Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has been widely utilized in scientific research and the manufacturing industry for its unique piezoelectric properties. In the past few decades, the vibrational spectra of PVDF polymorphic polymers via FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) have been extensively investigated and documented. However, reports on the analysis of α, β and γ phases often have conflicting views based on measured data. In this work, we analyze the FTIR vibrational bands of PVDF materials fabricated by different processes with detailed XRD (X-ray diffraction) characterization to identify the structural α, β and γ phases. By examining the results in this work and extensively reviewing published research reports in the literature, a universal phase identification procedure using only the FTIR results is proposed and validated. Specifically, this procedure can differentiate the three phases by checking the bands around 763 and/or 614, 1275, and 1234 cm⁻¹ for the α, β and γ phases, respectively. The rule for assignment of the 840* and 510* cm⁻¹ bands is provided for the first time and an integrated quantification methodology for individual β and γ phase in mixed systems is also demonstrated.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are well-documented pathological factors in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a healthy food and folk medicine with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of ethanolic extract from artichoke against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. Male Institute of Cancer Research mice were treated with an ethanolic extract of artichoke (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 g/kg body weight) by gavage once daily. Up to 40% alcohol (12 mL/kg body weight) was administered orally 1 h after artichoke treatment. All mice were fed for 10 consecutive days. Results showed that artichoke extract significantly prevented elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, the decreased levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were elevated by artichoke administration. Histopathological examination showed that artichoke attenuated degeneration, inflammatory infiltration and necrosis of hepatocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression levels of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in liver tissues were significantly suppressed by artichoke treatment. Results obtained demonstrated that artichoke extract exhibited significant preventive protective effect against acute alcohol-induced liver injury. This finding is mainly attributed to its ability to attenuate oxidative stress and suppress the TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway. To the best of our knowledge, the underlying mechanisms of artichoke on acute ALD have been rarely reported.