1,2,3-Triazole incorporated coumarin derivatives as potential antifungal and antioxidant agents

A series of novel ethyl-7-((1-(benzyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxylates 8a-h as potential antifungal agents were synthesized via click chemistry. The antifungal activity was evaluated against five human pathogenic fungal strains, such as Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Cryptococcus neoformans. Compound 8c, 8d, 8e and 8h were found to be equipotent against C. albicans when compared with miconazole and compound 8f was found to be two-fold more active compared with miconazole and equipotent to fluconazole against C. albicans. The coumarin-based triazole derivatives were also evaluated for antioxidant activity and compound 8a was found to be potent antioxidant when compared with standard drug. Furthermore, molecular docking study of the newly synthesized compounds was performed and results showed good binding mode in the active site of fungal C. albicans enzyme P450 cytochrome lanosterol 14α-emethylase. Moreover, the synthesized compounds were also analyzed for ADME properties and showed potential to build up as good oral drug candidates.     

Optimization and ecofriendly synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles as potential antioxidant

The present study involves the use of Box-Behnken design for optimization of the energy-efficient process variables, eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles of iron oxide using Coriandrum sativum L. (cilantro) leaf extract. The factors, which significantly influenced mean nanoparticle size, surface charge, and size distribution, were the volume of leaf extract, agitation speed, and temperature. The developed model using Box-Behnken design was validated by synthesizing the iron nanoparticles using optimized operational conditions i.e. 10 ml volume of leaf extract, 1500 rpm agitation speed and 30 °C temperature. This resulted in the formation of highly stable iron oxide nanoparticles with mean particle size 161.5 nm and polydispersity index 0.132 with a zeta potential of −19.5 mV. The free radical inhibitory activity of prepared iron oxide nanoparticles was found comparable to ascorbic acid. These results reveal that iron nanoparticles for a biomedical application can be prepared at ambient temperature in an eco-friendly manner.     

An efficient one-pot synthesis of coumarin-amino acid derivatives as potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents

Abstract

A series of seven coumarinyl-amino acid ester conjugates have been synthesized and characterized by NMR (¹H and 13C) and mass spectra. Further, the compounds were investigated for their therapeutic applications such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Among the synthesized compounds most of the analogs showed good efficiency compared with the standard.     

Siloxanes as sources of silanones

Pyrolysis of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) and its copyrolysis with chlorotrimethylsilane and tetrachlorosilane were studied. Based on the data of GLC analysis and on the mass spectrum of the condensate obtained after the pyrolysis of HMDS, it was concluded that HMDS acts as a source of dimethylsilanone. The results of the copyrolysis of HMDS with chlorotrimethylsilane used as a trapping reagent indicate that the dimethylsilanone generated from HMDS can be inserted into the Si−Cl and Si−O bonds. In the copyrolysis of HMDS with tetrachlorosilane serving as a trapping reagent for dimethylsilanone, both dimethylsilanone and dichlorosilanone are generated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1663–1666, September, 1997.     

Prooxidant/antioxidant ratio (ProAntidex) as a better index of net free radical scavenging potential

The antioxidant activity of several Malaysian plant extracts was analyzed simultaneously with their pro-oxidant capacity. This ratio represents an index (ProAntidex) of the net free radical scavenging ability of whole plant extracts. We observed that ethanolic extracts of Nephelium lappaceum peel, Fragaria x ananassa leaf, Lawsonia inermis leaf, Syzygium aqueum leaf and grape seed had a lower Pro-Antidex than the commercially available Emblica? extract which is an antioxidant agent with very low pro-oxidant activity. Among the aqueous extracts, Lawsonia inermis leaf, Nephelium mutobile leaf and grape seed had lower pro-oxidant activity compared to the Emblica? extract. Among these extracts, aqueous extract of Nephelium mutobile leaf had a very low index of 0.05 compared to 0.69 for Emblica?. Most of the extracts had a far lower ProAntidex compared to the Vitamin C. The index enables us to identify extracts with high net free radical scavenging activity potential. The ProAntidex is beneficial as a screening parameter to the food industries and healthcare.     

In silico validation of anti-viral drugs obtained from marine sources as a potential target against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro

COVID-19 caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has threatened the whole world affecting almost 243 million people globally. Originating from China, it has now spread worldwide with USA and India being the two most affected countries which emphasizes the immense potential of the coronaviruses to cause severity in the human population. This study validates the efficacy of some marine antiviral agents to target the viral main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 by in silico studies. A total of 14 marine-derived antiviral agents were screened from several databases including PubChem and DrugBank and docked against the crystallised 3D structure of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. MD simulation of the top two ligands was carried out for 100 ns to validate the protein-ligand stability. Later, their physicochemical, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness properties were evaluated and toxicity prediction was performed using eMOLTOX webtool. We found that all the 14 compounds are acting as a good target for Mpro. Among them, avarol and AcDa-1 procured the best docking results with the estimated docking score of −8.05 and −7.74 ​kcal/mol respectively. MD simulation revealed good conformational stability. The docked conformation was visualised and subsequent ligand-amino acid interactions were analysed. Avarol revealed good pharmacokinetic properties with oral bioavailability. The overall finding suggested that these marine compounds may have the potential to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 to tackle this pandemic.     

Microstuctural analysis and determination of PM10 emission sources in an industrial Mediterranean city

Scientists are interested in knowing more about the control of sources which contribute to environmental pollution. Air pollution has two main sources: anthropogenic and natural sources. The natural contributions to environmental pollution can be assessed, but cannot be totally controlled. while the emissions from the anthropogenic sources can be controlled. These air pollutants can be dispersed and transferred by winds in the atmosphere. The focus area of this study is the Mediterranean basin. The most important winds in this area are the land and sea breezes. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was applied to characterize the morphology of the PM10 samples in order to identify possible emission sources for the occuring pollution. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) was performed for the elemental analysis and chemical characterization of the PM10 samples. The analysis showed that the PM10 samples can be divided into three different groups: the samples containing mineral phases, the compounds from combustion processes and the particles emitted from high-temperature processes.      

Development of a potential reference material for evaluating antioxidant activity

Phenolic phytochemical are known to perform several functions ranging from phytoprotectants, to protecting lipids in food products, to antioxidant activity in animals and humans. The need for a common standard mixture containing multiple phenolic phytochemicals is critical for the development of a robust validation assay for accurately quantifying antioxidant activity in various matrixes. Different research groups have used A wide array of single purified reference phenolic compounds in this regard. A 5 compound mixture (caffeic acid, morin hydrate, hesperetin, catechin hydrate, and epigallocatechin gallate) containing phenolic compounds from 4 subgroups (phenolic acid, flavone, flavanone, and flavan-3-ol) was prepared. The mixture was assayed for stability evaluation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a diode array detection procedure for a 3 month time interval. HPLC analysis confirmed that there was no significant interaction between different components of the mixture. The among-sample relative standard deviation (RSD) of all 5 phenolic compounds, as well as the total HPLC area, was < 1%. The RSD due to instrument variation was < 2% and the total RSD among-days was < 5%. These results unambiguously suggest that the sample was stable for a 3 month time interval in an amber vial stored in a refrigerator below 5 degrees C. This mixture is currently being used for the single-laboratory validation study for the assay of total phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the antioxidant capacity by oxygen radical absorbing capacity procedure.     

Chemical composition of Artemisia annua L. leaves and antioxidant potential of extracts as a function of extraction solvents

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical and nutritional composition of Artemisia annua leaves in addition to determination of antioxidant potential of their extracts prepared in different solvents. Chemical composition was determined by quantifying fat, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, tocopherol, phytate, and tannin contents. Extraction of A. annua leaves, for antioxidant potential evaluation, was carried out using five solvents of different polarities, i.e., hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Antioxidant potential was evaluated by estimating total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) contents, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), DPPH radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation. Efficiency of different solvents was compared for the yield of antioxidant extracts from leaf samples and a clear variation was observed. The highest TPC, TFC, TEAC, DPPH radical scavenging and lowest lipid peroxidation were observed in MeOH extracts, whereas aqueous extract exhibited high ferric reducing antioxidant power; suggesting MeOH to be the most favorable extractant.     

Phosphinoborylenes as stable sources of fleeting borylenes

Base-stabilised borylenes that mimic the ability of transition metals to bind and activate inert substrates have attracted significant attention in recent years. However, such species are typically highly reactive and fleeting, and often cannot be isolated at ambient temperature. Herein, we describe a readily accessible trimethylphosphine-stabilised borylborylene which was found to possess a labile P–B bond that reversibly cleaves upon gentle heating. Exchange of the labile phosphine with other nucleophiles (CO, isocyanide, 4-dimethylaminopyridine) was investigated, and the binding strength of a range of potential borylene “ligands” has been evaluated computationally. The room-temperature-stable PMe₃-bound borylenes were subsequently applied to novel bond activations including [2 + 2] cycloaddition with carbodiimides and the reduction of dichalcogenides, revealing that PMe₃-stabilised borylenes can effectively behave as stable sources of the analogous fleeting dicoordinate species under mild conditions.

A room-temperature stable phosphinoborylene provides a source of a reactive two-coordinate borylene via dissociation of a labile phosphine upon gentle heating. Ligand exchange, the capture of unsaturated molecules, and oxidation have been explored.     

Research reactors as sources of atmospheric radioxenon

Radioxenon emissions of the TRIGA Mark II research reactor in Vienna were investigated with respect to a possible impact on the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty. Using the Swedish Automatic Unit for Noble Gas Acquisition (SAUNA II), five radioxenon isotopes ¹²⁵Xe, ^131mXe, ^133mXe, ¹³³Xe and ¹³⁵Xe were detected, of which ¹²⁵Xe is solely produced by neutron capture in stable atmospheric ¹²⁴Xe and hence acts as an indicator for neutron activation processes. The other nuclides are produced in both fission and neutron capture reactions. The detected activity concentrations ranged from 0.0010 to 190 Bq/m³. The source of the radioxenon is not yet fully clarified, but it could be micro-cracks in the fuel cladding, fission of ²³⁵U contaminations on the outside of the fuel elements or neutron activation of atmospheric Xe. Neutron deficient ¹²⁵Xe with its highly complex decay scheme was seen for the first time in a SAUNA system. In many experiments the activity ratios of the radioxenon nuclides carry the signature of nuclear explosions, if ^131mXe is omitted. Only if ^131mXe is included into the calculations of the isotopic activity ratios, the majority of the measurements revealed a “civil” signature (typical for a NPP). A significant contribution of the TRIGA Vienna to the global or European radioxenon inventory can be excluded. Due to the very low activities, the emissions are far below any concern for human health.     

