On the remarkable nonlinear optical properties of natural tomato lycopene

Extraction and Optimization of Lycopene From Selected Fruits and Their Assessment as an Ultraviolet Ray Protectant for Escherichia coli

Lycopene is known for protecting the skin from harmful UV rays, which is why it is widely used in cosmetics. In the present investigation, fruits and vegetables like Capsicum annuum (C.a.), Capsicum frutescens (C.f.), Carica papaya (C. p.), Citrullus lanatus (C. l.), and Solanum lycopersicum (S. l.) were used for the extraction and isolation of lycopene. The lycopene was isolated in acetone to solubilize hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules and hydrolyzed into 5% sodium sulfate in a protic solvent mechanism. The measurement of lycopene content was done by UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 503 nm (λ), and the absence peak was in the range of 440-530 nm for the extracted lycopene. Furthermore, all the Petri plates were coated with a film of lycopene extracted at different concentrations on the bottom surface of the lid of the Petri plate. The concentrations of lycopene present in the samples were in the following ascending order from lowest to highest concentration: (C.a.) < (C.f.) < (C. p.) < (C. l.) < (S. l.). The pH value of the S. lycopersicum (S. l.) sample was found to be 6.2, the maximum amount of lycopene was found to be 3.36024 μg/mL, and the pH value of the C. annuum (C.a.) sample was found to be 4.5 and the minimum amount. Lycopene was found to be 0.31824 μg/mL. The R-square of the obtained pH value was increased with the adequate amount of lycopene of good quality; the correlation variables between the pH value and lycopene percentage remained the same using the equation y = 56.60×-250.5, and their R 2 value was 1 > 0.968, found to be degraded, and lycopene percentage was calculated. Escherichia coli colonies protected from UV rays by lycopene film were counted after different intervals (24, 48, and 72 h). The effect of UV rays was measured in percentage at 10, 20, and 30 min of exposure to UV rays. Sample S. lycopersicum had the highest UV-ray blocking potential, that is, 99.75%, and sample C. annuum had the lowest UV-ray blocking percentage, that is, 77.78%. Further research and development will be required to determine its effectiveness, stability, and practicality for creating lycopene films as a barrier against UV rays.

Extraction of Natural Pigment Curcumin from Curcuma Longa: Spectral, DFT, Third-order Nonlinear Optical and Optical Limiting Study

Herein, we report the extraction of natural pigment curcumin from curcuma longa and their linear and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics. The characterization techniques viz., UV-Visible absorption, FT-IR, Micro Raman and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrum (GC-MS) are used to study the spectral characteristics of curcumin. Third-order NLO features of curcumin are studied using Z‒scan technique with a semiconductor diode laser working at 405 nm wavelength. The natural pigment exhibits negative nonlinear index of refraction resulting from self-defocusing and positive coefficient of absorption is the consequence of reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The order of nonlinear index of refraction (n2) and nonlinear coefficient of absorption (β) is measured to be 10-7 cm2/W and 10-2 cm/W, respectively. Third-order NLO susceptibility (χ(3)) and second-order hyperpolarizability (γ) of curcumin is measured to be 2.73 × 10‒7 esu and 1.67 × 10‒31 esu, respectively. A low optical limiting (OL) threshold of 0.71 mW is observed in the extracted pigment. The experimental results are supplemented by quantum mechanical calculations of the NLO parameters. The overall result finding is that curcumin extracted from curcuma longa has the potential to be novel optical candidates for photonics and optoelectronics applications.

The Importance of Antioxidant Activity for the Health-Promoting Effect of Lycopene

Lycopene is a compound of colored origin that shows strong antioxidant activity. The positive effect of lycopene is the result of its pleiotropic effect. The ability to neutralize free radicals via lycopene is one of the foundations of its pro-health effect, including the ability to inhibit the development of many civilization diseases. Therefore, this study focuses on the importance of the antioxidant effect of lycopene in inhibiting the development of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diseases within the nervous system, diabetes, liver diseases, and ulcerative colitis. According to the research mentioned, lycopene supplementation has significant promise for the treatment of illnesses marked by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the majority of the supporting data for lycopene's health benefits comes from experimental research, whereas the evidence from clinical studies is both scarcer and less certain of any health benefits. Research on humans is still required to establish its effectiveness.

Oil Inclusions Found in Skeleton Crystals of Quartz Indicated the Existence of Organic Matter Surrounding Ancient Growth Environments

In nature, minerals record various origins and information for geology and geobiochemistry. Here, we investigated the origin of organic matter and growth mechanism of quartz with oil inclusion revealing fluorescence under short ultraviolet (UV) light, obtained from the clay vein at Shimanto-cho, Kochi, Shikoku Island, Japan. Geological investigation indicated that the oil-quartz was formed in hydrothermal metamorphic veins found in the late Cretaceous interbedded sandstone and mudstone. The obtained oil-quartz crystals are mostly double-terminated. Micro-X-ray computed tomography (microCT) indicated that oil-quartz crystals have various veins originating as skeleton structures along the quartz crystal {111} and {1-11} faces. Spectroscopic and chromatographic studies indicated that aromatic ester and tetraterpene (lycopene) molecules, which revealed fluorescence, were detected. Large molecular weight sterol molecules, such as C40, were also detected in the vein of oil-quartz. This investigation indicated that organic inclusions in mineral crystals would form with ancient microorganism culture environments.

Extraction of Natural Pigment from Ocimum tenuiflorum Using Different Polar Solvents and Their Nonlinear Optical Characteristics

Herein, we report the extraction, characterization, linear and third-order nonlinear optical (TONLO) features of the natural pigment from Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves using different polar solvents. The polar solvents such as, ethanol, acetone, methanol and dimethyl sulfonate (DMSO) were used to extract the natural pigment from Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves. The effect of solvent on linear and TONLO properties of the natural pigment was studied and multi- parameter scale known as Kamlet-Abboud-Taft was used to analyse the solvent characteristics on solute molecule. The functional groups of the extracted natural pigments were examined via Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. TONLO characteristics of the natural pigment was scrutinised by a continuous wave (CW) diode laser working at 650 nm wavelength. The nonlinear refractive index (n₂) and nonlinear coefficient of absorption (β) of the natural pigment was ascribed to the behavior of self-defocusing, saturable absorption (SA) and reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The TONLO susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) of the natural pigment in polar solvents was found to be the order of 10^-6 esu. The natural pigment extracted from Ocimum tenuiflorum leaves is a potential material for applications in nonlinear optical.