Ekstrakt z brzozy brodawkowatej Cortex Betulae, jako źródło substancji aktywnych biologicznie

For centuries birch extract has been a remedy for various skin problems. It is related to the fact that birch extract contains four or ve cycle triterpenic compounds including betulin, lupeol as well as betulinic and oleanolic acids. ese compounds have bioactive properties, thanks to which they may be applied not only in cosmetology but also in prevention and treatment of many skin diseases, including cancers. As medical research shows, triterpenes trigger the apoptosis process of cancerous cells and at the same time they toxically aect healthy cells. e mechanism of triterpene antioxidant properties is based on activating the enzyme system of an organism responsible for neutralisation of free radicals. anks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, birch bark extract can be used in products protecting skin against microorganisms. Its bioactive substances regulate functions of the immune system, improve the immune response and stimulate self-healing properties of the body. Birch extract also reduces the risk of skin inammations. Chemical composition of dry birch bark extract is dependent on the conditions of extraction, particularly its time and type of solvent. In the extraction process alcohols or other organic solvents are mostly used due to the strong lipophilic nature of triterpenes. e content of triterpenic compounds in dry birch bark extract accounts for 70%, which makes this plant raw material an extremely rich source of substances belonging to this group.Ekstrakt z kory brzozy stanowi od wieków remedium na różnorakie dolegliwości skórne. Wiąże się to z zawartością w nim cztero- lub pięciocyklicznych związków triterpenowych, między innymi betuliny, lupeolu oraz kwasów betulinowego i ole-anolowego. Związki te wykazują działanie biologicznie czynne, dzięki czemu mogą znaleźć zastosowanie nie tylko w kosmetyce, ale również w prolaktyce i leczeniu wielu chorób skóry, w tym również nowotworów. Jak pokazują badania naukowe, triterpeny wywołują proces apoptozy komórek nowotworowych, nie wykazując przy tym działania toksycznego w stosunku do zdrowych tkanek. Z kolei mecha-nizm działania przeciwutleniającego triterpenów oparty jest na aktywacji systemu enzymatycznego organizmu odpowiedzialnego za neutralizację wolnych rodników. Aktywność przeciwbakteryjna oraz przeciwgrzybicza ekstraktu z kory brzozy umożliwia zastosowanie go w preparatach chroniących skórę przed działaniem drobnoustrojów. Substancje aktywne wyciągu z kory brzozy regulują funkcje układu odpornościowego, wzmacniają odpowiedź immunologiczną i stymulują czynności samonaprawcze organizmu. Ekstrakt brzozowy ogranicza również stany zapalne skóry. Skład suchego ekstraktu z kory brzozy zależy od warunków procesu ekstrakcji, a szczególnie jej czasu i rodzaju zastosowanego rozpuszczalnika. Do ekstrakcji stosuje się najczęściej alkohole lub inne organiczne rozpuszczalniki, ze względu na silnie lipolowy charakter triterpenów. Zawartość związków triterpenowych w suchym ekstrakcie z brzozy sięga 70% masowych, co czyni ten surowiec roślinny niezwykle bogatym źródłem związków z tej grupy

At home with users: a comparative view of living labs

Living Labs provide a ‘human-centric’ research approach for the design of new ICT artefacts. In Living Labs users participate over several design stages, providing insights into unexpected ICT use, co-creation and evaluation of new IT solutions. Although this approach is becoming more popular, there is little comparative and reflective work on its practical dynamics, problems and possibilities. In this study, we analyse two 4-year Living Lab projects in Lancaster, UK and Siegen, Germany within the domain of Social TV, and compare experiences. We focus on documenting the purposes, methods and user dynamics that affect the trajectory of such long-term research initiatives, focusing inter alia on the dynamics of researcher/user interaction and the developing issues of trust and managing expectations; emphasizing some often neglected ethical issues and the impact of users' individual characteristics and their role in the community dynamics of Living Labs

Microplastics; occurrence, levels and implications for environment and human health related to food. Opinion of the Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

Report from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) 2019:16. Microplastics; occurrence, levels and implications for environment and human health related to food. Opinion of the Steering Committee of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment. Source at https://www.vkm.no/. The steering committee of VKM has self-initiated a mandate for an opinion on microplastics based on recently published international and/or national reports complemented with literature from December 2016 to February 2019. The mandate requested a summary of the state of knowledge on the presence of microplastics in the environment and the implications for the ecosystem, terrestrial and aquatic organisms, food production and human health. An overview of main national and international ongoing initiatives was also requested, and highlighting of data gaps where specific Norwegian data was needed

Preparation and characterization of SBA-1-supported chromium oxide catalysts for CO2CO_{2} assisted dehydrogenation of propane

A series of Crx/SBA-1 cubic mesoporous catalysts with 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 wt.% content of Cr (Crtotal) were obtained by incipient wetness impregnation of SBA-1. The obtained catalysts were characterized with various physicochemical techniques (chemical composition, low-temperature adsorption of N2, H2–TPR, XRD, UV–vis DRS, Raman, and EPR) and tested in dehydrogenation of propane to propene in the presence of CO2. Various chromium species including Cr6+, dispersed Cr5+, and crystalline Cr2O3 were found in the calcined Crx/SBA-1 samples. Cr6+ species were present mainly in the form of mono- and dichromates, despite the Cr loading. The presence of dispersed Cr5+ species and crystalline α-Cr2O3 in the calcined catalysts depended on the total Crtotal content. Cr5+ species were found in the samples containing below 7 wt.% of Crtotal, while particles of crystalline α-Cr2O3 were detected in the catalyst with Crtotal content above 5 wt.%. All of the Crx/SBA-1 catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity and high selectivity in the dehydrogenation of propane to propene in the presence of CO2 with the maximum propane conversion (37.7% at 550 °C) for ∼7 wt.% of Crtotal. For higher Cr contents the conversion of propane remained almost constant which was connected with the formation of crystalline Cr2O3 which was inactive in the test reaction. Operando UV–vis DRS measurements performed during the dehydrogenation of propane, both in the presence and absence of CO2 at 550 °C, indicated that the Cr6+ species (main redox sites) were reduced rapidly to Cr2+/Cr3+ species already at the beginning of the process. The dispersed Cr2+/Cr3+ ions were the main sites available to the reactants under the dehydrogenation conditions in all of the studied feed compositions

The effect of selected supercritical CO 2

The formulations of washing cosmetics i.e. shower gels, containing extracts obtained during supercritical CO2 extraction process as active ingredient, were developed. The subject of the study was the analysis of the physicochemical and user properties of the obtained products. In the work supercritical CO2 extracts of black currant seeds, strawberry seeds, hop cones and mint leafs were used. The formulation contains a mixture of surfactants (disodium cocoamphodiacetate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, cocoamide DEA, cocoamidepropyl betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate). Various thickener agents were applied to the obtained desired rheological properties of the cosmetics. Among others, sorbitol acetal derivatives, methylhydroxypropylcellulose and C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer were used. For stable products, the effect of extracts addition (black currants seeds, strawberries seeds, mint and hops, obtained from supercritical CO2 extraction process) on the cosmetics properties, such as pH, viscosity, detergency and foam ability, were determined. The obtained results showed that the extracts could be used as components of shower gels

The effect of selected supercritical CO2 plant extract addition on user properties of shower gels

The formulations of washing cosmetics i.e. shower gels, containing extracts obtained during supercritical CO2 extraction process as active ingredient, were developed. The subject of the study was the analysis of the physicochemical and user properties of the obtained products. In the work supercritical CO2 extracts of black currant seeds, strawberry seeds, hop cones and mint leafs were used. The formulation contains a mixture of surfactants (disodium cocoamphodiacetate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, cocoamide DEA, cocoamidepropyl betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate). Various thickener agents were applied to the obtained desired rheological properties of the cosmetics. Among others, sorbitol acetal derivatives, methylhydroxypropylcellulose and C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer were used. For stable products, the effect of extracts addition (black currants seeds, strawberries seeds, mint and hops, obtained from supercritical CO2 extraction process) on the cosmetics properties, such as pH, viscosity, detergency and foam ability, were determined. The obtained results showed that the extracts could be used as components of shower gels

Active ingredients in paint strippers

The papers presents the study on the application of acetals as active ingredients in paint strippers. The formulation was prepared and the ability to wrinkling of the shell was rated. The ability to wrinkling of the shell was rated by examining the force required to detachment the coating

Influence of process parameters on properties of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC) formulation

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are stable colloidal formulations with notable advantages for drug delivery systems. Thanks to their physicochemical stability, biocompatibility, biodegradability and controlled drug release, they have received increasing attention for the last several years. The aim of the study was to prepare and characterize nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Both, the effect of the process parameters and the effect of the preemulsion composition on the NLC properties were investigated. In the work, different type of surfactants (i.e. decyl glucoside, Poloxamer188, Tween 80, sodium cholate) and their combinations were used to stabilize NLC dispersions. Moreover, several kinds of solid lipids (modified beeswax, gliceryl behenate, cetyl palmitate and berry wax) and liquid lipids (caprilic/capric triglyceride and decyl oleate) were applied. An ultrasonication method using a probe type sonicator was used to obtain NLC, and the time and energy of the process were modified throuhout. The physicochemical properties of the formulations, such as particle size, size distribution, polidispersity index were studied using the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. The electrophoretic mobility of obtained particles was also measured, using the Zetasizer Nano ZS Malvern Instrument based on the Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) technique. Knowing the value of electrophoretic mobility of particles for given conditions, the zeta potential was determined. The obtained results showed that the process parameters and the composition of the preemulsion had significant impact on the nanoparticles structure. The optimal formulations size ranged between 60 and 80 nm, and the value of their zeta potential was up to -30mV. The stability of these systems was further confirmed by macroscopic observation

Production of triterpenoids with cell and tissue cultures

Triterpenes are group of biologically active compounds which can be found in higher plants. Their main source are plants bark, leaves, twigs, fruits, resins or oils. The biological activity of triterpens is very diversified and many studies have already confirmed the following therapeutic effects: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungial, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective. Synthesis of triterpenes derivates can be performed by chemical or enzymatic reactions, however biotransformation is more specific and eliminates the side products and the molecule alterations. These processes use isolated enzymes or microorganisms. Cell culture in vitro eliminates problems like extract variability as well as instability of the compounds being obtained during the extraction process. What is more, it ensures high reproducibility and optimal regio- and enantioselectivity. The most widely used technique is a classical screening of a series of microbial strains. Studies on triterpene biotransformation give a lot of information about new biologically active compounds and let predict the metabolism of biological compounds. This review presents most important advancements in the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for the production of triterpenoids. Moreover, the review highlights general strategies to obtain rich biochemical diversity of plants by employing the biocatalysts produced by microorganisms or tissue cultures