Microencapsulation of extract containing shikonin using gelatin-acacia coacervation method: a formaldehyde-free approach

The application of microcapsule for pharmaceutical dosage form for various drugs has received considerable attention in recent years due to its multiple advantages. The most frequently used crosslinking agent formaldehyde in the gelatin–acacia microencapsulation process was altered by glycerol in this study. The effect of various parameters such as the concentration of surfactant, concentration of gelatin and continuous phase pH condition on the microcapsule particle size distribution was experimentally investigated. It was shown that the optimum concentration for surfactant/oil ratio is 1/10 and gelatin/oil ratio is 1/5 in the pH condition of approximately 4–6 for the coacervation process. Results obtained from microscopy observation revealed that one core microcapsule prepared by 6% glycerol was no different from formaldehyde. Hence, glycerol was demonstrated to be a good potential non-toxic crosslinking material for the applications of encapsulated extract containing shikonin.     

Enhanced resolution of Mentha piperita volatile fraction using a novel medium‐polarity ionic liquid gas chromatography stationary phase

The evaluation of a novel medium‐polarity ionic‐liquid‐based gas chromatography column, SLB‐IL60, towards the analysis of a complex essential oil, namely, a peppermint essential oil sample, is reported. The SLB‐IL60 30 m column was subjected to bleeding measurements, by means of conventional gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The SLB‐IL60 column was then evaluated in the analysis of pure standard compounds, chosen as typical constituents of peppermint essential oil. Resolution and peak symmetry (expressed as tailing factors at 10% of peak height) were measured and the results were compared to those obtained on the most widely used columns in such an application, namely a medium‐polarity [100% poly(ethyleneglycol)] stationary phase, and an apolar 5% diphenyl/95% dimethyl siloxane. The final part of the evaluation was dedicated to the gas chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis of a peppermint essential oil sample and again the data were compared to those obtained on the 100% poly(ethyleneglycol) and the 5% diphenyl/95% dimethyl siloxane phase. Linear retention indices were determined for all the identified components on the ionic liquid capillary.     

Microencapsulation of Fish Oil by Simple Coacervation of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

To improve the oxidative stability and application of fish oil, it was microencapsulated by simple coacervation followed by spray drying. Simple coacervation took place by adding malt dextrin into the emulsion of fish oil and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose （HPMC） solution. Influences of several process parameters on the microencapsulation were evaluated and the oxidative stability and microstructure of microcapsules were analyzed. Results showed that the coacervation could be observed only when dextrose equivalent value （DE value） of malt dextrin, concentration of HPMC solution and fish oil percentage in microcapsules were no more than 20. 5% and 40%, respectively. Moreover, microencapsulation efficiency was higher at HPMC solution concentration of 4% and fish oil percentage of less than 30%. The oxidative stability of fish oil was improved by the microencapsulation and done best in the ease of replacing malt dextrin by 40% with acacia. Scanning electronic microscopic photographs showed that the microcapsule obtained was a round, smooth and hollow microcapsule with its wall made up of innumerable small and solid submicrocapsules with the core of fish oil.     

大豆分离蛋白-十二烷基硫酸钠微胶囊的制备与表征

以大豆分离蛋白(SPI)和十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)为壁材, 以十六烷为芯材, 通过复凝聚法制备了微胶囊. 首先确定了SPI和SDS发生复凝聚的适宜pH、SPI/SDS配比、壁材浓度等. 在确定的实验条件下进行复凝聚, 凝聚物产率可达85%. 改变搅拌转速和芯壁比, 考察它们对微胶囊性能的影响. 用光学显微镜观察了微胶囊形貌. 用气相色谱测定了微胶囊的载药量和包覆率. 芯壁比为2、搅拌转速为400 r/min时所制备微胶囊的载药量可达61%. 随着芯壁比的增大, 微胶囊粒径及载药量都逐渐增大.     

Peppermint oil decreases the production of virulence-associated exoproteins by Staphylococcus aureus

The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of peppermint oil against Staphylococcus aureus, and further investigate the influence of peppermint oil on S. aureus virulence-related exoprotein production. The data show that peppermint oil, which contained high contents of menthone, isomenthone, neomenthol, menthol, and menthyl acetate, was active against S. aureus with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 64-256 μg/mL, and the production of S. aureus exotoxins was decreased by subinhibitory concentrations of peppermint oil in a dose-dependent manner. The findings suggest that peppermint oil may potentially be used to aid in the treatment of S. aureus infections.     

