Development and Characterization of Novel Biopolymer Derived from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Extract and Its Antidiabetic Potential

Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) is an important vegetable crop, widely cultivated around the world due to its high nutritional significance along with several health benefits. Different parts of okra including its mucilage have been currently studied for its role in various therapeutic applications. Therefore, we aimed to develop and characterize the okra mucilage biopolymer (OMB) for its physicochemical properties as well as to evaluate its in vitro antidiabetic activity. The characterization of OMB using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that okra mucilage containing polysaccharides lies in the bandwidth of 3279 and 1030 cm⁻¹, which constitutes the fingerprint region of the spectrum. In addition, physicochemical parameters such as percentage yield, percentage solubility, and swelling index were found to be 2.66%, 96.9%, and 5, respectively. A mineral analysis of newly developed biopolymers showed a substantial amount of calcium (412 mg/100 g), potassium (418 mg/100 g), phosphorus (60 mg/100 g), iron (47 mg/100 g), zinc (16 mg/100 g), and sodium (9 mg/100 g). The significant antidiabetic potential of OMB was demonstrated using α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory assay. Further investigations are required to explore the newly developed biopolymer for its toxicity, efficacy, and its possible utilization in food, nutraceutical, as well as pharmaceutical industries.     

Encapsulation and characterization of flurbiprofen loaded poly(є-caprolactone)–poly(vinylpyrrolidone) blend micropheres by solvent evaporation method

Flurbiprofen loaded PCL/PVP blend microspheres were prepared by o/w solvent evaporation method using various concentrations of gelatin as emulsifying agent. Microsphere recovery decreased with a decrease in the concentration of the emulsifier in the dispersion. Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of microspheres increased with decrease in concentration of emulsifying agent. Hydration rate, encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of microspheres increased with increase in concentration of PVP. Rheological properties showed free flowing nature of microspheres. SEM (Scanning electron microscope) revealed microspheres were discrete, spherical and became porous with decrease in concentration of emulsifying agent but smooth with higher concentration of emulsifying agent. FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) spectra of pure and encapsulated flurbiprofen in all formulation showed no significant difference in characteristic peaks, suggesting stability of flurbiprofen during encapsulation process. X-RD (X-ray powder diffractometry) of pure flurbiprofen shows sharp peaks, which decreases on encapsulation, indicating dispersion at molecular level and hence decrease in the crystallinity of drug in microspheres. Microspheres showed an enteric nature at pH 1.2 and a sustained release pattern at pH 6.8. Rapid drug release was observed in microspheres with higher concentration of PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), PVP acts as channeling agent. Formulation with low concentration of emulsifying agent also showed a fast release due to porous structure. Drug release kinetics followed zero order at pH 1.2 while at pH 6.8 Higuchi model was best fitted and was found non fickian.     

Kinetics of the thermal isomerization of cis-methylcyclopropane carboxylic acid

The gas-phase thermal decomposition of cis-2-methylcyclopropane carboxylic acid was investigated in the temperature range 692–753 K and pressure between 10 and 70 Torr. Arrhenius parameters were determined for homogeneous, unimolecular formation of the isomeric products and for the overall loss-rate of the reactant. The determined values are in accordance with the Arrhenius parameters that were reported previously for the thermal unimolecular reactions of cyclopropane and other substituted cyclopropanes. The formation of isomeric products and the observed Arrhenius parameters are consistent with a biradical mechanism. The effect of surface on the reaction was studied at 732 K using the packed reaction vessel. It was observed that the rate of production of all isomeric products and the total loss of cis-2-methylcyclopropane carboxylic acid were not affected by increasing surface to volume ratio.     

Truncations of multilinear Hankel operators

We extend to multilinear Hankel operators the fact that some truncations of bounded Hankel operators are still bounded. We prove and use a continuity property of bilinear Hilbert transforms on products of Lipschitz spaces and Hardy spaces.

     

An In Vitro Study of the Interaction of Copper(II) Salicylates with Genomic DNA Using Gel Electrophoresis and Gel Permeation Chromatography

This papers describes the in vitro interaction of copper(II) acetylsalicylate and copper(II) salicylate with genomic DNA isolated from human blood. The two drug substances were found to bind to DNA after incubation with whole blood over night. Bonding was confirmed by detection of separated DNA electrophoresis bands for copper, copper(II) acetylsalicylate, copper(II) salicylate, acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid. Drug–DNA interactions were observed during electrophoresis in the form of fragmentation by formation of two bands when compared to controls. Gel permeation chromatography parameters also confirmed the occurrence of fragmentation. The use of gel permeation chromatography parameters as a measure of fragmentation of DNA is discussed. The fragmentation of genomic DNA after incubation with copper(II) acetylsalicylate and copper(II) salicylate suggested that these drug substances might be responsible for cytotoxicity in vivo.

     

Synthesis and properties of amino acid esters of hydroxypropyl cellulose

The amino acid esters of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) [R′ = H ( 2a ), CH₃ ( 2b ), CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ ( 2c ), CH₂CONH₂ ( 2d ), CH₂CH₂CONH₂ ( 2e ), CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂ NHOCOC(CH₃)₃ ( 2f )] were synthesized in good yield by the reaction of t‐butoxycarbonyl (t‐Boc)‐protected amino acids with hydroxy groups of HPC ( 1 ; molar substitution (MS), 4.61). The amino acid functionalities displaying varied chemical nature, shape, and bulk were utilized and the bulk of the substituent on the α‐carbon of amino acids was elucidated to be of vital significance for the observed degree of incorporation (DS_Est). The ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analysis were employed to determine the degree of incorporation of amino acid moiety (DS_Est) and almost complete substitution of the hydroxy protons was revealed for 2a , 2b , and 2f . The presence of the peaks characteristic of the carbonyl group in the FTIR spectra furnished further evidence for the successful esterification of HPC. The starting as well as the resulting polymers ( 1 and 2a – f ) were soluble in polar organic solvents; however, the esterification of 1 with bulky organic moieties resulted in an increased hydrophobicity as all of the amino acid‐functionalized polymers ( 2a – f ) were insoluble in water. The onset temperatures of weight loss of 2a – f were 175–230 °C, indicating fair thermal stability. The amino acid functionalization led to the enhanced polymer chain stiffness, and the glass transition temperatures of the derivatized polymers were 30–40 °C higher than that of 1 (T_g 3.9 °C; cf. T_g of 2a – f , 35.1–43.3 °C). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2326–2334, 2008     

RP‐HPLC determination of phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids in Rhodiola rosea and identification by LC‐ESI‐TOF

An HPLC method permitting the simultaneous determination of fourteen analytes (phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids) from the roots of Rhodiola rosea was developed. A separation was achieved within 35 min using C₁₈ column material and a water–acetonitrile mobile phase, both containing a 0.05% phosphoric acid gradient system and a temperature of 53°C. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, limits of detection and limits of quantification. The limits of detection and limits of quantification of 14 phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids were found to be 0.20–1.0 and 0.5–3.5 µg/mL, respectively. The wavelengths used for quantification of phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids with a diode array detector were 205, 220 and 251 nm. The method was used to analyze the roots of two species of Rhodiola and commercial extracts of R. rosea and provides preliminary evidence of phytochemical differences between North American and Eurasian populations of R. rosea. LC–mass spectrometry coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface method is described for the identification of phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids in various Rhodiola samples. This method involved the use of the [M + H]⁺, [M + NH₄]⁺ and [M + Na]⁺ ions in the positive ion mode with extractive ion monitoring (EIM). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.