ values compared to those from M. xanthopus. Cytotoxicity assays on human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells indicated that the BA and ME extracts caused 50% cell damage at concentrations above 250 µg/mL, while BE extracts exhibited similar toxicity at concentrations above 250 µg/mL for M. vernicipes and 63 µg/mL for M. xanthopus. These findings suggest that Microporus species offer promising potential for cosmetic formulations due to their potent antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Utilizing ICP-OES for Elemental Analysis of Soil Samples in Forensic Science

Ruthairat Siriwattanarat — 2024-12-28

Soil is a crucial form of physical evidence in forensic investigations. Each type of soil possesses unique characteristics that serve as identifying markers, making it admissible as evidence in a court of law. The trace, major, and minor elements in the soil contribute to a distinctive elemental profile unique to each location. In this research, we aimed to classify and differentiate soil groups using ICP-OES for forensic science purposes. The study analyzed soil samples from various groups, including forest soil, orchard soil, and rice field soil. The results revealed that elements in the Ca, Mg, and Mn groups displayed high standard deviation values, while elements in the Zn, Cr, Cu, and Pb groups demonstrated low standard deviation values. Soil samples from two provinces in the central region of Thailand displayed similar elemental concentrations, whereas samples from the northeastern region showed distinct elemental concentrations compared to those from the central region. However, statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA to compare elemental concentrations across different soil types revealed no significant differences at the 0.05 level among the soil sample groups. Although ICP-OES is highly effective, its application in analyzing soil as chemical evidence may not always yield successful results in a single attempt. Repeated testing is often necessary to identify the most appropriate elements. It is recommended to examine the area's conditions and data on soil usage in the location where soil evidence is collected for comparison before selecting elements for analysis, as this helps minimize costs and save time.

The Development of Sweet Basil Essential Oils Nanoemulsion for Scototaxis Behaviors in Zebrafish

Yanapat Khamaon — 2024-12-28

Sweet basil is an herb known for its essential oils, widely used in the food and fragrance industries. This essential oil contains a compound with calming properties; however, only a few preclinical studies show the anxiolytic effect of sweet basil essential oil. This study aimed to test the anxiety-related effect of sweet basil essential oil in zebrafish and develop nanoemulsion to enhance its therapeutic effects. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identifies the anxiolytic compounds of sweet basil essential oil including estragole (100%) and linalool (25.52%). A nanoemulsion of sweet basil oil was developed and measured physical properties by zetasizer. We found that nanoemulsion had particles size of 52.96±14.69 nm and a dispersion value of 0.25±0.01. The scototaxis behavior test of zebrafish was performed, and the anxiety-related compounds (ethanol and fluoxetine) were compared with sweet basil essential oil and nanoemulsion. The anxiolytic effects of sweet basil essential oil and its nanoemulsion were found in zebrafish. These findings indicate that sweet basil essential oil, particularly as a nanoemulsion, has potential as an alternative treatment for anxiety-related behavior.