Mathematical Model Coupled to Neural Networks Calculates the Extraction Recovery of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Problematic Matrix.

Unknown extraction recovery from solid matrix samples leads to meaningless chemical analysis results. It cannot always be determined, and it depends on the complexity of the matrix and properties of the extracted substances. This paper combines a mathematical model with the machine learning method-neural networks that predict liquid extraction recovery from solid matrices. The prediction of the three-stage extraction recovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from a wooden railway sleeper matrix is demonstrated. Calculation of the extraction recovery requires the extract's volume to be measured and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons' concentration to be determined for each stage. These data are used to calculate the input values for a neural network model. Lowest mean-squared error (0.014) and smallest retraining relative standard deviation (20.7%) were achieved with the neural network setup 6:5:5:4:1 (six inputs, three hidden layers with five, five, and four neurons in a layer, and one output). To train such a neural network, it took less than 8000 steps-less than a second--using an average-performance laptop. The relative standard deviation of the extraction recovery predictions ranged between 1.13 and 5.15%. The three-stage recovery of the extracted dry sample showed 104% of three different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The extracted wet sample recovery was 71, 98, and 55% for phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene, respectively. This method is applicable in the environmental, food processing, pharmaceutical, biochemical, biotechnology, and space research areas where extraction should be performed autonomously without human interference.

In vitro antiviral activity of fifteen plant extracts against avian infectious bronchitis virus.

BACKGROUND: Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a disease that can result in huge economic losses in the poultry industry. The high level of mutations of the IB virus (IBV) leads to the emergence of new serotypes and genotypes, and limits the efficacy of routine prevention. Medicinal plants, or substances derived from them, are being tested as options in the prevention of infectious diseases such as IB in many countries. The objective of this study was to investigate extracts of 15 selected medicinal plants for anti-IBV activity. RESULTS: Extracts of S. montana, O. vulgare, M. piperita, M. officinalis, T. vulgaris, H. officinalis, S. officinalis and D. canadense showed anti-IBV activity prior to and during infection, while S. montana showed activity prior to and after infection. M. piperita, O. vulgare and T. vulgaris extracts had > 60 SI. In further studies no virus plaques (plaque reduction rate 100%) or cytopathogenic effect (decrease of TCID50 from 2.0 to 5.0 log10) were detected after IBV treatment with extracts of M. piperita, D. canadense and T. vulgaris at concentrations of extracts ≥0.25 cytotoxic concentration (CC50) (P < 0.05). Both PFU number and TCID50 increased after the use of M. piperita, D. canadense, T. vulgaris and M. officinalis extracts, the concentrations of which were 0.125 CC50 and 0.25 CC50 (P < 0.05). Real-time PCR detected IBV RNA after treatment with all plant extracts using concentrations of 1:2 CC50, 1:4 CC50 and 1:8 CC50. Delta cycle threshold (Ct) values decreased significantly comparing Ct values of 1:2 CC50 and 1:8 CC50 dilutions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Many extracts of plants acted against IBV prior to and during infection, but the most effective were those of M. piperita, T. vulgaris and D. canadense .

Chromatographic Data Segmentation Method: A Hybrid Analytical Approach for the Investigation of Antiviral Substances in Medicinal Plant Extracts.

The methodology described in this article will significantly reduce the time required for understanding the relations between chromatographic data and bioactivity assays. The methodology is a hybrid of hypothesis-based and data-driven scientific approaches. In this work, a novel chromatographic data segmentation method is proposed, which demonstrates the capability of finding what volatile substances are responsible for antiviral and cytotoxic effects in the medicinal plant extracts. Up until now, the full potential of the separation methods has not been exploited in the life sciences. This was due to the lack of data ordering methods capable of adequately preparing the chromatographic information. Furthermore, the data analysis methods suffer from multidimensionality, requiring a large number of investigated data points. A new method is described for processing any chromatographic information into a vector. The obtained vectors of highly complex and different origin samples can be compared mathematically. The proposed method, efficient with relatively small sized data sets, does not suffer from multidimensionality. In this novel analytical approach, the samples did not need fractionation and purification, which is typically used in hypothesis-based scientific research. All investigations were performed using crude extracts possessing hundreds of phyto-substances. The antiviral properties of medicinal plant extracts were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, antiviral tests, and proposed data analysis methods. The findings suggested that (i) ß- cis-caryophyllene, linalool, and eucalyptol possess antiviral activity, while (ii) thujones do not, and (iii) α-thujone, ß-thujone, cis- p-menthan-3-one, and estragole show cytotoxic effects.

Analysis of antiproliferative effect of Chamerion angustifolium water extract and its fractions on several breast cancer cell lines.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the antiproliferative effect of the aerial part of Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub. (Onagraceae) extract and its fractions in vitro. This is the first study on the anti-proliferative effect of C. angustifolium on 3 distinct breast cancer cell lines. MATERIAL/METHODS: Breast cancer cell lines MCF7, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 were exposed to different concentrations of the water extract of C. angustifolium, where DPPH radical scavenging activity was 0.018-0.443mg/ml, expressed in rutin equivalents. Cell growth was analyzed after 24, 48 and 72h of incubation. Solid-phase extraction was applied for the fractionation of C. angustifolium water extract and MDA-MB-468 cell line growth was tested using different fractions. RESULTS: The concentrations corresponding to radical scavenging activity of 0.117 and 0.266mg/ml caused MCF7 cells growth inhibition, while in the samples exposed to the highest concentration (0.355 and 0.443mg/ml) no proliferation was register, suggesting cell death. MDA-MB-468 cell analysis showed similar responses. MDA-MB-231 demonstrated cell growth inhibition following the exposure to all analyzed high extract doses (0.117-0.443mg/ml). MDA-MB-468 cells were selected to evaluate the effect of fractions. In the samples exposed to the fraction containing the highest amount (91%) of oenothein B, at the concentration of 0.117mg/ml a pronounced cell growth inhibition while at higher concentrations (0.266 and 0.443mg/ml) no cell proliferation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of C. angustifolium herb can be advantageous, alongside with conventional breast cancer treatment.

Downscaling the in vitro test of fungal bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: methodological approach.

The miniaturization and optimization of a white rot fungal bioremediation experiment is described in this paper. The optimized procedure allows determination of the degradation kinetics of anthracene. The miniaturized procedure requires only 2.5 ml of culture medium. The experiment is more precise, robust, and better controlled comparing it to classical tests in flasks. Using this technique, different parts, i.e., the culture medium, the fungi, and the cotton seal, can be analyzed. A simple sample preparation speeds up the analytical process. Experiments performed show degradation of anthracene up to approximately 60% by Irpex lacteus and up to approximately 40% by Pleurotus ostreatus in 25 days. Bioremediation of anthracene by the consortium of I. lacteus and P. ostreatus shows the biodegradation of anthracene up to approximately 56% in 23 days. At the end of the experiment, the surface tension of culture medium decreased comparing it to the blank, indicating generation of surfactant compounds.