Standard Compounds Research Articles

Chemical fingerprinting and multicomponent quantitative analysis for quality control of Cinnamomum tamala collected from Western Himalaya by HPLC-DAD

Cinnamomum tamala, commonly known as “Indian bay leaf” or “Tejpat”, is an economically important plant widely used in medicine, food and cosmetic industries. Growing demand for its leaf and bark in the herbal trade and non-availability of quality materials lead to large-scale species admixture and adulteration in the global market. The present study aims at developing a validated HPLC-DAD (High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection) method and multiple markers-based chemical fingerprints for quality evaluation of C. tamala leaf extracts. Five bioactive compounds, viz., coumarin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamyl acetate, were identified and quantified in 28 samples collected from the western Himalayan region of India. The chromatographic separation was achieved on Shimadzu Shimpak C18 column (dimension 250 × 4.6 mm, pore size 5 μm) with a gradient elution of mobile phase using acetonitrile and 0.1 percent phosphate buffer and the chromatograms were obtained at a wavelength of 265 nm. The method validation was done by analyzing the linearity, LOD, LOQ, precision, stability, repeatability and recovery rates of standard compounds for quantitative analysis. The values of coefficient of correlation (R2) were found to be close to 1 for linearity and similarity analysis; and standard deviation was less than 3 percent in case of precision, stability, repeatability and recovery rates. The content of target compounds such as coumarin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamyl acetate varied in the range of 0–1.09, 0–0.05, 0.07–0.51, 0.39–1.27 and 0–0.27 percent, respectively. In the chemical fingerprint of C. tamala leaves, a total of 13 peaks were assigned as common peaks. The results of the study indicated that the HPLC method now developed combining chemical fingerprint with quantification of analytes could serve as a useful tool for quality evaluation of herbal raw materials of C. tamala and a valuable reference for further study.

In Silico Prediction of New Inhibitors for Kirsten Rat Sarcoma G12D Cancer Drug Target Using Machine Learning-Based Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamic Simulation Approaches.

Single-point mutations in the Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) viral proto-oncogene are the most common cause of human cancer. In humans, oncogenic KRAS mutations are responsible for about 30% of lung, pancreatic, and colon cancers. One of the predominant mutant KRAS G12D variants is responsible for pancreatic cancer and is an attractive drug target. At the time of writing, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs are available for the KRAS G12D mutant. So, there is a need to develop an effective drug for KRAS G12D. The process of finding new drugs is expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, in silico drug designing methodologies are cost-effective and less time-consuming. Herein, we employed machine learning algorithms such as K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) for the identification of new inhibitors against the KRAS G12D mutant. A total of 82 hits were predicted as active against the KRAS G12D mutant. The active hits were docked into the active site of the KRAS G12D mutant. Furthermore, to evaluate the stability of the compounds with a good docking score, the top two complexes and the standard complex (MRTX-1133) were subjected to 200 ns MD simulation. The top two hits revealed high stability as compared to the standard compound. The binding energy of the top two hits was good as compared to the standard compound. Our identified hits have the potential to inhibit the KRAS G12D mutation and can help combat cancer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which machine-learning-based virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation were carried out for the identification of new promising inhibitors for the KRAS G12D mutant.

Bis-Mannich Base derivatives of Curcumin Pyrazole: Synthesis and its Anti-inflammatory Study In-vitro and In-Silico

A series of bis-Mannich base derivatives of curcumin pyrazole (CP) have been synthesized and investigated for the potential of its anti-inflammatory activity in-vitro and in-silico. The synthesis was performed by aminomethylation of CP obtained from the cyclization of the 1,3-diketone chain of curcumin with hydrazine hydrate. The potential as an anti-inflammatory was accessed by the protein denaturation inhibition technique, and an in-silico study was performed against cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 via molecular docking. All the compounds showed better protein denaturation inhibitory activity than diclofenac sodium, curcumin, and CP used as standard and comparable compounds. Compound 2a exhibited the best active compound. The docking study found that the binding energy to COX-2 of all the compounds was lower than that of COX-1. The selectivity score (S) indicated that the compounds were very selective against COX-2. So, all the compounds possess high potential as anti-inflammatory agents, and further study is necessary to identify these compounds' safety and activity in- vivo.

River-sourced Cladophora glomerata macroalgal biomass as a more sustainable and functional feed raw material for growing rabbits

Animal scientists actively seek strategies for ensuring the sustainable viability of animal ecosystems, with a focus on exploring alternative feed raw materials to reduce reliance on traditional ones. So, this study aims to analyse the impact of river-sourced Cladophora glomerata macroalgal biomass on the growth, slaughter performance, and physiological development of rabbits. Thirty weaned (52 days of age) Californian rabbits were assigned to three dietary treatments: standard compound diet (SCD), SCD enriched with 4% C. glomerata (CG4), and SCD enriched with 8% C. glomerata (CG8). Growth performance was recorded throughout the feeding trial, and at its conclusion (122 days of age), rabbits were euthanized, slaughtered, and subjected to intestinal analysis. Incorporation of CG diets showed no significant impact on body weight or average daily gain (p > 0.05); however, CG8 significantly lowered daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). The SCD resulted in a significantly higher lung percentage (p < 0.05), while CG diets had minimal effects on remaining slaughter performance traits. In duodenal content, CG-enriched diets increased acetic and propionic acid levels but reduced lactic (p < 0.05). Duodenal villus height remained stable, while in the ileum, CG4 inclusion resulted in a significantly higher villus (p < 0.05). Duodenal crypt depth increased with biomass supplementation; conversely, in the ileum, increased biomass led to decreased crypt depth (p < 0.05). In general, recent research suggests that adding C. glomerata to rabbit diets can be an effective alternative without adverse effects on growth, slaughter performance, or physiologial development.

Evaluation of lipophilicity and drug-likeness of donepezil-like compounds using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography.

Fourteen donepezil-like acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors from our library were analyzed using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography to assess their lipophilicity and blood-brain barrier permeability. Compounds possessed N-benzylpiperidine and N,N-diarylpiperazine moieties connected via a short carboxamide or amine linker. Retention parameters RM 0, b, and C0 were considered as the measures of lipophilicity. Besides, logD of the investigated compounds was determined chromatographically using standard compounds with known logPow and logD values at pH 11. Experimentally obtained lipophilicity parameters correlated well with in silico generated results, and the effect of the nature of the linker between two pharmacophores and substituents on the arylpiperazine part of the molecule was observed. As a result of drug-likeness analysis, both Lipinski's rule of five and Veber's rule parameters were determined, suggesting that examined compounds could be potential candidates for further drug development. Principal component analysis was performed to obtain an insight into a grouping of compounds based on calculated structural descriptors, experimentally obtained values of lipophilicity, and AChE inhibitory activity.

Production of Nano Beta-Glucans From Baking Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Its Comparison With Extracted Beta-Glucans

In this study, the valid bread yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for the purpose of the polysaccharide beta-glucan, and the diagnosis of lyophilization was confirmed, as the biological cell of the yeast was grown in SDA Agar medium and incubated at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius for 48 hours, and the sugar fermentation test was conducted and completed. Identifying its microscopic and cultural characteristics, diagnostic tests showed that it was Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Beta-glucan was extracted from yeast cells using the (acid-base) method. The extracted beta-glucan was diagnosed using Infrared rays (FT-IR) and (HPLC) technology. Comparing the results of the tests with the standard beta-glucan compound. The extracted beta-glucan was converted into a nanocomposite by (base - acid) method. The physical, chemical and functional properties of the nanocomposite were determined. The ability to bind water to the nanocomposite was (293%) and the ability to bind fat (254%). The average size of the nano-beta-glucan particles included in Soft cheese manufacturing using the Size Analyzer device reached 189.4 nm.Filed Emission Scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used to detect the surface of the extracted and prepared Nano beta-glucan compound, which reached, respectively. As for the (XRD), UV-Vis, Fourier spectrometer was determined. The inhibitory effectiveness of the extracted and Nano beta-glucan compound against pathogenic bacteria was estimated, while Gram-negative bacteria was inhibited as well, as it was for E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 23 and 21 mm, respectively, The results showed that there was no growth inhibition zone for lactic acid bacteria.

Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of n-Hexane, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol Extracts of Padina sp

Melanin is a color pigment in the skin, if produced in excess will cause browning of the skin. The formation of melanin (melanogenesis) is assisted by tyrosinase through two reactions, namely monophenolase and diphenolase. Melanogenesis can be reduced through the tyrosinase enzyme inhibition mechanism. Seaweed can be used as a tyrosinase inhibitor (brightening agent), such as Padina sp containing secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, and saponins. This study aimed to determine the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of Padina sp. The extraction method used was graded maceration with n-hexane (n-Hx), ethyl acetate (Et-OAc), and methanol (Me-OH) solvents, then carried out phytochemical screening, antioxidant test using the DPPH method, and tyrosinase inhibitory test by measuring the enzymatic reaction using L-tyrosine (monophenolase) and L-DOPA (diphenolase). Phytochemical analysis of extracts by GC-MS and in silico analysis by molecular docking were also carried out. The results showed that the total yield of the three extracts was 5.50%. The three extracts had moderate category of antioxidants. The IC50 values monophenolase of n-Hx, Et-OAc, Me-OH extracts, and Kojic acid were 937.68; 132, 92; 268.68; and 20.99μg/mL, respectively. The IC50 values diphenolase of n-Hx, Et-OAc, Me-OH extracts, and Kojic acid were 989.74; 178.33; 356, 87; and 31.76 μg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical of Et-OAc extract based on GC-MS data showed a variety of compounds that have been shown to have pharmacological effects. This data is supported by the results of molecular docking analysis, where compound Spiro(tetrahydrofuryl)2.1'(decalin), 5',5',8'a-trimethyl (1) is able to show a relatively low binding energy, namely -6.86 kcal/mol. The binding energy is even lower than the standard compound (Kojic acid) interaction which only has binding energy of -3.73 kcal/mol. Based on the study carried out, extract from Padina sp has the potential to be developed as a a skin brightening agent.

Mетаболічна та продуктивна дія удосконалених за складом БВМД у раціонах годівлі молодняка овець

The article presents the results of the study of productive and metabolic effect of the use of a protein-vitamin-mineral supplement (PVMS), an improved formulation, as part of the feeding rations of young repair ewes of the Ukrainian mountain-Carpathian breed in the conditions of the natural-climatic zone of the Carpathian foothills, by introducing into their composition local highly nutritious feed components. The research was carried out during a two month period (February – March) in the conditions of the Radvan-Nova farm (Myloshevychi village, Pustomytivskyi district, Lviv region) on young ewes of the above breed in the winter-spring stall period. For this purpose, three groups of 12-month-old young ewes of 10 heads in each group (control and two experimental) were formed by the method of analogues, which were kept separately with the provision of proper care and level of feeding. The feeding ration consisted of meadow grass-herbaceous hay (unlimited), oat-pea straw (unlimited) and compound feed. The calves of the control group received 0.4 kg of standard compound feed according to the recipe of the ITSR named after M. F. Ivanov "Askania-Nova", the young ewes of the first experimental group – the same amount of experimental compound feed, the young ewes of the second experimental group – 0.3 kg of a mixture of whole grains of oats, barley, corn and 0.1 kg of experimental PVMS. The conducted studies established that, in the conditions of the indicated climatic zone, feeding of 12-14-month-old young ewes with the rations of compound feed and PVMS including local feed ingredients in their composition, compared to standard analogues, provides an increase in indicators of weight and linear growth of animals, a decrease in monetary expenditure on increases in live weight, improves biochemical indicators of metabolism in the blood. It is also shown that the use of compound feed and PVMS of an improved recipe compared to standard feed, when growing repair young ewes of the Ukrainian mountain-Carpathian breed aged 12–14 months in the winter-stall period makes it possible to reduce monetary costs for obtaining 1 t of growth gain by 10–13%

The Syntheses of Chromium Aluminum Carbide (Cr2AlC) MAXPhase and Cr2CTx MXene and Investigation of Their Antimicrobial Properties.

