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  • Effects of ursolic acid on the structural and morphological behaviours of dipalmitoyl lecithin vesicles.

Effects of ursolic acid on the structural and morphological behaviours of dipalmitoyl lecithin vesicles.

Biochimica et biophysica acta (2015-01-27)
András Lőrincz, Judith Mihály, Csaba Németh, András Wacha, Attila Bóta
ABSTRACT

Effects of ursolic acid on the structural and morphological characteristics of dipalmitoyl lecithin(DPPC)-water system was studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS), freeze-fracture method combined with transmission electron-microscopy (FF-TEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The surface of the uncorrelated lipid system is rippled or grained and a huge number of small, presumably unilamellar vesicles are present if the UA/DPPC molar ratio is 0.1 mol/mol or higher. Besides the destroyed layer packing of regular multilamellar vesicles, non-bilayer (e.g. cubic or hexagonal) local structures are evidenced by SAXS and FF-TEM methods. The ability of UA to induce non-bilayer structures in hydrated DPPC system originates from the actual geometry form of associated lipid and UA molecules as concluded from the FT-IR measurements and theoretical calculations. Beside numerous beneficial e.g. chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effect of ursolic acid against cancer, their impact to modify the lipid bilayers can be utilized in liposomal formulations.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Ursolic acid, ≥90%
Supelco
Ursolic acid, analytical standard
Ursolic acid, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Ursolic acid, primary reference standard