The hybrid composite sample based on Prosopis Juliflora (PJ) bark and ramie fibre with different length, weight percentage, and curing temperature were created for the first time in this work. Totally, 120 hybrid composite samples were tested in this study. There were five different fibre lengths: 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, and 30 mm, weight percentages 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 %, and different curing temperatures 80 °C, 90 °C, 100 °C, 110 °C, and 120 °C used to produce the hybrid composite samples. Due to the cross-linking ability with the epoxy matrix, the hybrid composite specimen shows high resistance up to 98 Shore D hardness. The high polarity of the epoxy matrix and the hydrogen bond strengthening effect, increased the composite sample flexural strength by 12 %. The curing temperature of 100 °C, 20 mm fibre length, and 30 % of the hybrid composite sample achieved the highest tensile strength (28.76 MPa), flexural strength (46.54 MPa), impact strength (4.5 J), and hardness strength properties (98 shore D). Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the composite samples initial decomposition temperature (Ti) at 98 °C, maximum decomposition temperature (Tmax) at 320 °C, and the final decomposition temperature (Tf) at 466 °C.

Heavy metals emanate from diverse anthropogenic activities and the top soil in the vicinity of these activities acts as an immediate sink and facilitates diffusion of heavy metals into the food chain. In the semi-arid plains of India, Prosopis juliflora is the most common and dominant weed along the motorways and barren lands including industrial environs. This investigation hypothesizes the adaptive nature of Prosopis juliflora in the metal enriched soils and attempts to understand its hyper-accumulating potential of metals besides bioconversion/detoxification capability. Prosopis juliflora samples (root, stem, leaves, and pods) from 100 sites in the environs of anthropogenic activities (vehicular emissions and industrial operations) were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Fe, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb). Prosopis juliflora accumulate metals at the rate of 0.138 mg/kg/day DW for Copper (Cu), Fe: 0.142 mg/kg/day DW, Cr: 0.114 mg/kg/day DW, Ni: 0.048 mg/kg/day DW, Pb: 0.052 mg/kg/day DW, Cd: 0.009 mg/kg/day DW. Furthermore, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) metal oxidation state analysis revealed that in the pods of Prosopis juliflora heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Pb) largely existed in non-toxic form (toxic:non-toxic - 3:6), while in the under canopy soil, metals predominantly existed in toxic form (toxic:non-toxic - 7:2); conclusively XPS results ascertains the heavy metal bioconversion/detoxification potential of the plant. These findings suggest that presence of Prosopis juliflora coppice in the barren landscapes across the transportation corridors and metal based industrial zones may ideally favor phyto-remediation of heavy metals.

The remarkable adaptability and rapid proliferation of Prosopis juliflora have led to its invasive status in the rangelands of Kenya, detrimentally impacting native vegetation and biodiversity. Exacerbated by human activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, and land degradation, these conditions make the spread and management of this species a critical ecological concern. This study assesses the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing in monitoring the invasion of Prosopis juliflora in Baringo County, Kenya. We investigated the environmental drivers, including weather conditions, land cover, and biophysical attributes, that influence its distinction from native vegetation. By analyzing data on the presence and absence of Prosopis juliflora, coupled with datasets on weather, land cover, and elevation, we identified key factors facilitating its detection. Our findings highlight the Decision Tree/Random Forest classifier as the most effective, achieving a 95% accuracy rate in instance classification. Key variables such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for February, precipitation, land cover type, and elevation were significant in the accurate identification of Prosopis juliflora. Community insights reveal varied perspectives on the impact of Prosopis juliflora, with differing views based on professional experiences with the species. Integrating these technological advancements with local knowledge, this research contributes to developing sustainable management practices tailored to the unique ecological and social challenges posed by this invasive species. Our results highlight the contribution of advanced technologies for environmental management and conservation within rangeland ecosystems.