Chromium aluminum carbide (Cr2AlC) MAX phase and Cr2CTx (MXene-Cr) were synthesized by the pressureless sintering method and hydrothermal method, respectively. In addition to this, the free radical scavenging activities (FRSA) of MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr compounds were tested and compared with ascorbic acid and trolox as standard compounds. The obtained FRSA results of MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr were 42.82 and 59.64%, respectively, at 100mg/L concentration. MXene-Cr showed a 66.90% inhibitory effect on α-amylase at 200mg/L. The DNA nuclease activity of compounds was determined to be extremely satisfactory at 50, 100, and 200mg/L concentrations. Moreover, the prepared MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr were investigated for antimicrobial activity against six bacterial and two fungal strains by the broth microdilution method. Compounds provided more significant inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. MAX-Cr phase and MXene-Cr almost completely inhibited microbial cell viability at a 25mg/L concentration. Additionally, MXene-Cr showed 89.86% and 87.01% antibiofilm activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, while the antibiofilm activity of the MAX-Cr phase was over 90%.

Prospective virtual screening combined with bio-molecular simulation enabled identification of new inhibitors for the KRAS drug target

Lung cancer is a disease with a high mortality rate and it is the number one cause of cancer death globally. Approximately 12–14% of non-small cell lung cancers are caused by mutations in KRASG12C. The KRASG12C is one of the most prevalent mutants in lung cancer patients. KRAS was first considered undruggable. The sotorasib and adagrasib are the recently approved drugs that selectively target KRASG12C, and offer new treatment approaches to enhance patient outcomes however drug resistance frequently arises. Drug development is a challenging, expensive, and time-consuming process. Recently, machine-learning-based virtual screening are used for the development of new drugs. In this study, we performed machine-learning-based virtual screening followed by molecular docking, all atoms molecular dynamics simulation, and binding energy calculations for the identifications of new inhibitors against the KRASG12C mutant. In this study, four machine learning models including, random forest, k-nearest neighbors, Gaussian naïve Bayes, and support vector machine were used. By using an external dataset and 5-fold cross-validation, the developed models were validated. Among all the models the performance of the random forest (RF) model was best on the train/test dataset and external dataset. The random forest model was further used for the virtual screening of the ZINC15 database, in-house database, Pakistani phytochemicals, and South African Natural Products database. A total of 100 ns MD simulation was performed for the four best docking score complexes as well as the standard compound in complex with KRASG12C. Furthermore, the top four hits revealed greater stability and greater binding affinities for KRASG12C compared to the standard drug. These new hits have the potential to inhibit KRASG12C and may help to prevent KRAS-associated lung cancer. All the datasets used in this study can be freely available at (https://github.com/Amar-Ajmal/Datasets-for-KRAS).

Development of silver nanoparticle-chitosan composite film for determination of total antioxidant capacity of some fruit juices and plant extracts

In this study, a silver nanoparticle-chitosan (AgNPCh) composite film was developed for the determination of antioxidant capacity of polyphenolic compounds. The optimum conditions of solid nanosensor based on chitosan-based polymeric membranes containing AgNPs such as content of the composite film, pH and incubation time were idendified. The sensor measurement is based on the fact that the addition of polyphenols to the sample solution increases the absorption of Ag(0) NPs, which exhibit a characteristic plasmon absorption band at a wavelength of 423 nm and the developed method exhibits a linear variation versus the concentrations standard polyphenolic compounds. The method was applied to the apple, peach, cherry, grape and pomegranate juices and rosemary, marjoram and sage plant extracts. This sensor may be an alternative to conventional spectroscopic methods to design portable, low-cost, simple and easy-to-use field analyses without the need for special equipment for the determination of antioxidant capacity of polyphenolic compounds.

Versatile ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange assay for high-throughput screening of lipoxygenase activity.

