Structure Characterization and Lead Detoxification Effect of Carboxymethylated Melanin Derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lachnum</Emphasis> Sp.

In the present study, an intracellular melanin, named LIM205, was separated from Lachnum YM205 mycelia and was purified on a Sephadex G-15 column. The molecular weight of LIM205 was determined as 522 Da, and its molecular formula was speculated as C₂₈H₁₄N₂O₇S. The possible chemical structure of LIM205 was determined according to the results of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and pyrolysis/GC-MS analysis. With the aim to increase its water solubility, its carboxymethylated derivative, named CLIM205, was formed by the substitution of hydrogen atoms in LIM205 with one, two, and three carboxymethylate groups. FT-IR, UV, and ESI-MS analysis demonstrated that the carboxymethylate groups were conjugated onto LIM205. The lead detoxification activities of LIM205 and CLIM205 had also been investigated. In vivo test showed that both LIM205 and CLIM205 reduced the tissue lead concentration, enhanced lead excretion, and reversed lead-induced alterations in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in mice, with CLIM205 showed better efficacy. The study indicates that LIM205 and CLIM205 have significant lead detoxification effect which will contribute to solve related problems.     

TiO2 as a Reusable Catalyst for the One‐Pot Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones under Solvent‐Free Conditions

An efficient solvent‐free method for the synthesis of various 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones using TiO₂ as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst is described. Compared to known methods, satisfactory results are obtained with excellent yields, short reaction times, and simplicity in the experimental procedure.     

Radio labeling,quality control and biodistribution of <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc-cefotaxime as an infection imaging agent

Cefotaxime, a cephalosporin antibiotic, used to treat bacterial infections was investigated to label with ^99mTc. Labeling was performed using sodium dithionite as a reducing agent at 100 °C for 10 min and radiochemical analysis involved ITLC and HPLC methods. The stability of labeled antibiotic was checked in the presence of human serum at 37 °C up to 24 h. The maximum radiolabeling yield was 92 ± 2%. Bacterial binding assay was performed with S. aureus and the in vivo distribution was studied in mice. Images showed minimal accumulation in non-target tissues, with an average target/non-target ratio of 2.89 ± 0.58.     

Structure activity relationship of bergenin,p-hydroxybenzoyl bergenin, 11-O-galloylbergenin as potent antioxidant and urease inhibitor isolated from Bergenia ligulata

Ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Bergenia ligulata was subjected to solvent–solvent separation followed by various chromatographic techniques that lead to isolation of bergenine (1), p-hydroxybenzoyl bergenin (2), 11-O-galloylbergenin (3) and methyl gallate (4) as major constituents. Ethyl acetate fraction showed a dose-dependent urease inhibitory pattern with IC₅₀ value of 54μg/mL. Structures of compounds 1 and 3 were established by XRD and 2, 4 by NMR. All these compounds were subjected to DPPH scavenging activity, reducing power assay and urease inhibitory activity. The EC₅₀ 7.45 ± 0.2 μg/mL and 5.39 ± 0.28 μg/mL values in terms of antioxidant and reducing power, respectively, were less for 3. Compounds 1–3 showed moderate to significant urease inhibitory potential with IC₅₀ 57.1 ± 0.7, IC₅₀ 48.4 ± 0.3 and 38.6 ± 1.5. Antioxidant activities and urease inhibitory potential were investigated and compound 3 was found to be the most active.     

Acid-catalyzed reactions of (3-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)oxiran. A new synthesis of functional-group-substituted vinylsilanes

The magnesium bromide-diethyl etherate-catalyzed ring-opening of (3-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)oxiran 2 with thiophenols affords (1-trimethylsilylvinyl)sulfides 3 and the (1-bromovinyl)silane 4. Nucleophilic attack occurs regioselectively at the position α- to silicon. The compound 2 has been converted into the (1-trimethylsilylvinyl)amide 5 with an excess of acetonitrile and into the (1-trimethylsilylvinyl)acetate 6 with acetic acid/acetic anhydride. These reactions proceed with catalytic amounts of boron trifluoride-diethylether. Treatment of 2 with acetic acid alone gives naphthaldehyde. The epoxide 2 reacts also with MgBr₂·OEt₂, MeLi/CuI, HX (XBr or Cl) and LiAlH₄ with nucleophilic attack at the bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted carbon.     

Analysis of Iranian rosemary essential oil: application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with chemometrics

This paper focuses on characterization of the components of Iranian rosemary essential oil using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) approach was used to overcome the problem of background, baseline offset and overlapping/embedded peaks in GC-MS. The analysis of GC-MS data revealed that sixty eight components exist in the rosemary essential oil. However, with the help of MCR this number was extended to ninety nine components with concentrations higher than 0.01%, which accounts for 98.23% of the total relative content of the rosemary essential oil. The most important constituents of the Iranian rosemary are 1,8-cineole (23.47%), α-pinene (21.74%), berbonone (7.57%), camphor (7.21%) and eucalyptol (4.49%).     

Self-assembly of boehmite nanopetals to form 3D high surface area nanoarchitectures

A flower-like boehmite nanostructure was prepared through a template-free chemical route by the self-assembly process of nanosize petals 800–1000 nm long, 200–250 nm wide, 20–50 nm thick and having an average crystallite size of about 2.21 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), DTA/TGA analyses and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET-N₂) analyses were used in order to characterize the product obtained. XRD results exhibited that the obtained nanostructures composed of pure orthorhombic AlOOH phase. The effects of Cl⁻ ions and TEA on the growth of boehmite three-dimensional nanoarchitectures in the presence of NO₃^-\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-} ions were investigated. BET analyses of as-prepared material demonstrate that this nanostructure material has a high specific surface area, as high as 123 m² g⁻¹.