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Functional constituents are the main concern in food production and consumption. Because foods rich in functional constituents have antioxidant capacity and are important in keeping consumers healthy. Pleurotus ostreatus is among foods rich in functional constituents. However, its functional constituents are affected by various factors. This study compared the antioxidant capacity of P. ostreatus grown on different substrates: straws of tef (Trt1), barley (Trt2), and wheat (Trt3), husks of faba bean (Trt4), and field pea (Trt5), sawdust (Trt6), and the mixture of the above with 1:1 w/w (Trt7). Trt7 had significantly higher radical scavenging activity (RSA) (73.27%), vitamin C (10.61 mg/100 g), and vitamin D (4.92 mg/100 g) compared to other treatments. Whereas the lowest values of RSA (44.24%), vitamin C (5.39 mg/100 g), and vitamin D (1.21 mg/100 g) were found in Trt2. The results indicated that mixed substrate may be a good growth substrate for functionally beneficial P. ostreatus and could be a promising source of natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topical consumer interest in natural, healthier, safer and nutritional juice, has inspired the search for innovative technologies that can minimize product degradation. In this regard, thermosonication has been proposed as a potential processing technology that can preserve and produce "fresh" products. Watermelon (Citrulluslanatus) juice is a nutrient-rich fruit juice that is desired by consumers due to its appealing color, pleasant odor, sweet taste and low-calorie content. This fruit juice is, however, highly perishable and prone to microorganisms, because of its neutral pH value and high amount of water activity. In addition, it is thermo-sensitive and therefore degrades quickly under thermal processing. This study aimed to identify the optimal thermosonication processing conditions for retaining the critical quality parameters (lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid and total polyphenolic content) of watermelon juice. Response surface methodology, employing a central composite design, was used to determine the effects of temperature (18–52 °C), processing time (2–13 min) and amplitude level (24–73 μm) at a constant frequency of 25 kHz. The highest quality parameters were obtained at 25 °C, 2 min, and 24 µm at a constant frequency of 25 kHz, which resulted in lycopene of 8.10 mg/100 g, β-carotene of 0.19 mg/100 g, ascorbic acid of 3.11 mg/100 g and total polyphenolic content of 23.96 mg/GAE/g with a desirability of 0.81. The proposed model was adequate (p < 0.0001), with a satisfactory determination coefficient (R2) of less than 0.8 for all phytochemicals. Thermosonicated watermelon juice samples showed minimal changes in their phytochemical properties, when compared to fresh juices; the lycopene content showed a significant increase after thermosonication, and a significant retention of β-carotene, ascorbic acid and total polyphenolic acid was observed. According to the findings, thermosonication could be a viable method for preserving watermelon juice, with minimal quality loss and improved functional attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sepsis is a severe disease with a complex pathogenesis and is an important factor in the mortality of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The administration of vitamin C and its combination treatment in sepsis was not supported by the results of multiple randomized controlled clinical trials. However, the efficacy of a higher vitamin C dose in treating patients with sepsis remains unclear. Therefore, the effectiveness of administering a larger dosage of vitamin C to patients with sepsis remains unclear. Methods and Analysis: The Clinical Efficacy of Megadose Vitamin C in Sepsis (CEMVIS) trial is a multicenter, single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 234 individuals with sepsis. The following adult patients will be enrolled: those with procalcitonin (PCT) ≥ 2 ng/mL and sepsis 3.0 diagnostic criteria. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive 12 g vitamin C or the same volume of 5% glucose injection intravenously pumped every 12 h for 4 days or up to the moment they are discharged from ICU. The primary outcome will be the mortality within 28 days. Secondary outcomes will mainly include protection and support of organ functions, improvement in inflammatory status, and length of ICU stay. Moreover, adverse events and serious adverse events will be meticulously recorded. Ethics: This study was approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee of Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University (2020-KY-069-05). The trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals or at national or international conferences. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05194189, Registered 3 January 2022, URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid functions as an antioxidant and facilitates other biochemical processes such as collagen triple helix formation, and iron uptake by cells. Animals which endogenously produce ascorbic acid have a functional gulonolactone oxidase gene (GULO); however, humans have a GULO pseudogene (GULOP) and depend on dietary ascorbic acid. In this study, the conservation of GULOP sequences in the primate haplorhini suborder were investigated and compared to the GULO sequences belonging to the primates strepsirrhini suborder. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the conserved GULOP exons in the haplorhini primates experienced a high rate of mutations following the haplorhini/strepsirrhini divergence. This high mutation rate has decreased during the evolution of the haplorhini primates. Additionally, indels of the haplorhini GULOP sequences were conserved across the suborder. A separate analysis for GULO sequences and well-conserved GULOP sequences focusing on placental mammals identified an in-frame GULO sequence in the Brazilian guinea pig, and a potential GULOP sequence in the pika. Similar to haplorhini primates, the guinea pig and lagomorph species have experienced a high substitution rate when compared to the mammals used in this study. A shared synteny to examine the conservation of local genes near GULO/GULOP identified a conserved inversion around the GULO/GULOP locus between the haplorhini and strepsirrhini primates. Fischer's exact test did not support an association between GULOP and the chromosomal inversion. Mauve alignment showed that the inversion of the length of the syntenic block that the GULO/GULOP genes belonged to was variable. However, there were frequent rearrangements around ~ 2 million base pairs adjacent to GULOP involving the KIF13B and MSRA genes. These data may suggest that genes acquiring deleterious mutations in the coding sequence may respond to these deleterious mutations with rapid substitution rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the globe morphological, biochemical and genetic variability exists in chilli and is harnessed to achieve specific breeding objectives. In this study, chilli germplasm was characterized based on horticultural traits, biochemical quantification and simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphism for diversity estimation. A total of 36 SSR primers were utilised to study the genetic divergence among 48 genotypes of chilli collected from nine states of India. Among the 36 primers, sixteen amplified null alleles. A total of 41 alleles were detected with average 2.05 alleles per locus. The largest number of alleles (5) were obtained with marker CAMS-234. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.06 to 0.72 with an average of 0.50. On the basis of SSR analysis, the UPGMA cluster classified 48 genotypes into three groups. There was significant variability in germplasm for all morpho-biochemical traits. Kashi Anmol (100.50 q/ha) expressed the highest yield. Highest vitamin C content at green stage was recorded in IC-561635 (187 mg/100 g) and the greatest capsaicin content (9547.90 µg/g) equivalent to pungency of 171,862.2 Scoville heat units (SHU) was recorded in Bhut Jolokia. Principal component analysis indicates that the first five principal components explain 74.63% per cent of the total variation. Additionally, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 1% of the total genetic variation occurred among the population and 99% genetic variation within the populations, whereas the pairwise Fst specified the moderate genetic variation ranging from 0.002 to 0.020. The present investigation has strengthened the knowledge of genetic worth of this germplasm for application in various genetic improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the mineral content, and content of bioactive compounds in fruits of Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.). Neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin were determined in the samples. Vitamin C content ranged from 610.36 to 1344 mg kg−1 FW. Content of K, Ca, P, Mg, and Na in samples ranged from 1750.8 to 2645.7 mg kg−1 FW, from 281.14 to 561.62 mg kg−1 FW, from 180.38 to 294.95 mg kg−1 FW, from 68.19 to 115.43 mg kg−1 FW, and from 2.48 to 71.33 mg kg−1 FW respectively. Content of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Co in samples ranged from 2.77 to 4.88 mg kg−1 FW, from 0.49 to 0.99 mg kg−1 FW, from 0.25 to 0.53 mg kg−1 FW, from 0.07 to 0.17 mg kg−1 FW, from 0.02 to 0.13 mg kg−1 FW, from 0.01 to 0.02 mg kg−1 