Phenolic compounds from Eucalyptus gomphocephala with potential cytotoxic and antioxidant activities

Two new phenolic compounds, 2,4,6-trihydroxy-5-methyl-acetophenone 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and benzyl alcohol 7-O-(3',4',6'-tri-O-galloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), together with eight known phenolic compounds, were isolated from the 70% aqueous acetone extract of Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC. (Myrtaceae). The isolated compounds were elucidated based on their 1H, 13C, DQF-COSY, selective 1D-TOCSY, HSQC, and HMBC NMR spectroscopic and ESI-MS data. The antioxidant effect of the phenolic compounds was tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical and super oxide anion radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using HeLa cell line.     

Evaluation of sulfur, selenium and tellurium catalysts with antioxidant potential

Oxidative stress is implicated, either directly or indirectly, in the pathology of a range of human diseases. As a consequence, the development of efficient antioxidants for medical use has become increasingly important. We have synthesised a range of structurally related organo-sulfur, -selenium and -tellurium agents and demonstrated that a combination of electrochemical methodology, in vitro assays and cell culture tests can be used to rationalise the antioxidant activity of these catalytic agents. Based on its exceptionally low anodic oxidation potential (Epa) and high activity against the representative oxidative stressors tert-butyl hydroperoxide and peroxynitrite, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyltelluride is predicted to be a potent antioxidant. This compound exhibits a correspondingly high activity with a remarkably low IC50 value of 20 nM, when tested in PC12 cell culture using a bioassay indicative of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.     

Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of lupeol in experimental hyperglycaemia

Oxidative stress, produced under diabetic conditions, is a possible cause of various forms of tissue damage. The concentrations of antioxidant enzymes in cases of diabetes are significantly decreased, with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation. In this study, lupeol, a phytoconstituent from Solanum xanthocarpum, is shown to suppress the progression of diabetes after 21 days. Lupeol treatment caused decreases in glycated haemoglobin, serum glucose and nitric oxide, with a concomitant increase in serum insulin level. Furthermore, treatment with lupeol also increased antioxidant levels, with a decrease in the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive oxygen species.     

Mechanisms of antioxidant action: The behaviour of a bound antioxidant as an antiozonant

A rubber reactive antioxidant, 4-(mercapto acetamido)diphenylamine (I, MADA) was found to be more effective as an antiozonant when prereacted with the rubber chain (MADA-B) than when present as a conventional compounding ingredient (MADA-A) at the same molar concentration. In bound form after extraction MADA-B is as effective as an unextracted commercial antiozonant, iso-propylaminodiphenylamine (IPPD), at the same molar concentration. This result casts some doubt on the currently accepted view that antiozonants must migrate to the surface of the rubber in order to exert their protective effect.     

Sulfonyl hydrazides as sulfonyl sources in organic synthesis

While sulfonyl hydrazides are widely utilized in organic synthesis, it is only in recent years that they have emerged as powerful sulfonyl sources. The hydrazinyl group can be readily removed from sulfonyl hydrazides under thermal, basic, oxidative, radical, and/or transition metal-catalyzed conditions, and subsequently, the remaining sulfonyl groups are able to form carbon-sulfur, sulfur-nitrogen, sulfur-halogen, sulfur-sulfur, and sulfur-selenium bonds with a wide variety of organic compounds, providing alternative approaches to the preparation of sulfones, sulfonamides, sulfonyl halides, thiosulfonates, and selenosulfonates. Moreover, some of the carbon-sulfur bond-forming reactions have been successfully applied to the construction of carbocycles, heterocycles, and stereogenic centers.     

Inclusion compounds as sources of activated mixed oxides

The reactivity of products or intermediates produced by the total or partial thermal decomposition of Hofmann type and related cyanocomplexes with general formula [M(B) _m ] _P [M(CN)₄] _q ·nG (M=Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, Ag; M=Ni, Pt; G=C₆H₆, C₆H₅OH, H₂O;n>0) are studied. The changes in GC sorptive properties against organic compounds, in the morphology and electrical conductivity and capacitance are correlated with the final products and different intermediates. Sharp changes of these properties occur at characteristic temperatures. The sorptive properties may be observed up to a temperature (t _conv) at which some changes of properties in the compounds start and where stronger changes in morphology and some electrical properties start. The latter became more significant at a temperature of about 500–600°C (t _max), where oxides (or metalic Ag form) are already forming. Up tot _conv the decomposition process can be regarded as reversible, betweent _conv andt _max as irreversible. The oxides obtained att _max exhibit different properties than oxides prepared by the normal dehydration of hydroxides.