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) catalyze dioxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into fatty acid hydroperoxides (FAHPs), which can be further transformed into a number of value-added compounds. LOXs have garnered interest as biocatalysts for various industrial applications. Therefore, a high-throughput LOX activity assay is essential to evaluate their performance under different conditions. This study aimed to enhance the suitability of the ferrous-oxidized xylenol orange (FOX) assay for screening LOX activity across a wide pH range with different PUFAs. The narrow linear detection range of the standard FOX assay restricts its utility in screening LOX activity. To address this, the concentration of perchloric acid in the xylenol orange reagent was adjusted. The modified assay exhibited a fivefold expansion in the linear detection range for hydroperoxides and accommodated samples with pH values ranging from 3 to 10. The assay could quantify various hydroperoxide species, indicating its applicability in assessing LOX substrate preferences. Due to sensitivity to pH, buffer types, and hydroperoxide species, the assay required calibration using the respective standard compound diluted in the same buffer as the measured sample. The use of correction factors is suggested when financial constraints limit the use of FAHP standard compounds in routine LOX substrate preference analysis. FAHP quantification by the modified FOX assay aligned well with results obtained using the commonly used conjugated diene method, while offering a quicker and broader sample pH range assessment. Thus, the modified FOX assay can be used as a reliable high-throughput screening method for determining LOX activity. KEY POINTS: • Modifying perchloric acid level in FOX reagent expands its linear detection range • The modified FOX assay is applicable for screening LOX activity in a wide pH range • The modified FOX assay effectively assesses substrate specificity of LOX.

Composite descriptor based on contour and appearance for plant species identification

In this paper, we propose an effective composite descriptor combining contour and appearance features for plant species identification. The composite descriptor uses two different fusion schemes: the first is a method based on the fusion of low-level local contour and appearance features; that is, we use local triangle features and local speeded-up robust features (SURF) to describe leaf images, respectively. Then, we utilize the Hausdorff distance to measure the leaf discrepancy to complete the plant identification task. The second is a method of global feature fusion based on high-level shape and appearance features. Specifically, the Fisher vector encodes the local triangle, and SURF features into high-level shape and appearance features. Then, the Euclidean distance is used to compute the dissimilarity of leaves to realize plant leaf recognition. The composite descriptor based on these two fusion schemes can well describe the characteristics of leaf images and improve the ability to identify plant leaves. This composite descriptor is extensively tested on several standard plant databases, including simple, compound, and natural scene plant leaf datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that the composite descriptor achieves high recognition accuracy, outperforming existing state-of-the-art benchmarks. In addition, we further applied our method directly to shape recognition and achieved good recognition results, demonstrating the wide range of applications of our method.

Chalcone-based novel mono and bisthiocarbohydrazone: synthesis, crystal structure, antioxidant property and theoretical evaluation

This study describes the synthesis of novel chalconethiocarbohydrazones derived from 2′-hydroxychalcone and thiocarbohydrazide as potential drugs. The monothiocarbohydrazone (M1) and bisthiocarbohydrazone (M2) compounds were obtained by condensing thiocarbohydrazide with 2′-hydroxychalcone [1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)−3-phenyl-2-propen-1-one] at 1/1 and 1/2 mol ratios. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. The crystal structures of M1 and M2 were solved using single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The total antioxidant capacities of synthesized thiocarbohydrazones were determined by Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) method. It was investigated also the radical scavenging activities of these compounds with 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. When compared to standard compound Trolox, both of the compounds showed good antioxidant activity. For the new compounds, Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) computations were performed to compute important quantum chemical reactivity descriptors. The chemical reactivities of the studied chemical systems were compared via well-known electronic structure rules of CDFT. Experimentally determined antioxidant activities of the synthesized compounds were supported with Molecular Docking analyses.

Determination of bioactive components in different tomato lines: Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity

Tomato, one of the most produced vegetables in the world, is experiencing continuous global increase in both production and consumption. Fruit quality traits are important for fresh market tomatoes as well as for the processing industry. Despite the growing demand for both fresh and processed tomatoes, consumers are not satisfied with the quality of available fruits. The main objectives of the present work were to determine the physicochemical characteristics [pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acids (TTA), TSS/TTA ratio, DMC, lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, and total phenolic content], as well as the antioxidant activity of 13 different tomato lines, and to identify the most promising ones in terms of fruit taste and quality. Antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS and DPPH methods with Trolox used as the standard compound. PCA analysis was conducted to identify group patterns. The results of PCA analysis indicated a specific genotypic response in all investigated physicochemical traits. Genotypes 2, 10, and 13 were identified as the best for fresh consumption, as they exhibited the highest levels of compounds crucial for good taste, nutrition, and human health benefits. The most promising genotype related to fruit quality attributes was genotype 10 with the best TSS and TAA content and TSS/TAA ratio, which is important for overall taste perception. On the other hand, genotype 9 showed promise for industrial purposes due to its ideal pH value in the juice and good soluble solid content. High antioxidant activity was characteristic of genotypes 1 and 2, and their consumption as fresh tomatoes can be beneficial to human health. They also should be considered for further evaluation as potentially interesting genotypes for abiotic stress research and selection programs which can lead to the development of both superior fruit quality and stress tolerant genotypes.

In silico ADME and molecular simulation studies of pharmacological activities of phytoconstituents of Annona muricata (L.) Fruit

Annona muricata Lin is known for its ethnomedicinal uses as food, decoctions, or infusions to address various conditions like skin infections, fever, diabetes, insomnia, malaria, hypertension, nervous disorders, diarrhea, and cancer. The study aimed to analyze the phytochemicals such as acetogenins, alkaloids, cyclopeptides, and flavonoids, present in A. muricata fruit, evaluate their pharmacokinetics, and understand binding dynamics with key molecular targets relevant to human well-being. Results indicated a mix of high and low gastrointestinal absorption (GIA) among A. muricata phytochemicals, with some demonstrating blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Molecular target prediction highlighted frequent interactions with Programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4). Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed central connectivity of tyrosinase (TYR), Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase (TH), interleukin 2 (IL2), and others. Molecular docking results identified Luteolin 3´7-di-O-glucoside with the highest binding affinity for PDCD4 (-7.65 kcal.mol-1), followed by Annonaine (-7.294 kcal.mol-1); meanwhile, Dexamethasone (standard compound) exhibited a binding affinity of -6.682 kcal.mol-1. Molecular dynamic simulation indicated a stable binding energy ΔGbind (Total) for the Annonaine - PDCD4 complex (-11.240 kcal.mol-1) and Dexamethasone - PDCD4 complex (-18.909 kcal.mol-1). In conclusion, this study suggests potential anticancer properties of A. muricata based on modulation of PDCD4 protein, influencing the CDK/Akt/STAT3 pathway. Further in vivo investigations are necessary to validate these findings.

Anti-diabetic compounds from Uvaria dulcis Dunal

Medicinal plants have long been a source of lead compounds for drug discovery. Among these, the Annonaceae family has gained recognition for its potential to yield novel compounds, particularly those that can be used in the development of drugs targeting chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM). We employed various chromatographic methods to isolate bioactive compounds from the roots, leaves, and twigs of Uvaria dulcis Dunal. We used spectroscopic methods to determine the chemical structures of these compounds. We successfully identified twelve known compounds from various parts of U. dulcis: patchoulenon, polygochalcone, 2′3′-dihydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxydihydrochalcone, 2′,3′-dihydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone, chrysin, techochrysin, 8-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone, pinocembrin, 3-farnesylindole, onysilin, cinchonain la, and cinchonain lb. Interestingly, cinchonain la and cinchonain lb exhibited more potent anti-α-glucosidase activity than acarbose (standard drug), with IC50 values of 11.88 ± 1.41 μg/mL and 15.18 ± 1.19 μg/mL, respectively. Cinchonain la inhibited the DPP-IV enzyme, with IC50 value lower than the standard compound (diprotin A) at 81.78 ± 1.42 μg/mL. While 2′,3′-dihydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone show more potent inhibitory effect than standard drug with IC50 value of 8.62 ± 1.19 μg/mL. Additionally, at a concentration of 10 μg/mL, cinchonain lb and 2′,3′-dihydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone promoted glucose uptake in L6 myotubes cells to the same extent as 100 nM insulin. These findings suggest that cinchonain la, cinchonain lb, and 2′,3′-dihydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone are the U. dulcis-derived bioactive compounds that hold promise as potential structures to use in the development of anti-diabetic drugs.

