@incdsb.ro
Centre of Bioanalysis
INCDSB Bucuresti
Analytical Chemistry, Bioengineering, Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Biomaterials
Scopus Publications
Maria-Cristina Radulescu, Madalina-Petruta Bucur, Bogdan Bucur, Andreea Iosageanu, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
Elsevier BV
Maria-Cristina Radulescu, Madalina-Petruta Bucur, Bogdan Bucur, Andreea Iosageanu, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
Elsevier BV
Elena Neagu, Gabriela Paun, Camelia Albu, Georgiana Badea, Ana Maria Seciu-Grama, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
This study aimed to obtain extracts concentrated in polyphenolic compounds from Sorbus aucuparia fruits and evaluate their antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic potential. Two modern extraction methods were used, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), to obtain hydroalcoholic extracts (50% EtOH v/v, 15% mass), then the extracts were purified and concentrated by membrane technologies and analyzed spectrophotometrically and chromatographically. HPLC analysis revealed the predominant polyphenolic compounds as chlorogenic acid (526.08 ± 23.35 µg/mL), rutin (36.07 ± 1.23 µg/mL), and caffeic acid (34.41 ± 1.21 µg/mL). The antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of the extracts was analyzed spectrophotometrically by testing their capacity to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and, respectively, hyaluronidase (HYA) and lipoxygenase (LOX). The cytotoxic potential of the extracts was tested on the mouse fibroblast NCTC clone L929 cell line. The concentrated ASE extracts showed a pronounced inhibitory activity on the tested enzymes: IC50α-glucosidase was 13.50 ± 0.96 µg/mL, (IC50acarbose was 20.19 ± 1.67 µg/mL), IC50α-amylase was 23.74 ± 1.32 µg/mL (IC50acarbose was 22.65 ± 1.27 µg/mL), and IC50LOX was 24.30 ± 1.54 µg/mL (IC50ibuprofen was 26.91 ± 1.27 µg/mL), IC50HYA was 43.04 ± 2.19 µg/mL (IC50ibuprofen was 51.54 ± 3.67 µg/mL). Also, the concentrated UAE extracts presented inhibitory activity superior to or close to that of the standard used, as follows: IC50HYA was 48.49 ± 3.15 µg/mL (IC50ibuprofen was 51.54 ± 3.67 µg/mL) and IC50α-glucosidase was 21.53 ± 1.25 µg/mL (IC50acarbose was 20.19 ± 1.67 µg/mL). The results obtained showed that Sorbus aucuparia fruits could be used in products for diabetes and inflammatory diseases.
Iuliana Marcu, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, and Annette Madelene Dăncilă
MDPI AG
The present study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of tomato powders obtained from whole tomatoes of three local cultivars—Andrada, Hera, and Kristinica—using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. The cultivars were grown in open fields without additional treatments or fertilizer application. Ascorbic acid was used as a reference antioxidant standard. Results indicated that Andrada powder exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, at 248.1 ± 5.3 µmol Fe2+/100 g, followed by Hera (235.6 ± 4.9 µmol Fe2+/100 g) and Kristinica (212.8 ± 5.1 µmol Fe2+/100 g), while ascorbic acid, used as a positive control, showed the highest overall antioxidant capacity (260.0 ± 4.5 µmol Fe2+/100 g). The high lycopene and flavonoid content of the analyzed powders supports their potential as functional ingredients in food applications and their use in horticulture. This research is particularly relevant as it promotes a sustainable approach for the utilization of tomato products, aligning with the principles of circular agriculture.
Sandra A. V. Eremia, Gabriel Lucian Radu, and Camelia Albu
MDPI AG
The identification of melatonin in grapes has led to the publication of numerous studies on melatonin in wines, and the aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on melatonin concentrations in wines. In this context, international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed were searched for relevant articles (437) up to 29 March 2025. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. A total of 15 studies from eight countries, involving various wine types and analytical methods, were included in the meta-analysis. Considerable analytical variation was observed across studies, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with either mass spectrometry (MS) or fluorescence (FL) detection was shown to be the most accurate and sensitive method for quantifying melatonin. The highest concentrations were found in Spanish red Tempranillo wine, Romanian white Noah wine, and Romanian rosé Lidia wine. Red wines, particularly those produced from Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) grapes, were the most frequently studied. The results of this work provide a clearer picture of melatonin levels in wine. Further research is needed to explore the implications of melatonin content in wine for human health and the wine industry.
