Antibacterial Activity of Fluorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides and Their Cyclic Analogues with 1,2,4-Triazole Scaffold

The development of drug-resistant bacteria is currently one of the major challenges in medicine. Therefore, the discovery of novel lead structures for the design of antibacterial drugs is urgently needed. In this structure–activity relationship study, a library of ortho-, meta-, and para-fluorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides, and their cyclic analogues with 1,2,4-triazole scaffold, was created and tested for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria strains. While all tested 1,2,4-triazoles were devoid of potent activity, the antibacterial response of the thiosemicarbazides was highly dependent on substitution pattern at the N4 aryl position. The optimum activity for these compounds was found for trifluoromethyl derivatives such as 15a, 15b, and 16b, which were active against both the reference strains panel, and pathogenic methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates at minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 7.82 to 31.25 μg/mL. Based on the binding affinities obtained from docking, the conclusion can be reached that fluorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides can be considered as potential allosteric d-alanyl-d-alanine ligase inhibitors.     

Surface clusters of colloid particles produced by deposition on sites

The possibility of producing surface clusters of well-defined structure formed by colloid particles was analyzed theoretically and experimentally. Theoretical results were derived by performing Monte Carlo-type simulations according to the generalized random sequential adsorption (RSA) mechanism. In these simulations, the jamming coverage of particles adsorbing irreversibly on spherical sites was determined as a function of the particle-to-site size ratio lambda. It was revealed that, by properly choosing lambda, a targeted site coordination can be achieved; for example, there can be one, two, three, and so forth particles attached to one site. The structure of the heterogeneous clusters produced in this way was described in terms of the pair correlation function. It was predicted that the extent of ordering within surface clusters was diminished as the concentration of sites increased. These theoretical predictions were checked by performing deposition experiments of negatively charged polystyrene latex particles (average diameter 0.9 mum) under the diffusion-controlled transport regime. Mica sheets precovered by positively charged polystyrene latex (average diameters 0.45 and 0.95 microm) were used as the substrate surface in these experiments. Positive latex (site) deposition was also carried out under diffusion-controlled transport conditions. The concentration of the sites and the adsorbed particles was determined by direct particle counting using optical microscopy. It was found, in quantitative agreement with theoretical simulations, that the structure of surface clusters produced in this way exhibits a significant degree of short-range ordering. It also was proven experimentally that clusters containing a targeted number of colloid particles (e.g., 2 and 4) could be produced by the deposition procedure.     

Enthalpies of formation and strain of chlorobenzoic acids from thermochemical measurements and from ab initio calculations

Molar enthalpies of sublimation of 2-chloro-, 3-chloro-, and 4-chlorobenzoic acids were obtained from the temperature dependence of the vapor pressure measured by the transpiration method. Thermochemical investigations of chlorobenzoic acids available in the literature were collected and combined with own experimental results to obtain their reliable standard molar enthalpies of formation at T = 298.15 K in the gaseous state. Ab initio calculations of chlorobenzoic acids have been performed using the G3(MP2) theory, and results from the homodesmic reactions are in excellent agreement with experiment. New results help us to resolve the uncertainty in the available thermochemical data on chlorobenzoic acids. The strain enthalpies of chlorobenzoic acids have been assessed using an isodesmic reaction procedure.     

Potentiometric method for the determination of calcium in blood serum

A procedure for the determination of calcium in serum based on the complexation of calcium by a fixed amount of iminodiacetate at pH 9.6 with detection with a calcium-selective electrode is described. The effect of common concomitants was investigated; no interference was observed. When the procedure was tested on control sera, the bias was < 3% (6–8 replicate measurements); the relative standard deviation was < 5%.     

Comparison of extraction techniques of robenidine from poultry feed samples

In this paper, effectiveness of six different commonly applied extraction techniques for the determination of robenidine in poultry feed has been compared. The sample preparation techniques included shaking, Soxhlet, Soxtec, ultrasonically assisted extraction, microwave – assisted extraction and accelerated solvent extraction. Comparison of these techniques was done with respect to the recovery extraction, temperature and time, reproducibility and solvent consumption. Every single extract was subjected to clean – up using aluminium oxide column (Pasteur pipette filled with 1 g of aluminium oxide), from which robenidine was eluted with 10 ml of methanol. The eluate from the clean-up column was collected in a volumetric flask, and finally it was analysed by HPLC–DAD–MS. In general, all extraction techniques were capable of isolating of robenidine from poultry feed, but the recovery obtained using modern extraction techniques was higher than that obtained using conventional techniques.

In particular, accelerated solvent extraction was more superior to other techniques, which highlights the advantages of this sample preparation technique. However, in routine analysis, shaking and ultrasonically assisted extraction is still the preferred method for the solution of robenidine and other coccidiostatics.     

A new calcium 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate: Synthesis,characterization and antioxidant studies and stress mediated cytotoxity in MCF-7 cells

The structure and composition of the calcium 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate (calcium gentisate) were studied by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn. The Ca(II) cation is coordinated in a monodentate fashion by two symmetry-related gentisate anions and five water molecules. The metal ion and one of the water molecules are located on a 2-fold rotation axis. The adjacent monomeric units are assembled into a 3-D supramolecular framework via O–H…O hydrogen bonds. Comparison of the experimental powder pattern with that simulated from single-crystal X-ray data confirmed the purity and homogeneity of the sample. The FT-IR, UV/VIS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the calcium 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid were registered and analysed. Moreover the effect of calcium complex and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid on basic oxidative stress parameters, such as thiol group content and lipid peroxidation in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 was studied. The antiradical and ferric reducing power of these compounds was measured by DPPH, CUPRAC and FRAP methods. The chemical reactivity parameters (e.g. HOMO and LUMO orbitals, ionization potential, electron affinity) for Ca 2,5-dHB and 2,5-dHB were calculated at B3LYP/6-311++G7 level of theory and discussed in relation to their antioxidant properties.     

Physical and Sensory Properties of Japanese Quince Chips Obtained by Osmotic Dehydration in Fruit Juice Concentrates and Hybrid Drying

Japanese quince has high health value, but due to its taste and texture, it is difficult to eat raw. The use of innovative drying methods to produce dried snack foods from these fruits may be of interest to producers and consumers. The physicochemical and sensory properties of 3 mm slices of Japanese quince fruit (with skin, without seeds) obtained by osmotic pre-treatment in chokeberry and apple juice concentrates, and with the use of convection (convective drying, C-D), freeze-drying (F-D), and convection-microwave-vacuum drying (hybrid) are assessed. The methods of drying osmo-dehydrated slices do not affect the dry matter content. In most dried quince, the water activity is 0.40 or lower. Pre-osmotic dehydration and drying have a significant impact on the mechanical and acoustic properties of quince chips. Sensory attractive chips emit loud acoustic emission (AE) during the breaking test. Chips that are osmo-dehydrated in a mixture of chokeberry juice concentrate and sucrose and dried by a hybrid method are attractive. They have a dark red color given by chokeberry concentrate and a slight sweet (with a slight sour-bitter) taste. The sensory evaluation was useful for determining the quality of the chips in terms of their texture (crispness) tested by mechanical methods. Their sensory ratings (overall desirability as weight of color, taste, crispness, and flavor) are high and similar (from 3.8 to 4.1). The use of innovative drying methods with pre-osmotic treatment allows obtaining dried material with properties comparable to those obtained by the F-D method, but in a much shorter time, i.e., with lower energy and using a simple method.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of (E)-2-(2-(9-(4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl)vinyl)-3-ethylbenzo[d]thiazol-3-ium, a new ligand and potential DNA intercalator

Three new compounds based on carbazole planar skeleton were synthesised. Among them there is a new ligand and a potential DNA intercalator which contains a benzothiazolium moiety connected to the carbazole ring by a vinyl bridge. The absorption and emission spectral properties of this new ligand have been studied by spectroscopic methods.     

LC and Principal Component Analysis in the Lipophilicity Study of Seven Angiotensin II-AT1 Receptor Antagonists (Sartans)

Seven sartans have been chromatographed with acetonitrile-buffer and methanol–buffer in different proportions as mobile phases. The retention values, log k or R _M were extrapolated to zero organic modifier content to obtain the log k _w or R _MW values. Calibration equations were obtained for standards of known lipophilicity. A simple method employing a gradient procedure of 10–100% acetonitrile or methanol in 60 min and standards of the extreme lipophilicity was also elaborated. Chromatographic log P values were compared to those calculated by use of different software products. Finally, principal component analysis was performed to explore and visualize similarities and differences among the drugs and among the methods.