Development, Optimization, and Evaluation of New Gel Formulations with Cyclodextrin Complexes and Volatile Oils with Antimicrobial Activity.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate hydrogels containing a cyclodextrin complex with clove essential oil and other free volatile oils with antimicrobial properties (tea tree and rosemary essential oils), focusing on their pharmaco-technical and rheological characteristics. The formulations varied in the Carbopol 940 (a hydrophilic polymer) and volatile oils' concentrations. Rheological analysis indicated that the gels displayed pseudoplastic behavior, with the flow index (n) values below 1, ensuring appropriate consistency and handling.

Chemical and Biological Studies of Essential Oil-First Report on Some Antimicrobial and Antipathogenic Features.

The essential oil of was isolated by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC-MS. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oil was evaluated, as well as its biocompatibility (LDH and MTT methods). DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC methods were applied for antioxidant activity evaluation, while qualitative and quantitative assays (inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration), NO release (by nitrite concentration determination), and microbial adhesion capacity to the inert substrate (the biofilm microtiter method) were used to investigate the antimicrobial potential.

Copper (II) Species with Improved Anti-Melanoma and Antibacterial Activity by Inclusion in β-Cyclodextrin.

To improve their biological activity, complexes [Cu(bipy)(dmtp)(OH)](ClO)·dmtp () and [Cu(phen)(dmtp)(OH)](ClO)·dmtp () (bipy 2,2'-bipyridine, phen: 1,10-phenantroline, and dmtp: 5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidine) were included in β-cyclodextrins (β-CD). During the inclusion, the co-crystalized dmtp molecule was lost, and UV-Vis spectra together with the docking studies indicated the synthesis of new materials with 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios between complexes and β-CD. The association between Cu(II) compounds and β-CD has been proven by the identification of the components' patterns in the IR spectra and powder XRD diffractograms, while solid-state UV-Vis and EPR spectra analysis highlighted a slight modification of the square-pyramidal stereochemistry around Cu(II) in comparison with precursors.

Facile Electrochemical Sensor for Sensitive and Selective Determination of Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine and Paracetamol on Electrochemically Pretreated Pencil Graphite Electrode.

Guaifenesin (GFS), phenylephrine (PHE) and paracetamol (PAR), drugs used in combination for the relief of cold and flu symptoms, were determined at electrochemically pretreated pencil graphite electrode. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for the first time for the concomitant determination of the target compounds based on the electro-oxidation of PAR at 0.43 V, PHE at 0.

Bee Pollen Extracts: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Effect on the Growth of Selected Probiotic and Pathogenic Bacteria.

This paper evaluated the chemical and biological properties of bee pollen samples from Romania. Firstly, the bee pollen alcoholic extracts (BPEs) were obtained from raw bee pollen harvested by bees. The chemical composition of BPE was obtained by determination of total phenol content and total flavonoid content, UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis of phenolic compounds, and GC-MS analysis of fatty acids, esters, and terpenes.

Chemical Composition, Antipathogenic and Cytotoxic Activity of the Essential Oil Extracted from Fruits.

The purpose of this paper was to characterize and investigate the antimicrobial potential of fruits essential oil (EO). The EO was extracted by hydrodistillation, analyzed by GC-MS, and then evaluated for its interaction with microbial and mammalian cells. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against bacterial and fungal strains, in a planktonic and adherent growth state, using qualitative and quantitative assays.

Monitoring and evaluation of the water quality of Budeasa Reservoir-Arges River, Romania.

The purpose of this study was to monitor and record the specific characteristics and properties of the Arges River water in the Budeasa Reservoir (the principal water resources of municipal tap water of the big Romanian city Pitesti and surrounding area) for a period of 5 years (2005-2009). The monitored physical and chemical parameters were turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, 5 days biochemical oxygen demand, free dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia nitrogen, chloride, total dissolved iron ions, sulfate, manganese, phosphate, total alkalinity, and total hardness. The results were discussed in correlation with the precipitation values during the study.

Voltammetric determination of polyphenolic content as rosmarinic acid equivalent in tea samples using pencil graphite electrodes.

The quasi-reversible, diffusion controlled behavior of rosmarinic acid (RA) on a disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was established by cyclic voltammetry. Using the anodic oxidation peak presented by RA on the PGE a differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was developed for the quantitative determination of RA. The linear range was 10(-8) - 10(-5) M RA and the detection and quantification limits were 7.

