Exploiting the beneficial effects of Salvia officinalis L. extracts in human health and assessing their activity as potent functional regulators of food microbiota.

Salvia officinalis L. has attracted scientific and industrial interest due to its pharmacological properties. However, its detailed phytochemical profile and its correlation with beneficial effects in the human microbiome and oxidative stress remained elusive. To unveil this, S. officinalis was collected from the region of Epirus and its molecular identity was verified with DNA barcoding. Phytochemical profile for both aqueous and ethanol-based extracts was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and 103 phytochemicals were determined. The effect of S. officinalis extracts as functional regulators of food microbiota by stimulating the growth of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains and by suppressing evolution of pathogenic bacteria was verified. Furthermore, we recorded that both extracts exhibited a significant cellular protection against H2O2-induced DNA damage. Finally, both extracts exhibited strong inhibitory effect towards LDL oxidation. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of S. officinalis on its phytochemical components as also its potential impact in human microbiome and oxidative stress.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Taro Leaf Antioxidants Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents: An Eco-Friendly Strategy for the Valorization of Crop Residues.

Colocasia esculenta L. leaves are considered a by-product of taro cultivation and are discarded as environmental waste, despite their valuable phenolic composition. Their valorization to obtain value-added substances for medicinal, food, and cosmetic applications is the aim of the current work. An ultrasound-assisted extraction was developed for the environmentally friendly and sustainable isolation of taro leaf antioxidants using natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs). Among the utilized solvents, the NaDES based on betaine and ethylene glycol provided the best extraction efficiencies in terms of polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. Multi-response optimization suggested a solvent-to-solid ratio of 10 mL g-1, a processing time of 60 min, an extraction temperature of 60 °C, and a water content of 33.8% (w/w) as optimal extraction parameters. Leaf extract obtained under these optimum operational parameters demonstrated a strong radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (65.80 ± 0.87%), a high ferric reducing antioxidant power (126.62 ± 1.92 µmol TE g-1 sample), and significant protection against oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. The chromatographic characterization of the optimum extract revealed its richness in flavonoids (flavones and flavonols). The outcomes of the present study suggest that the proposed method could serve as a highly efficient and green alternative for the recovery of polyphenols from agricultural wastes.

Synthetic Analogues of Aminoadamantane as Influenza Viral Inhibitors-In Vitro, In Silico and QSAR Studies.

A series of nineteen amino acid analogues of amantadine (Amt) and rimantadine (Rim) were synthesized and their antiviral activity was evaluated against influenza virus A (H3N2). Among these analogues, the conjugation of rimantadine with glycine illustrated high antiviral activity combined with low cytotoxicity. Moreover, this compound presented a profoundly high stability after in vitro incubation in human plasma for 24 h. Its thermal stability was established using differential and gravimetric thermal analysis. The crystal structure of glycyl-rimantadine revealed that it crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pbca space group. The structure-activity relationship for this class of compounds was established, with CoMFA (Comparative Molecular Field Analysis) 3D-Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (3D-QSAR) studies predicting the activities of synthetic molecules. In addition, molecular docking studies were conducted, revealing the structural requirements for the activity of the synthetic molecules.

Bone regeneration around implants using spherical and granular forms of bioactive glass particles.

PURPOSE: It has been reported that previous Biogran (3i Implant Innovations, Inc., Palm Beach Gardens, FL) can be converted in vitro into hydroxyapatite (Biogran II) to accelerate new bone formation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone regeneration around implants placed in critical-sized defects in rabbit tibia using granular and spherical forms of Biogran II in regards to implant contact, bone-to-graft contact, bone graft area, and total bone volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve adult New Zealand rabbits were used, offering 24 surgical sites (1 in each tibia), where 6-mm round defects were created allowing the homocentric insertion of a screw type experimental implant with Osseotite (3i Implant Innovations, Inc.) surface. Half of the defects (group A) were filled up with spherical and half (group B) with granular forms of Biogran II. Ossix (3i Implant Innovations, Inc.) membranes covered the surgical sites. RESULTS: The histological evaluation after 8 weeks showed new bone formation in both groups, without any statistically significant differences in regards to bone-to-implant contact, bone-to-graft contact, bone graft area, and bone volume. Both dissolution of the outer shell and inner silica gel of the particles were observed mostly in spherical particles. In addition, new bone formation within the protected pouch interconnected with the surrounding new bone was observed exclusively in spherical particles of Biogran II. CONCLUSION: Faster dissolution of both outer and inner portions of spherical particles of Biogran II led to better integration with the surrounding new bone during an 8-week period of healing.

The role of temperature in the action of local anesthetics: a double study in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this study was the examination of the role of temperature in the action of lidocaine via electrophysiological recordings on the sciatic nerve of the rat in vitro and in vivo. 20 Male Wistar rats were used in each type of experiment. In vitro, lidocaine shows no statistically significant difference regarding the onset of anesthesia but at the temperature of 25 degrees C it is significantly more potent on the establishment of anesthesia compared to the temperature of 36.5 degrees C. In vivo, lidocaine at the temperature of 4 degrees C is statistically significantly more effective in the establishment and the duration of anesthesia related to the temperature of 20 degrees C.

Concentration of organic compounds in natural waters with solid-phase dispersion based on advesicle modified silica prior to liquid chromatography.

The ability of vesicle-coated silica to aid the extraction of organic compounds from water prior to liquid chromatographic analysis is presented for the first time. The method is based on the formation of silica supported cationic multi-lamellar vesicles of gemini surfactants inherently ensuring the presence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic sites for the partitioning of analytes bearing different properties. Method development is illustrated by studying the adsolubilization of UV absorbing chemicals from swimming pool water. Due to the requirement for external energy input (intense shearing) a method based on solid-phase dispersion (SPD) was applied producing better results than off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE). Meticulous investigation of the experimental parameters was conducted in order to elucidate the mechanisms behind the proposed extraction pattern. Analyte recoveries were quantitative under the optimum experimental conditions offering recoveries higher than 96% with RSD values below 5%.

Effect of autogenous harvest site location on the outcome of ridge augmentation for implant dehiscences.

Treatment planning for the placement of an implant in a site with a thin crestal ridge should address the probability that a buccal dehiscence will result. The aim of the present investigation was to perform guided bone regeneration (GBR) around implants with buccal dehiscences and evaluate the outcomes of using autogenous bone grafts harvested from three different intraoral sites. Forty-six Osseotite implants, 4 mm in diameter, were placed in thin crestal ridges, resulting in an uncovered implant surface from the buccal aspect. The lengths of the buccal dehiscences ranged from 3 to 7 mm as measured from the implant cervix to the most apical extent of the uncovered threads. A standard GBR technique was carried out to augment the bone defect around the buccal implant surface immediately after implant placement. The cases were divided into three groups according to receipt of an autogenous bone graft from the ramus, tuberosity, or mandibular symphysis. In all cases, e-PTFE membranes were used to cover the grafted areas. Grafted sites were exposed after 6 months, membranes were removed, and residual distance between the implant cervix and most uncovered thread was recorded. All grafting materials were able to produce a certain degree of bone regeneration. In terms of bone change level, the three groups were not equal. The mandibular symphysis group exhibited the highest mean bone growth level, followed by the ramus group. The tuberosity produced the poorest result. Mandibular and ramus autogenous bone grafts represent the best choice in materials for GBR procedures around implants, while tuberosity bone grafts can be used as an alternative.

Multivariate chemometrics for the forensic discrimination of blue ball-point pen inks based on their Vis spectra.

Fifty blue ball-point pen inks of five different brands were examined on the basis of the Vis spectrum of their ethanolic solutions with a view to achieving good discrimination between them. Samples were dissolved in absolute ethanol and their absorbance values in the range of 400-750 nm, after appropriate transformations, were used as variables in the multivariate statistical techniques of cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA). These techniques were used successively so that an effective and meaningful discriminant model was calculated in the final step. The initial 351 variables (log10 transformed ink absorption values at each wavelength) were subjected to a K-means CA over the objects (samples) and only 20 variables were retained. Principal component analysis was used to detect any outliers (four samples were removed) and the remaining samples were re-subjected to PCA to decide how many variables to enter into DA and whether original variables or components should be used. It was found that the first three principal components (in accordance with the Kaiser criterion) were good descriptors of the 20 original variables (96.97% of the data variance was explained) and their use as latent variables in DA lead to low average variable redundancy (33.6%) in the discriminant model. The calculated model had a Wilks' lambda of 8.98 x 10(-5) and was statistically significant at the P = 0.05 level. The post hoc classification of the training dataset was 100% correct. From the DA results and the component loadings it was found that discrimination was achieved on the basis of differences in the shape of the absorption bands as well as their relative intensities. The method was therefore deemed appropriate for supporting exclusionary forensic purposes.