Dicationic hydroxylic surfactants: Aggregation behavior, guest-host interaction and catalytic effect

Potential Therapeutic Role of Dietary Supplementation with Spirulina platensis on the Erectile Function of Obese Rats Fed a Hypercaloric Diet

Spirulina platensis, an important source of bioactive compounds, is a multicellular, filamentous cyanobacterium rich in high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Due to its nutrient composition, the alga is considered a complete food and is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiobesity, and reproprotective effects. All of which are important for prevention and treatment of organic and metabolic disorders such as obesity and erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulatory role of Spirulina platensis food supplementation and the mechanisms of action involved in reversing the damage caused by a hypercaloric diet on the erectile function of rats. The animals were divided into a standard diet group (SD, n = 5); a hypercaloric diet group (HCD, n = 5); a hypercaloric diet group supplemented with S. platensis at doses of 25 (HCD+SP25, n = 5), 50 (HCD+SP50, n = 5), and 100 mg/kg (HCD+SP100, n = 5); and a hypercaloric diet group subsequently fed a standard diet (HCD+SD, n = 5). In the rats fed a hypercaloric diet, dietary supplementation with S. platensis effectively increased the number of erections while decreasing latency to initiate penile erection. Additionally, S. platensis increases NO bioavailability, reduces inflammation by reducing the release of contractile prostanoids, enhances the relaxation effect promoted by acetylcholine (ACh), restores contractile reactivity damage and cavernous relaxation, reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increases cavernous total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Food supplementation with S. platensis thus restores erectile function in obese rats, reduces production of contractile prostanoids, reduces oxidative stress, and increases NO bioavailability. Food supplementation with S. platensis thus emerges as a promising new therapeutic alternative for the treatment of erectile dysfunction as induced by obesity.

Self-assembling and biological properties of single-chain dicationic pyridinium-based surfactants

In this work, the dicationic surfactants containing viologen and vinylbipyridinium moieties and hexadecyl chains were synthesized, and their aggregation behavior in water solutions was investigated by surface tension, conductivity measurements, hydrophobic probe solubilization, dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic measurements. Effect of UV-light on cis-trans isomerism of vinylbipyridinium derivative was determined. Antimicrobial activity and the influence of these surfactants on cell viability depended on the concentration and type of surfactant used. The results obtained established the structure-property (physicochemical properties and biological activity) relationship of the surfactant molecule namely the primary role of pyridinium head group structure.