Study of Complex Coacervation of Gelatin A and Sodium Alginate for Microencapsulation of Olive Oil

Complex coacervation of gelatin A and sodium alginate was carried out to obtain the maximum coacervate yield. Turbidity and coacervate yield (%) measurements were carried out to support the ratio of the two polymers and pH that produced maximum coacervation. The optimum ratio between gelatin A-sodium alginate and pH to form the maximum coacervate complex was found to be 3.5:1 and 3.5–3.8, respectively. Olive oil microencapsulation was carried out at the optimized ratio and pH. Microcapsules were crosslinked by using glutaraldehyde. Scanning electron microscopy studies confirmed the formation of free flowing spherical microcapsules of different sizes. The size of microcapsules increased with the increase in the concentration of the polymer. The encapsulation efficiency and the release rates of olive oil were dependent on the amount of crosslinker, oil loading and polymer concentration. Thermogravimetric study revealed improvement of thermal stability with crosslinking. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy study showed that there was no significant interaction between olive oil and gelatin-alginate complex.     

SFC in analysis of aromatic plants

Capillary SFC was applied to the analysis of Some plant volatile oils. The results were compared with those obtained by capillary GC. For thyme oil, SFC without derivatization gave about the same percentage composition of the main compounds as CGC with silylation, thus eliminating one working step. For a complex mixture of peppermint oil or basil oil, SFC seems to give more reliable quantification than CGC, especially for oxygenated compounds. However, the separation efficiency of CGC for monoterpene hydrocarbons was, as expected, much better than that of SFC.     

Soy glycinin microcapsules by simple coacervation method

Encapsulation of a dispersed oil phase (hexadecane) was realized by simple coacervation method using soy glycinin as the wall forming material. Suitable emulsification and coacervation conditions, that favor the formation of microcapsules wall, were identified and investigated. Mild acid (pH 2.0) and heat (55 degrees C) treatments of the reaction medium during the emulsification step enhanced significantly the deposition of coacervated glycinin around oil droplets. A pronounced correlation between glycinin concentration in the continuous phase, specific surface of the dispersed phase and the microencapsulation efficiency was also observed. Coacervation step study concerned the morphology and the stability of microcapsules. Controlled initiation of the coacervation, by slow readjustment of the pH, allowed a homogeneous precipitation of glycinin around oil droplets as well as the absence of aggregation phenomena. Since the morphology of microcapsules was considerably affected by a prolonged stirring of the reaction medium, the coacervation and reticulation time were optimized in order to preserve the homogeneity of the microcapsules size distribution and the microencapsulation efficiency.     

Fast-GC-conventional quadrupole mass spectrometry in essential oil analysis

This study reports on the compatibility of a conventional quadrupole MS (qMS) as detector for Fast-GC in terms of separation, identification, and quantitation when applied to the analysis of peppermint essential oil (e.o.), adopted as representative of this field. The influence of Fast-GC carried out on a 10 mx0.1 mm id narrow bore column with temperature programmes from 20 to 60 degrees C/min on the results of a qMS in total ion chromatograms (TIC) at different speeds (from 999 and 11 111 amu/s) and SIM modes was evaluated on ten differently abundant components characterizing peppermint e.o. Separation measure (S), peak capacity (n), and half height peak width were taken as separation parameters; match quality, number of scans per peak (NP), spectral skewing, and TIC area repeatability were used for identification. Quantitation was in SIM mode and NP, dwell time, SIM area repeatability and calibration curves, LOD, and LOQ of the selected components were measured. The results show that the peppermint e.o. markers can successfully be analysed qualitatively and quantitatively by F-GC-qMS up to temperature programmes of 60 degrees /min provided that a suitable scan speed is applied. Fast-GC-qMS reduces analysis time by a factor greater than ten and gives results that are qualitatively reliable and quantitatively comparable to those obtained by conventional GC-qMS.     

单凝聚与复凝聚法制备昆虫激素十二醇微胶囊及其释放行为

通过向明胶溶液中加入硫酸钠溶液的单凝聚方法以及将明胶溶液加入到阿拉伯胶溶液的复凝聚方法,制备了聚合物包覆昆虫激素十二醇的水分散体系微胶囊.通过对凝聚过程中ζ电位与透光率跟踪测试确定了单凝聚中加入硫酸钠的最佳用量以及复凝聚中明胶与阿拉伯胶的相对量.在壁材浓度大于或等于3%条件下制备的复凝聚胶囊的尺寸大于单凝聚微胶囊,但后者的大小分布更均一.除非在2%壁材浓度下,其他条件下复凝聚制备的胶囊的十二醇包覆率明显高于单凝聚胶囊.对胶囊中十二醇在恒湿恒温条件下的释放研究表明,单凝聚胶囊中十二醇很快释放完毕,变化壁材浓度不明显改变其释放行为.相比之下复凝聚胶囊中十二醇的释放对壁材浓度有明显的依赖性.2%壁材浓度制备的胶囊其释放行为类似于单凝聚胶囊;但3%到5%壁材浓度制备的胶囊中十二醇的释放明显分为3个区间,即较快的初始释放、较长时间的恒速释放以及最后阶段释放速率的再次提高直至释放完毕.复凝聚胶囊中十二醇的释放表现出了明显的可控性.文中亦对该体系中昆虫激素十二醇的释放机理作了初步讨论.     

Determination of menthol and menthol glucuronide in human urine by gas chromatography using an enzyme-sensitive internal standard and flame ionization detection

The rate of peppermint oil absorption and excretion, following peroral administration, was determined by measuring urinary levels of menthol glucuronide. Menthol, a major component of peppermint oil, was liberated from its glucuronide metabolite by treating raw urine with beta-D-glucuronidase (Patella vulgata). Phenyl glucuronide was employed as an enzyme-sensitive internal standard. Menthol and phenol were recovered by ethyl acetate extraction and quantitated by capillary gas chromatography using flame ionization detection. Standard curves were linear between 25 and 250 micrograms/ml with a detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 2) of 0.25 microgram/ml. Assay precision was shown to be +/- 1.2% relative standard deviation.     

Pyrolysis and combustion model of oil sands from non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis data

Thermogravimetric (TG) data of oil sand obtained at Engineering Research Center of Oil Shale Comprehensive Utilization were studied to evaluate the kinetic parameters for Indonesian oil sand samples. Experiments were carried out at heating rates of 5, 15, and 25 °C min^?1 in nitrogen, 10, 20, and 50 °C min^?1 in oxygen atmosphere, respectively. The extent of char combustion was found out by relating TG data for pyrolysis and combustion with the ultimate analysis. Due to distinct behavior of oil shale during pyrolysis, TG curves were divided into three separate events: moisture release, devolatilization, and evolution of fixed carbon/char, where for each event, kinetic parameters, based on Arrhenius theory, were calculated. Coats–Redfern method, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method, and distributed activation energy model method have been used to determine the activation energies of degradation. The methods are compared with regard to their characteristics and the ease of interpretation of the thermal kinetics. Activation energies of the samples were determined by three different methods and the results are discussed.     

Trennung der Fraktion „Vorlauf” vom rohen Pfefferminzöl

The static parameters of a column for rectification of crude peppermint oil were established theoretically and experimentally by using a model mixture of cineole and menthole. The isobaric equilibrium diagram was studied atp=3999 N/m² (30 Torr).     

Water-Based Oil Spill Dispersants Based on Rosin Formaldehyde Resins

Water-soluble surfactants based on rosin acids were synthesized from condensed rosin acid-formaldehyde. This was completed by esterification of series of rosin acid formaldehyde resins with poly(ethylene glycol) having different molecular weights to produce series of rosin esters. The structure of the produced resins was determined by infrared and ¹HNMR analysis. The molecular weight of the produced surfactants was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique. The surface properties of the prepared surfactants were determined by measuring the surface tension at different temperatures. The surface tension, critical micelle concentration (CMC), and surface activities were determined at different temperatures. Surface parameters such as surface excess concentration (Γmax), the area per molecule at interface (A_min), and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (πCMC) were determined from the adsorption isotherms of the prepared surfactants. Some thermodynamic data for the adsorption process were calculated and are discussed. The dispersion efficiency of the prepared surfactants as petroleum oil spill dispersants was determined and correlated with the surface activity, concentrations of the prepared surfactants and type of petroleum crude oil.     

TG-FTIR study of gaseous compounds evolved at thermooxidation of oil shale

The combined thermogravimetric (TG) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used for studying the gaseous compounds evolved at thermooxidation of oil shale samples from different deposits (Estonia, Jordan, Israel). In addition to H₂O and CO₂as the major species, the formation and emission of CO, SO₂, HCl and a number of organic species as methane, ethane, ethylene, methanol, formic acid, formaldehyde, chlorobenzene, etc. was determined. Differences in the absorbance of respective bands in FTIR spectra depending on the origin of oil shale and on the heating rate used were established. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan – Gum Arabic Coacervates as a Function of Degree of Substitution

Three O-carboxymethylated chitosans (O-CMCs) with degrees of substitution (DS) 0.41, 0.51, and 0.83 were synthesized and the effects of the DS of O-CMC on its coacervation with gum Arabic (GA) and partial characteristics of resultant coacervates were investigated. All the O-CMCs exhibited the same optimum pH of 3.0 for coacervation with GA and the O-CMC–GA coacervates displayed similar differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) patterns, thermogravity (TG) profiles, and porous microstructures, but differed markedly in their rheological properties. As the O-CMC DS increased, the elasticity of the coacervates raised accordingly. It was concluded that O-CMC–GA coacervates with desired viscoelasticity can be obtained by varying the DS of O-CMC.     

Preparation and Characterization of Oil Containing Microcapsules Obtained by an Interaction Induced Coacervation

A novel method for microencapsulation of oil by coacervation is presented. The method employs segregative phase separation between sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and a complex of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), which results in coacervate formation. Microstructural properties of the coacervate can be varied by tuning NaCMC-HPMC/SDS interaction, which is achieved by changing SDS concentration. Microcapsules preparation route is presented. Encapsulation efficiency and dispersion properties of microcapsules with coacervate shell of different properties and different oil content were tested. Microcapsules with smallest droplet size, the narrowest droplet size distribution, and with lowest extractability of encapsulated oil were obtained when NaCMC-HPMC/SDS interaction results in formation of the most compact coacervate shell, no matter of the encapsulated oil.     

微乳中纳米胶囊的复凝聚法制备

在O/W型APG微乳液模板上, 以明胶和阿拉伯树胶作为包裹材料, 用复凝聚的方法制备纳米胶囊, 对影响纳米胶囊的合成条件进行了分析. 用粒度仪测定产物的粒径及其分布, 用透射电镜观察产物的形貌. 结果表明, 用复凝聚法在微乳中合成了粒度均匀、粒径30～100 nm的球性纳米胶囊. 考察了微乳液的组成、高分子的浓度和复凝聚的条件对纳米胶囊性质的影响. 纳米胶囊对氯氰菊酯的包裹率较高, 在60%以上. 本方法条件温和, 操作简单, 是一种新型的纳米胶囊合成技术.     

Liquid-phase microextraction utilising plant oils as intermediate extraction medium--towards elimination of synthetic organic solvents in sample preparation

Hollow fibre based liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) using fatty oils and essential oils as the organic phase was evaluated to develop sample preparation technology eliminating the use of hazardous organic solvents. Basic drugs were extracted from different aqueous samples (0.2 to 1 mL) through approximately 15 microL of either almond oil, arachis oil, olive oil, soy-bean oil, anise oil, fennel oil, lavender oil, or peppermint oil (organic phase) immobilised within the pores of a polypropylene hollow fibre and into 20 microL of 10 mM HCOOH (acceptor phase) present inside the lumen of the hollow fibre. The extraction performance of the essential oils was comparable with the solvents normally used in LPME (dihexyl ether, n-octanol, and dodecyl acetate) in terms of extraction recovery and extraction speed. Whereas all essential oils tested were compatible with human urine, only anise oil was successful for plasma. The fatty oils provided lower recoveries than the essential oils due to higher viscosity, but all the fatty oils were compatible both with urine and plasma samples. In spite of the multi-component nature of the oils tested, they were not found to seriously contaminate the acceptor phases during extraction. In conclusion, fatty oils and essential oils may serve as alternative organic phase in LPME, eliminating the use of hazardous organic solvents.     

Effects of Peppermint Essential Oil on Learning and Memory Ability in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of peppermint essential oil on learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Methods: Morris water maze test and shuttle box test were used to explore the changes in learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 transgenic mice after sniffing essential oil. The cellular status of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of the right hemisphere, Aβ deposition, oxidative stress level, and serum metabonomics were detected to explore its mechanism. Results: Sniffing peppermint essential oil can improve the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Compared with the model group, the state of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of the peppermint essential oil group returned to normal, and the deposition of Aβ decreased. The MDA of brain tissue decreased significantly, and the activity of SOD and GSH-PX increased significantly to the normal level. According to the results of metabonomics, it is speculated that peppermint essential oil may improve cognitive function in AD by regulating arginine and proline metabolism, inositol phosphate metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism.