Efecto de la germinación sobre la composición química y la actividad antioxidante de aceites de linaza (Linum usitatissimum L).

The present study was carried out to determine the changes in proximate composition and physicochemical characteristics of flaxseed during germination. Flaxseed was germinated for 4 days and observations were taken every day throughout the study. Changes in the seed reserve and antioxidant activity were determined during germination. The oil content of the cultivar decreased from 35.10 to 27.22%. During the germination period, the total protein content increased to 23.84%. Germinated flaxseed showed significantly higher unsaturated as compared to saturated fatty acid ratios and higher calculated oxidizability (Cox) values. The Saponification value ranged from 182 to 192 mg KOH·g–1 oil during germination. The highest peroxide value (2.4 mequiv O2·kg−1 oil) was observed at the end of germination. The unsaponifiable contents ranged from 1.62 to 1.18%. The oxidation value of the oil samples were statistically in the same range (4.1–6.4%). After 4 days of germination, oil stability was reduced to 1.0 h. The increase in ascorbic acid content was steady. Total phenolic acid contents differed significantly. The greatest concentration was detected in non germinated flaxseed oil. Germinated Flaxssed oil showed an important free radical scavenging activity towards 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals.El presente estudio se llevó a cabo para determinar los cambios en la composición y características físico-químicas de aceites de linaza durante la germinación. La linaza se germinó durante 4 días y el estudio se realizó todos los días durante este proceso. Se determinaron los cambios en la reserva de las semilla y la actividad antioxidante. El contenido de aceite de los cultivos disminuyó de 35,10 a 27,22%. Durante este periodo, el contenido de proteína total aumentó a 23,84%. La linaza germinada mostró valores significativamente más altos de la relación de ácidos grasos insaturados frente a saturados y mayor facilidad de oxidación (Cox). El índice de saponificación varió desde 182 hasta 192 mg KOH·g−1 de aceite durante la germinación. El índice de peróxido más alto (2,4 mequiv O2·kg−1 de aceite) se observó al final de la germinación. El contenido de materia insaponificable varió desde 1,62 hasta 1,18%. La oxidación de las muestras de aceite fueron estadísticamente del mismo rango (4.1 a 6.4%). Después de 4 días de germinación, la estabilidad del aceite se redujo a 1,0 h. El aumento en contenido de ácido ascórbico fue estable. Los contenidos totales de ácidos fenólicos diferían significativamente. La mayor concentración se detectó en el aceite de linaza no germinado. El aceite de linaza germinado mostró una importante actividad de eliminación de radicales libres hacia 1-1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH)

In vitro Anti-Leishmania Activity and Safety of Newly Synthesized Thiazolo Pyrimidine Derivatives Augmented with Interleukine-12 (IL-12) in BALB/c Mice Experimentally- Infected with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Purpose: To synthesize a series of novel thiazolo pyrimidine derivatives and evaluate them in vitro and in vivo for their safety and anti-leishmanial activity using BALB/c mice.Methods: Substituted pyrazolopyrimidine and pyrazolopyrazole were synthesized by reacting amino group of 2-amino-4-cyano-pyrazol]naphthalino[1,2-d]thiazole with a variety of formamide or hydrazine hydrate. The synthesized compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and mass spectroscopy (MS). The purity of the compounds was determined by elemental analysis. Safety and anti-leishmanial activity of the compounds were determined in vitro by i) viability assessment of leishmania-infected macrophages, relative abundance of IL-12p40 mRNA gene expression and levels of IL10 /IL-12 determination in supernatants of cultured macrophages treated with 2.5 and 10 μM of the compounds, using microscope cell counting, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. ii) cytotoxicity of the compounds evaluated by determination the safety index as IC50 of the compound in macrophages/IC50 of the compound in amastigotes. iii) bioassay at 16 weeks post-infection of mice treated with the reference drug, the tested compound alone and both the compound with IL-12. Disease progression and footpad thickness were evaluated regularly during treatment.Results: Compound 4 emerged as the most active anti-protozoal compound of the series against Leishmania viability (activity 60 %) compared with the reference drug (activity 65 %). When it was combined with IL-12, the activity reached 90 %.Conclusion: Compound 4 can serve as a lead molecule for further development to a clinically useful novel class of agents.Keywords: Thiazolopyrimidine, Synthesis, Leishmaniasis, Mice, Immunotherap

Cambios en la composición proximal y en las características de los aceites durante el desarrollo de semillas de linaza

Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization-Mass Spectrometry (APPI-MS) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) are the two analytical methods that were used to characterize Triacylglycerols (TAGs) during flaxseed development. The HPLC method of the oils showed the presence of 15 TAG species. In contrast to the HPLC chromatograms, the APPI-MS showed 17 peaks of TAG. APPI-MS is more rapid than the HPLC method (11 min). The iodine value of the oils showed a gradual increase, while the oil stability continuously decreased. Proximate composition during flaxseed development revealed that flaxseed is potentially a good source of dietary energy and protein. At full maturity, flaxseed contained 37% oil and 24% protein on a dry-weight basis; albumin was the major storage protein (53% of total storage proteins) followed by globulin (33%) and glutelin fractions (11%). Prolamins had the lowest percentage with 3%. α-amylase activity was higher in the mature seeds than the young ones.Fotoionización a presión atmosférica-Espectrometría de masas (APPI-MS) y cromatografía líquida de alta resolución (HPLC) son dos métodos de análisis que se utilizaron para caracterizar triglicéridos (TAGs) durante el desarrollo de semillas de linaza. El método HPLC mostró la presencia de 15 especies de TAG, en contraste, los cromatogramas de APPI-MS mostraron 17 picos de TAG siendo el método APPI-MS más rápido que el de HPLC (11 min). El índice de yodo de los aceites mostró un aumento gradual, mientras que la estabilidad disminuyó continuamente. El estudio de la composición proximal de la linaza durante su desarrollo, mostró que esta semilla es una fuente potencialmente buena de energía y de proteína para la dieta. Al final de la maduración, la linaza contenía 37 % de aceite y 24 % de proteína sobre peso seco; albúmina fue la principal proteína de almacenamiento (53% sobre el total de las proteínas de almacenamiento) seguido de la globulina (33 %) y glutelina (11 %). Las prolaminas presentaron el porcentaje más bajo con 3 %. La actividad α-amilasa fue mayor en las semillas maduras que en las más jóvenes

Effects of germination on chemical composition and antioxidant activity of flaxseed (<em>Linum usitatissimum</em> L) oil

The present study was carried out to determine the changes in proximate composition and physicochemical characteristics of flaxseed during germination. Flaxseed was germinated for 4 days and observations were taken every day throughout the study. Changes in the seed reserve and antioxidant activity were determined during germination. The oil content of the cultivar decreased from 35.10 to 27.22%. During the germination period, the total protein content increased to 23.84%. Germinated flaxseed showed significantly higher unsaturated as compared to saturated fatty acid ratios and higher calculated oxidizability (Cox) values. The Saponification value ranged from 182 to 192 mg KOH·g^–1 oil during germination. The highest peroxide value (2.4 mequiv O₂·kg⁻¹ oil) was observed at the end of germination. The unsaponifiable contents ranged from 1.62 to 1.18%. The oxidation value of the oil samples were statistically in the same range (4.1–6.4%). After 4 days of germination, oil stability was reduced to 1.0 h. The increase in ascorbic acid content was steady. Total phenolic acid contents differed significantly. The greatest concentration was detected in non germinated flaxseed oil. Germinated Flaxssed oil showed an important free radical scavenging activity towards 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals.<br><br>El presente estudio se llevó a cabo para determinar los cambios en la composición y características físico-químicas de aceites de linaza durante la germinación. La linaza se germinó durante 4 días y el estudio se realizó todos los días durante este proceso. Se determinaron los cambios en la reserva de las semilla y la actividad antioxidante. El contenido de aceite de los cultivos disminuyó de 35,10 a 27,22%. Durante este periodo, el contenido de proteína total aumentó a 23,84%. La linaza germinada mostró valores significativamente más altos de la relación de ácidos grasos insaturados frente a saturados y mayor facilidad de oxidación (Cox). El índice de saponificación varió desde 182 hasta 192 mg KOH·g⁻¹ de aceite durante la germinación. El índice de peróxido más alto (2,4 mequiv O₂·kg⁻¹ de aceite) se observó al final de la germinación. El contenido de materia insaponificable varió desde 1,62 hasta 1,18%. La oxidación de las muestras de aceite fueron estadísticamente del mismo rango (4.1 a 6.4%). Después de 4 días de germinación, la estabilidad del aceite se redujo a 1,0 h. El aumento en contenido de ácido ascórbico fue estable. Los contenidos totales de ácidos fenólicos diferían significativamente. La mayor concentración se detectó en el aceite de linaza no germinado. El aceite de linaza germinado mostró una importante actividad de eliminación de radicales libres hacia 1-1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH)

