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The investigations were made on Moringa oleifera, a miraculous plant having an excellent nutritive and pharmaceutical importance, under saline and drought conditions. The effect of salt stress on morphological parameters under 200 mM NaCl concentrations including height of plant, number of leaves, root length along with their biomass were examined with the interval of 30 and 60 days, which significantly resulted in a decreased height of plant, number of leaves and their biomass. Hence, growing Moringa oleifera under highly saline conditions may not be recommended but it can be grown under moderate saline conditions. Growth, total biomass and physical parameters of the investigated plant were also analyzed under drought conditions. Treatment set was irrigated with 20% less than the total field capacity while control was irrigated with 100% according to total field capacity. Some growth parameters were measured after 30 and 60 days including stem height, number of leaves, root length and fresh and dry weights of stem, root and leaves. Drought stress surprisingly gave good results after 60 days of an increased tolerance with growing age, hence it showed that. It is a potential plant species to be planted in arid and semi-arid areas because of its drought loving nature.

Rahim H, Sadiq A, Ullah R, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2020;15:8999–9009. We, the Editors and Publisher of International Journal of Nanomedicine, have retracted the following article. Following publication of the article, concerns were raised regarding the duplication of an image from Figure 3 with an image from an unrelated article. Specifically, The TEM image for Figure 3B has been duplicated with the TEM image for Figure 3B from Rahim H, Sadiq A, Khan S, et al. Aceclofenac nanocrystals with enhanced in vitro, in vivo performance: formulation optimization, characterization, analgesic and acute toxicity studies. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2017;11:2443–2452. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S140626. In addition, it also appears that features of the image presented in Figure 3B were not part of the original image. The authors did respond to our queries but were unable to provide a sufficient explanation for the duplicated images or provide the original TEM images for the study. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, we are therefore retracting the article and the authors do not agree with this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as ‘Retracted’.

Dawood Shah,1 Arshad Iqbal,1 Fahad S Alshehri,2 Aman Ullah,3 Gowhar Ali,4 Tahir Muhammad,5,6 Rahim Ullah,4,7 Robert D E Sewell,8 Yusuf S Althobaiti9,10 1Department of Botany, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 3College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 4Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 5Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; 6Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 7Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Life Sciences, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 8Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK; 9Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia; 10Addiction and Neuroscience Research Unit, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Gowhar Ali, Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan, Tel +92-919216750, Fax +92-91921813, Email gowhar_ali@uop.edu.pk; gohar.pharmacist@gmail.com Yusuf S Althobaiti, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia, Email ys.althobaiti@tu.edu.saBackground: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is more prevalent in the elderly. There is extensive literature on using Acacia species against central nervous system disorders, although Acacia stenophylla has not been investigated for any neuroprotective potential. The purpose of the study was to elucidate the ameliorative effect of ethyl acetate (ASEE) and butanol (ASB) extracts from the bark of A. stenophylla on memory deficits and cognitive dysfunction in scopolamine- or diazepam-induced amnesia in mice.Methods: The phytochemical constituents of the extracts of A. stenophylla were determined by GC-MS and the in vitro anticholinesterase plus antioxidant activities were also evaluated. Anti-amnesic effects were determined employing the open field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM), and Y-maze paradigms.Results: The in vitro cholinesterase assays disclosed a concentration-dependent inhibition of both AChE and BuChE with IC50 values of 28.48 and 44.86 μg/mL for the ASEE extract and 32.04 and 50.26 μg/mL for the ASB extract against AChE and BuChE respectively. DPPH and H2O2 antioxidant assays revealed respective IC50 values for the ASEE extract of 28.04 and 59.84 μg/mL, plus 32.77 and 64.65 μg/mL for ASB extract. The findings revealed that both extracts possessed substantial antioxidant properties. Furthermore, these fractions restored scopolamine- and diazepam-induced memory deficits in a dose-dependent manner, as observed by a significant decrease in the transfer latency in EPM, reduction in escape latency, added time spent in the target quadrant in the MWM, and elevated spontaneous alternation behavior (SAB) in the Y-maze test.Conclusion: The ameliorative effect of A. stenophylla on scopolamine- and diazepam-induced amnesia can be attributed to antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity. Consequently, the use of A. stenophylla might be exploited in the alleviation of oxidative stress and the management of AD.Keywords: Acacia stenophylla, amnesia, oxidative stress, cognitive deficits, acetylcholinesterase

Imran Saeed,1 Jawad Khan,2 Muhammad Zada,3 Rezwan Ullah,4 Alejandro Vega-Muñoz,5 Nicolás Contreras-Barraza6 1IBMS, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 2Department of Business Administration, Iqra National University, Peshawar, Pakistan; 3Business School Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, People’s Republic of China; 4Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, People’s Republic of China; 5Public Policy Observatory, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, 7500912, Chile; 6Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, 2531015, ChileCorrespondence: Muhammad ZadaBusiness School Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +8618595590712Email mzada@henu.edu.cnPurpose: Spiritual inherited employees quickly shift to new changes that occur very quickly in our daily lives in different ways. We are inspired by the dynamic changes in our daily lives due to the Covid 19 situation, an urgent need to specify the shift from the traditional approach to the agile approach during a pandemic. This study aimed to figure out the effect of workplace spirituality on workforce agility; further, this study underpinning spillover theory to examine the role of job involvement as a mediator.Methods: This study investigates a sample of 236 teaching and administrative staff working in public sector institutes located in Peshawar, Pakistan. For data analysis, we used SPSS v. 25, and for model fitness, we used AMOS version 22. Furthermore, we used Process Hayes (Model 4) to test the theoretical model and research hypothesis for mediation.Results: This unique study offers a paradigm in which spirituality in the workplace substantially influences the agility of teaching and administrative professionals by positively mediating the effects of job involvement.Discussion: An in-depth examination of the literature showed that no prior research had studied the connection between WPS, job involvement, and workforce agility. Furthermore, there is very little research regarding WPS and its connection with other components in the Covid 19 scenario. The current study was a modest attempt to address this gap in the literature. This research has succeeded in making substantial additions to management literature.Keywords: workplace spirituality, workforce agility, job involvement, workforce performance, spillover theory

Reyaz Hassan Mir,1 Goutami Godavari,2 Nasir Ali Siddiqui,3 Bilal Ahmad,4 Ramzi A Mothana,3 Riaz Ullah,3 Omer M Almarfadi,3 Sanjay M Jachak,2 Mubashir Hussain Masoodi1 1Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India; 2Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, India; 3Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South KoreaCorrespondence: Mubashir Hussain MasoodiPharmaceutical Chemistry Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190006, IndiaTel +919419076525Email mubashir@kashmiruniversity.ac.inIntroduction: Oleanolic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenic acid, is widely distributed in medicinal plants and is the most commonly studied triterpene for various biological activities, including anti-allergic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory.Methods: The present study was carried out to synthesize arylidene derivatives of oleanolic acid at the C-2 position by Claisen Schmidt condensation to develop more effective anti-inflammatory agents. The derivatives were screened for anti-inflammatory activity by scrutinizing NO production inhibition in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS and their cytotoxicity. The potential candidates were further screened for inhibition of LPS-induced interleukin (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production in RAW 264.7 cells.Results: The results of in vitro studies revealed that derivatives 3d, 3e, 3L, and 3o are comparable to that of the oleanolic acid on the inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 release. However, derivative 3L was identified as the most potent inhibitor of IL-6 (77.2%) and TNF-α (75.4%) when compared to parent compound, and compounds 3a (77.18%), 3d (71.5%), and 3e (68.8%) showed potent inhibition of NO than oleanolic acid (65.22%) at 10μM. Besides, from docking score and Cyscore analysis analogs (3e, 3L, 3n) showed greater affinity towards TNF-α and IL-1β than dexamethasone.Conclusion: Herein, we report a series of 15 new arylidene derivatives of oleanolic acid by Claisen Schmidt condensation reaction. All the compounds synthesized were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity against NO, TNF-α and IL-6. From the data, it was evident that most of the compounds exhibited better anti-inflammatory activity.Keywords: LPS, natural products, IL-1β, IL-6, inflammation, RAW 264.7 cells

Rahim H, Sadiq A, Khan S, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2019;14:6287-6296. The Editor and Publisher of International Journal of Nanomedicine wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised about the alleged duplication of regions within the image used in Figure 4A. The authors did respond to our queries but were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the alleged duplication. In addition, further analysis of the original image used in Figure 4A indicates that regions within the image may have been altered. The Editor determined that the findings reported in the article were unreliable and requested for the article to be retracted. The authors were notified of this. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Haroon Rahim,1 Abdul Sadiq,2 Riaz Ullah,3 Ahmed Bari,4 Fazli Amin,1 Umar Farooq,5 Naeem Ullah Jan,1 Hafiz Majid Mahmood6 1Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmacognosy (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Legacy Pharmaceutical (Pvt.) Ltd., Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 6Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Haroon RahimDepartment of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar, Peshawar 25000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanTel +92 332 946 1642Email hrahimpk@gmail.comPurpose: The aim of the studies was to fabricate aceclofenac (AC) tablets using nanosuspension as granulating fluid to boost its rate of in vitro dissolution and eventually its oral bioavailability.Methods: The optimized nanosuspension with particle size of 112± 2.01 nm was fabricated using HPMC 1% (w/v), PVP-K30 1% (w/v) and SLS 0.12% (w/v) at 400 watts of ultrasonication energy for 15 min duration and 3 sec pause. Then, the optimized aceclofenac nanosuspension was used as granulating fluid for aceclofenac tablets formulation. The characterization was performed using Malvern zetasizer, SEM, TEM, DSC and P-XRD. The granules were evaluated for the bulk and tapped densities, Hausner’s ratio, angle of repose and their resulted values were found within limit. The prepared tablets were tested for average weight, hardness, friability, disintegration, dissolution and in vivo bioavailability in rabbits.Results: The in vitro dissolution data showed the boosted rate of nanosuspension-based tablets compared to the microsuspension-based tablets. The in vivo bioavailability (in rabbits model) of aceclofenac nanosuspension-based tablets (ACN-1, ACN-2) proved an improved absorption as in comparison to the marketed formulation. The Cmax and AUC0→ 24 of ACN-1 and ACN-2 were 1.53-fold, 1.48-fold and 2.23-fold, 2.0-fold greater than that of the marketed drug, and were 1.74-fold, 1.68-fold and 2.3-fold, 2.21-fold greater in comparison to raw drug.Conclusion: This boosted in vitro and in vivo bioavailability may be attributed to reduced particle size of aceclofenac nanoformulations used in tablets. Finally, this will result in faster absorption of these fabricated tablets.Keywords: nanosuspension-based tablets, release kinetics, enhanced oral bioavailability

Ashfaq Ahmad,1,2 Farhat Ullah,2 Abdul Sadiq,2 Muhammad Ayaz,2 Muhammad Saeed Jan,2 Muhammad Shahid,2 Abdul Wadood,3 Fawad Mahmood,2 Umer Rashid,4 Riaz Ullah,5 Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada,1 Ali S Alqahtani,5 Hafiz Majid Mahmood6 1Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science & Technology, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Malakand, Chakdara, 18000, KP, Pakistan; 3Department of Biochemistry, UCS, Shankar Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; 4Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; 5Department of Pharmacognosy, Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Abdul SadiqDepartment of Pharmacy,Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Malakand, Chakdara 18000, KP, PakistanTel +92 301-2297-102Email sadiquom@yahoo.comAshfaq AhmadDepartment of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Information Technology, Peshawar, PakistanEmail ashfaqpharma123@gmail.comIntroduction: The current study was designed to synthesize derivatives of succinimide and compare their biological potency in anticholinesterase, alpha-glucosidase inhibition, and antioxidant assays.Methods: In this research, two succinimide derivatives including (S)-1-(2,5-dioxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl) cyclohexanecarbaldehyde (Compound 1) and (R)-2-((S)-2,5-dioxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-2-phenylpropanal (Compound 2) were synthesized using Michael addition. Both the compounds, ie, 1 and 2 were evaluated for in-vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylctcholinesterase (BChE), antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibitory potentials. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) to explore the binding mode of both the compounds against different enzymes. Lineweaver–Burk plots of enzyme inhibitions representing the reciprocal of initial enzyme velocity versus the reciprocal of substrate concentration in the presence of synthesized compounds and standard drugs were constructed using Michaelis–Menten kinetics.Results: In AChE inhibitory assay, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited IC50 of 343.45 and 422.98 μM, respectively, against AChE enzyme. Similarly, both the compounds showed IC50 of 276.86 and 357.91 μM, respectively, against BChE enzyme. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed IC50 of 157.71 and 471.79 μM against α-glucosidase enzyme, respectively. In a similar pattern, compound 1 exhibited to be more potent as compared to compound 2 in all the three antioxidant assays. Compound 1 exhibited IC50 values of 297.98, 332.94, and 825.92 μM against DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 free radicals, respectively. Molecular docking showed a triple fold in the AChE and BChE activity for compound 1 compared with compound 2. The compound 1 revealed good interaction against both the AChE and BChE enzymes which revealed the high potency of this compound compared to compound 2.Conclusion: Both succinimide derivatives exhibited considerable inhibitory activities against cholinesterases and α-glucosidase enzymes. Of these two, compound 1 revealed to be more potent against all the in-vitro targets which was supported by molecular docking with the lowest binding energies. Moreover, compound 1 also proved to have antiradical properties.Keywords: succinimides, Alzheimer’s disease, cholinesterase, antioxidant, glucosidase, molecular docking

Hajra Afeera Hameed,1 Shahzeb Khan,1–3 Muhammad Shahid,4 Riaz Ullah,5 Ahmed Bari,6 Syed Saeed Ali,6 Zahid Hussain,7 Muhammad Sohail,8 Shafi Ullah Khan,9 Thet Thet Htar9 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 18800, Pakistan; 2Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; 3Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; 4Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 5Medicinal, Aromatic & Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 6Central Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; 8Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; 9School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya 47500, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Shahzeb KhanDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Dir Lower KPK, PakistanEmail shahzeb_333@hotmail.comBackground: Naproxen (NP) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with poor aqueous solubility and low oral bioavailability, which may lead to therapeutic failure. NP causes crucial GIT irritation, bleeding, and peptic and duodenal ulcers.Purpose of the study: This study aimed to engineer and characterize polymer hybrid enteric microspheres using an integrated (experimental and molecular modelling) approach with further development to solid dosage form with modified drug release kinetics and improved bioavailability.Materials and methods: NP loaded polymer hybrid enteric microspheres (PHE-Ms) were fabricated by using a modified solvent evaporation technique coupled with molecular modelling (MM) approach. The PHE-Ms were characterized by particle size, distribution, morphology, crystallinity, EE, drug-polymer compatibility, and DSC. The optimized NP loaded PHE-Ms were further subjected to downstream procedures including tablet dosage form development, stability studies and comparative in vitro-in vivo evaluation.Results: The hydrophobic polymer EUD-L100 and hydrophilic polymer HPMC-E5 delayed and modified drug release at intestinal pH while imparting retardation of NP release at gastric pH to diminish the gastric side effects. The crystallinity of the NP loaded PHE-Ms was established through DSC and P (XRD). The particle size for the developed formulations of PEH-Ms (M1-M5) was in the range from 29.06 ±7.3–74.31 ± 17.7 μm with Span index values of 0.491–0.69, respectively. The produced NP hybrid microspheres demonstrated retarded drug release at pH 1.2 and improved dissolution at pH 6.8. The in vitro drug release patterns were fitted to various release kinetic models and the best-followed model was the Higuchi model with a release exponent “n” value > 0.5. Stability studies at different storage conditions confirmed stability of the NP loaded PHE-Ms based tablets (P

Sajid Hussain,1,2 Farhat Ullah,1 Muhammad Ayaz,1 Syed Adnan Ali Shah,3 Azhar-ul-Haq Ali Shah,4 Syed Majid Shah,1,2 Abdul Wadood,5 Waqar Aman,2 Riaz Ullah,6 Abdelaaty A Shahat,6,7 Fahd A Nasr6 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Malakand, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan; 3Research Institute of Natural Products for Drug Discovery (RiND), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Malaysia; 4Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan; 5Department of Biochemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan; 6Department of Pharmacognosy (Medicinal Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 7Chemistry of Medicinal Plants Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, EgyptCorrespondence: Sajid Hussain; Farhat UllahDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Dir (L), Chakdara 18000, KPK, PakistanTel +92 3339178183; +92 3339361513Email hussain77pk2003@yahoo.com; farhataziz80@hotmail.comBackground: Cancer is one of the chronic health conditions worldwide. Various therapeutically active compounds from medicinal plants were the current focus of this research in order to uncover a treatment regimen for cancer. Anchusa arvensis (A. anchusa) (L.) M.Bieb. contains many biologically active compounds.Methods: In the current study, new ester 3-hydroxyoctyl -5- trans-docosenoate (compound-1) was isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of A. anchusa using column chromatography. Using MTT assay, the anticancer effect of the compound was determined in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG-2) compared with normal epithelial cell line (Vero). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were performed to assess the antioxidant potential. The Molecular Operating Environment (MOE-2016) tool was used against tyrosine kinase.Results: The structure of the compound was elucidated based on IR, EI, and NMR spectroscopy technique. It exhibited a considerable cytotoxic effect against HepG-2 cell lines with IC50 value of 6.50 ± 0.70 μg/mL in comparison to positive control (doxorubicin) which showed IC50 value of 1.3±0.21 μg/mL. The compound did not show a cytotoxic effect against normal epithelial cell line (Vero). The compound also exhibited significant DPHH scavenging ability with IC50 value of 12 ± 0.80 μg/mL, whereas ascorbic acid, used as positive control, demonstrated activity with IC50 = 05 ± 0.15 μg/mL. Similarly, it showed ABTS radical scavenging ability (IC50 = 130 ± 0.20 μg/mL) compared with the value obtained for ascorbic acid (06 ± 0.85 μg/mL). In docking studies using MOE-2016 tool, it was observed that compound-1 was highly bound to tyrosine kinase by having two hydrogen bonds at the hinge region. This good bonding network by the compound might be one of the reasons for showing significant activity against this enzyme.Conclusion: Our findings led to the isolation of a new compound from A. anchusa which has significant cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 cell lines with marked antioxidant potential.Keywords: cancer, Anchusa arvensis, 3-hydroxyoctyl-5, trans-docosenoate, cytotoxicity against HepG-2 cell lines, antioxidant

Ashfaq Ahmad,1 Farhat Ullah,1 Abdul Sadiq,1 Muhammad Ayaz,1 Haroon Rahim,2 Umer Rashid,3 Sajjad Ahmad,1 Muhammad Saeed Jan,1 Riaz Ullah,4 Abdelaat A Shahat,4,5 Hafiz Majid Mahmood6 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Dir (L), KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 18000, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology, Peshawar, KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan; 3Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan; 4Department of Pharmacognosy (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Phytochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 6Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Haroon Rahim; Abdul SadiqDepartment of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chakdara 18800, PakistanTel +92-3329461642; +92-301-2297102Email hrahimpk@gmail.com, sadiquom@yahoo.comPurpose: The current work was designed to synthesize a bioactive derivative of succinimide and evaluate it for anti-Alzheimer, anticancer and anti-diabetic potentials.Methods: The compound was synthesized by Michael addition of butyraldehyde with N-phenylmaleimide. The synthesized compound was screened for biological potentials including anti-cholinesterase, in-vitro anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anthelmintic potentials. The anti-cholinesterase potential was evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), anti-diabetic potential against α-glucosidase, antioxidant potential against ABTS, DPPH and H2O2 and anthelmintic potential against Perethima posthuma and Ascaridia galli respectively.Results: The compound demonstrated significant AChE and BChE inhibition i.e., 71.34±1.92 and 73.42 ±1.92 at the concentration of 1000 μg/mL respectively. Other dilutions exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against both enzymes. In the MTT assay, the newly synthesized compound was found active against all of the cell lines viz, HCT-116, MDA-MB231, NIH/3T3 and MCF-7 and the highest cytotoxicity potential was observed against the colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) with an IC50 value of 78 μg/mL exhibiting its highest potential. Moreover, the compound exhibited prominent α-glucosidase inhibitory potentials (79.86±2.54% at 1000 μg/mL) with IC50 value of 156.23 μg/mL. Further, our test compound exhibited considerable scavenging activity against DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 free radicals with percent inhibitions of 75.84±1.58, 72.85±1.17 and 54.82±1.82 and IC50 values of 84.36, 139.74 and 752.21 μg/mL respectively. Our test sample exhibited significant anthelmintic potentials. It demonstrated significant paralysis and death of the test worms in an unbelievably short time in comparison with albendazole.Conclusion: Going into the detail of all observations, it may be deduced that the newly synthesized succinimide derivative could be an important drug candidate against neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus and worms. Further detailed studies in animal models are required for in-vivo analysis of the compound.Keywords: Succinimide, Alzheimer’s disease, MTT, oxidative stress, diabetes, helminthiasis

Sumaira Naz,1 Muhammad Zahoor,1 Muhammad Naveed Umar,1 Barkat Ali,1,2 Riaz Ullah,3 Abdelaaty A Shahat,3,4 Hafiz Majid Mahmood,5 Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada6 1Department of Chemistry, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, Kpk 18800, Pakistan; 2Department of Chemistry, GC University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan; 3Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 4Phytochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 5Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Kpk 25000, PakistanCorrespondence: Muhammad Umar Khayam SahibzadaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, KPK 25000, PakistanEmail umar.sahibzada@gmail.comMuhammad ZahoorDepartment of Chemistry, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK 18800, PakistanEmail mohammadzahoorus@yahoo.comBackground: In this study, 2 symmetrical and 3 unsymmetrical thioureas were synthesized to evaluate their antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and anticholinesterase potentials.Methods: The symmetrical thioureas were synthesized in aqueous media in the presence of sunlight, using amines and CS2 as starting material. The unsymmetrical thioureas were synthesized using amines as a nucleophile to attack the phenyl isothiocyanate (electrophile). The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed through H1 NMR. The antioxidant potential was determined using DPPH and ABTS assays. The inhibition of glucose-6-phosphatase, alpha amylase, and alpha glucosidase by synthesized compounds was used as an indication of antidiabetic potential. Anticholinesterase potential was determined from the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase by the synthesized compounds.Results: The highest inhibition of glucose-6-phosphatase was shown by compound V (03.12 mg of phosphate released). Alpha amylase was most potently inhibited by compound IV with IC50 value of 62 μg/mL while alpha glucosidase by compound III with IC50 value of 75 μg/mL. The enzymes, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase were potently inhibited by compound III with IC50 of 63 μg/mL and 80 μg/mL respectively. Against DPPH free radical, compound IV was more potent (IC50 = 64 μg/mL) while ABTS was more potently scavenged by compound I with IC50 of 66 μg/mL. The antibacterial spectrum of synthesized compounds was determined against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Agrobacterium tumefaction and Proteus vulgaris). Compound I and compound II showed maximum activity against A. tumefaction with MIC values of 4.02 and 4.04 μg/mL respectively. Against P. vulgaris, compound V was more active (MIC = 8.94 μg/mL) while against S. aureus, compound IV was more potent with MIC of 4.03 μg/mL.Conclusion: From the results, it was concluded that these compounds could be used as antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic agents. However, further in vivo studies are needed to determine the toxicological effect of these compounds in living bodies. The compounds also have potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases.Keywords: picolylamine, symmetrical thioureas, enzyme inhibition, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, Alzheimer’s disease, antibacterial

Haroon Rahim,1 Abdul Sadiq,2 Shahzeb Khan,2–4 Fazli Amin,1 Riaz Ullah,5 Abdelaaty A Shahat,5,6 Hafiz Majid Mahmood71Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25000, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18800, Pakistan; 3Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa; 4Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; 5Department of Pharmacognosy (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Phytochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 7Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaPurpose: We aimed to enhance the solubility, dissolution rate, oral bioavailability, and α-glucosidase inhibition of glimepiride (Glm) by fabricating its nanosuspension using a precipitation–ultrasonication approach.Methods: Glm nanosuspensions were fabricated using optimized processing conditions. Characterization of Glm was performed using Malvern Zetasizer, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction. Minimum particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) values were found to be 152.4±2.42 nm and 0.23±0.01, respectively, using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose: 6 cPs, 1% w/v, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 1% w/v, and sodium lauryl sulfate 0.12% w/v, keeping ultrasonication power input at 400 W, with 15 minutes’ processing at 3-second pauses. In vivo oral bioavailability was assessed using rabbits as a model.Results: The saturation solubility of the Glm nanosuspensions was substantially enhanced 3.14-fold and 5.77-fold compared to unprocessed drug in stabilizer solution and unprocessed active pharmaceutical ingredient. Also, the dissolution rate of the nanosuspensions ws substantially boosted when compared to the marketed formulation and unprocessed drug candidate. The results showed that >85% of Glm nanosuspensions dissolved in the first 10 minutes compared to 10.17% of unprocessed Glm), 42.19% of microsuspensions, and 19.94% of marketed tablets. In-vivo studies conducted in animals, i.e. rabbits, demonstrated that maximum concentration and AUC0–24 with oral dosing were twofold (5 mg/kg) and 1.74-fold (2.5 mg/kg) and 1.80-fold (5 mg/kg) and 1.63-fold (2.5 mg/kg), respectively, and compared with the unprocessed drug formulation. In-vitro α-glucosidase inhibition results showed that fabricated nanosuspensions had a pronounced effect compared to unprocessed drug.Conclusion: The optimized batch fabricated by ultrasonication-assisted precipitation can be useful in boosting oral bioavailability, which may be accredited to enhanced solubility and dissolution rate of Glm, ultimately resulting in its faster rate of absorption due to nanonization.Keywords: glimepiride nanosuspension, precipitation–ultrasonication approach, boosted bioavailability

Wasim Ul Bari,1 Mohammad Zahoor,1 Alam Zeb,2 Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada,3 Riaz Ullah,4 Abdelaat A Shahat,4,5 Hafiz Majid Mahmood,6 Irfan Khan11Department of Chemistry, University of Malakand, Dir Lower, Chakdara, KPK 18800, Pakistan; 2Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Dir Lower, Chakdara, KPK 18800, Pakistan; 3Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, KPK 25000, Pakistan; 4Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 5Phytochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; 6Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammad ZahoorDepartment of Chemistry, University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir Lower, KPK 18800, PakistanEmail mohammadzahoorus@yahoo.comMuhammad Umar Khayam SahibzadaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, KPK 25000, PakistanEmail umar.sahibzada@gmail.comBackground: Traditionally, Grewia optiva is widely used for the treatment of many diseases like dysentery, fever, typhoid, diarrhea, eczema, smallpox, malaria and cough.Methods: Shade-dried roots of G. optiva were extracted with methanol. Based on HPLC results, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were subjected to silica column isolation and four compounds: glutaric acid (V), 3,5 dihydroxy phenyl acrylic acid (VI), (2,5 dihydroxy phenyl) 3’,6’,8’-trihydroxyl-4H chromen-4’-one (VII) and hexanedioic acid (VIII) were isolated in pure form. Ellman’s assay was used to determine the anticholinesterase potential of isolated compounds while their antioxidant potential was estimated by DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays.Results: Amongst the isolated compounds, VI and VII exhibited excellent percent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (83.23±1.11, 82.72±2.20 and 82.11±2.11, 82.23±1.21, respectively, at 1000 μg/mL) with IC50 of 76, 90, 78 and 92 μg/mL, respectively. Highest percent radicals scavenging against DPPH and ABTS (87.41±1.20 and 86.13±2.31) with IC50 of 64 and 65 μg/mL, respectively, were observed for compound VII. Molecular docking studies also supported the binding of compound VI and VII with the target enzyme. The para-hydroxyl group of the phenolic moiety is formed hydrogen bonds with the active site water molecule and the side chain carbonyl and hydroxyl residues of enzyme.Conclusion: The isolated compounds inhibited the DPPH and ABTS-free radicals, and AChE and BChE enzymes. It was concluded that these compounds could be used in relieving the oxidative stress and pathological symptoms associated with excessive hydrolysis of acetyl and butyryl choline. The results of the study were supported by docking studies for compounds VI and VII.Keywords: G. optiva, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, molecular docking

Fazli Amin,1 Shahzeb Khan,1,2 Syed Muhammad Hassan Shah,3 Haroon Rahim,3 Zahid Hussain,4 Muhammad Sohail,5 Riaz Ullah,6,7 Mansour S Alsaid,6 Abdelaaty A Shahat6,8 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville 4000, Durban South Africa; 3Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 4Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia; 5Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 6Medicinal, Aromatic & Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Chemistry, Government College Ara Khel FR, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 8Phytochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt Background: The obnoxious bitter taste of orally taken antibiotics is one of the biggest problems in the treatment of children. The pediatric population cannot tolerate the bitter taste of drugs and vomit out which ultimately leads to suboptimal therapeutic value, grimace and mental stress so it is the challenging task for the formulation scientists to formulate a palatable formulation particularly to overcome address the issue. Purpose of study: The study aimed to mask and evaluate the unpleasant bitter taste of azithro­mycin (AZ) in the dry suspension dosage form by physisorption technique. Materials and methods: AZ was selected as an adsorbent and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as adsorbate. The AZ nanohybrids (AZN) were prepared by treating fixed amount of adsorbent with a varied amount of adsorbate, prepared separately by dispersing it in an aqueous medium. The mixture was sonicated, stirred followed by filtration and drying. The AZN produced were characterized by various techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-rays (EDX), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), HPLC and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR). The optimized nanohybrid was blended with other excipients to get stable and taste masked dry suspension dosage form.Results: The results confirmed the adsorption of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the surface of AZ. The fabricated optimized formulation was subjected for taste masking by panel testing and accelerated stability studies. The results showed a remarkable improvement in bitter taste masking, inhibiting throat bite without affecting the dissolution rate. The product showed an excellent stability both in dry and reconstituted suspension. The optimized formulation of AZN and was found stable when subjected to physical and chemical stability studies, this is because of short and single step process which interns limits the exposure of the product to various environmental factors that could potentially affect the stability of the product. The dissolution rate of the optimized formulation of AZN was compared with its marketed counterpart, showing the same dissolution rate compared to its marketed formulation.Conclusion: The current study concludes that, by fabricating AZ-titanium nanohybrids using physisorption can effectively mask the bitter taste of the drug. The palatability and stability of azithromycin formulation was potentially enhanced without affecting its dissolution rate. Keywords: azithromycin, AZ, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, TNPs, azithromycin–TiO2 nanohybrid, AZN, dissolution, physisorption

Shaimaa Ahmed,1 Thirumala Govender,1 Inamullah Khan,2 Nisar ur Rehman,2 Waqar Ali,2 Syed Muhammad Hassan Shah,3 Shahzeb Khan,4 Zahid Hussain,5 Riaz Ullah,6,7 Mansour S Alsaid6 1Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; 2Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Abbotabad, 3Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Technology, Peshawar, 4Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand Dir (Lower), Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 5Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; 6Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal, Aromatic & Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Chemistry, Government College Ara Khel FR, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Background and aim: The challenges with current antimicrobial drug therapy and resistance remain a significant global health threat. Nanodrug delivery systems are playing a crucial role in overcoming these challenges and open new avenues for effective antimicrobial therapy. While fluticasone (FLU), a poorly water-soluble corticosteroid, has been reported to have potential antimicrobial activity, approaches to optimize its dissolution profile and antimicrobial activity are lacking in the literature. This study aimed to combine an experimental study with molecular modeling to design stable FLU nanopolymeric particles with enhanced dissolution rates and antimicrobial activity. Methods: Six different polymers were used to prepare FLU nanopolymeric particles: hydroxyl propyl methylcellulose (HPMC), poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), ethyl cellulose (EC), Eudragit (EUD), and Pluronics®. A low-energy method, nanoprecipitation, was used to prepare the polymeric nanoparticles. Results and conclusion: The combination of HPMC-PVP and EUD-PVP was found most effective to produce stable FLU nanoparticles, with particle sizes of 250 nm ±2.0 and 280 nm ±4.2 and polydispersity indices of 0.15 nm ±0.01 and 0.25 nm ±0.03, respectively. The molecular modeling studies endorsed the same results, showing highest polymer drug binding free energies for HPMC-PVP-FLU (-35.22 kcal/mol ±0.79) and EUD-PVP-FLU (-25.17 kcal/mol ±1.12). In addition, it was observed that Ethocel® favored a wrapping mechanism around the drug molecules rather than a linear conformation that was witnessed for other individual polymers. The stability studies conducted for 90 days demonstrated that HPMC-PVP-FLU nanoparticles stored at 2°C–8°C and 25°C were more stable. Crystallinity of the processed FLU nanoparticles was confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction analysis and TEM. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies showed that there was no chemical interaction between the drug and chosen polymer system. The HPMC-PVP-FLU nanoparticles also showed enhanced dissolution rate (P

Haroon Rahim,1 Abdul Sadiq,1 Shahzeb Khan,1 Mir Azam Khan,1 Syed Muhammad Hassan Shah,2 Zahid Hussain,3 Riaz Ullah,4 Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat,4,5 Khalid Ibrahim6 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, 2Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, Universiti Teknologi, Mara, Selangor, Malaysia; 4Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Phytochemistry Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; 6Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Al-Muzahmeiah Branch, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Abstract: This study was aimed to enhance the dissolution rate, oral bioavailability and analgesic potential of the aceclofenac (AC) in the form of nanosuspension using cost-effective simple precipitation–ultrasonication approach. The nanocrystals were produced using the optimum conditions investigated for AC. The minimum particle size (PS) and polydispersity index was found to be 112±2.01 nm and 0.165, respectively, using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (1%, w/w), polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (1%, w/w) and sodium lauryl sulfate (0.12%, w/w). The characterization of AC was performed using zeta sizer, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The saturation solubility of the AC nanocrystals was substantially increased 2.6- and 4.5-fold compared to its unprocessed active pharmaceutical ingredient in stabilizer solution and unprocessed drug. Similarly, the dissolution rate of the AC nanocrystals was substantially enhanced compared to its other counterpart. The results showed that >88% of AC nanocrystals were dissolved in first 10 min compared to unprocessed AC (8.38%), microsuspension (66.65%) and its marketed tablets (17.65%). The in vivo studies of the produced stabilized nanosuspension demonstrated that the Cmax were 4.98- and 2.80-fold while area under curve from time of administration to 24 h (AUC0→24 h) were found 3.88- and 2.10-fold greater when compared with unprocessed drug and its marketed formulation, respectively. The improved antinociceptive activity of AC nanocrystals was shown at much lower doses as compared to unprocessed drug, which is purely because of nanonization which may be attributed to improved solubility and dissolution rate of AC, ultimately resulting in its faster rate of absorption. Keywords: aceclofenac nanocrystals, precipitation–ultrasonication, dissolution rate, in vivo studies

Rahim H, Sadiq A, Khan S, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2019;14:6287–6296. The authors have advised there is an error in Figure 4 on page 6292. The unit in part B shows “μm” it should read “nm”. The correct Figure 4 is shown below. The authors apologize for this error. Read the original article

Euphorbia dracunculoides Lam. possesses significant biological potential due to its rich bioactive compounds. To enhance this potential, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using the methanolic extract of E. dracunculoides, exploiting ZnO NPs’ superior physiochemical properties and bioavailability. The synthesis of ZnO NPs was confirmed through UV–Vis spectroscopy (with an absorption maximum at 368 nm), X-ray diffraction (crystalline nature), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (functional groups involved in Zn²⁺ reduction), scanning electron microscopy (rod-shaped and triangular morphologies, average size 79 nm), and EDX (presence of Zn and O). The ED-ZnO NPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against U87 cells (IC50: 229.51 µg·mL−1) and anti-leishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigotes (IC50: 9.11 µg·mL−1). Additionally, in vivo studies demonstrated significant antihyperlipidemic effects, with decreased cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels, and increased high-density lipoprotein levels. ED-ZnO NPs also normalized alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, creatinine, urea, and glucose levels compared to controls. Overall, ED-ZnO NPs effectively enhance the bioactive compounds’ efficacy in treating various disorders.

Red raspberries are among the most significant wild edible fruits (WEFs) in Türkiye, thriving in cold to warm temperate regions across the country. This study focuses on 11 wild red raspberry ecotypes sampled from the Northern Anatolia region, examining their sensory, biochemical and antioxidant properties. Sensory analysis was used to compare ecotypes based on aroma, taste and juiciness. Biochemical assessments included soluble solid content (SSC), vitamin C amount, organic acids, total anthocyanins (TA), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content and total antioxidant capacity. The Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay measured antioxidant capacity. Despite similar growing conditions, significant variations were observed among ecotypes and across years. In the first year, fruit weights ranged from 1.04 g to 1.33 g, and in the second year, they ranged from 0.97 g to 1.27 g. Fruit chroma values ranged between 26.11 and 33.70 in 2021, and 23.17 and 30.19 in 2022. Vitamin C exhibited considerable variability, ranging from 29.3 mg · 100 g−1 to 44.4 mg · 100 g−1 across ecotypes and years. TPC, total anthocyanin content (TAC) and total flavonoid content ranged from 164 mg to 390 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) · 100 g−1, 17.3 mg to 33.2 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent · 100 g−1 and 10.3 mg to 17.6 mg quercetin equivalent (QE) · 100 g−1, respectively, in both years. Citric acid emerged as the dominant organic acid across all ecotypes. Notably, the ecotypes V-4, V-8, V-3 and V-10 showcased larger, more appealing fruits suitable for fresh consumption, whereas V-3 and V-5 presented sweeter fruits ideal for processing. Additionally, the ecotypes V-6, V-7 and V-11 displayed higher levels of health-promoting compounds, such as TPC and antioxidant capacity, suggesting their potential as functional foods and valuable sources of natural antioxidants in the future.

This study investigates the osmotic dehydration process of watermelon rind using a solution composed of honey and sucrose. The impact of the ratio of rind-to-solution and temperature on the process is illustrated. Pre-treatments such as blanching, microwaves, and ultrasonication were utilized. Ultrasonication reduces the time needed for osmosis in a sample, resulting in increased fluid loss and solute uptake; therefore, it was selected as the method to investigate the kinetics and modelling of mass transfer. The effective diffusivities for water loss (ranging from 3.02 × 10−5 to 4.21 × 10−4 m2 s−1) and solid gain (ranging from 1.94 × 10−6 to 3.21 × 10−6 m2 s−1) were shown to increase with process variables such as temperature and the rind-to-solution ratio. The activation energy decreased as the process temperature increased, ranging from 3.723 to 0.928 kJ mol−1 for water loss and from 1.733 to 0.903 kJ mol−1 for solid gain, respectively. The sample treated with microwaves exhibited the maximum dehydration coefficient, rendering it appropriate for producing dehydrated products. Five empirical models were utilized, with the power law model (R 2 = 0.983) and the Magee model (R 2 = 0.950) being the most suitable for water loss data and solid gain, respectively.

The genus Pistacia, with its species having notable ecological, economic, and medicinal implications, demonstrates remarkable environmental adaptability. The central objective of the study is to analyze interspecific variations between Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica and Pistacia terebinthus across three distinct bioclimatic zones in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. The methodology includes collecting dendrometric measurements and conducting macromorphological examinations on these two taxa, with a detailed analysis of 27 qualitative and quantitative variables. A micro-morphological analysis of leaves, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is employed to explore specific features such as size and stomatal density, as well as qualitative aspects like epidermal cell shape and trichomes. Dendrometric measurements have revealed that the canopy surface and the number of trunks per tree can serve as distinctive features between the two species. Regarding the sex ratio of Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica, 59% of the examined trees are males, primarily associated with the jujube tree in arid zones and the dwarf palm in humid areas. In contrast, female Pistacia terebinthus exhibit a similar percentage, predominantly associated with oak groves and cade juniper in their distribution areas. Principal component analysis of biometric measurements emphasized a significant disparity between the two species, representing 60.25% of the total variance. The use of SEM unveiled new features facilitating the identification of the two species. By leveraging the macromorphological and micromorphological variability of pistachio trees, we can qualify those best suited to diverse bioclimates. In this regard, we suggest incorporating them into reforestation and rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring our declining ecosystems.

Oral bacterial infections are a great health concern worldwide especially in diabetic patients. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance with reference to biofilms in oral cavity is of great concern. We investigated antibiotics combination with proton pump inhibitors against oral clinical isolates. The strains were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus by the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In molecular docking, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and omeprazole best fit to active pockets of transcriptional regulators 4BXI and 3QP1. None of the proton pump inhibitors were active against S. epidermidis, whereas omeprazole showed significant inhibition (MIC 3.9 μg/ml). Fluoroquinolones were active against both S. epidermidis and S. aureus. In combination analysis, a marked decrease in minimum inhibitory concentration was noticed with omeprazole (MIC 0.12 μg/ml). In antiquorum sensing experiments, a significant inhibitory zone was shown for all fluoroquinolones (14–20 mm), whereas among proton pump inhibitors, only omeprazole (12 ± 0.12 mm) was active against Chromobacterium violaceum. In combination analysis, a moderate increase in antiquorum sensing activity was recorded for ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and proton pump inhibitors. Further, significant S. aureus biofilm eradication was recorded using of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and omeprazole combination (78 ± 2.1%). The time-kill kinetic studies indicated a bactericidal effect by ciprofloxacin: levofloxacin: omeprazole combination over 24 hrs. It was concluded that fluoroquinolone combined with omeprazole could be an effective treatment option for eradicating oral bacterial biofilms.

Microbial diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide, and the emergence of new infections underscores the need for innovative treatments. Plant-based sources for antimicrobial drugs are gaining popularity due to their fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Corn silk (CS), an ancient medicinal plant, has been used for thousands of years to treat ailments such as edema and cystitis. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and acts as an anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent. Its bioactive components, which include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, and saponins, are responsible for these therapeutic benefits. Numerous studies have examined the antibacterial effectiveness of diverse CS extracts, unveiling several methods by which CS demonstrates its antimicrobial properties. These mechanisms include the inhibition of energy production within microbial cells, interference with DNA and protein synthesis, prevention of biofilm formation, disruption of cell wall synthesis, and direct disruption of the cell wall structure. CS effectively blocks microbial growth and multiplication by focusing on these vital processes. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the different bioactive compounds found in CS, as well as their mechanisms of action against microbes. Understanding these mechanisms highlights CS’s potential as a potent source for developing new antimicrobial medications and supplements, offering a natural and effective alternative in the fight against infectious diseases.

The application of microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers has proven to be highly effective in genetically characterising the origins of various fruit species. Bosnia and Herzegovina boast abundant cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) germplasm within its natural habitats. This study focuses on three geographically distant regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina–Drvar, Mostar and Zenica–comprising a sample of 60 cornelian cherry genotypes. The genetic analysis of cornelian cherry utilised eight microsatellite primers to characterise the genetic makeup of the 60 genotypes. Notably, all observed loci in the three populations demonstrated 100% polymorphism. The total genetic differentiation is 0.042, which is also confirmed by the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), which indicates that 3% of the total genetic variation is between groups, 8% between individuals and 89% within individuals. The results of pairwise Fst analysis (pFst) indicate that the greatest differentiation is between the populations of Mostar and Zenica (0.037), between Drvar and Zenica (0.026) and between Drvar and Mostar (0.025). The results of the genetic distance according to Nei confirm these results. Also, the largest difference was observed between the populations of Mostar and Zenica (0.316), then between Drvar and Zenica (0.285), and the smallest between Drvar and Mostar (0.251). This research contributes valuable insights into the genetic diversity and characterisation of cornelian cherry populations in different regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The corrosion of metals poses a threat to the economy, the environment, and human health due to undesirable reactions and contaminated products. Corrosion inhibitors, including natural products, can play a key role in protecting metallic materials, especially under challenging conditions. In this study, the roots of the Inula viscosa plant were examined for their ability to act as corrosion inhibitors in a 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Different extracts of the plant were evaluated for their corrosion inhibition capacity in a 1 M HCl solution. The effectiveness of different plant extracts was assessed, including an aqueous extract, an ethanolic extract, and a combined water–ethanol extract. Compounds present in the roots of Inula viscosa were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The electrochemical properties of the extracts were studied using various techniques such as open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization. Additionally, surface analysis after immersion was performed using scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical data revealed that Inula viscosa root (IVR) extracts acted as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors with pronounced cathodic characteristics. The inhibitory efficiency was closely related to the concentration of Inula viscosa (I. viscosa), showing a significant increase with higher concentrations. This resulted in a decrease in corrosion current and an increase in polarization resistance. Notably, inhibitory efficiency reached high levels, up to 97.7% in mixed extract which represents a mixture between water and ethanol. In our study, it was observed that the mixed extract (water + ethanol) allowed for a greater corrosion inhibition compared to the other solvents studied, 97.7%. Surface analyses confirmed the formation of an organic film layer on the steel surface, attributed to the bonding of functional groups and heteroatoms in I. viscosa components. Therefore, this study paves the way for the potential integration of I. viscosa as a promising corrosion inhibition material, offering durable protection against steel corrosion and opening avenues for various related applications.

Chenopodium ambrosioides aerial parts have been historically employed in traditional medicine for addressing various ailments such as headaches, abdominal discomfort, joint issues, and respiratory disorders, alongside treatments for lice and warts. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis of C. ambrosioides and assess the acute and subacute toxicity of oral treatments using fractions in preclinical trials. Spectrophotometric analysis via LC–MS/MS was used to characterize the plant’s chemical composition. Acute toxicity evaluation followed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development code 42 guidelines, conducted on adult male and female Wistar strain mice. Subsequently, Swiss mice were divided into six groups for the subacute toxicity study, receiving oral doses of 200 mg/kg extracts and fractions for 28 days. Daily observations and biochemical analyses were performed, with LC–MS/MS revealing a diverse array of compounds including organic acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, rutin, hesperidin, nicotiflorine, and fumaric acid. Results indicated no lethality or alterations in body weight in treated groups, though some organ weight changes were noted. Biochemical analyses demonstrated values within the normal range for all groups, suggesting that the treatments did not induce adverse effects. Acute and subacute treatments with fractions did not result in lethality or toxic alterations at therapeutic doses, implying the safety of the product at appropriate levels. This study underscores the potential of C. ambrosioides as a safe therapeutic option warranting further exploration.

Salinity accumulation poses a threat to the production and productivity of economically important crops such as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Currently, salt tolerance breeding programs have been limited by insufficient genetic and physiological knowledge of tolerance-related traits and a lack of an efficient selection domain. For that purpose, we aimed to determine the ability of tomato cultivars to tolerate salt based on seed traits by multiple biochemical pathways. First, we tested three tomato cultivars according to their response to different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (0, 6.3, 9.8, 13.0, and 15.8 dS m−1) and then we analysed their amino acids, organic acids, and phytohormones. Considering the results of germination traits, it is possible to conclude that cultivar H-2274 was more tolerant to salt stress than others. As a result, multivariate discriminant analysis including principal component analysis and two-way hierarchical clustering analyses were constructed and demonstrated that tomato cultivars were separated from each other by the amino acid, organic acid, and phytohormone contents. Considering germination traits of tomato seeds, cv. ‘H-2274’ was more tolerant to salinity than others depending on high proline (29 pmol µl−1) and citric acid (568 ng µl−1) assays. Biochemical variability offers a valuable tool for investigating salt tolerance mechanisms in tomatoes, and it will be appreciated to find high-tolerant tomato cultivar(s) to saline conditions. Also, the findings of this study have significant potential for practical applications in agriculture, particularly in developing salt-tolerant tomato cultivars to enhance productivity in saline environments and address socio-economic challenges.

The almond tree, following the olive tree, holds the distinction of being the fruit species occupying the largest area in Morocco, spanning 128,000 ha and hosting 16 million trees. This sector holds immense socio-economic significance both nationally and globally. Despite its prominence, the almond tree faces severe phytosanitary challenges, prominently among them, the False tiger bug of the almond tree, Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant & Rey [Hemiptera: Tingidae]). This polyphagous, sedentary, and gregarious hemipteran, boasting five larval instars and typically generating four generations annually, exhibits a life cycle duration ranging from 2 to 3 months contingent on the season. This pest inflicts notable harm on almond tree leaves by extracting their chlorophyll content through its piercing mouthparts and depositing excrement, impeding respiratory function and adversely impacting fruit development, maturation, and overall production. Diverse control strategies have been implemented to tackle this issue, commencing with prophylaxis involving resistant varieties and sound agricultural practices. Subsequently, biological control methods leveraging natural enemies such as Piocoris luridus and species from families including Coccinellidae, Anthocoridae, Lygaeidae, Miridae, and Nabidae have been employed. Plant-based biopesticides such as azadirachtin (Azadirachta indica), thyme oil (Thymus zygis), Jatropha oil (Jatropha curcas), and concentrated extracts of Artemisia absinthium, as well as mineral-based approaches involving treated kaolin sprays through particle film technology, contribute to the arsenal of control measures. In cases of severe infestations, synthetic active ingredients such as organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, abamectin, and deltamethrin, among others, have proven efficacy in managing this pest.

This study focuses on the comprehensive exploration of Swat soapstone, employing a range of analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. XRD was used to identify the phase and lattice parameters of the soapstone. SEM further scrutinizes the dispersed soapstone particles, revealing different structural characteristics such as a slightly elongated, cubic-like structure, a straight rod-like formation, and a rough, textured surface. EDX spectroscopy was utilized for studying the elemental composition of the soapstone. The analysis identifies talc as the primary mineral in Swat soapstone, with iron, an element, also contributing notably to its composition. This underscores the complexity of Swat soapstone’s internal structure. XRF analysis further contributes to the elemental characterization, revealing a dominant composition of silicon (Si) at 48.567 wt% and a notable contribution from iron (Fe) at 16.108 wt%. FTIR analysis confirmed the absorption of infrared radiation at the non-bridging oxygen (Si–O–) within the silicate network and the Si–O–Si bending vibration. This work investigates the chemical and morphological details of the Swat soapstone.

In recent years, there has been a surge in the popularity of minor millets, also called ancient grains. As a result, there has been a growing interest in the potential health benefits and unique dietary properties that these foods offer. Once considered a forgotten crop, millet has gained popularity as part of efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. With a growing population, there is a need to explore sustainable methods to provide food and nutritional security to people, and millets offer a promising solution to this objective. This literature review aims to provide a thorough and all-encompassing overview of the geographical distribution of minor millets, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with their production. Additionally, this review will investigate the nutritional benefits of minor millets and their potential for use in the development of value-added products.

In the current work, bis-thiourea derivatives have been synthesized through condensation reaction between isothiocynates and diamines in dry acetone to form SK1 (1,2-bis(N-benzoylthioureido) benzene), SK2 (1,3-bis(N-benzoylthioureido) benzene), and SK3 (1,4-bis(N-benzoylthioureido) benzene). The structures of new synthesized derivatives were confirmed through melting point and spectroscopic technique such as 1HNMR only. The synthesized compounds were assessed for acute toxicity test and are proved free of toxicity. The derivatives were further tested as anti-inflammatory agents by in vitro lipoxygenase enzyme inhibition studies, molecular docking, and in vivo carrageenan-induced paw edema assay, and histamine-induced edema test. The overall observations presented that compounds SK1 and SK3 possess promising anti-inflammatory potential, while compound SK2 is found to be a good anti-inflammatory agent.

The olive trituration activity is one of the most important industrial activities in Fez, Morocco. These effluents are highly loaded with organic, inorganic, and phenolic compounds without any preliminary treatment that affects water quality. In this sense, the waters of Oued Fez are deteriorating due to the discharge of wastewater from oil mills and the excessive proliferation of Pistia stratiotes L., an invasive macrophyte that represents a significant stress to the aquatic ecosystem, eutrophication, and a reduction in biodiversity. This ecological situation has prompted us to carry out phytotoxicity bioassays based on the detection of the lethal concentration of P. stratiotes in the wastewater from the olive oil mill to evaluate the sensitivity and tolerance of macrophytes to the different concentrations of total polyphenols (TPP) present in the olive mill wastewater. To estimate their impact on the environment. Fresh whole plants of P. stratiotes were exposed to varying concentrations of olive oil mill wastewater with a series of TPP concentrations (0–30 mg/l) for 1 week in the natural environment. The results also show that P. stratiotes is able to grow rapidly in culture with 20 mg/l of TPP; the highest growth of wet weight of P. stratiotes occurred at 20 mg/l treatment with an average of 13 g wet weight increase. At 0 mg/l, treatment is known to cause very slow growth with an average of 2 g. Olive oil mill wastewater was toxic to the plant at concentrations higher than 30 mg/l, and the phytotoxic effect was manifested by retardation of growth, detachment of roots, wilting, and chlorosis of leaves. This indicates that polyphenols have great potential to inhibit the proliferation of P. stratiotes in aquatic environments.

Considering it contains a variety of physiologically active compounds, including flavonoids, common phenols, and essential oils (EOs), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is a common plant in Bulgaria that is predominantly used in folk medicine to cure various disorders. Determining the chemical makeup of St. John’s wort inflorescences that were gathered from northern Bulgaria was the purpose of this investigation. The antioxidant activity of H. perforatum L. extracts was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) tests on methanol extract. The amount of EO obtained by water distillation was 0.08%, with its main components (over 3%) being n-nonane (27.46%), β-sesquiphellandrene (11.17%), heptanal dimethyl acetal (5.94%), ethyl hexyl ketone (5.93%), undecane (3.75%), sabinene (3.3%), and tridecyl alcohol (3.1%). Methanol extracts were obtained from the inflorescences, with the total flavonoid content determined as 8.66 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/mg and total phenolic content as 271.33 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g. The FRAP assay yielded 493.07 µmol/L of antioxidant activity, while the TEAC assay yielded 106.39 µmol/L, respectively. Our findings enable a comprehensive characterization of H. perforatum from Bulgaria and an assessment of its oil suitability for potential industrial applications. Additionally, the results could guide the selection of specimens for future targeted breeding efforts.

The apple is an important part of the human diet and is one of the most popular fruits in Morocco, with varieties that are now suitable for human consumption. This study aims to clarify several aspects of apples, such as their physical and chemical compositions and nutrient profiles. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins were determined using spectrophotometer and organic acid compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet. The results show a significant difference between the several varieties under study in terms of their physico-chemical and phyto-chemical characteristics. In general, the studied apples are juiciness, with a percentage ranging from 60 to 71%. The pH values demonstrate how acidic the apples are. The Brix parameter denotes values greater than 13°Brix. Total polyphenols and condensed tannins (1154.65 ± 13.54 µg EAG/g and 514.09 ± 32.40 µg EAT/g, respectively) are more present in the Ahjjani variety than they are in other varieties. This demonstrates their good nutritional quality while not being consumable. However, the Story variety has a predominance of flavonoids (75.074 ± 2.309 µg QE/g) and flavones (45.074 ± 2.09 µg QE/g). The detection of organic acids has shown that the acid succinic is the most abundant in all the varieties of studied apple fruits. These results allow us to infer that non-consumable varieties are also important dietary sources of bioactive molecules, notably for polyphenols. The fact that these kinds can be used to produce other byproducts is therefore highly intriguing.

Natural substances extracted from plants have been increasingly studied and recognized, recently. Essential oils (EOs), for example, possess antioxidant and antibacterial properties, enabling their application across different sectors like agro-food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In Morocco, exceptional plant diversity, mirroring the diversity of ecosystems, has not yet revealed all its secrets. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of EOs from Thymus zygis L. ssp. gracilis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. collected in the El Hoceima and Mamora regions, respectively. The EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation employing a Clevenger-type apparatus. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses identified 54 constituents representing 92.65% of the total for T. zygis and 55 components representing 99.60% for E. camaldulensis. The primary components found in the EO of T. zygis are δ-terpineol (27.64%), followed by δ-3-carene (15.7%), thymol (14.17%), and dehydrolinalool (4.99%). The main compounds in E. camaldulensis EO are 1,8-cineole (43.61%), γ-terpinene (11.71%), α-terpineol (10.58%), and p-cymene (4.93%). The antioxidant properties of these oils were investigated by utilization of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test. The antibacterial activity was assessed against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli). Both EOs showed significant antioxidant activity but were less effective than reference antioxidants quercetin and catechin. Antibacterial studies demonstrated strong activity of T. zygis and E. camaldulensis EOs against the studied bacteria, as well as good inhibitory properties (minimum inhibitory concentration).

Artemisia herba-alba Asso is an endemic plant from North-East Morocco offering a diverse range of pharmacological, cosmetic, and agro-ecological uses. However, Artemisia herba-alba has not been well exploited in the field of plant protection (post-harvest diseases). This is why the main objective of the present study is to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant activities of extracts or the essential oil of this plant. Antifungal activity was assessed against Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Penicillium digitatum using the agar dilution method for the aqueous extracts and fumigation for the essential oil. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH scavenging test and the FRAP ferric ion reduction capacity. The chemical composition of the extracts was determined by HPLC and that of the essential oil by GC-MS/MS. In addition, the polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content was determined using colorimetric methods. The results of this study showed that the total content of polyphenols (217.60 mg GAE/g E), flavonoids (43.59 mg QE/g E), and tannins (32.58 mg GAE/g E) was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the ethanolic extract than in the aqueous and hexanoic extracts. Moreover, the HPLC analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of six compounds, namely, catechin, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin. In addition, the ethanolic extract was found to contain seven phenolic compounds. On the one hand, 35 compounds were identified in the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba, representing 99.7% of the total. According to this study, the dominant compounds in the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba Asso are camphor (46.57%), endo-borneol (5.65%), eucalyptol (5.64%), and thymol (3.85%). Furthermore, the biological evaluation showed that the extracts and essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba have significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The findings show that Artemisia herba-alba is a plant that can be used as a source of antifungal chemicals to prevent putrefaction of foodstuffs and, more specifically, postharvest diseases.

In the present work, several new glycoconjugates (8a–e) were generated from glycopyranosyl-α-trichloroacetimidates (sugar-OTCA) as glycosyl donors and dimethyl-l-tartrate as an aglycone acceptor in good to excellent yields. In the synthetic protocol, various monosaccharides were transformed into pentaacetylated derivatives and then into glycopyranosyl-α-trichloroacetimidates. Afterward, the sugar-OTCA was reacted with dimethyl-l-tartrate using Schmidt’s trichloroacetimidate protocol to give the desired products. The newly synthesized glycoconjugates were characterized by FT-IR, 1H, and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analytical methods. All the target compounds (8a–e) were tested in vitro against various strains of bacteria and fungi at different concentrations. The results revealed that the target compounds had encouraging antibacterial and antifungal potential. The antileishmanial activity of the target compounds against Leishmania tropica promastigotes was also investigated. The in vitro results were further supported by the in silico docking study that indicated minimum values of the docking scores and binding energies for the resulting complexes obtained by the favorable interactions between the target compounds (8a–e) and the selected strains of bacteria and fungi. The docking results proposed promising antibacterial and antifungal activities of the target compounds (8a–e) against the selected bacterial and fungal species.

Herein, capsaicin nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by two different methods, namely, evaporative precipitation of nanosuspension (EPN) and anti-solvent precipitation with a syringe pump (APSP). The nanoparticles of the necessary sizes were obtained after optimizing experimental parameters such as the solvent-to-anti-solvent ratio and stirring speed. They had spherical shapes and an average diameter of 171.29 ± 1.94 and 78.91 ± 0.54 nm when prepared using the EPN and APSP methods, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry and an X-ray diffractometer showed that the capsaicin crystallinity decreased. FTIR results showed that the NPs were produced with their original configuration and did not result in the synthesis of any additional structures. The NP formulation had a desirable drug content. They surpassed the unprocessed drug in solubility and displayed the desired stability. Capsaicin NP cream showed many folds of enhanced analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects compared to unprocessed capsaicin.

Chenopodium ambrosioides, a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, is renowned for its toxic properties. Despite its toxicity, it has been traditionally utilized in various communities, particularly in pediatric contexts, for its vermifuge, antispasmodic, and antipyretic attributes. This study aims to unravel the phytochemical composition present in organic fractions and aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial components of C. ambrosioides. Furthermore, our objective is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts and fractions, coupled with a comprehensive examination of their toxicological effects. Polyphenols were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, flavonoids via the aluminum trichloride reagent AlCl3, and tannins using the vanillin method. Identification of bioactive compounds within the plant specimen was accomplished through GC-MS spectrophotometric analysis. The assessment of antioxidant activity employed DPPH, ferric (Fe3+) ion antioxidant reducing power (FRAP), ABTS, and TAC methods, with quercetin, catechin, and ascorbic acid serving as standards. Dermoprotective activity was studied using the ultraviolet absorption test. The GC-MS analysis conducted on the aqueous extracts (EAI and EAM) and assorted fractions (FCH, FE, FB, and FA) revealed the presence of diverse chemical families encompassing alcohols, acids, terpenes, steroids, and phenolic compounds. The components identified in the investigated samples, including trans-ascaridol glycol, palmitic acid, phenol, octadecadienoic acid, isoascaridol, eicosanoic acid, 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol, mexiletine, and thymol, are postulated as potential contributors to the observed antioxidant activity inherent in the plant extracts and fractions. Our findings highlight the remarkable antioxidant potential of Chenopodium ambrosioides, with the ethyl acetate fraction exhibiting the highest activity (IC50 = 0.54 mg/ml) in the DPPH test. In the FRAP and ABTS tests, the n-butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions demonstrated superior activity (IC50 = 4.43 mg/ml, 12.9 mg/ml and IC50 = 1.6 mg/ml, 4.54 mg/ml, respectively). Conversely, the TAC test revealed that the macerated aqueous extract displayed the highest activity (316.33 mg Eq AG/g), followed closely by the n-butanolic fraction (250.67 mg Eq AG/g). These outcomes can be attributed to the abundant presence of phenolic compounds in the n-butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions, as well as the macerated aqueous extract, playing a pivotal role in the observed antioxidant activity. Additionally, our investigation of the dermoprotective activity demonstrated robust efficacy in the ethyl acetate fraction (FE) and the n-butanolic fraction (FB) compared to the standard agents employed (ZnO and methyl salicylate). Overall, our comprehensive studies affirm that the extracts and fractions derived from C. ambrosioides manifest moderate antioxidant activities alongside significant dermoprotective potential, elucidated by the presence of phenolic compounds in moderate quantities within the plant.

This research is dedicated to investigating the antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of three distinct extracts derived from Vitex agnus-castus L. These extracts, prepared through aqueous (EXA), ethanolic (EXE), and methanolic (EXM) maceration, were chosen based on prior assessments of total polyphenol content in extracts obtained from five solvents with differing polarities: water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and butanol. The study initiated with a comprehensive phytochemical analysis focusing on the determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids. The quantification of total polyphenols was carried out using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while the AlCl3 method was employed to assess flavonoids. In evaluating the in vitro antioxidant activity, we employed two well-established methods, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The preliminary tests, gauging the efficacy of solvents, demonstrated that the order of optimal solvent selection was as follows: aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic, butanolic, and acetone. Consequently, the first three solvents were chosen for the preparation of the extracts. The phytochemical analysis unveiled that EXA exhibited the highest total polyphenol content, with an impressive value of 126.84 ± 1.24 mg EAG/g extract, whereas EXE exhibited the lowest concentration of total polyphenols, measuring at 117.26 ± 0.18 mg EAG/g extract. In contrast, EXM showcased a notably high flavonoid content, registering at 33.65 ± 1.04 mg EQ/g extract, while EXA displayed a comparatively lower flavonoid content at 14.93 ± 0.14 mg EQ/g extract. When assessing antioxidant properties, EXA emerged as the most potent against both DPPH and FRAP, recording values of 78.94 ± 1.84 and 203.27 ± 0.17 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the ethanolic extract exhibited relatively lower antioxidant activity, with values of 204.16 ± 1.87 μg/ml for DPPH and 307.10 ± 1.15 μg/ml for FRAP.

Melanin is an almost ubiquitous pigment of brown to dark black color synthesized by living organisms. It has excellent potential for application in several fields, especially in pharmaceuticals. Yeasts are known for their ability to synthesize pigments, including melanin. These yeasts are considered black yeasts. However, there is little information on the synthesis of melanin by these yeasts. This work was designed to study the ability of black yeast to produce a diffusible dark pigment on agar. Two strains of black yeast, SN1 and SN2, were isolated from hydrocarbon-polluted soils. Based on morphological, physiological, and molecular analyses, the two strains SN1 and SN2 were identified as new species of the Exophiala phaeomuriformis strain. After pigment extraction, melanin was characterized using UV and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We found that melanin synthesis is strongly affected by light and optimal parameters such as temperature 30°C, salinity between 10 and 30 ppt, and basic pH. Both melanin extracts also showed inhibitory activity against pathogenic germs, and activities were observed on E. coli (33.33 ± 2.88 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (29.33 ± 4.61 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (24.3 ± 7.65 mm). It was concluded that the melanin of the E. phaeomuriformis strain isolated from oil-polluted soils had high antibacterial activity. This high antibacterial activity could be a suitable source of new antibacterial natural products.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is known to be one of the current crops with wide adaptability and the potential to grow in various agroecological zones. It has been titled as “queen of cereals” group owing to its high genetic yield capability and abundance among the cereal crop. This study highlights the nutritive composition, phytochemical composition, pharmaceutical properties, and the unconventional use (like ethanol production) of maize plant parts such as the husk, silk, and cob, along with their utilisation in the food sector and pharmaceutical industries. Apart from the kernels, bulk of the harvest, if not used as manure, is majorly treated as waste and is usually discarded. Maize can be incorporated and utilised in the waste management of crop residues. The industrial significance of the maize crop is unmatched when compared to other cereal crops and it is used as a raw material for over 3,000 products in various sectors namely, sweeteners, cosmetics, textiles, gum, alcoholic beverages, films, package, and paper industries. Each part of the maize plant is rich in macronutrients (carbohydrates and proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) along with other phytochemical constituents due to which it has an immense scope to be used in value-added products providing various pharmacological properties.

Orevactaene yellow pigment was produced by solid-state fermentation of broken rice using Epicoccum nigrum. The pigment was extracted using water as a solvent and subjected to stability studies at different temperatures (30, 40, 60, and 80°C), pH (4, 6, and 8), sterilization, and sunlight exposure treatment. The observed data were fitted in the first-order kinetic model. Yellow pigment stability was found to vary at different temperatures studied. At 30°C, only a 4% decrease in color intensity was observed after 2 h; at 40°C, an 8% decrease was observed, and at 80°C and pH 6.0, 17% of color intensity was lost. These results showed that the orevactaene pigment produced by E. nigrum is heat-sensitive and changes in color intensity should be expected in heat-processed products. After 180 min at 80°C, yellow pigments maintained 82 and 76% of the initial color at pH 6 and 8, while a 65% decrease in color intensity was observed at 80°C, pH 4. Autoclaving resulted in 69% decay and exposure of pigment to sunlight for 2 h showed 1% decay. The half-life period of the pigment at different temperatures varied from 82.5 to 5.25 h. The decimal reduction time decreased from 275 to 17.5 h with an increase in the temperature. Thermodynamic parameters for pigment decay at pH 6.0 were represented in terms of enthalpy ∆H, activation energy E a, free energy ∆G, and entropy ∆S. The values observed were 44.52–44.93, 48.48, 96.60–105.18 kJ/mol, and −170.50 to −171.85 J/mol/K, respectively. All these parameters help in predicting the quality changes in terms of appearance during thermal processing and optimizing the process.

In this study, we use a dual technique that combines the Laplace residual power series method (LRPSM) and the new iteration method, both of which are combined with the Caputo operator. Our primary goal is to solve two unique but difficult partial differential equations: the foam drainage equation and the nonlinear time-fractional Fisher’s equation. These equations, which are crucial in modeling complex processes, confront analytical complications, owing to their fractional derivatives and nonlinear behavior. We develop exact and efficient solutions by merging these unique methodologies, which are supported by thorough figures and tables that demonstrate the precision and trustworthiness of our methodology. We not only shed light on the solutions to these equations, but also demonstrate the prowess of the LRPSM and the new iteration method as powerful tools for grappling with complex mathematical and physical models, significantly contributing to advancements in various scientific domains.

Herein, a link has been established between cold acclimation and Cd uptake in Spirogyra aequinoctialis. The water samples supplemented with cadmium (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L) were used for plant growth at two different temperatures. Cold-acclimated plants accumulated high concentrations (0.40 ± 0.02 µg/dry biomass) of Cd as compared to non-acclimated plants (0.30 ± 0.08 µg/dry biomass). The negative effects of Cd on the biomass, carotenoids, and chlorophyll contents in non-acclimated plants were more pronounced in non-acclimated plants as compared to the cold-acclimated plants. High concentrations of free proline and total phenolics in cold-acclimated plants were observed as compared to the non-acclimated plants. About 13 different phenolic compounds were identified using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Cold acclimation as well as the presence of Cd in water highly increased the concentrations of polyphenolics, while synergistic increase was recorded with the combination of cold acclimation and Cd treatments. The highest increase in the concentration of polyphenolics was recorded for syringic acid. Significant positive correlations of total phenolics were noted with dry biomass (R 2 = 0.51) and Cd accumulation (R 2 = 0.59) in plant tissues. Free proline concentration also showed positive correlations with dry biomass, Cd accumulation, and chlorophyll contents (R 2 = 0.80).

Biotic stress caused by pests on citrus trees has become a major problem for ecologists around the world, hence the need to develop ecological approaches to surmount this stress. To evaluate the effectiveness of diverse control methods on the pest Panonychus citri and its predators, Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis, and Typhlodromus sp. Different treatments were applied in orchards planted by Citrus clementina in the Gharb area of Morocco (T0 = treated by water only, T1 = spirodiclofen (the molecular formula is C21H24Cl2O4). 0.5 L/ha, T2 = 5% black soap 125 L/ha, Its ingredients are: argan oil, olive oil, black olive, salt, water, vegetable potash, without chemicals. T3 = mixture of two detergents; Oni product is composed of the following ingredients (sodium C12-13 parenth sulfate, and sodium C14-17 alkyl sec sulfonate) and Tide product with the following ingredients (sodium C10-16 alkylbenzene sulfonate, propylene glycol and sodium borate). Results obtained during the follow-up period showed that the black soap, spirodiclofen, and two detergent treatments provided a decrease in the P. citri population in comparison with plot treated by water during the whole monitoring period. We found 5,044 mobile forms of P. citri in the plot treated by water only, 1,544 forms in the plot treated with spirodiclofen, 3,002 forms in the plot treated with black soap, and 1,567 mobile forms in the plot treated with two detergents. This study demonstrated that all three treatments had a negative effect on the predators that survived in comparison to the control (T0), while the negative impact of spirodiclofen on beneficial phytoseiid mites was greater than that of black soap and detergents. However, the increase in temperature according to the follow-up weeks showed a significant effect on the evolution of the density of the studied mites. Unfortunately, the chemical products like spirodiclofen used against various citrus pests are considered toxic to phytoseiids and to the agro-ecosystem in general. This comparison aims to detect the effectiveness of black soap and mixtures of two detergents on P. citri and their impacts on its predators: E. stipulatus, P. persimilis, and Typhlodromus sp. to replace the use of pesticides by these alternative methods, which remain effective and environmentally friendly.

An automated, qualitative and semi-quantitative micro-assay for the detection of plant lectins also known as phyto-agglutinins (glycoproteins; have exciting applications in medicines) is described as an alternative to conventional assays. The method developed in this work is based on hemagglutination (HA) assay that can simultaneously detect the presence and concentration (titer) of lectins in as many as 96 different samples without the aid of an expert eye. We used rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds for making clarified lectin extracts and Arabic gum as positive control in phosphate buffer saline; the method is applicable to all kinds and parts of the plants. Rabbit red blood cells were used in order to carry out the HA assay in a miniaturized experiment using U-welled microplates (MPs). 25 µL of plant extract is sufficient to carry out HA micro-assay at incubation temperature of 38°C for 20 min. The method was standardized with an expert eye and automated by using MP reader. Moreover, a standard curve for the direct interpretation of lectin concentration is also developed by conversion of absorbance values into titer. The method described will save time, material, labor, and simplify the rapid semi-quantification of plant lectins.