Podophyllotoxin extraction from Linum usitatissimum plant and its anticancer activity against HT‐29, A‐549 and MDA‐MB‐231 cell lines with and without the presence of gold nanoparticles

In recent years, gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs) have been taken into consideration in nanomedicine due to their excellent biocompatibility, chemical stability and promising optical properties. In this research, podophyllotoxin conjugated with gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs‐POT) was synthesized and the conjugation of POT with Au‐NPs was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The anticancer effects of the product on preclinical models of lung, colon and breast cancers were investigated using MTT test. The analyses showed a direct dose–response relationship. It was found that higher concentrations of POT have more positive effects on the inhibition of cancer cell growth. At POT concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20 ng ml^?1, approximately 50% of the growth of colorectal, lung and breast cancer cell lines was inhibited, while similar results were obtained in the presence of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 μg ml^?1 Au‐NPs‐POT. Au‐NPs‐POT exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity due to the presence of POT. The anticancer feature of Au‐NPs‐POT proved the potential to develop better anticancer therapeutics and to open new avenues for treatment of cancers.     

Solvent effects on catalytic activity of manganese porphyrins with cationic,anionic and uncharged meso substituents: Indirect evidence on the nature of active oxidant species

Oxidation of cyclohexene and styrene with sodium periodate and tetra‐n‐butylammonium periodate (TBAP) catalyzed by MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc), MnT(4‐SO₃)PP(OAc) and MnTPP(OAc) has been studied in water, methanol, acetonitrile and dichloromethane as solvents. The results show significant dependence of the product distribution on the type of solvent and the electronic nature of the aryl substituents introduced at the porphyrin periphery. While the oxidation of cyclohexene and styrene in the presence of MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc) and MnTPP(OAc) in water (also in methanol) gave the corresponding epoxides as nearly the sole product, performing the reactions in the presence of MnT(4‐SO₃)PP(OAc) yielded the products of allylic oxidation, cyclohexene‐2‐ol and cyclohexene‐2‐one and acetophenone as the major products. In the case of styrene, performing the reaction in the presence of MnT(4‐SO₃)PP(OAc), MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc) and MnTPP(OAc) in acetonitrile gave a mixture of styrene oxide and acetophenone as the products. Under the same conditions, the oxidation of cyclohexene afforded cyclohexene oxide as approximately the exclusive product. Furthermore, the oxidation of olefins in dichloromethane gave the corresponding epoxide as the exclusive products. The product distributions observed in the protic and aprotic solvents were used to provide indirect evidence on the relative contribution and reactivity of high valent manganese oxo and periodato Mn(III) porphyrin species to the oxidation reactions.     

Al(HSO4)3 and Al2O3-SO3H as Efficient Catalysts for Modified Preparation of 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2 (1H)-ones/thiones

An environmentally friendly procedure for the preparation of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives or their sulfur analogues under thermal solvent-free conditions in the presence of aluminium hydrogen sulfate [Al(HSO₄)₃] and alumina sulfuric acid (Al₂O₃-SO₃H) as heterogeneous catalysts was developed.     

Reaction in Dry Media: Silica Gel Supported Ferric Chloride Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,8-Dioxo-octahydroxanthene Derivatives

Herein, we describe a green procedure for the one-pot preparation of 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene derivatives by condensation of dimedone and substituted benzaldehydes in the presence of FeCl ₃ -SiO ₂ as an efficient and heterogeneous catalyst under microwave irradiation and thermal conditions. This method has the advantages of high yields, cleaner reactions, efficient and cost-effective method, simple methodology, short reaction times, easy workup, and greener conditions.     

Synthesis of New and Novel N-Protected 1-Aminoalkyl-2-naphthol Derivatives

A series of three-component reactions has been carried out using HClO₄-SiO₂ as a versatile heterogeneous catalyst. A series of new and novel N-protected 1-aminoalkyl-2-naphthol derivatives have been prepared under thermal solvent-free reaction conditions. In all cases, the reaction conditions were very simple and high-yielding.     

Synthesis of Polymer Nanoparticles in the Presence of Diatoms as Sustainable Bio-Templates

Colloid Journal - Preparation of complex nano- and micron-sized non-spherical particulate geometries still remains a challenge. One potential approach is the utilization of natural templates with...     

Physico-Chemical and Phytochemical Characterization of Moroccan Wild Jujube “Zizyphus lotus (L.)” Fruit Crude Extract and Fractions

Wild jujube “Ziziphus lotus (L.) Desf.” belongs to the Rhamnaceae family and is a traditionally herbaceous medicinal plant. It is very common in arid and semi-arid regions and is currently used for its antidiabetic, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activities. The aim of the present work was to characterize the physico-chemical properties and the phytochemical profile of wild jujube sample collected from the Guercif region, in order to determine the polyphenolic compounds and the antioxidant ability Analyses were carried out directly after the harvest for the determination of pH, refractive index, total soluble solid (°Brix), dry matter, sugar/acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, as well as lipid and protein content. Results showed that the investigated fruit is acidic (pH 4.9 ± 0.23) and rich in sugars (80.2 g/100 g ± 3.81). The GC-MS analysis of the fruit revealed a number of volatile compounds, as many as 97, belonging to different chemical classes. The HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis showed the presence of a total of 20 polyphenolic compounds in both EtOAc and MeOH-water extracts. Among them, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was the most abundant in the EtOAc extract (185.68 µg/100 mg ± 0.5) whereas Quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside was found in higher amounts in the MeOH-water extract (25.40 µg/100 mg ± 0.5). These components have medical interest, notably for human nutrition, as well as health benefits and therapeutic effects. Therefore, Moroccan jujube “Zizyphus lotus (L.)” fruit may have potential industrial applications for food formulations.     

Efficient eco-friendly syntheses of dithiocarbazates and thiosemicarbazones

ABSTRACT

Eight Schiff bases have been synthesized by conventional and three different eco-friendly methods, whereby two aromatic carbonyl compounds viz. 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde and salicylaldehyde were reacted with S-methyl, S-benzyl, and S-n-octyl-dithiocarbazates and thiosemicarbazide. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the synthesis methods, the time to complete the reaction and the yield of the Schiff base synthezised by eco-friendly methods, such as solvent-free grinding, water as a solvent, and lemon juice as catalyst, were compared with those synthesized by the conventional method. The chemical structures of all the synthesized Schiff bases, where two of them are novel and reported for the first time, were fully characterized by a variety of physico-chemical, analytical, and spectroscopic techniques. The molecular and crystal structures of the Schiff bases especially those having 2-thiophene moiety were further elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyzes.     

Adsorption sensitivity of pristine and Al- or Si-doped boron nitride nanoflake to COCl2: a DFT study

ABSTRACT

The adsorption of phosgene (COCl₂) on pristine, Al- and Si-doped boron nitride nanoflakes (BNNFs) is studied using density functional theory calculations. The adsorption energies of the most stable complexes, formed from interaction between COCl₂ and the pristine, Al- and Si-doped BNNFs are ?28.97, ?78.71 and ?171.60?kJ/mol at the M06-2X/6-31?+?G* level of theory, respectively. It is found that COCl₂ experiences a chemisorption interaction over the doped BNNFs, significantly altering its structure with respect to the gas-phase molecule. The COCl₂ adsorption can also induce a change in the HOMO–LUMO or SOMO–LUMO energy gap of the surface. In particular, the adsorption of COCl₂ is found to decrease the HOMO–LUMO energy gap of Al-doped BNNF by about 30%. It is suggested that the Al- or Si-doped BNNFs can be considered as a potential material for detecting toxic COCl₂.     

A Novel Approach for the Synthesis of Furopyrimidine and Oxobenzofuran Derivatives

A novel, efficient one‐pot approach for the synthesis of furopyrimidine and oxobenzofuran derivatives 4 by a multicomponent reaction of an isocyanide, an aldehyde, and a CH‐acid compound in CH₂Cl₂ is reported (Scheme 1 and Table). The reactions were completed after 20 h at room temperature. This method has the advantages of high yields, simple methodology, and easy workup.