Comparative Chemical Analysis of Mentha piperita and M. spicata and a Fast Assessment of Commercial Peppermint Teas.

The hydrodistilled essential oils and volatile compounds (by static headspaces technique) of Mentha piperita L. and M spicata L. were characterized by GC-MS.

HPLC Method for Quantification of Five Compounds in a Parenteral Form Used in Treatment of Companion Animals.

This article describes a novel HPLC method able to quantify four active substances: tylosin tartrate, prednisolone, chloramphenicol and vitamin B12 and one excipient benzyl alcohol for the first time in <15 min. The analysis was conducted using a HyPurity Advance chromatographic column, a binary mobile phase which contains water (60%) and methanol (40%) as organic modifiers delivered isocratically at room temperature. The detection was established to be optimum at 260 nm.

Chemical Composition and Antipathogenic Activity of Artemisia annua Essential Oil from Romania.

The essential oil extracted by hydrodistillation from Romanian Artemisia annua aerial parts was characterized by GC/MS analysis, which allowed the identification of 94.64% of the total oil composition. The main components were camphor (17.

Rapid determination of total polyphenolic content in tea samples based on caffeic acid voltammetric behaviour on a disposable graphite electrode.

The present paper describes the voltammetric behaviour and the quantitative determination of caffeic acid (CA) on a disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The anodic peak current of CA recorded by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) varies linearly with CA concentration in the range 1×10(-7)-3×10(-3) M. The detection and quantification limits were 8.

Monitoring of aminophenol isomers in surface water samples using a new HPLC method.

A new HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of aminophenol isomers by means of a mixed-mode stationary phase containing both SCX and C18 moieties. All factors influencing the separation were discussed and optimized. The chromatographic conditions for the separation of aminophenols are the stationary phase duet SCX/C18, the mobile phase of aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 4.

Determination of three alkylphenol isomers in various water samples using a new HPLC method based on a duet stationary phase.

The level of three alkylphenols (APs) 4-nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol was monitored in various water samples using a new developed and validated HPLC method. The HPLC method employed a column with a mixed-mode stationary phase (C18/SCX) using a mobile phase of water to methanol = 15:85 (v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1 mL/min at room temperature. Both diode array, DAD and fluorescence, FLD detectors were employed.

HPLC-FLD determination of 4-nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol in surface water samples.

A simple, sensitive and reliable HPLC-FLD method for the routine determination of 4-nonylphenol, 4-NP and 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-t-OP content in water samples was developed. The method consists in a liquid-liquid extraction of the target analytes with dichloromethane at pH  3.0-3.

Determination of arsenic content of some Romanian natural mineral groundwaters.

Romania is one of the countries that have natural arsenic groundwater problems. This paper presents the results of a study of arsenic concentration monitoring in natural mineral waters collected from 23 sampling sites located in the northern, central, and western regions of Romania. The sampling sites are both natural springs and drilled wells.

Development of a new HPLC method used for determination of zearalenone and its metabolites in broiler samples. Influence of zearalenone on the nutritional properties of broiler meat.

This paper presents the development, optimization and validation of a new HPLC method used for the separation and determination of zearalenone, ZON, and its metabolites in biological samples of Leghorn broiler. ZON and its metabolites can be separated with good resolution in 11 min, using a Hypersil Gold C18 column, a mobile phase mixture of 50 mM aqueous ammonium acetate:acetonitrile:methanol, 45:8:47 (v/v/v), flow rate 1 mL/min and column temperature 40 degrees C. Based on the results obtained by this method applied on biological samples one can conclude that liver is the site for zearalenone localization and detoxification.

Barium concentrations and speciation in mineral natural waters of central Romania.

This paper reports the results obtained for the determination of Ba concentrations in mineral groundwater samples collected from drilled outlets located in the counties of Covasna and Harghita (34 sampling points), in five expeditions (spring, summer, and autumn), during 3 years: 2005, 2006, and 2007. The experimental data show that there are some sampling sites in which the barium concentration exceeds 1 mg/L, which is the maximum concentration admitted for barium. These mineral natural waters could be used only for therapeutic purposes.