Green synthesis and chemical characterization of silver nanoparticles obtained using Allium saralicum aqueous extract and survey of in vitro antioxidant,cytotoxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties

Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch has been used in Iranian traditional medicine as a remedial supplement for microbial diseases. This paper reports the green synthesis, chemical characterization and antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles obtained using aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves. In this synthesis, no surfactants or stabilizers were used. For characterization, UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used. 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl was used in experiments to assess the antioxidant potential of the silver nanoparticles, which revealed an impressive prevention in comparison with butylated hydroxytoluene. The synthesized silver nanoparticles at low doses (1–250 μg dl^?1) did not show marked cytotoxic activity (against cervical cancer cells (Hela), breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK‐293)). Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Compared with all standard antimicrobials, the silver nanoparticles showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities (p ≤ 0.01). Also, the silver nanoparticles inhibited the growth of all bacteria and fungi at concentrations of 31–250 μg ml^?1, and destroyed them at concentrations of 31–500 μg ml^?1 (p ≤ 0.01). Because the silver nanoparticles obtained using aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves have antioxidant, non‐cytotoxic, antifungal and antibacterial potentials, they can be used as a medical supplement or drug.     

Efficient Uncatalyzed Conversion of Primary and Secondary Thioamides into 1-Substituted, 5-Substituted, 1, 5-Disubstituted and Annulated Tetrazoles

Abstract

Unprecedented high-yield simple and mild conversion of primary aliphatic and aromatic thioamides into 5-substituted tetrazoles on treatment with a combination of tetrachlorosilane and sodium azide in refluxing acetonitrile has been achieved. Secondary acyclic, cyclic, and heterocyclic thioamides could also be transformed in high yields into 1-substituted, 1,5-disubstituted, or annulated tetrazoles under the same reaction condition.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT      

Adsorptive Stripping Differential Pulse Voltammetric Determination of Risperidone with a Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube‐Ionic Liquid Paste Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A new composite electrode has been fabricated based on coating multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and n‐octylpyridinum hexafluorophosphate (OPPF₆) ionic liquid composite on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode (OPPF₆‐MWCNTs/GCE). This electrode shows very attractive electrochemical performances for electrooxidation of risperidone (RIS) compared to conventional electrodes using carbon and mineral oil, notably improved sensitivity and stability. The oxidation peak potentials in cyclic voltammogram of RIS on the OPPF₆‐MWCNTs/GCE was occurred around 230 mV vs. SCE at Britton–Robinson (B–R) buffer (pH 4.0) at scan rate of 100 mV s^?1. The electrochemical parameters such as diffusion coefficient (D), charge transfer coefficient (α) and the electron transfer rate constant (k/_s) were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Under the optimized conditions, the peak current was linear to risperidone concentration over the concentration range of 10–200 nM with sensitivity of 0.016 μA/nM^?1 using differential pulse voltammetry. The detection limit was 6.54 nM (S/N = 3). The electrode also displayed good selectivity and repeatability. In the presence of clozapine (CLZ) the response of RIS kept almost unchanged. Thus this electrode could find application in the determination of RIS in some real samples. The analytical performance of the OPPF₆‐MWCNTs/GCE was demonstrated for the determination of RIS in human serum and pharmaceutical samples.     

Simultaneous analysis of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs using electrochemically controlled solid‐phase microextraction based on nanostructure molecularly imprinted polypyrrole film coupled to ion mobility spectrometry

A simple, rapid, and highly sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of anti‐inflammatory drugs (naproxen, ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid) in diluted human serum was developed using the electrochemically controlled solid‐phase microextraction coupled to ion mobility spectrometry. A conducting molecularly imprinted polymer film based on polypyrrole was synthesized for the selective uptake and release of drugs. The film was prepared by incorporation of a template molecule (naproxen) during the electropolymerization of pyrrole onto a platinum electrode using cyclic voltammetry method. The measured ion mobility spectrometry intensity was related to the concentration of analytes taken up into the films. The calibration graphs (naproxen, ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid) were linear in the range of 0.1–30 ng/mL and detection limits were 0.07–0.37 ng/mL and relative standard deviation was lower than 6%. On the basis of the results obtained in this work, the conducting molecularly imprinted polymer films as absorbent have been applied in the electrochemically controlled solid‐phase microextraction and ion mobility spectrometry system for the selective clean‐up and quantification of trace amounts of anti‐inflammatory drugs in human serum samples. Scanning electron microscopy has confirmed the nano‐structure morphology of the polypyrrole film.     

Effect of Phosphate on Glucosamine Production by Ethanolic Fungus Mucor indicus

In this study, the effect of phosphorous compound concentration on the production of glucosamine by Mucor indicus was investigated. Changes in the yield of ethanol, the major metabolite of the fungus, were also followed besides. The alkali insoluble material of the biomass of the fungus mainly contained phosphates and polymers of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, i.e., chitin and chitosan. Yields of glucosamine (78–113 g/kg dry fungal biomass) and ethanol (200–370 g/kg glucose) were significantly affected by the phosphorous concentration. The results showed that lower concentrations of phosphorous favored the production of glucosamine while higher ethanol as well as biomass yields was obtained at higher concentrations. The best concentration was 0.5 g/l where glucosamine yield was 0.37 g/l (11 % of the biomass). At this phosphate concentration, ethanol and biomass yields were 360 and 76 g/kg glucose, respectively. On average, proteins comprised 51.5 % of the biomass. Glycerol was the second important metabolite during the fermentation by the fungus which appeared at lower yields (20–34 g/kg glucose).     

Dithiocarbamates as an Efficient Intermediate for the Synthesis of Symmetrical Substituted 2,5‐Diamino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles in Water

Synthesis of symmetrical substituted 2,5‐diamino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles is described. Reaction of easily prepared dithiocarbamates with hydrazine gives the corresponding thiadiazoles in moderate to good yields. This method is new, efficient, and simple especially in the work‐up procedure.     

Neutron induced radiography in the determination of boron in drinking water

Neutron induced radiography has been applied to the determination of boron concentrations in drinking water, collected from natural springs of Reshian and Muzaffarabad areas of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, using CR-39 etched track detectors. The technique is based upon the simultaneous irradiation with thermal neutrons of a sample of unknown concentration and a standard of known boron concentration, fixed on a track detector. The subsequent counting of alpha and ⁷Li tracks in the detector resulting from the ¹⁰B(n,)⁷Li nuclear reaction is done after chemical etching. Boron concentration in the sample is determined by comparing ⁷Li and alpha-particle track density with that of a standard of known boron concentration. Boron concentrations in drinking water samples from Muzaffarabad and Reshian area of Azad Kashmir have been found to vary from (0.054±0.001) mg/l to (0.250±0.004) mg/l with an average of (0.16±0.002) mg/l. The observed concentration of boron in drinking water has been found to be less than the provisional Maximum Acceptable Concentration level (0.4 mg//l) of WHO. The drinking water from the reported area has been found to be within safe limits as far as boron related health hazards are concerned.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Low temperature pyrolysis of carboxymethylcellulose

Unlike the common high temperature pyrolysis of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) targeting activated carbon, this study investigates the pyrolytic behaviour of plain CMC at low temperatures ranging between 260 and 300 °C. Preliminary experiments were conducted using differential scanning calorimetry to define the temperature range necessary for the process. Low-temperature pyrolysis was then simulated using thermogravimetric analysis under inert atmosphere. Investigations reveal that a minimum holding temperature of 260 °C is required for an isothermal process, at which pyrolysis is terminated after around 26 min. Increasing exposure temperature reduces pyrolysis time. Within the range of the investigated sample and CMC particle size, no significant effects could be measured regarding the decomposition behaviour. The resulting char was further analysed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Visual inspection was conducted using scanning electron microscopy. Upon pyrolysis, originally longitudinally shaped CMC was found to be converted into spherical particles of functionalised amorphous carbon with an average particle size of 41 µm.     

Novel regiochemistry in the aqueous singlet oxygen ene reactions of carboxylic acid salts: a comparison of substrate structure

The singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g) photooxidations of angelic acid salt (1), tiglic acid salt (2), 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenoic acid salt (3), 3-ethoxycarbonyl-5,6-dihydro-2-methyl-4H-pyrane acid salt (4), cis-3-hexenoic acid salt (5), and trans-3-hexenoic acid salt (6) were conducted in deuterated water. The major and minor ene allylic hydroperoxide products were quantified and indicate that the allylic hydrogen geminal to the carboxylate group is preferentially abstracted in 1-4, whereas the allylic hydrogen α to the carboxylate is slightly favored for 5 and 6. We have attributed the observed regiochemistry in 1-4 to stabilizing hydrogen bonding interactions between the solvent and the perepoxide, which leads to the major ene product.