-
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023Rice bran is a rather underutilized by-product of the rice industry that nowadays is far from being valorized. In this study, the lipidomic profile of bran of the...
Rice bran is a rather underutilized by-product of the rice industry that nowadays is far from being valorized. In this study, the lipidomic profile of bran of the Italian rice variety, Roma, has been evaluated through ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Crude lipid extracts were obtained from rice bran treated with different green solvents (1-butanol, ethanol and methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol mixture) in combination with an ultrasonic pre-treatment, and then compared with extracts obtained with standard solvents (chloroform/methanol mixture). Lipid yield, number and type of lipids and composition of prevalent lipid classes extracted were evaluated in order to provide an exhaustive lipid profile of the rice bran and to identify the most efficient green solvent for solid-liquid extractions. Twelve different lipid classes and a maximum of 276 lipids were identified. Ethanol and methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol solvents provided higher lipid extraction yields, the former being the most effective solvent for the extraction of triglycerides and N-acylethanolamines and the latter the most effective for the extraction of diglycerides, phospholipids and ceramides at 4 °C. Moreover, extraction with ethanol at 20 °C gave similar results as at 4 °C in terms of lipid yield and for most of the classes of lipids extracted. Taken together, our results indicate ethanol and methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol as excellent solvents for lipid extraction from rice bran, with the aim to further valorize this food by-product in the perspective of a circular economy.
PubMed: 36673474
DOI: 10.3390/foods12020384 -
Analytical Biochemistry Jul 2020Methyl green (MG), a conventional, low-cost histological stain, was used to design a flow cytometric cell-cycle/DNA-ploidy assay. On fluorometry, MG absorbed maximally...
Methyl green (MG), a conventional, low-cost histological stain, was used to design a flow cytometric cell-cycle/DNA-ploidy assay. On fluorometry, MG absorbed maximally at 633-nm, showed negligible fluorescence in free-state, but emitted brightly when bound to DNA. Optimal dye and cell concentrations for staining and effects of time and photobleaching on stained cells were determined for a lyse-permeabilize-stain protocol. Linearity of DNA-binding, coefficients-of-variation of G0/G1-peaks and minimal carryover were confirmed. Assay results correlated highly with a propidium iodide-based kit in 29 acute lymphoblastic leukemia specimens. The MG-based DNA-ploidy assay represented an accurate and inexpensive alternative to conventional PI-based assays.
Topics: Cell Cycle; DNA, Neoplasm; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Methyl Green; Neoplasms; Optical Imaging
PubMed: 32450059
DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113782 -
ACS Omega Jul 2022An eco-friendly green bio-organic catalyst and low-cost 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1)-ones/thione derivatives have been synthesized using a high-yield, synthetic method a...
Efficient and Recoverable Bio-Organic Catalyst Cysteine for Synthesis, Docking Study, and Antifungal Activity of New Bio-Active 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1)-ones/thiones Under Microwave Irradiation.
An eco-friendly green bio-organic catalyst and low-cost 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1)-ones/thione derivatives have been synthesized using a high-yield, synthetic method a one-pot, three-component process between 4-formylphenyl-4-methylbenzenesulfonate (), thiourea, or urea and ethyl acetoacetate or acetylacetone under microwave irradiation in aqueous media of water and ethanol (3:1 ratio) as a green solvent in the presence of cysteine as a new green bio-organic catalyst. The reaction between compound , 4-(carbamothioylhydrazono) methyl]phenyl 4-methyl benzenesulfonate (), and ethyl acetoacetate or acetylacetone under the same condition afforded novel pyrimidines. Similarly, compound was allowed to react with a mixture of 4-(carbamothioylhydrazono)methyl]phenyl 4-methyl benzenesulfonate () and ethyl acetoacetate or acetylacetone under the same condition to afford pyrimidine derivatives and . Excellent yields (90-98%) were obtained within short reaction times, and problems associated with the toxic solvents used (cost, safety, and pollution) were avoided. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by elemental and spectral analyses. All compounds were studied using molecular docking, and their antifungal activity was investigated.
PubMed: 35811927
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02449 -
Bio Systems Oct 2023Qualia have traditionally been considered difficult to measure objectively, but with the recent spread of fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and other...
