Anisic Acid Research Articles

Anti-Diabetic and Insulinotropic Effects of p-Anisic Acid in High-Fat Diet and Streptozotocin Induced Type-2 Diabetic Rats.

To evaluate the antidiabetic effect of p-anisic acid (p-AA) against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thirty-six male rats were utilized for the study. The animals were provided with the high-fat diet (HFD) and T2DM was induced through 35 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Subsequently, the animals were allocated to 6 groups and subjected to the treatments for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week observation. Three treatment groups were administered with p-AA (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg). Glibenclamide (3 mg/kg) was provided to the standard control group. The normal control and disease control groups were supplied with 0.1 % carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Subsequently, the effects of treatment on body weight (BW), blood glucose level (BGL), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, and lipid parameters were measured and the pancreas was isolated for histopathology. A statistically significant (P-value<0.001) increase in BW was observed in the p-AA (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) groups. The BGL decreased significantly (P-value<0.001) in p-AA groups. p-AA significantly (P-value<0.001) regulated the levels of HbA1c and serum insulin and lipid parameters. A notable improvement in the morphology of the pancreas was observed. Treatment with p-AA exhibited significant antidiabetic effects against STZ-HFD-induced T2DM.

Regulation of root-associated microbiomes and root exudates by different tobacco species

BackgroundThe root-associated microbiomes are crucial in promoting plant growth and development through symbiotic interactions with their hosts. Plants may shape their microbiomes by secreting specific root exudates. However, the potential mechanisms how plant species determine root exudates and drive microbiome assembly have been little studied. In this study, three wild tobaccos and one cultivated tobacco were used to investigate the commonalities and differences of both root-associated microbiomes and root exudates.ResultsAmplicon sequencing results suggested that tobacco species significantly affected microbial communities in both the rhizosphere and root endosphere, with the strongest impact on the fungal community in the root endosphere. The microbial networks of wild tobacco species were more stable than that of the cultivated tobacco, and fungal members played a more important role in the networks of wild tobacco species, while bacterial members did so in the cultivated tobacco. The rhizosphere bacteria of wild tobacco species showed a higher functional diversity than that of the cultivated tobacco, while the bacteria in the root endosphere presented a contrary pattern. Metabolomics analysis showed significant differences in the composition and abundance of root exudates among the four tobacco species, and the greatest difference was found between the three wild species and the cultivated one. Correlation analysis showed the strongest correlation between metabolites and rhizosphere bacteria, in which O-benzoic acid (2-methoxybenzoic acid) had the most positive correlations with rhizosphere bacteria, while β-ureidoisobutenoic acid had the most negative correlations with rhizosphere bacteria. The rhizosphere bacteria Streptomyces, Hydrophilus and Roseobacter had the strongest positive correlations with metabolites, and the rhizosphere bacterium Nitrobacter had the most negative correlations with metabolites.ConclusionThis study revealed the differences of microbial communities and root exudates in the rhizosphere and root endosphere of four tobacco species, which can further improve our understanding of plant–microbiome interactions during crop domestication.Graphical

Unraveling the color evolution and metabolic pathways of pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside during lactic acid fermentation of the strawberry juice color simulation system: A novel perspective through untargeted metabolomics

This study aimed to unraveling the color evolution and metabolic pathways of pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (P3G) during lactic acid fermentation of the strawberry juice color simulation system. The results revealed that fermentation with both Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus caused a decline in pH of the strawberry juice color simulation system and significantly accelerated the decrease in P3G content. The CIELAB space model pointed out that parameters a⁎ and b⁎ of the group treated with both lactic acid bacteria and P3G initially increased to a peak level and then gradually decreased, shifting the overall color towards orange and then gradually fading. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics results revealed that P3G was progressively degraded and converted to pyruvate, methylparaben, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, p-anisic acid, and terephthalic acid, affecting the metabolic pathways of glycolysis, d-amino acids, benzoate degradation, aromatic compounds degradation, and aminobenzoate degradation in lactic acid bacteria.

Synthesis, crystal structures, characterizations and antibacterial activities for four lithium(I)-based metal organic frameworks

Lithium(I)-based compounds are extensively utilized across various domains, however, their structural characteristics remain inadequately explored, which has hindered further development and application of their functionalities. Thus, the exploration of their structural intricacies is crucial for unlocking their full potential and paving the way for innovative applications in diverse fields. In this study, four Li(I)-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, [Li4(BNZ)4(H2O)4]n (1), [Li(HBNZ)]n (2), [Li(BNZ)(DPRO)]n (3), [Li2(MBNZ)2(DPRO)2]n (4), are synthesized through hydrothermal method, and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, and IR, where BNZ, HBNZ, MBNZ and DPRO are benzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-methoxybenzoic acid and d-proline, respectively. Crystallographic analysis reveals that all these complexes are two-dimensional layered architectures, of which 3 and 4 display a similar wave-like square grids network. The crystal structures of the complexes 1–4 are stabilized by one or more kinds of NH···O, CH···O, OH···O, CH···π, π-π interactions, and the intermolecular interactions and thermal stabilities of these complexes were also analyzed by Hirshfeld surface and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Moreover, these complexes show the great photoluminescence properties and antibacterial activities, exhibiting remarkable potential applications in both material and pharmaceutical science, and the necessity for continued research to promise a paradigm shift in the design and application of advanced materials.

Green chemistry approach to corrosion prevention: Saccocalyx satureioides as an effective inhibitor for C45 steel in acidic medium (HCl)

Carbon steel's corrosion in harsh, acidic environments presents significant challenges to industrial use. While traditional inhibitors are effective, they often raise environmental and sustainability concerns. This study explores the potential of Saccocalyx satureioides extract (S. Satureioides) as an environmentally Eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for protecting carbon steel 45 in a highly corrosive 0.5 M HCl solution. The organic components of the sample were identified using phytochemical screening, LC-MS analysis, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The main compounds detected were coumaric acid (68.10%), 4-methoxybenzoic acid (15.15%), and kaempferol (11.36%). Weight loss measurements demonstrated that the S. Satureioides extract had a highly effective anti-corrosion capability, achieving an inhibitory efficiency of around 96.93% at a concentration of 3 g.L-1 at a temperature of 25°C after 360 hours of immersion. This significantly reduced the corrosion rate from 0.1721 mg.cm−2.h−1 to 0.0053 mg.cm−2.h−1. The adsorption isotherms indicated that the adsorption of S. Satureioides molecules onto the steel surface followed the Langmuir model, exhibiting a high correlation coefficient of 0.9958. The negative value of the adsorption free energy ( = -17.162 kJ mol-1) indicates that the physisorption interactions occurred spontaneously. The SEM/EDX analysis revealed that the steel surface exhibited reduced damage due to the inhibitor's protective coating formation. This research not only significantly contributes to corrosion science filed but also provides crucial support for global efforts to promote sustainable industrial practices, with potential applications in various industries worldwide.

Deciphering trends in replacing preservatives in cosmetics intended for infants and sensitive population

The present study aims to investigate the current trends in replacing conventional preservatives with multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties for preservation of cosmetics for infants or sensitive population, to decrease their potential for contact dermatitis. We first reviewed the labels of cosmetics purchased from the Chinese market for conventional preservatives and multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties, of which the actual contents were further quantified by chromatographic methods. We identified 7 traditional preservatives (phenoxyethanol, benzoic acid (salts), methylparaben, benzyl alcohol, sorbic acid (salts), propylparaben, and methylisothiazolinone), and 11 alternative ingredients with antimicrobial activities (ethylhexylglycerin, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, p-anisic acid, hydroxyacetophenone, pentylene glycol, decylene glycol, caprylhydroxamic acid, and aminomethyl propanol) in descending order of prevalence. The contents of all identified preservatives and ingredients were either below regulatory limits or in the range that is generally regarded to be safe. Further challenge with microorganisms indicated irrespective of the composition of preservation systems, product preservation could be compromised under test conditions. We conclude that multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties in cosmetics have the potential to completely replace or significantly reduce the use of traditional preservatives while retaining comparative preservative efficacy. Future attentions may need to be shifted to the safety of those multifunctional ingredients with antimicrobial properties.

