Influence of molecular structure of oleoresin-derived compounds on flame properties and emissions from laminar flames.

The search for renewable fuels or components which may improve or replace fossil fuels is an important step towards a sustainable future. In particular, the pine oleoresin produced by conifer trees, which is composed by turpentine oil and non-volatile rosin, may be transformed into alternative fuels. In this work, combustion of six molecules which can be obtained from oleoresin either by distillation (i.e., α- and ß-pinene) or by further oxyfunctionalization (nopol, terpineol, myrtenol, and borneol) was studied to assess the potential of pine oleoresin as raw material for biofuels. Emission indices of the main pollutants (carbon monoxide-CO, unburned hydrocarbons-UHC, and nitrogen oxides-NOx) were obtained in non-premixed co-flow laminar flames of the oleoresin-derived molecules blended with n-heptane. The main characteristics of the flames (i.e., temperature and height) were also determined. Significant increase in flame temperature and reduction in CO and UHC emissions with respect to n-heptane were observed with nopol, terpineol, and myrtenol, along an increase in NOx emissions, suggesting an improvement in combustion performance. In addition, differences in emission indices, evidenced for these molecules (even between α- and ß-pinene), suggest the importance of the molecular structure in the combustion reaction.

Possible role of phytoestrogens in breast cancer via GPER-1/GPR30 signaling.

Estrogens generated within endocrine organs and the reproductive system act as ligands for at least three types of estrogen receptors. Estrogen receptors α (ERα) and ß (ERß) belong to the so-called classical family of estrogen receptors, whereas the G protein-coupled receptor GPR30, also known as GPER-1, has been described as a novel estrogen receptor sited in the cell membrane of target cells. Furthermore, these receptors are under stimulation of a family of exogenous estrogens, known as phytoestrogens, which are a diverse group of non-steroidal plant compounds derived from plant food consumed by humans and animals. Because phytoestrogens are omnipresent in our daily diet, they are becoming increasingly important in both human health and disease. Recent evidence indicates that in addition to classical estrogen receptors, phytoestrogens also activate GPER-1 a relevant observation since GPER-1 is involved in several physiopathological disorders and especially in estrogen-dependent diseases such as breast cancer.The first estrogen receptors discovered were the classical ERα and ERß, but from an evolutionary point of view G protein-coupled receptors trace their origins in history to over a billion years ago suggesting that estrogen receptors like GPER-1 may have been the targets of choice for ancient phytoestrogens and/or estrogens.This review provides a comprehensive and systematic literature search on phytoestrogens and its relationship with classical estrogen receptors and GPER-1 including its role in breast cancer, an issue still under discussion.