Preparation and antimicrobial properties of LL‐37 peptide immobilized lignin/caprolactone polymer film

The use of biopolymers has gained priority in tissue engineering and biotechnology, both as dressing material and for enhancing treatment efficiency. There is a demand for new biopolymers designed with protease inhibitors and antimicrobials. LL‐37 is an important antimicrobial peptide in human skin and exhibits a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viral pathogens. Using lignin which is an abundant carbohydrate polymer in nature and a polyacrylic acid, we prepared a lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film by plastifying caprolactone and polyacyrlic acid. Lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film was activated with CDI and then immobilized LL‐37 peptide. The structure was elucidated in terms of its functional groups by attenuated total reflectance‐fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), and the morphology of the lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the immobilization process. The amount of LL‐37 immobilized was determined by ELISA method. It was found that 97% of LL‐37 peptide was successfully immobilized onto the lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film. Antimicrobial activity was determined in the lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film samples by quantitative antimicrobial activity method. According to the results, LL‐37 immobilized lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film samples were effective on test organisms; Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli. In bio‐compatibility assays, the ability to support tissue cell integration was detected by using 3 T3 mouse fibroblasts. Samples were examined under transverse microscope, non‐immobilized sample showed a huge cellular death, whereas LL‐37 immobilized lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film had identical cellular growth with the control group. This dual functional lignin/caprolactone biodegradable film with enhanced antibacterial properties and increased tissue cell compatibility may be used to design new materials for various types of biological applications.     

Leptospermum petersonii as a Potential Natural Food Preservative

Leptospermum petersonii (family Myrtaceae) is often cultivated for ornamental purposes but also serves as a rich source of bioactive essential oils. While several studies focused on the activities of the essential oils, this study analysed the potential of spent L. petersonii leaves as a natural food preservative. Method: We investigated the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of crude L. petersonii extracts against activities of the purified isolated flavonoid, 6-methyltectochrysin, which was characterized using spectroscopic methods. The antioxidant assays followed ORAC, FRAP and TEAC tests. The antimicrobial activities of the extract and purified flavonoid were analysed against six multi-drug resistant microbial strains in broth dilution assays. Result: The results revealed that both the crude extracts and isolated 6-methyltectochrysin exhibited positive radical ion scavenging antioxidant potential, however the crude extract was about 6-fold more potent antioxidant than the purified 6-methyltectochrysin. The crude extract also showed strong antimicrobial activities against Bacillus cereus, and even more potent antimicrobial agent than the reference ampicillin antibiotic against Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae. A higher resistance was observed for the tested Gram-negative strains than for the Gram-positive ones. 6-methyltectochrysin was generally inactive in the antimicrobial assays. Conclusion: The crude methanolic extract showed significant bioactivity which validates the medicinal relevance of the plant. The observed biological activities, especially against a notorious strain of B. cereus, suggest that L. petersonii could be a promising natural source of food preservatives.     

New cadinane sesquiterpenoids from Mikania micrantha

Abstract

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Mikania micrantha led to the isolation of eight sesquiterpenoids and ten diterpenoids, including five cadinane sesquiterpenoids (1?5), three bisabolene sesquiterpenoids (6???8), nine ent-kaurane diterpenoids (9–17), and an abietane diterpenoid (18). Among them, 1???3 are new and feature a rare lactone or furan ring derived from C-6 isopropyl group side chain. Compound 18 was isolated from genus Mikania for the first time, and was also the first example of abietane-type diterpenoids from this plant. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and ECD). All compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and compound 18 exhibited pronounced inhibition on NO production (IC₅₀ = 11.04?µM), being comparable to the positive control, quercetin (IC₅₀ = 11.15?µM).     

Isoshamixanthone: a new pyrano xanthone from endophytic Aspergillus sp. ASCLA and absolute configuration of epiisoshamixanthone

Abstract

Isoshamixanthone (1), a new stereoisomeric pyrano xanthone together with the previously known fungal metabolites, epiisoshamixanthone (2), sterigmatocystin (3), arugosin C (4), norlichexanthone (5), diorcinol (6), ergosterol and methyllinoleate, were obtained from the endophytic fungal strain Aspergillus sp. ASCLA isolated from leaf tissues of the medicinal plant Callistemon subulatus. The chemical structure of the new xanthone (1) was elucidated by extensive 1D, 2D NMR, and ESI HR mass measurements, and by comparison with literature data. The constitutions and absolute configurations of 1 and epiisoshamixanthone (2) were additionally confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1,2 were evaluated for their potential anticancer activity using the human cervix carcinoma cell line (KB-3-1). The antimicrobial activities of the fungal extract and compounds 1,2 were studied using a panel of pathogenic microorganisms as well.     

Antimicrobial tunicamycin derivatives from the deep sea-derived Streptomyces xinghaiensis SCSIO S15077

Abstract

Tunicamycin E (1), featuring a methyl substitution at C-10′, was isolated from marine-derived Streptomyces xinghaiensis SCSIO S15077 originated from the South China Sea sediment together with six known compounds, tunicamycin B (2), tunicamycin X (3), tunicamycin A (4), streptovirudin D₂ (5), tunicamycin C (6), and tunicamycin C₃ (7). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by detailed spectroscopic data analyses. All the compounds exhibited strong to moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis BT01 and B. thuringiensis W102 with MIC values ranging from 0.008 to 2 μg/mL. Moreover, compounds 1–7 exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 96901 and C. albicans CMCC (F) 98001 with MIC values ranging from 2 to 32 μg/mL. This is the first report that tunicamycins exhibit antimicrobial activities against B. thuringiensis, C. albicans CMCC (F) 98001 and a fluconazole resistant strain C. albicans ATCC 96901.     

Effect of the position of a methoxy substituent on the antimicrobial activity and crystal structures of 4‐methyl‐1,6‐diphenylpyrimidine‐2(1H)‐selenone derivatives

Derivatives of pyrimidine‐2(1H)‐selenone are a group of compounds with very strong antimicrobial activity. In order to study the effect of the position of the methoxy substituent on biological activity, molecular geometry and intermolecular interactions in the crystal, three derivatives were prepared and evaluated with respect to their antimicrobial activities, and their crystal structures were determined by X‐ray diffraction. The investigated compounds, namely, 1‐(X‐methoxyphenyl)‐4‐methyl‐6‐phenylpyrimidine‐2(1H)‐selenones (X = 2, 3 and 4 for 1 , 2 and 3 , respectively), C₁₈H₁₆N₂OSe, showed very strong activity against selected strains of Gram‐positive bacteria and fungi. Two compounds, 1 and 2 , crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, while 3 crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n; 1 has two molecules in the asymmetric unit and the other two ( 2 and 3 ) have one molecule. The geometries of the investigated compounds differ slightly in the mutual orientations of the aromatic and pyrimidineselenone rings. The O atom in 1 stabilizes the conformation of the molecules via intramolecular C—H…O hydrogen bonding. The packing of molecules is determined by weak C—H…N and C—H…Se intermolecular interactions and additionally in 1 and 2 by C—H…O intermolecular interactions. The introduction of the methoxy substituent results in greater selectivity of the investigated compounds.     

Development of Phenothiazine Hybrids with Potential Medicinal Interest: A Review

The molecular hybridization approach has been used to develop compounds with improved efficacy by combining two or more pharmacophores of bioactive scaffolds. In this context, hybridization of various relevant pharmacophores with phenothiazine derivatives has resulted in pertinent compounds with diverse biological activities, interacting with specific or multiple targets. In fact, the development of new drugs or drug candidates based on phenothiazine system has been a promising approach due to the diverse activities associated with this tricyclic system, traditionally present in compounds with antipsychotic, antihistaminic and antimuscarinic effects. Actually, the pharmacological actions of phenothiazine hybrids include promising antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, analgesic and multi-drug resistance reversal properties. The present review summarizes the progress in the development of phenothiazine hybrids and their biological activity.     

2'-(1-萘亚甲基)-2-羟基苯甲酰腙的合成、晶体结构及抑菌活性

某些席夫碱化合物具有抗肿瘤、抗菌等生物活性,在生化反应中起到转氨基作用,碳氨双键是该类化合物具有抗菌活性的效应基团。而含-CONHN=CH-基团的酰腙类化合物具有特殊的生物活性和强配位能力,在农药、医药和分析试剂等方面一直是人们广泛研究的对象,某些该类化合物在治疗一些疾病和抑菌方面已有广泛的应用。为了进一步探索高效抗菌药物,本研究组在从事席夫碱及腙类化合物的合成、生物活性的测定等工作中合成了标题化合物;并测定了标题化合物对枯草芽孢杆菌、肺炎克氏菌、铜绿脓杆菌、大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌活性。     

钴镁铁水滑石的合成、表征及衍生复合氧化物酸碱催化活性研究

以Co(NO3)2.6(H2O)、Mg(NO3)2.6(H2O)和Fe(NO3)3.9(H2O)为原料,以NaOH和Na2CO3为沉淀剂采用低过饱和共沉淀法合成了CoMgFe系列的碳酸根水滑石,通过XRD,IR,TG-DTA,等手段对样品进行测试和表征,X-衍射结果显示,其M2 /M3 投料物质的量比为2-4得到的水滑石为理想构型。经焙烧后,发现其复合氧化物对乙醇催化脱水、脱氢反应有一定的活性。     

Characterization of the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Anacyclus maroccanus Ball. and Anacyclus radiatus Loisel Aerial Parts: Preliminary Evidence for the Possible Development of Moroccan Plants

In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this end, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared for each ecotype by fractionation; next, their phytochemical composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis. Moreover, in line with the available evidence for Anacyclus spp. and their traditional use, a screening of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiglycative, chelating, and antibacterial activities, was performed. The extracts were characterized by high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, especially in the methanolic extracts; these samples were also enriched in carotenoids despite a lower chlorophyll content. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major identified compounds. The extracts also showed interesting hypoglycemic, antiglycative, and antibacterial properties, although with differences in efficacy and potency. Present results provide more scientific basis to the ethnopharmacological uses of Anacyclus spp. and suggest a further interest in AM and AR ecotypes as natural sources of bioactive compounds and/or phytocomplexes for possible pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developments.