In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of three rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract formulations

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of three rosemary extract formulations (VivOX 20, VivOX 40 and Inolens 50) with different contents of carnosic acid, carnosol and methylcarnosol were tested in vitro. Electron spin resonance measurements revealed that Inolens 50 extract that contained highest amount of carnosic acid was the most potent scavenger of hydroxyl (concentration of extract where 50% of its maximal scavenging activity is observed, that is, EC₅₀, 109.54 μg mL^?1), superoxide anion (EC₅₀ = 7.94 μg mL^?1) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (EC₅₀ = 27.4 μg mL^?1)‐free radicals. Comparison of the radar charts of standard antioxidants and rosemary extracts showed similarity between antioxidant characteristics of Inolens 50 and chlorogenic and caffeic acids. Tested rosemary extracts exhibited significant (P ≤ 0.01) antiproliferative effect in cervix epitheloid carcinoma (HeLa), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT‐29) cell lines. In both MCF7 and HeLa cell lines, the extracts yielded very low IC₅₀ values (concentration of extract needed to inhibit cell growth by 50%), the most pronounced being for Inolens 50 in MCF7 (IC₅₀ = 9.95 μg mL^?1) and VivOX 20 in HeLa cell line (IC₅₀ = 10.02 μg mL^?1). The obtained results may provide support for the use of tested rosemary extracts as nutraceuticals and phytopharmaceuticals.     

Phase equilibria of vanillins in compressed gases

Solid–liquid phase transitions of vanillin, ethylvanillin, o-vanillin and o-ethylvanillin in compressed hydrocarbons (isobutane and propane), fluorinated hydrocarbons (R23, R134a and R236fa) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) were determined with a modified capillary method in a pressure range between 0.1 and 31.0 MPa. Equilibrium solubilities of vanillins in compressed fluorinated hydrocarbons were determined at temperatures 313.2 and 333.2 K and over a pressure range between 1.1 and 26.0 MPa with a static–analytic method. Experimental solubility data were correlated by a density-based Chrastil model.Results showed that phase equilibria of vanillins in investigated compressed gases are influenced by the type of alchoxy group (methoxy or ethoxy) and the position of OH group (ortho or para), bound to the aromatic ring of solute, as well as the molecular structure of the gas. Three phase SLG curves in p,T-projections mainly exhibited temperature minimums and negative slopes dp/dT, with a maximum melting point depression between 9 and 21 K; all systems with SF₆ exhibited a continuous positive slope dp/dT of approximately 4.5 MPa/K. SLG curves with a temperature maximum at low pressure were observed for systems of o-vanillins with R23. Solubilities of o-vanillins in R23 and R236fa were higher in comparison with p-vanillins, whereas, in the case of R134a, the solubilities were influenced by the alchoxy group bound on aromatic ring: vanillin and o-vanillin with methoxy group are more soluble than vanillins with ethoxy group (ethylvanillin and o-ethylvanillin). The highest solubility of all four vanillins was observed in R236fa.     

Identification and characterization of a small modular domain in the herpes simplex virus host shutoff protein sufficient for interaction with VP16

The herpes simplex virus transactivator VP16 and the virion host shutoff protein vhs are viral structural components that direct the activation of immediate-early gene expression and the arrest of host protein synthesis, respectively, during an infection. Recent studies show that VP16 and vhs physically interact with each other in vitro and in infected cells, suggesting that their respective regulatory functions are coupled. In this report, we used the yeast two-hybrid system and affinity chromatography with purified VP16 fusion proteins to precisely map a region in vhs that directs interaction with VP16. Deletion analysis of vhs demonstrated that a 21-amino-acid-long domain spanning residues 310 to 330 (PAAGGTEMRVSWTEILTQQIA) was sufficient for directing complex formation with VP16 in vivo and in vitro when fused to a heterologous protein. Site-directed mutagenesis of this region identified tryptophan 321 as a crucial determinant for interaction with VP16 in vitro and in vivo and additional residues that are important for stable complex formation in vitro. These findings indicate that vhs residues 310 to 330 constitute an independent and modular binding interface that is recognized by VP16.     

Functional imaging of the heart with electron-beam computed tomography

PURPOSE: Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) enables examinations with a very short acquisition time of 50 ms and thus permits cardiac imaging without motion artifacts. Utilizing eight detector rings simultaneous image acquisition in up to eight levels and complete imaging of the whole heart is possible. In studies, functional imaging with EBCT was compared to our angiocardiography, echocardiography, radionuclide, ventriculography and magnetic resonance tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ECG-triggered long- and short-axis cine studies were performed with the Imatron C-150 Evolution, acquiring 160 and 156 images at 8 and 12 levels. After manual tracing of epicardial and endocardial borders, ventricular size, ejection fraction, wall-thickening and myocardial mass were calculated. RESULTS: A very high correlation between EBCT and direct determination of right and left ventricle (r = 0.98 and r = 0.99) was demonstrated. Compared to echocardiography, angiocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography, assessment of ventricular function was more precise and more reliable. DISCUSSION: EBCT allows the exact and reliable determination of left and right ventricular function. Also precise assessment of myocardial mass is possible. However, the high radiation exposure and diagnostic effort have to be considered.     

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Rosemary Extract in Chicken Frankfurters

ABSTRACT:  The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of commercially available oil-soluble rosemary extracts VivOX 20 and VivOX 4 were investigated against lipid oxidation and microbial growth in vacuum-packed chicken frankfurters. The content of the main active ingredient, carnosic acid, in extracts was 20% and 4% (w/w), respectively. For comparison, the activity of commercially available preservative Robin LI LS was also tested. The control was chicken frankfurters made without test additives. Antioxidant activity tests were performed at 3 storage temperatures (4, 12, 25 °C), using the Rancimat method. Antimicrobial effect was investigated by aerobic plate count. Results showed that both rosemary preparations possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that may make them useful in the food industry. In chicken frankfurters with added VivOX 20 and VivOX 4, higher oxidative stability was exhibited at all storage temperatures, as in frankfurters with Robin LI LS. Addition of VivOX 20, VivOX 4, and Robin LI LS also significantly reduced the aerobic plate count, compared to controls, stored at 4 or 12 °C.     

Assessment of Tractable Cysteines for Covalent Targeting by Screening Covalent Fragments

Targeted covalent inhibition and the use of irreversible chemical probes are important strategies in chemical biology and drug discovery. To date, the availability and reactivity of cysteine residues amenable for covalent targeting have been evaluated by proteomic and computational tools. Herein, we present a toolbox of fragments containing a 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl core that was equipped with chemically diverse electrophilic warheads showing a range of reactivities. We characterized the library members for their reactivity, aqueous stability and specificity for nucleophilic amino acids. By screening this library against a set of enzymes amenable for covalent inhibition, we showed that this approach experimentally characterized the accessibility and reactivity of targeted cysteines. Interesting covalent fragment hits were obtained for all investigated cysteine-containing enzymes.     

High‐pressure enzymatic hydrolysis of oil

The hydrolysis of sunflower and soybean oil, catalyzed by two enzymes, non‐immobilized Candida rugosa and immobilized Candida antarctica lipase, was performed at atmospheric and high‐pressure. The results showed that at atmospheric pressure between 40 °C and 60 °C initial reaction rates were influenced by the temperature variation, as expected. Due to favorable physico‐chemical properties of dense gases as reaction media, hydrolysis of soybean oil was performed in non‐conventional solvents: in supercritical (SC) CO₂ and near‐critical propane. In SC CO₂ the activity of non‐immobilized Candida rugosa lipase decreased while the reaction rates of hydrolysis catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase were 1.5‐fold higher than at atmospheric pressure. However, the reaction rates for the hydrolyses catalyzed by both lipases, were much higher in propane than at atmospheric pressure.     

Bottom‐Up Tailoring of Plasmonic Nanopeapods Making Use of the Periodical Topography of Carbon Nanocoil Templates

Au nanoparticle chains embedded in helical Al₂O₃ nanotubes (“nanopeapods”) are synthesized by annealing carbon nanocoils coated with Au by sputtering and Al₂O₃ by atomic layer deposition. Regular spacing between nanoparticles with a sharp size distribution is achieved by fragmentation of the Au coating in agreement with the pitch of the nanocoils arising from three‐dimensional periodical topography of the carbon nanocoil templates. A strong plasmonic resonance behavior of the fabricated nanopeapods manifests itself in confocal laser scanning microscopy by a clear polarization contrast at red wavelengths, which is absent in the blue. Numerical simulations confirm an incisive resonance enhancement for longitudinal polarization and suggest the nanopeapods as promising candidates for highly efficient, ultrathin waveguides. The waveguiding properties of the nanopeapods are investigated by electron energy‐loss spectroscopy and energy‐filtered TEM imaging.     

Conservation of historical landscapes: What signifies ‘successful’ management?

This paper focuses on the management of an industrial heritage site in Sweden, which local stakeholders and heritage planners have claimed to be successful. This status of excellence is investigated in relation to the general, county-wide applied heritage planning. The results show that key factors for successful management of the industrial heritage site are not related only to conservation work, but also to personal engagement, sense of responsibility, and well-being among participants. However, heritage planners generally lack methods to address immaterial values and socio-economic benefits of engaging in heritage activities, resulting in a separation between physical and communal aspects of heritage planning. The results highlight the issue of professional legitimacy and the challenges for heritage planners to address regional policy objectives, such as finding ways to utilise historic landscapes in destination-driven strategies and to simultaneously support civil engagement in heritage-related issues.