A novel method based on ultrasound-assisted EESI-MS has been developed and applied to rapidly detect the presence of melamine in raw milk, wheat gluten and milk powder with no or minor sample pre-treatment; the high sample throughput and figures of merit make it specially useful for screening melamine levels well below the current safety limit in various food matrices.

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Original PaperOptimum extraction Process of polyphenols from the bark of Phyllanthus emblica L. based on the response surface methodology Phyllanthus emblica L. is an economic plant used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The bark of P. emblica is rich in polyphenols and its extractions have shown strong antioxidative and radical scavenging activity. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to assess the optimal extraction of polyphenols from P. emblica bark. Various extraction parameters including ethanol concentration, extraction time, temperature, solid -liquid ratio, and extraction times were chosen to identify their effects on polyphenols extraction. Among these parameters, extraction times and solvent concentration were found to have significant effect on polyphenols extraction. RSM was applied to obtain the optimal combination of solvent concentration, extraction time, temperature, and extraction time for maximum rate of extraction. The most suitable condition for the extraction of polyphenols was at ethanol concentration 75%, extraction time 25 min, extraction temperature 458C, and extraction times 3. At these optimal extraction parameters, the maximum extraction of polyphenols obtained experimentally was found to be very close to its predicted value. The extraction rate of polyphenols was 19.78% at the optimum conditions. The mathematical model developed was found to fit with the experimental data of polyphenols extraction.

Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl is a member of genus Citrus (Rutaceae) and has been used in Chinese medicine with the effectiveness of digestant and expectorant. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction process for maximum flavonoids from the flower of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl was investigated by response surface methodology. Through single factor experiment, ranges of the main variables (including ethanol concentration, solid/liquid ratio, extraction time and temperature) affecting the extraction yield of flavonoids were confirmed. Box-Behnken central composite design consisting of 24 experimental runs and 5 replicates at zero point was then applied and a regress model was obtained to predict the optimal extraction yield. The ANOVA indicated that the regression equation fits very well with the actual situation, reflecting the relationship between the extraction yield of flavonoids and extraction conditions. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction temperature 72.11 degrees C, time 51.89 min, ethanol concentration 51.19% and liquid/solid ratio of 40:10. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum response value of yield (1.88%) was consistent with the experimental value (1.87%), indicating the feasibility and validation of response surface methodology in optimizing the extraction of flavonoids from the flower of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl.

CHMPS can active or regulate the immune system including innate and adaptive responses, and have profound effects on different diseases. Through examining the molecular mechanisms of the immunomodulating effects of CHMPS, it can be shown that CHMPS have the potential to be an adjuvant in cancer therapies.

Extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI-MS) for real-time monitoring of organic chemical reactions was demonstrated for a well-established pharmaceutical process reaction and a widely used acetylation reaction in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP). EESI-MS provides real-time information that allows us to determine the optimum time for terminating the reaction based on the relative intensities of the precursors and products. In addition, tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis via EESI-MS permits on-line validation of proposed reaction intermediates. The simplicity and rapid response of EESI-MS make it a valuable technique for on-line characterization and full control of chemical and pharmaceutical reactions, resulting in maximized product yield and minimized environmental costs.

Within the parent protein molecule, most peptides are inactive, and they are released with biofunctionalities after enzymatic hydrolysis. Marine algae have high protein content, up to 47% of the dry weight, depending on the season and the species. Recently, there is an increasing interest in using marine algae protein as a source of bioactive peptides due to their health promotion and disease therapy potentials. This review presents an overview of marine algae-derived bioactive peptides and especially highlights some key issues, such as in silico proteolysis and quantitative structure-activity relationship studies, in vivo fate of bioactive peptides, and novel technologies in bioactive peptides studies and production.

A plasma-based active capillary ionization source was constructed. This concept of an active sample inlet should broaden the range of applications of ambient mass spectrometry.