In Vitro Antiviral Activity of α-Mangostin against Dengue Virus Serotype-2 (DENV-2)

Dengue virus (DENV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is a threat for global health as it infects more than 100 million people yearly. Approved antiviral therapies or vaccines for the treatment or prevention of DENV infections are not available. In the present study, natural compounds were screened for their antiviral activity against DENV by in vitro cell line-based assay. α-Mangostin, a xanthanoid, was observed to exert antiviral activity against DENV-2 under pre-, co- and post-treatment testing conditions. The antiviral activity was determined by foci forming unit (FFU) assay, quantitative RT-PCR and cell-based immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A complete inhibition of DENV-2 was observed at 8 µM under the co-treatment condition. The possible inhibitory mechanism of α-Mangostin was also determined by docking studies. The molecular docking experiments indicate that α-Mangostin can interact with multiple DENV protein targets such as the NS5 methyltransferase, NS2B-NS3 protease and the glycoprotein E. The in vitro and in silico findings suggest that α-Mangostin possesses the ability to suppress DENV-2 production at different stages of its replication cycle and might act as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent against DENV-2.     

Effect of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on the aggregation behavior of twin-tailed cationic gemini surfactant in aqueous solution

Micellization behavior of the twin-tailed surfactants can be modulated by the addition of various modifiers. Ionic liquids (ILs) are one of them and are documented here. The beauty of these environmentally benign neoteric molecules lies in their structural versatility. Here, we have investigated the effect of three ILs: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₄mim][Br]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₆mim][Br]), and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₈mim][Br]) on the aggregation and surface adsorption behavior of cationic gemini surfactant, bis(hexadecyldimethyl ammonium)propane dibromide (16-3-16) through experimentally measured electrical conductivities, surface tensions, and by spectral methods (UV-vis absorbance and fluorescence measurements). The main focus of the study is to observe the effect of added ILs on the critical micelle concentration (cmc), various surface parameters, aggregation number, and size of the aggregates of gemini surfactant. The results show that the more hydrophobic ILs, that is, [C₆mim][Br] and [C₈mim][Br] behave as electrolyte at lower concentration and cosurfactant at higher concentration, whereas moderately hydrophobic IL [C₄mim][Br] acts as an electrolyte at all concentration ranges studied. The modulating effects of ILs were also compared with conventional electrolyte (NaBr) at similar conditions.     

Hyperaromatic stabilization of arenium ions: acid-catalyzed dehydration of 2-substituted 1,2-dihydro-1-naphthols

Rate constants for acid-catalyzed dehydration of cis-2-substituted 1,2-dihydro-naphthols are well correlated by the Taft relationship log k = -0.49 - 8.8σ(I), with minor negative deviations for OH and OMe. By contrast the trans substituents show a poor correlation with σ(I) and in most cases react more slowly than their cis isomers. The behavior is consistent with rate-determining formation of a 2-substituted carbocation (naphthalenium ion) intermediate that for cis reactants possesses a 2-C-H bond suitably oriented for hyperconjugation with the charge center. For the trans isomers the 2-substituent itself is oriented for hyperconjugation in the initially formed conformation of the cation. It is argued that k(cis)/k(trans) rate ratios for substituents (Me, 8.4; Bu(t), 12.7; Ph, 3.8; NH(3)(+), 160; OH, 440) reflect their hyperconjugating ability relative to hydrogen. Faster reactions of trans isomers are observed for substitutents known (RS, N(3)) or suspected (EtSO, EtSO(2)) of stabilizing the cation by a π or σ neighboring group effect. The good Taft correlation is taken to indicate that cis substuents are reacting normally, differentiated only by their inductive effects. The slower reactions of the trans isomers are the judged to be "abnormal". This is confirmed by comparing effects of cis and trans β-OH substituents on the reactivities of dihydro phenols, naphthols, and phenanthrols. Whereas k(H)/k(OH) for cis substituents varies by less than 8-fold and is consistent with the influence of an inductive effect of the OH group (k(H)/k(OH) ≈ 2000), k(H)/k(OH) for the trans substituents varies by 3 orders of magnitude, reflecting the additional influence of the lesser hyperconjugating ability of a C-OH bond compared to a C-H bond. The magnitude and variation of this difference is consistent with C-H hyperconjugation conferring aromatic character on the arenium ions.     

Bacterial dioxygenase- and monooxygenase-catalysed sulfoxidation of benzo[b]thiophenes

Asymmetric heteroatom oxidation of benzo[b]thiophenes to yield the corresponding sulfoxides was catalysed by toluene dioxygenase (TDO), naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) and styrene monooxygenase (SMO) enzymes present in P. putida mutant and E. coli recombinant whole cells. TDO-catalysed oxidation yielded the relatively unstable benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxide; its dimerization, followed by dehydrogenation, resulted in the isolation of stable tetracyclic sulfoxides as minor products with cis-dihydrodiols being the dominant metabolites. SMO mainly catalysed the formation of enantioenriched benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxide and 2-methyl benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxides which racemized at ambient temperature. The barriers to pyramidal sulfur inversion of 2- and 3-methyl benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxide metabolites, obtained using TDO and NDO as biocatalysts, were found to be ca.: 25-27 kcal mol(-1). The absolute configurations of the benzo[b]thiophene sulfoxides were determined by ECD spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and stereochemical correlation. A site-directed mutant E. coli strain containing an engineered form of NDO, was found to change the regioselectivity toward preferential oxidation of the thiophene ring rather than the benzene ring.     

Active methylene compounds in a very effective approach to 3-substituted isobenzofuranones through tandem aldol/lactonization reactions

In this article we describe a new accessible methodology for the synthesis of isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones. In this process we exploited an effective, economic, useful and environmentally benign K₂CO₃ catalyzed, solvent-free one-pot tandem aldol-lactonization reaction between active methylene compounds and methyl 2-carboxy benzaldehyde. A particularly simple work-up and purification procedure are additional advantages addressed to a general green chemistry approach to this important class of heterocyclic compounds.     

Incommensurability and metastability problems in NH4HSeO4 and ND4DSeO4: A reinvestigation of phase diagrams

Abstract

X-ray and neutron diffraction results on NH₄HSeO₄ and ND₄DSeO₄ are reported. Direct evidence of an incommensurate phase sandwiched between the monoclinic high-temperature phase (space group B2) and the low-temperature ferroelectric lock-in phase k = ? (space group P1) has been obtained in NH₄HSeO₄. The phase situation is more complicated in ND₄DSeO₄, where an incommensurate phase is found sandwiched between the B2 phase and a lock-in phase k = ¼ and where a phase in which several modulations coexist has been discovered in between the two lock-in phases k = ¼ and k = ?. The non-equilibrium processes, also present in ND₄DSeO₄, have been identified. All these results have clarified the situation about the phase diagram.     

Substitutional effect of Cr ions on the properties of Mg–Zn ferrite nanoparticles

The effect of Cr³⁺ substitution in Mg–Zn ferrite, with a chemical formula Mg_0.5Zn_0.5Cr_xFe_2−xO₄ (x=0.0–1.0), synthesized by a sol–gel auto-combustion reaction is presented in this paper. The resultant powders were investigated by various techniques, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and DC resistivity. The XRD pattern revealed that the cubic spinel structure is maintained for the all the compositions. The particle sizes measured from XRD and TEM are in good agreement with each other. The cation distribution suggests that Mg²⁺, Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ have strong preference towards octahedral B-site. The theoretical lattice constant and experimental lattice constant match each other very well. The IR analysis supports the presently accepted cation distribution. The saturation magnetization decreases linearly with increasing Cr³⁺ content. Curie temperatures are obtained by the Laoria and AC susceptibility techniques. The dc resistivity has been investigated as a function of temperature and composition.     

Synthesis and band-gap photoluminescence from cadmium phosphide nano-particles

Cadmium phosphide (Cd₃P₂) when synthesized from the direct reaction of cadmium metal salt and tri-octylphosphine (TOP) in presence of sodium metal showed band-gap emissions with engineered band-gap energy in between 2.85 and 2.75 eV. Optical studies showed pronounced quantum confinement effect from nano-particles so prepared. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of black powders revealed hexagonal Cd₂P₃ crystal structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed mixed morphology of fluffy particles likely to be amorphous in nature. Far-infrared (far-IR) spectroscopy revealed peaks associated with (Cd₃P₂).     

Ni(II) and Zn(II) Complexes Containing Alkynyl Functionalized Salicylaldimine Ligand and Heterocyclic Coligand: Synthesis,Characterization and Luminescence Properties

Some nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes of the type [Ni(L)(phen/bipy)]X (1a–6a) and [Zn(L) (phen/bipy)]X (1b–6b) (where L = 2-{(E)-[(4-trimethylsilylethynylphenyl)imino]methyl}-4-(4-nitro phenylethynyl)phenol; phen = 1, 10-phenanthroline, bipy = 2, 2´-bipyridine; X = ClO₄ ^?, BF₄ ^?, PF₆ ^?) have been prepared and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, FTIR, ¹H NMR and mass spectral studies. The molecular structure of L was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The electrochemical behaviour of the Ni(II) complexes indicate that the phen complexes appears at more positive potential as compared to those for bipy complexes, as a consequence of its strong π-acidic character. TGA was carried out to study the thermal behavior of the complexes. Room temperature luminescence is observed for all complexes corresponds to π → π* ILCT transition. The size of the counter anion and heterocyclic coligands phen and bipy shows marked effect on emission properties of the complexes.     

Synthesis,characterization, and controlled release study of polyurea microcapsules containing metribuzin herbicide

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - Controlled release herbicide formulation was prepared by microencapsulation using interfacial polymerization technique. Methylene bisdiphenyl diisocynate...