Preparation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Extracting Flavones fromChamaecyparis Obtusa

Bacillus velezensis CE 100 Inhibits Root Rot Diseases (Phytophthora spp.) and Promotes Growth of Japanese Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) Seedlings

Root rot diseases, caused by phytopathogenic oomycetes, Phytophthora spp. cause devastating losses involving forest seedlings, such as Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) in Korea. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a promising strategy to control root rot diseases and promote growth in seedlings. In this study, the potential of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 in controlling Phytophthora root rot diseases and promoting the growth of C. obtusa seedlings was investigated. B. velezensis CE 100 produced β-1,3-glucanase and protease enzymes, which degrade the β-glucan and protein components of phytopathogenic oomycetes cell-wall, causing mycelial growth inhibition of P. boehmeriae, P. cinnamomi, P. drechsleri and P. erythoroseptica by 54.6%, 62.6%, 74.3%, and 73.7%, respectively. The inhibited phytopathogens showed abnormal growth characterized by swelling and deformation of hyphae. B. velezensis CE 100 increased the survival rate of C. obtusa seedlings 2.0-fold and 1.7-fold compared to control, and fertilizer treatment, respectively. Moreover, B. velezensis CE 100 produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) up to 183.7 mg/L, resulting in a significant increase in the growth of C. obtusa seedlings compared to control, or chemical fertilizer treatment, respectively. Therefore, this study demonstrates that B. velezensis CE 100 could simultaneously control Phytophthora root rot diseases and enhance growth of C. obtusa seedlings.

Synthesis of Quercetin-imprinted Polymer Spherical Particles with Improved Ability to Capture Quercetin Analogues

INTRODUCTION

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are composed of specific cavities able to selectively recognise a template molecule. Used as chromatographic sorbents, MIPs may not trap related structures due to the high rigidity of their cross-linking.

OBJECTIVE

To improve the capture of quercetin analogues by modulating the synthesis strategy for a quercetin-imprinted polymer (Qu MIP).

METHODOLOGY

An additional comonomer bearing a short oligoethylene glycol (OEG) unit was used to prepare a Qu MIP that was compared to a traditional one formulated in a similar fashion, but without the OEG-comonomer. The Qu MIPs were prepared in bead form through fluorocarbon suspension polymerisation. After solid phase extraction (SPE) assessment of their imprinted cavities, the MIPs were evaluated by HPLC for their recognition properties towards quercetin and other polyphenols, including flavonoids, phenolic acids and curcumin. The Qu MIPs were finally SPE-tested on a white onion extract.

RESULTS

The incorporation of OEG units modulated the selectivity of the Qu MIP by improving the recognition of quercetin related structures (12-61% increase in the imprinting effect for distant analogues). It also allowed limiting or suppressing non-specific hydrophobic interactions (decrease of about 10% in the rate of quercetin retention on the non-imprinted polymer). The SPE application of the MIP to a white onion extract indicates its interest for the selective extraction of quercetin and its analogues.

CONCLUSION

The OEG-modified Qu MIP appears to be an attractive tool to discover new drug candidates from natural sources by extracting, amongst interfering compounds, structural analogues of quercetin. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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.

Evaluation of alcohol-based deep eutectic solvent in extraction and determination of flavonoids with response surface methodology optimization

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are emerging rapidly as a new type of green solvent instead of an ionic liquid (IL), and are typically formed by mixing choline chloride with hydrogen bond donors. Few studies have applied DESs to the extraction and determination of bioactive compounds. Therefore, in the present study, DESs were used to extract flavonoids (myricetin and amentoflavone), which are well known and widely used antioxidants, to extend their applications. A range of alcohol-based DESs with different alcohols to choline chloride (ChCl) mixing ratios were used for extraction using several extraction methods. Other factors, such as temperature, time, water addition and solid/liquid ratio, were examined systematically using a response surface methodology (RSM). A total of 0.031 and 0.518 mg g(-1) of myricetin and amentoflavone were extracted under the optimized conditions: 35 vol% of water in ChCl/1,4-butanediol (1/5) at 70.0 °C for 40.0 min and a solid/liquid ratio of 1/1 (g 10 mL(-1)). Good linearity was obtained from 0.1 × 10(-3) to 0.1 mg mL(-1) (r(2)>0.999). The excellent properties of DESs highlight their potential as promising green solvents for the extraction and determination of a range of bioactive compounds or drugs.

Simultaneous extraction and separation of flavonols and flavones from Chamaecyparis obtusa by multi-phase extraction using an ionic liquid-modified microsphere polymer

INTRODUCTION

Flavonols and flavones, especially quercitrin, myricetin and amentoflavone, are the main anti-bacterial and anti-cancer compounds in Chamaecyparis obtuse. Multi-phase extraction is a new method that can extract and separate target compounds simultaneously.

OBJECTIVE

An amino ionic liquid immobilised microsphere polymer was used as a multi-phase extraction sorbent to extract and separate quercitrin, myricetin and amentoflavone from Chamaecyparis obtusa.

METHODOLOGY

The sorbent and Chamaecyparis obtusa powder were packed into a single cartridge. Using a fixed volume of methanol with five repetitions, the target compounds were extracted from the powder to the sorbent. The sorbent was then washed with n-hexane to remove any interfering species and the target compounds were eluted sequentially using water, methanol and methanol containing 1% acetic acid (vol.).

RESULTS

Under the optimised conditions, 0.45 mg/g of quercitrin, 0.18 mg/g of myricetin and 0.12 mg/g of amentoflavone from 2.0 g of powder were obtained by multi-phase extraction using 0.3 g of sorbent.

CONCLUSION

The method described has a low deviation error, requires a small amount of solvent and is highly selective and reproducible.