Objective: The hypoglycemic, hepatorenalprotective, and antioxidant Activities of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes extract in an alloxan-induced diabetic rat model were investigated in this work.Methods: 25 Male rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic of C. rotundus (200 mg/kg b.w), diabetic of C. rotundus (400 mg/kg b.w), diabetic of glibenclamide (0.6mg/kg).Treatments were administered orally for 6 weeks.Results: A single injection of alloxan to rats (150mg/kg b.w) caused pathological alterations in all studied parameters and histological structure of the pancreas. On the other hand, results showed that oral administration of C. rotundus rhizomes extract in dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg caused significant reduction in glucose, HbA1C%, α-amylase level and plasma lactate together with significant elevation in serum insulin, serum pyruvate with an improvement in insulin resistance. In line with amelioration of the diabetic state, C. rotundus rhizomes extract improved of the liver and kidney functions, and oxidative marker levels. Moreover, the extract succeeded to reduce the elevated serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and to elevate the reduced high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) level of diabetic rats.Conclusion: The investigation data concluded that C. rotundus rhizomes extract could be used as alternative treatments as antidiabetic, antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic, and agent as well as in liver and kidney protective in alloxan induced-diabetic rats. This may be related to the presence of saponin glycosides, polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids in the ethanolic extract of C. rotundus rhizomes, which was discovered by phytochemical screening in this study to be present in the plant.

This study presents an experimental investigation of the convective drying process of ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale). It analyses the effect of moisture content on the thermal properties of dried ginger rhizomes. Drying experiments were conducted under controlled conditions to establish the relationship between moisture content and thermal conductivity. The drying kinetics were examined to provide insights into the drying behaviour of ginger rhizomes and the influence of moisture content on their thermal properties. The results demonstrated a significant impact of initial moisture content and convective drying conditions on the drying process. As drying progressed, the moisture content decreased, leading to a reduction in thermal conductivity. It was observed that drying under convective drying takes 24 hours compared to open sun drying at nine days and solar tunnel drying at eight days. The drying temperature of 60°C was considered optimum. The results show that dried ginger at an absolute moisture content of 6.63% (wb) with a thermal conductivity of 0.0553W/m. K for unblanched ginger, 9.04% (wb) with thermal conductivity of 0.0516W/m. K for blanched ginger, 8.56% (wb) moisture content with a thermal conductivity of 0.0483W/m. K for peeled ginger and 5.98% moisture content with a thermal conductivity of 0.0460W/m. K for unpeeled ginger would be ideal for making powdered ginger rhizomes. These findings have practical implications for the food industry, as they can aid in designing and improving drying processes for ginger rhizomes and similar agricultural products. By understanding the relationship between moisture content and thermal properties, more efficient drying strategies can be developed to minimise energy consumption and maintain the quality of the dried product.

The orchid genus Brachystele Schltr. comprises 20 species distributed from Mexico to Argentina; 10 are found in Brazil. Anatomical studies of Orchidoideae Lindl. have been scarce, and the anatomy and histochemistry of Brachystele are still largely unknown. We characterized the vegetative organs of B. guayanensis (Lindl.) Schltr. using standard anatomical and histochemical microtechniques. Brachystele guayanensis was observed to display the anatomical characters commonly found in the vegetative organs of representatives of the Orchidaceae and Orchidoideae (including a uniseriate epidermis, thin cuticle, amphistomatic leaves, anomocytic, diacytic and tetracytic stomata, a homogeneous mesophyll, collateral vascular bundles, rhizomes with pericyclic fibers, roots with velamen, uniseriate exodermis, endodermis and pericycle). Histochemical tests confirmed the presence of lignin, proteins, and alkaloids, the lipidic nature of the cuticle, starch grains stored in spiranthosomes in the roots, and the composition of the raphides. Alkaloids were observed in great abundance, especially in the roots, and may have potentially useful medicinal activities, as has been observed in groups phylogenetically related to Brachystele.