Antioxidant Scavenging Activities Research Articles

UPLC-MS metabolite profiling and antioxidant activity of Sanghuangporus sanghuang extract.

The objective of the present study is to examine the total phenolic and flavonoid content of an ethanol extract of Sanghuangporus sanghuang and to evaluate its phytochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and capacity to protect DNA from damage. This pharmaceutical/food resource mushroom may serve as a novel substitute functional food for health-conscious consumers, given its promising source of phenolics and flavonoids. S. sanghuang ethanol extract (SEE) was evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, while UPLC-MS analysis was used for terpenoids, phenylpropanoid, flavonoids, steroidal, phenols identification, and function prediction. Antioxidant and anti-DNA damage activities were tested in vitro using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzotiazolin-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and DNA damage protection assay. Total phenolic content (TPC) in SEE was 385.38 ± 1.36 mg GA/g extract, while total flavonoid content (TFC) was 298.22 ± 2.38 mg QE/g extract. The extracts exhibited high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities with relatively stronger free radical scavenging activity. A total of 491 metabolites were investigated by Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Most of the top 20 compounds were predicted to have various functions like antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. This study highlighted S. sanghuang was a beneficial source of phenolics and flavonoids. It contains potential natural antioxidant that could be used as a lead contender in the development of antioxidant medicines for the treatment of a wide range of oxidative stress-related illnesses.

Determination Of Antioxidant Activity Of Some Fresh Green Leafy Vegetables Using DPPH Free Radical Assay

The purpose of this study was to investigate the free radical scavenging capacity of the most frequently consumed fresh green leafy vegetables in the Black Sea region (such as Brassica oleracea var. Acephala (cabbage), Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach) and Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane). Antioxidant capacity test was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazide (DPPH) free radical scavenging method using water extracts of fresh green leafy vegetables. For this purpose, methanol extracts of green leafy vegetables were prepared with 7 different concentrations of vitamin C (standard) prepared in the concentration range of 5-600 µg/ml. Inhibition rate (%) and EC50 values of DPPH radical scavenging activities corresponding to different concentrations of these extracts were calculated. In our study, EC50 values of P. oleracea, S. oleracea and B. oleracea water extracts were calculated as 2.124, 18.075 and 38.189 µg/ml, respectively. The EC50 values of Vitamin C (standard) were 1.955 µg/ml. When the extracts and standards were compared, P. oleracea showed the highest antioxidant scavenging activity. The results obtained show that the green leafy vegetables we consume in our daily diet have varying levels of antioxidant capacity.

High-efficiency production of plant-derived pigment dopaxanthin in Escherichia coli by combination engineering

BackgroundDopaxanthin is a natural pigment betaxanthins family member with the highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. However, its relatively low content in plants limited the wide range of applications. Cost-efficient microbial production, therefore, showed an attractive alternative.ResultsHere, an Escherichia coli strain equipped with the de novo biosynthetic pathway for hyperproducing dopaxanthin was constructed by combining metabolic engineering and protein engineering. Firstly, a high-performance rate-limiting levodopa 4,5-dioxygenase (DODA) was mined and characterized based on sequence similarity searching followed by whole-cell catalysis and de novo synthesis strategy. Then, the catalytic efficiency of DODA was increased 34 times with directed evolution. The mutated DODA significantly facilitated the production of dopaxanthin, with an increase of 40.17% in plasmid expression and 64.11% in genome expression, respectively. Finally, through connecting the blocked pathway from 3-dehydroshikimate to levodopa (l-DOPAOPA) and enhancing the expression level of DODA, a titer of dopaxanthin of 22.87 g/L was achieved from glucose as feedstock, which is 286 times higher than that in the previous report.ConclusionThis work not only established a promising platform for the environmentally friendly production of dopaxanthin but also laid a foundation for the commercialization of other betalain.

Development, optimization and comparison of solid-liquid and liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of four flavonols in Schinus molle L. using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with second-order data modeling.

