Environmentally Friendly Techniques and Their Comparison in the Extraction of Natural Antioxidants from Green Tea,Rosemary, Clove,and Oregano

Many current food and health trends demand the use of more ecological, sustainable, and environmentally friendly techniques for the extraction of bioactive compounds, including antioxidants. However, extraction yields and final antioxidant activities vary between sources and are highly influenced by the given extraction method and nature and ratio of the employed solvent, especially for total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, which are well recognized as natural antioxidants with food applications. This review focused on the most common extraction techniques and potential antioxidant activity in the food industry for various natural antioxidant sources, such as green tea, rosemary, clove, and oregano. Green extraction techniques have been proven to be far more efficient, environmentally friendly, and economical. In general, these techniques include the use of microwaves, ultrasound, high hydrostatic pressure, pulsed electric fields, enzymes, and deep eutectic solvents, among others. These extraction methods are described here, including their advantages, disadvantages, and applications.     

Synthesis,structure, and function of internally functionalized dendrimers

The past three decades have witnessed an exponential increase in the structural diversity and applications of dendrimers, spanning across drug delivery and diagnostics, protein, and enzyme mimicry, solubility enhancement, coatings, light harvesting, and catalysis. The dendrimer community has recently focused on internally functionalized dendrimers (IFDs) owing to their advanced design and functionality. The synthesis of IFDs relies on advanced orthogonal chemistries and/or (de)protection schemes, as well as careful purification to minimize polydispersity of composition and molecular weight. The studies published on IFDs, however, lay scattered across the chemical literature, and a comprehensive presentation of structural rationale, synthetic procedures, and technologically relevant applications is missing. To address this need, this review presents a comprehensive collection and discussion of all available studies on IFDs, detailing their methods of synthesis and their structure–function correlations. The wide variety of internal functionalities, including hydroxyl, amine, carboxylic acid, allyl, alkyne, and imidazole groups, enables myriad applications in biochemistry, chemical and biomedical engineering, and material science. Particular focus is given to IFDs that are amenable to modular synthetic strategies, which promote higher synthetic yield and scalability, and therefore possess stronger translational and commercial potential. As such, this review guides research groups pursuing the difficult task of IFD rational design and synthesis providing them a concise roadmap to their mission.     

Recent development in nanomaterials fabricated paper-based colorimetric and fluorescent sensors: A review

The paper-based sensing devices have drawn a broad interest in analytical chemistry for colorimetric and fluorescent-based analysis of biological, environmental, clinical, and food samples. It is due to the simple, rapid, biodegradable, user-friendly, less expensive, and low waste generation into the environment. Here, the recent development of paper-based sensors fabricated with different noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) and semiconductor and carbon quantum dots (QDs) is demonstrated to analyze several chemical substances from various samples. User-friendly and portable recording devices such as digital cameras, smartphones, scanners, etc. along with color detecting softwares are employed to measure the color intensity of nanomaterials fabricated paper devices after the deposition of a sample solution containing various chemical substances. The advantages and disadvantages of incorporating nanomaterials in the paper substrate (direct deposition, inkjet printing, screen printing and wax printing) are illustrated. The mechanism for colorimetric, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and chemiluminescence sensing using noble metal NPs (Ag, Cu, and Au), semiconductors, and carbon QDs for the determination of metal ions, anions, pesticides, biomolecules, and other toxic chemical substances are discussed. Thus, this review article would be highly useful for scientists and researchers to design colorimetric sensors to monitor chemical toxicants in clinical, environment, foods, and many other related samples.     

生物光化学

生物光化学研究光在动植物体内所引起的生化现象。例如:经过各种不同波长的光辐照后的生命现象,生长规律,某些生理和病理过程,疾病的产生和治疗机理,细胞的辐射损伤和自然防御,以及光合色素在生物进化中的作用等。本文就光引起的现象:视觉、生物钟(光周期性)、植物的光合作用、辐射损伤及其修复、牛皮癣的治疗、新生儿黄疸病的治疗机理,以及光合色素——藻胆蛋白等七种现象,做了综述性的介绍。     