Andreea-Camelia Hîrjău, Mihaela Emanuela Crăciun, Ilinca-Mihaela Marandiuc, and Gabriel-Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
This study addresses the challenge of accurately assessing diazinon exposure in suspected self-poisoning cases. We evaluated butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) levels using a point-of-care (POCT) whole blood assay (adapted Ellman method) and compared it with the standard plasma Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique (EMIT). Diazinon exposure in four patients was confirmed using a validated gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). A strong positive correlation was observed between POCT and EMIT BChE activity (r = 0.9638, p < 0.0001), indicating general agreement in BChE trends. However, Bland–Altman analysis revealed discrepancies in absolute BChE values. Notably, admission diazinon concentrations (GC-MS/MS) were significantly negatively correlated with BChE activity measured by both POCT (r = −0.9333, p = 0.0205) and EMIT (r = −0.9302, p = 0.0219). The POCT assay offers rapid, preliminary BChE assessments in suspected diazinon intoxication, useful in emergency settings. However, due to observed discrepancies, confirmatory testing with EMIT or GC-MS/MS is recommended for accurate quantification. This research highlights the critical need for robust confirmatory methods, such as GC-MS/MS, to validate rapid assays and improve the accuracy of diazinon intoxication detection.
Antoaneta Roman, Felicia Bucura, Oana Romina Botoran, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, Violeta-Carolina Niculescu, Amalia Soare, Daniela Ion-Ebrasu, Irina Vagner, Emilia-Cornelia Dunca, Claudia Șandru,et al.
Elsevier BV
Camelia Albu, Ana Chira, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, and Sandra A. V. Eremia
MDPI AG
Cost-effective chemosensors have become an indispensable tool for sustainable monitoring in food safety and processing, where there is an urgent need for affordable, efficient, and real-time analytical solutions. This review discusses recent advances in low-cost chemosensor technologies, highlighting developments in materials, miniaturization, and integration into portable and accessible platforms. The focus is on applications for detecting contaminants, monitoring quality, and ensuring safety in food production and processing. This review also addresses the challenges related to sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and operational stability and provides insights into future directions and the role of low-cost chemosensors in supporting sustainable practices in these important sectors.
Andreia Alecu, Camelia Albu, Georgiana-Ileana Badea, Aurelia Alionte, Alin-Alexandru Enache, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, and Simona-Carmen Litescu
MDPI AG
The extraction of bio-compounds from medicinal plants provides opportunities for using the plant extract for health benefits. Rosa canina L. is considered a “natural superfood”, and the valorization of its active compounds requires an extraction technique that ensures a suitable extraction yield while preserving the compounds’ activity. In our study, infrared laser irradiation (IRLIR) technology was used for the first time in the bioactive compound’s extraction from Rosa canina L. Different solvents (water–ethanol, hexane–ethanol) and different extraction times were tested to obtain a high extraction yield. Chromatographic and spectrophotometry methods were used to monitor the profile of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The results obtained for IRLIR were compared with those obtained by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), an advanced extraction method. The IRLIR technology proved to be a more reliable analytical tool for the extraction of (+)-catechin, gallic acid, and lutein. In addition, a richer extract formula was obtained by IRLIR extraction with respect to ASE, with the IRLIR process ensuring a short extraction time, low volume of the extraction solvent, low energy consumption, and a less expensive device.
Georgiana Ileana Badea, Florentina Gatea, Simona Carmen Litescu-Filipescu, Andreia Alecu, Ana Chira, Celina Maria Damian, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
The purpose of this study was to extract the lipophilic fraction from one of the largest source of waste in the industrial sector, namely, the tomato residue from processing the fruit. In order to make this process more environmentally sustainable, this study used a green extraction protocol employing natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) combined with a less energy-consuming technology, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method, to simultaneously recover carotenoids and tocopherol from dried powder tomato waste. Two NADESs, one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic, were prepared and compared to support high extraction efficiency and increase the stability of the extracted compounds. The optimal extraction parameters were identified as choline chloride:1,3-butanediol (1:5)-based NADES, a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20 (w/v), time of extraction 12 min, temperature 65 °C, radiation frequency 37 Hz, and an ultrasound power level of 70%. The extraction process was intensified and resulted in extracts rich in lycopene (215.13 ± 4.31 μg/g DW), β-carotene (206.95 ± 3.27 μg/g DW), and tocopherol (130.86 ± 8.97 μg/g DW) content, with the highest antioxidant capacity 93.84 ± 0.18 mM Trolox equivalent. Incorporating NADESs for the extraction of bioactive compounds offers numerous benefits, such as improved sustainability, enhanced extraction efficiency, better protection of sensitive compounds, and reduced environmental impact. These advantages make NADESs a promising alternative to traditional organic solvents, especially in industries that require natural, green, and efficient extraction processes for valuable bioactive molecules.
