This work concentrated on preparation of Al-based composites through stir casting process. Al6082 was chosen as base material that is reinforced with zirconium silicate and titanium carbide. As per Taguchi design L16 orthogonal array, specimens are produced with variation of casting parameters for performing tensile and hardness test. In this process, ZrSiO₄ is kept constant to 10 wt%, whereas TiC concentration varied from 2.5 to 10wt%. For analyzing the properties of optimized stir cast samples for AA6082/ZrSiO4/TiC, three input variables with four levels are taken such as Stir speed (SS) 300-750 rpm, Stir time (ST) 5-20 min, and Reinforcement (RI) 2.5-10 wt%. The Taguchi technique was used as an analyzer to determine optimal parameter on Tensile Strength (TS) and Hardness (HN). The Minitab-17 software is assisting to find analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression equation, and contour plots of the selected parameters. Finally, it is witnessed that SS (65.9%) is the maximum influenced factor that increases TS, followed by RI (23.1%) and ST (11%). The best combinations of parameters on TS and HN were found at SS2-ST1-RI2 (450 rpm, 5 min, and 5wt%) and SS3-ST2-RI4 (600 rpm, 10 min, and 10wt percent), respectively. From the contour plots, the casting variables SS (600-650 Rpm), ST (15-17.5 min), and RI (5-8 wt%) were proposed for achieving excellent mechanical properties.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-oxidant potential of lichen Ramalina fastigiata collected from Kolli hills, Eastern Gahts of Tamil Nadu, India. Phytochemical study revealed that acetone extract of Ramalina fastigiata confirmed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides and phenols. Acetone extract of Ramalina fastigiata was tested against human pathogens, which exposed antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida krusei with the inhibition rate of 2.1 mm and 1.3 mm respectively. The acetone extract of lichen Ramalina fastigiata exhibited significant antioxidant activity as well. Radical scavenging ability of Ramalina fastigiata was reported in terms of 61.53 % inhibition.

We evaluated the ability of fresh tomatoes and processed tomato products (whole, diced, sauce, puree, and juice) to inhibit in vitro the formation of N-Nitrosomorpholine (NMOR), under conditions similar to the human stomach. The amount of NMOR that was formed averaged 23% to 82% that of the controls, on an equal wet weight basis, with paste being the most inhibitory. On an equal soluble solids basis, the amount of NMOR formed in the presence of products averaged 82% to 88% of that formed in the distilled water control. Fresh tomatoes showed greatest inhibition of nitrosation (NMOR formation averaged 80% of control), and processed tomatoes showed similar inhibition (NMOR 82% to 88% of the control). Ascorbic acid content was the strongest predictor of ability to inhibit NMOR formation. Processed tomato products inhibited nitrosation to a similar extent as had been reported for fresh tomatoes.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the bioactivities of various solvent extracts of lichens collected from Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. The lichen samples were identified based on color tests, chemical profiling and morphological and anatomical characteristic features. Lichens such as P.grayanum, P.tinctorum, P.reticulatum and P.austrosinense were selected and analyzed for their biological activities. Among the tested lichen samples, methanol extract of P.tinctorum and P.austrosinense showed a strong antibacterial activity with the inhibition rate of 15.13±0.76 and 13.9±0.1mm respectively. P.reticulatum indicated a strong antifungal activity with the inhibition zone of 10.17±0.96mm followed by P.austrosinense and P.tinctorum. Antioxidant study revealed that IC50 value of acetone extracts of P. tinctorum showed higher antioxidant activity with IC50 of 17.52 µg/ml than P.austrosinense exhibited IC50 value of 26.39 µg/ml. These activities were confirmed through in vitro cytotoxic studies in which P. austrosinense registered the maximum control over HeLa cell lines with the IC50 value of 39.06µg/ml.

No abstract