Molecularly imprinted layer-coated silica nanoparticles toward highly selective separation of active diosgenin from Dioscorea nipponica Makino

Complete Chloroplast Genome of Four Thai Native Dioscorea Species: Structural, Comparative and Phylogenetic Analyses

The chloroplast genomes of Dioscorea brevipetiolata, D. depauperata, D. glabra, and D. pyrifolia are 153,370–153,503 bp in size. A total of 113 genes were predicted, including 79 protein-coding sequences (CDS), 30 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. The overall GC content for all four species was 37%. Only mono-, di-, and trinucleotides were present in the genome. Genes adjacent to the junction borders were similar in all species analyzed. Eight distinct indel variations were detected in the chloroplast genome alignment of 24 Dioscorea species. At a cut-off point of Pi = 0.03, a sliding window analysis based on 25 chloroplast genome sequences of Dioscorea species revealed three highly variable regions, which included three CDS (trnC, ycf1, and rpl32), as well as an intergenic spacer region, ndhF-rpl32. A phylogenetic tree based on the complete chloroplast genome sequence displayed an almost fully resolved relationship in Dioscorea. However, D. brevipetiolata, D. depauperata, and D. glabra were clustered together with D. alata, while D. pyrifolia was closely related to D. aspersa. As Dioscorea is a diverse genus, genome data generated in this study may contribute to a better understanding of the genetic identity of these species, which would be useful for future taxonomic work of Dioscorea.

Pharmacokinetic profile of diosgenin and trigonelline following intravenous and oral administration of fenugreek seed extract and pure compound in rabbit

Diosgenin (DI) and trigonelline (TRG) are the main bioactive compounds of fenugreek seed. A micro-extraction method using magnetic nanocomposites coupled with ion-pairing reversed phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method was used to determine the analytes in rabbit plasma. The main PK parameters after oral administration of pure DI and the extract were: C_max: 0.48, 0.057 µg/ml; t_max: 1, 2 h; and t_1/2β: 6.23, 15.04 h, respectively. Pure TRG and the extract PK parameters were: C_max: 0.121, 0.081 µg/ml; t_max: 1.30, 1.30 h; and t_1/2β: 20.06, 24.70 h, respectively. Generally, the PK profile of the two compounds was best fitted on the two-compartment model.[Formula: see text].

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of Dioscorea: Characterization, genomic resources, and phylogenetic analyses

Dioscorea L., the largest genus of the family Dioscoreaceae with over 600 species, is not only an important food but also a medicinal plant. The identification and classification of Dioscorea L. is a rather difficult task. In this study, we sequenced five Dioscorea chloroplast genomes, and analyzed with four other chloroplast genomes of Dioscorea species from GenBank. The Dioscorea chloroplast genomes displayed the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, which consisted of a pair of inverted repeats separated by a large single-copy region, and a small single-copy region. The location and distribution of repeat sequences and microsatellites were determined, and the rapidly evolving chloroplast genome regions (trnK-trnQ, trnS-trnG, trnC-petN, trnE-trnT, petG-trnW-trnP, ndhF, trnL-rpl32, and ycf1) were detected. Phylogenetic relationships of Dioscorea inferred from chloroplast genomes obtained high support even in shortest internodes. Thus, chloroplast genome sequences provide potential molecular markers and genomic resources for phylogeny and species identification.

Recovery of a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance from Pediococcus acidilactici Kp10 using surfactant precipitation

Bacteriocin is an important peptide which can be used as an anti-microbial agent in food. However, simpler and more cost-effective purification methods need to be developed compared to chromatography to enhance its commercial viability. Surfactant precipitation was employed for the first time to purify bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) from a fermentation broth of Pediococcus acidilactici Kp10, and the amount precipitated was investigated as a function of anionic surfactant (AOT) concentration, and pH. Protein recovery from the precipitate was accomplished using solvent extraction, and solvent type, NaCl concentration, and ionic strength of the final solution were optimised. Optimal conditions were; 1.05mM of AOT at pH 4 for precipitation, and acetone extraction (with 1mM NaCl), which resulted in an 86.3% yield, and 53.8 purification factor. This study highlighted the fact that surfactant precipitation can be used as a primary recovery method for BLIS from a complex fermentation broth.

Synthesis and application of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles combined ultrasonic assisted for highly selective solid phase extraction trace amount of celecoxib from human plasma samples using design expert (DXB) software

In this work molecular imprinted nanoparticles (MINPs) was synthesized and applied for ultrasonic assisted solid phase extraction of celecoxib (CEL) from human plasma sample following its combination by HPLC-UV. The MINPs were prepared in a non-covalent approach using methacrylic acid as monomer, CEL as template, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator of polymerization. pH, volume of rinsing and eluent solvent and amount of sorbent influence on response were investigated using factorial experimental design, while optimum point was achieved and set as 250mg sorbent, pH 7.0, 1.5mL washing solvent and 2mL eluent by analysis of results according to design expert (DX) software. At above specified conditions, CEL in human plasma with complicated matrices with acceptable high recoveries (96%) and RSD% lower than 10% was quantified and estimated. The proposed MISPE-HPLC-UV method has linear responses among peak area and concentrations of CEL in the range of 0.2-2000μgL(-1), with regression coefficient of 0.98. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) based on three and ten times of the noise of HPLC peaks correspond to blank solution were 0.08 and 0.18μgL(-1), respectively.

Development of dummy molecularly imprinted based on functionalized silica nanoparticles for determination of acrylamide in processed food by matrix solid phase dispersion

A novel technique was applied for the synthesis of dummy molecularly imprinted silica nanoparticles (DMISNPs). DMISNPs were characterized by Fourier transmission infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope. The material was used as dispersant for the analysis of biscuit and bread samples using matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD). Of advantages of such approach may be counted as the simplicity of synthesis procedure, low consumption of organic solvent, mild working temperature during the synthesis, high binding capacity and affinity. The effect of various parameters such as sample-to-dispersant ratio and eluents volume on extraction recovery was investigated and optimized by central composite design under response surface methodology. It was proven that the proposed dispersant leads to high affinity toward acrylamide even in complicated matrices. Quantification of the acrylamide was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV).

Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years 2004-2011

Herein, we present a survey of the literature covering the development of molecular imprinting science and technology over the years 2004-2011. In total, 3779 references to the original papers, reviews, edited volumes and monographs from this period are included, along with recently identified uncited materials from prior to 2004, which were omitted in the first instalment of this series covering the years 1930-2003. In the presentation of the assembled references, a section presenting reviews and monographs covering the area is followed by sections describing fundamental aspects of molecular imprinting including the development of novel polymer formats. Thereafter, literature describing efforts to apply these polymeric materials to a range of application areas is presented. Current trends and areas of rapid development are discussed.

Preparation of Dufulin imprinted polymer on surface of silica gel and its application as solid-phase extraction sorbent

A new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on silica-gel surface was developed using Dufulin (Duf) as a template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, and azodiisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The synthetic samples were characterized by the techniques of Fourier transmission infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Batch experiments were performed to evaluate adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics and selective recognition of the MIP. Binding experiments demonstrated that the MIP had a good adsorption capacity, fast mass transfer rate and high recognition selectivity to Dufulin. When the MIP was used as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) material, the recoveries of Dufulin for spiked water, soil and wheat samples were 88.98-102.16%, 85.31-99.57% and 87.84-100.19%, along with LOD of 0.0008 mg L(-1), 0.010 mg kg(-1) and 0.023 mg kg(-1), respectively. Compared with direct determination of HPLC without MIP-SPE, the highly selective separation and enrichment of Dufulin from the complex environmental media can be achieved by the newly developed molecular imprinting at the surface of silica gel.

Polymer-based stimuli-responsive recyclable catalytic systems for organic synthesis

The introduction of stimuli-responsive polymers into the study of organic catalysis leads to the generation of a new kind of polymer-based stimuli-responsive recyclable catalytic system. Owing to their reversible switching properties in response to external stimuli, these systems are capable of improving the mass transports of reactants/products in aqueous solution, modulating the chemical reaction rates, and switching the catalytic process on and off. Furthermore, their stimuli-responsive properties facilitate the separation and recovery of the active catalysts from the reaction mixtures. As a fascinating approach of the controllable catalysis, these stimuli-responsive catalytic systems including thermoresponsive, pH-responsive, chemo-mechano-chemical, ionic strength-responsive, and dual-responsive, are reviewed in terms of their nanoreactors and mechanisms.

Novel Hg2+-imprinted polymers based on thymine-Hg2+-thymine interaction for highly selective preconcentration of Hg2+ in water samples

A novel functional monomer T-IPTS, 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPTS) bearing thymine (T) bases, was synthesized for imprinting Hg(2+). Then a novel Hg(2+) ionic imprinted polymers (IIPs) based on thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine (T-Hg(2+)-T) interactions, i.e. Hg-IIPs-T, were prepared by sol-gel process for the first time in this work. The Hg-IIPs-T exhibited excellent selectivity towards Hg(2+) over Cd(2+), Zn(2+) Pb(2+), Co(2+), Mn(2+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), due to the specific T-Hg(2+)-T interactions with high selectivity and high affinity. Accordingly, Hg-IIPs-T were used as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for preconcentration of trace Hg(2+) in water samples, and satisfactory recoveries ranging from 95.2 to 116.3% were obtained. Also, under optimized conditions, preconcentration factor and detection limit were achieved of 200 and 0.03 μg L(-1), respectively. The IIPs-T-SPE proved to be a rapid and high-effective cleanup and enrichment method for trace Hg(2+) in water samples. More importantly, these results indicated that devising and synthesizing new functional monomers tailor-made for template would become a general promising way to improve the selectivity and stability of IIPs.

A review on pharmacological and analytical aspects of diosgenin: a concise report

Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin found in plants such as Dioscorea nipponoca, Solanum incanum, Solanum xanthocarpum and Trigonella foenum graecum. Diosgenin, biologically active phytochemicals have been used for the treatment of various types of disorder such as leukemia, inflammation, hypercholesterolemia and cancer. It is also able to prevent bone loss to the same extent as that of oestrogen. It is a typical initial intermediate for synthesis of steroidal compounds, oral contraceptives and sex hormones. Dioscorea, Costus and Trigonella are mainly used for the production of diosgenin. On the basis of literature survey it divulges that diosgenin has very impressive pharmacological profile and could be used as a medicine for the treatment of different types of disorders in the future. Thus, the present work aims to provide collective information in concern with its pharmacological activity and phytoanalytical techniques. This review will be beneficial to researches for the development of an alternative method for the treatment of innumerable diseases from diosgenin.

Recent advances in molecular imprinting technology: current status, challenges and highlighted applications

Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) concerns formation of selective sites in a polymer matrix with the memory of a template. Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have aroused extensive attention and been widely applied in many fields, such as solid-phase extraction, chemical sensors and artificial antibodies owing to their desired selectivity, physical robustness, thermal stability, as well as low cost and easy preparation. With the rapid development of MIT as a research hotspot, it faces a number of challenges, involving biological macromolecule imprinting, heterogeneous binding sites, template leakage, incompatibility with aqueous media, low binding capacity and slow mass transfer, which restricts its applications in various aspects. This critical review briefly reviews the current status of MIT, particular emphasis on significant progresses of novel imprinting methods, some challenges and effective strategies for MIT, and highlighted applications of MIPs. Finally, some significant attempts in further developing MIT are also proposed (236 references).

Preparation of dummy template imprinted polymers at surface of silica microparticles for the selective extraction of trace bisphenol A from water samples

Molecularly imprinted polymers for bisphenol A (BPA) were prepared by using surface molecular imprinting technique. Analogues of BPA, namely 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl and 3,3',5,5'-tetrabromobisphenol A, were used as the dummy templates instead of BPA, to avoid the leakage of a trace amount of the target analyte (BPA). The resulting dummy molecularly imprinted polymers (DMIPs) showed the large sorption capacity, high recognition ability and fast binding kinetics for BPA. The maximal sorption capacity was up to 958 micromol g(-1), and it only took 40 min for DMIPs to achieve the sorption equilibrium. The DMIPs were successfully applied to the solid-phase extraction coupled with HPLC/UV for the determination of BPA in water samples. The calibration graph of the analytical method was linear with a correlation coefficient more than 0.999 in the concentration range of 0.0760-0.912 ng mL(-1) of BPA. The limit of detection was 15.2 pg mL(-1) (S/N=3). Recoveries were in the range of 92.9-102% with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 11%. The trace amounts of BPA in tap water, drinking water, rain and leachate of one-off tableware were determined by the method built, and the satisfactory results were obtained.