Flavonoids are particularly interesting because they have a broad spectrum of biological effects, including antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. In this work, solid-liquid microextraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction enhanced by ultrasound were developed and compared with the conventional method (Soxhlet extraction) to optimize the extraction of four flavonoids: rutin, quercitrin, quercetin, and myricetin in samples of Schinus molle (Aguaribay). During the development of the analytical method, different chemometric tools were used to optimize the microextraction procedure. In addition, an analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and secondorder calibration using multivariate curve resolution-alternating least square (MCR-ALS) is presented to quantify the flavonoids with limits of quantification between 0.011 and 0.082µgmL-1. Finally, solid-liquid microextraction using 4.00mL water/ethanol (54.3:45.7%), 14s vortex, and 45min was selected as the most suitable method due to its high recovery rate and environmental friendliness (with a greenness score of 0.78). After the optimization step, the concentrations found in the plant samples were 1825.3, 632.6, 110.2, and 18.9µgg-1 for rutin, quercitrin, quercetin, and myricetin, respectively. The present work is the first achievement of simultaneously determining these four analytes with exceptional sensitivity, demonstrating lower LOQs compared to previous reports.

In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil: Effects on Mitochondrial Function and Cytotoxic Potential Against Cancer Cells.

The current study proposes the in vitro and in silico anticancer evaluation of clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) essential oil (CEO). The steam hydrodistillation method used yielded 10.7% (wt) CEO. GC-MS analysis revealed that the obtained oil is rich in eugenol (75%), β-caryophyllene (20%), and α- caryophyllene (2.8%) and also contains several other minor components accounting for approximately 1.5%. The DPPH-based scavenging antioxidant activity was assessed for the obtained CEO, exhibiting an IC50 value of 158 μg/mL. The cytotoxic effects of CEO, its major component eugenol, and CEO solubilized with Tween-20 and PEG-400 were tested against both noncancerous HaCaT cells and HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma, RPMI-7951 melanoma, A431 skin carcinoma, and NCI-H460 non-small lung cancer cells, using the Alamar Blue and LDH assay after 48 h treatment. The Tween-20 and PEG-400 CEO formulations, at 200 μg/mL, recorded the highest cytotoxic and selective effects against RPMI-7951 (72.75% and 71.56%), HT-29 (71.51% and 45.43%), and A431 cells (61.62% and 59.65%). Furthermore, CEO disrupted mitochondrial function and uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation. This effect was more potent for the CEO against the RPMI-7951 and HT-29 cells, whereas for the other two tested cell lines, a more potent inhibition of mitochondrial function was attributed to eugenol. The present study is the first to specifically investigate the effects of CEO and Tween-20 and PEG-400 CEO formulations on the mitochondrial function of RPMI-7951, HT-29, A431, and NCI-H460 cancer cell lines using high-resolution respirometry, providing novel insights into their impact on mitochondrial respiration and bioenergetics in cancer cells. The results obtained may explain the increased ROS production observed in cancer cell lines treated with eugenol and CEO. Molecular docking identified potential protein targets, related to the CEO anticancer activity, in the form of PI3Kα, where the highest active theoretical inhibitor was calamenene (-7.5 kcal/mol). Docking results also showed that calamenene was the overall most active theoretical inhibitor for all docked proteins and indicated a potential presence of synergistic effects among all CEO constituents.

Metagenomic analysis and bioactive profiling of kombucha fermentation: antioxidant, antibacterial activities, and molecular docking insights into gastric cancer therapeutics.

Kombucha is fermented and produced with a biofilm called a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, which is drunk all over the world for its beneficial effects on human health and energy levels. The metagenomic study of kombucha frequently detected microorganisms in proteobacteria, firmicutes, and actinobacteria. And also, yeast and fungi are Ascomycota and Basidiomycota is present in green leaf and sugarcane juice fermented kombucha. The kombucha extracts' biological activities were assessed using pH, total phenolic content, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activity. Fermentation may enhance biological activity and the generation of bioactive substances. These results showed the pH-3.1±0.2 and TPC -0.721μg/mL of gallic acid equivalent. The antioxidant radicals scavenging activity of kombucha was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, H2O2 and TAC. The bioactive chemicals identified by FT-IR and HR-LC/MS analysis of Kombucha totaled 45 components. The identified compounds were further move on to perform molecular docking study against gastric cancer target proteins 4H9M, 2DQ7 and 1TVO are binding with Nequinate compounds showing best LibDock scores 105.12, 114.49, and 108.97. So, this study suggests that knowledge can potentially active bioactive compounds are present in kombucha and it's stimulated the mechanism of gastrointestinal transit. Additionally, the metagenomic analysis gives strength to understand the bacterial and fungal distribution and its molecular mechanism from Kombucha.

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Hydro-distillated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino with Hydrogen Gas

Hydrogen-rich Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino distillate (HRGD) is made by distilling G. pentaphyllum Makino with hydrogen gas to produce the final product. The study evaluated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of HRGD, as well as its antioxidant properties, including scavenging activities for various radicals such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide radical (H2O2), nitric oxide radical (NO•) and 2,2´-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+), along with a ferrous ion chelating assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 42330 mg gallic acid and 36300 mg rutin equivalents/100 g, respectively. HRGD exhibited significant antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in vitro, which were dose-dependent and superior to those of standard antioxidants. HRGD exhibited higher scavenging activities for DPPH, O2-, H2O2, NO• and ABTS•+ radicals, as well as ferrous ion chelating activity than standard antioxidants (p < 0.05). The results showed that HRGD could be an economical and readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and a possible food and pharmaceutical supplement.

Discovering the inhibition of YAP/TEAD Hippo signaling pathway via new pyrazolone derivatives: synthesis, molecular docking and biological investigations

Heterocyclic compounds play a crucial role in the drug discovery process and development due to their significant presence and importance. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of new pyrazolone derivatives, prepared according to a clear-cut, uncomplicated procedure. The pyrazolone derivatives were thoroughly characterized using various methods, such as elemental analysis, NMR, and FT-IR. The molecular docking interactions between the new pyrazolone derivatives and YAP/TEAD target protein observed that compound 4 had the top-ranked binding energy towards YAP/TEAD with a value equal to − 9.670 kcal/mol and this theoretically proves its inhibitory efficacy against YAP/TEAD Hippo signaling pathway. Besides, compound 4 showed the best IC50 against HCT-116, HepG-2, and MCF-7 (in-vitro) with IC50 7.67 ± 0.5, 5.85 ± 0.4, and 6.97 ± 0.5 μM, respectively which confirmed our results towards suppressing YAP/TEAD protein (in-silico) compared with the IC50 of Sorafenib (SOR) reference chemotherapeutic drug 5.47 ± 0.3, 9.18 ± 0.6 and 7.26 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. Also, compound 4 showed no cytotoxic effects against human lung fibroblast normal cell line (WI-38) and its pharmacokinetics were elucidated theoretically using ADMET compared with SOR which observed highly toxic effects on normal cells with IC50 equal to 20.27 ± 0.45 μM. Additionally, compound 4 clarified a powerful antioxidant scavenging activity against DPPH free radicals (in-vitro). Conclusively, newly synthesized pyrazolone derivative 4 could be used as anticancer candidate via inhibiting the YAP/TEAD mediated Hippo signaling pathway.

Modulation of miR-205 expression using a Cheiranthus cheiri phyto-nano hybrid as a potential therapeutic agent against breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the fifth major cause of fatalities associated with cancer worldwide and in Pakistan, 34 066 female breast cancer cases were recorded in 2018. This study was designed to understand extracts of Cheiranthus cheiri (C. cheiri) and to evaluate the epigenetic modulation of microRNA expression for breast cancer therapy using a selected phyto-nanohybrid treatment. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of potential phytochemicals and antioxidant scavenging activity in the C. cheiri extracts with a DPPH (2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydroxyl) assay giving an IC50 value of 20.63 μg mL-1. GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy) analysis of the C. cheiri n-hexane extract detected 42 phytocompounds. Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry) to confirm the synthesis of anatase (tetragonal) TiO2. The prepared nanoparticles were conjugated with the selected plant i.e., C. cheiri. The resulting phyto-nanohybrid was used for the subsequent treatment of breast cancer induced in a female rat model. The treatment groups were as follows: doxorubicin as the standard treatment, C. cheiri, TiO2 and the phyto-nano hybrid treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment, the groups induced to exhibit breast cancer (with and without treatment) and the control groups were dissected and analysed for histopathological, haematological and microRNA expression. Histopathological examination revealed chronic inflammation in the dilated ducts and tumour embolus formation, thus confirming the presence of breast cancer in the DMBA-induced female rat model. MicroRNA expression analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in levels of miR-205 in the plasma of the breast cancer rat model compared to the control (p < 0.05). After treatment with the phyto-nano hybrid, a statistically significant increase in the expression of miR-205 was observed in the rat models induced to exhibit breast cancer compared to the rat model without any treatment (p < 0.05). The downregulation of miR-205 in the plasma of the breast cancer exhibiting model, as compared to the control, and its upregulation after treatment with the selected phyto-nano hybrid indicated its diagnostic and prognostic significance. It is concluded that the phyto-nano hybrid used in this study is effective against breast cancer induced female rat model. All the results support the finding that the selected phyto-nano hybrid has great potential as a possible therapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer.

