Dragendorff reagent for detection of nitrogen compounds, alkaloids, antiarrhythmic drugs, surfactants Solutions: 1. 1.

7 g basic bismuth nitrate and 20 g tartaric acid in 80 ml water 2. 16 g potassium iodide in 40 ml water Stock solution (stable several weaks in a refrigerator): mix equal volumes of solutions 1 and 2 Procedure: spray with a solution of 10 g tartaric acid, 50 ml water and 5 ml stock solution

Iodine vapour, relatively unspecific universal reagent for many organic compounds charge chamber with some crystals of iodine place developed, dried chromatogram in I 2 atmosphere

Stains for Developing TLC Plates

Once a TLC has been developed, it is frequently necessary to aid in the visualization of the components of a reaction mixture. This is true primarily because most organic compounds are colorless. Frequently, the organic compounds of interest contain a chromophore which may be visualized by employing either a short or a long wave UV lamp. These lamps may be found as part of a standard organic chemistry research or teaching lab. Typical examples of functional groups which may be visualized through this method are aromatic groups, ,-unsaturated carbonyls, and any other compounds containing extensively -conjugated systems. While exposing these TLC plates to UV light, you will notice that the silica gel will fluoresce, while any organic molecule which absorbs UV light will appear as a dark blue spot. Circling these spots gently with a dull pencil will permit an initial method for visualization. Fortunately, there are a number of permanent or semi-permanent methods for visualization which will not only allow one to see these compounds but also provide a method for determining what functional groups are contained within the molecule. This method is referred to as staining the TLC plate, and experience will allow you to determine what functional groups will appear as what color upon visualization. Following is a listing of the most commonly employed stains, the kind of compounds for which they're usually employed, and a typical recipe. A Note on TLC Plates Although it should be obvious, be sure that the kind of TLC plate you are using is compatible with the stain or the conditions for its development. For instance, the inexpensive plates using a plastic polymer backing cannot be used for stains

requiring heat for development. Glass backing is fine for this, but the silica gel is typically not tightly bonded to the glass, and tends to be inadvertantly scraped off very easily; thus, these are not suitable for storage following development. In our group, we use aluminum-backed plates, which are less expensive than glass, are heat-impervious, the silica gel is very tightly bound to the backing, and are so thin that, if desired, a particularly spectacular plate can be taped into your lab notebook.

The Stain List

Iodine The staining of a TLC plate with iodine vapor is among the oldest methods for the visualization of organic compounds. It is based upon the observation that iodine has a high affinity for both unsaturated and aromatic compounds.
Recipe

A chamber may be assembled as follows: To 100 mL wide mouth jar (with cap) is added a piece of filter paper and few crystals of iodine. Iodine has a high vapour pressure for a solid and the chamber will rapidly become saturated with iodine vapor. Insert your TLC plate and allow it to remain within the chamber until it develops a light brown colour over the entire plate. Commonly, if your compound has an affinity for iodine, it will appear as a dark brown spot on a lighter brown background. Carefully remove the TLC plate.The iodine will not remain on the TLC plate for long periods of time so we take picture on the observation in a quick time. Ultraviolet Light Good for visualizing any compounds which are UV-active, particularly those with extended conjugation, aromatic rings, etc. Spot(s) must be lightly traced with a pencil while visible, since when the UV light is removed, the spots disappear.

p-Anisaldehyde Stain #1 This stain is an excellent multipurpose visualization method for examining TLC plates. It is sensitive to most functional groups, especially those which are strongly and weakly nucleophilic. It tends to be insensitive to alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic compounds unless other functional groups are present in the molecules which are being analyzed. It tends to stain the TLC plate itself, upon mild heating, to a light pink color, while other functional groups tend to vary with respect to coloration. It is recommended that a record is kept of which functional group stains which color for future reference, although these types of comparisons may be misleading when attempting to ascertain which functional groups are present in a molecule (especially in complex molecules). The shelflife of this stain tends to be quite long except when exposed to direct light or

solvent is allowed to evaporate. It is recommended that the stain be stored in a 100 mL wide mouth jar wrapped with aluminum foil to ensure a long life time.
Recipe

To 135 mL of absolute ethanol was added 5 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid, 1.5 mL of glacial acetic acid and 3.7 mL of p-anisaldehyde. The solution is then stirred vigorously to ensure homogeneity. The resulting staining solution is ideally stored in a 100 mL wide mouth jar covered with aluminum foil. p-Anisaldehyde Stain #2 A more specialized stain than #1 (above), used for terpenes, cineoles, withanolides, acronycine, etc. As above, heating with a heat gun must be employed to effect visualization.
Recipe

Prepare solution as follows: anisaldehyde:HClO4:acetone:water (1:10:20:80) Phosphomolybdic Acid (PMA) Stain Phosphomolybdic acid stain is a good "universal" stain which is fairly sensitive to low concentrated solutions. It will stain most functional groups, however it does not distinguish between different functional groups based upon the coloration of the spots on the TLC plate. Most often, TLC's treated with this stain will appear as a light green color, while compounds of interest will appear as much darker green spots. It is necessary to heat TLC plates treated with this solution in order to activate the stain for visualization. The shelf life of these solutions are typically quite long, provided solvent evaporation is kept to a minimum.
Recipe

Dissolve 10 g of phosphomolybdic acid in 100 mL of absolute ethanol.

What is Terpene? What is Terpene? Terpenes are materials produced by plants.Terpenes have the chemical structure of multiples of isoprene (C5H8) molecules. Terpenes are important materials for a plant as components of its body and as a material to protect it from external enemies. Terpenes exist widely in nature. But those which we collect in large quantities and in stable state for industrial raw materials are the types of oils derived from

pine trees (turpentine), and oil contained in the peels of citrus fruits (orange oil). Turpentine is an essential oil of pine trees. These are three types of turpentine based on the method of collection, gum turpentine, sulfate turpentine and wood turpentine. Unlike petroleum, which is a fossil resource and is theatened with depletion, turpentine and orange oil are reproducible resources which plants can produce continuously with the blessing of the sun. Terpenes-useful material These terpenes have many uses in the harmonised ecosystem of plants,insects,and human beings. In our daily life,terpenes are used in flavor and fragrances,additives to rubber and plastics,paints and construction materials. Some terpene based products are used for electronic parts to support IT industries.Uses in natural insecticides or agricultural chemicals are favorable replacements to strong toxic synthetic chemicals. Some terpenes are listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and are used for clinical purposes or for disinfection of medical facilities and equipment. The role of terpenes to support the symbiosis of nature and human beings, is important and infinite.

Abstract
Plant antioxidants are composed of a broad variety of different substances like ascorbic acid and tocopherols, polyphenolic compounds, or terpenoids. They perform several important functions in plants and humans (e.g., carotenoids function as accessory pigments for light harvesting and provide photoprotection and pigmentation in plants). Monoterpenes and diterpenes, which are the main components of essential oils, act as allelopathic agents, attractants in plant-plant or plant-pathogen/herbivore interactions or repellants. For humans, carotenoids play an important role for health, carotenoids with provitamin A activity are important for vision; other carotenoids influence the human immune function and gap-junctional communication (GJC). Additionally, their antioxidative capacity is believed to be responsible for the health promoting properties of fruits and vegetables. Three main ways of antioxidant action of carotenoids have been detected until now (i.e., quenching of singlet oxygen, hydrogen transfer, or electron transfer). These mechanisms and investigation of antioxidant activity in vitro are discussed in detail. The monoterpenes limonene and perillyl alcohol may be promising substances in cancer therapy. Several investigations have studied the antioxidant activity of monoterpenes and diterpenes or

essential oils in vitro. Results as well as the action of a newly discovered, very effective antioxidant (i.e., gamma-terpinene) are discussed. An important point when assessing the antioxidant activity of plant antioxidants is to consider their interaction with other antioxidants. Especially combinations of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants may exert synergistic effects, as has been shown for rutin in combination with gamma-terpinene, lutein, or lycopene.

beta Carotene
Beta-carotene is a member of a class of substances know as carotenoids. Carotenoids are the principal pigments responsible for the red, orange, yellow and green colors of vegetables and fruits. Similar to the other carotenoids, beta-carotene is a natural fat-soluble pigment found principally in plants. Beta-carotene is converted by the body into vitamin A and acts a powerful antioxidant and helps support the immune system. Other members of the antioxidant carotenoid family include cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene. However, unlike beta-carotene, most of these antioxidants are not converted to vitamin A in significant amounts. Individuals who do not consume plant products containing beta-carotene may be at risk of developing vitamin A deficiency. However, beta-carotene is not an essential nutrient so true deficiencies of this carotenoid do not occur.

Beta-carotene and other carotenoids as antioxidants.

Paiva SA, Russell RM.

Source
Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, So Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract
Carotenoids are natural pigments which are synthesized by plants and are responsible for the bright colors of various fruits and vegetables. There are several dozen carotenoids in the foods that we eat, and most of these carotenoids have antioxidant activity. Beta-carotene has been best studied since, in most countries it is the most common carotenoid in fruits and vegetables. However, in the U.S., lycopene from tomatoes now is consumed in approximately the same amount as beta-carotene. Antioxidants (including carotenoids) have been studied for their ability to prevent chronic disease. Beta-carotene and others carotenoids have antioxidant properties in vitro and in animal models. Mixtures of carotenoids or associations with others antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E) can increase their activity against free radicals. The use of animals models for studying carotenoids is limited since most of the animals do not absorb or metabolize carotenoids similarly to humans. Epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse relationship between presence of various cancers and dietary carotenoids or blood carotenoid levels. However, three out of four intervention trials using high dose beta-carotene supplements did not show protective effects against cancer or cardiovascular disease. Rather, the high risk population (smokers and asbestos workers) in these intervention trials showed an increase in cancer and angina cases. It appears that carotenoids (including beta-carotene) can promote health when taken at dietary levels, but may have adverse effects when taken in high dose by subjects who smoke or who have been exposed to asbestos. It will be the task of ongoing and future studies to define the populations that can benefit from carotenoids and to define the proper doses, lengths of treatment, and whether mixtures, rather than single carotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene) are more advantageous.

Thin Layer Chromatography

Introduction
(Adapted from Mohrig, 1st ed., pp. 151-162.) Chromatography is a sophisticated method of separating mixtures of two or more compounds. The separation is accomplished by the distribution of the mixture between two phases: one that is stationary and one that is moving. Chromatography works on the principle that different compounds will have different solubilities and adsorption to the two phases between which they are to be partitioned.

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a solid-liquid technique in which the two phases are a solid (stationary phase) and a liquid (moving phase). Solids most commonly used in chromatography are silica gel (SiO2 x H2O) and alumina (Al2O3 x H2O). Both of these adsorbents are polar, but alumina is more so. Silica is also acidic. Alumina is available in neutral, basic, or acidic forms. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a sensitive, fast, simple and inexpensive analytical technique. It is a micro technique; as little as 10-9g of material can be detected, although the sample size is from 1 to 100x10-6 g. TLC involves spotting the sample to be analyzed near one end of a sheet of glass or plastic that is coated with a thin layer of an adsorbent. The sheet, which can be the size of a microscope slide, is placed on end in a covered jar containing a shallow layer of solvent. As the solvent rises by capillary action up through the adsorbent, differential partitioning occurs between the components of the mixture dissolved in the solvent the stationary adsorbent phase. The more strongly a given component of a mixture is adsorbed onto the stationary phase, the less time it will spend in the mobile phase and the more slowly it will migrate up the plate. The following are some common uses of Thin-Layer Chromatography:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

To determine the number of components in a mixture. To determine the identity of two substances. To monitor the progress of a reaction. To determine the effectiveness of a purification. To determine the appropriate conditions for a column chromatographic separation. To monitor column chromatography.