FW, and from 0.01 to 0.08 mg kg−1 FW respectively. Variations across cultivars were found to be statistically significant, indicating that genetics is a key factor influencing the concentration of bioactive compounds and minerals in Cornelian cherry fruits. Understanding the genetic factors influencing mineral and bioactive compound content in cornelian cherry cultivars is essential for targeted breeding programs, crop improvement, and the development of cultivars with enhanced nutritional and health-promoting attributes. This knowledge contributes to sustainable agriculture and supports the production of crops that align with consumer preferences and health trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible effects of hot water treatments (HWT) on the main quality parameters and bioactive compounds of two sweet cherry cultivars were examined over two years. Cherries were dipped in hot water (48 °C, 2 min), stored 3 weeks at 1 °C (CS) and for 2 additional days at 20 °C for simulated shelf-life (SL). Except for a slight decrease in firmness generally observed in treated samples (5–6%), no difference was observed between HWT and control fruits, neither for the main quality parameters nor the bioactive compounds during CS and/or SL. On average, the percentage of rotten fruit was more than 50% lower in HWT samples compared to the controls. These results show that the HWT conditions examined in this study effectively reduce the incidence of sweet cherry decay without impairing, after CS and/or SL, most of the main quality parameters or the content of the main bioactive nutrients. Because HWT are residue-free, easy to apply and effective in reducing post-harvest losses while preserving the organoleptic and nutritional quality of cherries, HWT are a good strategy for both cherry professionals and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel papaya seed-based activated carbon/Fe3O4/AgNPs nanocomposite (MAC/Ag) was prepared via a one-pot in situ approach and used as a versatile peroxidase mimic for colorimetric detection of ascorbic acid (AA). The MAC/Ag nanocomposite exhibited enhanced peroxidase-like activity, catalyzing the oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and yielding colorimetric products. By optimizing the experimental conditions, the MAC/Ag-TMB-H2O2 detection platform displayed outstanding sensitivity towards AA, with an impressively low detection limit of 0.056 µM in the linear range of 25–500 µM. Notably, the platform demonstrated remarkable reusability and stability, maintaining a high level of activity even after numerous reuse cycles. The comprehensive investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed the crucial role of hydroxyl radicals. The successful quantitative analysis of AA in papaya juice verified the applicability of the MAC/Ag-TMB-H2O2 assay. These findings highlight the potential of the MAC/Ag nanocomposite as a reliable and reusable detection nanozyme for AA, offering promising prospects in environmental monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical analysis. Highlights: • MAC/Ag nanocomposite achieves highly sensitive AA detection. • Wide linear range (25–500 µM) and low limit (0.056 µM) enhance AA analysis. • Exceptional reusability with 93.11% activity retention after five cycles. • Quantitative AA analysis in papaya juice demonstrates practicality. • Mechanistic insights into AA detection highlight hydroxyl radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) using urea and ascorbic acid as carbon sources is addressed in this study using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique. The samples were characterized by ultraviolet, photoluminescence (PL) and transmission electron microscopy analyses, which confirmed the formation of CDs. Besides PL properties, the peroxidase-like catalytic activity of the CDs and N-CDs was also compared. Interestingly, the N-CDs exhibit higher peroxidase-like catalytic activity than pure CDs and can be used to detect H2O2. Additionally, we synthesized several N-CD ratios and evaluated their peroxidase-like catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of Piper chaba (PC) growing in the northern region of India, having differences in the phytochemicals, nutritional content, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties by reducing power assay (RPA), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, phosphomolybdate assay, and antidiabetic potential by α-amylase assay with change in the geographical location. Outcomes of the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed that phytochemicals such as piperine (46.69%), kusunokinin (8.9%), and sitostenone (7.57%) are the prominent compounds found in PC. The plant has also shown a good nutritional value, i.e., iron (11.25 mg), calcium (147 mg), and vitamin C (9.30 mg) per 100 g. PC has a higher phenolic content than other species (⁓ 13.75 g/100 g plant powder). Among the four tested bacterial strains, the extract is best responsive toward Escherichia coli (35 ± 0.68 mm) which is more than the standard ciprofloxacin (24 ± 0.8 mm). Similarly, among two tested fungal strains, Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows the best zone of inhibition (ZOI) (27.5 ± 0.8 mm), which is greater than tat of standard amphotericin (20.25 ± 0.28 mm). The DDPH method demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity (⁓ 42.61 ± 1.82 µg/ml). IC50 for the antidiabetic potential of PC was found to be 23.09 ± 0.3 µg/ml against α-amylase assay. A molecular docking study revealed that three compounds, piperine, sitostenone and kusunokinin, showed strong binding affinity toward bacterial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases, fungal dihydrofolate reductase, and α-amylase, respectively. Therefore, the findings of the current study indicate that PC can be considered as a source of food and medicines, either in the form of traditional preparations or as pure active constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the bioactive composition and therapeutic interest of Ficus carica, much research has been conducted on its fruits and leaves. However, there has been relatively little investigation regarding the wood bark, despite its potential as a rich source of phytochemical compounds with diverse biological activities. The aim of this work is the determination of the phenolic composition of the wood bark extracts of F. carica from three cultivars (Aberkane, Aghanime, and Bakour) and the assessment of their potential cytotoxicity and bioactive capacities such as antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. The phytochemical compounds were identified and quantified using UPLC-ESI-MS. The results revealed that Aberkane wood bark cultivar had the highest content of total polyphenols and ascorbic acid, while Aghanime cultivar had the highest content of flavonoids. The wood bark of the Aberkane cultivar exhibited the highest DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities (48.55% and 71.81%, respectively). This extract exhibited strong cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines MCF-7 (IC50 143.30 µg/mL) and carcinoma HepG2 (IC50 240.18 µg/mL), as well as potent anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated by the BSA assay and inhibition of NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Aghanime wood bark extract exhibited the highest ORAC value (446.078 µmol TE/g). However, the Bakour wood bark cultivar was particularly noteworthy for its iron-chelating properties. The UPLC-ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of various phenolic compounds, notably chlorogenic acid and rutin. These findings demonstrate that the wood bark extract of fig possesses a diverse range of beneficial biological activities, which are associated with its phytochemical composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies suggest that dietary vitamin C is inversely associated with gastric cancer (GC), but most of them did not consider intake of fruit and vegetables. Thus, we aimed to evaluate this association within the Stomach cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, a consortium of epidemiological studies on GC. Methods: Fourteen case–control studies were included in the analysis (5362 cases, 11,497 controls). We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between dietary intake of vitamin C and GC, adjusted for relevant confounders and for intake of fruit and vegetables. The dose–response relationship was evaluated using mixed-effects logistic models with second-order fractional polynomials. Results: Individuals in the highest quartile of dietary vitamin C intake had reduced odds of GC compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.72). Additional adjustment for fruit and vegetables intake led to an OR of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.98). A significant inverse association was observed for noncardia GC, as well as for both intestinal and diffuse types of the disease. The results of the dose–response analysis showed decreasing ORs of GC up to 150–200 mg/day of vitamin C (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.71), whereas ORs for higher intakes were close to 1.0. Conclusions: The findings of our pooled study suggest that vitamin C is inversely associated with GC, with a potentially beneficial effect also for intakes above the currently recommended daily intake (90 mg for men and 75 mg for women). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5,10,15,20-tetramethoxyphenylporphyrinatotin (IV) (SnTMPP) was synthesised. SnTMPP exhibited Soret band at 432 nm and emission peaks at 629 and 682 nm. The fluorescence intensity of SnTMPP was quenched in the presence of guanine linearly in the range 4 × 10–9 M to 7.2 × 10–8 M and the quenching response was found to be stable even in the presence of other nucleosides such as adenine, cytosine, uracil, thymine, alanine, aspartic acid and ascorbic acid. The detection limit was found to be 0.17 nM and the mechanism behind the decrease in the fluorescence intensity of SnTMPP in the presence of guanine is due to dynamic quenching, which was confirmed by cyclic voltammetric studies and life time studies. The CV studies illustrates the possibilty for an electron transfer between the guanine and the electron deficient metal core of SnTMPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop an electrochemical sensor based on a derivative of graphene oxide (GO) and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA). MIP was fabricated onto the surface of the electrode by electropolymerization technique using cyclic voltammetry with a scan rate of 10 mV/s consisting of template molecule (ascorbic acid), functional monomer (polypyrrole), cross-linker (LiClO4) and citrate buffer at pH 4. Then, the template removal process was conducted to create the imprinted cavities for detecting the analyte. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods were used to perform quantitative analyses of the modified electrodes. CV analysis was performed at the optimum scan rate of 10 mV/s, and the electrolyte concentration at 1.0 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] in 0.1 M KCl. MIP-PGE (2) produced the best performance by having the highest redox peak current response when scanning with the CV compared to other modified electrodes. The optimum parameters for DPV measurement are 100 mV pulse amplitude, 200 ms pulse period, and 10 mV/s scan rate. The straightforward instrumentation and easy preparation of the proposed sensor make it a valuable system for constructing simple devices for determining ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the availability of citrus byproduct (CBP) as a vitamin C additive compared with the L-ascorbyl-polyphosphate (LAPP) for juvenile Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Four experimental diets, based on the basal diet (Con; semi-purified, crude protein 48%), were prepared by supplementing LAPP or CBP to achieve a dietary vitamin C concentration of 90 or 360 mg/kg (designated as LAPP90, LAPP360, CBP90, and CBP360, respectively). Three replicate groups of S. schlegelii (mean body weight ± standard deviation = 4.5 ± 0.0 g) were fed the experimental diets for 13 weeks. After the feeding trial, growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, and survival were significantly lower in the Con group. Liver vitamin C concentration was significantly increased (36.7–117 mg/kg) with increasing dietary LAPP levels; however, there was no significant difference in the CBP groups (14.2–14.3 mg/kg) compared with the Con group. Bone collagen concentration was significantly affected by LAPP and CBP supplementation. The LAPP and CBP groups showed significantly higher lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulin levels than the Con group. Disease resistance against Streptococcus iniaewas significantly improved in the LAPP and CBP groups (60–92% survival) than in the Con group (39% survival). These results indicate that dietary vitamin C is essential for S. schlegelii and CBP could be a LAPP substitute as a vitamin C additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children receiving maintenance dialysis (chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5d) have unique risk factors for micronutrient deficiency or toxicity. Children receiving chronic dialysis often require specialized diet plans that may provide more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of water-soluble vitamins and micronutrients, with or without the addition of a kidney-friendly vitamin. The following is a comprehensive review of current literature on disorders of micronutrients in this population including those of water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and vitamin B complexes) and trace elements (copper, selenium, and zinc) and has three areas of focus: (1) the risk factors and clinical presentations of disorders of micronutrients, both deficiency and toxicity, (2) the tools to evaluate micronutrient status, and (3) the central role of renal dietitians in optimizing nutritional status from a micronutrient perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In this study, we investigated the antioxidant potential of a novel ascorbic acid analog, DsD, assessing its interactions with the methylperoxyl (CH3OO·) radical in aqueous and lipid environments. Our focus was on understanding the acid–base equilibrium and how pH affects DsD's primary reaction mechanisms. Our findings indicate a marked preference for hydrogen atom transfer in lipid media, contrasting with sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) in aqueous solutions. Remarkably, DsD's radical scavenging activity significantly outperforms ascorbic acid, being 4.05 and 9469.70 times more potent in polar and lipid contexts, respectively. This suggests DsD's superior efficacy as an antioxidant, potentially offering enhanced protection in biological systems. Additionally, we have demonstrated DsD's synthetic feasibility through a straightforward condensation reaction between ascorbic acid and 1,2-diaminoethane, followed by comprehensive physicochemical and spectroscopic characterization. Methods: All computational analyses in this study were conducted using the Gaussian 09 software suite, employing the M05-2X functional and the 6–31 + G(d) basis set. Enthalpy calculations were executed under standard conditions (298.15 K and 1 atm), incorporating appropriate thermodynamic corrections. Rate constants were evaluated using transition state theory (TST), and the overall assessment of radical scavenging activity was guided by the Quantum Mechanics-based Test for Overall Radical Scavenging Activity (QMORSA) protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study was conducted to assess the detrimental effect of ground-level ozone (O3) on garlic physiology and to find out appropriate control measures against ground-level O3, at TNAU-Horticultural Research farm, Udhagamandalam. Elevated ground ozone levels significantly decreased garlic leaf chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, total soluble solids and pungency. The garlic chlorophyll content was highest in ambient ozone level and lowest in elevated ozone@200 ppb, highest stomatal conductance was recorded in ambient ozone with foliar spray of 3%Panchagavya, and the lowest was observed in elevated ozone@200 ppb. Since the elevated O3 had reduced in garlic photosynthetic rate significantly the lowest was observed in elevated O3@200 ppb and the highest photosynthetic rate was observed in ambient Ozone with foliar spray 3% of panchagavya after a week. The antioxidant enzymes of garlic were increased with increased concentration of tropospheric ozone. The highest catalase (60.97 µg of H2O2/g of leaf) and peroxidase (9.13 ΔA/min/g of leaf) concentration was observed at 200 ppb elevated ozone level. Garlic pungency content was highest in ambient ozone with foliar spray of 0.1% ascorbic acid and the lowest was observed under elevated O3@200 ppb. Highest total soluble solids were observed in ambient ozone with foliar spray of 3%Panchagavya and the lowest observed in elevated ozone@200 ppb. Thus, tropospheric ozone has a detrimental impact on the physiology of crops, which reduced crop growth and yield. Under elevated O3 levels, ascorbic acid performed well followed by panchagavya and neem oil. The antioxidant such as catalase and peroxidase had positive correlation among themselves and had negative correlation with chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, pungency and TSS. The photosynthetic rate has high positive correlation with chlorophyll content, pungency and TSS. Correlation analysis confirmed the negative effects of tropospheric ozone and garlic gas exchange parameters and clove quality. The ozone protectants will reduce stomatal opening by which the entry of O3 in to the cell will be restricted and other hand they also will alleviate ROS and allied stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C is an important micronutrient for human. Association between vitamin C and trouble sleeping was less studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible link between vitamin C in serum and trouble sleeping. The cross-sectional data was derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2017–2018). Trouble sleeping was measured by asking participants: “Have you ever told doctor had trouble sleeping”. Responses to this question was “yes” or “no”. vitamin C in serum was obtained by measuring the serum samples. We used multivariable binary logistic regressions to examine the possible link between vitamin C in serum and trouble sleeping, and then a subgroup analysis was performed. Moreover, the non-linear relationship between vitamin C in serum and trouble sleeping was further detected using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model. A total of 3227 participants were included in the study. After adjusting all potential confounders, the results of multivariable logistic regression showed the significant negative association between vitamin C in serum and trouble sleeping(OR = 0.816; 95% CI:0.669 ~ 0.995). The significant inverse association was also found in female(OR = 0.713; 95% CI:0.546 ~ 0.931), age ≤ 65 years(OR = 0.773; 95% CI:0.600 ~ 0.996), and in participants with high cholesterol level(OR = 0.738; 95% CI:0.548 ~ 0.994). In addition, the RCS model demonstrated the significant non-linear relationship between vitamin C in serum and trouble sleeping (P value of nonlinear = 0.010). Our study demonstrates the significant negative association between vitamin C in serum and trouble sleeping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A potentiostat is necessary to achieve accurate control of potentials in an electrochemical cell for most electroanalytical techniques. While lab-built potentiostats with specific design objectives such as low manufacturing cost and field portability have been developed in recent years, there remain a lack of accessible potentiostats that prioritize measurement quality, user-friendliness, and adaptability for general laboratory use. In response, we present Opensens, an open-source, multi-purpose potentiostat that can function independently or as part of an instrument suite. The Opensens can perform accurately the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox couple experiments as well as the ascorbic acid (AA) detection comparing with the commercial apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin C is a potent scavenger of reactive oxygen species, which induce neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. NETs are a major source of autoantigens and are involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. We determined vitamin C status and evaluated NET formation and inflammatory cytokines in children with lupus nephritis. Methods: Serum vitamin C was measured in 46 patients (82.6% females, mean age 14.5 ± 0.3 years). Vitamin C levels < 0.3 mg/dL indicated vitamin C deficiency. Patients were divided into two groups according to serum vitamin C levels: normal and low (< 0.3 mg/dL). We compared NET formation and levels of SLE-related cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), between groups. NET formation was determined through measurement of serum citrullinated histone 3 levels and mRNA expression of peptidyl arginine deiminase-4 and assessment of the percentage of neutrophils with NETs by immunofluorescence. Results: Nine patients (19.6%) had vitamin C deficiency. Kidney pathology assessment at disease onset revealed that histological activity index and number of kidney biopsies containing crescentic glomeruli were higher in vitamin C-deficient patients, but chronicity index was not. NET formation and serum IL-8 were more prominent in vitamin C-deficient patients. Serum IL-8 levels were 12.9 ± 5.2 pg/mL in low vitamin C group and 5.2 ± 0.9 pg/mL in normal vitamin C group (p = 0.03). Serum IL-10 and TNF-α were similar between groups. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated correlation among vitamin C deficiency, increased NET formation, and IL-8 upregulation in children with lupus nephritis. A prospective study is required to evaluate cause‒effect relationships of vitamin C status, NET formation and IL-8 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize optical sensing with high sensitivity and the figure of merit, in this study, we propose a metal–insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure based on the transmission properties of surface plasmon excitations (SPPs). This structure consists of main waveguide with a metal baffle (MWMB) combined with a copper coin-type ring cavity (CCTRC) and a double semi-elliptical ring cavity (DSERC). We study the electromagnetic characteristics, transmission performance, and sensing performance of the structure by simulating numerical calculations using the finite element method. In addition, we optimize the structural parameters. The results indicate that when the transverse magnetic (TM) wave is incident on the main waveguide, the designed MIM waveguide structure exhibits double Fano resonance peaks at incident wavelengths at 842 nm and 926 nm, with total electric field energies of 2.93 × 10−14 J and 2.35 × 10−14 J, respectively. At the same wavelengths, total magnetic field energies are 1.33 × 10−14 J and 1.32 × 10−14 J, respectively. Therefore, the proposed structure can be used for the refractive index sensor. The extant structure's sensitivity and the figure of merit are 1150 nm/RIU and 115, respectively. The resonance wavelength shift was identified, allowing the present structure to measure the concentration of aqueous vitamin C solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC), encompasses a group of related water-soluble substances, which plays an important role in the physiologic processes and health of aquatic animals. Most aquatic animals have a limited capacity to synthesize VC, thus obtaining VC mainly from diets. To date, VC has been widely used as an aquatic feed additive due to its antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory abilities. However, the requirement for VC varies greatly among different aquatic animals. This updated review presents a general picture of the possible physiological function of VC for farmed aquatic animals, with emphasis on the information on growth, antioxidant status, immunity, diseases prevention, and reproductive performance, as well as the synergistic effects of VC with other micronutrients such as vitamin E, glucans, and metal elements during recent years. Furthermore, the interaction between dietary VC and the intestinal microbiota of aquatic animals have also been discussed. Understanding the beneficial function and mechanism of VC is of great significance for extending the application of VC in the aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effects of water-soluble (vitamin C, VC) and fat-soluble antioxidants (oregano essential oil, OEO) on the stress responses and redox status of Astyanax aff. bimaculatus exposed to air. Ten isoproteic and isoenergetic diets were formulated, with different levels of VC (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 mg kg−1), with or without OEO (1,000 mg kg−1). Fish were fed these diets for 55 days, and then 18 fish from each group were exposed to air. VC at concentrations of 120 and 160 mg kg−1 reduced glycemia. In the gills, VC at 120 and 160 mg kg−1, only in combination with OEO, reduced oxidative damage (malondialdehyde, MDA, and carbonylated proteins, PC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In the absence of VC, OEO increased PC and SOD. In the liver, all VC concentrations, without OEO, reduced MDA while in the presence of OEO, only VC at 40 and 160 mg kg−1 reduced MDA. Regardless of OEO, all VC concentrations reduced PC levels and SOD and catalase (CAT) activity. However, OEO increased CAT and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity regardless of VC level. While VC at a concentration of 40 with 1,000 mg kg−1 OEO reduced oxidative damage to lipids in the gills and liver, a reduction in protein and lipid damage in the gills was only observed with a least VC 120 + OEO. Therefore, we recommend simultaneous supplementation of VC 120 + 1,000 OEO, as their combined use is more effective in reducing oxidative damage in A. aff. bimaculatus exposed to air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid vesicles (FAVs), with their unique bionic structure, play a crucial role in models for protocells, food manufacturing, and drug delivery systems. However, FAVs are highly sensitive to changes in pH, which imposes strict constraints on their development in food and medicine. Therefore, in this study, the pH window of vesicles formed by oleic acid (OA) was migrated and expanded by introducing a nonionic surfactant, Tween80 (TW80), which resulted in a more stable pH environment for FAVs. Acid–base titration combined with particle size confirmed that different ratios of TW80 and OA expanded the pH window from 8.2–10 to 1.99–7.49, as determined by potential and turbidity. The intermolecular forces of TW80/OA composite vesicles were determined by infrared spectroscopy. Vitamin C (VC) was used as a model drug, and the TW80/OA/VC vesicles showed an encapsulation rate of 48.87% and a drug-loading capacity of 13.13% at a VC concentration of 1 mg/mL, pH = 5.5, and T = 25 °C. The vesicles were also found to have a high VC concentration and a high drug loading capacity. The in vitro release experiments demonstrated that the TW80/OA/VC vesicles could accomplish the drug release process in a physiological environment. The results of in vitro free radical scavenging experiments showed that the TW80/OA/VC vesicles could maximize the scavenging rate of DPPH free radicals up to 97.61%. This study can provide a fundamental theoretical basis for applying drug carrier vesicles in cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in many physiological processes in plants and animals. In humans, vitamin C is an antioxidant, reducing agent, and cofactor in diverse chemical processes. The established role of vitamin C as an antioxidant in plants is well recognized. It neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause damage to cells. Also, it plays an important role in recycling other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which helps maintain the overall balance of the plant's antioxidant system. However, unlike plants, humans cannot synthesize ascorbic acid or vitamin C in