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A novel and efficient protocol for the microwave‐assisted synthesis of diversely substituted 2,2′‐bisbenzimidazol‐5,6′‐dicarboxylic acid (BIMCA) from the reaction of 3,4‐diaminobenzoic acid with oxalic acid has been developed, which proceeds through sequential nucleophilic addition and electrophilic substitution in accordance with the Philips method. The synthetic utility of this strategy was demonstrated by the concise, one‐pot synthesis of (BIMCA) and metal complexes. (BIMCA) with a [{Fe(salen)}2O] Schiff base ligand complex and new benzimidazole coordination compounds with double oxygen [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2] ligand complexes were obtained. The resulting [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2] ligand complex was then synthesized from Co(CH3COO)2.4H2O, Ni(CH3COO)2.4H2O and Cu(CH3COO)2.H2O heteronuclear complexes. The condensations proceed with good yield to give products that, in certain instances, are not readily attainable by conventional condensation techniques. The structures of the compounds were identified by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), elemental analysis and magnetic susceptibility. The mutagenic potential of the synthesized chemicals was evaluated by the Ames test towards mutant Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. It was recorded that these chemicals had no mutagenic action. Also, antimicrobial activities were screened by broth microdilution test. It was seen that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis was 0.195 mg/mL, followed by a MIC value of 0.390 mg/mL against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2Co(II)] demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus, with an MIC of 0.195 mg/mL, followed by an MIC of 0.390 mg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, K. pneumonia and Salmonella typhimurium. The antioxidant properties were examined using various chemical assays, and [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2O] and (BIMCA) exhibited greater 2,2'‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, when compared with other compounds. Enzyme inhibitory effects were tested against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), amylase, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and tyrosinase. [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2Cu(II)] displayed the best AChE (IC50 0.51 mg/mL), BChE (IC50 0.51 mg/mL) and tyrosinase (IC50 1.52 mg/mL) inhibitory effects. Furthermore, molecular docking calculations were performed to gain insights into the interaction between [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2] and AChE, and between [(BIMCA){Fe(salen)}2Cu(II)] and amylase. Both compounds showed the potential inhibition of the protein targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the many negative effects of increasing resistance to traditional antibiotics on living organisms, the development of new antibiotic classes has become imperative and macrocyclic compounds come to the fore for the solution of this problem. In this paper, the Pillar [5]arenes including ten and five quinoline units were synthesized and characterized by some procedures such as magnetic susceptibility, FT-IR, elemental analyses, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, melting point. Moreover, zinc(II) and copper (II) complexes were prepared to compare the antimicrobial effects with macrocyclic ligands. In the complex compounds, the metal:ligand ratios were determined with Job method as 1:2 and 1:1 for deca and penta units, respectively. The magnetic properties of the copper (II) complexes are 1.83 BM and 1.87 BM while zinc complexes have a diamagnetic character. The target macrocyclic ligands (Compound 7 and 8) and their metal complexes (Cu(II) and Zn(II)) were screened for the antimicrobial properties against the bacterial strains of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300, Klebsiella pneumoniae. ATCC 70603, Salmonella enteritidis ATTC 13076, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Bacillus cereus ATTC 11778, Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341, and yeast Candida albicans NRRL Y-417 by using broth microdilution method. Compound 7 has the optimum MIC values for S. aureus (MRSA), B. cereus, C. albicans and P. aeruginosa microorganisms that they were determined as 23.43, 46.87, 93.75 and 187 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, Compound 8-Cu(II) complex was defined as an excellent antimicrobial agent against MRSA, B. cereus and C. albicans strains that the MIC values were determined as 3.9 μg/mL for both bacteria. The metal complexes of the target macrocyclic ligands have a more antimicrobial effect than the reactants and the target macrorings. Moreover, they have more successful results for Gram positive derivatives rather than Gram negative microorganisms. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthraquinones (AQ) are the most common group of naturally occurring quinones. Both natural and synthetic AQs have been used as colorants in food, drugs and cosmetic industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenic/antimutagenic potentials of some AQs (Alizarin, quinizarin, purpurin, and 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone) with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains by Ames test and antimicrobial activity by broth microdilution method. So, AQs were tested for their toxicity and nontoxic doses of the chemicals were used. The results manifested that none of the chemicals were mutagenic for TA98 and TA100 strains both with and without metabolic activation enzymes (S9 mix). Purpurin and alizarin exhibited strong antimutagenic effects against 4- nitrophenylendiameine and 2-aminoflourene at all test doses (1000, 500 and 250 µg/plate) for TA98; and against sodium azide and 2-aminoanthracene for TA100. Alizarin showed the highest inhibition rate (93%) against sodium azide at a concentration of 1000 µg/plate. While 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone and quinizarin revealed strong antimutagenicity at 10000 µg/plate without S9 mix, they exhibited excellent antimutagenic action after addition of S9 enzymes for TA98 strain at all test doses. Similarly, 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone and quinizarin were moderate antimutagenic against sodium azide at all test doses without S9 mix, their antimutagenicity increased and they ameliorated the mutagenic action of 2-aminoanthracene by the addition of S9 for TA100. These two chemicals were strong antimutagenic against promutagens activated by S9 mix. Also it was defined that purpurin and alizarin have antimicrobial capacity against MRSA strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Evaluation of the biological properties of Heracleum sphondylium L. subsp. ternatum (Velen.) Brummitt. • Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of H. sphondylium showed pronounced inhibition effects on tested enzymes. • Chlorogenic acid was identified as the main component of the methanol extract. • The extracts did not cause mutation of bacterial strains and showed potent antimutagenic capacity. • This study provides valuable baseline data on H. sphondylium for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Abstract Heracleum sphondylium L. subsp. ternatum (Velen.) Brummitt. commonly known as "hogweed" is traditionally used to manage several human ailments. This investigation assessed, for the first time, the enzyme inhibitory properties, antioxidant activity, phytochemical profile, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial potential of the ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of H. sphondylium. We also established the possible interactions of identified phenolic compounds with cholinesterases, amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase using in silico docking studies. Chlorogenic acid was found in high amounts in the methanol extract of H. sphondylium. The methanol extract was an effective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (1.70 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g extract) while the ethyl acetate extract showed pronounced inhibitory action against butyrylcholinesterase (1.77 mg GALAE/g extract). The extracts exhibited low inhibition against amylase (0.12-0.84 mmol acarbose equivalent (ACAE)/g extract) and a more pronounced inhibition against glucosidase (2.29–3.65 mmol ACAE/g extract). In silico results showed that rutin and quercetin (-70.4 and -72.2 Kcal/mol, for rutin and quercetin respectively) docked to the enzymatic cavity of acetylcholinesterase but these phenolic compounds showed less affinity with butyrylcholinesterase (-15.0 and -5.2 Kcal/mol, for rutin and quercetin respectively). The extracts did not induce any mutations on the bacterial strains, while they have excellent antimutagenic capacity against well-known mutagens (inhibition values 98%, 97% and 96%). The methanol extract (0.78 mg/ml) showed moderate antifungal activity while the ethyl acetate extract (0.78–3.12 mg/ml) showed weak to moderate antimicrobial activity. This study provides valuable baseline data which might serve for the development of future pharmacophores for the management of human ailments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil and the increasing resistance developed by pathogenic bacteria to nearly all existing antibiotics should be taken as a wakeup call for the international authority as this represents a risk for global public health. The lack of antiviral drugs and effective antibiotics on the market triggers the need to search for safe therapeutics from medicinal plants to fight viral and microbial infections. In the present study, we investigated whether a mangrove plant, Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. (B. gymnorhiza) collected in Mauritius, possesses antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiating abilities and exerts anti-ZIKV activity at non-cytotoxic doses. Microorganisms Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 70603, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA), Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and Candida albicans ATCC 26555 were used to evaluate the antimicrobial properties. Ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin antibiotics were used for assessing antibiotic potentiating activity. ZIKVMC-MR766NIID (ZIKVGFP) was used for assessing anti-ZIKV activity. In silico docking (Autodock 4) and ADME (SwissADME) analyses were performed on collected data. Antimicrobial results revealed that Bruguiera twig ethyl acetate (BTE) was the most potent extract inhibiting the growth of all nine microbes tested, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.19–0.39 mg/mL. BTE showed partial synergy effects against MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when applied in combination with streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. By using a recombinant ZIKV-expressing reporter GFP protein, we identified both Bruguiera root aqueous and Bruguiera fruit aqueous extracts as potent inhibitors of ZIKV infection in human epithelial A549 cells. The mechanisms by which such extracts prevented ZIKV infection are linked to the inability of the virus to bind to the host cell surface. In silico docking showed that ZIKV E protein, which is involved in cell receptor binding, could be a target for cryptochlorogenic acid, a chemical compound identified in B. gymnorhiza. From ADME results, cryptochlorogenic acid is predicted to be not orally bioavailable because it is too polar. Scientific data collected in this present work can open a new avenue for the development of potential inhibitors from B. gymnorhiza to fight ZIKV and microbial infections in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a renewed interest towards the development of plant-based pharmacophores. In this work, 16 extracts prepared from the leaves, twigs, roots and fruits of a hydro-halophyte, Rhizophora mucronata Lam. (Family: Rhizophoraceae), were studied for possible antioxidant activity and the phenolic profiles established. Thereafter, enzymatic inhibitory activities (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, acetyl- (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), lipase, and elastase) were assessed. The total phenolic, flavonoid, phenolic acid, tannin, flavanol and triterpenoid content were estimated using standard assays. An untargeted metabolomics-based approach, based on ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) followed by multivariate statistics, was then used to comprehensively profile and describe the phenolics present. UHPLC-QTOF-MS allowed for putatively annotating 104 phenolic acids, 103 flavonols, 94 flavones, 71 anthocyanins, 66 tyrosols, 29 lignans, 15 alkylphenols and 10 stilbenes in the extracts. Nine strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Salmonella enteritidis, Sarcina lutea, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus and Candida albicans) were then used to investigate the antimicrobial properties. The methanolic twig extract exhibited significant reducing potential towards Cu (II)/Cu (I) and Fe (III)/Fe (II) (1336.88 ± 15.70 and 710.18 ± 21.04 mg TE/g, respectively) and was the most potent DPPH radical scavenger (807.07 ± 6.83 mg TE/g). Additionally, the methanolic twig extract showed significant inhibition against most targeted enzymes. Anti-microbial results showed that all extracts were active against MRSA. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the phenolic profile of ethyl acetate extracts and leaves were the two most discriminative parameters in terms of solvents and organs, respectively. The present findings indicated that R. mucronata may be further explored for the management/prevention of oxidative stress, neurodegenerative complications and hyperpigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different extracts from Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum were investigated. • Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimutagenic and enzyme inhibition properties were detected. • 58 compounds were identified in the extracts. • Green extracts exhibited the strongest biological abilities. The growing awareness on implications related to the use of harsh chemicals and non-sustainable extraction methods of bioactive compounds from plants is causing a paradigm shift towards a more eco-friendly approach. The present study sets out to investigate the possible variation in the antioxidant, mutagenic/antimutagenic, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibitory properties of Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum extracts obtained using conventional, namely, maceration and Soxhlet extraction, and non-conventional, namely, ultrasound-assisted (UAE), microwave-assisted (MAE), and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), techniques. Also, chemical characterization of these extracts were performed via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ OrbiTrap MS) technique. A total of 58 polyphenols were identified in the tested extracts. Highest phenolic content was obtained from ASE (186.63 mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/g) and MAE (170.90 mg GAE/g) extracts. Maceration extract (18.89 mg rutin equivalent [RE]/g) showed highest flavonoid content. ASE extract showed highest activity in the DPPH (359.45 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g), ABTS (679.63 mg TE/g), FRAP (1433.94 mg TE/g), and CUPRAC (1685.72 mg TE/g) assays. In terms of enzyme inhibition, the UAE extract showed highest activity against acetyl cholinesterase (4.55 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g), butyryl cholinesterase (6.12 mg GALAE/g), and tyrosinase (173.87 mg kojic acid equivalent [KAE]/g) compared with the other extracts. The extracts exhibited significant antimutagenic and antimicrobial properties. Data collected from this study support the use of ASE and UAE in the extraction of bioactive compounds from Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum aerial parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]