Flavin-Dependent Enzymes in Cancer Prevention

Statistical studies have demonstrated that various agents may reduce the risk of cancer’s development. One of them is activity of flavin-dependent enzymes such as flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO)_GS-OX1, FAD-dependent 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and flavin-dependent monoamine oxidase. In the last decade, many papers concerning their structure, reaction mechanism and role in the cancer prevention were published. In our work, we provide a more in-depth analysis of flavin-dependent enzymes and their contribution to the cancer prevention. We present the actual knowledge about the glucosinolate synthesized by flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO)_GS-OX1 and its role in cancer prevention, discuss the influence of mutations in FAD-dependent 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase on the cancer risk, and describe FAD as an important cofactor for the demethylation of histons. We also present our views on the role of riboflavin supplements in the prevention against cancer.     

The effect of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-37, and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) on the availability of minerals from Dutch-type cheese

The use of probiotic cultures in the production of Dutch-type cheeses did not lead to significant changes in their chemical composition but it lowered their acidity. The availability of calcium and magnesium analyzed by in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis was 19 and 35%, respectively; the availability of phosphorus was significantly higher, at >90%. The use of probiotic cultures significantly increased the availability of calcium (~2.5%), phosphorus (~6%), and magnesium (~18%). The in vitro method supports accurate determination of the effect of the Lactobacillus spp. cultures on the availability of mineral compounds ingested with Dutch-type cheese.     

A Critical Role for the Presence of Lignocellulosic Material in the Determination of Wood Buffering Capacity

The currently used determinations of wood buffering capacity, which are based on pH-metric titrations of aqueous wood extracts, neglect the effect of lignocellulosic material and the role of its insoluble constituents. This study examined the influence of the presence of wood in a system subjected to titration. A comparison of the results obtained from pine chip extracts and chip suspensions showed that the presence of wood and the wood-to-water ratio were critical factors that affected the measurement of the wood buffering capacity. The evidence showed that the resulting determination may vary by up to six times (0.28–1.99 ml/g), depending upon the conditions of the titration. In addition, it was found that the presence of wood had a neutralizing effect over the course of prolonged pH observations.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Parabens in Submicron Emulsions Stabilized with Lecithin

Antimicrobial efficacy of methyl and propylparaben combination as potential preservatives for submicron emulsions, and the effect of oil and lecithin concentration on the microbial growth were investigated. Parabens were ineffective in standard or doubled concentrations as per pharmacopoeial criteria. Poor growth inhibition and multiplication of reference strains point to protective and growth properties of submicron emulsions. No correlation was observed between oil/lecithin ratio and efficacy of parabens; partitioning of the latter into the oily phase and lipophilic domains could be the reason for such effect. Further studies are necessary to establish a stable and safe composition of such formulations.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation with Ag-loaded LiNbO3

In this contribiution LiNbO₃ and Ag-loaded LiNbO₃ photocatalysts were tested in the reaction of hydrogen evolution. The silver modified samples contained different loading of co-catalyst in the range of 0.5–4 wt%. It was essential to optimize the sample composition to achieve an efficient hydrogen evolution. The optimal sample contained 2 wt% of silver. The detailed analysis indicated that silver was deposited on the surface of LiNbO₃ in the form of Ag₂O. Therefore, it is supposed that Ag₂O was responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity in the studied reaction. The crystallographic phases and optical and vibronic properties were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance (DR) UV-Vis and resonance Raman spectroscopic methods, respectively. Morphology of the produced samples were studied using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM).