Antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity of ascorbic and humic acids in radical-chain oxidation processes

Joint action of ascorbic and humic acids in radical-chain oxidation of model hydrocarbons was studied. This effect is promising for development of complex directed-action preparations with controllable redox properties and development of antioxidants and pro-oxidants for medicinal purposes and technical applications.     

Effect of Natural Antioxidants from Marigolds (Tagetes erecta L.) on the Oxidative Stability of Soybean Oil

In recent years, synthetic antioxidants that are widely used in foods have been shown to cause detrimental health effects, and there has been growing interest in antioxidants realised from natural plant extracts. In this study, we investigate the potential effects of natural antioxidant components extracted from the forage plant marigold on the oxidative stability of soybean oil. First, HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) to screen and identify potential antioxidant components in marigold. Four main antioxidant components were identified, including quercetagetin-7-O-glucoside (1), quercetagetin (2), quercetin (3) and patuletin (4). Among them, quercetagetin (QG) exhibited the highest content and the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity and effectively inhibited the production of oxidation products in soybean oil during accelerated oxidation, as indicated by reductions in the peroxide value (PV) and acid value (AV). Then, the fatty acids and volatile compounds of soybean oil were determined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A total of 108 volatile components, including 16 alcohols, 23 aldehydes, 25 ketones, 4 acids, 15 esters, 18 hydrocarbons, and 7 other compounds, were identified. QG significantly reduced the content and number of aldehydes and ketones, whereas the formation of acids and hydrocarbons was completely prevented. In addition, the fatty acid analysis demonstrated that QG significantly inhibited oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Consequently, QG was identified as a potential, new natural antioxidant that is believed to be safe, effective and economical, and it may have potential for use in plant extracts feed additives.     

土壤胡敏酸的^13C核磁共振研究

胡敏酸(HA)是土壤有机质的重要组分,其结构性质与土壤形成和肥力特性有密切关系,长期以来一直是土壤化学研究的难点和重点之一。NMR是研究HA结构的有效手段。自Bar-ton和Schnitzer(1963)首次用~1H NMR研究土壤有机质以来,国外已先后应用~1H、~(13)C NMR和CP-MAS-~(13)C NMR等对土壤及其它来源的HA进行了许多研究,并取得引人注目的进展。但在国内,这方面研究还刚刚开始。本文应用~(13)C NMR方法对东北几种主要耕作土壤以及泥炭和猪粪的HA进行了结构表征,为土壤腐殖酸化学的基础研究提供了资料。     

Pyrolysis of natural and synthetic humic substances

Thermogravimetric and Rock-Eval techniques were used for the characterization of natural (humic) and synthetic (melanoidins) substances and their hydrocarbon generation potential. A similarity between the thermal behaviour of humic substances and of melanoidins (prepared from an excess of sugar) and the unique thermal properties of melanoidins (prepared from basic amino acids) was observed. Rock-Eval analysis indicated that most synthetic melanoidins (also clay-complexed) generated more hydrocarbons and related compounds than terrestrial humic substances.     

Effect of surfactants on liquid-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons and lipids

A review is presented compiling new data on liquid-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons and plant oils in microheterogeneous environment formed by the addition of surfactants. Cationic surfactants catalyze the decomposition of the primary oxidation products, hydroperoxides, into free radicals thus accelerating the oxidation process. Anionic surfactants catalyze the heterolystic decomposition of hydroperoxides and therefore are excellent antioxidants for ethylbenzene, cumene, and other alkylaromatic hydrocarbons.     

Flow Injection Determination of Humic Acid with Chemiluminescence Detection

Abstract

A very sensitive and fast flow injection chemiluminescence method, based on the oxidation of humic acid (HA) by 1,3‐dibromine‐5,5‐dimethylhydantion in the presence of glycine in alkaline medium, was developed for the determination of trace humic acids in water. A wide calibration range from 0.001 to 1.0 µg mL^?1 was obtained at the optimized conditions and the detection limit was as low as 0.5 ng mL^?1 of humic acids. Most of the foreign substances tested showed relatively high tolerance levels and the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of humic acid in river water and tap water.     

Oxidation of lipids and membranes I: in vitro formation of peroxidative lipid polymers.

