Investigations on Hydrolytic Activities from Stachybotrys microspora and Their Use as an Alternative in Yeast DNA Extraction

Stachybotrys microspora is a filamentous fungus characterized by the secretion of multiple hydrolytic activities (cellulolytic and non-cellulolytic enzymes). The production of these biocatalysts was studied under submerged culture using glucose, cellulose, and wheat bran as carbon sources. Endoglucanases, pectinases, xylanases, β-glucanases, chitinases, and proteases were induced on cellulose-based medium and repressed on glucose in both strains with higher amounts produced by the mutant. β-glucosidases were roughly equally produced by both strains under glucose and cellulose conditions. The yield of chitinases, β-glucanases, and proteases produced by Stachybotrys strains was as much higher than the commercialized lysing enzyme called “zymolyase,” currently used in yeast DNA extraction. In this context, we showed that S. microspora hydrolases can be successfully applied in the extraction of yeast DNA.     

The Prognostic Value of Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein RNA in Breast Tissue Using Unmodified Gold Nanoparticles Assay

The aim of is this study is to explore the role of tissue histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) RNA as a promising clinically useful biomarker for breast cancer patients prognosis using nanogold assay. Expression of the HRG RNA was assessed by gold nanoparticles and conventional RT-PCR after purification by magnetic nanoparticles in breast tissue samples. The study included 120 patients, 60 of which were histologically proven breast carcinoma cases, 30 had benign breast lesions and 30 were healthy individuals who had undergone reductive plastic surgery. ER, PR and HER2 status were also investigated. The prognostic significance of tissue HRG RNA expression in breast cancer was explored. The magnetic nanoparticles coated with specific thiol modified oligonucleotide probe were used successfully in purification of HRG RNA from breast tissue total RNAs with satisfactory yield. The developed HRG AuNPs assay had a sensitivity and a specificity of 90 %, and a detection limit of 1.5 nmol/l. The concordance rate between the HRG AuNPs assay with RT-PCR after RNA purification using magnetic nanoparticles was 93.3 %. The median follow-up period was 60 months. Among traditional prognostic biomarkers, HRG was a significant independent prognostic marker in relapse-free survival (RFS). HRG RNA is an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer and can be detected using gold NPs assay, which is rapid, sensitive, specific, inexpensive to extend the value for breast cancer prognosis.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Halogenated E-Stilbenols as Promising Antiaging Agents

The increased risk of illness and disability is related to the age inevitable biological changes. Oxidative stress is a proposed mechanism for many age-related diseases. The crucial importance of polyphenol pharmacophore for aging process is largely described thanks to its effects on concentrations of reactive oxygen species. Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, RSV) plays a critical role in slowing the aging process but has a poor bioavailabity after oral intake. In this present work, a series of RSV derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential antioxidant agents. These derivatives contain substituents with different electronic and steric properties in different positions of aromatic rings. This kind of substituents affects the activity and the bioavailability of these compounds compared with RSV used as reference compound. Studies of Log P values demonstrated that the introduction of halogens gives the optimum lipophilicity to be considered promising active agents. Among them, compound 6 showed the higher antioxidant activity than RSV. The presence of trifluoromethyl group together with a chlorine atom increased the antioxidant activity compared to RSV.     

New method for the synthesis of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[g]chromene-2,5,10-triones

Abstract

We report herein a new method for the synthesis of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[g]chromene-2,5,10-triones 4 that proceeds in good yields (74–86%) and mild reaction conditions between readily available 2-amino-4-aryl-5,10-dioxo-5,10-dihydro-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitriles 1, and formic acid (88%), at reflux for 6?h. In addition, we have also studied the antioxidant activities using DPPH and total TAC methods.     

A new acylated flavonol from the aerial parts of Asteriscus maritimus (L.) Less (Asteraceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the flowering aerial parts of Asteriscus maritimus (L.) Less (Asteraceae) led to the isolation of a new compound: patuletin 7-O-β-D-[(2″′S) 6″(3″′-hydroxy-2″′-methyl-propanoyl)] glucopyranoside, together with five known metabolites; β-sitosterol 2, chlorogenic acid 3, P-hydroxy -methylbenzoate 4, luteolin 5 and protocatechuic acid 6. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by comprehensive analyses of its 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS and compared with previously known analogues. The ethanolic extract of the flowering aerial parts of A. maritimus was found to be safe (LD₅₀ = 4.6 mg/kg) and possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and this was in accordance with its high phenolic content (107.36 ± 0.051 mg GAE/g extract).     

Evaluation of Seven Essential Oils as Seed Treatments against Seedborne Fungal Pathogens of Cucurbita maxima

Essential oils are gaining interest as environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides for management of seedborne pathogens. Here, seven essential oils were initially tested in vivo for disinfection of squash seeds (Cucurbita maxima) naturally contaminated by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium fujikuro, Fusarium solani, Paramyrothecium roridum, Albifimbria verrucaria, Curvularia spicifera, and Rhizopus stolonifer. The seeds were treated with essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Lavandula dentata, Lavandula hybrida, Melaleuca alternifolia, Laurus nobilis, and Origanum majorana (#1 and #2). Incidence of S. cucurbitacearum was reduced, representing a range between 67.0% in L. nobilis to 84.4% in O. majorana #2. Treatments at 0.5 mg/mL essential oils did not affect seed germination, although radicles were shorter than controls, except with C. citratus and O. majorana #1 essential oils. Four days after seeding, seedling emergence was 20%, 30%, and 10% for control seeds and seeds treated with C. citratus essential oil (0.5 mg/mL) and fungicides (25 g/L difenoconazole plus 25 g/L fludioxonil). S. cucurbitacearum incidence was reduced by ~40% for plantlets from seeds treated with C. citratus essential oil. These data show the effectiveness of this essential oil to control the transmission of S. cucurbitacearum from seeds to plantlets, and thus define their potential use for seed decontamination in integrated pest management and organic agriculture.     

On the essential spectra of coupled operators matrix and application

We define an abstract setting to treat essential spectra of unbounded coupled operator matrix. We prove a well‐posedness result and develop a spectral theory which also allows us to prove an amelioration to many earlier works. We point out that a concrete example from integro‐differential equation fit into this abstract framework involving a general class of regular operator in L₁ spaces.     

Diarylethylene guest anchored into a cyclodextrin molecular host: optical,quantum chemical studies and biological activity

The host–guest complexation between a novel guest namely; 2-(4-pyridinylbenzothiazolyl) ethane, PBE and β-cyclodextrin was studied using steady-state absorption and emission techniques. The fluorescence maximum is strongly blue-shifted with a great enhancement in the fluorescence intensity upon addition of β-CD, confirming the formation of inclusion complexes. The solid inclusion complex between PBE and β-CD has been prepared, characterised using FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope techniques. PBE is encapsulated with β-CD nanocavity and 1:1 PBE–β-CD host–guest interaction is identified. This is confirmed using semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations. PBE guest entered into the less polar cavity through the benzothiazole moiety. The negative values of enthalpy and free energy changes suggest that the encapsulation process is thermodynamically favourable. Additionally, the fluorescence is more sensitive to the micellar medium, whether it was cationic, anionic or neutral as well as metal ions like, Li⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺. Finally, the antimicrobial activities of PBE guest and its inclusion complex with β-CD host are studied.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of some nitrogen heterocycles bearing pyrimidine moiety

Synthesis of novel pyrimidine derivatives 4-16 was accomplished by heterocyclization of polarized system, for example, Chalcone. Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 2-acetyl naphthalene with 4-(N, N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde) afforded chalcone 3 , which was utilized for synthesis various pyrimidine derivatives by treatment with urea, thiourea, and guandine hydrochloride in ethanolic sodium hydroxide solution. The reactivity of the synthesized pyrimidine derivatives towards different nucleophilic and electrophilic reagent were examined. The constructions of the newly synthesized pyrimidine derivatives were elucidated from their spectral and elemental analysis. All the synthesized compounds were tested in vitro for their anticancer activities against HePG-2 and MCF-7 cell lines. Some of them posses a wide range of pharmacological activity. Finally, a molecular docking study was conducted to reveal the probable interaction with the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) active site.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity against human tumor cells of heterocyclic systems derived from 2-thioxo-1,2-dihydro-4H-3,1-benzothazin-4-one

The title compound was prepared and converted to 2-hydrazinyl-1,2-dihydro-4H-benzo[d][1,3]thiazin-4-one which was utilized to synthesize fused heterocyclic systems, namely benzotriazolothiazinone derivatives, as well as, nonfused heterocyclic systems such as pyrazolyl-benzothiazinones, benzothiazinylpyridazine and imidazolylbenzothiazinone derivatives via reaction with formamide, acetic acid, ethyl cyanoacetate, maleic anhydride and benzaldehyde followed by treatment with glycine, respectively. All compounds have been structurally characterized by means of IR, MS, and ¹H-NMR spectra. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity against HePG-2 and MCF-7 cell lines. 2H-Benzo[d][1,3]thiazine-2,4(1H)-dithione and 2-thioxo-1,2-dihydro-4H-benzo[d][1,3]thiazin-4-one were the most potent against the two cancer cells compared to that of the reference compound doxorubicin. Most of the synthesized compounds also exhibited good cytotoxic activity.