Oleanolic Acid Complexation with Cyclodextrins Improves Its Cell Bio-Availability and Biological Activities for Cell Migration.

Wound healing is a complex process to restore skin. Plant-derived bioactive compounds might be a source of substances for the treatment of wounds stalled in a non-resolving stage of wound healing. Oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpene, has shown favorable wound healing properties both in vitro and in vivo. Unfortunately, OA cannot be solubilized in aqueous media, and it needs to be helped by the use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In this paper, we have shown that cyclodextrins (CDs) are a good alternative to DMSO as agents to deliver OA to cells, providing better features than DMSO. Cyclodextrins are natural macromolecules that show a unique tridimensional structure that can encapsulate a wide variety of hydrophobic compounds. We have studied the cyclodextrin-encapsulated form of OA with OA/DMSO, comparing their stability, biological properties for cell migration, and cell viability. In addition, detailed parameters related to cell migration and cytoskeletal reorganization have been measured and compared. Our results show that OA-encapsulateds compound exhibit several advantages when compared to non-encapsulated OA in terms of chemical stability, migration enhancement, and preservation of cell viability.

Effect of Potassium Permanganate, Ultraviolet Radiation and Titanium Oxide as Ethylene Scavengers on Preservation of Postharvest Quality and Sensory Attributes of Broccoli Stored with Tomatoes.

This study introduces an effective solution to enhance the postharvest preservation of broccoli, a vegetable highly sensitive to ethylene, a hormone produced by climacteric fruits such as tomatoes. The proposed method involves a triple combination of ethylene elimination techniques: potassium permanganate (KMnO4) filters combined with ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) and titanium oxide (TiO2), along with a continuous airflow to facilitate contact between ethylene and these oxidizing agents. The effectiveness of this approach was evaluated using various analytical techniques, including measurements of weight, soluble solids content, total acidity, maturity index, color, chlorophyll, total phenolic compounds, and sensory analysis conducted by experts. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the physicochemical quality of postharvest broccoli when treated with the complete system. Notably, broccoli subjected to this innovative method exhibited enhanced organoleptic quality, with heightened flavors and aromas associated with fresh green produce. The implementation of this novel technique holds great potential for the food industry as it reduces postharvest losses, extends the shelf life of broccoli, and ultimately enhances product quality while minimizing waste. The successful development and implementation of this new technique can significantly improve the sustainability of the food industry while ensuring the provision of high-quality food to consumers.

Modified cyclodextrin type and dehydration methods exert a significant effect on the antimicrobial activity of encapsulated carvacrol and thymol.

BACKGROUND: The antimicrobial activity of essential oils and their constituents has led to increasing interest in using them as natural preservative agents. However, their high sensitivity to light and oxygen, their volatility and their low aqueous solubility are all obstacles to their application in the food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries. Encapsulation in cyclodextrins (CDs) is a solution for the application of such essential oils. RESULTS: The complexation of carvacrol and thymol with hydroxypropyl (HP)-α-, HP-ß- and HP-γ-CD, the behavior of the solid complexes prepared by freeze-drying and spray-drying methods and the antibacterial activity of solid complexes were studied. Kc values of HP-α- and HP-γ-CD complexes with carvacrol (118.4 and 365.7 L mol-1 ) and thymol (112.5 and 239.7 L mol -1 ) were far lower than those observed for HP-ß-CD complexes with carvacrol (2268.2 L mol -1 ) and thymol (881.6 L mol -1 ). The lower stability of HP-α- and HP-γ-CD complexes increased the release of compounds, thereby affecting the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol and thymol to a lesser extent than complexation with HP-ß-CD, normally used in the encapsulation of carvacrol and thymol. HP-ß-CD encapsulation of carvacrol and thymol markedly reduced their antimicrobial activity. The freeze-drying method barely affected the antimicrobial activity of carvacrol and thymol after encapsulation, while spray drying could be considered for the production of solid complexes in combination with the appropriate CD. CONCLUSIONS: It was thus demonstrated that HP-α- and HP-γ-CD are very suitable alternatives for the encapsulation of carvacrol and thymol with the purpose of preserving their bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Encapsulation of finasteride with native and modified γ-cyclodextrins. Extensive characterization of the complexes.

The aim of this work was to study the complexation process of FIN with native and modified CDs, to develop an aqueous solution for the topical treatment of male androgenic alopecia. The effect of pH and temperature in the complexation process were studied by solubility studies. The complexes FIN-CDs were characterized by 1HNMR and 2-D NMR (ROESY) spectroscopy. Molecular modeling studies and NMR data were used to build three-dimensional models of the complexes. FTIR, DSC and SEM techniques were also applied to strengthen physicochemical characterization, geometry as well as structural aspects evidencing the effective inclusion of FIN into the CDs' hydrophobic cavity. The most effective CDs in the FIN complexation were γ-CDs, and their modified HP-γ- and methyl-γ-CDs by forming 1:1 complexes. The Kc value obtained for γ-CDs was 9687 ± 51 M-1, whereas the Kc values obtained for HP-γ- and methyl-γ-CDs were lower, indicating that the presence of HP or methyl groups hinder the entry of FIN in the hydrophobic cavity of γ-CDs. In conclusion, FIN aqueous solubility could be increased by complexation with CDs and the aqueous solutions obtained can be used to improve FIN therapeutic possibilities in a pleasant preparation for the patient that guarantees the adherence to the treatment.

Seed Oil from Mediterranean Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of the Lamiaceae Family as a Source of Bioactive Components with Nutritional.

The potential use as food ingredients of 12 commercial seed species belonging to the Lamiaceae family constitutes the main goal of this research. For that, the oil yield, the lipid profile, tocopherol content, phenolic profile and antioxidant capacities were determined. Seeds from Satureja hortensis, S. montana, Lavandula angustifolia, L. latifolia and Origanum vulgare can be considered as important sources of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (50.5; 52.4; 52.1; 48.5 and 45.5 g/100 g, respectively), likewise for seed oils from Salvia lavandulifolia and Rosmarinus officinalis regarding ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (52.2 and 50.0 g/100 g, respectively). The total tocopherol concentration varied between 42.8 and 113.8 mg/100 g of oil. The highest antioxidant capacities corresponded to Thymbra capitata and Origanum vulgare seed oils, in which carvacrol was the major phenolic monoterpene quantified. The presence of cinnamoyl-apigenin derivatives and hydroxycoumarin-apigenin-derivatives in spike lavender is described for the first time. Most of these seeds can be considered as an important source of oil rich in bioactive components of interest for human nutrition.

Adsorption Properties of ß- and Hydroxypropyl-ß-Cyclodextrins Cross-Linked with Epichlorohydrin in Aqueous Solution. A Sustainable Recycling Strategy in Textile Dyeing Process.

ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) and hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) were used to prepare insoluble polymers using epichlorohydrin as a cross-linking agent and the azo dye Direct Red 83:1 was used as target adsorbate. The preliminary study related to adsorbent dosage, pH, agitation or dye concentration allowed us to select the best conditions to carry out the rest of experiments. The kinetics was evaluated by Elovich, pseudo first order, pseudo second order, and intra-particle diffusion models. The results indicated that the pseudo second order model presented the best fit to the experimental data, indicating that chemisorption is controlling the process. The results were also evaluated by Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin isotherms. According to the determination coefficient (R²), Freunlich gave the best results, which indicates that the adsorption process is happening on heterogeneous surfaces. One interesting parameter obtained from Langmuir isotherm is qmax (maximum adsorption capacity). This value was six times higher when a ß-CDs-EPI polymer was employed. The cross-linked polymers were fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Also, morphology and particle size distribution were both assessed. Under optimized conditions, the ß-CDs-EPI polymer seems to be a useful device for removing Direct Red 83:1 (close 90%), from aqueous solutions and industrial effluents. Complementarily, non-adsorbed dye was photolyzed by a pulsed light driven advanced oxidation process. The proposed methodology is environmental and economically advantageous, considering the point of view of a sustainable recycling economy in the textile dyeing process.

Thorough characterization and stability of HP-ß-cyclodextrin thymol inclusion complexes prepared by microwave technology: A required approach to a successful application in food industry.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to obtain a stable dry powder formulation of cyclodextrins (CDs) encapsulating thymol, for successful use as an ingredient on an industrial scale, and to characterize the thymol-CDs complexes using different techniques. RESULTS: Thymol was successfully solubilized in aqueous solutions and the Kc value increased with the pH of the media until the pH was neutral, giving the highest values (2583 ± 176 L mol-1 ) for HP-ß-cyclodextrins (HP-ß-CDs). The best encapsulation efficiency of thymol in solid complexes was obtained using the microwave (MWI) encapsulation method. The different characterization techniques have demonstrated the affinity of HP-ß-CDs for thymol molecules, forming stable complexes. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the use of the MWI method in the preparation of solid HP-ß-CD-thymol complexes, due to greater encapsulation efficiency and technological and economic advantages for industrial applications. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Complexation between oleanolic and maslinic acids with native and modified cyclodextrins.

Oleanolic (OA) and maslinic (MA) acids are two natural triterpenoids with a wide range of beneficial effects for human health. However, their low solubility and permeability make their application in the food, or pharmaceutical, industry difficult. The complexation of OA and MA with α- ß-, γ-, HP-α-, HP-ß- and HP-γ-CDs, under different pH and temperature conditions, has been studied. Neither α- nor HP-α-CDs formed inclusion complexes, while ß-, HP-ß- and HP-γ-CDs provided AL type and γ-CDs BS phase solubility diagrams. Complexation was shown to be more stable in the case of MA but complexation efficiency was greater for OA. Increasing the pH and temperature of the complexation media tended to improve the complexation process with triterpenic acids.

Optimization of a method for preparing solid complexes of essential clove oil with ß-cyclodextrins.

BACKGROUND: Clove oil (CO) is an aromatic oily liquid used in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries for its functional properties. However, its disadvantages of pungent taste, volatility, light sensitivity and poor water solubility can be solved by applying microencapsulation or complexation techniques. RESULTS: Essential CO was successfully solubilized in aqueous solution by forming inclusion complexes with ß-cyclodextrins (ß-CDs). Moreover, phase solubility studies demonstrated that essential CO also forms insoluble complexes with ß-CDs. Based on these results, essential CO-ß-CD solid complexes were prepared by the novel approach of microwave irradiation (MWI), followed by three different drying methods: vacuum oven drying (VO), freeze-drying (FD) or spray-drying (SD). FD was the best option for drying the CO-ß-CD solid complexes, followed by VO and SD. CONCLUSION: MWI can be used efficiently to prepare essential CO-ß-CD complexes with good yield on an industrial scale. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Use of cyclodextrins to recover catechin and epicatechin from red grape pomace.

The capacity of cyclodextrins (CDs) to extract phenolic compounds from grape pomace was evaluated and compared with that of ethanol/water or aqueous extraction. The extraction method (stirring and ultrasound), temperature and time were also studied. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant activity were measured, and HPLC analysis was used to identify the phenolic compounds. The extracts obtained using the ethanol/water mixture presented the highest TPC content and antioxidant activity, followed by those obtained using CD solutions. The addition of CDs to the extractant agent had a selective effect on the extraction of catechin and epicatechin. The yield of catechin and epicatechin by using aqueous solutions of CDs was similar to that obtained using organic solvents as ethanol.

Manatí Medical Center Sepsis Management Epidemiological Study.

Sepsis is the combination of infection and physiological changes known as the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. There have been improvements in mortality rates and outcomes of septic patients based on "Surviving Sepsis Campaign" guidelines. Current management of sepsis at our Institution follows no specific mandatory protocols. This study aimed to verify the incidence and outcome of sepsis in Manati Medical Center, Puerto Rico. An observational retrospective study was conducted. All the Emergency Department admissions from May 1/ to October 31/ 2013 were screened for sepsis per ICD-9 code. For all included patients, demographic and clinical data at ED admission were collected. During this period 8931 patients were admitted and 148 met criteria for sepsis and related conditions. The overall mortality rate was 43.91%. Mortality increased with age, from 10.52% among ≤ 44 years old to 68.75% in those ≥ 85 years old. The main infection sources were respiratory (32.66%) and urinary tract (24.62%). Mean age among non-survivors was 10.8 years higher than the survivor group (95% Cl 5.2-1 6.5, p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed an increased fatality rate associated to severity of sepsis (HR 1.33; 95% Cl; 1.03-1.72, p = 0.02) and the APACHE2 score (HR 1.05; 95% Cl, 1.01-1.09 p = 0.03). Our data suggests that sepsis is an important problem to consider. We strongly encourage an institutional standardized protocol to diminish the mortality impact. Our results will allow adequate preventive strategies to improve early diagnosis, mortality rates and outcomes of septic patients.

Reference strand conformational analysis (RSCA) is a valuable tool in identifying MHC-DRB sequences in three species of Aotus monkeys.

The Aotus monkey has been of great value in the pre-clinical study of malaria vaccine candidates. Several components of this primate's immune system have been studied and they display great similarity to their human counterparts. Cloning and sequencing studies have revealed extensive sequence polymorphisms in Aotus MHC-DRB with very high similarities to several human allelic lineages, grouping at least nine distinct MHC-DRB lineages. As the efficacy of peptide vaccines in this animal model may be strongly influenced by exon 2 MHC-DRB polymorphism, the availability of a reliable and rapid MHC-DRB typing method for three species of Aotus (Aotus nancymaae, Aotus vociferans and Aotus nigriceps) is necessary. Reference strand conformational analysis (RSCA) was used here for differentiating the distinctive Aotus MHC-DRB sequences' mobility using five fluorescently labelled references proved to be very useful for resolving closely related sequences, establishing the number of sequences transcribed in a particular monkey and their identity. The RSCA method's reliability in terms of identifying Aotus MHC-DRB sequences will facilitate evaluating individual responsiveness to vaccines and prompt studies associating susceptibility/resistance to infectious agents or auto-immune disease, for which Aotus monkeys may be considered to be an appropriate animal model.