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Nanogold is an emerging and versatile therapeutic agent since decades. Nanoogold and its’complexes can be synthesized through different ways. Its’ use in oncology as a drug delivery vehicle, phothothermal agent, Nucliec acid delivery vehicle and a photodynamic agent has been investigated by many researchers. Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are nanovehicles with inimitable optical properties and incredible biocompatibility which have the property to effect the fate of cancer by delivering anticancer drugs, nucleic acids to cancer cells and tissues. Herein different modes of applications of nanogold in oncology and the challenges during the use of nanogold as therapeutic agent have been discussed. Nanogold and its’ complexes can be used as a biocompatible and efficient tool to treat and diagnose different types of cancer which are discussed with details in this review.

This current study investigates the biological efficiency of essential oils extracted from Bistorta affinis and Malcolmia cabulica on human and foodborne pathogens as well as against insects and termites. The oils were obtained by steam distillation using a Clevenger-type system and analyzed for their constituents using GC-MS. Twenty compounds were identified, wherein carvacrol and thymol were the main constituents in both plants. Essential oils exhibited significant activity against all tested foodborne bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. In addition, essential oils from both plants have shown promising activity against all tested insects, which is a positive sign of being used as an insect repellent. In contrast, no activity was observed against termites. The bioactivities are mainly due to carvacrol and thymol’s levels in the essential oils that known for their effectiveness against foodborne pathogens and pests. The present study constitutes a basis for further investigation and development of bioactive compounds in Bistorta affinis and Malcolmia cabulica.

One potential avenue to increase the production of valuable protein ingredients for the food industry is developing vegetable proteins from non-traditional plant sources. In the present study, the composition, structure and techno-functional characteristics of defatted purslane flour (DF), protein concentrate (PC), and protein isolate (AP) were investigated. The results revealed that DF, PC, and PI contained low levels of moisture, ash, and fat. However, there were significant differences (P

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries in the Middle East to take strict measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The present study aimed to identify the degree of application of social distancing and its relationship to psychological well-being among members of Saudi society in relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The study sample consisted of 564 individuals chosen by a convenience sampling method from Najran, the Southern region of Saudi Arabia, from April 1 to April 30, 2021. The data collection process employed two tools include social distancing scale and psychological well-being scale. Relation and correlation between variables were investigated using the Fisher exact test; the P-value was significant at 40 years) and the scientific qualification in favor of the university qualification holders. However, there were no statistically significant differences on the gender variable.

Congress grass (Parthenium hysterophorus L., family Asteraceae) is found generally in agricultural and vacant lands across the globe. This study investigated the fatty acids and elemental profiles of different parts including roots, stem and leaves of P. hysterophorus in the response to seasonal variation. The elemental analysis and fatty acid were determined in both the winter and summer seasons. The root, stem, and leaves powder were subjected to extraction with acetone, water, chloroform, diethyl ether, ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane to measure the extractive values. Among all the plant parts, leaves recorded the highest extractive value of 29%, and 28% with acetone and diethyl ether, respectively, while the root recorded the lowest (10.3%) extractive value with chloroform. Higher concentrations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were detected in all the plant parts in the winter collection than in the summer season. Parthenium hysterophorus is multi medicinal applications such as used for rheumatic pain, urinary tract infections, inflammation, diarrhea, neuralgia, and malaria. The study highlights the importance of collection time (seasons) of different parts of P. hysterophorus for the maximum extraction of both elements and fatty acids either saturated or unsaturated from the pharmacogenetic point of view.

L-asparaginases convert L-asparagine into L-aspartate and ammonia. The L-asparaginase from Bacillus subtilis was cloned and expressed in the E. coli strain BL21(DE3)pLysS in the current study. Using glutathione sepharose 4B column chromatography, the L-asparaginase enzyme was uniformly purified 173.34 times, with a final specific activity of 1769.13 IU/mg protein and a yield of 56.14%. The isolated enzyme was identified as a 36 kDa polypeptide chain by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The immobilized enzyme was placed on top of the Ca alginate beads. The immobilized enzyme is quite stable and retains the majority of its activity at 4 °C (74 percent). The enzymatic and structural characteristics of free and immobilized recombinant L-asparaginase were studied. The activity of the free enzyme peaked after 30 min of incubation at pH 8.0 and 45 °C. After 30 minutes at 50 °C, the immobilized enzyme showed its peak activity at a pH of 8.5. The refined enzyme's amino acid makeup was identified. An enzyme that heals leukemia, Bacillus subtilis L-asparaginase, can be successfully mass-produced using this technique.

Purpose: The research study was prototyped to assess pharmacological activities (antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, phytotoxic and haemagglutination) of Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica leaves extracts. The positive outcomes of the study can aid in formulations of novel therapeutic opportunities by using natural, eco-friendly, and economic raw materials having least side effects and aced potency. Method: Leaves extracts of Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica were prepared using analytical grade ethanol, methanol, acetone and n-hexane. Then the extracts were subjected to antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, phytotoxic and haemagglutination assay. Well-diffusion antibacterial protocol was followed against pathogenic bacteria. Tube dilution antifungal protocol was followed against pathogenic fungi. DPPH radical scavenging assay at variable sample dilutions was followed for antioxidant assay. Lemna minor lethality assay was followed for phytotoxic assay. Haemagglutination assay were assessed against ABO blood groups. Results: Crude leaves extracts (aqueous, acetone, methanolic and ethanolic) of preferred plants i.e., Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica owned superlative antimicrobial efficacy against all test micro-organisms specifically Escherichia coli ((91%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (85%), Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (81%) and mycelium of Fusarium oxysporum (85%) was halted by Agave americana leaves extracts. In comparison to these crude extracts of Mentha spicata terrifically halted growth of Proteus mirabilis (80%) while leaves extracts Mangifera indica halted growth of Streptococcus griseus (90%) respectively. Excellent antioxidant and phytotoxic efficacy were recorded at higher sample concentrations. No haemagglutination efficacy recorded. Conclusion: From the study it was concluded that leaves of Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica possess excellent antimicrobial potentials which can aid to formulation new antibiotics having excellent effects in least doses. These extracts can also be used to treat many maladies by eliminating reactive oxidants and promoting healthy metabolism. These extracts can also be utilized as ecofriendly and user-friendly herbicide.

Lignin was used as a natural filler to improve the recalcitrance of environmentally friendly biocomposites made from starch. The tensile properties of lignin-starch biocomposites prepared by lignin reinforcing of urea cross-linked starch (UcS) were investigated in this study. The amount of lignin loaded into UcS was from 5 to 20%. These various compositions were buried in a microcosm of anaerobic soil. After 7 days of burial, biodegraded biocomposites were tested for changes in tensile characteristics. Changes in biodegradation were measured by comparing them to pristine samples, which were utilised as a benchmark for estimating. Through reinforcing polymeric starch in UcS, lignin was discovered to slow down the rate of loss in tensile characteristics of composites. With increasing lignin loadings from 5 to 20%, biodegraded biocomposites showed a constant reduction in elongation at break, Young’s modulus, and tensile strength. As a result, the biodegraded biocomposites’ metrics exhibited a substantially slower decrease than the control biodegraded film. The reduction in tensile properties of biodegraded biocomposites was explained by a significant difference (p < 0.05) using a paired t-test. This study found that lignin increased the strength of UcS and reduced the loss of tensile characteristics, probably as a result of soil microorganisms’ biodegradation activity being inhibited.

The primary goal of this study is to convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel using immobilized lipase enzyme from Bacillus halotolerans. The used cooking oil acid quantity is 3.95 mg KOH/g. In the optimal settings of enzymatic transesterification, methanol:oil ratio 6:1, reaction time 120 min, lipase enzyme concentration 0.6 mg/ml, and temperature 32 °C, the biodiesel yield was 29.64 mg/kg. ANOVA analysis revealed that enzyme concentration and methanol:oil ratios are the two most dominating factors affecting biodiesel yield. The high R2 99.87 and R2 adj 99.56 values indicate that the fitted model agrees with the predicted biodiesel and actual experimental values. Bio-supported beads could preserve up to 76.62 percent of original activity after six cycles of immobilized lipase enzyme reusability testing. Furthermore, the characteristics of biodiesel were assessed and confirmed using the glycerol assay method and FTIR analysis. The proposed technique has the potential to reduce biodiesel production costs and make waste cooking oil disposal easier. Additionally, this study found that the optimization process improves and enhances the process of converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel.

Tyrosinase and α-glucosidase enzymes are known as promising target candidates for inhibitors to control unwanted pigmentation and type II diabetics mellitus. Therefore, twenty extracts as enzyme inhibitors were prepared from edible spices: nutmeg, mace, star anise, fenugreek, and coriander aiming to explore their antioxidant, antibrowning, and antidiabetic potential. Results confirmed that all extracts showed potent antioxidant activity ranging from I C 50 = 0.14 ± 0.03 to 3.69 ± 0.37 μ g / mL . In addition, all extracts exhibited excellent antityrosinase ( I C 50 = 1.16 ± 0.06 to 71.32 ± 4.63 μ g / mL ) and anti-α-glucosidase (IC50 4.76 ± 0.71 to 42.57 ± 2.13 μ g / mL ) activities outperforming the corresponding standards, hydroquinone, and acarbose, respectively. Among all extracts, star anise ethyl acetate (Star anise ETAC) was found most potent inhibitor for both tyrosinase and α-glucosidase enzymes and was further studied to explore the mechanism of enzyme inhibition. Kinetic analysis revealed its irreversible but mixed-type tyrosinase inhibition with preferentially competitive mode of action. However, it binds reversibly with α-glucosidase through competitive mode of action. Further, star anise ETAC extract showed concentration dependent and posttreatment time-dependent antibrowning effect on potato slices and antidiabetic effect on diabetic rabbits in vivo proposing it promising candidate for tyrosinase-rooted antibrowning and α-glucosidase-associated diabetes management for future studies.

