Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Activity of Sequentially Extracted Fractions from Pingguoli Pear Fermentation Broth and Identification of Bioactive Compounds

Pear fruits have been reported to contain abundant bioactive compounds and exhibit antidiabetic activity. In this study, Pingguoli pear (Pyrus pyrifolia cv.‘Pingguoli’) fermentation broth was sequentially extracted by five solvents with increasing polarity (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) to evaluate its antioxidant and hypothermic activities, and then the main compounds of the fraction with the highest activity were assessed, which might be responsible for such activities. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity according to DPPH (IC₅₀ = 0.238 mg/mL), ABTS (IC₅₀ = 0.293 mg/mL), and FRAP (IC₅₀ = 0.193 mg/mL) assays. The in vitro hypoglycemic activity assay showed that EAF exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, with IC₅₀ values of 0.34 and 0.95 mg/mL for α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. The glucose consumption in HepG2 cells treated with EAF was significantly increased to 252%, compare with control group. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis implied that the main compounds, 3′-C-glucosylisoliquiritigenin, robustside D, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid may be potential candidates for the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of the EAF. This study suggested that EAF of Pingguoli pear fermentation broth could be utilized for development of potential functional food and antidiabetic agents.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity Screening of Newly Synthesized Trimethoxyphenyl-Based Analogues as Potential Anticancer Agents

A group of novel trimethoxyphenyl (TMP)-based analogues were synthesized by varying the azalactone ring of 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)oxazolone 1 and characterized using NMR spectral data as well as elemental microanalyses. All synthesized compounds were screened for their cytotoxic activity utilizing the hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Compounds 9, 10 and 11 exhibited good cytotoxic potency with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.38 to 3.21 μM compared to podophyllotoxin (podo) as a reference compound. In addition, compounds 9, 10 and 11 exhibited potent inhibition of β-tubulin polymerization. DNA flow cytometry analysis of compound 9 shows cell cycle disturbance at the G2/M phase and a significant increase in Annexin-V-positive cells compared with the untreated control. Compound 9 was further studied regarding its apoptotic potential in HepG2 cells; it decreased the level of MMP and Bcl-2 as well as boosted the level of p53 and Bax compared with the control HepG2 cells.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity Evaluation of Coumarin-3-Carboxamide Derivatives

A series of novel coumarin-3-carboxamide derivatives were designed and synthesized to evaluate their biological activities. The compounds showed little to no activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but specifically showed potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In particular, among the tested compounds, 4-fluoro and 2,5-difluoro benzamide derivatives (14b and 14e, respectively) were found to be the most potent derivatives against HepG2 cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 2.62–4.85 μM) and HeLa cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 0.39–0.75 μM). The activities of these two compounds were comparable to that of the positive control doxorubicin; especially, 4-flurobenzamide derivative (14b) exhibited low cytotoxic activity against LLC-MK2 normal cell lines, with IC₅₀ more than 100 μM. The molecular docking study of the synthesized compounds revealed the binding to the active site of the CK2 enzyme, indicating that the presence of the benzamide functionality is an important feature for anticancer activity.     

Quantification of Major Bioactive Constituents,Antioxidant Activity,and Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Whole Coffee Cherries (Coffea arabica) and Their Extracts

Coffee cherry is a rich source of chlorogenic acids (CGAs) and caffeine. In this study we examined the potential antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibitory effects of whole coffee cherries (WCC) and their two extracts on α-amylase, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, which are targets for the control of diabetes and Alzheimer’s diseases. Whole coffee cherry extract 40% (WCCE1) is rich in chlorogenic acid compounds, consisting of a minimum of 40% major isomers, namely 3-caffeoylquinic acids, 4-caffeoylquinic acids, 5-caffeoylquinic acids, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4-feruloylquinc acid, and 5-feruloylquinc acid. Whole coffee cherry extract 70% (WCCE2) is rich in caffeine, with a minimum of 70%. WCCE1 inhibited the activities of digestive enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and WCCE2 inhibited acetylcholinesterase activities with their IC₅₀ values of 1.74, 2.42, and 0.09 mg/mL, respectively. Multiple antioxidant assays—including DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, ORAC, HORAC, NORAC, and SORAC—demonstrated that WCCE1 has strong antioxidant activity.     

Phenolic Constituents,Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities,Enzyme Inhibition Abilities of Five Fractions from Vaccinium dunalianum Wight

The bud of Vaccinium dunalianum Wight has been traditionally consumed as health herbal tea by “Yi” people in Yunnan Province, China, which was locally named “Que Zui tea”. This paper studied the chemical constituents of five fractions from Vaccinium dunalianum, and their enzyme inhibitory effects of α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, antioxidant activity, and cytoprotective effects on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. The methanol extract of V. dunalianum was successively partitioned with petroleum ether (PF), chloroform (CF), ethyl acetate (EF), n-butanol (BF), and aqueous (WF) to obtain five fractions. The chemical profiling of the five fractions was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), and 18 compounds were tentatively identified. Compared to PF, CF, BF and WF, the EF revealed the highest total phenols (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC), and displayed the strongest enzyme inhibition ability (α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP). Furthermore, these five fractions, especially EF, could effectively inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage protection in HepG2 cells. This inhibitory effect might be caused by the up-regulation of intracellular antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, and GSH). The flavonoids and phenolic acids of V. dunalianum might be the bioactive substances responsible for enzyme inhibitory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective activities.     

Synthesis,Structure, Carbohydrate Enzyme Inhibition,Antioxidant Activity,In Silico Drug-Receptor Interactions and Drug-Like Profiling of the 5-Styryl-2-Aminochalcone Hybrids

The 2-amino-5-(3/4-fluorostyryl)acetophenones were prepared and reacted with benzaldehyde derivatives to afford the corresponding 5-styryl-2-aminochalcone hybrids. The trans geometry of the styryl and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl arms, and the presence of NH^…O intramolecular hydrogen bond were validated using ¹H-NMR and X-ray data. The 2-amino-5-styrylacetophenones and their 5-styryl-2-aminochalcone derivatives were screened in vitro for their capability to inhibit α-glucosidase and/or α-amylase activities. Their antioxidant properties were evaluated in vitro through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging assays. Kinetic studies of the most active derivatives from each series against α-glucosidase and/or α-amylase activities have been performed supported by molecular docking studies to determine plausible protein–ligand interactions on a molecular level. The key aspects of the pharmacokinetics of these compounds, i.e., absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion have also been simulated at theoretical level. The most active compounds from each series, namely, 2a and 3e, were evaluated for cytotoxicity against the normal monkey kidney cells (Vero cells) and the adenocarcinomic human epithelial (A549) cell line to establish their safety profile at least in vitro.     

Release of Cinnamaldehyde and Thymol from PLA/Tilapia Fish Gelatin-Sodium Alginate Bilayer Films to Liquid and Solid Food Simulants,and Japanese Sea Bass: A Comparative Study

This study aimed to develop an active biodegradable bilayer film and to investigate the release behaviors of active compounds into different food matrices. Cinnamaldehyde (CI) or thymol (Ty) was encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to prepare the active β-CD inclusion complex (β-CD-CI/β-CD-Ty). The tilapia fish gelatin-sodium alginate composite (FGSA) containing β-CD-CI or β-CD-Ty was coated on the surface of PLA film to obtain the active bilayer film. Different food simulants including liquid food simulants (water, 3% acetic acid, 10% ethanol, and 95% ethanol), solid dry food simulant (modified polyphenylene oxide (Tenax TA)), and the real food (Japanese sea bass) were selected to investigate the release behaviors of bilayer films into different food matrixes. The results showed that the prepared β-CD inclusion complexes distributed evenly in the cross-linking structure of FGSA and improved the thickness and water contact angle of the bilayer films. Active compounds possessed the lowest release rates in Tenax TA, compared to the release to liquid simulants and sea bass. CI and Ty sustained the release to the sea bass matrix with a similar behavior to the release to 95% ethanol. The bilayer film containing β-CD-Ty exhibited stronger active antibacterial and antioxidant activities, probably due to the higher release efficiency of Ty in test mediums.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Magnolol and Honokiol Derivatives with 1,3,5-Triazine of Metformin Cyclization

Herein, we sought to evaluate the contribution of the 1,3,5-triazine ring through the metformin cyclization unit to the biological activity of magnolol and honokiol-conjugates. One of the phenolic OH groups of magnolol or honokiol was replaced by a 1,3,5-triazine ring to further explore their synthesis and medicinal versatility. In this study, a robust procedure of three steps was adopted for the synthesis of magnolol and honokiol derivatives by alkylation of potassium carbonate with a 1,3,5-triazine ring. To our knowledge, this is the first report to connect one of the phenolic OH positions of magnolol or honokiol to a 1,3,5-triazine ring cyclized by metformin. The structural characterization of three new compounds was carried out via spectroscopic techniques, i.e., ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, and HRMS. Surprisingly, these compounds showed no cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages but significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 (human breast cancer cells), HepG2 (human hepatoma cells), A549 (human lung carcinoma cells), and BxPC-3 (human pancreatic carcinoma cells) tumor cell lines. Furthermore, the compounds also significantly inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines, including nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse cells (RAW 264.7). Among them, compound 2 demonstrated promising broad-spectrum antiproliferative potential with half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values ranging from 5.57 to 8.74 µM and it significantly decreased caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression in HepG2 cells. These interesting findings show that derivatization of magnolol and honokiol with 1,3,5-triazine affects and modulates their biological properties.     

GC/MS Analysis of Essential Oil and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Syzygium cumini (Pamposia) Grown in Egypt: Chemical Characterization and Molecular Docking Studies

Syzygium cumini (Pomposia) is a well-known aromatic plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae, and has been reported for its various traditional and pharmacological potentials, such as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal properties. The chemical composition of the leaf essential oil via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed the identification of fifty-three compounds representing about 91.22% of the total oil. The identified oil was predominated by α-pinene (21.09%), followed by β-(E)-ocimene (11.80%), D-limonene (8.08%), β-pinene (7.33%), and α-terpineol (5.38%). The tested oil revealed a moderate cytotoxic effect against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) with an IC₅₀ value of 38.15 ± 2.09 µg/mL. In addition, it effectively inhibited acetylcholinesterase with an IC₅₀ value of 32.9 ± 2.1 µg/mL. Furthermore, it showed inhibitory properties against α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 57.80 ± 3.30 and 274.03 ± 12.37 µg/mL, respectively. The molecular docking studies revealed that (E)-β-caryophyllene, one of the major compounds, achieved the best docking scores of −6.75, −5.61, and −7.75 for acetylcholinesterase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that S. cumini oil should be considered as a food supplement for the elderly to enhance memory performance and for diabetic patients to control blood glucose.     

Teucrium polium (L.): Phytochemical Screening and Biological Activities at Different Phenological Stages

The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the content of phytochemical compounds and in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of Teucrium polium L. aerial parts and root methanolic extracts at different phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and seeding). The T. polium extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their antioxidant properties were tested with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), ferrous ions (Fe²⁺), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methods. Forty-nine compounds were identified with the majority of germacrene D, t-cadinol, β-pinene, carvacrol, bicyclogermacrene, α-pinene, and limonene. The results show that the extracts significantly differ between different phenological stages of the plant material used in terms of the phytochemical composition (total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total alkaloids, and total saponin contents) and bioactivities (antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory) (p < 0.05). The highest total contents of phenolics (72.4 ± 2.5 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight), flavonoids (36.2 ± 3.1 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight), alkaloids (105.7 ± 2.8 mg atropine equivalent (AE)/g dry weight), and saponins (653 ± 6.2 mg escin equivalent (EE)/g dry weight), as well as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, were measured for the extract of the aerial parts obtained at the flowering stage. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the extracts were varied within 9.4–300 µg/mL, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were varied within 18.75–600 µg/mL. In addition, they were more active on Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. The data of this work confirm that the T. polium extracts have significant biological activity and hence can be used in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical applications, and medical research, as well as cosmetic and food industries.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Harmirins,Novel Harmine–Coumarin Hybrids as Potential Anticancer Agents

As cancer remains one of the major health burdens worldwide, novel agents, due to the development of resistance, are needed. In this work, we designed and synthesized harmirins, which are hybrid compounds comprising harmine and coumarin scaffolds, evaluated their antiproliferative activity, and conducted cell localization and cell cycle analysis experiments. Harmirins were prepared from the corresponding alkynes and azides under mild reaction conditions using Cu(I) catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition, leading to the formation of the 1H-1,2,3-triazole ring. Antiproliferative activity of harmirins was evaluated in vitro against four human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT116, SW620, and HepG2) and one human non-cancer cell line (HEK293T). The most pronounced activities were exerted against MCF-7 and HCT116 cell lines (IC₅₀ in the single-digit micromolar range), while the most selective harmirins were 5b and 12b, substituted at C-3 and O-7 of the β-carboline core and bearing methyl substituent at position 6 of the coumarin ring (SIs > 7.2). Further experiments demonstrated that harmirin 12b is localized exclusively in the cytoplasm. In addition, it induced a strong G1 arrest and reduced the percentage of cells in the S phase, suggesting that it might exert its antiproliferative activity through inhibition of DNA synthesis, rather than DNA damage. In conclusion, harmirin 12b is a novel harmine and coumarin hybrid with significant antiproliferative activity and warrants further evaluation as a potential anticancer agent.     

Clove Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction,Chemical Composition,Food Applications,and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae) is an aromatic plant widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries, rich in volatile compounds and antioxidants such as eugenol, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene. Clove essential oil has received considerable interest due to its wide application in the perfume, cosmetic, health, medical, flavoring, and food industries. Clove essential oil has biological activity relevant to human health, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal activity. The impacts of the extraction method (hydrodistillation, steam distillation, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, cold pressing, and supercritical fluid extraction) on the concentration of the main volatile compounds in clove essential oil and organic clove extracts are shown. Eugenol is the major compound, accounting for at least 50%. The remaining 10–40% consists of eugenyl acetate, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene. The main biological activities reported are summarized. Furthermore, the main applications in clove essential oil in the food industry are presented. This review presents new biological applications beneficial for human health, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activity. This review aims to describe the effects of different methods of extracting clove essential oil on its chemical composition and food applications and the biological activities of interest to human health.     

Structural Characterization and In-Vitro Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Activities of Polysaccharide Fractions Isolated from Artemisia annua L.

Arimisia annua L. is an important anticancer herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. The molecular basis underpinning the anticancer activity is complex and not fully understood, but the herbal polysaccharides, broadly recognised as having immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticancer activities, are potential key active agents. To examine the functions of polysaccharides from A. annua, their immunomodulatory and antioxidant potentials were evaluated, as well as their structural characterization. The water-soluble polysaccharides (AAPs) were fractionated using size-exclusion chromatography to obtain three dominant fractions, AAP-1, AAP-2 and AAP-3, having molecular masses centered around 1684, 455 and 5.8kDa, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of the isolated polysaccharides were evaluated by measuring radical scavenging activities against DPPH^● (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), ABTS^●+ (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical ion), and the OH^● (hydroxyl radical). AAP-1 displayed high antioxidant activities against these radicals, which were 68%, 73% and 78%, respectively. AAP-2 displayed lower scavenging activities than the other two fractions. Immunostimulatory activities of AAPs were measured using mouse macrophages. The three polysaccharide fractions displayed significant antioxidant activities and stimulated the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). AAP-1 showed significant immunostimulatory activity (16-fold increase in the production of IL-6 compared to the control and 13-fold increase in the production of TNF-α) with low toxicity (>60% cell viability at 125 μg/mL concentration). Preliminary structural characterization of the AAPs was carried out using gas chromatography (GC) and FTIR techniques. The results indicate that AAP-1 and AAP-2 are pyranose-containing polysaccharides with β-linkages, and AAP-3 is a β-fructofuranoside. The results suggest that these polysaccharides are potential candidates for immunotherapy and cancer treatment.     

Unveiling Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Compositional Differences between Dukkah and Za’atar via SPME-GCMS and HPLC-DAD

Interest in plant-based diets has been on the rise in recent years owing to the potential health benefits of their individual components and the notion that plant-based diets might reduce the incidence of several diseases. Egyptian dukkah and Syrian za’atar are two of the most historic and famous Middle Eastern herbal blends used for their anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic effects. Headspace SPME-GCMS and HPLC-DAD were adopted for characterizing the aroma profile and phenolic compounds of both herbal blends, respectively. Further, vapor-phase minimum inhibitory concentration was employed for assessing each blend’s antibacterial potential, while their antioxidant potential was estimated via in vitro antioxidant assays. SPME headspace analysis indicated the abundance of ethers and monoterpene hydrocarbons, while HPLC revealed the presence of several phenolics including rosmarinic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. Biological investigations affirmed that vapor-phase of the tested blends exhibited antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, while the antioxidant potential of the blends was investigated and expressed as Trolox (125.15 ± 5.92 to 337.26 ± 13.84 μM T eq/mg) and EDTA (18.08 ± 1.62 to 51.69 41 ± 5.33 μM EDTA eq/mg) equivalent. The presented study offers the first insight into the chemical profile and biological activities of both dukkah and za’atar.     

The Nutritional and Antioxidant Potential of Artisanal and Industrial Apple Vinegars and Their Ability to Inhibit Key Enzymes Related to Type 2 Diabetes In Vitro

The main objective of the current study was to determine the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activities, and α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition of apple vinegar produced by artisanal and industrial methods. Apple vinegar samples were analyzed to identify their electrical conductivity, pH, titratable acidity, total dry matter, Brix, density, mineral elements, polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C. The antioxidant activity of apple vinegar samples was evaluated using two tests, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Finally, we determined α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of artisanal and industrial apple vinegar. The results showed the following values: pH (3.69–3.19); electrical conductivity (2.81–2.79 mS/cm); titratable acidity (3.6–5.4); ash (4.61–2.90); °Brix (6.37–5.2); density (1.02476–1.02012), respectively, for artisanal apple vinegar and industrial apple vinegar. Concerning mineral elements, potassium was the most predominant element followed by sodium, magnesium, and calcium. Concerning bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C), the apple vinegar produced by the artisanal method was the richest sample in terms of bioactive compounds and had the highest α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition. The findings of this study showed that the quality and biological activities of artisanal apple vinegar were more important than industrial apple vinegar.     

Tomato and Olive Bioactive Compounds: A Natural Shield against the Cellular Effects Induced by β-Hexachlorocyclohexane-Activated Signaling Pathways

The β-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) is a globally widespread pollutant that embodies all the physicochemical characteristics of organochlorine pesticides, constituting an environmental risk factor for a wide range of noncommunicable diseases. Previous in vitro studies from our group disclosed the carcinogenic potential of β-HCH, which contributes to neoplastic transformation by means of multifaceted intracellular mechanisms. Considering the positive evidence regarding the protective role of natural bioactive compounds against pollution-induced toxicity, micronutrients from olive and tomato endowed with the capability of modulating β-HCH cellular targets were tested. For this purpose, the solution obtained from a patented food supplement (No. EP2851080A1), referred to as Tomato and Olive Bioactive Compounds (TOBC), was administered to the androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells LNCaP and different biochemical and cellular assays were performed to evaluate its efficiency. TOBC shows a dose-dependent significant chemoprotection by contrasting β-HCH-induced intracellular responses such as STAT3 and AhR activation, disruption of AR signaling, antiapoptotic and proliferative activity, and increase in ROS production and DNA damage. These experimental outcomes identified TOBC as a suitable functional food to be included in a diet regimen aimed at defending cells from β-HCH negative effects, recommending the development of tailored enriched formulations for exposed individuals.     

Phytochemical Characterization,Anti-Oxidant,Anti-Enzymatic and Cytotoxic Effects of Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte Extracts: A New Source of Bioactive Agents

Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte is recognized medicinally given its long-standing ethnopharmacological uses in different parts of the world. Nonetheless, the pharmacological properties of the leaves of the plant have been poorly studied by the scientific community. Hence, this study aimed to decipher the phytochemicals; quantify through HPLC-ESI-MS analysis the plant’s biosynthesis; and evaluate the antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase, cholinesterase, and cytotoxicity potential on normal (NIH 3T3) and human liver and human colon cancer (HepG2 and HT 29) cell lines of this plant species. The aqueous extract contained the highest content of phenolics and phenolic acid, methanol extracted the most flavonoid, and the most flavonol was extracted by ethyl acetate. The one-way ANOVA results demonstrated that all results obtained were statistically significant at p < 0.05. A total of 25 phytoconstituents were identified from the different extracts, with phenolic acids and flavonoids being the main metabolites. The highest antioxidant potential was recorded for the aqueous extract. The best anti-tyrosinase extract was the methanolic extract. The ethyl acetate extract of A. verlotiorum had the highest flavonol content and hence was most active against the cholinesterase enzymes. The ethyl acetate extract was the best α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitor. The samples of Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte in both aqueous and methanolic extracts were found to be non-toxic after 48 h against NIH 3T3 cells. In HepG2 cells, the methanolic extract was nontoxic up to 125 µg/mL, and an IC₅₀ value of 722.39 µg/mL was recorded. The IC₅₀ value exhibited in methanolic extraction of A. verlotiorum was 792.91 µg/mL in HT29 cells. Methanolic extraction is capable of inducing cell cytotoxicity in human hepatocellular carcinoma without damaging normal cells. Hence, A. verlotiorum can be recommended for further evaluation of its phytochemical and medicinal properties.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of (1,4-Disubstituted-1,2,3-Triazol)-(E)-2-Methyl-but-2-Enyl Nucleoside Phosphonate Prodrugs

A series of hitherto unknown (1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazol)-(E)-2-methyl-but-2-enyl nucleosides phosphonate prodrugs bearing 4-substituted-1,2,3-triazoles were prepared in a straight approach through an olefin acyclic cross metathesis as the key synthetic step. All novel compounds were evaluated for their antiviral activities against HBV, HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Among these molecules, only compound 15j, a hexadecyloxypropyl (HDP)/(isopropyloxycarbonyl-oxymethyl)-ester (POC) prodrug, showed activity against HBV in Huh7 cell cultures with 62% inhibition at 10 μM, without significant cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 66.4 μM in HepG2 cells, IC₅₀ = 43.1 μM in HepG2 cells) at 10 μM.     

Photophysical Study and Biological Applications of Synthetic Chalcone-Based Fluorescent Dyes

A chalcone series (3a–f) with electron push–pull effect was synthesized via a one-pot Claisen–Schmidt reaction with a simple purification step. The compounds exhibited strong emission, peaking around 512–567 nm with mega-stokes shift (∆λ = 93–139 nm) in polar solvents (DMSO, MeOH, and PBS) and showed good photo-stability. Therefore, 3a–f were applied in cellular imaging. After 3 h of incubation, green fluorescence was clearly brighter in cancer cells (HepG2) compared to normal cells (HEK-293), suggesting preferential accumulation in cancer cells. Moreover, all compounds exhibited higher cytotoxicity within 24 h toward cancer cells (IC₅₀ values ranging from 45 to 100 μM) than normal cells (IC₅₀ value >100 μM). Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of chalcones 3a–f were investigated. Interestingly, 3a–f exhibited antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of 0.10–0.60 mg/mL (375–1000 µM), suggesting their potential antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Thus, this series of chalcone-derived fluorescent dyes with facile synthesis shows great potential for the development of antibiotics and cancer cell staining agents.     

One-Step Extraction of Olive Phenols from Aqueous Solution Using β-Cyclodextrin in the Solid State,a Simple Eco-Friendly Method Providing Photochemical Stability to the Extracts

The extraction of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastes is important, not only to avoid environmental damages, but also because of the intrinsic value of those biophenols, well-known for their high antioxidant potential and health benefits. This study focuses on tyrosol (Tyr) and hydroxytyrosol (HT), two of the main phenolic compounds found in olive mill wastes. A new, simple, and eco-friendly extraction process for the removal of phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions using native β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in the solid state has been developed. Several β-CD/biophenol molar ratios and biophenol concentrations were investigated, in order to maintain β-CD mostly in the solid state while optimizing the extraction yield and the loading capacity of the sorbent. The extraction efficiencies of Tyr and HT were up to 61%, with a total solid recovery higher than 90% using an initial concentration of 100 mM biophenol and 10 molar equivalents of β-CD. The photochemical stability of the complexes thus obtained was estimated from ∆E*ab curve vs. illumination time. The results obtained showed that the phenols encapsulated into solid β-CD are protected against photodegradation. The powder obtained could be directly developed as a safe-grade food supplement. This simple eco-friendly process could be used for extracting valuable biophenols from olive mill wastewater.