Mechanical and physical characterization of sodium hydroxide treated Borassus fruit fibers

In order to improve the properties by chemical modification and to optimize the alkali concentration, we treated Borassus fruit fine fibers with aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions of different concentra- tions. In each case, the tensile properties of the fibers were determined. The morphology of the untreated and alkali treated fibers was observed using scanning electron microscope. The surface of the fibers became rough on alkali treatment. The tensile properties of the fibers improved on alkali treatment. The fibers attained maximum tensile properties when treated with 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and decreased thereafter. The crystallinity index of the fibers showed a similar trend. The thermal stability of the alkali treated fibers was found to be higher than that of untreated fibers. Further, the char content was maximum for fibers treated with alkali having concentration of 15% and above. The chemical composition indicated that the percentageof a-cellulose was maximum when the fibers were treated with 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and then decreased thereafter thus indicating the beginning of degradation of the fibers at higher concentrations. Thus, the optimum concentration of NaOH was established as 15% for alkali treatment of the Borassus fibers.

Borassus flabellifer L. crude male flower extracts alleviate cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in rat kidney cells

Objective:To investigate the effects of Borassus flabellifer L.extracts on antioxidant activity,maintenance of cellular redox,and mitochondrial function in cisplatin-induced kidney injury.Methods:The extracts of Borassus flabellifer were obtained from crude male flowers using ethyl acetate and methanol.The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid),2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl,and ferric reducing antioxidant power,and total phenolic content was also determined.Cytoprotective activity of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts was assessed after kidney cells were treated with cisplatin.Oxidative stress was determined by glutathione(GSH)assay,and formation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential(ΔΨm)using 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and JC-10 assays,respectively.Results:Borassus flabellifer methanolic extract exhibited greater antioxidant activity than the ethyl acetate extract.Cytoprotective effect was demonstrated in both extracts,particularly in the ethyl acetate extract.The extracts showed protection against the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin by prevention of the increased GSSG and declined GSH/GSSG ratio.Both extracts also prevented the increase in ROS formation,and loss ofΔΨm.Conclusions:Both Borassus flabellifer extracts show antioxidant activity and cytoprotective effect against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity of NRK-52 E cells by preventing oxidative stress and maintenance of GSH redox status.Borassus flabellifer extracts may possess beneficial effects on the prevention of oxidative stressinduced cell injury.

Toddy Palm (Borassus Flabellifer) Fruit Fibre Bundles as Reinforcement in Polylactide (PLA) Composites: An Overview About Fibre and Composite Characteristics

Toddy palm fruit have an apparent density below 0.8 g/cm³and offer an interesting lightweight construction potential in polylactide(PLA)composites reinforced with 37 mass-%fibres.Single fibre bundles show similar mechanical properties compared with coir:tensile strength of 240 MPa,Young´s modulus of 3.8 GPa and an elongation at break of 31%.However,density and diameter(~50μm)of fruit fibre bundles are significantly lower.The compression moulded composites have a density of 0.9 g/cm³and achieved an unnotched Charpy impact strength of 12 kJ/m^(2),a tensile strength of 25 MPa,Young’s modulus of 1.9 GPa and an elongation at break of 9%.Due to the high porosity of the composites and the different stress-strain behaviour of fibre and matrix the fibre-reinforcement potential could not be fully used.Maximum stress of the composite was reached at the elongation at break of the PLA-matrix(~2%)while the fibre achieved its maximum stress at an elongation of~31%.After reaching the maximum stress of the composite,the fibres were pulled out from the matrix with low energy absorption,resulting in a decrease in stress and a limited reinforcement potential.Additionally,the study investigates whether an insect attack by the Asian fruit fly on the mesocarp has a significant influence on the mechanical fibre characteristics.The results have shown that only the rough surface of the fibre bundles is smoothed by insect infestation.The mechanical properties were not significantly affected.For this reason insect-infested fruits of the toddy palm,which are no longer suitable for food production,can be used for the production of sustainable composite materials.

An Insight into the Polymeric Structures in Asian Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabellifer Linn)

Palmyra Palm(Borassus flabellifer Linn)is a native tree with various ecological,medicinal,economic,and sociological benefits from Asian countries.Palmyra Palm tree-based self-reliant lifestyle and Eco-friendly community living which leads to sustainable development can be called palmyra culture.For each component,Palmyra Palm is the most beneficial species that has economic and medicinal value that could sustain adverse climatic conditions and resist natural calamities.Non-edible,edible,and value add-based uses could be widely categorized into the utility of the plant.Palmyra palm tree is working like a non-stop biochemical factory,creates sugars and many otheruseful chemicals.It also produces many useful polymeric compounds such as pectin,cellulose,hemicelluloses,pentosanpolysulfate,polyphenols,and lignin.The current review gives an insight into the structural,biological,and polymeric elements of Asian palmyra.