Extraction of methyl xanthines and their UHPLC–DAD determination in consumable beverages used in Eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Coffee and tea are the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. However, the consumer may be unaware of the exact amount of methyl xanthine (MX, i.e. caffeine [C], theobromine [TB] and theophylline [TH]) consumed, as most of the products do not list the proper amounts. This may lead to serious risks including cardiovascular, kidney and stimulant effects. The aim of the study was to determine the MX amount in ready-to-use beverages (coffee and tea) collected from various outlets in the city of Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Forty different samples of espresso, black coffee and red tea were collected. A fast, reliable and efficient UHPLC–DAD method was developed and validated for MX determination. Total lipids were extracted and fractionated in order to determine glycolipids, phospholipids and neutral lipids. The r² value for the method was 0.980–0.988 in a linearity range of 0.5–200 ppm. The range for MX (C [0.02–2.39 mg/ml], TB [0.00–0.10 mg/ml] and TH [0.00–0.004 mg/ml]) and total lipids was 1–5 g. The amount of glycolipids (3.1 g) was higher among the lipid fractions followed by phospholipids (1.8 g) and neutral lipids (0.25 g). In general, espresso beverages (20–30 ml) contained high amounts of MX whereas black coffee beverages contained high amount of lipids. Most of the beverages expressed C, TB, TH, lipids or their fractions; however, the product with high amounts of MX and lipids at the same time was espresso (brands Chemistry and Wogard). Although the MX and lipid levels in these beverages well below the allowed limits, care must still be taken, especially when using the beverages with high serving volumes (200–250 ml) or coffee prepared via the filter method i.e. black coffee, using a high temperature for a longer time.     

Influence of thermal and thermo-mechanical treatment

Two lipids with similar melting ranges but of different composition were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The lipids were processed via extrusion or were tempered at different temperatures; they were analyzed directly after extrusion and after storage at 40°C. Precirol ATO 5® showed high sensitivity to storage time and varied temperature exposure. Extrusion showed only marginal influences on the solid state. Melting peaks were narrower and shifted to higher temperatures in comparison to the untreated powder. Dynasan 114® was more robust, changes in the solid state could only be shown for samples treated above the melting range. Thus, Dynasan 114® is more appropriate for solid lipid extrusion of pharmaceutical products.     

Thermal analysis of anhydrous and hydrated Cholesterol

Cholesterol constitutes the major component of most gallstones. It was identified and determined, in gallstones, issued from eleven patients, by thermal analysis: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), with the use of the melting temperature and enthalpy, thermogravimetry (TG), with the mass loss of water. Anhydrous cholesterol (ChA) was characterized by two endothermic peaks (polymorphic, melting) and cholesterol monohydrate (ChH) by two endothermic peaks (dehydration, melting), too. Cha needle and Chh plate crystals were observed under polarizing light microscopy. The numerous stones obtained from nine patients were cholesterol stones: the ChA was higher 45 and lower 96%. ChH was present in stones of three patients. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

磁共振方法研究12-钨磷酸水合物中水分子的运动状态

本文使用以Cu(Ⅱ)为顺磁探针的ESR以及宽谱线~1H-NMR等磁共振方法,研究了12-钨磷酸水合物中水分子的运动状态,结果表明水合水的活动性不仅取决于温度,而且还与12-钨磷酸水合物中的含水量有关。     

Neutral lipids from seeds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cercis siliquastrum,Sapium sebiferum</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Koelreuteria paniculata</Emphasis>

The chemical composition of neutral lipids from seeds of Cercis siliquastrum, Sapium sebiferum, and Koelreuteria paniculata were studied. Characteristic features of their individual classes were established. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 318–319, July–August, 2007     

Importance of the isopropylidene terminal of geranylgeranyl group for the formation of tetraether lipid in methanogenic archaea

Labeling experiments using several deuterated lipids were pursued to study the biosynthesis of macrocyclic isoprenoidal lipids of thermophilic methanogenic archaea, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. The isopropylidene terminal of geranylgeranyl group of monomeric precursor appeared to be important for the CC bond formation at the hydrophobic end in the macrocyclic lipids. A mechanism involving a radical trigger at the allylic methyl group is proposed for this CC bond formation.     

Formation and Structure of [Al_(13)(μ_3-OH)_6(μ_2-OH)_6(μ_2-OH)_(12)(H_2O)_(24)]Cl_(15)·13H_2O

1 INTRODUCTION At present, the polyaluminium compounds are mainly studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method to obtain the components, structures and exis- tence forms of aluminium in hydrolysis system, and then hydrolysis courses and mechanisms of each hydrolytic polyaluminium cation could be further dis- closed[1～5]. Generally, the single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction are obtained from the crystallization of polyaluminium cations into sulfates or selenates. Following …     

The cell-penetrating peptide TAT(48-60) induces a non-lamellar phase in DMPC membranes.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short polycationic sequences that can translocate into cells without disintegrating the plasma membrane. CPPs are useful tools for delivering cargo, but their molecular mechanism of crossing the lipid bilayer remains unclear. Here we study the interaction of the HIV-derived CPP TAT (48-60) with model membranes by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The peptide induces a pronounced isotropic (31)P NMR signal in zwitterionic DMPC, but not in anionic DMPG bilayers. Octaarginine and to a lesser extent octalysine have the same effect, in contrast to other cationic amphiphilic membrane-active peptides. The observed non-lamellar lipid morphology is attributed to specific interactions of polycationic peptides with phosphocholine head groups, rather than to electrostatic interactions. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy indicates that TAT(48-60) induces the formation of rodlike, presumably inverted micelles in DMPC, which may represent intermediates during the translocation across eukaryotic membranes.     

Synthesis of positively charged lipids containing a 1,3-oxathiolane cycle

Positively charged lipids of the 1,3-oxathiolane series were synthesized by interaction of 2-pentadecyl-5-tosyloxymethyl- or -5-iodomethyl-1,3-oxathiolane with 2-(N,N-dimcthyl-amino)ethanol.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2347–2349, September, 1996.     

Thermal analysis and microscopical characterization of cholesterol in gallstones

Summary Cholesterol constitutes the major component of most gallstones. It was identified and determined in gallstones by thermal analysis technique (DSC and TG-DTA), mainly by the use of the melting temperature (T_onset=145°C and T_max=149°C) and by DTG peak decomposition (T_max=364°C). Cholesterol anhydrous (ChA), which showed endothermic polymorphic peak, T_max=40°C, without mass loss, was differentiated from cholesterol monohydrate (ChH), which showed a broad endothermic peak, T_max=59°C, attributed to loss of water of crystallization (theoretical 4.45%). Morphological studies of gallstones were performed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The stones consisted of a pigmented core with a variably-sized irregular central cavity, surrounded by a radially arranged deposits of plate-like ChH. The outer part of the stones showed ChA crystal arborescences. X-ray microanalysis gave a typical spectrum rich in C and O, and in some instances the presence of P, which was attributed to the presence of phospholipids. CaCO₃ was easily characterized by TG with the use of DTG decomposition peak at 674°C.