The Phenolic Compounds Profile and Cosmeceutical Significance of Two Kazakh Species of Onions: Allium galanthum and A. turkestanicum

Numerous species of Allium genus have been used in the traditional medicine based on their vast biological effects, e.g., antimicrobial, digestion stimulant, anti-sclerotic, soothing, antiradical or wound healing properties. In this work, unpolar and polar extracts from two lesser-investigated species of Allium growing in Kazakhstan, Allium galanthum Kar. & Kir. (AG) and A. turkestanicum Regel. (AT), were studied for their composition and biological effects. In the HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analyses of water and alcoholic extracts simple organic acids, flavonoids and their glycosides were found to be the best represented group of secondary metabolites. On the other hand, in the GC-MS analysis diethyl ether, extracts were found to be rich sources of straight-chain hydrocarbons and their alcohols, fatty acids and sterols. The antimicrobial activity assessment showed a lower activity of polar extracts, however, the diethyl ether extract from AT bulbs and AG chives showed the strongest activity against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, B. cereus ATCC 10876, some species of Staphylococcus (S. aureus ATCC 25923 and S. epidermidis ATCC 12228) and all tested Candida species (Candida albicans ATCC 2091, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida glabrata ATCC 90030, Candida krusei ATCC 14243 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019) with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.125–0.5 mg/mL. The highest antiradical capacity exhibited diethyl ether extracts from AG bulbs (IC50 = 19274.78 ± 92.11 mg Trolox eq/g of dried extract) in DPPH assay. In ABTS scavenging assay, the highest value of mg Trolox equivalents, 50.85 ± 2.90 was calculated for diethyl ether extract from AT bulbs. The same extract showed the highest inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase (82.65 ± 1.28% of enzyme activity), whereas AG bulb ether extract was the most efficient murine tyrosinase inhibitor (54% of the enzyme activity). The performed tests confirm possible cosmeceutical applications of these plants.     

Deactivation of the S2 and Two Lowest Triplet States of 4H-1-Benzopyran-4-thione and Its Alkyl Derivatives in Methanol Solution

Spectral and photochemical properties of three aromatic thioketones, 4H-1-benzopyran-4-thione and its two alkyl derivatives, in their second excited singlet and two lowest triplet states have been a subject of stationary and time-resolved studies. Quantum yields of emissions from the above-mentioned states as well as lifetimes of these states have been measured. The results indicate an important role of intermolecular solvent-induced processes in deactivation of the excited states of the thioketones studied. The possible mechanism of these processes involves hydrogen atom abstraction and/or formation of exciplex. For relatively high thione concentrations, the contribution of self-quenching in deactivation of the triplet states becomes significant. The effect of the alkyl chain in a thione molecule on deactivation parameters is discussed.     

Effect of Processing Treatment and Modified Atmosphere Packing on Carrot’s Microbial Community Structure by Illumina MiSeq Sequencing

The aim of this study was to analyze the microbiome of carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) subjected to minimal pre-treatment (rinsing in organic acid solution) and packaging in a high-oxygen modified atmosphere, and then stored for 17 days under refrigeration conditions (4 °C). The highest levels of bacteria in the carrot microbiome were characterized, at almost 78%, by bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae families. Rinsing in a solution of ascorbic and citric acids resulted in the improvement of microbiological quality in the first day of storage. However, the use of a high-oxygen modified atmosphere extended the shelf life of the minimally processed product. Compared to carrots stored in air, those stored in high oxygen concentration were characterized by a greater ratio of bacteria belonging to the Serratia and Enterobacter genera, and a lower ratio belonging to the Pseudomonas and Pantoea genera. Moreover, the β-biodiversity analysis confirmed that the oxygen concentration was the main factor influencing the differentiation of the metabiomes of the stored carrots. The bacterial strains isolated from carrots identified by molecular methods were mostly pathogenic or potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Neither the minimal pre-treatment nor packaging in high-oxygen atmosphere was able to eliminate the threat of pathogenic bacteria emerging in the product.     

Thermodynamics of oxygen in dilute liquid silver–tellurium alloys

Abstract  

The activity coefficient of oxygen in liquid Ag and binary Ag–Te dilute alloys were determined between 1,285 and 1,485 K by coulometric titration using the electrochemical cell (Ir, [O] in liquid metal or alloy | yttria stabilized zirconia | air, Pt). The experimental and evaluation procedures described in the literature were adopted. The oxygen activity coefficient was determined in pure liquid silver to be . Next, the oxygen activity coefficient in dilute Ag–(Te)–O alloys for variable X _Te content (from 0.01 to 0.06) was measured. From the obtained results, Wagner’s interaction parameter as a function of temperature was derived in the form . The electrochemical coulometric titration method seems to be very useful to study the thermodynamics of oxygen interaction in liquid silver and its alloys.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Hydrodistillation of Essential Oil from Celery Seeds (Apium graveolens L.) and Its Biological and Aroma Profiles

The aim of the research was to increase the efficiency of the hydrodistillation process and determine the volatile composition, biological activity, and aroma profile of essential oil from celery seeds (Apium graveolens L.). The essential oil was extracted from the plant material by ultrasonic hydrodistillation with higher efficiency when compared with classical hydrodistillation. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the impedimetric method for the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast Candida vini as well as moulds Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (μL/mL) values: 30, 10, 20, 3, 30, 40, and 40, respectively. The oil possessed very weak 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant activity with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 81.6 g/L. Initial studies of the aroma profile indicated that the perception of the fragrance of the oil could be related to the sex of the panellists. According to women, the fragrance of celery seeds oil was intense herb-like. From the men’s point of view, it had a fresh, mossy, and mushroom scent.     

