Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol and γ-Cyclodextrin on the Hematological and Biochemical Parameters of Healthy Wistar Rats Treated with Cisplatin: A PCA Approach.

It is well known that platinum-based antineoplastic agents, including cisplatin (CP), have side effects that limit their use. Nefrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and hemolytic anemia are the most common side effects. There are few studies on the reduction in these effects that involves nanoencapsulation; however, almost none involve cyclodextrins (CDs). Changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters of healthy Wistar rats treated with solutions of γ-cyclodextrin/resveratrol/cisplatin (γ-CD/Rv/CP) ternary complexes are investigated for the first time. They are intraperitoneally injected with γ-CD/Rv/CP solutions containing 5 mg CP/kg.b.w. Single shots were administered to six groups of Wistar rats (six individuals for every group) using γ-CD/Rv/CP, γ-CD/CP, γ-CD/Rv complexes, as well as positive- and negative-control groups, respectively. Thirty-two hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated from blood samples and used as input variables for the principal component analysis (PCA) discrimination of the groups. The best protection was obtained for the γ-CD/Rv/CP ternary complex, which determined closer biochemical values to the control group. These values significantly differ from those of the γ-CD/CP treated group, especially for the IP, UA, and T-Pro kidney-related biochemical parameters. This finding proves the beneficial influence of Rv during CP administration through CD-based carriers.

Estimation of the Controlled Release of Antioxidants from ß-Cyclodextrin/Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) or Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.), Asteraceae, Hydrophilic Extract Complexes through the Fast and Cheap Spectrophotometric Technique.

This is the first study on the modeling of the controlled release of the estimated antioxidants (flavonoids or flavonolignans) from ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD)/hydrophilic vegetable extract complexes and the modeling of transdermal pharmaceutical formulations based on these complexes using an overall estimation by the spectrophotometric method. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model was chosen for evaluating the release mechanisms. ß-CD/chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L., Asteraceae) ethanolic extract and ß-CD/milk thistle (Silybum marianum L., Asteraceae) ethanolic extract complexes were obtained by the co-crystallization method with good recovering yields of 55-76%, slightly lower than for ß-CD/silibinin or silymarin complexes (~87%). According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Karl Fischer water titration (KFT), the thermal stability of complexes is similar to ß-CD hydrate while the hydration water content is lower, revealing the formation of molecular inclusion complexes. In the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, ß-CD/M. chamomilla flower extract complexes reveal Case II transport mechanisms, while the corresponding complexes with leaf extracts indicate non-Fickian diffusion for the controlled release of antioxidants in ethanol 60 and 96%. The same non-Fickian diffusion was revealed by ß-CD/S. marianum extract and ß-CD/silibinin complexes. On the contrary, almost all model transdermal pharmaceutical formulations based on ß-CD/M. chamomilla extract complexes and all those based on ß-CD/S. marianum extract complexes revealed non-Fickian diffusion for the antioxidant release. These results indicate that H-bonding is mainly involved in the diffusion of antioxidants into a ß-CD based matrix, while the controlled release of antioxidants in model formulations is mainly due to hydrophobic interactions. Results obtained in this study can be further used for studying the particular antioxidants (namely rutin or silibinin, quantified, for example, by liquid chromatographic techniques) for their transdermal transport and biological effects in innovatively designed pharmaceutical formulations that can be obtained using "green" methods and materials.

FTIR-PCA Approach on Raw and Thermally Processed Chicken Lipids Stabilized by Nano-Encapsulation in ß-Cyclodextrin.

This study evaluated similarities/dissimilarities of raw and processed chicken breast and thigh lipids that were complexed by ß-cyclodextrin, using a combined FTIR-PCA technique. Lipid fractions were analyzed as non-complexed and ß-cyclodextrin-complexed samples via thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and ATR-FTIR. The lipid complexation reduced the water content to 7.67-8.33%, in comparison with the ß-cyclodextrin hydrate (~14%). The stabilities of the complexes and ß-cyclodextrin were almost the same. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the presence of important bands that corresponded to the C=O groups (1743-1744 cm-1) in both the non-complexed and nano-encapsulated lipids. Furthermore, the bands that corresponded to the vibrations of double bonds corresponding to the natural/degraded (cis/trans) fatty acids in lipids appeared at 3008-3011 and 938-946 cm-1, respectively. The main FTIR bands that were involved in the discrimination of raw and processed chicken lipids, and of non-complexed and complexed lipids, were evaluated with PCA. The shifting of specific FTIR band wavenumbers had the highest influence, especially vibrations of the α(1→4) glucosidic bond in ß-cyclodextrin for PC1, and CH2/3 groups from lipids for PC2. This first approach on ß-cyclodextrin nano-encapsulation of chicken lipids revealed the possibility to stabilize poultry fatty components for further applications in various ingredients for the food industry.

Antioxidant Activity and Discrimination of Organic Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) Cultivated in the Western Region of Romania: A DPPH· Kinetics-PCA Approach.

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most used fruit for beverages in Romania. The goal of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and discrimination of various parts of organic and non-organic apple varieties cultivated in the western region of Romania using the DPPH kinetics-PCA (principal component analysis) approach. Organic and non-organic apples were subjected to solid-liquid ethanol extraction. Core and shell extracts were mixed with DPPH· and spectrophotometrically monitored at 517 nm. Antioxidant activity and mean DPPH· reaction rate at various time ranges reveal significant differences between organic and non-organic samples, as well as apple parts. Organic core and shell extracts had higher antioxidant activities than the corresponding non-organic samples (74.5-96.9% and 61.9-97.2%, respectively, 23.5-94.3% and 59.5-95.5%). Significant differences were observed for the DPPH· reaction rate for the first ½ min, especially in the presence of organic core extracts (3.7-4.8 µM/s). The organic samples were well discriminated by DPPH· kinetics-PCA, the most important variables being the DPPH· reaction rate for the first time range. This is the first DPPH· kinetics-PCA approach applied for discriminating between organic and non-organic fruits and can be useful for evaluating the quality of such type of fruits.

A DPPH· Kinetic Approach on the Antioxidant Activity of Various Parts and Ripening Levels of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Ethanolic Extracts.

Papaya fruits (Carica papaya L.) are valuable both as food, including concentrates and mixed beverages and in traditional medicine. The goal of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of various parts of unripe and ripe papaya fruit from the DPPH· kinetics point of view. Peel, pulp, seed, and seed-pulp of unripe and ripe papaya fruits (» and >¾ level of ripening) were extracted with ethanol and monitored at 517 nm in the presence of DPPH·. The radical scavenging capacity (RSC) at various time ranges and DPPH· reaction rates for specific time intervals were determined. The highest RSC values were obtained for papaya pulp extracts, consistently higher for the ripe samples in comparison with the unripe ones (86.4% and 41.3%). The DPPH· rates significantly differ for the unripe and ripe papaya extracts, especially for the first time range. They are more than double for the ripe papaya. These values were 2.70, 4.00, 3.25, 2.75 µM/s for the peel, pulp, seed, seed-pulp extracts from the ripe papaya and only 1.00, 1.65, 1.40, 1.80 µM/s for the unripe samples. DPPH· kinetic approach can be useful for a fast and simple evaluation of the overall antioxidant properties of fruit extracts.

Influence of novel gallium complexes on the homeostasis of some biochemical and hematological parameters in rats.

The aim of this study was to detect possible homeostasis changes in some biochemical and hematological parameters after the administration of gallium (Ga) complexes C (24) and C (85) on an experimental animal model (Wistar strain rats). In order to observe chronobiological aspects, a morning (m) and an evening (e) animal series were constituted. Further on, each series were divided into three groups: control (C), experimental I (EI), and experimental II (EII). Both Ga complexes were solubilized in a carrier solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400, water, and ethanol. Animals of the C groups received the carrier solution by intraperitoneal injection, those from the EI groups received the solubilized C(24) gallium complex, and those of the EII groups received the solubilized C(85) gallium complex. At the end of the experiment, blood and tissue samples were taken and the following parameters were determined: serum concentration of the nonprotein nitrogenous compounds (uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen), hematological parameters (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, leukocytes, and platelets), and the kidney tissue concentration of three essential trace elements (Fe, Cu, and Zn). With the exception of uric acid, the results revealed increased concentrations of the nonprotein nitrogenous compounds both in the morning and in the evening experimental groups. Hematological data showed increased levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and leukocytes and decreased platelet levels in the experimental group given the C(24) gallium complex in the morning (EI-m) group; increased levels of leukocytes and decreased levels of the other parameters in the experimental group given the C(24) gallium complex in the evening (EI-e) group; and increased levels of all hematological parameters in the experimental groups receiving the C(85) gallium complex in the morning (EII-m) group and in the evening (EII-e) group. Decreased kidney tissue concentrations of metals were found in all the experimental groups. Fe levels were significantly decreased in the EI-m receiving the C(24) gallium complex and EII-m which received the C(85) gallium complex and in the EII-e group which received the C(85) gallium complex. In the EI-e group which received the C(24) gallium complex, a significant decrease of Cu concentration was reported.