Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant capacity of BM-21, a bioactive extract rich in polyphenolic metabolites from the sea Grass Thalassia testudinum

The aqueous ethanol extract of Thalassia testudinum leaves (BM-21) is now being developed in Cuba as an herbal medicine due to its promising pharmacological properties. Although some interesting biological activities of BM-21 have already been reported, its chemical composition remains mostly unknown. Thus, we now describe the qualitative and quantitative analyzes of BM-21 using standard phytochemical screening techniques, including colorimetric quantification, TLC and HPLC analyses. Phytochemical investigation of BM-21 resulted in the isolation and identification of a new phenolic sulfate ester (1), along with ten previously described phenolic derivatives (2-11), seven of which have never been previously reported from the genus Thalassia. The structures of these compounds were established by analysis of their spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) and spectrometric (HRMS) data, as well as by comparison of these with those reported in the literature. Furthermore, BM-21 was found to exhibit strong antioxidant activity in four different free radical scavenging assays (HO*, RO2*, O2-* and DPPH*). Consequently, this is the first study which highlights the phytochemical composition of BM-21 and demonstrates that this product is a rich source of natural antioxidants with potential applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.     

Interaction of (hydroxypropyl) cellulose with anionic surfactants in dilute regime

(Hydroxypropyl)cellulose (HPC) dilute aqueous solutions in the presence of sodium cholate (CS), sodium deoxycholate (DC), and sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) were investigated. The hydrophobicity parameter (I ₁/I ₃) from fluorescence has shown a critical aggregation concentration (CAC) lower than the critical micellar concentration (CMC). One or two breakpoints were observed in the curve conductivity vs surfactant concentration. The thermodynamic parameters of aggregation (, and ) and the degree of counterion dissociation were calculated. Evidences for the secondary aggregation of CS/water system were found. The relative viscosity increases for HPC/bile salt solutions only at high surfactant concentrations, whereas for HPC/SDS, it passes through a maximum. The cloud points of both HPC/bile salt solutions at higher surfactant concentrations reach a temperature plateau value around 324 K, while for HPC/SDS, it exceeds 373 K at low SDS concentrations. Dynamic light scattering has demonstrated that the surfactants bind to HPC already at concentrations lower than CAC.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Stable polymethacrylate nanocapsules from ultraviolet light-induced template radical polymerization of unilamellar liposomes

We employed UV-induced template polymerization to create hollow nanometer-sized polymer capsules. Homogeneous, unilamellar liposomes served as a two-dimensional template for the cross-linking of either butyl methacrylate or hydroxyethyl methacrylate with the bifunctional ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate. Different molar ratios of lipid/hydrophobic monomer/bifunctional monomer/photoinitiator were tested and dynamic light scattering revealed negligible changes of size at a defined molar ratio of 2/1/10/20, respectively. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy provided clear evidence that incorporation of the methacrylate monomers into and polymerization in the hydrophobic bilayer phase does not disrupt vesicle integrity. Moreover, after solubilization of the lipids, the polymethacrylate nanocapsules were stable at conditions needed for negative staining and could be visualized by atomic force microscopy. In contrast to previous findings, the nanocapsule size and shape did not change considerably after removal of the template phase, and the size distribution remained strictly monomodal. The employed method is not only an advance to fortify liposomes, but the nanocapsules themselves can be functionalized.     

Synthesis, reactivity and structural studies of selenide bridged carboranyl compounds

Reaction of the lithium salt Li[1-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10)] with selenium under mild conditions, followed by hydrolysis gave the diselenide compound (1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) in contrast to the well-reported mercapto compounds 1-SH-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) obtained using a similar synthetic procedure. Details for the preparation and X-ray structural characterisation of the new compounds (2-Me-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)Se, (1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (R = Me, Ph, ) are specified. To further explore the mechanism of the dimerization reaction, the complex [Au(1-Se-2-Me-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(PPh(3))] was synthesized, confirming the existence of the intermediate Li[1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10)] at the early stages of the reaction before selenium oxidation. Theoretical calculations and cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies were carried out to compare the bonding nature of the sulfur and the selenium analog compounds. It was determined that diselenides have a higher tendency to reduce with respect to the disulfides and all chalcogen atoms were found to be positively charged.     

Synthesis of boron-iodinated o-carborane derivatives. Water stability of the periodinated monoprotic salt

Boron periodination of o-carborane has been achieved by taking account of the fact that B atoms in the cluster are of two types, i.e., those adjacent to both C atoms and the remainder. The high number of nonequivalent leaving groups opens the possibility through B-C coupling to materials with novel possibilities and to self-assembling due to the enhanced polarizability of the C-H bond. Periodination has accentuated the acidity of the carborane, and monoprotic salts are stable in water.     

Epidemiological characterization of congenital heart disease in São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children born alive in S?o Miguel island from January 1992 to December 2001. METHODS: Based on the Azorean Registry of CHD, which includes complete clinical and personal information, 189 patients were diagnosed. RESULTS: During this 10-year period, the average prevalence of CHD is 9.16 per 1,000 live births (range 4.77-12.75). The most frequent cardiac malformations found were: ventricular septal defect (38.1%), atrial septal defect (12.2%) and patent ductus arteriosus (11.6%). Until now, four familial clusters were identified, representing a total of 13 patients. CONCLUSIONS: This first epidemiological study of CHD in the Azorean population reveals evidence for familial aggregation, which is of great interest for understanding the genes involved in these complex pathologies.     

LOPHTOR: a convenient flow-based photochemical reactor

A flow-through photochemical reactor which enables facile control of irradiation time, temperature, and wavelength with minimal manual intervention is described. A series of intramolecular [2+2] enone cycloadditions were performed in this reactor in excellent yield and significantly shorter reaction time than conventional batch processes.     

trans‐Chlorido(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) and its 1:1 cocrystal with chloridobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(I)

Two conformational polymorphs of trans‐chlorido(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II), [Ni(C₆H₅)Cl(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂], (1), viz. orange needle‐shaped crystals (form I) and brown prism‐shaped crystals (form II), were obtained under different crystallization conditions from a mixture of toluene and n‐hexane, and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction at low temperature. These two forms were compared with that published previously [Zeller, Herdtweck & Strassner (2003). Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. pp. 1802–1806], characterized at room temperature. Additionally, blue–green prisms of a 1:1 cocrystal of complex (1) with chloridobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(I), (2), viz.trans‐chlorido(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II)–chloridobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(I) (1/1), [Ni(C₆H₅)Cl(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·[NiCl(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂], (3), were obtained concomitantly with form I. In forms I and II, as well as in the cocrystal, the overall crystal packings are determined by an energetic interplay between intramolecular torsions and weak intermolecular C—H...π and C—H...Cl interactions.     

Seafood Paramyosins as Sources of Anti-Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme and Anti-Dipeptidyl-Peptidase Peptides after Gastrointestinal Digestion: A Cheminformatic Investigation

Paramyosins, muscle proteins occurring exclusively in invertebrates, are abundant in seafoods. The potential of seafood paramyosins (SP) as sources of anti-angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) and anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase (DPP-IV) peptides is underexplored. This in silico study investigated the release of anti-ACE and anti-DPP-IV peptides from SP after gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. We focused on SP of the common octopus, Humboldt squid, Japanese abalone, Japanese scallop, Mediterranean mussel, Pacific oyster, sea cucumber, and Whiteleg shrimp. SP protein sequences were digested on BIOPEP-UWM, followed by identification of known anti-ACE and anti-DPP-IV peptides liberated. Upon screening for high-GI-absorption, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity, shortlisted peptides were analyzed via molecular docking and dynamic to elucidate mechanisms of interactions with ACE and DPP-IV. Potential novel anti-ACE and anti-DPP-IV peptides were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction. Physicochemical and pharmacokinetics of peptides were predicted with SwissADME. GI digestion liberated 2853 fragments from SP. This comprised 26 known anti-ACE and 53 anti-DPP-IV peptides exhibiting high-GI-absorption, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity. SwissTargetPrediction predicted three putative anti-ACE (GIL, DL, AK) and one putative anti-DPP-IV (IAL) peptides. Molecular docking found most of the anti-ACE peptides may be non-competitive inhibitors, whereas all anti-DPP-IV peptides likely competitive inhibitors. Twenty-five nanoseconds molecular dynamics simulation suggests the stability of these screened peptides, including the three predicted anti-ACE and one predicted anti-DPP-IV peptides. Seven dipeptides resembling approved oral-bioavailable peptide drugs in physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties were revealed: AY, CF, EF, TF, TY, VF, and VY. In conclusion, our study presented in silico evidence for SP being a promising source of bioavailable and safe anti-ACE and anti-DPP-IV peptides following GI digestions.     

Achieving Digital Catalysis: Strategies for Data Acquisition,Storage and Use

Heterogeneous catalysis is an important area of research that generates data as intricate as the phenomenon itself. Complexity is inherently coupled to the function of the catalyst and advance in knowledge can only be achieved if this complexity is adequately captured and accounted for. This requires integration of experiment and theory, high data quality and quality control, close interdisciplinary collaboration, and sharing of data and metadata, which is facilitated by the application of joint data management strategies. This Viewpoint Article first discusses the potential of a digital transition in catalysis research. Then, a summary of the current status in terms of data infrastructure in heterogeneous catalysis is presented, defining the various types of (meta-) data, from catalyst synthesis to functional analysis. Finally, an already implemented working concept for local data acquisition and storage is introduced and the benefits and further development directions for catalysis data use and sharing are discussed.