Sterculia 62% granules 7g sachets gluten free

Various parts of the plant, Sterculia setigera, from the Malvaceae family are largely used in most African countries for medicinal purposes. In African traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat fever, bacterial infection, diarrhoea, epilepsy, anaemia, and hypertension. Due to its high therapeutic properties, it has become a highly sought-after plant by researchers for pharmacological properties aimed at validating or providing scientific backing for its traditional use. Additionally, efforts to obtain small natural molecules from the plant as scaffolds for the development of new drugs have been explored. Although it is extensively used in traditional medicine and its phytochemical composition and biological activity are widely studied, there is no review paper that systematically analyses its biological activities and phytochemical composition. Hence, this review provides a systematic overview of the biological activities, phytochemical constituents, and ethnomedicinal properties of the plant. The data show S. setigera is a promising medicinal plant with pharmacological potential and thus can be useful for the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

• 95.2 % conversion rate achieved in biodiesel production from Sterculia foetida oil. • 5.17 h oxidation stability exceeds ASTM D6751 biodiesel standards. • Emissions reduced: CO by 2.3 %, HC by 4.1 %, and smoke by 1.9 % vs. diesel. • High Iodine value (101.4 g/100 g) indicates unsaturation, affecting viscosity/cetane. • Slight NOx rise observed; trade-off requires further research for mitigation. This study examines the feasibility of employing Sterculia foetida oil as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production, offering an eco-friendly substitute for conventional diesel fuel without requiring engine alterations. The method employs a two-step catalytic process, first with acid esterification to reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) concentration, followed by alkaline esterification for biodiesel synthesis. Essential process parameters—such as reaction time, temperature, catalyst concentration, and molar ratio—are carefully optimized to improve biodiesel yield. Under optimal conditions, the process achieves an impressive conversion rate of 95.2 %, demonstrating the considerable potential of Sterculia foetida oil for biodiesel production. Furthermore, blends of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) and diesel demonstrate a notable decrease in harmful emissions, especially a 2.3 % reduction in carbon monoxide (CO), a 4.1 % reduction in hydrocarbons (HC), and a 1.9 % decrease in smoke emissions compared to pure diesel. This study highlights the innovative use of non-edible oil as feedstock, a customized optimization method, and a highly effective catalytic process, all while emphasizing environmental sustainability and reduced emissions.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

• Enhanced oxidative stability and fuel quality, meeting ASTM D6751 standards. • Significant reduction in CO, UHC, and smoke emissions with butanol-enriched blends. • Slight increase in NOx emissions due to higher combustion temperatures from oxygen-rich butanol. • Optimization needed to improve brake-specific energy consumption for better fuel efficiency. This research endeavors to explore the viability of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) as a renewable feedstock for biodiesel synthesis, accentuating the novel application of butanol as a co-solvent to optimize engine functionality and emission profiles. The biodiesel was produced through a bifurcated catalytic method encompassing acid esterification to diminish free fatty acids (FFAs), succeeded by alkaline transesterification, which accomplished a conversion efficiency of 95.2%. Mixtures of SFB incorporating 10% and 20% butanol (SFB90B10 and SFB80B20) were assessed within the operational parameters of diesel engine functionality. The elevated oxygen content and energy density of butanol augmented combustion efficacy, with SFB80B20 exhibiting a 4% enhancement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) alongside a 3.5% decrease in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC). Emission assessments indicated a reduction of 6.2% in carbon monoxide (CO), 7.1% in hydrocarbons (HC), and 5.5% in smoke opacity for SFB80B20, countered by a slight increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) of 2.2%. These results address significant deficiencies in biodiesel scholarship by demonstrating the potential of Sterculia foetida as a feedstock and elucidating the contribution of butanol in improving performance and sustainability. This investigation plays a pivotal role in the progression of biodiesel formulations aimed at more environmentally friendly and efficient diesel engine applications.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Sterculia nobilis Smith pericarp is a by-product of tropical and subtropical fruit Sterculia nobilis Smith, the functional activity and phytochemical composition of which have not been widely reported. In this work, LC-ESI-MS/MS-MRM technique was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of 16 phenolic compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction of Sterculia nobilis Smith pericarp extract (EAF). Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, epicatechin gallate and apigetrin were the principal phenolics in the EAF. The hypoglycemic activity of EAF was examined by α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition models. EAF inhibited both α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities reversibly and uncompetitively with half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 69.390 ± 1.410 μg/mL and 2.151 ± 0.044 mg/mL, respectively. Enzyme inhibition mechanism of EAF was studied by spectroscopic methods. The results showed that EAF altered the secondary structure and microenvironment of tyrosine and tryptophan residues of the enzymes. This research demonstrates that Sterculia nobilis Smith pericarp is a potential raw material for production of functional foods at low cost.

Abstract licence: CC BY

• Decanol enhances SFB's brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and reduces fuel consumption (BSFC). • Improved miscibility and lower viscosity boost fuel atomization and combustion efficiency. • Decanol blends significantly reduce CO, HC, and smoke emissions, enhancing sustainability. • Minimal increase in NOx emissions due to decanol's oxygen content, controllable with strategies. • Combustion analysis shows faster, more intense energy release with decanol's higher oxygen content. This study examines the performance, combustion characteristics, and emission properties of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) enhanced with decanol for diesel engine applications. SFB was produced using a two-stage catalytic transesterification process, achieving a 95.2 % conversion rate under optimized conditions. Decanol was added as a co-solvent at 10 % (SFB90D10) and 20 % (SFB80D20) concentrations to improve key biodiesel attributes, including energy content and miscibility. Engine performance tests on a single-cylinder diesel engine showed encouraging results, with SFB80D20 exhibiting a 4 % improvement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and SFB90D10 showing a 2.5 % increase compared to pure SFB (SFB100). The addition of decanol also enhanced fuel efficiency, with a 3.5 % reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for SFB80D20 and a 1.8 % decrease for SFB90D10. Emission analysis demonstrated that decanol blends significantly reduced harmful pollutants. SFB80D20 achieved reductions of 5.8 % in carbon monoxide (CO), 6.7 % in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, and 5.1 % in smoke opacity, highlighting the environmental benefits of this blend. Importantly, the decanol blends had minimal impact on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which remains a critical concern in diesel combustion. This study showcases the potential of decanol-enhanced SFB biodiesel to improve both performance and sustainability. Decanol acts as an effective co-solvent, enhancing energy output, improving emissions control, and maintaining low NOx emissions. These findings suggest a promising pathway for cleaner, more efficient diesel engine operation and support the broader use of biodiesel as a sustainable fuel alternative.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND