Standardization of Crude Extract of Neem Seed Kernels (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and Commercial Neem Based Formulations Using HPTLC and Extended Length Packed-Columns SFC Method

Two chromatographic techniques are described for the separation and quantitative determination of azadirachtin A and B, salannin, and nimbin present in the crude extract of neem seed kernels and commercial neem based formulations. The high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) separation of markers was carried out on Merck TLC aluminium sheets of silica gel 60 F254 using ethylacetate-benzene (7.0: 3.0, v/v) as mobile phase. The other technique was based on extended length packed column supercritical fluid chromatographic (PC-SFC) separation of the markers using Cyano column (250 mm × 4.6 mm I.D, S-5.0 μ) and Kromasil 100 NH₂ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm I.D, 5.0 μ) connected in series. The detection was carried out using photodiode array detector at 338 K using methanol-modified carbon dioxide (10%) as the mobile phase at flow rate of 2.0 mL min⁻¹. The current study assesses the effect of extending column length during PC-SFC experiment to obtain maximum resolution between a number of unknown components and known markers present in neem seed extracts. Both the chromatographic methods were validated in terms of precision, robustness, recovery, limits of detection and quantitation. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test were applied to correlate the results of quantitative determination of markers by means of HPTLC and PC-SFC method.     

Microstructural control of b-silicon nitride ceramics to improve thermal conductivity

An advanced silicon nitride material with high isotropic thermal conductivity (149 W m^-1 K^-1) has been developed. This high thermal conductivity was achieved with a process that combines high-quality seed crystals with a suitable additive system to promote grain growth. In this process, the addition of β-Si₃N₄ seed crystals was found to be effective in improving thermal conductivity due to their low defect and impurity concentrations. The seed crystals seem to work as nuclei for controlling grain growth during the sintering process. Controlling the growth of elongated grains so that they do not interact with each other seems important for suppressing the generation of new defects inside the grains. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Physicochemical Properties,Fatty Acid Composition,Volatile Compounds of Blueberries,Cranberries, Raspberries,and Cuckooflower Seeds Obtained Using Sonication Method

Every year, thousands of tons of fruit seeds are discarded as agro-industrial by-products around the world. Fruit seeds are an excellent source of oils, monounsaturated fatty acids, and n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. This study aimed to develop a novel technology for extracting active substances from selected seeds that were obtained after pressing fruit juices. The proposed technology involved sonification with the use of ethyl alcohol at a low extraction temperature. Seeds of four species—blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), and cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)—were used for extraction. Following alcohol evaporation under nitrogen, the antioxidant activity, chemical composition, and volatile compounds of the obtained extracts were analyzed using chromatographic methods, including gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS) (GC–MS/MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography–MS. We analyzed physicochemical properties, fatty acid, and volatile compounds composition, sterol and tocochromanol content of blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, and cuckooflower seed oils obtained by sonication. This method is safe and effective, and allows for obtaining valuable oils from the seeds.     

Bioactive Pectin-Murta (Ugni molinae T.) Seed Extract Films Reinforced with Chitin Fibers

This study investigated the biocomposite pectin films enriched with murta (Ugni molinae T.) seed polyphenolic extract and reinforced by chitin nanofiber. The structural, morphological, mechanical, barrier, colorimetric, and antioxidant activity of films were evaluated. The obtained data clearly demonstrated that the addition of murta seed extract and the high load of chitin nanofibers (50%) provided more cohesive and dense morphology of films and improved the mechanical resistance and water vapor barrier in comparison to the control pectin film. The antioxidant activity ranged between 71% and 86%, depending on the film formulation and concentration of chitin nanofibers. The presented results highlight the potential use of chitin nanofibers and murta seed extract in the pectin matrix to be applied in functional food coatings and packaging, as a sustainable solution.     

Computational Screening for the Anticancer Potential of Seed-Derived Antioxidant Peptides: A Cheminformatic Approach

Some seed-derived antioxidant peptides are known to regulate cellular modulators of ROS production, including those proposed to be promising targets of anticancer therapy. Nevertheless, research in this direction is relatively slow owing to the inevitable time-consuming nature of wet-lab experimentations. To help expedite such explorations, we performed structure-based virtual screening on seed-derived antioxidant peptides in the literature for anticancer potential. The ability of the peptides to interact with myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxidase, Keap1, and p47^phox was examined. We generated a virtual library of 677 peptides based on a database and literature search. Screening for anticancer potential, non-toxicity, non-allergenicity, non-hemolyticity narrowed down the collection to five candidates. Molecular docking found LYSPH as the most promising in targeting myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxidase, and Keap1, whereas PSYLNTPLL was the best candidate to bind stably to key residues in p47^phox. Stability of the four peptide-target complexes was supported by molecular dynamics simulation. LYSPH and PSYLNTPLL were predicted to have cell- and blood-brain barrier penetrating potential, although intolerant to gastrointestinal digestion. Computational alanine scanning found tyrosine residues in both peptides as crucial to stable binding to the targets. Overall, LYSPH and PSYLNTPLL are two potential anticancer peptides that deserve deeper exploration in future.     

Bioactive Molecules of Mandarin Seed Oils Diminish Mycotoxin and the Existence of Fungi

Mandarin is a favorite fruit of the citrus family. Mandarin seeds are considered a source of nontraditional oil obtained from byproduct materials. This investigation aimed to assess the biomolecules of mandarin seeds and evaluated their antimycotic and antimycotoxigenic impact on fungi. Moreover, it evaluated the protective role of mandarin oil against aflatoxin toxicity in cell lines. The two types of extracted oil (fixed and volatile) were ecofriendly. The fatty acid composition, tocopherol, sterols, and carotenoids were determined in the fixed oil, whereas volatiles and phenolics were estimated in the essential oil. A mixture of the two oils was prepared and evaluated for its antimicrobial impact. The reduction effect of this mixture was also investigated to reduce mycotoxin secretion using a simulated experiment. The protective effect of the oil was evaluated using healthy strains of cell lines. Fixed oil was distinguished by the omega fatty acid content (76.24%), lutein was the major carotenoid (504.3 mg/100 g) and it had a high β-sitosterol content (294.6 mg/100 g). Essential oil contained limonene (66.05%), α-pinene (6.82%), β-pinene (4.32%), and γ-terpinene (12.31%) in significant amounts, while gallic acid and catechol were recorded as the dominant phenolics. Evaluation of the oil mix for antimicrobial potency reflected a considerable impact against pathogenic bacteria and toxigenic fungi. By its application to the fungal media, this oil mix possessed a capacity for reducing mycotoxin secretion. The oil mix was also shown to have a low cytotoxic effect against healthy strains of cell lines and had potency in reducing the mortality impact of aflatoxin B₁ applied to cell lines. These results recommend further study to involve this oil in food safety applications.     

水/有机溶剂双相中郁李醇腈酶催化含硅(R)-酮氰醇对映选择性合成

 研究了水/有机溶剂双相中来源于郁李仁的(R)-醇腈酶催化2-三甲基硅-2-乙酮与2-甲基-2-羟基丙腈对映选择性合成(R)-2-三甲基硅-2-羟基丙腈,初步探讨了反应时间、酶粉颗粒大小、底物浓度、底物配比和酶添加量对转氰反应的影响. 结果表明,适宜的反应条件为: 反应时间96 h左右, 酶粉颗粒大小0.3～0.45 mm, 底物2-三甲基硅-2-乙酮浓度14 mmol/L, 底物2-甲基-2-羟基丙腈与2-三甲基硅-2-乙酮摩尔比2:1, 单位体积反应介质中的酶添加量43.5 g/L左右. 在该优化反应条件下,反应平衡转化率和产物的光学纯度(ee值)均可高达99%. 对比研究发现,郁李醇腈酶催化2-三甲基硅-2-乙酮反应在酶促反应初速率、底物转化率和产物光学纯度等方面均显著优于其碳结构类似物3,3-二甲基-2-丁酮.     

SB粉水热分解铝酸钠溶液制取大孔容高比表面拟薄水铝石

 以德国Condea公司用有机醇铝法生产的拟薄水铝石SB粉为晶种,采用水热分解铝酸钠溶液结合乙醇分散洗涤种分产物的方法制得了大孔容高比表面拟薄水铝石. 研究了铝酸钠溶液组成(Al2O3浓度和苛化系数)以及晶种循环使用次数等条件对溶液分解率、 Na2O析出率和种分产物孔体积、孔径分布、比表面积以及钠含量等物化性质的影响. 研究表明, 在晶种比为1.0, 温度为125 ℃的条件下用SB粉分解铝酸钠溶液(Al2O3含量为100～140 g/L, 苛化系数为1.30～1.45), 3 h后溶液分解率可达30%左右,而SB粉连续循环使用3次所得产物的孔容和比表面积分别达到0.84 cm3/g和213.6 m2/g, Na2O含量在0.3%以下,部分性质甚至超过了SB粉的技术指标. 该方法为从廉价的铝酸钠溶液制备高附加值的拟薄水铝石提供了一条新的可供选择的路径.     

Analysis of naturally occurring α-acetotriacylglycerides by gas chromatography — chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The seed oils of three Maytenus species have been examined by high temperature GLC using SOP-50 (methoxy-terminated) and OV-225-OH (OH-terminated) glasscapillary columns. The main compounds (71–76%) could be identified as α-mono-acetotriacylglycerols by a combination of high temperature GLC-MS in negative chemical ionization mode with a CH₄/N₂O mixture as reactant gas and other spectroscopical methods (infrared, ¹H- and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). The OV-225-OH phase demonstrated better separation properties that the SOP-50 phase for this substance class and up to eight species of α-monoacetotriacylglycerols could be separated. The content of usual triacyclglycerols was below 1%. The results of the analysis of the individual fatty acids as their methyl esters by GC and GC-MS are also presented.     

大麦籽粒蛋白质和赖氨酸含量的双列分析

在1981—1984年间对大麦8×8双列杂交就蛋白质(％),赖氨酸(％)等籽粒品质性状作了遗传分析.结果表明,蛋白质(％)和赖氨酸(％)为加性一显性遗传性状.其中赖氨酸(％)以加性遗传为主;而蛋白质(％)存在较大的显性效应.这两个性状的F值都为正值;H_2/4H_1都显著小于0.25.平均而言,控制这两个性状的基因座位以显性等位基因为主.W_r/V_r回归分析揭示这些显性基因存在减效的趋势.这两个性状与单株粒重以及千粒重为负相关.