Effect of terminal substituents on intramolecular charge transfer in one- and two-photon absorption of zinc phthalocyanine derivatives

Zinc phthalocyanine derivatives have unique structure and photophysical properties, which make them a remarkable potential in the fields of optoelectronics as well as biomedicine. In order to reveal the effect of the terminal substituents on the electron transition mechanisms, one-photon absorption (OPA) and two-photon absorption (TPA) processes of three zinc phthalocyanines modified with different terminal substituents (PcZn-0, PcZn-1 and PcZn-2) have been analyzed by using density-functional theory (DFT) in combination with the sum-over-states (SOS) model, the visualization of the transition density matrix (TDM) as well as charge density difference (CDD) calculations. Red-shifted OPA absorption peaks with enhanced intensities, have been observed in molecules PcZn-1, PcZn-2 with long terminal substituents. However, for TPA process, a more effective charge transfer over almost the entire molecule has been observed in PcZn-1 molecule with 4-methoxybenonic acid as terminal substituents. When H-atoms in the hydroxyl groups of four terminal 4-Methoxybenzoic acid groups were substituted by dispersed red-one chains, a limited range of intramolecular charge transfer and localized excitation inside the dispersed red-one chain were observed, leading to a localized excitation absorption peak and expanding the wavelength region of TPA response. Furthermore, terminal substituents with conjugated branches exhibit a stronger cooperative effect between the terminal chains and shows larger TPA response. On the contrary, excessive dihedral angles between different groups can weaken the conjugation degree of molecules and affect intramolecular charge transfer as well as TPA response.

C-H activation under visible light using DDQ organo-photocatalyst: Practical, tunable and additive free

Here we present a practical, mild, selective, eco-friendly, metal-free, cost-effective, and tunable method for the photoactivation of C-H compounds using an organo photocatalyst without any additives. For this purpose, the organo photocatalyst DDQ was employed as a versatile and highly efficient catalyst for C-H bond functionalization under visible light irradiation in a straightforward reaction setup, free from additives and co-catalysts. Notably, under appropriate solvent conditions, the photooxidation of alkylarenes produced ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids from corresponding starting materials. In CH3CN solvent, carboxylic acids were obtained. Interestingly over oxidation to carboxylic acid is avoided and aldehydes were produced from methyl arenes via acetal formation in CH3CN:MeOH. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the photooxidation of 4-methoxytoluene was more efficient than that of 4-methoxybenzylalcohol. The proposed mechanism for this reaction involved the formation of a charge transfer complex between the starting material and DDQ, as indicated by UV–Vis and fluorescence spectra. Also, this method exhibited promising scalability, with 30 mmol of 4-methoxytoluene being converted to 4-methoxybenzoic acid with a yield of 92 % (TON: 345).

Green extraction of phenolic compounds from the by-product of purple araçá (Psidium myrtoides) with natural deep eutectic solvents assisted by ultrasound: Optimization, comparison, and bioactivity

The recovery of bioactive compounds is a promising approach for obtaining rich extracts from fruit by-products. This study investigated the influence of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) on the phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro antidiabetic activity of Psidium myrtoides by-product. Among eight NADES evaluated based on choline chloride, NADES ChCl:Gly (1:2) was selected for its efficiency in extracting total phenolic compounds (TPC) with high antioxidant capacity. The optimized conditions were 61 °C, a solid–liquid ratio of 100 mg 5 mL−1, and a 60-minute extraction time. ChCl:Gly exhibited superior TPC recovery (2.6-fold greater effectiveness) compared to the 60 % hydroethanolic solution. Twenty-six phenolic compounds were identified, including significant levels of catechin (336.48 mg g−1) and isoquercetin (26.09 mg g−1). Phenolic acids, such as p-anisic acid (5.47 mg g−1) and methoxyphenylacetic acid (0.23 mg g−1), were identified for the first time in the purple araçá by-product. The ChCl:Gly extract demonstrated the highest bioactivity, showcasing antioxidant and antidiabetic capacities. This study introduces an innovative and sustainable alternative for recovering phenolic compounds from fruit by-products, offering enhanced recovery efficiency and/or selectivity compared to organic solvents.

Abraham General Solvation Parameter Model: Predictive Expressions for Solute Transfer into Isobutyl Acetate

Mole fraction of solubilities are reported for the: o-acetoacetanisidide, anthracene, benzoin, 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid, 3-chlorobenzoic acid, 3-chlorobenzoic acid, 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid, 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzoic acid, 3,4-dichlorobenzoic acid, 2,3-dimethoxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid, 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, diphenyl sulfone, 2-ethylanthraquinone, 2-methoxybenzoic acid, 4-methoxybenzoic acid, 2-methylbenzoic acid, 3-methylbenzoic acid, 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid, 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid, 4-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid, 2-naphthoxyacetic acid, 3-nitrobenzoic acid, 4-nitrobenzoic acid, salicylamide, thioxanthene-9-one, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid, and xanthene dissolved in isobutyl acetate at 298.15 K. The results of our experimental measurements, combined with the published literature data, were used to obtain Abraham model equations for isobutyl acetate. The mathematical correlations presented in the current study describe the observed molar solubility ratios of the solutes dissolved in isobutyl acetate to within an overall standard deviation of 0.12 log units or less.

Synthesis and study of esters of ethylene glycol bis-digippurate, bis-dianisate with the participation of nano-ZnO catalysts

In the presented article, were synthesized in the presence of a nano-ZnO catalyst based on hippuric acid and ethylene glycol (7 % wt. in terms of hippuric acid) in a ratio of 2:1, at a temperature of 110 oC, for 5–6 hours, ester of ethylene glycol -bis-digippurate with a yield of 90 %, and on the basis of anisic acid and ethylene glycol (7 % wt. in terms of anisic acid) in a ratio of 2:1, at a temperature of 110 oC, for 5–6 hours, ester of ethylene glycol-bis- dianisate with a yield of 88.5 %. The physicochemical parameters of the synthesized esters were determined by analytical and spectral methods. Synthesized esters were tested with the aim of specification of thermo-oxide stability of diesel fuel. It was proved, that esters improve a thermo-oxide stability of diesel fuel and may be applied as antioxidants to them.

Solubility Determination and Data Correlation of 4-Methoxybenzoic Acid in 14 Pure Solvents at Temperatures from 283.15 to 328.15 K

Solubility Determination and Data Correlation of 4-Methoxybenzoic Acid in 14 Pure Solvents at Temperatures from 283.15 to 328.15 K

Cleome arabica L. extract as a novel green corrosion inhibitor for AISI 1045 carbon steel in 0.5 M HCl: insights from experimental and theoretical DFT analyses.

The search for sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors for hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution in industrial applications has garnered increasing interest in plant extracts and their refined metabolites. In this research, Cleome arabica L. (CA) extract, found in the Algerian Sahara, was considered due to its low cost compared to other studied plants and higher content of active compounds, thereby emerging as a promising candidate and offering the potential to promote a circular economy model. This study assessed the effectiveness of CA extract as a green corrosion inhibitor for AISI 1045 carbon steel in 0.5 M HCl solution and highlighted its potential to advance the field of green corrosion inhibitors. ATR-FTIR and LC-ESI-MS/MS analyses revealed the presence of significant organic compounds, including coumaric acid (74.58%), 4-methoxybenzoic acid (12.53%), and kaempferol (8.05%), which contributed to the corrosion inhibition. The inhibitory effectiveness of the CA extract was evaluated at five concentrations, ranging from 0.125 to 1 g L-1, using weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The highest inhibition efficiency (η = 94.45%) was observed at a CA extract concentration of 1 g L-1 after 196 hours of immersion in 0.5 M HCl. Thermodynamic analysis using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm yielded a ΔG ads value of -24.737 kJ mol-1, indicating the spontaneous adsorption of CA molecules onto the AISI 1045 surfaces, forming a protective layer, which was confirmed by SEM/EDX analysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed a significant correlation with the experimental data, confirming that CA extract is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor.

Green Metrics Evaluation on The Cannizzaro Reaction of p-Anisaldehyde and Benzaldehyde Under Solvent-Free Conditions

In the pursuit of environmentally responsible chemical processes, we conducted a thorough assessment of the green metrics associated with the Cannizzaro reaction using p-anisaldehyde and benzaldehyde under solvent-free conditions. This research elaborates the application of two different methods i.e., reflux and ultrasonication, applying potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the reagent. The progress of the Cannizzaro reaction was methodically followed via thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and the resulting products were characterized using various techniques, including melting point analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). To measure the environmental impact and sustainability of these reactions, a multifaceted approach was used. Green metrics were evaluated by the state-of-the-art Environmental Assessment Tool for Organic Syntheses (EATOS) software, combined with the Andraos algorithm. Moreover, energy consumption calculations were evaluated. Reasonable analysis of the green metrics results was undertaken in the framework of prevailing literature, permitting to measure the level of eco-friendliness attained. Experimental findings revealed optimal conditions for the Cannizzaro reaction concerning p-anisaldehyde at a temperature of 50 °C for 90 minutes, resulting in remarkable of p-anisyl alcohol and p-anisic acid in 95.16% and 95.04% yields, respectively. Likewise, the reaction involving benzaldehyde reached its peak performance at 50 °C for 2 hours, giving benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid in 96.17% and 97.22% yields, respectively. Overall, the green metrics assessment and energy consumption calculations reliably confirmed that the solvent-free Cannizzaro reaction, when performed via ultrasonication, offers a reasonably greener and more energy-efficient method than the traditional ones. This research highlights the importance of sustainable chemical synthesis practices and their potential to reduce the environmental footprint of chemical processes.

An In Crystallo Reaction with an Engineered Cytochrome P450 Peroxygenase.

The cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) are a class of heme-thiolate enzymes that insert oxygen into unactivated C-H bonds. These enzymes can be converted into peroxygenases via protein engineering, which enables their activity to occur using hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) without the requirement for additional nicotinamide co-factors or partner proteins. Here, we demonstrate that soaking crystals of an engineered P450 peroxygenase with H2 O2 enables the enzymatic reaction to occur within the crystal. Crystals of the designed P450 peroxygenase, the T252E mutant of CYP199A4, in complex with 4-methoxybenzoic acid were soaked with different concentrations of H2 O2 for varying times to initiate the in crystallo O-demethylation reaction. Crystal structures of T252E-CYP199A4 showed a distinct loss of electron density that was consistent with the O-demethylated metabolite, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. A new X-ray crystal structure of this enzyme with the 4-hydroxybenzoic acid product was obtained to enable comparison alongside the existing substrate-bound structure. The visualisation of enzymatic catalysis in action is challenging in structural biology and the ability to initiate the reactions of P450 enzymes, in crystallo by simply soaking crystals with H2 O2 will enable new structural biology methods and techniques to be applied to study their mechanism of action.

Monohalogenated methyl- and methoxy-benzoic acids: A combined experimental and quantum chemical theoretical study on their structure, vibrational analysis and molecular parameters

In this paper, the molecules 3-fluoro-2-methylbenzoic acid; 3-chloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid; and 3-bromo-2-methylbenzoic were investigated using experimental and quantum chemical theoretical approach for vibrational and electronic properties from the optimized structure. Becke three parameter Lee–Yang–Parr density functionals along with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set were employed to compute their geometric optimization, fundamental frequencies and molecular parameters. The detected FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra were compared with their simulated spectra and the rms error between the detected and simulated vibrational frequencies was found at 6.17, 7.22 and 6.76 cm−1 for FMA, CMA and BMA, respectively. All the vibrational fundamentals were assigned unequivocally using potential energy distribution (PED) obtained in the computations. 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts were evaluated by integrating the gauge-independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method with DFT and compared with corresponding experimental values. TD-DFT approach was followed to compare the simulated absorption maxima (λmax) in DMSO-d6 solvent with observed values and interpreted in terms of HOMO and LUMO. The global reactive descriptors were estimated from the associated energies of HOMO and LUMO which describe the reactivity and stability of the molecules. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface has been determined using the charge density distributions to demonstrate electrophilic and nucleophilic nature of the molecules. DFT computations also ascertained the applicability of the titled molecules as NLO materials from the computed values of dipole moment and hyperpolarizability. Thermodynamic parameters and rotational constants were also evaluated employing rigid rotor harmonic oscillator approximation. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis confirmed the charge delocalization due to intra-molecular interactions.

Accelerated loss of diastase in mānuka honey: Investigation of mānuka specific compounds.

Diastase is used internationally as a quality monitor for excessive heat treatment and prolonged storage of honey; honey must contain an activity of at least 8 diastase numbers (DN) for it to be considered export quality. Freshly harvested mānuka honey can have diastase activity close to the export threshold of 8 DN without excess heating, increasing susceptibility for export failure. This research investigated the effect of compounds unique to or high in concentration in mānuka honey on diastase activity. Investigation of the effect of methylglyoxal, dihydroxyacetone, 2-methoxybenzoic acid, 3-phenyllatic acid, 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid and 2'-methoxyacetophenone on diastase activity was carried out. Mānuka honey was stored at 20 and 27°C and clover honey spiked with compounds of interest were stored at 20, 27 and 34°C and monitored overtime. Methylglyoxal and 3-phenyllactic acid were found to accelerate the loss of diastase above the loss normally observed with time and elevated temperature.

A key O-demethylase in the degradation of guaiacol by Rhodococcus opacus PD630.

Rhodococcus opacus PD630 is a high oil-producing strain with the ability to convert lignin-derived aromatics to high values, but limited research has been done to elucidate its conversion pathway, especially the upper pathways. In this study, we focused on the upper pathways and demethylation mechanism of lignin-derived aromatics metabolism by R. opacus PD630. The results of the aromatic carbon resource utilization screening showed that R. opacus PD630 had a strong degradation capacity to the lignin-derived methoxy-containing aromatics, such as guaiacol, 3,4-veratric acid, anisic acid, isovanillic acid, and vanillic acid. The gene of gcoAR, which encodes cytochrome P450, showed significant up-regulation when R. opacus PD630 grew on diverse aromatics. Deletion mutants of gcoAR and its partner protein gcoBR resulted in the strain losing the ability to grow on guaiacol, but no significant difference to the other aromatics. Only co-complementation alone of gcoAR and gcoBR restored the strain's ability to utilize guaiacol, demonstrating that both genes were equally important in the utilization of guaiacol. In vitro assays further revealed that GcoAR could convert guaiacol and anisole to catechol and phenol, respectively, with the production of formaldehyde as a by-product. The study provided robust evidence to reveal the molecular mechanism of R. opacus PD630 on guaiacol metabolism and offered a promising study model for dissecting the demethylation process of lignin-derived aromatics in microbes.IMPORTANCEAryl-O-demethylation is believed to be the key rate-limiting step in the catabolism of heterogeneous lignin-derived aromatics in both native and engineered microbes. However, the mechanisms of O-demethylation in lignin-derived aromatic catabolism remain unclear. Notably, guaiacol, the primary component unit of lignin, lacks in situ demonstration and illustration of the molecular mechanism of guaiacol O-demethylation in lignin-degrading bacteria. This is the first study to illustrate the mechanism of guaiacol metabolism by R. opacus PD630 in situ as well as characterize the purified key O-demethylase in vitro. This study provided further insight into the lignin metabolic pathway of R. opacus PD630 and could guide the design of an efficient biocatalytic system for lignin valorization.

Combined Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses of Defense Mechanisms against Phytoplasma Infection in Camptotheca acuminata Decne

Camptotheca acuminata Witches’-broom disease (CaWB) is the most destructive disease affecting C. acuminata in China. Previous studies on CaWB have failed to clarify the incidence pattern in C. acuminata after infection with phytoplasma. The time interval between phytoplasma infection of C. acuminata and the onset of Witches’-broom symptoms in C. acuminata was very long. C. acuminata inoculated with CaWB showed leaf margin scorching symptoms at 4 weeks in inoculated leaves. At 16 weeks after infection (WAI), old leaves were shed, while new leaves showed a mild leaf margin scorch; at 28 WAI, typical symptoms appeared. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the three sampling periods revealed 194 differentially expressed genes, mainly enriched in MAPK signaling, plant–pathogen interaction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. The expression of calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK), β Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase1/10 (KCS1/10), and WRKY22/29 genes in the plant–pathogen interaction pathway significantly increased, indicating that they may be key genes in the CaWB phytoplasma-mediated maintenance of ROS homeostasis. Moreover, isochlorogenic acid B, atractylenolide II, and 3-methoxybenzoic acid were found, which might serve as signaling or functional substances in the defense response. Our results provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of CaWB and the defense response of C. acuminata under the influence of phytoplasma. Additionally, we identified potential candidate genes related to the defense response of C. acuminata, laying the foundation for further research.

Synthesis, Characterization and in vitro Anticancer Activity of New Quinoline Analogues against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) developed from mucosal lining of oral cavity is ranked as 6th most common cancer worldwide. Adverse effects of available anticancer agents intended present work to carry out the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of new quinoline analogues (NQA) against OSCC cell lines. In present study, substituted quinoline (1) was treated with ethyl chloroacetate to offer ester derivative (2), which on treatment with hydrazine hydrate yielded hydrazide derivative (3), which was cyclized into oxadiazole derivative (4) when cyclized with 4-methoxy benzoic acid. Characterization of molecular structures of synthesized NQAs was done based on the FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectrometric data. The characterized NQAs were investigated for their anticancer potential. The anticancer studies involved antiproliferation study (IC50 determination) against OSCC cell lines (CAL-27), followed by cell cycle analysis. The results of antiproliferation study of NQAs revealed that among all, NQA 3 exhibited lowest IC50 (3.26 μg/mL). Also, the results of cell cycle analysis of all NQA revealed that all NQAs caused cancer cells arrest in ‘S’ phase. The high anticancer activity of NQA 3 and ability of all the NQAs to cause CAL-27 cells arrest in ‘s’ phase supports their potential application in OSCC treatment. However, the synthesized NQAs must be additionally investigated for the in vivo and clinical studies.