AppliedChem, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 2024) – 3 articles

Nitrogen (N) is highly reactive and prone to being easily lost into the air and soil water. Biochar–N composites have proven effective in nourishing and improving maize growth. The aim of this study was to synthesize and assess the properties of composites made from biochars (pyrolyzed at 300 °C) derived from chicken manure (N = 3.5%) and leguminous cake (N = 9%) and enriched with ammonium sulfate (AS), urea, and diammonium phosphate (DAP). The biochar pH was adjusted to approximately 6 using sulfuric and phosphoric acids prior to formulating the six tested composites. Maize was cultivated for 50 days under greenhouse conditions, with evaluations of the maize dry matter (DM) and N in the plant shoot. The biochar and composite properties underwent scrutiny for chemical and physicochemical attributes, as well as for soluble N in water and in an HCl solution. Throughout maize cultivation, the release of N as ammonium and nitrate from the composites and pure biochars in the Oxisol solution was successively assessed. Composites formulated with DAP and supplied at a dose of 270 mg kg⁻¹ N yielded the same maize dry matter as composites in which 400 mg kg⁻¹ N was supplied to plants. Regardless of the N source, at the end of maize cultivation, the residual N in the Oxisol was reduced and inadequate for a new cultivation, even in soils treated with urea. Notably, the biochar–N composites, particularly those formulated with DAP, were as effective as urea in nourishing and promoting robust maize growth. In contrast, the maize biomass was lower for plants fertilized with pure biochars, indicating that the N from the carbonized matrices was insufficient for optimal biomass production. Full article

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that is mainly characterized by hyperglycemia. Chalcones and their derivatives have demonstrated promising pharmacological potential for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate antidiabetic activities and analyze 4-methoxychalcone (MPP) using GC-MS. The compound was characterized using mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and headspace with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). MPP was evaluated via the inhibition of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme, cell viability and antiglycation and hemolytic activities in vitro. The study of the interaction between the bovine serum albumin protein and MPP was investigated via molecular docking. Oral sucrose tolerance and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The HS-GC-MS method was able to accurately detect and characterize the compound, and the interaction between MPP and BSA revealed the remarkable affinity for the two main binding sites of BSA. This was confirmed by the in vitro antiglycation test, since MPP showed activity through both oxidative and non-oxidative stress. MPP significantly attenuated the increase in glycemia after glucose loading in STZ-induced diabetic mice. These results confirm that MPP has antihyperglycemic activity and may be an alternative for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Full article

Wine exerts a fundamental influence on the global market, and its aroma remains a crucial attribute contributing to its commercial value. The market could benefit significantly if a simple and cheap method of analyzing a wine’s aromatic profile were developed. The purpose of this study is to develop such a method. A multi-analytical method for quantifying 39 volatile compounds of wine aroma was developed and validated using liquid–liquid extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The method was validated for its linearity, reproducibility, recovery, limit of detection, and limit of quantification and showed excellent results for almost all compounds. The method was applied to 25 commercial Protected Designation of Origin “Nemea” wines, and the results were compared and correlated with the sensory analysis results by a trained panel. The correlations among the parameters indicated that the newly developed GC-MS/MS method produces similar results to human responses. Full article