Spektrofotometrijsko određivanje sadržaja magnezijeva oksida u pripravcima s magnezijem

Magnesium is an essential element and the intracellular divalent cation involved in many biochemical functions. People with magnesium deficiency must increase their intake of magnesium, usually in the form of various supplements. A common form of magnesium supplement widely available in pharmacies is magnesium oxide (MgO). In this work, the content of MgO was determined in pharmaceutical supplementations using spectrophotometry, based on the reaction between magnesium ions and eriochrome black T at a wavelength of 535 nm. The analysed content of MgO ranged from 360.5 to 386.5 mg MgO, which corresponds to the daily Mg recommended values (300 to 400 mg). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Magnezij je esencijalni element i intrastanični dvovalentni kation uključen u više biokemijskih funkcija. Osobe s manjkom magnezija moraju ga dodatno unositi i to često u obliku različitih pripravaka. Magnezijev oksid (MgO) najčešći je oblik pripravka s magnezijem koji je široko dostupan u ljekarnama. U ovom radu spektrofotometrijom je određen sadržaj MgO u farmaceutskim dodatcima temeljen na reakciji između magnezijevih iona i eriokrom crnog T na valnoj duljini od 535 nm. Analizirani sadržaj MgO kretao se u rasponu od 360,5 do 386,5 mg MgO, što odgovara dnevnim preporučenim vrijednostima unosa Mg (300 do 400 mg). Ovo djelo je dano na korištenje pod licencom Creative Commons Imenovanje 4.0 međunarodna

Determination of α-solanine content in two varieties of potatoes by the densitometric method

Solanine is a glycoalkaloid found in the Solanaceae family, such as the potato. It is very poisonous even in small quantities because it has pesticide and fungicide effects and represents a natural plant defense mechanism. Its concentration increases when the plant is exposed to the agents that can cause plant stress (fertilization, insecticide use, etc.). This paper aims to examine the influence of three cultivation systems (conventionally, organically and naturally) on the biosynthesis of α-solanine (αS) through his quantification in young potatoes using densitometry. Two varieties of potatoes were analyzed: Aladdin (Ala) and Mona Lisa (MoL). For statistical analysis, the Student\u27s t-test was used. The results showed that the use of artificial insecticides caused a very intense biosynthesis of αS in the conven-tionally grown Ala variety (1.19 mg/100 g of fresh tubers (f.t.)) in comparison to the average α-solanine content (AαSC) by the organically grown Ala (0.62 mg/100 gf.t.) (it is close to the statistical significance, (p=0.08)). It is difficult to explain the very high AαSC of natural Ala cultivation (1.62 mg/100 gf.t.). Analysis of potatoes of the MoL variety showed that the AαSC of conventionally grown potatoes (1.35 mg/100 gf.t.) was statistically higher than the AαSC of naturally grown potatoes (0.59 mg/100 g of f.t.) (p*0.05). Concentrations of αS founded in the case of conventionally, organically and naturally grown potatoes are considered safe and such potatoes are suitable for consumption. However, because of a slight reduction in toxic αS, it is recommended to consume organically grown potatoes (Ala variety), and naturally grown potatoes (MoL variety)

DFT study and microbiology of some coumarin-based compounds containing a chalcone moiety

In the present investigation, a series of coumarin-based compounds containing a chalcone moiety were studied for their in vitro and in silico properties. DFT global chemical reactivity descriptors (chemical hardness, total energy, electronic chemical potential and electrophilicity) are calculated for four synthesized compounds and used to predict their relative stability and reactivity. The antibacterial activities of all compounds have been screened against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC No. 6633) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC No. 11778). Quantum-chemical calculations indicate that antibacterial activity correlates well with chemical reactivity descriptors of molecules

HPLC Analysis of Phytosterols in Prunus spinosa L. Extracts and Their Antiproliferative Activity on Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Sloe (Prunus spinosa L.) extracts are a good source of natural bioactive compounds, including phytosterols. Phytosterols are known to be applied in the treatment of various prostate diseases. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of sloe ethanolic extracts (flower, leaf, and fruit), collected from three areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were investigated against human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145 using MTT assay. β- sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol were quantified by HPLC-PDA analysis using Symmetry C18 chromatographic column. The results of the analysis proved the presence of phytosterols, mostly β-sitosterol in all extracts. All extracts possess antiproliferative activity. The highest activity against PC-3 and DU145 was gathered from leaf extracts obtained by different extraction methods (microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction). To the best of our knowledge, no other studies have presented results on antiproliferative activity of ethanol sloe extracts. Based on these results, further investigation should be recommended on other cancer cell lines as well

Cytotoxic Effects of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. and Laurus nobilis L. Essential Oils on Human Cervical Adenocarcinoma Cells

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (lavender) is an aromatic and medicinal herb whose flower essential oils (EO) are widely used for the treatment of gastrointestinal, nervous, and rheumatic disorders, and in the perfume industry. Laurus nobilis L. (laurel bay) is an evergreen tree whose EOs have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Lavender and bay were collected from Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The extraction was performed by hydrodistillation in Clevenger-type apparatus. Phytochemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Cytotoxic activities of lavender EO and bay leaf, fruit and seed EOs were investigated against human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells and non-transformed human lung fibroblasts MRC-5 by MTT cell survival assay. Cell cycle phase distribution was examined by flow cytometry. In bay EOs the most abundant component was 1,8-cineole, followed by linalool, bicyclic monoterpenes sabinene, αpinene, and β-pinene. Components identified in the fruit and seed, but not in the leaf were (E)-β-ocymene, camphene, β-elemene, bornyl acetate and trans-caryophyllene. The major component of lavender extract was linalool accompanied by linalyl acetate, lavandulyl acetate, camphor, 1,8-cneole, borneol, α-terpineol, and terpinene-4-ol. The four tested EOs showed concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on HeLa and MRC-5 cells. Among examined EOs, lavender EO exerted the strongest cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells with IC50 value of 0.11 µL/mL. Bay seed and fruit EOs exerted stronger cytotoxicity on HeLa cells than bay leaf EO (IC50 values: 0.17, 0.21, and 3.35 µL/mL, respectively). When compared with sensitivity of HeLa cells, normal MRC-5 cells showed similar sensitivity to the cytotoxic activity of the four tested EOs. Lavender EO applied at IC50 concentration, during 24 h caused remarkable increase in the percentage of HeLa cells within the subG1 cell cycle phase, in comparison with control cells (64.69% vs 2.47%). Pretreatment with caspase-3, caspase-8 or caspase-9 inhibitor before 24 h treatment with lavender EO did not cause changes in the percentage of cells in the subG1 phase in comparison with HeLa cells exposed only to lavender oil. Our results showed that lavender and bay EOs exerted potent cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells. Additional investigations are necessary to explore cytotoxic effects of these EOs against various cancer cell lines and mechanisms underlying anticancer effects.6th Meeting of the Croatian Association for Cancer Research “HDIR-6: Targeting Cancer”; November 10-12, 2022, Zagreb, Croati

Phase stability of aqueous mixtures of bovine serum albumin with low molecular mass salts in presence of polyethylene glycol

The stability of bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions against phase separation caused by cooling the system is studied under the combined influence of added poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and alkali halide salts in water as solvent. The phase stability of the system depends on the concentration of the added PEG and its molecular mass, the concentration of the low molecular mass electrolyte and its nature, as also on the of the solution. More specifically, the addition of NaCl to the BSA-PEG mixture promotes phase separation at , where BSA carries the net positive charge in aqueous solution, and it increases the stability of the solution at =4.6, i.e., near the isoionic point of the protein. Moreover, at , the cloud-point temperature decreases in the order from NaF to NaI and from LiCl to CsCl. The order of the salts at is exactly reversed: LiCl and NaF show the weakest effect on the cloud-point temperature and the strongest decrease in stability is caused by RbCl and NaNO3. An attempt is made to correlate these observations with the free energies of hydration of the added salt ions and with the effect of adsorption of salt ions on the protein surface on the protein–protein interactions. Kosmotropic salt ions decrease the phase stability of BSA-PEG-salt solutions at , while exactly the opposite is true at

DFT study and microbiology of some coumarin-based compounds containing a chalcone moiety

In the present investigation, a series of coumarin-based compounds containing a chalcone moiety were studied for their in vitro and in silico properties. DFT global chemical reactivity descriptors (chemical hardness, total energy, electronic chemical potential and electrophilicity) are calculated for four synthesized compounds and used to predict their relative stability and reactivity. The antibacterial activities of all compounds have been screened against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC No. 6633) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC No. 11778). Quantum-chemical calculations indicate that antibacterial activity correlates well with chemical reactivity descriptors of molecules

Cytotoxic activities of Hypericum perforatum L. extracts against 2D and 3D cancer cell models

Six extracts were obtained from plant species Hypericum perforatum L., collected at Samsun in Turkey. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanisms of the anticancer activity of these extracts. Methanol, ethyl-acetate and hexane were used as a solvents for extraction from both branch-body part of the plant (extracts 1, 2 and 3) and from plant flowers (extracts 4, 5 and 6). The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were determined against 2D and 3D cancer cell models. Cell cycle changes of treated HeLa cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Measurements of gene and microRNA expression levels in treated HeLa cells were done by quantitative real time PCR. Five examined extracts (2–6) exerted selective concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on HeLa, K562, and A549 cancer cells, while the extract 1 exhibited very weak cytotoxicity. The extract 6 showed the highest intensity of cytotoxic activity. All tested extracts (2–6) demonstrated the ability to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells through activation of caspase-3. These extracts remarkably decreased gene expression levels of MMP2, MMP9, TIMP3, and VEGFA in HeLa cells. Flower extracts might have stronger effects on miR128/193a-5p/335 level changes than branch-body extracts. Hypericum perforatum extracts exerted weaker cytotoxic effects on 3D HeLa spheroids when compared with their effects on 2D monolayer HeLa cells. Taken together, results of our research may suggest the promising anticancer properties of the Hypericum perforatum extracts. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V