Volume 72, Issue 3-4

Now days, production of fuels and petrochemicals from renewable lignocellulosic biomass is an indispensable issue to meet the growing energy demand. Meanwhile, the changes in the climate and soil topography influence the growth and development as well as canopy level of the lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, Zilla spinosa Turr (Zilla) plants with similar age and size were collected from three main sectors (upstream, midstream, and downstream) of Wadi Hagul during spring (April) and summer (July) seasons. Environmental stresses evoked reduction in the energy trapping pigments concomitant with increments in chlorophyll fluorescence in summer harvested plants particularly at downstream. Furthermore, the biofuels generating compounds including carbohydrate, lignin, and lipid making the plant biomasses are greatly affected by environmental conditions. Greater amount of lignin was estimated in summer harvested Z . spinosa shoots particularly at downstream. Moreover, the total oil content which is a promising source of biodiesel was considerably decreased during summer season particularly at downstream. The physical properties of the lipids major constituent fatty acid methyl esters determine the biofuel properties and contribute in the adaptation of plants against environmental stresses. Hence, the analysis of fatty acid profile showed significant modifications under combined drought and heat stress displayed in the summer season. The maximum increase in saturated fatty acid levels including tridecanoic acid (C13:0), pentadeanoic acid (C15:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), and stearic acid (C18:0) were estimated in spring harvested Z. spinosa aerial portions particularly at midstream. In spite of the reduction in the total oil content, a marked increase in the value of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio and thereby the unsaturation index were achieved during the dry summer period. Henceforth, these seasonal and spatial variations in fatty acids profiles may contribute in the acclimatization of Z. spinosa plants to soil water scarcity associated with heat stress experienced during summer. In addition, the alterations in the fatty acid profiles may match biofuel requirements. In conclusion, the most adequate growing season (spring) will be decisive for achieving high lipid productivity associated with improved biofuel quality in terms of high saturated fatty acids percentage that improves its cetane number. However, the dry summer season enhanced the accumulation of greater amount of lignin that may enhance the biodiesel quantity.

Aristolochia trilobata L. is an aromatic plant, popularly known as “mil-homens”, and its essential oil (EO) is generally used to treat colic, diarrhea and dysentery disorders. We evaluated the antinociceptive effect of A. trilobata stem EO and of its major compound, the (R)-(-)-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-yl acetate (sulcatyl acetate: SA), using acetic acid (0.85%)-induced writhing response and formalin-induced (20 μL of 1%) nociceptive behavior in mice. We also evaluated the EO and SA effect on motor coordination, using the rota-rod apparatus. EO (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) or SA (25 and 50 mg/kg) reduced nociceptive behavior in the writhing test ( p <0.001). EO (100 mg/kg) and SA (25 and 50 mg/kg) decreased the nociception on the first phase of the formalin test ( p <0.05). On the second phase, EO (25: p <0.01; 50: p <0.05 and 100 mg/kg: p <0.001) and SA (25 and 50 mg/kg; p <0.001) reduced the nociceptive response induced by formalin. EO and SA were not able to cause changes in the motor coordination of animals. Together, our results suggest that EO has an analgesic profile and SA seems to be one of the active compounds in this effect.

Two local hydrogen-evolving strains of purple nonsulfur bacteria have been isolated, characterized, and identified as Rhodopseudomonas sp. TUT (strains Rh1 and Rh2). Lactate followed by succinate and malate supported the highest amounts of H 2 production, growth (O.D.660 nm , proteins and bacteriochlorphyll contents), nitrogenase activity, and uptake hydrogenase; the least of which was acetate. Alginate-immobilized cells evolved higher hydrogen amounts than free cell counterparts. Rh1 was more productive than Rh2 at all circumstances. Lactate-dependent hydrogen evolution was more than twice that of acetate, due to ATP productivity (2/–1, respectively), which is limiting to the nitrogenase activity. The preference of lactate over other acids indicates the feasibility of using these two strains in hydrogen production from dairy wastewater.

Cordia boissieri A. DC. (Boraginaceae) is traditionally used as an herbal remedy for diabetes by Hispanic women in Southwestern USA. A recent investigation showed the significant protective effect of ethyl acetate extract against metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the corresponding active principles responsible for this effect and relations between their structure and biological actions remain unclear. Thus, ethyl acetate extract was subjected to column chromatography, which yielded seven compounds identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as rutin, hesperidin, kaempferol-3- O -β- d -glucopyranoside, rosmarinic acid, β-sitosterol-3- O -β- d -glucopyranoside, quercetin, and kaempferol. The isolated compounds (5 mg/kg/day) were tested in a fructose enriched-diet rat model using metformin as a standard drug. Blood samples were withdrawn for estimation of MS-associated biomarkers and liver samples were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The isolated compounds impaired most of the changes associated with MS as evidenced by improved insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, kidney function, lipid profiles and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation by different degrees. It is worth noting that quercetin and kaempferol showed the most potent effect. Structure-activity relationship study revealed that the presence of 2,3-double bond in ring C and ortho -hydroxylation in ring B increases the flavonoids activity while glycosylation or methylation decreased this activity.

3-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (DDPA) and l -ascorbic acid (vitamin C) show tyrosinase inhibition activity. A synergistic effect on tyrosinase inhibition was observed when the two compounds were mixed. The effect significantly decreased the IC 50 value of both compounds.

Various metal phthalocyanines have been studied for their capacity for photodynamic effects on viruses. Two newly synthesized water-soluble phthalocyanine Zn(II) complexes with different charges, cationic methylpyridyloxy-substituted Zn(II)- phthalocyanine (ZnPcMe) and anionic sulfophenoxy-substituted Zn(II)-phthalocyanine (ZnPcS), were used for photoinactivation of two DNA-containing enveloped viruses (herpes simplex virus type 1 and vaccinia virus), two RNA-containing enveloped viruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus and Newcastle disease virus) and two nude viruses (the enterovirus Coxsackie B1, a RNA-containing virus, and human adenovirus 5, a DNA virus). These two differently charged phthalocyanine complexes showed an identical marked virucidal effect against herpes simplex virus type 1, which was one and the same at an irradiation lasting 5 or 20 min (Δlog=3.0 and 4.0, respectively). Towards vaccinia virus this effect was lower, Δlog=1.8 under the effect of ZnPcMe and 2.0 for ZnPcS. Bovine viral diarrhea virus manifested a moderate sensitivity to ZnPcMe (Δlog=1.8) and a pronounced one to ZnPcS at 5- and 20-min irradiation (Δlog=5.8 and 5.3, respectively). The complexes were unable to inactivate Newcastle disease virus, Coxsackievirus B1 and human adenovirus type 5.

A new cytochalasin, named cytochalasin P 1 ( 1 ), together with four known analogs ( 2–5 ) was isolated from marine-derived fungus Xylaria sp. SOF11 from the South China Sea. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of MS and NMR ( 1 H, 13 C, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) data analyses. Compounds 1–5 were tested for their cytotoxicities against four tumor cell lines (SF-268, MCF-7, NCI-H460, and HepG-2). Compounds 1–5 showed significant cytotoxicity against two tumor cell lines MCF-7 and SF-268, with the IC 50 values varying between 0.33 and 4.17 μM.

A series of thiazepines and diazepines having 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety were synthesized, and they were analyzed for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against several bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus pyogenes , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and fungi ( Candida albicans , Aspergillus niger , and Aspergillus Clavatus ) and protozoa ( Entamoeba histolytica , Giardia lamblia , Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania mexicana ). Few of the selected compounds were tested for their antitubercular activity. However, it was noticed that the potency of final analogs against each strain placed reliance on the type of substituent present on aryl ring of oxadiazole as well as presence of thiophene, pyridine, and furan at benzothiazepines and benzodiazepines. The biological screening identified that some of the compounds were found to possess good antimicrobial and antitubercular (62.5–100 μg/mL of MIC) activity.

Caspase-1 is one of the effector caspases in mammals that plays a central role in apoptosis. However, the lepidopteran caspase-1, especially the Bombyx mori caspase-1 (Bm -caspase-1), has not been investigated in detail. In this study, Bm - caspase-1 was identified from an expressed sequence tag database in B. mori by BLAST search. The open reading frame of Bm-caspase-1 contained 879 nucleotides and encoded 293 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 33 kDa. Bm- caspase-1 contained two consensus amino acid motifs of caspase cleavage sites, DEGDA and TETDG. Caspase activity assays revealed significant proteolytic activity of the Ac-DEVD-pNA substrate. Bm - caspase-1 can be detected in all tissues and developmental stages by a semi quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. More importantly, the expression level of Bm - caspase-1 is increased upon baculovirus infection and up-regulated in BmNPV-resistant silkworms. Taken together, these results indicate that Bm -caspase-1 plays an important role during baculovirus infection.