Greater Inhibitory Effect Research Articles

Synthesis of triazole AD-1 derivatives and its mechanism of mediating DNA damage of ROS in lung cancer cells

Based on the significant biological activities and the remarkable physical and chemical properties of 1H-1,2,3-triazole pharmacophore, we herein adopted the strategy of click chemistry to combine the triazole fragment and the unique scaffold of 25-OCH3-PPD (AD-1) to design a series of potent compounds inducing apoptosis and DNA damage. The anti-proliferative effect was verified by MTT assay and colony formation assay. DNA double-stand breaks (DSBs) were obtained by observing the nuclear focus formation and the protein expression of γ-H2AX. Cell cycle arrest was evaluated by the cycle-related proteins such as CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, Cyclin D1 and P21. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) detection and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured with 2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. According to SAR analysis, the most potent compound 6a exhibited great inhibitory effect against A549 cells, which IC50 value of 2.84 ± 0.68 μM. Furthermore, 6a remarkably induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 cells. 6a treatment increased the levels of ROS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking predicted the potential signaling pathways and ligand-receptor interactions, and the results of western blotting showed that 6a inhibited the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 signaling pathway by decreasing PI3K and Bcl-2 and total level of Akt expression, while Bax and Cyt c were increasing in 6a-treated A549 cells. As mentioned above, 6a has a potent inhibitory effect in A549 cells through induction of DNA damage, apoptosis via ROS generation and modulation of PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 signaling pathway.

Similar and divergent responses to salinity stress of jamun (Syzygium cumini L. Skeels) genotypes.

Genetic variation for salt tolerance remains elusive in jamun (Syzygium cumini). Effects of gradually increased salinity (2.0-12.0 dS/m) were examined in 20 monoembryonic and 28 polyembryonic genotypes of jamun. Six genotypes were additionally assessed for understanding salt-induced changes in gas exchange attributes and antioxidant enzymes. Salt-induced reductions in leaf, stem, root and plant dry mass (PDM) were relatively greater in mono- than in poly-embryonic types. Reductions in PDM relative to control implied more adverse impacts of salinity on genotypes CSJ-28, CSJ-31, CSJ-43 and CSJ-47 (mono) and CSJ-1, CSJ-24, CSJ-26 and CSJ-27 (poly). Comparably, some mono- (CSJ-5, CSJ-18) and poly-embryonic (CSJ-7, CSJ-8, CSJ-14, CSJ-19) genotypes exhibited least reductions in PDM following salt treatment. Most polyembryonic genotypes showed lower reductions in root than in shoot mass, indicating that they may be more adept at absorbing water and nutrients when exposed to salt. The majority of genotypes did not exhibit leaf tip burn and marginal scorch despite significant increases in Na+ and Cl-, suggesting that tissue tolerance existed for storing excess Na+ and Cl- in vacuoles. Jamun genotypes were likely more efficient in Cl- exclusion because leaf, stem and root Cl- levels were consistently lower than those of Na+ under salt treatment. Leaf K+ was particularly little affected in genotypes with high leaf Na+. Lack of discernible differences in leaf, stem and root Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents between control and salt treatments was likely due to their preferential uptake. Correlation analysis suggested that Na+ probably had a greater inhibitory effect on biomass in both mono- and poly-embryonic types. Discriminant analysis revealed that while stem and root Cl- probably accounted for shared responses, root Na+, leaf K+ and leaf Cl- explained divergent responses to salt stress of mono- and poly-embryonic types. Genotypes CSJ-18 and CSJ-19 seemed efficient in fending off oxidative damage caused by salt because of their stronger antioxidant defences. Polyembryonic genotypes CSJ-7, CSJ-8, CSJ-14 and CSJ-19, which showed least reductions in biomass even after prolonged exposure to salinity stress, may be used as salt-tolerant rootstocks. The biochemical and molecular underpinnings of tissue tolerance to excess Na+ and Cl- as well as preferential uptake of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ need to be elucidated.

