Antioxidant activity in leaves of some mediterranean plants

Hexane and methanol leaf extracts of sixteen Mediterranean plant species were obtained by percolation. Higher yields were observed for methanol (16.4–47.8%) than for hexane extracts (1.3–13%). Antioxidant activity of these extracts was determined by a rapid spectrophotometric method involving the combined oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid. Leaf extracts were thus characterized by an Antioxidant Activity Coefficient (AAC) ranging from 0 to 1000. Hexane extracts gave much higher AAC values than the corresponding methanol extracts. In both cases, myrtle (Myrtus communis) showed the best antioxidant effectiveness.     

Identification of organochlorines and organobromines in coals

Four Chinese bituminous coals were extracted with CS₂, n-hexane, benzene, methanol, acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and THF/methanol (1: 3 vol/vol) mixed solvent sequentially. The resulting 28 extracts were analyzed with GC/MS. Six organochlorines (OCs) and two organobromines (OBs) were identified in eight extracts from the coals. Our experiments provide, for the first time, the information on the molecular structure of OCs and OBs in coals.     

胶束催化肉桂油水解制备苯甲醛

用微量量热法研究了十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)和十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)胶束对天然肉桂油碱性水解的催化作用,并考察了反应温度、时间、pH对该水解反应的影响。实验室实验及工厂放大实验结果表明,当反应温度为368-375 K、选择碳酸钠和三乙醇胺为混合碱调节pH=10、m(肉桂醛)∶m(水)=1∶4、c(CTAB)=2.03×10-3mol/L、反应时间14 h时,苯甲醛得率最高达61%。     

印楝提取物对瓜绢螟的生物活性

在室内测定了印楝两种提取物（印楝乙酸乙酯萃取和CO2超临界萃取）对瓜绢螟的生物活性。两种提取物对瓜绢螟幼虫都具有较强的拒食作用、生长发育抑制作用，对成虫产卵忌避作用效果较好；对低龄幼虫有一定的毒杀活性，而对高龄幼虫活性很低。随着处理剂量增大，两种提取物作用效果显著增强，而同一剂量下CO2超临界萃取物活性高于乙酸乙酯萃取物。     

4种印楝种子提取物对玉米象的生物活性

测定印楝4种不同提取物（印楝素A、印楝油、印楝乙酸乙酯粗提物和印楝超临界CO，提取物）对玉米象成虫的忌避、熏蒸和毒杀活性。4种提取物对玉米象成虫都具有较好的忌避活性，随着时间的推移，忌避活性呈下降趋势；4种提取物对玉米象成虫熏蒸活件差异较大，活性大小为印楝油〉超临界CO2提取物〉乙酸乙酯粗提物〉印楝素A。毒杀活件测定结果且示，4种提取物毒杀活性均较差，但由于印楝活件成分具有忌避、拒食和其它生物活性，对玉米象种群的数量有较明显的榨制作用。     

虎杖根提取物及分离组分对黄瓜白粉病的作用效果

在实验室内进行了虎杖（Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.etZucc.）根提取物及其活性组分分离研究,并且对黄瓜白粉病进行了活性测定及温室小区试验。结果表明,无论提取率还是作用效果,乙醇较适合于做为虎杖根提取物的提取溶剂。虎杖根乙醇提取物和乙醚提取物对黄瓜白粉病的EC90值分别为537.85、35.38mg/L,而乙醚提取后残留物的活性很弱,说明乙醇提取物中具有杀菌作用的成分主要存在于乙醚提取物中。用pH梯度分离法对乙醚提取物进行分离,得到3个不同组分,其中以氢氧化钠分离得到的组分对黄瓜白粉病显示了极高的杀菌活性。在温室条件下虎杖乙醇提取物在800～1600mg/L下对黄瓜白粉病的防效相当或优于对照药剂三唑酮。     

Selenium Speciation Studies from Soan-Sakesar Valley,Salt Range,Pakistan

Abstract

A regional study of Selenium (Se) speciation in surface waters, groundwaters, and saturation extracts from Soan-Sakesar valley Salt-Range, Pakistan was started in March 1994 and completed in October 1996. Groundwaters, streams, and springs had median concentrations of: total Se 48, 404.5, and 82 μg/l; Se^+VI 40, 350 and 51 μg/l; Se^+IV 8, 48 and 29 μg/l; Se^-II 0, 6.5 and 2.0 μg/l, respectively. The concentration of Se exceeded the recommended water quality guidelines for drinking and irrigation water of 10 and 20 μg/l, respectively. In saturation extracts, median total Se, Se^+VI, Se^+IV and Se^-II were 190, 146, 37 and 7.0 μg/l, respectively. Uchhali, Khabbaki and Jahlar lake water samples had the mean concentration of: total Se 2103, 670 and 297 μg/l; Se^+VI 1777, 470, and 233 μg/l; Se^+IV 291, 166 and 39 μg/l; Se^-II 35, 34 and 25 μg/l, respectively. The Sakesar limestone Formation of Eocene age rich in shales and fossils (median Se concentration 7.2 μg/kg) are considered to be the source of selenium that have enriched soils of Soan-Sakesar valley. Selenim speciation results show the abundance of selenate in all the environmental samples. A linear relationship between Se^+VI and pH (R²= 0.84, 0.58, 0.88, 0.82, and 0.91; significant at the 0.05 level) for groundwater, saturation extract, stream, spring, and lake waters were noted, suggesting that the Se^+VI in the samples is highly associated with pH. Linear relationships were established between Se^+VI and Mg, NO₃, and SO₄ for groundwater (R²= 0.24, 0.16, and 0.64; significant at the 0.01 level) and surface water (R²= 0.96, 0.14, and 0.91; significant at the 0.001 level). This suggests the high concentrations of Mg, NO₃ and SO₄, which strongly adsorb and compete with selenium for surface site, increases the Se^+VI fraction. The results show that the higher percentage of selenate on other species in the analyzed samples is favored by higher pH and oxidizing environments of the valley.     

Formulation and characterisation of nanosuspension of herbal extracts for enhanced antiradical potential

Nanotechnology is a promising technique to increase the bioavailability of herbal medicines. This paper presents the nanosuspension approach for increasing the aqueous solubility and thereby bioactivity of important herbal extracts. Nanosuspensions of the seeds of three plants extract (Silybum marianum, Elettaria cardamomum and Coriandrum sativum) were prepared by using polyvinyl alcohol (1.5% w/v) as a stabiliser. Prepared nanoparticles were characterised by scanning electron microscope. Activity of nanosuspension formulation was assessed by using four in vitro antioxidant assays. S. marianum, E. cardamomum and C. sativum particle size was observed to fall in range of 446.1 ± 112.6, 456.63 ± 339.2 and 432.1 ± 172.8 nm, respectively, most of the particles were having spherical shape and smooth topology. These synthesised nanoparticles were found to be more effective against quenching free radical than their crude extracts and standards [butylated hydroxyl toluene and ascorbic acid]. C. sativum nanosuspension showed most free radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide free radical scavenging assays (IC₅₀ 0.59 ± 0.01 and 0.81 ± 0.11 mg/ml). S. marianum nanosuspension was found to be most effective against DPPH radicals scavenging (IC₅₀ 0.34 ± 0.02 mg/ml). It was concluded that nanosuspension of herbal medicines potentiates the antioxidant potential.     

银杏叶粗提物对荔枝的防腐保鲜效果

以银杏为研究对象,利用乙醇浸提法得到银杏叶粗提物,从色泽、VC含量、质量损失率、菌落总数以及感官评定等方面评价银杏叶粗提物对荔枝的防腐保鲜效果。结果表明:随着处理时间的延长,银杏叶粗提物能减少荔枝水分损失,抑制褐变,延缓VC含量的下降,减少微生物对荔枝果肉的侵染以及降低腐烂率,较好地保持了荔枝的感官品质。在试验浓度范围内(0.2%~0.6%),银杏叶粗提物浓度与荔枝防腐保鲜效果呈正相关。银杏叶粗提物对荔枝具有较好的防腐保鲜效果。