The study focuses on the preparation of activated carbon from Prosopis juliflora (PJAC) wood by pyrolysis and chemical activation. The objective is to assess its effectiveness as an adsorbent for synthesizing a composite adsorbent coating (CAC) for Cadmium (Cd2+) removal from aqueous solution. The effect of preparation factors related to Cd2+ removal efficiency was assessed. The Design of Experiments (DoE) for the adsorption of Cd2+ on the PJAC were done using the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) of the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) (Design Expert software version 11). The influence of impregnation ratio (IR), carbonization time (t), and carbonization temperature (T) on the Cd (II) percent (%) removal was evaluated. The response surface graphs in 3D were also generated for the response variable, and the higher R2 coefficient values were fitted into the polynomial quadric model. The results indicated that all the variable preparation factors were significant in the Cd2+ removal by PJAC with carbonization temperature being the most significant. At the optimum conditions i.e. impregnation ratio (1.8), carbonization temperature (595 °C) and carbonization time (174 min), the model predicted a 99.9 % Cd2+ removal efficiency while the adsorption experiment obtained a 96.7 % removal efficiency, respectively. Later, the morphological and chemical properties of the PJAC prepared with optimal parameters were analyzed using different characterization techniques including SBET, SEM-EDX, pHPZC, FTIR and XRD. The SEM images revealed a rough and porous morphological surface with an SBET of 600.4 m2/g and a near neutral pHPZC of 6.92. The XRD pattern indicated the crystalline nature of the prepared adsorbent. The pre and post adsorption FTIR spectrum of the PJAC demonstrated a distinct difference with the latter showing a reduction in peak intensity and height. These results underpin the potential of utilizing invasive plants like Prosopis Juliflora as adsorbents for heavy metal removal.

Woody species have been introduced in many parts of the world to provide economic benefits, but some of those species are now among the worst invaders, causing widespread economic and environmental damage. Management of woody species to restore original ecosystem services, such as biodiverse grassland that can provide fodder and sequester carbon, are needed to limit the impacts of alien species. However, the best management methods, i.e., the most economically efficient and effective way to remove trees and the most effective way to restore or rehabilitate the cleared land, are not developed for many species. In Eastern Africa, prosopis (Prosopis julifora) has invaded large areas of savanna and grassland, thereby affecting, among other things, fodder and water for livestock, access to dry season grazing lands and ultimately pastoral livelihoods. We tested three prosopis treatments (manual uprooting and cut stump and basal bark herbicide application) in combination with three incremental restoration interventions (divots, divots + mulching, divots + mulching + grass seed sowing). The three-year study was replicated in Ethiopia (Afar National Regional State), Kenya (Baringo county) and Tanzania (Moshi district). Prosopis survival and vegetation development, both diversity and biomass, were recorded. The prosopis treatments were all highly effective (between 85 and 100% tree mortality in almost all cases), but the two treatments that involved the complete removal of the aboveground biomass (manual and cut stump) yielded a more productive and more diverse vegetation than the treatment that killed the trees standing (basal bark). Compared to the effect of prosopis removal, the effect of restoration interventions on vegetation composition was small, indicating that most species re-established from the soil seed bank. The results show that it is possible to restore land previously invaded by prosopis. Despite the different rates of vegetation establishment and variation in species composition, the restoration interventions resulted in vegetation that in some cases contained a substantial fraction of perennial grasses. The method chosen to control prosopis depends on the availability of resources, including herbicides, and the need to remove rootstocks if the intention is to plant crops.
UNASSIGNED: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43170-023-00163-5.

UNASSIGNED: Invasive species have been identified as a major threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide due to their superiority in spread and growth. Such superiority is explained by the invasional meltdown phenomena, which suggests that invasive species facilitate the establishment of more invasive species rather than native species by modifying the plant-soil feedback (PSF).
UNASSIGNED: We conducted a two-phase plant-soil feedback experiment using the native Prosopis cineraria and the invasive Prosopis juliflora in Oman. Firstly, we conditioned the soil by planting seedlings of native species, invasive species, native and invasive species \"mixed\", and unconditioned soil served as a control. Secondly, we tested the feedback of these four conditioned soil on the two species separately by measuring the productivity (total biomass) and the performance in the form of plant functional traits (plant height, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen content (Nmass), leaf carbon content (Cmass) and specific root length (SRL) of native and invasive species as well as the nutrient availability in soil (soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN)).
UNASSIGNED: We found that the native species produced more biomass, best performance, and higher SOC and STN when grown in soil conditioned by native species, additionally, it gave lower biomass, reduced performance, and lower SOC and STN when grown in the soil conditioned by invasive and mixed species. These results suggest negative PSF for native species and positive PSF for invasive species in the soil conditioned by invasive species, which can be considered as red flag concerning the restoration of P. cineraria as an important native species in Oman, as such positive PSF of the invasive species P. juliflora will inhibit the regeneration of P. cineraria.