Can ecological compensation reduce air pollution? New evidence from resource-based cities in China

ABSTRACT China has made great efforts to establish an ecological compensation mechanism, but there lacks empirical evidence on whether this scheme effectively reduces air pollution. To test the effectiveness of air quality ecological compensation (AQEC) on air pollution control, this study considers 114 resource-based cities in China and uses a multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) model for empirical analysis. The finding shows that the AQEC policy significantly reduces the concentration of air pollutants by promoting air pollution prevention and local authority enthusiasm for pollution abatement, resulting in an average annual decrease in PM2.5 concentrations of approximately 3.9 µg/m3 in the pilot cities. The AQEC policy of resource-based cities in eastern and northern China, and those with less financial pressure have greater inhibitory effects on air pollution. The study recommends establishing long-term protection mechanisms and implementing differentiated policies focused on green technological innovation and financial autonomy.

Person-organization fit and job burnout of researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Heterogeneity in eleven countries.

To manage the negative impact of job burnout for the researchers, especially during COVID-19 pandemic, is not easy. Thus, it is essential for educational institutions to provide them with the support they need to improve the person-organization (P-O) fit. Drawing upon the data from the Nature's Global Survey initiated in 2021, this paper analyzed 2,424 effective samples from eleven countries in the world to investigate how P-O fit impacts researchers' job burnout in different countries and their career stages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show that both organizational support and P-O fit have significantly assisted researchers in all career stages to reduce job burnout. Moreover, P-O fit has a greater inhibitory effect on job burnout than organizational support. However, when resources are relatively scarce in some developing countries, it is more important to provide organizational support for researchers. Therefore, in order to improve the efficiency of organizational support and reduce researchers' job burnout, those aspects which are less fit but helpful should be increased appropriately. Moreover, it implies that it would be significant to emphasize the differentiated and career-stage-sensitive resources and support to researchers in different countries in the post-pandemic era to improve researchers' well-being and organizational performance.

Functional Model Beverages of Saffron Floral By-Products: Polyphenolic Composition, Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes, and Rheological Characterization.

Despite the rapid and dynamic evolution of research into dietary polyphenols, there is still a knowledge gap regarding their bioaccessibility since it could be influenced by the chemical and nutritional compositions of the food matrix. This study aimed to describe the impact of food thickeners (xanthan gum, guar gum, β-glucan, pectin) on the bioactivity of flavonoids from saffron floral by-products in model beverages before and after thermal processing. The different beverage formulas were characterized in terms of polyphenolic composition using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn and rheological properties. The impact of food thickeners and thermal processing on the inhibition of digestive enzymes was also determined. The model beverages mainly presented glycosylated flavonols (of kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin), with a reduced content in some heat-treated samples. The inhibitory effect on α-amylase was only detected in heat-treated beverages, showing the formulation without any thickener to have the greatest inhibitory effect. Finally, the presence of saffron floral by-products in the beverages showed a tendency to decrease the flow consistency index (K) and an increase in the flow behavior index (n), most probably driven by the aggregation of phenolics with thickeners. Therefore, this research provides new insights into the development of flavonoid-rich beverages in order to ensure that they exert the expected beneficial effects after their ingestion.

Water‐tree aging characteristics of chloroacetic acid allyl ester grafted crosslinked polyethylene

AbstractTo investigate the inhibition effect of chloroacetic acid allyl ester (CAAE) grafting modification on water‐tree aging in crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE), CAAE grafted XLPE (XLPE‐g‐CAAE) with different CAAE contents are prepared by melt blending and grafting modification method. The accelerated water‐tree aging experiments are carried out by the water‐blade electrode method. It is found that XLPE‐g‐CAAE has a great inhibitory effect on the water‐tree aging compared to XLPE, and XLPE‐g‐CAAE with 1.0 phr CAAE has the most significant effect on the water‐tree growth in the scope of the study. The microstructure of XLPE and XLPE‐g‐CAAE is investigated by thermal elongation, gel content, and static water contact angle, respectively. The results show that the grafting of CAAE containing polar groups can enhance the polarity of XLPE and improve the hydrophilicity, which has a dispersing effect on the polar water molecules entering the polymer. Thus, the water molecules are not easy to gather, inhibiting the water‐tree growth. Meanwhile, although the mechanical properties of XLPE‐g‐CAAE decrease to a small extent, and the relative dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor increase slightly, but the performance still meet the requirements of water‐tree resistance XLPE cable insulation.Highlights CAAE with polar groups was successfully grafted onto XLPE. The polar groups can enhance the polarity of XLPE to improve the hydrophilicity. CAAE grafting can inhibit the water‐tree growth in XLPE. The dielectric properties meet the requirements of water‐tree resistance XLPE.