Modified Asphalt with Graphene-Enhanced Polymeric Compound: A Case Study

In recent years, the increased use of heavy commercial vehicles with higher axle weights has required the development of innovative technologies to improve the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete conglomerates, such as fatigue resistance and rutting. This study offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of different types of asphalt concrete tested in four trial sections (S1, S2, S3, S4) of the SP3 Ardeatina rural road in Rome, under actual traffic and operational conditions. More precisely, the pavement technologies applied include modified asphalt concrete with graphene and recycled hard plastics for S1, asphalt concrete modified with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) for S2, asphalt concrete with a standard polymeric compound for S3, and traditional asphalt concrete for S4. The evaluation approach involved visual inspections in order to calculate the pavement condition index (PCI) and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests. In addition, back-calculation analyses were performed using ELMOD software to assess the mechanical properties. The laboratory tests revealed superior properties of M1 in terms of its resistance to permanent deformations (+13%, +15%, and +19.5% compared to M2, M3, and M4, respectively) and stiffness (10,758 MPa for M1 vs. 9259 MPa, 7643 MPa, and 7289 MPa for M2, M3, and M4, respectively). These findings were further corroborated by the PCI values (PCIS1 = 65; PCIS2 = 17; PCIS3 = 28; PCIS4 = 29) as well as the FWD test results after 5 years of investigation, which suggests greater durability and resistance than the other sections.

Isolation and identification of olive tree leaf phenols through a resin adsorption/desorption process

Agricultural by-products contain substantial amounts of phenolics with significant antioxidant properties. In this work, a method to recover high concentrations of phenolic substances from a typical agricultural by-product, such as olive tree leaves, was investigated. Phenolic compounds previously separated through extraction and fractionated on a membrane array: Ultrafiltration (UF)-Nanofiltration (NF)-Reverse Osmosis (RO), were examined, alongside standard compounds. More specifically, the NF concentrate fraction, which contained the low molecular weight organics (simple phenols, carbohydrates) was treated by sorption/desorption processes in a cylindrical column packed with XAD16 N resin. The aim of this study was to optimize the isolation and the enrichment of phenolic compounds through their selective adsorption on resin grains. Standard compounds such as gallic acid and glucose were tested to study the sorption and desorption kinetics of phenol and carbohydrate families and the sorption parameters were estimated using the Thomas model. The results showed that XAD16 N resin selectively adsorbed phenolic compounds over carbohydrates. This was evident by the adsorption capacity exhibited by the resin when treating the glucose and gallic acid solutions. Regarding the NF concentrate fraction of olive leaf phenols, after the adsorption step, the adsorbed hydrophilic carbohydrates were removed by desorption using pure water. Immediately afterwards, an alcohol/water mixture was introduced to recover and extract the phenolic compounds. To identify the distinct phenols, a thorough liquid chromatography study was performed on the sorption and desorption samples collected at the outlet of the packed column, identifying the different time frame each phenol left the system.

Chemical composition and biological properties of Thymus capitatus plants from Algerian high plains: A comparative and analytical study

Abstract The Lamiaceae family contains bioactive medicinal compounds mostly used as ornamental plants and traditional medicine, as well as in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. Common uses include treating high cholesterol, diabetes, respiratory diseases, heart disease, and food poisoning. These medicinal uses were linked to their components and numerous biological properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidants. The goal of this study was to investigate the phytochemicals and biological activities of the petroleum ether extract of Thymus capitatus plant from two different regions of eastern Algeria (Souk ahras and Guelma), as well as to extract volatile oils using a Clevenger device and then analyze by using GC-MS. The results revealed that the total amount of phenolic compounds was better in the phenolic extract of Souk Ahras (3.41 mg GAE g−1), while the amount of flavonoid compounds was higher in the region of Guelma (26.31 mg QE g−1). Following the quantification of phenolic compounds by HPLC, we observed that the phenolic extracts contained most of the standard compounds in variable proportions. Furthermore, we tested the antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds electrochemically with the cyclic voltammetry method. We concluded that the highest antioxidant content was recorded in the Guelma region extract (3.17 mg GAE g−1). We have also evaluated the antioxidant activity by a chemical method using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and the results showed that the Guelma extract exhibited a high effectiveness in terms of IC50% values. When extracting the volatile oils, it was found that the highest yield was in the Guelma region