ANTIOXIDANT, INHIBITION OF ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCT FORMATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM (SCENT LEAF) METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST Escherichia coli AND Bacillus SPP

The study investigates the antioxidant, inhibition of advanced glycation end-product formation and antimicrobial activities of methanolic leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum. GC-MS, qualitative, antioxidant scavenging and antiglycation activities of the extract of Ocimum gratissimum were determined using standard procedures. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using standard methods. The GC-MS analysis of Ocimum gratissimum leaf revealed the presence of 49 compounds with P –cymene been the most abundant. The phytochemical screening of the extract shows the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenolic, flavonoids, saponins etc. The in-vitro antioxidant assay of the extract was found to have ?-carotene, lycopene, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds, reducing power and DPPH scavenging activities. The extract showed significant inhibitory effects on the formation of compounds containing two carbonyl groups and Advanced Glycated End products formation with IC50 of 75.85 ±4.87 µg/mL. Agar well diffusion assay was characterized by inhibition zones of 21.0 ± 0.30, 19.66 ± 0.20, 33.78± 0.30 and 33.25 ± 0.40 mm for Escherichia coli and Bacillus spp respectively at 250 mg/ml for Ocimum gratissimum and 25 mg/ml for tetracycline solution. The MIC values for E.coli and Bacillus spp were 33.33, 66.67, 0.78 and 0.78 for both extract and tetracycline while their MBC values were 66.67, 133.00, 1.56 and 1.56 respectively. MBC/ MIC values showed that Ocimum gratissimum extract and tetracycline had bactericidal effects. These results indicated that Ocimum gratissimum possesses antioxidant, prevents glycation and has antimicrobial activities.

Biofabrication and Characterisation of Ni‐Doped SnO2 Nanoparticles With Enhanced Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Activities

ABSTRACTThe present work focuses on Annona muricata leaf extract–mediated green synthesis of pure and nickel‐doped tin oxide nanoparticles for 3%, 5% and 7% concentrations. The properties of the obtained nanoparticles were investigated through XRD, FTIR, XPS, HRTEM–SAED, SEM–EDX and UV–visible spectroscopy techniques. The XRD pattern reveals all samples have tetragonal structures with high crystallinity. The Sn–O stretching vibration has been confirmed through FTIR spectra. The XPS results demonstrate that Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticles have Sn3d, Ni2p and O1s oxidation states. EDX spectra contain Ni, Sn and O elements, which indicate the purity of the samples. UV–visible absorption spectrum shows decreases in optical energy bandgap with increases in nickel dopant concentration. The samples exhibit notable antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Also, Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticle has higher antifungal activity against A. niger than against C. albicans. Moreover, SnO2 nanoparticles have considerable antioxidant activity in DPPH scavenging compared to Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, SnO2 nanoparticles have a better cytotoxic effect for L929 normal fibroblast cell lines with an LD50 value of 146.42 μg/mL. Additionally, the photocatalytic activity of SnO2 and Sn0.93Ni0.07O2 nanoparticles was done against methylene blue dye under direct sunlight irradiation. Overall, environmentally friendly synthetic pure and Ni‐doped SnO2 nanoparticles can be used in wastewater filter technologies as well as in medical aids due to their better cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Root Extract of Blumea oxyodonta DC.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Root Extract of Blumea oxyodonta DC.

Novel synthesized seleno-glycoconjugates as cosmeceutical ingredients: Antioxidant activity and in vitro skin permeation

Following recent successful results in the search for innovative semi-synthetic cosmeceutical Se-glycoconjugates, the work reported herein explores the development and evaluation of second-generation selenosugar-linked hydroxycinnamic acids as new potential cosmeceutical ingredients. Utilizing a Pummerer-like rearrangement for C1-acetylation, these novel compounds were synthesized and characterized using NMR spectroscopy and HRMS, confirming their structures and purity. The biological evaluation focused on their radical scavenging preliminary screening, and cytotoxic and antioxidant activities in human immortalized keratinocytes, revealing significant potential for use in skin care formulations aimed at counteracting oxidative stress and promoting skin health. Cellular uptake studies conducted on HaCaT keratinocytes using UHPLC-QqTOF-MS metabolomics demonstrated effective internalization of these compounds, which is crucial for their efficacy as topical agents. Furthermore, percutaneous absorption tests using the Franz diffusion cell method and subsequent HPLC-DAD analysis provided insights into the compound skin permeation capabilities, a critical factor for their practical application in cosmeceuticals.

Impact of Drying on Phytonutritional Compounds, In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Spiny Saltbush (Rhagodia spinescens).

