Isotope effect in chemical shifts of μ+ and H+: MuBr versus HBr and MuHO versus H2O

The isotopic difference between the diamagnetic shielding of a positive muon (⁺) in ⁺ HBr and H₂O and the analogous shielding of protons is computed from first principles in free space and in Br₂ solution, using a self-consistent cellular cluster multiple scattering method (SC-CMS) for condensed matter and for the free molecules. The isotope shift of the chemical shift _is at the ⁺ in these molecules dissolved in liquid Br₂ is evaluated with the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues obtained using Ramsey's formalism. For HBr the computed chemical shifts _is are comparable with experiment and with the calculations of Breskman and Kanofsky and of Williams, and the solvent effect has the correct sign and order of magnitude. For H₂O, _is has also the correct sign and order of magnitude when compared with ⁺SR experiments.     

Mutual annihilation of triplet excitons in a nearly one-dimensional system: 1,4-dibromonaphthalene

The analysis of the variation with incident flux of the time dependence of the delayed fluorescence in conjunction with the determination of the absolute ground state-first excited triplet absorption coefficients at room temperature, yields the value of γ_tot = (5.5 ± 2.0) × 10^?12 cm³ s^?1, for the total triplet-triplet annihilation rate constant in 1,4-dibromonaphthalene crystals. The one-dimensional mutual annihilation rate constant for the triplet exciton motion restricted to linear chains along the crystal c axis is γ¹_tot = (1.0 ± 0.4) × 10³ cm s^?1. The results are discussed in terms of recent theories of mutual annihilation of triplets in one-dimensional systems.     

Partition and location of nimesulide in EPC liposomes: a spectrophotometric and fluorescence study

Study of the mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their side-effects may fall in the domain of membranology. In this work the extent of the interaction between an NSAID (nimesulide) and membrane phospholipids was quantified by the partition coefficient, K_p , using egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) liposomes as cell membrane models. The liposome/aqueous phase partition coefficients were determined under physiological conditions, by derivative spectrophotometry and fluorescence quenching. Derivative spectrophotometry allows elimination of background signal effects (light scattering) due to the presence of liposomes. Theoretical models, accounting for simple partition of the NSAID between two different media, were used to fit the experimental data, allowing the determination of K_p in multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). The location of nimesulide in MLVs and LUVs was evaluated by fluorescence quenching using spectroscopic probes located at different sites on the membrane. All n-AS probes were quenched and the relative quenching efficiencies were ordered as 2-AS<6-AS9-AS<12-AS; this suggests the drug is deeply buried in the membrane. Fluorescence quenching using the 12-AS probe was also used to determine the partition coefficient of the drug in MLVs and LUVs. The two techniques yield similar results. Finally, measurement of zeta-potential in the presence of different concentrations of nimesulide was performed to investigate possible changes in the zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine membranes. The membrane surface potential was not altered, which seems to be an indication that nimesulide binds to lipid bilayer mostly by hydrophobic interactions.     

Combining combinatorial chemistry and affinity chromatography: highly selective inhibitors of human betaine: homocysteine S-methyltransferase

A new method to find novel protein targets for ligands of interest is proposed. The principle of this approach is based on affinity chromatography and combinatorial chemistry. The proteins within a crude rat liver homogenate were allowed to interact with a combinatorial library of phosphinic pseudopeptides immobilized on affinity columns. Betaine: homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) was one of the proteins that was retained and subsequently eluted from these supports. The phosphinic pseudopeptides, which served as immobilized ligands for the isolation of rat BHMT, were then tested for their ability to inhibit human recombinant BHMT in solution. The most potent inhibitor also behaved as a selective ligand for the affinity purification of BHMT from a complex media. Further optimization uncovered Val-Phe-psi[PO(2-)-CH(2)]-Leu-His-NH(2) as a potent BHMT inhibitor that has an IC(50) of about 1 microM.     

Method development for the determination of manganese, cobalt and copper in green coffee comparing direct solid sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

A method has been developed for the determination of cobalt, copper and manganese in green coffee using direct solid sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (SS-ET AAS). The motivation for the study was that only a few elements might be suitable to determine the origin of green coffee so that the multi-element techniques usually applied for this purpose might not be necessary. The three elements have been chosen as test elements as they were found to be significant in previous investigations. A number of botanical certified reference materials (CRM) and pre-analyzed samples of green coffee have been used for method validation, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after microwave-assisted acid digestion of the samples as reference method. Calibration against aqueous standards could be used for the determination of Mn and Co by SS-ET AAS, but calibration against solid CRM was necessary for the determination of Cu. No significant difference was found between the results obtained with the proposed method and certified or independently determined values. The limits of detection for Mn, Cu and Co were 0.012, 0.006 and 0.004 μg g⁻¹ using SS-ET AAS and 0.015, 0.13 and 0.10 μg g⁻¹ using ICP OES. Seven samples of Brazilian green coffee have been analyzed, and there was no significant difference between the values obtained with SS-ET AAS and ICP OES for Mn and Cu. ICP OES could not be used as a reference method for Co, as essentially all values were below the limit of quantification of this technique.     

