Oxidation of Thiols Using K 2 S 2 O 8 in Ionic Liquid

A green, straightforward, and novel method for oxidation of thiols to the corresponding disulfides is reported using K ₂ S ₂ O₈ in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [(bmim)Br] at 65–70°C. The corresponding disulfides were obtained in excellent yield and short reaction time.     

Layered double hydroxides as heterogeneous catalyst systems in the cross-coupling reactions: an overview

Molecular Diversity - Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are recognized as two-dimensional (2D) clay materials, which comprise the interlayer anions and host layers with a positive charge...     

Systematic investigation of simultaneous removal of phosphate/nitrate from water using Ag/rGO nanocomposite: Development,characterization, performance and mechanism

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The primary purpose of this study is to create a method for removal of nitrate and phosphate utilizing adsorption-based technique. To this end, the adsorption...     

The Wonderful Activities of the Genus Mentha: Not Only Antioxidant Properties

Medicinal plants and their derived compounds have drawn the attention of researchers due to their considerable impact on human health. Among medicinal plants, mint (Mentha species) exhibits multiple health beneficial properties, such as prevention from cancer development and anti-obesity, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and cardioprotective effects, as a result of its antioxidant potential, combined with low toxicity and high efficacy. Mentha species are widely used in savory dishes, food, beverages, and confectionary products. Phytochemicals derived from mint also showed anticancer activity against different types of human cancers such as cervix, lung, breast and many others. Mint essential oils show a great cytotoxicity potential, by modulating MAPK and PI3k/Akt pathways; they also induce apoptosis, suppress invasion and migration potential of cancer cells lines along with cell cycle arrest, upregulation of Bax and p53 genes, modulation of TNF, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, and induction of senescence phenotype. Essential oils from mint have also been found to exert antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and many others. The current review highlights the antimicrobial role of mint-derived compounds and essential oils with a special emphasis on anticancer activities, clinical data and adverse effects displayed by such versatile plants.     

A Review of Analytical Methods for Codeine Determination

Codeine is derived from morphine, an opioid analgesic, and has weaker analgesic and sedative effects than the parent molecule. This weak opioid is commonly used in combination with other drugs for over-the-counter cough relief medication. Due to the psychoactive properties of opioid drugs, the easily obtained codeine often becomes subject to misuse. Codeine misuse has emerged as a concerning public health issue due to its associated adverse effects such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and hemorrhage. Thus, it is very important to develop reliable analytical techniques to detect codeine for both quality control of pharmaceutical formulations and identifying drug misuse in the community. This review aims to provide critical outlooks on analytical methods applicable to the determination of codeine.     

Antidepressant Effect of Crocin in Mice with Chronic Mild Stress

This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant property of crocin (Crocetin digentiobiose ester) using a chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression model in experimental mice. The tail suspension test (TST) and the sucrose preference test were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect on albino mice of either sex after three weeks of CMS. The period of immobility in the TST and percentage preference for sucrose solution were recorded. By monitoring brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, the antioxidant potential was assessed. Three dosages of crocin (4.84, 9.69, and 19.38 mg/kg) were evaluated. When compared to controls, animals that received crocin administration during three periods of CMS had considerably shorter immobility times during the TST. Crocin treatment also raised the percentage preference for sucrose solution in a dose-dependent manner, bringing it to parity with the conventional antidepressant, imipramine. Animals that received a high dose of crocin had a much greater spontaneous locomotor activity. Furthermore, a high dose of crocin remarkably lowered plasma corticosterone and nitrite levels brought on by CMS. Additionally, high doses of crocin given during CMS greatly enhanced reduced glutathione levels while considerably reducing the brain’s MDA and catalase activities. In conclusion, high doses of crocin may have an antidepressant effect in an animal model through several mechanisms. However, further studies should be carried out to explore the role of neurotransmitters for their antidepressant property.     

Multipotent Cholinesterase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: Synthesis,Biological Analysis and Molecular Docking Study of Benzimidazole-Based Thiazole Derivatives

Twenty-four analogues of benzimidazole-based thiazoles (1–24) were synthesized and assessed for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory potential. All analogues were found to exhibit good inhibitory potential against cholinesterase enzymes, having IC₅₀ values in the ranges of 0.10 ± 0.05 to 11.10 ± 0.30 µM (for AChE) and 0.20 ± 0.050 µM to 14.20 ± 0.10 µM (for BuChE) as compared to the standard drug Donepezil (IC₅₀ = 2.16 ± 0.12 and 4.5 ± 0.11 µM, respectively). Among the series, analogues 16 and 21 were found to be the most potent inhibitors of AChE and BuChE enzymes. The number (s), types, electron-donating or -withdrawing effects and position of the substituent(s) on the both phenyl rings B & C were the primary determinants of the structure-activity relationship (SAR). In order to understand how the most active derivatives interact with the amino acids in the active site of the enzyme, molecular docking studies were conducted. The results obtained supported the experimental data. Additionally, the structures of all newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by using several spectroscopic methods like ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR and HR EIMS.     

Stereoselective Diels–Alder reactions of 3-phosphonopropenoyl derivatives of 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones

Dienophiles of the general structure (EtO)₂P(O)CHCHCOX have been prepared, where X represents an oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary. Use of the (S)-4-isopropyl-5,5-diphenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one auxiliary gave Diels–Alder adducts with several cyclic and acyclic dienes. The crystal structures of the main cyclohexa-1,3-diene and 2,3-dimethylbutadiene adducts formed during reactions in the presence of dialkylaluminium halides are consistent with a reaction, which is stereoselectively endo with respect to the carbonyl group and occurs on the less hindered face of the dienophile when aluminium is chelated between the two carbonyl groups.     

Facile Heteropolyacid-Promoted Synthesis of Indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-9,11(6H,10H)-dione Derivatives

An efficient synthesis of indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-9,11(6H,10H)-dione derivatives was reported via four-component coupling reaction of aldehydes, dimedone, 1,3-indandione, and amines in refluxing ethanol or three-component condensation of aldehydes, 1,3-indandione, and 5,5-dimethyl-3-arylamino-cyclohex-2-enone derivatives at 120 °C under solvent-free conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of Preyssler-type heteropolyacid, H₁₄[NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀], as a green and reusable catalyst.