Investigations of ternary complexes of Co(II) and Ni(II) with oxydiacetate anion and 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipyridine in solutions

Potentiometric (PT) and conductometric (CT) titration methods have been used to determine the stoichiometry and formation constants in water for a series of ternary complexes of Co(II) and Ni(II) involving the oxydiacetate anion (ODA) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) ligands, namely [Co(ODA)(phen)(H₂O)], [Co(ODA)(bpy)(H₂O)], [Ni(ODA)(phen)(H₂O)] and [Ni(ODA)(bpy)(H₂O)]. The ternary complex formation process was found to take place in a stepwise manner in which the oxydiacetate ligand acts as a primary ligand and the phen or bipy ligands act as auxiliary ones. The stability of the ternary complexes formed is discussed in the relation to the corresponding binary ones. Furthermore, the kinetics of the substitution reactions of the aqua ligands in the coordination sphere of the Ni-ODA and Co-ODA complexes to phen or bipy were studied by the stopped-flow method. The kinetic measurements were performed in the 288–303 K temperature range, at a constant concentration of phen or bipy and at seven different concentrations of the binary complexes (4–7 mM). The influence of experimental conditions and the kind of the auxiliary ligands (phen/bipy) on the substitution rate was discussed.      

Sambucus Nigra Extracts–Natural Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Compounds

Due to the health-promoting properties of elderberry fruits, which result from their rich chemical composition, this raw material is widely used in herbal medicine and the food industry. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the antibacterial activity of the elderberry fruit extracts. The research showed that the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts determined their antibacterial activity. The research showed that the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts determined their antibacterial activity. The following phenolic acids were predominant: chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, and t-cinnamic acid. Their average content was, respectively, 139.09, 72.84, 51.29 mg/g extract. Rutin and quercetin (their average content was 1105.39 and 306.6 mg/g extract, respectively) were the dominant flavonoids. The research showed that the elderberry polyphenol extracts exhibited activity against selected strains of bacteria within the concentration range of 0.5–0.05%. The following bacteria were the most sensitive to the extracts: Micrococcus luteus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas fragii, and Escherichia coli. Of the compounds under analysis, apigenin, kaempferol and ferulic, protocatechuic, and p-coumarin acids had the greatest influence on the high antibacterial activity of elderberry extracts. The results of the microbiological and chemical analyses of the composition of the extracts were analyzed statistically to indicate the bioactive compounds of the greatest antimicrobial significance.     

Assessment of Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Woodfordia fruticosa Flowers: GC-MS Analysis

Currently, the potential utilization of natural plant-derived extracts for medicinal and therapeutic purposes has increased remarkably. The current study, therefore, aimed to assess the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of modified solvent evaporation-assisted ethanolic extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers. For viable use of the extract, qualitative analysis of phytochemicals and their identification was carried out by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Analysis revealed that phenolic (65.62 ± 0.05 mg/g), flavonoid (62.82 ± 0.07 mg/g), and ascorbic acid (52.46 ± 0.1 mg/g) components were present in high amounts, while β-carotene (62.92 ± 0.02 µg/mg) and lycopene (60.42 ± 0.8 µg/mg) were present in lower amounts. The antimicrobial proficiency of modified solvent-assisted extract was evaluated against four pathogenic bacterial and one fungal strain, namely Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 3160), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 3384), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 2295), and Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 1254), and Candida albicans (MTCC 183), respectively. The zone of inhibition was comparable to antibiotics streptomycin and amphotericin were used as a positive control for pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. The extract showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity during the albumin denaturation assay (43.56–86.59%) and HRBC membrane stabilization assay (43.62–87.69%). The extract showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay and the obtained results are comparable with BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) with percentage inhibitions of 82.46%, 83.34%, and 84.23%, respectively. Therefore, the obtained results concluded that ethanolic extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers could be utilized as a magnificent source of phenols used for the manufacturing of value-added food products.     

Effect of the Addition of Dried Dandelion Roots (Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg.) on Wheat Dough and Bread Properties

Dried and crushed dandelion roots (Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg.) (TO) were used as a formulation additive (at the amount of 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 g 100 g⁻¹ flour) to wheat bread. The farinographic properties of the dough and the physical and chemical properties of the bread were evaluated. It was found that the addition of dried flour caused a significant decrease in water absorption by the flour (1% and higher TO level), an increase in the development time (from 2% to 5% TO addition) and dough stability (3% and 4% TO level), and an increase in dough softening (4% and higher TO level). As the substitution of TO for wheat flour increased, there was a gradual decrease in loaf volume, an increase in specific weight and crumb hardness, and a darkening of the crumb color. The total polyphenol content increased linearly with the percentage increase of dried root additions TO from 0.290 to 0.394 mg GAE g⁻¹ d.m_., which translated into an increase in the antioxidant activity of the bread. It was found that dried crushed roots of Taraxacum officinale can be a recipe additive for wheat bread; however, due to their specific smell and bitter aftertaste, the level of this additive should not exceed 3 g 100 g⁻¹ flour.     

Structural comparison of endomorphin-2 and its conformationally restricted analog

In the present study, the effect of a conformational constraint introduced into the endomorphin-2 (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH₂, EM-2) structure was studied using computational analysis and radioligand binding assay. EM-2 was modified by connecting nitrogen atoms of both phenylalanine residues by a methylene bridge. The obtained analog did not bind to the μ- or δ-opioid receptors in the in vitro studies. The computational analysis of this analog showed twisted, type IV turns and the absence of canonical β-turns typical for the EM-2 structure, which can be explained by the lack of hydrogen bonds involving Phe⁴. Our results show that the introduction of chemical constraint in the EM-2 structure has a significant effect on opioid receptor affinity and in vitro bioactivity.     

Thermal properties of potassium bis(oxalato)diaquochromates(III) in solid state. Trans–cis isomerization of the [Cr(C2O4)2(OH2)2]? complex ion in aqueous solutions

The thermal decomposition of trans-K[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(OH₂)₂]·3H₂O and cis-K[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(OH₂)₂] has been studied using the TG–MS technique. The measurements were carried out in an argon atmosphere over the temperature range of 293–873 K. The influence of the complex structures and configurational geometry on the stability of the transition products and the pathways of thermal transformations has been discussed. Furthermore, the kinetics of the isomerization reactions of the [Cr(C₂O₄)₂(OH₂)₂]⁻ complex ion catalyzed by five different metal ions: Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ have been studied. The isomerization reactions were studied in aqueous solution at five various temperatures (283–303 K), at constant concentration of metal ions (C = 0.1 M) and the constant ionic strength of solution (Na⁺, NO₃ ⁻) I = 2.4 M. The rates of the isomerization reaction were determined spectrophotometrically by monitoring of absorbance changes at 410 nm.     

A highly selective synthesis of dialkenyl sulfones via cross-metathesis of divinyl sulfone

Catalytic cross-metathesis of commercial divinyl sulfone allowed direct access to novel (E)-alkenylvinyl sulfones and (E,E)-dialkenyl sulfones with excellent stereoselectivity. These compounds are useful building blocks, e.g., in the synthesis of substituted thiomorpholine 1,1-dioxide derivatives. [reaction: see text]     

Random Walks on the Affine Group of a Homogeneous Tree in the Drift-Free Case

The affine group of a homogeneous tree is the group of all its isometries fixing an end of its boundary. We consider a random walk with law μ on this group and the associated random processes on the tree and its boundary. In the drift-free case there exists on the boundary of the tree a unique μ-invariant Radon measure. In this paper we describe its behaviour at infinity.