Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Químico - Farmacéuticas

Evaluation of the vitamin C content of solid preparations for soft drinks marketed in Campo Grande-MS

RESUMO Os sucos naturais têm sido amplamente substituídos pelos preparados sólidos para refresco (PSR), o que pode resultar em perda nutricional de componentes importantes, como o ácido ascórbico (AA). Dessa forma, este estudo objetivou analisar o teor de AA, determinar a acidez total titulável e o pH em amostras de PSR sabor abacaxi comercializados nos mercados varejistas de Campo Grande-MS e, além disso, caracterizar o AA empregado como substância química de referência. Foram analisadas 10 amostras de PSR sabor abacaxi, por meio do método de Tillmans modificado, e todas apresentaram teor de AA acima do mínimo exigido na dose dietética recomendada, atendendo aos requisitos da RDC n° 360/2003. Entretanto, 50% das amostras apresentaram teor de AA acima do limite máximo permitido de 20% para mais ou para menos segundo o declarado no rótulo. O estudo realizado confirmou que a utilização dos PSR é uma boa opção alimentícia para alcançar a dose diária necessária de AA a baixo custo.

SUMMARY Natural juices have been largely replaced by solid refreshments (SR), which can result in nutrient loss of important components, such as ascorbic acid (AA). Thus, this study aimed to analyze the AA content, determine the titratable total acidity and pH in samples of pineapple-flavored SR marketed in the retail markets of Campo Grande-MS and, in addition, characterize AA used as Reference Chemical Substance. Ten samples of pineapple-flavored SR were analyzed using the modified Tillmans method, and all presented AA content above the minimum required in the recommended dietary dose, meeting the requirements of RDC 360/2003. However, 50% of the samples presented AA content above the maximum allowed limit of 20% for more or less as stated on the label. The study confirmed that the use of SR is a good dietary option to achieve the necessary daily dose of AA at a low cost.

Development of genetic vectors based on synthetic polymers: PEI and PDMAEMA

RESUMEN En años recientes hubo un auge del uso de terapias génicas para el tratamiento de enfermedades de gran incidencia, como el cáncer. Generalmente, estas se basan en la liberación de material genético como plásmidos, en el núcleo celular, con lo cual se corrige una función o se induce la producción de proteínas deficientes a nivel fisiológico. Para llevar a cabo la terapia génica se requiere de vectores capaces de encapsular el material genético y garantizar su entrega en el núcleo celular. Los polímeros catiónicos sintéticos han llamado la atención como vectores, debido a su capacidad de condensar ácidos nucleicos para formar partículas que los protegen de la degradación enzimática y facilitan su captación celular. La polietilenimina y el polimetacrilato de N, N-dimetilaminoetilo son los polímeros catiónicos más eficaces para la administración génica. Sin embargo, estos requieren modificaciones químicas específicas para eliminar o disminuir algunas limitaciones tales como su alta citotoxicidad y baja biodegradabilidad. En este artículo se analizan algunas de estas modificaciones, enfocándose en avances recientes en el desarrollo de copolímeros anfifílicos como precursores de nanopartículas usadas como vectores génicos.

SUMMARY During recent years, the use of genetic therapies has taken relevance in the treatment of high-incidence diseases such as cancer. Usually, they are based on the release of genetic material, as plasmids, into the cell nucleus, which corrects a function or induces the production of a deficient protein at the physiological level. To carry out gene therapy, vectors capable of encapsulating the genetic material and guaranteeing its delivery in the target cell nucleus are required. Synthetic cationic polymers have attracted great attention as vectors due to their ability to condense nucleic acids to form particles that protect them from enzymatic degradation and facilitate their cellular uptake. Polyethylenimine and poly (N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) are the most effective cationic polymers for gene delivery. However, these polymers require specific chemical modifications to either avoid or diminish their high cytotoxicity and low biodegradability. This review analyzes some of these modifications, focusing on recent advances in the development of amphiphilic copolymers as precursors of nanoparticles used as gene vectors.

Potential antiplasmodial and antimalarial agents of natural and synthetic origin

RESUMEN La malaria es la enfermedad parasitaria más grave y extendida que enfrenta la humanidad, debido a su prevalencia, virulencia y al desarrollo de cepas resistentes a los medicamentos de uso común como la cloroquina. La falta de nuevos medicamentos asequibles son los factores limitantes en la lucha contra la malaria, por lo que hay una necesidad continua de investigación para nuevas clases de agentes antimaláricos. Una generación de moléculas activas contra Plasmodium basadas en el mecanismo de biocristalización del grupo hemo o en procesos metabólicos que ocurren en el parásito con los medicamentos de uso actual están siendo sintetizados y actualmente se encuentran en procesos de estudios in vitro, in vivo y estudios clínicos fase I y fase II. Esta revisión realiza una clasificación de los nuevos antimaláricos potenciales y sus modos de acción reportados en las últimas dos décadas con el fin de proporcionar una mirada al progreso significativo en el desarrollo de nuevos medicamentos antimaláricos.

SUMMARY Malaria is the most serious and widespread parasitic disease facing humanity, due to its prevalence, virulence and the development of strains resistant to commonly used drugs such as chloroquine. The lack of affordable new drugs are the limiting factors in the fight against malaria, so there is a continuing need for research for new classes of antimalarial agents. A generation of active molecules against Plas-modium based on the mechanism of biocrystallization of the heme group and / or on metabolic processes that occur in the parasite with the medicines of current use are being synthesized and are currently in processes of in vitro, in vivo and phase I and phase II clinical studies. This review makes a classification of the new potential antimalarial and their possible modes of action reported in the last two decades in order to provide a look at the most significant progress in the development of new antimalarial drugs.

The theoretical evaluation of the use of trivalent vanadium oxyhydroxide in the electrochemical determination of nandrolone

RESUMO Pela primeira vez foi descrito um caso interessante de uso do oxihidróxido de vanádio trivalente (VO(OH)) como modificador de elétrodo na detecção eletroquímica de nandrolona. Foi mostrado que o oxihidróxido de vanádio pode ser um modificador eficiente para a detecção de nandrolona, mas, ao contrário da maioria dos casos de uso de oxihidróxido de cobalto, composto parecido, o processo é catódico e dá-se em meio moderadamente ácido a neutro. O comportamento oscilatório, no sistema, é possível apenas por causa das influências do processo da eletrorredução de vanádio tetravalente em trivalente na dupla camada elétrica.

SUMMARY An interesting case of the use of trivalent vanadium oxyhydroxide (VO(OH)) as an electrode modifier for nandrolone electrochemical determination has been described for the first time. It was shown that vanadium (III) oxyhydroxide may be an efficient electrode modifier for nandrolone determination, but, contrarily to the majority of the cases of the use of cobalt (III) oxyhydroxide, which is a relative compound, the process is cathodic and it is realized in moderately acid solutions, tending to neutral. The oscillatory behavior in the system is possible, due to the influence of the electrochemical reduction of tetravalent vanadium to trivalent in double electric layer.

Extraction and encapsulation of phenolic compounds from rice hus

RESUMEN En la actualidad, el aprovechamiento de los subproductos agroindustriales es de vital importancia. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar una alternativa de valorización de la cascarilla de arroz, mediante la extracción y la encapsulación de compuestos fenólicos provenientes de las cascarillas. Este proceso fue llevado a cabo en un reactor batch con agitación mecánica a 453,15 K y 1 MPa durante 1 h, se usó agua como solvente. Se evaluó la micro-encapsulación de los componentes del extracto mediante liofilización usando como material encapsulante maltodextrina en diferentes proporciones. Los extractos acuosos mostraron un pH de 3,7, contenido de compuestos fenólicos de 8,2 mg equivalentes de ácido gálico/g de cascarilla, y una actividad antioxidante de 14,6 mg Eq.trolox/g de cascarilla. Mediante análisis de espectroscopía de infrarrojo se identificaron bandas representativas de grupos funcionales presentes en los compuestos fenólicos, reconocidos por su actividad antioxidante. La eficiencia de encapsulación fue de 99,8 % usando 14,3 % de maltodextrina, se obtuvieron cápsulas con 10,08 mg fenoles/g de encapsulado y un tamaño de partícula adecuado para la liberación y retención de los compuestos fenólicos de 63 μm. Posteriormente, se estudió la estructura semicristalina de las cápsulas mediante difracción de rayos X. Como conclusión, estas microcápsulas antioxidantes pueden ser adecuadas para su utilización en la industria farmacéutica o de alimentos como componente de envases alimentarios.

SUMMARY Currently, the use of agro-industrial by-products is of vital importance. The aim of the present work was to study an alternative of valorisation of the rice husk, by extraction and encapsulation of phenolic compounds from the husks. This process was carried out in a batch reactor with mechanical stirring at 453.15 K and 1 MPa for 1 h, water was used as the solvent. Microencapsulation of the extract components was evaluated by lyophilisation using maltodextrin at different proportions as encapsulating material. The aqueous extracts showed a pH of 3.7, contained phenolic compounds of 8.2 mg gallic acid/g of husk, and an antioxidant activity of 14.6 mg Eq.trolox/g of husk. By infrared spectroscopy analysis, representative bands of functional groups present in the phenolic compounds, recognised for their antioxidant activity, were identified. The encapsulation efficiency was 99.8 % using 14.3 % maltodextrin; capsules were obtained with 10.08 mg phenols/g capsules and a particle size suitable for the release and retention of phenolic compounds of 63 μm. Subsequently, the semi-crystalline structure of the capsules was studied by X-ray diffraction. To conclude, these antioxidant microcapsules may be suitable for use in the pharmaceutical or food industry as a component of food packaging.

Validation of an analytical methodology by HPLC-DAD for the quantification of complexed benzoic acid, in an in vitro transdermal permeation assay using pig skin

RESUMEN En el presente estudio se realizó la validación de una metodología analítica por cromatografía líquida de alta eficiencia con detector de arreglo de diodos (HPLC-DAD) para la cuantificación del ácido benzoico en complejos polielectrolíticos, obtenidos con Eudragit® E100. Para ello se evaluaron las características de desempeño determinando que la metodología es selectiva; lineal en el rango de concentraciones de 2 a 10 fíg/mL; precisa con un RSD inferior a un 2%; exacta con un porcentaje de recuperación de un 98,7% y se establecieron límites de cuantificación (LOQ) de 0,72 y de 1,56 (g/mL para el sistema y método respectivamente. De acuerdo a estos resultados, la metodología analítica es adecuada para evaluar la permeación in vitro, del ácido benzoico incluido en los complejos polielectrolíticos a través de piel porcina, empleando celdas de Franz.

SUMMARY This paper presents the studies carried out about the validation of an analytical methodology by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) for the quantification of benzoic acid in polyelectrolyte complexes obtained with Eudragit® E100. Performance characteristics of the methodology were evaluated, finding that this is selective; linear in the concentration range of 2 to 10 (g / mL; accurate with a RSD of less than 2%, exact with a recovery percentage of 98.7% and quantification limits of 0.72 and 1.56 fig / mL were established for the system and method respectively. According with this results, the analytical methodology is adequate to evaluate the in vitro permeation of benzoic acid, in polyelectrolyte complexes, through porcine skin in Franz cells.

The mathematical description of the function of a novel acridinic derivative in the electroanalytical detection of total gallic acid content in carob

RESUMO A possibilidade do uso de um novo derivado de acridina, munido de um grupo doador de elétrons, como modificador de elétrons para a detecção do conteúdo total do ácido gálico em goma de alfarroba tem sido avaliada mediante uma análise teórica. O modelo matemático correspondente foi analisado mediante a teoria de estabilidade linear e análise de bifurcações. Foi mostrado que o derivado fosfazoico da acridina pode servir de modificador eficiente para a detecção eletroanalítica do conteúdo total do ácido gálico em alfarroba. As causas dos comportamentos oscilatório e monotônico também foram detectadas.

SUMMARY The possibility of the use of the novel acridinic derivative, containing an electron donor moiety in the total gallic acid content determination in carob gum has been evaluated by means of a theoretical analysis. The correspondent mathematical model has been analyzed by linear stability theory and bifurcation analysis. It was shown that the phosphazoic acridine derivative may serve as an efficient electrode modifier for electroanalytical determination of the total content of gallic acid in carob. The causes for the oscillatory and monotonic behavior have also been stipulated.