Squalene

Squalene and its hydrogenated derivate squalane are widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. The two compounds are mainly produced from the liver oil of deep sea sharks and from olive oil distillates. Squalene and squalane from shark cost less than the same compounds derived from olive oil, and the use of these shark-derived compounds is unethical in cosmetic formulations. In this work we investigate whether 13C/12C and 2H/1H ratios can distinguish olive oil from shark squalene/squalane and can detect the presence of shark derivates in olive oil based products. The 13C/12C ratios (expressed as δ13C values) of bulk samples and of pure compounds measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) were significantly lower in authentic olive oil squalene/squalane (N: 13; −28.4 ± 0.5‰; −28.3 ± 0.8‰) than in shark squalene/squalane samples (N: 15; −20.5 ± 0.7‰; −20.4 ± 0.6‰). By defining δ13C threshold values of −27.4‰ and −26.6‰ for olive oil bulk and pure squalene/squalane, respectively, illegal addition of shark products can be identified starting from a minimum of 10%. 2H/1H analysis is not useful for distinguishing the two different origins.δ13C analysis is proposed as a suitable tool for detecting the authenticity of commercial olive oil squalene and squalane samples, using IRMS interfaced to an elemental analyser if the purity is higher than 80% and IRMS interfaced to a gas chromatography/combustion system for samples with lower purity, including solutions of squalane extracted from cosmetic products. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In recent years, new products obtained from amaranth seeds have entered the food market including expanded “popping” seeds and flakes. Lipids and biologically-active substances dissolved in these products are susceptible to changes. Additionally, due to the fact that fat quality has high dietary importance, there is a need to conduct detailed quality and quantity studies on the lipid composition of Amaranthus cruentus.
For the samples under analysis, protein, fat, starch and ash content were determined. Fatty acids and sterols were analysed by gas chromatography. The analysis of tocopherols and squalene content was carried out with the application of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array and fluorescence detectors (HPLC-DAD-FLD).
Protein, fat and starch content did not change during seed processing. However in the case of tocopherols, the total tocopherol content was 10.6 mg/100 g for seeds, while in “popping” and in flakes it was reduced by approximately 35%. The squalene content ranged from 469.96 mg/100 g for seeds to 358.9 mg/100 g for flakes. No significant differences were observed in the fatty acid profile of seeds and products, but differences were observed in the sterol content.

Objective: To study immunological and virological parameters in HIV-1-seropositive adults treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at least 7 months after immunisation with MF59-adjuvanted (FLUAD, Chiron, Siena, Italy) or with non-adjuvanted (AGRIPPAL, Chiron) trivalent influenza vaccine. Design: Blood samples, collected before and after vaccination, were analysed for the presence of antibodies against the vaccine antigens, for number of CD4+ T lymphocytes and HIV-1 RNA levels. Results: Forty-four volunteers received FLUAD and 40 AGRIPPAL influenza vaccine. Thirty days after vaccination both adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted vaccines induced significant increases of anti-influenza virus antibodies. However, antibody titres found in volunteers receiving adjuvanted vaccine were in general significantly higher when compared with those found in the non-adjuvanted vaccine group. The requirements of the European Commission of influenza vaccine for a non-elderly adult population were always met by recipients of the adjuvanted vaccine, even in those with the lowest CD4+ cell counts (<200 cells/mmc). The subjects receiving the non-adjuvanted vaccine failed to met these requirements. The CD4+ T lymphocytes and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels remained stable in the long term, both in people receiving adjuvanted or non-adjuvanted vaccine. Conclusion: MF59-adjuvanted influenza induced a significant higher immune responses as compared with conventional vaccine in HIV-seropositive HAART-treated patients. Both vaccines were safe regarding HIV RNA viral replication and loss of CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was employed to extract oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) from chia seeds, and the physicochemical properties of the oil were determined. A central composite rotatable design was used to analyze the impact of temperature (40 °C, 60 °C and 80 °C), pressure (250 bar, 350 bar and 450 bar) and time (60 min, 150 min and 240 min) on oil extraction yield, and a response surface methodology (RSM) was applied. The extraction time and pressure had the greatest effects on oil. The highest oil yield was 92.8% after 300 min of extraction time at 450 bar. The FA composition varied depending on operating conditions but had a high content of α-linolenic acid (44.4–63.4%) and linoleic acid (19.6–35.0%). The rheological evaluation of the oils indicated a Newtonian behavior. The viscosity of the oil decreased with the increase in temperature following an Arrhenius-type relationship.

S. sylvestre Wright is an extremely rare plant, found only in the sub-Himalayan Terai region of West Bengal and neighboring Sikkim foot-hills. The plant has never been evaluated for any pharmaceutical properties. The phytochemical status of the plant is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities and analysis of bioactive compounds present in S. sylvestre. S. sylvestre methanolic extract (SSME) was evaluated for different free radical scavenging activities such as hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide, singlet oxygen, hypochlorous acid, peroxynitrite, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging etc. Iron chelating capacity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were studied in addition to the assessment of haemolytic activity and erythrocyte membrane stabilizing activity (EMSA). Chemical characterization of SSME were performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrome...

Ten North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with Telazol and instrumented with ingestable radiotelemetry temperature sensors for measuring core body temperature. The otters were then subjected to a washing protocol to simulate rehabilitation following an oil spill contamination. This protocol consisted of a 30-min wash in a 1:16 dilution of dishwashing liquid using either cold (24 degrees C) water or water near baseline core body temperature (38.4 degrees C), followed by a 30-min rinse with water of the same temperature, followed by 10 min of forced hot air drying. Core body temperatures of the otters washed in cold water fell at a median rate of 0.1 degrees C/min, whereas otters washed in warm water maintained stable core temperatures until the completion of the protocol, at which time their core temperatures began to drop at a similar rate. Core temperatures restabilized in both groups, and no statistical difference in core temperature between groups remai...