Statins: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) Reductase Inhibitors Demonstrate Anti-Atherosclerotic Character due to Their Antioxidant Capacity

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multiple etiologies. It is associated with the accumulation of oxidized lipids in arterial lesions leading to coronary heart disease. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (commonly known as statins) are widely used in cardiovascular disease prevention to lower the cholesterol. The antioxidant activity of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors was studied by lipid peroxidation inhibition assay, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging-activity methods. The lovastatin (93%) and simvastatin (96%) showed significant action of lipid peroxidation inhibition compared to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. The DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of simvastatin was 38% and 33%, respectively. The oxidative modification of serum lipid due to reactive oxygen species causes atherosclerosis. This study revealed the importance of lovastatin and simvastatin to prevent oxidative stress-related cardiovascular diseases.     

Effect of Biosurfactants on Laccase Production and Phenol Biodegradation in Solid-State Fermentation

The effects of two biosurfactants, tea saponin (TS) and rhamnolipid (RL), on the production of laccase and the degradation of phenol by P. simplicissimum were investigated in solid-state fermentation consisting of rice straw, rice bran, and sawdust. Firstly, the effects of phenol on the fermentation process were studied in the absence of surfactants. Then, a phenol concentration of 3 mg/g in the fermentation was selected for detailed research with the addition of biosurfactants. The results showed that TS and RL at different concentrations had stimulative effects on the enzyme activity of laccase. The highest laccase activities during the fermentation were enhanced by 163.7%, 68.2%, and 23.3% by TS at concentrations of 0.02%, 0.06%, and 0.10%, respectively. As a result of the enhanced laccase activity, the efficiency of phenol degradation was also improved by both biosurfactants. RL caused a significant increase of fungal biomass in the early stage of the fermentation, while TS had an inhibitory effect in the whole process. These results indicated that RL could mitigate the negative effects of phenol on fungal growth and consequently improve laccase production and phenol degradation. TS was potentially applicable to phenol-polluted solid-state fermentation.     

Special wetting behavior of a graphitic nanofiber-modified epoxy generalized for rough textured fabric surfaces

Wetting behavior of a polymer resin used as matrix on fabric surfaces is one of the key attributes for making high quality structural composites. Though incorporation of various functionalized nanoparticles can stimulate improvements to many properties of epoxy resins, there has not been any report on wettability of any nano-modified epoxy on rough inclined fabric surfaces. In this research work, wetting behavior of a previously developed nano-epoxy resin modified by a type of reactive graphitic nanofibers (r-GNFs) was investigated. The observation results revealed that a unique wetting behavior was discovered from the nano-epoxy on rough fabric surfaces due to the contribution of the r-GNFs. Based on this dramatically improved wettability of the epoxy, a concept of dry–wet contact model was proposed to interpret the different wetting phenomenon observed from the nano-epoxy and that of the pure epoxy. The improved wetting characteristics of the nano-epoxy system will be essential for enabling future energy efficient infusion processing for manufacturing high quality and high-performance structural composite applications.     

Synthesis,structure, CMC values,thermodynamics of micellization,steady-state photolysis and biological activities of hexadecylamine cobalt(III) dimethyl glyoximato complexes

Metallosurfactant complexes of the type trans- [Co(DH)₂(HA)X], where DH = Dimethyl glyoxime, HA = Hexadecyl amine and X = Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, N₃ ⁻, NO₂ ⁻ or SCN⁻, were synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition, the single crystal X-ray structure of the ionic complex trans-[Co(DH)₂(HA)₂][Co(DH)₂(I)₂)] is presented. The critical micelle concentration values of the complexes in ethanol were obtained by measuring the absorption at 290 nm. Specific conductivity data (at 303–313 K) served for the evaluation of the thermodynamics of micellization ) \left( {\Updelta G^{0}_{{{\text{m}}}}, \Updelta H^{0}_{{{\text{m}}}}, \Updelta S^{0}_{\text{m}} } \right) . Steady-state photolysis, cyclic voltammetry and biological activities of the complexes were studied. The compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity.     

Synthesis,structure, and DNA-binding properties of manganese(II) and zinc(II) complexes with tris(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylbenzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine ligand

Tris(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine (Mentb) and its two complexes, [Mn(Mentb)(DMF)(H₂O)](pic)₂ 1 and [Zn(Mentb)(pic)](pic) 2 (pic = picrate), have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the two complexes have different structures. In complex 1, the coordination sphere around Mn(II) is distorted octahedral, whereas in complex 2 the coordination sphere around Zn(II) is distorted trigonal bipyramidal. The DNA-binding properties of the free ligand and its two complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption, fluorescence, and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that the ligand and its two complexes bind to DNA via an intercalation binding mode, and their binding affinity for DNA follows the order 1 > 2 > ligand.     

Palladium tetrazole–supported complex as an efficient catalyst for the Heck reaction

Abstract  

A tetrazole-supported polymeric ligand has been synthesized. The palladium complex derived from the polymeric material has been evaluated as a catalyst for the Heck reaction of aryl iodides and bromides with styrene to provide the corresponding products in high yields. The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of 1 mol% with respect to Pd of catalyst in DMF at 125 or 140 °C within 1–3 h. Recycling studies showed that the catalyst can be readily recovered and reused for several times without significant loss of catalytic activity.     

Synthesis,molecular characterisation,and in vivo study of platinum(IV) coordination compounds against B16 mouse melanoma tumours

A novel platinum(IV) coordination compound with 6-mercaptopurine (6-Hmp) has been synthesised and characterised by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Spectroscopic parameters indicate the presence of two chelate (S-6, N-7) monodeprotonated ligands and two chloride ions in the coordination sphere of [PtCl₂(6-mp)₂] · H₂O (I). Two Pt(IV) coordination compounds, [PtCl₂(6-mp)₂] · H₂O (I) and [PtCl₄(dbtp)₂] (II), were used in the in vivo test against B16 mouse melanoma tumours. Cytotoxic activity of compound II against the tumour cells was found to be high (LC₁₀ = 2.6 μM, LC₅₀ = 17.0 μM, LC₉₀ = 58.0 μM) compared to that of cisplatin.     

Phase-separation and distribution of phenyl groups for PhTES-TEOS coatings prepared on polycarbonate substrate

Phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) coatings [xPhTES·(100 − x)TEOS (mol%)] (x = 0 − 80) were prepared on polycarbonate (PC) substrate, and adhesion, surface hardness and distribution of phenyl groups were studied. The coatings with more than 60 mol% of PhTES showed good adhesion (≈ 100%), and the pencil hardness of PC substrate (4B) improved to 2B or B after the coatings. Bulk gels with the same compositions were also prepared, and distribution of phenyl groups were estimated using fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy (KBr method for bulk gels and attenuated total reflection (ATR) method for coatings). A significant difference for the distribution of phenyl groups was clearly observed between bulk gels and coatings, suggesting PC substrate affects the distribution of phenyl groups in coatings. The adhesion and FTIR results revealed that there is an interaction caused by π-electrons between benzene rings on PC substrate and phenyl groups of PhTES-TEOS coatings. It was found that the adhesion was strongly correlated with the phenylsilsesquioxane networks formed around PC substrate side.     

Study on the Interaction of Pentachlorophenol with Urease in Aqueous Solution by Multiple Spectroscopic Techniques

The interactions between pentachlorophenol (PCP) and jack bean urease were studied using UV/vis absorption, CD, fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The fluorescence data showed that the fluorescence quenching of urease by PCP the results of the formation of a PCP–urease complex involving a hydrophobic interaction. The distance r between the donor (urease) and acceptor (PCP) was obtained from the fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The effect of PCP on the conformation of urease was analyzed using UV/vis absorption, synchronous fluorescence and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The result showed that PCP can enter into the hydrophobic pocket at the interface of urease and that the micro environments around the tyrosine and tryptophan residues were changed.     

Solid state radiolysis of sulphur-containing amino acids: cysteine,cystine and methionine

The sulphur-containing proteinaceous amino acids l-cysteine, l-cystine and l-methionine were irradiated in the solid state to a dose of 3.2 MGy. This dose corresponds to that delivered by radionuclide decay in a timescale of 1.05 × 10⁹ years to the organic matter buried at a depth >20 m in comets and asteroids. The purity of the sulphur-containing amino acids was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) before and after the solid state radiolysis and the preservation of the chirality after the radiolysis was studied by chirooptical methods (optical rotatory dispersion, ORD) and by FT-IR spectroscopy. Although the high radiation dose of 3.2 MGy delivered, all the amino acids studied show a high radiation resistance. The best radiation resistance was offered by l-cysteine. The radiolysis of l-cysteine leads to the formation of l-cystine. The radiation resistance of l-methionine is not at the level of l-cysteine but also l-methionine is able to survive the dose of 3.2 MGy. Furthermore in all cases examined the preservation of chirality after radiolysis was clearly observed by the ORD spectroscopy although a certain level of radioracemization was measured in all cases. The radioracemization is minimal in the case of l-cysteine and is more pronounced in the case of l-methionine. In conclusion, the study shows that the sulphur-containing amino acids can survive for 1.05 × 10⁹ years and, after extrapolation of the data, even to the age of the Solar System i.e. to 4.6 × 10⁹ years.