their bodies due to the absence of an enzyme called gulonolactone oxidase. This is why humans need to obtain vitamin C through their diet. Different fruits and vegetables contain varying levels of vitamin C. The biosynthesis of vitamin C in plants occurs primarily in the chloroplasts and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The biosynthesis of vitamin C is a complex process regulated by various factors such as light, temperature, and plant hormones. Recent research has identified several key genes that regulate vitamin C biosynthesis, including the GLDH and GLDH genes. The expression of these genes is known to be regulated by various factors such as light, temperature, and plant hormones. Recent studies highlight vitamin C's crucial role in regulating plant stress response pathways, encompassing drought, high salinity, and oxidative stress. The key enzymes in vitamin C biosynthesis are L-galactose dehydrogenase (GLDH) and L-galactono-1, 4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH). Genetic studies reveal key genes like GLDH and GLDH in Vitamin C biosynthesis, offering potential for crop improvement. Genetic variations influence nutritional content through their impact on vitamin C levels. Investigating the roles of genes in stress responses provides insights for developing resilient techniques in crop growth. Some fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, along with strawberries and kiwi, are rich in vitamin C. Guava. Papaya provides a boost of vitamin C and dietary fiber. At the same time, red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple, mangoes, and kale are additional sources of this essential nutrient, promoting overall health. In this review, we will discuss a brief history of Vitamin C and its signaling and biosynthesis pathway and summarize the regulation of its content in various fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telogen effluvium is characterized by excessive hair shedding usually following a stressful event. Ferritin has been used in clinical practice as a biomarker of nonanemic iron deficiency in cases of telogen effluvium. During the years of the COVID19 pandemic, telogen effluvium was reported as a part of post covid manifestations. As ferritin was also a biomarker for inflammation in cases with covid infection, this study was designed to evaluate the value of ferritin in cases with postcovid telogen effluvium one hundred patients recovering from covid 19 for 4–12 weeks were included in the study, detailed drug and laboratory history was obtained and serum ferritin level was measured. the mean serum level of ferritin among telogen effluvium patients was significantly lower than controls (68.52 ± 126 and 137 ± 137.597 ug/L respectively). Patients with telogen effluvium used significantly more azithromycin and ivermectin and significantly less vitamin C, D, lactoferrin and zinc than the controls Although serum ferritin is lower among telogen effluvium patients, it was still higher than the cutoff value for diagnosing nonanemic iron deficiency, we suggest that it will not be a good biomarkers in these cases. Our secondary outcomes showed that dietary supplements used during active infection such as vitamin C, D, lactoferrin and zinc might have a preventive value on postcovid hair loss, while azithromycin and ivermectin could have a negative long term effect on telogen effluvium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decellularization of plant tissues is an emerging route to fabricate scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Although significant progress has been made in the field of plant tissue decellularization, functionalization of plant scaffolds is still an emerging field, and loading them with L-ascorbic acid to promote skin regeneration has not yet been reported. L-ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that plays a key role in collagen synthesis as a cofactor of lysyl hydroxylase and prolyl hydroxylase. It has been shown to have significant importance in physiological wound healing by stimulating fibroblasts to produce collagen at both the molecular and the genetic levels. In this work, we aimed to fabricate an ascorbic acid-releasing bioactive scaffold by introducing a stable form of ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA2P), into decellularized baby spinach leaves and investigated its biological activity in vitro. Our results demonstrated that AA2P could be easily introduced into decellularized baby spinach leaf scaffolds and subsequently released within the effective dose range. AA2P-releasing baby spinach leaves were found to increase metabolic activity and enhance collagen synthesis in L929 fibroblasts after 21 days. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the fabrication of a novel functionalized skin tissue engineering scaffold and made a significant contribution to the fields of plant decellularization and skin tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an electrochemical sensor designed for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and acetaminophen (AC). The sensor was crafted through a single electropolymerization step in a solution containing pyrrole and modified gold nanoparticles. Characterization of the resulting polypyrrole composite was conducted using diverse techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Differential pulse voltammetry was employed to record peak currents for the oxidation of the analytes. The sensor exhibits a linear response within the concentration ranges of 20–1000 μM for AA, 0.1–8.0 μM for DA and 4.0–150 μM for AC with detection limits (3σ) of 8.8 μM for AA, 79 nM for DA and 0.9 μM for AC, respectively. The efficacy of the developed sensor was validated through the electrochemical determination of these analytes in human serum, ampoules, and tablets, demonstrating its practical applicability in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Verbascum, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, has a significant center of diversity in Iran. Two of its species, V. erianthum and V. stachydiforme, originate in the Iranian-Turanian region, but no studies have been conducted on the induction of their hairy roots. This genus is a valuable source of biologically active compounds such as iridoid glycosides and flavonoids. Hairy root culture is a suitable technique for the production and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Three different studies were conducted to optimize the induction and establishment of hairy roots. In the first experiment, the influence of explant type (leaf and hypocotyl), six infection methods, and co-culture time (48 and 72 h) on the efficiency of hairy root induction was investigated. The results showed that the highest hairy root induction (68.18%) was observed in the leaf explants inoculated by direct infection with three wounds within 72 h co-culture time. In the second experiment, the effect of four Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains (ATCC 15834, A4, A7, and A13) and leaf age (14, 21, and 28 days) on transformation efficiency and some morphological traits examined in both species were studied. The high transformation efficiency of hairy root (80.55%) was detected in the 21-day-old leaf explant of V. erianthum species that was inoculated with the A13 strain. The transformed hairy root colons were confirmed by PCR using rolB gene-specific primers. To optimize hairy root growth and avoid tissue browning, hairy roots were cultured in various media containing different antioxidants and improver agents (including ascorbic acid, citric acid, and NAA). The results showed that the highest fresh growth index (20.42) and the lowest tissue browning (9%) as well as total phenol (8.51 mg GA/g DW), and total flavonoid content (4.42 mg QUE/g DW) were obtained in medium B5 with 1.5 mg/l NAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multivariate spectrophotometric method is a potential approach that enables discrimination of spectra of components in complex matrices (e.g., pharmaceutical formulation) serving as a substitution method for chromatography. Four green smart multivariate spectrophotometric models were proposed and validated, including principal component regression (PCR), partial least-squares (PLS), multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS), and artificial neural networks (ANN). The developed chemometric models were compared to resolve highly overlapping spectra of Paracetamol (PARA), Chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM), Caffeine (CAF), and Ascorbic acid (ASC). The four multivariate calibration models were assessed via recoveries percent, and root mean square error of prediction. Hence, the proposed models were efficiently applied with no need for any preliminary separation step. The models were utilized to analyze the studied components in their combined pharmaceutical formulation (Grippostad® C capsules). Analytical GREEnness Metric Approach (AGREE) and eco-scale tools were applied to assess the greenness of the established models and found to be 0.77 and 85, respectively. Moreover, the proposed models have been compared to official ones showing no considerable variations in accuracy and precision. Therefore, these models can be highly advantageous for conducting standard pharmaceutical analysis of the substances researched within product testing laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C played pleiotropic roles in critical illness and vitamin C insufficiency was predictive of the development of multiple organ failure. Currently, the prevalence of vitamin C insufficiency in Chinese critically ill patients is rarely determined and there are no established bedside tools to predict hypovitaminosis C. To develop a nomogram to identify patients with high risk of hypovitaminosis C, we performed a bi-center prospective cohort study at two ICUs of the first and sixth medical center in PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China from May 6th to July 31st, 2021 We identified 322 eligible patients. 