Chemical and Biological Characterization of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction from the Red Sea Marine Sponge Hymedesmia sp.

Hymedesmiidae is one of the largest families of marine sponges and stands out as an exceptional source of variable metabolites with diverse biological activities. In this study, the ethyl acetate fraction (HE) of a Hymedesmia sp. marine sponge from the Red Sea, Egypt, was analyzed for the first time using Ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. The analysis tentatively identified 29 compounds in this fraction, including the isolation and identification of six compounds (two pyrimidine nucleosides, one purine, and two pyrimidine bases in addition to one cerebroside) for the first time. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), MS (mass spectrometry), and IR (infrared) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated in vitro. The fraction exhibited strong DPPH scavenging activity with an IC50 of 78.7 µg/mL, compared to ascorbic acid as a positive control with an IC50 of 10.6 µg/mL. It also demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 13.5 µg/mL and 25.3 µg/mL against HCT-116 and HEP-2 cell lines, respectively, compared to vinblastine as a positive control with IC50 values of 2.34 µg/mL and 6.61 µg/mL against HCT-116 and HEP-2, respectively. Additionally, the ethyl acetate fraction displayed promising antibacterial activity against S. aureus with a MIC value of 62.5 µg/mL, compared to ciprofloxacin as a positive control with MIC values of 1.56 µg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria and 3.125 µg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria. It also exhibited activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa with MIC values of 250 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL, respectively. Briefly, this is the first report on the biological activities and secondary metabolite content of the ethyl acetate fraction of Hymedesmia sp. marine sponge, emphasizing the potential for further research against resistant bacterial and fungal strains, as well as different cancer cell lines. The ethyl acetate fraction of Hymedesmia sp. is a promising source of safe and unique natural drugs with potential therapeutic and pharmaceutical benefits.

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Activity of Benzimidazoleacrylonitrile Derivatives.

BACKGROUND: Benzimidazoles have a wide range of synthetic applications in medicinal chemistry and biological activities like anti-tumor/anti-proliferative activities etc. Moreover, different heterocyclic moieties attached to the benzimidazole ring improved anticancer activities. METHODS: All the chemicals were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company, are of AR grade and used as received. Microanalytical data (C, H, and N) were analyzed on a Carlo Erba model 1108 analyzer. Melting points were measured by the Kofler apparatus and were uncorrected. Spectroscopic data were obtained using the following instruments: Fourier transform infrared spectra (KBr discs, 4000-400 cm-1) by Shimadzu IR-408 Perkin Elmer 1800 instrument; 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra by JEOL Resonance Inc. Tokyo, Japan, JNM-ECZ400S/L1 using DMSO-d6 as a solvent containing TMS as the internal standard. Chemical shifts (δ) are reported in parts per million (ppm), and coupling constants (J) are reported in Hertz (Hz). RESULTS: We chose sulfosalicylic acid as a promoter for forming benzimidazole-acrylonitrile derivatives, which is an eco-friendly reaction, and we applied a series of synthesized compounds 3a-g in nematicidal activity. The results indicate that the concentrations of all treatments significantly kill M. incognita. CONCLUSION: This model reaction procedure provides a better method for preparing benzimidazoleacrylonitrile, which is superior to other methods. This protocol simplifies handling model reactions with mild reaction conditions, a short time period, a simple set-up, a fast reaction rate, and so on.

Structure elucidation, DNA binding specificity and antiproliferative proficiency of isolated compounds from Garcinia nervosa.

Garcinia nervosa is an abundant source of bioactive phytochemicals. The present paper deals with the isolation of a novel isoflavone 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(3'-hydroxy-4',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (1) along with a known compound DL-Allantoin (2) from the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Garcinia nervosa (Family: Guttiferae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physical evidences viz. elemental analysis, UV, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral analysis. Single-crystal X-ray analysis was further used for the authentication of structure of both compounds (1 and 2). Interaction studies of compound (1) and (2) with ctDNA were studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence, KI quenching studies, competitive displacement assay and circular dichroism studies, which showed groove binding interaction (non-intercalation) of both the compounds 1 and 2 with ctDNA. However, compound 1 (K=3.9×104M-1) shows higher binding affinity to the ctDNA than compound 2 (K=1.44×104M-1). The molecular modeling results also illustrated that compound 1 strongly binds to groove of DNA by relative binding energy of docked structure -6.82kcal/mol. In addition the antiproliferative activity also showed high potential of compound 1 against MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cell line with IC50 value 8.44±3.5µM and 6.94±2.6µM, respectively.

Two new phenolic compounds from Ficus rumphii and their antiproliferative activity.

Two new compounds 2 and 4, along with two known compounds 1 and 3, were isolated for the first time from 95% ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ficus rumphii. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physical evidences (elemental analysis, UV, IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and mass spectra) and comparison with the literature compounds. Structural authentication of compound 4 was further validated by single-crystal X-ray analysis and DFT calculations. The compounds 1-4 were screened for in vitro cytotoxicity against cancer and non-cancer cells and also tested for genotoxicity (comet assay). Compounds 2 and 4 displayed significant activity against HL-60 with IC50 values of 3.3 and 2.3 µM, respectively. The results revealed that compound 4 has better prospectus to act as cancer chemotherapeutic candidate which warrants further in vivo anticancer investigations.

A novel 6-hydroxy-8,11,11-trimethyl-bicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene-4-carboxylic acid: a potent antioxidant agent from Iphiona scabra.

A novel 6-hydroxy-8,11,11-trimethyl-bicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene-4-carboxylic acid 1 has been isolated from leaves of Iphiona scabra DC. Its structure has been established on the basis of chemical and physical evidence (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and MS) and further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The in vitro antioxidant activities of isolated compound 1 and extracts were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method.

8-Iodo-5,7-dimeth-oxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one.

In the title compound, C(12)H(11)IO(4), the C and O atoms of both meth-oxy groups lie very close to the mean plane of the six C atoms of the benzene ring. The O and C atoms of the group lying closest to the I atom are 0.012 (3) and 0.022 (4) Å, respectively, out of the mean plane. For the other meth-oxy group, the corresponding distances are 0.020 (3) and 0.078 (4) Å. In the crystal, there are only very weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and O⋯I contacts [3.080 (2) Å]. The mol-ecules are approximately parallel to (100), forming a layered structure.

A new 3-arylcoumarin from the roots of an Egyptian collection of Lotus polyphyllos.

Further investigation of different fractions from Lotus polyphyllos Clarke roots resulted in the isolation of the new 3-arylcoumarin derivative; 4',6'-dihydroxy-7, 2'-dimethoxy-3-arylcoumarin (5). In addition, the known compounds beta-sitosterol, 1-hexacosanol (1), n-tetracosyl p-coumarate (2), 4'-O-methylderrone (4), and quercetin (6) were identified. The structures were determined from spectroscopic data including 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments.