Potent pigmentation inhibitory activity of incensole-enriched frankincense volatile oil-identification, efficacy and mechanism.

Background: Frankincense volatile oil (FVO) has long been considered a side product in pharmaceutical industry since frankincense of large molecular weight is the prime target. However, the volatile oil recycled in the extract process might contain a series of functional actives, serving as promising ingredients in the cosmetic field.

Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer was utilized to determine the species and amount of active ingredients in FVO.

Novel dye sensitizers of polymeric metal complexes with benzodithiophene derivatives as donor and their photovoltaic performance.

Four novel donor-acceptor (D-A) type conjugated polymeric metal complexes (P1-P4) bearing benzodithiophene or carbazole derivative as donors were synthesized, characterized and applied as dye sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Salicylaldehyde derivative complexes acted as electron acceptors, Zn(II) or Cd(II) was chosen as the coordinated metal ion, and diaminomaleonitrile was ancillary ligand in these structures. The thermal, photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of these polymeric metal complexes were investigated by FT-IR, GPC, TGA, DSC, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), J-V curves and IPCE plots.