Biological Properties and Prospects for the Application of Eugenol—A Review

Eugenol is a phenolic aromatic compound obtained mainly from clove oil. Due to its known antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it has long been used in various areas, such as cosmetology, medicine, and pharmacology. However, high concentrations can be toxic. A dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight is regarded as safe. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the activities and application of eugenol and its derivatives and recent research of these compounds. This review is based on information concerning eugenol characteristics and recent research from articles in PubMed. Eugenol remains of great interest to researchers, since its multidirectional action allows it to be a potential component of drugs and other products with therapeutic potential against a range of diseases.     

Self-Healing Epoxy and Reversible Diels-Alder Based Interpenetrating Networks

Dual networks, containing Diels-Alder (DA) based reversible and epoxy networks, are studied as self-healing thermoset materials. The thermoreversible DA network acts as a healing agent at healing procedure and the epoxy network (E) keeps the material integrity. Two types of the dual networks are investigated, the interpenetrating networks (IPN) and the DA-epoxy copolymers. The rate of bonds breaking and reformation is monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. Two healing steps are followed: the sealing of the notch by microscopy and recovery of the structure by tensile tests. The factors governing the healing efficiency are determined and analyzed. The fraction of the sol generated at healing is found to be the crucial parameter. The novel architecture of the IPN with a high content of the DA network is designed. This IPN generates a high amount of the sol at healing and shows the healing efficiency approaching to 100%.     

Experimental and Computational Studies on Structure and Energetic Properties of Halogen Derivatives of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose

The results of structural studies on a series of halogen-substituted derivatives of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) are reported. 2-DG is an inhibitor of glycolysis, a metabolic pathway crucial for cancer cell proliferation and viral replication in host cells, and interferes with D-glucose and D-mannose metabolism. Thus, 2-DG and its derivatives are considered as potential anticancer and antiviral drugs. X-ray crystallography shows that a halogen atom present at the C2 position in the pyranose ring does not significantly affect its conformation. However, it has a noticeable effect on the crystal structure. Fluorine derivatives exist as a dense 3D framework isostructural with the parent compound, while Cl- and I-derivatives form layered structures. Analysis of the Hirshfeld surface shows formation of hydrogen bonds involving the halogen, yet no indication for the existence of halogen bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) periodic calculations of cohesive and interaction energies (at the B3LYP level of theory) have supported these findings. NMR studies in the solution show that most of the compounds do not display significant differences in their anomeric equilibria, and that pyranose ring puckering is similar to the crystalline state. For 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (2-FG), electrostatic interaction energies between the ligand and protein for several existing structures of pyranose 2-oxidase were also computed. These interactions mostly involve acidic residues of the protein; single amino-acid substitutions have only a minor impact on binding. These studies provide a better understanding of the structural chemistry of halogen-substituted carbohydrates as well as their intermolecular interactions with proteins determining their distinct biological activity.     

Luminescence based on energy transfer in xerogels doped with Ln2−xTbx(WO4)3

This paper presents preparation, optical absorption and photoluminescence properties of luminescent materials consisting of Ln_2−xTb_x(WO₄)₃ [where Ln = Gd(III) or La(III)] incorporated into silica xerogel. Photoluminescence behaviour of the salt in the rigid matrix was studied by the luminescence spectroscopy. The excitation spectra of the system Ln_2−xTb_x(WO₄)₃ show an intense broad band with a maximum placed at about 240 nm. This band is attributed to ligand–metal charge transfer (LMCT) inside the tungstate group. On the other hand, Tb³⁺ ion exhibits its characteristic emission in the material. Owing to energy transfer from the excited tungstate groups to the Tb³⁺ ions the emission intensity is improved. The energy transfer from WO₄²⁻ group to Tb(III) ion is particularly effective for such dopants as Gd_0.4Tb_1.6(WO₄)₃ or La_0.8Tb_1.2(WO₄)₃ incorporated into SiO₂ xerogel. Concentration of the emission quenchers such as water molecules and OH groups was reduced by thermal treatment. The high emission intensity and easy preparation of these systems make them potential candidates for application as luminescent materials.     

