Rapid Determination of the Antioxidant Capacity of Lettuce by an E‐Tongue Based on Flow Injection Coulometry

This work proposes the use of an electronic tongue based on flow injection coulometry for the rapid determination of the antioxidant capacity of fresh lettuce. The e‐tongue consisted of a series of 16 porous carbon electrodes, each poised at a fixed potential from +100 to +850 mV. Each injection leaded to a characteristic hydrodynamic voltammogram, whose profile reflects the composition of antioxidants. The correlation between the peak area recorded by each sensor and the 1,1‐Diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) assay was maximum ín the range of potentials between +400 and 750 mV (R2>0.97). Accordingly, the charge measured provided a direct and simple index of the antioxidant capacity. The practical utility of such index was initially demonstrated by determining the best extraction conditions. This consisted in freeze‐drying of lettuce followed by methanolic extraction. Later, the e‐tongue was used to evaluate the effect of storage (one week at 5 °C) on lettuce. The e‐tongue revealed that lettuce lost up to 25 % of their initial antioxidant activity during storage. However, when lettuce samples were pre‐treated with fast cooling or vacuum cooling, the decrease of the antioxidant index was limited to 14 and 15 %. Overall, the e‐tongue is a rapid, simple and sensitive method for the determination of the antioxidant capacity of fresh lettuce samples. Indirectly, these findings suggest also that lettuce may serve as potential dietary sources of natural phenolic antioxidants.     

Voltammetric Behavior of Antileukemia Drug Glivec. Part II – Redox Processes of Glivec Electrochemical Metabolite

Glivec is a newly developed drug that belongs to the class of 2‐phenylaminopyrimidine. It is a potent inhibitor of ABL‐kinase, the main clinical manifestation of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Based on its activity on CML, glivec is undergoing extensive evaluation for its activity against other tumor types. Detection and quantitation of glivec in biological fluids or cells is thus very important. The antileukemia drug glivec undergoes oxidation at glassy carbon electrodes and involves the formation of an oxidation product, P_glivec. The adsorption of P_glivec at the GCE surface yields a compact monolayer allowing an electrochemical study of this compound adsorbed at the GCE surface. The reversible redox reaction of the adsorbed P_glivec is pH dependent and occurs with the transfer of 2 electrons and 2 protons. The surface standard potential and the rate constant of the heterogeneous electrochemical reaction were calculated using cyclic voltammetry to be E^θ′=+180 mV and k=15.5 s^?1, respectively. The total surface concentration of adsorbed P_glivec is 2.5×10^?12 mol cm^?2. The analytical determination of glivec was carried out by differential pulse voltammetric measurement of the anodic peak current corresponding to either the oxidation peak of glivec or the oxidation peak of P_glivec adsorbed on the GCE surface. The limits of detection of glivec and adsorbed P_glivec based on three times the noise level are 3.3×10^?8 M and 2.9×10^?10 M, respectively.     

Electrochemical Properties of Hydroxyphenazine-Coated Electrodes

Glassy carbon and gold electrodes were coated with 1-hydroxyphenazine, and the electrochemical properties of these electrodes were tested using them as a rotating disc electrode to reduce Ru (bipy)₃³⁺, Fe³⁺, quinoxaline, O₂, and to oxidize Eu²⁺. The fixed redox couple can be reversibly reduced and oxidized, and acts as an intermediate medium for the electron transfer. For example the Ru(bipy)₃³⁺ (E_1/2= 1010 mV vs. SCE. (saturated calomel electrode) on a glassy carbon electrode in 1M H₂SO₄) is only reduced at 50 mV, whereas the oxidation of Eu²⁺ (E_1/2= ?460 mV vs. SCE. on a Hg-electrode in 1M HCl) takes place at ? 100 mV. The heterogeneous rate constant depends on the second order reaction between the attached coating and the redox couple in solution. Depending on this rate constant, selectivity of the electrode is observed.     