The impact of quarantine strategies on malware dynamics in a network with heterogeneous immunity

In this paper, we investigate the influence of two types of isolation on malware propagation within a computer network. Model 1 proposes the network quarantine strategy, where infected computers are fully disconnected from the network. As for model 2, the control strategy is the anti-virus software quarantine, where infected files in a computer are contained in an isolation folder. Both models consider the aspect of heterogeneous immunity, that is, weak and strong immunization of computers in a network. Analytical examinations produced a virus-free equilibrium and an endemic equilibrium for each model. It has been observed that the quarantine reproduction number Rq plays an essential role in the existence and stability of the equilibrium points. Furthermore, numerical simulations are accomplished to substantiate the qualitative results. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is executed to specify the dominant parameters on Rq. It is found that the performance of network quarantine is better than anti-virus software quarantine in controlling malware propagation

Modeling the Effect of External Computers and Removable Devices on a Computer Network with Heterogeneous Immunity

This paper intends to investigate the impact of external computers and removable devices on virus spread in a network with heterogeneous immunity. For that purpose, a new dynamical model is presented and discussed. Theoretical analysis reveals the existence of a unique viral equilibrium that is locally and globally asymptotically stable with no criteria. This result implies that efforts to eliminate viruses are not possible. Therefore, sensitivity analysis is performed to have more insight into parameters’ impact on virus prevalence. As a result, strategies are suggested to contain virus spread to an acceptable level. Finally, to rationalize the analytical results, we execute some numerical simulations

Reversal of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Murine Schistosomiasis mansoni by Safironil/Praziquantel

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, pharmacological effect and mechanism of action of an antifibrotic compound, safironil (SAF)/praziquantel (PZQ) combination on reversal of liver fibrogenesis in chronic murine Schistosomiasis mansoni . Methods: The antifibrotic effect of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml of SAF was evaluated in vitro myofibroblast cell culture, using RNAse protection assay for collagen I mRNA expression and quantitative immunoblot for α-actin protein extract. Ninety Swiss albino mice were infected with 50 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. SAF was provided in drinking water at a concentration of 1.5 mg/ml while praziquantel (PZQ) was given by gavage in a dose of 500 mg/kg. Mice, divided into five groups: infected non-treated; infected and PZQ-treated; infected PZQ- and SAF-treated; infected and SAF-treated; and control. After sacrificing the animals, the liver of each mouse was taken, weighed and used for histopathological examination, hydroxyproline assay and collagen determination. Results: SAF prevented myofibroblast activation at the pre-transcriptional level in a dose-dependent manner as monitored by collagen I mRNA levels (expression reduced by 40, 70 and 90 % at doses of α-actin (expression reduced by 70, 85 and 95 %, respectively). SAF decreased the production of collagen I by 60 % and laminin by 55 % but increased collagen III by 50 % relative to control. SAF had no effect on liver granuloma size and did not alter total hydroxyproline but altered the pattern of fibrosis by increasing collagen III and decreasing collagen I deposition. The most significant reduction in liver fibrosis was noticed in mice treated with SAF combined with PZQ. No toxic pharmacological effect was noticed during SAF treatment. Conclusion: When SAF was combined with PZQ, augmented reduction of liver fibrogenesis was achieved. The mechanism is probably through inhibition of new liver injury induced by parasite egg deposition and interruption of collagen type I synthesis with attenuation of pre-existent collagen

Efficient segmentation of Arabic handwritten characters using structural features

Handwriting recognition is an important field as it has many practical applications such as for bank cheque processing, post office address processing and zip code recognition. Most applications are developed exclusively for Latin characters. However, despite tremendous effort by researchers in the past three decades, Arabic handwriting recognition accuracy remains low because of low efficiency in determining the correct segmentation points. This paper presents an approach for character segmentation of unconstrained handwritten Arabic words. First, we seek all possible character segmentation points based on structural features. Next, we develop a novel technique to create several paths for each possible segmentation point. These paths are used in differentiating between different types of segmentation points. Finally, we use heuristic rules and neural networks, utilizing the information related to segmentation points, to select the correct segmentation points. For comparison, we applied our method on IESK-arDB and IFN/ENIT databases, in which we achieved a success rate of 91.6% and 90.5% respectively