Organosulfur Content Research Articles

Differences in Interleukin-6 Levels, Neutrophil Levels, and Length of Hospitalization in Pneumonia Patients with and without Garlic Supplementation (Allium sativum)

bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, with high mortality and morbidity rates. The examination of IL-6 and neutrophils helps in diagnosis as a marker of inflammation, a predictor of mortality and morbidity, and is useful in evaluating the outcome of treatment. Garlic and its organosulfur content possess anti-inflammatory activity that has the potential to be used as additional therapy in pneumonia patients.Methods: A clinical study with a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was conducted on pneumonia patients who were hospitalized at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta from August to October 2022 by consecutive sampling. The treatment group (n=20) received standard therapy plus 3.5 mg of garlic capsules per day for 6 days, while the control group (n=20) received standard therapy. Levels of IL-6 and neutrophil were calculated on the first and sixth days, while the length of hospitalization was calculated from when the patient was admitted until discharge.Results: There was a significant IL-6 difference in the treatment group (P=0.027) and a neutrophil difference in the treatment group (P=0.025) compared to the control group, but there was no significant difference (P=0.876) in the length of stay in the treatment group compared to the control group.Conclusion: Giving garlic as a supplemental therapy to pneumonia patients could significantly reduce IL-6 and neutrophil levels.

Effect of different cooking methods on S-Alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides profile and antiplatelet activity of onion

• Onions are predominant with organosulfur and phenolic compounds endowed with promising functional effects. • Different cooking methods effects on organosulfur composition and bioactivities of onions. • Cooking methods altered the organosulfur content and antiplatelet activity of onions. • Stir-frying cooking was found effective to retain the high amount organosulfur compounds in onion. • Onion extracts showed significant inhibition on collagen-induced antiplatelet activity. Onions are a significant source of organosulfur compounds with promising biological effects. However, the effects of different cooking methods on organosulfur composition and biological properties in onions remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the composition of organosulfur compounds and the antiplatelet effect of six different onion varieties processed using different cooking methods (boiling, stir-frying, and steaming).The organosulfur compounds were quantified by measuring the S-Alk(en)ey-L-cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs) contents utilizing and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed no significant differences in ACSOs contents among onion varieties. However, ‘Guigum' (GG) and ‘Turbo’ (TB) varieties showed the highest amount of ACSOs at 100.6 and 98.0 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), respectively. Total ACSOs contents in the other four varieties were 62.7∼72.4 mg/100g FW, showing similar contents. Stir-fried (without the addition of water) onions retained the highest content of total ACSO, followed by steamed treated onions. However, with the boiling method, sulfur compounds were eluted and lost in the cooking water, resulted in a 46.8% loss of ACSOs. Onion extracts showed significant inhibition of the collagen-induced aggregation of rat blood platelets. The highest effect of platelet aggregation was observed in stir-fried onion extracts, whereas the lowest was in boiled extracts. Results demonstrated that stir-frying is an effective cooking method to retain the highest amount of health-beneficial organosulfur compounds in onion.

Genotypic and environmental effects on the compounds associated with garlic flavor, health‐enhancing properties, and postharvest conservation

AbstractTo estimate genetic and environmental effects on traits associated with garlic (Allium sativum L.) functional value and postharvest quality, the content of total organosulfur compounds, phenolics, and solids were determined in selected garlic cultivars grown at four locations in Mendoza, Argentina. An initial experiment considered five cultivars grown in two locations and 2 yr, and a second experiment evaluated 12 cultivars across four locations. Among all the cultivars and locations, pyruvate levels, an estimator of total organosulfur content, varied more than fourfold (with a range of 24.7–111.1 μmol/g fresh weight), phenolics varied ∼fivefold (132.1–703.1 mg gallic acid equivalents/kg fresh weight), and solids varied within a range of 28.4 to 41.2%. Strong environmental influence and genotype × environment interactions were found for all traits, together accounting for 54.8 to 63.2% of the variation found for pyruvate, 63.3 to 81% for phenolics, and 35.1 to 50.8% for solids. The impact of genotype was higher for solids (31.9–50.9% of total variation) than for pyruvate (33.6–40.4%) and phenolics (16.1–34.1%). Despite the substantial environmental influence and genotype × environment interaction found, individual garlic cultivars with consistently high levels for all of these compounds were identified. We conclude that garlic pyruvate, phenolic, and solids levels are genetically and environmentally conditioned. The identified genotypes with consistently high phytochemicals content are valuable to breeders aiming at increasing garlic flavor, functional value, and postharvest quality, whereas locations yielding contrastingly high or low pyruvate levels are of interest for producing pungent and mild garlics, respectively.

Integration of methyldibenzothiophene and pyrolysis techniques to determine thermal maturity in sulfur-rich Type II-S source rocks and oils

Isomer ratios between certain polycyclic aromatic compounds in produced oils and bitumen extracts change according to the maturity of the source rock, similar to results obtained from visual vitrinite reflectance and pyrolysis. For example, empirical relationships between methyldibenzothiophene (MDBT) and methylphenanthrene compounds correlate to these parameters. However, isomer ratios and their corresponding empirical relationships are not universally applicable. Their concentrations are source-specific, influenced by maceral type, and change with the kinetics of the source rock that is generating the hydrocarbon. The organosulfur content in kerogen can strongly affect the kinetics by lowering the activation energy, resulting in the generation of hydrocarbons at lower temperatures than other source rocks. This can cause uncertainty in the calibration of basin models for predicting the timing of hydrocarbon generation, expulsion, and migration, especially for Type II-S sources. Presented are the results of a study conducted on Type II-S carbonate organofacies from the United States and the Middle East that integrates the MDBTs extracted from bitumen and measured in produced oil with other ancillary maturity indicators. The MDBT isomers show a correlation between Tmax and hydrogen index that allows for the development of maturity models to accurately predict a %Ro equivalent from immature to condensate/wet gas maturity. Results indicate the often-utilized empirical equations developed from the methylphenanthrenes are not applicable for determining maturity of marine Type II-S organofacies. Instead, the MDBT-HI and MDBT-Tmax methods provide more reliable estimates of maturity for the Type II-S, marine carbonate organofacies to aid in validating basin model predictions for hydrocarbon generation.

Extractive desulfurization of dibenzothiophene from normal octane using deep eutectic solvents as extracting agent

Among the most important causes of air pollution we may refer to hydrocarbon fuels with a large content of organosulfur compounds. These compounds must be removed to the level of standard concentration for which different techniques are commonly in use. Since, desulfurization of aromatic sulfur compounds, such as thiophenes, is not possible by common methods such as hydrodesulfurization, other methods should be considered. In recent years, scientists have focused on extractive desulfurization using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) as a new method for removing organosulfurs from hydrocarbon fuels. In this research, two new DESs are synthesized. As the model fuel, we used n-octane, and dibenzothiophene (DBT) was chosen as the organosulfur content with a 1000 ppm concentration. DESs were synthesized by mixing quaternary ammonium salts and trifluoroacetic acid in a heating method. The structures of DESs were confirmed by FTIR and H-NMR analyses. The extraction process was first carried out at temperatures ranging from 25 to 40 °C. The results showed that the best temperature was 35 °C. Then, the effect of fuel to DES mass ratio (i.e. different compositions of feed), on extraction efficiency was examined. For thermodynamic modeling of liquid–liquid equilibrium the Non Random Two Liquid (NRTL) activity coefficient model was implemented. The parameters of the NRTL model were correlated using the binary data obtained from solubility experiments. Finally, the adjusted parameters were used for predicting ternary phase equilibrium data obtained in this work. The root mean square deviation from experimental data was less than 0.11% for each solvent.

Contribution of polyol pathway, p16, and tristetraprolin to chemically induced liver injury

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity related to cancer in Egypt. Garlic with its organosulfur content has the ability to lower the risk of certain cancers. Aims The aim was to see the importance of polyol pathway, redox status, p16, and RNA-binding protein tristetraprolin (TTP) in chemically induced liver injury and subsequent cancer in addition to the role played by garlic extract in chemoprevention. Materials and methods In total, 50 male rats were allocated in four groups at random. Group II received garlic extract (0.4 g/100 g body weight) by oral gavage, HCC was induced chemically in groups III and IV by single intraperitoneal dose of diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg body weight) and maintained on a weekly subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (3 ml/kg body weight) for 10 weeks. Group IV received garlic extract in parallel with the induction. Hepatic p16 and TTP levels were immunoassayed. Moreover, hepatic function tests, aldose reductase activity, and redox status (malondialdehyde and catalase) were evaluated, in addition to the histological evaluation. Results Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, hepatic malondialdehyde level, and aldose reductase activity were increased in the HCC group upon induction. Meanwhile, serum albumin, hepatic p16 and TTP level, and catalase activity were decreased. Garlic administration in parallel with the induction reverses the obtained biochemical changes and protected against chemical induction of HCC. Histological findings confirmed the laboratory results. Conclusion Garlic could protect against diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride −induced HCC and so it may be effective in protecting the liver against chemically induced hepatocyte damage and cancer.

The Effect of NPK and Microbial Consortium on Organosulfur Content: Natural Anti-Diabetes and Efforts to Reduce the Psychological Pressure Level of Diabetics

The Effect of NPK and Microbial Consortium on Organosulfur Content: Natural Anti-Diabetes and Efforts to Reduce the Psychological Pressure Level of Diabetics

Theoretical Study of Oil Desulfuration by Ammonium-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

A theoretical study using quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics methods is reported on the properties of deep eutectic solvent prepared by tetrabutylammonium bromide and formic acid regarding oil desulfurization. The objective of the work is to obtain molecular level insights into the mechanisms of extractive desulfuration by deep eutectic solvents for designing suitable processes for deep desulfuration purposes. The intermolecular interactions of solvent molecules and relevant organosulfur compounds (thiophene, benzothiophene, and dibenzothiophene) are analyzed together with the liquid structure of solvent + sulfur compounds as a function of organosulfur content. Interfacial properties between the solvent and model oil (n-octane) with different contents of organosulfur compounds are also studied to analyze the molecular level mechanism of liquid–liquid equilibria. Likewise, free energies of solvation in the solvent and in n-octane are calculated to justify the partition of organosulfur compounds betwe...

Retention of Bioactive Compounds During Domestic Processing of Croatian Domestic Garlic (Allium sativum L.).

SUMMARYThe content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were determined in Croatian domestic garlic after domestic processing (crushing, water blanching and frying) through different thermal treatments. The predominant phenolics in fresh garlic expressed per fresh mass were p-coumaric (10.79 mg/100 g) and caffeic (9.50 mg/100 g) acids, while the most abundant organosulfur compounds were methylsulfinylsulfanylmethane (9881.84 mg/100 g), 3-methylsulfinylsulfanylprop-1-ene and 3-methylsulfanylsulfinylprop-1-ene (257.59 mg/100 g) and allicin (185.62 mg/100 g). The highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined in fresh garlic followed by crushed, blanched and fried garlic, while organosulfur content increased after shorter thermal treatment. As time of treatment increased, frying showed the most pronounced losses of garlic total phenolic acids (in the range from 19.47 to 37.93%) and blanching of organosulfur content (about 25%). The blanching and frying significantly reduced allicin content, while S-methyl methanesulfinothioate was more stable.

Relationships Between Bioactive Compound Content and the Antiplatelet and Antioxidant Activities of Six Allium Vegetable Species.

Allium sp. vegetables are widely consumed for their characteristic flavour. Additionally, their consumption may provide protection against cardiovascular disease due to their antiplatelet and antioxidant activities. Although antiplatelet and antioxidant activities in Allium sp. are generally recognised, comparative studies of antiplatelet and antioxidant potency among the main Allium vegetable species are lacking. Also, the relationship between organosulfur and phenolic compounds and these biological activities has not been well established. In this study, the in vitro antiplatelet and antioxidant activities of the most widely consumed Allium species are characterised and compared. The species total organosulfur and phenolic content, and the HPLC profiles of 11 phenolic compounds were characterised and used to investigate the relationship between these compounds and antiplatelet and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, antiplatelet activities in chives and shallot have been characterised for the first time. Our results revealed that the strongest antiplatelet agents were garlic and shallot, whereas chives had the highest antioxidant activity. Leek and bunching onion had the weakest both biological activities. Significantly positive correlations were found between the in vitro antiplatelet activity and total organosulfur (R=0.74) and phenolic (TP) content (R=0.73), as well as between the antioxidant activity and TP (R=0.91) and total organosulfur content (R=0.67). Six individual phenolic compounds were associated with the antioxidant activity, with catechin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin gallate having the strongest correlation values (R>0.80). Overall, our results suggest that both organosulfur and phenolic compounds contribute similarly to Allium antiplatelet activity, whereas phenolics, as a whole, are largely responsible for antioxidant activity, with broad variation observed among the contributions of individual phenolic compounds.

Biochar amendment reduced methylmercury accumulation in rice plants

There is growing concern about methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in rice grains and thus enhanced dietary exposure to MeHg in Asian countries. Here, we explored the possibility of reducing grain MeHg levels by biochar amendment, and the underlying mechanisms. Pot (i.e., rice cultivation in biochar amended soils) and batch experiments (i.e., incubation of amended soils under laboratory conditions) were carried out, to investigate MeHg dynamics (i.e., MeHg production, partitioning and phytoavailability in paddy soils, and MeHg uptake by rice) under biochar amendment (1–4% of soil mass). We demonstrate for the first time that biochar amendment could evidently reduce grain MeHg levels (49–92%). The declines could be attributed to the combined effects of: (1) increased soil MeHg concentrations, probably explained by the release of sulfate from biochar and thus enhanced microbial production of MeHg (e.g., by sulfate-reducing bacteria), (2) MeHg immobilization in soils, facilitated by the large surface areas and high organosulfur content of biochar, and (3) biodilution of MeHg in rice grains, due to the increased grain biomass under biochar amendment (35–79%). These observations together with mechanistic explanations improve understanding of MeHg dynamics in soil-rice systems, and support the possibility of reducing MeHg phytoaccumulation under biochar amendment.

Speciation of sulfur in biochar produced from pyrolysis and gasification of oak and corn stover.

The effects of feedstock type and biomass conversion conditions on the speciation of sulfur in biochars are not well-known. In this study, the sulfur content and speciation in biochars generated from pyrolysis and gasification of oak and corn stover were determined. We found the primary determinant of the total sulfur content of biomass to be the feedstock from which the biochar is generated, with oak and corn stover biochars containing 160 and 600–800 ppm sulfur, respectively. In contrast, for sulfur speciation, we found the primary determinant to be the temperature combined with the thermochemical conversion method. The speciation of sulfur in biochars was determined using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), ASTM method D2492, and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Biochars produced under pyrolysis conditions at 500–600 °C contain sulfate, organosulfur, and sulfide. In some cases, the sulfate contents are up to 77–100%. Biochars produced in gasification conditions at 850 °C contain 73–100% organosulfur. The increase of the organosulfur content as the temperature of biochar production increases suggests a similar sulfur transformation mechanism as that in coal, where inorganic sulfur reacts with hydrocarbon and/or H2 to form organosulfur when the coal is heated. EDS mapping of a biochar produced from corn stover pyrolysis shows individual sulfur-containing mineral particles in addition to the sulfur that is distributed throughout the organic matrix.

Impact of Organosulfur Content on Diesel Fuel Stability and Implications for Carbon Steel Corrosion

Ultralow sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel has been integrated into the worldwide fuel infrastructure to help meet a variety of environmental regulations. However, desulfurization alters the properties of diesel fuel in ways that could potentially impact its biological stability. Fuel desulfurization might predispose ULSD to biodeterioration relative to sulfur-rich fuels and in marine systems accelerate rates of sulfate reduction, sulfide production, and carbon steel biocorrosion. To test such prospects, an inoculum from a seawater-compensated ballast tank was amended with fuel from the same ship or with refinery fractions of ULSD, low- (LSD), and high sulfur diesel (HSD) and monitored for sulfate depletion. The rates of sulfate removal in incubations amended with the refinery fuels were elevated relative to the fuel-unamended controls but statistically indistinguishable (∼50 μM SO4/day), but they were found to be roughly twice as fast (∼100 μM SO4/day) when the ship's own diesel was used as a source of carbon and energy. Thus, anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism likely occurred in these incubations regardless of fuel sulfur content. Microbial community structure from each incubation was also largely independent of the fuel amendment type, based on molecular analysis of 16S rRNA sequences. Two other inocula known to catalyze anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism showed no differences in fuel-associated sulfate reduction or methanogenesis rates between ULSD, LSD, and HSD. These findings suggest that the stability of diesel is independent of the fuel organosulfur compound status and reasons for the accelerated biocorrosion associated with the use of ULSD should be sought elsewhere.

Field-Deployable, High-Resolution, Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

The development of a new high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) is reported. The high-resolution capabilities of this instrument allow the direct separation of most ions from inorganic and organic species at the same nominal m/z, the quantification of several types of organic fragments (CxHy, CxHyOz, CxHyNp, CxHyOzNp), and the direct identification of organic nitrogen and organosulfur content. This real-time instrument is field-deployable, and its high time resolution (0.5 Hz has been demonstrated) makes it well-suited for studies in which time resolution is critical, such as aircraft studies. The instrument has two ion optical modes: a single-reflection configuration offers higher sensitivity and lower resolving power (up to approximately 2100 at m/z 200), and a two-reflectron configuration yields higher resolving power (up to approximately 4300 at m/z 200) with lower sensitivity. The instrument also allows the determination of the size distributions of all ions. One-minute detection limits for submicrometer aerosol are <0.04 microg m(-3) for all species in the high-sensitivity mode and <0.4 microg m(-3) in the high-resolution mode. Examples of ambient aerosol data are presented from the SOAR-1 study in Riverside, CA, in which the spectra of ambient organic species are dominated by CxHy and CxHyOz fragments, and different organic and inorganic fragments at the same nominal m/z show different size distributions. Data are also presented from the MIRAGE C-130 aircraft study near Mexico City, showing high correlation with independent measurements of surrogate aerosol mass concentration.

Characteristics of sulfur species and their implications in Lower Cambrian black shales from southern margin of Yangtze Platform

There are different sulfur forms in the black shales from the Early Cambrian of the Yangtze platform. With its emphasis on pyrite and organosulfur, this paper discusses their distribution and formation. The research shows that sulfur phases take regular variations laterally as well as vertically in the research areas. In western researched profile with high terrigenous supply at the time it formed, there exists a larger amount of pyrite and less organosulfur, and pyrite amount declines while organosulfur content increases upwards along the profile. This black shale profile is characterized by relatively light sulfur isotope composition with evolution trend of becoming heavier both for pyrite and organosulfur from bottom to top along the profile. Opposite situation occurs in eastern profiles which were located farther away from terrigenous land. Here pyrite amount obviously decreases and organic matter has combined more sulfur, although these two kinds of sulfur species take similar trend in content variation along profiles to that for western profile. At the same time more 34 S is accumulated in sulfur species of black shale samples from eastern profile, and sulfur isotope composition gradually turns lighter from bottom to top. In combination with other information of iron, organic carbon contents and petrographic features, it can be established that sea-level change, supply of terrigenous matters, tectonic background and natures of paleoceanic chemistry have exerted great influence on the distribution of sulfur species in these black shales.

Selective Quantitation of Organic Sulfur with the Precursor Scan Method of Neutralization-Reionization Mass Spectrometry

Quantitation of organosulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon matrix was studied by the precursor scan method of neutralization–reionization mass spectrometry. The CHS+ ion was used as a marker selectively to detect and quantify sulfur compounds dissolved in a synthetic hydrocarbon mixture. Precursor ion abundances showed a linear dependence on the organosulfur content in the 1–100% concentration range. Detection limits of 0.5% were achieved, which were limited by the instrument sensitivity. Isobaric interferences of 13C isotopomers from hydrocarbons were negligible. Small interferences from oxygen- and nitrogen-containing additives are discussed. Several neutralization gases were examined to minimize interferences and to maximize the ion abundances. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Characteristics biological markers in organosulfur-rich non-marine immature source rocks and their geochemical significance

Several homologous series of sulfur-containing compounds, such as long chain alkylthiophenes, alkylthiolanes and alkylbenzothiophenes, were detected in organosulfur-rich sediments which settle above the threshold of oil generation. Besides these compounds, bithiophenes and trithiopenes were also determined. Distributions of sulfur-containing compounds in source rocks are very similar to those found in crude oils. In conjunction with other geochemical data, such as depth profile of organosulfur content and fraction content of extract, it is postulated that sulfur-rich crude oil may be formed from organosulfur-rich source rock. The discovery of organosulfur-rich source rock at shallow depth in a hypersaline environment is evidence that inorganic sulfur could be incorporated into sediments in early diagenesis.