Lacitemzine, a novel sesquiterpene acid from the Tunisian plant Pulicaria laciniata (Coss. et Kral.) Thell.

The flowers of Pulicaria laciniata (Coss. et Kral.) Thell. (Asteraceae) afforded a new sesquiterpene acid 1, named lacitemzine together with the three known compounds, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxypyridine 2, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside 3 and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene 4. The structure of compound 1, 2-(2,6-dimethyl-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-octahydro-5,8-oxaazulen-9-yl)acrylic acid, contains a guaiane skeleton and was elucidated by spectroscopic procedures including 2D-NMR and X-ray diffraction.     

$${}$$-Algebra Structure on Hyperbolic Numbers

The algebra of hyperbolic numbers is endowed with a partial order structure. We show that this system of numbers is the only (natural) generalization of real numbers into Archimedean \({f}\)-algebra of dimension two. We establish various properties of hyperbolic numbers related to the \({f}\)-algebra structure. In particular, we generalize fundamental properties of real numbers and give some order interpretations for the two dimensional space-time geometry.     

A novel iridoid glycoside from the aerial parts of the Tunisian Prasium majus

Repeated fractionation of the acetylated methanol extract of Prasium majus afforded acetylated derivatives of a new iridoid glycoside hamighriprasin (1), myoporoside (2), beta-D-glycopyranose (3) and saccharose (4). The structures of 1 and 2 were established by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR data of their corresponding acetylated derivatives and by comparison with the literature.     

Optical,structural, and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured ln-doped ZnO via electrodepositing method

Indium-doped zinc oxide nanorods were electrochemically deposited at low temperature on ITO substrates. The synthesized ZnO-arrayed layers were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis transmittance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and photocurrent spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that the electrodeposited films are crystalline and present the hexagonal Würtzite ZnO phase with preferential (002) orientation. The ZnO films obtained forms aligned hexagonal nanorods, and depending on the increasing In concentration, the surface morphologies of the films are changed. The ln-doped ZnO nanorods (NRs) are well-aligned with the c-axis being perpendicular to the substrates when the ln concentration was between 0 and 2 at.%. of In, the grown films with In contents up to 4 at.%, changes in the optical band gap from 3.31 to 3.39 eV, and the blue shift in the band gap energy was attributed to the Burstein–Moss effect. The effect of In concentration on the photocurrent generated by films shows that the obtained thin films can be used as a photovoltaic material. Changes in the photocurrent response and the electronic disorder were also discussed in the light of In doping. It was found that the carrier density of IZO thin films varied between 1.06?×?10¹⁸ and 1.88?×?10¹⁸ cm^?3 when the In concentration was between 0 and 4 at.%.

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Graphical Abstract Photocurrent response of IZO samples

     

New antioxidant bibenzyl derivative and isoflavonoid from the Tunisian Salsola tetrandra Folsk

Two new phytochemical compounds, Tetranins A and B, 1-(3,5'-dihydroxy-4'-méthoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanol 1 and 5,2'-dihydroxy-5'-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-isoflavone 2, were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Salsola tetrandra roots. They exhibited a significant antioxidant effect in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assays. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1-D-((1)H and (13)C) and 2-D-NMR experiments (CHcorr, HMBC, (1)H-(1)H COSY and NOESY) as well as high-resolution ES-MS and they were found to be quite active as antioxidants in the DPPH and ABTS assays.     

Inhibition of Fungi and Gram-Negative Bacteria by Bacteriocin BacTN635 Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum sp. TN635

The aim of this study was to evaluate 54 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from meat, fermented vegetables and dairy products for their capacity to produce antimicrobial activities against several bacteria and fungi. The strain designed TN635 has been selected for advanced studies. The supernatant culture of this strain inhibits the growth of all tested pathogenic including the four Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica ATCC43972, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 49189, Hafnia sp. and Serratia sp.) and the pathogenic fungus Candida tropicalis R2 CIP203. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the strain TN635 (1,540 pb accession no FN252881) and the phylogenetic analysis, we propose the assignment of our new isolate bacterium as Lactobacillus plantarum sp. TN635 strain. Its antimicrobial compound was determined as a proteinaceous substance, stable to heat and to treatment with surfactants and organic solvents. Highest antimicrobial activity was found between pH 3 and 11 with an optimum at pH?=?7. The BacTN635 was purified to homogeneity by a four-step protocol involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, centrifugal microconcentrators with a 10-kDa membrane cutoff, gel filtration Sephadex G-25, and C18 reverse-phase HPLC. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified BacTN635, revealed a single band with an estimated molecular mass of approximately 4 kDa. The maximum bacteriocin production (5,000 AU/ml) was recorded after a 16-h incubation in Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium at 30?°C. The mode of action of the partial purified BacTN635 was identified as bactericidal against Listeria ivanovii BUG 496 and as fungistatic against C. tropicalis R2 CIP203.     

Nouveaux Matériaux hybrides organiques–inorganiques obtenus par action du tétraethoxysilane avec des molécules hétérocycliques bi-fonctionnelles

New hybrid organic–inorganic materials have been obtained by the reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) with bi-functional heterocyclic molecules in ethanol using HCl as a catalyst at room temperature. This reaction has led to the formation of colored and transparent gels. The characterization of xerogels has been carried by infrared, ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS-NMR, DTA–TGA, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller method (BET), and DRX. The obtained results show that organic molecules react with TEOS leading to gels, in which Si–N, Si–O, and Si–S bridges are formed. According to N₂-physisorption results, isotherms seem to have a similar sit, and classified as type IV according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, synthesized X₁, X₂, and X₄ are mesoporous solids but X₃ is microporous. The BET surface area of these materials is important. It varied from 47 to 302 m²g^?1. The optic and magnetic properties of hybrids are also studied by Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and résonance para-électronique. The obtained results show that all materials are semiconductors, and X₂, X₃, and X₄ are paramagnetic but X₁ is diamagnetic.     

Confocal Raman Spectroscopic Imaging for Evaluation of Distribution of Nano-Formulated Hydrophobic Active Cosmetic Ingredients in Hydrophilic Films

Film-forming systems are highly relevant to the topical administration of active ingredients (AI) to the body. Enhanced contact with the skin can increase the efficacy of delivery and penetration during prolonged exposure. However, after the evaporation of volatile solvents to form a thin film, the distribution of the ingredient should remain homogenous in order to ensure the effectiveness of the formula. This is especially critical for the use of hydrophobic molecules that have poor solubility in hydrophilic films. In order to address this concern, hydroxyphenethyl esters (PHE) of Punica granatum seed oil were prepared as a nanosuspension stabilised by poloxamers (NanoPHE). NanoPHE was then added to a formulation containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a film forming agent, Glycerol as a plasticiser and an antimicrobial agent, Sepicide^TM HB. Despite their reliability, reference methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography are increasingly challenged due to the need for consumables and solvents, which is contrary to current concerns about green industry in the cosmetics field. Moreover, such methods fail to provide spatially resolved chemical information. In order to investigate the distribution of ingredients in the dried film, Confocal Raman imaging (CRI) coupled to Non-negatively Constrained Least Squares (NCLS) analysis was used. The reconstructed heat maps from a range of films containing systematically varying PHE concentrations highlighted the changes in spectral contribution from each of the ingredients. First, using NCLS scores it was demonstrated that the distributions of PVA, Glycerol, Sepicide^TM HB and PHE were homogenous, with respective relative standard deviations (RSD) of 3.33%, 2.48%, 2.72% and 6.27%. Second, the respective relationships between ingredient concentrations in the films and their Raman responses, and the spectral abundance were established. Finally, a model for absolute quantification for PHE was be constructed using the percentage of spectral abundance. The prepared %w/w concentrations regressed against predicted %w/w concentrations, displaying high correlation (R² = 0.995), while the Root Mean Squared Error (0.0869% w/w PHE) confirmed the precision of the analysis. The mean percent relative error of 3.75% indicates the accuracy to which the concentration in dried films could be determined, further supporting the suitability of CRI for analysis of composite solid film matrix. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that nanoformulation of hydrophobic PHE provides homogenous distribution in PVA based film-forming systems independent of the concentration of NanoPHE used in the formula.