Lecithin/propanol-based microemulsions used as media for a cholesterol oxidase-catalyzed reaction

Reverse micelles, Winsor III and IV systems were examined as reaction media for the enzymatic conversion of cholesterol to cholestenone by cholesterol oxidase at 298.2 K. The micelles and the microemulsions, stabilized by soybean lecithin and ethanol or 1-propanol as cosolvent, were characterized with respect to phase behavior and distribution of 1-propanol between the phases of the Winsor III systems. The used oils were dodecane, tetradecane, and hexadecane. The Winsor IV systems and the surfactant-rich phase in the Winsor III systems exhibit bicontinuous structures. The reaction yield for the enzymatic conversion performed in a Winsor IV system was much higher than in a Winsor III system or in reverse micelles.     

Communic acids: occurrence, properties and use as chirons for the synthesis of bioactive compounds

Communic acids are diterpenes with labdane skeletons found in many plant species, mainly conifers, predominating in the genus Juniperus (fam. Cupresaceae). In this review we briefly describe their distribution and different biological activities (anti- bacterial, antitumoral, hypolipidemic, relaxing smooth muscle, etc.). This paper also includes a detailed explanation of their use as chiral building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive natural products. Among other uses, communic acids have proven useful as chirons for the synthesis of quassinoids (formal), abietane antioxidants, ambrox and other perfume fixatives, podolactone herbicides, etc., featuring shorter and more efficient processes.     

Structured polyphenylenes as carriers of palladium nanoparticles used as selective hydrogenation catalysts

Structured polyphenylenes that are used as matrices for immobilization of palladium nanoparticles are synthesized through the cyclocondensation of acetylaromatic compounds followed by structuring at different temperatures and, as a result, different crosslink densities. The relationship between the structure and structuring temperature of the polymers is investigated. It is shown that the sizes of palladium nanoparticles immobilized in polyphenylene matrices depend on the conditions of polymer structuring. The resulting catalytic systems are examined for the selective hydrogenation of triple bonds in acetylene alcohols.     

Thymus musilii Velen. as a promising source of potent bioactive compounds with its pharmacological properties: In vitro and in silico analysis

For the first time, we reported the phytochemical composition of the volatile oil from Thymus musilii Velen (T. musilii). The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against various food-borne and clinical pathogenic microorganisms were also tested. The thyme oil was particularly rich in thymol (67.697 ± 0.938%), and thymyl acetate (12.993 ± 0.221%). The strongest antioxidant activity of the essential oil was registered with the tests: ABTS (IC₅₀ = 5.6 × 10⁻⁴ mg/mL) and β-carotene/linoleic acid (IC₅₀ = 3.2 × 10⁻³ mg/mL). This thymol-chemotype oil was active against all microorganisms tested with an inhibition growth zone ranging from 21.33 ± 1.52 mm for Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) to 37.33 ± 1.15 mm for Candida vaginalis (C. vaginalis) strain. Overall, the tested oil exhibited bactericidal and fungicidal activities and only a small quantity of the tested essential oil was found to be sufficient for inhibiting the growth of the tested microorganisms. Furthermore, molecular docking results implies that, among the bioactive compounds, β-caryophyllene interacted strongly with the active site residues of TyrRS, GLMS and Gyrase enzymes and consequently support our in vitro results with the highest inhibition potential of this essential oil against tested pathogens, especially Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Our results suggested that essential oil of T. musiliii exhibited strong biological activities with a promising source of various natural compounds.     

长链四烷基锡作中性载体的亚硝酸根选择性电极的研究

用亲脂的长链四烷基锡作中性载体制备亚硝酸根选择性电极. 其选择性模式与经典的阴离子交换剂相比有显著不同, 相对硝酸根的电位选择性系数改善约4个数量级. 线性响应区间为1x10^-^1-2x10^-^5mol.dm^-^3, 检测下限为5x10^-^6mol.dm^-^3. 电极斜率在弱性介质中为Nernst响应, 在弱酸性介质中为两倍Nernst响应. 紫外光谱研究发现酸度影响载体与阴离子的多级配位平衡. 电极斜率的变化与此平衡密切相关, 在此基础上给出了对电极斜率的异常变化及电位-pH     

Long-chain tetraalkyltin compounds as neutral carriers for nitrite-selective PVC membrane electrodes

The nitrite-selective PVC membrane electrodes prepared with lipophilic long-chain tetraalkyltin compounds as neutral carrier show selectivity patterns significantly different from those obtained with classical anion-exchangers. The potentiometric selectivity coefficient for nitrite ion with respect to nitrate ion has been improved by about four orders of magnitude. The linear response range of the electrode based on tetralauryltin (TLT) is from 1 × 10^?1M down to 2×10^?5M with a detection limit of 5 × 10^?6M. The Nernstian response of the electrode in the medium of pH≥7 gradually changes to a doubled super-Nernstian response when the solution turns slightly acidic. The change of the response slope has a closely relation with the stepwise complex-formation equilibrium of the carrier with the anion involved, which was experimentally studied by using ultraviolet spectroscopy. An explanation of the anomalous response behavior as well as the curve form of the potential-pH plot is given.     

Chemical and Biological insights of Ouratea hexasperma (A. St.-Hil.) Baill.: a source of bioactive compounds with multifunctional properties

The study aimed to evaluate in vitro antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antidiabetic properties of Ouratea hexasperma (A. St.-Hil.) Baill. The inflorescence methanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves and stems reported the highest Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), whereas the dichloromethane fraction of leaves was the best inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Trans-3-O-methyl-resveratrol-2-C-β-glucoside, lithospermoside, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone, lup-20(30)-ene-3β,28-diol, 7-O-methylgenistein, apigenin and luteolin and amentoflavone were isolated from O. hexasperma. Resveratrol derivative was isolated for the first time in Ochnaceae family. Luteolin, followed by apigenin, reported the highest Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index and they were also the best inhibitors of α-glucosidase enzyme.     

Emulsion approach to production of polymer films used as carriers of lysozyme

A new approach to producing polymer films with an immobilized bactericidal enzyme, lysozyme, is proposed based on oil-in-water emulsions containing nonionic surfactants and hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers. The rheological properties, stability, dispersity, and film-forming ability of the emulsions are studied. It is established that lysozyme is present in the films in a nanocrystalline form, which ensures its rapid release into aqueous buffer solutions with retaining its enzymatic activity.     

Industrial wastewater treatment wastes used as oxygen carriers in energy generation processes

The paper contains the results of a study on a promising combustion technology known as chemical looping combustion (CLC). The main advantage of CLC is the production of a highly concentrated CO₂ stream without any energy penalty for its separation, together with NO_x emissions reduction. The objective of this work was to examine novel oxygen carrier (OC) materials for their practical applications with gaseous fuel/air. We report a simple, economical and environmentally friendly method for the large-scale synthesis of OCs from wastes. The reactivity tests for OCs made from wastewater from a coking plant were performed in a thermogravimetric analyser. For selected temperatures, reduction–oxidation cycles were performed. The effect of temperature on the reaction rates, the effect of waste treatment and the oxygen transport capacity were determined. The waste material demonstrated good thermal stability and maintained its redox behaviour over cycling. ICP-OES and XRD data revealed these materials that contained beneficial amounts of Fe species and silicon oxide, which improved stability. The study showed that these waste materials are excellent examples of raw materials that can enable a decrease in OC production costs with the additional benefit of the practical management of post-wastewater sediments from coke oven wastewater plants.

     

Optical crystallographic properties of some chemotherapeutic compounds used in tuberculosis

Summary The optical properties of isonicotinic acid hydrazide, isonicotinic acid hydrazide diliturate, 1-isonicotinyl-2-benzylidene hydrazide, 1 -isonicotinyl-2-isopropyl hydrazide, Tibione, and Tibione-p-nitrophenyl hydrazone have been determined. The melting points, densities, and molar refractions of these compounds have been determined. The optical properties are valuable for identification purposes.

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Zusammenfassung Die optischen Eigenschaften der Kristalle von Isonikotinsäurehydrazid, Isonikotinsäurehydraziddiliturat, 1-Isonikotinyl-2-benzylidenhydrazid (Isoteben), 1-Isonikotinyl-2-isopropylhydrazid, 4-Acetylaminobenzaldehydthio-semicarbazon (Tibion, Conteben) und Tibion-p-nitrophenylhydrazpn wurden bestimmt. Außerdem wurden für diese Verbindungen Bestimmungen von Schmelzpunkt, Dichte und Molekularrefraktion ausgeführt. Die optischen Eigenschaften der Kristalle eignen sich für die Feststellung der Identität,

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Résumé Détermination des propriétés optiques des points de fusion, des densités et des réfractions moléculaires de l'hydrazide isonicotinique, du diliturate de l'hydrazide isonicotinique, de Pisonicotinyl-1, benzylidene-2 hydrazide, de l'isonicotinyl-1, isopropyl-2 hydrazide, de la tibione et de la p-nitrophénylhydrazone de la tibione. Les propriétés optiques sont utilisables pour l'identification de ces composés.

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Dedicated to Prof.Hans Lieb on occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Photodecomposition of several compounds commonly used as sunscreen agents

The photolysis reactions of three compounds commonly used as a sunscreen agents, Parsol 1789 (1-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3- propanedione), Oxybenzone ((2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)phenyl-methanone) and Padimate O (2-ethylhexyl-4-(dimethylamino)benzoate), were investigated to provide a chemical background to aid in the understanding of the photosensitization of the sunscreen agents. Photolysis was carried out in cyclohexane for 70–140 h using a mercury vapor lamp (450W) without excluding oxygen.

Irradation of Parsol 1789 in cyclohexane yielded tert-butylbenzene, p-tert-butylbenzoic acid and p-methoxybenzoic acid; products obtained from the combination of the sunscreen with the solvent included the cyclohexyl esters of p-methoxybenzoic acid, p-tert-butylbenzoic acid and methanoic acid; products obtained from the solvent included cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone and dicyclohexyl ether.

Irradiation of Oxybenzone in the cyclohexane for 100 h produced no detectable products by either gas or liquid chromatographic analysis. Oxybenzone was recovered unchanged and no products were observed from the photoinitiated reaction of oxygen with the solvent.

Irradiation of Padimate O in cyclohexane yielded the ethylhexyl esters of p-aminobenzoic acid, p-monomethylaminobenzoic acid and p-dimethylamino (o/m)-methylbenzoic acid, as well as products from the photoinitiated reaction of oxygen with the solvent.     

SFE kinetics of bioactive compounds from Helianthus annuus L.

The kinetics of the supercritical fluid extraction of bioactive compounds from sunflower using CO₂ as solvent were studied in order to establish an efficient method for this extraction. The influence of time of extraction at different solvent flow rates was investigated. The extraction pressure and temperature were optimized in previous studies and these values used were 400 bar and 50°C. The extraction yields and the bioactivity levels of the extracts were also analysed. The results indicate that the most appropriate extraction time is between 120 and 180 min depending on the solvent flow and the pretreatment of the sample. The dried sample extracted at 40 g/min, the congealed sample extracted at the same flow and 180 min, and the dried sample extracted at 25 g/min for 120 min showed the best activity profiles. The extractions were carried out in a pilot plant with an extraction vessel with a capacity of 2 L.     

Synthesis and investigation of photovoltaic properties for polymer semiconductors based on porphyrin compounds as light-harvesting units

We reported on two polymer semiconducting copolymers based on porphyrin compounds, poly[9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-5,15-bis(hexoxybenzyl)-10,20-bis(benzo-4-yl)porphyrin] (PFPor) and poly[9-(heptadecan-9-yl)carbazole-co-5,15-bis(hexoxybenzyl)-10,20-bis(benzo-4-yl)porphyrin] (PCPor), for use as organic photovoltaic materials. The thermal, optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of the two polymers were investigated. In addition, PC₆₁BM and PC₇₁BM were introduced as acceptor materials to confirm the acceptor effect in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices. Moreover, in order to establish acceptor effects, morphologies of polymer/PCBM blend films were analyzed through atomic force microscopy (AFM). PFPor and PCPor exhibited the best device performance with power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 0.62% and 0.76%, respectively, upon the introduction of PC₇₁BM as the acceptor in the device where 86 wt.% of the PC₇₁BM was contained in the active layer (pol:PC₇₁BM = 1:6, w/w).     

Towards a universal organogelator:A general mixing approach to fabricate various organic compounds into organogels

Low-molecular-weight organogels(LMOG) have been attracting a surge interest in fabricating soft materials.Although the finding of the gelator molecules has been developed from serendipity to objective design,the achievement of the gelator molecules still needs good design and tedious organic synthesis.In this paper,we proposed a simple and general mixing approach to get the organogel for nearly all the organic compounds and even soluble nanoparticles without any modification.We have designed a universal gel...     

Syntheses of marchantins C, O and P as promising highly bioactive compounds

Recently, remarkable microtubule inhibitor and anti-tumor activities of the bis(bibenzyl) marchantin C--isolated from liverworts like Marchantia polymorpha since 1983--were found. In this paper we describe the efficient total synthesis of this subtype of bis(bibenzylic) compounds with two biarylether connections. Two selectively methylated derivatives known as natural compounds marchantin O and P were synthesized for the first time by modification of the arene subunits and can now be considered as promising highly bioactive compounds.     

Nanosized carriers for hydrophobic compounds based on mesoporous silica: synthesis and adsorption properties

Russian Chemical Bulletin - MCM-41 type mesoporous silica particles were obtained using a template method in an alkaline medium and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a matrix. The structural and...     

Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) as a source of bioactive compounds for health benefits: A review

The pitangueira (Eugenia uniflora) is a tree native to Brazil but is cultivated in several subtropical countries. A great diversity of nutrients and bioactive compounds have been found in the leaves and fruits of E. uniflora, which supports its use in folk medicine to treat diseases such as stomach and intestinal disorders, fever and general inflammation. Antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant effects on metabolism have been reported for this plant. This review discusses the phytochemical profile, toxicity and pharmacological action of E. uniflora leaves and fruits and points out that gaps in the literature that need to be investigated further. This review also discusses studies developed with E. uniflora demonstrating its promising therapeutic potential for several diseases with an apparent low toxicity in mammals. The compilation of the main pharmacological and toxicological results, as well as the phytochemical characterization of the varieties and constituents of E. uniflora are general aspects that this review attempts to demonstrate in order to contribute to the new approaches and developments to plant-derived natural product drug discovery. However, further studies are required to establish the nutraceutical effects and uses of E. uniflora as an important and safe supplement for human health.