Etherification of Glycerol with Propylene or 1-Butene for Fuel Additives.

The etherification of glycerol with propylene over acidic heterogeneous catalysts, Amberlyst-15, S100, and S200 resins, produced mono-propyl glycerol ethers (MPGEs), 1,3-di- and 1,2-di-propyl glycerol ethers (DPGEs), and tri-propyl glycerol ether (TPGE). The propylation of glycerol over Amberlyst-15 yielded only TPGE. The glycerol etherification with 1-butene over Amberlyst-15 and S200 resins produced 1-mono-, 2-mono-, 1,2-di-, and 1,3-di-butyl glycerol ethers (1-MBGE, 2-MBGE, 1,2-DBGE, and 1,3-DBGE). The use of Amberlyst-15 resulted in the propylation and butylation of glycerol with higher yields than those obtained from the S100 and S200 resins. The PGEs, TPGE, and BGEs were evaluated as cold flow improvers and octane boosters. These alkyl glycerol ethers can reduce the cloud point of blended palm biodiesels with diesel. They can increase the research octane number and the motor octane number of gasoline.

Clinical evaluation of Gac extract (Momordica cochinchinensis) in an antiwrinkle cream formulation.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis) extract and to clinically evaluate a Gac-containing antiwrinkle cream formulation. Gac extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity than vitamin C or E, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 41.25 ± 0.34 mg TEAC/ml extract), 2, 2'-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothialine-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS, 47.70 ± 0.18 mg TEAC/ml extract), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 105.03 ± 2.326 mg TEAC/ml extract) scavenging. The antioxidant activity of Gac extract was 5.85- and 11.75-fold higher than that of vitamin E in the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The FRAP assay indicated that the antioxidant activity of Gac extract was 2.91-fold higher than that of vitamin C. Gac extract also exhibited high tyrosinase inhibition (62.83% ± 1.99%). The tyrosinase inhibition activity of Gac extract was 1.51- and 2.06-fold greater than that of vitamins C and E, respectively. The safety and efficacy of the formulated Gac extract cream as an antiwrinkle agent and its promotion of skin moisturization and smoothness were investigated. Evaluation of acute skin tolerance indicated nonirritating properties. A clinical study revealed increases in cutaneous hydration. Average roughness was decreased, while smoothness was increased. Skin overlook analysis indicated skin roughness relief. These results indicate that the formulated Gac extract product is an effective antiwrinkle cream.

Rapidly stopping hemorrhage by enhancing blood clotting at an opened wound using chitosan/polylactic acid/polycaprolactone wound dressing device.

Doxycycline and monosodium glutamate (MSG) loaded chitosan (CHI)/polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) blend film was studied as a model device to deliver drug to targeted human organ which in this case was the skin with opened wound. The CHI/PLA/PCL blend film containing 60 % CHI, 28 % PLA, and 12 % PCL exhibited the good properties for making the dressing device. It was observed that doxycycline/MSG loaded CHI/PLA/PCL blend film could rapidly deliver both doxycycline and MSG at the high release percentage approaching 100 % loaded. MSG accelerated blood clotting and fibrin formation; thus, it exhibited the good hemostatic activity. The antibacterial activity of doxycycline loaded CHI/PLA/PCL blend film against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as model bacteria was investigated. Doxycycline release played the crucial role in bacterial inhibition as observed from the lowest bacterial cell dry weight observed when compared with the control bacterial culture or the bacterial cultures with the presence of other films studied.

Theoretical models of separation selectivity for charged compounds in micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Equations and theoretical models for MEKC separation selectivity (α(MEKC) ) were established to explain a change in separation and electrophoretic mobility order of fully charged analytes, in which α(MEKC) is related to the dimensionless values of mobility selectivity in CZE (α(CZE)) and retention selectivity (α(k)) in MEKC, and where α(CZE) and α(k) are defined as the ratio of electrophoretic mobility in CZE and the ratio of retention factor (k) in MEKC for two charged analytes, respectively. Using four alkylparabens as test analytes, excellent agreement was found between the observed α(MEKC) and the proposed α(MEKC) models of test analytes in MEKC over a wide range of SDS concentrations and values of k. For example, in comparison with CZE separation of charged analytes, MEKC separation can enhance separation selectivity up to the maximum value when the selectivity ratio (ρ) is greater than 1.0 (ρ=α(k)/α(CZE)), while lower separation selectivity is obtained with ρ<1.0 (α(CZE) >α(k) >1).

In vitro study of the effects of plaunotol on oral cell proliferation and wound healing.

Plaunotol is an acyclic diterpene alcohol extracted from a medicinal plant called plau-noi, Croton stellatopilosus Ohba, and has been widely used for the treatment of gastric ulcers in Japan. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of plaunotol on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and human oral keratinocytes (HOKs). To assess the cytotoxic effect, HGFs and HOKs were treated with plaunotol. Subsequently, the morphology of cells was recorded and cells were subjected to MTT assay. To investigate cell proliferation effect, cells were treated with plaunotol and counted with a haemocytometer. To determine wound healing effect, the number of cells repopulated into the wounded areas in monolayer culture and in fibroblast-populated collagen lattice (FPCL) was measured. The results showed that 10 and 1 µg/ml (33 and 3.3 µmol/l) plaunotol induced toxicity in HGFs and HOKs, respectively. However, 0.1 µg/ml (0.33 µmol/l) plaunotol promoted HGF proliferation and wound healing in monolayer and FPCL models. In contrast, 0.1 µg/ml plaunotol could not induce HOK proliferation nor in vitro wound healing using monolayer culture, but it induced wound healing in a modified FPCL model. Our data suggested that plaunotol could promote oral cell proliferation and wound healing in vitro and may have an implication on oral wound healing.

Comparison and prediction of the retention in micellar electrokinetic chromatography and microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography for disubstituted benzenes.

Retention index (I), rather than retention factor (k), was found to be a more reasonable parameter for comparison of the relative affinity of disubstituted benzenes in MEEKC and MEKC, due to independent of I with the SDS surfactant concentration. MEKC and MEEKC may give similar or different I values, depending on types of moieties. With known I and K(ow) for alkylbenzenes as references in MEKC and MEEKC, the values of K(ow) for disubstituted benzenes can be estimated from the observed I values, where K(ow) is the octanol-water distribution constant. In addition, a group additive approach can be used to predict I for disubstituted benzenes with different moieties from the average observed I for the disubstituted benzenes with same moieties. However, electronic effects and/or intramolecular interaction may result in the different observed I from prediction.

Moluccensins H-J, 30-ketophragmalin limonoids from Xylocarpus moluccensis.

Three new phragmalin limonoids, moluccensins H-J (1-3), were isolated from seed kernels of the cedar mangrove, Xylocarpus moluccensis. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 2 displayed weak antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus hominis and Enterococcus faecalis.

Hemagglutinating activity of proteins from Parkia speciosa seeds.

Proteins from Parkia speciosa Hassk. (Fabaceae) seeds were extracted and stepwise precipitated using ammonium sulfate. Proteins precipitated with 25% ammonium sulfate were separated by affinity chromatography on Affi-Gel Blue gel followed by protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 200. The protein Gj, which was identified as a protein similar to putative aristolochene synthase, 3'-partial from Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae), had hemagglutinating activity of 0.39 mug/muL. Moreover, fraction C2 from the proteins precipitated with 60% ammonium sulfate, separated by lectin-specific adsorption chromatography using Con A Sepharose, had hemagglutinating activity of 1.17 mug/muL. Using gel electrophoresis, two proteins C2a and C2b were separated, having molecular weights of 45 kDa and 23 kDa, respectively. From protein identification, C2a was found to be similar to the hypothetical protein B1342F01.11 from Oryza sativa, and C2b was similar to the hypothetical protein At1g51560 from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae).

Protoxylocarpins F-H, protolimonoids from seed kernels of Xylocarpus granatum.

Three new protolimonoids, protoxylocarpins F-H (1-3), along with 11 known limonoids, were isolated from seed kernels of Xylocarpus granatum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analyses. All compounds isolated were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against five human tumor cell lines.

Quantitative thin layer chromatographic analysis of the saponins in tea seed meal.

INTRODUCTION: The defatted seed meal of Camellia oleifera Abel., which contains saponins, is used extensively in aquaculture to eliminate unwanted fish and harmful insects during the cultivation of prawns, and as a molluscicide to control Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck. For the quality control of such tea seed meal products, a method for the determination of saponin content is required. OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple, sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of saponins in tea seed meal using high-performance thin layer chromatography and densitometry. METHODOLOGY: Powdered tea seed meal samples were extracted with methanol, filtered, evaporated to dryness and the residue taken up in methanol. Samples, together with methanolic solutions of saponin standard, were analysed by HPTLC on silica gel layers eluted with ethyl acetate:methanol:water (6:3:1.5, v/v/v) and detected at 214 nm. The amounts of saponins were determined from the respective calibration curves obtained by plotting the concentrations of saponin standard against peak area. RESULTS: Tea saponin peaks were detected at about R(f )0.40. Good linearity was observed in the range of 0.9-22.2 microg/spot with a correlation coefficient of 0.9978. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.87 and 2.90 microg/spot, respectively. The content of tea saponins in 10 tested samples was found to be between 13.1 and 21.1% w/w. CONCLUSION: The assay proved to be a specific, sensitive and inexpensive method for the quality control of saponins in tea seed meal.

A new sesquiterpenoid metabolite from Psilocybe samuiensis.

A novel 2,3-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoid metabolite, psilosamuiensin A (1), was isolated from the broth of Psilocybe samuiensis. The structure of psilosamuiensin A was established by spectroscopic data and its configurations were confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. This is the first report of psilosamuiensin A found in the genus Psilocybes.

3,3,6,6-Tetrakis-(hydroxy-meth-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetra-zinane tetra-hydrate.

In the title compound, C(6)H(16)N(4)O(4)·4H(2)O, the tetra-zinane mol-ecule lies across an inversion centre. The tetra-zinane ring adopts a chair conformation, and all imino H atoms occupy axial positions. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are linked through O-H⋯O, O-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds with water mol-ecules generating a three-dimensional network.

Neutralization of lethality and proteolytic activities of Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) venom with North American Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum.

Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) envenomation is a major health problem in South East Asia. During envenomation, venom components mainly affect the hemostatic system. The sera from the North American Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were able to neutralize the venom of the Malayan pit viper. These natural inhibitors could be explored as potential therapeutics against envenomations of a variety of venomous snake species in different geographical habitats.

Capillary zone electrophoresis for separation and analysis of hydroxycitric acid and hydroxycitric acid lactone: application to herbal products of Garcinia atroviridis Griff.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was developed for quantitative determination of hydroxycitric acid and hydroxycitric acid lactone in herbal products of Garcinia atroviridis Griff. Resolution optimization was investigated by varying type, concentration and pH of buffers. Using the pH 9.2 buffer containing 30 mM Na(2)B(4)O(7), 90 mM NaH(2)PO(4) and 0.5 mM tetradecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, baseline resolution (R(s)>1.5) was found for all analytes. Advantages of the developed CZE method include simple sample preparation, fast analysis time within 5 min and high accuracy and precision.

Purification and biochemical characterization of an extracellular beta-glucosidase from the wood-decaying fungus Daldinia eschscholzii (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Rehm.

An extracellular beta-glucosidase was purified from culture filtrates of the wood-decaying fungus Daldinia eschscholzii (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Rehm grown on 1.0% (w/v) carboxymethyl-cellulose using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme is monomeric with a molecular weight of 64.2 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and has a pI of 8.55. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) as the substrate, with a K(m) of 1.52 mM, and V(max) of 3.21 U min mg(-1) protein. Glucose competitively inhibited beta-glucosidase with a K(i) value of 0.79 mM. Optimal activity with PNPG as the substrate was at pH 5.0 and 50 degrees C. The enzyme was stable at pH 5.0 at temperatures up to 50 degrees C. The purified beta-glucosidase was active against PNPG, cellobiose, sophorose, laminaribiose and gentiobiose, but did not hydrolyze lactose, sucrose, Avicel or o-nitrophenyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside. The activity of beta-glucosidase was stimulated by Ca(2+), Co(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dithiothreitol and EDTA, and strongly inhibited by Hg(2+). The internal amino acid sequences of D. eschscholziibeta-glucosidase have similarity to the sequences of the family 3 beta-glucosyl hydrolase.

Cytotoxic constituents from Butea superba Roxb.

A carpin (3-hydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan) (Medicarpin) (1) and four isoflavones, 7-hydroxy-4'-methoxy-isoflavone (Formononetin) (2); 7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (3); 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-isoflavone (Prunetin) (4) and 7-hydroxy-6,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (5) were isolated from the tuber roots of Butea superba Roxb. Compounds 2 and 4 showed moderate cytotoxic activity on KB cell lines with IC(50) (microM) values of 37.3+/-2.5 and 71.1+/-0.8 and on BC cell lines with IC(50) (microM) values of 32.7+/-1.5 and 47.3+/-0.3, respectively.

Hemagglutinating activity of Curcuma plants.

Crude proteins obtained by Mg/NP-40 extraction from Thai medicinal plants of the Curcuma species exhibited agglutination activity against rabbit erythrocytes. A crude extract from Salingalinthong, a Thai Curcuma specie, exhibited the strongest hemagglutinating activity, 2 x 10(-5) mg/ml.

Cytotoxic activity of four xanthones from Emericella variecolor, an endophytic fungus isolated from Croton oblongifolius.

Four xanthones were isolated from mycelia of Emericella variecolor, an endophytic fungus isolated from the leaves of Croton oblongifolius. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis to be shamixanthone, 14-methoxytajixanthone-25-acetate, tajixanthone methanoate, and tajixanthone hydrate. All compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against various human tumor cell lines including gastric carcinoma, colon carcinoma, breast carcinoma, human hepatocarcinoma, and lung carcinoma. The antitumor activities of these xanthones were compared with that of doxorubicin hydrochloride, a chemotherapeutic substance. All of them showed moderate activities and were selective against gastric carcinoma, colon carcinoma, and breast carcinoma. Only tajixanthone hydrate exhibited moderate activity against all cancer cell lines. Furthermore, under the test conditions it was found that 14-methoxytajixanthone-25-acetate and tajixanthone hydrate are almost as active as doxorubicin hydrochloride against gastric carcinoma (KATO3) and breast carcinoma (BT474).

Inhibitory effects of selected Thai medicinal plants on Na+,K+-ATPase.

Extracts of ten Thai indigenous medicinal plants having ethnomedical application in the treatment of dysuria were tested for their Na(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activity. The hexane extracts of Cyperus rotundus and Orthosiphon aristatus showed high potent inhibitory activity on crude enzyme Na(+),K(+)-ATPase from rat brain.

Determination of gibberellic acid in fermentation broth and commercial products by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was developed as a method for quantitative determination of gibberellic acid (GA3) in fermentation broth and commercial products, using 25 mM disodium tetraborate as a buffer at pH 9.2 and 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate as a micellar phase. The baseline resolution (Rs of GA3 from other compounds in fermentation broth was achieved with Rs > 2.5. The addition of methanol or acetonitrile in the MEKC buffer did not give a better resolution. Advantages of this MEKC method include high accuracy and precision and no sample preparation except for dilution and filtration.