A Mass Spectrometric Study on Tannin Degradation within Dyed Woolen Yarns

Historical Drugs in Transylvania: Disclosing the Composition of Ointments from the "History of Pharmacy Collection" in Cluj-Napoca Through a Multi-Analytical Approach

The National Museum of Transylvanian History in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, features a History of Pharmacy Collection that documents the evolution of pharmacies in the region since the 16th century. Within the "Pharmatrans" project (2021-2023), we investigated the chemical composition of ointments from fourteen historical pharmaceutical containers dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Most samples were from an aristocratic traveling medicine chest, a key artifact in the collection. This study marks the first extensive analysis of historical pharmaceutical formulations in Romania, enhancing our understanding of these valuable items. The main ingredients of formulations were characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), solid-phase microextraction-GC-MS (SPME-GC-MS), and pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS). Additionally, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-Q-ToF) was employed for the detailed analysis of lipid materials and polar compounds. Elemental analysis was conducted using field emission gun-scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results revealed that twelve out of fourteen mixtures contained interpretable organic content, often aligning with the vessels' labels. The findings indicate that Transylvanian elites in the late 18th century had access to both rare drugs and traditional remedies, reflecting contemporary trends in pharmacy.

Hypersensitive quantification of major astringency markers in food and wine by substoichiometric quenching of silicon-rhodamine conjugates

Tannins are chemically diverse polyphenols in plant-derived products that not only show diverse biological activities but also play a crucial role in determining the sensory attributes of food and beverages. Therefore, their accurate and cost-effective quantification is essential. Here, we identified a novel fluorescence quenching mechanism of different synthetic rhodamine fluorophores, with a high selectivity towards tannic acid (TA) and catechin-3-gallate (C3G) compared to a structurally diverse panel of tannins and polyphenols. Specific chemical conjugates of silicon-rhodamine with alkyl linkers attached to bulky apolar moieties had a limit of detection near 500 pM and a linear range spanning 5-100 nM for TA. We validated the assay on 18 distinct red wine samples, which showed high linearity (R2 = 0.92) with methylcellulose precipitation with no interference from anthocyanins. In conclusion, a novel assay was developed and validated that allows the sensitive and selective quantification of major astringency markers abundant in food and beverages.

Multi-Analytical Techniques for the Study of Burial Clothes of Polish King Sigismund III Vasa (1566-1633) and His Wife Constance Habsburg (1588-1631)

The subjects of this research are the burial clothes of Polish King Sigismund III Vasa and his wife Constance, which were woven and embroidered with silk and metal threads. Fragments of the textiles underwent spectroscopic, spectrometric, and thermogravimetric analyses. The hydrofluoric acid extraction method was improved to isolate various classes of dyes from the textile samples that had direct contact with human remains. High-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array and tandem mass spectrometry detectors with electrospray ionization (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) facilitated the detection and identification of colorants present in the textiles. Cochineal, indigo-, madder-, orchil-, and tannin-producing plants were identified as the sources of dyes used. Scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray detector (SEM-EDS) was employed to identify and characterize the silk fibers and mordants and the metal threads. The presence of iron, aluminum, sodium, and calcium in the silk threads suggests their potential use as mordants. The analysis of the metal threads revealed that most of them were made from flattened gilded silver wire, with only a few being cut from a sheet of metal. Typical degradation mechanisms of metal threads were shown, resulting from both burial environment and earlier manufacturing process, and the use of the textiles in clothing, i.e., a significant loss of the gold layer was observed in most of silver gilt threads, caused by abrasion and delamination. The results of the thermal analysis confirmed the presence of silk and silver threads in the examined textiles.

A Model Iron Gall Ink: An In-Depth Study of Ageing Processes Involving Gallic Acid

Iron gall inks have been among the most used writing materials after carbon black, thus representing an important element of the historical and artistic heritage of our society. Crucially, the preservation of manuscripts and drawings is influenced by the presence of these inks, leading to conservation issues related to paper degradation and text fading. Besides all the advances obtained in paper conservation, the study of iron gall ink's behaviour and ageing is still an important topic, which requires investigation through an accurate molecular characterisation to produce reliable models. In the present work a micro-destructive method based on liquid chromatography techniques (HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-Q-ToF) has been optimised starting from a model gallic acid-based ink. An in-depth study of the behaviour of the ink in time was performed by natural and artificial ageing tests, monitored by colorimetry, showing the autoxidation of gallic acid to ellagic acid in the prepared mock-ups. The effect of relative humidity on ageing processes was also evaluated, allowing us to determine different intermediates depending on the environmental conditions. Finally, the analytical method developed was then successfully applied for investigating 19th-20th century historical ink samples, where one of the identified ageing markers was detected, besides the expected gallic and ellagic acids.

Textile Dyes from Gokstad Viking Ship’s Grave

The grave from Gokstad in Norway, dating to ca 900 AD, is one of the best-preserved Viking Age ship graves in the world. The grave mound contained a variety of goods along with human remains, buried in a Viking ship. Several textiles, including embroideries and shreds of what might have been the ship’s tent, were also found. The colors of the textile fragments are now severely faded, but the high quality of the embroidery made of gold and silk threads is still apparent. The style of the embroidery is exceptional, having no equivalents in other Scandinavian graves. The analyses by HPLC coupled with both diode array and mass spectrometric detectors revealed that the striped “tent” cloth as well as the silk thread used for the embroidery were originally dyed with anthraquinones of plant origin (alizarin, purpurin, pseudopurpurin, and anthragallol), markers of madder-type dyestuffs.

Identification of reliable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of the Rhus chinensis Mill. leaf response to temperature changes

Rhus chinensis Mill. (RCM) is the host plant of Galla chinensis, which is valued in traditional medicine. Environmental temperature directly determines the probability of gallnut formation and RCM growth. At present, there is no experiment to systematically analyse the stability of internal reference gene (RG) expression in RCM. In this experiment, leaves that did not form gallnuts were used as the control group, while leaves that formed gallnuts were used as the experimental group. First, we conducted transcriptome experiments on RCM leaves to obtain 45 103 differential genes and functional enrichment annotations between the two groups. On this basis, this experiment established a transcriptional gene change model of leaves in the process of gallnut formation after being bitten by aphids, and RCM reference candidate genes were screened from RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) data. This study is based on RCM transcriptome data and evaluates the stability of 11 potential reference genes under cold stress (4 °C) and heat stress (34 °C), using three statistical algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper). The results show that GAPDH1 + PP2A2/UBQ are stable reference genes under heat stress, while GAPDH1 + ACT are the most stable under cold stress. This study is the first to screen candidate reference genes in RCM and could help guide future molecular studies in this genus.

Multi-Technique Investigation of Grave Robes from 17th and 18th Century Crypts Using Combined Spectroscopic, Spectrometric Techniques, and New-Generation Sequencing

The textile fragments of the funeral clothes found in the 17th and 18th century crypts were subjected to spectroscopic, spectrometric, and microbial investigation. The next-generation sequencing enabled DNA identification of microorganisms at the genus and in five cases to the species level. The soft hydrofluoric acid extraction method was optimized to isolate different classes of dyes from samples that had direct contact with human remains. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode matrix and tandem mass spectrometry detectors with electrospray ionization (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) enabled the detection and identification of 34 colourants that are present in historical textiles. Some of them are thus far unknown and uncommon dyes. Indigo, madder, cochineal, turmeric, tannin-producing plant, and young fustic were identified as sources of dyes in textiles. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray detector (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to identify and characterize fibres and mordants in funeral gowns. Of the 23 textile samples tested, 19 were silk while the remaining four were recognized as wool. The presence of iron, aluminium, sodium, and calcium suggests that they were used as mordants. Traces of copper, silica, and magnesium might originate from the contaminants. The large amount of silver indicated the presence of metal wire in one of the dyed silk textiles. SEM images showed that textile fibres were highly degraded.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection for the determination of anthraquinones, flavonoids and other natural dyes in aged silk

A HPLC method coupled with diode array detector was developed and validated for the quantitation of alizarin, apigenin, carminic acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, emodin, fisetin, kaempferide, kaempferol, kermesic acid, morin, purpurin, quercetin and sulfuretin which are components of several natural dyes. 1- Hydroxyanthraquinone was selected as internal standard. The compounds were separated under gradient elution on a RP-column (Altima C18, 250 mm x 3.0 mm i.d., 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of solvent A: H₂O + 0.1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid and solvent B: acetonitrile + 0.1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid. The method was validated in terms of linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, accuracy, precision, ruggedness and robustness and applied to the analysis of silk dyed with buckthorn (Rhamnus trees), cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa), madder (Rubia tinctorum L.), turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and young fustic (Cotinus coggygria Scop). Furthermore, dyed silk samples were subjected to artificially accelerated ageing conditions induced by UV radiation. The effect of the latter on the quantities of the aforementioned compounds was monitored, except for apigenin, kermesic acid and morin.

Biochar as an Eco-Friendly and Economical Adsorbent for the Removal of Colorants (Dyes) from Aqueous Environment: A Review

Dyes (colorants) are used in many industrial applications, and effluents of several industries contain toxic dyes. Dyes exhibit toxicity to humans, aquatic organisms, and the environment. Therefore, dyes containing wastewater must be properly treated before discharging to the surrounding water bodies. Among several water treatment technologies, adsorption is the most preferred technique to sequester dyes from water bodies. Many studies have reported the removal of dyes from wastewater using biochar produced from different biomass, e.g., algae and plant biomass, forest, and domestic residues, animal waste, sewage sludge, etc. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the application of biochar as an eco-friendly and economical adsorbent to remove toxic colorants (dyes) from the aqueous environment. This review highlights the routes of biochar production, such as hydrothermal carbonization, pyrolysis, and hydrothermal liquefaction. Biochar as an adsorbent possesses numerous advantages, such as being eco-friendly, low-cost, and easy to use; various precursors are available in abundance to be converted into biochar, it also has recyclability potential and higher adsorption capacity than other conventional adsorbents. From the literature review, it is clear that biochar is a vital candidate for removal of dyes from wastewater with adsorption capacity of above 80%.