Phytochemical study,an evaluation of the antioxidant potential and the antimicrobial activity of Inga semialata (Vell.) C. Mart. hydroalcohol extract

Abstract

Inga semialata (Vell.) C. Mart. belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is known for its therapeutic properties, highlighting its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The objective of the present work was to obtain crude extract leaves of Inga semialata, to identify and quantify active compounds, to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the crude extract in vitro, as well as to determine its antimicrobial activity. The crude extract was obtained by the maceration process. The identified and quantified of compounds present in the crude extract of Inga semialata was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. The evaluation of the antioxidant potential of the extract was realized by in vitro tests (DPPH, diacetate dichlorofluorescein test and nitric oxide test) and the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity was carried out using the minimum inhibitory concentration methodology.     

Determination of Cu,Ni, and Zn in fuel ethanol by FAAS after enrichment in column packed with 2-aminothiazole-modified silica gel

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of 2-aminothiazole-modified silica gel (SiAT), as well as its application for preconcentration (in batch and column technique) of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) in ethanol medium. The adsorption capacities of SiAT determined for each metal ion were (mmol g(-1)): Cu(II)=1.20, Ni(II)=1.10 and Zn(II)=0.90. In addition, results obtained in flow experiments, showed a recovery of ca. 100% of the metal ions adsorbed in a column packed with 500 mg of SiAT. The eluent was 2.0 mol L(-1) HCl. The sorption-desorption of the studied metal ions made possible the development of a preconcentration method for metal ions at trace level in fuel ethanol using flame AAS for their quantification.     

99mTc radiolabeling of crotoxin as a tool for biodistribution studies

Summary Crotoxin (Crtx) is the main toxin of South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) venom. Research on antitumoral drugs has demonstrated the potential use of Crtx as tumour reducing agent. Tissue distribution studies are very important for clinical use and ^99mTc-labeling is a very convenient method for studies related to biodistribution. The aim of the present study was to label Crtx with ^99mTc keeping its biological activity for use in biodistribution and binding studies. High labeling yield was obtained using stannous chloride and sodium borohydride. Results demonstrated that biological activity of ^99mTc-Crtx was preserved and confirmed kidneys as the target organ. Biological activities of unlabeled and ^99mTc-labeled Crtx were evaluated after labeling. ^99mTc-Crtx can be a useful tool for imaging and binding studies.     

Direct automatic determination of polyphenols in olive oils in the aqueous phase of a flow-injection liquid-liquid extraction system without phase separation

A method for the determination of polyphenols in olive in which the analytes are extracted into the aqueous phase by a liquid-liquid extraction system based on the use of a flow-injection configuration with iterative change of the flow direction is proposed. None of the typical units for this continuous separation technique are required by the proposed configuration. The analytes can be determined in the range over which polyphenols normally occur in these samples (100–900 μg ml^?1) with better precision (2.8–4.0% vs. 6%) and sampling frequency (28 h^?1 vs. 0.5 h^?1) and sample (< 1 g vs. 30 g) and reagent consumption than by the conventional method.     

Sels d'atdp—19: Cinetique de decomposition d'un chlorure d'atdp en chlorure d'alkyle et HMPT. Effet de solvant et effet de sel

The kinetics of decomposition of the 2-methyl-1-pentyloxy(trisdimethylamino)phosphonium chloride, was measured in several solvents. The experimental kinetic order towards the chloride anion was in the range from 2, in a dissociating solvent, to 1 in non dissociating solvents. Hence we afford experimental confirmation of an earlier prevision in the literature. A linear correlation of log k with the dielectric constants of the solvents was found in the case of the systems exhibiting first order kinetics, contrasting with the classical correlation in $\text{1}\text{?}$, generally observed for the reactions between ions of opposite charge. The salt effect has been measured and interpreted. It allows the performance of kinetic runs for non hindered, very labile ATDP salts, by their replacement by a mixture of an ATDP perchlorate and an aryloxyphosphonium chloride, both of which are stable.