This work aims to construct nanoparticles using different stabilizers of low-toxic natural polymers. These polymers derived from two natural substances, shellac (SH) and chitosan (CH) which formulated together by a linkage, then loaded with ampicillin. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique was used to calculate the size of amp- SH-CH NPs and was (60.63 ±1.87nm) with zeta potential of (+28.2 mV). The shape of amp-SH-CH NPs was evaluated using FESEM and TEM techniques. The formation SH-CH NPs loaded with ampicillin were characterized using FTIR and 1HNMR. According to the results, SH-CH NPs loaded with ampicillin can be exploited as potential Nano carriers with low toxicity and good antibacterial performance against positively and negatively bacteria. The nanocomposite’s minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aurius and Klebsiella pneumonia was reported to be 0.001 mg.mL-1, in comparison to 0.1 mg.mL-1 for the antibiotic nonleaded ampicillin. Ampicillin loaded on shellac-chitosan nanoparticles (Amp-SH-CH NPs) have the opportunity to reduce bacterial resistance and thus increase the antimicrobial activity of ampicillin.

This is an attempt to develop thermally stable shellac–, epoxy coating blends with flame-retardant properties. The monophosphazene and silicon precursors were synthesized with PCl5 and dichlorodimethylsilane (DCMS) as phosphorus and silicon sources, respectively. The synthesized phosphazene and silicon precursor moieties were then reacted with shellac in various concentrations to prepare the modified shellac. The shellac/modified shellac and epoxy coatings were then mixed to form the blend formulations and coated onto the mild steel panels. The structure confirmation of both the precursors was achieved using physicochemical analysis, FTIR and NMR, while the modified shellac was characterized using FTIR. Furthermore, the thermal, mechanical and flame-retardant properties of the coating blends were analyzed. The Tg values and the degradation curves showed that the coating blends with Si and P modification were more thermally stable than the unmodified shellac blends. The maximum LOI obtained was 27 for the highest concentrations of P and Si in the coating, similarly, the calculations based on the char yields of LOI also showed the similar trend of increasing values although the values were lower than the practical LOI values. The barrier properties were predicted depending on the results of water absorption and gel content values which showed that the crosslinking density was increasedwith increasing concentrations of shellac in the coating.

Background and purpose: Obesity is a global health problem and also a well-known risk for many diseases. Although some synthetic drugs have been marketed for the treatment of obesity, natural remedies may be considered as safe and cost-effective alternatives. Lac (Kerria lacca Kerr) is a product from animal origin and is sold as seedlac or shellac. This drug is very famous among Unani practitioners for its antiobesity effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiobesity potential of lac in rats. Experimental approach: The effect of lac on rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated through determination of the changes in body weight, and serum levels of leptin. In addition, the effect of lac on total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was studied. Male Wistar rats (170-220 g) were divided into eight groups; a control group with normal diet, the HFD group received a HFD, and the experimental groups received the HFD containing 0. 1, 0. 2, and 0. 4% (w/w) of seedlac or 0. 1, 0. 2, and 0. 4% (w/w) of shellac for 12 weeks. The body weight of each rat was measured once a week. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and serum concentrations of cholesterol, TG, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and leptin were determined. Results: The study showed that seedlac and shellac significantly prevented increasing body weight and the levels of serum leptin were decreased in treated groups compared with HFD group. Also, shellac decreased TG level and both shellac and seedlac exerted a significant increase in HDL-C concentration. Conclusion and implications: Lac had weight-reducing properties and could be a promising alternative for controlling obesity.

This study demonstrates a preparation of a nanocarrier for drug delivery system which based on combining two natural materials shellac (SH) and chitosan (CH). The chitosan shellac NPs (SH-CH NPs) was loaded with ciprofloxacin drug to enhance its anticancer and antibacterial activity. The shellac – chitosan NPs (SH-CH NPs) size was measured using DLS and its size was58.8nm ± 3.4, while the morphology of the nano compound was identified using FESEM, TEM techniques. We diagnosed SH-CH NP synthesis by FTIR, HNMR and DSC techniques. The results of MTT test showed a high inhibition rate of 55.45% for A375 melanoma cells, and a low inhibition rate for normal cells (HFF) range (8.51%-32.93%)when incubated with Cipro-SH-CH NPs. Also, the results reinforced the possibility of using ciprofloxacin loaded on chitosan – shellac NPs as a promising nanocarrier with low cytotoxicity, and high activity as an antibacterial with a diameter of 40 mm with both type of positively and negatively charged bacteria.

In this study, the effect of coating with lacquer (Shellac) on acoustic properties was investigated by forced flexural vibration in free-free beam in white mulberry (Morus alba) and walnut wood (Juglans regia). For this purpose, the samples of both species with dimensions of 2 × 15 × 140 mm (length, width, height) were prepared according to ISO 3129 standard. The samples of both species for integrated humidity were kept in a climatic chamber for three weeks in climatic system (20 ± 2° C and 65 ± 5% RH) and then the first step of forced vibration test for measuring basic properties of the both test samples were performed on them. White mulberry and walnut wood were coated by Shellac (lacquer) and samples of both species were kept again in a climatic chamber for three weeks for integrated humidity. The results showed equal variations in the specific gravity in both coated samples of white mulberry and walnuts. The modulus of elasticity, acoustic coefficient and acoustical conversion efficiency values after coating were reduced in both species. However, the drop in values was greater in mulberry than walnut. The reason behind this was related to a change in the specific gravity in both species after coating with Shellac, in a way that change in frequency in mulberry wood was more than walnut. Damping vibration was increased under the effect of coating in both species. That's because the different effect of alcohol to dissolve extractives in mulberry and walnut wood and different nature and role of these substances in each species. This change in damping factor in mulberry was more than walnut wood.

Purpose: The use of resins and gums in historical art works has been considered for a long time. These materials were used for a variety of purposes in different arts such as painting, calligraphy, gilding, architectural decorations and even buildings. Resins and gums were also used photography. The present study carried out by examining the photographic glass plates of the album house of the Golestan Palace collection to identify the role of gums and resins in the production of Qajarid black-and-white glass plate negatives. Method and Research Design: Data was collected using FTIR method fornon-destructive chemical analysis. Also, historical technical literature was reviewed for additional data. Findings and Conclusions: As expected, the use of different resins and gums such as Arabic gum and shellac in different parts of the glass plate negatives has been common. Some cases were identified to be different from those mentioned in the historical technical literature. These materials have been used as a varnish layer, pre-retouch, post-retouch coating, as well as adhesives.

The study was conducted to assess the effect of different wax coating materials and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on storage life and quality of ‘Kaghzi lime’ (Citrus aurantifolia Swing.) fruits. The fruits were harvested at light yellow skin color stage and treated with different wax coating materials: T1=Citrus Wax (wood resins18%, Imazalil 0.3%, Thiabendazloe 0.5%), T2=PHRC SCM Wax [9% total solids (castor and shellac based wax)]; T3=Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), and T0=The fruit without any treatment were used as control. The fruits were stored at 10°C for 45 days and relative humidity was maintained at 90%. Physiochemical, sensory, organoleptic, and quality parameters were measured after 30 and 45 days of harvesting. The coating treatments significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced physiological weight loss, increased shelf life and maintained the quality of fruits. Among all treatments, Citrus Wax proved best because it maintained relatively higher levels of acidity, flavor, vitamin C content and fruit firmness; prevented disease attack; and improved juice recovery of lime fruits compared with control. Thus this treatment can be used to enhance the shelf life and maintain quality of the lime fruits.

Background: Renal disorders including renal failure are common complications which affect the whole body system. The treatment methods in modern medicine seem to be inadequate in a large number of cases. Regarding the increasing interest of the community towards traditional and complementary medicine, the potential of Persian medicine (PM) in management of renal diseases, could be put to test in research programs in order to find possible effective treatment.Objective: The aim of this study is to introduce materia medica which are commonly used in PM for the purpose of protection and functional empowerment of the kidneys against destructive factors.Methods: This research is a literature-based study on effective material medica used in the treatment of two significant renal disorders; renal weakness and renal atrophy (Hozal). Six pharmaceutical references of Persian medicine from different historical periods were searched by certain keywords related to renal weakness and renal atrophy.Results: Fourteen materia medica related to the prevention or treatment of renal weakness and fifteen for renal atrophy were found. Poppy (Papaver somniferum), Amber and shellac are the most repeated medicines in the treatment of renal weakness; whereas fig (ficus carica), banana (musa sapientum) and hazelnut (corynus avelana) are mostly repeated for either prevention or treatment of renal atrophy.Conclusion: Medicinal plants represented by Persian medicine references could be a basis for experimental and clinical researches for drug development in the field of prevention or even treatment of acute or chronic renal failure.