Encapsulation of Nepeta hormozganica and Nepeta dschuprensis essential oils in shrimp chitosan NPs: Enhanced antifungal activity.

This study investigated the encapsulation of Nepeta hormozganica (NHEO) and Nepeta Dschuprensis (NDEO) essential oils into chitosan nanoparticles (CSN) via a simple ionic gelation method with tripolyphosphate (TPP). Chitosan (CS) is prepared by demineralizing, deproteinizing, and deacetylating shrimp shells waste in high yield (70.2 %). SEM, TEM, FT-IR, TGA, and XRD techniques were employed to characterize the encapsulated essential oils ((NHEO-CSN) and (NDEO-CSN)). The prepared EOs-CSN and CSN are found with particle sizes of 100-150 nm and 400-500 nm, respectively, and regular distribution. The encapsulation efficiency of encapsulated Nepeta hormozganica and Dschuprensis essential oils were found to be 73.64 % and 75.91 %, respectively. The synthesized nanocapsules were evaluated for antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporium, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Alternaria alternata, Rhizactonia Solani, and Botrytis cinerea. Antifungal studies show that encapsulated essential oils increased antifungal efficiency by up to 100 %.

Chitosan nanocomposite incorporated Satureja kermanica essential oil and extract: Synthesis, characterization and antifungal assay.

The present study reports the design, synthesis, and characterization of nanoencapsulated Satureja kermanica essential oil/extract by chitosan biopolymer (SKEO-CSN)/(SKEX-CSN) for the antifungal efficacy against Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Pythium aphanidermatum. The prepared SKEO-CSN and SKEX-CSN were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). GC-Mass analysis was done to identify Satureja kermanica essential oil chemical compounds (SKEO). Thirty-five different components were detected from GC-MS analysis. Thymol (46.54 %), and Carvacrol (30.54 %) were demonstrated as major compounds. Antifungal studies showed that the SKEO-CSN and SKEX-CSN formulation effectively inhibit fungal growth more than free SKEO and SKEX. According to the results, SKEO-CSN and SKEX-CSN provide a wide range of promising antifungal effects and can be applied as an efficient green strategy to protect plants from fungus infections.

Facile green synthesis of CaO NPs using the Crataegus pontica C.Koch extract for photo-degradation of MB dye.

In this research, a novel synthesis of CaO nanoparticles via a green, environmentally, and economical method is developed. Crataegus pontica C.Koch leaves extract was used as a green reducing and stabilizing agent to synthesize the calcium oxide nanoplates ranging from 40 to 65 nm. The synthesized CaO NPs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The CaO NPs were evaluated successfully for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye with 98.99% degradation efficiency under sunlight by a simple technique. The recoverability and reusability of the CaO photocatalyst were considered under the optimized reaction conditions, which are showed high chemical stability after at least five runs.

Simulation and surface topology of activity of pyrazoloquinoline derivatives as corrosion inhibitor on the copper surfaces.

In the present study, corrosion inhibition performances of some pyrazolo [3,4-b] quinoline-3,5-dione derivatives against the corrosion of copper metal were investigated using B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p) calculation level in aqueous media. Additionally, interaction energies were calculated for all the pyrazoloquinoline derivatives compounds. In the calculations it is observed that studied molecules adsorb on metal surface with the help of electron donor heteroatoms in their molecular structures. Chemical thermodynamic parameters regarding the interaction between inhibitor molecule and copper surface were estimated and discussed. Density of the electron profile analysis and chemical electrostatic potential of nuclear charges in the molecule were applied to consider the nature of a number of probable interactions between Cu metal surface and inhibitors in terms of bond critical point (BCP). Calculated quantum chemical parameters showed that the pyrazoloquinoline derivatives including the OH and NO2 exhibit high inhibition performance.

Unexpected regio- and stereoselective [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides with benzylidene thiazolidinediones: synthesis of pharmacologically active spiroindoline oxazepine derivatives and theoretical study.

An unexpected regio- and stereoselective [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides with 5-benzylidenethiazolidine-2,4-diones has been successfully developed for the synthesis of the novel pharmacologically active 4',5'-dihydro-3'H-spiro[indoline-3,2'-[1, 3] oxazepin]-2-one derivatives in basic condition. Easy purification, high yield, short experimental time and operational simplicity are specific advantages of this protocol. Furthermore, all the synthesized compounds have been evaluated for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. According to the results, most of the synthesized compounds exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity and nine of them showed antibacterial properties. The reaction mechanism and 1H NMR spectrum have been evaluated by B3LYP/6311G method.

Design, synthesis and biological assessment of acridine derivatives containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety as novel selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A novel series of acridine derivatives containing substituted thiadiazol-2-amine moiety was synthesized via multi-component condensation reaction of dimedone, aromatic aldehyde and 5-aryl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amines in the presence of LaCl3 as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions. Anticholinesterase (AChE and BuChE) activity evaluation of the derivatives showed that all the derivatives are capable of inhibiting both enzymes and are highly selective towards AChE. Among them, the ability of 4i and 4d with respective IC50 values of 0.002 and 0.006 µM to inhibit AChE was higher than the reference compound tacrine (IC50 = 0.016 µM). The kinetics studies demonstrated that 4i and 4d inhibit AChE through a competitive/non-competitive mixed mechanism. The HEPG2 cell viability assay evidenced that 4i and 4d significantly exhibit lower hepatotoxicity compared with tacrine. Blind docking experiments performed on TcAChE (PDB ID: 2ACE) indicated that an unknown site is preferred for binding by all the derivatives over classic binding site of the enzyme, site 1 (CAS/PAS). Identification of the residues by protein structure alignment confirmed that this site is site 2 which was recently recognized as a new allosteric site of hAChE. The binding modes of 4i and 4d were also investigated using local docking studies on site 1 and site 2.

Synthesis of benzimidazolones by immobilized gold nanoparticles on chitosan extracted from shrimp shells supported on fibrous phosphosilicate.

Here we demonstrate the synthesis of benzimidazolones from o-phenylenediamines and carbon dioxide in the presence of gold nanoparticles supported on a composite material based on microcrystalline chitosan from shrimp shells and fibrous phosphosilicate (CS-FPS/Au). The results showed that the gold nanoparticles were stable with the P, N and O atoms of CS-FPS. The morphology and structure of FPS leads to a higher catalytic activity. The CS-FPS/Au NPs were thoroughly characterized using TEM, FESEM, TGA, FTIR, and BET.