Detection of polymeric forms of dihydroquercetin by optical absorption and light scattering

Two methods for the detection of long polymers in dihydroquercetin (DHQ) preparations has been developed. The first method is based on UV spectrophotometry. It was shown that the quantity of long polymers in aqueous solutions can be estimated by the ratio of the absorption bands at 328 and 290 nm, since the 328-nm band was attributed to the monomeric form of DHQ, whereas the 290-nm band was attributed to both the monomeric and polymeric forms. The second method is based on the high-sensitive measurement of light-scattering intensity in aqueous solutions of diluted DHQ preparations using a spectrofluorometer with crossed monochromators. It has been shown that the filtration of DHQ solutions through Millipore filters with a pore diameter of 0.05–0.45 microns makes it possible to nearly completely eliminate long polymers and their aggregates. Long polymers at high concentrations can aggregate. The longest polymers and their aggregates may be 0.1 mm in length, which leads to fluctuations in the light-scattering intensity on the second and minute time scale.     

The effect of dihydroquercetin on active and passive ion transport systems in plant vacuolar membrane

The effect of dihydroquercetin (DHQ) on proton pumps of the vacuolar membrane (H⁺-ATPase and H⁺-pyrophosphatase), slow vacuolar (SV) channel, lipid peroxidation, and stability of isolated vacuoles was studied. The results of experiments showed that DHQ affected active and passive transport systems of the vacuolar membrane. The mechanism of action of DHQ may be based on its combined effect on the sulfhydryl groups of proteins and the lipid component of the membrane. The strong stabilizing effect of DHQ on the membranes of isolated vacuoles may be associated not only with its antioxidant properties but also with changes in the membrane permeability affecting the ion channels.     

Dihydroquercetin protects barley seeds against mold and increases seedling adaptive potential under soil flooding

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds were soaked in aqueous 10⁻⁴ M dihydroquercetin (DHQ) to examine its influence on seed germination and further growth of seedlings under optimal soil watering and flooding conditions. The adaptive potential of the plants was estimated by the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (AsP). High-grade seeds were germinated evenly under (−DHQ)- and (+DHQ)-treatments. Low-grade seeds soaked in DHQ, showed no mold and twofold germination rate in comparison with the same seeds soaked in water. The seedlings grown from the similarly germinated seeds did not differ from each other in the shoot growth, independent of the DHQ-pretreatment. The root growth was higher in DHQ-pretreated plants. Soil flooding suppressed the shoot and root growth rates in non-pretreated and DHQ-pretreated plants, however TBARs content was lower in the roots and leaves of (+DHQ)-seedlings as compared to the (−DHQ)-ones. The activity of AsP increased more significantly in the (+DHQ)-plants. The ratio between TBARs content and the AsP activity was lower in the leaves of (+DHQ)-plants both under optimal soil conditions and flooding. Thus, the treatment of low-grade barley seeds with DHQ protects the seeds against mold and increases adaptive potential of the seedlings.     

A Study and Optimization of Complexation of Cobalt Ions with Dihydroquercetin in Aqueous Solutions

This work continues a series of studies devoted to complex formation of ions of biogenic metals with the flavonoid dihydroquercetin (DHQ). The interaction of Со²⁺ ions with DHQ in aqueous solutions has been investigated. It has been found that, at different pH of a solution, complex compounds (CC) with different stoichiometry are formed; a variation of the pH value of a solution from 6.0 to 7.0 results in the formation of compounds (1)–(3) with the metal : flavonoid ligand ratio (Met : L) from 1 : 2 at рН 6.0 (1), through 2 : 3 at pH 6.4–6.7 (2), to 1 : 1 at рН 6.8–7.0 (3). By using the thermogravimetric method and the data of the elemental analysis, the most probable composition of the compounds with the determination of the amount of bound water has been proposed: [CoL₂(H₂O)₄] for (1), [Co₂L₃(ОН)(H₂O)₄] for (2), and [CoL(ОН)(H₂O)₂] for (3). Conditions for the optimization of product yield in the complexation reaction of Со²⁺ ions with DHQ in an aqueous solution have been determined for compound (2): the рН value of solution 6.7; the reaction time 15 min; the temperature of the reaction solution 90°С; the molar ratio of the initial reagents DHQ : Со²⁺ 1 : 1.5; the initial concentration of DHQ 0.020 mol/L and that of Со²⁺ 0.030 mol/L; and the use of CoSO₄ ? 7H₂O as a source of cobalt ions. The yield of the product is 81.8%.

     

Biological activity of water-soluble nanostructures of dihydroquercetin with cyclodextrins

The biological properties of dihydroquercetin (DHQ) modified by including it into the ring of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to give it more water-soluble properties have been investigated. It was shown that the peroral administration of the DHQ/β-CD complex provides a long increase of DHQ concentration in rat blood (up to 7.5 h), and, unlike pure DHQ, the complex does not accumulate in the liver. As DHQ is released from the complex, it penetrates into liposome membranes, changing their thermodynamic characteristics. DHQ decreases the specific heat absorption, enthalpies, and temperature maximum of lipid melting and increases the transition half-width. This property is used to estimate the stability of the DHQ/β-CD complex. It was shown that complex DHQ/β-CD is not stable, and DHQ molecules slowly leave the complex in water environment. Seven and a half hours after the peroral injection of drugs, DHQ was found in the blood plasma of rats to which water-soluble complex DHQ/βCD was injected and in the liver of rats to which free DHQ was injected. Thus, DHQ/βCD not only is a more water-soluble complex but also it slowly releases DHQ, supporting long a low concentration of the free form of DHQ and providing the penetration of DHQ into the blood stream. After several weeks of feeding old mice with antioxidants, the activity of mitochondrial enzymes was restored to the level observed in young animals.     

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Dihydroquercetin Complexes with Biogenic Metal Ions

The antioxidant activity of dihydroquercetin (DHQ) complexes with zinc, copper(II) and calcium was studied in vitro in blood plasma of healthy donors. The state of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in blood plasma was assessed by the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), diene (DC) and triene (TC) conjugates. The effect of DHQ and the complexes on the activity of the catalase enzyme in blood plasma was determined. It was found that DHQ complex with zinc ion reduces the MDA content in blood plasma by 14.9% compared with the control, which is twice as high as for DHQ (7.5%). The corresponding parameters of DHQ complexes with copper(II) and calcium ions were 11.2 and 3.7%, respectively. The effect of the complexes on the decrease in the DC and TC content in blood plasma compared with the control is comparable with the corresponding parameters for DHQ. The DHQ complex with zinc ion increases the catalase activity by 1.5% compared with DHQ. The complexes containing copper(II) and calcium ions increase the catalase activity no more than DHQ.     

Anthocyanin synthesis in a white flowering mutant of Petunia hybrida

In flower buds of the white flowering mutant W19 of Petunia hybrida four biologically active dihydroflavonol intermediates-dihydroquercetin-7-glucoside, dihydroquercetin-4-glucoside, dihydroquercetin, and dihydrokaempferol-7-glucoside-are accumulated. When dihydroquercetin was supplied to in vitro cultured corollas of the white flowering mutant W18, a mixture of cyanidin and delphinidin glycosides was produced, cyanidin-3-glucoside being the major pigment. The quantity of dihydroquercetin accumulated in W19 is very small, but this compound appears to be a more direct precursor of anthocyanins than the glucosides of dihydrokaempferol and dihydroquercetin. The conditions for pigment synthesis in W18 were optimalized. The quantitative uptake of dihydroquercetin was also studied. It was demonstrated that ca. 1/3 of the quantity present in the culture solution entered the corolla. From the absorbed dihydroquercetin only 14% was converted into anthocyanins. Complementation experiments to determine the biosynthetic sequence of the anthocyanin genes An1, An2, and An3 indicated that the genes An1 and An2 are indistinguishable by this technique.Abbreviation DHQ (+) dihydroquercetin     

The effect of resveratrol and dihydroquercetin inclusion into phospholipid nanopatricles on their bioavalability and specific activity

Bioavailability and activity of natural polyphenols, resveratrol (RES) and dihydroquercetin (DHQ), included in phospholipid nanoparticles have been investigated. Specific features of RES and DHQ in these compositions have been analyzed in vivo and in vitro experiments in comparison with free substances. Preincubation of low density lipoproteins (LDL), isolated from plasma of healthy donors, with RES or DHQ included in phospholipid nanoparticles caused a more pronounced delay in Cu²⁺ induced lipid oxidation compared with the free substances, and reduced the formation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products. In phospholipid formulations bioavailability of RES and DHQ orally administered to rats were 1.5–2-fold higher than that of free substances. Prophylactic administration of phospholipid formulations containing RES or DHQ for two weeks resulted in the 25% increase of animal survival in the acute hypoxia model and 1.5-fold increase of catalase activity assayed in brain homogenates as compared with free substances. Using the model of endothelial dysfunction in rats induced by L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, it was shown, that RES markedly attenuated the inhibitory effect of L-NAME on NO synthesis. RES administered in phospholipid nanoparticles demonstrated the same efficiency at a dose one order of magnitude lower compared than that of free RES. The load test with resistance (clamping of the ascending aorta for 30 s) showed that the phospholipid formulation of RES exhibited a more pronounced protective effect due to stimulation of endothelial NO-synthase.     

Dihydroquercetin polymerization using laccase immobilized into an ionic liquid

It was shown that the laccase (LC) included into hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) can be reused for the biotransformation of dihydroquercetin (DHQ). The physicochemical characteristics of DHQ oligomers synthesized using LC/IL did not differ from the characteristics of the oligomers obtained with native laccase. The synthesized oligomers have a number average molecular weight of 1050 g/mol and a polydispersity index of 1.41. Oligomers possess higher antioxidant activity than the monomer.     

Two of the three influenza viral polymerase proteins expressed by using baculovirus vectors form a complex in insect cells.

Each of the influenza virus polymerase (P) genes PB1, PB2, and PA was inserted into a baculovirus vector under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. In insect (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells infected by each baculovirus recombinant containing a P gene insert, a large amount of the encoded P protein was synthesized. Gel electrophoretic analysis of the total proteins in infected cells revealed the presence of a new protein band corresponding to the encoded P protein that was abundant enough to be stained with Coomassie blue. In cells infected simultaneously with both the PB1 and PB2 baculovirus recombinants, a PB1-PB2 complex was formed that was immunoprecipitated with an antiserum specific for either PB1 or PB2. In cells infected simultaneously with all three P baculovirus recombinants, a PB1-PB2 complex lacking the PA protein was formed. Formation of this PB1-PB2 complex partially mimics events that occur in influenza virus-infected cells, where all three P proteins form a complex with each other (B. M. Detjen, C. St. Angelo, M. G. Katze, and R. M. Krug, J. Virol. 61:16-22, 1987). These results indicate that the ability of PB1 and PB2 to form a complex is an intrinsic property of these two proteins that does not require the participation of other influenza viral gene products. Possible reasons for the absence of the PA protein from the immunoprecipitable P protein complex in insect cells infected by the three P baculovirus recombinants are discussed.     

Growth of food-borne pathogenic bacteria in oil-in-water emulsions: II—Effect of emulsion structure on growth parameters and form of growth

The growth rates and yields of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica were determined in liquid culture media, and in model oil-in-water emulsions that contained 30, 70 or 83% (v/v) hexadecane. In emulsions with a mean droplet size of 2 μm containing 83% (v/v) hexadecane, the growth of both organisms resulted in decreased yields. Additionally, in these emulsions adjusted to pH 5·0 or 4·4 the growth rate of L. monocytogenes was significantly less than in other model systems which had an aqueous phase of equivalent chemical composition. Microscopic examination of the 83% (v/v) emulsion showed that its microstructure immobilized the bacteria, which were constrained to grow as colonies. Bacteria behaved similarly in model emulsions of either hexadecane or sunflower oil. Manipulation of the droplet size distribution of the emulsions changed the form and rate of growth of bacteria within them.     

