Central Leather Research Institute

The leather industry possesses a prominent place in the fashion industry. However, waste management during leather manufacture is a limiting factor to attaining sustainability by the industry. Tannery hair waste (byproduct of enzymatic dehairing), being a rich source of keratin, remains underutilized. Casein binders are currently used for glaze finishing, which lack sustainability and incur high costs. In the present study, an attempt has been made to extract keratin hydrolysate and use it as a sustainable binder for leather finishing. The extracted keratin hydrolysate from hair waste has been characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis show that the keratin hydrolysate is thermally stable. The finished leathers, characterized for distension of grain, adhesion of finish, and fastness, are found to be within the recommended standards. Gloss, contact angle, and water vapor permeability of the leather finished with a keratin hydrolysate binder show better properties as compared to the reported values for commercial casein binders. Thus, utilizing keratin hydrolysate in leather finishing not only contributes to waste reduction but also aligns with the growing trend toward closed-loop leather processing systems and circular economy practices.

Kappaphycus alvarezii is one of the economically important red alga, harvested primarily for the production of hydrocolloids. This study aimed to identify an effective extraction method for the isolation of phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from K. alvarezii and evaluate its biofunctional properties. Organic solvents, inorganic acids, organic acids, phosphate buffer saline (PBS), distilled water, and freeze-thawing were used to identify an effective extraction method. The identification of PBPs was carried out by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR spectroscopy, and SDS-PAGE analysis. The antioxidant potentials of PBPs was examined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The metal chelating efficiency was determined using divalent, monovalent, and trivalent metal ions. The WST-1 assay and DAPI staining were performed to examine HepG2 cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Among the extraction methods, higher content of phycoeryhrin was recorded in phosphate buffer saline. The results showed that extraction using PBS exhibits highest content of phycoerythrin. The PBPs fraction contains phycoerythrin as a major pigment molecule. The isolated PBPs exhibited increased DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner. It has possible quenching ability of Co2+ and Cu2+. The isolated PBPs inhibited HepG2 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and induced nuclear fragmentation. The data emphasize that K. alvarezii could be utilized for the extraction of phycoerythrin which has antioxidant, metal chelation, and anticancer properties.

A mild, water‐mediated protocol has been developed for the synthesis of both uncyclized and cyclized 1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthene derivatives under ambient conditions. Utilizing cyclic‐1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and structurally diverse aromatic or heteroaromatic aldehydes, the transformation proceeds efficiently with cyanuric chloride (TCT) as a green organocatalyst. The reaction conditions are finely tunable, allowing selective access to either uncyclized intermediates or cyclized products by adjusting time and temperature, thereby enabling modular control over product outcomes. The protocol also demonstrates excellent compatibility with isatin derivatives, yielding spirooxindolo xanthenedione frameworks in high yields. Substrate scope evaluation revealed broad functional group tolerance, with several products displaying notable biological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antileishmanial properties. All synthesized compounds are fully characterized using spectroscopic techniques such as 1 H, 13 C, and mass spectroscopy. A detailed, plausible mechanism for the transformation has also been proposed and discussed. Comprehensive green metrics, including atom economy, E‐factor, process mass intensity, and other metrics, are calculated for each cyclized derivative. Gram‐scale experiments further confirmed the scalability and environmental sustainability of this operationally simple, metal‐free, and energy‐efficient protocol.

This study optimized the ratio of substrate (S) to seed inoculum (S:I) in anaerobic digestion of mixed vegetable market complex waste (MVW) for enhanced biogas production. Different types of vegetable waste possess different characters necessitating compatible microbial seed inoculum for substrate specific anaerobic degradation. This was optimized using the batch biochemical methane potential experiment conducted under mesophilic conditions with different S:I ratios of 1∶1, 2∶1, 3∶1, 4∶1, and 5∶1. The maximum cumulative biogas yield was observed in the S:I ratio of 3∶1 (1631 mL) but decreased at 4∶1 (793 mL) and 5∶1 (646 mL) ratio attributed to increased volatile fatty acid (VFA) toxicity. This was in line with the observed high volatile solid removal (VSr) (67%) and specific methane yield of (SMY) 0.53 L·g−1 VSr at 3∶1 ratio and lowest VSr of 59.94% and SMY of 0.18 Lg−1VSr in the 5∶1 reactor. The elevated SMY in conjunction with the observed high R2 between pH and VFA (0.9021), VFA and alkalinity (0.8024), and alkalinity and ammonia (0.9189) became anaerobic digestion performance indicators for optimum process conditions at S:I ratio of 3∶1 compared to other ratios tested, which promoted 2.5 times enhanced biogas yield. Thus, the preacclimatized anaerobic seed inoculum at a 3∶1 S:I ratio was optimum for MVW biogas plant.

BACKGROUNDStable angina pectoris, a clinical manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD), is commonly evaluated using non-invasive diagnostic tools. Traditionally, stress testing modalities such as exercise electrocardiography (ECG), myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), and stress echocardiography have been the first-line strategies. However, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), an anatomic imaging modality, is increasingly used for its ability to directly visualize coronary artery stenoses and plaque burden. Despite growing adoption, the comparative effectiveness of CCTA and stress testing in terms of diagnostic accuracy, prognostic value, and clinical outcomes in stable angina remains an area of active debate.AIMTo compare the diagnostic and prognostic performance of CCTA with various forms of stress testing in adult patients presenting with suspected or confirmed stable angina.METHODSA comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in English within the last 15 years were included. Studies involving adult patients (≥ 18 years) with stable angina or low-risk chest pain were selected. The intervention was CCTA, and the comparators included ECG, MPI, and stress echocardiography. Data were extracted using a standardized process, and study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Due to heterogeneity in outcome measures and modalities, narrative synthesis was employed.RESULTSFive high-quality RCTs encompassing a total of 5551 patients were included. CCTA demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy and prognostic capability across multiple studies. It was more effective in predicting major adverse cardiac events, including myocardial infarction and cardiac death, and was associated with fewer unnecessary invasive coronary angiographies and better event-free survival. Studies also reported improved revascularization rates in patients evaluated with CCTA, particularly within tiered diagnostic protocols. Stress testing, while useful, showed limitations in sensitivity and downstream clinical decision-making.CONCLUSIONCCTA offers a diagnostically superior and clinically impactful strategy for the initial evaluation of patients with stable angina, especially those with intermediate pretest probability of CAD. Compared to conventional stress testing, it enhances risk stratification, reduces unnecessary procedures, and may improve long-term outcomes. These findings support its broader integration into diagnostic pathways for stable angina.

The marine green algae, Codium species, have a long-standing history of use in Japanese and Korean food culture. Recent reports reveal that extracts/isolated compounds of Codium species exhibited immunostimulatory, anti-obese, and anticancer effects. This study aimed to delineate the molecular mechanism underlying the growth inhibitory effect of siphonaxanthin (SPX) isolated from Coduim sp. in luminal (MCF-7) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. The cell viability was measured by WST-1 assay. The protein expression of the markers of antioxidant defense, cell survival, and apoptosis signaling pathways was analyzed by western blotting. The apoptosis induction by carotenoids was visualized using DAPI staining. The results showed that purified SPX inhibited the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells at a concentration of 5μM. The growth inhibitory effect of SPX was associated with suppressed protein expression of antioxidant enzyme, SOD-2, and its transcription factor, Nrf2. Carotenoid treatment subsequently blocked the expression of intracellular cell survival markers such as pAkt and pERK1/2, and a redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-kB. Further, suppression of antioxidant defence and cell survival markers was linked with apoptosis induction, with downregulated expression of Bcl-2, p-Bad, and PARP. Collectively, our results highlight a significant cancer chemopreventive role of marine carotenoid SPX in human breast cancer cells and demonstrate that it activates cell death partly through the modulation of antioxidant defense response-linked cell survival signaling markers.

Fatliquors enhance the flexibility of leather. This study explores a sustainable alternative by utilizing waste-derived Chlorella vulgaris oil for fatliquoring applications. Initial biochemical analysis revealed a lipid content of 28.4% in C. vulgaris biomass, highlighting its suitability as a bio-based feedstock. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, with an iodine value of 102, indicating potential for improving softness, tensile strength, and moisture retention in leather. Chemical modifications via sulfation and transesterification showed stable emulsions with zeta potentials of −73.2 mv and −62.9 mv, and particle sizes of 126.51 nm and 99.16 nm, respectively. FTIR confirmed successful functionalization supporting emulsification, fiber binding, and lubrication. Experimental leathers treated with sulfated and transesterified oils showed significant improvements in softness (64.37%), elongation at break (58.65%), tensile strength (33.16%), and tear strength (up to 182.2%) compared to control leather fatliquored with Turkey red oil. SEM analysis further revealed well-lubricated and uniform fiber structures in treated leathers. Thus, fatliquors synthesized from waste algae offer a customizable, biodegradable, and non-toxic alternative to conventional fatliquors, supporting eco-friendly and high-performance leather processing. Future studies could optimize C. vulgaris oil modifications for different leather types and assess the scalability of this bio-based fatliquor for industrial applications.