Forest ecosystems in Sri Lanka are under pressure from intensive human activity and climate change. Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to autochthonous species and ecosystems. In Bundala National Park of Sri Lanka, there are efforts to control and limit the spreading of unwanted invasive Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. and Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawl.) Haw., which poses a significant risk to natural ecosystem conservation. Nine different treatment variants (four replications) were used to test which management approach provides the control of Prosopis juliflora. This research is based on nine repeated measurements from 2017 to 2021 on 36 permanent research plots (each 625 m2) with 27 observed plant species and a total of 90,651 recorded plant individuals. The results confirmed that the dynamics of species richness, heterogeneity, and evenness showed significant differences between treatments during the five years of dynamics. The lowest species diversity was found in the control variant, followed by treatments based on the hard pruning and thinning of Prosopis juliflora trees. In contrast, strategies emphasizing the complete uprooting of Prosopis juliflora trees, replanting, and support of the natural regeneration of native species showed high species diversity and a high overall number of plant species. Generally, treatments had a significant effect on species diversity and the number of individuals of Prosopis juliflora, while changes in the overall number of plant species were more affected by time and succession. Silvicultural treatments including pruning, uprooting, and thinning have proven to be essential tools for nature conservation across various sites, aimed at enhancing habitat diversity in the face of ongoing climate change.

UNASSIGNED: Leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 60 countries with a large number of mortality cases. The current chemotherapy approaches employed for managing the leishmaniasis is associated with severe side effects. Therefore there is a need to develop effective, safe, and cost affordable antileishmanial drug candidates.
UNASSIGNED: This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antileishmanial activity of a Prosopis juliflora leaves extract (PJLME) towards the Leishmania donovani parasites.
UNASSIGNED: PJLME was evaluated for its cytotoxicity against the L. donovani parasites and the mouse macrophage cells. Further, various in vitro experiments like ROS assay, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, annexin v assay, cell cycle assay, and caspase 3/7 assay were performed to understand the mechanism of cell death. Phytochemical profiling of P. juliflorawas performed by utilizing HPTLC and GC-MS analysis.
UNASSIGNED: PJLME demonstrated antileishmanial activity at a remarkably lower concentration of IC50 6.5 μg/mL. Of note, interestingly PJLME IC50 concentration has not demonstrated cytotoxicity against the mouse macrophage cell line. Performed experiments confirmed ROS inducing potential of PJLME which adversely affected the mitochondrial membrane potential and caused loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and thereby ATP levels. PJLME also arrested the cell cycle and induced apoptotic-like cell death in PJLME treated L. donovani promastigotes.
UNASSIGNED: The results clearly established the significance of Prosopis juliflora as an effective and safe natural resource for managing visceral leishmaniasis. The findings can be used as a baseline reference for developing novel leads/formulations for effective management of visceral leishmaniasis.