Andreea-Camelia Hîrjău, Ilinca-Mihaela Marandiuc, and Gabriel-Lucian Radu
SAGE Publications
Background Accurate and prompt assessment of malathion intoxication severity remains a significant clinical challenge, often hampered by reliance on single diagnostic markers. This exploratory case series investigated the combined utility of rapid butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity measurements and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) for quantifying urinary malathion to enhance diagnostic precision. Methods We investigated three independent patients admitted with acute malathion intoxication. BChE activity was measured using both a point-of-care (POCT) device and a laboratory-based enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT). Urinary malathion was quantified using a validated GC-MS/MS method. Results Malathion exposure was confirmed in all patients via urinary analysis. Strong per-case positive correlations (r ranging from 0.905 to 0.996) were observed between the two BChE measurement methods, though Bland-Altman analysis revealed noteworthy discrepancies (mean bias of 10%, limits of agreement ranging from −20% to 40%). Critically, statistically significant inverse correlations ( p < 0.05) were identified between urinary malathion concentrations and both BChE activity measurements, underscoring the dynamic relationship between exposure and enzymatic inhibition. Conclusion These findings, derived from a small, exploratory case series, suggest the importance of an integrated diagnostic approach for malathion intoxication. This combined strategy may support improved assessment of severity and prognosis in individual cases, offering insights into the pesticide’s systemic impact and elimination kinetics, especially when exposure details are unclear. While rapid BChE tests are valuable for initial screening, their interpretation should occur within this multi-marker framework. The generalizability of these findings is limited by the small sample size, and no formal power calculation was performed.
Antoaneta Roman, Felicia Bucura, Oana Romina Botoran, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, and Marius Constantinescu
Informa UK Limited
Elena Neagu, Gabriela Paun, Camelia Albu, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the recovery of bioactive compounds from waste and by-products resulting from the agro-industrial sector and their valorization into new products, which can be used in the health, food, or agricultural industry, as innovative and sustainable approaches to waste management. In this work, two of these by-products resulting from the fruit-processing industry were used for the recovery of bioactive compounds (polyphenols), namely lingonberry pomace (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and grape pomace (Vitis vinifera). Two green extraction techniques were employed to obtain hydroalcoholic extracts (solvent: 50% EtOH, 10% mass): ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The extracts were subjected to micro- and ultrafiltration processes, and further analyzed to determine the bioactive compound content through spectrophotometric (UV-Vis) and chromatographic (HPLC-PDA) methods. Additionally, the extracts exhibited significant enzyme inhibition, particularly against α-amylase and β-glucosidase, suggesting potential anti-diabetic properties. The extracts characteristics, polyphenolic content, antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory ability, were statistically compared, and significant differences were found between the two extraction methods. The grape pomace concentrated extracts showed a pronounced inhibitory activity on both analyzed enzymes compared to the lingonberry pomace concentrated extracts, closer to the standard used; e.g., IC50 α-amylase = 0.30 ± 0.01 µg/mL (IC50 acarbose = 0.3 ± 0.01 µg/mL), IC50 α-glucosidase = 0.60 ± 0.01 µg/mL (IC50 acarbose = 0.57 ± 0.02 µg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of agro-industrial residues as bioactive compound resources, with their valorization through application in food, nutraceutical, or pharmaceutical industries therefore contributing to the sustainable development and promotion of circular economy principles with the recovery of valuable inputs from plant by-products.
Daniel Preda, Gabriel Lucian Radu, Emilia-Elena Iorgulescu, Mihaela-Carmen Cheregi, and Iulia Gabriela David
MDPI AG
A new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based disposable electrochemical sensor for dipyridamole (DIP) determination was obtained. The sensor was rapidly prepared by potentiodynamic electrochemical polymerization on a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) using curcumin (CUR) as a functional monomer and DIP as a template molecule. After the optimization of the conditions (pH, monomer–template ratio, scan rate, number of cyclic voltammetric cycles applied in the electro-polymerization process and extraction time of the template molecule) for MIP formation, DIP voltammetric behavior at the modified electrode (MIP_PGE) was investigated. DIP oxidation took place in a pH-dependent, irreversible mixed diffusion-adsorption controlled process. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdSDPV) were used to quantify DIP from pharmaceutical and tap water samples. Under optimized conditions (Britton–Robinson buffer at pH = 3.29), the obtained linear ranges were 5.00 × 10−8–1.00 × 10−5 mol/L and 5.00 × 10−9–1.00 × 10−7 mol/L DIP for DPV and AdSDPV, respectively. The limits of detection of the methods were 1.47 × 10−8 mol/L for DPV and 3.96 × 10−9 mol/L DIP for AdSDPV.
