Spectrophotometric Studies of Entrapped Thymol Phtalein pH Indicator into Sol‐Gel Matrix

This research involves the behavior of thymol phtalein pH indicator entrapped into the sol‐gel derived inorganic matrix. The method is based on the physical entrapment of the reagent molecules in the sol‐gel matrix. The immobilized thymol phthalein pH indicator shows behavior similar to its solution counterpart. The UV/vis spectra indicate that the thymol phthalein retains its structure during the sol‐gel reactions in terms of response to pH. Thymol phthalein can be regarded as uniformly distributed in the sol‐gel matrix. This observation has been confirmed using polarized microscopy. This research shows that thymol phtalein can be immobilized in sol‐gel glasses and used as a solid pH sensor.     

Synthesis and some transformations of 2-(2-thienyl)naphtho[1,2-d]oxazole

Condensation of 1-amino-2-hydroxynaphthalene with thenoyl chloride in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone medium afforded 2-(2-thienyl)naphtho[1,2-d]oxazole. The latter was brought into electrophilic substitution reactions like nitration, bromination, sulfonation, formylation, and acylation. The reactions proceeded via electrophilic attack at the 5-position of the thiophene ring, but the nitration and bromination occurred involving both the thiophene and naphthalene fragments.     

Mild Bioconjugation Through the Oxidative Coupling of ortho‐Aminophenols and Anilines with Ferricyanide

Using a small‐molecule‐based screen, ferricyanide was identified as a mild and efficient oxidant for the coupling of anilines and o‐aminophenols on protein substrates. This reaction is compatible with thiols and 1,2‐diols, allowing its use in the creation of complex bioconjugates for use in biotechnology and materials applications.     

Functionalization of the Methyl C(sp3)–H Bond of 2,3-Dimethylquinoxaline with 5-Arylfuran-2,3-diones

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - 5-Arylfuran-2,3-diones reacted with 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline to give mono- and bis-C-acylation products,...     

Antioxidant,Antimicrobial, and Insecticidal Properties of a Chemically Characterized Essential Oil from the Leaves of Dittrichia viscosa L.

Since some synthetic insecticides cause damage to human health, compounds in plants can be viable alternatives to conventional synthetic pesticides. Dittrichia viscosa L. is a perennial Mediterranean plant known to possess biological activities, including insecticidal properties. The chemical composition of an essential oil (EOD) from D. viscosa, as well as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal effects on the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) were determined. Forty-one volatile compounds were identified in EOD, which accounted for 97.5% of its constituents. Bornyl acetate (41%) was a major compound, followed by borneol (9.3%), α-amorphene (6.6%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.7%). EOD exhibited significant antioxidant activity in all tests performed, with an IC₅₀ of 1.30 ± 0.05 mg/mL in the DPPH test and an EC₅₀ equal to 36.0 ± 2.5 mg/mL in the FRAP assay. In the phosphor-molybdenum test, EOD results ranged from 39.81 ± 0.7 to 192.1 ± 0.8 mg AAE/g E. EOD was active on E. coli (9.5 ± 0.5 mm), S. aureus (31.0 ± 1.5 mm), C. albicans (20.4 ± 0.5 mm), and S. cerevisiae (28.0 ± 1.0 mm), with MICs ranging from 0.1 mg/mL to 3.3 mg/mL. We found that 1 µL of EOD caused 97.5 ± 5.0% insect mortality after 96 h in the inhalation test and 60.0 ± 8.3% in the ingestion assay. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was 7.8 ± 0.3 μL EO/L, while the effective concentration in the ingestion test (LC₅₀) was 15.0 ± 2.1 μL EO/L. We found that 20 µL of EOD caused a reduction of more than 91% of C. maculatus laid eggs.     

Antibacterial Activity of a Novel Oligosaccharide from Streptomyces californics against Erwinia carotovora subsp. Carotovora

The present study aims to characterize and predict models for antibacterial activity of a novel oligosaccharide from Streptomyces californics against Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system and an artificial neural network. The mathematical predication models were used to determine the optimal conditions to produce oligosaccharide and determine the relationship between the factors (pH, temperature, and time). The characteristics of the purified antibacterial agent were determined using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV/Vis), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). The best performances for the model were 39.45 and 35.16 recorded at epoch 1 for E. carotovora Erw₅ and E. carotovora EMCC 1687, respectively. The coefficient (R²) of the training was more than 0.90. The highest antimicrobial production was recorded after 9 days at 25 °C and a pH of 6.2, at which more than 17 mm of the inhibition zone was obtained. The mass spectrum of antimicrobial agent (peak at R.T. = 3.433 of fraction 6) recorded two molecular ion peaks at m/z = 703.70 and m/z = 338.30, corresponding to molecular weights of 703.70 and 338.30 g/mol, respectively. The two molecular ion peaks matched well with the molecular formulas C₂₉H₅₃NO₁₈ and C₁₄H₂₆O₉, respectively, which were obtained from the elemental analysis result. A novel oligosaccharide from Streptomyces californics with potential activity against E. carotovora EMCC 1687 and E. carotovora Erw₅ was successfully isolated, purified, and characterized.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies for the adsorption of benzene and toluene by graphene nanosheets: a comparison with carbon nanotubes

In this study, graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were adopted as an adsorbent to investigate their characterizations and performance for adsorbing benzene and toluene in aqueous solutions. In order to determine the best fit model for each considered system, nonlinear regressions were used. Experimental data of adsorption were corroborated by the combined Langmuir–Freundlich (Sips) models for the isotherms and pseudo‐first‐order model for the kinetics. As a result, GNSs displayed high affinity to the aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene. The high affinity was dominated by π–π interactions to the flat surface and the sieving effect of the powerful groove regions formed by wrinkles on GNS's surfaces. Hydrophobic properties and molecular sizes of benzene and toluene affected the adsorption of GNS. In addition, the favorable adsorption of toluene possibly was due to the increase in the molecular weight, decrease in the solubility, and the increase in the boiling point. A comparative study on the benzene and toluene adsorption revealed that favorable adsorption of GNSs compared with that of carbon nanotubes was consistent with the order of physical properties such as specific surface area and pore's volume. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High performance liquid chromatography of glycoconjugates

Stationary phases were prepared for the analytical and micropreparative high performance affinity chromatography of carbohydrates and glycoproteins by covalent attachment of lectins and certain biogenic amines to the surface of microparticulate, macroporous diol-silica. Columns packed with immobilized concanavalin A or wheat germ agglutinin afforded rapid separation of both glycoproteins and low molecular weight carbohydrates. The combined use of the two lectins in a mixed bed column or in two columns in series by sequential elution with the appropriate haptenic sugars facilitated the separation of mixtures having a broad range of complex carbohydrates. Chromatographic experiments for the study of the interaction of certain biogenic amines with immobilized glycoproteins used as the stationary phase led to the development of siliceous bonded phases with serotonin, tryptamine or phenylpropanolamine ligates. The sorbents thus obtained were mildly hydrophobic and cationic in contact with eluents of pH 8 or less. They were used for the separation of various carbohydrates; in addition they also proved effective for the separation of protein mixtures under conditions similar to those customarily employed in electrostatic or hydrophobic interaction chromatography.     

Apis mellifera syriaca Venom: Evaluation of Its Anticoagulant Effect,Proteolytic Activity,and Cytotoxicity along with Its Two Main Compounds—MEL and PLA2—On HeLa Cancer Cells

Bee venom (BV) is one of the most remarkable natural products that has been a subject of studies since ancient times. Recent studies have shown that Apis mellifera syriaca venom possesses antibacterial as well as cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. The venom contains a variety of bioactive molecules—mainly melittin (MEL) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), as well as other compounds that are not well characterized. In this work, we continue the biological characterization of A. mellifera syriaca venom by testing its anticoagulant effect on human plasma using the prothrombin time (PT) test, as well as assessing its proteolytic activity. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the crude venom—and of its two main components, MEL and PLA2—was tested on HeLa cancer cell lines for the first time. The results obtained showed the capacity of A. mellifera syriaca venom to increase clotting time, thereby proving its anticoagulant effect. Moreover, the venom did not demonstrate a significant proteolytic activity unless administrated at concentrations ≥ 5 mg/mL. Finally, we showed that crude A. mellifera syriaca venom, along with MEL, exhibit a strong in vitro cytotoxic effect on HeLa cancer cell lines, even at low concentrations. In summary, our findings could serve as a basis for the development of new natural-based drug candidates in the therapeutic field.     

Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rates in building materials used in Egypt

Natural and fabricated building materials commonly used in Egypt were surveyed for both natural radionuclides content and radon exhalation rate. These include raw as well as construction products. Concentration of natural radionuclides in all samples were determined by γ-ray spectroscopy with HPGe detector. For Radon exhalation rate measurements of fabricated samples, the seal can-technique has been applied using CR-39 plastic track detectors. The radiation hazard indices of the total natural radioactivity in the studied samples were estimated. The results were compared with the corresponding results of different countries and were found to be lying within the average world values. Radon exhalation rate in the studied samples varied between 197 (cement brick) and 907 mBq m⁻² h⁻¹ (blast furnace slag cement). The results of this survey suggest that, using blast furnace slag cement for pre-coating the internal walls of buildings in the Urban region of Egypt is discouraged and the replacement of clay brick by cement brick will be more healthy for the public.