The Spiny saltbush (Rhagodia spinscens) is a halophyte species with the potential to provide natural ingredients used in food and pharmaceutical industries. In food and pharmaceutical applications, drying is necessary to maintain shelf-life, which reduces phytonutrient content. In this study, changes in the nutritional composition, phenolic and carotenoid profiles of radical antioxidant scavenging activity [(2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS)], antioxidant power [ferric reducing antioxidant ability assay (FRAP)], and cytotoxicity of freeze- and oven-dried (55 °C for 24 h) spiny saltbush were determined. Sodium (4.72 g/100 g dry weight (DW), potassium (6.86 g/100 g DW), calcium (4.06 g/100 g DW), zinc (372 mg/kg DW) and protein content were higher in oven-dried samples than freeze-dried samples. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis detected 18 metabolites in saltbush extracts. Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, and Variable Importance in Projection discriminated between freeze-dried and oven-dried samples. Freeze-dried samples retained more individual metabolites than oven-dried samples, while oven-dried samples had higher antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP), lutein, trans-β carotene, and cis-β-carotene. Correlation analysis identified potential antioxidant candidates between phenolic and carotenoid compounds. Neither freeze-dried nor oven-dried spiny saltbush samples showed cytotoxicity. The study uncovered changes in phytonutritional compounds after the oven and freeze-drying spiny saltbush, a potential salt alternative and functional ingredient for the food industry.

Immunity priming and biostimulation by airborne nonanal increase yield of field-grown common bean plants.

Stress-induced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that induce plant immunity bear potential for biocontrol. Here, we explore the potential of nonanal to enhance the seed yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under open field conditions that are realistic for smallholder farmers. Using plastic cups with a nonanal-containing lanolin paste as low-cost dispensers, we observed that exposure of Flor de Junio Marcela (FJM) plants over 48h to airborne nonanal was followed by a 3-fold higher expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes PR1 and PR4. Both genes further increased their expression in response to subsequent challenge with the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Therefore, we conclude that nonanal causes resistance gene priming. This effect was associated with ca. 2.5-fold lower infection rates and a 2-fold higher seed yield. Offspring of nonanal-exposed FJM plants exhibited a 10% higher emergence rate and a priming of PR1- and PR4-expression, which was associated with decreased infection by C. lindemuthianum and, ultimately, a ca. 3-fold increase in seed yield by anthracnose-infected offspring of nonanal-exposed plants. Seeds of nonanal-exposed and of challenged plants contained significantly more phenolic compounds (increase by ca 40%) and increased antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. Comparative studies including five widely used bean cultivars revealed 2-fold to 3-fold higher seed yield for nonanal-exposed plants. Finally, a cost-benefit analysis indicated a potential economic net profit of nonanal exposure for some, but not all cultivars. We consider nonanal as a promising candidate for an affordable tool that allows low-income smallholder farmers to increase the yield of an important staple-crop without using pesticides.

Flavonol-Ruthenium Complexes as Antioxidant and Anticancer Agents.

Flavonol-metal complexes can enhance the biological activity of flavonols. Inspired by the potential of ruthenium-based drugs in pharmaceutical applications, seven flavonol-Ru (II) complexes were synthesized to evaluate their biological activities. Among these compounds, compounds 8, 11, and 12 showed potent antioxidant activities. Compound 12 exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activity to natural quercetin, which served as a positive control. This study is the first to report the free radical scavenging abilities and antioxidant activity of flavonol-Ru (II) complexes. Furthermore, compound 12 demonstrated comparable efficacy to 5-FU against human non-small-cell lung cancer cells (A549). These results strongly support the potential of flavonol-Ru (II) agents.

Green-synthesis of silver nanoparticles AgNPs from Podocarpus macrophyllus for targeting GBM and LGG brain cancers via NOTCH2 gene interactions

Brain tumors, particularly Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and Low-Grade Gliomas (LGG), present significant clinical challenges due to their aggressive nature and resistance to conventional treatments. Traditional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are often limited in efficacy, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Nanotechnology, particularly the use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), offers a targeted and potentially more effective approach. This study focuses on the green synthesis of Ag NPs using Podocarpus macrophyllus leaf extract as a reducing agent. The synthesized Ag NPs were characterized for their physicochemical properties, demonstrating a controlled particle size of 13 nm as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups, and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy revealed that silver constituted approximately 90% of the nanoparticle composition. The Ag NPs exhibited promising biological activity, including 90% free radical scavenging (antioxidant) activity, 99.15% inhibition of protein denaturation (anti-inflammatory activity), and 90.56% inhibition of alpha-amylase (anti-diabetic activity). Additionally, the nanoparticles displayed significant anti-hemolytic (89.9% inhibition) and antimicrobial activities, with a 20 mm inhibition zone against Staphylococcus species. Computational analyses further indicated that the NOTCH2 gene, which is upregulated in LGG and GBM, may interact with Ag NPs, suggesting their potential in brain cancer therapy. The green synthesis approach offers a sustainable and bioactive method for producing Ag NPs, underscoring their therapeutic promise for treating GBM and LGG.

