Insight into the effect of geographic location and intercropping on contamination characteristics and exposure risk of phthalate esters(PAEs)in tea plantation soils

Phthalate esters(PAEs)are an emerging pollutant due to widespread distribution in environmental mediums that have attracted widespread attention over recent years.However,there is little information about tea plantation soil PAEs.A total of 270 soil samples collected from 45 tea plantations in the major high-quality tea-producing regions of Jiangsu,Zhejiang,and Anhui provinces in China were analyzed for seven PAEs.The detection frequency of PAEs in tea plantation soil was 100%.DBP,DEHP,and DiBP were the main congeners in tea plantation soil.The PAEs concentrations in the upper soil were significantly higher than those in the lower soil.The concentration of tea plantation soil PAEs in Jiangsu Province was significantly lower than those in Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.Intercropping with chestnuts can effectively reduce the contamination level of PAEs in tea plantation soil.Correlation analysis,redundancy analysis,partial correlation analysis,and structural equation modeling methods further confirmed the strong direct influence of factors such as chestnut–tea intercropping,temperature,and agricultural chemicals on the variation of PAEs in tea plantation soil.The health and ecological risk assessments indicated that non-carcinogenic risk was within a safe range and that there was a high carcinogenic risk via the dietary pathway,with DBP posing the highest ecological risk.

Research progress on classification,source,application of phytosterol esters,and their thermal oxidation stability

Phytosterol esters can effectively decrease serum cholesterol concentration in the human body and prevent cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.It was found that phytosterol esters exhibited better solubility and bioavailability than free phytosterols.In recent years,phytosterol esters have attracted increasing attention.However,during food processing,phytosterol esters are susceptible to degradation at high temperatures,resulting in certain losses and formation of potentially harmful substances for humans.This paper reviews the relevant literatures and updates on the thermal oxidation stability of phytosterol esters in recent years from the following aspects:(i)Sources,physiological activities,and applications of phytosterol esters;(ii)Oxidation mechanism of phytosterol esters;(iii)Effects of phytosterols species,the volume of addition,food matrix,heating temperature and time,and antioxidants on the thermal loss and oxidation stability of phytosterol esters.The research progress on the safety of phytosterol esters is also discussed in detail.Additionally,the prospects for future research are highlighted.

Screening of Degrading Bacteria for Phthalic Acid Esters Under Cadmium Stress and Its Application

In order to enrich the degrading microbial resources for phthalic acid esters(PAEs)under cadmium stress,a degrading bacterium B-7 for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP)was screened from the strains stored in the laboratory by means of inorganic salt liquid medium containing DEHP and cadmium,and the characteristics of the strain were studied.Strain B-7 was Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,which had high biosafety and excellent degradability to DEHP.The optimum temperature for degradation was 25–40℃,and the optimum pH value was 6–8.Strain B-7 was cultured in inorganic salt medium(MSM)with an initial DEHP concentration of 400 mg/L and cadmium content of 10 mmol/L for 4 d,and its degradation rate of DEHP was up to 93.1%.In addition,the strain had a strong degradation ability to dimethyl phthalate(DMP),diethyl phthalate(DEP),and dibutyl phthalate(DBP).In soil contaminated by cadmium and DEHP,the synergic degradation of B-7 and indigenous microorganisms in soil significantly increased the degradation rate of DEHP,indicating that this strain had potential application value in the field of microbial remediation of soil contaminated by cadmium and PAEs.

Study on the regulatory effect of liver X receptor in HEK293 cells by six main diterpene esters in Semen Euphorbiae

Background:To study the effects of the main diterpene esters in Euphorbia factor L_(1),L_(2),L_(3),L_(7a),L_(7b)and L_(8)on the transcriptional activity and protein expression of liver X receptor(LXR).Methods:The effect of the main diterpene ester components in Semen Euphorbiae on the viability of HEK293 cells were studied by MTT assay.The LXR-Luc plasmid vector was transfected into HEK293 cells and treated with Euphorbia factor L_(1),L_(2),L_(3),L_(7a),L_(7b)and L_(8)for 24 h.The effect of the main diterpene ester components of Semen Euphorbiae on LXR-Luc luciferase activity was investigated by dual luciferase reporter gene system,and the expression of LXRαprotein was detected by Western Blot.Results:Euphorbia factor L_(1),L_(2),L_(3),L_(7a),L_(7b)and L_(8)could significantly reduce the relative luciferase activity(RLU)of LXRα,and the expression level of LXRαprotein was significantly down-regulated.Conclusion:Euphorbia factor L_(1),L_(2),L_(3),L_(7a),L_(7b)and L_(8)can inhibit the expression of LXR protein level,which may be achieved by inhibiting the transcriptional activity of LXR.

Recent Advances of Sensitive Electrochemical Sensing Platforms for Rapid Detection of Phthalate Acid Esters

As a kind of plasticizer,phthalic acid esters(PAEs)are often added to plastics to enhance elasticity,transparency,durability and prolong service life.However,it does not chemically bind to plastics and is easy to migrate to the environment.It is difficult to degrade in the environment,and it is also enriched in the human body through the food chain and respiration,which will lead to obvious adverse reactions such as decreased learning and memory function and neurobehavioral disorders.Due to the toxicity,universality and low concentration limitations of PAEs in the environment and food,it is essential to achieve rapid and sensitive detection of PAEs in soil,atmosphere,water and food.Electrochemical(EC)sensors have the advantages of simplicity,fast,low cost,portability,easy operation,high specificity and high sensitivity,so they are applied for the detection of PAEs.Although there are a large number of studies on the detection of PAEs by EC sensors,there is no review on this aspect.In this review,we introduce the detection of PAEs from classical EC sensors,electrochemiluminescence(ECL)sensors and photo-electrochemical(PEC)sensors in the past five years.This review is beneficial to understanding the construction of EC sensors and the detection mechanism of PAEs.We also propose that the development of rapid,accurate and real-time detection methods of PAEs is key to assessing risk and preventing related diseases.

Anticancer Activities of Substituted Cinnamic Acid Phenethyl Esters on Human Cancer Cell Lines

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and sixteen substituted cinnamic acid phenethyl esters were prepared via conventional procedures in order to test their in vitro anticancer activities by either MTT assay or SRB assay on six different human cancer cell lines. The results indicated that in the concentration of 10 μmol·L -1 the lead compound CAPE possessed anticancer activities against human HL 60, Bel 7402, and Hela cell lines, and two other compounds possessed potent anticancer activities against Bel 7402 and Hela cell lines.

Determination of phthalate esters in fat-containing foods by packed nanofiber solid-phase extraction column and gas chromatography

A new method for simultaneous determination of four phthalate esters （ PAEs） in commercial fat-containing foods was developed by the combination of a packed nanofibers column based on solid-phase extraction with gas chromatography-flame ionization detector （ GC-FID ）. Conditions for obtaining optimum extraction efficiency such as extraction solvents, morphologies of adsorbent, ion strength and pH were investigated and optimized in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection （LODs） found for dibutyl phthalate （DBP） , butyl benzyl phthalate （BBP）, diethyl hexyl phthalate （DEHP） and di-n-octyl phthalate （DNOP） were 50, 25, 50 and 25 ng/g, respectively. Good linearity of four PAEs was achieved in the range of 50 to 4 000 ng/g. The proposed method was applied for analyzing different kinds of fat-containing samples. PAEs in commercial fat-containing samples can be highly extracted by a packed solid-phase extraction column of 5 mg polystyrene （ PS） nanofibers. The satisfactory average recoveries were obtained in the range of 96. 7% to 102. 3% , and the relative standard deviations （RSDs） below 5% were achieved. The proposed method reduces the organic solvent consumption, the complex and tedious procedures for sample pretreatment, and achieves high sensitivity and reproducibility for the investigated PAEs.

Two New Phenolic Carboxylic Acid Esters from Opuntia vulgaris

Two new phenolic carboxylic acid esters n-butyl eucomate(1) and methyl eucomate (2) and six known compounds eucomic acid(3), 3-β-acetyl-taraxerol (4), friedelin(5),lupenone(6),methyl linoleate(7) and methyl oleate(8) were isolated from the stems of Opuntia vulgaris Mill(Cactaceae). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral methods. Compounds 3,4,6,7,8 were isolated for the first time from this plant.

