Electrical characterization of zirconium substituted barium titanate using complex impedance spectroscopy

This paper reports complex impedance analysis of polycrystalline complex perovskite structured BaZr _0·025Ti _0·975O₃ prepared by solid state reaction method. XRD analysis reveals the formation of single phase perovskite structure. SEM has been used to investigate grain morphology of the material. Impedance plots have been used as a tool to analyse electrical properties of the sample as a function of frequency and temperature. Bulk resistance is observed to decrease with an increase in temperature showing a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) type behaviour. Nyquist (Cole–Cole) plots show both inter and intra grain boundary effects. Relaxation time is found to decrease with increasing temperature and it obeys the Arrhenius relationship. The variation of d.c. and a.c. conductivity as a function of temperature is also reported.     

ANTIFUNGAL,AFLATOXIN INHIBITORY AND FREE RADICAL‐SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS EXTRACTS

ABSTRACT

The antifungal, aflatoxin inhibitory and antioxidant activity of methanol–aqueous extract (2:1) of 62 medicinal plants was explored. Based on the antifungal results, the extracts of 25 plants showed more than 50% antifungal activity and were further investigated for their aflatoxin inhibition and antioxidant properties. Methanol–aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula fruits caused 100% inhibition of aflatoxin production by the toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus in semisynthetic medium at 1 mg/mL. In addition, P. emblica (IC₅₀ = 4.1 µg/mL) and T. chebula (IC₅₀ = 6.9 µg/mL) fruits extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity during the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical‐scavenging assay in comparison with butylated hydroxytoluene (IC₅₀ = 8.1 µg/mL) and butylated hydroxyanisole (IC₅₀ = 6 µg/mL).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Based on the results of the present study, methanol–aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula, being endowed with strong antifungal, aflatoxin inhibitory and antioxidant activity, may be recommended as plant‐based preservatives for the enhancement of shelf life of food items and their protection from the undesirable harmful effects of molds, aflatoxin and free radical‐mediated damages.