GC-MS Method Research Articles

GC-MS Determination of Undeclared Phthalate Esters in Commercial Fragrances: Occurrence, Profiles and Assessment of Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Risk Associated with Their Consumption among Adult Consumers

Phthalates are chemicals that are extensively used in the manufacturing of cosmetic products. The occurrence of phthalate esters in personal care products may pose adverse effects on consumers' health. In this work, a simple, fast and reliable GC-MS method was developed and validated for concurrent determination of phthalate esters in fragrances. Simple procedures were employed for sample preparation and clean up. The recoveries achieved were in the range of 94.9% to 105.6% with RSD ≤ 4.06. The detection limits were in the range of 0.0010 to 0.0021 µg/mL. The GC-MS method was utilized to investigate the occurrence of phthalate esters in different brands of perfumes sold in the Saudi Arabian market. Diethyl phthalate was detected in all analyzed samples, with a maximum concentration of 5766 µg/mL, and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was detected in the majority of the analyzed samples (95%), with a mean concentration of 55.9 µg/mL and a highest concentration of 377.7 µg/mL. Additionally, the exposure to phthalate esters due to the consumption of perfumes was investigated among the adult Saudi population for the first time. It was found that the systemic exposure dose, measured at mean concentrations, ranged from 4.59 × 10-4 to 4.29 × 10-2 (mg/kg/day) and from 5.00 × 10-4 to 4.68 × 10-2 (mg/kg/day) for male and female users, respectively. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic risk of the investigated phthalate esters and the carcinogenic risk of DEHP were also evaluated. The non-carcinogenic risk values of the detected phthalate esters were greater than 100, which indicates that exposure to these phthalate esters is unlikely to produce non-carcinogenic health effects to consumers. However, at maximum DEHP concentrations, the carcinogenic risk values were 5.49 × 10-5 for male users and 5.98 × 10-5 for female users, which indicates the possibility of DEHP to pose a carcinogenic health effect if present at high levels. Regular monitoring of undeclared chemicals such as phthalate esters in personal care products marketed in Saudi Arabia is extremely important to ensure consumers' safety. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to assess the health risk associated with consumption of perfumes in Saudi Arabia.

Fractioning and Compared 1H NMR and GC-MS Analyses of Lanolin Acid Components.

The management of food and food-related wastes represents a growing global issue, as they are hard to recycle and dispose of. Foremost, waste can serve as an important source of biomasses. Particularly, fat-enriched biomasses are receiving more and more attention for their role in the manufacturing of biofuels. Nonetheless, many biomasses have been set aside over the years. Wool wax, also known as lanolin, has a huge potential for becoming a source of typical and atypical fatty acids. The main aim of this work was to evaluate and assess a protocol for the fractioning of fatty acids from lanolin, a natural by-product of the shearing of sheep, alongside the design of a new and rapid quantitative GC-MS method for the derivatization of free fatty acids in fat mixtures, using MethElute™. As the acid portion of lanolin is characterized by the presence of both aliphatic and hydroxylated fatty acids, we also evaluated a procedure for the parting of these two species, by using NMR spectroscopy, benefitting of the different solubilities of the components in organic solvents. At last, we evaluated and quantified the fatty acids and the α-hydroxy fatty acids present in each attained portion, employing both analytical and synthetic standards. The performed analyses, both qualitative and quantitative, showed a good performance in the parting of the different acid components, and GC-MS allowed to speculate that the majority of α-hydroxylated fatty acids is formed of linear saturated carbon chains, while the totality of properly said fatty acids has a much more complex profile.

