Biological desulfurization is a process in which sulfur compounds are removed from gas and oil using microorganisms. It is a simple process that has mild operating conditions, high desulfurization efficiency, low energy consumption and less environmental pollution. However, there is still a lack of simple and efficient analytical methods for quantitatively analyzing the sulfur compounds in the biological desulfurization process. In order to solve this problem, the analytical method for the simultaneous determination of sulfite, thiosulfate and sulfide in biological desulfurization solutions by pre-column fluorescence derivation using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The standard curves of sulfur species in this analytical method had good linear relationships with correlation coefficients of 0.999 5, 0.999 7, and 0.999 7 for sulfite, thiosulfate and sulfide, respectively. The detection limits of these sulfur compounds were 0.000 6, 0.000 7 and 0.001 1 μmol/L; the range of recovery rates were 98.17 to 101.9%, 100.9 to 102.6%, and 101.1 to 104.2%; which had good repeatability and stability. The analytical method was simple, efficient and accurate, and could be used to simultaneously determine the sulfur compounds in different biological desulfurization systems.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical/methods* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Sulfur Compounds/analysis*

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of oral malodor in a group of health cohorts in Chengdu, China by using different diagnostic methods.

METHODSVolatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) level was evaluated by using Halimeter. The organoleptic score and tongue coating index were also evaluated. A questionnaire interview was conducted at the same time.

RESULTSThere were 21.61% subjects whose oral VSCs level were more than 300 ppb. No significant difference was found between male and female for the VSCs values. The subjects with malodor (score > or = 6) evaluated by organoleptic score were 28.91%, and the difference between the male and female was significant (P < 0.05). Further, a significant correlation could be detected between the VSCs level, organoleptic score and tongue coating index (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe study indicates that nearly one of fourth people suffer from oral malodor. Malodor has significant correlation with tongue coating, so cleaning of tongue dorsum is very important to reduce oral malodor.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Halitosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Smell ; Sulfides ; analysis ; Sulfur Compounds ; analysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of volatile sulphur compounds((VSC)levels in periodontal pockets with severity of periodontitis, and the impact of VSC on the result of initial periodontal therapy.

METHODSTwenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis(CP)(13 males and 12 females with average age of 35) were included in this study. Clinical periodontal parameters, plaque index, probing depth(PD), attachment loss(AL), and bleeding on probing(BOP) were recorded before and 3 months after the initial therapy. VSC levels were measured with a portable monitor in a digital score ranging from 0.0 to 5.0. All of 5 054 sites for 840 teeth were included in this study.

RESULTBefore treatment the percentage of VSC-positive sites was 17.1%, 52.3% and 86.0% for shallow (PD<3 mm), moderate(PD 4-6 mm) and deep (PD>7 mm) pocket, respectively (P<0.001). In most VSC-positive sites the VSC levels were<1.0. Percentage of sites with a high VSC levels was significantly different among three groups (P<0.01). All clinical parameters in VSC-negative sites were reduced significantly following the initial therapy. The reduction of PD and AL in VSC-positive sites by treatment was less marked than that in VSC-negative sites.

CONCLUSIONVSC in periodontal pockets may be a potential indicator for detecting severity of CP and a useful predictor for therapeutic success.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontal Diseases ; therapy ; Periodontal Pocket ; metabolism ; therapy ; Sulfur Compounds ; analysis ; metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical transformation of volatile compounds in sulfur-fumigated Radix Angelicae Sinensis.

METHODSA comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR-TOF/MS) with colorized fuzzy difference (CFD) method was used to investigate the effect of sulfur-fumigation on the volatile components from Radix Angelicae Sinensis.

RESULTSTwenty-five compounds that were found in sun-dried samples disappeared in sulfur-fumigated samples. Seventeen volatile components including two sulfur-containing compounds were newly generated for the first time in volatile oils of sulfur-fumigated Radix Angelicae Sinensis.

CONCLUSIONThe strategy can be successfully applied to rapidly and holistically discriminate sun-dried and sulfur-fumigated Radix Angelicae Sinensis. GC×GC-HR-TOF/MS based CFD is a powerful and feasible approach for the global quality evaluation of Radix Angelicae Sinensis as well as other herbal medicines.

Color ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fumigation ; Fuzzy Logic ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Reference Standards ; Sulfur ; analysis ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of Spirochetes and Porphyromonus gingivalis (Pg) on the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) and oral malodor, respectively.

METHODS117 systemically healthy periodontitis patients were divided into two groups according to organoleptic rating (OR) by organoleptic method: 85 subjects with oral malodor (halitosis group, HG) and 32 cases without oral malodor (no-halitosis group, NHG). VSCs measurements were made with halimeter. Subgingival plaques and tongue coating were taken to calculate the proportion of Spirochetes (with 2% Congo Red Smears, S%) and the amounts of Pg (with indirect immunofluorescence method). The examination will be repeated in 46 HG cases after periodontal therapy.