In the search for potent bioactive compounds, a series of tetrahydro-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thiones (1–13) were synthesized in good yield and characterized by means of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectral data. The anticancer activity of the compounds was evaluated against HeLa cell line and anti-inflammatory potential via nitric oxide (NO) inhibition. Among the screened compounds, 2-(5-(3-methoxypropyl)-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) propionic acid (3), 2-(5-cyclopropyl-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) propionic acid (5), 2-(5-cyclopropyl)-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) acetic acid (6), and 2-(5-butyl-6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl) acetic acid (9) were the most potent against HeLa cell line with IC50 values 50 values ranging from

Plant extracts have always been used as an alternative source of antimicrobial compounds. The recent spread of multi-drug-resistant bacteria and their increased treatment costs necessitated the study of alternative, cheap sources. The family Euphorbiaceae has over 300 genera and is widely used in traditional medicine. Euphorbia triaculeata, E. fractiflexa, and E. inarticulata were selected to study the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract against 13 Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus) and 2 Gram-negative isolates, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, by the Kirby Bauer Disc diffusion test. Paper discs with different concentrations of the extracts (100, 50, and 25 µg mL−1) were prepared, along with the methanol control and standard antibiotic control. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was done to study the phytochemical components present in the plant methanolic extracts. A total of 50 different phytochemical compounds with antibacterial activity were detected by GC/MS analysis of the plants. Twenty-five compounds were detected in E. inarticulata, 24 in E. triaculeata, and 21 in E. fractiflexa. Out of 37 compounds found in E. inarticulata and E. triaculeata, 12 (32.43%) were common to both. Eleven (22%) compounds were unique to E. inarticulata, while 9 (18%) compounds were unique to E. triaculeata, and 13 (26%) compounds were unique to E. fractiflexa. E. fractiflexa showed the best antibacterial activity against MRSA and Gram-negative bacteria. It also showed higher unique compounds with antibacterial activity (26%), followed by E. inarticulata (11, 22%). This is the first GC/MS analysis and antimicrobial activity report of E. triaculeata and E. fractiflexa.

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels that occurs either due to insufficient insulin production or mounting resistance to its action. The purpose of this study was to investigate if methanolic extracts of Lepidium sativum seeds, Ficus carica, and Punica granatum leaves had any effect on blood sugar levels in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats, as well as to explore the most effective extract. Method. Healthy male albino rats weighing 185-266 g were divided into nine groups of eight rats each: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic rats with dietary supplements of L. sativum, F. carica, and P. granatum methanolic extracts, and diabetics treated with insulin. All of the rats were fed on ordinary diet with nutritional pellets and were given water ad libitum. To induce diabetes, all animals were administered with STZ intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 60 mg/kg body weight. For five weeks, the crude plant extracts were given orally to various groups of rats at doses of one hundred and two hundred mg/kg body weight. After that, animal groups were sacrificed and blood samples were taken. Results. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the highest amounts of polyphenolic compounds were present in L. sativum seeds and P. granatum leaves, while leaves of F. carica showed the highest amounts of alkaloid and flavonoid content compared to other extracts. Oral administration of F. carica and L. sativum extracts at the dosage of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced glucose, lipid profile, kidney, and liver enzyme levels. A significant increase in HbAlc levels was also observed with L. sativum extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg compared to diabetic controls. Mellitus rats supplemented with 100 and 200 mg/kg methanolic extracts of P. granatum had higher serum triglycerides and lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than normal control rats. F. carica extract is more effective than L. sativum and P. granatum extracts in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its consequences.

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common emergency and life-threatening illness. Also, if not detected early, early treatment in the emergency room can cause serious complications. The goal of managing type 1 diabetes is to maintain the correct levels of blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, lipid levels, and body weight while avoiding hypoglycemia. Treatment of type 1 diabetes requires proper insulin treatment, proper nutrition, physical activity, preventive education, and patient self-care Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine parental perceptions of DKA symptoms in children with type 1 diabetes in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: In the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to May 2021 among parents with diabetic children at the Diabetes Center in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia using a pre-designed online questionnaire distributed on social media web-sites to collect data. Data was analyzed by using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, version 23) and results was presented by tabular and graphical presentation according to the study objectives. Results: only 42.9% of our participants responded that they have good knowledge about DKA. 19.2% thought it only occurs in children. 43.3% of our participants knew that DKA is a complication of diabetes due to hyperglycemia. Regarding the source of information about DKA among our participants, our data demonstrated that only 22.9% of our participants got their information about DKA from the doctors, and 31.8% of the participants had the internet as their source of information regarding DKA. In the current study, 14% of the participants said that they had a child had DKA at least one, and 91.6% of them were admitted to the hospital. There was a significant relation with gender, age of the parent, and educational level, while it showed insignificant relation with marital status. Conclusion: In conclusion, knowledge of most of parents of diabetic children about diabetic ketoacidosis is poor. Their main knowledge source is not trustful or adequate. Their main knowledge source is not trustful or adequate. Therefore, we recommend policy makers to held health education to parents and/or caregivers of type 1 diabetic children regarding all aspects of DKA. It must be properly achieved in a structured manner based on a general outline that should include education at the onset of treatment and then repeated based upon an annual assessment of patients’ training needs or upon their own request. Areas of poor knowledge related to diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis should be emphasized during health education sessions.

Advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing are allowing faster and more affordable generation of molecular phylogenetic trees for many organisms. However, resolving relationships at species level is still challenging, particularly for taxonomically difficult groups. Until recently, the classification of Ochna had been based only on morphological data. Here, we present the first comprehensive phylogenomic study for the genus using targeted sequencing with a custom probe kit. We sampled c. 85% of species to evaluate the current infrageneric classification. Our results show that the data generated using the custom probe kit are effective in resolving relationships in the genus, revealing three sections consistent with the current classification and a new section consisting of species from Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. Our results provide the first insights into the evolutionary relationships of several widespread and morphologically diverse species numerous poorly known and potentially new species to science. We demonstrate that for morphologically challenging groups such as Ochna, an integrated approach to classification is essential. Phylogenomic results are only informative when derived from accurately named samples. There is a symbiotic relationship between molecular phylogenomics and morphology-based taxonomy, with taxonomic expertise a requirement to accurately interpret the phylogenomic results.

Syzygium cumini L. (Jamun) is a Pakistani indigenous plant, which exhibits various diseases biological activities including antidiabetic, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, and even diuretic. The present work was carried out to provide a scientific justification to its use in folk medicine. In the current research work, the crude methanol extract and subsequent fractions of S. cumini fruits were subjected to phytochemical studies, along with urease, α-glucosidase, and phosphodiesterase inhibition profiling. Results showed that the plant is a rich source of various classes of compounds such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenols, glycosides, saponins, and tannins. In addition, results indicated that the crude extract and fractions significantly inhibit the aforementioned enzymes at tested concentrations. The observed urease inhibitory activity (IC50 values) of methanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and chloroform were 10.17 ± 1.00, 7.09 ± 2.00, 8.32 ± 1.76, and 12.23 ± 1.09 µg, respectively. Similarly, the crude methanol extract, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and n-butanol factions exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory potential with IC50 values of 129.98 ± 1.23, 702.74 ± 1.65, 430.21 ± 1.98, and 650.11 ± 1 0.00 µg, respectively, as compared to the standard. On the other hand, the ethyl acetate and n-butanol factions showed excellent phosphodiesterase inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 270.77 ± 1.98 and 87.09 µg, respectively. The antagonistic effect of these samples is attributed to the presence of different phytochemicals. Moreover, the inhibition of these enzymes provided a sound scientific backup to the mentioned folklores.

Urease is a metallo-protein in which two nickel (Ni) atoms are present at the active site. It is found in all the organisms such as, bacteria, fungi, plants, and in algae. Urease enzymes are also involved in catalyzing the hydrolysis of urea into CO2 and NH3. Urease is a virulence factor found in various pathogenic bacteria. It is essential in colonization of a host organism and in maintenance of bacterial cells in tissues. Due to its enzymatic activity, urease has a toxic effect on human cells. Current research work aimed to purify the three di-naphthodiospyrols namely; 5,4 -dihydroxy-1-methoxy-6,6 -dimethyl7,3-binaphthyl-1,4,5,8-tetraone (1), 5,8 -dihydroxy-5-methoxy-6,6-dimethyl-7,3-binaphthyl-1,4,1,4 -tetraone (2) and 8,5,8-trihydroxy-6,6-dimethyl-7,3-binaphthyl-1,4,1,4-tetraone (3) from the chloroform fraction of Diospyros lotus roots. The pure constituents (1-3) were evaluated for their urease inhibitory activity. Compounds (1-3) exhibited potent activity with IC50 value of 28.27 ± 1.68, 20.57 ± 2.00, 27.12 ± 2.45 µM respectively, when compared with standard thiourea (IC50 = 21.23 ± 0.12 µM). The pure isolated compounds (1-3) were also subjected to in silico studies to know their binding pattern with enzyme. The binding orientation and interactions with the important residues of urease enzyme revealed that the three compounds inactivate the enzyme activity by interacting with Ni bi-center as well as with the tailpiece residues.

To obtain a multipotent framework that can target simultaneously COX-2, 5-LOX, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) to treat neuroinflammation, a series of derivatives containing pyrimidine and pyrrolidine cores were rationally synthesized and evaluated. Pyrazoline-pyrimidine hybrid (23g), (3-acetylcoumarin derivative of pyrrolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide (27), and tacrine derivatives of (pyrrolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide (31, 38) displayed excellent in vitro COX-2 inhibition having IC50 value in the nanomolar range. Tacrine-pyrrolidine hybrids 36 and 38, and tacrine-pyrimidine hybrid (46) emerged as the most potent eeAChE inhibitors with IC50 values of 23, 16, and 2 nM, respectively. However, compounds 27, 31, and 38 possessed excellent simultaneous and balanced inhibitory activity against all of the four tested targets and thus emerged as optimal multipotent hybrid compounds among all of the synthesized series of the compounds. In the ex vivo, transgenic animal models treated with compounds 36 and 46 displayed a significant decline in both AChE and BChE potentials in the hippocampus and cortical tissues. In anti-inflammatory activities, animals treated with compounds 36 and 46 displayed a significant % inhibition of edema induced by carrageenan and arachidonic acid. Biochemical analysis and histopathological examination of mice liver indicate that tacrine derivatives are devoid of hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity against SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines. In vivo acute toxicity study showed the safety of synthesized compounds up to 1000 mg/kg dose. The inhibitory manner of interaction of these potent drugs on all of the studied in vitro targets was confirmed by molecular docking investigations.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is an herbaceous plant originating from South America and processed into cigarettes for consumption. Polyphenols are considered vital components of tobacco in view of their contribution to antioxidant properties. This study aimed to determine the phenolic compounds in different tobacco varieties by applying cold extraction with methanol and distilled water. The extracts were screened for phenolic compound diversity and distribution as well as their antioxidant potential in different tobacco varieties. The results showed that the methanolic extract of tobacco SP-28 exhibited the highest value in the total phenolic content (24.82 ± 0.07 mg GAE/gd.w.) and total flavonoid content (4.42 ± 0.01 mg QE/gd.w.), while the water extract of tobacco SN-2 exhibited the highest value in the total condensed tannin (1.12 ± 0.03 mg CE/gd.w.). The radical scavenging capacities of tobacco SP-28 were relatively high in DPPH (18.20 ± 0.01 mg AAE/gd.w.) and FRAP (3.02 ± 0.10 mg AAE/gd.w.), whereas the ABTS value was the highest in tobacco SN-2 (37.25 ± 0.03 mg AAE/gd.w.), and the total antioxidant capacity was the highest in tobacco SN-1 (7.43 ± 0.18 mg AAE/gd.w.). LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS identified a total of 49 phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids (14), flavonoids (30), and other polyphenols (5) in four different tobacco varieties. Tobacco SP-28 showed the highest number of phenolic compounds, especially enriched in flavones. Our study highlights the antioxidant potential of tobacco extracts and reveals the phenolic distribution among different tobacco varieties that could support tobacco utilization in different pharmaceutical industries.

