Pharmacological Activity of Earthworms

Earthworms have a significant role in soil structure and organic matter dynamics. They make up a considerable amount of macrofauna biomass and are a prominent component of soil fauna communities in most habitats. Soil structure, water flow, nutrient dynamics, and plant development are all influenced by earthworms. Earthworms have long been recognized for their medicinal benefits. Because earthworm tissues are a rich source of proteins, peptides, enzymes, and physiologically active compounds, extracts produced from them have been utilized to treat a variety of illnesses. Several investigations have found that earthworm extracts include a range of macromolecules with anti-oxidative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other properties. Some of these efforts included the use of earthworm preparation in the wound healing process. Earthworms are utilized as a part of a nutritious diet in several nations. They have a great nutritional value because of the large percentage of different proteins in their bodies. In addition to human food, earthworms are used to feed animals (fish, chicken, etc.).

Developing soil health indicators for improved soil management on farm

A range of chemical, physical and biological processes are important for sustained productivity and environmental quality in agricultural systems. Farmers and scientists share a concern with soil health, and this leads to questions for both measurement and management. An essential step is to define the context and the key functions required of a soil at the scale of interest (e.g. farm, drinking water catchment, region). Only then can appropriate indicator measurements be selected. Current soil health frameworks across the world commonly use organic matter (carbon), pH, extractable phosphorus, and various indicators of soil structure/water storage. A framework of interpretation shows whether the measured values are acceptable or whether one or more soil functions are constrained. A number of the soil health frameworks in practical use present the soil health indicators in a scorecard using traffic light coding to direct users towards guidance for improved soil management on-farm.

Sveite from the Northeastern San Joaquin Valley, California

ABSTRACT Sveite [KAl7(NO3)4(OH)16Cl2·8H2O] first described from Venezuela and material recently collected from northern California have similar X-ray diffraction patterns and chemical compositions. The main difference in the chemical composition is the absence of significant chlorine and sulfate in the sveite from California. The changes observed by X-ray diffraction upon hydration and the SEM images of the crystals suggest a layered atomic structure. Water-extractable NO3 in the Venezuelan sveite sample is isotopically enriched in δ15N and δ18O and likely was affected by the microbial process of denitrification. In contrast, the extractable nitrate from the California sveite is less isotopically enriched than the Venezuelan mineral and there is only modest evidence that denitrification had affected its isotopic composition. Overall, the nitrate in the California sveite is isotopically similar to nitrate present in acidic soils overlying the mineral occurrence, suggesting a general biogenic source of uric acid from bird feces for the mineral-bound nitrogen.

Biomimetic Mineralization of Tannic Acid-Supplemented HEMA/SBMA Nanocomposite Hydrogels

This study developed a tannic acid (TA)-supplemented 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sulfobetaine methacrylate (HEMA-co-SBMA) nanocomposite hydrogel with mineralization and antibacterial functions. Initially, hybrid hydrogels were synthesized by incorporating SBMA into the HEMA network and the influence of SBMA on the chemical structure, water content, mechanical properties, and antibacterial characteristics of the hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogels was examined. Then, nanoclay (Laponite XLG) was introduced into the hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogels and the effects evaluated of the nanoclay on the chemical structure, water content, and mechanical properties of these supplemented hydrogels. The 50/50 hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogel with 30 mg/mL nanoclay showed outstanding mechanical properties (3 MPa) and water content (60%) compared to pure polyHEMA hydrogels. TA then went on to be incorporated into these hybrid nanocomposite hydrogels and its effects investigated on biomimetic mineralization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed that bone-like spheroidal precipitates with a Ca/P ratio of 1.67% were observed after 28 days within these mineralized hydrogels. These mineralized hydrogels demonstrated an almost 1.5-fold increase in compressive moduli compared to the hydrogels without mineralization. These multifunctional hydrogels display good mechanical and biomimetic properties and may have applications in bone regeneration therapies.