Enhancement of β-Glucan Biological Activity Using a Modified Acid-Base Extraction Method from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Beta glucan (β-glucan) has promising bioactive properties. Consequently, the use of β-glucan as a food additive is favored with the dual-purpose potential of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. Our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of β-glucan (antimicrobial, antitoxic, immunostimulatory, and anticancer) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified acid-base extraction method. The results demonstrated that a modified acid-base extraction method gives a higher biological efficacy of β-glucan than in the water extraction method. Using 0.5 mg dry weight of acid-base extracted β-glucan (AB extracted) not only succeeded in removing 100% of aflatoxins, but also had a promising antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and yeast, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.39 and 0.19 mg/mL in the case of resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, AB extract exhibited a positive immunomodulatory effect, mediated through the high induction of TNFα, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Moreover, AB extract showed a greater anticancer effect against A549, MDA-MB-232, and HepG-2 cells compared to WI-38 cells, at high concentrations. By studying the cell death mechanism using flow-cytometry, AB extract was shown to induce apoptotic cell death at higher concentrations, as in the case of MDA-MB-231 and HePG-2 cells. In conclusion, the use of a modified AB for β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae exerted a promising antimicrobial, immunomodulatory efficacy, and anti-cancer potential. Future research should focus on evaluating β-glucan in various biological systems and elucidating the underlying mechanism of action.     

New Composite Sorbent for Removal of Sulfate Ions from Simulated and Real Groundwater in the Batch and Continuous Tests

The evaluation of groundwater quality in the Dammam formation, Faddak farm, Karbala Governorate, Iraq proved that the sulfate (SO₄²⁻) concentrations have high values; so, this water is not suitable for livestock, poultry and irrigation purposes. For reclamation of this water, manufacturing of new sorbent for permeable reactive barrier was required through precipitation of Mg and Fe hydroxides nanoparticles on the activated carbon (AC) surface with best Mg/Fe molar ratio of 7.5/2.5. Mixture of 50% coated AC and 50% scrap iron was applied to eliminate SO₄²⁻ from contaminated water with efficiency of 59% and maximum capacity of adsorption equals to 9.5 mg/g for a time period of 1 h, sorbent dosage 40 g/L, and initial pH = 5 at 50 mg/L initial SO₄²⁻ concentration and 200 rpm shaking speed. Characterization analyses certified that the plantation of Mg and Fe nanoparticles onto AC was achieved. Continuous tests showed that the longevity of composite sorbent is increased with thicker bed and lower influent concentration and flow rate. Computer solution (COMSOL) software was well simulated for continuous measurements. The reclamation of real contaminated groundwater was achieved in column set-up with efficiency of 70% when flow rate was 5 mL/min, bed depth was 50 cm and inlet SO₄²⁻ concentration was 2301 mg/L.     

Synthesis of Selenium(0) and Zinc(II) Biomolecules in Nano-Structured Forms as New Antioxidant Agents: Chemical and Biological Studies

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - In this paper, two new complexes of selenium caffeine, [Se(Caf)4], and zinc α-tocopherol, [Zn(α-Tpl)2(NO3)2], are synthesized. The structures of...     

Preparation and Spectroscopic of Vanadyl(Ⅱ) Vitamin D_3 Amino Acid Mixed Complexes as Insulin Mimetic Drug

A new six intraperitoneal injection insulin-mimetic vanadyl(Ⅱ) compounds [(VD-1₃)(VO+2)(AA-1_n)] (where (n=1～6); AA₁=isoleucine, AA₂=threonine, AA₃=proline, AA₄=phenylalanine, AA₅=lysine and AA₆=glutamine) were synthesized by the chemical reactions between vitamin D₃ (VD₃), VOSO₄ and amino acids (AA_n) with equal molar ratio 1∶1∶1 in neutralized media. The structures of these complexes were elucidated by spectroscopic methods like, infrared and solid reflectance spectroscopes. Magnetic moments and electronic spectra reveal square pyramid geometrical structure of the complexes. The infrared spectra assignments of these complexes revealed that the chelation towards vanadyl(Ⅳ) ions existed via deprotonation of the hydroxyl group of VD₃ drug ligand and so amino acids act as bidentate ligand via N-amino and O-carboxylate groups. The anti-diabetic efficiency of these complexes were evaluated against streptozotocin induced diabetic male albino rats.     

2‐(4‐Chloro­phenyl)‐1,3‐di­cyano‐6,7‐di­hydro‐4‐imino‐9,10‐di­methoxy­benzo­[a]­quinolizine–water (2/5)

Crystals of the title compound, C₂₃H₁₇ClN₄O₂·2.5H₂O, contain channels filled with highly disordered water mol­ecules. The best structure refinement was obtained by removing the solvent contribution from the intensity data and refining against a solvent‐free model. The central six‐membered ring of the quinolizine mol­ecule has a slightly distorted screw‐boat conformation.     

Synthesis,reactions, and antimicrobial activity of some novel pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine,pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine,and pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-c]pyrimidine derivatives

Treatment of N-phenyl-substituted benzenecarbo-hydrazonoyl chlorides 1a - d with malononitrile in sodium ethoxide solution gave 5-amino-4-cyanopyrazole derivatives 2 - 5 . Compounds 2 - 5 were converted to formidate derivatives 6 - 9 upon treatment with TEOF in acetic anhydride. The reaction of the latter products 6 - 9 with hydrazine hydrate gave imino-amino derivatives 10 - 13 , which was converted to hydrazino derivatives 14 - 17 by refluxing with hydrazine hydrate. Hydrazino as well as imino-amino derivatives undergo condensation, cyclization, and cycloaddition reactions to give pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine 18 - 21 , pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo-[3,4-c]pyrimidine 22 - 27 , and pyrazolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido[1,6-b][1,2,4]triazine 42 - 44 derivatives. Antimicrobial studies are performed using two Gram-positive bacteria and two Gram-negative bacteria. Data indicated that compounds 5 , 28D , 29B , and 31D are exploring elevated antibacterial effects against all strains tested. Compound 28D is the most promising antibacterial agent against the delicate bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with high effectiveness (low minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] value) 40 and 60 μg/mL, respectively.     

Kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics of the sorption of tetrabromobisphenol A on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is widely used as a flame retardant and is relatively persistent in the environment. This study reports the sorption kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics of TBBPA on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The equilibrium sorption capacity has been significantly improved by increasing the initial TBBPA concentration and contact time. In alkaline conditions and at high temperatures, a large reduction of TBBPA uptake was observed. The equilibrium between TBBPA and MWCNTs was achieved in approximately 60 min with removal of 96% of the TBBPA. The sorption kinetics were well described by a pseudo-second-order rate model, while both Langmuir and Freundlich models described the sorption isotherms well at different temperatures. Thermodynamic parameters suggested that the sorption of TBBPA is exothermic and spontaneous at the temperatures studied.