Clove (Syzygium aromaticum Linn) extract rich in eugenol and eugenol derivatives shows bone-preserving efficacy

This study examined the efficacy of hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds, which is rich in phenolic compounds namely eugenol and eugenol derivatives (precursors of flavones, isoflavones and flavonoids), on different primary and secondary osteoporotic marker changes in an ovariectomised (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis. Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated control (A), OVX (B) and OVX plus 50% hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds for 4 weeks (C). Results indicated that, compared to control, serum alkaline phosphatase (AP; 48.25%, p?相似文献   

Critical comparison of alternating current and differential pulse voltammetry in the determination of some heavy metals in sea-water

A critical comparison of phase-selective fundamental harmonic a.c. anodic stripping voltammetry and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry for the determination of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in sea-water is reported. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry was found to be slightly more sensitive than the a.c. technique, but the effect of the charging current could be more effectively eliminated by the latter, especially in the determination of zinc(II) and copper(II). The detection limits for both techniques were found to be about 10^–10-10^–8 M for all four elements. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was of the order of 2–5% for the fundamental harmonic a.c. method and 5–8% for differential pulse voltammetry. The accuracy (expressed as recovery) was 95–105% for the former and 90–110% for the latter.     

Trace-metal determination by second-harmonic alternating-current anodic stripping voltammetry

Second-harmonic alternating-current voltammetry can be used for the sequential determination of two electroactive species having very similar half-wave potentials (deltaE(1 2 ) < 50 mV). Since the concentrations of such metals in samples of special interest are often at trace levels, for their determination second-harmonic a.c. voltammetry (extremely selective but not sufficiently sensitive) can usefully be combined with the anodic stripping method, which has a very high analytical sensitivity. The determination of tin and lead as well as of indium and cadmium in 1M hydrochloric acid is described. The half-wave potentials are only 35 and 45 mV apart, respectively, for these systems. A three-electrode cell was used with a long-lasting sessile-drop mercury electrode as the working electrode, with a drop-time of 240-300 sec. The detection limit was found to be 10(-8)M for all four elements studied. The precision expressed as the relative standard deviation was 2-3% and the relative error was 1-2%.     

Study of pyrolysis kinetic of green corn husk

In this paper, it was suggested the use of green corn husk, which is a biomass from agro-industry, as an alternative source of energy through its pyrolysis. Green corn husk characterization was done through immediate and elemental analysis of its components: cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. It was also measured its higher calorific value. The pyrolysis study of green corn husk was done by the isoconversion and the Master plots method. Thermogravimetric plots were obtained at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1. The pyrolysis kinetics parameters were studied through the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger, and Friedman models. The Master plots method was used to determine the pyrolysis reaction order. The results of the reaction energy activation were found to be in the range 105.21–157.46 kJ mol^?1 by the FWO method, 150.50 kJ mol^?1 by the Kissinger method, and ranged 120.66–163.81 kJ mol^?1 by the Friedman method. The Master plots method showed a three-way-transport diffusional kinetics for the biomass de-volatilization process. The higher calorific value found for green corn husk was 16.14 MJ kg^?1. The simulation showed correlation between the experimental data and the proposed model for conversion values up to 0.8.

     

Coumarin derivatives as promising antibacterial agent(s)

Nowadays, bacterial infections epitomize significant health threats globally with an increased morbidity and mortality. Most contemporary antibacterial agents are resisted by pathogenic bacteria - the multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains arising from cross resistances operative in natural bacterial consortia inside human body and in environments. Consequently, the development of newer potential drug candidate(s) is required against the broad spectrum of MDR bacteria. Indeed, the phytochemical coumarin and its derivatives had been reported with broad biological inhibitory properties, including antibacterial activities. In this review, several methods of synthetic strategies of coumarin derivatives as antibacterials were considered with individual schematic compounds by structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies as essential corollaries. Overall, substituents at positions C-3 and C-4 of coumarin are coveted for the development of newer antibacterial agents.     

Selenium Biofortification: Roles,Mechanisms, Responses and Prospects

The trace element selenium (Se) is a crucial element for many living organisms, including soil microorganisms, plants and animals, including humans. Generally, in Nature Se is taken up in the living cells of microorganisms, plants, animals and humans in several inorganic forms such as selenate, selenite, elemental Se and selenide. These forms are converted to organic forms by biological process, mostly as the two selenoamino acids selenocysteine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet). The biological systems of plants, animals and humans can fix these amino acids into Se-containing proteins by a modest replacement of methionine with SeMet. While the form SeCys is usually present in the active site of enzymes, which is essential for catalytic activity. Within human cells, organic forms of Se are significant for the accurate functioning of the immune and reproductive systems, the thyroid and the brain, and to enzyme activity within cells. Humans ingest Se through plant and animal foods rich in the element. The concentration of Se in foodstuffs depends on the presence of available forms of Se in soils and its uptake and accumulation by plants and herbivorous animals. Therefore, improving the availability of Se to plants is, therefore, a potential pathway to overcoming human Se deficiencies. Among these prospective pathways, the Se-biofortification of plants has already been established as a pioneering approach for producing Se-enriched agricultural products. To achieve this desirable aim of Se-biofortification, molecular breeding and genetic engineering in combination with novel agronomic and edaphic management approaches should be combined. This current review summarizes the roles, responses, prospects and mechanisms of Se in human nutrition. It also elaborates how biofortification is a plausible approach to resolving Se-deficiency in humans and other animals.     

A highly diastereoselective total synthesis of (±)-heritonin and (±)-heritol

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of heritol and heritonin by intramolecular cyclization on a preformed sensitive butenolide functionality is described.