One potential avenue to increase the production of valuable protein ingredients for the food industry is developing vegetable proteins from non-traditional plant sources. In the present study, the composition, structure and techno-functional characteristics of defatted purslane flour (DF), protein concentrate (PC), and protein isolate (AP) were investigated. The results revealed that DF, PC, and PI contained low levels of moisture, ash, and fat. However, there were significant differences (P 0.05) in protein content between DF, PC, and PI (32.9, 60.8 and 90.9%, respectively). The techno-functional characteristics of purslane proteins were enhanced by processing purslane flour into PC and PI products. Furthermore, the ratios of total essential amino acids to total amino acids in purslane protein samples were well above that stated for ideal food proteins. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated three subunits of protein in DF, PC, and PI. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that DF exhibited a compact-like structure; PC had a small, flaky, but porous type of particle, and PI had an intact flake-like structure. The FTIR analysis revealed that some alterations in the secondary structure of protein were occurred. In summary, purslane proteins can be considered new functional food ingredients with different nutritional and technological characteristics.

The Sophora mollis is one of the best anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancerous plant; therefore, the isolated chemical constituents, that is, scopoletin (1), pinitol (2), 2-propenoic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-octacosyl ester (3), betulin (4), and β-sitosterol glucoside (5) were tested for these folklores. The structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D-NMR, and mass spectral data. The anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiglycation, and antioxidant activities of compounds 1-5 were evaluated using different assays. Compound 1 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effect as it reduced edema of the paw (83.98%), which is more potent than the standard drug (ibuprofen) (which showed an inhibition percentage of 73.22% a), followed by compound 3. Furthermore, compound 3 showed significant free-radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free-radical assay. Percentage inhibition of DPPH recorded was 95.646 ± 0.003, 94.766 ± 0.014, and 94.516 ± 0.011% at concentrations of 400, 200, and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of anticancer activity of isolated compounds reveals weak effect against HeLa and 3T3 cell lines. Docking studies of the most active compound into the binding sites of cyclooxygenase isoforms showed a better antagonistic potential against COX-1 than the COX-2 isoform.

A sensitive and simple sample pretreatment method based on a two-phase solvent bar microextraction (SBME) technique coupled with HPLC-diode array detector (DAD) was developed for simultaneous extraction and determination of trace amounts of furosemide and carbamazepine in human urine and plasma samples. The significance of operational factors on carbamazepine and furosemide extraction efficiency % (EE%) was screened using full factorial design (FFD) while central composite design (CCD) was used to model the entire process. A quadratic model was found convenient to correlate the extraction EE% of selected drugs with dominant experimental factors. A Pareto chart was also used to examine the importance of factors on drugs' EE%. The analytical performance of the method in urine and plasma samples demonstrated good linearity (R

Background: 1,3,4-oxadizole and pyrazole derivatives are very important scaffolds for medicinal chemistry. A literature survey revealed that they possess a wide spectrum of biological activities including anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects. Objectives: To describe the synthesis and evaluation of two classes of new niflumic acid (NF) derivatives, the 1,3,4-oxadizole derivatives (compounds 3 and (4A-E) and pyrazole derivatives (compounds 5 and 6), as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in silico and in vitro. Methods: The designed compounds were synthesized using conventional organic synthesis methods. The antitumor activities of the new NF derivatives against HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cell lines were assessed in vitro via MTT assay, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, as well as via molecular docking studies. Results: The cytotoxicity results indicated that the newly synthesized NF derivatives were cytotoxic against the two cancer cell lines, with compound 6 being the most cytotoxic, achieving the lowest IC50 concentration. Furthermore, compound 6 targeted EGFR tyrosine kinase leading to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M cell cycle phase and induction of apoptosis. The in vitro biological investigation results matched those of the molecular docking analysis. In conclusion, the new NF derivatives, specifically compound 6, exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic features and are promising EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Conclusion: A series of niflumic acid derivatives (3, 4A-E, 5, and 6) were successfully created, and FT-IR, 1H, 13CNMR, and HRMS were used to confirm their chemical structures. According to molecular docking studies, compounds 3, 5, and 6 have the highest docking scores (ΔG), and most tested compounds have a good pharmacokinetic profile. Results of compound 6 in vitro antitumor activities showed that it is a promising EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Enzymes that degrade pectin are called pectinases. Pectinases of microbial origin are used in juice clarification as the process is cost-effective. This study screened a pectinase-producing bacterium isolated from soil and identified as

The inadequate role of silver nanoparticles is evident from their underutilization in myriad applications in the modern era. Herein we report the environment-friendly, facile, and robust synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) from alcoholic extracts of black cumin (Bunium persicum) seeds to reduce and stabilise agents. The extract principally consists of nigellon, terpenoid, thymoquinone, polyene, phenylpropanoids, and phototoxic furanocoumarins. The effect of pH revealed that the BCS@Ag-NPs were more stable at neutral pH than acidic and basic. A change in the size and number of BCS@Ag-NPs was observed at high sodium chloride solution concentrations showing their instability in a concentrated salt solution. The synthesized BCS@Ag-NPs were considered significant catalysts showed by approximate 99% conversion of the 4-nitrophenolate anion into 4-aminophenol in 24 min. The surface plasmon resonance of BCS@Ag-NPs at 430 nm was recorded on UV–Vis spectrometer, and particle size ranging from 35 to 77 nm was measured through scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of amines, alcohols and amide functional groups at 3365 cm−1, 1646 cm−1 and 1026 cm−1 capped along with the reduction of BCS@Ag-NPs. The firm peaks for Ag atoms in BCS@Ag-NPs at almost 0.4, 3.1 and 3.2 keV in EDX analysis showed the presence of elemental silver. Nevertheless, the alcoholic seed extract and synthesized BCS@Ag-NPs exhibited excellent various pharmacological activities. Both the tested samples significantly inhibited Urease, CA-II, PDE-I. The inhibitory potential against tyrosinase was appreciated against extract as compared to BCS@Ag-NPs. The alcoholic extract was effective in the inhibition of E. coli. Both of the tested samples proved significant analgesia in the acetic acid-induced writhing model. A noticeable sedative response was observed as a compared extract. No mortality was detected in acute toxicity. In conclusion, these results provide the scientific rationale to the folklore of black cumin for GIT problems, hypertension, bronchodilation and analgesic.

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), such as hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPGs) with a dendritic configuration, have been recognized for their excellent biocompatibility and multifunctionalization. HPGs have been studied for use in the delivery diagnostic, imaging and therapeutic molecules in the area of nanobiomedicine. They show superior characteristics to linear polymers and dendrimers, such as compact structure, a simple manufacturing process with easy functionalization ability, low viscosity, and high stability. Owing to these advantages, HPGs are now considered promising carriers for drug delivery, diagnostics, imaging, and theranostics applications for cancer treatment. In this review, we also discuss safety aspects of HPG-based nanoformulations in various animal models and the clinical translation status of such polymers for real-time applications.

Fifty four domestically produced cannabis samples obtained from different USA states were quantitatively assayed by GC–FID to detect 22 active components: 15 terpenoids and 7 cannabinoids. The profiles of the selected compounds were used as inputs for samples grouping to their geographical origins and for building a geographical prediction model using Linear Discriminant Analysis. The proposed sample extraction and chromatographic separation was satisfactory to select 22 active ingredients with a wide analytical range between 5.0 and 1,000 µg/mL. Analysis of GC-profiles by Principle Component Analysis retained three significant variables for grouping job (Δ9-THC, CBN, and CBC) and the modest discrimination of samples based on their geographical origin was reported. PCA was able to separate many samples of Oregon and Vermont while a mixed classification was observed for the rest of samples. By using LDA as a supervised classification method, excellent separation of cannabis samples was attained leading to a classification of new samples not being included in the model. Using two principal components and LDA with GC–FID profiles correctly predict the geographical of 100% Washington cannabis, 86% of both Oregon and Vermont samples, and finally, 71% of Ohio samples.

Sajjad Ahmad,1 Mater H Mahnashi,2 Bandar A Alyami,2 Yahya S Alqahtani,2 Farhat Ullah,1 Muhammad Ayaz,1 Muhammad Tariq,3 Abdul Sadiq,1 Umer Rashid4 1Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 3Department PCB, Rokhan University, Jalalabad, Nangrahar, Afghanistan; 4Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, PakistanCorrespondence: Abdul SadiqDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Malakand, Chakdara, 18000 Dir (L), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanTel +92 301 2297 102Email sadiquom@yahoo.comUmer RashidDepartment of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, PakistanTel +92-334 5171999Email umerrashid@cuiatd.edu.pkBackground: Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition is a strong approach for C-C bond formation. The objective of the study is to design molecules by exploiting the efficiency of Michael Adducts. We proceeded with the synthesis of Michael adducts by tailoring the substitution pattern on maleimide and trans-β-nitro styrene as Michael acceptors. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for dual cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition.Methods: The compounds (4, 9– 11) were synthesized through Michael additions. The cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and 2) and lipoxygenase (5-LOX) assays were used for in vitro evaluations of compounds. After the acute toxicity studies, the in vivo analgesic potential was determined with acetic acid induced writhing, tail immersion, and formalin tests. Furthermore, the possible roles of adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors were also studied. Extensive computational studies were performed to get a better understanding regarding the binding of this compound with protein target.Results: Four Michael adducts (4, 9– 11) were synthesized. Compound 4 was obtained in enantio- and diastereopure form. The stereopure compound 4 showed encouraging COX-1 and-2 inhibitions with IC50 values of 128 and 65 μM with SI of 1.94. Benzyl derivative 11 showed excellent COX-2 inhibition with the IC50 value of 5.79 μM and SI value 7.96. Compounds 4 and 11 showed good results in in vivo models of analgesia like acetic acid test, tail immersion, and formalin tests. Our compounds were not active in dopaminergic and adrenergic pathways and so were acting centrally. Through extensive computational studies, we computed binding energies, and pharmacokinetic predictions.Conclusion: Our findings conclude that our synthesized Michael products (pyrrolidinedione 4 and nitroalkane 11) can be potent centrally acting analgesics. Our in silico predictions suggested that the compounds have excellent pharmacokinetic properties. It is concluded here that dual inhibition of COX/LOX pathways provides a convincing step towards the discovery of safe lead analgesic molecules.Keywords: Michael products, succinimides, cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, analgesic, molecular docking, adrenergic and dopaminergic