New Sesquiterpene Esters from the Culture Filtrate of Calcarisporium arbuscula Isolated from Ganoderma lucidum

从四川野生赤芝 (Ganodermalucidum (Leyss.exFr.)Karst.)的一共生菌CalcarisporiumarbusculaPreuss的发酵过滤液中分离得到 3个新的倍半萜酯类化合物 ,分别命名为calcarisporinB2 (1)、B3 (2 )和B4(3) ,通过物理方法和波谱分析确定了它们的结构。

Short communication Catalytic synthesis of butyric esters with TiSiW_(12)O_(40)/TiO_2

The catalytic activities of TiSiW_(12)O_(40)/TiO_2 in synthesizing ethylester; propyl ester, n-butyl ester; and amyl ester were reported. It was demonstrated thatTiSiW_(12)O_(40)/TiO_2 is an excellent catalyst. Various factors concerned with esterification wereinvestigated. The optimum conditions were found: the mole ratio of alcohol to acid is 1.3:1, themass ratio of catalyst to reactants is 1.5 percent, and the reaction time is 1.0 h. Under theoptimum conditions, the yields are 88.0 percent for ethyl ester, 94.5 percent for propyl ester, 98.6percent for n-butyl ester, 99.1 percent for n-amyl ester, and 96.7 percent for iso-amyl ester,respectively.

Abiotic degradation of four phthalic acid esters in aqueous phase under natural sunlight irradiation

Abiotic degradability of four phthalic acid esters （PAEs） in the aquatic phase was evaluated over a wide pH range 5-9. The PAE solutions in glass test tubes were placed either in the dark and under the natural sunlight irradiation for evaluating the degradation rate via hydrolysis or photolysis plus hydrolysis, respectively, at ambient temperature for 140 d from autumn to winter in Osaka, Japan. The efficiency of abiotic degradation of the PAEs with relatively short alkyl chains, such as butylbenzyl phthalate （BBP） and di-nbutyl phthalate （DBP）, at neutral pH was significantly lower than that in the acidic or alkaline condition. Photolysis was considered to contribute mainly to the total abiotic degradation at all pH. Neither hydrolysis nor photolysis of di-ethylhexyl phthalate （DEHP） proceeded significantly at any pH, especially hydrolysis at neutral pH was negligible. On the other hand, the degradation rate of di- isononyl phthalate （DINP） catalyzed mainly by photolysis was much higher than those of the other PAEs, and was almost completely removed during the experimental period at pH 5 and 9. As a whole, according to the half-life （t1/2） obtained in the experiments, the abiotic degradability of the PAEs was in the sequence： DINP （32-140 d） 〉 DBP （50-360 d）, BBP （58-480 d） 〉 DEHP （390-1600 d） under sunlight irradiation （via photolysis plus hydrolysis）. Although the abiotic degradation rates for BBP, DBP, and DEHP are much lower than the biodegradation rates reported, the photolysis rate for DINP is comparable to its biodegradation rate in the acidic or alkaline condition.

Cloud point extraction coupled with HPLC-UV for the determination of phthalate esters in environmental water samples

A method based on cloud point extraction was developed to determine phthalate esters including di-ethyl-phthalate （DEP）, di- （2-ethylhexyl）-phthalate （DEHP） and di-cyclohexyl-phthalate （DCP） in environmental water samples using high-performance liquid chromatography separation and ultraviolet detection （HPLC-UV）. The non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 was chosen as extraction solvent. The parameters affecting extraction efficiency, such as concentrations of Triton X-114 and Na2SO4, equilibration temperature, equilibration time and centrifugation time were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the method can achieve preconcentration factors of 35, 88, 111 and detection of limits of 2.0, 3.8, 1.0 ng/ml for DEP, DEHP and DCP in 10-ml water sample, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amount of phathalate esters in effluent water of the wastewater treatment plant and the lixivium of plastic fragments.

Synthesis of insecticidal sucrose esters

Some synthetic sucrose esters （SE） are a relatively new class of insecticidal compounds produced by reacting sugars with fatty acids, which are safe for the environment. Especially, sucrose esters composed of C6-C12 fatty acids have desirable insecticidal properties against many soft-bodied arthropod pests. In our study, sucrose octanoate which has the highest activity against a range of arthropod species was synthesized by a trans-esterification method and proved its insecticidal property. Under the condition of a homogeneous liquid, sucrose octanoate was prepared by reacting ethyl octanoate with sucrose at reduced pressure; the yield was 79.11%. Sucrose octanoate synthesized was identified and its property analyzed by IR, TLC and spectrophotometric analysis. It was shown that the ratio of monoester to polyester in sucrose octanoate was 1.48：1. The insecticidal activity of the synthetic sucrose octanoate was evaluated at a concentration of 4 and 8 mg.mL^-1. The mortality of first-instar larvae ofLymantria dispar from its contact toxicity was 72.5% after 36 hours, the revision insect reduced rate of Aphis glycines reached above 80% at 4 and 8 mg.mL^-1 after being treated for 5 days. Since the SE products are nontoxic to humans and higher animals, fully biodegradable and hydrolyzed to readily metabolizable sucrose and fatty acid, they are not harmful to crops and appear to be good insecticide candidates.

Analysis of Phthalate Esters in Air, Soil and Plants in Plastic Film Greenhouse

The phthalate esters such as DMP, DEP, DBP and DEHP in air, soil and plant samples in plastic film greenhouse were clean up with fine silica gel column and determined with HPLC. It was found that the concentrations of PEs in air and soil samples in plastic film greenhouse are much higher than those of contrast samples. But concentrations of PEs in plants in plastic film greenhouse are not remarkably affected by the pollution of air and soil.

Highly efficient synthesis of β-amino esters via Mannich-type reaction under solvent-free conditions using ZnCl_2 catalyst

β-Amino esters were synthesized via ZnCl2-catalyzed Mannich-type reaction of imines and malonate esters under solvent-free conditions in 6 min. The β-amino ester was converted into the corresponding aspartic acid derivatives.

The setereoselective preparation ofβ-keto esters using baker's yeast in the presence of rice wine koji

By the addition of rice wine koji, enhancement of the reactivity was observed for the baker＇s yeast reduction of β-keto esters into （S）-β-hydroxy esters with high enantiomeric purity （73-98%）.

Selective debenzylation of benzyl esters by silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulphate

A new debenzylation of benzyl esters by silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate is described. The debenzylation could be achieved selectively and efficiently in good to excellent yields without affecting sensitive functional groups such as nitro, unsaturated bonds, and ethyl ester.

Efficient Syntheses of 2-Substituted Benzimidazoles and Benzoxazoles from β-Keto Esters

An efficient synthetic method was developed to synthesize 2-substituted benzimidazoles and benzo- xazoles with β-keto esters as starting materials under mild reaction conditions, during which other functional groups are bearable from reactants to products.

Biodegradability of four phthalic acid esters under anaerobic condition assessed using natural sediment

Biodegradability of di-n-butyl phthalate （DBP）, butylbenzyl phthalate （BBP）, di-ethylhexyl phthalate （DEHP）, and di-isononyl phthalate （DINP） under an anaerobic condition was evaluated using three natural sediment microcosms obtained from ponds in Osaka, which had not been significantly polluted by the chemicals. The degradabilities of the four phthalic acid esters（PAEs） were analyzed by a first-order kinetic model with a lag phase and ranked as DBP〉BBP〉〉DEHP〉DINP. The PAEs with shorter alkyl-chains, DBP and BBP, were degraded with quite short lag phases near to zero and short half-lives of a few days. The PAEs with longer alkyl-chains, DEHP and DINP, were degraded with lag phases of 5-30 d and the quite long half-lives of a couple of hundred days. Although no data was available on the anaerobic biodegradability of D1NP before this study, it was clarified that DINP can be degraded with slow degradation rates. The fact that all the three intact sediments were capable of biodegradation of the PAEs suggests that potential of anaerobic biodegradation of PAEs is widespread in the aquatic environment.

Iodine-catalyzed Efficient Synthesis of β-Keto Esters from Aldehydes and Ethyl Diazoacetate Under Solvent-free Conditions

An efficient procedure for the synthesis ofβ-keto esters from the reaction of aldehydes and ethyl diazoacetate catalyzed by iodine at room temperature under solvent-free conditions has been described. The catalytic procedure has the advantages of easily available catalyst, mild reaction conditions, high yields, and easy work-up.