三唑类药物研究新进展

三唑类化合物作为药物广泛应用于临床,是目前药物研究开发的重点领域之一．越来越多的高活性、低毒性、不良反应少、多药耐药性小、生物利用率高、药代动力学性质好、药物靶向性强、给药方式多样化、广谱、高疗效的三唑类化合物作为候选药物或药物用于临床医治多种疾病,显示出了三唑类化合物在医药领域的巨大开发价值和潜在的宽广应用．本文结合自己的工作,参考国内外近五年文献系统地综述了三唑类化合物作为药物在整个医药领域的研究与开发近况,包括抗真菌、抗细菌、抗结核、抗癌、抗病毒、抗炎镇痛、抗惊厥等,并展望其发展趋势与前景．希望该评论有助于为高活性低毒性三唑类医药合理设计提供新思路．     

THE EFFECT OF CLAY DISPERSION ON THE CRYSTALLIZATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF POLYPROPYLENE／CLAY COMPOSITES

PP/clay composites with different dispersions, namely, exfoliated dispersion, intercalated dispersion and agglomerates and particle-like dispersion, were prepared by direct melt intercalation or compounding. The effect of clay dispersion on the crystallization and morphology of PP was investigated via PLM, SAXS and DSC. Experimental results show that exfoliated clay layers are much more efficient than intercalated clay and agglomerates of clay in serving as nucleation agent due to the nano-scale dispersion of clay, resulting in a dramatic decrease in crystal size (lamellar thickness and spherulites) and an increase of crystallization temperature and crystallization rate. On the other hand, a decrease of melting temperature and crystallinity was also observed in PP/clay composites with exfoliated dispersion, due to the strong interaction between PP and clay. Compared with exfoliated clay layers, the intercalated clay layers have a less important effect on the crystallization and crystal morphology. No effect is seen for samples with agglomerates and particle-like dispersion, in regard to melting temperature, crystallization temperature, crystal thickness and crystallinity.     

Purification and properties of three cellobiases from Aspergillus niger A20

Three cellobiases, here called cellobiase A, B, and C, from the culture filtrate of Aspergillus niger A20, were purified by precipitation with ammonium sulphate, gel filtration through Sephadex G-75, and column chromatography of DEAE-cellulose. The purified enzymes were homogeneous on polyacrylamide disk electrophoresis. The mol wt of the purified enzymes were estimated by SDS-gelelectrophoresis to be 88,000, 80,000, and 71,000 for cellobiases A, B, and C, respectively. The enzymes were active at pH 4.5 and 55–60°C. The pattern of their aminoacid compositions showed high contents of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine, serine, and glycine. The apparent K_m values for cellobiose were 0.9, 1.63, and 1.0 mM for cellobiases A, B, and C, respectively. Calcium ions stimulated cellobiases B and C, and Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions stimulated cell obiase A. The purified enzymes hydrolyzed cellobiose and aryl-β-d-glucosides, but they had no action on sucrose, maltose, and cellulose. The three cellobiases catalyzed transglycosylate reaction, and the major product formed from cellobiose was tetramer of glucose.     

Green synthesis of biogenic metal nanoparticles by terrestrial and aquatic phototrophic and heterotrophic eukaryotes and biocompatible agents

The size, shape and controlled dispersity of nanoparticles play a vital role in determining the physical, chemical, optical and electronic properties attributing its applications in environmental, biotechnological and biomedical fields. Various physical and chemical processes have been exploited in the synthesis of several inorganic metal nanoparticles by wet and dry approaches viz., ultraviolet irradiation, aerosol technologies, lithography, laser ablation, ultrasonic fields, and photochemical reduction techniques. However, these methodologies remain expensive and involve the use of hazardous chemicals. Therefore, there is a growing concern for the development of alternative environment friendly and sustainable methods. Increasing awareness towards green chemistry and biological processes has led to a necessity to develop simple, cost-effective and eco-friendly procedures. Phototrophic eukaryotes such as plants, algae, and diatoms and heterotrophic human cell lines and some biocompatible agents have been reported to synthesize greener nanoparticles like cobalt, copper, silver, gold, bimetallic alloys, silica, palladium, platinum, iridium, magnetite and quantum dots. Owing to the diversity and sustainability, the use of phototrophic and heterotrophic eukaryotes and biocompatible agents for the synthesis of nanomaterials is yet to be fully explored. This review describes the recent advancements in the green synthesis and applications of metal nanoparticles by plants, aquatic autotrophs, human cell lines, biocompatible agents and biomolecules.     

