Systemic exposure of Paracetamol (acetaminophen) was enhanced by quercetin and chrysin co-administration in Wistar rats and in vitro model: risk of liver toxicity

Intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play an important role in the first-pass-metabolism (FPM) and pharmacokinetics (PK) of majority of drugs. Paracetamol is primarily metabolized by conjugation reactions and a little amount (～15%) undergoes cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1)-mediated oxidative metabolism produces a hepatotoxic metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinonimine (NAPQI). Quercetin and chrysin are naturally occurring flavonoids, reported as modulators of P-gp and DMEs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of quercetin and chrysin on the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol using rats and non-everted gut sacs in vitro. Paracetamol was given orally (100?mg/kg) to rats alone and in combination with quercetin (5, 10 and 20?mg/kg) and chrysin (50, 100 and 200?mg/kg) once daily for 21 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected on the 1st day in single dose pharmacokinetic study (SDS) and on the 21st day in multiple pharmacokinetic studies (MDS). The plasma concentrations of paracetamol were determined by HPLC and PK parameters were calculated by using Kinetica (Version 5.1). The maximum plasma concentration (C_max) and area under the curve (AUC_0–12) of paracetamol was significantly increased by quercetin and chrysin co-administration in SDS and MDS. In non-everted rat gut sac method, the absorption of paracetamol was increased by presence of P-gp inhibitors (verapamil, quinidine and ketoconazole), quercetin and chrysin (50?μg/mL). Our findings suggested that the quercetin and chrysin might be inhibited the P-gp and metabolism of paracetamol; thereby increased the systemic exposure of paracetamol. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether the quercetin or chrysin are involved in the formation of NAPQI by CYP2E1 or not on isolated rat hepatocytes or using cell lines.     

Moisture sorption isotherms of dietetic Rabri at different storage temperatures

Moisture sorption isotherms of dietetic Rabri were determined at 10, 25 and 37 °C over a water activity range of 0.113–0.868. Sorption isotherms at 37 °C were sigmoidal (type II) curves, while at 10 °C, they were of type V and Type I at 25 °C for both adsorption and desorption processes. Five sorption models were tested to fit the experimental data. Halsey's model for 10 °C, Caurie's model for 25 °C and Modified Mizrahi's model for 37 °C were found to be the best fit. There was a clear hysteresis effect at 10 °C, whereas the effect gradually decreased and diminished at 37 °C.     

Chemical conversion of PET waste using ethanolamine to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (BHETA) through aminolysis and a novel plasticizer for PVC

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) recycling has been carried out by various methods, e.g., mechanical recycling, chemical recycling and energy recovery method. In this study, chemical recycling of PET was carried out by aminolysis using ethanolamine and converted into bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (BHETA). The reaction was performed by varying the PET:ethanolamine ratio, reaction time and catalyst used for waste medical grade bottles of PET. Yield of about 81 % was obtained for PET:ethanolamine ratio of 1:4 (w/w), with 3 h reaction time, at 160 °C with zinc acetate as a catalyst. BHETA was characterized with FTIR, ¹H NMR, and DSC analysis. BHETA was further reacted with heptanoic acid at a molar ratio of 1:2.5. The product obtained was used as a plasticizer for PVC at 5, 10, 15 and 20 parts per hundred (phr) concentration. Thermal and mechanical tests were carried out and the result obtained was compared with the virgin PVC without plasticizer and with conventional plasticizer of PVC, i.e., dioctyl phthalate at 15 phr concentration since new plasticizer showed excellent properties at 15 phr concentration. This newly synthesized plasticizer was completely fused with PVC and in tensile testing helped in increasing the elongation, which was an indication of the plasticization effect shown by this developed material. Glass transition temperature also decreased with an incorporation of the new plasticizer as compared to virgin PVC.     

Studies on auramine dye adsorption on psidium guava leaves

Removal of auramine dye from aqueous waste solutions was investigated by using very cheap and biosorbent, withered guava tree leaves and activated carbon. Guava leaves are readily available in the western and northern parts of India throughout the year, and hence form a cost effective alternative for removal of dyes from waste waters. The optimum contact time was found to be 120 min. in a pH range of 8–9 for 92–94% removal of the dye from aqueous solutions containing 150 mg/L of auramine dye using 2 g of the adsorbent. The effect of pH, dye concentration, sorbent dosage, temperature and contact time on the dye removal efficiency has been studied. Experimental results were found to fit both Freundlich and Langmuir models. Since the dye contains a cationic species, the removal efficiency was highest in a pH range of 8–9. Continuous adsorption studies in a packed column showed 100% removal efficiency for a flow rate of 10 ml·min⁻¹. When compared with the activated carbon, it was also found that adsorbent derived from guava leaves is more efficient in removal of dye.     

Application of aerosol‐spray deposition for determination of fine structure of barley starch using atomic force microscopy

Starch samples extracted from barley cultivars with varying AM concentrations were imaged by AFM using intermittent contact mode. Two different deposition methods were used: a simple solution drop and an aerosol spray deposition. Using the drop deposition method, starch appeared mainly as small particles and aggregated globules, with average heights of 1.8 ± 0.2, 2.7 ± 0.7, and 5.5 ± 1.0 nm, for starch solutions containing increased (38%), normal (25.8%), and undetectable (0%) AM, respectively. The aerosol spray deposition method allowed analysis of individual biopolymer chains of AM and biopolymer fibrils of AP. The image of normal starch showed individual AM chains with an average height of 0.8 ± 0.2 nm, and an average contour length of 178 ± 127 nm. For increased AM starch, the height of individual AM chains was similar to normal starch, but the average contour length was shorter (140 ± 70 nm). All barley starches showed fibril bundles of AP with average heights of 1.9 to 2.9 nm and lengths in the micron size range.     

Silicon nanoelectronics and beyond: An overview and recent developments

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the invention of the first beam-lead device by Lepselter et al. Lepselter and coworkers proposed a method of fabricating a new semiconductor device structure and its application to high-frequency silicon switching transistors and ultra-high-speed integrated circuits. Beam-lead technology, also known as air-bridge technology, has established itself for its unsurpassed reliability in high-frequency silicon switching transistors and ultra-high-speed integrated circuits for telecommunications and missile systems. The beam-lead device became the first example of a commercial microelectromechanical structure (MEMS). Since its inception, MEMS has taken advantage of the evolving silicon technology, resulting in today’s nano-electromechanical structure and nano-optomechanical structure. In this paper, an overview of recent developments of silicon nanoelectronics is presented. For more information, contact N.M. Ravindra, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Interdisciplinary Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Physics, Newark, New Jersey 07102; (973) 596-3278; fax (973) 642-4978; e-mail nmravindra@comcast.net.