In this experiment, you will use TLC to identify unknown analgesic painkillers using the table of analgesics and their components in the experimental section of this experiment.

Apparatus

Experimental Procedure for TLC Analysis of Analgesic Drugs

(adapted from Fieser & Williamson, pp. 128-129) Obtain 2 TLC plates. Draw a light pencil line about 1 cm from the end of each chromatographic plate. Spot one plate with your 4 known standards (Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine, and Ibuprofen) and the other plate with the 5 unknown commercial painkillers. Both plates should also have a Reference spot that contains all 4 standards. Use a separate capillary tube for each standard and unknown solution. Make each spot as small as possible, preferably no more than 2-3 mm in diameter. Examine the plate under the ultraviolet (UV) light to see that enough of each compound has been applied; if not, add more.

The standards and commercial painkillers will be dissolved in a 50/50 Ethanol/Ethyl Acetate solution.

Prepare a developing chamber as indicated in the picture using a large beaker as the chamber, a half-piece of filter paper inside, and foil or plastic wrap to cover. Pour the eluting solvent, a 99/1 mixture of Ethyl Acetate/Glacial Acetic Acid, into the beaker to a depth of approximately 1 cm. Place the prepared TLC plates in the developing chamber. After the solvent has risen to near the top of the plate (about 1 cm from the top), remove the plate and mark the solvent front with a pencil. Keep the plates in the hood until the majority of the eluting solvent has evaporated from the plates. Examine the plate under UV light to see the components as dark spots against a bright green-blue background.

Outline the spots with a pencil and note anything distinctive about any of the compounds. The spots should also be visualized by putting the plate in an iodine chamber. The iodine chamber is premade and contains a few crystals of iodine in the bottom of a capped jar. More than 2 plates can be placed in the iodine chamber at one time. Remove the plates when a definite change in appearence takes place on your plates. Note which compounds stained with iodine and to what intensity. The iodine stains will dissipate over time. Wrap your TLC plates in plastic wrap and scan them into your e-lab.

Calculate the Rf values for each spot. Unknowns can be identified using Rf values, fluorescence in UV light, changes due to iodine exposure, the reference spot and Table 1.

The Relationship Between Cancer And Antioxidants

By Michelle Bery Cancer - a disease that affects so many around the world and continues to be studied earnestly in order to finally identify a cure. But, in the meantime, researchers, in an effort to take control of the spread of this heinous disease, promote programs of prevention. Diet, exercise, and the avoidance of controllable environmental pollutants are all part of the effort to prevent cancer. It has been shown that cancer derives from good cells gone bad. Affected by poor diet, environmental factors, and chemical substances, molecules inside the body lose electrons in response. The molecules become free radicals and, as such, they begin their attack on healthy cells to take back electrons. Such begins the battle within the body. Antioxidants - properties found in a variety of foods - bolster the immune system and work alongside healthy cells to combat free radicals. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants strengthens the body with much needed resources to stay healthy and keep disease at bay. The relationship between cancer and antioxidants is a significant one and one that has been studied at great length. In essence there is a battle between cancer and antioxidants. Cancer works against the cells in the body while antioxidants work on behalf of cells. In stands to reason that if you supply one with more resources than the other then the battle will be won. Subsequently, eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants affords the healthy cells of the body a greater advantage in defending themselves. To engage in the battle between cancer and antioxidants, you can do your part by integrating a variety of foods into your diet. Include such foods as green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale - that deliver significant amounts of the antioxidant lutein; tomatoes and tomato products that contain the antioxidant lycopene; fresh fruits such as berries (blueberries gaining particular attention as of late), kiwi, and prunes; and vegetables that contain the antioxidant beta-carotene such as carrots and sweet potatoes. The connection between cancer and antioxidants is proof that a change in diet can do wonders for protecting our bodies against disease. Do your research to determine what foods can be easily integrated into your lifestyle and take the steps necessary to significantly protect your health.

For easy to understand, in depth information about antioxidant visit our ezGuide 2 Antioxidant. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery