From the Research
To dilute duhat extract for your thesis, I recommend using distilled water as your primary diluent, as it is the most straightforward and least likely to interfere with the bioactive compounds in the extract. When considering the provided evidence, it's clear that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can have significant effects on cell cultures and biological assays, as shown in studies such as 1, 2, 3, and 4. However, these studies are more relevant to the use of DMSO as a solvent in cell culture experiments rather than the dilution of plant extracts like duhat.
Given the context of your question, which focuses on diluting duhat extract, the most appropriate choice for a diluent, based on general laboratory practices and the goal of minimizing interference with the extract's components, is distilled water. Start by preparing a stock solution of your duhat extract, then create serial dilutions to achieve the concentrations needed for your experiments. For example, if you need a 1:10 dilution, mix 1 part extract with 9 parts distilled water. For more precise work, you might need to prepare several concentrations (such as 1:2,1:5,1:10,1:100) to determine optimal dilution levels.
When diluting, use sterile equipment and work in a clean environment to prevent contamination that could affect your results. Record the exact dilution procedure in your methodology section, including initial extract concentration, diluent used, and final concentrations achieved. Duhat (Syzygium cumini) extract contains various bioactive compounds including flavonoids and anthocyanins that may be sensitive to extreme pH or temperature, so handle the solution carefully and store appropriately. The purpose of dilution is typically to achieve concentrations suitable for analysis or to establish dose-dependent relationships in biological assays.
It's also worth noting that while DMSO has been studied extensively for its effects on cell cultures, as discussed in 5, the focus of your question is on diluting a plant extract, which does not necessarily involve the same considerations as solvent choice for cell culture experiments. Therefore, the recommendation to use distilled water is based on the need for a neutral diluent that will not interfere with the bioactive compounds in the duhat extract.