Up-regulation of nitrogen metabolism and chlorophyll biosynthesis by hydrogen sulfide improved photosystem photochemistry and gas exchange in chromium-contaminated bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is considered as plant growth promoter under heavy metal stress, though its specific effects on photosynthesis are rarely explored. This study investigates the protective effects of exogenous H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on chlorophyll metabolism and photosystem II (PSII) function in 24-day-old bean plants exposed to 10 μM chromium (Cr) stress. Sodium hydrosulfide (100 μM) reduced Cr accumulation in both roots and leaves, leading to restored plant growth. Concomitantly, H₂S mitigated Cr-induced oxidative damages by decreasing reactive oxygen species levels and further enhancing antioxidant scavenging activities. This resulted in significant reductions in Cr-elevated leaf pheophytin and chlorophyllide levels by 59% and 67%, respectively. Furthermore, NaHS application increased levels of porphyrin and its precursor, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), in Cr-stressed bean. The up-regulation in chlorophyll biosynthesis was associated with enhanced activities of glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase, essential for glutamate (precursor of 5-ALA) production, as well as nitrate and nitrite reductase, leading to increased nitric oxide generation. Under Cr stress, H₂S significantly improved the electron transport rate, effective quantum yield of PSII, and photochemical quenching by 112%, 53%, and 38%, respectively, while reducing non-photochemical quenching by 50%. Furthermore, H₂S promoted net CO₂ assimilation and photosynthesis at saturating light, respectively, while reducing stomatal conductance and transpiration to maintain water balance. Exogenous H₂S restored respiration, as indicated by increased light saturation and compensation points in Cr-treated plants. Overall, these findings indicate that H₂S regulates photosynthesis in Cr-stressed bean by modulating nitrogen and chlorophyll metabolism, thereby optimizing PSII efficiency and gas exchange.

Green synthesis, molecular docking and in vitro biological evaluation of novel hydrazones, pyrazoles, 1,2,4-triazoles and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Ultrasonic waves were used for synthesis of novel hydrazones, bishydrazones, pyrazoles, 1,2,4-triazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole. The structural formulae of the synthesized compounds were elucidated in terms of elemental and spectroscopic analyses. All synthesized compounds were estimated by testing total antioxidant capacity, iron‐reducing power, the scavenging activity against ABTS and DPPH radicals in addition to testing anti‐diabetic, anti‐Alzheimer and anti‐arthritic activities. All compounds displayed good to potent bioactivity. Compounds 6, 10 exhibit the highest antioxidant and free radicals scavenging activities. Furthermore, compounds 6, 10 demonstrate the strongest inhibition of α‐amylase and α-glucosidase. Compound 12 exhibit strongest acetylcholinesterase inhibition among prepared compounds. However, compounds 18a,b, 19 show a significantly higher inhibition percentage for protein denaturation and proteinase. The most bioactive prepared compounds 6, 10 and 12 were investigated toward docking methodology against appropriate protein.

Bioactive Lipids in Dunaliella salina: Implications for Functional Foods and Health.

Dunaliella salina is a green microalga extensively explored for β-carotene production, while knowledge of its lipid composition is still limited and poorly investigated. Among lipids, polar lipids have been highlighted as bioactive phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. This research aimed to provide an in-depth lipidome profiling of D. salina using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The lipid content was 6.8%, including phospholipids, glycolipids, betaine lipids, sphingolipids, triglycerides, diglycerides, and pigments. Among the total esterified fatty acids, 13.6% were 18:3 omega-3 and 14.7% were 18:1 omega-9. The lipid extract of D. salina showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 activity at 100 µg/mL, dose-dependent antioxidant scavenging activity, and antidiabetic activity by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity at 25 and 125 µg/mL. In conclusion, the lipid extract of D. salina has the potential to be used as a functional food ingredient or in the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries.