This study investigates the biological activity of pure allantoin (PA) and aqueous extract of the comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) root (AECR) standardized to the allantoin content. Cell viability and proliferation of epithelial (MDCK) and fibroblastic (L929) cell line were studied by using MTT test. Anti-irritant potential was determined by measuring electrical capacitance, erythema index (EI) and transepidermal water loss of artificially irritated skin of young healthy volunteers, 3 and 7 days after application of creams and gels with PA or AECR. Pure allantoin showed mild inhibitory effect on proliferation of both cell lines at concentrations 40 and 100 µg/ml, but more pronounced on MDCK cells. Aqueous extract of the comfrey root effect on cell proliferation in concentrations higher than 40 µg/ml was significantly stimulatory for L929 but inhibitory for MDCK cells. Pharmaceutical preparations that contained AECR showed better anti-irritant potential compared with PA. Creams showed better effect on hydration and EI compared with the gels that contained the same components. Our results indicate that the biological activity of the comfrey root extract cannot be attributed only to allantoin but is also likely the result of the interaction of different compounds present in AECR. Topical preparations that contain comfrey extract may have a great application in the treatment of skin irritation.

The synthesis of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate) hydrogel along with the analysis of the residual monomers content and influence of monomer and crosslinker molar ratios on the swelling behaviour was investigated. Synthesis of thermosensitive hydrogel based on N-isopropylacrylamide was carried out with the molar ratios of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mol. % of monomer 2- hydroxypropyl-methacrylate, in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker (1, 1.5, 2 and 3 mol. %) and 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionitril) as an initiator in acetone. The quantities of residual monomers in the synthesized copolymers were determined by HPLC method, ranging from 0.19 to 0.49 % for N-isopropylacrylamide and from 0.13 to 0.63 % for 2-hydroxypropyl-methacrylate, counting the amount of xerogel. The hydrogels swelling ratio depending on time at 20 and 40°C was examined. It was found that hydrogel with 5 mol. % 2-hydroxypropyl-methacrylate and 1 mol. % ethylene glycol dimethacrylate had the highest degree of swelling (α = 29.59) at 20°C, and that hydrogel with 20 mol. % 2-hydroxypropyl-methacrylate and 3 mol. % ethylene glycol dimethacrylate had the lowest swelling degree (α = 2.17) at 40°C

Abstract:The aim of this article is to evaluate the quality of the Danube River in its course through Serbia as well as to demonstrate the possibilities for using three statistical methods: Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor Analysis (FA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) in the surface water quality management. Given that the Danube is an important trans-boundary river, thorough water quality monitoring by sampling at different distances during shorter and longer periods of time is not only ecological, but also a political issue. Monitoring was carried out at monthly intervals from January to December 2011, at 17 sampling sites. The obtained data set was treated by multivariate techniques in order, fi rstly, to identify the similarities and differences between sampling periods and locations, secondly, to recognize variables that affect the temporal and spatial water quality changes and thirdly, to present the anthropogenic impact on water quality parameters.Unauthenticated Download Date | 8/30/18 8:07 AM

Water quality has recently become a major issue in the management of international river basins, especially in Europe. The need for integrating the water quality issues in various environmental initiatives worldwide reflects the profound impact of economic, technological and demographic changes upon freshwater resources, including rivers [1-3]. One can say that water quality is one of the most important factors that have to be considered in order to evaluate the sustainability of a particular watershed [4]. Water quality is, in fact, one of the main characteristics of a river, even when its purpose is other than human water supply; for instance, tourism, transportation and consumption [5]. The quality of surface water bodies is a very sensitive environmental issue. Surface water quality is determined by natural processes-climatic, hydrological and geological (air temperature, precipitation, mean water level, flow variation, soil erosion and basin lithology)-as well as human activities such as urbanization, industry, mining, metallurgy, agriculture

The transformation of the synthesized allicin, using conventional method, the influence of ultrasound and microwaves, in different organic solvents (acetonitrile, acetone, methanol, and chloroform), at various temperatures (room temperature, 45°C, and 55°C) was investigated. Allicin degradation kinetic was monitored by HPLC. Allicin transformation under the effect of microwaves is faster than transformations performed under the influence of ultrasound or by conventional method. Increase of the temperature accelerates allicin transformation. Pharmacologically active compounds of (E)-ajoene, (Z)-ajoene, 3-vinyl-4H-1,2-dithiin, 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, and diallyl disulfide were isolated from the mixture of transformation products of allicin under the influence of microwaves in methanol at 55°C, which is according to kinetic parameters (highest values of the order of reaction and the lowest activation energy) the optimal method.