scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Composition of Six Commercially Available Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Extracts: Potential Biological Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10601
Author(s):  
Maria Valeria Catani ◽  
Federica Rinaldi ◽  
Valentina Tullio ◽  
Valeria Gasperi ◽  
Isabella Savini
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
Cinnamic Acid Derivatives ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Antitumor Properties ◽  
Radical Generation ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Antioxidant Effects

Several phytochemical-containing herbal extracts are increasingly marketed as health-promoting products. In particular, chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is well known for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antitumor properties. Here, we evaluated differences in chemical composition among six commercially available products and their potential impact on biological activity in human immortalized colonocytes. Our investigation encompassed: (i) preparation of dry extracts and yield evaluation; (ii) qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenol content; (iii) modulation of redox state; and (iv) bioavailability of main bioactive compounds. We demonstrated that apparently identical products showed huge heterogeneity, in terms of yield extraction, chemical composition, and antioxidant effects. All samples contained high amounts of flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives, but differentially concentrated in the six extracts. Depending on polyphenol content, chamomile samples possessed variable antioxidant potential, in terms of decreased radical generation and increased reduced glutathione levels. The observed effects might be ascribed to flavones (apigenin, luteolin, and their glycones) highly represented in the six extracts. Nonetheless, chamomile extracts exerted cytotoxic effects at high concentrations, suggesting that a herbal medicine is not always safe. In conclusion, due to the complexity and variability of plant matrices, studies evaluating effectiveness of chamomile should always be accompanied by preliminary characterization of phytochemical composition.

Characterization of Treated Effluent from a Chemithermomechanical Pulping Process Using Macroporous Resins

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 795-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Agbekodo ◽  
P.M. Huck ◽  
S.A. Andrews ◽  
S. Peldszus
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Macroporous Resins ◽  
Treated Effluent ◽  
Chlorine Demand ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Chemithermomechanical Pulping

Abstract This study developed a characterization of the organic matter remaining in a chemithermomechanical pulping (CTMP) effluent after biological treatment and evaluated the potential impact of this effluent when discharged into the receiving environment. The methodology employed involved fractionation with macroporous resins to allow for the isolation of hydrophobic and hydro-philic organic materials. The study also examined the treated effluent’s reactivity with chlorine, a typical drinking water disinfectant, in order to assess the formation potential of chlorinated by-products and the chlorine demand in a downstream drinking water treatment plant. Results showed that the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in a treated effluent from a CTMP mill consisted of 87% hydrophobic material (primarily humic substances), 5% hydrophilic acids and 3 to 4% nitrogenous compounds. At least 95% of the DOC was isolated using three different macroporous resins. The chlorine demand of the biotreated CTMP effluent was two to three times higher than is typical for natural organic matter from surface water. This indicated that the organic material in the CTMP effluent was highly reactive with chlorine and will likely be reactive with other oxidants such as ozone, which is also applied in the drinking water industry. Moreover, the disinfection by-products chloroform and trichloroacetic acid were formed in high concentrations as a result of chlorination. The biotreated CTMP effluent had a high chemical oxygen demand (at least 1,100 mg/L) but a relatively low biochemical oxygen demand (less than 100 mg/L), which was to be expected after biological treatment. Hence, discharge of these effluents could release high concentrations of non- or slowly biodegradable organic matter into the downstream aquatic environment. Water pollution control policies should therefore consider the potential impact of treated effluents from CTMP mills with regard to their high DOC and the potential for chlorinated by-product formation upon drinking water disinfection.

scholarly journals Polyphenolic Compounds of Crataegus Berry, Leaf, and Flower Extracts Affect Viability and Invasive Potential of Human Glioblastoma Cells

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2656
Author(s):  
Natalia Żurek ◽  
Olena Karatsai ◽  
Maria Jolanta Rędowicz ◽  
Ireneusz Tomasz Kapusta
Keyword(s):  
Polyphenolic Compounds ◽  
Glioblastoma Cells ◽  
Invasive Potential ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
Human Glioblastoma ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Effective Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Berry Extracts

Crataegus contains numerous health-promoting compounds that are also proposed to have anti-cancer properties. Herein, we aimed at a contemporaneous evaluation of the effects of polyphenol-rich extracts of berries, leaves, and flowers of six Crataegus species on the viability and invasive potential on the highly aggressive human glioblastoma U87MG cell line. The treatment with the extracts evoked cytotoxic effects, with the strongest in the berry extracts. All extracts not only promoted the apoptosis-related cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) but also substantially inhibited the activity of pro-survival kinases, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and protein kinase B (PKB; also known as Akt), thus indicating the suppression of proliferative and invasive potentials of the examined glioblastoma cells. The qualitative and quantitative characterization of the extracts’ content was also performed and revealed that amongst 37 polyphenolic compounds identified in the examined Crataegus extracts, the majority (29) was detected in berries; the leaf and flower extracts, exerting milder cytotoxic effects, contained only 14 and 13 compounds, respectively. The highest polyphenol content was found in the berries of C. laevigata x rhipidophylla x monogyna, in which flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids predominated. Our results demonstrated that a high content of polyphenolic compounds correlated with the extract cytotoxicity, and especially berries were a valuable source of compounds with anti-cancer potential. This might be a promising option for the development of an effective therapeutic strategy against highly malignant glioblastomas in the future.

scholarly journals Breeding for nutritional quality and pest resistance: potential of a set of non-commercial tetraploid potato cultivars with purple and red flesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Tierno ◽  
J. I. Ruiz de Galarreta
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Solanum Tuberosum L ◽  
Pest Resistance ◽  
Ploidy Levels ◽  
Breeding Lines ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Tuber Morphology ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Tetraploid Level

Potatoes are the most widely cultivated tubers and also a valuable source of nutrients and non-nutrient health-promoting compounds. Cultivars with pigmented skin and flesh are of especial interest due to the presence of high concentrations of carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Several investigations have focused on the characterization of native and wild potato accessions, particularly highly pigmented genotypes in order to broaden the overall genetic variation in terms of commercial and processing aptitude, pest resistance and nutritional quality. However, the incorporation of some of these traits into new breeding lines at the tetraploid level is hampered by the presence of detrimental traits as well as varying ploidy levels. Therefore, a set of ten highly-pigmented tetraploid cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) was selected and characterized on the basis of tuber morphology, pest resistance and nutritional related traits in order to select parental lines for breeding. Attractive colors and color patterns with potential for the potato snack industry have been identified. Varying degrees of resistance to Globodera spp. and Phythophora infestans, which are considered major threats for the crop, have been found among the collection of pigmented cultivars. Nutritional quality related parameters including significantly higher levels of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, carotenoids, vitamin C and micronutrients (Zn and Fe) were found when compared with the commercial cultivars used as checks. These findings could assist in the selection of parents (progenitors) towards the introduction of interesting traits into new potato advanced clones at the tetraploid level, without the problems derived from ploidy levels and non-commercial characteristics.

scholarly journals Adsorption Studies on Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized with Silver to Remove Nitrates from Waters

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1757
Author(s):  
Yesica Vicente-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Caravaca ◽  
Antonio Soto-Meca ◽  
Miguel Ángel Martín-Pereira ◽  
María del Carmen García-Onsurbe
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Nanoparticles ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Adsorption Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Dependent Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Naoh Solution ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Interference Studies

