Neuroprotective Effect and Antioxidant Potency of Fermented Cultured Wild Ginseng Root Extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in Mice

Wild ginseng has better pharmacological effects than cultivated ginseng. However, its industrialization is limited by the inability to grow wild ginseng on a large scale. Herein, we demonstrate how to optimize ginseng production through cultivation, and how to enhance the concentrations of specific ginsenosides through fermentation. In the study, we also evaluated the ability of fermented cultured wild ginseng root extract (HLJG0701-β) to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as its neuroprotective effects and antioxidant activity. In in vitro tests, HLJG0701-β inhibited AChE activity and exerted neuroprotective and antioxidant effects (showing increased catalyst activity but decreased reactive oxygen species concentration). In in vivo tests, after HLJG0701-β was orally administered at doses of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg in an animal model of memory impairment, behavioral evaluation (Morris water maze test and Y-maze task test) was performed. The levels of AChE, acetylcholine (ACh), blood catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissues were measured. The results showed that HLJG0701-β produced the best results at a dose of 250 mg/kg or more. The neuroprotective mechanism of HLJG0701-β was determined to involve the inhibition of AChE activity and a decrease in oxidative stress. In summary, both in vitro and in vivo tests confirmed that HJG0701-β administration can lead to memory improvement.     

From Waste to Green Applications: The Use of Recovered Gold and Palladium in Catalysis

The direct use in catalysis of precious metal recovery products from industrial and consumer waste is a very promising recent area of investigation. It represents a more sustainable, environmentally benign, and profitable way of managing the low abundance of precious metals, as well as encouraging new ways of exploiting their catalytic properties. This review demonstrates the feasibility and sustainability of this innovative approach, inspired by circular economy models, and aims to stimulate further research and industrial processes based on the valorisation of secondary resources of these raw materials. The overview of the use of recovered gold and palladium in catalytic processes will be complemented by critical appraisal of the recovery and reuse approaches that have been proposed.     

Electrochemical synthesis of core–shell nanoparticles by seed-mediated selective deposition

Conventional solvothermal synthesis of core–shell nanoparticles results in them being covered with surfactant molecules for size control and stabilization, undermining their practicality as electrocatalysts. Here, we report an electrochemical method for the synthesis of core–shell nanoparticles directly on electrodes, free of surfactants. By implementation of selective electrodeposition on gold cores, 1^st-row transition metal shells were constructed with facile and precise thickness control. This type of metal-on-metal core–shell synthesis by purely electrochemical means is the first of its kind. The applicability of the nanoparticle decorated electrodes was demonstrated by alkaline oxygen evolution catalysis, during which the Au–Ni example displayed stable catalysis with low overpotential.

Core–shell nanoparticles can be synthesized by pure electrochemical methods, and the size of the core and the thickness of the shell can be precisely controlled. The nanoparticle-decorated electrodes exhibited respectable oxygen evolution catalysis.     

Development of Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) Nut Starch Films Containing Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Leaf Essential Oil

There have been many studies on the development biodegradable films using starch isolated from various food sources as a substitute for synthetic plastic packaging films. In this study, starch was extracted from ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) nuts, which were mainly discarded and considered an environment hazard. The prepared starch (GBS) was then used for the preparation of antioxidant films by incorporating various amounts of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) essential oil (CZEO), which provides antioxidant activity. The prepared GBS films with CZEO were characterized by measuring physical, optical, and thermal properties, along with antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP) measurements. With the increasing amount of CZEO, the flexibility and antioxidant activities of the GBS films increased proportionally, whereas the tensile strength of the films decreased. The added CZEO also increased the water vapor permeability of the GBS films, and the microstructure of the GBS films was homogeneous overall. Therefore, the obtained results indicate that the developed GBS films containing CZEO are applicable as antioxidant food packaging.     

Synthesis of Halogenated 1,5-Diarylimidazoles and Their Inhibitory Effects on LPS-Induced PGE2 Production in RAW 264.7 Cells

A series of halogenated 1,5-diarylimidazole compounds were synthesized and their inhibitory effects on LPS-induced PGE₂ production in RAW 264.7 cells were evaluated. A wide variety of 2,4-, 4-, and 2-halogenated 5-aryl-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)imidazoles were synthesized for SAR study via two different pathways. Overall, 4-halogenated 5-aryl-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)imidazoles, regardless of the species of halogen, exhibited very strong inhibitory activities of PGE₂ production. Among them, 4-chloro-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)imidazole (3, IC₅₀ 3.3 nM ± 2.93), and 4-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)imidazole (13, IC₅₀ 5.3 nM ± 0.23) showed the best results.     

Airborne particulates (PM2.5/PM10) monitoring in Korea by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for the analysis of 25 trace elements in airborne particulate matter (PM) for air pollution monitoring. For the collection of air samples, the Gent stacked filter unit low volume sampler and two types of Nuclepore polycarbonate filters were employed. Samples were collected at selected sampling dates in suburban and industrial regions of Daejon city in the Republic of Korea. Mass concentrations and black carbon of PM were measured, and enrichment factors were calculated. The results were used to describe the emission sources and their correlation patterns.     

Investigation of turbomixers in continuous flow analysis

This paper describes an investigation of turbomixers as replacements for mixing coils in FIA. The turbomixer is a device that will efficiently mix three streams simultaneously. Although the traditional FIA gradient is not produced, the data shows that the reproducibility of a turbomixer continuous flow system is comparable to a standard FIA system.     

Dendritic molecular capsules for hydrophobic compounds

Reichardt's dye, a highly solvatochromic dye, was encapsulated within poly (glycerol succinic acid) ([Gn]-PGLSA-OH) dendrimers to investigate the interior environment of these dendritic macromolecules. The absorption maximum for the encapsulated Reichardt's dye in water was indicative of a relatively high dielectric constant present within the dye/dendrimer complex. (1)H NMR of the encapsulated complex showed the presence of aromatic protons from Reichardt's dye along with the aliphatic protons of the dendrimer. Additionally, there were substantial changes in T(1) and T(2) times of the encapsulated dye when compared with the free dye, and (1)H NOESY spectra for the complex showed a significant number of intermolecular NOE cross-peaks. These data reveal the close through-space proximity of the dye to the dendrimer and the restricted motion of the encapsulated dye. To demonstrate the potential use of these macromolecules as drug delivery vehicles, the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10HCPT) was encapsulated within a carboxylated PGLSA dendrimer ([G4]-PGLSA-COONa). Cytotoxicity assays with human breast cancer cells showed a significant reduction of cell viability, demonstrating that 10HCPT retains activity upon encapsulation.     

Rhenium-promoted diastereo- and enantioselective cyclopentannulation reactions: furans as 1,3-propene dipoles

The rhenium furan complexes TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(eta2-2-methylfuran) (1) and TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(eta2-2,5-dmethylfuran) (2) undergo Lewis acid-promoted cyclopentannulation reactions with enones and enals to generate 3-acetylcyclopentene complexes. During the reaction, a rearrangement occurs such that the alpha and beta carbons of the enone are incorporated into the new carbocycle. Treatment of these complexes with an oxidant (H2O2 or silver triflate) liberates the acetylcyclopentene. When a resolved form of the rhenium complex is used, the acetylcyclopentenes can be obtained enantioselectively.