Spectrophotometric determination of tetracyclines and cephalosporins with ammonium vanadate

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of some tetracyclines as well as some cephalosporins is described. The drug is boiled with ammonium vanadate solution in sulphuric acid medium for 10 min and the absorbance of the colour developed is measured at 750 nm. The proposed method can be successfully applied to the determination of tetracycline hydrochloride, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, doxycycline hyclate, demeclocycline hydrochloride, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, cephalothin sodium, cephaloridine and cephapirin sodium. These drugs can be determined either in pure form or in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Spectrophotometric determination of phenothiazines, tetracyclines and chloramphenicol with sodium cobaltinitrite

A spectrophotometric method for determining some phenothiazines, some tetracyclines and chloramphenicol is described. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride, promazine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride, perphenazine and fluphenazine hydrochloride are reacted with sodium cobaltinitrite in phosphoric acid. The red colour developed is measured at 530, 513, 515, 530 and 500 nm, respectively. Tetracycline hydrochloride, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, doxycycline hyclate and demeclocycline hydrochloride are reacted with the reagent in aqueous acetic acid. The yellow colour produced is measured at 256, 294, 262, 243 and 246 nm, respectively. Chloramphenicol is determined similarly to the tetracyclines after hydrolysis with 40% sodium hydroxide solution and the colour is measured at 240 nm. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in various pharmaceutical preparations.     

Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils. Site-specific detailed information is not available on the use of A. tricolor plant in metal phytoremediation from the polluted sites. The study aimed to enhance the uptake of HMs (Pb, Zn, and Cu) via amending poultry litter extract (PLE), vinasse sugarcane (VSC), and humic acid (HA) as natural mobilized organic materials compared to ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a common mobilized chemical agent by A. tricolor plant. The studied soils collected from Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar (Cairo Governorate), Arab El-Madabeg (Assiut Governorate), Egypt, and study have been conducted under pot condition. Our results revealed all organic materials in all studied soils, except EDTA in EL-Gabal El-Asfar soil, significantly increased the dry weight of the A. tricolor plant compared to the control treatment. The uptake of Pb and Zn significantly (p > 0.05) increased due to applying all organic materials to the studied soils. HA application caused the highest uptake as shown in Pb concentration by more than 5 times in Helwan soil and EDTA by 65% in El-Gabal El-Asfar soil while VSC increased it by 110% in El-Madabeg soil. Also, an increase in Zn concentration due to EDTA application was 58, 42, and 56% for Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar, and El-Madabeg soil, respectively. In all studied soils, the application of organic materials increased the remediation factor (RF) than the control. El-Madabeg soil treated with vinasse sugarcane gave the highest RF values; 6.40, 3.26, and 4.02% for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, than the control. Thus, we identified A. tricolor as a successful ornamental candidate that, along with organic mobilization amendments, most efficiently develop soil health, reduce metal toxicity, and recommend remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, long-term application of organic mobilization amendments and continued growth of A. tricolor under field conditions could be recommended for future directions to confirm the results.     

Musa sp. Leaves Extract Ameliorates the Hepato-Renal Toxicities Induced by Cadmium in Mice

Heavy metals intoxication causes several health problems that necessitate finding new protective and therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Musa sp. leaves extract (MLE) on hepato-renal toxicities induced by cadmium (Cd) in male mice. The phytochemical screening, metal chelating activity (MCA), and the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of MLE were determined. Fifty CD-1 male mice were used and intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with MLE (1000 to 5000 mg/kg b.wt) for MLE LD₅₀ determination. Another 50 mice were used for evaluating the effect of MLE on Cd toxicity. Blood samples were collected for hematological, liver, and kidney functions assessments. Liver tissue homogenates were used for determination of oxidant/antioxidant parameters. Liver and kidney tissues were harvested for histopathological and molecular investigations. MLE showed potent in vitro antioxidant activities. The MCA and LD₅₀ of the MLE were 75 µg/mL and 3000 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. MLE showed beneficial therapeutic activity against hepato-renal toxicities in Cd-intoxicated mice, evidenced by improving the hematological, biochemical, histopathological, and molecular alterations.     

A Study of the Thermal Hysteresis in AgNO3

The reversible phase transformation of AgNO₃ is studied. Dielectric constant, d.c. resistivity, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and dilatometric measurements show the occurrence of a reversible phase transition II→I at 160°C with heat of transformation H = 0.78 kcal/mol. The thermal hysteresis in this reversible transformation is examined, the magnitude of the temperature hysteresis does not exceed 12°C. An acceptable agreement is observed between the measured values of the transition temperature obtained by three different experimental techniques. The dilatometric analysis shows that this transition is accompanied by thermal shrinkage with relative shrinkage coefficient 8 × 10^?4. Thermal analysis are also used to get thermodynamic and kinetic data of this phase transition. The temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and d.c. resistivity for single crystals as well as polycrystalline samples of AgNO₃ have clearly located and confirm the phase transitions II→I→II with a strong support to its thermal hysteresis character. The conduction mechanism is found to be activated by energy 0.12 eV for phase I and 0.36 eV for phase II. The observed thermal behaviour of the various measured parameters is attributed to orientational disorder of the nitrate group leading to an order-disorder phase transition which is reported here for first time in AgNO₃.     

Dielectric relaxation of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) stabilized with cyanoguanidine

Dielectric spectra of CPVC stabilized with cyanoguanidine were studied in the temperature range 300–450 K and frequency range 10 kHz to 1 MHz. In these conditions, only one clear dielectric relaxation band (α-type) associated with dipolar polarization was observed. Dielectric losses was found to directly proportional to the number of dipoles (N) which reflects the orientational distribution of polymer chains in the amorphous region, at which dielectric losses concerned. Calculations of the dielectric modulus M′(T) at low temperature indicate that there is a role of the electrode polarization in the relaxation process. Dielectric loss data were used to calculate the activation enthalpy by two different methods, the obtained value was 450 kJ/mol.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some heterocyclic chalcone derivatives

Some new heterocyclic compounds containing isoxazole, pyrazole and oxadiazole ring systems were prepared from various chalcones. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectral methods. These compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities.     

Dielectric and Polarization Studies of KNO3 Thin Layers

Ultrapure and homogeneous KNO₃ thin layers are subjected to dielectric and polarization measurements over a wide temperature range. The dielectric results obtained are discussed on the assumption of probable formation and migration of vacancies. The variation of polarization with the applied field was found to be nonlinear and the polarization reversal occurs at a critical value of the applied field of strength 11 kV/cm. This value is in good agreement with the value of the coercive field determined previously by the ferroelectric hysteresis loops.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some pyrazole derivatives

Reaction of a series of (E)-3-phenyl-4-(p-substituted phenyl)-3-buten-2-ones with p-sulfamylphenyl hydrazine in glacial acetic acid gave the corresponding hydrazones, subsequent treatment of which with 30% HCl afforded pyrazole-1-sulphonamides. On the other hand, refluxing of chalcones with either thiosemicarbazide or isonicotinic acid hydrazide in ethanol containing a few drops of acetic acid gave pyrazoline-1-thiocarboxamides and isonicotinoyl pyrazolines, respectively. The structures of the synthesized compounds were determined on the basis of their elemental analyses and spectroscopic data. The antimicrobial activity of the newly isolated heterocyclic compounds was evaluated against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Most of the compounds showed a moderate degree of potent antimicrobial activity.     

Botanical Oils Isolated from Simmondsia chinensis and Rosmarinus officinalis Cultivated in Northern Egypt: Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), are key stored-product pests in Egypt and worldwide. The extensive use of synthetic insecticides has led to adverse effects on the environment, human health, and pest resistance. As a result, environmentally friendly pest management alternatives are desperately required. The botanical oils of jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis (L.), and rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. plants growing in Egypt were extracted, identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and evaluated for their insecticidal activity against S. oryzae and T. castaneum. The main constituents identified in BOs were carvyl acetate (20.73%) and retinol (16.75%) for S. chinensis and camphor (15.57%), coumarin (15.19%), verbenone (14.82%), and 1,8-cineole (6.76%) for R. officinalis. The S. chinensis and R. officinalis BOs caused significant contact toxicities against S. oryzae and T. castaneum adults, providing LC₅₀ values of 24.37, 68.47, and 11.58, 141.8 ppm at 3 days after treatment (DAT), respectively. S. chinensis oil exhibited significant fumigation toxicity against both insects; however, it was more effective against S. oryzae (LC₅₀ = 29.52 ppm/L air) than against T. castaneum (LC₅₀ = 113.47 ppm/L air) at 3 DAT. Although the essential oil (EO) of R. officinalis significantly showed fumigation toxicity for S. oryzae (LC₅₀ = 256.1 and 0.028 ppm/L air at 1 and 3 DAT, respectively), it was not effective against T. castaneum. These BOs could be beneficial for establishing IPM programs for suppressing S. oryzae and T. castaneum.