Antioxidant activity of clove oil – A powerful antioxidant source

The number of methods to measure the antioxidants in botanicals, foods, nutraceuticals and other dietary supplements has increased considerably in the last decade. Clove oil is obtained by distillation of the flowers, stems and leaves of the clove tree. In the present paper, clove oil was evaluated by employing various in vitro antioxidant assay such as α,α-diphenyl-β-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPH) scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity determination by ferric thiocyanate, total reducing ability determination by Fe³⁺–Fe²⁺ transformation method, superoxide anion radical scavenging by riboflavin/methionine/illuminate system, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) chelating activities. Clove oil inhibited 97.3% lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at 15 μg/mL concentration. However, under the same conditions, the standard antioxidant compounds such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), α-tocopherol and trolox demonstrated inhibition of 95.4, 99.7, 84.6 and 95.6% on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at 45 μg/mL concentration, respectively. In addition, clove oil had an effective DPPH scavenging, ABTS⁺ scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, ferric ions (Fe³⁺) reducing power and ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) chelating activities. Also, these various antioxidant activities were compared to BHA, BHT, α-tocopherol and trolox as reference antioxidant compounds.     

Characterization,stability, and origin of natural radiation-induced defects in the biogenic calcite of Belemnitella americana from the Upper Cretaceous: An electron paramagnetic resonance study

The rostrum of Belemnitella americana (Morton) from the Marshalltown formation (Kmt, Upper Cretaceous) of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The rostrum composed of biogenic calcite possessed inorganic radical centers CO₂⁻, SO₂⁻, and SO₃⁻ with isotropic resonances with g values of 2.0007, 2.0057, and 2.0031, respectively. SO₃⁻ was found to also display an axially symmetric resonance typical of that seen in calcite of geologic origin with g_⊥=2.0036 and g_∥=2.0021. Mn²⁺ signals of orthorhombic symmetry and very narrow line width (∼0.1 mT) were also noted (|D|=9.3 mT (∼0.009 cm⁻¹), |E|=3.1 mT (∼0.003 cm⁻¹)). Isochronal annealing studies reveal that these inorganic radical species reside in energy traps that are significantly deeper than previously determined as revealed by their annealing temperatures: SO₂⁻ (isotropic), T^*∼340 °C; SO₃⁻ (isotropic), T^*∼230 °C; SO₃⁻ (axial), T^*∼190 °C. These data suggest that these spin centers may be used to extend the upper limit for dating purposes to times on the order of 1 Ma for SO₃⁻ (axial) and 200–300 Ma for SO₃⁻ (isotropic). Spin–spin and spin–lattice relaxation studies employing progressive microwave saturation were determined for all sulfur-based radical species and found to be consistent with the supposition of the isotropic signals existing in environments that are conducive to dynamic averaging of the g-anisotropy.     

Effect of N+ ion implantation on antioxidase activity in Blakeslea trispora

The effect of N⁺ implantation on the activities of CAT, POD, SOD, T-AOC and the capacities of scavenging O₂⁻ and OH in Blakeslea trispora (−) were studied. Results showed that N⁺ implantation caused different changes of CAT, POD, SOD, T-AOC activities and cell scavenging O₂⁻ and OH capacities. With the implantation dose increasing CAT activity was lower than the control sample, while POD, SOD activities and the scavenging O₂⁻ and OH capacities all decreased at the beginning, and then increased lately. At the dose of 6.0×10¹⁵ N⁺ cm⁻² T-AOC activity was lowest, while at the dose of 1.2×10¹⁵ N⁺ cm⁻² its activity was highest, and this change trend was same to the B. trispora (−) survival rate curve. So we speculated that the changes of these antioxidases activity of B. trispora (−) induced by low-energy N⁺ probably have some relationship with its “saddle shape” survival rate curve.     

Carbonate radical anion-induced electron transfer in bovine serum albumin

Reaction of native and thermally denatured bovine serum albumin (BSA) with carbonate radical anion (CO₃⁻) has been studied using pulse radiolysis technique. Scavenging of CO₃⁻ by native BSA and consequent electron transfer from tyrosine to tryptophan radical has been observed to occur with almost same rate constant (k∼1.7×10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) at pH 8.8. Effect of structural changes, due to thermal denaturation, on scavenging of CO₃⁻ and the electron transfer process have been studied and discussed in this paper.     

Kinetic behavior of the reaction between hydroxyl radical and the SV40 minichromosome

Aqueous solutions containing the minichromosomal form of the virus SV40 and the radical scavenger DMSO were subjected to γ-irradiation, and the resulting formation of single-strand breaks (SSB) was quantified. Under the irradiation conditions, most SSBs were produced as a consequence of hydroxyl radical (OH) reactions. By controlling the competition between DMSO and the viral DNA substrate for OH, we are able to estimate the rate coefficient for the reaction of OH with the SV40 minichromosome. The results cannot be described adequately by homogeneous competition kinetics, but it is possible to describe the rate coefficient for the reaction as a function of the scavenging capacity of the solution. The experimentally determined rate coefficient lies in the range 1×10⁹–2×10⁹ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 10⁷ s⁻¹, and increases with increasing scavenging capacity.     

Fluorescence detection of hydroxyl radicals

The hydroxyl radical (OH), a product of water radiolysis, reacts to hydroxylate aromatic organic compounds. In some cases, these hydroxylated products are fluorescent. Examples include the benzoate, coumarin, and phenoxazinone systems. For representative members of these systems, we have determined both the rate constants for reaction with OH and the yields of the fluorescent products. The rate constants all fall in the range 2×10⁹ to 2×10¹⁰ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, and the yields 5–11% per OH. These results suggest that it may prove feasible to construct a probe consisting of two groups both of which must react with OH to become fluorescent. The efficient process of fluorescence resonance energy transfer implies that such a probe might be able to detect OH clusters, which are generally assumed to be a characteristic feature of energy deposition by ionizing radiation.     

Hydroxyl radical,sulfate radical and nitrate radical reactivity towards crown ethers in aqueous solutions

Reaction rate constants of crown ethers (12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6) and their analogs 1,4-dioxane (6C2) with some important oxidative radicals, hydroxyl radical (OH), sulfate radical (SO₄^?) and nitrate radical (NO₃), were determined in various aqueous solutions by pulse radiolysis and laser photolysis techniques. The reaction rate constants for 6C2 and crown ethers with OH and SO₄^? increase with the number of hydrogen atoms in the ethers, indicating that the hydrogen-atom abstraction is a dominant reaction between crown ethers and these two radicals. The presence of cations in solution has negligible effect on the rate constants of crown ether towards OH and SO₄^?. However, for the NO₃, the rate constants are not proportional to the number of hydrogen atoms in ethers, and 12-crown-4 (12C4) is the most reactive compared with other crown ethers. Except 12C4 and 6C2, the cations in the aqueous solution affect the reactivities of 15-crown-5 (15C5) and 18-crown-6 (18C6). The cations with high binding stability for crown ether would improve the reactivity of 15C5. For the studied crown ethers, the reaction rate constants of these oxidative radicals have the order OH>SO₄^?>NO₃. Furthermore, the formation of radicals after the reaction of crown ethers with sulfate radical could be observed in the range of 260–280 nm using laser photolysis and pulse radiolysis. This is the first report on the kinetic behavior of crown ethers with NO₃, and it would be helpful for the understanding of stability of crown ethers in the processing of spent nuclear fuel.     

Pulse radiolysis studies on reactions of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals with nicotinamide and 6-methyl nicotinic acid

Reactions of α-hydroxyalkyl radicals derived from 2-propanol, ethanol and methanol with nicotinamide (NICAM) and 6-methyl nicotinic acid (6-MNA) were studied at various pHs using pulse radiolysis technique. It is found that α-hydroxyalkyl radicals react with NICAM and 6-MNA at pHs when nitrogen is in the protonated state. In these reactions, radical adducts of NICAM/6-MNA with α-hydroxyalkyl radicals are formed which have absorption maxima at about 340–350 nm which subsequently decay to give pyridinyl type of radicals of NICAM and 6-MNA having λ_max at 410 nm. Rate constants for the reactions of (CH₃)₂COH, CH₃CHOH and CH₂OH radicals with NICAM and 6-MNA were found to have linear dependence on reduction potentials of corresponding α-hydroxyalkyl radicals. Adducts formed in the reactions of CH₃CHOH and CH₂OH radicals with both NICAM and 6-MNA decayed slowly compared to the decay of adduct formed in reactions with (CH₃)₂COH radicals.     

Studies on the reactions of sylvatesmin and lantbeside with oxidizing free radicals

Sylvatesmin (SYL) and lantbeside (LAN) are two lignans, isolated from a Chinese folk medicinal herb, Lancea tibetica. Their abilities of scavenging oxidizing free radical models, OH, SO₄⁻ and N₃, were investigated in aqueous solution by pulse radiolysis techniques. The OH-adduct radicals with small amount of oxidized products were formed by the reaction of SYL or LAN with OH radical. SYL undergoes one-electron oxidation either by SO₄⁻ or N₃ radicals, LAN can only be detected to react with stronger oxidant SO₄⁻ radical anion. No reaction between LAN and N₃ radical was detectable. The relationship of structure with the abilities of scavenging free radicals was discussed. The reaction rate constants were determined by analysis of the build-up trace of the radical products.     

Pulse radiolysis studies of mangiferin: A C-glycosyl xanthone isolated from Mangifera indica

Pulse radiolysis technique has been employed to study the reaction of different oxidizing and reducing radicals with mangiferin. The reaction of OH radical showed the formation of transient species absorbing in 380–390 and 470–480 nm region. The reaction with specific one-electron oxidants (N₃, CCl₃O₂) also showed the formation of similar transient absorption bands and is assigned to phenoxyl radicals. The pK_a values of the transient species have been determined to be 6.3 and 11.9. One-electron oxidation potential of mangiferin at pH 9 has been found to be 0.62 V vs. NHE. The reaction of e_aq⁻ showed the formation of transient species with λ_max at 340 nm, which is assigned to the ketyl anion radical formed on addition of e_aq⁻ at carbonyl site. Reactions of one-electron oxidised mangiferin radicals with ascorbic acid have also been studied.     

Practical use of chemical probes for reactive oxygen species produced in biological systems by γ-irradiation

Application of chemical probes, for detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), was tested during γ-irradiation. The ethanol/α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN) and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) were structurally stable enough to detect OH and H₂O₂, increasingly generated by γ-irradiation up to 1000 Gy. Interestingly, the production rate of H₂O₂, but not OH, during γ-irradiation, was significantly different between in vitro systems of lettuce and spinach. These results suggest that 4-POBN and DAB could be utilized as a semi-quantitative probe to quantify OH and H₂O₂, produced by γ-irradiation up to 1000 Gy.     

Pulse and γ-radiolysis studies on aqueous solution of 1,1′-dimethyl-2-selenourea

One-electron oxidation of 1,1′-dimethyl-2-selenourea (DMSeU) by hydroxyl radicals, one-electron-specific oxidants, was studied using pulse radiolysis technique in aqueous solution. Hydroxyl (OH) radicals and one-electron oxidants, N₃, X₂⁻ (X=Cl, Br, and I) react with DMSeU to form a transient having an absorption spectrum with λ_max at 430 nm. By following the absorbance at 430 nm as a function of solute concentration and in analogy with similar sulfur and selenium compounds, this transient is assigned to dimer radical cation. The dimer radical cations of DMSeU react with oxygen with bimolecular rate constant of 1.0±0.3×10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Steady-state γ-radiolysis studies on aqueous solution of DMSeU under hydroxyl radical-induced oxidation condition indicated formation of elemental selenium as one of the by-products, which has been stabilized by the addition of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), and characterized by dynamic light scattering technique.     

Distribution of species in Na2O–CaO–B2O3 glasses as probed by FTIR

The article presents a simple method that can be used to get the concentration of various species in mixed-modifier borate glasses. By using the fraction of four coordinated boron in xCaO (30 − x)Na₂O70B₂O₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 27.5 mol%) and xCaO(40 − x)Na₂O60B₂O₃ glasses (10 ≤ x ≤ 40 mol%), the concentration of BO₄⁻ and asymmetric BO₃ units related to each modifier oxide could be determined. CaO has a greater tendency to form asymmetric BO₃ units in the first glass series, while Na₂O has the ability to form BO₄ units to a greater extent. In xCaO(40 − x)Na₂O60B₂O₃ glasses, BO₄⁻ and asymmetric BO₃ units are formed at the same rate from Na₂O and CaO. The fraction of four coordinated boron, can be predicted by treating the studied glasses as if they are mixtures of Na₂O–B₂O₃ and CaO–B₂O₃ matrices. The change in N₄ is due to change in the relative concentration of these matrices.     

Role of reactive intermediates in the radiolytic degradation of Acid Red 1 in aqueous solution

The role of reactive intermediates of water radiolysis (e_aq⁻, H, HO, O₂⁻/HO₂) in decoloration and mineralization of aqueous solutions of Acid Red 1 dye was investigated. The decoloration is highly effective in the reactions of e_aq⁻ and H, and less effective in HO reactions. The O₂⁻/HO₂ pair does not take part in decoloration. For mineralization, which is an oxidative degradation, HO radicals are needed: the efficiency increases with the dissolved oxygen concentration. The reactions of the O₂⁻/HO₂ radical pair slightly increase the rate of mineralization. Iron and copper ions (possible constituents of waste waters) in low concentration do not influence the reactions.     

The effect of high-energy radiation on aqueous solution of Acid Red 1 textile dye

The effect of high-energy radiation on Acid Red 1 (AR1) azo-dye solution was investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy and chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements. Doses in the order of 10 kGy cause complete decolouration of the 10⁻³–10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ solutions; however, for complete mineralization doses higher by 1–2 order of magnitude are needed. Hydrated electrons and H atom are more effective in fading reaction, while the OH radicals have higher efficiency in mineralization. The HO₂^•/O₂^•− radical–radical anion pair is rather inefficient in fading reaction.     

Oxidation of naringenin by gamma-radiation

The reaction of OH with naringenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone) in the presence of air induced the formation of the hydroxylation product eriodictyol (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone). Its yield was dependent on pH. The initial degradation yield of naringenin was G_i(-Nar)=(2.5±0.2)×10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³ J⁻¹. For the reaction with OH, a rate constant k (OH+naringenin)=(7.2±0.7)×10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ was determined. In the presence of N₂O and NaN₃/N₂O, no eriodyctiol was formed. Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavon) was detected as decay product of the naringenin phenoxyl radicals. In Ar-saturated solutions, naringenin exhibited a pronounced radiation resistance, G(-naringenin) ∼0.3×10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³ J⁻¹.     

Characterization of reactive oxygen species generated by protoporphyrin IX under X-ray irradiation

As a possible radiosensitizer candidate having biological compatibility, oncotropic property, and X-ray activation capability, contribution of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) to enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under X-ray and UV irradiations were examined. To identify the kinds of ROS, 2-[6-(4-amino)phenoxy-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl] benzoic acid (APF) and dihydroethidium (DHE) were used together with ethanol as a hydroxyl radical (OH) quencher. All of the three species of our interest (OH, superoxide radical (O₂⁻), and singlet oxygen (¹O₂)) were enhanced by PpIX under X-ray and UV irradiations in addition to those by radiolysis and photolysis. Its enhancement factors exceeded 1.7 depending on the concentrations of PpIX from 1.5 to 15.0 μg/ml.     

Photoredox reactions of Cr(III) mixed-ligand complexes

Irradiation of chromium(III) complexes with oxalate and pyridinedicarboxylate ligands (pda = 2,3-, 2,4-, or 2,5-dicarboxylate) leads to diverse behaviors, dictated by light energy, presence of oxygen and the ligand nature. Irradiation within the MC bands is unaffected by O₂ and results in ligand substitution. The LMCT excitation is effective only when oxalate is coordinated to Cr(III); then electron transfer from oxalate to central ion generates an intermediate, consisted of a Cr(II)species and the C₂O₄^? radicals. The species undergo fast redox reactions dependent on the presence of O₂ and the pda ligand.(1) In anoxic medium the fast outersphere electron transfer from Cr(II) to solvent, generates hydrated electrons and re-oxidizes the chromium centre to Cr^III. Then geminate recombination regenerates substrate, whereas competitive release of the C₂O₄^? radical leads to substitution of one oxalate ligand by two water molecules (aquation induced by the LMCT excitation). In the presence of the pda ligand the outersphere electron transfer is accompanied by the innersphere CT, generating Cr(III) coordinated to two radical ligands: C₂O₄^? and pda^3?; the intermediate releases also e_aq^?, but this reaction is slower than that of the homoleptic oxalate complex. Hydrated electrons are scavenged also by the released radicals. All these processes are completed within microseconds and in consequence, the Cr(III) complexes irradiated in deoxygenated solutions are insensitive to subsequent oxygenation.(2) When UV-irradiation is carried out in oxygenated medium reaction of Cr(II) species with molecular oxygen competes with the outer- or inner electron transfer observed in anoxic medium. Both these pathways result in generation of chromate(VI). Quantum yield of the Cr(VI) production is sensitive to the presence and structure of pda ligand, decreasing within the series 2,3-pda > 2,4-pda > 2,5-pda.     

Pulse radiolysis studies of etoposide and 4′-demethylepipodophyllotoxin in aqueous solution

The reactions of etoposide (VP 16, 4′-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin ethylidene-β-d-glucoside) and 4′-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DMEP) with the primary radiolytic products of water, such as e⁻_aq, H and OH/O⁻ radicals, and the secondary radical (SO⁻₄) in aqueous solution were studied by use of the techniques of pulse radiolysis, respectively. The absorption spectra of reaction products with e⁻_aq, H and OH/O⁻ and SO⁻₄ radicals were observed, and the rate constants of them were determined by following the build-up kinetics of radicals produced or the decay of hydrated electron observed at 600 nm, respectively.     

EPR of gamma irradiation induced radicals in NaHCO3, CsHCO3 and Na2CO3

In this study gamma irradiated NaHCO₃, CsHCO₃ and Na₂CO₃ were investigated at room temperature. The radicals induced by gamma irradiation in NaHCO₃ were found to be CO⁻₃, HCO₃ and CO⁻₂; in CsHCO₃ the species were attributed to HCO₃; and in Na₂CO₃ to CO⁻₃ and CO⁻₂ radicals. The hyperfine parameters for the hydrogen in HCO₃, and the ¹³C nucleus in CO⁻₂ radical have been determined. The results were compared with literature data for similar compounds and the EPR properties of the CO⁻₂ radical were discussed.