Correlations on Phenolic Screening Related to In Vitro and In Ovo Assessment of Ocimum basilicum L. Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts Used as Skin Active Ingredient

The current study was aimed to evaluate the phenolic composition parameters of two hydro-alcoholic extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. (OB) obtained from the aerial part (without leaves) and leaves, in order to determine their contribution to the antioxidant activity (AOA). Both hydro-alcoholic extracts have proven to be rich in polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavonols and tannins. Therefore, the leaves’ extracts reveal an inhibition percentage of 89%, almost comparable with the standard reference (95%). To complete the toxicological profile, the study also assessed the potential cytotoxicity of basil hydro-alcoholic extracts on immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), skin human fibroblasts (1BR3), mice epidermis (JB6Cl41-5a) and primary human melanocytes (HEMa) cells, correlated to A375 antitumor in vitro activity. The extracts did not induce significant cytotoxic effect on any of the selected normal cell lines but showed relevant activity on A375 cells. Considering the low values obtained regarding the irritative effects in the chorionallantoic membrane of the egg on blood vessels, we can emphasize that both extracts can be considered as biocompatible ingredients. Regarding the potential activity of hydro-alcoholic extracts on human skin, the decrease of erythema values after the application of extracts was a relevant observation which indicates the anti-inflammatory potential of Ocimum basilicum L.     

Evaluation of cation influence on the formation of M(II)Cr2O4 during the thermal decomposition of mixed carboxylate type precursors

This paper reports an investigation regarding the influence of the cation M(II) (M = Zn, Ni, Mg) on the formation of MCr₂O₄ by thermal decomposition of the corresponding M(II),Cr(III)-carboxylates (precursors) obtained by redox reaction between the corresponding metal nitrates and 1,3-propanediol. The decomposition products at different temperatures have been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Thus, we have evidenced that by thermal decomposition of the studied precursors in the range 250–300 °C, different amorphous oxidic phases mixtures form depending on the nature of metalic cation: (Cr₂O_3+x + ZnO) (Cr₂O_3+x + Ni/NiO) and (Cr₂O_3+x+MgO). In case of M = Zn, around 400 °C when the transition Cr₂O_3+x to Cr₂O₃ takes place, zinc chromite nuclei form by the interaction ZnO with Cr₂O₃. In case of M = Ni, due to the partial reduction of Ni(II) at Ni(0) during the thermal decomposition of the precursor the formation of nickel chromite by the reaction NiO + Cr₂O₃ is shifted toward 500 °C, when Ni is oxidized at NiO. The thermal evolution of the mixture (MgO + CrO₃) is different due to the formation as intermediary phase of MgCrO₄, which decomposes to MgCr₂O₄ around 560 °C. In order to investigate the chromites formation mechanism, we have studied the mechanical mixtures of single oxides obtained from the corresponding carboxylates. These mixtures (MO + Cr₂O₃) have been annealed at 400, 500, and 600 °C to study the evolution of the crystalline phases. It results in the prepared mixture behaving different from the mixtures obtained by thermal decomposition of the binary M(II),Cr(III)-carboxylates, recommending our synthesis method for obtaining binary oxides.     

High resolution mass spectrometric characterization of amino linked oligosaccharides — a preliminary study

In this study maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose were for the first time, coupled to 4,4′-methylenedianiline (MDA). The aim of this preliminary work was to test the feasibility of oligo- and polysaccharide coupling to MDA and the characterization of the coupling products by high resolution mass spectrometry (MS). (+) nanoESI in combination with a quadrupole time of flight (QTOF) MS in full scan (MS) and MS/MS was optimized first on underivatized maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose. The optimal screening and sequencing conditions were further applied to the MDA-functionalized oligosaccharides. The obtained results revealed a straightforward MS detection of the functionalized oligomers, high sequence coverage and a fragmentation pathway with the formation of B and Y ions as well as the complementary C and Z ions along with a typical cleavage of the aglycon. We consider that this methodology is fully applicable also to polydisperse mixtures of long chain polysaccharides, which due to the large number of components and their size require a systematic method of development and testing.      

Studies on thermal behavior of some antibacterial copper (II) complex compounds with a dibiguanide derivative ligand

The thermal behavior of six complex compounds of Cu(II) with chlorhexidine as ligand was investigated. The complexes are obtained from chlorhexidine diacetate and copper (II) chloride, bromide and acetate, respectively, in metal:ligand molar ratio 1:1 and 2:1. Thermal decomposition evidenced several well-defined steps as desolvation, anionic moieties release and the ligand cleavage for all complexes. The final residue is in all cases copper (II) oxide.     

Synthesis of oligomeric urethane dimethacrylates with carboxylic groups and their testing in dental composites

Carboxyl urethane dimethacrylate oligomers with poly(ethylene oxide) sequences in the structure were synthesized and examined in photopolymerizable resins that could better adhere to various kinds of materials, including tooth substrates. Aspects of the morphogenesis of dental composites formed through a photochemically initiated radical copolymerization of the carboxylic derivatives, in addition to other partners encountered frequently in such materials, were studied comparatively with the corresponding urethane dimethacrylate monomer. The effect of a small quantity of a carboxylic macromer (ca. 10%) on the formation of a network with a non‐carboxyl urethane dimethacrylate oligomer (90%) as a potential substitute for diglycidyl methacrylate of bisphenol A and a filler (1/1 70% Aerosil/glass) was visualized by fluorescence spectroscopy with a pyrene methanol probe. The results showed the following: (1) the degree of conversion in the formulations into which carboxyl urethane dimethacrylate was incorporated decreased with increasing poly(ethylene oxide) chain length, (2) the formation of excimers was inhibited in the derived composites, and (3) an important quenching of the monomer fluorescence emission with the UV–vis irradiation time was observed in the formulation containing a filler (Aerosil+Zr/Sr glass). Preliminary testing of the resin composites suggested that all urethane oligomers containing carboxylic acid could lead to dental materials with reduced polymerization shrinkage and good mechanical properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1956–1967, 2007     

Stokes flow of an assemblage of porous particles: stress jump condition

The present article investigates the overall bed permeability of an assemblage of porous particles. For the bed of porous particles, the fluid-particle system is represented as an assemblage of uniform porous spheres fixed in space. Each sphere, with a surrounding envelope of fluid, is uncoupled from the system and considered separately. This model is popularly known as cell model. Stokes equations are employed inside the fluid envelope and Brinkman equations are used inside the porous region. The stress jump boundary condition is used at the porous-liquid interface together with the continuity of normal stress and continuity of velocity components. On the surface of the fluid envelope, three different possible boundary conditions are tested. The obtained expression for the drag force is used to estimate the overall bed permeability of the assemblage of porous particles and the behavior of overall bed permeability is analyzed with various parameters like modified Darcy number (Da*), stress jump coefficient (??), volume fraction (??), and effective viscosity.     

Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity of Citrus Fiber/Blackberry Juice Complexes

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of citrus fiber as a carrier of blackberry juice polyphenols. For that purpose, freeze-dried complexes with blackberry juice and different amounts of citrus fiber (1%, 2% and 4%) were prepared. Complexes were evaluated spectrophotometrically for total polyphenols, proanthocyanidins and antioxidant activity. Analyses of individual polyphenols were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. IR spectra were recorded to confirm encapsulation. All analyses were performed after preparation and after eight months of storage, in order to examine the stability of formed complexes. The obtained results indicated that increasing the amount of fiber led to a decrease in the concentration of polyphenols and the antioxidant activity of complexes. Cyanidin 3-glucoside was the prevalent anthocyanin in complexes (138.32–246.45 mg/100 g), while cyanidin 3-dioxalylglucoside was present at lower concentrations (22.19–31.45 mg/100 g). The other identified and quantified polyphenols were hesperidin (from citrus fiber), ellagic acid and quercetin (1317.59–1571.65 mg/100 g, 31.94–50.11 mg/100 g and 20.11–33.77 mg/100 g, respectively). Degradation of polyphenols occurred during storage. Results obtained in this study confirmed that citrus fiber could be used for the formulation of novel bioactive additives. Such additives could enhance the antioxidant potential of products to which they are added, such as baked goods, dairy, or fruit products.     

Estimation of natural potassium concentration in Romanian males by in vivo gamma-ray spectrometry measurements

At the Whole Body Monitoring Laboratory, from IFIN-HH, Bucharest, Romania, there were performed in vivo gamma-ray spectrometry measurements on 108 Romanian males in order to evaluate the mineral natural potassium content in human body, as total value and concentration. The measurements were performed with a shadow shield whole body counter, tilted chair geometry, based on a shielded NaI(Tl) scintillation detector of 12.5 cm (diameter) × 10 cm (height) crystal size. The results revealed a calculated value of the mean total body potassium (TBK) of 135.03 ± 2.94 g and a value of 1.9 ± 0.022 g of potassium/kg of body weight for the mean body potassium concentration, for the measured males. These values are similar with the values declared for the Reference Man, in ICRP23. Correlations between total body potassium, potassium concentration and age, weight and Body Build Index were investigated and peculiar conclusions were resulted.