石墨烯纤维：制备、性能与应用

石墨烯纤维是一种由石墨烯片层紧密有序排列而成的一维宏观组装材料。通过合理的结构设计和可控制备,石墨烯纤维能够将石墨烯在微观尺度的优异性能有效传递至宏观尺度,展现出优异的力学、电学、热学等性能,从而应用于功能织物、传感、能源等领域。目前,石墨烯纤维主要通过湿法纺丝、限域水热组装等方法制备得到,其性能可以通过对材料体系和制备工艺的优化而进一步提升。本文首先介绍了石墨烯纤维的制备方法,然后详细阐述了石墨烯纤维的性能,讨论了其性能提升策略,并总结了石墨烯纤维的应用,最后对石墨烯纤维的未来发展、挑战和前景进行了展望。     

Tautomeric and conformational isomerism of natural hydroxyanthraquinones

Natural 1,5-di-, 1,4,5-tri-, and 1,4,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinones and their anions and metal complexes were shown to be equilibrium mixtures of tautomers and conformers using quantum-chemical and correlation analysis of elecronic absorption spectra. Solvent effects, ionization, complexation, and the introduction and substitution of substituents were accompanied by shifts of tautomeric and conformational equilibria that determine the color of the compounds. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 224–229, May–June, 2006.     

宝日希勒褐煤在合成气与复合溶剂系统下的液化性能研究

在合成气（CO+H₂）与复合溶剂（水+有机溶剂）液化系统下研究了气氛、温度、催化剂类型对宝日希勒褐煤转化率、油气水产率和CO转化率等液化特征的影响,从而探讨其液化性能。结果表明,在高含水复合溶剂系统中,合成气气氛、反应温度430-450℃适宜宝日希勒褐煤液化转化,转化率可达到81.15%,油气水产率达到71.53%。该液化系统下,含铁、碱和硫复合型催化剂能有效地提高液化转化率和油气水产率,在430℃催化液化下褐煤转化率达92.27%,油气水产率达79.39%。该催化剂有效促进了煤中大分子的裂解和系统中水煤气变换反应进程,沥青质减少,油含量增多。液化油中多环芳烃衍生物在催化液化过程中向单环芳烃衍生物和烷烯烃转化,分子量降低,提高了油品质量。     

Advancing cellulose-based nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has applications across most economic sectors and allows the development of new enabling science with broad commercial potential. Cellulose and lignocellulose have great potential as nanomaterials because they are abundant, renewable, have a nanofibrillar structure, can be made multifunctional, and self-assemble into well-defined architectures. To exploit their potential, R&D investments must be made in the science and engineering that will fully determine the properties and characteristics of cellulose and lignocellulose at the nanoscale, develop the technologies to manipulate self-assembly and multifunctionallity, and develop these new technologies to the point where industry can produce advanced and cost-competitive cellulose and lignocellulose-based products. Because many of the findings on nanostructues and nanoprocesses are not yet fully measurable, replicable, or understood, it will take substantial R&D investments. To most effectively and efficiently move forward, increased cooperation must occur among the cellulose/lignocellulose R&D community, the federal departments and agencies having interests and ongoing programs in nanotechnology, and industry. Cooperation is critical to capturing synergies, enhancing accomplishments, and avoiding unwarranted duplication of facilities and efforts.     

Residue‐centric modeling and design of saccharide and glycoconjugate structures

The RosettaCarbohydrate framework is a new tool for modeling a wide variety of saccharide and glycoconjugate structures. This report describes the development of the framework and highlights its applications. The framework integrates with established protocols within the Rosetta modeling and design suite, and it handles the vast complexity and variety of carbohydrate molecules, including branching and sugar modifications. To address challenges of sampling and scoring, RosettaCarbohydrate can sample glycosidic bonds, side‐chain conformations, and ring forms, and it utilizes a glycan‐specific term within its scoring function. Rosetta can work with standard PDB, GLYCAM, and GlycoWorkbench (.gws ) file formats. Saccharide residue‐specific chemical information is stored internally, permitting glycoengineering and design. Carbohydrate‐specific applications described herein include virtual glycosylation, loop‐modeling of carbohydrates, and docking of glyco‐ligands to antibodies. Benchmarking data are presented and compared to other studies, demonstrating Rosetta's ability to predict glyco‐ligand binding. The framework expands the tools available to glycoscientists and engineers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anticancer Effects of the Corchorus olitorius Aqueous Extract and Its Bioactive Compounds on Human Cancer Cell Lines

