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A chemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract from the Xisha sponge Diacarnus sp. revealed seven undescribed norterpene cyclic peroxides, named diacarperoxides T-Z, and five unreported related norterpenes, named diacarnoids E-I, and eleven previously reported compounds. The structures of these isolated compounds, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, Snatzke's method, [Rh 2 (OCOCF 3 ) 4 ]-induced ECD spectra, and modified Mosher's method. Bioassays were performed to assess the antibacterial activity against six pathogenic bacteria, cytotoxicities toward three cancer cell lines, and antimalarial activity against Plasmodium parasites. Most of the cyclic peroxides exhibited substantial antibacterial activity (MIC 1-8 μg/mL). Diacarperoxide W and nuapapuin A showed substantial antimalarial activity with IC 50 values of 0.98 and 2.83 μM. Moreover, many compounds exhibited <50% cell survival rates, and IC 50 values of 0.22-6.33 μM. The apoptosis assay showed that nuapapuin A induced cancer cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ten ergostane-type steroids, including seven undescribed ones named spectasteroids A-G, were obtained from Aspergillus spectabilis. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined based on HRESIMS, NMR, ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Structurally, spectasteroid A was a unique example of aromatic ergostane-type steroid that featured a rare peroxide ring moiety; spectasteroid B contained a rare oxetane ring system formed between C-9 and C-14; and spectasteroid C was an unusual 3,4-seco-ergostane steroid with an extra lactone ring between C-3 and C-9. Spectasteroids F and G specifically showed inhibitory effects against concanavalin A-induced T lymphocyte proliferation and lipopolysaccharide-induced B lymphocyte proliferation, with IC 50 values ranging from 2.33 to 4.22 μM. Spectasteroid F also showed excellent antimultidrug resistance activity, which remarkable enhanced the inhibitory activity of PTX on the colony formation of SW620/Ad300 cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A further systematically chemical investigation of the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia erecta led to the discovery of two rare casbane diterpenoids with an uncommon 8,10-peroxide bridge, sinuereperoxides B (1) and C (2), five new casbanes with other oxygenated patterns (3-7), and seven known casbanes (8-14). The structures and absolute configurations of 1-7 were established by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, X-ray diffraction analysis, and/or quantum chemical calculations. In bioassay, compounds 2, 7, 11 and 12 exhibited considerable anti-inflammatory activity by the inhibition of TNF-α release, with IC 50 values of 33.8 μM, 5 μM, 9.9 μM and 8 μM., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The development of a new, lower cost method for trace explosives recovery from complex samples is presented using miniaturised, click-together and leak-free 3D-printed solid phase extraction (SPE) blocks. For the first time, a large selection of ten commercially available 3D printing materials were comprehensively evaluated for practical, flexible and multiplexed SPE using stereolithography (SLA), PolyJet and fused deposition modelling (FDM) technologies. Miniaturised single-piece, connectable and leak-free block housings inspired by Lego® were 3D-printed in a methacrylate-based resin, which was found to be most stable under different aqueous/organic solvent and pH conditions, using a cost-effective benchtop SLA printer. Using a tapered SPE bed format, frit-free packing of multiple different commercially available sorbent particles was also possible. Coupled SPE blocks were then shown to offer efficient analyte enrichment and a potentially new approach to improve the stability of recovered analytes in the field when stored on the sorbent, rather than in wet swabs. Performance was measured using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and was better, or similar, to commercially available coupled SPE cartridges, with respect to recovery, precision, matrix effects, linearity and range, for a selection of 13 peroxides, nitramines, nitrate esters and nitroaromatics. Mean % recoveries from dried blood, oil residue and soil matrices were 79 ± 24%, 71 ± 16% and 76 ± 24%, respectively. Excellent detection limits between 60 fg for 3,5-dinitroaniline to 154 pg for nitroglycerin were also achieved across all matrices. To our knowledge, this represents the first application of 3D printing to SPE of so many organic compounds in complex samples. Its introduction into this forensic method offered a low-cost, 'on-demand' solution for selective extraction of explosives, enhanced flexibility for multiplexing/design alteration and potential application at-scene., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest 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., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Genus Stachys , the largest genera of the family Lamiaceae, and its species are frequently used as herbal teas due to their essential oils. Tubers of some Stachys species are also consumed as important nutrients for humans and animals due to their carbohydrate contents. Three new neo -clerodane diterpene peroxides, named stachaegyptin F-H ( 1, 2, and 4 ), together with two known compounds, stachysperoxide ( 3 ) and stachaegyptin A ( 5 ), were isolated from Stachys aegyptiaca aerial parts. Their structures were determined using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including HR-FAB-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR ( 1 H, 13 C NMR, DEPT, 1 H- 1 H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) analyses. Additionally, a biosynthetic pathway for the isolated compounds ( 1 - 5 ) was discussed. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated diterpenoids of S. aegyptiaca in comparison to the previous reported ones from other Stachys species was also studied.

Hybrid nanomaterials-based artificial enzymes with numerous utilities are necessary to develop future bionic devices in mimicking physiological processes. This paper demonstrates bifunctional enzyme mimicking roles of a metal-free nanozyme hybrid of chemically modified graphitic carbon nitride (MGCN), chitin and acetic acid (AcOH). The MGCN exhibited glucose oxidase-mimicking activity and chitin-AcOH mirrored peroxidase. MGCN-chitin-AcOH when in contact with glucose, oxidised glucose to gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) while the chitin-AcOH decomposed the generated H 2 O 2 , as proved separately, by concurrent oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The super-sensitive colorimetric process produced linear regression equation for H 2 O 2 as A = 0.00105C + 0.0630 (C:μM, R 2  = 0.9961) with a detection limit of 0.052 μM, whereas for glucose, the linear relationship was A = 0.00084C + 0.0458 (C:μM, R 2  = 0.9952) having a detection limit of 0.055 μM. The developed method was also successfully applied for assessment of H 2 O 2 and glucose in human serum and urine samples. Non-enzymatic glucose test strips from MGCN-chitin-AcOH based hydrogel were reported and verified for semi-quantitative analysis of glucose. These compared well with results from standard enzyme-based colorimetric procedure. The developed hybrid nanozyme provided feasible alternatives to the two natural enzymes (peroxidase and glucose oxidase) realized through real sample analysis. The developed hybrid nanozyme can be successfully used for colorimetric detection of peroxide and glucose in medical diagnostics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Research Question: Can culture conditions influence the sensitivity of a Mouse Embryo Assay and its potential to detect peroxide-related toxicity in mineral oil samples?, Design: Protein type and concentration, embryo density and culture dish design were selected as the variables in the culture system with the potential to influence the assay's sensitivity. Fresh 1-cell mouse embryos were cultured under mineral oil samples with known peroxide concentrations. Protein type (human serum albumin [HSA] + α/β-Globulins versus HSA versus bovine serum albumin [BSA]), concentration (5 mg/ml versus 0.5 mg/ml), embryo density (25 versus 3 µl/embryo) and culture dish (Petri versus micro-well dish) were adjusted to define the culture conditions with the highest sensitivity., Results: High concentrations of peroxides can be easily detected by current quality control standards. However, for oil samples with a lower concentration of peroxides, supplementing the culture medium with 5 mg/ml of HSA + alpha/beta-globulins or with HSA resulted in an increased detection of embryo toxicity compared with when BSA was used as the protein supplement. The sensitivity of the assay was greatly reduced when embryos were cultured in groups and when certain micro-well dishes were used., Conclusions: Current quality control protocols may not be sensitive enough to identify low concentrations of peroxides, which, if undetected, can increase over time and become potentially harmful during gamete and embryo culture. The different parameters established in this study allow the sensitivity of the Mouse Embryo Assays to be optimized to specifically detect peroxides in mineral oil samples prior to their release into the market and their broad use in human IVF., (Copyright © 2019 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Three new dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7α-yl peroxide (1), abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7β-yl peroxide (2), and 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7β-yl 7-oxoabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl peroxide (3), together with four known abietane-type diterpenoids (4-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. At a concentration of 50 μM, compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed 26.2%, 23.6%, and 35.7% inhibition towards xanthine oxidase enzyme, respectively. In addition, compound 3 also showed 24.9% inhibition toward angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Poria cocos Wolf confers edible sclerotia also known as 'Indian bread' in North America, that have been used for the treatment of various diseases in Asian countries. As part of our ongoing aim to identify biologically new metabolites from Korean edible mushrooms, we investigated the ethanol (EtOH) extract of the sclerotia of P. cocos by applying a comparative LC/MS- and bioassay-based analysis approach, since the EtOH extract reciprocally regulated adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation in mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Bioassay-based analysis of the EtOH extract led to the successful isolation of two sterols, ergosterol peroxide (1) and 9,11-dehydroergosterol peroxide (2); three diterpenes, dehydroabietic acid (3), 7-oxocallitrisic acid, (4) and pimaric acid (5); and two triterpenes, dehydroeburicoic acid monoacetate (6) and eburicoic acid acetate (7) from the active hexane-soluble fraction. The isolated compounds (1-7) were examined for their effects on the regulation of MSC differentiation. The two sterols (1 and 2) were able to suppress MSC differentiation toward adipocytes. In contrast, the three diterpenes (3-5) showed activity to promote osteogenic differentiation of MSC. These findings demonstrate that the EtOH extract of P. cocos sclerotia is worth consideration as a new potential source of bioactive compounds effective in the treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly, since the extract contains sterols that inhibit adipogenic differentiation as well as diterpenes that promote osteogenic differentiation from MSCs., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism in humans and is considered to be quantitatively the main antioxidant in plasma. In vitro studies showed that the oxidation of uric acid by peroxidases, in presence of superoxide, generates urate free radical and urate hydroperoxide. Urate hydroperoxide is a strong oxidant and might be a relevant intermediate in inflammatory conditions. However, the identification of urate hydroperoxide in cells and biological samples has been a challenge due to its high reactivity. By using mass spectrometry, we undoubtedly demonstrated the formation of urate hydroperoxide and its corresponding alcohol, hydroxyisourate during the respiratory burst in peripheral blood neutrophils and in human leukemic cells differentiated in neutrophils (dHL-60). The respiratory burst was induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and greatly increased oxygen consumption and superoxide production. Both oxygen consumption and superoxide production were further augmented by incubation with uric acid. Conversely, uric acid significantly decreased the levels of HOCl, probably because of the competition with chloride by the catalysis of myeloperoxidase. In spite of the decrease in HOCl, the overall oxidative status, measured by GSH/GSSG ratio, was augmented in the presence of uric acid. In summary, the present results support the formation of urate hydroperoxide, a novel oxidant in neutrophils oxidative burst. Urate hydroperoxide is a strong oxidant and alters the redox balance toward a pro-oxidative environment. The production of urate hydroperoxide in inflammatory conditions could explain, at least in part, the harmful effect associated to uric acid., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Peroxides represent a large and interesting group of biologically active natural compounds. All these metabolites contain a peroxide group (R-O-O-R). This review describes studies of more than 60 peroxides isolated from plants and fungi. Most of the plant peroxy steroids exhibit high antiprotozoal (Plasmodium) activity with a confidence of up to 95%, while steroids harvested from fungi show more antineoplastic activity with a confidence of up to 94%. In addition, more than 20 different activities of both groups of peroxides with a probability of 78 to 90% have also been predicted using computer program PASS.

Six new cembranoids, cherbonolides A-E ( 1 ⁻ 5 ) and bischerbolide peroxide ( 6 ), along with one known cembranoid, isosarcophine ( 7 ), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Sarcophyton cherbonnieri . The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compound 6 was discovered to be the first example of a molecular skeleton formed from two cembranoids connected by a peroxide group. Compounds 1 ⁻ 7 were shown to have the ability of inhibiting the production of superoxide anions and elastase release in N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine/cytochalasin B (fMLF/CB)-induced human neutrophils.

The recently described epizoic sponge-sponge symbioses between Xestospongia deweerdtae and two species of Plakortis present an unusual series of sponge interactions. Sponges from the genus Plakortis are fierce allelopathic competitors, rich in cytotoxic secondary metabolites, and yet X. deweerdtae flourishes as an epizoic encrustation on Plakortis deweerdtaephila and Plakortis symbiotica. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that X. deweerdtae grows epizoic to these two species of Plakortis due to a shared chemical defense against predators. We collected free-living individuals of X. deweerdtae and symbiotic pairs from a wide geographical range to generate crude organic extracts and a series of polarity fractions from sponge extract. We tested the deterrency of these extracts against three common coral reef predators: the bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum, the Caribbean sharpnose puffer, Canthigaster rostrata, and the white spotwrist hermit crab, Pagurus criniticornis. While the chemical defenses of P. deweerdtaephila and P. symbiotica are more potent than those of X. deweerdtae, all of the sponge species we tested significantly deterred feeding in all three generalist predators. The free-living form of X. deweerdtae is mostly defended across the region, with a few exceptions. The associated form of X. deweerdtae is always defended, and both species of Plakortis are very strongly defended, with puffers refusing to consume extract-treated pellets until the extract was diluted to 1/256× concentration. Using diode-array high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS/IT-TOF), we found two secondary metabolites from P. deweerdtaephila, probably the cyclic endoperoxides plakinic acid I and plakinic acid K, in low concentrations in the associated-but not the free-living-form of X. deweerdtae, suggesting a possible translocation of defensive chemicals from the basibiont to the epibiont. Comparing the immense deterrency of Plakortis spp. extracts to the extracts of X. deweerdtae gives the impression that there may be some sharing of chemical defenses: one partner in the symbiosis is clearly more defended than the other and a small amount of its defensive chemistry may translocate to the partner. However, X. deweerdtae effectively deters predators with its own defensive chemistry. Multiple lines of evidence provide no support for the shared chemical defense hypothesis. Given the diversity of other potential food resources available to predators on coral reefs, it is improbable that the evolution of these specialized sponge-sponge symbioses has been driven by predation pressure.

Plakortinic acids A (2) and B (3), two polyketide endoperoxides with a bicyclo[4.2.0]octene unit, were isolated as minor constituents from the sponge-sponge symbiotic association Plakortis halichondrioides-Xestospongia deweerdtae, along with known epiplakinic acid F (1). The structures of the mixture of two inseparable compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Screening for cytotoxic activity of the mixture against two human tumor cell lines revealed that these compounds are very active at sub-micromolar concentration.

Investigation of the Australian rainforest plant Croton insularis led to isolation of the first casbane hydroperoxide diterpenes EBC-304 and EBC-320. Extensive DFT and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations in combination with 2D NMR spectroscopy determined the absolute configurations. EBC-304 and EBC-320 both display significant cytotoxicity., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Four new norterpene cyclic peroxides (1-4), together with three known norterpene cyclic peroxides were isolated from the Xisha Islands Sponge Diacarnus megaspinorhabdosa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and comparison with the related model compounds. The compounds (1-7) were evaluated for the inhibitory activity against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, all of them showed significant antimalarial activity with IC50 values in the range of 1.6-8.6 μM., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

One new norsesterterpene peroxide, rhopaloic acid H (1), along with two known related metabolites 2 and 3, were isolated from a marine sponge Hippospongia sp. The structures of compounds were elucidated by means of IR, MS, and NMR techniques and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. Evaluation of the cytotoxicities revealed that compound 2 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against DLD-1, Molt 4, T47D and K-562 cell lines, with IC50 values of 3.18, 0.69, 2.22 and 1.06 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, compound 3 also showed significant K562 inhibitory activity, with IC50 value of 3.65 µg/mL.

Cryptococcus gattii is a human pathogen and causative agent of a pernicious, sometimes fatal, disseminated fungal disease. Investigation of antifungal extracts of the marine sponge association Plakortis halichondrioides-Xestospongia deweerdtae and the sponge Plakortis zyggompha from the Bahamas led to the discovery and isolation of 6-epi-7,8-dihydroplakortide K (1), plakortide AA (2), and three new plakinic acids, N-P (4-6; unstable 1,2-dioxolanes bearing benzyl-substituted conjugated dienes), along with known plakinic acids L, K, and M.5 Chiroptical comparisons and DFT calculations of (13)C NMR chemical shifts were used to assign the absolute stereostructure of 4. The stereospecific base-promoted rearrangement-saponification of 1 to 10 was briefly investigated and showed tight kinetic control and stereospecific formation of the new C-2 stereocenter with inversion at C-3. Plakinic acid M and plakortides 9 and 11 exhibited antifungal activity against C. gattii (MIC90 = 2.4 to 36 μM), but plakinic acids N-P were inactive under the same conditions.

Twenty previously unknown compounds and two known metabolites, merulin A and merulin D, were isolated from the endophytic fungus Pseudolagarobasidium acaciicola, which was isolated from a mangrove tree, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Structures of the 20 compounds were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of seven of these compounds was addressed by a single crystal X-ray analysis using CuKα radiation and an estimate of the Flack parameter. Three compounds also possessed a tricyclic ring system. Terpene endoperoxides isolated exhibited cytotoxic activity, while those without an endoperoxide moiety did not show activity. The endoperoxide moiety of sesquiterpenes has significant impact on cytotoxic activity, and thus is an important functionality for cytotoxicity. One terpene endoperoxide displayed potent cytotoxic activity (IC50 0.28μM), and selectively exhibited activity against the HL-60 cell line., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two essential oil-containing plants growing wildly in Egypt: Conyza linifolia (Willd.) Täckh. (Asteraceae) and Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiaceae) were subjected to essential oil analysis and biological investigation. The essential oils from both plants were prepared by hydrodistillation, and GC/MS was employed for volatiles profiling. This study is the first to perform GC/MS analysis of C. linifolia essential oil growing in Egypt. C. linifolia essential oil contained mainly sesquiterpenes, while that of C. ambrosioides was rich in monoterpenes. Ascaridole, previously identified as the major component of the latter, was found at much lower levels. In addition, the oils were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against two Gram positive and two Gram negative bacteria, and one fungus. The insecticidal activities of both oils, including mosquitocidal and pesticidal potentials, were also evaluated. The results of biological activities encourage further investigation of the two oils as antimicrobial and insecticidal agents of natural origin.

Chemical investigation on CH2Cl2 extract of the marine sponge Diacarnus megaspinorhabdosa resulted in the isolation of two new farnesylacetone derivatives 1-2, a new γ-lactone 3, a known dinorditerpenone 4 and four known norsesterterpene peroxides 5-8. Their structures were elucidated by using one and two dimensional (1D and 2D)-NMR, high resolution-electrospray ionization (HR-ESI)-MS, and comparison with the literature. Compounds 1 and 2 were cis/trans-olefinic isomers and determined through nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) experiment. The absolute configuration of 3 was established by comparison of circular dichroism (CD) data with known lactones. The cytotoxic activities of the compounds were evaluated against five cancer cell lines, and compound 3 showed moderate cytotoxicity activities against cancer cell lines HeLa, H446, NCI-H460, SGC-7901 and MCF-7, with IC50 values in the range of 18.5 to 47.1 µM.

A novel C₂₅ sterol peroxide, phomasterol A (1), together with two known compounds (2-3), was isolated from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. EA-122. The structure of phomasterol A (1) was elucidated by MS, 1D, and 2D NMR data analyses. Phomasterol A (1) was evaluated for its inhibitory activities against protein-tyrosine phosphatases MEG2 and PTP1Bc, showing moderate activities with identical IC₅₀ values of 25 μM.

The anti-inflammatory activity of two extracts from the aerial parts of Ledum palustre has been reported. The volatile oil was obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and the essential oil by hydrodistillation (HD). The oils were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to monitor their composition. Both extracts shared as main compound (41.0-43.4%) ledol (23.3-26.7%) and ascaridole (15.1-4.5%). The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the subcutaneous carrageenan injection-induced hind paw oedema. The treated animals received essential oil (SFE and HD), the reference group received ketoprofen or piroxicam and the control group received NaCl 0.9%. A statistical analysis was performed by the Student t-test. The results show that L. palustre essential oil enhanced a significant inhibition of oedema (50-73%) for HD oil and (52-80%) for SFE oil. These results were similar to those obtained with piroxicam (70%) and ketoprofen (55%).

Investigation of Croton insularis afforded the first in class seco-casbane diterpene, EBC-329. A highly oxidised casbane, EBC-324, was also isolated. The structural motif within EBC-324, which consists of an epoxidised hemi-acetal endoperoxide, is new to the casbane family.

Chemical investigation of the organic extract obtained from the sponge Plakortis simplex collected in the South China Sea afforded five new polyketide endoperoxides (2 and 4-7), along with two known analogues (1 and 3). The stereostructures of these metabolites have been deduced on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical conversion. The isolated endoperoxide derivatives have been tested for their in vitro antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains, showing IC50 values in the low micromolar range. The structure-activity relationships were analyzed by means of a detailed computational investigation and rationalized in the light of the mechanism of action proposed for this class of simple antimalarials. The relative orientation of the atoms involved in the putative radical generation and transfer reaction was demonstrated to have a great impact on the antimalarial activity. The resulting 3D pharmacophoric model can be a useful guide to design simple and effective antimalarial lead compounds belonging to the class of 1,2-dioxanes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ratiometric fluorescent reporters have recently emerged a new technique to non-invasively measure aspects of cell physiology such as redox status, calcium levels, energy production, and NADH levels. These reporters consist of either a single or pair of fluorophores along with specific modifications, such as the addition of a protein domain which binds to a metabolite of interest, thereby producing gradual alterations in fluorescence in response to changes in the measured parameter. Measurement of the changes in fluorescence produces a quantitative read-out of the cellular environment. While these reporters were initially developed to easily visualize and track changes in cultured cells, several groups have adapted these reporters to use in Caenorhabditis elegans which opens a new avenue through which to explore cell physiology during development or aging, in response to changes in external environment, or in response to genetic manipulation. These reporters have the advantage of being easily targeted to any part of the worm, and because C. elegans is transparent both the reporters and changes in their fluorescence can be clearly observed in vivo. Here we discuss the application of ratiometric reporters to C. elegans, and outline a method to quantitatively measure changes in intracellular peroxide levels using the HyPer ratiometric reporter. However, these principles can be applied to alternate ratiometric reporters which are designed to measure either other chemical species or other cellular parameters., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Unlabelled: Chenopodium ambrosioides have been used during centuries by native people to treat parasitic diseases., Aims of the Study: To compare the in vivo anti-leishmanial activity of the essential oil (EO) from C. ambrosioides and its major components (ascaridole, carvacrol and caryophyllene oxide)., Materials and Methods: Anti-leishmanial effect was evaluated in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania amazonensis and treated with the EO, main compounds and artificial mix of pure components by intralesional route at 30 mg/kg every 4 days during 14 days. Diseases progression and parasite burden in infected tissues were determined., Results: EO prevented lesion development compared (p<0.05) with untreated animals and treated with vehicle. In addition, the efficacy of EO was also statistically superior (p<0.05) compared with the glucantime-treated animals. No potential effects were observed with pure components treatment. Mix of pure compounds cause death of animals after 3 days of treatment., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the superiority of EO against experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. amazonensis., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Three new indolediketopiperazine peroxides, namely, 24-hydroxyverruculogen (1), 26-hydroxyverruculogen (2), and 13-O-prenyl-26-hydroxyverruculogen (3), along with four known homologues (4-7), were isolated and identified from the culture extract of the marine sediment-derived fungus Penicillium brefeldianum SD-273. Their structures were determined based on the extensive spectroscopic analysis and compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute configuration of compounds 1-3 was determined using chiral HPLC analysis of their acidic hydrolysates. Each of the isolated compounds was evaluated for antibacterial and cytotoxic activity as well as brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality.

Eight new hydroperoxides and a new enone of germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the aerial parts of eight different samples of Eupatorium heterophyllum DC. (Asteraceae) collected in P. R. China. The structures were determined based on spectroscopic analyses. Seven of the eight samples produced hiyodorilactone A as a major constituent, while one afforded neither hiyodorilactone nor hydroperoxide. The results indicated the presence of diversity within this species.

Eight cyclic peroxide norterpenoids, compounds 1-8, have been isolated and characterized from the Red Sea sponge Diacarnus erythraeanus, including two new norsesterterpene derivatives (3, 4). Among these metabolites, (-)-muqubilin A (5) (nine cell lines analyzed) and the new compounds 3 and 4 (seven cell lines analyzed) displayed mean IC₅₀ growth inhibitory concentrations in vitro of <10 μM, while the remaining compounds (1, 6-8) were inactive in these cancer cell lines. Compound 5 displayed no selectivity between normal and cancer cells in terms of in vitro growth inhibition. Quantitative video microscopy analysis carried out on (-)-muqubilin A-treated cells validated the data obtained by means of the MTT colorimetric assay, while flow cytometry analysis revealed ROS production but no induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.

Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is relatively easy to make and has been used in various terrorist acts. Early but easy detection of TATP is highly desired. We designed a new type sensor array for H2O2. The unique CL sensor array was based on CeO2 nanoparticles' membranes, which have an excellent catalytic effect on the luminol-H2O2 CL reaction in alkaline medium. It exhibits a linear range for the detection of H2O2 from 1.0×10(-8) to 5.0×10(-5)M (R(2)=0.9991) with a 1s response time. The detection limit is 1.0×10(-9)M. Notably, the present approach allows the design of CL sensor array assays in a more simple, time-saving, long-lifetime, high-throughput, and economical approach when compared with conventional CL sensor. It is conceptually different from conventional CL sensor assays. The novel sensor array has been successfully applied for the detection of TATP at the scene., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A simple, nonhazardous, efficient and low energy-consuming process is desirable to generate powerful radicals from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for recalcitrant pollutant removal. In this work, the production of radical species from PMS induced by a magnetic CuFe(2)O(4) spinel was studied. Iopromide, a recalcitrant model pollutant, was used to investigate the efficiency of this process. CuFe(2)O(4) showed higher activity and 30 times lower Cu(2+) leaching (1.5 μg L(-1) per 100 mg L(-1)) than a well-crystallized CuO at the same dosage. CuFe(2)O(4) maintained its activity and crystallinity during repeated batch experiments. In comparison, the activity of CuO declined significantly, which was ascribed to the deterioration in its degree of crystallinity. The efficiency of the PMS/CuFe(2)O(4) was highest at neutral pH and decreased at acidic and alkaline pHs. Sulfate radical was the primary radical species responsible for the iopromide degradation. On the basis of the stoichiometry of oxalate degradation in the PMS/CuFe(2)O(4), the radical production yield from PMS was determined to be near 1 mol/mol. The PMS decomposition involved an inner-sphere complexation with the oxide's surface Cu(II) sites. In situ characterization of the oxide surface with ATR-FTIR and Raman during the PMS decomposition suggested that surface Cu(II)-Cu(III)-Cu(II) redox cycle was responsible for the efficient sulfate radical generation from PMS.

Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is a high explosive synthesized from easily available reactants making it accessible for illicit uses. In this study, fast detection of TATP is achieved using a novel planar solid-phase microextraction (PSPME) as a preconcentration and sampling device for headspace analysis offering improved sensitivity and reduced sampling time over the conventional fiber-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) when followed by ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) detection. Quantitation and comparison of the retention capabilities of PSPME as compared to the commercially available SPME were determined using TATP standards and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for SPME analysis and a commercial IMS with no instrumental modification for PSPME. Static and dynamic headspace extractions were used and compared for PSPME extractions, in which low milligram quantities of TATP were detected within 30 s of static mode sampling and less than 5 s in the dynamic mode sampling for PSPME-IMS.

Sixteen new cyclic peroxides (1-16) with a plakortolide skeleton and the methyl ester derivative of a didehydroplakinic acid (17) were isolated from the Australian sponge Plakinastrella clathrata Kirkpatrick, 1900. Structural elucidation and configurational assignments were based on spectroscopic analysis and comparison with data for previously isolated plakortolides and revealed both phenyl- and methyl-terminating side chains attached to the plakortolide core. Plakortoperoxides A-D (5-8) each contained a second 1,2-dioxine ring; a cis configuration for the side chain endoperoxide ring was determined by a low-temperature NMR study and by comparison of chemical shift values with those of reported compounds. An enantioselective HPLC study compared natural plakortoperoxide A with a synthetic sample prepared by cyclization of plakortolide P with singlet oxygen and revealed that the natural sample was a mixture of cis diastereomers at C-15/C18. Four other cyclic peroxides (9-12) possessed a C(9)-truncated side chain terminating in a formyl or carboxylic acid functionality, suggesting that these metabolites may have been formed by oxidative cleavage of the Δ(9,10) bond of diene-functionalized plakortolides. A final group of four metabolites (13-16) with hydroxy or the rare hydroperoxy functionality unexpectedly revealed a C(8) side chain, while the ester (17) represents further structural variation within the growing family of cyclic peroxy sponge metabolites.

Background: Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is an infectious disease with a large global health burden occurring primarily in Central and Eastern Africa. Most current treatments have poor blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration, which prevent them from targeting the most lethal stage of the infection. In addition, current therapeutics suffer from a variety of limitations ranging from serious side effects to difficulties with treatment administration. Therefore it is of crucial importance to find new treatments that are safe, affordable, and effective against both sub-species of Trypanosoma brucei., Methods: Semi-synthetic derivatization of the fungally-derived natural product merulin A (1) has led to the discovery of new development candidates for the protozoan parasite T. brucei, the causative agent of HAT. Creation of an initial SAR library based around the merulin scaffold revealed several key features required for activity, including the endoperoxide bridge, as well as one position suitable for further derivatization. Subsequent synthesis of a 20-membered analogue library, guided by the addition of acyl groups that improve the drug-like properties of the merulin A core, resulted in the development of compound 12 with an IC(50) of 60 nM against T. brucei, and a selectivity index greater than 300-fold against HeLa and immortalized glial cells., Significance: We report the semi-synthetic optimization of the merulin class of endoperoxide natural products as development candidates against T. brucei. We have identified compounds with low nM antiparasitic activities and high selectivity indices against HeLa cells. These compounds can be produced economically in large quantities via a one step derivatization from the microbial fermentation broth isolate, making them encouraging lead candidates for further development.

Re-investigation of the methanolic extract of the sponge Diacarnus megaspinorhabdosa afforded one new norsesterpene cyclic peroxide diacarperoxide S (2), in addition to two known compounds sigmosceptrellin B (1) and nebularine (3). The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopic studies (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and ROESY) as well as on mass spectral analysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic as well as antimicrobial activities.

The structures of a series of peroxy function containing pregnane glycosides isolated from Periploca sepium and Periploca forrestii were revised to be orthoester group bearing ones using 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, as well as chemical transformations and X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. The orthoester function appears to be an essential structural feature for immunosuppressive activity., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As part of our ongoing efforts to investigate natural products with potential for use as cancer treatments, we have recently disclosed the cytotoxicity of unique nor-chamigrane (1) and chamigrane (2, 3) endoperoxides from a Thai mangrove-derived fungus. Reinvestigation of this fungus in a large-scale fermentation led to the isolation of an additional new chamigrane endoperoxide (4) and one known analogue (5). Among these isolated metabolites, compound 3 (merulin C) exhibited potent antiangiogenic activity mainly by suppression of endothelial cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner, and its effect is mediated by reduction in the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. Merulin C also displayed promising activity in a rat aortic ring sprouting (ex vivo) and a mouse Matrigel (in vivo) assay.

Four new norsesquiterpene peroxides, named talaperoxides A-D (1-4), as well as one known analogue, steperoxide B (5, or merulin A), have been isolated from a mangrove endophytic fungus, Talaromyces flavus. Their structures were elucidated mainly by 1D and 2D NMR. Structures of 1, 2, and 5 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their absolute configurations were also determined using copper radiation. Cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-5 were evaluated in vitro against human cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-435, HepG2, HeLa, and PC-3. Compounds 2 and 4 showed cytotoxicity against the five human cancer cell lines with IC50 values between 0.70 and 2.78 μg/mL.

Two new five-membered-ring polyketide endoperoxides, epiplakinic acid F methyl ester (1) and epiplakinidioic acid (3), and a peroxide-lactone, plakortolide J (2), were isolated from the Puerto Rican sponge Plakortis halichondrioides, along with two previously reported cyclic peroxides, 4 and 5. The structures of the new metabolites were determined by spectroscopic and chemical analyses. The absolute stereostructures of 1, 2, and 5 were determined by degradation reactions followed by application of Kishi's method for the assignment of absolute configuration of alcohols. Biological screening of cycloperoxides 1-5 and semisynthetic analogues 7-12 for cytotoxic activity against various human tumor cell lines revealed that compounds 3, 4, and 11 are very active. Upon assaying for antimalarial and antitubercular activity, some of the compounds tested showed strong activity against the pathogenic microbes Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Six norterpenes including negombatoperoxides A and B (4 and 5), the inseparable epimers negombatoperoxides C and D (6 and 7), negombatodiol (8), and negombatolactone (9), in combination with three known compounds, (+)-nuapapuin B (1), (+)-nuapapuin B methyl ester (2), and (+)-aikupikoxide C (3), were isolated from the Formosan marine sponge Negombata corticata. In addition, 6,6-dimethylundecane-2,5,10-trione (10) was isolated for the first time from a natural source. Their structures, including relative configurations, were elucidated on the basis of interpretation of spectroscopic data and by the application of the empirical rule established by Capon and MacLeod. The absolute configurations of 8 and 9 were established by the application of Mosher's method and comparison of CD data with known lactones, respectively. Cytotoxicity of these isolates against human breast carcinoma, human liver carcinoma, and human lung carcinoma cell lines was evaluated.

A new nor-chamigrane endoperoxide, merulin A (1), and two new chamigrane endoperoxides, merulins B and C (2, 3), were isolated from the culture broth extract of an endophytic fungus of Xylocarpus granatum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic, mainly NMR and MS, data. X-ray crystallographic analysis confirmed the structure of 1. Compounds 1 and 3 displayed significant cytotoxicity against human breast (BT474) and colon (SW620) cancer cell lines.

Two new omega-phenyl polyketide peroxides, plakinic acids K and L, were isolated from a two-sponge association of Plakortis halichondroides and Xestospongia deweerdtae. The absolute configurations of the remote dimethyl-branched stereocenters in plakinic acid K were assigned by degradation of plakinic acid K to a long-chain naphthamide and analysis by liposomal circular dichroism (L-CD) and comparison with synthetic standards.

Two new prenylated benzophenone peroxide derivatives, peroxysampsones A and B (1 and 2, resp.), together with a known compound, plukenetione C (3), were isolated from the roots of the Chinese medicinal plant Hypericum sampsonii, and their structures were elucidated by detailed spectral analysis. These compounds are the unusual peroxides of polyprenylated benzophenone derivatives, containing the unique caged moiety of 4,5-dioxatetracyclo[9.3.1.1(9,13).0(1,7)]hexadecane-12,14,15-trione. In the biological test, peroxysampsone A (1) showed comparable activity with norfloxacin against a NorA over-expressing multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Staphylococcus aureus SA-1199B.

Seven norsesterterpene peroxides: epimuqubilin A (1), muqubilone B (2), unnamed cyclic peroxide ester (3), epimuqubilin B (4), sigmosceptrellin A methyl ester (5), sigmosceptrellin A (6), and sigmosceptrellin B methyl ester (7), isolated from the marine sponge Latrunculia sp., were examined with regard to their effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The results indicated epimuqubilin A (1) possessed potent NO inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide release with an IC(50) value of 7.4 microM, a level three times greater than the positive control, L-N(G)-monomethyl arginine citrate, followed by 6 (sigmosceptrellin A, IC(50) = 9.9 microM), whereas other compounds exhibited only modest activity (Table 1). These compounds did not show appreciable cytotoxicity at their IC(50) values for NO-inhibitory activity. The structure-activity upon NO inhibition could be summarized as follows: (1) a monocyclic carbon skeleton framework was essential for activity, (2) free acids gave higher activity, (3) the orientation of H3-22 with an equatorial position increased activity, and (4) a bicyclic structure reduced activity. This is the first report of a norsesterterpene peroxide with NO-inhibitory activity. In addition, compounds 1-7 were also evaluated for their inhibitory activities in the yeast glycogen synthase kinase-3beta assay. In summary, several norsesterterpene peroxides showed novel biological activities of inhibition in NO production, suggesting that these might provide leads for anti-inflammatory or cancer chemopreventive agents.

Chloropupukeanolides A (1) and B (2), unprecedented spiroketal peroxides, and chloropupukeanone A (3), three highly functionalized metabolites featuring a chlorinated pupukeanane core, were isolated from an endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici, with 1 showing significant anti-HIV-1 and cytotoxic effects.

Six unreported aromatic compounds, 1-6, were isolated, along with the known compounds dehydrocurcuphenol and manoalide, from a sample of Plakortis sp., which was the main component of a Pacific sponge consortium. The new molecules were chemically characterized by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-4 contain a six-membered cyclic peroxide, whereas 5 and 6 display a terminal methyl ketone. The new metabolites were tested for antifungal and antibacterial properties. Compounds 1 and 4 were weakly active against S. aureus.

Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as African sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease with inadequate therapeutic options. We have launched a collaborative new lead discovery venture using our repository of extracts and natural product compounds as input into our growth inhibition primary screen against Trypanosoma brucei. Careful evaluation of the spectral data of the natural products and derivatives allowed for the elucidation of the absolute configuration (using the modified Mosher's method) of two new peroxiterpenes: (+)-muqubilone B (1a) and (-)-ent-muqubilone (3a). Five known compounds were also isolated: (+)-sigmosceptrellin A (4a), (+)-sigmosceptrellin A methyl ester (4b), (-)-sigmosceptrellin B (5), (+)-epi-muqubillin A (6), and (-)-epi-nuapapuin B methyl ester (7). The isolated peroxiterpenes demonstrated activities in the range IC(50) = 0.2-2 mug/mL.

A mutualist actinomycete of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, produces a polyene peroxide with pronounced antifungal activity. Its structure, absolute configuration, and biological activity were determined by spectral analysis, chemical modification followed by the modified Mosher method, and growth inhibitory assays, respectively.

The chemical composition of the leaf essential oil of Croton regelianus collected from wild plants growing in two different sites at Ceará State (Brazil) was analyzed by GC/MS and GC-FID. Twenty monoterpenoids, representing more than 96% of the chemical composition of the oils, were identified and quantified. The oils showed similar chemical composition but considerable variation in the levels of each constituent. Ascaridole (33.9-17.0%), p-cymene (22.3-21.6%), and camphor (13.0-3.1%) were the predominant constituents. The monoterpene ascaridole was isolated and characterized by spectroscopic data. The essential oils and the isolated compounds were tested against Aedes aegypti and Artemia sp. larvae, and the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The bioassay results show that the essential oil of C. regelianus and ascaridole were moderately active against the M. incognita, but strongly effective against both A. aegypti and Artemia sp. larvae.