Chemical composition and in vitro antifungal and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Teucrium sauvagei Le Houerou

The chemical composition and the in vitro antifungal and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and the methanolic leaf extracts of Teucrium sauvagei Le Houerou, an endemic medicinal plant growing in Tunisia, have been studied. More than 35 constituents having an abundance >or=0.2% were identified in the oil. beta-Eudesmol, T-cadinol, alpha-thujene, gamma-cadinene, and sabinene were the prevalent constituents. Results of the antifungal activity tests indicated that the methanolic extract inhibited the in vitro growth of seven dermatophytes, whereas the essential oil showed average inhibition against only three dermatophytes. In vitro antioxidant properties of the essential oil and the methanolic extract were determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) assays and compared to those of the synthetic antioxidant Trolox. Due to their antifungal and antioxidant properties, the essential oil and the methanolic extract of T. sauvagei may be of use as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceutical industries.     

Max Flow and Min Cut with bounded-length paths: complexity, algorithms, and approximation

We consider the “flow on paths” versions of Max Flow and Min Cut when we restrict to paths having at most B arcs, and for versions where we allow fractional solutions or require integral solutions. We show that the continuous versions are polynomial even if B is part of the input, but that the integral versions are polynomial only when B ≤ 3. However, when B ≤ 3 we show how to solve the problems using ordinary Max Flow/Min Cut. We also give tight bounds on the integrality gaps between the integral and continuous objective values for both problems, and between the continuous objective values for the bounded-length paths version and the version allowing all paths. We give a primal–dual approximation algorithm for both problems whose approximation ratio attains the integrality gap, thereby showing that it is the best possible primal–dual approximation algorithm.     

Mutagenic, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities of a new class of beta-glucoside hydroxyhydroquinone from Anagallis monelli growing in Tunisia

A new skeleton of an O-heteroside natural substance named zinolol, the first representative of a new class of aminated hydroxyhydroquinone, has been isolated from the whole plant Anagallis monelli. Its structure has been established by one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopic procedures. Antioxidant, mutagenic, antimutagenic activities were realised and positive results were recorded.     

Electrooxidation and determination of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on nanoparticles of Ni–curcumin-complex-modified electrode

The electrooxidation of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin, mefenamic acid, and diclofenac) was investigated on nanoparticles of Ni–curcumin-complex-modified glassy carbon (n-GC) electrode in alkaline solution. Surfaces studies were performed by scanning electron micrographs and atomic force microscopy. The oxidation process and its kinetics were studied using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques and also pseudo-steady-state polarization measurements. Voltammetric studies indicated that, in the presence of drugs, the anodic peak current of low-valence nickel species increases, followed by a decrease in the corresponding cathodic current. This pattern indicates that drugs were oxidized on the redox mediator immobilized on the electrode surface via an electrocatalytic mechanism. A mechanism based on the electrochemical generation of Ni(III)-active sites and their subsequent consumption by drugs was proposed. The rate constants of the catalytic oxidation of drugs and the electron-transfer coefficient are reported. A sensitive, simple, and time-saving amperometric procedure was developed for the analysis of these drugs in bulk form and for the direct assay of tablets, using the n-GC electrode.     

Dynamics of the flowfield generated by the interaction of twin inclined jets of variable temperatures with an oncoming crossflow

The present paper examines the common configuration of “twin inclined jets in crossflow” that is widely present in several industrial and academic, small and large-scale applications. It is particularly found in aerodynamic and engineering applications like VTOL aircrafts, the combustion mixing process and other chemical chambers. It can also be found in some domestic applications like chimney stacks or water discharge piping systems in rivers and seas. The twin jets considered in this work are elliptic as inclined with a 60° angle and arranged inline with the oncoming crossflow according to a jet spacing of three diameters. They are examined experimentally in a wind tunnel. The corresponding data is tracked by means of the particle image velocimetry technique in order to obtain the different instantaneous and mean dynamic features (different velocity components, vortices, etc.). The same case is numerically reproduced by the resolution of the Navier–Stokes equations by means of the finite volume method together with the Reynolds stress model second order turbulent closure model. A non-uniform mesh system tightened close to the emitting nozzles is also adopted. The comparison of the measured and calculated data gave a satisfying agreement. Further assumptions are adopted later in order to improve the examined configuration: a non-reactive fume is injected within the discharged jets and the jets’ temperature is varied with reference to a constant mainstream temperature. Our aim is to evaluate precisely the impact of this temperature difference on the flow field, particularly on the dynamics of the jets in a crossflow. This parameter, namely the temperature difference, proved mainly to accelerate the discharged jet plumes in the direction of the main flow, which enhanced the mixing, particularly in the longitudinal direction. The mixing in the other directions was also increased due to the weaker density of the jets, which enabled them to progress relatively unhindered before undergoing the impact of the crossflow.     

Correlation between chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from fifteen Eucalyptus species growing in the Korbous and Jbel Abderrahman arboreta (North East Tunisia)

The essential oils of fifteen Eucalyptus species harvested from the Jbel Abderrahman and Korbous arboreta (North East Tunisia) were screened for their antibacterial activities by the agar disc diffusion method. Eighteen major components as identified by GC/FID and GC/MS were selected for a study of the chemical and biological activity variability. The main one was 1,8-cineole, followed by spathulenol, trans-pinocarveol, α-pinene, p-cymene, globulol, cryptone, β-phellandrene, viridiflorol, borneol, limonene and isospathulenol. The chemical principal component analysis identified five species groups and subgroups, where each group constituted a chemotype, however that of the values of zone diameter of the inhibition (zdi) identified six groups of Eucalyptus oils, characterized by their antibacterial inhibition ability. The strongest activity was shown by E. platypus oil against Enterococcus faecalis and by E. lamannii oil against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. A correlation between the levels of some major components and the antibacterial activities was observed.     

Two new alkaloids and a new polyphenolic compound from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotula coronopifolia</Emphasis>

Two new alkaloid derivatives of the 3-benzazocine skeleton (cotuzine A and B) and a new polyphenolic substance (3-(1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl)-4-hydroxyanisol) (corimen) have been isolated from the aerial part (stems, leaves) of the plant Cotula coronopifolia (L.). These three new structures were established by spectroscopic procedures (¹H, ¹³C, one- and two-dimensional NMR). The stereochemistry of the new alkaloids was established based on different NOE effects revealed on the NOESY spectrum. Mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy were used to confirm these structures.     

Step-by-step synthesis of copper(I) complex supported on platinum nanoparticle-decorated mesoporous silica hollow spheres and its remarkable catalytic performance in Sonogashira coupling reaction

In this study, a step-by-step method for the synthesis of platinum nanoparticles and copper(I) complex supported on mesoporous silica hollow spheres (Pt-MSHSs-Cu) is introduced. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental and thermogravimetric analyses were applied for characterization of the surface, structure, size, phase composition, and morphology of the synthesized materials. The characterized material, Pt-MSHSs-Cu, was used as an efficient and heterogeneous catalyst in the Sonogashira coupling reaction under different reaction conditions. In comparison with MSHSs, Cu(I)-functionalized MSHSs (MSHSs-Cu), and Pt-MSHSs samples, the Pt-MSHSs-Cu catalyst exhibited significantly increased catalytic performance with 91.50% yield. Therefore, the results obtained suggested a synergistic effect derived from platinum nanoparticles, MSHSs substrate, and copper(I) complex, which enhanced the rate of the Sonogashira coupling reaction.