Corchorus olitorius is a common, leafy vegetable locally known as “Saluyot” in the Philippines. Several studies have reported on its various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer properties. However, little is known about its effects on angiogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer properties, such as the antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antitumor activities, of the C. olitorius aqueous extract (CO) and its bioactive compounds, chlorogenic acid (CGA) and isoquercetin (IQ), against human melanoma (A-375), gastric cancer (AGS), and pancreatic cancer (SUIT-2), using in vitro and in ovo biological assays. The detection and quantification of CGA and IQ in CO were achieved using LC-MS/MS analysis. The antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antitumor activities of CO, CGA, and IQ against A-375, AGS, and SUIT-2 cancer cell lines were evaluated using MTT and CAM assays. CGA and IQ were confirmed to be present in CO. CO, CGA, and IQ significantly inhibited the proliferation of A-375, AGS, and SUIT-2 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner after 48 h of treatment. Tumor angiogenesis (hemoglobin levels) of A-375 and AGS tumors was significantly inhibited by CO, CGA, IQ, and a CGA–IQ combination. The growth of implanted A-375 and AGS tumors was significantly reduced by CO, CGA, IQ, and a CGA–IQ combination, as measured in tumor weight. Our investigation provides new evidence to show that CO has promising anticancer effects on various types of human cancer cells. CO and its compounds are potential nutraceutical products that could be used for cancer treatment.     

Monitoring of pesticide residues in Riyadh dates by SFE,MSE, SFC,and GC techniques

In the present work, simple and rapid extraction and analysis techniques of insecticide (OCPs, OPPs, pyrethroids), fungicide, acaricide, and herbicide residues in three cultivars’ of date fruits viz., Khalas, Sukkari, Nabout Seif and their seeds have been applied. The date cultivars were collected from eight local markets of Riyadh, KSA. The extraction of pesticide residues from the three varieties of date samples was conducted by rapid and new extraction techniques, Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) and Microwave Solvent Extraction (MSE). The analysis was performed, without clean-up, by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) and Gas Chromatography (GC) using different detectors. The results showed that the SFE, MSE, SFC and GC techniques are clearly faster, more sensitive and more cost effective than conventional methods. The recovery efficiency of SFE and MSE was 99% and 97%, respectively. The recoveries, MDL (Minimum Detection Limit) and repeatability achieved in this study meet the standards set for tolerance level monitoring of these pesticides. The mean levels of some tested residues of pyrethroids, herbicides, and fungicides in dates and their seeds are below the MRL (Maximum Residue Level). However, lindane (BHC gamma isomer), dieldrin, dimethoate, chlorpyrifos and all tested acaricide residues in date fruit samples exceeded the MRLs indicating a hazardous trend in the date palm cultivation. The data also showed a higher concentration of OP dimethoate in the date seeds, which is sometimes, used as animal feed. The present results provide important information on the current contamination status of the date fruits in Riyadh markets and point to the action needed for controlling the excessive application of pesticides. This study is the first monitoring and screening of pesticide residues of 6 groups in Saudi Arabian dates.     

木犀草素衍生物研究进展

木犀草素属于黄酮类化合物,主要以糖苷的形式存在于蔬菜、水果和中草药中。木犀草素属于天然抗氧化剂,具有丰富的生物活性,可调节众多与疾病进展有关的细胞内和细胞外信号通路,具有抗氧化、抗炎、抗糖尿病、抗癌等作用。越来越多的证据表明,摄入木犀草素可能有益于影响糖脂代谢紊乱,特别是胰岛素抵抗、糖尿病和肥胖。木犀草素低溶解度和较低的生物利用度限制了在临床上的应用。然而,木犀草素的低分子质量和易修饰的化学基团,使其具有药物开发的吸引力。因此,研究人员通过各种方法设计合成了木犀草素衍生物,以改善其不利因素,进而发挥预防和治疗疾病的作用。木犀草素衍生物溶解性能好、生物利用度高、活性明显改善、抗癌活性增强,本文综述了木犀草素衍生物的研究进展,为天然产物的研究、开发及利用提供参考。     

