The kidney is the organ most vulnerable to nephrotoxic drugs such as gentamicin. Nephrotoxicity is a rapid deterioration of kidney function due to various factors. Gentamicin causes nephrotoxicity, which was manifested by an increase in serum kidney biomarkers. Asparagus africanus is one of the ethnomedicinal plants used as traditional medicine for treating various ailments, including kidney disease in Ethiopian society. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of A. africanus root extract on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Using maceration techniques, 100 g of dried plant powder was extracted in 1 L of ethanol. The physicochemical screening of plant extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and steroids. The nephroprotective activity of A. africanus crude extract was evaluated on male Swiss albino mice. The crude ethanolic extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses showed strong nephroprotective effects by restoring biomarkers such as creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen, which were damaged by gentamicin (
p
<
0.05
) in a dose-dependent manner. The mice treated with higher doses (400 mg/kg) had a comparable nephroprotective effect compared to the positive control group (200 mg/kg silymarin;
p
>
0.05
). The histopathology of the control group showed normal glomeruli, normal parenchyma, distal convoluted, and no tubular damage. The toxicant-induced group showed damage to glomeruli and inflammatory infiltration. Therefore, A. africanus root extract has a nephroprotective activity by retarding the gentamicin toxicity in male Swiss albino mice.
Biodiesel can be produced using domestic resources like straight vegetable oil, animal fats, and waste cooking oil. Its use, instead of conventional diesel, contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The production of biodiesel through transesterification (TE) reactions requires adequate catalysts to speed up the reactions. The classical methods of biodiesel production were conducted using homogeneous catalysts, which have drawbacks such as high flammability, toxicity, corrosion, byproducts like soap and glycerol, and a high wastewater output. Recently, various types of heterogeneous catalysts and continuous reactors have been invented for the production of biodiesel. As a result, the initial choice of catalysts is crucial. However, it is also affected by the amount of free fatty acids in a given sample of oil. In addition, most of the catalysts are not suitable for large-scale industrial applications due to their high cost. Bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts are widely applicable and have a rich history of facilitating energy-efficient, selective molecular transformations, and contributing to chemical manufacturing processes like biodiesel. This chapter underlines the use of bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production using low-cost feedstock. Furthermore, it examines the sustainability of catalysts and low-cost feedstock for large-scale biodiesel production. Finally, the chapter indicates a further perspective of biodiesel as an alternative fuel using low-cost feedstock and recommends a sustainable bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production.
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