Comprehensive Phytochemical Profiling,Biological Activities,and Molecular Docking Studies of Pleurospermum candollei: An Insight into Potential for Natural Products Development

The purpose of this study was to find the biological propensities of the vegetable plant Pleurospermum candollei by investigating its phytochemical profile and biological activities. Phytochemical analysis was done by spectroscopic methods to investigate the amount of total polyphenols, and biological evaluation was done by the different antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory (tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase), thrombolytic, and antibacterial activities. The highest amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents was observed in methanolic extract (240.69 ± 2.94 mg GAE/g and 167.59 ± 3.47 mg QE/g); the fractions showed comparatively less quantity (57.02 ± 1.31 to 144.02 ± 2.11 mg GAE/g, and 48.21 ± 0.75 to 96.58 ± 2.30 mg QE/g). The effect of these bioactive contents was also related to biological activities. GCMS analysis led to the identification of bioactive compounds with different biological effects from methanolic extract (antioxidant; 55.07%, antimicrobial; 56.41%), while the identified compounds from the n-hexane fraction with antioxidant properties constituted 67.86%, and those with antimicrobial effects constituted 82.95%; however, the synergetic effect of polyphenols may also have contributed to the highest value of biological activities of methanolic extract. Molecular docking was also performed to understand the relationship of identified secondary metabolites with enzyme-inhibitory activities. The thrombolytic activity was also significant (40.18 ± 1.80 to 57.15 ± 1.10 % clot lysis) in comparison with streptokinase (78.5 ± 1.53 to 82.34 ± 1.25% clot lysis). Methanolic extract also showed good activity against Gram-positive strains of bacteria, and the highest activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis. The findings of this study will improve our knowledge of phytochemistry, and biological activities of P. candollei, which seems to be a ray of hope to design formulations of natural products for the improvement of health and prevention of chronic diseases; however, further research may address the development of novel drugs for use in pharmaceuticals.     

Tandem Ring‐Opening–Ring‐Closing Metathesis for Functional Metathesis Catalysts

Use of a tandem ring‐opening–ring‐closing metathesis (RORCM) strategy for the synthesis of functional metathesis catalysts is reported. Ring opening of 7‐substituted norbornenes and subsequent ring‐closing metathesis forming a thermodynamically stable 6‐membered ring lead to a very efficient synthesis of new catalysts from commercially available Grubbs’ catalysts. Hydroxy functionalized Grubbs’ first‐ as well as third‐generation catalysts have been synthesized. Mechanistic studies have been performed to elucidate the order of attack of the olefinic bonds. This strategy was also used to synthesize the ruthenium methylidene complex.     

Thermal properties of molten sulphur-oxyanionic salts

Lithium, sodium, potassium and ammonium bisulphate have been shown by detailed TG/DTA studies to have limited application as molten solvents. By contrast, the eutectic bisulphate systems, ammonium-potassium bisulphate and sodium-potassium bisulphate, appear to be excellent molten solvents in view of their low melting points, long liquid ranges and prolonged thermal stability at 200°. In contrast to previous studies, potassium pyrosulphate has been found to be an excellent molten solvent, provided rigorous preliminary drying procedures have been applied.

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Zusammenfassung An Hand eingehender TG/DTA-Untersuchungen wurde gezeigt, daß die Bisulfate von Lithium, Natrium, Kalium und Ammonium nur eine begrenzte Anwendung als geschmolzene Lösungsmittel finden können. Die eutektischen Bisulfat-Systeme Ammonium/ Kalium Bisulfat und Natrium/Kalium Bisulfat scheinen wegen ihrer niedrigen Schmelzpunkte, ihres weiten Flüssigkeitsbereichs und ihrer dauerhaften Thermostabilität bei 200° ausgezeichnete geschmolzene Lösungsmittel zu sein. Im Gegensatz zu früheren Untersuchungen erwies sich Kaliumpyrosulfat als ein ausgezeichnetes geschmolzenes Lösungsmittel, vorausgesetzt daß vorangehend strenge Trocknungsverfahren angewandt wurden.

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Résumé On montre par une étude TG/ATD approfondie que les hydrogénosulfates de lithium, de sodium, de potassium et d'ammonium n'ont qu'une application limitée en tant que solvants fondus. Les systèmes eutectiques des hydrogénosulfates ammonium/potassium et sodium/potassium paraissent, au contraire, être des solvants fondus excellents, en raison de leurs points de fusion bas, de leurs larges intervalles d'existence à l'état liquide et de leur stabilité thermique prolongée à 200°. Contrairement à des études antérieures, on a trouvé que le pyrosulfate de potassium est un solvant fondu excellent, à la condition d'appliquer un mode opératoire rigoureux lors du séchage préliminaire.

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The authors would like to thank Dr. C. Barraclough and Mr. M. Beyer of the Physical Chemistry Department, Melbourne University, for assistance with the Raman spectra.     

Design and synthesis of condensed thienocoumarins by Suzuki–Miyaura reaction/lactonization tandem protocol

A concise and efficient approach to a series of chromen-4-ones with fused thiophene ring has been developed using the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of bromothiophene-2- and 3-carboxylates with 2-methoxyboronic acids and subsequent cyclization of prepared alkyl (2-methoxy)aryl thiophene-2- and 3-carboxylates under the action of BBr₃/KOtBu. Starting bromothiophenes are easily obtained from corresponding commercially available aminothiophenes by diazotization/bromination reaction.     

The reactions of some compounds of zinc,cadmium and mercury with the molten lithium carbonate-sodium carbonate-potassium carbonate eutectic

The reactions of ZnCl₂, CdCl₂, CdCO₃, CdSO₄, Hg₂Cl₂, Hg₂SO₄, HgCl₂ and HgSO₄ with the molten alkali metal carbonate eutectic were investigated by thermogravimetry. Reaction products were analysed by various techniques.Zinc and cadmium compounds were found to react with the eutectic showing one weight-loss step in their thermograms for the evolution of carbon dioxide and produced corresponding metal oxides. Mercury compounds, on the other hand, reacted with the eutectic exhibiting two or three weight-loss steps due to the formation of stable intermediates consisting of various basic mercury carbonates which ultimately decomposed to give a mixture of metallic mercury, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The temperature ranges of the reactions and their Stoichiometries have been established.     

Mass spectrometric studies on the intrinsic stability of destruxin E from Metarhizium anisopliae

Destruxins are of current interest as bioactive agents. They are cyclic hexadepsipeptides produced by fungi, the most common destruxins, A, B and E, differing in the structure of a side chain. Before they can be widely used, the potential risk of destruxins and their metabolites entering the human food chain must to be assessed; thus, knowledge of the structures of their degradation products is essential. Here we report a study aimed at identifying, by tandem mass spectrometry and accurate mass analysis, the products resulting from thermally and temporally induced degradation of destruxin E. The degradation products fell into two groups: those with relatively simple modifications of the side chain and those involving much more complex rearrangements. The structures of most of the degradation products were deduced from the MS data, with the major product being destruxin E diol: significantly, this compound had previously been reported to have only been produced as a metabolic product of enzyme action rather than as a simple degradation product as demonstrated here.     

First principles investigation of electronic and optical properties of AgAlO2

The electronic and optical properties of AgAlO₂ were determined by using Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) suggested by Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) with the addition of Hubbard potential along with linearized augmented plane wave pseudopotential. Our computed band structure infers that our calculated bandgap (1.5?eV) is closer to the experimental (2.81?eV) as compare to the previous theoretical values (1.16?eV). The investigated band structure also reflects that AgAlO₂ is an indirect semiconductor material. The investigated atomic positions and lattice constants are in good agreement with the experimental values than the earlier theoretical values. From presented optical properties one can observe that AgAlO₂ is a good conducting material. The absorption spectrum infers that AgAlO₂ is an expensive material for photo-electronic devices or solar-cell applications.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of quinazolin-4(3H)-one Schiff base conjugates as potential antiamoebic agents

In an effort to develop novel antiamoebic scaffolds having better efficacy than the standard drug metronidazole (IC₅₀ = 1.80 μM) used against Entamoeba histolytica, quinazolin-4(3H)-one Schiff base conjugates were synthesized and evaluated against HM1: IMSS strain of E. histolytica. Out of the thirteen compounds (S2-S14), six compounds (S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S11) were found to be better inhibitors than metronidazole and showed low cytotoxicity on HeLa cells, a cervical cancer cell line. The structure of intermediate compound S1 was confirmed by crystal structure studies.     

Discovery of Potential Antiviral Compounds against Hendra Virus by Targeting Its Receptor-Binding Protein (G) Using Computational Approaches

Hendra virus (HeV) belongs to the paramyxoviridae family of viruses which is associated with the respiratory distress, neurological illness, and potential fatality of the affected individuals. So far, no competitive approved therapeutic substance is available for HeV. For that reason, the current research work was conducted to propose some novel compounds, by adopting a Computer Aided Drug Discovery approach, which could be used to combat HeV. The G attachment Glycoprotein (Ggp) of HeV was selected to achieve the primary objective of this study, as this protein makes the entry of HeV possible in the host cells. Briefly, a library of 6000 antiviral compounds was screened for potential drug-like properties, followed by the molecular docking of short-listed compounds with the Protein Data Bank (PDB) structure of Ggp. Docked complexes of top two hits, having maximum binding affinities with the active sites of Ggp, were further considered for molecular dynamic simulations of 200 ns to elucidate the results of molecular docking analysis. MD simulations and Molecular Mechanics Energies combined with the Generalized Born and Surface Area (MMGBSA) or Poisson–Boltzmann and Surface Area (MMPBSA) revealed that both docked complexes are stable in nature. Furthermore, the same methodology was used between lead compounds and HeV Ggp in complex with its functional receptor in human, Ephrin-B2. Surprisingly, no major differences were found in the results, which demonstrates that our identified compounds can also perform their action even when the Ggp is attached to the Ephrin-B2 ligand. Therefore, in light of all of these results, we strongly suggest that compounds (S)-5-(benzylcarbamoyl)-1-(2-(4-methyl-2-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-6-oxo-3,6-dihydropyridin-1-ium-3-ide and 5-(cyclohexylcarbamoyl)-1-(2-((2-(3-fluorophenyl)-2-methylpropyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-6-oxo-3,6-dihydropyridin-1-ium-3-ide could be considered as potential therapeutic agents against HeV; however, further in vitro and in vivo experiments are required to validate this study.