Optimized dye-sensitized solar cells: A comparative study with different dyes, mordants and construction parameters
Publication date: March 2019Source: Results in Physics, Volume 12Author(s): Domingo Rangel, Juan Carlos Gallegos, Susana Vargas, Francisco García, Rogelio RodríguezAbstractCochineal and β-carotene were the sensitizers used in the preparation of these solar cells; potassium alum and citric acid were used, separately, as mordant; acetyl acetone was the medium. For comparison purposes, another solar cell was prepared using a dye obtained from achiote (Bixa Orellana) with acetyl acetone. The mordants provide a stabilization of the pigment by improving the adhesion with the substrate (the mesoporous layer), increasing the li...
Source: Results in Physics - February 22, 2019 Category: Physics Source Type: research
Bixin, an apocarotenoid isolated from Bixa orellana L., sensitizes human melanoma cells to dacarbazine-induced apoptosis through ROS-mediated cytotoxicity.
In this study, we evaluated the effect of bixin, an abundant apocarotenoid present in Bixa orellana, on the sensitization of human melanoma cells (A2058) to dacarbazine treatment, an anticancer agent clinically used for the therapy of metastatic melanoma. UPLC-DAD-MS/MS analyses of bioactive extracts from B. orellana seeds led to the identification of two new apocarotenoids: 6,8'-diapocarotene-6,8'-dioic acid and 6,7'-diapocarotene-6,7'-dioic acid. After being identified as its major compound, bixin (Z-bixin) was evaluated on A2058 cells expressing the oncogenic BRAF VE600 mutation and resistant to dacarbazine treatment....
Source: Food and Chemical Toxicology - February 7, 2019 Category: Food Science Authors: de Oliveira Júnior RG, Bonnet A, Braconnier E, Groult H, Prunier G, Beaugeard L, Grougnet R, da Silva Almeida JRG, Ferraz CAA, Picot L Tags: Food Chem Toxicol Source Type: research
How Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Alter the Secondary Metabolites of Botryosphaeria mamane, an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Bixa orellana, L.
This study highlighted that SAHA and VS changed metabolites in B. mamane, causing upregulation and downregulation of metabolites production. In addition, twelve compounds were detected in the extracts as metabolites structurally correlated to SAHA, indicating its important reactivity in the medium or its metabolism by the fungus. An addition of SAHA induced the production of eight metabolites while VS induced only two metabolites undetected in the control strain. This result illustrates the importance of adding HDACis to a fungal culture in order to induce metabolite production.
PMID: 30636097 [PubMed - as supplied...
Source: Chemistry and Biodiversity - January 12, 2019 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Triastuti A, Vansteelandt M, Barakat F, Trinel M, Jargeat P, Fabre N, Amasifuen C, Mejia K, Valentin A, Haddad M Tags: Chem Biodivers Source Type: research
Thiodiketopiperazines with two spirocyclic centers extracted from Botryosphaeria mamane, an endophytic fungus isolated from Bixa orellana L.
Publication date: February 2019Source: Phytochemistry, Volume 158Author(s): Fatima Barakat, Marieke Vansteelandt, Asih Triastuti, Patricia Jargeat, Denis Jacquemin, Jérôme Graton, Kember Mejia, Billy Cabanillas, Laure Vendier, Jean-Luc Stigliani, Mohamed Haddad, Nicolas FabreAbstractThree thiodiketopiperazines, botryosulfuranols A-C (1–3) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Botryosphaeria mamane. The three compounds present sulfur atoms on α- and β-positions of phenylalanine derived residues and unprecedented two spirocyclic centers at C-4 and C-2′. Their planar structures were determined by spectroscopic anal...
Source: Phytochemistry - December 20, 2018 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research
Anticancer properties of tocotrienols: A review of cellular mechanisms and molecular targets
Vitamin E TTs have gained interest due to their health benefits in chronic diseases. In particular, TTs were reported to exert significant antitumor activity in a wide range of cancer cells, by counteracting cell growth or proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis. Recent studies pointed out that TTs exert a synergistic antitumor effect on cancer cells when given in combination with either standard antitumor agents or natural compounds with anticancer activity. These results, together with the safety of TT administration in healthy subjects, suggest that these compounds might represent a new chemopreventive or anticancer ...
Source: Journal of Cellular Physiology - November 20, 2018 Category: Cytology Authors: Marina Montagnani Marelli,
Monica Marzagalli,
Fabrizio Fontana,
Michela Raimondi,
Roberta Manuela Moretti,
Patrizia Limonta Tags: REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research
The impact of E-beam treatment on the microbial population and sensory quality of hard annatto-coloured cheese
Publication date: March 2019Source: LWT, Volume 101Author(s): Raquel Velasco, M. Isabel Cambero, Juan A. Ordóñez, M. Concepción CabezaAbstractThe effects of E-beam radiation on microbiota, colour, texture and sensorial properties of hard annatto-coloured cheese during storage at 4 and 14 °C were studied. Doses of up to 2 kGy provoked a decrease in the total bacterial number, although microbiota recovery to initial levels during storage, even under refrigeration temperature, was observed. However, a higher temperature (14 °C) was required to detect bacterial growth in cheese treated at 3 kGy. Moreover, the effe...
Source: LWT Food Science and Technology - November 17, 2018 Category: Food Science Source Type: research
Solvent-mediated pressure-treated bixin-casein complexation for targeted color delivery
In this study, we describe a solvent-mediated high-pressure process to complexate bixin and casein micelles as a novel strategy for color delivery. High pressures (120 and 240 MPa) and added ethanol resulted in change in casein hydrophobicity by exposure of tryptophan residues, as confirmed by spectroscopic methods. The incorporation of bixin resulted in a marked quenching of the fluorescence peak associated with tryptophan. A simulated coagulation study has shown that pressure-treated complexes resulted in whey powder with significantly lower a* values than unbleached whey, whereas no significant differences were observed...
Source: Food Chemistry - November 16, 2018 Category: Food Science Source Type: research
Hydroalcoholic Extract and Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Bixa orellana Leaves Decrease the Inflammatory Response to Mycobacterium abscessus Subsp. massiliense.
This study evaluated the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of a hydroalcoholic extract (BoHE) and ethyl acetate fraction (BoEA) of Bixa orellana leaves. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by broth microdilution to determine the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using erythrocytes and RAW 264.7 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) was assayed in stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and inflammatory cell migration and acute toxicity were evaluated in a Mabs-induced peritonitis mouse model. The compounds present in BoEA were identified by high performance liquid c...
Source: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine - October 31, 2018 Category: Complementary Medicine Tags: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Source Type: research
Photodynamic therapy with Bixa orellana extract and LED for the reduction of halitosis: study protocol for a randomized, microbiological and clinical trial
Halitosis is an unpleasant breath odour that can interfere with the professional life, social life and quality of life of people who suffer from it. A modality of treatment that has been increasing in dentistr... (Source: Trials)
Source: Trials - October 29, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Marcela Leticia Leal Gon çalves, Ana Carolina Costa da Mota, Alessandro Melo Deana, Guelton Hirano Guedes, Lisyanne Araújo de Souza Cavalcante, Renato Araújo Prates, Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini Horliana, Christiane Pavani, Lara Jansiski Motta, Greic Tags: Study protocol Source Type: research
Physicochemical, morphological, thermal and pasting properties of a novel native starch obtained from annatto seeds
Publication date: Available online 23 October 2018Source: Food HydrocolloidsAuthor(s): Giovani L. Zabot, Eric Keven Silva, Lucas B. Emerick, Mária Herminia F. Felisberto, Maria Teresa P. Silva Clerici, M. Angela A. MeirelesAbstractThis work presents physicochemical, morphological, thermal, and pasting properties of a novel native starch obtained from defatted and depigmented annatto seeds for applications in food-related areas. At the end of the annatto seed processing chain, a non-conventional white starch was obtained from defatted and totally depigmented seeds. After a comparison with a commercial corn starch, such nov...
