Structures and Bioactivities of Steroidal Saponins Isolated from the Genera Dracaena and Sansevieria

The species Dracaena and Sansevieria, that are well-known for different uses in traditional medicines and as indoor ornamental plants with air purifying property, are rich sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. In fact, a wide variety of phytochemical constituents have been isolated so far from about seventeen species. This paper has reviewed the literature of about 180 steroidal saponins, isolated from Dracaena and Sansevieria species, as a basis for further studies. Saponins are among the most characteristic metabolites isolated from the two genera. They show a great variety in structural motifs and a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative effects and, in most case, remarkable cytotoxic properties.     

Enhancement of β-Glucan Biological Activity Using a Modified Acid-Base Extraction Method from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Beta glucan (β-glucan) has promising bioactive properties. Consequently, the use of β-glucan as a food additive is favored with the dual-purpose potential of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. Our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of β-glucan (antimicrobial, antitoxic, immunostimulatory, and anticancer) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified acid-base extraction method. The results demonstrated that a modified acid-base extraction method gives a higher biological efficacy of β-glucan than in the water extraction method. Using 0.5 mg dry weight of acid-base extracted β-glucan (AB extracted) not only succeeded in removing 100% of aflatoxins, but also had a promising antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and yeast, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.39 and 0.19 mg/mL in the case of resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, AB extract exhibited a positive immunomodulatory effect, mediated through the high induction of TNFα, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Moreover, AB extract showed a greater anticancer effect against A549, MDA-MB-232, and HepG-2 cells compared to WI-38 cells, at high concentrations. By studying the cell death mechanism using flow-cytometry, AB extract was shown to induce apoptotic cell death at higher concentrations, as in the case of MDA-MB-231 and HePG-2 cells. In conclusion, the use of a modified AB for β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae exerted a promising antimicrobial, immunomodulatory efficacy, and anti-cancer potential. Future research should focus on evaluating β-glucan in various biological systems and elucidating the underlying mechanism of action.     

An Insight into Kiwiberry Leaf Valorization: Phenolic Composition,Bioactivity and Health Benefits

During kiwiberry production, different by-products are generated, including leaves that are removed to increase the fruit’s solar exposure. The aim of this work was to extract bioactive compounds from kiwiberry leaf by employing microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Compatible food solvents (water and ethanol) were employed. The alcoholic extract contained the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents (629.48 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of plant material on dry weight (dw) (GAE/g dw) and 136.81 mg of catechin equivalents per gram of plant material on dw (CAE/g dw), respectively). Oppositely, the hydroalcoholic extract achieved the highest antioxidant activity and scavenging activity against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (IC₅₀ = 29.10 μg/mL for O₂^•−, IC₅₀ = 1.87 μg/mL for HOCl and IC₅₀ = 1.18 μg/mL for ^•NO). The phenolic profile showed the presence of caffeoylquinic acids, proanthocyanidin, and quercetin in all samples. However, caffeoylquinic acids and quercetin were detected in higher amounts in the alcoholic extract, while proanthocyanidins were prevalent in the hydroalcoholic extract. No adverse effects were observed on Caco-2 viability, while the highest concentration (1000 µg/mL) of hydroalcoholic and alcoholic extracts conducted to a decrease of HT29-MTX viability. These results highlight the MAE potentialities to extract bioactive compounds from kiwiberry leaf.     

Piper betle (L): Recent Review of Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties,Safety Profiles,and Commercial Applications

Piper betle (L) is a popular medicinal plant in Asia. Plant leaves have been used as a traditional medicine to treat various health conditions. It is highly abundant and inexpensive, therefore promoting further research and industrialization development, including in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Articles published from 2010 to 2020 were reviewed in detail to show recent updates on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of betel leaves. This current review showed that betel leaves extract, essential oil, preparations, and isolates could inhibit microbial growth and kill various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as fungal species, including those that are multidrug-resistant and cause serious infectious diseases. P. betle leaves displayed high efficiency on Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The ratio of MBC/MIC indicated bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects of P. betle leaves, while MFC/MIC values showed fungicidal and fungistatic effects. This review also provides a list of phytochemical compounds in betel leaves extracts and essential oils, safety profiles, and value-added products of betel leaves. Some studies also showed that the combination of betel leaves extract and essential oil with antibiotics (streptomycin, chloramphenicol and gentamicin) could provide potentiating antibacterial properties. Moreover, this review delivers a scientific resume for researchers in respected areas and manufacturers who want to develop betel leaves-based products.     

Antibacterial and Antifungal Studies of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles against Plant Parasitic Nematode Meloidogyne incognita,Plant Pathogens Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum

The possibility of using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance the plants growth, crop production, and control of plant diseases is currently being researched. One of the most effective approaches for the production of AgNPs is green synthesis. Herein, we report a green and phytogenic synthesis of AgNPs by using aqueous extract of strawberry waste (solid waste after fruit juice extraction) as a novel bioresource, which is a non-hazardous and inexpensive that can act as a reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. Successful biosynthesis of AgNPs was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy showing a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at ~415 nm. The X-ray diffraction studies confirm the face-centered cubic crystalline AgNPs. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques confirm the rectangular shape with an average size of ~55 nm. The antibacterial and antifungal efficacy and inhibitory impact of the biosynthesized AgNPs were tested against nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, plant pathogenic bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum and fungus, Fusarium oxysporum. These results confirm that biosynthesized AgNPs can significantly control these plant pathogens.     

Two Ecdysteroids Isolated from Micropropagated Lychnis flos-cuculi and the Biological Activity of Plant Material

Genetically uniform plant material, derived from Lychnis flos-cuculi propagated in vitro, was used for the isolation of 20-hydroxyecdysone and polypodine B and subjected to an evaluation of the antifungal and antiamoebic activity. The activity of 80% aqueous methanolic extracts, their fractions, and isolated ecdysteroids were studied against pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellani. Additionally, a Microtox^® acute toxicity assay was performed. It was found that an 80% methanolic fraction of root extract exerts the most potent amoebicidal activity at IC₅₀ of 0.06 mg/mL at the 3rd day of treatment. Both ecdysteroids show comparable activity at IC₅₀ of 0.07 mg/mL. The acute toxicity of 80% fractions at similar concentrations is significantly higher than that of 40% fractions. Crude extracts exhibited moderate antifungal activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) within the range of 1.25–2.5 mg/mL. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first to show the biological activity of L. flos-cuculi in terms of the antifungal and antiamoebic activities and acute toxicity. It is also the first isolation of the main ecdysteroids from L. flos-cuculi micropropagated, ecdysteroid-rich plant material.     

化学STSE教学:指向关键能力的实践活动*——以手工醋与勾兑醋的区分实践活动为例

近年来STSE教育即以科学、技术、社会和环境4者的协调性为基础的综合实践活动教学理念在历年的高考试题中的试题量和分值所占比例逐步上升,它是提升学生必备品格、培养学生关键能力、帮助学生针对公共生活中利与弊皆有的两难问题做出正确选择的有效抓手,是发展学生化学学科核心素养不可或缺的重要组成部分。基于STSE 的初中学生化学教学综合实践活动学习,为初中学生进入高中阶段,快速发展化学学科核心素养打下良好的基础。     

含4(3H)-喹唑啉酮结构的取代1,3,4-噁二唑(噻二唑)化合物的合成及抗菌活性研究

以2-胺基苯甲酸为原料,通过环化、缩合、肼解、环化、硫醚化和氧化等步骤,合成了10个含喹唑啉酮取代1,3,4-噁二唑(噻二唑)化合物。通过1H NMR、13C NMR、MS 和元素分析进行确证其结构。初步抑菌活性测试表明,化合物浓度在50 μg/mL时,对葡萄座腔菌(Botryosphaeria dothidea)、拟茎点霉菌(Phomopsis sp.)和灰霉菌(B. cinerea)具有中等抑制活性。另外,目标化合物对猕猴桃溃疡病(Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidia)均具有一定的抑制活性,其中化合物6a和6b对猕猴桃溃疡病的EC50值为11.7 μg/mL和20.5 μg/mL,优于对照药剂叶枯唑(24.5 μg/mL)。这类化合物具有较好抗菌的生物活性,在此基础上进行结构优化,有望发现较高活性化合物。     

L-Arginine/nanofish bone nanocomplex enhances bone regeneration via antioxidant activities and osteoimmunomodulatory properties

In this study,a promising strategy has been developed to promote bone regeneration by combining antioxidant activities and osteoimmunomodulatory properties.Herein,an L-arginine/nanofish bone(Arg/NFB) nanocomplex has been prepared and evaluated in vitro and in vivo.The Arg/NFB nanocomplex possesses good antioxidant activities and could modulate the polarization of non-activated macrophage into different types and induce the secretion of pre-inflammato ry,anti-inflammatory,osteogenic as well as angiogenic cytokines.Additionally,the regulated immune microenvironment can enhance the osteogenic differentiation of mouse embryo osteoblast precursor cells(MC3 T3-E1) and angiogenic capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs),leading to the improved formation of mineralized nodules,alkaline phosphatase activity and angiogenic effects.In vivo results with cranial defect models reveal that the treatment of Arg/NFB nanocomplex exhibited significant improvement of new bone formation and angiogenesis.All the results demonstrate Arg/NFB nanocomplex with antioxidant activities and osteoimmunomodulatory properties could be a new idea for developing the next generation of bone regeneration biomaterials.