Analysis of a quasi-reversible two-electron cyclic voltammetric wave for an organometallic ir(III)/ir(I) couple at platinum and mercury electrodes

^*CpIr(η-C₆Me₆)^2+/0 (^*Cpη⁵-C₅Me₅) displays Nernstian two-electron voltammetry at a Hg electrode, but quasi-reversible charge transfer kinetics at solid electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) peak shapes and separations change drastically from one solvent to another at Pt, ΔE_p values being as small as 170 mV in acetone and as large as 350 mV in CH₃CN (v = 0.03 V/s). These variations arise from changes in the relative E° values of the one-electron Ir(III)/Ir(II) and Ir(II)/Ir(I) couples, and from changes in charge-transfer rates. It is concluded that the Ir(II)/Ir(I) couple has a significantly lower charge-transfer rate than the Ir(III)/Ir(II) couple at platinum electrodes. The sensitivity of the CV curves to the relative E° values allows the approximate determination of the individual E° values for each one-electron process. In contrast, Nernstian conditions allow only the average of the two one-electron E° potentials to be determined. Solvents with higher solvating power are shown to facilitate the thermodynamics of the two-electron transfer process by moving E°₂ positive with respect to E°₁. Possible reasons for the abnormally slow charge transfer rates at Pt electrodes are discussed.     

Comparative study on the antioxidant activities of extracts of Coreopsis tinctoria flowering tops from Kunlun Mountains,Xinjiang, north-western China

Coreopsis tinctoria flowering tops (CTFs) from the Kunlun Mountains in Xinjing (north-western China) have been used for tea production for about a century. This study aims to assess the antioxidant activities and total phenolic, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents of various solvent extracts of CTF. CTF was extracted using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, 75% aqueous ethanol (AEE) and water. The antioxidant activities of the CTF extracts were investigated through DPPH, ABTS, ^*OH, ^*O₂^? , total antioxidant capacity and reducing power assays. The results showed that n-butanol extract showed the highest contents of total phenols and flavonoids, with DPPH, ABTS and ^*OH radical-scavenging activities with IC₅₀ values of 134, 90.72 and 13.8 μg mL^? 1, respectively. The AEE demonstrated the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities, with IC₅₀ values of 103 and 75.16 μg mL^? 1, respectively. Given its high antioxidant effect, CTF is a good source of natural antioxidants or functional food materials.     

Thermodynamics of solid-state connected ion-sensitive membrane electrodes: The silver-silver chloride system: Part I. Standard potential EM0 at 25, 50, and 75°C

Standard potentials E_M⁰ at 25, 50 and 75°C of all-solid-state silver-silver chloride ring membrane electrodes (Schott) with pressed-in silver foil have been measured with respect to the Pt, H₂ electrode by means of a cell without transference (see also [1]) applied earlier by Bates and Bower who measured standard potentials E⁰ of corresponding electrodes of the 2nd kind. The data evaluated by the extended Debye-Hückel theory can directly be compared with the reported 2nd kind electrode data. Identical thermodynamic behavior of both electrode types is observed; small differences (<1.5 mV) of standard potentials and their temperature dependence are discussed on the basis of different states of electrode materials orignating from different electrode preparation and are applied to calculate thermodynamic data of membrane electrodes referred to those of electrodes of the 2nd kind. The results and contradictory literature data are discussed. A brief characterization of membrane and 2nd kind electrodes is given.     

Reference Electrodes Based on Solid Amalgams

A reference saturated calomel electrode based on the non‐toxic silver solid amalgam (SCE‐AgSA) as a substitute for liquid mercury is described. Long‐term as well as short‐term tests made during a period of one year confirmed the SCE‐AgSA potential to be equal to that of SCE within the limits of ±1 mV (the difference ΔE_SCE‐AgSA=+1.08±0.24 mV (vs. SCE); SD=0.87; N=51). The voltammograms of four selected metal ions registered vs. SCE‐AgSA and vs. SCE could practically overlap each other. None of the mentioned electrodes were polarized to a significant degree even if the electric current applied reached 2 mA. On the basis of the obtained results the SCE‐AgSA could be considered as equivalent substitute for SCE. Owing to practically identical electrode potential of both types of the mentioned electrodes the results obtained using SCE‐AgSA are completely comparable to those measured vs. SCE, without any correction of peak potentials.     

Evaluation of antioxidant activity and electronic structure of aspirin and paracetamol

We present a study of electronic structure, chemical bonding, and antioxidant activity of phenolic antioxidants (aspirin and paracetamol). X-ray photoelectron and emission spectra of the antioxidants have been simulated by deMon density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the molecules. The chemical bonding of aspirin is characterized by the formation of oxygen ‘lone-pair’ π-orbitals which can neutralize free radicals and thus be related to antioxidant properties of the drug. In the case of paracetamol the additional nitrogen ‘lone pair’ is formed which can explain toxicity of the drug. We propose an evaluation method of antioxidant activity based on the relationship between experimental half-wave oxidation potential (E_p/2) and calculated ionization potentials (I_P) by the DFT calculations, and can conclude that paracetamol has the higher antioxidant activity than aspirin.     

Titanium Carbide Thin‐Film Electrodes: Characterization and Evaluation as Working Electrodes

Titanium carbide (TiC) polycrystalline thin films, obtained by a hybrid chemical vapor deposition/powder flowing technique, were characterized and used to assemble working electrodes. The potential window and the electrochemistry of standard redox couples ([Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺, [Fe(CN)₆]^3?) have been investigated in cyclic voltammetry, demonstrating a behavior similar to glassy carbon electrodes. The quinone (Q)/hydroquinone(H₂Q) redox couple presented an interesting quasireversible behavior(E_p=0.07 mV) , confirmed also for other quinones.     

Study of the Electrochemical Behavior of Disperse Blue 1‐Modified Graphite Electrodes. Application to the Flow Determination of NADH

The preparation and the electrochemical study of Disperse Blue 1‐chemically modified electrodes (DB1‐CME), as well as their efficiency for the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH is described. The proposed mediator was immobilized by physical adsorption onto graphite electrodes. The electrochemical behavior of DB1‐CME was studied with cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical redox reaction of DB1 was found to be reversible, revealing two well‐shaped pair of peaks with formal potentials 152 and ?42 mV, respectively, (vs. Ag/AgCl/3M KCl) at pH 6.5. The current I_p has a linear relationship with the scan rate up to 800 mV s^?1, which is indicative for a fast electron transfer kinetics. The dissociation constants of the immobilized DB1 redox couple were calculated pK₁=4 and pK₂=5. The electrochemical rate constants of the immobilized DB1 were calculated k₁°=18 s^?1 and k₂°=23 s^?1 (Γ=2.36 nmol cm^?2). The modified electrodes were mounted in a flow injection manifold, poised at +150 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl/3M KCl) and a catalytic current due to the oxidation of NADH was measured. The reproducibility was 1.4% RSD (n=11 for 30 μM NADH) The behavior of the sensor towards different reducing compounds was investigated. The sensor exhibited good operational and storage stability.     

Green processes for the extraction of bioactives from Rosemary: Chemical and functional characterization via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and in-vitro assays

In this contribution, the performance of three different extraction procedures towards the extraction of antioxidants from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is presented. Namely, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), using water and ethanol as solvents, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), using neat CO₂ and supercritical CO₂ modified with ethanol, as well as a novel extraction process called Water Extraction and Particle formation On-line (WEPO) are directly compared. Different extraction conditions including temperatures, times and pressures have been studied. The produced extracts have been characterized in terms of extraction yield, antioxidant activity (using the DPPH radical scavenging method) and total phenols (using the Folin method). Besides, all the extracts have been chemically characterized using a new quantitative UPLC-MS/MS method. This method allowed the determination of the main antioxidants present in rosemary, including, among others, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid and carnosol, attaining detection limits as low as 2 ng/mL. The results obtained in this study show that PLE using ethanol at high temperatures (200 °C) was able to produce extracts with high antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ 8.8 μg/mL) and high yield (ca. 40%) while efficiently extracting antioxidants of diverse polarity, among them, carnosic and rosmarinic acids, regarded as the most important antioxidants present in rosemary. Nevertheless, in this work, the ability of the three studied environmentally friendly extraction techniques to obtain bioactives from natural sources is demonstrated.     

Effect of pH on the electrochemical reduction of some heterocyclic quinones

The reduction of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-quinone(I), 5,8-quinolinequinone(II) and 6,7-dichloro-5,8-quinolinequinone(III) was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and coulometry at mercury electrodes and 50% dimethylsulfoxide+water solvent. Each compound is reduced to the corresponding hydroquinone in a diffusion-controlled, reversible two-electron process. The pH-dependence of the reversible potential indicated that the quinone forms were unprotonated, but the hydroquinones could be protonated at the heterocyclic nitrogen atom with pK_a = 5.3 for I and 3.5 for III. Careful analysis of the cyclic voltammetric peak shape revealed that the difference between the standard potentials for the introduction of successive electrons, E₂⁰ ? E₁⁰, was 70 ±20, >100 and 80 ± 20 mV for I–III. Investigation of the pH-dependence of E₁⁰ and E₂⁰ showed that the pK_a of the semiquinone of I was about 8.     

Electroanalytical Determination of N‐Nitrosamines in Aqueous Solution Using a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

The electrochemical methods cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry were applied to develop an electroanalytical procedure for the determination of N‐nitrosamines (N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, N‐nitrosopiperidine and N‐nitrosodiethylamine) in aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrochemical behaviors of N‐nitrosamines on boron‐doped diamond electrodes. It was observed an irreversible electrooxidation peak located in approximately 1.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) for both N‐nitrosamines. The optimal electrochemical response was obtained using the following square‐wave voltammetry parameters: f=250 Hz, E_sw=50 mV and E_s=2 mV using a Britton–Robinson buffer solution as electrolyte (pH 2). The detection and quantification limits determined for total N‐nitrosamines were 6.0×10^?8 and 2.0×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively.     

Radical Chain Breaking Bis(ortho-organoselenium) Substituted Phenolic Antioxidants

The presence of a chalcogen atom at the ortho-position of phenols enhances their radical chain-breaking activity. Here, a copper(I)-catalyzed reaction of 2,6-dibromo- and 2,6-diiodophenols with diorganodiselenides has been studied for the introduction of two organoselenium substituents at both ortho-positions of the phenolic radical chain-breaking antioxidants, which afforded 2,6-diorganoseleno-substituted phenols in 80–92% yields having electron-donating CH₃, and electron-withdrawing CN and CHO functionalities. Additionally, 2,6-diiodophenols with electron-withdrawing CHO and CN groups also afforded novel 5,5′-selenobis(4-hydroxy-3-(phenylselanyl)benzaldehyde) and 5,5′-selenobis(4-hydroxy-3-(phenylselanyl)benzonitrile) consisting of three selenium and two phenolic moieties along with 2,6-diorganoseleno-substituted phenols has been synthesized. The electron-withdrawing CHO group has been reduced by sodium borohydride to the electron-donating alcohol CH₂OH group, which is desirable for efficient radical quenching activity of phenols. The developed copper-catalyzed reaction conditions enable the installation of two-arylselenium group ortho to phenolic radical chain-breaking antioxidants, which may not be possible by conventional organolithium-bromine exchange methods due to the sluggish reactivity of trianions (dicarba and phenoxide anion), which are generated by the reaction of organolithium with 2,6-dibromophenols, with diorganodiselenides. The antioxidant activities of the synthesized bis and tris selenophenols have been accessed by DPPH, thiol peroxides, and singlet oxygen quenching assay. The radical quenching antioxidant activity has been studied for the synthesized compounds by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The bis-selenophenols show comparable radical deactivating activity, while tris seleno-bisphenols show higher radical deactivating activity than α-tocopherol. Furthermore, the tris seleno-bisphenol shows comparable peroxide decomposing activity with ebselen molecules.     

A Straightforward Route to Potent Phenolic Chain‐Breaking Antioxidants by Acid‐Promoted Transposition of 1,4‐Benzo[b]oxathiines to Dihydrobenzo[b]thiophenes

The transformation of simple phenols with limited antioxidant activity into potent chain‐breaking antioxidants was achieved by a three‐step protocol, consisting of the conversion of phenols into 1,4‐benzo[b]oxathiines followed by an unprecedented acid‐promoted transposition to o‐hydroxydihydrobenzo[b]thiophenes, or dihydrobenzo[de]thiochromenes, starting from phenols or naphthols, respectively. These derivatives, bearing a benzo‐fused heterocycle with a sulfide sulfur ortho to the phenolic OH, have a rate constant of reaction with alkylperoxyl radicals (k_inh) comparable to that of α‐tocopherol. A solid rationale for the transposition mechanism as well as for the structure‐antioxidant activity relationship is presented.     

Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Ruthenium(II) Dicarbonyl Bis(ferrocenyl-β-diketonates)

The reaction of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] ( 1 ) with six equiv. of FcC(O)CH₂C(O)R ( 2a , R = Me; 2b , R = Fc; Fc = Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₅)) produced the Ru^II compounds [Ru(CO)₂(FcC(O)CHC(O)R)₂] ( 3a , R = Me; 3b , R = Fc) in moderate yields. IR studies and single-crystal X-ray analysis ( 3a ) confirmed that the CO ligands are cis-oriented and that the respective β-diketonates O,O'-chelate-bonded setting-up an octahedral surrounding at Ru^II. Electrochemical (cyclic and square-wave voltammetry) and spectroelectrochemical (UV/Vis-NIR, IR) measurements were additionally carried out. Compounds 3a , b display two ( 3a : E₁^o' = 140; E₂^o' = 255 mV; ΔE^o' = 115 mV for [ 3a ]⁺/[ 3a ]²⁺) or four ( 3b : E₁^o' = 80 mV, E₂^o' 190 mV (ΔE^o' = 110 mV, [ 3b ]⁺/[ 3b ]²⁺), E₃^o' = 355 mV (ΔE^o' = 165 mV, [ 3b ]²⁺/[ 3b ]³⁺), E₄^o' = 490 mV (ΔE^o' = 135 mV, [ 3b ]³⁺/[ 3b ]⁴⁺)) electrochemical reversible one-electron redox processes indicating electrostatic interactions among the ferrocenyl groups as oxidation progresses, which was confirmed by UV/Vis-NIR and in situ IR spectroscopy. One ferrocenyl group on each β-diketonate ligand is by this means 1^st oxidized before the 2^nd ferrocenyl group of the same β-diketonate building block follows.     

Profiling of organosulphur compounds using HPLC-PDA and GC/MS system and antioxidant activities in hooker chive (Allium hookeri)

This study investigates the comprehensive organosulphur compounds and evaluation of antioxidant activities in Allium hookeri, called hooker chive. The non-volatile and volatile organosulphur compounds were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Among 11 non-volatileorganosulphur compounds, methiin and cycloalliin were major compounds. A total of 42 volatile compounds were identified and allyl methyl sulphides and dimethyl sulphides were primarily volatiles. The total phenols ranged from 19.32 to 71.19 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g. The antioxidant capacities expressed IC₅₀ values ranged from 9.59 to 38.54 mg/mL for DPPH radical scavenging activity and from 0.39 to 2.36 for ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. The results were proposed as useful tools for evaluating the nutraceutical of hooker chive.     

Quantification of Flavonoids,Phenols and Antioxidant Potential from Dropped Citrus reticulata Blanco Fruits Influenced by Drying Techniques

Physiologically dropped immature Citrus reticulata Blanco fruits are regarded as waste and discarded in the citrus orchard but are a good source of bioactive compounds including flavonoids, antioxidants and total phenols. A study was undertaken to identify and quantify these bioactive compounds and to investigate the influence of different drying techniques, namely freeze drying and hot air oven drying, on flavonoids namely flavanone glycosides, antioxidant potential and total phenol content in immature dropped fruits of Citrus reticulata Blanco. Flavonoids were quantified in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activity were investigated with three assays azino-bis [3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) and total phenol content was determined. Freeze dried samples of 12 and 14 mm size retained maximum hesperidin flavonoid content (27.03% and 27.20%) as compared to the hot air dried samples (17.99%) and retained higher phenolic content ranged from 50.54–54.19 mg GAEL⁻¹. The antioxidant activity in freeze dried fruits was from 12.21–13.55 mM L⁻¹ Trolox and 15.27–16.72 mM L⁻¹ Trolox with ABTS, DPPH assay and FRAP values ranging from 7.31–9.07 mM L⁻¹ Trolox. Significant positive correlation was found between the flavonoid hesperidin with antioxidant assays and total phenolic content (TPC). The results showed that waste citrus fruits can act as potential source of bioflavonoids, especially hesperidin, and antioxidants for pharmaceutical as well as nutraceutical industry.