7-Ketocholesterol and 7-hydroxycholesterol in pork meat and its gravy thermally treated without additives and in the presence of onion and garlic

The effect of onion and garlic on the formation of two cholesterol oxidation products (COPs): 7-ketocholesterol and 7-hydroxycholesterol was evaluated by comparing their concentrations in meat and gravy samples obtained from three pork dishes prepared in the presence and absence of these flavourings. The concentration of these compounds in meat samples was between 82.4 and 1331.6 ng/g of cooked meat. Gravies contained lower amounts: from 18.3 to 45.6 ng/g of cooked meat. The addition of onion (30 g/100 g of meat) caused a decrease in 7-ketocholesterol and 7-hydroxycholesterol concentrations in all of the investigated pork dishes by 9.5–79%, whilst the addition of 15 g of garlic to 100 g of meat lowered the concentration by 17 to 88%. The greatest decrease was found in grilled minced chops. The quantitative assessment of 7-ketocholesterol and 7-hydroxycholesterol was carried out by thin-layer chromatography with densitometric detection.     

Synthesis,structure, and properties of new methacrylic derivatives of naphthalene‐2,3‐diol

The synthesis of a new monomer, 2,3‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)naphthalene, and its copolymerization with divinylbenzene is presented. This monomer was obtained from naphthalene‐2,3‐diol in a two‐step synthesis. Copolymers in the form of porous microspheres were prepared by a suspension‐emulsion polymerization method. As pore‐forming diluents, toluene, 1‐decanol, benzyl alcohol, and their mixtures were used. In studies of their porous structure, two methods were used: the adsorption of nitrogen at low temperatures, which provided information about the porous structure of the material in a dry state, and inverse exclusion chromatography, which provided information about the porous structure of the polymer swollen by a good solvent. The obtained results suggest that the porous structures for the dry and swollen polymers were different. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1886–1895, 2006     

The Molecular Bases of the Interaction between a Saponin from the Roots of Gypsophila paniculata L. and Model Lipid Membranes

In view of the possible medical applications of saponins, the molecular structure of a GOTCAB saponin from the roots of Gypsophila paniculata L. was determined by NMR. The biological activity of saponins may depend on the interaction with cell membranes. To obtain more insight in the mechanism of membrane-related saponin function, an experimental and theoretical study was conducted. Ternary lipid systems composed of sphingomyelin, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol were used as models of mammalian cell membranes. The membrane–saponin interaction was studied experimentally by monitoring surface pressure in the monomolecular films formed at the air–aqueous subphase interface. The behavior of GOTCAB saponin in a water box and model monolayer systems was characterized by molecular dynamics simulations. The results obtained showed that, in the systems used, cholesterol had a decisive effect on the interaction between GOTCAB and phosphocholine or sphingomyelin as well as on its location within the lipid film.     

Secretome of Adipose Tissue as the Key to Understanding the Endocrine Function of Adipose Tissue

The prevalence of obesity has reached pandemic levels and is becoming a serious health problem in developed and developing countries. Obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of comorbidities that include type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. The recognition of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ capable of secreting adipokines that influence whole-body energy homeostasis was a breakthrough leading to a better molecular understanding of obesity. Of the adipokines known to be involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, very few are considered central regulators of insulin sensitivity, metabolism and energy homeostasis, and the discovery and characterization of new adipocyte-derived factors are still ongoing. Proteomics techniques, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, have proven to be useful tools for analyzing the secretory function of adipose tissue (the secretome), providing insights into molecular events that influence body weight. Apart from the identification of novel proteins, the considerable advantage of this approach is the ability to detect post-translational modifications that cannot be predicted in genomic studies. In this review, we summarize recent efforts to identify novel bioactive secretory factors through proteomics.     

Pharmacogenetics of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy (Review of Literature)

Pharmacogenomic studies in epilepsy are justified by the high prevalence rate of this disease and the high cost of its treatment, frequent drug resistance, different response to the drug, the possibility of using reliable methods to assess the control of seizures and side effects of antiepileptic drugs. Candidate genes encode proteins involved in pharmacokinetic processes (drug transporters, metabolizing enzymes), pharmacodynamic processes (receptors, ion channels, enzymes, regulatory proteins, secondary messengers) and drug hypersensitivity (immune factors). This article provides an overview of the literature on the influence of genetic factors on treatment in epilepsy.