Band 73, Heft 11-12

The aim of the current work was to explore the muscle relaxant effect of pistagremic acid (PA) isolated from Pistacia integerrima in various animal paradigms. In a rotarod test, PA caused a significant (p<0.05) muscle relaxant potential in a dose-dependent manner. When studied in the inclined plane test, pretreatment with PA (5 and 10 mg/kg) caused promising activity (p<0.05) after treatment for 30, 60 and 90 min. The muscle relaxant potential of PA was strongly complimented by the traction and chimney tests, showing a dominant effect after 60 min of treatment. In conclusion, PA possesses strong muscle relaxant activity in various animal-based models.

Structure-activity relationship studies on oleanolic acid ( 1 ) have resulted in facile syntheses of its new C-28 esters 2–7 by way of one-pot reaction of 1 with a variety of alkylating agents. Oleanolic acid and its new esters were studied for their in vitro antiproliferative effect on healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolated phytohemagglutinin activated T cells. Results showed that compounds 1 , 3 , and 5 exhibited significant inhibitory activity on T-cell proliferation. Compound 5 was found to be the most potent, with an IC 50 value of 4.249 μg/mL, among all tested compounds, and its activity could be attributed to the presence of bromine atom in the molecule.

Solanum tuberosum (potato) is the second most important vegetable crop in Egypt. It is locally consumed, manufactured or supplied for export to Europe and other Arab countries. Potato is subject to infection by a number of plant viruses, which affect its yield and quality. Potato virus Y (PVY), potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) were detected in major potato-growing areas surveyed. Multiplex-RT-PCR assay was used for the detection of these three viruses in one reaction using three specific primer pairs designed to amplify genomic parts of each virus (1594 bp for PLRV, 795 bp for AMV, 801 bp for PVY). All three viruses were detected in a single reaction mixture in naturally infected field-grown potatoes. Multiplex RT-PCR improved sensitivity necessary for the early detection of infection. Incidence of single, double, or triple infection has been recorded in some locations. Full-length sequencing has been performed for an Egyptian FER isolate of PLRV. Through phylogenetic analysis, it was shown to occupy the same clade with isolate JokerMV10 from Germany. Complete nucleotide sequence of an Egyptian FER isolate of AMV and phylogenetic analysis was also performed; we propose that it is a new distinct strain of AMV belonging to a new subgroup IIC. This is the first complete nucleotide sequence of an Egyptian isolate of AMV. Genetic biodiversity of devastating potato viruses necessitates continuous monitoring of new genetic variants of such viruses.

Nettle ( Urtica dioica L.), tansy ( Tanacetum vulgare L.), bladder campion ( Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, waterpepper ( Polygonum hydropiper L.), common centaury ( Centaurium erythraea Pers.) and rose hip fruit ( Rosa canina L. cv. Plovdiv 1) were used for preparation of different water extracts (infusion, decoction and microwave extract) and ethanol (tincture) extracts. Carotenoids (lutein, lycopene and β-carotene), tocopherols (α-, γ- and δ-), organic acids (ascorbic, malic, fumaric and citric), five macro- and three microelements, sugars and uronic acids content in the obtained extracts were analyzed. Among the investigated plants, stinging nettle, bladder campion and rose hip fruit were evaluated as most potential with respect to bioactive compounds and microelements. The results showed that the selected six medicinal plants and their extracts can be presented as sources of dietary fibers and micronutrients, which may encourage further application as food supplements and beverages as well as to motivate plant use as a dietary alternative in different foods. The present study is a first detailed analysis with respect to sugar content of decoction, infusion and tincture of S. vulgaris .

The endophytic fungus Mycosphaerella sp. (UFMGCB2032) was isolated from the healthy leaves of Eugenia bimarginata , a plant from the Brazilian savanna. Two novel usnic acid derivatives, mycousfuranine ( 1 ) and mycousnicdiol ( 2 ), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract, and their structure was elucidated by NMR and MS analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate antifungal activities against Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii , each with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 50.0 μg/mL and 250.0 μg/mL, respectively.

The Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) extract is used as a traditional herbal medicine in Southeast Asian countries such as Korea and China. In the present study, one phenolic acid and six flavonoids were isolated from an 80% ethanol RVS extract to examine their antimicrobial activities. These compounds were identified as 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone ( 1 ), methyl gallate ( 2 ), gallic acid ( 3 ), fusti ( 4 ), fisetin ( 5 ), butin ( 6 ), and sulfuretin ( 7 ) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of compounds 5 and 6 (at a dose of 16 μg/mL each) were superior to that of the control, cycloheximide (at a dose of 25 μg/mL), against Hypocrea nigricans ; additionally, the activities of compounds 1 and 2 (at a dose of 8 μg/mL each) were superior to the control against Penicillium oxalicum . Also, chemical compounds 1 and 5 (at a dose of 16 μg/mL each) had higher activities than the control (25 μg/mL) against Trichoderma virens . Chemical compound 1 (at a dose of 8 μg/mL) had a similar activity to that of the control against Bacillus subtilis . The obtained results suggest that the RVS extract could be a promising food and nutraceutical source because of the antimicrobial properties of its phenolic compounds.

A new series of Schiff bases containing benzіmidazole moiety 11–17 were synthesized by the reaction of 4-(1 H -benzо[ d ]іmіdazоl-2-yl)anіline ( 1 ) with different aromatic aldehydes ( 4–10 ) via conventional heating and microwave irradiation methods. The structures of the novel Schiff bases were characterized by using different spectral data. Also, metal complexes 18–21 of compound 13 were synthesized, and their structure was confirmed by spectral measurements (IR, NMR, UV), molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and thermo-gravimetric analysis. The novel synthesized ligand 13 and its complexes 18–21 were tested for their in vitro antitumor activities towards breast, liver and lung cancer cell lines. Also, the acute toxicity of the prepared compounds 13 and 18–21 was determined in vivo. The results showed that the newly synthesized compounds 13 and 18–21 exhibited a significant activity against cancer, especially for complex 21 , compared to standard drug doxorubicin. The molecular docking of complexes 20 and 21 has been also studied as Aurora kinase inhibitors.