Qualia have traditionally been considered difficult to measure objectively, but with the recent spread of fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and other techniques, various experimental efforts have been made. In this paper, focusing on the qualia for color, we created 6 colors with different RGB values for reference colors of RED, light GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, and PURPLE, and showed them to 306 subjects. For example, for RED and 5 generated colors, we asked them, "Choose a color that you feel is RED," and asked them to choose. A probability density function was defined for each of the five generated colors and the reference color, which is the primary color of RED, light GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, and PURPLE, and the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the probability density function of the reference color and the generated color was calculated, the relationship between the number of samples of the selected color and the Kullback-Leibler divergence was obtained, and the difference in color sensation-qualia was calculated accordingly. As a result, it was confirmed that the larger the distance of the Kullback-Leibler divergence, the smaller the number of samples, but that the distribution shape in which the number of samples decreased for each color differed greatly. This suggests that if we see a color such as RED to PURPLE, we are randomly choosing a color that "feels."
Topics: Humans; Methyl Green; Emotions; Likelihood Functions; Mental Processes
PubMed: 37657748
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105011 -
EXCLI Journal 2020Green tea is a main resource for catechins. Catechins as antioxidant compounds reduce the production of reactive oxygen species and they have a protective role in the...
Aerobic training and hydroalcoholic extracts of green tea improve pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance and histopathological score in the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced prostate cancer model of rat.
Green tea is a main resource for catechins. Catechins as antioxidant compounds reduce the production of reactive oxygen species and they have a protective role in the development of cancer. As well as, aerobic exercise change free radicals with two contradictory mechanisms. Aerobic training promotes excessive production of free radicals resulting in oxidative stress. In contrast, it increases the total antioxidant capacity. In this study, effect of aerobic training and hydroalcoholic extract of green tea (HEGT) on the pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and histopathological score of cancerous tissue in the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced prostate cancer was investigated. A rat model of prostate cancer was induced by hormonal change and N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU). HEGT 0.1 % and 45 min of aerobic exercise in 5 days a week for eight weeks were scheduled. The presence of major catechins was approved using GC-MS. Histological study, PAB and PSA levels were used to monitor the preventive role of treatments. The prostate weights of cancerous rats were significantly higher than healthy controls (P<0.05). The PAB was only significantly higher in cancerous rats and cancerous rats receiving aerobic exercise (P<0.05). The mean of histological score of cancerous tissue was reduced in rat receiving HEGT and both HEGT and aerobic exercise. The amounts of PSA level did not significantly differ between the groups of this study (P>0.05). Our results provided laboratory and histological documentation for the preventive role of green tea extract in developing prostate cancer via its potential to re-establish the pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance.
PubMed: 32636729
DOI: 10.17179/excli2019-2069 -
ACS Applied Polymer Materials Nov 2021Herein, a solvent-based green recycling procedure is reported for recycling thermoset epoxy resins (TERs) and carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites (CFRECs) employing...
Herein, a solvent-based green recycling procedure is reported for recycling thermoset epoxy resins (TERs) and carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites (CFRECs) employing ionic liquids (ILs) and alcohols under mild conditions. With melting points less than 100 °C, ILs are defined as organic salts, typically composed of bulky cations with organic or inorganic counteranions. As a result of their unique physical properties such as low vapor pressure, relatively high thermal stability, and multifunctional tunability, these solvents are often classified as "green solvents" as compared to traditional organic solvents. In this study, swelling and dissolution of TER are evaluated in the presence of pure alkyl-methyl-imidazolium ILs, alcohols, and various mixtures of these co-solvents to determine their swelling and depolymerization capacity at mild temperatures in the absence of catalysts. In these studies, three ILs with different alkyl lengths were evaluated: 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([BMIm][Cl]), 1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide ([HMIm][Br]), and 1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide ([OMIm][Br]) along with two alcohols: ethylene glycol (EG) and glycerol (Gly). The highest swelling capacity of TER at 150 °C was achieved by a combination of [BMIm][Cl] and EG. In addition, swelling and dissolution of TER were evaluated in the presence of several anion variants of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium ILs with EG. Complete dissolution of both TERs and CFRECs was achieved in 150 min (2.5 h) at 150 °C under atmospheric pressure. Finally, recovery and reuse of the recycled monomer after dissolution were examined. Recovered epoxy monomers employed to synthesize a recycled TER exhibited similar mechanical properties to the parent TER. In addition, it was demonstrated that carbon fibers could be successfully recovered from CFREC using the recycling method detailed in this manuscript.
PubMed: 34796334
DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.1c00896 -
Biotechnology Reports (Amsterdam,... Mar 2023A novel green alga sp. D3-1 was isolated, and its unique and significant lipid and carotenoid coproduction capability was characterised depending on cultivation...
A novel green alga sp. D3-1 was isolated, and its unique and significant lipid and carotenoid coproduction capability was characterised depending on cultivation conditions. The main component of produced lipids was triacylglycerol under nutrient depletion conditions, in which fatty-methyl-esters made up 20-44% of the dry cell weight (DCW) and consisted of abundant C16:0 and C18:1 fatty acids. The red (orange)-stage cells also produced a large portion of carotenoids (38.5% of the DCW) involving echinenone, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin as major components accumulated over only 5-6 days under optimal conditions. Stress tests revealed resistance of the cells to pH 2-11, high temperatures (40-60 °C), ultraviolet irradiation, drought, and HO treatment, thereby showing a robust nature. Both green- and red (orange)-stage cell extracts also showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities, implying that they have significant functions as useful biorefinery materials.
PubMed: 36660172
DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2022.e00769 -
The Analyst Oct 2023Industrialization, especially in textile industries, has led to increased use of dyes and pigments to impart colours to fabrics. Textile dyes are one of the chief...
Industrialization, especially in textile industries, has led to increased use of dyes and pigments to impart colours to fabrics. Textile dyes are one of the chief emerging pollutants of water resources as industrial effluents. In the current research, we report the development and utilization of pH-sensitive carbon quantum dots (CQDs) immobilized in polymer thin films acting as sensors for textile dye detection. The CQDs and CQD-containing polymer films were characterized by various techniques like XRD, TEM, XPS, and CLSM. The synthesized CQD thin films possess a unique pH-sensitive property that can be used to detect various model acidic and basic dyes that are important components of industrial effluents from textile dyes. The detection capability of the sensor films was evaluated by spiking dyes in various water matrices, like household tap water and river water. The results indicate that pH-sensitive CQD thin film was able to detect three acidic dyes, namely methyl red, methyl orange, and bromocresol green, and one basic dye, methylene blue, in a linear range of 0-100 μM with a response time of 1 minute. The CQD thin-film sensors have a limit of detection of 26.4 ppb, 214.5 ppb, 46.2 ppb, and 29.7 ppb for methyl red, methyl orange, bromocresol green and methylene blue, respectively. The accuracy of detection performed by spiking studies in water resources indicated an ∼100% recovery value in all tested acidic and basic dyes. The sensor films were compared for analytical parameters using UV-visible-fluorescence spectroscopy and HPLC.
PubMed: 37721153
DOI: 10.1039/d3an01343j -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023The adsorptive performance of mesoporous silica-based materials towards inorganic (metal ions) and organic (dyes) water pollutants was investigated. Mesoporous silica...
The adsorptive performance of mesoporous silica-based materials towards inorganic (metal ions) and organic (dyes) water pollutants was investigated. Mesoporous silica materials with different particle size, surface area and pore volume were prepared and tailored with different functional groups. These materials were then characterised by solid-state techniques, namely vibrational spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, allowing the successful preparation and structural modifications of the materials to be confirmed. The influence of the physicochemical properties of the adsorbents towards the removal of metal ions (Ni, Cu and Fe) and organic dyes (methylene blue and methyl green) from aqueous solutions was also investigated. The results reveal that the exceptionally high surface area and suitable ζ-potential of the nanosized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) seem to favour the adsorptive capacity of the material for both types of water pollutants. Kinetic studies were performed for the adsorption of organic dyes by MSNPs and large-pore mesoporous silica (LPMS), suggesting that the process follows a pseudo-second-order model. The recyclability along consecutive adsorption cycles and the stability of the adsorbents after use were also investigated, showing that the material can be reused. Current results show the potentialities of novel silica-based material as a suitable adsorbent to remove pollutants from aquatic matrices with an applicability to reduce water pollution.
PubMed: 37241778
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28104038 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jan 2021Astrocytes play a key role in brain homeostasis and functions such as memory. Specifically, astrocytes express multiple receptors that transduce signals via the second...
Astrocytes play a key role in brain homeostasis and functions such as memory. Specifically, astrocytes express multiple receptors that transduce signals via the second messenger cAMP. However, the involvement of astrocytic cAMP in animal behavior and the underlying glial-neuronal interactions remains largely unknown. Here, we show that an increase in astrocytic cAMP is sufficient to induce synaptic plasticity and modulate memory. We developed a method to increase astrocytic cAMP levels in vivo using photoactivated adenylyl cyclase and found that increased cAMP in hippocampal astrocytes at different time points facilitated memory formation but interrupted memory retention via NMDA receptor-dependent plasticity. Furthermore, we found that the cAMP-induced modulation of memory was mediated by the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle. Thus, our study unveils a role of astrocytic cAMP in brain function by providing a tool to modulate astrocytic cAMP in vivo.
Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Animals; Astrocytes; Cell Communication; Cerebral Cortex; Cyclic AMP; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Reporter; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Hippocampus; Lactic Acid; Light; Memory; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurons; Optogenetics; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Stereotaxic Techniques; Synapses; Time Factors
PubMed: 33452135
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016584118