Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry for Quantification of Alprazolam

A simple and highly sensitive electrochemical sensor was developed for adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry of alprazolam. Based on an electrochemically pretreated glassy carbon electrode, the sensor demonstrated good adsorption and electrochemical reduction of alprazolam. The morphology of the glassy carbon electrode and the electrochemically pretreated glassy carbon electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviors of alprazolam were determined by cyclic voltammetry, and the analytical measurements were studied by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry. Optimized operational conditions included the concentration and deposition time of sulfuric acid in the electrochemical pretreatment, preconcentration potential, and preconcentration time. Under optimal conditions, the developed alprazolam sensor displayed a quantification limit of 0.1 mg L⁻¹, a detection limit of 0.03 mg L⁻¹, a sensitivity of 67 µA mg⁻¹ L cm⁻² and two linear ranges: 0.1 to 4 and 4 to 20 mg L⁻¹. Sensor selectivity was excellent, and repeatability (%RSD < 4.24%) and recovery (82.0 ± 0.2 to 109.0 ± 0.3%) were good. The results of determining alprazolam in beverages with the developed system were in good agreement with results from the gas chromatography–mass spectrometric method.     

Evaluation of tyrosinase inhibitory activity in Salak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salacca zalacca</Emphasis>) extracts using the digital image-based colorimetric method

A simple toolbox was developed for the evaluation of tyrosinase inhibitory activity in Salak (Salacca zalacca) extracts by the colorimetric measurement based on a photograph taken by a digital camera or a smartphone camera. The reaction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) and tyrosinase was employed to form the dopaquinone dye, which decreases with the increase of the tyrosinase inhibitor. Under the optimum conditions, the Salak extracts were examined for the tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The captured picture of dopaquinone dye product was analyzed by reading blue color intensity using an Adobe Photoshop CS6 program. The tyrosinase inhibition of the extracts was calculated from the blue color intensity, and expressed as %inhibition and IC₅₀ values. The obtained results from the developed method correlated well with those obtained from the microplate reader instrument. The achievement of this research will be a guideline for creating any simple analytical instrument based on colorimetry. In addition, the information on tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the Salak extracts is useful for the application of this fruit to produce the supplement food and the cosmetic in the future.     

Analysis of molecular interactions in solid dosage forms; challenge to molecular pharmaceutics

The molecular states of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in pharmaceutical dosage forms strongly affect the properties and quality of a drug. Various important fundamental physicochemical studies were reviewed from the standpoint of molecular pharmaceutics. Mechanochemical effects were evaluated in mixtures of APIs and pharmaceutical additives. Amorphization, complex formation and nanoparticle formation are observed after grinding process depending on the combination of APIs and pharmaceutical additives. Sealed-heating method and mesoporous materials have been used to investigate drug molecular interactions in dosage forms. Molecular states have been investigated using powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, IR, solid state fluorometry, and NMR.     

Combination of FTIR and SEM for Identifying Freshwater-Cultured Pearls from Different Quality

The freshwater-cultured pearl (Chamberlainia hainesiana species) is an organic gemstone mainly composed of calcium carbonate mineral including calcite, aragonite and vaterite phases. Generally, the quality of freshwater-cultured pearl is based on its luster. The high luster pearl is full of the aragonite phase without vaterite phase. On the other hand, the low luster pearl consists of aragonite and vaterite phases. These data could be proved by the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As the results, the high luster pearl similarly shows the FTIR spectrum of aragonite phase, and also, it shows the hexagonal shape of aragonite for the SEM image. On the other hand, the FTIR spectrum of low luster pearl has been pointed to the mixture component among aragonite and vaterite phases, and based on the SEM image; the irregular form is also interpreted to the mixture of aragonite and vaterite phases. This research concludes that the quality of freshwater-cultured pearls can be identified by the combination data of FTIR spectra and SEM images. These techniques are suitable for applied gemology.     

A Novel α-Glucosidase Inhibitor Protein from the Rhizomes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zingiber ottensii</Emphasis> Valeton

The objective of this study was to investigate a new protein with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity from the rhizomes of Zingiber ottensii. With a simple salting-out technique followed by single-step anion-exchange purification, the protein was successfully purified from the rhizomes. This protein was found to have three likely sub-unit types, 32.5, 15.2, and 13.8 kDa, as revealed by native and reducing SDS-PAGE analysis. Determination of the kinetics of the inhibition of α-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by standard enzymatic methods indicated the maximum percent inhibition; IC₅₀ and K _i of this protein were 77.5%, 30.15 μg/ml, and 140 μmol, while the K _m and V _max were 2.35 μmol and 0.11 mM/min, respectively. The inhibitory action was pH-independent within the pH range 2–10, but was potentially affected by buffer salts, and was relatively temperature-stable between 4–35 °C, with a maximum activity at 65 °C. The amino acid sequence of an internal fragment of this purified Z. ottensii rhizomal protein had a similarity to the sequence from the plant cysteine proteinase family. Although this α-glucosidase inhibitory protein was purified from Z. ottensii rhizomes and preliminarily characterized, further studies are needed prior to firm applications being envisaged.     

Glowing ignition of wood: the onset of surface combustion

A theoretical model for wood pyrolysis including char surface oxidation is presented. The main objective is to expose the physical mechanisms governing glowing ignition. By “glowing ignition,” we mean the onset of surface combustion. The char surface oxidation, which can lead to glowing ignition, is considered at the surface boundary condition. Two regimes of char surface oxidation, namely, kinetic and diffusion-controlled, are distinguished. Depending on the char surface oxidation resistances, the char surface oxidation as either kinetic- or diffusion-controlled can be identified. A criterion for glowing ignition is developed based on a surface energy balance. A numerical result shows that according to the present glowing ignition criteria, an inflection point of the surface temperature history can indicate glowing ignition. Generally, a good agreement between theoretical and experimental results at glowing ignition is obtained.