Influence of decyl alcohol on the potentiometric behavior of three p-alkylbenzenesulfonate ion-selective electrodes

The influence of decyl alcohol on the potentiometric response of three para-alkylbenzenesulfonate (p-RBS) electrodes is analyzed. The results are clearly dependent on the membrane surface polarity due to the presence of the alcohol. The ionophore was the complex trioctylmethylammonium-p-RBS, (TOMA+)-p-RBS-, with R=H, CH3, and C2H5. The nature of the complex plays a fundamental role on the potentiometric behavior of the electrode showing that the more hydrophobic the complex, the better the potentiometric responses. Moreover, the electrodes selectivities for several hydrophilic and hydrophobic interfering anions were determined. The potentiometric results with interfering anions were coherent with the Pearson's hard and soft acid-base character of these anions.     

Salt effect on vapour-liquid equilibrium in the dimethylsulphoxide-water-0.9 m NaClO4 system at 298.15 K

Isothermal total pressure vs. liquid and vapour composition (P-x-y) equilibrium data are presented for the DMSO-H₂O and DMSO-H₂O-0.9 m NaClO₄ systems. A modified transpiration technique was used to measure the saturated vapour pressures. The compositions of the equilibrium liquid and condensed vapour phases were determined by precision refractometry. The salt appreciably affects the activity coefficients of the solvent components; the effect is discussed in terms of interactions between the DMSO and H₂O molecules and of the preferential solvation of the salt.     

Design and synthesis of two triazonine-carbaldehyde derivatives using several chemical tools

Several triazonine-carbaldehyde derivatives have been prepared using different protocols; however, some require special reagents and conditions. The aim of study involved the synthesis of two triazonine-carbaldehyde derivative using testosterone or OTBS-testosterone as chemical tool. Triazonine-carbaldehyde derivatives were prepared by a series of reactions that involve the following: (1) synthesis of two nitrobenzamide derivatives by reaction of testosterone or OTBS-testosterone with p-nitrobenzoyl azide using Copper(II) as catalyst; (2) reaction of the nitrobenzamides with ethylenediamine to form two triazonine derivatives using boric acid as catalyst; (3) preparation of hexynyl-triazonine derivatives by the reaction of two triazonines 6-chlorohex-1-yne in basic medium; (4) reaction of hexynyl-triazonine derivatives with benzaldehyde to form two triazoninol analogs; (5) preparation of triazoninynal derivatives through oxidation of triazoninol analogs with dimethyl sulfoxide; and (6) synthesis of triazonine-carbaldehyde derivatives by the reaction of triazoninynal derivatives with hexyne-1 using Copper(II) as catalyst. The chemical structure of compounds was determined by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. In conclusion, in this work were prepared two triazoninone derivatives using several chemical techniques, which are simple procedures and easy to handle.     

Pentacyclic Triterpene Profile and Its Biosynthetic Pathway in Cecropia telenitida as a Prospective Dietary Supplement

Promising research over the past decades has shown that some types of pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) are associated with the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D), especially those found in foods. The most abundant edible sources of PTs are those belonging to the ursane and oleanane scaffold. The principal finding is that Cecropia telenitida contains abundant oleanane and ursane PT types with similar oxygenation patterns to those found in food matrices. We studied the compositional profile of a rich PT fraction (DE16-R) and carried out a viability test over different cell lines. The biosynthetic pathway connected to the isolated PTs in C. telenitida offers a specific medicinal benefit related to the modulation of T2D. This current study suggests that this plant can assemble isobaric, positional isomers or epimeric PT. Ursane or oleanane scaffolds with the same oxygenation pattern are always shared by the PTs in C. telenitida, as demonstrated by its biosynthetic pathway. Local communities have long used this plant in traditional medicine, and humans have consumed ursane and oleanane PTs in fruits since ancient times, two key points we believe useful in considering the medicinal benefits of C. telenitida and explaining how a group of molecules sharing a closely related scaffold can express effectiveness.     

Binding of Phenols with Amphipathic Cationic Polyelectrolytes

The association of phenols, such as p-cresol, tribromophenol, and trichlorophenol, with several amphipathic poly (n-alkylmethyldiallylammonium) chlorides in aqueous solution was studied by ultrafiltration. The n-alkyl residues were octyl, decyl, and dodecyl and the binding degrees were significantly higher than those found with the hydrophilic poly (diallyldimethylammonium) chloride. The results agreed well with the Satake and Yang's treatment and Hill's empirical equation for the association process, thereby revealing, in both cases, an increasing cooperative effect as the polyelectrolyte side chain increased in length for the same phenol, and when the hydrophobic nature of the phenol increased for the same kind of polyelectrolyte. From the phenomenological association constants, the estimated molar standard free energies of association ranged from ?19 kJmol^?1, for the more hydrophilic phenoxide–polyelectrolyte pair, to ?28 kJmol^?1 for the more hydrophobic pairs. The main result is that the amphipathic nature of these polyelectrolytes makes them efficient systems to trap anionic contaminants, better than hydrophilic flocculants.     

Neuroprotective Effects of Quercetin in Pediatric Neurological Diseases

Oxidative stress is a crucial event underlying several pediatric neurological diseases, such as the central nervous system (CNS) tumors, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Neuroprotective therapy with natural compounds used as antioxidants has the potential to delay, ameliorate or prevent several pediatric neurological diseases. The present review provides an overview of the most recent research outcomes following quercetin treatment for CNS tumors, ASD and ADHD as well as describes the potential in vitro and in vivo ameliorative effect on oxidative stress of bioactive natural compounds, which seems like a promising future therapy for these diseases. The neuroprotective effects of quercetin against oxidative stress can also be applied in the management of several neurodegenerative disorders with effects such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-obesity and anti-microbial. Therefore, quercetin appears to be a suitable adjuvant for therapy against pediatric neurological diseases.     

The crystallization of polypropylene/halloysite fibers

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The halloysite (HNT) in the form of nanotubes was used as an agent for the improved mechanical, thermo-mechanical as well as surface properties of...     

Synthetic Peptide ΔM4-Induced Cell Death Associated with Cytoplasmic Membrane Disruption,Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is the most dangerous and lethal form of skin cancer, due to its ability to spread to different organs if it is not treated at an early stage. Conventional chemotherapeutics are failing as a result of drug resistance and weak tumor selectivity. Therefore, efforts to evaluate novel molecules for the treatment of skin cancer are necessary. Antimicrobial peptides have become attractive anticancer agents because they execute their biological activity with features such as a high potency of action, a wide range of targets, and high target specificity and selectivity. In the present study, the antiproliferative activity of the synthetic peptide ΔM4 on A375 human melanoma cells and spontaneously immortalized HaCaT human keratinocytes was investigated. The cytotoxic effect of ΔM4 treatment was evaluated through propidium iodide uptake by flow cytometry. The results indicated selective toxicity in A375 cells and, in order to further investigate the mode of action, assays were carried out to evaluate morphological changes, mitochondrial function, and cell cycle progression. The findings indicated that ΔM4 exerts its antitumoral effects by multitarget action, causing cell membrane disruption, a change in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, an increase of reactive oxygen species, and cell cycle accumulation in S-phase. Further exploration of the peptide may be helpful in the design of novel anticancer peptides.     

Do Flavonoids from Durum Wheat Contribute to Its Bioactive Properties? A Prospective Study

A clear gap with respect to the potential biological properties of wheat flavonoids exists in the available literature. This information is crucial for breeding programs aiming to produce new varieties presenting improved health benefits. Accordingly, advanced breeding lines of whole durum wheat were evaluated in this contribution. The highest recovery of phenolics was achieved using aqueous acetone (50:50, v/v), as verified by multi-response optimization, thus showing that phenolics could be largely underestimated by employing an inappropriate extraction. The concentration of derivatives of apigenin, the main phenolics present, ranged from 63.5 to 80.7%, as evaluated by LC–ESI-QTOF-MS. Phenolics from the breeding line 98 exhibited the highest ability in scavenging peroxyl radicals, reducing power as well as in terms of inhibition of pancreatic lipase activity, a key enzyme regulating the absorption of triacylglycerols. In contrast, none of the samples exhibited a significant anti-diabetic potential. Despite their high concentration compared to that of phenolic acids, results of this work do not support a significant antioxidant and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect of durum wheat flavonoids. Therefore, breeding programs and animal and/or human trials related to the effect of durum wheat flavonoids on oxidative stress and absorption of triacylglycerols are discouraged at this point.