Effect of extraction conditions of paprika oleoresins on their free radical scavenging and anticancer activity

Ground spice paprika was extracted with hexane, by conventional Soxhlet procedure (SX oleoresin), and with supercritical carbon dioxide at three different pressures — 20, 30 and 40 MPa (SF20, SF30 and SF40 oleoresins). The effect of extraction method and conditions on the colour intesity of paprika oleoresins, content of α-tocopherol, as well as antioxidant and antiproliferative activity was examined. Hexane showed highest selectivity for paprika pigments (886.02 ASTA), while α-tocopherol showed highest solubility (3846.9 mg kg^?1) in supercritical carbon dioxide at 20 MPa. All paprika oleoresins exhibited good superoxide anion radical scavenging activity SF30 being the best superoxide anion radical scavenger. Cell growth activity was evaluated in vitro in human cell lines:cervix epitheloid carcinoma (HeLa), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29). The highest antiproliferative activity was exhibited by SX in MCF7 cell line (IC₅₀=14.28 mg mL^?1). Extract SF40 produced significant and selective antiproliferative action towards HeLa cell line. These results suggest that paprika oleoresins, due to high antiradical and tumor cell-inhibiting activity, can be regarded as functional food ingredients.      

AQbD-Oriented Development of a New LC Method for Simultaneous Determination of Telmisartan and Its Impurities

Analytical quality by design (AQbD)-oriented liquid chromatographic method development for determination of telmisartan and its impurities A, C, and 1 is determination is presented. Step-by-step process was conducted in order to define reliable design space. At the beginning, critical process parameters with the highest influence on method performance were defined: acetonitrile content in the first (ACN 1) and second (ACN 2) gradient step and time (t ₂) the second gradient step. These factors were varied according to Box–Behnken plan of experiments and their influence on retention times of impurities A and C, S value between telmisartan and impurity 1 and peak capacity were followed. In this way, the relationship between the critical process parameters and critical quality attributes was established. The obtained mathematical models and Monte Carlo simulations were used to identify the design space. Fractional factorial design was applied for experimental robustness testing, and the method was validated to verify the adequacy of selected optimal conditions. Finally, all validation parameters were tested, and adequacy of the method was confirmed. Applicability as a routine method was confirmed by analysis of commercially available tablets.     

Inhibition of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a plasma needle

In numerous recent papers plasma chemistry of non equilibrium plasma sources operating at atmospheric pressure has been linked to plasma medical effects including sterilization. In this paper we present a study of the effectiveness of an atmospheric pressure plasma source, known as plasma needle, in inhibition of the growth of biofilm produced by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Even at the lowest powers the biofilms formed by inoculi of MRSA of 10⁴ and 10⁵ CFU have been strongly affected by plasma and growth in biofilms was inhibited. The eradication of the already formed biofilm was not achieved and it is required to go to more effective sources.     

Electrochemical Phenylselenoetherification as a Key Step in the Synthesis of (±)‐Curcumene Ether

Two variants of a new pathway for the synthesis of (±)‐curcumene ether are described. The key steps in these procedures are intramolecular cyclizations of 6‐methyl‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)hept‐6‐en‐2‐ol and 2‐methyl‐6‐(4‐methylphenyl)hept‐6‐en‐2‐ol by means of an electrochemically generated phenylselenyl cation. This synthetic approach provides significantly better yields than the previously reported protocols.     

Photobehaviour of 2- and 3-heteroaryl substituted o-divinylbenzenes; formation of fused 2,3- and 3,2-heteroareno-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes and 3-heteroaryl benzobicyclo[2.1.1]hexenes

New β-3-thienyl (8) and β-3-furyl derivatives of o-divinylbenzene (9) have been synthesised and their photochemical behaviour compared with 2-thienyl (7) and 2-furyl derivatives (2). Whereas the β-(2-heteroaryl) substituted o-divinylbenzenes (7 or 2) give only bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene structure (14 or 1) by 1,6-ring closure of the biradical intermediate, β-(3-heteroaryl) substituted o-divinylbenzenes (8 or 9) give bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene structure (23 or 24) and bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene structure (25 or 26) by 1,6- and 1,4-ring closure, respectively. This photochemical approach provides a simple method to 2,3- and 3,2-fused thiophene and furan polycyclic compounds.     

Thermodynamic and structural analysis of the Pb–InSb system

Results of thermodynamic and structural analysis of the Pb–InSb system are presented in this paper. Thermodynamic investigations were performed experimentally by Oelsen’s calorimetric method and calculated by thermodynamic predicting according to Chou’s general solution model, while structural analysis of the alloys in Pb–In–Sb system was done by SEM–EDX and diffractometry.     

Sugar Beet Pulp as <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leuconostoc mesenteroides</Emphasis> T3 Support for Enhanced Dextransucrase Production on Molasses

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) and molasses, as an agro industrial waste material, are produced in large amounts annually. Thus, a major challenge nowadays is to develop procedures that could increase the value of the generated waste. In this study, SBP as a support for cell immobilization and molasses as a source of nutrients were used for a dextransucrase (DS) production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides T3. The influence of SBP in native form (SBP-N) and after treatment with NaOH (SBP-NaOH) on DS production was investigated. The optimal medium composition for the maximum DS production was determined by varying the concentration of molasses, SBP, and sucrose. The maximum DS yield of 2.02 U/ml was obtained in the medium with 2.5 % of molasses, 2.5 % SBP-NaOH, and 4 % of sucrose concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed immobilization of Lc. mesenteroides T3 cells onto SBP-NaOH. According to the obtained results, the production of DS on molasses could be improved by using NaOH-treated SBP as a carrier for whole-cell immobilization. Our study reveals the basis for the development of process for DS production with additional reduction of expenses by using waste materials for obtaining the valuable biotechnological product.     

Nonequilibrium relaxations and aging effects in a two-dimensional Coulomb glass

The relaxations of conductivity have been studied in the glassy regime of a strongly disordered two-dimensional electron system in Si after a temporary change of carrier density during the waiting time tw. Two types of response have been observed: (a) monotonic, where relaxations exhibit aging, i.e., dependence on history, determined by tw and temperature; (b) nonmonotonic, where a memory of the sample history is lost. The conditions that separate the two regimes also have been determined.     

DNA binding and antitumor activities of platinum(IV) and zinc(II) complexes with some S-alkyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid

A series of complexes of platinum(IV) (C1–C5) and zinc(II) (C6–C10) with S-alkyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid were prepared and characterized. The interactions of the complexes with calf thymus DNA were analyzed by absorption (UV–Vis) and emission spectral studies (ethidium bromide displacement studies). The cytotoxic activities of complexes C1–C10 were determined against mouse B cell lymphocytic leukemia cells (BCL1), human B-prolymphocytic leukemia (JVM-13), mouse mammary carcinoma cells (4T1), and human mammary carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-468) and compared to the activities of the free ligand precursors and cisplatin. The cytotoxicities of the platinum(IV) and zinc(II) complexes toward mouse tumor cell lines were higher compared with their effects on human tumor cell lines. The zinc(II) complex C9 showed the highest antitumor activity toward the tested human cell lines, while the platinum(IV) complex C4 exhibited the highest antitumor activity toward mouse BCL1 and 4T1 cells. Both C4 and C9 have ligands derived from S-propyl thiosalicylic acid.