Tuning of magnetic properties of polynuclear lanthanide(III)-octacyanotungstate(V) systems: determination of ligand-field parameters and exchange interaction

The self-assembly reaction between trivalent lanthanide ions, 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (terpy) ligand, and octacyanotungstate(V) leads to the formation of two series of isomorphous cyano-bridged compounds: (i) one-dimensional (1-D) chains [Ln(terpy)(DMF)(4)][W(CN)(8)].6H(2)O.C(2)H(5)OH (Ln = Ce-Dy) and (ii) dinuclear molecules [Ln(terpy)(DMF)(2)(H(2)O)(2)][W(CN)(8)].3H(2)O (Ln = Ho, Er, Yb) and the ionic [Tm(III)(terpy)(DMF)(2)(H(2)O)(3)][WV(CN)(8)].4H(2)O.DMF (DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) system. The crystal structures of 1-D chains consist of alternating {[W(CN)(8)]} and {[Ln(terpy)]} building blocks. The neighboring chains are weakly linked through the pi-pi stacking interactions of the aromatic rings, leading to two-dimensional supramolecular layers. The dinuclear species are weakly linked through the hydrogen bonds between H2O molecules and terminal cyano ligands resulting in a columnlike arrangement of dimers. Taking into account the ligand-field splitting and the exchange interaction, we have estimated the magnetic couplings between the Ln(III) and WV centers in a series of polycrystalline 1-D chains and in dimeric systems. The corresponding exchange constants have been shown to change the sign along the series of chains. The coupling is antiferromagnetic for 1 (J = -0.24 cm(-1)) and 2 (J = -0.07 cm(-1)), whereas 3 (J = +0.47 cm(-1)), 7 (J = +0.28 cm(-1)), and 8 (J = +0.23 cm(-1)) have ferromagnetic character. In the case of dimeric systems, the coupling constants seem to be independent of the lanthanide center. The splitting structures of the ground-state multiplets of the Ln(III) centers have been shown to explain the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibilities.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and thermal studies of 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylates of rare earth elements

The complexes of rare earth elements with 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid of the formula: Ln₂(C₁₂H₆O₄)₃·nH₂O, where Ln = La(III)-Lu(III) and Y(III); n = 3 for La(III), Ce(III); n = 6 for Pr(III)-Yb(III) and Y(III) and n = 5 for Lu(III) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TG, DTG, DTA and TG-FTIR) and X-ray analysis. They are sparingly soluble in water and stable at room temperature. During heating in air atmosphere, they lose all water molecules in several steps, generally in two or three steps, except for the La(III) and Ce(III) complexes which lose all water molecules in one step. The anhydrous compounds are stable up to about 773 K and then decompose to corresponding oxides. The thermal decomposition is connected with the release of water molecules (443 K), carbon dioxide (713 K) and hydrocarbons.     

Electrochemical and Biological Studies on Reactivity of [VO(oda)(H2O)2], [Co(oda)(H2O)2]·H2O,and [Ni(oda)­(H2O)3]·1.5H2O Towards Superoxide Free Radicals

The reactivity of superoxide free radicals (O₂ ^{· –}) generated electrochemically towards the oxydiacetate metal complexes, namely [VO(oda)(H₂O)₂], [Co(oda)(H₂O)₂] · H₂O, and [Ni(oda)(H₂O)₃] · 1.5H₂O (oda = oxydiacetate) was examined by cyclic voltammetry. The measurements were carried out in DMSO solution using a platinum electrode. Based on the height of the anodic peak E_a that corresponds to electrochemical oxidation O₂ ^{· –} → O₂ + e, in the absence and in the presence of the compounds in the mixture, their O₂ ^{· –} scavenge ability was assessed. The influence of the type of the complex was briefly discussed. H₂O₂ was used to induce cellular injury in a mouse hippocampal cell line (HT22). The cytoprotection of chemical compounds was tested at the mitochondrial (MTT test) and plasma membrane level (LDH leakage). Dose‐dependent effect (10 and 100 μM of the complex) of investigated compounds was observed.     

Application of 2,4,6-trioxo-pyrimidin-5-ylidene alditols in the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines containing a sugar moiety by hetero-Diels–Alder reactions and by conjugate Michael addition–cyclizations

A convenient and efficient procedure for the preparation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran derivatives containing a sugar moiety is described. The reaction sequence is: Knoevenagel condensation of unprotected sugars and CH acids, acetylation of C-glycosides and hetero-Diels–Alder reaction. O-Acetylated 1,3-dimethyl-2,4,6-trioxo-pyrimidin-5-ylidene derivatives were used as new heterodienes in the synthesis of fused uracils—pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines with a sugar moiety. Solvent-free hetero-Diels–Alder cycloadditions of O-acetylated pyrimidin-5-ylidene alditols with enol ethers and cyclic enol ether were investigated at room temperature. New, enantiomerically pure cis and trans diastereoisomers of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines and cis–cis, trans–cis diastereoisomers of pyrano[3′,2′:5,6]pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines with alditol moiety were obtained. The same pyrimidin-5-ylidene alditols underwent conjugate Michael addition–cyclizations with malononitrile at room temperature to afford optically active diastereoisomers of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles with a sugar moiety.     

A convenient two-step synthesis of dialkylphosphate ionic liquids

Dialkylphosphate ionic liquids are useful solvents for cellulose dissolution and catalytic reactions. In this paper, a new methodology for the synthesis of hydrophobic phosphate-based ionic liquids is described. This method involves the oxidation reaction of an easily prepared H-phosphonate precursor by using the environmentally friendly and inexpensive oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide.