In this study, it was investigated by molecular docking, the interaction of fourteen natural compounds (artemisinin, bilobalide, bilobetin, chelerythrine, chelidonin, epicatechin, gelsemic acid, ginkgolide A, isosilybin, silicristin, silybin, taraxacin, taraxacoside, and taraxinic acid) from Silbum marianum, Chelidonium majus, Ginkgo biloba, Gelsemium sempervirens, Artemisia annua, and Taraxacum officinale with three cancer-related GPCRs: the apelin receptor, the β2-adrenoceptor, and the A2B adenosine receptor. QuickVina2 was used to determine the binding affinities and identify the nature of the strongest interactions. Several compounds (bilobetin, isosilybin, chelidonin, silicristin, and artemisinin) showed high binding affinities and interactions with key residues responsible for the receptor activity. These results highlight the potential of phytochemicals in modulating the activity of GPCRs and may form the basis for further experimental validation.

The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical indicators and antioxidant activity from the unripe apples obtained after the agricultural thinning operation. Apples of the Coredana, Golden Rezistent, Reglindis and Rewena varieties harvested in 2020 were studied. Physicochemical indicators were analysed. The quantitative and qualitative determination of organic acids was carried out by the HPLC method, and of carbohydrates by capillary electrophoresis. Determination of antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content was evaluated by spectrophotometric methods. The highest amount of organic acids was obtained in the 45th days after full bloom (DAFB) of harvest, the predominant being malic acid with a value between 15.09±0.02 and 21.64±0.01 g/100g dry weight (DW). Sugars had the highest value in 97th DAFB, fructose being the main one (67.79±0.11 – 75.73±0.10 g/L). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity showed maximum values at the beginning of fruit harvesting, having 916.67±0.17 – 1316.13±0.21 mg GAE/100g DW and ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity of 16.94±0.12 – 23.51±0.2 mg AAE/100g DW, respectively. It was concluded that thinned unripe apples represent a natural source of organic acids and carbohydrates, significant amounts of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. The study provides information on unripe apples that can be processed and optimally used for food purposes.

The current study aims to maximize the recovery of antioxidant phenolics from Algerian Trifolium tomentosum L. using an innovative green process: ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE). Firstly, four different solvents were used: 50% acetone, 50% ethanol, 50% methanol, and 100% ethyl acetate, as well as four different extraction methods: maceration, refluxed extraction, Soxhlet extraction, and UAE. The classification of the best solvent (50% ethanol) and most effective extraction method (UAE) on the basis of quantified total phenolic content (TPC) led to the second part, which focused on optimizing the UAE using response surface methodology (RSM) and a Box Behnken design (BBD). Algerian Trifolium tomentosum L. extract demonstrated intriguing total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) greater than 30 mg GAE/g DW and 6 mg QE/g DW, respectively, and potential total antioxidant capacity (TAC), closer to 20 mg AAE/g DW, under the optimal conditions with 70% ethanol concentration, an extraction time of 30.45 minutes, and an extraction temperature of 75°C. Based on these findings, Algerian Trifolium tomentosum L. optimized extract can be used as a green natural ingredient in cosmetic formulations as well as a food preservative.

Using ZnAl2O4@ZnO as a catalyst, an environmentally friendly and very effective method has been developed to selectively add a ring to 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aromatic, aliphatic primary amines. A wide variety of bis(β-enaminones) and bis(β-enaminoesters) can be synthesized using this highly versatile method, which provides good yields. This procedure can be carried out at room temperature, which is environmentally advantageous as it utilizes ZnAl2O4@ZnO as a heterogeneous, recyclable and stable catalyst under free solvent conditions. A co-precipitation reaction at constant pH was used to prepare this catalyst, and spectral analysis (X-ray diffraction, FTIR) and morphological characterization techniques (SEM, EDX) confirmed its morphological structure.

The main objectives of this study were to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of Marrubium deserti de Noé (EOMD) from Bechar (Algeria), and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities. The yield of EOMD was 0.29±0.008%, with the main components being α-phellandrene (25.05%), β-pinene (14.05%), and α-pinene (12.83%). Both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria were significantly inhibited by EOMD with inhibition zones ranging from 7.00±0.00 mm to 22±1.33 mm, and with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentration values ranging from 0.0022 to 0.014 v/v; likewise, intriguing antifungal activity against pathogen fungi was noticed with MICs and minimum fungicidal concentration values ranging from 0.00125 to 0.006 v/v. Furthermore, the studied essential oil demonstrated a total suppression of the sporulation and germination of spores at concentrations as from 0.002 v/v. These results emphasize the bactericidal and fungicidal characteristics of EOMD and their prospective usage as a substitute for synthetic bactericides and fungicides

The efficiency of removal of glycerol, soaps, and unconverted acylglycerols by repeated washing with water, alcohol removal by distillation, distillation of esters, and using of sorbents, as well as a combination of these techniques, was evaluated. The use of a number of commercially available sorbents (Magnesol, talc, and coal) and ion exchange resins (KU-2-8, Purolite СТ275) was investigated. Glycerol and soap were found to be effectively removed with all tested materials except talc, while Magnesol and Purolite also effectively removed monoacylglycerols. However, none of the materials tested was able to withdraw diacylglycerols. A three-stage purification of esters was proposed. The latter includes the alcohol removal by distillation, which contributes to the additional settling of pollutants, vacuum distillation, and final use of sorbents (Purolite). The utilization of the indicated stages allows obtaining a product that meets the quality indicators of EN 14214. The proposed approaches will be valuable in the engineering of industrial technology for obtaining fuel-grade ethyl esters.

This study investigates the radionuclide emissions from nuclear power plants (NPPs), focusing on the gas-aerosol emissions from reactors such as VVER-440. The radionuclide composition of these emissions is analysed to determine the biological hazards they pose, particularly focusing on isotopes such as tritium and radiocarbon. The research highlights the patterns of radionuclide accumulation in fuel assemblies using "rank-size" coordinates, which provide a more visual and informative method compared to traditional atomic weight dependency analyses. The study introduces the Zipf-Mandelbrot type rank distributions and proposes that the emissions can be effectively monitored by measuring only a few key radionuclides, thereby simplifying the process. This method is validated across different reactor types, indicating its broad applicability. The research underscores the potential of using these patterns for more efficient regulation and control of radionuclide emissions from NPPs.

Synthesis methods were developed, five new coordination compounds were isolated and investigated: [M(phen)3]4[Ge6(μ-OH)4(μ-O)2(μ-hedp)6]*хСН3СООНnH2O (M= Fe (1), x= 0, n= 20; Co (2), x= 2, n= 30; Ni (3), x= 2, n= 26), [Cu(phen)2(H2O)]2[Cu(phen)(H2O)3]2[Ge6(μ-OH)4(μ-O)2 (μ-hedp)6]*16H2O (4), [Zn(phen)2(H2O)2]2[Zn(phen)(H2O)4]2[Ge6(μ-OH)4(μ-O)2(μ-hedp)6]*18H2O (5), were Н4hedp - 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, phen - 1,10-phenanthroline. It was found that the complexes belong to the cation-anion type, consisting of the hexanuclear complex anion, in which Ge atoms are connected by three types of bridging ligands (hydroxy-, oxo-, and 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate), and phenanthroline-containing cations of different compositions depending on the 3d-metal. Synthesized substances in crystals are organic-inorganic hybrid ensembles with three-dimensional networks formed by numerous intermolecular hydrogen bonds between complex cations, anions, and water of crystallization molecules.

n the past decade, open-air burning of rice husks has negatively impacted the environment and human health, particularly in developing and underdeveloped nations. Consequently, the present study established a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of manufacturing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) from Oryza sativa rice husks using different concentrations of the precursor. The ZnO NPs obtained were analysed with an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, which revealed a characteristic ZnO NPs band at 410 nm. Based on Debye-Scherrer’s equation, the ZnO NPs crystallites had a mean size of 20 nm. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the ZnO NPs were determined within the 400 to 4000 cm−1 range. The peak at 487 cm−1 indicated that a Zn-O bond was formed. A developed material further evaluated the antibacterial effectiveness of ZnO NPs against four harmful bacteria, demonstrating a moderate level of effectiveness. The findings indicated that all the tested bacteria exhibited heightened susceptibility to ZnO NPs at a higher concentration of 250 μg/mL.

This study is primarily focused on evaluating the chemical composition of natural water in the locality of Cișmea, situated in the Orhei district, at the coordinates 47°24’56.0"N 28°45’05.9"E. The study includes an ad-hoc analysis of two types of water: surface water and underground water. General parameters were evaluated, such as pH, conductivity, hardness, chloride and sulphate content, as well as the content of certain chemical elements. The study results highlights significant deviations from the maximum admissible concentrations (MAC) for a series of indicators, such as As, Pb, Cd, Na, and B. The determined concentrations of these elements exceed the limits allowed by the legislation of Republic of Moldova and European Union: for As by 1.7–1.9 times; Cd by 3.4–3.5 times; Pb by 1.2–2.3 times; Na by 1.2–4.0 times and B by 1.6–3.3 times. Deviations of conductivity and sulphate parameters indicate the presence of a high level of dissolved solids in the groundwater of the locality’s wells and springs. The study also signalled the presence of significant concentrations of some heavy elements, such as Ba, Tl and Bi, which are not regulated by current legislation.