Photo-Polymerization Damage Protection by Hydrogen Sulfide Donors for 3D-Cell Culture Systems Optimization

Photo-polymerized hydrogels are ideally suited for stem-cell based tissue regeneration and three dimensional (3D) bioprinting because they can be highly biocompatible, injectable, easy to use, and their mechanical and physical properties can be controlled. However, photo-polymerization involves the use of potentially toxic photo-initiators, exposure to ultraviolet light radiation, formation of free radicals that trigger the cross-linking reaction, and other events whose effects on cells are not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in mitigating cellular toxicity of photo-polymerization caused to resident cells during the process of hydrogel formation. H₂S, which is the latest discovered member of the gasotransmitter family of gaseous signalling molecules, has a number of established beneficial properties, including cell protection from oxidative damage both directly (by acting as a scavenger molecule) and indirectly (by inducing the expression of anti-oxidant proteins in the cell). Cells were exposed to slow release H₂S treatment using pre-conditioning with glutathione-conjugated-garlic extract in order to mitigate toxicity during the photo-polymerization process of hydrogel formation. The protective effects of the H₂S treatment were evaluated in both an enzymatic model and a 3D cell culture system using cell viability as a quantitative indicator. The protective effect of H₂S treatment of cells is a promising approach to enhance cell survival in tissue engineering applications requiring photo-polymerized hydrogel scaffolds.     

Electrochemical production of alkoxy-substituted phenols

The electrochemical oxidation of hydroquinone and substituted hydroquinones has been studied over graphite and platinum electrodes in different alcohol media. The results have shown that good yields of the corresponding alkoxy-substituted phenols can be obtained with high selectivities towards the hydroquinone monoalkyl ether. A mechanism is put forward to explain the formation of the alkoxyphenol through the creation of a quinhydrone complex, formed between the hydroquinone and benzoquinone, which is then attacked by the alcohol acting as a nucleophile.In this study, the effect of sulfuric acid as supporting electrolyte and acid catalyst was compared with that of methanesulfonic acid. It was found that sulfuric acid gave the best yield for different alkoxyphenols. The alcohols under investigation were C₁-C₈, and it was found that the longer the chain length of the alcohol, the slower the tendency to produce alkoxyphenols. Branched alcohols such as secondary and tertiary alcohols showed no reactivity towards the quinhydrone complex. Some of the yields obtained are as follows: 4-methoxyphenol (97%), 4-ethoxyphenol (71.4%) and 4-propoxyphenol (81.1%).     

Polychromatic light‐emitting conjugated polymer prepared by controlling its structure through active free radical addition

BACKGROUND: The HOMO–LUMO energy level width of conjugated polymers can be manipulated by controlling the conjugation length of the polymeric materials in order to adjust their properties in terms of emission of different colors and realize polychromatic displays. In the work reported in this paper azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was used to control the conjugation length of poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐co‐(1,4‐phenylene vinylene)] (MEH‐PPV) by free radical addition. In this way a series of MEH‐PPV with various conjugation lengths was obtained. RESULTS: Characterization of MEH‐PPV using ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that the cyano groups of AIBN hydrolyzed into carboxyls. The carboxyl free radicals attacked the conjugated double bonds of MEH‐PPV, resulting in a decrease of trans‐vinylenes and in an increase of cis‐vinylenes as well as tert‐methyls on the backbone. Changing the conjugated structure of the polymer caused the peaks of UV and fluorescence spectra to shift to the blue. CONCLUSION: The resulting MEH‐PPV derivatives can emit orange‐red, green and blue light. It is expected that they could be used to prepare PPV‐based materials that could modulate white light emission, by simply blending the PPV derivatives emitting different colors. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical composition and in vitro antioxidative activity of a lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) extract

The leaf material of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) was extracted with 450 ml/l aqueous ethanol by medium pressure liquid-solid extraction. The total phenolic content of the extract was estimated as gallic acid equivalents by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and a qualitative-quantitative compositional analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection. The lemon balm extract contained hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids with caffeic acid, m-coumaric acid, eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside, naringin, hesperidin, rosmarinic acid, naringenin, hesperetin being identified based on their chromatographic behaviour and spectral characteristics. The extract was also investigated for potential in vitro antioxidant properties in iron(III) reduction, iron(II) chelation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate), superoxide anion and nitric oxide free-radical scavenging, and inhibition of β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays. The extract demonstrated antioxidant activity in all the assays. However, it was not as potent as the positive controls except in the β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assay, where its activity was superior to that of gallic and caffeic acids and statistically indistinguishable from quercetin and BHA. The exceptionally high antioxidant activity and the fact that this assay is of biological relevance warrants further investigation of lemon balm extract in ex vivo and in vivo models of oxidative stress.     

