Science Essence Journal

Comparative Study of Ethanolic and Propylene Glycol Extraction of Hemp Leaf Extracts: Phytochemical Analysis and Skincare Formulation Development

Nutlada Nusontra — 2026-06-05

This study investigated chemical profiles, bioactivity, and formulation potential of Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) leaf extracts for skincare applications. Hemp leaves were extracted using ethanol (EH) and propylene glycol (PGH), and the extracts were analyzed for phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and astringent properties. Chemical analysis using liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry revealed that both extracts contained diverse phytochemicals, with cannabinoids as the predominant compounds. Ethanolic extraction demonstrated superior efficiency, yielding significantly higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD) at 224.90 ± 1.42 µg/mL higher than the propylene glycol extraction which has CBD at 0.83 ± 0.00 µg/mL. Bioactivity assays confirmed that EH exhibited robust antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values of 258.06 ± 34.38 µg/mL for H₂O₂ scavenging and 315.38 ± 50.10 µg/mL for DPPH scavenging, while PGH demonstrated mild astringent activity (7.11 ± 1.18%) suitable for sensitive skin applications. Despite lower phytochemical yields, PGH demonstrated superior integration into water-based skincare systems, maintaining optimal viscosity, pH compatibility, and homogeneity better than EH. Stability challenges were identified during heating–cooling cycle cycling, which triggered CBD degradation and color shifts, although the formulations maintained structural integrity without phase separation under heat-cool testing. These findings establish PGH offers superior practical advantages for cosmetic stability and formulation compatibility. Furthermore, the identification of mild astringent properties in PGH provides a novel functional justification for its use in specialized sensitive skincare, bridging the gap between raw phytochemical efficacy and industrial product viability.

The Process of Mathematical Modeling: A Conceptual Framework for Mathematics Education

Worraphotchara Wongpratheep — 2026-07-15

Mathematical modeling is a crucial process in mathematics learning that connects mathematical knowledge with real-world situations. However, the modeling processes presented in the literature are diverse and fragmented, which has led to a lack of systematic understanding of the shared core of the mathematical modeling process. The purpose of this study is to synthesize the mathematical modeling process based on internationally recognized research and conceptual frameworks in mathematics education. A conceptual analysis and comparative examination of existing modeling frameworks were employed as the basis for the synthesis.

The synthesis resulted in a mathematical modeling process consisting of five stages: understanding the real-world situation, simplifying, defining mathematical model, using mathematics, and explaining results. This process is conceptualized as dynamic and iterative, reflecting the nature of mathematical modeling as an epistemic activity in which learners continuously make decisions and revise their ideas. In addition, the synthesized framework helps organize knowledge related to the mathematical modeling process in a more coherent manner and elevates the role of simplification in making assumptions as a key theoretical component of modeling.

This study contributes theoretically to mathematics education by offering a conceptual framework that can serve as a foundation for the design of instructional activities, the analysis of students’ thinking processes, and future research on mathematical modeling.

Pinocembrin Suppresses Leukemic Cell Growth through CDK4 Downregulation and Caspase-8 Activation

Narawan Kawthawee — 2026-08-18

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a blood cancer that arises from immature lymphoid progenitor cells. Current treatments often cause significant toxicity and long-term side effects. Pinocembrin, a natural flavanone found in plants and honey, has shown anticancer effects in various experimental models, but its impact on leukemic cells remains incompletely understood. This study investigated the antileukemic properties of pinocembrin and its potential mechanisms of action in the Jurkat and K562 cell lines. Viability of Jurkat and K562 cells was assessed using the trypan blue exclusion and XTT assays. Cell cycle and apoptotic activity were analyzed by flow cytometry. Interleukin-2 secretion was evaluated by ELISA, and protein expression was analyzed by Western blotting. Molecular docking was performed to explore potential protein–ligand interactions. Pinocembrin decreased cell viability in both leukemic cell lines, with effects depending on time and concentration; IC₅₀ values were 175 µM for Jurkat cells and 122 µM for K562 cells after 48 h. In Jurkat cells, mechanistic studies revealed G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest and reduced CDK4 levels. Additionally, pinocembrin lowered interleukin-2 secretion, increased apoptotic cell populations, and elevated cleaved caspase-8 expression, indicating activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Molecular docking suggested a possible interaction with the Fas receptor. Collectively, these findings suggest that pinocembrin prevents growth and induces pro-apoptotic effects in leukemic cells in vitro. Further in vivo validation and pharmacological optimization are required to determine its therapeutic potential in ALL.

A Comparative Study of Scientific Attitudes between Chinese and Thai Sixth-Grade Students

Yangmei Zhong — 2026-09-09

Scientific attitudes are an indispensable component of scientific literacy which support scientific culture, technological development, cross-cultural cooperation, and contributing to social civilization. Educational and cultural environments are critical factors shaping students' scientific attitudes, making cross-cultural comparative research essential for optimizing science education across contexts. This study compared the scientific attitudes of 1,601 sixth-grade students (age 11–12) from urban areas of China and Thailand using a validated 25-item five-point Likert scale, focusing on five dimensions: curiosity, openness, critical thinking, collaborative spirit, and rigor. Descriptive statistics and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine cross-national differences. Results showed that Chinese students had a significantly higher total score of scientific attitudes than Thai students (China: M = 92.67; Thailand: M = 90.42, p < .05), though the effect size was small (r = .062). At the dimensional level: no significant difference was found in curiosity (p > .05); no significant difference was observed in critical thinking (p > .05); Chinese students scored significantly higher in openness (p < .05), collaborative spirit (p < .05) and rigor (p < .05). Chinese students outperformed Thai peers in active knowledge acquisition, openness, data rigor, teamwork, and bias avoidance while Thai students were stronger in verify information resources. Given the vital role of scientific attitudes in fostering future researchers and innovators, future cross cultural science education cooperation between China and Thailand should integrate the strengths of both countries for enhancing students' scientific attitudes and literacy to prepare them for scientific research and global cooperation.

Drought Stress and Recovery Modulate Physiological Traits and Metabolite Profiles in Kaempferia galanga L.

Unchalee Ninsuwan — 2026-09-10

Kaempferia galanga L. is a volatile compound-rich herb belonging to the ginger family and has been widely utilized in traditional medicine, pharmacology, and cosmetic applications. The aims of this study were to determine growth, physiological responses, and alterations in hexane extractable compounds, as well as antibacterial activity in plants subjected to water stress and recovery periods. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete design with two experimental groups and four replications under well-irrigated water and drought conditions. The drought-affected plants, experiencing a 65.34% decrease in soil moisture, demonstrated only a 15.58% fall in leaf relative water content. Drought revealed nonsignificant effects on the plant biomass and pigments of the mature leaves. While physiological adaptation such as the elevation of chlorophyll a+b and carotenoids in the young leaves was observed, that may be related to photosynthesis during the recovery phase. The predominant groups of the phenylpropanoids, such as ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, and the aliphatics exhibited levels of 53.90% and 27.82%, respectively, in the control rhizomes. These contents remained at elevated levels during recovery, confirming that rhizomes had a unique characteristic that differed from leaves. Moreover, the hexane extracts derived from the drought-induced rhizomes showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of Staphylococcus epidermidis at 12,500 µg/mL, which was two times less than the control. The findings demonstrated that the native KG require an adequate water supply, and water deficit management influenced the proportions of plant metabolites. This study may establish a knowledge base for sustainable KG cultivation in future research.

Thai Secondary School Students’ Physics Identities: Measurement, Exploration, and Structural Analysis

Luecha Ladachart — 2026-09-22

Physics is a scientific discipline that not only helps students understand physical phenomena but also underpins many applied fields. In learning physics, students should develop their physics identity—the ability to see oneself as a “physics person”—in addition to acquiring knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Despite growing awareness of the importance of physics identity worldwide, there is no instrument that measures Thai students’ physics identities, making it difficult to monitor and support their development. To address this gap, this study aimed to develop a quantitative scale of physics identity comprising three components: interest, performance, and recognition. Data were collected from 117 students in three schools from Grades 10–12. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure, with three items for each component. Reliability for the individual components and the overall scale was acceptable. Gender appeared to be an influential factor, with male students demonstrating significantly stronger physics identities than their female counterparts, while school and grade level showed no significant effects. Regardless of their demographic characteristics, students showed significant differences across components: Interest was reported as the highest, followed by performance and then recognition. Structural equation modeling indicated that these components significantly predicted a single-item measure of overall physics identity, with good model fit. These findings highlight the need to strengthen physics identities more robustly, especially among female students. Additionally, special attention should be paid to fostering recognition. The scale developed in this study serves as an instrument for assessing students’ physics identities and monitoring their development.

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of an Outdoor STEM-Based Extracurricular Activity Toolkit for Supporting Grade 6 Students’ Entrepreneurial Skills in Problem-Solving, Creative Thinking, and Collaboration

Watcharaporn Rungjiratananon — 2026-09-22

This study used a convergent mixed-methods design to develop an outdoor STEM-based extracurricular activities toolkit that integrates agricultural enterprise activities with STEM learning and to investigate its preliminary effectiveness in enhancing Grade 6 students' problem-solving, creative thinking, and collaboration skills, components of entrepreneurial skills, over a 5-week period. The participants were 33 Grade 6 students from a public school, enrolled in Semester 1 of the 2025 academic year, selected through cluster sampling. The research tools included expert-validated pre- and post-entrepreneurial skill assessment forms (IOC = 0.80–1.00, Cronbach’s α = .85), weekly reflective learning journals, and a student satisfaction questionnaire (IOC = 0.80–1.00, Cronbach’s α = .88). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a dependent t-test, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The developed toolkit consisted of five structured modules (Salad Shop Member, Seedling Grower, Soil Chef, Packaging Designer, and Salad Vendor) and was rated Excellent (M = 4.83, SD = 0.28) by experts. The findings revealed statistically significant improvements in students' problem-solving (t = 8.94, p = .001, d = 1.56), creative thinking (t = 9.49, p = .001, d = 1.65), and collaboration skills (t = 6.15, p = .001, d = 1.07) after participation. Students also reported very high satisfaction with the activity toolkit (M = 4.94, SD = 0.24). Preliminary findings suggest that implementing an outdoor STEM-based extracurricular activities toolkit that integrates interdisciplinary knowledge with real-world practice could support primary school students' entrepreneurial skills.