Third-order nonlinear optical properties of bismuth-borate glasses measured by conventional and thermally managed eclipse Z scan

Third-order nonlinearity one order of magnitude larger than silica is measured in bismuth-borate glasses presenting a fast response (<200 fs). The results for the sign and magnitude of the nonlinearity were obtained using a combination of the eclipse Z scan with thermal nonlinearity managed Z scan, whereas the Kerr shutter technique was employed to obtain the electronic time response of the nonlinearity, all performed with 76 MHz repetition rate 150 fs pulses at 800 nm. Conventional Z scans in the picosecond regime at 532 and 1064 nm were also independently performed, yielding the values of the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities at those wavelengths. The results obtained for the femtosecond response, enhanced third-order nonlinearity of this glass (with respect to silica), place this glass system as an important tool in the development of photonics devices. Electro-optical modulators, optical switches, and frequency converters are some of the applications using second-order nonlinear properties of the Bi-glass based on the rectification model

Bioactive properties of Ruscus aculeatus L.: na underexploited subshrub

Ruscus aculeatus L. is a sub-shrub used in traditional medicine in different parts of the world, namely in Europe and the Iberian Peninsula[1]. Traditionally, the aerial parts are mainly used as diuretics and the underground parts are used for the treatment of urinary tract diseases and as a laxative[2]. In the present work, the aerial part, roots, and rhizomes of R. aculeatus were characterized regarding their bioactive properties in order to contribute to the knowledge of the chemical composition of this unexplored species. The plant material of R. aculeatus was harvested in April 2019 inside woodlands and hedgerows, in Valpaços, Portugal. Two distinct parts were gathered: the aerial part (cladodes or laminar stems and lateral branches) and the underground organs (rhizomes with roots). Hydroethanolic extracts and aqueous (infusions and decoctions) preparations from the two mentioned parts of the plant were prepared. Multi-resistant clinical bacterial strains (Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Morganela morganii, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were used to screen the antimicrobial activity and the antioxidant activity was evaluated through two different in vitro assays: inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA). The cytotoxic activity was assayed using MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung carcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) human tumor cell lines, and also a non-tumor cell line (porcine liver primary cells, PLP2). All extracts revealed antioxidant activity and potential to inhibit some of the assessed bacteria; except for the infusion of the aerial part (for the lines MCF7 and HepG2) and decoction extracts (line MCF7), all the remaining extracts presented effective results in the inhibition of the tested cell lines; the aqueous extracts of the aerial part and infusions of roots and rhizomes did not show cytotoxic effects in a non-tumor primary cell culture. This preliminary study provided innovative and interesting results in relation to the bioactive properties of this little-studied and explored wild plant.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros, A. Fernandes, C. Pereira and R.C. Calhelha´s contract. The authors are grateful to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042: GreenHealth.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phenolic compounds and bioactive properties of Ruscus aculeatus L. (asparagaceae): the pharmacological potential of an underexploited subshrub

Ruscus aculeatus L. is a subshrub used in traditional medicine in different parts of the world, namely in Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. According to reported folk knowledge, the aerial parts are mainly used as diuretics and the underground organs are used for the treatment of disorders of the urinary system and as a laxative. In this work, the aerial part and the roots and rhizomes of R. aculeatus were chemically characterized with regard to the content of phenolic compounds and bioactive properties. Aqueous (infusions and decoctions) preparations and hydroethanolic extracts from the two mentioned parts of the plant were prepared. Nine phenolic compounds were detected in all the extracts. Apigenin-C-hexoside-C-pentoside isomer II was the major compound in aqueous extracts and, in the hydroethanolic extract was quercetin-O-deoxyhexoside-hexoside followed by apigenin-C-hexoside-C-pentoside isomer II. All extracts revealed antioxidant activity and potential to inhibit some of the assayed bacteria; aqueous extracts of the aerial part and infusions of roots and rhizomes did not show cytotoxic effects on a non-tumor primary cell culture. This preliminary study provides suggestions of the biological potential associated with the empirical uses and knowledge of this species, in particular its bioactivities.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through the national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program contract for L. Barros, A. Fernandes, M.I. Dias, C. Pereira, and R.C. Calhelha. The authors are also grateful to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal program for financial support through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P and to European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Norte-01-0145-FEDER- 000042: GreenHealth.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Voltage-assisted cooling: a new route to enhance χ(2) during thermal poling

Modifying the standard constant-voltage poling procedure significantly enhances the in-built electric field strength (and consequently χ) and leads to control of the nonlinear region evolution, both crucial parameters to integrate nonlinearity in waveguiding regions

Propriedades bioativas de Ruscus aculeatus L.: um subarbusto inexplorado

Ruscus aculeatus L. é um subarbusto utilizado na medicina tradicional em várias partes do Mundo, nomeadamente na Europa e na Península Ibérica 1' 1. Tradicionalmente, as partes aéreas são utilizadas como diuréticos e as subterrâneas no tratamento de doenças do trato urinário e como laxante 1' 1. No presente trabalho, a parte aérea, raízes e rizomas de R. aculeatus foram caracterizados quanto às suas propriedades bioativas, nomeadamente: atividade antioxidante, antimicrobiana, anti-inflamatória e citotóxica. O material vegetal de R. aculeatus foi colhido em abril de 2019 em parcelas florestais, em Valpaços, Portugal. Foram preparados extratos hidroetanólicos e aquosos (infusões e decocções) das partes aéreas (caules laminares e ramificações) e das partes subterrâneas (rizomas e raízes). A atividade antioxidante dos extratos foi avaliada mediante a inibição da peroxidação lipídica (TBARS) e da hemólise oxidativa (OxHLIA). A atividade antibacteriana foi avaliada através da técnica de microdiluição, juntamente com o método colorimétrico de deteção rápida com o cloreto de piodonitrotetrazólio (INT). A atividade anti-inflamatória foi avaliada através da inibição da produção de NO utilizando uma linha celular de macrófagos de rato RAW 264.7. As propriedades citotóxicas foram avaliadas utilizando linhas celulares tumorais humanas e numa linha celular não tumoral (células primárias de fígado de porco, PLP2). Todos os extratos revelaram atividade antioxidante e potencial para inibir algumas das bactérias utilizadas. O extrato hidroalcoólico da parte aérea foi o que apresentou melhores resultados na inibição da produção de óxido nítrico seguido pela decocção das raízes e rizoma. Todos os extratos inibiram o crescimento das linhas celulares tumorais, exceto a infusão da parte aérea e os extratos de decocção. Os extratos aquosos da parte aérea e a infusão do extrato de raízes e rizomas, não apresentaram toxicidade para a linha celular PLP2. Este estudo preliminar forneceu resultados inovadores e interessantes em relação às propriedades bioativas desta planta silvestre pouco estudada e explorada.Os autores agradecem à Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) e aos fundos nacionais FCT/MCTES pelo apoio financeiro ao CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) e pelo financiamento nacional pela FCT, I.P., no âmbito da celebração do contrato-programa de emprego científico de L. Barros, A. Fernandes, C. Pereira e R C. Calhelha. Os autores agradecem ao Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do Programa Operacional Regional Norte 2020, no âmbito do Projeto Norte-O 1-0 145-FEDER-000042: GreenHealth.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phenolic compounds and bioactive properties of Ruscus aculeatus L.: na underexploited subshrub

Ruscus aculeatus L. is a subshrub used in traditional medicine in different parts of the world, namely in Europe and Iberian Peninsula [1]. According to reported folk knowledge, the aerial parts are mainly used as diuretics and the underground parts are used for the treatment of disorders of the urinary system and as laxative [2]. The present work reports a comprehensive study on R. aculeatus phenolic compounds and bioactivities, intending to contribute to the knowledge of the chemical composition of this unexplored species. The plant material of R. aculeatus was harvested in April 2019 inside woodlands and hedgerows, in Valpaços, Portugal. Two distinct parts were gathered, the aerial part (cladodes or laminar stems and lateral branches) and the underground organs (rhizomes with roots). After lyophilization, the distinct parts of the plant were further analyzed. Hydroethanolic extracts and aqueous (infusions and decoctions) preparations from the two mentioned parts of the plant were prepared. Phenolic compounds were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a diode array detector (DAD) and mass spectrometry (MS) using the electrospray ionization interface (ESI). Multi-resistant clinical bacterial strains were used to screen the antimicrobial activity and the antioxidant activity was evaluated through two different in vitro assays: inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA). The cytotoxic activity was assayed using MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung carcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) human tumor cell lines, and also a non-tumor cell line (porcine liver primary cells, PLP2). Nine phenolic compounds were detected in all extracts. Apigenin-C-hexoside-Cpentoside isomer II was the major compound in aqueous extracts and, in the hydroethanolic extract, the most abundant one was quercetin-O-deoxyhexoside-hexoside, followed by apigenin-C-hexoside-C-pentoside isomer II. All extracts revealed antioxidant activity and potential to inhibit some of the assessed bacteria; the aqueous extracts of the aerial part and infusions of roots and rhizomes did not show cytotoxic effects in a non-tumour primary cell culture. This preliminary study provides suggestions of the biological potential associated with the empirical uses and knowledge of this species, in particular its bioactivities.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros, A. Fernandes, M.I. Dias, C. Pereira and R.C. Calhelha. The authors are grateful to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042: GreenHealth.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio