Electrochemical Detection of Guanine‐methylation Using Glassy Carbon Electrode

This work presents a study of the electrochemical oxidation of 7‐methylguanine (7‐mGua) in aqueous solution at glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectrometry. The anodic behaviour of 7‐mGua was compared with the electro‐oxidation of guanine and 7‐methylguanosine. The results demonstrated that the methyl and ribose groups are not electroactive but strongly influence the oxidation mechanism of these species. The oxidation of 7‐mGua occurred in a single pH‐dependent step, with the withdrawal of two electrons and two protons of C8, to form 8‐oxo‐7‐methylguanine, while the electro‐oxidation of 7‐methylguanosine also occurred in a single pH‐dependent step, however, with the withdrawal of one electron and one proton of C8 to form a hydroxylated product, since its oxidation to 8‐oxo‐7‐methylguanosine is hindered by the presence of the pendant groups. In addition, the oxidation of 7‐mGua was investigated in the presence of DNA and DNA‐bases, leading to the conclusion that the formation of 7‐mGua, from an interaction of DNA with an alkylating agent, would cause an increase on the deoxyguanosine peak current of the DNA‐biosensor, with no interference of any free DNA bases, which demonstrated that DNA‐electrochemical biosensors find application on detecting DNA methylation, opening a new avenue for applications of DNA biosensors.     

Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from pinhão coats on the properties of corn and pinhão starches

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The Araucaria angustifolia seed, named pinhão, has a high content of carbohydrates, and it is considered an unconventional starch source. Its...     

Mucuna pruriens Administration Minimizes Neuroinflammation and Shows Anxiolytic,Antidepressant and Slimming Effects in Obese Rats

This study evaluated the effect of Mucuna pruriens (MP) administration on neuroinflammation and behavioral and murinometric parameters in obese rats. Proximate composition, oligosaccharide and phenolic compound profile of MP were determined. Wistar adult male rats were randomized into healthy (HG) and obese group (OG). The HG consumed a control chow diet while OG consumed a cafeteria diet for eight weeks. Then, they were subdivided into: Healthy (HG); Healthy with MP administration (HGMP); Obese (OG); Obese with MP administration (OGMP), with the consumption of the respective diets remaining for another eight weeks, in addition to gavage with MP extract to supplemented groups (750 mg/kg weight). MP presented a composition rich in proteins and phenolic compounds, especially catechin, in addition to 1-kestose and levodopa. Supplementation reduced food intake, body weight, and thoracic and abdominal circumferences in obese rats. MP showed anxiolytic and antidepressant effects and reduced morphological damage and expression of interleukin 6 in the hippocampus of obese rats. MP treatment showed satietogenic, slimming, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, besides to minimizing hippocampal neuroinflammation in obese rats. Our results demonstrated the potential anti-obesity of MP which are probably related to the high content of bioactive compounds present in this plant extract.     

In vitro inhibition of protein glycation and advanced glycation end products formation by hydroethanolic extract and two fractions of Simaba trichilioides roots

Abstract

Long-term hyperglycemia maintenance is responsible for increased protein glycation and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), both are associated with the onset of diabetes mellitus complications. Efforts have been made to discover new agents having antiglycation potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the hydroethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate and methanolic fractions of Simaba trichilioides roots on the formation of AGEs. In an in vitro model system of protein glycation, incubations with hydroethanolic extract, ethyl acetate or methanolic fractions of S. trichilioides decreased the fluorescent AGEs, and markers of tyrosine and tryptophan oxidation. Protein crosslinking was reduced in the presence of the ethyl acetate fraction of S. trichilioides. Simaba trichilioides roots seem to be a promising source of compounds having ability to prevent glycoxidation changes, with potential applications in complementary therapies for management of diabetic complications.     

Compatibility studies of trioxsalen with excipients by DSC,DTA, and FTIR

Psoralens are widely used for the treatment of psoriasis. Trioxsalen is a drug prescribed low-dose, belonging to the group of substituted psoralen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the compatibility of trioxsalen with pharmaceutical excipients used in the solid forms by analytical techniques. Binary mixtures between the trioxsalen and pharmaceutical excipients (namely, magnesium stearate, α-lactose, microcrystalline cellulose 102, pregelatinized starch, mannitol, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate, and croscarmellose sodium) were examined. The trioxsalen–sodium lauryl sulfate mixture displayed some physical interaction based on the DTA and DSC results, but the FTIR study ruled out any chemical change.     

