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Vicia faba L. (faba bean) (Fabaceae) is cultivated worldwide as a crop for human consumption. In this study, beans and pods were investigated for their phytochemical content and their potential nutraceutical properties as a strategy to counteract metabolic syndrome (MetS). Pods represent a faba bean industrial processing by-product. Pod ethanol extract showed the highest total phenol and flavonoid content. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that in both pods and bean, (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin were the two most abundant compounds. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), β-carotene bleaching were used to test V. faba antioxidant activity. The inhibition of alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and lipase was studied. Pod extract showed an ABTS radical scavenging ability (IC50 value of 1.5 mg/mL) comparable to ascorbic acid (IC50 value of 1.7 mg/mL) used as a positive control, whereas bean extract was the most active in protecting lipid peroxidation. A promising alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity was also observed with the edible portion of faba beans (IC50 value of 38.31 mg/mL). Collectively, our results demonstrated the potential health properties of V. faba edible and inedible portions.

Direct irradiation of

Fil: Andreasen, Gustavo Alfredo. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fil: Andreasen, Gustavo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Fil: Andreasen, Gustavo Alfredo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Fil: Bonesi, Alejandro. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fil: Bonesi, Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Fil: Bonesi, Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Fil: Ramos, Silvina Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; Argentina. Fil: Ramos, Silvina Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones; Argentina. Fil: Triaca, Walter Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Fil: Triaca, Walter Enrique. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. One of the most promising technologies for storing energy is the production of hydrogen through wáter electrolysis powered with renewable energy sources and its storage. There are different ways to stored hydrogen but the most efficient and safe is as solid metal hydride since it has no compression and liquefaction costs. The hydrogen storage system filled with a low equilibrium pressure hydride-forming alloy can be charged quickly by using a hydrogen generator. This hydrogen can be used later to power a H2/Air PEM fuel cell for obtaining electricity efficiently. In this work, the behavior of an integrated system consisting in a PEM hydrogen generator and a low pressure hydrogen storage system is studied. (english)

The chemical composition of the essential oil from Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. collected in Calabrian Ionian (R1) and Tyrrhenian (R2) coast (Southern Italy) was examined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Essential oils are mainly characterized by monoterpene hydrocarbons (39.32&ndash, 40.70%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (36.08-39.47%). The 1,8-cineole, &alpha, pinene, camphor, and trans-caryophyllene are the most representative compounds. S. rosmarinus essential oils were investigated for their antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2&prime, azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing ability power (FRAP), and &beta, carotene bleaching tests. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity assays were used to screen the neuroprotective effects of S. rosmarinus. R2 showed the highest antioxidant potential as confirmed by relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) and exhibited a selective activity against AChE (half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50, value of 41.86 &mu, g/mL). These results suggest S. rosmarinus essential oil as a potential source of bioactive compounds.

STUDY QUESTION Does oral Vitamin D supplementation alter the hormonal milieu of follicular fluid (FF) and the transcriptomic profile of luteinised granulosa cells (GCs) in women with Vitamin D deficiency undergoing IVF? SUMMARY ANSWER A transcriptomic signature relevant to oral Vitamin D supplementation in luteinised GCs was demonstrated, although Vitamin D supplementation did not alter hormone levels in FF. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Vitamin D deficiency is linked to lower live birth rates among women undergoing IVF. It is unclear whether Vitamin D elicits a targeted action in reproductive physiology or is a surrogate marker of overall well-being. Several in-vitro studies, but none in vivo, have examined the impact of Vitamin D on the periovulatory follicle, focusing on GCs as a proxy marker of oocyte competence. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We present a report of secondary outcomes from the SUNDRO clinical trial, which was launched in 2016 to determine whether Vitamin D supplementation can improve the IVF outcomes of women who are deficient in Vitamin D ( PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Two academic infertility units were involved in the recruitment of the participants, who received a single dose of oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D (600 000 IU) or placebo, 2–12 weeks before oocyte retrieval. Women in both groups were deficient in Vitamin D, aged 18–39 years with a normal BMI (18–25 kg/m2) and MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE At oocyte retrieval, FF concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 2.8-fold higher (P LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Interpretation of the data is influenced by our intervention strategy (2–12 weeks prior to retrieval). As folliculogenesis may last 5–6 months, our protocol can only examine with confidence the impact of Vitamin D on the final stages of follicular growth. Furthermore, we examined the hormonal profile of the dominant follicle only, while the GC data reflect the transcriptome of all (pooled) follicles large enough to be used for IVF. Luteinised GCs from controlled ovarian stimulation were used in this study, which may be functionally distinct from the GCs of developing follicles. Moreover, the sample size for RNA-sequencing analysis was low (n = 3 per group), regardless of validation by RT-PCR that was performed on a larger cohort, introducing complexity to the IPA analysis, which required an input of data with P-adjusted WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This is the first in-vivo study to show that Vitamin D supplementation alters gene expression in luteinised GCs. In contrast to some in-vitro evidence, no effect of the intervention on expression of genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes was observed. Unlike other studies, our results suggest that supplementation with Vitamin D is unlikely to directly influence hormone availability in FF. Our findings instead reinforce the hypothesis that Vitamin D could be considered one of the gatekeepers in protecting against an exaggerated response to ovarian stimulation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study has been funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (RF-2013-02358757) following peer review in the competitive ‘Bando di Ricerca Finalizzata e Giovani Ricercatori 2013’ for the clinical trial SUNDRO (EudraCT registration number 2015-004233-27). There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER EudraCT registration number 2015-004233-27.

The attribution of 1H and 13C NMR signals of a library of 5-, 6- and 7-substituted 2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one derivatives is reported. Substituent effects were interpreted in terms of the Hammett equation, showing a good correlation for carbons para- to the substituent group, not for the meta- ones. Similarly, the Lynch correlation shows the additivity of the substituent chemical shifts in the case of both H and C nuclei, again with the exception of the carbons in the meta- position. Density Functional Theory (DFT)-predicted 1H and 13C chemical shifts correspond closely with experimentally observed values, with some exceptions for C NMR data, however, the correlation is valid only for the aromatic moiety and cannot be extended to the heterocyclic ring of the chroman-4-one scaffold.

Mono- and bis-decylated lumazines have been synthesized and characterized. Namely, mono-decyl chain [1-decylpteridine-2,4(1,3H)-dione] 6a and bis-decyl chain [1,3-didecylpteridine-2,4(1,3H)-dione] 7a conjugates were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution (SN 2) reactions of lumazine with 1-iododecane in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent. Decyl chain coupling occurred at the N1 site and then the N3 site in a sequential manner, without DMF condensation. Molecular orbital (MO) calculations show a p-orbital at N1 but not N3 , which along with a nucleophilicity parameter (N) analysis predict alkylation at N1 in lumazine. Only after the alkylation at N1 in 6a, does a p-orbital on N3 emerge thereby reacting with a second equivalent of 1-iododecane to reach the dialkylated product 7a. Data from NMR (1 H, 13 C, HSQC, HMBC), HPLC, TLC, UV-vis, fluorescence and density functional theory (DFT) provide evidence for the existence of mono-decyl chain 6a and bis-decyl chain 7a. These results differ to pterin O-alkylations (kinetic control), where N-alkylation of lumazine is preferred and then to dialkylation (thermodynamic control), with an avoidance of DMF solvent condensation. These findings add to the list of alkylation strategies for increasing sensitizer lipophilicity for use in photodynamic therapy., Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas

Direct irradiation of estrone aryl and methyl sulfonates in different organic solvents under nitrogen atmosphere was investigated under steady-state conditions. The estrone derivatives reacted efficiently through the photo-Fries rearrangement reaction involving [1;3]-sulfonyl migration providing the ortho-sulfonyl estrone derivatives and estrone as the photoproducts. In addition, estrone and 2-arylsulfonyl estrone derivatives were epimerized involving a Norrish Type-I reaction. Chemical quenching and photosensitization experiments on the photoreaction have been also carried out to establish the photoreactive excited state. Likewise, the solvent effect and the nature of the sulfonyl group on the photoreactions have been also studied. Fil: Quindt, Matías Iván. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina Fil: Gola, Gabriel Francisco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; Argentina Fil: Ramirez, Javier Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; Argentina Fil: Bonesi, Sergio Mauricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina

In this study, Daphne laureola L., a European–Mediterranean species, was investigated for its antioxidant properties using different in vitro bioassays, namely 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Activity Power (FRAP), and β-carotene bleaching assays. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity using Ellman’s method was also examined. The aerial parts of D. laureola were subjected to exhaustive and subsequent macerations with solvents at different polarities, such as methanol, dichloromethane, and n-hexane. Dichloromethane extract was the most promising in DPPH and FRAP tests with IC50 values of 32.2 μg/mL and 71.5 μM Fe(II)/g, respectively. Methanol extract showed the most promising inhibition of lipid peroxidation evaluated by β-carotene bleaching test with an IC50 value of 6.6 μg/mL after 30 min of incubation. This extract was the most active against AChE (IC50 value of 56.9 μg/mL). An interesting result was obtained against BChE by the n-hexane extract, with an IC50 value of 49.7 μg/mL. In conclusion, the results suggest that D. laureola may provide a substantial source of phytochemicals, which act as natural antioxidants and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and may be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

BACKGROUND: Berries are worldwide recognized as “superfoods” due to the high content of bioactive compounds and the health benefits deriving from their consumption. OBJECTIVE: The present study was planned to assess and to compare the chemical profile and the in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Vaccinium corymbosum L. berries and leaves extracts obtained by different extraction procedures. Ethanol was chosen as solvent because it is a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) and widely used for the extraction of polar compounds. METHODS: Different extraction techniques such asmaceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction, Soxhlet extractor and decoction, have been applied by using food grade ethanol/water as solvent mixture, selected as environmentally friendly solvents. Extracts obtained from fruits and leaves were chemically investigated by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS) and for their potential in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. RESULTS: Some iridoids were detected for the first time in V. corymbosum. Dried leaves extracted by decoction and ethanol with Soxhlet apparatus showed the highest 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals scavenging activity with IC50 value of 0.77μg/mL, which is 2.2-time lower than that positive control ascorbic acid. A promising inhibition of the production of nitrate/nitrite, critical mediators of inflammation, was found. The decoction of berries showed the highest activity in counteracting nitric oxide (NO.) production. Furthermore, two leaves extracts (decoction of dried leaves and hydroalcoholic maceration of fresh leaves) were particularly active as α-amylase inhibitors with IC50 values of 16.16 and 20.55 μg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This work could provide valuable basis for future research on V. corymbosum to improve recovery of specific active compounds such as flavonoids and iridoids

This chapter deals with photo-rearrangement reactions useful in organic synthesis that can be carried out upon direct irradiation of the substrate, under photocatalytic conditions with metal complexes or photoorganocatalysts and also under photosensitization via energy transfer as well as electron transfer proccesses.

Aims The bioactivities of Santolina corsica Jord. & Fourr. n-hexane (EHS) and methanol (EMS) extracts were evaluated in relation to their chemical profile. Main methods EHS and EMS were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry () and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined by β-carotene bleaching, Ferric Reducing Activity Power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) tests. Nitric oxide (NO) production was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Anti-proliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay on A549, HeLa, PC3, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, and non-tumorigenic MCF10 A cells. Cell motility, migration and invasion were assessed by wound-healing scratch, migration and invasion assays, respectively. DNA fragmentation was tested by TUNEL assay. Cells morphology was studied by phase-contrast microscopy. Procaspase-8, -9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and COX-2 expression levels were evaluated by immunoblotting analysis. Key findings Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (5878.67 mg/100 g of extract), chlorogenic acid (746.11 mg/100 g), and rosmarinic acid (550.16 mg/100 g) were the dominant EMS constituents. EHS showed myrcene (18.86%) as the main compound, followed by palmitic acid methyl and ethyl esters (9.35 and 9.16%, respectively), β-phellandrene (8.48%), and ar-curcumene (5.63%). Both extracts showed promising anti-proliferative activity on all tested cancer cells, without inducing cytotoxicity in non-tumorigenic cells MCF-10 A. Moreover, extracts inhibited motility, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, inducing apoptosis. EHS decreased NO production, showing anti-inflammatory activity. Significance S. corsica extracts might be potentially useful in cancer treatment, since reduce invasive and migratory potential of MDA-MB-231 cells triggering apoptosis.

For the first time the chemical profile, physico-chemical parameters, inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes associated with type 2 diabetes, and radical scavenging properties of Sambucus nigra L. (elderberry) juice treated by nanofiltration (NF) were investigated. Three commercial NF membranes with different molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) (400 and 1000 Da) and polymeric material (composite fluoro-polymer and polyethersulphone) were tested. According to HPLC analyses, most part of bioactive compounds were retained by the NF membranes producing a retentate fraction of interest for the production of functional foods. The NP030 membrane, a polyethersulphone membrane with a MWCO of 400 Da, exhibited the highest rejection towards phenolic compounds when compared with the other selected membranes. Accordingly, the produced retentate fractions exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity.

Six Citrus petitgrain oils, namely C. × sinensis (L.) Osbeck., C. × limon (L.) Osbeck., C. × clementina Hort., C. × aurantium L., C. reticulata Blanco and C. × bergamia Risso & Poit. (P1-P6), were characterized by means of gas chromatography equipped with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluated for their food functional-related properties. Antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, β-carotene bleaching test and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. The synergistic interactions on antioxidant efficacy of petitgrain oils in combination were studied. The Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI) was applied from the perspective of statistics by integrating the antioxidant capacity data determined by all used methods. A high content of monoterpenes and a less representative content of sesquiterpenes characterized Citrus petitgrain oils. In the DPPH ass...

The direct irradiation of diphenyl sulfide and p-substituted thioanisoles in the presence of oxygen was investigated by means of both steady state and laser flash photolysis experiments. Two competitive pathways took place from the triplet excited state of thioanisoles, C-S bond cleavage, finally leading to aryl sulfinic acid and sensitized oxidation leading to S-oxidation. Co-oxidation of dodecyl methyl sulfide occurred efficiently implying that an S-persulfoxide intermediate is involved during the sensitized oxidation. On the other hand, triplet state of diphenyl sulfide also showed competitive C-S bond cleavage giving phenyl sulfinic acid and ionization to diphenyl sulfide radical cation that in turn led to diphenyl sulfoxide. The rate constants of the above reactions were determined by time-resolved experiments. Fil: Bonesi, Sergio Mauricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; Argentina. PhotoGreen Lab; Italia Fil: Crespi, Stefano. PhotoGreen Lab; Italia Fil: Merli, Daniele. Department of Chemistry; Italia Fil: Manet, Ilse. ISOF-CNR; Italia Fil: Albini, Angelo. PhotoGreen Lab; Italia