Sunflower Oil Research Articles

Application of Infrared Thermography in Identifying Plant Oils

In this article, we present a unique system for identifying edible oils through the analysis of their thermophysical properties. The method is based on the use of active infrared thermography. The heating of the oils results from the optical absorption of laser radiation at a specified wavelength. This approach enables greater selectivity in differentiating between various types of edible oils, as the results depend not only on the thermal properties of the specific oils but also on their optical properties, which are uniquely characteristic of each oil. Additionally, the developed system provides a detailed visualization of spatial temperature gradients within the sample’s volume, as well as their changes over time. It overcomes the limitations of other methods that determine only the thermal conductivity coefficients of oils through resistive heating of the sample. In this article, four types of vegetable oils (extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, and rapeseed oil) have been studied. Fatty acid analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and UV-VIS spectroscopy have been used to determine the authenticity, moisture content, and optical properties of the studied samples. The developed system allows for the visualization and determination of the emerging temperature gradients in the sample volume.

COMBINED THERAPY OF OZONIZED OIL AND PHOTOBIOMODULATION IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC WOUNDS

Hard-to-heal wounds pose significant therapeutic challenges due to pathogenic microorganisms and associated infections, leading to delays in tissue healing. The present study aimed to carry out a clinical trial to identify the microbial agent present in hard-to-heal wounds on the lower limbs, assess the antimicrobial effects of ozonated oil and examine the benefits of photobiomodulation combined with ozonated oil in the treatment of those wounds. Then we examined the antimicrobial kinetics of ozonated oil on microorganisms found in wounds by an in vitro study. For this study, some commercial ozonated sunflower oil was used as well as the LED photobiomodulation therapy, 660 nm, 30 seconds, punctual 2 cm away on the wound bed, 120 mW, 3.6 J per point. The procedure was performed three times a week. The clinical results evidenced a significant healing of injuries treated with ozonated oil and photobiomodulation, evidenced by a reduction in traces of infection, presence of granulation tissue, wound area reduction and, in some cases, full wound closure. Among the eight patients monitored, only one had negative microbiology. Among the microorganisms identified are Klebsiella sp, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, all proved resistant to the antibiotics tested. In vitro results confirmed the antimicrobial efficacy of ozonated oil, demonstrating its potential as a viable therapeutic agent for chronic wounds in all microorganisms tested when subjected to concentrations deemed low, ranging from 1.6% to 12.5%, demonstrating antibacterial activity. In conclusion, ozonated oil associated with photobiomodulation therapy represents a promising resource for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds. However, new clinical trials are necessary to establish more improved treatment protocols.

Study on the Influence of Scaling‐Up in the Transesterification Process for the Synthesis of Biodegradable Monoglycerides of Fatty Acids

ABSTRACTFatty acids and monoglycerides from vegetable oils or animal fats are crucial in various industries. Monoglycerides, with their hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, act as effective non‐ionic surfactants for oil‐in‐water emulsions. Scaling‐up the synthesis of biodegradable non‐ionic surfactants from natural sources presents challenges in maintaining physicochemical properties. This study investigates the scale‐up synthesis of biodegradable non‐ionic surfactants using sunflower oil and glycerol, focusing on properties like kinematic viscosity, acid number, and active matter content. Comparative experiments were conducted using different reactor sizes and configurations, evaluating the effects of reactor size, length‐to‐diameter (L/D) ratio, and mixer type. The results indicate that larger reactors generally reduce kinematic viscosity and active matter content. The geometric characteristics of the reactor significantly impact surfactant properties with variations in the RD/RH ratio affecting the active matter content and changes in the MPD/RD ratio influencing the water number. Based on our findings, the highest active matter content was achieved with an RD/RH ratio of 0.49 and an MPD/RD ratio of 0.95. A strong correlation was found between the active matter content and water solubility. The study underscores the importance of reactor design in optimizing surfactant properties when scaling‐up.

Role of vegetable oil as UV light protector for Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in management of Bactrocera zonata

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, are used in the field against different insect pests because they are best candidates to include in integrated pest management. But the efficacy of these EPF is limited in the field conditions because different environmental conditions like; sunlight, UV light, visible light, temperature and humidity affects the conidial viability, shelf life and pathogenicity of EPF. The solution to this problem is the use of vegetable oils as liquid carriers to coat and shield the conidia. In the present study three different oils were used like, Sesame oil, sunflower oil and corn oil. The conidia of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana were exposed to three different intervals of UV light 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Conidia exposed to UV light after the addition of oil and making oil water emulsion with fungus. The germination percentage and pathogenicity of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana against adult and pupae (through immersion method) of Bactrocera zonata were recorded after exposure to UV light. Sesame oil showed highest conidia germination, adult mortality for M. anisopliae and B. bassiana after UV light exposure. In case of M. anisopliae germination rate reached up to 79.5% (48–51 h) and mortality 84.4% (7th day), lower rates in aqueous suspensions (germination: 43.3%; mortality: 35.6%). In case of B. bassiana germination rate reached up to 69.17% (48–51 h) and mortality 64.4% (7th day), lower rates in aqueous suspensions (germination: 33.3%; mortality: 35.6%). Adult emergence was highest in the aqueous suspensions and lowest in the sesame oil based formulation. Overall, M. anisopliae performed better than B. bassiana with sesame oil recommended to protect conidia from UV radiation.

Interesterification of fat blends containing high oleic oils: Physical properties and dialkyl‐ketones formation assessment

AbstractIn view of the nutritional disadvantages of partial hydrogenation (production of unhealthy trans fats) interesterification (IE) has emerged to produce suitable fats for trans‐free formulations that have improved physicochemical properties. In this context, both chemical (CIE) and enzymatic (EIE) interesterification techniques can be used. However, it has been found that CIE technology may produce process‐related by‐products known as dialkyl‐ketones (DAK). The current study aims at investigating the formation of DAK during IE. Therefore, five edible oils and fats were selected based on their potential use in IE: Elaeis Guineensis palm stearin (POSt), high oleic palm stearin (HOPSt), palm kernel stearin (PKSt), high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) and high oleic palm oil (HOPO). The investigated blends were divided into HOPO‐based blends (POSt:HOPO 50:50, PKSt:HOPO 50:50, HOPSt:HOPO 50:50 and 30:70 wt:wt%) and HOSO‐based blends (POSt:HOSO 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 wt:wt%). They were all subjected to both CIE (using sodium methoxide) and EIE (using TLIM lipase as catalyst); analyses of physical properties and determination of DAK content were performed before and after IE. This study demonstrates that DAK were not formed during the EIE process regardless of the investigated matrix, whereas they were produced during CIE, and that they require sufficient rearrangement of triglycerides (TAG) to be formed. It has also been shown that unsaturated fatty acids are more prone to form DAK regardless of the fat matrix. However, there is no linear relationship between the amount of DAK and the amount of unsaturated fat in the matrix.

Impact of adding warm asphalt mix additives on recycling milled coatings: performance evaluation.

The use of warm mix asphalt (WMA) and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) technologies presents challenges in optimizing binder activation and mechanical performance in asphalt mixtures. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three WMA additives (sunflower oil, WarmGrip®, and natural zeolite) and different RAP contents (30% and 70%) on the rheological and mechanical properties of recycled asphalt mixtures. The research focused on assessing the degree of RAP binder activation, determining the extent of partial activation, and analyzing the impact on tensile strength, moisture resistance, modulus, fatigue life, and deformation resistance. The methodology included chemical and rheological analysis of RAP and modified binders, as well as mechanical testing of recycled mixtures. Results indicated partial RAP binder activation, with 96.16% activation in mixtures containing 30% RAP and 80.77% in those with 70% RAP. Sunflower oil acted as a rejuvenator, reducing binder stiffness and decreasing the maximum PG temperature by 6 °C. The use of natural zeolite improved moisture resistance, resulting in TSR values 20% higher than those of conventional hot mixtures with the same RAP content (70%). Warm recycled mixtures demonstrated enhanced fatigue life and moisture resistance, particularly with WarmGrip®. Overall, the incorporation of WMA additives allowed for enhanced fatigue life and deformation resistance in recycled mixtures, enabling the use of up to 70% RAP without compromising mechanical performance. The findings support the potential of WMA and RAP additives to improve sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and durability in asphalt pavement construction.

Effect of lecithin on the antioxidant mechanism of action of fucoidan in stripped bulk sunflower oil and respective oil in water emulsion.

The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant mechanism of action of fucoidan in sunflower oil and its oil-in-water emulsion. In addition, the effect of lecithin on the antioxidant mechanism of action of fucoidan in sunflower oil was investigated. In sunflower oil, fucoidan at 0.02 % (w/w) concentration showed the highest induction period (591.02 h), while in sunflower oil-in-water emulsion, fucoidan at 0.04 % (w/w) concentration showed the highest induction period (141.57 h). In addition, the induction period of sunflower oil samples containing fucoidan with lecithin was higher than those without lecithin. Evaluating the mechanism of action of fucoidan in sunflower oil and its oil-in-water emulsion indicated that fucoidan took part in the initiation chain's side reactions and the major termination reaction. The interfacial tensions of samples containing lecithin were significantly lower than those without lecithin. In addition, the reverse micelle size of samples containing lecithin was considerably lower than those without lecithin. Therefore, lecithin enhanced fucoidan's effectiveness by decreasing interfacial activity and increasing the capacity to incorporate lipid hydroperoxides within the structure of reverse micelles. The water produced during oxidation played an essential role in the antioxidant potency of fucoidan. Taken together, lecithin significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of fucoidan by improving its interfacial activity in sunflower oil.

СУЛЬФУВАННЯ ТРИГЛЦЕРИДІВ НЕНАСИЧЕНИХ ЖИРНИХ КИСЛОТ ДЛЯ ОДЕРЖАННЯ ПОВЕРХНЕВО-АКТИВНИХ РЕЧОВИН

The paper describes the preparation of surface-active substances by sulfonation of unsaturated groups that are present in the composition of molecules of fatty unsaturated acids of triglycerides. Sunflower oil, chosen for its renewable and vegetable-based origin, served as the primary raw material. The method for producing sulfonated derivatives of fatty acid triglycerides is detailed, and the structures of the resulting products were verified using IR spectroscopy. We have demonstrated the effective surfactant properties of the compounds obtained by dispersing hydrophobic substances in an aqueous environment.

Structure and characterization of an extracellular polysaccharide from Paenibacillus polymyxa 88A.

Levan-type polysaccharides, produced by various organisms, are nontoxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers with a wide range of biological activities. They have high potential for use in medicine, cosmetology, and industry. A large amount of levan (41.1 g L-1) was recovered by ethanol precipitation from a liquid nutrient medium of Paenibacillus polymyxa 88A that contained 15 % w/v sucrose as a carbon source. The levan was fractionated by gel-permeation and anion-exchange chromatography and was analyzed by DRIFT and NMR spectroscopy. It was found that levan was represented by slightly branched chains composed of β-(2→6)-Fruf residues. The average molecular mass of the levan was about 1.9 MDa. When shear stress was applied at different temperatures, aqueous levan solutions showed pseudoplastic behavior. As found by SEM, a freeze-dried powdered levan sample had a microporous structure. The levan had excellent emulsifying activity toward sunflower oil, forming an emulsion with long-term stability. Analysis of the antioxidant activity of the levan showed a higher, dose-dependent activity toward ABTS, as compared with that toward DPPH. Finally, the bioactivity of the levan was examined by MTT assay by using human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells.

Effects of potassium and boron fertilization on sunflower yield, oil content, and quality

Effects of potassium and boron fertilization on sunflower yield, oil content, and quality

Ferulic acid mitigated rotenone toxicity -Evoked Parkinson in rat model by featuring apoptosis, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation signaling.

Over time, Parkinson disease (PD) develops as a neurological illness. The goal of this study was to see whether ferulic acid has any neuroprotective benefits on the cerebellum of rats that have Parkinson's disease brought on by rotenone poisoning. A total of twenty-four male albino rats, in good condition, weighed between 200 and 250 g and nine to ten weeks old, were employed in the investigation. The control group received 1 ml of sunflower oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) each day. Rats' motor performance was considerably worse when given rotenone than it was in the control group. Rats given Ferulic Acid (FA) showed a substantial drop in the amount of glutathione (GSH) in the cerebellum. Moreover, the injection of FA resulted in a significant reduction in the optical density (OD) of the immune-positive reaction for α-synuclein, and the area percentage of BCL-2 and NF-kB immunological positive response. FA therapy, surprisingly, enhanced the OD of TH immunopositive response and apoptotic regulators (BCL2) in the cerebellum. Furthermore, FA boosted BCL2 expression, confirming the antiapoptotic effects of FA. Based on these results, FA is probably a good candidate to treat neurodegenerative diseases brought on by long-term exposure to rotenone.

Retinoic acid inhibition of cell proliferation via activation of CDKN1B signaling in the forebrain and spinal cord during mouse embryonic development

BackgroundThe active metabolite of vitamin A (retinol) is retinoic acid (RA). RA is essential for developing several organs as a signaling molecule that is tightly regulated during embryogenesis. We explored the teratogenic effects of RA on forebrain and spinal cord development modified by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1B), as the mechanism underlying RA's teratogenic impacts requires further investigation. The study involved four groups of pregnant mice: the negative control group, the positive control group treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) diluted in sunflower oil, the RA-treated group receiving a low dosage (5 mg/kg), and the RA-treated group receiving a high dosage (10 mg/kg). The treatment groups received daily intraperitoneal RA dissolved in DMSO and diluted with sunflower oil on gestational days 10.5, 11.5, and 12.5. On day 13.5 of pregnancy, the pregnant mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation, and immunohistochemical analyses of brain and spinal cord tissues were performed.ResultsMorphologically, we observed a decrease in the number of implantation sites and the presence of hematomas in several uterus areas in the high-dose RA (10 mg/kg) group. Additionally, RA was shown to cause adverse changes in uterine weight and length. RA treatment indicated elevated levels of CDKN1B expression in spinal cord development, the diencephalon, and the telencephalon.ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that by activating CDKN1B as an RA target gene for cell cycle arrest, an excess of RA during brain development in mouse embryos can induce cell undifferentiation during development.

Oxidation protection efficiency of the combination of Minthostachys mollis K. and Origanum vulgare L. essential oils with "chain-breaking" and "termination-enhancing" antioxidant mechanisms.

The use of antioxidants is known to reduce lipid oxidation. This study aimed to assess the interaction of two antioxidant mechanisms, namely, "chain-breaking" and "termination-enhancing" by combining natural antioxidants derived from "oregano" (Origanum vulgare L.) and "peperina" (Minthostachys mollis K.) essential oils (EOs) in an accelerated oxidation process of sunflower oil at 60°C. Concentrations of 0.05% w/w (1) and 0.02% w/w (2) of the combined oregano and peperina EOs were evaluated. Chemical and volatile oxidation markers were determined in comparison with the pure compounds, an antioxidant-free control, and a BHT-treated sample (0.02% w/w). Although the combinations exhibited lower oxidation indicator values (Anisidine≈136) compared to the control (Anisidine≈213), no evidence of a synergistic effect was observed (Anisidine: Oregano 1≈52; Oregano 2≈199; Peperina 1≈155; Peperina 2≈153), indicating that the combination did not enhance their antioxidant activity beyond that of the pure EOs. Thus, evaluating these combinations in other food matrices is important. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Food oxidation is one of the main causes of food spoilage, and the search for natural antioxidants has become a necessity for society's increasing food knowledge and consumption preference. The research is focused on demonstrating that not only natural phenolic compounds with a "chain-breaking" mechanism have efficient antioxidant activity but also non-phenolic terpenes using the "termination enhancer" mechanism are efficient, but also the combination of them, which provides more alternative antioxidants for industrial applications.

Optimization of microwave-assisted biodiesel production using response surface methodology

Energy stands as the fuel of the human activities, and with finite fossil fuels, biodiesel has become a promising, eco-friendly alternative. Microwave technology is emerging as one of the most efficient biodiesel production methods. The primary goal of this work is to optimize the microwave-assisted production of biodiesel and improve its productivity using response surface methodology. A modified microwave oven with built-in stirring system and temperature measurement significantly reduces the reaction time compared to traditional thermoelectric heating. Numerous factors impact microwave-assisted biodiesel production, encompassing catalyst type and concentration, microwave power, reaction temperature, alcohol type, alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, water content, and stirring rate. Hence, acquiring a comprehensive understanding of how these variables affect the biodiesel production becomes imperative. Response surface methodology was utilized to improve the biodiesel microwave-assisted production yield of sunflower oil involving ethanol as alcohol and NaOH as catalyst. The impact of the ethanol-to-oil ratio, the catalyst amount and the reaction temperature on biodiesel production yield was investigated. Results demonstrated that the temperature had the most significant impact on biodiesel production, with an optimal temperature of 70 °C. The highest biodiesel yield, of 98.4%, was obtained at an alcohol-to-oil ratio of 6:1 and 2% by mass of sodium hydroxide.

Direct enrichment through conventional and ultrasound-assisted maceration of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) oil with saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigmas as a natural antioxidant

The flavoring of vegetable edible oils (VEO) with extracts from aromatic plants improves their acceptance, oxidative stability, and nutritional value. This study investigates the direct enrichment of sunflower oil (SO) with saffron stigmas (SS) using both conventional maceration (CM) and ultrasound-assisted maceration (UAM) at different concentrations (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%). Antioxidant properties, oxidative stability, and quality indices were evaluated. SS exhibited high levels of phenolics (52.4 ± 0.6 mg of GAE/g DM), flavonoids (100 ± 2 mg of QE/g DM), and antioxidant activity (16.77 ± 0.27 mg of TE/g DM for ABTS and 55.0 ± 0.6 mg of TE/g DM for FRAP). The enriched oils demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant and stability levels compared to non-enriched oils. No significant differences were found in oxidative stability indices or Rancimat test results between CM (5.5 ± 0.3 h with 0.6% of SS) and UAM (5.4 ± 0.2 h with 0.6% of SS). The control oil exhibited the lowest induction time at 4.5 ± 0.2 h. However, UAM resulted in lower pigments content, with chlorophyll and carotenoid levels measuring of 0.15 ± 0.03 and 0.26 ± 0.04 mg/kg respectively, for 0.6% of SS. Antioxidant activity and oxidative stability were found to be dose-dependent. UAM effectively enhanced oil stability without affecting the fatty acid composition. By reducing processing time and eliminating the need for chemicals, this innovative method demonstrates that SS can be used directly as a natural antioxidant, particularly at a concentration of 0.6%, to improve the sunflower oil stability.

Development of a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence fingerprinting method for detecting low-level adulteration in extra virgin olive oil

Adulteration identification in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a significant concern in the olive oil industry. This study aimed to detect low-level adulteration of EVOO with other edible oils by using a novel time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (TRLIF) fingerprinting method. Five EVOO brands were first analyzed to assess its potential for classification based on their differing fluorophore content. The developed method effectively reduces the effects associated with the optical path length and excitation light intensity. Subsequently, three sets of binary mixtures were tested: EVOO adulterated with refined olive oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil. Quantitative analysis was performed using parallel factor analysis, which achieved a cross-validation coefficient of determination (R2) exceeding 0.90, with a prediction error < 1.40 %. These findings demonstrate that this method has the potential to determine the purity and quality of EVOO.

In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of different solvents used in pesticide dilution

Pesticides are diluted in products called solvents for spraying fields and for cell viability studies. This study aimed to determine whether pesticide solvents can alter the toxicity of endosulfan and Vero cell viability. Thus, the cytotoxicity of some diluents commonly used in pesticide solutions was evaluated by the neutral red incorporation technique and cell growth. Vero cells were exposed to endosulfan dissolved in sunflower (Helianthus annus, Linnaeus) oil, corn (Zea mays, Linnaeus) oil, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and Tween 80, at a concentration of 1 µg L−1 for a period of 96 h. The results showed that both DMSO and Tween 80 induced a significant increase in cytotoxicity compared to sunflower oil and corn oil. Moreover, Tween 80 had a significant cytotoxic effect (P < 0.05) when compared to DMSO. The solvent can alter the toxicity of endosulfan, decreasing Vero cell viability, as was the case with DMSO and Tween 80.

Continuous fluorescence-based quantitative antioxidant assay using vegetable oil as an oxidizable substrate

Several spectrophotometric assays, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), are commonly used to assess antioxidant activity. However, these methods often lack real-world relevance as they do not inhibit autoxidation in actual food substrates. Although direct measurement of oxygen consumption or peroxide formation during inhibited autoxidation offers certain advantages, it is labor intensive and requires specialized equipment. In this study, we introduce a small-volume inhibited autoxidation approach that utilizes a standard microplate reader and a food-derived oxidizable substrate, specifically stripped sunflower oil (SSO), and styrene-conjugated BODIPY (STY-BODIPY) chromophores that oxidizes with the substrate, enabling straightforward monitoring of the reaction progress without interfering with it. The rate of initiation (Ri) was controlled by using azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) at 30 °C (Ri = 8.6 ± 0.5 × 10−10 M s−1) to accurately determine the rate constant of antioxidant reaction with peroxyl radicals (kinh). The method was standardized using the synthetic α-tocopherol analogue 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-chromanol (PMC) as a reference antioxidant and was successfully applied to evaluate its synergistic interactions with γ-terpinene, quercetin, and caffeic acid. The rate constant for the reaction of peroxyl radicals with STY-BODIPY was determined, kST = 890 ± 52 M−1 s−1. Induction time (τ) of PMC increased in a concentration-dependent manner by the synergistic interactions of PMC/γ-terpinene, PMC/quercetin, and PMC/caffeic acid. The kinh value for PMC in SSO at 30 °C remained constant at 1.5 × 106 M−1 s−1. The validity of this approach was further confirmed using isothermal calorimetry, demonstrating its potential as a reliable and accessible tool for antioxidant testing in food systems.

CORRECTION OF ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION WITH SULFAPORIN IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RABBITS

In animals with experimental hypercholesterolemia, depending on the time of survey, we observed activation of smooth muscle cells and macrophages, causing development of inflammation in the intima, as evidenced by high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelin-1, and homocysteine. The aim of the study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in HCH and the possibility of their correction with sulfaporin. Material and methods of the study Experiments were conducted on 46 Chinchilla rabbits with an average weight of 2.5–3.0 kg, kept on a standard diet. The model of experimental HCH in animals was reproduced by orally administering cholesterol (CS) dissolved in sunflower oil in a ratio of 0.2 g per 1 kg of body weight daily for 3 months. The development of hypercholesterolemia was assessed by the increase in the level of totalcholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which were determined on a biochemical analyzer. Results of the study. In this case, a progressive increase in the homocysteine level was established: an increase of 1.72 (P &lt; 0.01); 2.33 (P &lt; 0.001) and 2.89 (P &lt; 0.001) times, respectively, for the periods of cholesterol administration of 1, 2 and 3 months. Considering that hyperhomocysteinemia enhances the capture of LDL by endothelial cells, it was of interest to study the relationship between these indicators. The studies showed that with a cholesterol level in LDL of 2.38 ± 0.27 mmol / l, the homocysteine content is 3.46 ± 0.25 pg / ml. With a cholesterol level in LDL of 4.08 ± 0.10; 5.97 ± 0.09 and 6.48 ± 0.11 mmol/l, the homocysteine content increases to 5.96 ± 0.05; 8.07 ± 0.43 and 9.99 ± 0.17 pg/ml, respectively. Conclusions. Hypercholesterolemia is manifested by activation of smooth muscle cells and macrophages, causing the development of inflammation in the intima, which is confirmed by high levels of CRP, endothelin-1, homocysteine.

Thermal behavior of polymers and copolymers based on plant oils with differing saturated and monounsaturated content

AbstractPlant oil‐based acrylic monomers from hydrogenated sunflower (HFM), palm (PMM) and castor (CSM) oils were polymerized to investigate the effect of chemical composition on polymer phase transitions at temperatures relevant to physiological range. While HFM and PMM possess a highly differing content of saturated palmitic and stearic acids combined with unsaturated fatty acids, CSM contains primarily fragments based on monounsaturated ricinoleic hydroxy acid (up to 90%). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements indicate that polymers from PMM and HFM are both semicrystalline (with Tm = −6 and −13 °C, respectively), while poly(CSM) appears to be amorphous (Tg = −49 °C). Considering the similarity in polymers' molar mass (Mn = 16 000–20 000 g mol−1), the observed thermal transitions can be explained by the formation of ordered morphological domains due to the presence of saturated palmitic and stearic acid fractions in poly(PMM) and poly(HFM). For copolymers of CSM, PMM and HFM (80 wt% of monomer feed) with styrene, DSC data show two transitions corresponding to the mobility of long alkyl fatty acid side fragments and the macromolecular backbone. For copolymers of PMM and HFM, comparable values (−52.8 and −55.5 °C, respectively) were obtained, while the second transition for poly(CSM‐co‐styrene) appears at 35 °C. We attribute this higher value to the presence of hydroxyl groups in ricinoleic acid fragments of CSM serving as additional chain transfer sites and the formation of macromolecular fractions enriched with polystyrene fragments. We expect that the temperature transitions obtained can be relevant to the future use of these polymers for biomedical applications, including the synthesis of polymer brushes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.