Volume 79, Issue 11-12

Bimetallic nanoparticles, particularly Ag/Zn bimetallic nanoparticles, have gained increasing attention due to their unique properties, making them suitable for a variety of applications such as catalysis, water treatment, and environmental remediation. This study aimed to elucidate the use of bimetallic nanoparticles of Ag/Zn as an alternative to resistant pesticides for pest control. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that BNPs can target specific pollutants and degrade them through various mechanisms. BNP docking with the Nilaparvata lugens cytochrome P450 (CYP6ER1) protein exhibited the lowest binding energy of −7.5 kcal/mol. The cell permeability analysis of BNP in plant cells reveals that the BNP has 0 % permeability towards any cell at −10 kcal/mol energy, which is the lowest free energy translocation pathway. The harmful leftover residues of the pesticides have a higher chance of degradability in case of interaction with BNP validated by chemical–chemical interaction analysis. Additionally, MDCK permeability coefficient of small molecules based on the regression model was calculated for BNP which authenticated the efficiency of BNP. Moreover, Swiss ADMET simulated absorption using a boiled egg model with no blood–brain barrier and gastrointestinal crossing for the expected BNP molecule has been observed. Significantly, the findings indicate that employing bimetallic nanoparticles like Ag/Zn is a crucial strategy for bioremediation because they proficiently decompose pesticides while posing no risk to humans. Our results will facilitate the design of novel BNPs materials for environmental remediation and pest control ensuring human health safety that are predicated on bimetallic nanoparticles.

Benzene sulfonamides are an important biological substituent for several activities. In this study, hybridization of benzene sulfonamide with piperazine derivatives were investigated for their antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory potencies. Six molecules were synthesized and characterized. DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, chelating and phosphomolybdemum assays were applied to evaluate antioxidant capacities. Results show that compounds have high antioxidant capacity and compound 4 has the best antioxidant activity among them. Compound 4 has higher antioxidant activity than references for FRAP (IC 50 : 0.08 mM), CUPRAC (IC 50 : 0.21 mM) and phosphomolybdenum (IC 50 : 0.22 mM) assays. Besides this, compound 4 has moderate DPPH and ABTS antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, enzyme inhibition activities of these molecules were investigated against AChE, BChE, tyrosinase, α -amylase and α -glucosidase enzymes. It was revealed that all compounds have good enzyme inhibitory potential except for α -amylase enzyme. The best inhibitory activities were observed for AChE with compound 5 the same value (IC 50 : 1.003 mM), for BChE with compounds 2 and 5 the same value (IC 50 : 1.008 mM), for tyrosinase compound 4 (IC 50 : 1.19 mM), and for α -glucosidase with compound 3 (IC 50 : 1.000 mM). Docking studies have been conducted with these molecules, and the results correlate well with the inhibitory assays.

Owing to its high interest as prolific source of diverse bioactive compounds referred in our previous research work, we have scaled-up the fermentation of the marine Aspergillus terreus LGO13 on a liquid culture medium to isolate and identify the very minor/further promising bioactive secondary metabolites and to study their antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antiviral properties. Twenty-three known bioactive metabolites, including the recently discovered microbial natural product N -benzoyl-tryptophan ( 1 ), were obtained herein. Their structures were determined using HR-ESI-MS 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy and data from the literature. The biological properties of the microbial extract and the resulting compounds were examined using a set of microorganisms, cervix carcinoma KB-3-1, nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), respectively. Molecular docking (MD) simulations were used to investigate the potential targets of the separated metabolites as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. According to the current study, a viral protein that may be the target of anticovid drugs is a papain-like protease (PLpro), and chaetominine ( 2 ) appears to be a viable choice against this protein. We evaluated the antiviral efficacy of chaetominine ( 2 ), fumitremorgin C ( 6 ), and azaspirofuran A ( 9 ) against SARS-CoV-2 based on MD data. Chaetominine ( 2 ) and azaspirofuran A ( 9 ) displayed intermediate selectivity indices (SI = 6.6 and 3.2, respectively), while fumitremorgin C ( 6 ) displayed a high selectivity index (SI = 19.77). These findings show that fumitremorgin C has promising antiviral action against SARS-CoV-2.

Chemical investigation of the fungal endophyte Xylaria sp. isolated from leaves of Moringa oleifera , collected in Cameroon, resulted in the previously undescribed 10-membered macrolide, and two known natural products. The structures of the xylatolides A and B were unambiguously identified by their mass spectra and by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, featuring a 10-membered lactone core structure with oxygenated substituents and an unsubstituted 10-alkyl chain presenting seven carbon atoms. Compounds were screened for their cytotoxic potential against the human HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and HCT-116 cells (human colon carcinoma cell line). Moreover, the isolated compounds were also assayed against a small panel of sensitive strains including the bacterial species Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as against the fungal species Candida albicans . However, no significant activities were found.

A new compound, combrebisbibenzyl ( 1 ) as well as two sterols including stigmasterol ( 2 ) and 3- O - β -D-glucopyranoside of β -sitosterol ( 3 ) and seven triterpenoids namely mollic acid ( 4 ), oleanolic acid ( 5 ), ursolic acid ( 6 ), arjunglucoside I ( 7) , arjungenin ( 8 ), bellericagenin B ( 9 ) and combregenin ( 10 ) were isolated from the root of Combretum molle . Compounds 1 , 7 and 9, AcOEt and MeOH extracts exhibited moderate antioxidant activity with an IC 50 value of 179.32, 185.21, 195.11 197.41 and 170.21 μg/mL, respectively, for reactive oxygen species inhibition and, inhibition percent value of 57.23, 64.52, 53.55, 67.42 and 65.04, respectively, for DPPH free-radical scavenging. The E. MeOH presented a moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with DIZs value of 10.1 ± 0.2 from 800 μg/mL while the others tested strains were not sensitive. However, most of the tested bacteria, ( S. aureus , Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium ) were moderately sensitive to E. AcOEt from 800 μg/mL with DIZs value of 8.2 ± 0.1. From the E. AcOEt, five of the isolated compounds were tested against four bacteria strains using the disc-dilusion method. The results showed that compound 1 and 2 exhibited very good antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria at the concentration of 30 μg/mL with respective DIZ value of 22.2 and 25.4 for E. coli , 20.2 and 30.2 for S. typhimurium , 22.3 and 23.1 for S. aureus and, 22.1 and 24.1 for Streptococcus faecalis . This antibacterial activity significantly depends on the concentration.

In the present study, encapsulated strain Lactiplantibacillus rhamnosus NCDC 347 was used to prepare a novel whey protein–based beverage. The encapsulation process utilized skimmed milk powder matrix and evaluated strain viability, physico-chemical properties, sensory assessment, and shelf-life stability. Encapsulated L. rhamnosus NCDC 347 within skim milk powder maintained viability at 8.0 log CFU/g, forming spherical microcapsules with 1–12 µm concavities. Probiotic addition to whey protein beverages maintained pH and acidity within desired ranges. Physico-chemical analysis showed protein content of 8.71 ± 0.21 % to 10.05 ± 0.42 %, fat content of 0.56 ± 0.24 % to 0.67 ± 0.13 %, viscosity of 5.14 pa/s, and total soluble solids (TSS) of 14.42 ± 0.31 to 16.16 ± 0.23° Brix. The shelf-life study revealed that the beverage remained stable for up to 90 days with no significant changes ( p  > 0.05) in sensory analysis. The sensory analysis scored the test sample’s acceptability at 7.3 ± 0.41. The protein-rich probiotic drink exhibited favorable sensory qualities. Overall, incorporating encapsulated probiotic strain L. rhamnosus NCDC 347 into whey protein beverages could address daily protein requirements and enhance health.

This study was to compare glutaminase and Na + , K + -ATPase inhibitory activities of 20 herbal extracts and investigate the isolation, structural elucidation and those inhibitory activities of three triterpenes from the selected extract of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Three triterpenes, ursolic acid ( 1 ), robustanic acid ( 2 ) and ursolic acid lactone ( 3 ), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC 50 values of 1 – 3 and the control compound against glutaminase, 6-diazo-5-oxo- l -norleucine (DON), were 443 μM, 334 μM, 963 μM and 134 μM, respectively. The IC 50 values of 1 , 2 and the control compound against Na + , K + -ATPase and ouabain, were 180 μM, 56 μM and 0.5 μM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 may serve as potential lead compounds for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative and lifestyle-related diseases by targeting glutaminase and Na + , K + -ATPase. This is the first report on glutaminase and Na + , K + -ATPase inhibitory activities of 2.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disease that is characterized by low bone mass and increased fracture risk. This article explores the potential of probiotics as an adjunctive approach for the prevention and management of OP. It has been well established that the gut microbiota (GM), a complex community of microbes, plays an important role in bone health. The gut dysbiosis is linked with a higher risk of OP. However, the consumption of probiotics in adequate amounts restores gut health thus improving bone health. Probiotics may influence bone metabolism through enhanced calcium absorption, reduced inflammation, and increased bone formation. The animal and human studies demonstrate the positive effects of probiotics on bone health parameters like reduced osteoclastogenesis, bone resorption markers, osteoblast, osteocyte apoptosis, and increased bone mineral density and expression of osteoprotegerin. The current evidence suggests that probiotics can be used as an adjunctive approach along with the existing therapies for the prevention and management of OP.