Appraisal of the Antioxidant Activity,Polyphenolic Content,and Characterization of Selected Himalayan Herbs: Anti-Proliferative Potential in HepG2 Cells

Natural antioxidants derived from plants have played a vital role in preventing a wide range of human chronic conditions and provide novel bioactive leads for investigators in pharmacotherapy discovery. This work was designed to examine the ethnopharmacological role of Urtica dioica (UD), Capsella bursa-pastoris (CBP), and Inula racemosa (IR). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) were illustrated through colorimetric assays, while the antioxidant activity was investigated through DPPH and ABTS assays. The evaluation of phytochemicals by FT-IR of UD and CBP revealed high contents of aliphatic amines, while IR showed a major peak for ketones. The antioxidant activity, TPC and TFC were highest in the ethanol extract of UD, followed by CBP, and IR showed the lowest activity. All of the extracts revealed significant antioxidant capacities along a dosage gradient. Through a HPLC analysis at a wavelength of 280 nm, UD leaves demonstrated an intense peak of quercetin, and the peak for rutin was less intense. CBP (whole plant), instead, demonstrated a major yield of rutin, and a peak for quercetin was not observed in CBP. IR (rhizomes) showed both quercetin and rutin. All of the extracts were significantly cytotoxic to HepG2 cells after 48 h with the trend IR > UD > CBP. The outcomes of this study may be effective in the selection of specific plants as realistic sources of the bioactive components that might be useful in the nutraceutical progression and other biomedical efficacies.     

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of extracted oil from Camelina sativa seed treated by dielectric-barrier discharge cold plasma

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma (CP) pretreatment on Camelina sativa “Soheil cultivar” seed. A DBD plasma reactor system was employed for this purpose. The experiments were performed by taking into account variables including voltages of 15, 18, and 21 kV and times of 2, 4, 8, and 16 min. The measured properties were oil yield extraction (%), oil colour parameters (CIEL*a*b*), protein content (meal) (%), surface analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and fatty acids profile of Camelina sativa. The results revealed that the CP treatment had a significant improvement in different properties of the extracted oil. It was observed that the extracted oil was increased, with the increasing time of CP exposure. The treatments of CP enhanced the oil yield from 24.3 to 31.5%, and the optimal conditions were identified as 21 kV and 16 min. Also, the maximum protein amount was observed for the samples treated by CP (39.5%). The SEM analysis showed that the cell structures of pre-treated Camelina samples were damaged, thereby improved the oil extraction efficiency. The variations in the values of L*, a*, and b* (max-min) were calculated to be 3.9, −2.5, and 9.7, respectively, which indicated minor changes of CP treatment on the oil colour parameters. The treated samples showed considerable changes of enhancement in linolenic and linoleic acids among poly-unsaturated fatty acids; and a reduction in palmitic acid content, among saturated fatty acids.     

Cell-penetrating peptides as delivery vehicles for a protein-targeted terbium complex

Release after transmission: Arginine-rich, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) mediate cytoplasmic delivery of trimethoprim (TMP)-terbium complex conjugates and selective, intracellular labeling of E.?coli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR) fusion proteins. A disulfide bond linking CPP and cargo is reduced following uptake. CPP conjugation can be used to deliver otherwise cell-impermeable, ligand-fluorophore conjugates.     

Asymmetric hydrolytic kinetic resolution with recyclable macrocyclic Co(III)-salen complexes: a practical strategy in the preparation of (R)-mexiletine and (S)-propranolol

A chiral cobalt(III) complex (1e) was synthesized by the interaction of cobalt(II) acetate and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate with a chiral dinuclear macrocyclic salen ligand that was derived from 1R,2R-(-)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with trigol bis-aldehyde. A variety of epoxides and glycidyl ethers were suitable substrates for the reaction with water in the presence of chiral macrocyclic salen complex 1e at room temperature to afford chiral epoxides and diols by hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR). Excellent yields (47% with respect to the epoxides, 53% with respect to the diols) and high enantioselectivity (ee>99% for the epoxides, up to 96% for the diols) were achieved in 2.5-16 h. The Co(III) macrocyclic salen complex (1e) maintained its performance on a multigram scale and was expediently recycled a number of times. We further extended our study of chiral epoxides that were synthesized by using HKR to the synthesis of chiral drug molecules (R)-mexiletine and (S)-propranolol.     

Improved method for preparation of anhydrous silica by microwave irradiation with spectroscopic characterization and toxicity assay

Amorphous anhydrous silica SiO_{2 (mw)} (99.99%) is successfully synthesized through microwave irradiation technique and time of reaction is reduced up to 1 h. The dehydration phase study of Si–water, Si–OH, Si–O–Si networking, elemental analysis and surface morphology was carried out by FTIR, FTNIR, SEM and EDAX spectroscopic techniques. The broad absorption stretching and bending of Si–OH and H₂O at 3695.38–2832.96 cm^? 1, 1638 cm^? 1 and 1191.20–1017.14 cm^? 1 completely disappeared and appearance of new bands at 946.93 and 797.63 cm^? 1 confirmed the amorphous anhydrous silica with Si–O–Si networking. The SEM images of SiO_{2 (mwc)} described the smooth and fine particle texture and confirmed 99.99% Si–O–Si networking of anhydrous silica. The 99.99% purity was verified by EDAX spectra which exhibited sharp signals only for oxygen and silicon. Toxicity against Monomorium minimum and Tribolium castaneum with 100% mortality and LT₅₀ 91 min and 7.5 h respectively is being reported. It can be used for long storage of grains in the future.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of mixed ligand ruthenium(II) chiral Schiff base complexes with nitrogen donors

Summary Mixed ligand complexes (1)-(18) of composition [RuL-(PPh₃)Y] and [RuL(PPh₃)(H₂O)Y]^- (L = chiral Schiff bases derived from l-alanine, l-valine, l-serine, l-cystein, l-arginine or l-aspartic acid with salicylaldehyde; Y = azide, 2,2-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline) have been prepared and characterized by microanalysis, spectroscopy and polarography. The conformational aspects regarding the relationship of the asymmetric carbon atom to the nitrogen donors around the Ru^II are discussed. All complexes showed quasi-reversible c.v. behaviour and the redox potentials of the Ru^II/Ru^I couple lie in the -0.31 to-0.16 V range.     

Synthesis of 1,3,5‐Triazepineselone Derivatives from Acyl Isoselenocyanates and Benzene‐1,2‐diamine

Tandem reaction between acyl isoselenocyanates, generated from acyl chlorides and KSeCN, and benzene‐1,2‐diamine in acetone at room temperature, gave 1,3,5‐triazepineselone derivatives in moderate to good yields.