Search

Abstract: Using a synchrotron radiation source and a diamond anvil cell, we measured the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters of a polycrystalline Ti3GeC2 sample up to a pressure of 51GPa. No phase transformations were observed. Like Ti3SiC2, and most other compounds belonging to the same family of ternary carbides and nitrides, the so-called MAX phases, the compressibility of Ti3GeC2 along the c axis is greater than that along the a axis. The bulk modulus is 197±4GPa, with a pressure derivative of 3.4±0.1. We also characterized Ti3GeC2 by infrared spectroscopy; four of the five expected infrared modes were observed for this material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The primary objective of the present inquiry was to assess the impact of gamma irradiation on the chemical composition and antibacterial potential of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Moroccan Tanacetum annuum L. to this end, two distinct irradiation doses of 5 kGy and 10 kGy were administered to the essential oil, and the resultant effects were evaluated via analysis of the oil's chemical composition and antibacterial activity. The study findings have revealed that irradiation technology possesses the remarkable ability to modulate the concentrations of specific chemical constituents in a manner that effectively amplifies the antibacterial activity of the essential oil. Moreover, the technology has evinced the generation of novel compounds while also demonstrating the eradication of certain pre-existing ones upon the oil's exposure to irradiation. These discoveries have emphasized the potential of irradiation technology for augmenting the chemical profile of essential oils, thereby mitigating the risk of contamination via microbiological, physical, or chemical means, ultimately enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of the plant and its essential oil. Furthermore, the results of this study signify the possibility of harnessing irradiation technology in the production of various natural products and essential oils. The present research has thus broadened the horizons for the application of irradiation technology in advancing the potency and safety of essential oils, paving the way for a diverse range of applications in different fields, such as medicine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (© 2023 The Authors.)

Background: Ceratonia siliqua L. (Carob tree) is a Mediterranean evergreen, well known for its medicinal properties. The different parts of Carob were proven to exert antidiabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiproliferative effects. Hence, the present paper aims to validate the positive correlation between the high antioxidant activity of carob seed peels and the improvement of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Materials & Methods: The antioxidant activity was carried out using the β-carotene test. Methionine and carob seed peels (CSP) extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg) were orally administrated to mice for a week. After administration, behavioral tests were assessed using the Y-maze, elevated plus maze, and forced swimming tests, as well as the novel object recognition task. Furthermore, the oxidative stress status was evaluated by analyzing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes: Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde levels (MDA). Results: Both extracts exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity and showed antibacterial effect against Gram-positive bacteria tested ( Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus ) and against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative). Therefore, Escherichia coli was very resistant. The behavioral tests proved the efficacy of CSP in enhancing the cognitive impairment of animal models of schizophrenia. Hence, the stated correlation between oxidative stress and schizophrenia was confirmed by the increased SOD and GPx activities and the decreased MDA level. Conclusions: The present study gave further confirmation of the potential correlation between oxidative stress and the development of psychiatric disorders and highlighted the use of natural antioxidants, especially Ceratonia siliqua L. in the improvement of cognitive impairment in the dementia of schizophrenia.

Despite having been used for ages to preserve wood against several effects (biological attack and moisture effects) that cause its degradation, the effect of vegetable oils on the cedar wood physicochemical properties is poorly known. Thus, in this study, the hydrophobicity, electron-acceptor ( γ + ) properties of cedar wood before and after treatment with vegetable oils have been determined using contact angle measurement. The cedar wood has kept its hydrophobic character after treatment with the different vegetable oils. It has become more hydrophobic quantitatively with values of surface energy ranged from -25.84 to -43.45 mJ/m γ - ) properties of cedar wood before and after treatment with vegetable oils have been determined using contact angle measurement. The cedar wood has kept its hydrophobic character after treatment with the different vegetable oils. It has become more hydrophobic quantitatively with values of surface energy ranged from -25.84 to -43.45 mJ/m 2 and more electron donors compared to the untreated sample. Moreover, the adhesion of four fungal strains ( Penicillium commune (PDLd"), Thielavia hyalocarpa , Penicillium commune (PDLd10), and Aspergillus niger ) on untreated and treated cedar wood was examined theoretically and experimentally. For untreated wood, the experimental adhesion showed a positive relationship with the results obtained by the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) approach which found that all fungal strains could adhere strongly to the cedar wood material. In contrast, this relationship was not always positive after treatment. The Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) has shown that P. commune (PDLd10) and A. niger were found unable to adhere to the wood surface after treatment with sunflower and rapeseed oils. In addition, the results showed that the four fungal strains' adhesion was decreased with olive and linseed oils treatment except that of P. commune (PDLd10) treated with linseed oil., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this study., (Copyright © 2022 Fadoua Bennouna et al.)

The asymmetric unit of the title mol-ecular salt [systematic name: 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-diium bis(3-carboxy-prop-2-enoate)], C10H26N4 (2+)·2C4H3O4 (-), contains two half-cations (both completed by crystallographic inversion symmetry) and two maleate anions. The cyclam macrocycles adopt trans-III conformations, supported by two intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The O-bonded H atom of each maleate ion is disordered over two positions with an occupancy ratio of 0.61 (5):0.39 (5): each one generates an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond. In the crystal, the cations are linked to the anions by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating [001] chains.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(12)H(17)NO(3), contains two mol-ecules with different conformations. It is a polymorph of the monoclinic form [El Antri et al. (2004 ▶). Mol-ecules, 9, 650-657]; the samples were crystallized at different temperatures from the same solvent. In both structures, mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming chains. The conformations of the chains and their packing differ markedly in the two polymorphs.

The crystal structure of the title compound, C(7)H(10)N(+)·H(2)PO(3) (-), has been reported previously by Sabounchei & Naghipour [Asian J. Chem. (2003) ▶, 15, 1677-1686]. A new look at this compound has revealed doubling of the unit cell. The asymmetric unit consists of two 4-methyl-anilinium cations and two dihydrogen phosphite anions. The crystal structure is built upon alternating layers of organic cations and dihydrogen phosphite anions stacked along c. The organic layer is stabilized by C-H⋯π interactions. Weak aromatic π-π stacking interactions with centroid-centroid distances of 4.6147 (12), 4.6917 (12), 4.6932 (13) and 4.8366 (13) Å are also observed in the structure. The dihydrogen phosphite anions are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains running parallel to the a-axis direction. These chains are connected to the cation layer by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

In the title compound, Pb(2)(HPO(3))(NO(3))(2), the two distinct Pb(2+) ions (both with site symmetry m) adopt irregular PbO(10) coordination polyhedra. The structure is completed by two distinct nitrate groups (in which one O atom and the N atom have m site symmetry for both ions) and an HPO(3) (2-) anion (in which one O atom and the P and H atoms have m site symmetry). The connectivity of the PbO(10), NO(3) and HPO(3) units in the crystal structure results in a three-dimensional network.

The title compound, Cs(2)Mg(H(2)P(2)O(7))(2)·2H(2)O, is isostructural with the related known isoformular phosphates. The crystal framework consists of corner-sharing MgO(6) and H(2)P(2)O(7) polyhedra, leading to tunnels parallel to the b-axis direction in which Cs(+) ions are located. The H(2)P(2)O(7) unit shows a bent eclipsed conformation. The Mg(2+) ion lies on an inversion center. The water molecules form hydrogen bonds to O atoms of two different dihydrogenphosphate ions, which are further hydrogen bonded to symmetry-equivalent dihydrogenphosphate ions.

The crystal structures of three isotypic orthorhombic dihydrogendiphosphates, namely dipotassium copper(II)/nickel(II)/zinc(II) bis(dihydrogendiphosphate) dihydrate, K2M(H2P2O7)2.2H2O (M = Cu, Ni and Zn), have been refined from single-crystal data. The M2+ and K+ cations are located at sites of m symmetry, and the P atoms occupy general positions. These compounds also exist in triclinic forms with very similar structural features. The structures of both forms are compared, as well as the geometry of the MO6 octahedron, which is considerably elongated towards the water molecules for M = Ni and Cu. Such elongation has not been observed among the other representatives of the family. A Raman study of the whole series K2M(H2P2O7)2.2H2O (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mg) is reported.

Two tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids were extracted from the alkaloid fraction of a methanol extract of the seeds of Calycotome Villosa Subsp. intermedia. Their structures were established as (R)-1-hydroxymethyl-7-8-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- isoquinoline (1) and (S)-7-hydroxymethyl-2-3-dimethoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroisoquinoline chloride (2) by spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction analysis.

The known flavonoid chrysin-7-O-(beta-D-glycopyranoside) (chrysin glucoside,1) as a major fraction and a new glycoside flavone, chrysin-7-O-beta-D-[(6"-acetyl)glycopyranoside] (2) were isolated from the flowers and leaves of Calycotome Villosa Subsp. Intermedia, They were identified by UV-Vis, 1R, (1)H-, (13)C-NMR and ESI-MS.

The title compound, [Ag(C(3)H(5)OS(2))](n), is polymeric in the solid state and adopts a layered structure in which each Ag atom is five-coordinated in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry defined by four S atoms belonging to four different xanthate groups and by a neigbouring Ag atom [Ag.Ag = 3.0540 (8) A]. Each S atom is three-coordinated to one C and two Ag atoms. The structure can be envisaged as being formed by Ag(2)(S(2)COEt)(2) units in which every S atom is bonded to another Ag atom from a different unit and the Ag atoms are also bonded to two different S atoms of two other units. The result is a two-dimensional network of condensed metallacycles of six or eight atoms.

The Pd atom in the title compound, [Pd(C(3)H(5)OS(2))(2)], lies on an inversion center and adopts a square-planar coordination geometry defined by the four S atoms of the two dithiocarbonate (xanthate) ligands. In the solid state, the molecules aggregate into layers in which the rows of molecules alternate their orientation to allow each Pd atom to interact with two symmetry-equivalent S atoms of the xanthate ligands of adjacent molecules, generating a pseudo-octahedral environment around each Pd atom. This weak interaction of 3.3579 (7) A can be classified as a closed-shell electrostatic intermolecular interaction.

A new triclinic polymorphic modification of the title compound, [Ag(C(3)H(5)OS(2))(C(18)H(15)P)(2)], has been found and compared with the previously known orthorhombic modification [Tiekink (1988). Coord. Chem. 17, 239-243]. The two polymorphs have the same molecular shape, viz. a distorted tetrahedral geometry, with a chelating dithiocarbonate (xanthate) and two PPh(3) ligands bonded to the Ag atom. However, in this new polymorph, the xanthate ligand is bonded asymmetrically to the Ag atom, with Ag-S distances of 2.5489 (6) and 2.8055 (7) A, while for the orthorhombic polymorph these distances are 2.686 (4) and 2.601 (4) A. The Ag-P distances are similar in both structures.