Variables selection is often necessary to remove redundant data and to reduce the negative influence of spectral overlapping. In the current work, two interval variable selection methods were applied to quantify five coloring agents (Tartrazine TAR, Sunset Yellow SY, Allura Red AR, Brilliant Blue BBL, and Brilliant Black BBK) which exhibited intense spectral overlapping in powdered soft drinks. Interval partial least squares iPLS and net analyte signal NAS methodology were used to pick up the most informative variables for dyes quantification in powdered soft drinks. Based on NAS calculations, the optimum sensitivity and selectivity for dyes measurement were found to be (1.23–5.56) and (0.30–0.72), respectively and at pH 3.0. Moreover, the minimum spectral overlapping (28–70%) among dyes was observed at pH 3.0 while the maximum overlapping (38–74%) was at pH 10.0. Interval partial least squares iPLS was more capable to handle the overlapping between SY and AR dyes. On the other hand, net analyte signal method was effective to capturing the informative regions for dyes of lower spectral overlapping, TAR, BBL, and BBK. In the case of AR, the best prediction (REP% 2.4) was achieved at 350–530 nm using iPLS. However, the best prediction of BBL (REP% 3.4%) was achieved at 655–680 nm (i.e., 6 variables) using NAS/PLS regression. The ability NAS/PLS regression, which uses fewer number of variables, was attributed to NAS mechanism which extracts the net signal of the analyte, thus; preventing overlapping with the rest of compounds signals and this will elegantly leads to fewer number of variables. The superiority of iPLS to calibrate intensely overlapping dyes is attributed to its inherent mechanism of selecting the spectral data that include all possible variables leading to better prediction. At the optimum calibration conditions, the dyes were detected in powdered soft drinks with adequate accuracy (%recoveries 97.3–107.5) and precision (RSD 3.1–9.30). The maximum total concentration of dyes was reported in orange drink samples reaching to 567 mg/kg. The result highlights and emphasizes the highly required further monitoring of this type of food, considering the damages of such popular synthetic dyes to human health. Analysis of results by ANOVA indicated that the total content of dyes was statistically comparable in the samples while the total content of each single dye was statistically different in tested samples.

This study characterized the lignin peroxidase (LiP) activity of soil via an enzyme assay to determine the reaction rates and activation energies for 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% lignin loads in urea crosslinked starch biocomposites. The results revealed that a mixed mode of LiP inhibition occurred after the soil was mixed with these biocomposites with different loads of lignin. Loading of lignin at 5 wt% and 10 wt% lignin resulted in higher values of catalytic activity of LiP: -39.58 and 49.14 µM h-1 g-1 soil, respectively. In comparison, with higher loading of lignin at 15 wt% and 20 wt%, decreases in the catalytic activity of LiP were found and were 28.72 to 37.25 µM h-1 g-1 soil, respectively. The activation energy of LiP increased approximately 1.11- to 1.22-fold when 15 and 20 wt% of lignin was loaded in biocomposites. Research findings established the possibility of unfavorable binding of the LiP to lignin with an increase in the load of lignin, possibly due to the complex structure of intact lignin and presence of inhibitory biodegradation products of lignin accumulates during lignin biodegradation in biocomposites. It was concluded that higher lignin contents (15 wt% and 20 wt%) were effective in reducing the activity of the soil LiP. Hence, higher lignin content possibly protects against losses of lignin, while acting as a filler in the formulation of biocomposites.

Fast, simple, and environmentally friendly gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) capped and stabilized with black cumin (Bunium persicum) seed alcohol extract are reported. The aqueous gold ions (Au3+) were treated with B. persicum (BP) seed extract, which resulted in a rapid color change to red, indicating the synthesis of Au-NPs. UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to further characterize the Au-NPs. Its stability was assessed against various pH levels and sodium chloride levels (NaCl), different salts of same concentration as well as at a range of temperature (30–100°C). The UV-Vis spectrum in the Au-NPs produced a 540 nm plasmon surface resonance, and a 25–50 nm range of particulates was shown in the SEM analysis. In addition, the FTIR spectra confirmed the inclusion in the capping and decrease of Au-NPs of amines, amide groups, and alcohols. The EDX analysis confirmed the presence of element Au. Furthermore, Au-NPs were tested for enzyme inhibition and antibacterial and antifungal activities and showed remarkable response. These findings have concluded that BP seed extract is an effective bio-reductant of gold nanoparticle synthesis, which can be further applied in different biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

Several plants in the genus Pistacia are used in the treatment of various pathogenic and non-pathogenic disorders. Especially important are the major species belonging to this genus such as Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia atlantica, Pistacia vera, Pistacia terebinthus, and Pistacia khinjuk, among others; these have been reported for their potential benefits both in medical and commercial purposes. In addition, members of this genus exhibit numerous ethnomedicinal uses, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antihypertension, antihyperlipidemic, antiviral, and antiasthma. In light of these potential uses, the present chapter aimed to collect and summarize the literature about all of this medicinal information. Accordingly, this chapter focuses on the pharmacological uses and benefits of the genus Pistacia, especially those related to health issues.

