The Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effect of a Novel Synthesized S-Triazine Dipeptide Series,and Toxicity Screening in Zebrafish Embryos

Several derivatives containing morpholine/piperidine, anilines, and dipeptides as pending moieties were prepared using s-triazine as a scaffold. These compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity against two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), a colon cancer cell line (HCT-116), and a non-tumorigenic cell line (HEK 293). Tamoxifen was used as a reference. Animal toxicity tests were carried out in zebrafish embryos. Most of these compounds showed a higher activity against breast cancer than colon cancer. Compound 3a—which contains morpholine, aniline, and glycylglycinate methyl ester—showed a high level of cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of less than 1 µM. This compound showed a much lower level of toxicity against the non-tumorigenic HEK-293 cell line, and in the in vivo studies using zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, it induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. On the basis of our results, 3a emerges as a potential candidate for further development as a therapeutic drug to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.     

Remarks on stabilization of second-order evolution equations by unbounded dynamic feedbacks

In this paper, we consider second-order evolution equations with unbounded dynamic feedbacks. Under a regularity assumption, we show that observability properties for the undamped problem imply decay estimates for the damped problem. We consider both uniform and non-uniform decay properties.     

MISER chromatography (multiple injections in a single experimental run): the chromatogram is the graph

An experimental approach for rapid analysis and convenient interpretation of multiparallel experiments is described. Conventional approaches use a series of individual chromatographic runs to produce integrated peak area data, which are stored in individual data files, then transferred to a spreadsheet program and graphed to allow interpretation of experimental results. A simpler and more direct approach utilizes multiple injections within a single chromatographic run to produce a continuous trace of chromatograms, which can often provide a direct visual readout of experimental outcome without the need for peak integration, data transfer, or graphing. In this approach, the chromatogram itself serves as the graph whereby the outcome of the multiparallel experiment can be discerned. The utility of the technique is greatly enhanced by the use of compound-specific detection technologies such as mass spectrometry or chiroptical spectroscopy, and can benefit from experimental designs that facilitate the direct interpretation of results.     

Mixed equilibrium problems and optimization problems

In this paper, we introduce and analyze a new hybrid iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of solutions of mixed equilibrium problems and the set of fixed points of an infinite family of nonexpansive mappings. Furthermore, we prove some strong convergence theorems for the hybrid iterative algorithm under some mild conditions. We also discuss some special cases. Results obtained in this paper improve the previously known results in this area.     

Ethylene Conversion to Higher Hydrocarbon over Copper Loaded BZSM-5 in the Presence of Oxygen

The successful production of higher hydrocarbons from methane depends on the stability or the oxidation rate of the intermediate products. The performances of the BZSM-5 and the modified BZSM-5 catalysts were tested for ethylene conversion into higher hydrocarbons. The catalytic experiments were carried out in a fixed-bed micro reactor at atmospheric pressure. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, NH3-TPD, and IR for their structure and acidity. The result suggests that BZSM-5 is a weak acid. The introduction of copper into BZSM-5 improved the acidity of BZSM-5. The conversion of ethylene toward higher hydrocarbons is dependent on the acidity of the catalyst. Only weaker acid site is required to convert ethylene to higher hydrocarbons. The loading of Cu on BZSM-5 improved the selectivity for higher hydrocarbons especially at low percentage. The reactivity of ethylene is dependent on the amount of acidity as well as the presence of metal on the catalyst surface. Cu1%BZSM-5 is capable of converting ethylene to higher hydrocarbons. The balances between the metal and acid sites influence the performance of ethylene conversion and higher hydrocarbon selectivity. Higher loading of Cu leads to the formation of COx.     

Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids from the Aerial Parts of Rhazya stricta Induce Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis in Human Adenocarcinoma Cells

Chromatographic investigation of the aerial parts of the Rhazya stricta (Apocynaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new monoterpene indole alkaloids, 6-nor-antirhine-N₁-methyl (1) and razyamide (2), along with six known compounds, eburenine (3), epi-rhazyaminine (4), rhazizine (5), 20-epi-sitsirikine (6), antirhine (7), and 16-epi-stemmadenine-N-oxide (8). The chemical structures were established by various spectroscopic experiments. Compounds 1–8 exhibited cytotoxic effects against three cancer cells with IC₅₀ values ranging between 5.1 ± 0.10 and 93.2 ± 9.73 µM against MCF-7; 5.1 ± 0.28 and 290.2 ± 7.50 µM against HepG2, and 3.1 ± 0.17 and 55.7 ± 4.29 µM against HeLa cells. Compound 2 showed the most potent cytotoxic effect against all cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2 and HeLa with IC₅₀ values = 5.1 ± 0.10, 5.1 ± 0.28, and 3.1 ± 0.17 µM, respectively). Furthermore, compound 2 revealed a significant increase in the apoptotic cell population of MCF-7, HepG2, and HeLa cells, with 31.4 ± 0.2%, 29.2 ± 0.5%, and 34.9 ± 0.6%, respectively. Compound 2 decreased the percentage of the phagocytic pathway on HepG2 cells by 15.0 ± 0.1%. These findings can explain the antiproliferative effect of compound 2.     

Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial studies of some new tellurated azo compounds

A series of tellurated azo compounds [i.e. (4-HOC₆H₄N=N-Ar)TeBr₃ and (4-HOC₆H₄N=N-Ar)₂TeBr₂, where Ar=5-BrC₆H₃, 5-CH₃C₆H₃ and 5-NO₂C₆H₃] were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding 2-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)aryl mercury chloride with tellurium tetrabromide in 1:1 and 2:1?mole ratio, respectively in dry dioxane as a solvent. The reduction of (4-HOC₆H₄N=N-Ar)TeBr₃ by hydrazine hydrate gave the corresponding ditelluride (i.e., (4-HOC₆H₄N=N-Ar)₂Te₂). Treatment of (4-HOC₆H₄N=N-Ar)₂TeBr₂ with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding tellurides, (4-HOC₆H₄N=N-Ar)₂Te), in good yields. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were assigned on the basis of their elemental and spectroscopic data. The antibacterial activity of tellurated azo compounds along with mercurated azo compounds was tested with agar diffusion method against the bacteria strains Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activities of tellurated azo compounds were in some cases equal or better than those of the reference drug. The mercurated azo compounds were found to be the more antibacterial activity of than those of tellurated azo compounds.     

Systematic evaluation of new chiral stationary phases for supercritical fluid chromatography using a standard racemate library

A systematic approach to the evaluation of new chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using a standard library of racemic analytes is described. A standard library of racemic analytes representing a variety of functional group classes was assembled from a mixture of proprietary and commercial compounds. The library is dispensed and stored in a convenient 96-well microplate format to facilitate ease of use, and to minimize the amount of analyte required for analysis. Automated SFC screening was performed on both established CSPs in common use, as well as a group of six recently commercialized CSPs. Screening results were archived in a structure-searchable database that allows convenient comparison of performance data to determine which CSPs shows the best performance.     

Quality variation and standardization of black pepper (Piper nigrum): A comparative geographical evaluation based on instrumental and metabolomics analysis

Black pepper (Piper nigrum; BP), known as the ‘king of spices’, imported from various countries is widely available in Saudi Arabian markets, as its demand as a food as well as a medicine for minor ailments is increasing in the country. However, there is a lack of appropriate information regarding these samples in terms of quality variation and standardization. We thus aimed to evaluate the quality and standardize the BP sample with respect to its physicochemical characters, active principle variation [i.e. piperine (PPN)], toxicity, and biological activity. The main focus is to validate whether any difference exists in the quality and quantity of active principle in these samples. For this purpose, physicochemical (chemical tests and ash values) and instrumental analyses [accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-diode array detector, infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and inductively coupled plasma-MS (ICP-MS)] and biological evaluation {in vitro antioxidant activity [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] and cytotoxicity assay} were performed. An extract yield (g) with %recovery of 2.26 ± 4.24 (11.3) was obtained for the Vietnamese sample, using a fast and rapid method of extraction (ASE). These values were 1.22 ± 2.64 (6.1) and 0.75 ± 1.69 (3.75) for the Pakistani and Indian samples. Physicochemical tests revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in all samples; however, in the Vietnamese sample a low amount of total, acid-insoluble, and high water-soluble ash value was noted. IR and NMR was applied to further standardize the samples. Results of ICP-MS analysis showed a high amount of macronutrients and micronutrients in the samples tested while UHPLC analysis revealed a high amount of PPN (ng/mL) in the Pakistani sample (1,362,614.09); these values were 1,051,848.04 and 768,512.81 for the Vietnamese and Indian samples, respectively. In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities revealed higher potential for the Vietnamese sample. The samples were properly standardized and effectively differentiated in terms of quality and biological activities using a fast and reliable method, however it certainly does not mean that a particular geographical region is more better or productive in terms of herbal products.