The Application of 2d Mxene Nanosheet -Based Thermosensitive Gel Delivery System Loaded with Cisplatin and Imiquimod for Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer's high incidence and dismal prognosis with traditional treatments like surgery and radiotherapy necessitate innovative approaches. Despite advancements in nanotherapy, the limitations of single-treatment modalities and significant side effects persist. To tackle lung cancer effectively, we devised a temperature-sensitive hydrogel-based local injection system with near-infrared triggered drug release. Utilizing 2D MXene nanosheets as carriers loaded with R837 and cisplatin (DDP), encapsulated within a temperature-sensitive hydrogel-forming PEG-MXene@DDP@R837@SHDS (MDR@SHDS), we administered in situ injections of MDR@SHDS into tumor tissues combined with photothermal therapy (PTT). The immune adjuvant R837 enhances dendritic cell (DC) maturation and tumor cell phagocytosis, while PTT induces tumor cell apoptosis and necrosis by converting light energy into heat energy. Material characterization employed transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, phase transition temperature, and near-infrared thermography. In vitro experiments assessed Lewis cell proliferation and apoptosis using CCK-8, Edu, and TUNEL assays. In vivo experiments on C57 mouse Lewis transplant tumors evaluated the photothermal effect via near-infrared thermography and assessed DC maturation and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios using flow cytometry. The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of MDR@SHDS was confirmed by tumor growth curve recording and HE and TUNEL staining of tumor sections. The hydrogel exhibited excellent temperature sensitivity, controlled release properties, and high biocompatibility. In vitro experiments revealed that MDR@SHDS combined with PTT had a greater inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation compared to MDR@SHD alone. Combining local immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and PTT yielded superior anti-tumor effects than individual treatments. MDR@SHDS, with its simplicity, biocompatibility, and enhanced anti-tumor effects in combination with PTT, presents a promising therapeutic approach for lung cancer treatment, offering potential clinical utility.

Inhibitory effects of chlorophyll pigments on the bioaccessibility of β-carotene: Influence of chlorophyll structure and oil matrix

Chlorophylls and β-carotene are fat-soluble phytochemicals in daily diets, while their bioaccessibility interaction remains unknown. Eight dietary chlorophylls and their derivatives (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, pheophytin a, pheophytin b, chlorophyllide a, chlorophyllide b, pheophorbide a, pheophorbide b) were combined with β-carotene in six different oil matrices (corn oil, coconut oil, medium-chain triglycerides, peanut oil, olive oil and fish oil) and were subjected to in vitro digestion. Generally, chlorophylls significantly decreased β-carotene bioaccessibility by competitive incorporation into micelles. Dephytylated chlorophylls had a greater inhibitory effect on the micellarization and bioaccessibility of β-carotene compared to phytylated chlorophylls. In their co-digestion system, olive oil group exhibited the smallest particle size and biggest zeta potential in both digesta and micelles. For chlorophylls, the phytol group and their levels are key factors, which was also buttressed by the mice model where additional supplementation of pheophorbide a significantly hindered the accumulation of β-carotene and retinoids compounds.

Minimum wage and the survival of hotel industry: Evidence from China

The economic impacts of the minimum wage have been the focus of ongoing conflicting debates among policymakers and researchers. Taking a sample of 69694 firms established from 2011 and 2019 in the Chinese hotel sector, we analyzed the impact of minimum wage on firm survival and the moderating effect of the digital economy. Empirical evidences show that minimum wage has a positive impact on the survival risk of hotels, and the digital economy can negatively moderate the relationship between minimum wage and the survival risk of hotels. These findings are robust when tested with the hotel data of cross-provincial city pairs, other estimation models or longer observation periods. In addition, this study finds that the impact of the minimum wage and the moderating effect of the digital economy vary with hotel types. The rise of the minimum wage has brought greater operating pressure to formal hotel enterprises, and the digital economy has a greater inhibitory effect on the relationship between the rise of the minimum wage and the survival risk of hotel enterprises in informal hotel enterprises. The results indicate that informal hotels are less adversely affected by the increasing minimum wage and benefit more from the development of the digital economy.

The Cytotoxic Effect of Ciprofloxacin Laetrile Combination on Esophageal Cancer Cell Line.

aim of this study was to examine the synergistic effect between the antibacterial drug ciprofloxacin and the natural compound laetrile on esophageal cancer cells, specifically focusing on their combined cytotoxic effect. The combined cytotoxic effects of two alternative incubation durations (24 and 72 hours) were studied using an esophageal cancer cell line. Ciprofloxacin, laetrile, and their combinations were tested at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 micrograms/milliliter, to enhance the safety of the combination, the concentrations of the combination constituents were reduced by half compared to when they are used individually, the combination index was then calculated to estimate the components' possible synergistic effects. The results indicate that the combined cytotoxicity of ciprofloxacin and laetrile was greater than the cytotoxicity of either ciprofloxacin or laetrile alone, the combination cytotoxicity increased with higher concentrations and longer incubation periods, in other words, the cytotoxicity pattern of the combination was time-dependent (cell-cycle specific), and concentration dependent, (cell-cycle non-specific). The study found that the combination of ciprofloxacin and laetrile had a greater inhibitory effect on the growth of esophageal cancer cells compared to ciprofloxacin or laetrile alone. This suggests a synergistic effect between the components of the mixture, which can be attributed to a complementary mechanism between the ingredients in the combination.

Research on inhibitory effect of mixed suppressants CaCO3, KCl, and K2CO3 on coal dust explosion pressure

To discuss the inhibitory effect of micrometer scale coal dust explosion pressure, three types of explosion suppressants are selected for mixed explosion suppression. The results indicate that the coal dust explosion process includes three stages: accelerated and decelerated energy release, as well as energy dissipation. When using explosive suppressants, K2CO3 has the greatest inhibitory effect on coal dust explosion, followed by KCl, and CaCO3 has the smallest effect. The K2O, K2O2, and KOH generated by the thermal decomposition of K2CO3 can also block the heat transfer of coal dust, playing a good role in suppressing explosions. The explosion suppression effect of mixing CaCO3 and K2CO3 is better than that of mixing CaCO3 and KCl, and is worse than the explosion suppression effect of using K2CO3 alone. The synergistic effect of KCl and K2CO3 mixed explosion suppression makes the suppression effect better than using K2CO3 alone. This is because KCl generates K2O during pyrolysis, promoting the dynamic equilibrium of K2CO3 explosion suppression process. This makes mixed explosion suppression more worthy of attention and adoption when considering purchase costs.

Effect of pine bark extract and its phenolic compounds on selected pathogenic and probiotic bacterial strains.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a heterogeneous group of chronic diseases as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). IBD is the result of a dysregulation of intestinal homeostasis with a host's loss of tolerance toward normal enteric microflora. Plant-based extracts as phenolic compounds can play a role by modulating the intestinal inflammation response. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of French maritime pine bark extract (PBE) and its phenolic constituents has been investigated in this study. Furthermore, the ability of PBE and phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid and taxifolin) to modulate the microbiota has been assessed. Phenolic compounds and PBE showed a great inhibitory effect on the pathogens growth at the highest concentration assessed (1.25 mg/mL). The growth of E. sakazakii and E. faecalis were affected by the effect of caffeic acid and ferulic acid. Taxifolin showed a very strong activity against Listeria sp. (with a reduction ~98%). Gallic acid revealed antibacterial effect on S. aureus at different concentrations. The inhibitory effect of PBE was highly significant on the growth of E. coli O157:H7. PBE, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid seem to provide the greatest beneficial effect on the probiotic bacteria. However, the highest concentrations of taxifolin may have impaired the growth of beneficial microbiota. Present findings could be of interest for considering PBE and/or its phenolic constituents as protectors against gastrointestinal disturbances which lead to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Bee chitosan nanoparticles loaded with apitoxin as a novel approach to eradication of common human bacterial, fungal pathogens and treating cancer.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the largest medical challenges because of the rising frequency of opportunistic human microbial infections across the globe. This study aimed to extract chitosan from the exoskeletons of dead bees and load it with bee venom (commercially available as Apitoxin [Api]). Then, the ionotropic gelation method would be used to form nanoparticles that could be a novel drug-delivery system that might eradicate eight common human pathogens (i.e., two fungal and six bacteria strains). It might also be used to treat the human colon cancer cell line (Caco2 ATCC ATP-37) and human liver cancer cell line (HepG2ATCC HB-8065) cancer cell lines. The x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) properties, ζ-potentials, and surface appearances of the nanoparticles were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR and XRD validated that the Api was successfully encapsulated in the chitosan nanoparticles (ChB NPs). According to the TEM, the ChB NPs and the ChB NPs loaded with Apitoxin (Api@ChB NPs) had a spherical shape and uniform size distribution, with non-aggregation, for an average size of approximately 182 and 274 ± 3.8 nm, respectively, and their Zeta potential values were 37.8 ± 1.2 mV and - 10.9 mV, respectively. The Api@ChB NPs had the greatest inhibitory effect against all tested strains compared with the ChB NPs and Api alone. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the Api, ChB NPs, and Api@ChB NPs were evaluated against the offer mentioned colony forming units (CFU/mL), and their lowest MIC values were 30, 25, and 12.5 μg mL-1, respectively, against Enterococcus faecalis. Identifiable morphological features of apoptosis were observed by 3 T3 Phototox software after Api@ChB NPs had been used to treat the normal Vero ATCC CCL-81, Caco2 ATCC ATP-37, and HepG2 ATCC HB-8065 cancer cell lines for 24 h. The morphological changes were clear in a concentration-dependent manner, and the ability of the cells was 250 to 500 μg mL-1. These results revealed that Api@ChB NPs may be a promising natural nanotreatment for common human pathogens.

Evaluation of biological activity and prebiotic properties of proanthocyanidins with different degrees of polymerization through simulated digestion and in vitro fermentation by human fecal microbiota

The bioactive activity of proanthocyanidins (PAs) is closely associated with their degree of polymerization (DP), however, the effects of PAs with different DP on digestion and gut microbiota have remained unclear. To investigate this, we conducted in vitro simulated digestion and colonic fermentation studies on samples of PAs with different DP. The results showed that PAs was influenced by both protein precipitation and enzymolysis, resulting in a decrease in functional activity. PAs with a high DP were more sensitive to the gastrointestinal environment. The significant clustering trend in colonic fermentation verified the reliability of multivariate statistical techniques for screening samples with distinct functional differences. The gut microbiota analysis showed that oligomeric PAs had a stronger promoting effect on beneficial bacteria, while high polymeric PAs had a greater inhibitory effect on harmful bacteria. This study offers new insights into the biological activity and microbiological mechanisms of PAs with different DP.

Eudragit S100 coated nanodiamond-based nanoparticles as an oral chemo-photothermal delivery system for local treatment of colon cancer

Oral colonic nano-drug delivery system has received more and more attention in the treatment of colon cancer due to local precision treatment and reduction of drug system distribution. However, the complex and harsh gastrointestinal environment and the retention of nanoparticles in the colon limit its development. To this end, we designed Eudragit S100 (ES) coated nanoparticles (ES@PND-PEG-TPP/DOX). Polydopamine coated nanodiamond (PND) was modified with amino-functionalized polyethylene glycol (NH2-PEG-NH2) and triphenylphosphine (TPP) successively. Due to the high specific surface area of PND, it can efficiently load the model drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). In addition, PND also has high photothermal conversion efficiency, generating heat to kill cancer cells under near infrared (NIR) laser, realizing the combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (CT-PTT). TPP modification enhanced nanoparticle uptake by colon cancer cells and prolonged preparations retention time at the colon. ES shell protected the drug from being destroyed and prevented the nanoparticles from sticking to the small intestine. Ex vitro fluorescence imaging showed that TPP modification can enhance the residence time of nanoparticles in the colon. In vivo pharmacodynamics demonstrated that CT-PTT group has the greatest inhibitory effect on tumor growth, which means that the nanocarrier has potential clinical value in the in-situ treatment of colon cancer.

Vulnerability of Xylem Embolism in Maize Cultivars with Different Drought Tolerance under Water and Salt Stress

Water deficit and soil salinization are the primary abiotic stress factors hindering maize growth. To assess the effect of water and salt stress on xylem embolism in maize and investigate the relationship between drought resistance and xylem vulnerability, a greenhouse experiment was designed using two maize cultivars, Zhengdan 958 (drought-resistant) and Denghai 605 (drought-sensitive). Four treatments were included: control (CK), water deficit (WD), salt stress (SS), and combined water and salt stress (WS). Various hydraulic characteristic indicators, such as stem xylem water potential, leaf xylem water potential, the specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and percentage loss of conductivity (PLC), were analyzed. Specific hydraulic conductivity curves and vulnerability curves were constructed, and the hydraulic safety margin (HSM) of the xylem was determined based on stomatal conductance (Gs). The results indicated that the hydraulic conductivity and embolism resistance of maize xylem were not correlated. Compared to Denghai 605, Zhengdan 958 had lower maximum specific hydraulic conductivity Ksmax and P50 values (xylem water potential at 50% PLC) in all treatments, indicating lower water transport capacity but stronger resistance to embolism. Under single-cultivar conditions, salt stress had a greater inhibitory effect on Ksmax and HSM in maize xylem compared to water deficit; thus, more severe embolism was found under salt stress. Under different treatment conditions, Zhengdan 958 had a larger HSM than Denghai 605, showing a wider water transport safety range and overall superior water transport security. To summarize, water and salt stress inhibited the water transport efficiency of the xylem in maize stems, and stronger drought-resistant cultivars showed greater resistance to embolism and larger hydraulic safety margins.

Salvia mirzayanii and Salvia hypoleuca Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory, and Synergistic Effects of Selected Components

Background: Salvia is one of the most important genera belonging to the Lamiaceae family that has been used in various applications in folk medicine and the pharmaceutical and food industries. Objectives: This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Salvia mirzayanii Rech. f. and Esfand. and Salvia hypoleuca Benth. essential oils (EOs). Additionally, the enzyme inhibitory activity of the mixture of compounds was evaluated to find whether the synergistic effect is responsible for the desired activity or not. Methods: The constituents of S. mirzayanii and S. hypoleuca EOs collected from Fars and Alborz provinces, Iran, were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. They were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity by the determination of para-nitrophenol (pNP), derived from the enzymatic degradation of para-nitrophenol-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as the substrate. The activity of the selected components was also tested. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of EOs was evaluated based on the radical scavenging capability (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH]) assay, and their total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method in terms of gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Results: In total, 66 compounds were detected in the S. mirzayanii and S. hypoleuca EOs. The results showed that S. mirzayanii EO had more potent antioxidant activity (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 0.77 ± 0.00 mg/mL), higher TPC (78.26 ± 1.26 mg GAE/g EO), and a greater inhibitory effect toward α-glucosidase (IC50 = 55.15 ± 1.60 mg/mL) than S. hypoleuca EO. Furthermore, caryophyllene oxide (IC50 = 19.94 ± 0.26 mg/mL), α-pinene (IC50 = 17.59 ± 0.19 mg/mL), and linalool (IC50 = 38.00 ± 0.22 mg/mL) showed high levels of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity among the major constituents. In addition, the combination of linalool: 1,8-cineole: α-terpineol (40: 35: 25) inhibited this enzyme synergistically (combination index [CI] < 1). Conclusions: The findings indicated that S. mirzayanii EO had a high potential for developing efficient anti-type 2 diabetes agents.

Characterization, Synthesis, and Biological Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Produced via Green Synthesis Method Using Thymus Vulgaris Aqueous Extract.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been found to exhibit unique properties which show their potential to be used in various therapies. Green synthesis of AgNPs has been progressively gaining acceptance due to its cost-effectiveness and energy-efficient nature. In the current study, aqueous extract of Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) was used to synthesize the AgNPs using green synthesis techniques followed by checking the effectiveness and various biological activities of these AgNPs. At first, the plant samples were proceeded for extraction of aqueous extracts followed by chromatography studies to measure the phenolics and flavonoids. The synthesis and characterization of AgNPs were done using green synthesis techniques and were confirmed using Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), zeta potential, zeta sizer and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. After confirmation of synthesized AgNPs, various biological activities were checked. The chromatography analysis detected nine compounds accounting for 100% of the total amount of plant constituents. The FT-IR, UV-vis spectra, SEM, zeta potential, zeta sizer and XRD analysis confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs and the variety of chemical components present on the surface of synthesized AgNPs in the plant extract. The antioxidant activity of AgNPs showed 92% inhibition at the concentration of at 1000 µg/mL. A greater inhibitory effect in anti-diabetic analysis was observed with synthesized AgNPs as compared to the standard AgNPs. The hemolytic activity was low, but despite low concentrations of hemolysis activity, AgNPs proved not to be toxic or biocompatible. The anti-inflammatory activity of AgNPs was observed by in-vitro and in-vivo approaches in range at various concentrations, while maximum inhibition occurs at 1000 µg (77.31%). Our data showed that the potential biological activities of the bioactive constituents of T. vulgaris can be enhanced through green synthesis of AgNPs from T. vulgaris aqueous extracts. In addition, the current study depicted that AgNPs have good potential to cure different ailments as biogenic nano-medicine.

Biosynthesis of Staphylococcus aureus OS-silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial and protective effects on coated paper money

Introduction: Currency notes harbor and transmit infectious microorganisms if handled without proper care. Hence, in this study, silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from autochthonous S. aureus OS (S-AgNPs) isolated from Nigeria currency notes (Naira) were used to assess the antimicrobial activity of S-AgNPs against the pathogenic money microbiome and to determine their protective effect on coated currency notes. Methods: Naira notes (15) each, were randomly collected from poultry product sellers, food vendors, fish, sellers, and shopkeepers in Ondo City, Nigeria. A molecular tool was used for the identification of bacterial isolates using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences. Staphylococcus aureus-silver nanoparticles (S-AgNps) were characterized by UV‒visible spectroscopy. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the biosynthesized S-AgNPs against isolated microorganisms were determined using the agar well diffusion method. Results: A total of one hundred and twenty (120) S-AgNP-coated and non-coated papers were improvised as currency notes and randomly distributed among preinformed business owners. The highest bacterial count of 7.90 cfu/mL was recovered from Naira notes collected from food vendors. The highest fungal count of 4.70 cfu/mL on the Naira note was collected from poultry product sellers. S. aureus had the highest frequency of 29.60%. At 5.0 µg/mL, the S-AgNPs had the greatest inhibitory effects (17.30 mm) on Streptococcus pyogenes and Rhizopus stolonifer. The provided currency notes coated with the biosynthesized S-AgNPs showed no growth of microorganisms. Biosynthesized S-AgNPs showed pronounced antimicrobial potential against pathogenic microorganisms isolated from currency (Naira notes). Conclusion: AgNPs can be used as coating agents during currency production to minimize the spread of disease-causing pathogenic microorganisms.

Investigating the inhibition of catabolic enzymes for implications in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic health conditions characterized by their prolonged duration and non-infectious nature. These diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, are often influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, dietary, and lifestyle factors. Obesity, a major risk factor for both diabetes and CVDs, has been linked to excess consumption of carbohydrates and lipids. The enzymes α-amylase and lipase play key roles in the digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, respectively. We hypothesized that four different natural substances, ginger, Aloe vera, lemon, and mint leaves, could inhibit the activity of α-amylase and lipase as a potential strategy to mitigate the risk of developing NCDs associated with obesity, CVD, and diabetes. Experimental model as follows: four natural substances were prepared at different concentrations. Solutions containing the enzymes amylase and lipase mixed with their respective buffers, were also made. The polyphenol solutions were then tested for their ability to inhibit the activity of α-amylase and lipase enzymes on their respective substances. Absorbance measurements were taken, and the percentage of enzyme inhibition was calculated for each natural remedy solution at varying concentrations. Experimental data showed that Aloe vera was more effective at inhibiting α-amylase, while ginger had the greatest inhibitory effect on lipase. Data also suggested a higher concentration of these natural substances had a higher inhibitory effect on both α-amylase and lipase enzymes. This study provides insights into natural alternatives that could potentially aid in the management and prevention of NCDs by targeting key enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids.