Investigation of phenolic acids in yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) leaves and tubers

Thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) screening of crude extracts of dried leaves and tubers of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius, Asteraceae) and products of acid hydrolysis of tubers on the silica gel HPTLC plates using the developing solvents ethyl acetate-formic acid-water (85:10:15, v/v/v) and n-hexane-ethyl acetate-formic acid (20:19:1, v/v/v) proved the presence of chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acid. These phenolic acids were isolated from the crude extract of yacon leaves by preparative TLC, and identified after elution by HPLC/MS, as well as by direct injection of the crude extract into the HPLC/MS system. Acid hydrolysis of tubers released the increased amount of phenolic acids (e.g. caffeic acid and ferulic acid), flavonoid quercetin and an unidentified flavonoid, which was detected by TLC analysis. Ferulic acid, isomers of dicaffeoylquinic acid and still an unidentified derivative of chlorogenic acid (Mr = 562) as constituents of yacon leaves and ferulic acid as constituent of yacon tubers are reported here for the first time. These acids gave significant contribution to the radical scavenging activity detected directly on the TLC plate sprayed with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides in flaxseed by alkaline extraction

A HPLC method was developed for the analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides in milled defatted flaxseed flour. Direct extraction by 1 M NaOH for 1 h at 20 degrees C resulted in a higher yield than that obtained by hydrolysis of alcoholic extracts. An internal standard, o-coumaric acid, was used and the method was found to be easy, fast, and with good repeatability. On dry matter basis, different samples of flaxseeds varied considerably in their content of (+)-SDG (11.9-25.9 mg/g), (-)-SDG (2.2-5.0 mg/g), p-coumaric acid glucoside (1.2-8.5 mg/g), and ferulic acid glucoside (1.6-5.0 mg/g).     

维多利亚蓝B瑞利光散射技术测定阿魏酸

基于阿魏酸与维多利亚蓝B在中性介质中形成离子缔合物,导致瑞利光散射增强,建立了一种测定阿魏酸的分析方法。研究了离子缔合物反应的适宜条件,结果表明:在优化的条件下,阿魏酸浓度在5.60×10-7~1.34×10-5mol/L范围内与瑞利散射光的增强呈良好的线性关系,方法的检出限为3.26×10-7mol/L。已用于实际样品中阿魏酸的测定。     

毛细管电泳电化学检测法测定胡黄连中香草酸和阿魏酸的含量

采用毛细管电泳电化学检测法测定了胡黄连中香草酸和阿魏酸的含量 ;研究了电极电位、运行缓冲液的浓度和酸度、电泳电压及进样时间等对电泳的影响 ,得到了最优化的测定条件 ;以直径为300μm的碳圆盘电极为检测电极 ,工作电极电位为0.8V(vs.SCE) ,在50mmol/L硼砂(pH8.4)运行缓冲液中 ,上述两组分在8min内完全分离 ;香草酸和阿魏酸线性范围分别为5×10-4～1×10-6 mol/L和1×10-3～1×10-6 mol/L ,检出限分别为4.2×10 -7和3.0×10 -7mol/L ;7次平行进样的相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.2 %和2.8 % ,回收率(n=3)分别为99%和103 % ,该法灵敏可靠 ,结果令人满意。     

Solubility of high-value compounds in environmentally friendly solvents–liquid poly(ethylene glycol) and ionic liquids: Experimental study and thermodynamic analysis

In this work the (solid + liquid) equilibria (SLE) of the solution of sustainable solvents with five high-value compounds, thymol, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid and caffeine, was investigated. The sustainable solvents studied were liquid poly(ethylene glycol) of average molecular mass 200 and 400 – (PEG200 and PEG400), respectively as well as imidazolium ionic liquids with bistriflamide and triflate anions ([C₄mim][NTf₂] and [C₄mim][OTf]). The obtained SLE data were correlated using the semi-empirical equation proposed by Grant. The activity coefficients of the studied solutes were calculated. Based on these correlations and calculations as well as on the thermo-physical properties of the pure constituents, the SLE behavior of the studied solutions was analyzed and discussed.     

Heterologous Expression of Two Ferulic Acid Esterases from Penicillium funiculosum

Two recombinant ferulic acid esterases from Penicillium funiculosum produced in Aspergillus awamori were evaluated for their ability to improve the digestibility of pretreated corn stover. The genes, faeA and faeB, were cloned from P. funiculosum and expressed in A. awamori using their native signal sequences. Both enzymes contain a catalytic domain connected to a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module by a threonine-rich linker peptide. Interestingly, the carbohydrate binding-module is N-terminal in FaeA and C-terminal in FaeB. The enzymes were purified to homogeneity using column chromatography, and their thermal stability was characterized by differential scanning microcalorimetry. We evaluated both enzymes for their potential to enhance the cellulolytic activity of purified Trichoderma reesei Cel7A on pretreated corn stover.     

Niosomes from alpha,omega-trioxyethylene-bis(sodium 2-dodecyloxy-propylenesulfonate): preparation and characterization

The synthesis and characterisation of new surfactants with peculiar physical-chemical properties are amongst the most promising and expanding issues in pharmacological colloid science. The most used vesicular carriers are liposomes prepared from a wide variety of natural and synthetic phospholipids, but several ionic and non-ionic amphiphiles have been used to form multilamellar and/or unilamellar vesicles. In the present study the synthesis of alpha,omega-trioxyethylene-bis(sodium 2-dodecyloxy-propylenesulfonate), an anionic Gemini surfactant, and its ability to form niosomes are elucidated. The compound forms vesicles with and without added cholesterol. The vesicular systems were characterized by size, shape and drug entrapment efficiency. The compounds to be incorporated are beta-carotene and ferulic acid, as antioxidants, acetyl salicylic acid, as FANS, and the antineoplastic 5-flurouracil, widely used in dermatological disorders. The results of this study show that alpha,omega-trioxyethylene-bis(sodium 2-dodecyloxy-propylenesulfonate) can be used for the preparation of niosomes entrapping lypophilic, amphiphilic or hydrophilic substances. These niosomes may be promising candidates as percutaneous carriers for the aforementioned drugs.     

HPLC法同时测定血必净中多指标成分的含量

建立波长切换技术同时测定血必净中芍药苷、羟基红花黄色素A、阿魏酸含量的高效液相分析方法.采用Agilent Zorbax SB-C18柱（4.6mm×250mm,5μm）,以甲醇-0.7％磷酸水溶液为流动相,流速1.0mL·min-1,波长230nm（0-25min）、321nm （25-35min）,柱温30℃.所检测的3种成分线性关系良好,精密度、重复性、稳定性的RSD都低于2％.平均回收率分别为102.6％、100.6％、98.10％.该方法简便、准确、重现性好.     

Preparative isolation and purification of senkyunolide-I, senkyunolide-H and ferulic acid from Rhizoma Chuanxiong using counter-current chromatography

Three active compounds, senkyunolide-I, senkyunolide-H and ferulic acid (FA), were successfully isolated and purified from the extracts of Rhizoma Chuanxiong by counter-current chromatography (CCC). Based on the principle of the partition coefficient values (k) for target compounds and the separation factor (α) between target compounds, the two-phase solvent system that contains n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water at an optimized volume ratio of 3:7:4:6 v/v was selected for the CCC separation, and the lower phase was employed as the mobile phase in the head-to-tail elution mode. In a single run, 400 mg of the crude extract yielded pure senkyunolide-I (6.4 mg), senkyunolide-H (1.7 mg) and FA (4.4 mg) with the purities of 98, 93 and 99%, respectively. The CCC fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the structures of the three active compounds were identified by MS and (1)H NMR.     

Ferulic acid loaded pickering emulsions stabilized by resistant starch nanoparticles using ultrasonication: Characterization,in vitro release and nutraceutical potential

The use of starch based nanoparticles have gained momentum in stabilizing pickering emulsions for it’s numerous advantages. In present study resistant starch (RS) was isolated from lotus stem using enzymatic digestion and subjected to nanoprecipitation and ultrasonication to yield resistant starch nanoparticles (RSN). RSN of varying concentrations (2%, 10% and 20%) were used to stabilize the flax seed-oil water mixture to form pickering emulsions. The emulsions were used to nanoencapsulate ferulic acid (FA) – a well known bioactive via ultrasonication. The emulsions were lyophilized to form FA loaded lyophilized pickering emulsion (FA-LPE). The FA-LPE (2%, 10 % and 20%) were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infra-spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). AFM showed FA-LPE as spherical droplets embedded in the matrix with maximum peak height of 8.47 nm and maximum pit height of 1.69 nm. SEM presented FA-LPE as an irregular and continuous surface having multiple folds and holes. The ATR-FTIR spectra of all the samples displayed peaks of C = C aromatic rings of FA at 1600 cm⁻¹ and 1439 cm⁻¹, signifying successful encapsulation. In vitro release assay displayed more controlled release of FA from FA-LPE (20%). Bioactivity of FA-LPE was evaluated in terms of anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and prevention against oxidative damage under simulated gastro-intestinal conditions (SGID). The bioactivity of FA-LPE (20%) was significantly higher than FA-LPE (2%) and FA-LPE (10%). Key findings reveal that pickering emulsions can prevent FA under harsh SGID conditions and provide an approach to facilitate the design of pickering emulsions with high stability for nutraceutical delivery in food and supplement products.