In this research, cannabis varieties represent 23 USA States were assayed by GC-FID to generate their complex chemical profiles informative for plants clustering. Results showed that 45 cannabinoids and terpenoids were quantified in all plant samples, where 8 cannabinoids and 18 terpenoids were identified. Among organics, Δ9-THC, CBN (cannabinoids) and Fenchol (terpenoid) not only showed the highest levels overall contents, but also were the most important compounds for cannabis clustering. Among States, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii have the highest cannabis content. GC-FID data were subjected to PCA and HCA to find (1) the variations among cannabis chemical profiles as a result of growing environment, (2) to reveal the compounds that were responsible for grouping cultivars between clusters and (3) finally, to facilitate the future profile prediction and States clustering of unknown cannabis based on the chemical profile. The 23 cannabis USA States were grouped into three clusters based on only Δ9-THC, CBN, C1 and Fenchol content. Cannabis classification based on GC-profile will meet the practical needs of cannabis applications in clinical research, industrial production, patients' self-production, and contribute to the standardization of commercially-available cannabis cultivars in USA.

This study was conducted to enlarge the knowledge about the changes in physical andchemical properties of Opuntia dillenii fruits during the growing stages. Significant increaseswere observed in weight of ten fruits, ratio of pulp/peel, seeds percentage, firmness, widthand length. In addition, the levels of total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars,ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity significantly increased, butthe pH decreased. In addition, the maximum values of the properties were observed at 210DAFB (Days After Full Bloom). The content of betalains significantly increased and themaximum value was 100.47 mg /100 g at 210 DAFB. However, the content of totalchlorophylls significantly decreased and the lowest level was 1.65 mg / L at 210 DAFB. Also,the highest level of (a*) and the lowest level of (b*) were recorded at 210 DAFB. Therefore,the Opuntia dillenii fruits should be harvested at 210 DAFB under the Egyptian conditions.

Over the past decade, a growing interest has developed on the archaeology, palaeontology, and palaeoenvironments of the Arabian Peninsula. It is now clear that hominins repeatedly dispersed into Arabia, notably during pluvial interglacial periods when much of the peninsula was characterised by a semiarid grassland environment. During the intervening glacial phases, however, grasslands were replaced with arid and hyperarid deserts. These millennial-scale climatic fluctuations have subjected bones and fossils to a dramatic suite of environmental conditions, affecting their fossilisation and preservation. Yet, as relatively few palaeontological assemblages have been reported from the Pleistocene of Arabia, our understanding of the preservational pathways that skeletal elements can take in these types of environments is lacking. Here, we report the first widespread taxonomic and taphonomic assessment of Arabian fossil deposits. Novel fossil fauna are described and overall the fauna are consistent with a well-watered semiarid grassland environment. Likewise, the taphonomic results suggest that bones were deposited under more humid conditions than present in the region today. However, fossils often exhibit significant attrition, obscuring and fragmenting most finds. These are likely tied to wind abrasion, insolation, and salt weathering following fossilisation and exhumation, processes particularly prevalent in desert environments. Introduction Previous investigations Methods - Surveys - Systematic palaeontology - Taphonomic analysis Results - Systematic Palaeontology - Taphonomic analysis Discussion - Species representation and palaeoenvironmental implications - Taphonomic analysis Conclusions

Riyadh region is one of the hardest habitats in Saudi Arabia with a hyper-arid climate. This study was conducted to investigate floristic composition and plant life forms of Riyadh region and their ecological significance. Work aimed to determine the prevailing plant families and biological spectrum of their components that reflects the phytoclimate and adaptation to hyper-arid conditions of the region. Work involved field surveys of different locations in Riyadh region where plant specimens were collected and identified. Collected plant species were then listed according to their families and data were used to assess the contribution of different plant families to the flora of the region. Study of life forms was conducted to classify recorded floristic elements into categories that reflect environmental conditions prevailing in the region. Prevailing plant families were Asteraceae (17.4%), Poaceae (11%), Brassicaceae (9.9%), and Fabaceae (7%). These percentages reflect wide ecological ranges especially for Asteraceae and Poaceae. High presence of species belonging to Astreaceae and Poaceae can be attributed to their adaptation to harsh conditions as well as to effective wind dispersal strategies of their diaspores. While the most frequent life form classes were therophytes with 52%, and chamaephytes with 30%, phanerophytes and hemicryptophytes represented 9% and 8%, respectively. Predominance of therophytes and chamaephytes over other life forms is a response to hyper arid climate with insufficient rainfall and the nature of region of few available microhabitats that can support high percentage of perennials. Keywords: Riyadh region, Floristic composition, Life forms, Adaptation, Phytoclimate, Saudi Arabia

Breast cancer (BCa) is very common malignancy and globally, has become the second leading cause of cancer death among women. For the treatment of BCa, estrogen receptors-alpha (ERα) has proven to be a therapeutic target. In continuation of our previous reported dihydropyrimidine-based pregnenolone derivatives, we modified at C-3 hydroxyl group. Structural architecture of estrogen receptors (ER) with excellent ER binding affinity was used for modification. MTT assay was used to evaluate the synthesized steroidal analogs for their antiproliferative activities against ER-positive MCF-7, ER-negative MDA-MB-231 (ER