Arwa Mustafa , Leire Mijangos Trevino and Charlotta Turner
Article: Pressurized Hot Ethanol Extraction of Carotenoids from Carrot By-Products
Molecules 2012, 17(2), 1809-1818; doi:10.3390/molecules17021809 - published online 10 February 2012
Show/Hide AbstractAbstract: Carotenoids are known for their antioxidant activity and health promoting effects. One of the richest sources of carotenoids are carrots. However, about 25% of the annual production is regarded as by-products due to strict market policies. The aim of this study was to extract carotenoids from those by-products. Conventional carotenoid extraction methods require the use of organic solvents, which are costly, environmentally hazardous, and require expensive disposal procedures. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) utilizes conventional solvents at elevated temperatures and pressure, and it requires less solvent and shorter extraction times. The extraction solvent of choice in this study was ethanol, which is a solvent generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The extraction procedure was optimized by varying the extraction time (2–10 min) and the temperature (60–180 °C). β-Carotene was used as an indicator for carotenoids content in the carrots. The results showed that time and temperatures of extraction have significant effect on the yield of carotenoids. Increasing the flush volume during extraction did not improve the extractability of carotenoids, indicating that the extrication method was mainly desorption/diffusion controlled. Use of a dispersing agent that absorbs the moisture content was important for the efficiency of extraction. Analysing the content of β-carotene at the different length of extraction cycles showed that about 80% was recovered after around 20 min of extraction.

Wen Jie Li , Xian Long Cheng , Jing Liu , Rui Chao Lin , Gang Li Wang , Shu Shan Du and Zhi Long Liu
Article: Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Liriope muscari
Molecules 2012, 17(2), 1797-1808; doi:10.3390/molecules17021797 - published online 10 February 2012
Show/Hide AbstractAbstract: Five phenolic compounds, namely N-trans-coumaroyltyramine (1), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (2), N-trans-feruloyloctopamine (3), 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone (4) and (3S)3,5,4′-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-6-methylhomoisoflavanone (5), were isolated from the fibrous roots of Liriope muscari (Liliaceae). Compounds 2–5 were isolated for the first time from the Liriope genus. Their in vitro antioxidant activities were assessed by the DPPH and ABTS scavenging methods with microplate assays. The structure-activity relationships of compounds 1–3 are discussed.

Derek J. McPhee
Editorial: Molecules Best Paper Award 2012
Molecules 2012, 17(2), 1795-1796; doi:10.3390/molecules17021795 - published online 10 February 2012
Show/Hide AbstractAbstract: Molecules start to institute the “Best Paper” award to recognize these outstanding papers in the area of natural products, medicinal chemistry and molecular diversity published in Molecules. We are pleased to announce the first “Molecules Best Paper Award” for 2012. Nominations were selected by the editor-in-chief and selected editorial board members from all the papers published in 2008. [...]

Mohammed Jahurul Haque Akanda , Mohammed Zaidul Islam Sarker , Sahena Ferdosh , Mohd Yazid Abdul Manap , Nik Norulaini Nik Ab Rahman and Mohd Omar Ab Kadir
Review: Applications of Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) of Palm Oil and Oil from Natural Sources
Molecules 2012, 17(2), 1764-1794; doi:10.3390/molecules17021764 - published online 10 February 2012
Show/Hide AbstractAbstract: Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), which has received much interest in its use and further development for industrial applications, is a method that offers some advantages over conventional methods, especially for the palm oil industry. SC-CO₂ refers to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) that uses carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a solvent which is a nontoxic, inexpensive, nonflammable, and nonpolluting supercritical fluid solvent for the extraction of natural products. Almost 100% oil can be extracted and it is regarded as safe, with organic solvent-free extracts having superior organoleptic profiles. The palm oil industry is one of the major industries in Malaysia that provides a major contribution to the national income. Malaysia is the second largest palm oil and palm kernel oil producer in the World. This paper reviews advances in applications of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction of oils from natural sources, in particular palm oil, minor constituents in palm oil, producing fractionated, refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil, palm kernel oil and purified fatty acid fractions commendable for downstream uses as in toiletries and confectionaries.

Monther Faisel Mahdi , Mohamed Hassan Mohammed and Akeel Abdul Kadhum Jassim
Article: Design, Synthesis and Preliminary Pharmacological Evaluation of New Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents Having a 4-(Methylsulfonyl) Aniline Pharmacophore
Molecules 2012, 17(2), 1751-1763; doi:10.3390/molecules17021751 - published online 10 February 2012
Show/Hide AbstractAbstract: A series of 4-(methylsulfonyl)aniline derivatives were synthesized in order to obtain new compounds as a potential anti-inflammatory agents with expected selectivity against COX-2 enzyme. In vivo acute anti-inflammatory activity of the final compounds 11–14 was evaluated in rat using an egg-white induced edema model of inflammation in a dose equivalent to 3 mg/Kg of diclofenac sodium. All tested compounds produced significant reduction of paw edema with respect to the effect of propylene glycol 50% v/v (control group). Moreover, the activity of compounds 11 and 14 was significantly higher than that of diclofenac sodium (at 3 mg/Kg) in the 120–300 minute time interval, while compound 12 expressed a comparable effect to that of diclofenac sodium in the 60–240 minute time interval time, and compound 13 showed a comparable effect to that of diclofenac sodium at all experimental times. The result of this study indicates that the incorporation of the 4-(methylsulfonyl)aniline pharamacophore into naproxen, indomethacine, diclofenac and mefanamic acid maintained their anti-inflammatory activity and may increase selectivity towards the COX-2 enzyme which will be confirmed in the future by assessing COX-2: COX-1 inhibitory ratios using a whole blood assay.

Braulio M. Fraga , Ricardo Guillermo , Melchor G. Hernández , María C. Chamy and Juan A. Garbarino
Article: The Incubation of 13a,17-Dihydroxystemodane with Cephalosporium aphidicola
Molecules 2012, 17(2), 1744-1750; doi:10.3390/molecules17021744 - published online 9 February 2012
Show/Hide AbstractAbstract: The biotransformation of 13a,17-dihydroxystemodane (3) with the fungus Cephalosporium aphidicola afforded 13a,17,18-trihydroxystemodane (4), 3b,13a,17-tri-hydroxystemodane (5), 13a,17-dihydroxy-stemodan-18-oic acid (6), 3b,11β,13a,17-tetra-hydroxystemodane (7), 11β,13a,17,18-tetrahydroxystemodane (8) and 3b,13a,17,18-tetra-hydroxystemodane (9). The hydroxylation at C-18 of the substrate points to a biosynthetically-directed transformation, because aphidicolin (2) is hydroxylated at this carbon. However, the C-3(b) and C-11(b) hydroxylations seem to indicate a xenobiotic biotransformation.