In vitro antioxidant and antitumor activities of six selected plants used in the Traditional Arabic Palestinian herbal medicine.

CONTEXT: Despite several pharmacological applications of the medicinal plants in the Traditional Arabic Palestinian Herbal Medicine in Palestine (TAPHM), studies on their antioxidant properties are still scarce. OBJECTIVE: This work evaluates the antioxidant and antitumor activities of the ethanol extracts from different parts of six plants: [Arum palaestinum Boiss (Araceae), Urtica pilulifera L. (Urticaceae), Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichb (Lamiaceae), Majorana syriaca (L.) Rafin. (Lamiaceae), Teucrium creticum L. (Lamiaceae), and Teucrium capitatum L. (Lamiaceae)] used in the TAPHM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant activity was evaluated for the ethanol extracts by DPPH and ß-carotene-linoleic acid assays together with total contents of phenols and flavonoids. For the anti-carcinogenic evaluation, the extracts were tested for the ability to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) using the MTT reduction assay. RESULTS: Among the extracts, the U. pilulifera had the highest amount of total phenolics, possessing the second highest total flavonoids. It also showed a maximum cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 63 µg/ml), followed by C. capitatus, and A. palaestinum. Otherwise, the extract of T. creticum was demonstrated to be an efficient scavenger of O2 (IC50 = 83 µg/ml), followed by M. syriaca, C. capitatus, T. capitatum, A. palaestinum, and U. pilulifera. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the investigated plants have shown varied antioxidant capacities which were strongly correlated with their contents of phenolics. Accordingly, this study proposes that the therapeutic benefit of these plants can be, at least in part, attributed to its potential inhibition of oxidative processes.

2-Phen-oxy-ethyl benzoate.

In the title compound, C15H14O3, the dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 75.85 (7)°. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related mol-ecules are weakly associated through pairs of inter-actions between a benzene ring and an O atom of the ester group [ring centroid⋯O = 3.952 (7) Å], and through pairs of inter-actions between the other benzene ring and an O atom of the phen-oxy group [ring centroid⋯O = 3.912 (7) Å], giving chains extending along [110].

A rare case of malignant granular cell tumor of the cheek in a 16-year-old child: a case report.

Introduction and importance: Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are uncommon soft tissue tumors, predominantly benign lesions. Approximately 50% occur in the tongue, with a peak incidence in the fifth and sixth decades of life. However, in this case, a rare presentation of GCTs on the cheek of a 16-year-old young female, including a review of the literature. Methods: The medical records and histopathological slides of the case were retrospectively reviewed. This work has been reported based on Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) criteria. Case presentation: A 16-year-old female presented with a non-painful exophytic and pigmented cheek lesion that is rapidly growing. A primary concern was expressed as cosmetic in nature, a biopsy of the mass was taken, and histopathological findings showed a malignant tumor, mostly consistent with GCTs. She was recommended to have a total excision of the mass. During follow-up, facial MRI findings indicate granulation tissue versus recurrent/residual tumor at the site of surgery, without any evidence of cancer metastasis or spread. Clinical discussion: GCT is a tumor of Schwann cells, which is mostly benign with a 2% risk of malignant transformation. The peak incidence of this tumor is around the age of 50, and it is uncommon in young individuals. Clinically, GCT presents as a single, asymptomatic dermal or subcutaneous, brown-red nodule or papule, which grows slowly with diameter ranging from 0.5 to 3 cm. The definitive treatment for both benign and malignant GCTs is sufficient local excision with safe margins. Conclusion: GCT is an extremely rare tumor, with a peak incidence of fifth and sixth decay of age, which usually appear in the tongue (50% of cases); however, in this case, we present a 16-year-old female with a cheek mass diagnosed as GCT. In short, we think that GCT should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of solitary facial masses at young ages.

Synthesis and characterization of hybrid materials consisting of n-octadecyltriethoxysilane by using n-hexadecylamine as surfactant and Q(0) and T(0) cross-linkers.

Novel hybrid xerogel materials were synthesized by a sol-gel procedure. n-octadecyltriethoxysilane was co-condensed with and without different cross-linkers using Q(0) and T(0) mono-functionalized organosilanes in the presence of n-hexadecylamine with different hydroxyl silica functional groups at the surface. These polymer networks have shown new properties, for example, a high degree of cross-linking and hydrolysis. Two different synthesis steps were carried out: simple self-assembly followed by sol-gel transition and precipitation of homogenous sols. Due to the lack of solubility of these materials, the compositions of the new materials were determined by infrared spectroscopy, (13)C and (29)Si CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Mono Acid Esters Derived from the Constituents of Urtica pilulifera.

New mono acid esters have been synthesized from the reaction of benzoic acid and mono-hydroxybenzoic acids with 2-phenoxyethanol separated from Urtica pilulifera, characterized, and screened for possible antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. These phenolic acid esters gave various degrees of free radical scavenging, but the values were lower than that of α-tocopherol. The concentrations of the tested compounds needed to reduce DPPH absorption by 50% at 517 nm were nearly in the range of 900-1100 µg/mL. While for α-tocopherol was 40 µg /mL. The compounds were tested in-vitro against six bacterial species which are known to cause dermic and mucosal infections in human. 2-phenoxyethyl benzoate showed significant activity in the range of 30% against P. aeruginosa to 70% against E. coli compared with the activity of Streptomycin. On the other hand 2-phenoxyethyl 2-hydroxybenzoate reveals 70% of gentamicin against K. pneumoniae. The tested compounds also showed complete inhibition at a concentration less than 37.5 µg/mL against M. canis and less than 50 µg/mL against T. rubrum. 2-phenoxyethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate showed considerable activity against MCF-7 with IC50 is less than 62.5 µg/mL.

Heterotrimetallic Ru(II)/Pd(II)/Ru(II) complexes: synthesis, crystalstructure, spectral characterization, DFT calculation and antimicrobial study.

New ruthenium(II) mononuclear complexes of the type [RuCl2(PPh3)2(η(2)-triamine)] (2) [RuCl(PPh3)2(η(3)-triamine)]Cl (5) (triemine=N(1)-(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine) have been synthesized by reacting [RuCl2(PPh3)3] (1) with one mole equivalent of N(1)-(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine in dichloromethane. Reaction of (2) with half-equivalent of (PhCN)2PdCl2 or Pd(OAc)2 in dichloromethane as a solvent afforded two novel heterotrimetallic Ru(II)-Pd(II)-Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(II)Cl2(PPh3)2(triamine)]2[Pd(II)X2](X=Cl, OAc) (3 and 4), bearing bioactive ligand. The progress of the undertaken reactions was monitored by (31)P{1H} NMR and FTIR. Crystal structure of complex 2 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The absorption spectrum of 2 in dichloromethane was modeled by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The in vitro antimicrobial studies of complex 2-5 against an array of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) were conducted. Complexes 3 and 4 exhibit high dual antibacterial and antifungal activity inhibiting microorganisms possibly via hydrolytic pathway which further evidenced by electrochemical analyses. The complexes 3 and 4 show a high inhibitory activity at 200 µg/ml concentration, suggesting that complexes 3 and 4 are two efficient catalytic inhibitor of microorganisms and further, they should be tested against cancer strains.