62.4% patients were hypovitaminosis C. 7 features, including source of infection, the level of serum albumin, age, male gender, sepsis, vascular disease, and wasting of vitamin C by the kidney, were selected using LASSO algorithm and therefore included in the nomogram. In the testing set, our model showed moderate discrimination ability with areas under the curve of 0.75 [0.64–0.84]. Variable importance evaluated by SHAP value highlighted two novel important predictors, i.e., abdominal infection and the level of serum albumin. In conclusion, we first reported a high burden of vitamin C insufficiency in Chinese adult patient in the ICU. We also constructed a prediction model to timely identify patients with high risk of hypovitaminosis C, which allows the clinicians to choose appropriate candidates for Vitamin C repletion in clinical practice or clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiocyanate functionalized carbon quantum dots (SCN-CDs) were produced via microwave synthesis using tree leaves called feijoa as a green material. The products were analyzed using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), spectrofluorometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SCN-CDs with blue emissivity were used to detect ascorbic acid (Ascor) in aquatic environments. The selectivity of SCN-CDs was reasonable, and the sensitivity was excellent. Cu(II) interaction with the SCN-CDs via static quenching mechanism leads to the SCN-CDs' fluorescence (FL) being quenched, and Ascor's reduction capacity recovers the SCN-CDs/Cu(II) FL, resulting in a switch-off-on sensor for Ascor detection. As a rapid and sensitive turn-on sensor, the limit of detection (LOD) of SCN-CQDs/Cu(II) for Ascor detection was 0.69 µM. Ascorbic acid (Ascor) is detected by thiocyanate functionalized carbon dots (SCN-CDs). SCN-CDs fluorescence was quenched by Cu(II) ions, resulting in static quenching, and Ascor recovered the fluorescence of SCN-CDs/Cu(II) by reducing Cu(II) ions to Cu(I) ions. Ascor was detected with a low detection limit (0.69 µM), good selectivity, and fast response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study has investigated the reaction of ascorbic acid with azure A chloride salt dye spectrophotometrically by following the absorbance decline of azure A chloride salt at 630 nm in the presence and absence of a non-ionic micelle of the natural surfactant (N-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside). Thus, the primary aim was to examine the influence of the non-ionic natural surfactant on the reaction rates of ascorbic acid with azure A chloride salt dye in acidic aqueous media, as well as using the Piszkiewicz, Arrhenius, and Eyring equations to clarify its catalytic effect in pre- and micellar phases. Hence, the kinetic experiments were achieved by adapting pseudo-first-order reaction conditions with respect to the azure A chloride salt dye. However, the reaction was found to be fractional order with respect to the oxidant, reductant, and H2SO4. The findings reveal the reaction rates have been enhanced in the presence of N-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside through the formation of several hydrogen bonds, which play a significant role in the binding N-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside monomers and micelles with reactant molecules in pre-micellar and micellar phases, in addition to determination of critical micelle concentration of N-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside at specific conditions. Thus, the aspects of kinetic features, thermodynamic parameters, the products at the end of the reactions, and their probable mechanism are estimated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have confirmed that ascorbic acid (AA) can promote cartilage repair and improve cartilage differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. However, the use of microfracture (MFX) combined with AA to repair cartilage damage has not been studied. This study established a rabbit animal model and treated cartilage injury with different concentrations of AA combined with MFX. Macroscopic observations, histological analysis, immunohistochemical analysis and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of TGF-β, AKT/Nrf2, and VEGF mRNA expression were performed. The results showed that intra-articular injection of AA had a positive effect on cartilage repair mediated by microfractures. Moreover, 10 mg/ml AA was the most effective at promoting cartilage repair mediated by microfractures. Intra-articular injection of AA promoted the synthesis of type II collagen and the formation of glycosaminoglycans by downregulating the mRNA expression of TGF-β and VEGF. In summary, this study confirmed that AA could promote cartilage repair after MFX surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the medicinal plants of Anacardiaceae family and widely used as a spice in Iran and Arab countries. Rhus coriaria var. zebaria is a small tree or large shrub, wildly growing in Iraq and described as a new variety with special characteristics. These increase the importance of studying sumac in these areas. Here, the phytochemical variations and the antibacterial activity of 50 accessions of this variety from five different climatic conditions was evaluated in order to identify the best accession to use and the best area for its cultivation. This is the most comprehensive study on this plant. Essential oil compounds were identified using GC–MS method and according to the results, Z, E-2,13-octadecadien, caryophyllene oxide, 2,4-decadienal, E-caryophyllene and nonanoic acid were among the main compounds. Also, the variety is a rich source of minerals including K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, and N. Sumac fruit extract from Akre Xerds had the highest anthocyanin and the lowest amount was from Kavilca region. The radical scavenging effect of extract from Dostic area in the concentration of 400 µg/mL is closer to the effect of ascorbic acid. The largest inhibition was found in the sumac extracted oil of Xasto Zhere area against S. aureus in compared with penicillin and amoxicillin and enrofloxacin antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional fiber mats are explored as potential bioactive matrices for the development of the next generation of guided bone regeneration membranes with tunable microstructure, strength and therapeutic activity. In the present study, polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers with different concentrations of ascorbic acid derivatives (ascorbyl palmitate) and strontium polyphosphate nanoparticles (Sr-polyP NPs) were fabricated. The obtained PCL mats scaffolds were assessed not only for microstructure structure features, including morphological observation, hydrophilicity and tensile strength, but also in vitro water uptake, biodegradation (under enzymatic and hydrolytic conditions), bioactivity using SBF, as well as ascorbic acid release study. The observed results showed that the mean fiber diameter of the PCL fibers (388 ± 340 nm) increased with the increase in the concentration of the ASP and Sr-polyP NPs. The addition of ascorbyl palmitate caused an increase in viscosity from 40.6 ± 2.5 to 66.6 ± 2.0 cP in the case of 20% AsP/PCL; however, it caused a decrease in conductivity from 7.3 ± 0.4 to 6.38 µs, while there was an obvious increase in the viscosity and conductivity by Sr-polyP Nps addition from 40.6 ± 2.5 cP in the case of PCL only to 88.3 ± 2.5 cP in the case of PA1/SP15. The contact angle decreases from 125.9 ± 2.5° in the case of PCL only to 112 ± 4 and 102 ± 2.4° in the case of 20% loaded ascorbyl palmitate-PCL mats and 15% Sr/PCL, respectively. Moreover, the assessment of the antioxidant activity of PCL fiber mats containing 10% and 20% ascorbyl palmitate demonstrated that the 20% ascorbyl palmitate-PCL fiber mats have a higher antioxidant effectiveness compared to the 10% mats. This could be attributed to the controlled release of ascorbic acid from PCL, which occurs after 7 days. However, the highest tensile strength was observed for 5% Sr-polyP NPs-loaded PCL/AsP mats at 1.52 ± 0.51 MPa. Further increase of Sr-polyP NPs content resulted in a clear decrease of tensile strength to 1.13 ± 0.13and 0.93 ± 0.71 for 10% and 20% ascorbyl palmitate-PCL mats, respectively. Importantly, the fabricated AsP and Sr-polyP NPs-loaded PCL fiber mats showed induction of calcium phosphate deposition in SBF and the ability to sustain release of ascorbic acid over a time period of 28 d, in addition to the enhancement in cell proliferation compared to PCL only suggesting their application as a favorable synthetic matrix to amplify guided bone regeneration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have confirmed that ascorbic acid (AA) can promote cartilage repair and improve cartilage differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. However, the use of microfracture (MFX) combined with AA to repair cartilage damage has not been studied. This study established a rabbit animal model and treated cartilage injury with different concentrations of AA combined with MFX. Macroscopic observations, histological analysis, immunohistochemical analysis and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of TGF-β, AKT/Nrf2, and VEGF mRNA expression were performed. The results showed that intra-articular injection of AA had a positive effect on cartilage repair mediated by microfractures. Moreover, 10 mg/ml AA was the most effective at promoting cartilage repair mediated by microfractures. Intra-articular injection of AA promoted the synthesis of type II collagen and the formation of glycosaminoglycans by downregulating the mRNA expression of TGF-β and VEGF. In summary, this study confirmed that AA could promote cartilage repair after MFX surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is often associated with increased oxidative stress caused by an imbalance between detoxification and ROS production. Unfortunately, many commercial drugs available today for treating this disease have adverse side effects and ultimately fail to restore glucose homeostasis. Therefore, finding a dietary anti-diabetic remedy that is safe, effective, and economical is crucial. In this study, GC–MS analysis, subsequent HPLC-assisted fractionation, and SPE-based purification led to identifying and purifying of key components such as phloroglucinol and total procyanidin dimer (procyanidin dimer and procyanidin dimer gallate) from methanolic seed extract of Vitis vinifera. In-vitro anti-diabetic screening of various fractions derived from methanolic extract along with individual components and their combinations revealed the potential synergistic behaviour of phloroglucinol and total procyanidin dimer with the lowest IC50 of 48.21 ± 3.54 µg/mL for α-glucosidase and 63.06 ± 5.38 µg/mL for α-amylase inhibition which is found to be superior to the effect shown by the standard Epigallocatechin gallate. Later Glucose utilization studies demonstrated the concentration-dependent effect of Phloroglucinol and total procyanidin dimer, and that has raised the glucose uptake by approximately 36–57% in HepG2 cells and 35–58% in L6 myocytes over a concentration of 50–100 µg/mL. The superior anti-diabetic effect of Phloroglucinol and total procyanidin dimer was proved by the suppression of oxidative stress with an IC50 of 7.92 ± 0.36 µg/mL for DPPH scavenging and 16.87 ± 1.24 µg/mL for SOD scavenging which is competent with the standard ascorbic acid. According to this study, suppressing ROS levels by phloroglucinol and total procyanidin dimer would be the underlying mechanism for the synergistic anti-diabetic effect of this combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the nutritional quality and environmental impact of self-selected diets of adults in France in relation to their fruit and vegetable (FV) intakes. Methods: Estimates of food and nutrient intakes were taken from the national INCA3 Survey on food intakes carried out in France in 2014–2015. The population (n = 2121 adults) was split into five quintiles of FV intakes, in g/d (Q1 representing the lowest intake, and Q5 the highest). The nutritional quality of diets was assessed through 4 indicators: mean adequacy ratio (MAR), solid energy density, mean excess ratio (MER) and Programme National Nutrition Santé guideline score 2 (PNNS-GS2). The environmental impacts were measured with environmental footprint (EF) scores and 4 additional indicators: climate change, ozone depletion, fine particulate matter and water use. Indicators were compared between quintiles. Analysis was conducted on diets adjusted to 2000 kcal. Results: MAR and PNNS-GS2 increased with increased FV quintiles, while solid energy density decreased. Fibre, potassium, vitamin B9 and vitamin C densities increased with increasing FV intakes. Climate change, ozone depletion and fine particulate matter impacts of diets decreased with increasing quintiles of FV consumption. Conversely, water use impact increased. Conclusion: Higher intake of FV is associated with higher nutritional quality of diets and lower environmental impact, except for water use. Given the benefits of fruit and vegetables for human health and the environment, their negative impact on water use could be improved by working on the agricultural upstream, rather than by changing individuals' food choices and reducing their consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C may have positive effects on wound healing and improve quality of life and the recovery process. A systematic review was done to study the effects of vitamin C on the healing of wounds and thereby hasten rehabilitation. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials on the effects of vitamin C were searched for using PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library. Data was collected, analyzed, and assessed for risks of bias using Cochrane review protocols and tools. A total of 24 trials were procured, but after excluding 21 that did not meet the criteria, only three trials could be analyzed. Overall, addition of vitamin C was noted to have 3.94 times likelihood of acquiring quicker recovery process as compared to placebo (OR 3.99, 95% CI 2.06 to 7.73), but there was no difference in pain (p > 0.05). Overall quality of evidence was good, with low risk of bias. Evidence shows that vitamin C promotes wound healing by hastening recovery and attaining high leucocyte ascorbic acid levels. It is recommended to use vitamin C for wound healing while waiting for more RCTs to strengthen this evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New system compromising of chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated pre-synthesized selenium nanoparticles in the presence of 5-fluorouracil was successfully prepared and used for cancer antiproliferation. Selenium nanoparticles were synthesized using ascorbic acid as reducing agent under mild condition. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared via ionic gelation technique using sodium tri-polyphosphate. Characterization of the prepared nanoparticles was carried out using FTIR, TEM, XRD, TGA and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results displayed the formation of selenium nanoparticles with an average size 20 nm and chitosan nanoparticles with an average size 207 and 250 nm for neat nano-chitosan and chitosan incorporated 5-fluorouracil/selenium nanoparticles, respectively. The encapsulated nanocomposites were tested for treatment of cancer cell of human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), human liver carcinoma (HepG-2), and human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7. The results indicated the potent cytotoxic activities of all nanocomposite toward the tested cells with enhanced anticancer activity rather than the single drug or neat selenium nanoparticle. All composites were tested against non-tumor fibroblast-derived cell line (BJ) and demonstrated very low cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing electrochemical sensors for ascorbic acid, uric acid and glucose detection provides advantages of rapid, precise and economical monitoring of disease condition, and they have the potential to transform healthcare by enabling point-of-care diagnostic and personalised treatment. Facile and cost-effective potentiometric sensors have been developed in this work for selective and sensitive detection of ascorbic acid, uric acid and glucose, based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The imprinted polymeric matrix of para-aminobenzoic (pPABA) was developed on the surface of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified paraffin impregnated graphite rod electrode (rGO/PIGE). The monomeric para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was electropolymerised with template, viz., ascorbic acid, uric acid and glucose individually. The molecularly imprinted electrode surface was created by removing the trapped template molecule. The surface analysis of the modified electrodes was carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (ATR), Raman spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Parameters controlling the performance of the MIP (p-PABA), viz., pH of the supporting electrolyte and number of polymerisation cycle, were optimised. Under optimised conditions, the potentiometric responses of MIPs were linearly related to concentrations of ascorbic acid, uric acid and glucose in the range of 3.4 × 10−7 M–2.5 × 10−5 M, 3.3 × 10−7 M–1.3 × 10−5 M, and 3.5 × 10−7 M–2.9 × 10−5 M with a correlation coefficient, R2 of 0.99, 0.99 and 0.98 respectively. All three sensors showed high selectivity even in the presence of high concentration of similar interfering compounds. A limit of detection (LOD) for ascorbic acid, uric acid and glucose was found to be 1.1 × 10−8 M, 2.8 × 10−8 M and 1.3 × 10−8 M respectively. In addition, the developed sensors exhibited long-term stability and good reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition bimetal oxides are widely used in the field of electrochemical sensing because of their variable valence and bimetallic synergies. In this work, we demonstrate the facile synthesis of snow-cake like NiCo2O4 nanostructures and its application as a working electrode modification material in enzyme-free glucose electrochemical sensing field. In a three-electrode system, the electrocatalytic oxidation activity for glucose of NiCo2O4 nanostructures is tested. The snow-cake like NiCo2O4 nanostructures are endowed with superior electron-transfer capability, large surface area, and abundant intrinsic redox couples of Ni2+/Ni3+ and Co2+/Co3+ ions. The modified electrode exhibits excellent glucose-sensing properties, such as detection of wide range of glucose concentrations with good linearity and high sensitivity of 983 μA mM−1 cm−2 at 0.45 V operating potential. Moreover, the interference from the commonly interfering species such as ascorbic acid (AA), sodium chloride (NaCl) and uric acid (UA) can be effectively avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the application of L-tartaric acid (L-TA), ascorbic acid (AA), and L-carnitine (L-CAR) as a safe and non-toxic alternative agent to enhance the aqueous solubility of baclofen (BAC). The solvent evaporation method was employed for co-crystallization in three stoichiometric ratios of the drug, coformer (1:1, 1:3, 1:5) and formulations were confirmed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). DSC study revealed the presence of both endothermic and exothermic peaks in compounds containing AA and L-TA. With respect to the BAC, L-TA and BAC, AA, the appearance of new diffraction peaks that do not overlap with un-processed BAC may be the implication of a new structure. The intensity of some diffraction peaks disappeared or reduced significantly which may also imply the formation of a new crystal phase. The solubility of the multicomponents increased and surpassed the solubility of BAC. Overall, the new compounds show significantly higher drug solubility whereas their physical mixtures only demonstrate a marginal increase in BAC solubility. The high solubility records of BAC, AA and BAC, L-TA evidence the marked difference in solubility of the new compounds with respect to their physical mixtures. The saturation solubility of BAC, L-CAR compound did not show any improvement relative to the un-processed BAC. These findings confirm that a new crystal phase may not have been obtained during the co-crystallization of BAC and L-CAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A minor cationic peroxidase (MCP) with a relative electrophoretic mobility in PAGE (Rf) equal to 0.03 was first isolated from sorghum broom seedlings (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Its molecular weight, determined by size exclusion chromatography, was equal to 155 kDa. Three subunits with molecular weights of 35, 25, and 16 kDa were identified in the structure of the enzyme. The peroxidase and oxidase activities of MCP in the pH range from 2.6 to 7.0 were analyzed using 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP), ammonium 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), and ascorbic acid (ASA). The maximum values of peroxidase and oxidase activities were obtained in relation to ASA at pH 7.0 and 4.0, respectively. In this case, the specific activity of the peroxidase reaction exceeded that of the oxidase reaction by 68 times. KM values for ABTS were 0.23 and 0.32 µmol for peroxidase and oxidase oxidation, respectively. The influence of certain metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the activity of MCP was studied. In the presence of sodium, its activity increased approximately 2.5 times, while it increased approximately eight times in the presence of anthracene. The enzyme efficiently oxidized native PAHs with ABTS as a mediator: 90% anthracene, 80% phenanthrene, 20% fluoranthene and 15% pyrene. It was found that three-ring PAHs underwent the most active transformation, the loss of which was five times greater than the loss of PAHs with four rings. Thus, the detected stimulation of activity MCP in the presence of inorganic and organic pollutants and the ability to oxidize a number of native PAHs may indicate its active participation in plant protection under polluted conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystin LR (MC-LR) is a hazardous cyanotoxin produced by cyanobacteria during freshwater eutrophication, which can cause liver cancer. Here, a photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor based on methylene blue (MB)–loaded Ni-MOF composite (Ni-MOF/MB) with spatial confinement was constructed for the sensitive detection of MC-LR. Ni-MOF with two-dimensional sheet structure was prepared via a liquid–liquid interface synthesis method with environmental-friendly solvent and milder reaction conditions. Benefiting from the uniform pore size, Ni-MOF acted as reaction platform to anchor the photosensitive molecule MB. The electron donor, ascorbic acid (AA), was produced by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) loaded on DNA strand catalyzing ascorbic acid phosphate. The generated AA was absorbed by Ni-MOF/MB, thereby effectively improving the utilization of AA and avoiding the external environment interferences to enlarge the photocurrent of MB. For analysis, ALP-labeled aptamer can specifically recognize MC-LR by forming a complex to strip from aptasensor, thus leading to a decreased photocurrent. The developed PEC aptasensor offered a linear range of 10 fM–100 pM with a detection limit of 6 fM. It was successfully employed for detecting MC-LR in farm water and fish meat, and the results were validated by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This method presents a new idea of MOF-limited domain for PEC aptasensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a complex, multifactorial syndrome characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection, leading to severe organ dysfunction and high mortality rates among critically ill patients. Hypovitaminosis C and vitamin C deficiency are frequently observed in septic patients, prompting interest in the potential therapeutic role of ascorbic acid. Although intravenous administration of ascorbic acid has been investigated in multiple clinical trials for sepsis treatment, the specific immunomodulatory mechanisms underlying its effects remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of high-dose ascorbic acid on experimental sepsis. Results show that intravenous administration of high-dose ascorbic acid (250 mg/kg) attenuated sepsis-induced organ dysfunctions in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic mouse model. Ascorbic acid improved splenic cell apoptosis and increased the number of CD3+ T cells in septic mice induced by CLP. Furthermore, ascorbic acid downregulated PD-L1 expression in livers, reduced PD-1 expression in spleens, and inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1 at Y701 in multiple organs of CLP-induced septic mice. The in vitro experiments also revealed that 800 μM ascorbic acid suppressed STAT1 phosphorylation and inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression in macrophages. These findings suggest that ascorbic acid prevents sepsis-associated organ dysfunction through the p-STAT1/PD-L1 signaling pathway. Our study provides new insights into the potential therapeutic use of ascorbic acid in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water-soluble curcuminoid powder was developed using cyclodextrins and quantified individual curcuminoids using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The standard 95% curcuminoid powder (CSTD) employed in our study consists of demethoxycurcumin (DMC, 19.29%), bis-demethoxy curcumin (BDMC, 4.60%) and curcumin (71.11%). In water-soluble products, we observed that all three curcuminoids were present in equal proportions, i.e. 1:1:1 ratio and its solubility was found to be 40,000 ppm, while the curcumin powder solubility is about 5 ppm.Water-soluble curcuminoid powder was obtained by the encapsulation method using cyclodextrins namely, beta-cyclodextrin (BCD) and beta-methyl cyclodextrin (BMCD). In the encapsulation method, compounds are embedded inside lipophilic cores of encapsulating agents without any change in chemical structure. Analogous to micelles, encapsulating agents have hydrophilic groups lying outside the core and when they come in contact with water they get dissolved by the release of curcuminoids. In-vitro antioxidant properties assessed by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method showed IC50 values for water-soluble curcuminoids at 10.4 ± 0.18 µg/ml for WSC-1, 30.3 ± 1.16 µg/ml for WSC-2 and 18.73 ± 0.58 µg/ml for WSC-3, while for the standard curcuminoid (CSTD) and ascorbic acid values of 27.56 ± 0.06 µg/ml and 45.69 ± 0.66 µg/ml, respectively, were found. Cell line studies using RAW 264.7 revealed that our encapsulated water-soluble powders, viz. WSC-1 (with BMCD alone), WSC-2 (with BCD alone), WSC-3 (with BCD and BMCD 1:1), showed IC50 values of cell line studies 1.33 ± 0.19, 27.43 ± 0.04 and 1.27 ± 0.02 µg/ml when compared to CSTD which was 38.45 ± 0.28 µg/ml (p < 0.05). These positive initial leads on cell line studies of these water-soluble curcuminoids helped to focus on the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity on solid tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new redox-active cobalt(III) complex containing the 2-oxo-2Н-chromene-6,7-diolate dianion and 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine as ligands is synthesized. The reduction of the synthesized complex with ascorbic acid in an inert atmosphere is studied in situ by NMR spectroscopy. The reduction is shown to result in the release of 6,7-dihydrocycoumarin acting as a model drug. This process has the first order with respect to the initial complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]