The action of clove (Syzygium aromaticum ) and thyme ( Thymus vulgaris) essential oils in the control of Acanthhoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in laboratory.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of essential oils of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) on the control of Acanthoscelides obtectus in laboratory conditions. The extraction of the oils was executed by the hydro-distillation method in a Clevenger device, for 4 hours and the design used was completely randomized, with five replications, in a 10x8 factorial arrangement (dozes and exposition time) with ten concentrations (20; 10; 5; 2.5; 1.75; 0.75; 0.5; 0.25 and 0.0% and Tween® 5.0%). Each replication was comprised by 10 unsexed insects of A. obtectus. The variables evaluated are as follows: control efficiency and CL50 through the Proc Probit analysis. The evaluations were carried out in 1, 2, 3, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after the treatment. The results demonstrate that the essential oils of cloves and thyme caused 100% of mortality after 48 and 72 hours, respectively, in the 20% concentration. The Cl50 was estimated at 30.46 µL mL-1 for the oil of cloves and 24.93 µL mL-1 for the oil of thyme. The use of essential oils of cloves and thyme represent a viable alternative for use in storehouses for the integrated management of A. obtectus.

Preliminary efficiency evaluation of development methods applied to aged sebaceous latent fingermarks.

Latent fingermarks are important trace evidence found in crime scenes mainly used for identification purposes. Once deposited, the composition of samples changes over time influencing the efficacy of latent fingermark development methods. In this sense, the aims of this work were to characterize the fatty acid (FA) profile of sebaceous latent fingermarks by GC-FID and to preliminarily evaluate the development efficiency of enhancement methods (powder dusting, iodine fuming and silver nitrate method) in a 30-day period of aging under controlled parameters of temperature, photoperiod and humidity. Results showed that myristic (7.51 ± 0.76% - 13.39 ± 1.26%), palmitic (35.91 ± 1.07% - 40.81 ± 2.52%), stearic (6.67 ± 0.36% - 9.13 ± 0.36%) and oleic (18.08 ± 0.25% - 20.93 ± 0.26%) acid varied significantly (p < 0.05) over the 30-day period of analysis. Regarding development efficiency, fluorescent orange powder and the silver nitrate method also increased their efficacy to develop latent fingermarks over time while the iodine fuming method decreased its efficiency. Silver black powder had constant efficacy in the tested period. Changes in the constitution of sebaceous marks possibly influenced the development efficiency of enhancement techniques. This knowledge is important to better understand the kinetic of aging and its influence on the development method.

Bioactivity and composition of lipophilic metabolites extracted from Antarctic macroalgae.

Macroalgae comprise a vast group of aquatic organisms known for their richness in phytochemicals. In this sense, the lipophilic profile of five Antarctic seaweed species was characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis and their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential was evaluated. Results showed there were 31 lipophilic substances, mainly fatty acids (48.73 ± 0.77 to 331.91 ± 10.79 mg.Kg-1), sterols (14.74 ± 0.74 to 321.25 ± 30.13 mg.Kg-1), and alcohols (13.07 ± 0.04 to 91.87 ± 30.07 mg.Kg-1). Moreover, Desmarestia confervoides had strong antioxidant activity, inhibiting 86.03 ± 1.47% of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical at 1 mg.mL-1. Antimicrobial evaluation showed that extracts from Ulva intestinalis, Curdiea racovitzae, and Adenocystis utricularis inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028) from concentrations of 1.5 to 6 mg.mL-1. Therefore, the evaluated brown, red, and green macroalgae contained several phytochemicals with promising biological activities that could be applied in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and food industries.

A novel biodegradable film based on κ-carrageenan activated with olive leaves extract.

This research focused on the development of carrageenan based biodegradable films incorporated with olive leaves extract (OLE). OLE microbial inhibition and its total phenolics (TP) were evaluated. Carrageenan films were produced by casting technique and were characterized by thickness, water vapor permeability (WVP), color, mechanical properties, and infrared spectroscopy. In order to apply as lamb meat packaging, the antimicrobial effect of the films was investigated. Results showed that OLE inhibited E. coli growth and presented excellent TP (41.40 mgGAE/g). Thicknesses of the film with OLE (CAR-OLE) were approximately 28% higher than film without OLE. Addition of OLE reduced the WVP by approximately 54%. CAR-OLE was less resistant to breakage and more flexible showing darker color. FTIR showed interaction of carrageenan with OLE. Results revealed that CAR-OLE promoted 167-fold reduction in initial count of aerobic mesophiles indicating shelf-life extension of lamb meat and promising use as antimicrobial food packaging.

Analytical approaches applied to the analysis of apprehended formulations of anabolic androgenic steroids.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) comprise a class of synthetic androgens resulting from chemical modifications of testosterone, known for their illicit consumption, which can result inextensive side effects. Extraction procedures applied to the analysis of their formulations are still limited to a few methodologies, despite the increasing numbers of confiscations of AASs. In this sense, the aims of this work were to evaluate the extraction of active ingredients from formulations of anabolic agents using solid-liquid or liquid-iquid, ultrasonic bath, ultrasonicprobe, and microwave-assisted extraction. The results indicated that the extraction procedures influenced the detected concentration of AASs, as the use of ultrasonic probe and microwave irradiation increased the overall extraction of anabolic agents compared with solid-liquid, liquid-liquid, and ultrasonic bath. Regarding oxymetholone, for instance, the microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasonic probe extracted, respectively, 37.46 ± 1.36 and 35.69 ± 0.98 mg/tablet, while solid-liquid extracted 29.63 ± 0.40 mg/tablet of the activeingredient. Therefore, alternative methods such as microwave-assisted extraction or theultrasonic probe could be used for the analysis of formulations of AASs assisting with the identification of illicit and toxic components.

Synthesis and characterization of monoacylglycerols through glycerolysis of ethyl esters derived from linseed oil by green processes.

The synthesis of monoacylglycerol (MAG) through the glycerolysis of ethyl ester mixture (biodiesel) was investigated in this study from linseed oil, low-cost alternative feedstock, using an alkaline catalyst with green reagent. The transesterification double step process (TDSP), reaction with ethanol to ethyl esters yielded 97%. In the glycerolysis reaction, the optimum operating condition was in a temperature of 130 °C with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in 1 : 5 biodiesel-glycerol and 12 h reaction time, in open reactor. The reaction conditions showed an interesting conversion and monoacylglycerol yield of 98% and 76%, respectively. The determination and characterization of reaction products was carried out by Gas Chromatography (GC) method, Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Hydrogen Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H NMR).

Staining protocols to improve the detection of composite restorations in human identification.

INTRODUCTION: The improvement of aesthetic properties of dental materials has hampered the work of forensic experts in cases of identification. Even in dental practice, the identification of the margins of restorations has become a challenge. OBJECTIVE: To establish protocols to improve the visual contrast between teeth and composites using dyes. METHOD: Anterior and premolar human teeth were chosen (n = 40) and class V cavities were made in the lingual/palatal and buccal surfaces. Ten commercially available dyes were dissolved in distilled water. Three protocols were proposed using phosphoric acid (Gphos) and hydrofluoric acid (Ghydro) for 60 s followed by application of the dye for 20 s. The control group (Gcontrol) was acid free, i.e. only distilled water was applied. Data was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn´s tests. RESULTS: Analyses showed that darker dyes, such as crystal violet, methylene blue, malachite green and neutral red, had better results (p < 0.001). The composite brand did not influence the results (p > 0.05). Both Gphos and Ghydro were effective in discriminating restorations when compared to Gcontrol (p > 0.001). No differences were detected between Gphos and Ghydro protocols (p > 0.05). In Gphos, the enamel surface was stained leaving the restoration without pigmentation. Oppositely, in Ghydro the composite filling was coloured, but not the enamel. In Gcontrol, both enamel and restoration were stained indistinctively. CONCLUSION: Tooth etching with either phosphoric or hydrofluoric acids was suitable to discriminate the presence of aesthetic dental fillings.

Microwave-assisted extraction and differential scanning calorimetry in the chemical identification of sliming agents apprehended in the south region of Brazil.

Over the past decades, consume of slimming agents considerably increased in several countries, including Brazil, due to weight-loss and stimulant properties. Since these drugs are controlled to prevent illicit and indiscriminate use, there is a parallel illegal market that uses the Internet and irregular pharmacies in order to distribute these formulations. Slimming agents produced by these illegal sources are known for being manufactured with little or none quality control resulting in uncertain and unknown formulations. For forensic purposes, apprehended pharmaceuticals have to undergo a process of chemical identification that can be difficult due to its complex matrix. In this sense, application of assisted energies in the extraction step such as microwave irradiation can be a promising method to increase the recuperation of the target molecules of the sample. Therefore, the aim of this research was to identify four slimming agents apprehended in Brazil by means of visual inspection, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry. Moreover, the efficiency of solid-liquid extraction and microwave-assisted extraction was compared. It should be noted that our work was one of the few to use Differential Scanning Calorimetry and the application of microwave irradiation in the analysis of apprehended materials. Results showed that the majority of the samples was counterfeit being composed of one or several adulterants or contaminants. Initially, visual inspection resourcefully screened the slimming agents for possible signs of falsification, however it failed to detect fraudulent products that were very similar to veridical medicines. Sequentially, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy detected functional groups present in the samples while the presence or absence of the alleged active ingredients were successfully measured with Differential Scanning Calorimetry and, thus, providing a full chemical screening of the apprehended materials. Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry confirmed the presence of adulterants such as caffeine, fluoxetine and phenolphthalein as well as contaminants such as sulfurol in the falsified samples. Finally, comparison of extraction procedures indicated that microwave-assisted extraction increased the recovery of compounds detected in chromatographic analysis to a greater extent than solid-liquid extraction.

Macroalgae Extracts From Antarctica Have Antimicrobial and Anticancer Potential.

Background: Macroalgae are sources of bioactive compounds due to the large number of secondary metabolites they synthesize. The Antarctica region is characterized by extreme weather conditions and abundant aggregations of macroalgae. However, current knowledge on their biodiversity and their potential for bio-prospecting is still fledging. This study evaluates the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of different extracts of four macroalgae (Cystosphaera jacquinotii, Iridaea cordata, Himantothallus grandifolius, and Pyropia endiviifolia) from the Antarctic region against cancer and non-cancer cell lines. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of macroalgae was evaluated by the broth microdilution method. Extracts were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 19095, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 4083, Escherichia coli ATCC29214, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida albicans ATCC 62342, and the clinical isolates from the human oral cavity, namely, C. albicans (3), C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. lipolytica, and C. famata. Cytotoxicity against human epidermoid carcinoma (A-431) and mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cell lines was evaluated with MTT colorimetric assay. Results: An ethyl acetate extract of H. grandifolius showed noticeable antifungal activity against all fungal strains tested, including fluconazole-resistant samples. Cytotoxicity investigation with a cancer cell line revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of I. cordata was highly cytotoxic against A-431 cancer cell line, increasing the inhibitory ratio to 91.1 and 95.6% after 24 and 48 h exposure, respectively, for a concentration of 500 µg mL-1. Most of the algal extracts tested showed little or no cytotoxicity against fibroblasts. Conclusion: Data suggest that macroalgae extracts from Antarctica may represent a source of therapeutic agents. HIGHLIGHTS Different macroalgae samples from Antarctica were collected and the lyophilized biomass of each macroalgae was extracted sequentially with different solventsThe antimicrobial and anticancer potential of macroalgae extracts were evaluatedEthyl acetate extract of H. grandifolius showed noticeable antifungal activity against all the fungal strains tested, including fluconazole-resistant samplesEthyl acetate extract of I. cordata was highly cytotoxic against the A-431 cancer cell lineMost of the algal extracts tested showed little or no cytotoxicity against normal cell lines.

Apoptotic effect of chalcone derivatives of 2-acetylthiophene in human breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: A variety of chalcones have demonstrated cytotoxic activity toward several cancer cell lines. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of four chalcones derivatives of 2-acetylthiophene in human breast cancer cell lines. METHODS: MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with synthesized chalcones and the cytotoxicity was evaluated by tetrazolium dye (MTT), live/dead, and DAPI assays. RESULTS: Chalcones significantly decreased MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells viability in vitro in a dose dependent manner. After 48h treatment, the IC50 values ranging from 5.52 to 34.23µM. Chalcone 3c displayed the highest cytotoxic activity from all the tested compounds. Cytotoxic effects of compounds were confirmed in the live/dead assay. In addition, DAPI staining revealed that these compounds induce death by apoptosis. CONCLUSION: The data speculate that chalcone derivatives of 2-acetylthiophene may represent a source of therapeutic agents for human breast cancer.

Recent advances on the green synthesis and antioxidant activities of pyrazoles.

Pyrazoles have a representative history in medicinal chemistry. These nucleuses, molecules of synthetic origin, constitute a group of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. Available literature particularly shows a variety of pyrazoles with antioxidant effect. In this connection, this review describes the advances on the green synthesis of pyrazoles with antioxidant activity, mainly covering the data published over the last seven years (2008-2014).

Aliphatic fatty acids and esters: inhibition of growth and exoenzyme production of Candida, and their cytotoxicity in vitro: anti-Candida effect and cytotoxicity of fatty acids and esters.

The secretion of extracellular phospholipases and proteinases of Candida has been described as a relevant virulence factor in human infections. Aliphatic fatty acids have antimicrobial properties, but the mechanism by which they affect the virulence factors of microorganisms, such as Candida, is still unclear, and there are a few reports about their toxicity. The current study investigated the in vitro antifungal activity, exoenzyme production and cytotoxicity of some aliphatic fatty acids and their ester derivatives against the Candida species. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentrations of aliphatic medium-chain fatty acids, methyl and ethyl esters were performed using the CLSI M27-A3 method and the cytotoxicity assay was performed according to ISO 10993-5. The influence of these compounds in the inhibition of the production of hydrolytic enzymes, phospholipases and proteinases by Candida was also investigated. Data analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVA method (p≤0.05). In relation to the MIC against Candida species, the fatty acid with the best result was Lauric acid, although its ester derivatives showed no activity. The inhibition of phospholipase production was more significant than the inhibition of proteinase production by Candida. Tested fatty acids revealed more than 80% cell viability in their MIC concentrations. Additionally, a cell viability of 100% was reported at concentrations of anti-enzymatic effect. Therefore, the potential use of these fatty acids could be the basis for more antimicrobial tests.

Anti-Candida, anti-enzyme activity and cytotoxicity of 3,5-diaryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboximidamides.

Because of the need for more effective and less harmful antifungal therapies, and interest in the synthesis of new carboximidamides, the goal of this study was to determine the antifungal and anti-enzyme activities of some new pyrazole carboximidamides and their cytotoxicity. For this purpose, tests were performed to evaluate: minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC); production of proteinases and phospholipase, and cytotoxicity of the extracts. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey Tests (α = 5%). The results were: MIC and MFC ≥ 62.5 µg/mL (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. famata, C. glabrata, and Rhodotorula mucillaginosa) and MIC and MFC ≥ 15.6 µg/mL (C. lipolytica). The values of proteinase and phospholipase (Pz) of C. albicans before and after exposure to the compounds were: 0.6 (±0.024) and 0.2 (±0.022) and 0.9 (±0.074) and 0.3 (±0.04), respectively. These proteinase results were not significant (p = 0.69), but those of phospholipase were (p = 0.01), and 15.6 µg/mL was the most effective concentration. The cytotoxicity means were similar among the tests (p = 0.32). These compounds could be useful as templates for further development through modification or derivatization to design more potent antifungal agents. Data from this study provide evidence that these new pyrazole formulations could be an alternative source for the treatment of fungal infections caused by Candida. However, a specific study on the safety and efficacy of these in vivo and clinical trials is still needed, in order to evaluate the practical relevance of the in vitro results.

Sonochemistry: a good, fast and clean method to promote the synthesis of 5-arylidene-2,4-thiazolidinediones.

The efficient synthesis of sixteen 5-arylidene-2,4-thiazolidinediones by aldol condensation reaction of 2,4-thiazolidinedione, mono- and di-substituted arenealdehydes and KOH using ultrasound irradiation is reported. The desired compounds were obtained in a few min (10-30 min) with moderate to good yields (25-81%).

Eugenol derivatives as potential anti-oxidants: is phenolic hydroxyl necessary to obtain an effect?

OBJECTIVES: Eugenol, obtained from clove oil (Eugenia caryophyllata), possess several biological activities. It is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anaesthesic, antipyretic, antiplatelet, anti-anaphylactic, anticonvulsant, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, antidepressant, antifungal and antiviral. The anti-oxidant activity of eugenol have already been proven. From this perspective testing, a series of planned structural derivatives of eugenol were screened to perform structural optimization and consequent increase of the potency of these biological activities. METHODS: In an attempt to increase structural variability, 16 compounds were synthesized by acylation and alkylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group. Anti-oxidant activity capacity was based on the capture of DPPH radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl), ABTS radical 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), measure of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive species), total sulfhydryl and carbonyl content (eugenol derivatives final concentrations range from 50 to 200 µm). KEY FINDINGS: Four derivatives presented an efficient concentration to decrease 50% of the DPPH radical (EC50 ) < 100 µm, which has a good potential as a free-radical scavenger. Three of these compounds also showed reduction of ABTS radical. Eugenol derivatives presenting alkyl or aryl (alkylic or arylic) groups substituting hydroxyl 1 of eugenol were effective in reducing lipid peroxidation, protein oxidative damage by carbonyl formation and increase total thiol content in cerebral cortex homogenates. In liver, the eugenol derivatives evaluated had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that these molecules are promising anti-oxidants agents.

Efficient synthesis and antioxidant evaluation of 2-aryl-3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-thiazolidinones.

In the present study, we reported the efficient synthesis of 11 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-thiazolidinones in good yields using molecular sieve as the desiccant agent. In addition, we have evaluated the antioxidant capacity of the synthesized compounds by the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH•) and the 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS(+•) ) radicals scavenging assay. Six compounds showed antioxidant activity towards DPPH• (EC50 between 16.13 and 49.94 µg/mL) and also demonstrated excellent activity regarding ABTS(+•) (TEAC: 10.32-53.52). These results showed that compounds 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-thiazolidinones may be easily synthesized by a less expensive procedure and could be a good starting point to the development of new antioxidant compounds.

Antioxidant properties and UV absorbance pattern of mycosporine-like amino acids analogs synthesized in an environmentally friendly manner.

In current study, we report efficient and clean procedure for preparing mycosporine-like amino acids (MMAs) analogs and evaluate their ultraviolet absorbance properties and antioxidant activities. The ultraviolet radiation absorbance patterns of the compounds were recorded and then used to define their molar absorptivities. The antioxidant activities were assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide radical scavenging assays. Eight of nine compounds showed good activity against superoxide radicals, as only one of the analogs exhibited a measurable IC50 in the DPPH assay.

Synthesis, antifungal and cytotoxic activities of 2-aryl-3-((piperidin-1-yl)ethyl)thiazolidinones.

A series of sixteen novel thiazolidinone derivatives were synthesized from the efficient one-pot reaction of 2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethylamine, arenealdehydes and mercaptoacetic acid in good yields. Identification and characterization of products were achieved by NMR and GC-MS techniques. The in vitro antifungal activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated against seven fungi: Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Cryptococcus laurentii, Geotrichum sp, Trichosporon asahii and Rhodotorula sp. The results are expressed as the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) and the best results were found against the Rhodotorula sp yeast. Two thiazolidinones (4h and 4l), MIC and MFC (16.5 µg/mL) proved to be 1.6 times more active than fluconazole and four of them (4b, 4e, 4g and 4k (MIC and MFC 25 µg/mL)) showed similar activity of standard drug to Rhodotorula sp. In addition, the cytotoxicity of thiazolidinones 4a-p was evaluated on cultured Vero cells and most of them displayed low toxicity (above 98 µg/mL). These preliminary and important results could be considered a starting point for the development of new antifungal agents.

Ultrasound assisted efficient conversion of aromatic aldehydes from oximes.

This work describes the ultrasound-assisted regeneration of aldehydes from oximes in ethanol and phosphoric acid as mediator of the reaction. The large scale regeneration of benzaldehyde was shown under similar conditions. The products were isolated in good yields after short reaction times under mild conditions.

Algae of economic importance that accumulate cadmium and lead: a review

Currently, algae and algae products are extensively applied in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Algae are the main organisms that take up and store heavy metals. Therefore, the use of compounds derived from algae by the pharmaceutical industry should be closely monitored for possible contamination. The pollution generated by heavy metals released by industrial and domestic sources causes serious changes in the aquatic ecosystem, resulting in a loss of biological diversity and a magnification and bioaccumulation of toxic agents in the food chain. Since algae are at the bottom of the aquatic food chain, they are the most important vector for transfer of pollution to upper levels of the trophic chain in aquatic environments. Moreover, microalgae are also used for the bioremediation of wastewater, a process that does not produce secondary pollution, that enables efficient recycling of nutrients and that generates biomass useful for the production of bioactive compounds and biofuel.