Madalina-Petruta Bucur, Maria-Cristina Radulescu, Bogdan Bucur, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Gabriela Paun, Elena Neagu, Camelia Albu, Andreia Alecu, Ana-Maria Seciu-Grama, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
The present study evaluated three green extraction methods, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and laser irradiation extraction (LE), for the polyphenolic compounds and vitamin C extraction of Cornus mas L. and Crataegus monogyna fruit extracts. The polyphenols and vitamin C of extracts were quantified using HPLC-DAD, and the total phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (DPPH and reducing power), and antidiabetic activity were also studied. The antidiabetic activity was examined by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and in vitro on a beta TC cell line (β-TC-6). The results showed significant differentiation in the extraction yield between the methods used, with the ASE and LE presenting the highest values. The C. mas fruit extract obtained by ASE exhibited the best antioxidant activity, reaching an IC50 value of 31.82 ± 0.10 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 33.95 ± 0.20 µg/mL in the reducing power assay. The C. mas fruit extracts obtained by ASE and LE also have the highest inhibitory activity on enzymes associated with metabolic disorders: α-amylase (IC50 = 0.44 ± 0.02 µg/mL for the extract obtained by ASE, and 0.11 ± 0.01 µg/mL for the extract obtained by LE at combined wavelengths of 1270 + 1550 nm) and α-glucosidase (IC50 of 77.1 ± 3.1 µg/mL for the extract obtained by ASE, and 98.2 ± 4.7 µg/mL for the extract obtained by LE at combined wavelengths of 1270 + 1550 nm). The evaluation of in vitro antidiabetic activity demonstrated that the treatment with C. mas and C. monogyna fruit extracts obtained using ASE stimulated the insulin secretion of β-TC-6 cells, both under normal conditions and hyperglycemic conditions, as well. All results suggest that C. mas and C. monogyna fruit extracts are good sources of bioactive molecules with antioxidant and antidiabetic activity.
Camelia Albu, Ana Chira, Alice Stoica, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, Antonio Radoi, Marius Stoian, Octavian-Gabriel Simionescu, and Sandra A. V. Eremia
MDPI AG
A nitrogen-doped nanocrystalline electrochemical graphite sensor for the sensitive determination of oleuropein (OL) from extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) is presented. The sensor was developed by the deposition of nanocrystalline graphite (NCG) using plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) on silicon wafers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were used to characterise the microstructure and morphology of the developed materials. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) were used to investigate the electrochemical properties of the material and the performance of the sensor. The developed sensor showed good analytical performance against OL over a concentration range of 5.00–500.00 µM, with a good detection limit of 3.93 µM and a good sensitivity of 0.057 µA µM−1. The reproducibility of the electrochemical sensor was excellent, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 8.56% for seven measurements.
Sandra A. V. Eremia, Camelia Albu, Gabriel-Lucian Radu, Andreia Alecu, Alice G. Stoica, and Elena Brinduse
MDPI AG
In recent years, various studies have been carried out to increase the concentration of antioxidant active principles in red wines as a consequence of the effects of winemaking techniques on the polyphenols content. In this study, in order to obtain the most optimal wine in terms of content and efficiency of antioxidant activity, various winemaking technologies (punching-down and pumping-over maceration) were tried with diverse gradations (Feteasca Neagra and Cabernet Sauvignon wines) and the addition of different concentrations of melatonin in must. Suitable HPLC and spectrophotometric methods were used to follow the evolution of the antioxidant compounds from wines during aging (for 12 months). After comparing the acquired results, an increase was observed in the antioxidant compound concentrations, particularly in resveratrol (85%), peonidin-3-glucoside (100%) or cyanidin-3-glucoside (100%), and antioxidant activity (10–40%). The most enriched wine was obtained in the case of Feteasca Neagra by the addition of 0.5 mg of melatonin per 1 kg of must using the punch-down technology and, in the case of Cabernet Sauvignon, by the addition of 0.05 mg of melatonin per 1 kg of must using the pumping-over technique. This study can provide winemakers with an approach to enhance red wines with antioxidant compounds.
ANDREEA-CAMELIA HÎRJĂU
Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice din Romania
ELENA-CORNELİA TĂNĂSESCU, ALEXANDRA-GABRİELA ENE, ELENA PERDUM, OVİDİU IORDACHE, and LUCİAN GABRİEL RADU
The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather
The need to protect textile museum collections against pests has led to the use of pesticides. Pesticides can persist over time, thus leading to problems such as possible injury to museum staff. To address this problem, attempts have been made to obtain an overview of pesticide detection without destroying collections. In this paper, a nondestructive method for the extraction and detection of three pesticides was optimised. The selection of the main parameters of the method was carried out using statistical analysis of the obtained data by applying one-way ANOVA and the Tukey test. FPSE optimisation is performed by evaluating the following parameters: polymer selection (individual or mixture of polymers), acid catalyst (trifluoroacetic acid, acetic acid and hydrochloride acid), amount of polymer (1 g, 2.5 g or 5 g), polymerisation time (30 minutes, 120 minutes and 240 minutes), ultrasonic bath temperature (40°C and 70°C), type of bath used to obtain the sol-gel (ultrasonic bath, water bath with stirring and mechanical stirrer) and influence of the last steps of the preparation of the sol-gel solution. After the extraction system was optimized, statistical analysis was conducted to assess the influence of pesticide extraction time on FPSE and desorption from FPSE in ethyl acetate.
Gabriela Paun, Elena Neagu, Andreia Alecu, Camelia Albu, Ana-Maria Seciu-Grama, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
The present study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Medicago sativa and Solidago virgaurea extracts enriched in polyphenolic compounds. The extracts were obtained by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and laser irradiation. Then, microfiltration was used for purification, followed by nanofiltration used to concentrate the two extracts. The obtained extracts were analyzed to determine their antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power methods. The antidiabetic properties have been investigated in vitro on a murine insulinoma cell line (β-TC-6) by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. M. sativa obtained by laser irradiation and concentrated by nanofiltration showed the highest DPPH• scavenging (EC50 = 105.2 ± 1.1 µg/mL) and reducing power activities (EC50 = 40.98 ± 0.2 µg/mL). M. sativa extracts had higher inhibition on α-amylase (IC50 = 23.9 ± 1.2 µg/mL for concentrated extract obtained after ASE, and 26.8 ± 1.1), while S. virgaurea had the highest α-glucosidase inhibition (9.3 ± 0.9 µg/mL for concentrated extract obtained after ASE, and 8.6 ± 0.7 µg/mL for concentrated extract obtained after laser extraction). The obtained results after evaluating in vitro the antidiabetic activity showed that the treatment with M. sativa and S. virgaurea polyphenolic-rich extracts stimulated the insulin secretion of β-TC-6 cells, both under normal conditions and under hyperglycemic conditions as well. This paper argues that M. sativa and S. virgaurea polyphenolic-rich extracts could be excellent natural sources with promising antidiabetic potential.
Elena Neagu, Gabriela Paun, Camelia Albu, Oana Teodora Apreutesei, and Gabriel Lucian Radu
MDPI AG
Recently, there has been increased interest in the discovery of new natural herbal remedies for treating diabetes and inflammatory diseases. In this context, this work analyzed the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris and Trigonella foenum-graecum herbs, which have been studied less from this point of view. Therefore, extracts were prepared and processed using membrane technologies, micro- and ultrafiltration, to concentrate the biologically active principles. The polyphenol and flavone contents in the extracts were analyzed. The qualitative analysis of the polyphenolic compounds was performed via HPLC, identifying chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid and rutin in A. absinthium; chlorogenic acid, luteolin and rutin in A. vulgaris; and genistin in T. foenum-graecum. The antidiabetic activity of the extracts was analyzed by testing their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and the anti-inflammatory activity was analyzed by testing their ability to inhibit hyaluronidase and lipoxygenase. Thus, the concentrated extracts of T. foenum-graecum showed high inhibitory activity on a-amylase—IC50 = 3.22 ± 0.3 μg/mL—(compared with acarbose—IC50 = 3.5 ± 0.18 μg/mL) and high inhibitory activity on LOX—IC50 = 19.69 ± 0.52 μg/mL (compared with all standards used). The concentrated extract of A. vulgaris showed increased α-amylase inhibition activity—IC50 = 8.57 ± 2.31 μg/mL—compared to acarbose IC50 = 3.5 ± 0.18 μg/mL. The concentrated extract of A. absinthium showed pronounced LOX inhibition activity—IC50 = 19.71 ± 0.79 μg/mL—compared to ibuprofen—IC50 = 20.19 ± 1.25 μg/mL.