Efficient and convenient synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial evaluation of some new tetracyclic 1,4-benzothiazines

In the present study, 20 new tetracyclic 1,4-benzothiazines (4a–4 t) were conveniently synthesized in good yields and characterized by different spectral and physical techniques. The in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of the synthesized benzothiazine derivatives was performed by serial dilution against two Gram-positive bacteria [Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 6880)], two Gram-negative bacteria [Escherichia coli (MTCC 1652) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424)], and two fungal strains [Candida albicans (MTCC 227) and Aspergillus niger (MTCC 8189)]. The derivatives 4 l and 4 t were found to be more potent than standard drug, i.e., fluconazole, against A. niger and C. albicans, respectively.     

Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle fruit - new acyl β-sitosteryl glucoside and in vitro pharmacological evaluation

β-Sitosterol-3-O-(6?-O-13?-octadecenoyl)-β-D-glucoside (1), a new acyl β-sitosteryl glucoside, along with three known compounds β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (2), β-sitosterol (3) and methyl gallate (4) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of Ailanthus altissima fruits. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic data including 2D NMR, ESI-MS, methanolysis and oxidative cleavage of double bond. Antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities were evaluated of compound 1, crude extract and its fractions so far for the first time. Pharmacological activities results showed that n-butanol fraction was good active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi bacteria, and moderate active against Microsporum canis fungus. Crude extract, n-butanol and aqueous fractions showed good cytotoxicity. Moreover, compound 1, extract and all fractions showed notable phytotoxicity at higher concentrations, whereas all inactive against assayed insects.     

Two new simple iridoids from the ant-plant Myrmecodia tuberosa and their antimicrobial effects

Six iridoid derivatives (1–6), including two new compounds myrmecodoides A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from the ant-plant Myrmecodia tuberosa. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹H COSY, NOESY and HR-ESI-MS) and by comparison with the literature values. Among isolates, 3 and 4 exhibit weak antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus with MIC value of 100.0 μg/mL.     

Quantification of polyphenols and flavonoid content and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of Stenocereus stellatus extracts

The hexanic, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts from branches of Stenocereus stellatus were tested in both the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) – induced ear oedema model and antimicrobial activity assay. The % of oedema inhibition, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), as well as the polyphenolic and flavonoid content were determined. Also, extracts were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In TPA model, the three extracts showed moderate oedema inhibition. In the antimicrobial activity assay, methanolic extract shows better MIC against all strains. The lowest MICs were for Candida albicans (31 μg/mL) and Rhizopus sp. (15 μg/mL). Also, 50.78 mg eq. of gallic acid/g extract of polyphenol and 115.12 mg eq. of catequine/g extract of flavonoids content were founded in ethyl acetate extract. In the chromatographic analysis, β-sitosterol, β-amyrine, betulin and some other molecules were identified. The results show that S. stellatus possess antimicrobial activities against some fungus species.     

Terrenolide S,a new antileishmanial butenolide from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus

Terrenolide S, a new butenolide derivative (6), together with six known compounds: (22E,24R)-stigmasta-5,7,22-trien-3-β-ol (1), stigmast-4-ene-3-one (2), stigmasta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (3), terretonin A (4), terretonin (5) and butyrolactone VI (7) have been isolated from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus isolated from the roots of Carthamus lanatus (Asteraceae). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses (1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS), as well as optical rotation measurement and comparison with literature data. Compound 1 displayed a potent activity towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Cryptococcus neoformans with IC₅₀ values of 2.29 and 10.68 µM, respectively. Moreover, 1, 2 and 6 exhibited antileishmanial activity towards Leishmania donovani with IC₅₀ values of 11.24, 15.32 and 27.27 µM, respectively and IC₉₀ values of 14.68, 40.56 and 167.03 µM, respectively.     

Design,synthesis, and antimicrobial activities of new tanshinone IIA esters

Sixteen new ester derivatives with various partition coefficient (ClogP) values of tanshinone IIA (TSIIA), a major lipophilic component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, were designed and synthesised, including six aliphatic esters (3a–e, 5a), one phosphate ester (4c) and nine aromatic esters (5b–j). Their antimicrobial activities against three Gram-positive bacteria strains, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and two Gram-negative bacteria strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, as well as two fungi species, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were evaluated in vitro by broth microdilution susceptibility tests. The results showed that keeping ClogP values in a certain range is necessary for their antimicrobial activities. For those compounds with ClogP values between 5 and 10, their MIC values showed positive correlations with ClogP values. In particular, compound 3e exhibited fourfold and twofold higher potency than the standard drug amphotericin B against fungi C. albicans and S. cerevisiae with MIC values of 1.95 and 7.81 μg/mL, respectively.     

Bioactive Applications for Electrospun Fibers

Electrospinning is a versatile technique providing highly tunable nanofibrous nonwovens. Many biomedical applications have been developed for nanofibers, among which the production of antimicrobial mats stands out. The production of scaffolds for tissue engineering, fibers for controlled drug release, or active wound dressings are active fields of research exploiting the possibilities offered by electrospun materials. The fabrication of materials for active food packaging or membranes for environmental applications is also reviewed. We attempted to give an overview of the most recent literature related with applications in which nanofibers get in contact with living cells and develop a nano-bio interface.     

Peptaibol-Containing Extracts of Trichoderma atroviride and the Fight against Resistant Microorganisms and Cancer Cells

Fighting resistance to antibiotics and chemotherapeutics has brought bioactive peptides to the fore. Peptaibols are short α-aminoisobutyric acid-containing peptides produced by Trichoderma species. Here, we studied the production of peptaibols by Trichoderma atroviride O1 and evaluated their antibacterial and anticancer activity against drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant bacterium and cancer cell lines. This was substantiated by an analysis of the activity of the peptaibol synthetase-encoding gene. Atroviridins, 20-residue peptaibols were detected using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to peptaibol-containing extracts of T. atroviride O1. A synergic effect of extract constituents was possible, and the biolo-gical activity of extracts was pronounced in/after the peak of peptaibol synthetase activity. The growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was reduced to just under 10% compared to the control. The effect of peptaibol-containing extracts was strongly modulated by the lipoteichoic acid and only slightly by the horse blood serum present in the cultivation medium. Peptaibol-containing extracts affected the proliferation of human breast cancer and human ovarian cancer cell lines in a 2D model, including the multidrug-resistant sublines. The peptaibols influenced the size and compactness of the cell lines in a 3D model. Our findings indicate the molecular basis of peptaibol production in T. atroviride O1 and the potential of its peptaibol-containing extracts as antimicrobial/anticancer agents.     

Preparation of Antimicrobial Ultrafine Cellulose Acetate Fibers with Silver Nanoparticles

Summary: A feasible method for the preparation of antimicrobial ultrafine fibers with silver nanoparticles was developed by direct electrospinning of a cellulose acetate (CA) solution with small amounts of silver nitrate followed by photoreduction. Silver nanoparticles in ultrafine CA fibers were stabilized by interactions with carbonyl oxygen atoms in CA. Ultrafine CA fibers with silver nanoparticles showed very strong antimicrobial activity.

TEM image of an ultrafine CA fiber electrospun from 10 wt.‐% CA solution with 0.5 wt.‐% AgNO₃.     

Antibacterial Activity of Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil Vapours and Their GC/MS Analysis Using Solid-Phase Microextraction and Syringe Headspace Sampling Techniques

While the inhalation of Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil (EO) is commonly approved for the treatment of mild respiratory infections, there is still a lack of data regarding the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of its vapours. The antibacterial activity of the three T. vulgaris EOs against respiratory pathogens, including Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes, was assessed in both liquid and vapour phases using the broth microdilution volatilisation (BMV) method. With the aim of optimising a protocol for the characterisation of EO vapours, their chemical profiles were determined using two headspace sampling techniques coupled with GC/MS: solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and syringe headspace sampling technique (HS-GTS). All EO sample vapours exhibited antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 512 to 1024 μg/mL. According to the sampling technique used, results showed a different distribution of volatile compounds. Notably, thymol was found in lower amounts in the headspace—peak percentage areas below 5.27% (HS-SPME) and 0.60% (HS-GTS)—than in EOs (max. 48.65%), suggesting that its antimicrobial effect is higher in vapour. Furthermore, both headspace sampling techniques were proved to be complementary for the analysis of EO vapours, whereas HS-SPME yielded more accurate qualitative results and HS-GTS proved a better technique for quantitative analysis.