Due to its toxicity effect, treating toxic pollutants discharged from textile effluent is challenging for living beings. In the present study, the comparative biosorption potential of imidazolium-based ionic liquid-treated Prosopis juliflora (ILPJS) and untreated P. juliflora (PJS) was investigated for the removal of toxic pollutant, malachite green (MG) from aqueous solution. The textural, surface morphology, and functional analysis of ILPJS and PJS were examined using BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis, SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) analysis, and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) analysis. Textural property (BET surface area) and surface morphology containing irregular heterogeneous surface for ILPJS were significantly improved than PJS, thereby facilitating significant biosorption of MG. Based on the conventional optimization studies, the essential biosorption parameters for the removal of MG using ILPJS were found to be: initial pH (9.0), contact time (30 min), and biosorbent dosage (0.2 g). The maximum biosorption capacity of PJS and ILPJS were obtained to be 6.91 and 13.64 mg/g at 40 °C, respectively. The spontaneous and endothermic biosorption of MG was confirmed by thermodynamic analysis. The regeneration study indicated the greater reusability of ILPJS and PJS for MG removal till the fifth cycle. Based on the previous literature, this is the first report comparing the removal of toxic pollutant MG using ILPJS and PJS.
Prosopis juliflora is an invasive weed that causes a severe challenge to ecological diversity and rural livelihoods due to the continuous consumption of water throughout the year, leading to the depletion of groundwater reserves. To control its invasion and growth, weed has been applied as biosorbents to remove toxic pollutant, malachite green (MG). This is the first report comparing the pretreatment of P. juliflora using imidazolium-based ionic liquid (ILPJS) with raw P. juliflora (PJS) for the biosorption of MG. The biosorption capacity of ILPJS for MG removal was 1.97 times higher than PJS. The enhancement in biosorption capacity might be the possibility of better textural and surface morphology of chemically treated P. juliflora. Thermodynamic studies revealed the endothermic and spontaneous nature of the biosorption of MG on PJS. With the invasion of this weed over thousands of hectares of land in India, PJS is the ideal biosorbent for removing toxic chemical pollutants and preserving the groundwater level.

Considering the need for biodiesel production from non-edible oil sources and taking into account the fact that Prosopis Juliflora (JF) is identified as a highly invasive species in Ethiopia, this research focuses on biodiesel production from a possible and promising alternative feedstock. The objective of this study is to analyze Ethiopian variant Juliflora based biodiesel (JFB) production through transesterification, carry out optimization by exploring the effects of various process parameters and characterization of functional groups (with GC-MS,FT-IR and NMR) including rheological behavior, not yet been reported earlier. As per ASTM protocol testing, the methyl ester of Juliflora has been found to have the following main fuel properties: kinematic viscosity (mm2/s) 3.395, cetane number 52.9, acid number (mgkoh/g) 0.28, density (gm/ml) 0.880, calorific value (MJ/kg) 44.4, methyl ester content (%) 99.8, and flashpoint (°C) 128, copper strip corrosion value 1a,%FFA (free fatty acid) 0.14. When compared with those of diesel, the viscosity, density, and flash point of JFB are seen to be higher than those of diesel, although it has a similar calorific value but more importantly higher than most of the other biodiesels. Based on an assessment using response surface methodology, methanol concentration together with catalyst loading, temperature, and reaction time are determined to be the most important influencing process parameters. The best molar ratio for methanolysis was observed to be 6:1 with a catalyst concentration of 0.5 wt% at 55 °C for 60 min for biodiesel yield at 65%. The JFB maximum yield of 130 ml at 70 min and the minimum yield of 40 ml at 10 min demonstrate that as mixing time increases, JFB yield tend to increase up to a certain time limit. The maximum raw oil yield rom crushed seed with hexane solvent was observed to be 480 ml within 3 days from 2.5 kg of crushed seed. The Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR) revealed the presence of all desired functional groups necessary for biodiesel on OH radicals at wave numbers of 3314.40 cm-1, Aliphatic methyl C-H at 2942.48 cm- 1 with a functional group (CH-3-,-CH2-), and methylene C-H at 2832.59 cm-1. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) study confirmed the higher ester content present in the JFB with a higher unsaturation level of 68.81%. The fatty acid, oleic acid has a lower saturation level of 4.5%, while palmitic acid has a lower threshold level of 2.08%. The Rheometer test showed that shear stress and viscosity reduced with increasing temperature within the range of biodiesel requirements, and the Newtonian behavior was confirmed. The JFB has a fairly high viscosity and shear rate at low temperatures. The 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) study established that JFB has a necessary ingredient; and aliphatic resonances occur in the chemical shift region of 1.5-3.0 ppm. Significant regions indicate protons bound to heteroaromatics, aldehydes, as shown by 13C NMR spectrum. The findings from the FT-IR, GC-MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR are in agreement thus validating the presence of numerous functional groups in JFB as such. Since JFB possesses the requisite biodiesel fuel attributes, Prosopis Juliflora need to be pursued as a promising biodiesel feedstock in Ethiopia for alleviating the burden of imported fuels while also addressing difficulties with emissions released by the combustion of fossil fuels.