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.     

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.     

Conventional and microwave synthesis,spectral, thermal and antimicrobial studies of some transition metal complexes containing 2-amino-5-methylthiazole moiety

Schiff base metal complexes of Cr(III), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) derived from 5-chlorosalicylidene-2-amino-5-methylthiazole (HL¹) and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene-2-amino-5-methylthiazole (HL²) have been synthesized by conventional as well as microwave methods. These compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, FAB-mass, molar conductance, electronic spectra, ¹H-NMR, ESR, magnetic susceptibility, thermal, electrical conductivity and XRD analyses. The complexes exhibit coordination number 4 or 6. The complexes are coloured and stable in air. Analytical data reveal that all the complexes exhibit 1:2 (metal:ligand) ratio. IR data show that the ligand coordinates with the metal ions in a bidentate manner through the phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogen. FAB-mass and thermal data show degradation pattern of the complexes. The thermal behaviour of metal complexes shows that the hydrated complexes lose water molecules of hydration in the first step; followed by decomposition of ligand molecules in the subsequent steps. XRD patterns indicate crystalline nature for the complexes. The Schiff bases and metal complexes show good activity against the Gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria; Escherichia coli and fungi Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial results also indicate that the metal complexes are better antimicrobial agents as compared to the Schiff bases.     

N-Fluorinated phenyl-N＇-pyrimidyl urea derivatives： Synthesis,biological evaluation and 3D-QSAR study

With the increase of herbicide-resistant weeds, novel, more selective and even more potent herbicides to control weeds are needed. In this paper, a series of N-fluorinated phenyl-N＇-pyrimidyl urea derivatives were synthesized and screened for their herbicidal activities against Amaranthus retroflexus （AR） and Setaria viridis （ SV）. Compound 2S （N-（3-trifluoromethylphenyl）-N＇-（2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyr- imidyl） urea） exhibited marked herbicidal activity against SV（IC50 =11.67 mg/L） and is more potent than bensulfuron （IC50= 27.45 mg/L）, a commercially available herbicide. A statistically significant CoMFA model with high prediction abilities （q2 = 0.869, r2 = 0.989） was obtained.     

Rheological and antimicrobial properties of epoxy-based hybrid nanocoatings

The modification of nanocomposite coatings with fillers having unique characteristics in the polymeric matrix is a promising strategy to enhance the durability as well as to prevent the growth of microorganisms that decrease the stability of the materials. This study was conducted to evaluate the rheological and antimicrobial behavior of epoxy-based nanocomposite coatings filled with nanosilica, titanium oxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. A rheometer was used for characterizing the rheological properties of the various fillers embedded epoxy nanocomposite coatings. All of the composites inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli on modified Kirby Bauer antimicrobial testing, only when they are in contact with samples. Upon quantitative analysis, bioactive constituent dependent antimicrobial activity was observed which increased with the exposure of contact times. The epoxy/silica/TiO₂/ZnO (ESTZ) coating showed the highest bacterial reduction of more than 95% for 4 h of treatment. The bioactivity was decreased for the case of epoxy/silica/ZnO (ESZ) or epoxy/silica/TiO₂ (EST). The combined effect of the nanosilica, TiO₂, and ZnO shows the highest performance in terms of stress, viscosity and torque compared to the individual effect of these three fillers onto the epoxy. Results showed that the shear stress of ESZ, EST, epoxy/silica (ES), and ESTZ coating was increased by 4.4%, 7.7%, 32.2%, and 42%, respectively, compared to the neat epoxy (NE) coating. The torque versus strain curve also showed that the torque of ESTZ composites was the highest (0.52 mN m) compare to NE (0.36 mN m), ESZ (0.38 mN m), EST (0.40 mN m), and ES (0.45 mN m). The studies indicate that the epoxy-based thermoset nanocomposite coatings can be utilized as bactericidal surfaces for the industrial and medical purpose to reduce microbial growth.     

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.     

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.