Liposomal form of dihydroquercetin contributes to skin regeneration after thermal burns

It was found that dihydroquercetin, a flavonoid of plant origin, localized in lecitin nanoparticles with glycine amino acid, reduced inflammatory reactions in wound zones after thermal burns. The application of the liposomal complex to burn trauma stabilized the endogenous antioxidant system and minimized the area of secondary necrosis in the wound. The intensification of skin regeneration and repair of hair follicles and sebaceous glands were also observed.     

Comparison of quercetin and dihydroquercetin: Antioxidant-independent actions on erythrocyte and platelet membrane

We investigated the effects of two flavonoids quercetin and dihydroquercetin (DHQ), which have different solubilities and antioxidant capacities, on hemolysis and platelet aggregation in human blood. Exposure of human red blood cells (RBCs) to free radicals generated by 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) for 2 h resulted in 63.5 ± 3.9% hemolysis (vehicle: 0.3 ± 0.4%). Pre-incubation of RBCs with lipid-soluble quercetin and water-soluble DHQ for 30 min significantly reduced the AAPH-induced hemolysis to 3.6 ± 1.5% and 32.5 ± 5.6% respectively. In contrast, quercetin and DHQ were similarly effective in reducing phospholipase C-induced hemolysis (37.2 ± 9.1% and 45.4 ± 10.0% versus vehicle 75.7 ± 5.2%, P < 0.001). Pre-incubation with quercetin, but not DHQ, inhibited the aggregation of platelets by adenosine diphosphate. DHQ was more potent than quercetin in inhibiting superoxide produced by xanthine oxidase. These results suggest that the antihemolytic effects of flavonoids may not be directly mediated by removal of free radicals and may likely be due to their interaction with cell membrane.     

Preparation and evaluation of polyvinyl alcohol-co-oleylvinyl ether derivatives as tumor-specific cytotoxic systems

A series of poly(vinyl alcohol) amphiphilic derivatives have been prepared to obtain polymeric aggregates in aqueous phase holding thermodynamic instability. The aim was to evaluate their ability to interact with tumor cells eliciting selective cytotoxicity. The poly(vinyl alcohol) derivatives were prepared by partial substitution of poly(vinyl alcohol) (MW 10 kDa) with both oleyl chains and poly(ethylene glycol) monoethyl ethers (PEGMEE) of different molecular weights. The substitution degree was 1.5% for the oleyl chains and 1% for the PEGMEE chains (moles of substituent per 100 mol of hydroxyvinyl monomer). The polyvinyl derivatives obtained easily dissolved in water. Dynamic and static light scattering measurements on the polymer aqueous solutions indicated the formation of polymeric aggregates characterized by low polydispersity (0.232-0.299) and mean size (218-382 nm) in the range suitable for intravenous administration. Moreover, they were characterized by different packing densities and thermodynamic instabilities driving the polymers to interact with hydrophobic membranes. Among the analyzed polymers, the poly(vinyl alcohol)-co-oleylvinyl ether substituted with triethylene glycol monoethyl ether (P10(4)) provided in solution the highest affinity for hydrophobic membranes. P10(4), moreover, was the most cytotoxic toward the tumor cell lines analyzed (neuroblastoma: SH-SY5Y, IMR-32, HTLA-230. melanoma: MZ2-MEL, RPMI7932.), while it did not appreciably alter the viability of the normal resting lymphocytes. The peculiar behavior of the P10(4) aggregates has been correlated to their high thermodynamic instability in solution due to the high packing density that triggers the polymeric aggregates to interact with hydrophobic membranes such as the tumor cell membranes, thus eliciting cytotoxicity.     

Use of acyl phosphonates for the synthesis of inulin esters and their use as emulsion stabilizing agents

Inulin, the polydisperse polyfructose, extracted from chicory, was modified via esterification with acyl phosphonates. The grafting of an acyl chain onto the inulin backbone under different conditions led to a highly efficient synthesis of a series of inulin esters, with interesting tensioactive properties. The derivatives were evaluated in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions with isoparaffinic oil, Isopar M. Therefore, a 2% (w/v) aqueous solution of inulin-based surfactant was used in 50/50 O/W emulsions, in nonelectrolyte, and in electrolyte media, using 1 M MgSO4. Longer acyl chains, e.g., dodecanoyl (C12), hexadecanoyl (C16), and octadecanoyl (C18), with degrees of substitution lower than 0.5, gave rise to the highest emulsion stabilities against coalescence.     

DNA aqueous solution used for dialytical removal and enrichment of dioxin derivatives

In the present study, a dialytic method that uses a DNA aqueous solution to remove and enrich dioxins from polluted water was proposed. Circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescent spectra indicated that dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD), dibenzofuran (DF) and biphenyl (BP), which are dioxin derivatives, form complexes with DNA. Their experimental dialytic sorption coefficients were measured by quantifying the concentrations of DD, DF, and BP in aqueous solutions before and after dialysis of the DNA solution, and the values were 2.1×10⁵, 1.3×10⁵, and 1.5×10⁷, respectively. As a simulated water treatment model, DNA solution was dialyzed in an aqueous mixture of DD, DF, and BP for 96 h, the HPLC studies showed that the dioxin derivatives have been concentrated in the DNA solution about 200 times. The dialyzed DNA solution was reusable by an extraction with hexane.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Arabinogalactan and Dihydroquercetin Simultaneously from Larix gmelinii as a Pretreatment for Pulping and Papermaking

An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method using ethanol was applied for extracting arabinogalactan (AG) and dihydroquercetin (DHQ) simultaneously from larch wood, as a pretreatment for pulping and papermaking. The extraction parameters were optimized by a Box-Behnken experimental design with the yields of AG and DHQ as the response values. Under optimum conditions (three extractions, each using 40% ethanol, for 50 min, 200 W ultrasound power and 1∶18 solid-liquid ratio), the yields of AG and DHQ were 183.4 and 36.76 mg/g, respectively. After UAE pretreated, the wood chips were used for Kraft pulping (KP) and high boiling solvent pulping (HBSP). The pulping yield after pretreatment was higher than that of untreated (the pulping yields of untreated HBSP and KP were 42.37% and 39.60%, and the pulping yields of HBSP and KP after UAE-pretreated were 44.23% and 41.50% respectively), as indicated by a lower kappa number (77.91 and 27.30 for untreated HBSP and KP; 77.01 and 26.83 for UAE-pretreated HBSP and KP). Furthermore, the characteristics of paper produced from pretreated wood chips were superior to those from the untreated chips: the basis weight was lower (85.67 and 82.48 g·cm⁻² for paper from untreated KP and HBSP; 79.94 and 80.25 g·cm⁻² for paper from UAE-pretreated KP and HBSP), and the tensile strengths, tearing strengths, bursting strengths, and folding strengths were higher than these of paper after UAE-pretreated, respectively.     

Characteristics of photosensitization of Pheophorbide a in liposomal media

Pheophorbide a (PPa), a decomposition product of chlorophyll a, is a photosensitizer. The photosensitization mechanisms (Type I and Type 11) of PPa in simple buffer solutions and in buffer solutions containing double-layered DPPC liposomes have been studied using techniques of ESR, spin-trapping, spin-counteraction and laser flash photolysis. The results showed that adding DPPC liposomes to the buffer solution caused an increase of efficiency of generating¹O₂ and PPa-by photoactivating PPa. The increase could be ascribed to the disaggregation of hydrophobic PPa caused by the addition of liposomes and the protective effect of liposomal media on the triplet state of PPa. It is concluded that the photosensitization of PPa in liposomal systems is different from that in simple aqueous solutions, and shows higher efficacy. The results will be useful to elucidating the mechanisms of photodynamic therapy of cancer.