RESULTSS% in PD < 4 mm sites of HG was significantly higher than that in NHG (P < 0.01). S% in PD >or= 4 mm sites and tongue coating, Pg in all three sites were not different between two groups. In HG, OR and VSCs levels were correlated with S% in tongue coating (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and PD < 4 mm sites (P < 0.05), and not correlated with S% in PD >or= 4 mm sites. OR was related to Pg in PD >or= 4 mm sites (P < 0.05) and there was no relationship between OR and Pg in tongue coating and PD < 4 mm sites. VSCs levels was not correlated with Pg in all three sites. S% in tongue coating and subgingival plaque, Pg in subgingival plaque, OR and VSCs levels were significantly reduced after periodontal therapy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe direct relationship of Spirochetes and Pg respectively to bad breath was not found obviously. But Spirochetes is one of the microorganism on oral malodor. Periodontal therapy can improve oral malodor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Halitosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis ; microbiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; metabolism ; Spirochaetales ; metabolism ; Sulfur Compounds ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cetylpyridinium chloride buccal tablets on halitosis induced by oral conditions.

METHODSWith Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum as the testing bacteria, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cetylpyridinium chloride buccal tablets was determined using minute amount serial dilution test. The production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) was measured using sulfide detector halimeter in the anaerobic bacteria culture at 4 and 8 h after addition of the tablets. The effect of the tablets in suppressing odor production by mouth-borne halitosis bacteria was assessed using cysteine challenge test in healthy volunteers, and the effectiveness was evaluated by measuring the reduction in VSCs production and the duration of the effect.

RESULTSCetylpyridinium chloride buccal tablets inhibited the growth of all the 3 bacteria. The tablets obviously inhibited VSCs production by the 3 bacteria with a effect similar to chlorhexidine. Compared with distilled water gargle, the buccal tablets significantly reduced cysteine-induced VSCs production level in the healthy volunteers (P<0.05), and the effect lasted for 230 min.

CONCLUSIONCetylpyridinium chloride tablets can obviously suppress bacteria responsible for oral halitosis and produce good effects in the treatment of halitosis induced by oral conditions.

Cetylpyridinium ; therapeutic use ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; drug effects ; Halitosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; drug effects ; Prevotella intermedia ; drug effects ; Sulfur Compounds ; analysis ; Tablets ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis

OBJECTIVEThe influence of processing methods on chemical constituents in Radix Paeoniae Alba was observed.

METHODA HPLC method was used for analyzing the changes of eight major constituents, namely gallic acid, paeoniflorin sulfonate, catechin, paeoniflorin sulfonate, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid, pentagalloylglucose and benzoylpaeoniflorin, with the three processing procedures of decorticating, boiling and fumigating by burning of sulphur. Analysis was performed using a Zorbax SB-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile (A) and 0.015% phosphoric acid solution as mobile phase in gradient mode. The detection wavelength was set at 230 nm and the column temperature was at 30 degrees C.

RESULTExcept for gallic acid and pentagalloylglucose, the other constituents decreased during procedure of decorticating and boiling. Fumigating by burning of sulphur would produce a new compound, paeoniflorin sulfonate, which was a byproduct from the reaction of paeoniflorin with SO2.

CONCLUSIONThe significant changes were produced in chemical constituents of Radix Paeoniae Alba during three processing procedures. Therefore, the processing of Radix Paeoniae Alba should be strictly controlled and standardized.

Benzoates ; analysis ; chemistry ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Gallic Acid ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; analysis ; Molecular Structure ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sulfur ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; therapeutic use ; Biosensing Techniques ; Chlorhexidine ; therapeutic use ; Chlorine Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Chromatography, Gas ; Dehydroascorbic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Dental Disinfectants ; therapeutic use ; Halitosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; therapeutic use ; Mouthwashes ; therapeutic use ; Odorants ; prevention & control ; Oils, Volatile ; therapeutic use ; Oral Hygiene ; instrumentation ; Oxides ; therapeutic use ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; therapeutic use ; Sulfur Compounds ; analysis

The paper is to report the development of a method of quantitative analysis of multi-components by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for simultaneously determining paeoniflorin sulfonate (PS), paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (AF) in sulfated Paeoniae Radix Alba. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of paeoniflorin sulfonate by MTT-assay and the acute toxicity of mice by administration of paeoniflorin sulfonate were evaluated. Chromatographic separation of paeoniflorin sulfonate, PF and AF were performed on a SHISEIDO CAPCELL PAK C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) for HPLC and a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.02% phosphoric acid solution (15 : 85) as the mobile phase. As detector a spectrophotometer set at 230 nm; column temperature 30 degrees C; flow rate 1.0 mL x min(-1). The toxicity of paeoniflorin sulfonate was evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity carried out on mouse and human primary hepatocytes, and by acute oral toxicity test carried out on mice. The calibration curve of paeoniflorin sulfonate, PF and AF revealed linearity in the range of 0.041 8 - 1.045 0, 0.023 5 - 0.587 5, and 0.039 8 - 0.995 0 mg x mL(-1), respectively (r > 0.999 8). The average recovery was ranged from 99.11% to 101.71%, RSD < 2%. Paeoniflorin sulfonate does not have any cytotoxicity to cells at all the tested concentrations (< or = 300 micromol x L(-1)) in the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. The maximum tolerance dose of paeoniflorin sulfonate solution and extraction of Paeoniae Radix Alba to mouse is 5 g x kg(-1) and 80 g x kg(-1) respectively. The contents of these three components in the samples were determined with the developed method. It is a rapid, convenient and accurate method to determine multi-components. The content of PF in sulfated Paeoniae Radix Alba is significantly lower, and there is negative correlationship between the content of paeoniflorin sulfonate and PF. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay and in vivo mouse acute toxicity test showed that there is no obvious toxicity of paeoniflorin sulfonate and water-soluble extract of sulfated Paeoniae Radix Alba.
Animals ; Benzoates ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Sulfur ; pharmacology ; Volatilization