Free radical scavenging and antiproliferative properties of Biginelli adducts.

A series of Biginelli adducts bearing different substituents at C-4 position were synthesized by using p-sulfonic acid calix[4]arene as a catalyst. The in vitro potential to scavenge reactive nitrogen/oxygen species (RNS and ROS) and the ability to inhibit cancer cells growth were then investigated. Four adducts were found to be potent scavengers of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (RNS) and/or superoxide anion (ROS) radicals. The antiproliferative activity against cancer cells was disclosed for the first time for 16 monastrol analogs. The capacity of all compounds to inhibit cancer cells growth was dependent on the histological origin of cells, except for BA24, which was highly active against all cell lines. BA20 and BA33 were as potent as the reference drug doxorubicin against adriamycin-resistant ovarian and prostate cancer cells, respectively. These results highlight some monastrol analogs as lead compounds for the design of new free radical scavengers and anticancer agents.

Multivariate optimization techniques in food analysis - A review.

This work presents a critical review of multivariate techniques employed for optimization of methods developed in food analysis. A comparison between the response surface methodologies has been performed, it evidencing advantages and drawbacks of these. Applications of the main chemometric tools (central composite and Box Behnken designs and Doehlert matrix) often utilized for optimization of sample preparation procedures and also instrumental conditions of analytical techniques for determination of organic and inorganic species in food samples are shown. Also, a brief discussion on the use of multiple responses and robustness test in food analysis has been presented.

A mini-review on Biginelli adducts with notable pharmacological properties.

Since the disclosure of Biginelli reaction by the chemist Pietro Biginelli, functionalized 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones/thiones (DHPMs) have emerged as prototypes for the design of compounds with a broad variety of biological activities. This mini-review describes over 100 Biginelli adducts demonstrated to be promising anticancer, inhibitors of calcium channel, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Thus, this compilation presents the most notable in vitro and in vivo results for such fascinating class of organic compounds.

Indole alkaloids from marine sources as potential leads against infectious diseases.

Indole alkaloids comprise a large and complex class of natural products found in a variety of marine sources. Infectious diseases remain a major threat to public health, and in the absence of long-term protective vaccines, the control of these infectious diseases is based on a small number of chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, the emerging resistance against these drugs makes it urgently necessary to discover and develop new, safe and, effective anti-infective agents. In this regard, the aim of this review is to highlight indole alkaloids from marine sources which have been shown to demonstrate activity against infectious diseases.

Biological activities of eco-friendly synthesized Hantzsch adducts.

Fourteen Hantzsch adducts with different substituents at the C-4 position were synthesized through multicomponent reactions by using citric or lactic acid as catalysts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of such a class of compounds based on multicomponent reactions catalyzed by non-toxic organic acids. The potential to scavenge reactive nitrogen/oxygen species (RNS/ROS) and the ability to inhibit cancer cell growth were then investigated. Among the synthesized compounds, adduct 15 was the most promising free radical scavenger, while adduct 20 was shown to have a wider spectrum of action on the cancer cells studied. These results highlight Hantzsch adducts as lead compounds for obtaining new free radical scavengers and anticancer agents.