A Preliminary Cytotoxicity Study of Fagonia arabica against Breast (MCF-7), Oral (KB-3-1), and Lung Cancer (A-549) Cell Lines: A Study Supported by Molecular Marker Analysis Using Dual Staining Dyes

Aim: The objective of this research is to present a phytochemical profile of Fagonia arabica and to investigate the cytotoxic potential of its extracts against breast, oral, and lung cancer cell lines using MTT assay and dual staining-based mechanistic analysis. Methods: The progressive extraction of F. arabica was carried out using the Soxhlet extraction technique. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was calculated as part of the phytochemical profiling performed using GCMS and LCMS methods. The MTT assay was utilized to assess the cytotoxicity against normal L929 cells, as well as malignant A549, MCF-7, and KB-3-1cell lines. Results: The phenolic compounds and flavonoids were the two main elements of the F. arabica methanolic extract, with 1323 µg GAE/g of dry weight and 523.07 µg QE/g of dry weight, respectively. The presence of the functional phytochemicals was verified by GCMS and LCMS analyses. Toxicity testing on the L929 cell line found that the F. arabica methanol extract was the least harmful, with the highest IC50 (296.11 µg/mL). The MTT assay for cell viability against MCF-7 and KB-3-1 yielded significant results, with IC50 values of 135.02 µg/mL and 195.21 µg/mL, respectively. The aqueous extract exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the A549 cell lines (IC50 116.06 µg/mL). The molecular marker analyses using dual staining revealed that the methanolic extract successfully triggered apoptosis in the different cancer cells tested. Conclusion: The present data suggest that the methanol extract of F. arabica has substantial cytotoxic action against lung, breast, and oral cancer cell lines. Thus, F. Arabica would be a promising source of anticancer medicines, warranting more research to identify the lead molecules with anticancer properties.

A study of Real-Time Non-invasive Detection Techniques to Identify COVID-19 contagious person

The whole world has witnessed the global pandemic situation caused and hampered very badly due to COVID-19. We had seen the adverse effect globally, in terms of health, economy, social lifestyle. So, it’s an urgent need to find a rapid detection technique/test to avoid the spread of the virus. The most effective and world-wide accepted detection method of COVID-19 is the RT-PCR. But due to its slow detection time and False-negative rates, researchers and scientists are trying different detection methods such as use of GC-MS, E-nose, Electrochemical method, use of nanomaterial-based sensor arrays. But all these have limitations in terms of real time sensing, detection time, sample preparation, etc. In order to overcome said drawbacks and to get real-time analysis, we are proposing a concept for COVID-19 detection based on the reported literature. As per recent advancement researchers have evident the presence of VOCs in COVID-19 infected person’s breath by GC-MS method. A real time system is very much necessary to detect the VOCs in the Exhaled breath of the COVID-19 infected person to minimize the burden of healthcare system. In this article we will discuss and propose the probable detection techniques for real time sensing of the VOCs presence in the Exhaled breath of the COVID-19 infected person.

Phytochemical Analysis and Anticancer Properties of Drimia maritima Bulb Extracts on Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Cancer is a worldwide health problem and is the second leading cause of death after heart disease. Due to the high cost and severe side effects associated with chemotherapy treatments, natural products with anticancer therapeutic potential may play a promising role in anticancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic characteristics of the aqueous Drimia maritima bulb extract on Caco-2 and COLO-205 colorectal cancer cells. In order to reach such a purpose, the chemical composition was examined using the GC-MS method, and the selective antiproliferative effect was determined in colon cancer cell lines in normal gingival fibroblasts. The intracellular ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, and gene expression changes in selected genes (CASP8, TNF-α, and IL-6 genes) were assessed to determine the molecular mechanism of the antitumor effect of the extract. GC-MS results revealed the presence of fifty-seven compounds, and Proscillaridin A was the predominant secondary metabolite in the extract. The IC50 of D. maritima bulb extract on Caco-2, COLO-205, and the normal human gingival fibroblasts were obtained at 0.9 µg/mL, 2.3 µg/mL, and 13.1 µg/mL, respectively. The apoptotic effect assay indicated that the bulb extract induced apoptosis in both colon cancer cell lines. D. maritima bulb extract was only able to induce statistically significant ROS levels in COLO-205 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) revealed a significant decrease in the MMP of Caco-2 and COLO-205 to various concentrations of the bulb extract. At the molecular level, RT-qPCR was used to assess gene expression of CASP8, TNF-α, and IL-6 genes in Caco-2 and COLO-205 cancer cells. The results showed that the expression of pro-inflammatory genes TNF-α and IL-6 were upregulated. The apoptotic initiator gene CASP8 was also upregulated in the Caco-2 cell line and did not reach significance in COLO-205 cells. These results lead to the conclusion that D. maritima extract induced cell death in both cell lines and may have the potential to be used in CRC therapy in the future.

Development and validation of a GC-MS method for quantification of terpenes in cannabis oil (Cannabis sativa L.). Application to commercially available preparations in Argentina

Terpenes are aromatic compounds present in cannabis oil and are responsible for the characteristic aroma of cannabis. Terpenes and cannabinoids share biosynthetic pathways, and synergic and/or entourage actions of terpenes and cannabinoids have been reported. For this reason, the determination and quantification of terpenes are fundamental for the evaluation of cannabis oil preparations for medicinal purposes. We have developed, optimized, and validated a procedure for the detection and quantification of α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, linalool, and β-caryophyllene in cannabis oil using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. For optimization, two parameters were evaluated, namely extraction solvent, and extraction time. Linearity was obtained for all target analytes in the concentration range of 2.4–4800.0 ng/mL, presenting determination coefficients above 0.99. The lower limits of quantification were 2.4 ng/mL for all compounds. The intra- and intermediate precision, calculated in terms of coefficient of variation, were 1.7–10.1 and 3.5–9.6%, respectively. The method recoveries ranged from 99.7% to 107.8%. Verification of method validity was performed with authentic cannabis oil samples. To our knowledge, the herein described analytical method is the first available in Argentina, validated according to international guidelines, for quantification of α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, linalool, and β-caryophyllene in cannabis oil. In addition, the validated methodology is simple, sensitive, and suitable for the application in laboratories for the routine analysis of terpenes in cannabis oil samples.

Effects of electroacupuncture on urinary metabolome and microbiota in presenilin1/2 conditional double knockout mice.

The treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still a worldwide problem due to the unclear pathogenesis and lack of effective therapeutic targets. In recent years, metabolomic and gut microbiome changes in patients with AD have received increasing attention, and the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB) axis has been proposed as a new hypothesis for its etiology. Considering that electroacupuncture (EA) efficiently moderates cognitive deficits in AD and its mechanisms remain poorly understood, especially regarding its effects on the gut microbiota, we performed urinary metabolomic and microbial community profiling on EA-treated AD model mice, presenilin 1/2 conditional double knockout (PS cDKO) mice, to observe the effect of EA treatment on the gut microbiota in AD and find the connection between affected gut microbiota and metabolites. After 30 days of EA treatment, the recognition memory ability of PS cDKO mice was evaluated by the Y maze and the novel object recognition task. Urinary metabolomic profiling was conducted with the untargeted GC-MS method, and 16S rRNA sequence analysis was applied to analyze the microbial community. In addition, the association between differential urinary metabolites and gut microbiota was clarified by Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis. In addition to reversed cognitive deficits, the urinary metabolome and gut microbiota of PS cDKO mice were altered as a result of EA treatment. Notably, the increased level of isovalerylglycine and the decreased levels of glycine and threonic acid in the urine of PS cDKO mice were reversed by EA treatment, which is involved in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, as well as glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. In addition to significantly enhancing the diversity and richness of the microbial community, EA treatment significantly increased the abundance of the genus Mucispirillum, while displaying no remarkable effect on the other major altered gut microbiota in PS cDKO mice, norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 group. There was a significant correlation between differential urinary metabolites and differential gut microbiota. Electroacupuncture alleviates cognitive deficits in AD by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites. Mucispirillum might play an important role in the underlying mechanism of EA treatment. Our study provides a reference for future treatment of AD from the MGB axis.

Optimizing the Distillation of Greek Oregano-Do Process Parameters Affect Bioactive Aroma Constituents and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity?

The aim of the present work was to optimize the conditions of the distillation process at a pilot scale to maximize the yield of specific bioactive compounds of the essential oil of oregano cultivated in Greece, and subsequently to study the in vitro antioxidant activity of these oils. Steam distillation was conducted at an industrial distillery and a Face-Centered Composite (FCC) experimental design was applied by utilizing three distillation factors: time, steam pressure and temperature. Essential oil composition was determined by static headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS). To obtain a comprehensive profile of the essential oils, instrumental parameters were optimized, including sample preparation, incubation conditions, sampling process, injection parameters, column thermal gradient and MS conditions. With the applied GC-MS method, more than 20 volatile compounds were identified in the headspace of the oregano essential oils and their relative percentages were recorded. Carvacrol was the most prominent constituent under all distillation conditions applied. Data processing revealed time as the main factor which most affected the yield. The Desired Space (DSc) was determined by conducting a three-dimensional response surface analysis of the independent and dependent variables, choosing yields of thymol and carvacrol as optimization criteria. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oils of all samples was measured in terms of the interaction with the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) after 20 and 60 min. The most prominent essential oils at different distillation conditions were also tested as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. Higher % values of carvacrol and thymol were correlated to higher antioxidant activity. Evaluating the impact of the distillation conditions on the in vitro results, it seems that lower pressure, less time and higher temperature are crucial for enhanced antioxidant activities.

A rapid GC–MS method for the simultaneous determination of serotonin and resveratrol using characteristic ions: investigating the distributions of target compounds in different organs of sea buckthorn

A rapid GC–MS method for the simultaneous determination of serotonin and resveratrol using characteristic ions: investigating the distributions of target compounds in different organs of sea buckthorn

Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Imaging Using Multivariate Curve Resolution and Deep Learning: A Case Study

In the present contribution, a novel approach based on multivariate curve resolution and deep learning (DL) is proposed for quantitative mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) as a potent technique for identifying different compounds and creating their distribution maps in biological tissues without need for sample preparation. As a case study, chlordecone as a carcinogenic pesticide was quantitatively determined in mouse liver using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-MSI (MALDI-MSI). For this purpose, data from seven standard spots containing 0 to 20 picomoles of chlordecone and four unknown tissues from the mouse livers infected with chlordecone for 1, 5, and 10 days were analyzed using a convolutional neural network (CNN). To solve the lack of sufficient data for CNN model training, each pixel was considered as a sample, the designed CNN models were trained by pixels in training sets, and their corresponding amounts of chlordecone were obtained by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS). The trained models were then externally evaluated using calibration pixels in test sets for 1, 5, and 10 days of exposure, respectively. Prediction R2 for all three data sets ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, which was superior to support vector machine (SVM) and partial least-squares (PLS). The trained CNN models were finally used to predict the amount of chlordecone in mouse liver tissues, and their results were compared with MALDI-MSI and GC-MS methods, which were comparable. Inspection of the results confirmed the validity of the proposed method.

Development of non‐destructive models to predict oil content and fatty acid composition of Gomenzer (Ethiopian mustard) using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy

AbstractBackground‟Gomenzer” or Ethiopian mustard is the potential oilseed crop that is economically important. Ethiopian mustard and rapeseed quality breeding has focused on altering the fatty acid contents of seed oil to create novel genotypes with different oil characteristics. The goal of this research was to establish calibration equations' using a method called near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy with modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression.ResultThe spectra of 180 mustard samples were collected and their oil and fatty acid compositions were determined by n‐hexane extraction and GC–MS methods respectively. With 130 samples, calibration equations were developed for oil and fatty acid compositions. All developed equation had an acceptable value of R 2c, RPDc, and also had suitable 1‐VR values. Prediction of an external validation with 50 datasets revealed a blameless correlation between reference values and NIRS values based on the R 2v in prediction, SEP, and the ratio of SD to SEP (RPDv) for oil, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and erucic acids. These had suitable values of RPDv and R 2v, with the range of 2.0 to 8.8 and 0.79 to 0.99 respectively.ConclusionThe developed models gave meaningful quantitative data, however, the equations generated for palmitic, stearic, and eicosenoic acids were insufficient for data analysis. Hence, the developed NIRS model, which was satisfactory, could be used to assess and evaluate the oil and fatty acid content for the unknown mustard samples on a regular basis in the oilseed breeding quality program.

Comparison of the Nutritional Composition of Three Underutilized Fish Species in Sri Lanka

Abstract Fish consumption is generally considered as healthy due to their nutritional benefits that they ensure food security in many low and middle-income countries. Especially the Omega-3 fatty acids and essential amino acids present in the fish had beneficial effects on the Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and reduce the Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in these countries. Being an island and expanding aquatic resources, Sri Lanka has plenty of fish resources, but, the consumption of small fish among the population has decreased in the country over the past 20 years. So, it is essential to be aware of the nutritional content of particular fish species that are assumed to be undervalued. This study, it was aimed to compare the nutritional composition of three local fish species namely, Amblygaster sirm, Sardinella brachysoma and Oreochromis niloticus. Proximate composition, pH and calorific values of the fish meat were determined by standard methods and other relevant protocols. The fatty acid profiles of oils of the fish were examined using the GC-MS method. Results showed that there were significant (p<0.05) differences among the three fish species with respect to the proximate parameters and fatty acid composition. When compared to the other two species, S. brachysoma exhibited the highest quantity of crude protein and fat, with 19.23% and 4.85% respectively. Among three fish species, the total mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents ranged from 31 to 38%; particularly, quantities of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were found to vary from 2.69 to 3.7% and 7.5% to 9.2%, respectively. Considering the Omega-6:Omega3 ratio, A.sirm (0.3), S. Brachysoma (0.69) and O. niloticus (6.5) were reported balanced values. In conclusion, these three fish species can be potential raw materials to produce high-value fish products.

Evaluation of a oxygenate based plant protection treatment in viticulture against fungal diseases

Over the last decades the use of pesticides in vine protection, e.g. copper is under severe discussion and is becoming a major concern in viticulture. Since the effectiveness of oxygenates against various microorganisms had been proven in the medical field a strategy for oxygenate-based plant protection was developed and evaluated over three vintages. The production of the oxygenate is following the Criegee-mechanism using O3 and unsaturated natural plant derived fatty acids forming so called ozonides. Therefore the effect of the treatment has been evaluated in a holistic approach, covering the efficiency against fungal diseases, protection of desired beneficial insects, the micro flora, various secondary metabolites of the grapevine and the resulting sensory profile of the wines. The biological effectiveness has been measured by using different in-vivo and in-vitro studies. The influence on desired berry compounds, e.g. anthocyanins, have been determined by classical GC-MS and HPLC methods. Positive effects against downy and powdery mildew could be demonstrated. No negative effects against insects, naturally occurring microorganisms, and desired berry compounds were observed. Even spontaneous fermentation was not inhibited. Quantitative descriptive sensory analysis as well as CATA/RATA showed no negative effect of the treatment.

A rapid and green GC-MS method for the sampling of volatile organic compounds in spices and flowers by concurrent headspace single-drop microextraction and solid-phase microextraction.

The equilibrium rather than the exhaustive nature of headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) allowed the concurrent sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the same sample in the same vial in a dual extraction configuration. This has avoided the necessity of conducting a separate set of experiments and was found to produce results in the time duration of a single sample preparation experiment. The results obtained by HS-SDME were validated against those found by the standard method of HS-SPME. Rectilinear calibration was made for certain VOCs tested as analytes over the range of 0.01-8 μg g-1, and the average values of R2, LOD and LOQ were found to be, respectively, 0.9992, 1.9 ng g-1 and 5.7 ng g-1 in HS-SDME, and 0.9991, 3.1 ng g-1 and 9.1 ng g-1 in HS-SPME. The spiked recoveries and RSD were, respectively, 100.5% and 3.3% in HS-SDME and 98.1% and 3.6% in HS-SPME. HS-SDME is convenient to perform and produce results in a much cheaper way than HS-SPME and free from the inconveniences of memory effects. With GC-MS, this method has also been implemented as a rapid, reliable and green procedure (by GAPI and AGREE tools) for the sampling of VOCs in real samples of spices, flowers, and a beetle nut chewing sample illicitly containing tobacco.

THE PHENOLIC PROFILE OF RAPESEED HONEY ENRICHED WITH MELILOTUS ALBUS FLOWERS AND ITS INHIBITORY EFFECT ON RAT PLATELET AGGREGATION

Background. The Melilotus plants are highly valued in herbal medicine, recommended for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic vein inflammation and varicose veins. Their health-promoting properties primarily result from the presence of coumarin and its derivatives. The aim of the study was to determine whether honey enriched with dried Melilotus albus flowers has the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation. The inhibitory activity of rapeseed honey (control sample), rapeseed honey enriched with 1 % w/w of M. albus dried flowers and pure coumarin were evaluated against ADP (5 µМ) and collagen (2 µg/ml) in duced aggregation of rat platelets. Platelet aggregation was measured by the turbidimetric method. Moreo ver, the quantitative polyphenolic profile determined using HPLC-PDA and volatile compounds profiles obtained by GC-MS methods for rapeseed and M. albus enriched honey were compared to identify the chemical factors that limit platelet aggregation. Results and conclusions. A beneficial, dose-dependent effect of enriched honey on the inhibition of the aggregation process was demonstrated, and for the highest concentration used (20 %), the inhibition of aggregation induced by ADP and collagen amounted to 75 % and 90%, respectively. A weaker inhibitory effect was found for pure rapeseed honey at 20 % concentration – 40 % and 55 % of inhibition, respective ly and pure coumarin (0.5 mg/ml) – 44 % and 20 %, respectively. The results obtained demonstrated that rapeseed honey enriched with M. albus flowers possesses antiplatelet activity resulting from the synergistic effect of coumarin and other bioactive compounds occurred in dried M. albus flowers, including phe nolic and volatile components.. However, the mechanism of this action needs further study.

Development and validation of a GC-MS method for determination of amphetamine-type stimulants and ketamine in human hair

Development and validation of a GC-MS method for determination of amphetamine-type stimulants and ketamine in human hair

A comprehensive characterization and therapeutic properties in ripened Noni fruits (Morinda citrifolia L.)

In this study, methanolic extracts from fresh ripening noni fruits (NFs) (Morinda citrifolia) were analyzed using GC-MS, FTIR, and XRD methods. Comprehensive assessments were studied by proximate analysis (PA), higher heat value (HHV), bulk density (BD) and swelling index (SI). The qualitative analysis of the ripening NFs extracts in various solvents, including distilled water, chloroform, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl formamide, and methanol, revealed positive results for starch, terpenoids, saponin, and cardiac glycosides. The percentages of volatile matter, ash content and fixed carbon in PA are 78.799±0.592, 7.18±0.044 and 14.02±0.553, respectively. To use biomass as energy, PA is essential that burns in a gaseous state (volatile matter), solid-state (fixed carbon), and inorganic waste material (ash). It is important to consider the HHV of 17.185±0.103 MJ/kg when estimating the potential for energy recovery from the fruit's biomass. Compositional analysis (CA) was used to determine the percentages of the extractive contents (4.497±0.346), cellulose (33.114±0.261), lignin (9.569±0.399), and hemicellulose (17.89±0.608), all of which have substantial antibacterial properties. Our research looked at its BD (0.312±0.001g/cm3) and SI (1.535±0.022%), resulting in increased susceptibility of the biomass to microbial activity. FTIR and XRD reveal C-O, O-H, N-H, O=C=O, C-H, and O-H linkages with solid lattice spacing. It helps to determine how a substance will interact with biological tissue following implantation. However, no research documents were found in any literature about the oil from noni fruits for the purpose of external pain relief. Advice on using NFs oil for pain treatment comes from our field study of a woman who is 80 years old. In ripening NFs extract, GC-MS analysis identified 100 phytochemicals, including D-limonene, 3-carene, gamma-terpinene, methyl eugenol, caryophyllene, hentriacontane etc. GCMS and virtual screening-cum-molecular docking studies have been done and reported first time to check the documentation and look for caryophyllene that could be used for pain-relieving properties. These compounds have been shown to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, inflammation in the brain and oxidative stress-related effects. Our research confirms the bioactive potential of ripening NFs as an alternative medication source.

Mosquito larvicidal activity of Hyptis capitata leaves ethanolic extract and fraction against Culex quinquefasciatus

Larvicidal potential of Hyptis capitata grown in Indonesia has not been extensively studied. Its leaves are extracted with the maceration method using ethanol as the solvent. Furthermore, this study aims to use the ethanolic leaf extract of the H. capitata for larvicidal assays against instar III/IV larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus with different concentrations, including 1000, 500, 250, 125, and 62.5 µg/mL. Fractionation of the extract was carried out by vacuum liquid chromatography, and obtained four fractions, namely fractions F1, F2, F3, F4. Fractions were also used for the larvicidal assay. The constituents of the extract were then analyzed with the GC-MS method to predict the components involved in its toxicity. Larvicidal data obtained were analyzed using regression analysis to determine the LC50 value. Analysis of variance was carried out with one-way ANOVA using Tuckey HSD-test on the SPSS ver. 26 at 95% confidence and significance P<0.05. H. capitata ethanolic leaf extract has a higher level of toxicity than its fraction, with LC50 value 990.90 µg/mL. H. capitata ethanolic leaf extract are capable of providing a toxic effect on larvae, with a mortality percentage of up to 50% more. Some compounds that were assumed to play a role in its toxicity include pentadecanoic acid, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-, methyl ester; 1-heptadecyne; 9-tetradecen-1-ol, acetate; oxyrane, deodecyl-; 9,12,15-octadecatrienal; and 6,11-dimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol. These finding indicate that the ethanolic leaf extract of H. capitata has the potential to be developed as a biolarvicidal agent against C. quinquefasciatus.

Chemical composition and anti-acetylcholinesterase, nitric oxide suppressing activities of Piper betle leaves oil

Essential oil of Piper betle leaves in Quang Nam-Da Nang do obtain via the steam distillation method with oil collection efficiency reaching 0.83%. The chemical composition of the essential oil from Piper betle leaves in Quang Nam-Da Nang is determined via the GC-MS method that includes 21 components (99.68%), among which the main components are eugenol acetate (32.33%), eugenol (24.56%), 4-allyl-1,2-diacetoxybenzene (19.8%), germacrene D (5.98%), caryophyllene (3.32%), and γ-muurolene (2.45%). The essential oil of Piper betle leaves in Quang Nam-Da Nang also showed moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with IC50 (µg/mL) = 65.94±5.96 and moderate nitric oxide suppressing activity with IC50 (µg/mL) = 46.69±3.57.

AZƏRBAYCAN FLORASINDAN DATURA STRAMONİUM L. NÖVÜNÜN KİMYƏVİ TƏRKİBİNİN TƏDQİQİ

By using GC-MS and HPLC-MS methods, alkaloids have been investigated in the Datura stramonium (thorn apple) from the flora of Azerbaijan. Totally 40 nortropane, tropane and pyrrolidine derivatives have been identified in the plant samples. Atropines have been quantified in the aerial parts of plant by using HPLC-DAD method in comparison with analytical standard of substance. Atropine was 4.353 mg/g in the dried plant sample. Spermidine and tyramine derived natural polyamines have been detected in the aerial parts of plant by performing HPLC-MS method. Sterols have been tested in the seed oil of plant in comparison with analytical standards of cholesterol, kaempesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol by using GC-FID method. ICP-MS have been performed for qualitative and quantitative determination of 6 macroelements and 13 microelements in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of plant. Along with heavy metals, several elements, which have macro- and micronutrient importance, have been determined in the samples.