Source: Food Hydrocolloids - October 23, 2018 Category: Food Science Source Type: research
Pharmaceutical applications of spouted beds: A review on solid dosage forms
Publication date: Available online 4 October 2018Source: ParticuologyAuthor(s): Luís Alexandre Pedro de FreitasAbstractSpouted beds (SBs) have a long history of successful applications for preparation of solid dosage forms of pharmaceuticals. The well-known versatility of SBs, provided by different design and operational factors, and their efficient mixing of solids allow for engineering of technological characteristics of pharmaceutical solid forms. Particle properties like morphology, size, porosity, flowability, and dissolution rate can be improved by managing geometric and operational conditions for spouting. Drying i...
Source: Particuology - October 5, 2018 Category: Science Source Type: research
Antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities of some medicinal plants against multidrug resistance pathogens
Medicinal plants are traditionally used for the treatment of human infections. The aim of the current study was to evaluate antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities; the crude of hexane, methanol and chloroform extracts from the leaves of Catharanthus roseus, Bixa orellana, Azadirachta indica and Dracaena sanderiana was assayed against two fungi and four bacteria using broth microdilution method and MTT assay. The methanol leaf extracts of B. orellana showed a significant activity against Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans with minimum inhibitory concentrations 5...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - October 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
Bixin Triggers Apoptosis of Human Hep3B Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells: An Insight to Molecular and IN SILICO Approach.
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and is known to be resistant to conventional chemotherapy. The use of herbal medicine and supplements has increased over recent decades following side effects and resistant to conventional chemotherapy. The seeds of Bixa orellana L. commonly known as annatto have recently gained scientific attention due to presence of a carotenoid bixin for its substantial anticancer properties. However, molecular mechanisms underlying bixin-induced apoptosis are still unclear. Treatment of bixin significantly decreased the number of Hep3B cells and mo...
Source: Nutrition and Cancer - September 11, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Kumar Y, Phaniendra A, Periyasamy L Tags: Nutr Cancer Source Type: research
Molecules, Vol. 23, Pages 2107: Chitosan Nanoparticles with Encapsulated Natural and UF-Purified Annatto and Saffron for the Preparation of UV Protective Cosmetic Emulsions
mitrios N. Bikiaris
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the preparation of sunscreen emulsions based on chitosan (CS) nanoparticles with annatto, ultrafiltrated (UF) annatto, saffron, and ultrafiltrated saffron. Ionic gelation was used for the preparation of chitosan nanoparticles, while their morphological characteristics and physicochemical properties were evaluated via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results showed that the prepared nanoparticles ranged from ~150 to ~500 nm and had a spher...
Source: Molecules - August 22, 2018 Category: Chemistry Authors: Sonia Ntohogian Viktoria Gavriliadou Evi Christodoulou Stavroula Nanaki Smaro Lykidou Panagiotis Naidis Lily Mischopoulou Panagiotis Barmpalexis Nikolaos Nikolaidis Dimitrios N. Bikiaris Tags: Article Source Type: research
Exploring the potential of tocotrienol from Bixa orellana as a single agent targeting metabolic syndrome and bone loss
This study aimed to investigate the effects of annatto tocotrienol as a single treatment for MetS and osteoporosis in high-carbohydrate high-fat (HCHF) diet-induced MetS animals. Three-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. The baseline group was euthanized at the onset of the study. (Source: Bone)
Source: Bone - July 7, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Sok Kuan Wong, Kok-Yong Chin, Farihah Hj Suhaimi, Fairus Ahmad, Soelaiman Ima-Nirwana Tags: Full Length Article Source Type: research
