Quality variation and standardization of black pepper (Piper nigrum): A comparative geographical evaluation based on instrumental and metabolomics analysis

Black pepper (Piper nigrum; BP), known as the ‘king of spices’, imported from various countries is widely available in Saudi Arabian markets, as its demand as a food as well as a medicine for minor ailments is increasing in the country. However, there is a lack of appropriate information regarding these samples in terms of quality variation and standardization. We thus aimed to evaluate the quality and standardize the BP sample with respect to its physicochemical characters, active principle variation [i.e. piperine (PPN)], toxicity, and biological activity. The main focus is to validate whether any difference exists in the quality and quantity of active principle in these samples. For this purpose, physicochemical (chemical tests and ash values) and instrumental analyses [accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-diode array detector, infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and inductively coupled plasma-MS (ICP-MS)] and biological evaluation {in vitro antioxidant activity [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] and cytotoxicity assay} were performed. An extract yield (g) with %recovery of 2.26 ± 4.24 (11.3) was obtained for the Vietnamese sample, using a fast and rapid method of extraction (ASE). These values were 1.22 ± 2.64 (6.1) and 0.75 ± 1.69 (3.75) for the Pakistani and Indian samples. Physicochemical tests revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in all samples; however, in the Vietnamese sample a low amount of total, acid-insoluble, and high water-soluble ash value was noted. IR and NMR was applied to further standardize the samples. Results of ICP-MS analysis showed a high amount of macronutrients and micronutrients in the samples tested while UHPLC analysis revealed a high amount of PPN (ng/mL) in the Pakistani sample (1,362,614.09); these values were 1,051,848.04 and 768,512.81 for the Vietnamese and Indian samples, respectively. In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities revealed higher potential for the Vietnamese sample. The samples were properly standardized and effectively differentiated in terms of quality and biological activities using a fast and reliable method, however it certainly does not mean that a particular geographical region is more better or productive in terms of herbal products.     

Variation in isotopic composition of precipitation with identification of vapor source using deuterium excess as tool

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The stable isotopic contents of precipitation and deuterium excess (d-excess) data justified the hypothesis that two distinct vapor sources are...     

化学合成的钯改性的NiFe2O4纳米颗粒的结构和磁性

采用溶胶-凝胶自动燃烧方法合成了镍铁-钯复合材料NiFe₂O₄-Pd的磁性纳米颗粒. 样品在800 ℃烧结6 h生成结晶相. X射线衍射证实样品呈尖晶石结构. 利用场发射扫描电子显微镜研究结构形态和纳米颗粒的大小. 饱和磁化强度在100和300 K时,随着钯含量增加达5%降低,但加入10%Pd时磁化强度突然上升.     

Effect of pH on phenolphthalein immobilized gold nanoparticles/nanostructures for pH sensing evaluations: sol–gel method

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Sol–gel-based phenolphthalein immobilized AuNPs (phph-AuNPs) of different shapes such as spherical, dendrites, and flower are observed by varying...     

Charge transfer complexes of picolines with sigma- and pi-acceptors

In the present study CT complexes of 2-, 3- and 4-Picolines with (DDQ) 2, 3-dichloro-5, 6-dicyano parabenzoquinone (pi-acceptor) and (I(2)) Iodine (sigma-acceptor) have been investigated spectrophotometrically in three different solvents (CCl(4), CHCl(3) and CH(2)Cl(2)) at six different temperatures. The formation constants of the CT complexes were determined by the Benesi-Hildebrand equation. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated by Van(')t Hoff equation. The DeltaH degrees , DeltaG degrees and DeltaS degrees values are all negative implying that the formation of studied complexes is exothermic in nature.     

Radio-frequency single-electron refrigerator

We propose a cyclic refrigeration principle based on mesoscopic electron transport. Synchronous sequential tunneling of electrons in a Coulomb-blockaded device, a normal metal-superconductor single-electron box, results in a cooling power of approximately k(B)T x f at temperature T over a wide range of cycle frequencies f. Electrostatic work, done by the gate voltage source, removes heat from the Coulomb island with an efficiency of approximately k(B)T/Delta, where Delta is the superconducting gap parameter. The performance is not affected significantly by nonidealities, for instance by offset charges. We propose ways of characterizing the system and of its practical implementation.     

Systematic evaluation of new chiral stationary phases for supercritical fluid chromatography using a standard racemate library

A systematic approach to the evaluation of new chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using a standard library of racemic analytes is described. A standard library of racemic analytes representing a variety of functional group classes was assembled from a mixture of proprietary and commercial compounds. The library is dispensed and stored in a convenient 96-well microplate format to facilitate ease of use, and to minimize the amount of analyte required for analysis. Automated SFC screening was performed on both established CSPs in common use, as well as a group of six recently commercialized CSPs. Screening results were archived in a structure-searchable database that allows convenient comparison of performance data to determine which CSPs shows the best performance.