Perkin’s and Caro’s Mauveine in Queen Victoria’s Lilac Postage Stamps: A Chemical Analysis

Mauveine, a chemical icon, is no longer commercially available. If nowadays one wanted to have a sample of the original Perkin, or Caro, mauveine, and see its colour, where would one find it? The answer is on UK Victorian 6d postage stamps from 1867–1880. This was found from a comparison with historical samples of mauveine, from both William Perkin and a Heinrich Caro sample (here analysed for the first time). These have distinctly different compositions and this was used to identify the origin of mauveine in the postage stamps, with evidence found for mauveine made by both Perkin’s and Caro’s synthesis.     

Designed Benzothiadiazole Fluorophores for Selective Mitochondrial Imaging and Dynamics

A series of new rationale designed 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole (BTD) fluorescent derivatives has been synthesized and applied for cellular selective staining of cancer cells in cell‐imaging experiments. Four new synthesized BTD derivatives showed only poor or reasonable cellular selection, but with excellent fluorescence intensity and almost no background signal emitting at the blue or green channels. The knowledge gained by analysing their molecular architecture, however, allowed the planning and synthesis of a fluorescent BTD, which was then successfully tested and showed superior mitochondrial selection with outstanding results in bioimaging experiments in living cells. The new marker (named Splendor) was then compared with the commercially available MitoTracker Red (also through co‐staining experiments) and showed far better mitochondrial selection, fluorescence intensity and chemical stability. Mitochondrial imaging and tracking (dynamic changes) was possible using Splendor during the whole cellular division cycle. DFT calculations were performed to offer insights into the origin of the chemical‐ and photostability of BTD derivatives. In addition, molecular docking calculations hint at a potential molecular target for the BTD derivatives in the mitochondrial protein adenine nucleotide translocase, which may explain the mitochondrial selectivity of Splendor versus the other four BTD derivatives.     

Rhodamine-Appended Bipyridine: XOR and OR Logic Operations Integrated in an Example of Controlled Metal Migration

A new bipyridyl derivative 1 bearing rhodamine B as visible fluorophore was designed, synthesized and characterized as a fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for metal ions. Interaction with Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg⁺, and Hg²⁺ ions was followed by UV/Vis and emission spectroscopy. Upon addition of these metal ions, different colorimetric and fluorescent responses were observed. “Off-on-off” (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Hg²⁺) and “off-on” (Hg⁺ and Cd²⁺) systems were obtained. Probe 1 was explored to mimic XOR and OR logic operations for the simultaneous detection of Hg⁺–Cu²⁺ and Hg⁺–Zn²⁺ pairs, respectively. DFT calculations were also performed to gain insight into the lowest-energy gas-phase conformation of free receptor 1 as well as the atomistic details of the coordination modes of the various metal ions.     

UV/TiO2 Photocatalytic Degradation of Xanthene Dyes

UV/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) degradation of two xanthene dyes, erythrosine B (Ery) and eosin Y (Eos), was studied in a photocatalytic reactor. Photocatalysis was able to degrade 98% of Ery and 73% of Eos and led to 65% of chemical oxygen demand removal. Experiments in buffered solutions at different initial pH values reveal the pH dependence of the process, with better results obtained under acidic conditions due to the electrostatic attraction caused by the opposite charges of TiO₂ (positive) and of anionic dyes (negative). Batch activity tests under methanogenic conditions showed the high toxicity exerted by the dyes even at low concentrations (~85% with initial concentration of 0.3 mmol L^?1), but the end products of photocatalytic treatment were much less toxic toward methanogenic bacteria, as detoxification of 85 ± 5% for Eos and 64 ± 7% for Ery were obtained. In contrast, the dyes had no inhibitory effect on the biogenic‐carbon biodegradation activity of aerobic biomass, obtained by respirometry. The results demonstrate that photocatalysis combining UV/TiO₂ as a pretreatment followed by an anaerobic biological process may be promising for the treatment of wastewaters produced by many industries.     

Synthesis of Tetrahydro‐2(1H)quinazolinones,Cyclopenta[d]‐2(1H)pyrimidinones,and Their Thioxo Analogs from 2‐Trifluoroacetyl‐1‐methoxycycloalkenes

A series of six (8)‐alkyl‐4‐trifluoromethyl‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro‐2(1H)quinazolinones, 4‐trifluoromethyl‐cyclopenta[d]‐2(1H)pyrimidinones, and their thioxo analogs from the reaction of five β‐alkoxyvinyl trifluoromethyl ketones, derived from alkylated cyclohexanones and cyclopentanone with urea and thiourea, is reported. The reactions were carried out in a single step in propan‐2‐ol as solvent and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate as catalyst in 18–65% yield.