Novel thionin-functionalised core shell magnetic nanoparticles for dispersive solid-phase extraction of Hg(II) in food and water samples

To develop an accurate and precise method for separation and pre-concentration of Hg(II), a novel thionin functionalised core shell structure magnetic material has been prepared and characterised. The extraction ability of the material was evaluated by magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of Hg(II) in food and water samples. Combining the advantages of magnetic separation with selective extraction of thionin towards Hg(II), the material exhibits enhanced enrich selectivity and efficiency for Hg(II). The experimental parameters influencing Hg(II) extraction efficiency, including pH of the aqueous solution, the dosage of the adsorbent, extraction time and sample volume, were systematically investigated. Under the optimised conditions, concentration of Hg(II) at 1.0 μg L^?1 can be successfully enriched by the material without the interference of the common co-existing ions. The enrichment factor and adsorption capacity were 250 and 75.2 mg g^?1, and precise of the method was confirmed by analysing the spiked food, water samples and standard water reference samples with the recoveries of 92.5–101.8%.     

Purification and identification of 4-allylbenzene-1,2-diol: an antilisterial and biofilm preventing compound from the leaves of Piper betle L. var Pachaikodi

Antibiotic-resistant food-borne Listeriosis has been rising with up to 30% mortality threat in humans since several decades. Hence, discovering antilisterial from the extracts of ethnomedicinal plants may be of value as a novel antidote. In our preceding study, we reported that ethanolic extract of Piper betle L. var Pachaikodi leaves exhibited antibacterial activity towards Listeria monocytogenes MTCC 657. Consequently in the present study, the bioactive molecule responsible for anti-Listeria activity was purified and identified as 4-allylbenzene-1,2-diol. This identified bioactive compound may have significance while used as antimicrobials and/or food additives in food processing sector as evidenced by dual action: biofilm inhibition and pore formation on cell membrane.     

Isolation and antiproliferative activity of triterpenoids and fatty acids from the leaves and stem of Turraea vogelii Hook. f. ex benth

Chloroform extract from the leaves of Turraea vogelii Hook f. ex Benth demonstrated cytotoxic activity against a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell, K-562 with IC₅₀ of 14.27 μg/mL, while chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from the stem of the plant inhibited K-562 cells growth with IC₅₀ of 19.50, 24.10 and 85.40 μg/mL respectively. Bioactive chloroform extract of Turraea vogelii leaves affords two triterpenoids: oleana-12,15,20-trien-3β-ol (1), and oleana-11,13-dien-3β,16α,28-triol (2), with six fatty esters, ethyl hexaeicos-5-enoate (3), 3-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetriyltris(tetadecanoate) (4), 1,2,3-propanetriyl(7Z,7′Z,7′′Z)tris(-7-hexadecenoate) (5), 1,2,3-propanetriyl(5Z,5′Z,5′′Z)tris(-5-hexadecenoate) (6), 1,2,3-propanetriyltris(octadecanoate) (7), and 2β-hydroxymethyl tetraeicosanoate (8). Tetradecane (9), four fatty acids: hexadecanoic acid (10), tetradecanoic acid (11), (Z)-9-eicosenoic acid (12), and ethyl tetradec-7-enoate (13) were isolated from chloroform extract of Turraea vogelii stem. 1,2,3-propanetriyltris(heptadecanoate) (14), (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (15) and (Z)-7-tetradecenoic acid (16) were isolated from ethyl acetate extract while (Z)-5-pentadecenoic acid (17) was obtained from methanol extract of the plant stem. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17 exhibited pronounced antiproliferative activity against K-562 cell lines.     

Flavone glucosides from Artemisia juncea

A new flavone glucoside, 4′,5-dihydroxy-3′,5′,6-trimethoxyflavone-7-O-β-D-glucoside was obtained from aerial parts of Artemisia juncea, together with the known flavone eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-3′,4′,6-trimethoxyflavone). The compounds were comprehensively analytically characterized by IR, UV, NMR and HR-MS, and their chemical structures ascertained. The EtOAc fraction of A. juncea showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as reducing power (in CUPRAC and FRAP assays) and phosphomolybdenum activity. This fraction also exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on tyrosinase. Additionally, the best antidiabetic effects were observed for eupatilin and the CHCl₃ fraction.     

An alternative stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-pyrenophorol

The total synthesis of 16-membered C₂–Symmetric dilactone (-)-Pyrenophorol was accomplished starting from commercially available (S)-epoxide prepared by hydrolytic kinetic resolution of (±) – epoxide with key steps of Grignard reaction, Swern oxidation, Wittig reaction and cyclization was achieved by intermolecular Mitsunobu cyclization. The synthesis of (-)-Pyrenophorol accomplished from cheaply available starting material, easily work-up procedures and reduction of cost in industrial process were major advantages of this route.     

Novel 4-azaandrostenes as prostate cancer cell growth inhibitors: Synthesis,antiproliferative effects,and molecular docking studies

In this study, synthesis, structural characterization, molecular docking studies, and antiproliferative effects in four different cell lines of several novel 16-arylidene-4-azaandrost-5-ene compounds are reported. These compounds were prepared by oxidative cleavage of the enone system of androstenedione followed by an azacyclization reaction and an aldol condensation with various aldehydes at C16. In the androgen-dependent LNCaP cells, the most relevant antiproliferative effects were observed with the 16-phenyl, 16-p-tolyl, and 16-p-nitrophenyl derivatives. Compound 16E-[(4-methylphenyl)methylidene]-4-azaandrost-5-ene-3,17-dione was the most potent in these cells (IC₅₀ = 28.28 μM), having lower antiproliferative effects in the androgen-independent PC-3 cells (IC₅₀ = 45.31 μM). In addition, an interesting selectivity toward cancer cell lines was found for all compounds because a generally low cytotoxicity was detected in healthy human fibroblasts. Furthermore, the 16-p-tolylazaandrostene steroid induced a reduction of viability in LNCaP cells similar to that observed with finasteride, a clinically used 5α-reductase inhibitor. Moreover, molecular docking studies predicted that these 4-azaandrostene derivatives can interact with 5β-reductase, which has a high level of similarity to 5α-reductase enzyme, and with other common targets of steroidal drugs, particularly the enzyme 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase.     

Synthesis of 2-cyclopropyl-4-pyrones and 5-cyclopropyl-2-alkylene-3(2H)-furanones based on tandem cyclization-cyclopropanation strategy

In AgSbF₆/Rh₂(OAc)₄/DCE system, two-component diastereoselective reactions of 2-diazo-3,5-dioxo-6-ynoates (phosphonates and sulphones) and alkenes provided easy access to 2-cyclopropyl-γ-pyrones through 6-endo-dig cyclization-cyclopropanation. In AgOAc/Rh₂(OAc)₄/Et₃N/DCE system, two-component reaction of 2-diazo-3,5-dioxo-7-aryl-6-ynoates and alkenes afforded 2-cyclopropyl-2-alkylene-3(2H)-furanones through 5-exo-dig cyclization-cyclopropanation. The possible mechanism of reaction is discussed. A simple procedure and mild conditions are significant features of this strategy.     

Synthesis of mesoporous-silica coated multi-branched gold nanoparticles for surface enhanced Raman scattering evaluation of 4-bromomethcathinone

Mesoporous silica-coated multi-branched gold nanoparticles (bAu@mesoSiO₂) aiming for enhanced Raman sensing for 4-bromomethcathinone (4-BMC) detection is reported. In this work, we present an effective strategy to probe the Raman signal of 4-MBC. Morphologies and optical properties of the synthesized materials with different [Au³⁺]/[Au⁰] ratios are characterized utilizing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis and mid-infrared spectroscopy. Both experimental and theoretical (simulation) studies were investigated. Taking advantages of gold core branches that provide highly localized and strongly enhanced electromagnetic fields due to plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is observed. The experimental results show that the SERS intensity exhibits a 100-fold increase with the increased average length and quantity of gold branches (nano tips). The analytical performance yielded a detection limit of 0.1?mg/ml for the 4-MBC target within 5?mins. The sensing method will likely find further improvement and broad use in the forensic science. Besides rapid detection and portability, the combination of the Raman effect and enhanced materials imparts other notable advantages, such as its non-contact and free of reagents.     

4-苯基-1,3-硒唑衍生物的合成及其对蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶-1B抑制活性

蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶-1B(PTP1B)是抗糖尿病治疗的重要靶点,因此创制活性优良的PTP1B抑制剂具有重要意义。 本文设计并合成了11个含1,3-硒唑和1,2,4-三唑活性组块新型结构目标分子(ZLXZ1-ZLXZ11),并利用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)、核磁共振波谱仪(NMR)和高分辨质谱(HRMS)等对其进行了结构表征。 首先选择ZLXZ1和ZLXZ11在MOE 2015.10程序上,与PTP1B进行分子对接模拟,结果表明,在ZLXZ1分子中硒唑环上的硒原子与PTP1B中副催化位点Tyr46、Ala217、Lys120和Asp 48分别形成了π-H作用和氢键作用。 在ZLXZ11分子中硒唑上的硒原子与PTP1B中Asp181、Arg221和Asp48形成了氢键作用。 在分子对接模拟的基础上,测试了11个目标分子的抑制活性,结果表明,所有目标分子的抑制率均在87.02%以上,其中3个目标分子PTP1B抑制活性高于阳性参照物齐墩果酸,抑制活性优良,有望成为潜在的PTP1B抑制剂。     

用于超级电容器的层状Co3O4/Ti纳米片柔性电极及其低电荷转移电阻

采用水热合成法,在Ti网上原位生长多孔层状Co_3O_4纳米片,并优化了电荷转移电阻。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)对产物的结构、形貌进行表征,及对电极的电化学性能进行测试。结果表明,材料是由排列良好的微米矩形二维薄片组成,且具有均匀的孔隙分布。这种独特的微纳米结构的超级电容器电极材料降低了电极的电荷转移电阻,增强了活性物质的结构稳定性,从而提高了电极的电化学性能,在电流密度为100 mA·g-1时,电极循环1 000次后,电容保持率为91.8%,电荷转移电阻(Rct)为0.29Ω。这些显著的超电容性能归因于合理的二维层状结构在柔性基底钛网上的生长及柔性Co_3O_4/Ti电极活性材料的高利用率。