Fluorescent polymers were obtained by oxidizing partly emulsified linolenic acid with different oxidants. The speed of formation of polymers differed for the various oxidants, and the difference was not a simple function of the oxidation potential. The speed of polymerization also depended on the nature of the emulsion. The presence of egg albumen in the emulsion enhanced polymer formation with all oxidants. When the oxidants used are arranged in the order of decreasing speed of polymer formation, the order is different in the presence of albumen from what it is in the absence of albumen. With different oxidation catalysts most antioxidants and amino acids tested enhanced polymerization. In oxidation with ferric ions, with K-dichromate, and without added oxidants the only antioxidants which delayed polymerization were "inhibitors." "Retarders" enhanced polymerization. With KMnO4 slight delay was caused by some retarders. The findings indicate that not only oxidation catalysts, but also proteins, amino acids, and antioxidants enhance polymerization. The possibility is suggested that in animal cells lipid pigment formation might represent a mechanism for neutralizing free radicals.     

Catalytic Properties of Mechanically Activated Humic Substances in Electroreduction of Oxygen

Effect of mechanical treatment of peat on the yield of the major fractions (polysaccharides, poly- phenols, water-soluble compounds, and humic acids) and catalytic activity of humic substances in oxidation processes is studied. Conditions of formation of substances with the maximal antioxidant and initiating activities are determined. The antioxidant and initiating activities of the polysaccharide and humic fractions is studied, in relation to the structure and iron content.     

Investigation of antioxidant and catalytic properties of some biologically active substances by voltammetry

Antioxidants play a major role in protecting biological systems against many incurable diseases. The biological activity of 12 plant aqueous-alcohol extracts, some standard antioxidants (vitamin C, glucose, resorcinol, and catechol), Na(2)SO(3), humic acids, phthalocyanines, and chlorophyll have been investigated in this work together with evaluation of their influence on the kinetics of the oxygen electroreduction. Finally the use of these substances for prophylactic purposes has been recommended.     

FT-IR study of gamma-radiation induced degradation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA/humic acids blends

Samples of pure polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA doped with humic acids were exposed to gamma radiation. Gamma rays induced the degradation of the pure polymer. Degradation changes were observed using ATR FT-IR equipment. Dehydration, double bond creation, and their subsequent oxidation (surrounding atmosphere was air) were found out. Also, other degradation reactions (e.g. chain scission, cyclization) occur simultaneously. Formation of C=C and C=O bonds is apparent from FT-IR spectra. In contrast the presence of humic acids in the PVA sample showed stabilizing effect on PVA structure within the concentration range 0.5–10%.     

Characterization of humic substances: Implications for trihalomethane formation

Humic substances are precursors of carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs) formed during disinfection by chlorination in water treatment processes. In an effort to understand the relationship between trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and physicochemical properties of humic substances, UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence in emission and synchronous scan modes, and NMR spectra were measured for several aquatic fulvic and humic acids. For comparison, a soil fulvic acid was also examined using these methods. The feasibility of the gradient modified spin-echo (GOSE) NMR experiment to selectively measure singlet resonances arising from isolated protons was examined. In addition, diffusion coefficients were measured for DMSO solutions of the fulvic acids using BPPLED and GOSE-edited pulse sequences. Although none of the methods tested produced results that correlated with THMFP, the GOSE intensities determined for different regions of the NMR spectra did reflect the relative abundance of different types of functional groups produced by lignin oxidation. In addition, the GOSE-edited diffusion results suggest that the isolated protons, those most reactive to chlorination, are more likely contained in the larger molecular weight fractions of fulvic acids.     

Fractionation analysis of trace metals in humic substances of soils irrigated with wastewater in Central Mexico by particle induced X-ray emission

The Mezquital Valley in Central Mexico has received wastewater from Mexico City for nearly 100 years. Wastewater brings in organic matter and nutrients but also trace metals. Humic substances, the main components of organic soil matter, are responsible for retaining and regulating the mobility of trace metals in soils. In this study, humic substances were extracted from the soil and separated into distinct fractions (humic acids, fulvic acids and humins). The particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique was applied to determine the metal content in bulk soil as well as in humic acids and fulvic acids not soluble in H₃PO₄. In order to assess whether the long-term input of organic matter and metals modifies the metal association with these humic substances, parcels irrigated for three time periods (5, 47 and 89 years) were selected for this study. It was observed that metals such as Zn and Cu are mainly associated with the humic acids. Fulvic acids retain mainly Cr while Pb is distributed among humic and fulvic acids. It was also observed that in general, metal retention by humic substances increases with irrigation time. Depth also affects metal association with the humic substances.     

Evaluation of copper(II)-binding ability of humic acids in peat using sulphopropyl-Sephadex C-25 cation exchanger

A method for the determination of copper(II) complexes with humic acids was developed by batch operation with the cation exchanger sulphopropyl-Sephadex C-25 (C-25). The copper-binding ability (conditional stability constants and copper-complexing capacities) of humic acids which were extracted from peat in Hokkaido was evaluated. A solution containing copper(II) ions and humic acids was shaken with the C-25 exchanger. The copper-humic acid complexes remained in the supernatant and the uncomplexed free copper ion was retained on the C-25. The copper-humic acid complexes were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The copper-binding ability of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as a model ligand was similarly determined with a Scatchard plot. The conditional stability constant obtained at pH 4.5 was in good agreement with the reported value. The copper-binding abilities of the humic acids from peat were estimated using a Scatchard plot adopting a two-site model. The functional groups in the humic acids which contribute to the complexation with copper were investigated by conductimetric and pH titration, and the relationship between the copper-binding sites and functional groups in the humic acids was investigated.     

Use of amino-carbonyl reaction and chemiluminescence detection to the flow-injection determination of some amino acids

Some amino acids were found to react with carbonyl functional groups of humic acid. Products of this reaction give strong chemiluminescence during their oxidation with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in alkaline solution. Humic acids from different sources produced similiar signal magnitude. This effect was employed to the flow-injection determination of glycine and arginine in pharmaceutical formulations with considerable selectivity against different amino compounds. The proposed method is fast and simple. Detection limit is 0.20 and 0.25 mg.l(-1) for glycine and arginine respectively, and 115 samples per h can be determined.     

Structural variations of humic acids in overphosphatized soils

Participation of phosphate ions in specific (donor-acceptor) interactions with humic acids in forest soils was found to change the structure and properties of the acids. Chelate entities containing aluminum and iron atoms were detected in humic acids molecules occurring in overphosphatized soils. The behavior of phosphorus-modified humic acids in polar media is discussed.     

Evaluation of oxidative stability of vegetable oils enriched with herb extracts by EPR spectroscopy

Vegetable oils are important constituents of a healthy diet. Still, unsaturated fatty acids present in vegetable oils are susceptible to oxidation, which leads to undesirable changes in sensory, chemical and nutritional properties of oils. To prevent this problem, antioxidants are applied with herbs and spices being one of the most important sources of natural antioxidants. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) can be used to detect free radicals, which are the short-lived intermediates of lipid oxidation, and to monitor changes in oxidation susceptibility. In this study, the ESR spin trapping technique was used as a potential method for the evaluation of the resistance to free radical formation in rapeseed and sunflower oils enriched with herb extracts. The antioxidant effect of herb extracts on vegetable oils was also investigated by measuring their ability to scavenge DPPH free radical using EPR spectroscopy. The herb extracts generally improved the radical scavenging properties of sunflower and rapeseed oils but their influence on the onset of rapid lipid oxidation as measured by spin-trapping EPR depended on the type of oil and on the extract concentration.     

Catalytic oxidation of 2-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-9,10-anthrahydroquinone

Catalytic oxidation rate of 2-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-9,10-anthrahydroquinone (ETHAHQ) using oxygen in a stirred reactor was studied. It was found that NaOH and some amines exhibit catalytic properties suitable for this oxidation. In the presence of NaOH with its amountof-substance concentration of 2 mmol/l_(l)-phase, five times increased reaction rate is achieved. Additionally, mineral acids (sulphuric and phosphoric) and antioxidants (diphenylamine, N-isopropyl4-diphenylamine) were used for a thorough study of partial mechanism steps and their rates during oxidation. Experimental results were used for determination of the rate limiting step of the ETHAHQ oxidation. It was the hydrogen elimination from hydroxyl of hydroquinone.     

Adsorption interactions of humic acids with biocides

The chemical composition of humic acids from brown coal (Aldrich) was determined by element analysis, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and potentiometric titration. The adsorption ability of humic acids with different biocides (cyproconasol, propiconasol, tebuconasol, irgarol 1051, and DCOIT) was studied. The adsorption ability of a mixture of biocides in aqueous solutions was higher than that of the individual components. The limiting concentration of humic acids at which adsorption of biocides was maximum was determined. Adsorption constants were calculated by the Freundlich equation for each biocide in aqueous solution.     

Catalytic ozonation of humic acids with Fe/MgO

Summary Degradation of humic acids by ozone was performed at room temperature in a stirred tank reactor with heterogeneous catalysts. Experimental results show that the ozonation with Fe/MgO induced a significant reduction in UV absorbance of humic acids, as compared to ozone alone. Fe/MgO was the most efficient catalyst in degradation humic acids in the presence of ozone. GPC (gel permeation chromatography) showed that humic acids with high molecular weight could be severely decomposed into organic compounds with low molecular weight by the Fe/MgO catalyst, indicating that humic acids could be catalytically decomposed.