Isolation and purification of a novel antioxidant protein from the water extract of Sundakai (Solanum torvum) seeds

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) at physiological concentrations may be required for normal cell function. Excessive production of ROS can be detrimental to cells, because ROS can cause oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA. Herein, we describe the isolation and purification of a novel antioxidant protein the water extract of dried, powdered Sundakai (Solanum torvum [Solanaceae]) seeds. Sundakai belongs to the Solanaceae family, a small shrub, which is distributed widely in India, Malaya, China, Phillipines and tropical America. Fifty percent of ammonium sulphate-precipitated crude water extract was fractionated on a Sephadex G100 column, which yielded two peaks, PI and PII. Peaks PI and PII inhibited lipid peroxidation up to 40% and 89%, respectively in linolenic acid micelles. Rechromatographing of peak PII on Sephadex G100 yielded a single peak, indicating the homogeneity of the purified protein. SDS–PAGE analysis indicated the molecular weight of the purified protein to be ∼28 kDa. The purified protein, at 0.8 μM, inhibited deoxyribose degradation induced by generation of hydroxyl radicals by 90% and scavenged DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radicals by 76%. The reducing power and chelating power of the purified protein, at 0.8 μM, were found to be 72% and 85%, respectively. The protein, at 0.8 μM, also offered significant protection to calf thymus DNA damage induced by H₂O₂ (1 mM). Therefore, the present study demonstrates, for the first time, a novel protein from the water extract of Sundakai seeds as an excellent antioxidant.     

Antioxidant formation by γ-irradiation of glucose–amino acid model systems

The efficacy of γ-irradiation for the formation of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) from glucose and lysine/glycine and the antioxidant potential of MRPs thus formed were examined. Formation of MRPs was observed by monitoring absorbance at 284 nm and 420 nm. Upon irradiation, there was a dose-dependent increase in absorbance (r² = 0.99) at both the wavelengths. Irradiation of glucose/lysine solution resulted in higher absorbance at 284 nm than did that of glucose/glycine solution. Similarly, increase in absorbance at 420 nm was observed upon irradiation in both the systems. No significant absorbance was observed with unirradiated solution of glucose and lysine/glycine. These findings thus clearly revealed the formation of intermediate products and brown complexes (of Maillard reaction) upon irradiation of glucose/amino acid solution. A fluorescence was also observed in irradiated glucose/amino acid solution, whereas, none was seen in non-irradiated solution. These observations further confirmed the formation of MRPs, as fluorescent compounds are known to be precursors of brown pigments formed during the Maillard reaction. These MRPs exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, as measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching assays. MRPs, formed at a 40 kGy dose, scavenged up to 62% of DPPH radical and 82% of β-carotene was protected from bleaching. Reducing power of MRPs, estimated using the ferricyanide, method was also increased as compared to non-irradiated solutions. Further, these MRPs were able to scavenge hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion radical to the extents of 33% and 58%, respectively. These MRPs could chelate iron to an extent of 32% under in vitro conditions. Thus, these studies clearly demonstrated that radiation technology could be employed for obtaining novel antioxidants from sugar and amino acid combinations.     

Chemical composition and antioxidative activity of Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) extracts

Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L., Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb native to central Asia and naturalized in eastern and central Europe. It is commonly consumed as a food-related product and as a herbal preparation because of its reputed medicinal properties. Despite its importance, few reports exist in the literature regarding the chemistry or antioxidant activity of this species. In this study, the aerial material of Moldavian balm collected from Iran was extracted by Soxhlet using seven solvents of different polarity, viz., petroleum ether, dichloromethane, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, methanol, n-butanol and water. The qualitative-quantitative chemical composition of each extract was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detection. For each extract, the total phenolic content was estimated as was the in vitro antioxidant activity using the iron(III) reduction assay, the β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assay and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) free radical scavenging assays. Hydroxylated cinnamic acids, their derivatives and flavonoids were identified and quantified within the extracts, with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant component identified. The extracts demonstrated different degrees of potency within each assay, however, the observed pattern was not necessarily replicated between assays indicating the importance of the use of more than one screening technique to estimate the antioxidant activity of plant extracts.     

热风干制对荔枝果肉多糖抗氧化活性的影响

干制被广泛应用于荔枝的保藏和精深加工,但是干制会导致多糖结构的变化以及生物活性的改变。为了探究热风干制对荔枝果肉多糖的影响,本研究通过分析多糖基本成分、分子量分布、紫外光谱、特征粘度等比较了热风干燥前后鲜荔枝果肉多糖(LPF)和干荔枝果肉多糖(LPD)的理化特性;采用DPPH、ABTS、Fe3+还原抗氧化力(FRAP)和氧自由基清除能力(ORAC)4种方法比较两者的抗氧化活性差异。结果表明,经过干制加工后,荔枝果肉多糖的中性糖含量降低,蛋白含量增加,多糖分子发生裂解,特征粘度下降,抗氧化活性显著提高,其中LPD的FRAP和ORAC值分别是LPF的8.98和4.35倍,LPF和LPD的DPPH·清除能力的IC50值分别是1.98和0.11 mg/mL,两者在4 mg/mL终浓度清除ABTS+·百分率分别是21.87%和98.81%。由此表明热风干制能够显著影响荔枝多糖的理化特性,进而增强其抗氧化活性。