Amperometric Biosensors Based on Direct Electron Transfer Enzymes

The accurate determination of analyte concentrations with selective, fast, and robust methods is the key for process control, product analysis, environmental compliance, and medical applications. Enzyme-based biosensors meet these requirements to a high degree and can be operated with simple, cost efficient, and easy to use devices. This review focuses on enzymes capable of direct electron transfer (DET) to electrodes and also the electrode materials which can enable or enhance the DET type bioelectrocatalysis. It presents amperometric biosensors for the quantification of important medical, technical, and environmental analytes and it carves out the requirements for enzymes and electrode materials in DET-based third generation biosensors. This review critically surveys enzymes and biosensors for which DET has been reported. Single- or multi-cofactor enzymes featuring copper centers, hemes, FAD, FMN, or PQQ as prosthetic groups as well as fusion enzymes are presented. Nanomaterials, nanostructured electrodes, chemical surface modifications, and protein immobilization strategies are reviewed for their ability to support direct electrochemistry of enzymes. The combination of both biosensor elements—enzymes and electrodes—is evaluated by comparison of substrate specificity, current density, sensitivity, and the range of detection.     

冰片及其酯/酰胺类衍生物的合成和活性研究进展

冰片是重要的芳香开窍类中药,具有开窍醒神,清热止痛等功效,常被作为佐药与其他中药配伍使用。目前,冰片及其衍生物广泛用于医药、农药、化工及香料领域,市场前景好,研究和开发价值高。本文对天然冰片、合成冰片及其酯/酰胺类衍生物的主要合成方法和生物活性方面进行了系统总结,并对冰片酯类衍生物未来的研究方向进行了展望,以期为冰片及其酯/酰胺类衍生物的进一步的研究提供有益参考。     

石墨烯基二氧化碳电化学还原催化剂的研究进展

利用电催化技术将CO₂转化为小分子燃料或高值化学品是实现原子经济、构建人工碳循环的绿色能源技术之一。电催化还原CO₂ (ECR)的反应条件温和、产物多样(C₁、C₂和C₂₊),有极大的发展潜力。然而,ECR技术面临一些需要解决的挑战性问题,包括电极过电势高、C₂及C₂₊产物选择性低、伴随析氢反应等。解决这些问题的关键在于创制低成本、高性能电催化剂。近年来,石墨烯基电催化剂的研究成为ECR领域的热点之一,原因包括：1)在电化学环境中稳定性好;2)表面原子、电子结构可调,进而实现材料催化活性的调控;3)维度可调,易暴露较大的比表面积和形成层次孔结构;4)耦合石墨烯的高导电性与特定材料的高活性,可协同提升ECR催化性能。本文评述了石墨烯基材料在ECR中的研究进展,详述了石墨烯基电催化剂的构筑方法,探讨并梳理了石墨烯的点/线缺陷、表面官能团、掺杂原子构型、金属单原子种类、材料表界面性质等与ECR性能之间的本征构效关系。最后展望了石墨烯基催化剂在ECR领域中的挑战和未来发展。     

THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF RESIDUE-RESIDUE CONTACTS IN PROTEIN MOLECULES

In protein molecules each residue has a different ability to form contacts.In this paper,we calculated the number of contacts per residue and investigated the distribution of residue-residue contacts from 495 globular protein molecules using Contacts of Structural Units(CSU)software.It was found that the probability P(n)of amino acid residues having n pairs of contacts in all contacts fits Gaussian distribution very well.The distribution function of residue-residue contacts can be expressed as:P(n)=P_0+aexp[-b(n-n_c)~2].In our calculation,P_0=-0.06,α=11.4,b=-0.04 and n_c=9.0.According to distribution function,we found that those hydrophobic(H)residues including Leu,Val,Ile,Met,Phe,Tyr,Cys,and Trp residues have large values of the most probable number of contact n_c,and hydrophilic(P)residues including Ala,Gly,Thr, His,Glu,Gln,Asp,Asn,Lys,Ser,Arg,and Pro residues have the small ones.We also compare with Fauchere-Pliska hydrophobicity scale(FPH)and the most probable number of contact n_c for 20 amino acid residues,and find that there exists a linear relationship between Fauchere-Pliska hydrophobicity scale(FPH)and the most probable number of contact n_c, and it is expressed as:n_c=a+b×FPH,here α=8.87,and b=1.15.It is important to further explain protein folding and its stability from residue-residue contacts.