This paper presents a novel procedure for the treatment of contaminated water with high concentrations of nitrates, which are considered as one of the main causes of the eutrophication phenomena. For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with silver (Fe3O4@AgNPs) were synthesized and used as an adsorbent of nitrates. Experimental conditions, including the pH, adsorbent and adsorbate dose, temperature and contact time, were analyzed to obtain the highest adsorption efficiency for different concentration of nitrates in water. A maximum removal efficiency of 100% was reached for 2, 5, 10 and 50 mg/L of nitrate at pH = 5, room temperature, and 50, 100, 250 and 500 µL of Fe3O4@AgNPs, respectively. The characterization of the adsorbent, before and after adsorption, was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Nitrates can be desorbed, and the adsorbent can be reused using 500 µL of NaOH solution 0.01 M, remaining unchanged for the first three cycles, and exhibiting 90% adsorption efficiency after three regenerations. A deep study on equilibrium isotherms reveals a pH-dependent behavior, characterized by Langmuir and Freundlich models at pH = 5 and pH = 1, respectively. Thermodynamic studies were consistent with physicochemical adsorption for all experiments but showed a change from endothermic to exothermic behavior as the temperature increases. Interference studies of other ions commonly present in water were carried out, enabling this procedure as very selective for nitrate ions. In addition, the method was applied to real samples of seawater, showing its ability to eliminate the total nitrate content in eutrophized waters.

scholarly journals Gut microbiota profiles and characterization of cultivable fungal isolates in IBS patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piero Sciavilla ◽  
Francesco Strati ◽  
Monica Di Paola ◽  
Monica Modesto ◽  
Francesco Vitali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Fungal Isolates ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Irritable Bowel

Abstract Studies so far conducted on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been focused mainly on the role of gut bacterial dysbiosis in modulating the intestinal permeability, inflammation, and motility, with consequences on the quality of life. Limited evidences showed a potential involvement of gut fungal communities. Here, the gut bacterial and fungal microbiota of a cohort of IBS patients have been characterized and compared with that of healthy subjects (HS). The IBS microbial community structure differed significantly compared to HS. In particular, we observed an enrichment of bacterial taxa involved in gut inflammation, such as Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus, Fusobacteria, Gemella, and Rothia, as well as depletion of health-promoting bacterial genera, such as Roseburia and Faecalibacterium. Gut microbial profiles in IBS patients differed also in accordance with constipation. Sequence analysis of the gut mycobiota showed enrichment of Saccharomycetes in IBS. Culturomics analysis of fungal isolates from feces showed enrichment of Candida spp. displaying from IBS a clonal expansion and a distinct genotypic profiles and different phenotypical features when compared to HS of Candida albicans isolates. Alongside the well-characterized gut bacterial dysbiosis in IBS, this study shed light on a yet poorly explored fungal component of the intestinal ecosystem, the gut mycobiota. Our results showed a differential fungal community in IBS compared to HS, suggesting potential for new insights on the involvement of the gut mycobiota in IBS. Key points • Comparison of gut microbiota and mycobiota between IBS and healthy subjects • Investigation of cultivable fungi in IBS and healthy subjects • Candida albicans isolates result more virulent in IBS subjects compared to healthy subjects

scholarly journals Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds in Water Samples and Inorganic Elements Levels in Ores for Characterizing a High Anthropogenic Polluted Area in the Northern Latium Region (Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1628
Author(s):  
Mario Vincenzo Russo ◽  
Ivan Notardonato ◽  
Alberto Rosada ◽  
Giuseppe Ianiri ◽  
Pasquale Avino
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Greenhouse Crops ◽  
River Waters ◽  
Liquid Liquid Extraction ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Very High ◽  
Inorganic Fraction

This paper shows a characterization of the organic and inorganic fraction of river waters (Tiber and Marta) and ores/soil samples collected in the Northern Latium region of Italy for evaluating the anthropogenic/natural source contribution to the environmental pollution of this area. For organic compounds, organochloride volatile compounds in Tiber and Marta rivers were analyzed by two different clean-up methods (i.e., liquid–liquid extraction and static headspace) followed by gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC-ECD) analysis. The results show very high concentrations of bromoform (up to 1.82 and 3.2 µg L−1 in Tiber and Marta rivers, respectively), due to the presence of greenhouse crops, and of chloroform and tetrachloroethene, due to the presence of handicrafts installations. For the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the inorganic fraction, it is highlighted the use of a nuclear analytical method, instrumental neutron activation analysis, which allows having more information as possible from the sample without performing any chemical-physical pretreatment. The results have evidenced high levels of mercury (mean value 88.6 µg g−1), antimony (77.7 µg g−1), strontium (12,039 µg g−1) and zinc (103 µg g−1), whereas rare earth elements show levels similar to the literature data. Particular consideration is drawn for arsenic (414 µg g−1): the levels found in this paper (ranging between 1 and 5100 µg g−1) explain the high content of such element (as arsenates) in the aquifer, a big issue in this area.

scholarly journals Structural Factors Inducing Cracking of Brass Fittings

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3255
Author(s):  
Lenka Kunčická ◽  
Michal Jambor ◽  
Adam Weiser ◽  
Jiří Dvořák
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Plastic Flow ◽  
Beta Phase ◽  
Alpha Phase ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Medical Gas ◽  
Hot Die Forging ◽  
Multiple Step

Cu–Zn–Pb brasses are popular materials, from which numerous industrially and commercially used components are fabricated. These alloys are typically subjected to multiple-step processing—involving casting, extrusion, hot forming, and machining—which can introduce various defects to the final product. The present study focuses on the detailed characterization of the structure of a brass fitting—i.e., a pre-shaped medical gas valve, produced by hot die forging—and attempts to assess the factors beyond local cracking occurring during processing. The analyses involved characterization of plastic flow via optical microscopy, and investigations of the phenomena in the vicinity of the crack, for which we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Numerical simulation was implemented not only to characterize the plastic flow more in detail, but primarily to investigate the probability of the occurrence of cracking based on the presence of stress. Last, but not least, microhardness in specific locations of the fitting were examined. The results reveal that the cracking occurring in the location with the highest probability of the occurrence of defects was most likely induced by differences in the chemical composition; the location the crack in which developed exhibited local changes not only in chemical composition—which manifested as the presence of brittle precipitates—but also in beta phase depletion. Moreover, as a result of the presence of oxidic precipitates and the hard and brittle alpha phase, the vicinity of the crack exhibited an increase in microhardness, which contributed to local brittleness.

scholarly journals Anthracycline-induced cytotoxicity in the GL261 glioma model system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber M. Tavener ◽  
Megan C. Phelps ◽  
Richard L. Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Cell Viability ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Gl261 Glioma

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal astrocyte-derived tumor that is currently treated with a multi-modal approach of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and temozolomide-based chemotherapy. Alternatives to current therapies are urgently needed as its prognosis remains poor. Anthracyclines are a class of compounds that show great potential as GBM chemotherapeutic agents and are widely used to treat solid tumors outside the central nervous system. Here we investigate the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin and other anthracyclines on GL261 glioma tumor cells in anticipation of novel anthracycline-based CNS therapies. Three methods were used to quantify dose-dependent effects of anthracyclines on adherent GL261 tumor cells, a murine cell-based model of GBM. MTT assays quantified anthracycline effects on cell viability, comet assays examined doxorubicin genotoxicity, and flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining characterized doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and necrosis. Dose-dependent reductions in GL261 cell viability were found in cells treated with doxorubicin (EC50 = 4.9 μM), epirubicin (EC50 = 5.9 μM), and idarubicin (EC50 = 4.4 μM). Comet assays showed DNA damage following doxorubicin treatments, peaking at concentrations of 1.0 μM and declining after 25 μM. Lastly, flow cytometric analysis of doxorubicin-treated cells showed dose-dependent induction of apoptosis (EC50 = 5.2 μM). Together, these results characterized the cytotoxic effects of anthracyclines on GL261 glioma cells. We found dose-dependent apoptotic induction; however at high concentrations we find that cell death is likely necrotic. Our results support the continued exploration of anthracyclines as compounds with significant potential for improved GBM treatments.

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