Search

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that can lead to severe respiratory distress requiring hospitalization and can be fatal. Media have reported that various dietary supplements (DS) or their combination with different medications can prevent infection or decrease disease severity. Here, we analyzed data collected from 15,830 patient follow-up telephone interviews from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences COVID-19 testing sites from March 15 to August 1, 2020. Within the REDCap database, we recorded patient demographics and DS and medication use. In total, data on DS and medication use was available for 8,150 study participants, of whom 21.9% and 4.1% reported using DS or medications, respectively, to either prevent or treat COVID-19. The majority of respondents were female (64%) and non-Hispanic whites (44.5%). Most individuals (64.5%) who took DS were younger than 50 years of age. Products such as vitamin C (1,013, 33.2%), multivitamins (722, 23.6%), and vitamin D (294, 9.6%) were the most commonly used DS among the responders. Analysis of the DS use and symptom scores association did not provide a strong evidence of beneficial health effects of DS. The results of this study demonstrate that a significantly higher proportion of study participants considered usage of DS to mitigate or prevent COVID-19-related symptoms compared to those who preferred medications. However, lack of observable health benefits associated with ingestion of DS suggests that more rigorous research is needed to substantiate the label claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium dichromate is widely used in various laboratory and industrial applications. Vitamin C and melatonin are well-known antioxidants. Study the microscopic and morphometric alterations in the thyroid gland in adult male albino rats after the administration of potassium dichromate for successive 2 months and also to assess the possible protective effect of vitamin C versus melatonin on these changes. Sixty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four main groups. Group I (The control group). Group II received potassium dichromate (25 mg/kg/day) dissolved in distilled water by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection for 2 months. Group III received the same dose of potassium dichromate with vitamin C (120 mg/kg/day) orally through an intragastric intubation. Group IV received the same dose of potassium dichromate and melatonin (10 mg/kg/day) as an i.p injection. Thyroid gland samples were prepared for light and electron microscopic studies. Potassium dichromate group demonstrated congested blood vessels, follicular hyperplasia, follicular enlargement with degenerated lining cells that were exfoliated in the lumen. The parafollicular cells appeared with darkly stained nuclei. PAS reaction showed weak reaction in the colloid with an abnormal pattern of vacuolization. A highly significant increase in the percentage area of fibrosis was detected in Mallory trichrome sections. Ultrastructurally, follicular cells and parafollicular cells appeared irregular in shape with dark, small heterochromatic nuclei. Small, electron-dense granules in the parafollicular cells were found. Potassium dichromate and vitamin C-treated group III showed partial improvement of the thyroid gland. The PAS reaction showed that nearly all the follicles were more or less similar to those of the control group. A significant decrease in the percentage area of fibrosis in group III was found as compared to those in group II. Potassium dichromate and melatonin-treated group showed that the thyroid gland was nearly similar to that of the control group. Vitamin C and melatonin could partially protect against potassium dichromate induced changes in the thyroid gland and the protective effect of melatonin was better than that of vitamin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbamate-linked-bistriazole (5) was prepared by click reaction of diethynyl 1,3-phenylenedicarbamate (2) and phenyl azide derivative (4) in DMF/H2O using copper sulfate and sodium ascorbate as a catalyst at room temperature for fluoride ion sensing. The structural analysis of synthesized compound was done by using 1HNMR, 13C NMR, FTIR and HRMS. The sensing behavior of carbamate-linked-bistriazole (5) was examined by 1HNMR, UV–vis and fluorescence study. NMR titration study suggested the participation of triazole, amide and aromatic protons in binding of fluoride ion. UV–visible study established the 1:1 complexation ratio between sensor 5 and F– ion with stability constant K of 2.64 × 104 M−1 and detection limit in µM range (9.372 µM). Further, fluorescence titration for 5 (9.2 × 10−6 M) with fluoride ions exhibited an emission quenching at 424 nm along with small bathochromic shift. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations also confirmed interaction mechanism in 5a-F– complex established by, UV–visible, 1H NMR and fluorescence studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine compounds including a new one, garcichaudiic acid (1), were isolated from the bark of G. gaudichaudii and their structures were characterized mainly by 1 D and 2 D NMR experiments. The antioxidant capacity of the isolated compounds was determined using DPPH radical scavenging assay and the anti-hyperglycemic activity was assessed by measuring the inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase. Among them, compound 4 showed higher antioxidant activity than the positive control, ascorbic acid, while both compounds 1 and 7 exhibited more significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the reference drug acarbose. Molecular docking analysis of the bioactive compounds was also performed to examine the binding modes and key interactions with the catalytic site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OptiSafeTM (OS) is a shelf stable, nonanimal test for ocular irritation. A recent database search found that half of the OS false positive (FP) materials were associated with reactive oxygen chemistries but were not eye irritants in vivo (based on historical rabbit studies by other groups). We hypothesized that naturally occurring tear antioxidants protect the eye from reactive chemistries in vivo and that specific tear chemistries might help explain why some materials are FP for nonanimal tests but are reported as nonirritants in the live animal. To test this hypothesis, a prior study evaluated tear antioxidants and found that the tear antioxidant ascorbic acid, added at human physiological tear levels to the OS test, specifically reduced the measured values for these FPs but did not reduce the true-positive rate. Based on these findings, the OS test method was further optimized. The purpose of the current study was to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the further optimized test method for detection of ocular irritants. The OS test measures chemically induced damage to macromolecules and relates these measured values to ocular irritancy. To improve the performance of OS, we made updates to the material to be tested physiochemical handling procedures, prediction model, and test method to include tear-level concentrations of ascorbic acid. We then retested the 78 chemicals from the prior OS-coded validation study in triplicate and compared the accuracy of the 'nonirritant versus irritant' prediction for the further optimized method with the prior results. We report that for the detection of 'nonirritant' versus 'irritant' (GHS NC versus categories 2B/A and 1) test substances, the further optimized OS test with ascorbic acid compared with the original version has a FP rate that is reduced from 40.0 to 22.2%, the false-negative (FN) rate remains at 0.0%, and the accuracy improved from 80.3% to 89.2%. A comparison to OECD-adopted tests demonstrates that the further optimized OS test, like the original method, has a higher accuracy and lower FN rate for the detection of 'nonirritants' versus 'irritants' (GHS Category NC versus 2B/A and 1) than the other eye irritation tests (BCOP, EpiOcularTM Eye Irritation Test, ICE, Ocular Irritection®, and STE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home isolation has been proposed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with mild symptoms to avoid hospital overcrowding. This study aimed to describe the drug-related problems (DRPs) and the pharmaceutical care of home-isolating COVID-19 patients in Thailand. Methods: Our cross-sectional study was undertaken from July 1 to September 30, 2021, at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand. Patients who were ≥ 18 years old, were diagnosed with mild COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and were able to isolate at home while receiving an antiviral agent and standard symptomatic treatment were enrolled. Infectious disease pharmacists provided a telepharmacy service on days 1 and 3 after the COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: A total of 197 patients met the study criteria. Their median age was 45 years, and their most common underlying disease was hypertension (44.29%). All patients exhibited excellent anti-COVID-19 drug adherence. We identified 125 DRPs, including adverse reactions (68%), and the unnecessary use of products (62.40%). Moreover, 91 patients (46.19%) reported the use of supplements or herbs, with vitamin C being the main supplement (37.36%). Pharmacists provided 36 recommendations and received 33 questions from COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that telepharmacy is an essential service for detecting and preventing DRPs in home-isolating COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the stability of mango peel flakes obtained by drum-drying through sorption isotherms, glass transition temperature, and controlled storage. Two products were produced using drum-drying (146 °C/15 s): without (DMP) and with process additives (DMPA) (5% corn starch d.b.; 1% glyceryl monostearate d.b.). The isotherms, obtained by gravimetric method (25 °C), had the best fit with the GAB model (R2=0.99), revealing a monolayer of 0.0954 g water/g d.b. (aw=0.5089) for DMP, and 0.0826 g water/g d.b. (aw=0.4818) for DMPA. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) were fitted through Roos and Gordon-Taylor, demonstrating the plasticizing effect of water. Combined GAB-Gordon Taylor analysis pointed out critical storage conditions (25 °C): aw=0.061 and moisture content of 0.7 g/100 g for DMPA; aw=0.055 and moisture content of 0.6 g/100 g for DMP. The storage of DMPA (aw=0.219; moisture content of 1.27 g/100 g) at 25 °C (240 days) and 35 °C (120 days) showed high retention of vitamin C, color, and phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is a risk factor for gastric cancer (GC) and causes oxidative stress. Antioxidant vitamins may protect against oxidative stress. This study aimed to determine the association between dietary antioxidant vitamin intake and GC risk according to smoking status and the histological subtype. This case-control study included 286 pairs of patients with GC and controls aged 20–79 years enrolled at two hospitals from 2002 to 2006, matched by age (± 2 years), sex, hospital, and participation period (± 1 years). Dietary information was collected using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). When stratified by smoking status, increased intake of vitamin C (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.17–0.84 for highest vs. lowest; P for trend = 0.033) and folate (OR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.12–0.64 for highest vs. lowest; P for trend = 0.003) decreased GC risk in nonsmokers. Vitamin C (P for interaction = 0.043) and folate (P for interaction =0.015) levels were significantly associated with smoking status. Similar results were observed in nonsmokers with diffuse and mixed types of GC, but not in those with intestinal type of GC. Therefore, we found an inverse association between higher intake of dietary vitamin C and folate with the risk of GC among nonsmokers. These protective associations were strong in nonsmokers with diffuse and mixed types of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient method developed for the synthesis of asymmetric (S)-N-benzylidene-2-(benzyloxy)-1-(5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethanamine derivatives with excellent yield in short reaction time. The antioxidant and antimitotic activities were estimated and strongly correlated with the potential of Ascorbic acid and Methotrexate respectively. All the synthesized molecules were characterized using various spectral techniques including FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Mass spectrometry. The drug-likeness properties were studied using in silico ADME parameters. All the compounds have an acceptable range of values which indicated good drug-like characteristics based on Lipinski's rule of five and to be orally active. The present method is quite easy along with simple operation and offers many benefits including short reaction time, easy work-up, excellent yield, reduced waste production as well as cost effective. In addition structure-activity relationships of AP-1 to AP-10 derivatives have been described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, the drying of Stevia rebaudiana leaves was carried out in a lab scale convective hot-air dryer at a varying temperature of 30–80°C to analyze the drying behavior, fit mathematical, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy System (ANFIS) models to predict the drying kinetics of leaves. Further, dried leaf powders were analyzed for color properties, ascorbic acid and total phenol contents, antioxidant activity, water activity (aw), water solubility index (WSI), hygroscopicity (HG), density (bulk, tapped, and particle), bulk porosity, and flowability indices (Hausner ratio (HR), Carr index (CI), and angle of repose (α)). The results showed that ANFIS model with R2 of 0.9998, offers a more accurate forecast of the drying kinetics of leaves dried in a convective hot-air dryer in comparison to mathematical and ANN modeling. The convective drying significantly (p <.05) effected the L*, a*, b*, hue angle and chroma values of dried leaves. Increase in the drying temperature from 30 to 80°C resulted in a decrement of 50.90% in aw, 10.10% in tapped density, while enhancement of 23.26% in WSI, 32.93% in HG, 54% in particle density, and 10.59% in bulk porosity of dried leaf powder. Notably, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity decreased with rising temperatures, while total phenols enhanced up to 50°C. The bulk density of dried samples remained largely unchanged with increasing temperature, while the flowability of the Stevia powder improved. Thus, these findings provide valuable insights for producers regarding the drying characteristics and properties of Stevia leaf powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of thermal and high-pressure processing on the quality indicator of orange juice and its storage stability. The pressure was applied at 400 MPa and 600 MPa for 3, 6, and 9 min to process the juice and evaluate the quality of orange juice during 60 days of storage with every 30-day interval. HPP conditions (400 MPa and 600 MPa for 3, 6, and 9 min) did not significantly change the ascorbic acid content of orange juice, in contrast to thermal processing where a crucial decrease in ascorbic content was observed. Ascorbic acid content increased non-significantly from 40.03 to 40.69 (mg/100 g) and 40.79 when applied for 3 and 6 min, respectively, while thermal processing reduced its content up to 33.45 (mg/100 g). Ascorbic acid at 600 MPa was observed at 41.19 (mg/100 g) when treated for 6 min. Carotenoid content was increased when HPP was from 8.6 to 9.14 (mg/100 ml) during 400 MPa for 9 min and 11.65 (mg/100 ml) for 6 min at 600 MPa compared to the corresponding untreated sample and thermally treated sample. The total soluble solids, pH, and acidity of the orange showed stability after HPP and during 60 days of storage. The natural microbiological load (yeast and mold, E-Coli log CFU/ml) was observed below 1 log reduction at 30 days of storage and 2 log reduction during days of storage. This study identified different pressure levels to produce nutritionally and microbiologically stable orange juice compared to thermally processed and untreated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the most effective concentrations of moringa leaf extract (MLE), aloe vera gel (AV gel), ascorbic acid (1 mM) and oxalic acid (5 mM) were used. Physically mature fruits harvested from a commercial orchard were dipped in aqueous solutions of different edible coatings and kept at ambient conditions (25±2ºC & 55-60% RH) for evaluation of the quality and enzymatic parameters on daily basis till marketability. Current results revealed that 5 mM ascorbic acid treatment resulted in 57% reduced fruit weight loss; while 20% AV gel coating increased firmness by 60% over a 5-day ambient storage period. Application 6% MLE exhibited 50.7% and 49.7% reduced respiration rate and ethylene production respectively. Fruit biochemical quality parameters were also improved with the lowest accumulation of total soluble solids as a result of slow respiration, higher titratable acidity, ascorbic acid contents, carotenoids and anthocyanin contents in all treated fruit. While, total phenolic contents and total antioxidants along with superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and anthocyanins were higher in ascorbic acid treated fruits. The activity of poly phenol oxidase enzyme was lowest in fruits treated with 5 mM ascorbic acid solution. Conclusively, the application of different edible coatings was proved to be beneficial as numerous fruit biochemical and antioxidative attributes were improved by ascorbic acid treatment; furthermore, MLE, AV gel and oxalic acid treatments were also helpful in maintaining fruit quality of strawberry fruits over a 5-days ambient storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is considered the world's most important crop owing to its high nutritional profile and flavor. However, its limited shelf life and post-harvest losses impact its marketing. The present study investigated the impact of aloe vera gel-based edible coating on tomato's post-harvest quality under storage at 8°C for 12 days. The aloe vera-based coating solutions were made with varying concentrations of extracted gel that varied from 0 to 60% with inclusion of chitosan (0.5 to 2%). Physiological, chemical, nutritional, and microbiological analysis of coated and uncoated tomatoes was carried out during storage. It was found that uncoated (control) tomatoes showed maximum weight loss (5.85%), total soluble solids (5.3 ± 0.20 0Brix), change in pH (5.6 ± 0.26), microbial count (3.57 ± 0.12 log cfu/g), decrease in ascorbic acid content (19.23 ± 0.92 mg/100 g), and acidity (0.54 ± 0.01%) as compared to aloe vera-based coatings. However, the coating formulation comprising aloe vera gel (60%) + chitosan (2%) performed much better than other prepared coatings in delaying the weight loss (2.1%), total soluble solid (3.7 ± 0.16 0Brix), change in pH (4.6 ± 0.21), ascorbic acid value (30.47 ± 1.31 mg/100 g), acidity (0.83 ± 0.04%), and microbial load (1.6 ± 0.08 log cfu/g). In addition, it also maintained firmness and color of tomatoes during storage of 12 days. Conclusively, the application of aloe vera-based coating (60% gel) with the inclusion of chitosan (2%) may be proposed for preserving the post-harvest quality of the tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, an estimated 20% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is food insecure with the incidence of hunger and malnutrition still rising. This trend is amplified by the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, more than a third of the harvestable perishable produce is lost due to a lack of preservation or failure to utilize preservation as is the case for underutilized crops (UCs). Moreover, some of the preservation techniques utilized are poor, leading to the deterioration of food quality, especially the micronutrients. In this study, we thus exemplarily investigated the impact of different drying settings on the quality of two highly nutritious UCs, namely cocoyam and orange-flesh sweet potato (OFSP) (40, 60, and 80 °C for cocoyam and 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C for OFSP) to deduce the optimum quality retention and further develop a theoretical design of processing units and processing guidelines for decentralized food processing. Drying cocoyam at 80 °C and OFSP at 60 °C, respectively resulted in a relatively shorter drying time (135 and 210 min), a lower total color difference (2.29 and 11.49-13.92), greater retentions for total phenolics (0.43 mg GAE/100 gDM and 155.0-186.5 mg GAE/100 gDM), total flavonoid (128 mg catechin/100 gDM and 79.5-81.7 mg catechin/100 gDM) and total antioxidant activity (80.85% RSA and 322.58-334.67 mg AAE/100 gDM), respectively for cocoyam and OFSP. The β-carotene, ascorbic acid and vitamin A activity per 100 gDM of the OFSP flours ranged between 6.91- 9.53 mg, 25.90 − 35.72 mg, and 0.53 − 0.73 mg RAE, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the impacts of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) concentrations on the physicochemical properties of spray-dried water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) vitamin C double emulsion powder Four MCC concentration (1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%) were used to produce the vitamin C double emulsion powder. The results of the emulsion's creaming index, flow behaviour index, zeta value, and particle size indicated that these parameters decreased when the MCC concentration increased. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the higher MCC concentration resulted in a smoother surface In general, the MCC concentration increased, the particle size, hygroscopicity, solubility, water content, and water activity of the double emulsion powder decreased. Double emulsion powder containing 2% MCC presented the highest level of antioxidant activity and was mostly stable after storage for 56 days. Before and after drying, transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis of the morphological characteristics of the liquid emulsion showed that the concentration of 2% MCC in the emulsion could form a W/O/W double emulsion structure. In conclusion, the addition of MCC significantly affect the properties of vitamin C double emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi can thrive in strawberries, mainly Botrytis cinerea, which causes relevant fruit losses. Moreover, thermal preservation results in phytonutrient losses. This study evaluated the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP, 0, 400, and 600 MPa/5 min) processing with potassium sorbate (PS) or avocado seed acetogenins (ASA) on the nutritional, microbiological, and physicochemical properties of strawberry puree inoculated with Botrytis cinerea. Sole inoculation reduced L-ascorbic acid (L-AA, 84%) and total ascorbic acid (TAA, 38%). Instrumental color Hue angles were reduced from 35.0 to 29.4°, likewise the contents of pelargonidin−3-glucoside (25%) and ellagic acid (38%). Both HHP-PS treated samples contained no viable conidia and high TAA; the no-preservative and HHP-ASA (661 µg/mL, 400 MPa/5 min) purees contained high TAA but had viable conidia, which can induce further phytonutrient losses. HHP and antifungal additives maintained ellagic acid, increased pelargonidin−3-glucoside contents, and inactivated conidia, strengthening the value of combined non-thermal technologies for the preservation of strawberry puree [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mahonia jaunsarensis Ahrendt is a narrow endemic wild edible fruit-bearing species found in Uttarakhand Himalaya and has the potential of breeding compatibility with economically important Mahonia and Berberis species. Berry fruits of the species were explored for nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant potential among three sampling locations. Fresh berries appeared a good source of diverse nutrients (carbohydrate 1.07–1.25 g/100 g, protein 0.97–1.13 g/100 g, non-reducing sugar 3.38–3.92 mg/g, and total sugar 9.86–12.87 mg/g); minerals (e.g. sodium 0.56–0.65 mg/100 g and potassium 0.99–1.14 mg/g); and vitamins (ascorbic acid 3.87–4.49 mg/g, thiamine 9.97–11.57 µg/g and carotenoids 1.67–1.94 mg/g). Similarly, phytochemicals (total anthocyanin 18.93–22.12 mg/g, phenolics 1.56–1.80 mg GAE/g, flavonoids 1.49–1.73 mg QE/g, flavonols 4.88–5.66 mg CE/g, and tannins 6.53–7.58 mg TAE/g) and in vitro antioxidant capacity (measured by ABTS assay, DPPH assay, OH· radical scavenging activity and FRAP assays) varied significantly (p <.05) among localities. Various phenolic compounds (particularly, chlorogenic acid 9.93–13.77 mg/g; caffeic acid 0.32–0.65 mg/g; syringic acid 0.30–0.47 mg/g fw) present in the methanolic extract also varied significantly among the localities. Thus, this phytonutrient- and antioxidant-rich genetic resource can be utilized for health-promoting functional foods. Also, the results of the present study indicated that the variation in nutritional, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity among the locations can be utilized for elite selection, quality control, and breeding programs in the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombination of commercially available hybrids could produce desirable segregants that act as sources of new alleles for tomato breeding. Seven commercial single cross (SC) hybrids of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were crossed in a half diallel fashion to obtain 21 double cross hybrids (DC) to estimate combining ability, mode of gene action and extent of heterobeltiosis for fruit yield, processing qualities and tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) disease severity traits. Predominance of non-additive gene action occurred in the control for all characters except for total soluble solids (TSS) content in fruit that was conditioned by both additive and non-additive gene action. Improvement of most traits in DC hybrids over SC hybrids occurred. Maximum heterotic effect in DC hybrids was for vitamin C content followed by lycopene content, fruit yield per plant, titratable acidity content, number of fruit per plant and percent disease index of ToLCV. Two good combiners, 'PAN-1286' and 'Devi' among SC hybrids were identified based on general combining ability effects and average performance. Commercial exploitation of DC hybrids, 'TO-1458 × L-37' and 'NS-501 × TO-1458' following multilocational testing in the tropics and subtropics might be useful. High yielding, ToLCV disease tolerant DC hybrids could be exploited in segregating generations to identify elite multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to biosynthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and investigate their biological activities. UV–Vis Spectroscopy, FT-IR, SEM and TEM were used for characterization. The antioxidant properties were determined using H2O2, NO, ABTS, FRAP and DPPH scavenging assays. For anti-inflammatory activities, membrane stabilization, albumin denaturation and proteinase inhibitory activity were assayed. The antibacterial effect was tested using well diffusion method. Statistical analyses were done using ANOVA. Synthesized nanoparticles showed an intensity peak at 378 nm in UV–Vis Spectroscopy. FT-IR shows the presence of O-H stretching, C = C bending, O-H bending and C–N stretching functional groups of the stabilizing action of the plant extract on the surface of the nanoparticles. NPs were shown to be spherical by SEM analysis, and the sizes were 100 nm by TEM analysis. The antioxidant properties of ZnO NPs compared to ascorbic acid standard showed significant antioxidant potential in H2O2, NO, ABTS, FRAP and DPPH scavenging assays. ZnO NPs showed excellent anti-inflammatory activity with the synthesized ZnO NPs performing better in membrane stabilization. Clinical pathogens were inhibited by ZnO NPs when compared with Cefuroxime, a standard drug. These efficient biological activities could be utilized in several biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, an experimental investigation and mathematical modeling of tomato waste hot air drying (HAD) were conducted for drying temperatures of 50 and 60°C, and air velocities of 1 and 2 m s−1. Kinetics, mathematical modeling, and optimization of biological properties using response surface methodology (RSM) were investigated. Increasing the drying temperature from 50 to 60°C shortened the drying time by 5 and 20 min, respectively, for 1 and 2 m s−1 air velocities. The proposed mathematical model with the highest correlation coefficient of 0.9997 well described the moisture variation of tomato waste. Significantly high diffusivity was observed with values of 1.24 × 10−6 and 1.67 × 10−6 m2 s−1. Obtained analysis showed an increase in polyphenol (PPT) and flavonoids (TFC) and a decrease in lycopene content (LYC) and ascorbic acid (AA). Phenomenological modeling and RSM methodology indicated that both drying temperature and air velocity affected the content of TFC, LYC, and AA, whereas, for PPT, the temperature has a positive effect in contrast with negative of air velocity. Optimum drying time, PPT, TFC, LYC, and AA are 44.6 min, 227 mg GAE/g, 32.2 mg GAE/g, 517.92 mg/100 g, and 1.91 mg AAE/100 g, respectively. Optimal drying temperature and velocity were, respectively, 56.7°C and 1 m s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of 6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides (4a–m) has been synthesized and reported with good yields. All these compounds were characterized using various spectral techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS and then subjected to in-vitro anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities using DPPH and microdilution methods, respectively. Among the synthesized pyrimidine-5-carboxamides, compounds 4a–b, 4j, and 4i were found to exhibit promising antibacterial activity compared to the standard drug Neomycin. Similarly, compounds 4g–i and 4l displayed excellent anti-oxidant activities against the standard drug ascorbic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of coloring compounds (pigments) based on 5-(2-aminothiazol-5-yl)thiazol-2-amine and 5-(4-aminophenyl)thiazol-2-amine as heterocyclic alternatives for benzidine based on disazo dyestuffs were synthesized. All the newly synthesized pigments are characterized based on their physical, spectral, and analytical data. The antimicrobial activity showed that introducing the heterocyclic analogues thiazole (mono or bis) exhibited less toxic and resisted antimicrobial (five gram-positive strain, three gram-negative, and three fungal species). Thus, derivatives demonstrated moderate to good activity compared with Gentamycin and Ketoconazole. Furthermore, the pigments screened for their in vitro antioxidant properties by the DPPH method, and the newly designed pigments PG4–PG11 with thiazole moiety causes increase antioxidant properties with IC50 values ranged between (0.054–0.192 µM) compared with PG1, PG2, and PG3 (IC50 = 0.712, 0.239, and 0.191 µM) as well as Ascorbic acid (IC50 = 2.532 µM). Further, the synthesized pigments' cytotoxicity activity evaluated against HepG-2 and showed IC50 values ranged between (53.52–94.05 µM) compared with PG1–PG3 (IC50 =216.04–393.58 µM) and doxorubicin (IC50 = 8.17 µM). Molecular docking study concluded that thiazole moiety might be made one or more binding mode as critical hydrogen bonding through the nitrogen of thiazole, as well as arene-cation and/or arene-arene interaction with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) active site in 1DLS protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to assess the impact of different blanching methods and blanching time on the quality of dried pear slices. Pears are only available seasonally, making the production of high-quality dried slices a valuable commodity. The pears were prepared and sliced before being blanched using three different methods: traditional blanching with hot water, blanching with steam, and microwave blanching for varying lengths of time. After blanching, the slices were cooled and then placed on filter papers to dry. The dried slices were then evaluated for chemical properties, such as sugars, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, Brix/acid ratio, ash content, and moisture content. Sensory properties such as color, taste, texture, and overall acceptability were also evaluated using a 9-point hedonic scale. The data generated were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the significant differences between variables. The results showed that the blanching method used had a non-significant effect (p <.05) on the chemical properties of the pear slices, such as total sugars (reducing and non-reducing), total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, Brix/acid ratio, ash content, and moisture content. However, there was no significant effect on the sensory properties of color, texture, taste, and overall acceptability. In conclusion, blanching is an effective technique for preventing microbial growth and chemical and enzymatic reactions that can lead to the deterioration of dried pear slices. It also helps to remove moisture without adversely affecting the physicochemical and sensory quality attributes of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is one of the major causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with a dietary pattern rich in saturated fat. The present study utilized roasted and germinated chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) flour (RCPF and GCPF) as a replacement for fat in biscuits, known to have nutraceutical properties. The fat content was modified using the following ratios: 10%, 20%, and 30% (w/w) of RCPF/GCPF. Based on the physicochemical analysis, increased concentrations of RCPF and GCPF in the flour blends resulted in higher levels of protein, ash, and crude fiber contents. GCPF was found to contain higher levels of protein (20.20%), ash (4.86%), and crude fiber (3.64%) compared to RCPF. Increased RCPF and GCPF levels resulted in reduction of gluten content, which indicated weak gluten network. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of biscuit samples further supported these observations. The farinograph properties showed significant increase (P<0.05) in water absorption and dough development time. Furthermore, when RCPF and GCPF were added to flour blends and biscuits samples, significant increase (P<0.05) in antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content was observed. These trends were observed to be more prominent with higher quantities of RCPF and GCPF. Notably, the antioxidant properties of chickpeas were found to be significantly improved (P<0.05) by the process of germination compared to roasting. Moreover, improvements in antioxidant activity might be caused by the increased levels of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid due to the actions of endogenous hydrolytic enzymes during germination. The dimensional, textural, and sensory properties indicated that RCPF 20% and GCPF 10% can effectively serve as an organic fat substitute in bakery products with enhanced concentrations of proteins, fibers, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds with nutraceutical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), also known as "Chinese date" or "jujube," belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. The current research was designed to assess the effect of storage temperatures (5°C and 15°C) on ascorbic acid content, reducing sugar content, and titratable acidity of four ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties, i.e. Karela, Aakash, Pak white, and Dil-Bahar. For this purpose, fresh ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties were acquired from the Regional Agriculture Research Institute (RARI), Bahawalpur. In the first phase, these ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties were subjected to proximate analysis of reducing sugar contents, titratable acidity, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic contents. Maximum total phenolic content (144.38 ± 0.03 mgGAE/100 g) and antioxidant activity (39 ± 0.06%) were observed in Dil-Bahar variety. In the second phase, stored ber (Z. mauritiana) varieties were subjected to a storage study at 0, 7th, and 14th days for comparative evaluation based on titratable acidity, reducing sugar content, and ascorbic acid content. The results showed that the fruits stored at 5°C showed a maintained level of ascorbic acid content (31.26 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), reducing sugars (41.25 ± 0.02%), and titratable acidity (3.36 ± 0.01%) in Karela. On the contrary, Karela stored at 15°C showed a reduction in ascorbic acid content (28.12 ± 0.02 mg/100 g) and titratable acidity (1.21 ± 0.01%) and an increase in reduced sugar content (46.48 ± 0.03%). Moreover, Dil-Bahar variety showed higher ascorbic acid content (51.69 ± 0.05 mg/100 g), titratable acidity (3.51 ± 0.02%), and reducing sugar content (33.29 ± 0.01%) at 5°C. It was concluded that cultivars showed the best results at low storage temperatures of 5°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds in four selected wild potato varieties. Moisture content in wild potato varieties ranged between 70.92 ± 0.29 to 73.82 ± 0.64 g/100 g sample. Shimul Alu has the highest amount of ash (1.01 g/100 g sample). The range of 3.2–4.10 g/100 g sample was the range where the protein content changed substantially. Jam Alu had the highest protein content (4.10 g/100 g sample), whereas lal parki had the lowest value (2.2 g/100 g sample). Shimul Alu provided the highest crude fiber concentration (0.55 g/100 g sample), whereas lal parki presented the lowest crude fiber content (0.43 g/100 g sample). Shimul Alu had the highest levels of starch and reducing sugar. In comparison to widely grown types, wild potato varieties showed increased antioxidant activity. Jam Alu had the most antioxidant activity, with 148.83 mol of ascorbic acid per gram, whereas commonly consumed potato, lal parki, had the lowest antioxidant activity, with 91.57 mol of ascorbic acid per gram. The phenolic content of the dry sample ranged from 1.01 to 2.85 mg GAE. Jam alu, one of the potato cultivars, had the greatest phenolic content. The range of the total flavonoid concentration in grams was 18.04–41.38 mg of quercetin equivalents (QE). Shil bilati, a wild kind of potato, had the highest flavonoid content, whereas lal parki, a commonly consumed potato, had the lowest. In comparison to widely farmed and consumed forms, wild kinds of potatoes were shown to be more nutrient-dense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination of seeds is a complex process linked to various molecular and biochemical changes that increase the nutritional value. This research has studied the impact of germination on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities of five domestic staple legumes from Pakistan: chickpea, mung bean, soybean, lentil, and peanut. The maximum moisture content was recorded for chickpea, i.e., 11.7 ± 0.05 g 100 g−1 followed by lentil, soybean, peanut, and mung bean as 9.65 ± 0.02, 8.07 ± 0.01, 7.6 ± 0.01, and 7.31 ± 0.01 g 100 g−1, respectively. The overall augmentation in catalase activity during germination (days 1 to 4) was maximum for lentils, i.e., 76.22%, and ascorbate peroxidase activity for peanuts, i.e., 62.09%. The soybean showed a clear difference from the 1st to 4th days of germination for peroxide activity among all selected legumes with a 37.29% increase. A maximum change in superoxide dismutase was noticed in mung bean. The mung bean also had the highest variation in total flavonoid contents, while total phenolic contents were higher in the chickpea. The radical scavenging activity varied higher in peanuts, while the ascorbic acid content was maximum for soybeans. Among all selected legumes, non-germinated chickpeas showed a lower DPPH value, i.e., 1.15 ± 0.03%, whereas the highest DPPH value was observed in lentils (69.84 ± 0.05%). Thus, the incorporation of ready-to-eat (RTE) germinated legumes with high antioxidant activity would be a contemporary addition to the everyday meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C is a compound that is widely used in food processing as a preservative and antioxidant. The weakness of vitamin C is that it is unstable and very reactive to environmental conditions. To maintain the stability of vitamin C during processing and storage, emulsification was carried out with a double emulsion Pickering water in oil in water (W/O/W) system. The research method used was descriptive analysis method which consists of two stages. The first stage was to determine the right amount of emulsifier in the manufacture of W/O emulsion and the second stage is the manufacture of W/O/W emulsion which consists of four different treatments with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as the Pickering component. The results showed that the use of 5% sorbitan tristearate produced a stable W/O vitamin C emulsion at 14 days of storage with a coalescence index of 3.2% and a droplet size of 0.698 μm. The combination of polysorbate 80 and MCC produced a W/O/W emulsion with a droplet size of 0.952 μm, creaming index 2.615%, serum index 2.899%, and a lowest increase in IC50 of 0.32 ppm/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cashew tree has two parts of food industry and nutrition interest, i.e the nut and the juicy apple. This study aimed to carry out a phytochemical characterization, determine the antioxidant properties and evaluate the influence of temperature on the phytonutrient composition of cashew fruits. The contents of ascorbic acids, phytates, and tannins, of various pigments were determined. Antioxidant activities were determined by four methods using standard methods. The apples presented the best antioxidant activities for FRAP, SOD, and LPO 98.54 ± 5.48, 834.12 ± 13.47, and 84.9 ± 4.15, respectively; while walnuts showed the best antioxidant activities for free radical scavenging which was 26.14 ± 3.21. Tannin, phytate, and anthocyanin contents decreased by more than 50% when increasing temperatures between 50 and 100°C. Ascorbic acid tends to disappear completely in fruit at temperatures of 100°C. Extractable lycopene increased by about 25% with increasing temperature. β-carotene was found to be insensitive to temperature increase. These results provide valuable information that can help in the control of cashew fruit processing in the food industry. They also provide important information on the nutraceutical potential of cashew fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent, so its effect on quality parameters must be considered prior to any potential food application. The effect of gaseous ozone on the quality-related attributes of onion bulbs was examined. Onions were exposed to different ozone concentrations (100, 200, 300 ppm) at pulse mode (i.e., frequency of exposures 1, 2, 3). The pungency imparting pyruvic acid and ascorbic acid contents decreased with an increase in the concentration of ozone and the number of exposures, while total phenol and flavonoid content increased to an effective concentration of 400 ppm of ozone. Higher concentrations inadvertently decreased the antioxidant properties. Ozone treatment resulted in a non-significant decrease in firmness, anthocyanin content, and color of onion. Scanning electron microscopic analysis exhibited structural breakdown in the tunic (outer surface) of ozone-treated onion. At higher concentrations, structural changes were observed up to the first bulb scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary intake of antioxidants such as vitamins C and E protect against oxidative stress, and may also be associated with altered DNA methylation patterns. Methods: We meta-analysed epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) results from 11,866 participants across eight population-based cohorts to evaluate the association between selfreported dietary and supplemental intake of vitamins C and E with DNA methylation. EWAS were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, caloric intake, blood cell type proportion, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and technical covariates. Significant results of the meta-analysis were subsequently evaluated in gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM) analysis. Results: In meta-analysis, methylation at 4,656 CpG sites was significantly associated with vitamin C intake at FDR = 0.05. The most significant CpG sites associated with vitamin C (at FDR = 0.01) were enriched for pathways associated with systems development and cell signalling in GSEA, and were associated with downstream expression of genes enriched in the immune response in eQTM analysis. Furthermore, methylation at 160 CpG sites was significantly associated with vitamin E intake at FDR = 0.05, but GSEA and eQTM analysis of the top most significant CpG sites associated with vitamin E did not identify significant enrichment of any biological pathways investigated. Conclusions: We identified significant associations of many CpG sites with vitamin C and E intake, and our results suggest that vitamin C intake may be associated with systems development and the immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study reports on using ascorbic acid as a possible substitute for improving fastness properties of natural dyes. In the mordanting process, microwave energy, which is a part of the sustainable and ecological production approach, was used. Renewable natural dye source Candelariella reflexa, which is a genus of lichen, was obtained from the trunk of Pinus nigra. Mohair fiber was dyed with natural dye extracted from Candelariella reflexa by using a conventional method. Before dyeing, mohair fiber was subjected to the premordanted process with iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) using microwave energy. In order to determine the effect of mordanting process parameters on dyeing properties, the mordanting process was performed with different concentrations and durations. In the dyeing process, ascorbic acid was added at different concentrations in the dyeing bath to improve the light fastness of samples. After the dyeing process, spectrophotometric features, light, and rubbing and washing fastness of samples were investigated. The color strength, washing, light, and rubbing fastness of dyed mohair fiber improve slightly with the premordanting process and by adding ascorbic acid. The spectrophotometric measurement results show that color coordinates vary from the mordanting time and amount of ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the use of microwave energy in the mordanting process leads to saving of energy and time. Besides, in this study, a machine learning-based model exploiting the artificial neural network (ANN) was developed for prediction of dyeing properties of mohair fiber dyed with natural dyes obtained from Candelariella reflexa. Experimental data obtained through various tests were first used to feed the proposed ANN, and then the trained ANN was validated and tested for the aim of prediction. The study results show that the proposed model can successfully predict most of the dyeing properties of mohair fiber. Therefore, this model can be used as an effective tool to estimate dyeing characteristics of mohair fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaya is a highly popular tropical fruit with its unique aroma, taste, and excellent nutritional characteristics. Drying is widely applied as a preservation technique to reduce post-harvest losses and to increase the shelf life. However, traditional convective drying is a time-consuming process, and directly affects to the final quality of the dried product. Intermittent microwave convective drying (IMCD) is an advanced drying method, which has great potential to improve drying performance and energy efficiency. However, the impact of this innovative drying method the quality of dried papaya has not been adequately investigated. In this study, an extensive investigation was carried out to determine the effects of IMCD conditions on drying performance and some quality attributes of papaya samples. Ascorbic acid content, total polyphenol content, color, and water activity of IMCD dried papaya samples were determined using standard methods. For IMCD process conditions, combinations of different power loads (0.5–1.5 W g−1), intermittency ratios (4–6) and air temperatures (50–70 °C) were considered. The results indicate that drying times were significantly reduced in IMCD while the color change tended to increase with higher microwave power. The total polyphenol content was recorded to increase in some conditions while ascorbic acid remained high in most of the IMCD conditions. The water activity of all dried samples was within product storage stability and safety levels. The optimal condition for the IMCD of papaya was a microwave power load of 1.038 W g−1, intermittency ratio of 5.22 and hot air temperature of 50 °C. The optimized drying time was 235 min, color change ΔE = 12.34, water activity was 0.53, retention of ascorbic acid was 64% and total polyphenol content was 4% higher than the fresh sample. Empirical relationships for drying time, color, total polyphenol content, ascorbic acid content, and water activity in terms of IMCD process variables of papaya drying were developed for the first time. Predicted and experimental values closely matched, validating the proposed models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different N applications with different planting dates on yield, leaf nutrients and some quality parameters of head lettuce (Lactuva sativa L. var. capitata cv. Bombola) grown in substrate-culture. The experiment was conducted in an unheated plastic polyethylene (PE) covered greenhouses of the Ege University Bayındır Vocational Training School in Turkey during the winter-early spring of 2016-2017. The trial was established in a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. In this study, the development and yields ​​of iceberg seedlings, grown at four different planting dates (8th and 23th of February; 9th and 23th of March), were determined under three different nitrogen applications (75, 150, and 250 mg N L−1). The results showed that the studied traits were affected by the treatments, so that the highest yield (334 g head−1), number of leaves (39), DW (4.56%), and Vit.C (13.45%) was obtained on 23th of Feb. (second planting date). According of Nitrogen applications, highest yield (399 g/head), number of leaves (40), DW (5.13%) was found in 150 mg L−1 N application. Overall results indicated that the most suitable cultivation period for iceberg was February, which was the first (8th Feb.) planting date in this current study. Second planting date of experiment (23rd Feb.) was also acceptable for the suitable cultivation. It was also concluded that 75–150 mg N L−1 applications could be recommended for the nutrition of iceberg in soilless culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal additives and vitamins have gained considerable attention to improve fish health. This study investigates the effects of vitamin C (VC), Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil (TE), and quercetin (QR) supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzyme, body composition, and biochemical parameters of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Four hundred and twenty fish weighing 20.46 ± 0.07 g were randomly divided into seven experimental treatments in triplicates. Experimental diets were containing as T1 (0, control), T2 (500 mg/kg VC), T3 (1000 mg/kg VC), T4 (1% TE), T5 (2% TE), T6 (200 mg/kg QR), and T7 (800 mg/kg QR). Fish were fed 3% of body weight daily for 60 days. According to the results, the groups fed with experimental diets showed the higher final weight, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (p <.05). Regarding biochemical indices results, T5, T6, and T7 significantly had the higher serum total protein (TP) than the control (p <.05). Meanwhile, albumin (ALB) showed no significant difference in all groups (p >.05). All the supplemented groups were found to have significantly lower creatinine (CRT), glucose (GLU), and urea (UR) and higher globulin (GLO) content compare to the control (p <.05). Moreover, T3, T4, and T5 showed a significant decrease in triglyceride (TRIG) levels compared to the control (p <.05). Cholesterol (CHOL) activity in T4 supplemented group was significantly lower than the control (p <.05). Also, cortisol (CORT) recorded a significant decrease in T6 and T7 compared to the control (p <.05). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) had a significantly lower level in T4, T6, and T7 compared to the control (p <.05). The whole fish body composition was not affected by the feed additives and the control (p >.05). Besides, significant enhancements were observed in cases of intestine protease, amylase, and lipase enzymes in all the supplemented groups compared to the control (p <.05). In conclusion, the present results demonstrated that VC, TE, and QR could effectively improve survival, growth performance, and biochemical indices in C. carpio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold-coated silver core–shell nanoparticles (Ag@Au NPs) have been widely used for SERS analysis due to plasmon resonance performances. However, it is a great challenge to fabricate Ag@Au core–shell structures with specified morphology. In this paper, the size and shape of Ag NPs (core) were precisely controlled by a seed-mediated approach, and then the gold shell was completely coated on under the strong reduction of ascorbic acid, resulting in Ag@Au NPs with highly regulated morphology. The obtained Ag@Au NPs achieved a similar or even better SERS enhancement factor (EF) (up to 5.7 × 107) compared to Ag NPs, but significantly higher stability. For the rapid SERS detection of nitrofurantoin metabolite AHD, a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 1 × 10−10 M and a wide linear range from 1 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−8 M were obtained. Furthermore, recoveries for crayfish samples were from 90.5% to 108%, indicating a good performance of the presented method in real sample detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision Nutrition makes use of personal information about individuals to produce nutritional recommendations that have more utility than general population level recommendations. In many cases, being able to predict current status is a necessary first step in offering tailored nutritional advice. The objective of this study is to predict plasma vitamin C using machine learning. The NHANES dataset was used to predict plasma vitamin C in a cohort of 2952 American adults using regression algorithms and clustering in a way that a hypothetical health application might. Variables were selected based on a known or hypothesized relationship with plasma vitamin C, and variables that are expensive or difficult to obtain were excluded in order to more closely replicate the situation of a real health application. The best performance was seen with the XGBoost regressor, with random forest performing almost identically. Clustering was also investigated as a means of improving regression accuracy by splitting the data up into smaller yet more homogeneous groups, however, this was not successful. The low R-squared scores obtained by the models are likely to be due to the low resolution of the NHANES data, particularly the dietary data. This emphasizes the need for high-quality data sets in Precision Nutrition research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) acid can cause blindness. A 42-year-old man working in a plating operation presented to the emergency department following a workplace incident. He had unintentionally fallen into a tank containing a mixture of 25% Cr(VI) and sulfuric acid (2.0 g/L) at a temperature of approximately 40 °C. The tank dimensions tank were 8 (depth) × 4 (width) × 3 (length) meters. A colleague rescued him from the tank, and he underwent a full body wash at the worksite. Emergency services adequately flushed both eyes with a 0.9% saline solution. He had significant corneal injury; however, no other significant injuries occurred. Upon presentation at the emergency department, the patient underwent a whole-body shower, and both eyes were flushed with 0.9% saline solution. As a treatment for acute chromium poisoning, he received dimercaprol and ascorbic acid. Additionally, he received eye drops for chemical corneal injury. The patient later underwent bilateral corneal transplants for chemical corneal injury but remained nearly blind. We describe a case of severe chemical corneal injury with limbal stem cell deficiency, leading to blindness due to Cr (VI) acid exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a significant biomarker of diseases, such as osteoblastic bone cancer, hepatitis, and myeloma, and hence its determination is essential and important. MnO2/Mn2+ conversion-based magnetic relaxation sensing was developed to directly determine ALP in blood. In the presence of ALP, 2-phospho-L-ascorbic acid trisodium salt was catalyzed to produce ascorbic acid (AA), which reduced MnO2 to Mn2+, causing transverse relaxation time (T2) decay. A linear relationship of ALP from 5 mU·L−1 to 500 mU·L−1 with T2 signal and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 3.32 mU·L−1 were obtained using the optimized conditions of 200 µM of ascorbic acid-phosphate (AAP), 10 µg·mL−1 of MnO2, 37 °C, pH 7.4, and a 30 min reaction time. When directly measuring ALP in serum with the proposed method, the recoveries were from 99.2% to 101.3%, in accordance with values obtained by a commercial assay. In conclusion, a sensitive one-step method for ALP in complex samples was established which has potential for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamins (Vit) C and D are widely used as immunogenic supplements among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected patients. The SAR-CoV-2 virus enters into the pulmonary endothelial cells through attachment to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (Ace2) and the proteolytic activity of Cathepsin L (Ctsl) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (Tmprss2) enzymes. This study aimed to determine the influence of Vit C and D on the mRNA expression of Ace2, Tmprss2, and Ctsl genes in the mouse lungs. Vitamins C and D were administrated to different groups of mice through intra-peritoneal route in doses equivalent to human for 30 days. Then, the mRNA expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry gene was analyzed using qRT-PCR. It is found that Vit D, but not C, upregulated significantly (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of Ace2 by more than six folds, while downregulated the expression of Ctsl and Tmprss2 genes by 2.8 and 2.2 folds, respectively. It can be concluded from this study that Vit D alters the mRNA expression of Ace2, Tmprss, and Ctsl genes in the mouse lungs. This finding can help us in understanding, at least in part, the molecular influence of Vit D on genes involved in the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This study determined the influence of in ovo (IO) vitamin E and ascorbic acid injections on hatching performance, chick development and antioxidant content of different tissues in day-old quail chicks. The experiment compared a control group (C: non-injection group) and injection groups, which had the yolk sac injected with 3.75 mg α- tocopherol (T1), or had the amniotic sac injected with 0.9% saline solution (T2), 2.5 mg ascorbic acid containing 0.9% saline solution (T3) and 2.5 mg ascorbic acid solution (T4), respectively. 2. Mean relative asymmetry (RA) of bilateral lengths increased in the T2, T3 and T4 groups, whereas it decreased in the T1 group compared to C. The highest total carotene content in the residual yolk sac (RYS) was seen for the T1 group, which was significantly higher compared to T2, T3 and T4 groups. The highest total carotene concentration in the liver was in the T1 group. 3. The concentrations of delta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and total vitamin E in RYS tissue were significantly higher in the T1 group than T2, T3 and T4 groups. Alpha-tocopherol and total vitamin E levels in the liver were significantly higher in the T2 and T4 groups than C. 4. In ovo injections of vitamin E and ascorbic acid to different embryonic sacs caused antioxidant-specific effects on developmental stability of bilateral traits, RYS absorption, concentrations of total carotene and derivatives of vitamin E in newly hatched quail chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triptolide (TP) has its unique curative effect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its application is limited by the poor water solubility and multi-organ toxicity. We herein developed a novel nanoparticle platform composed of L-ascorbate palmitate (VP, vitamin C derivative) that can deliver TP to synergistically treat arthritis and inhibit the occurrence of oxidative stress. The TP-loaded nanoparticles (termed TP-VP NPs) showed the suitable particle size (about 145 nm) and good physical stability. TP-VP NPs effectively down-regulated IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels to inhibit the erosion of synovitis and bone tissue, and alleviate the swelling and deformation of CIA mice's feet. Compared to the TP, TP-VP NPs could inhibit effectively the oxidative stress in liver, and alleviate significantly the triptolide-induced toxicity injury in liver, kidney and testicle. The results demonstrated that TP-VP NPs is a promising triptolide delivery system for the treatment of RA, which enhances the water solubility of TP and reduces the toxicity of TP in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an antioxidant that is widely used in cosmetics in skincare products. Due to the excessive low stability of ascorbic acid in cosmetic formulations, the stabilized ascorbic acid derivative, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) was formulated as vesicular carriers; ethosomes and niosomes. The aim was to deliver MAP at the intended site of action, the skin, for sufficient time with enhanced permeation to get an effective response. Ethosomes were formulated using a full 32 factorial design to study ethanol and phospholipid concentration effect on ethosomes properties. Niosomes were formulated using 23 factorial designs to study the effect of surfactant type, surfactant concentration and cholesterol concentration on niosomes properties. The prepared formulations were evaluated for their Entrapment efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and % drug permeated. The optimized ethosomal and niosomal formulations were incorporated into carbopol gel and evaluated for their permeation, skin retention and stability. A comparative split-face clinical study was done between the ethosomal and niosomal formulations for melasma treatment using Antera 3DVR camera. The optimized ethosomal and niosomal gels showed comparable controlled permeation and higher skin retention over their ethosomes and niosomes formulations respectively. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate ethosomal gel showed clinically and statistically significant melanin level decrease after one month while MAP niosomal gel showed clinically and statistically significant melanin level decrease after six months. A combination of MAP ethosomes and niosomes could be promising skincare formulations for melasma and hyperpigmentation short and long-term treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear whether unintentional ingestion of povidone-iodine following its application to the oropharyngeal space could affect thyroid function. To examine thyroid function among individuals who regularly apply povidone-iodine throat spray for SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis. We designed a case-control study to compare thyroid function among participants who received povidone-iodine throat spray three times a day for 42 days ('cases') and those who received vitamin C ('controls'). Thyroid function was assessed by profiling serum TSH, free T3, and free T4; iodine status was estimated using serum thyroglobulin level, while infection status was determined by measuring anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody against the nucleocapsid antigen. All measurements were performed in pairs, at baseline and 42 days later. Pre-post changes in thyroid function were compared between groups, before and after stratification according to baseline TSH quartiles. A total of 177 men (117 cases and 60 controls) (mean age, 32.2 years) were included. Despite comparable demographics and clinical profiles, no clinically or statistically significant differences were observed in thyroid indices between 'cases' and 'controls' before and after stratification according to TSH quartiles. None of the participants developed symptomatic hypo- or hyperthyroidism throughout the study. Post-hoc analysis did not reveal differences in thyroid function according to infection status. Data from this study support the overall safety of povidone-iodine use in the oropharyngeal space for SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis among individuals with normal thyroid function and subclinical thyroid disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beta-carotene (BC) is a nutrient in vegetables and a precursor of vitamin A. BC has been reported to have anticarcinogenic, antiaging, and antioxidation properties and prevents heart diseases. Recently, BC has gained significant attention due to stimulating effect on osteoblast differentiation. Poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HAp) core-shell nanoparticles have been reported earlier with a load capacity of 250% for water-insoluble substances, using a surfactant-free emulsification method. In this work, PLA/HAp core-shell nanoparticles loaded with BC were prepared, and osteoblast differentiation behavior was evaluated. BC was successfully loaded into PLA/HAp core-shell nanoparticles with diameters of approximately 30 nm. BC/loaded PLA/HAp core-shell nanoparticles stimulated osteoblast differentiation by upregulating collagen type I, osteopontin, and osteocalcin expression. In addition, the gene expression levels of these osteoblasts were significantly larger than those stimulated by PLA/HAp core-shell nanoparticles without BC and cultured in a differential medium (with ascorbic acid and β-glycerophosphate). PLA/HAp core-shell nanoparticles showed satisfactory cytocompatibility because they were attached to the osteoblasts. Consequently, BC was effectively delivered to osteoblasts by nanoparticles. These results suggested that BC-loaded PLA/HAp core-shell nanoparticles could enhance bone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrol contains mixture of mutagens and carcinogens which have potential health risk after prolonged occupational exposure. We have compared genotoxicity and its amelioration in blood samples from 70 petrol pump attendants, working in congested area of the Ahmedabad city, India and similar number (n = 70) of Control samples from office workers dwelling in less polluted areas of the city. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay showed highly significant frequencies of micronucleus in Exposed than in the Controls. The sister chromatid exchanges were also significantly increased while the cell cycle proliferative index was significantly decreased in the Exposed individuals than the Controls. Addition of standardized doses of vitamin C and vitamin E in the lymphocyte cultures (in vitro) significantly improved all the biomarkers. The long-term occupational petrol exposure causes genotoxic effects and use of vitamins C and E for protection should be further explored in randomized controlled studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of novel α-aminophosphonate derivatives have been synthesized by new rapid and convenient approach, based on the stepwise one pot reaction of 2-hydroxyaniline, aromatic aldehydes and triethyl phosphite. The structures of all compounds have been identified by appropriate spectroscopic methods such as FTIR, 1H, 13C, 31P NMR and ESI-MS. The crystal structure of diethyl-(2-fluorophenyl)-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)amino phosphonate has been determined, it crystallizes in the P-1 space group. In vitro antifungal activity of the synthesized compounds were tested against wheat fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum) and compared with standard antifungal drug Chlorpyriphos EC to explore their potential antifungal activity. We also measured the antioxidant activity of these molecules, compared with vitamin C as standard antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some epidemiological studies have reported the associations between vitamin C and risk of esophageal cancer, these results are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis to explore the associations between dietary vitamin C intake and risk of esophageal cancer. We used PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science to screen all published articles, which yielded 18 papers eligible for data extraction (involving 4,126 cases and 36,902 controls), and then pooled the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects model. As we detected the associations in highest category and the lowest type of dietary vitamin C intake, we discovered that dietary vitamin C intake was negatively correlated to the risk of esophageal cancer. The analysis of subgroup showed a significant counter proportion between vitamin C and the risk of ESCC and EAC. Moreover, the dose-analysis indicated that if increasing dietary intake of vitamin C of 50 mg/day, esophageal cancer risk dropped down 10% (OR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.75-0.87). In summary, our study provides a comprehensive and updated epidemiological evidence to elucidate the relationships between dietary vitamin C and reduction of esophageal cancer risk. Nevertheless, we still need larger case-control and cohort studies to confirm these connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and oxidative stress (OS) in patients diagnosed with migraine is unknown and remains to be examined. Hence, we conducted a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial to investigate this issue. Of the 102 women who met all the inclusion criteria, 51 individuals were randomized to the DASH diet group and 51 to the usual dietary advice group to receive allocated intervention for three months. In order to assess the compliance of participants to the DASH diet, dietary records, and serum vitamin C levels were examined. Parameters of OS status (e.g. nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and oxidative stress index (OSI)) and clinical indices of migraine (e.g. migraine index (MI), headache dairy result (HDR), and migraine headache index score (MHIS)) were assessed at the beginning and the end of the study. There was a significant reduction in NO (–5.75 vs. + 4.18, P = 0.025) and TOS (–1.55 vs. + 0.71, P = 0.034), and a marginally significant reduction in OSI (-0.10 vs. + 0.14, P = 0.060) in the DASH group compared with the control. Compliance with the DASH diet resulted in a significant decrease in the score of MI (–31.33 vs. – 15.09), HDR (–5.04 vs. –2.51), and MHIS (–44.21 vs. –26.74). Moreover, no significant change was observed in TAC, MDA, and total thiol content. This type of dietary approach can be considered as a complementary treatment for migraine patients, also further investigations are needed to replicate our findings. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20121216011763N38. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of delivery type (normal or caesarean) on the antioxidant and oxidative capacity of colostrum collected shortly after delivery. A total of 61 parturients were included in the study and divided into two groups: those who underwent vaginal delivery (n = 36) and those who underwent elective caesarean section (n = 25). Colostrum samples were collected by manual milking up to 48 h post parturition and analysed for thiol groups (–SH), vitamin C, ferric reducing ability (FRAP), nitrate/nitrite oxides (NOx), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). Colostrum levels of –SH (p = 0.0042), vitamin C (p = 0.0455), and FRAP (p = 0.0374) were significantly lower in the vaginal delivery group. The results suggest that vaginal delivery, compared to caesarean section, is associated with lower levels of antioxidants in colostrum and the mode of delivery plays an important role in the composition of antioxidants in maternal colostrum that help protect newborns from oxidative damage. What is already known on this subject? Colostrum is the first biological fluid produced by the mother after delivery and is responsible for a child's growth, cognitive development and health. It is known that childbirth can cause oxidative imbalance, and its effects have already been evaluated in maternal and foetal blood, however, there are few studies evaluating the effects of childbirth on colostrum composition. What do the results of this study add? Previously, a study showed that caesarean section caused greater oxidation of colostrum compared to vaginal delivery. Thus, we sought to evaluate other markers (thiol groups, vitamin C, ferric reducing ability, nitrate/nitrite oxides, and advanced oxidation protein products), in a short period of time after delivery, in order to elucidate this still little discussed issue. Unlike the previous one, our study suggests that vaginal delivery, compared to caesarean section, is associated with lower levels of antioxidants in colostrum, which may make it difficult to protect newborns from oxidative damage. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our study suggests that normal delivery can influence the antioxidant composition of maternal colostrum, and it is debateable for future clinical practice to improve eating habits during pregnancy and lactation, in order to strengthen the antioxidant capacity of colostrum and reduce oxidative damage to newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]