Recent Updates on the Functional Impact of Kahweol and Cafestol on Cancer

Kahweol and cafestol are two diterpenes extracted from Coffea arabica beans that have distinct biological activities. Recent research describes their potential activities, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer properties, among others. The two diterpenes have been shown to have anticancer effects in various in vitro and in vivo cancer models. This review aims to shed light on the recent developments regarding the potential effects of kahweol and cafestol on various cancers. A systematic literature search through Google Scholar and PubMed was performed between February and May 2022 to collect updates about the potential effects of cafestol and kahweol on different cancers in in vitro and in vivo models. The search terms “Kahweol and Cancer” and “Cafestol and Cancer” were used in this literature review as keywords; the findings demonstrated that kahweol and cafestol exhibit diverse effects on different cancers in in vitro and in vivo models, showing pro-apoptotic, cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory properties. In conclusion, the diterpenes kahweol and cafestol display significant anticancer effects, while remarkably unaffecting normal cells. Our results show that both kahweol and cafestol exert their actions on various cancers via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell growth. Additionally, kahweol acts by inhibiting cell migration.     

Iphiona mucronata (Forssk.) Asch. & Schweinf. A Comprehensive Phytochemical Study via UPLC-Q-TOF-MS in the Context of the Embryo- and Cytotoxicity Profiles

Iphiona mucronata (Family Asteraceae) is widely distributed in the Eastern desert of Egypt. It is a promising plant material for phytochemical analysis and pharmacologic studies, and so far, its specific metabolites and biological activity have not yet been thoroughly investigated. Herein, we report on the detailed phytochemical study using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS approach. This analysis allowed the putative annotation of 48 metabolites belonging to various phytochemical classes, including mostly sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Further, zebrafish embryotoxicity has been carried out, where 100 µg/mL extract incubated for 72 h resulted in a slow touch response of the 10 examined larvae, which might be taken as a sign of a disturbed peripheral nervous system. Results of in vitro testing indicate moderate cytotoxicity towards VERO, FaDu, and HeLa cells with CC₅₀ values between 91.6 and 101.7 µg/mL. However, selective antineoplastic activity in RKO cells with CC₅₀ of 54.5 µg/mL was observed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive profile of I. mucronata secondary metabolites that provides chemical-based evidence for its biological effects. A further investigation should be carried out to precisely define the underlying mechanisms of toxicity.     

tert-Butyl(2-oxo-2H-pyran-5-yl)carbamate as the First Chameleon Diene Bearing an Electron-Donating Substituent

The 2(H)-pyran-2-one bearing electron-donating tert-butylcarbamate (BocNH-) group at the 5- position is a “chameleon” diene and undergoes efficient Diels–Alder cycloadditions with alkene dienophiles with both electron-rich and electron-deficient substituents. Cycloadditions afford the 5-substituted bicyclic lactone cycloadducts regardless of the electronic nature of the dienophile. However, cycloadditions with electronically matched electron-deficient dienophiles proceed faster than those with electronically mismatched electron-rich dienophiles.     

Dosimetric investigations on radiation-induced Ag nanoparticles in a gel dosimeter

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Radiation-induced Ag° nanoparticles (NPs) in silver nitrate gel dosimeter incorporating various components was investigated in the dose range...     

Dynamics of an electrified confined planar jet in a zero gravity environment

Meccanica - The present work deals with temporal electro-aerodynamics instability properties of an inviscid confined planar jet in a zero gravity environment and the existence of electric field....     

Electrocortical and Biochemical Evaluation of Antidepressant Efficacy of Formulated Nanocurcumin

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The present study aims to evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of curcumin nanoparticles on rat model of depression induced by reserpine. Rats were divided...     

Preparation of MgCo2O4/graphite composites as cathode materials for magnesium-ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Magnesium-ion batteries are fabricated with MgCo2O4/graphite composites as the cathode material. MgCo2O4 nanoparticles are prepared using a...     

Reusable photoresponsive Ag/AgCl nanocube-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of seleno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In this study, a facile and rapid method was developed to synthesize intensely organoselenium compounds, namely ethylseleno[2,3-b]pyridine carboxylate,...     

A convenient green synthetic approach to the synthesis of novel bioactive selenolo[2,3-c]pyrazoles as antibacterial and antifungal agents

A series of new pyrimidine, triazine, and isoindole heterocycles fused to the selenolopyrazole ring system was synthesized by various condensation reactions of the amino selenolopyrazole carboxamide 1 , which was performed by a new green methodology. The pyrimidinone compound 6 was used as a versatile precursor for several aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions to produce the sulfanyl pyrimidines 10a-c and the corresponding amines 11a-c and 12a , b . Assignment of the chemical structures for the newly synthesized compounds was confirmed by elemental and spectral analyses including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR and mass spectroscopy for some of them. Furthermore, some of these compounds were screened against various pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Their results demonstrated that some of them revealed remarkable antimicrobial activities.     

Spectral and Electrical Properties of a Medium Pressure,Low-Power,RF-Generated Postdischarge Nitrogen Plasma Jet

A method for obtaining a medium pressure (p ～ 1 torr), low power (< 100 W), RF-generated plasma jet, suitable for chemical kinetics studies and technological applications is described. Though various supply gases can be used to create the plasma jet, only results on the properties of a nitrogen jet are given in this paper with an emphasis on some spectral and electrical characteristics. The emission spectra of the nitrogen jet are discussed and spatial distributions of the relative concentration of nitrogen or radical impurities emitting species such as N₂(C³Π_u, v' = 0), NH(A³Π_g, v'=0) in the bulk of the postdischarge plasma are calculated from the intensity of their vibrational bands. Electrical space resolved double probe measurements and the spatial distributions of the electron density and temperature in the plasma jet are also presented. Possible applications are shortly discussed.