Synthesis,Characterization and Photocleavage of Bis-decyl Pteroic Acid: A Folate Derivative with Affinity to Biomembranes†

Here, we provide mechanistic insight to the photocleavage of a compound in the folate family, namely pteroic acid. A bis-decyl chain derivative of pteroic acid was synthesized, structurally characterized and photochemically investigated. We showed that, like folic acid, pteroic acid and the decylated derivative undergo a photocleavage reaction in the presence of H₂O, while no reaction was observed in methanol solution. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations were carried out to predict relative stabilities of hypothetical mono-, bis- and tris-decylated pteroic acid derivatives to help rationalize the regioselectivity of the bis-decyl pteroic acid product. Additionally, the lipophilicity of the bis-decyl pteroic acid appears to confer a hydrophobic property enabling an interaction with biomembranes.     

Heptagon-Containing Nanographene Embedded into [10]Cycloparaphenylene

We report the synthesis and characterization of a novel type of nanohoop, consisting of a cycloparaphenylene derivative incorporating a curved heptagon-containing π-extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) unit. We demonstrate that this new macrocycle behaves as a supramolecular receptor of curved π-systems such as fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀, with remarkably large binding constants (ca. 10⁷ M⁻¹), as estimated by fluorescence measurements. Nanosecond and femtosecond spectroscopic analysis show that these host-guest complexes are capable of quasi-instantaneous charge separation upon photoexcitation, due to the ultrafast charge transfer from the macrocycle to the complexed fullerene. These results demonstrate saddle-shaped PAHs with dibenzocycloheptatrienone motifs as structural components for new macrocycles displaying molecular receptor abilities and versatile photochemical responses with promising electron-donor properties in host-guest complexes.     

Comparing Singlet Oxygen Generation of Schiff Base Substituted Novel Silicon Phthalocyanines by Sonophotochemical and Photochemical Applications

Although the sonophotodynamic method has an effective therapeutic outcome for anticancer treatment compared with the photodynamic method, there are not enough related studies in the literature and this study aims to contribute to the development of sonophotodynamic studies. For this purpose, the Schiff base substituted silicon phthalocyanines were designed and synthesized as effective sensitizer candidates and the photophysicochemical and sonophotochemical features of the phthalocyanines were examined to increase singlet oxygen efficiency. The calculated Φ_Δ values indicate that the contribution of substituent groups improved the production of singlet oxygen compared with silicon (IV) phthalocyanine dichloride (SiPcCI₂) and also the sonophotochemical applications increased the singlet oxygen yields. The Φ_Δ values (Φ_Δ = 0.76 for axially bis-{4-[(E)-(pyridin-3-ylimino)methyl]phenol} substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine ( 2a ), 0.68 for axially bis-4-[(E)-{[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]imino}methyl]phenol substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine ( 2b ) in photochemical study) reached to Φ_Δ = 0.98 for 2a , 0.94 for 2b in sonophotochemical study. This article will enrich the literature on increasing singlet oxygen yield.     

High Hydrostatic Pressure to Increase the Biosynthesis and Extraction of Phenolic Compounds in Food: A Review

Phenolic compounds from fruits and vegetables have shown antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, among other beneficial properties for human health. All these benefits have motivated multiple studies about preserving, extracting, and even increasing the concentration of these compounds in foods. A diverse group of vegetable products treated with High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) at different pressure and time have shown higher phenolic content than their untreated counterparts. The increments have been associated with an improvement in their extraction from cellular tissues and even with the activation of the biosynthetic pathway for their production. The application of HHP from 500 to 600 MPa, has been shown to cause cell wall disruption facilitating the release of phenolic compounds from cell compartments. HPP treatments ranging from 15 to 100 MPa during 10–20 min at room temperature have produced changes in phenolic biosynthesis with increments up to 155%. This review analyzes the use of HHP as a method to increase the phenolic content in vegetable systems. Phenolic content changes are associated with either an immediate stress response, with a consequent improvement in their extraction from cellular tissues, or a late stress response that activates the biosynthetic pathways of phenolics in plants.     

Chemical Characterization and Bioactivity of Commercial Essential Oils and Hydrolates Obtained from Portuguese Forest Logging and Thinning

Essential oils (EOs) and hydrolates (Hds) are natural sources of biologically active ingredients with broad applications in the cosmetic industry. In this study, nationally produced (mainland Portugal and Azores archipelago) EOs (11) and Hds (7) obtained from forest logging and thinning of Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus pinaster, Pinus pinea and Cryptomeria japonica, were chemically evaluated, and their bioactivity and sensorial properties were assessed. EOs and Hd volatiles (HdVs) were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. 1,8-Cineole was dominant in E. globulus EOs and HdVs, and α- and β-pinene in P. pinaster EOs. Limonene and α-pinene led in P. pinea and C. japonica EOs, respectively. P. pinaster and C. japonica HVs were dominated by α-terpineol and terpinen-4-ol, respectively. The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH, ORAC and ROS. C. japonica EO showed the highest antioxidant activity, whereas one of the E. globulus EOs showed the lowest. Antimicrobial activity results revealed different levels of efficacy for Eucalyptus and Pinus EOs while C. japonica EO showed no antimicrobial activity against the selected strains. The perception and applicability of emulsions with 0.5% of EOs were evaluated through an in vivo sensory study. C. japonica emulsion, which has a fresh and earthy odour, was chosen as the most pleasant fragrance (60%), followed by P. pinea emulsion (53%). In summary, some of the studied EOs and Hds showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and they are possible candidates to address the consumers demand for more sustainable and responsibly sourced ingredients.     

Polyphenols from Dichrostachys cinerea Fruits Anti-Inflammatory,Analgesic, and Antioxidant Capacity in Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rat Model

Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wigth & Arn. (DC) is widely used in traditional medicine against several inflammatory diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis, because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to characterize the polyphenol-rich DC fruit extracts and investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in a rat inflammation model induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Water and ethanolic extracts were characterized using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The polyphenol-rich extracts were administered in three different concentrations for 30 days. Pain threshold, thermal hyperalgesia, edema, and serum biomarkers specific to inflammatory processes or oxidative stress were evaluated. Both extracts were rich in polyphenolic compounds, mainly flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, and flavone glycosides, which had important in vitro antioxidant capacity. DC fruit extracts administration had the maximum antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects after one day since the CFA injection and showed promising results for long-term use as well. The measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cortisol, and oxidative stress parameters showed that DC extracts significantly reduced these parameters, being dose and extract-type dependent. These results showed potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidative properties and revealed the necessity of using a standardized polyphenolic DC extract to avoid result variability.     

Flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry for slurry atomization: Determination of manganese, lead, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and potassium in cements

A flame atomic absorption spectrometric procedure for the rapid determination of manganese, lead, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and potassium in cements is described. For minor components, slurries are prepared in the 0.05–0.25% m/v range by direct suspension of the samples in a medium containing 2% v/v nitric acid, 2% hydrofluoric acid and 30% v/v glycerol. 50–200 l aliquots are injected in a simple flow injection manifold using water as the carrier. When determining major components, the FI manifold includes an easy-to-construct variable volume chamber allowing the on-line dilution of the suspensions. The degree of dilution can be easily modified to obtain signals within the linear response range of the instrument. Aqueous standards are used for calibration. The data obtained for six cements agree with those obtained by conventional procedures based on the compl ^M v£e ^w ete dissolution of the samples.     

Isoperichoric focusing field-flow fractionation and thin layer isoperichoric focusing based on coupling of gradient generated by primary field with secondary field action: general principles and performances

The primary field forces can generate spatially oriented gradient of the effective property of a continuum or pseudo-continuum fluid (carrier liquid). When this gradient is coupled with the action of a secondary field of identical or different nature the isoperichoric focused zones of the dispersed species can appear. Consequently, they can be separated according to differences responding to the property gradient of the carrier liquid. This concept can be applied under static (non-flow) conditions in thin layer focusing as well as under dynamic conditions with the elution due to the carrier liquid flow in focusing field-flow fractionation. The gradient established by the action of the primary field and the concentration distribution of the isoperichoric focused zone formed by the coupled effect of the gradient and of the primary or secondary field are described theoretically. The rigorous relationship describing the shape of the focused zone is compared with the approximate solutions. The performances of the proposed principle were evaluated by model calculations. Potential experimental configurations considering the implementation of the static and dynamic conditions are discussed. The generalized isoperichoric focusing theory can be applied to describe the particular processes operating in analytical and preparative focusing separations of the particles of various, but especially of biological origin.     

Direct determination of copper and zinc in cow milk, human milk and infant formula samples using electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry

Infant formula and powdered milk samples were suspended in a medium containing 20% ethanol, 0.65% nitric acid, 6% hydrogen peroxide and 0.1% ammonium dihydrogenphosphate and directly introduced in the electrothermal atomizer. Liquid milk samples were diluted with this suspension solution. The build-up of carbonaceous residues inside the atomizer was avoided by using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid. Fast programs were used to simplify the heating cycles. Calibration was carried out using aqueous standards and the detection limits for copper and zinc were found to be 70 and 15 pg, respectively. The metal contents of several milk samples obtained by direct introduction of the samples agree with those obtained by means of a conventional procedure based on the total dissolution of the samples. The reliability of the methods was also confirmed by analyzing three certified reference materials. The free and protein binding fractions were measured by ultrafiltration membrane permeability of the milk samples.     

Lactic acid bacteria production from whey

The main purpose of this work was to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to be used for biomass production using a whey-based medium supplemented with an ammonium salt and with very low levels of yeast extract (0.25 g/L). Five strains of LAB were isolated from naturally soured milk after enrichment in whey-based medium. One bacterial isolate, designated MNM2, exhibited a remarkable capability to utilize whey lactose and give a high biomass yield on lactose. This strain was identified as Lactobacillus casei by its 16S rDNA sequence. A kinetic study of cell growth, lactose consumption, and titratable acidity production of this bacterial strain was performed in a bioreactor. The biomass yield on lactose, the percentage of lactose consumption, and the maximum increase in cell mass obtained in the bioreactor were 0.165 g of biomass/g of lactose, 100%, and 2.0 g/L, respectively, which were 1.44, 1.11, and 2.35 times higher than those found in flask cultures. The results suggest that it is possible to produce LAB biomass from a whey-based medium supplemented with minimal amounts of yeast extract.