ZIKV Inhibitors Based on Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-7-one Core: Rational Design, In Vitro Evaluation, and Theoretical Studies.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is believed to cause birth defects, and no anti-ZIKV drugs have been approved by medical organizations to date. Starting from antimicrobial lead compounds with a pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-7-one scaffold, we synthesized 16 derivatives and screened their ability to interfere with ZIKV infection utilizing a cell-based phenotypic assay. Of these, five compounds showed significant inhibition of ZIKV with a selective index value greater than 4.6. In particular, compound 9b showed the best anti-ZIKV activity with a selectivity index of 22.4 (half-maximal effective concentration = 25.6 µM and 50% cytotoxic concentration = 572.4 µM). Through the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, 9b, 10b, 12, 17a, and 19a showed median lethal dose values in a range of 87.2-100.3 µg/mL. Compound 9b was also targeted to the NS2B-NS3 protease of ZIKV using molecular docking protocols, in which it acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor and strongly bound to five key amino acids (His51, Asp75, Ser135, Ala132, Tyr161). Utilizing the pharmacophore model of 9b, the top 20 hits were identified as prospective inhibitors of NS2B-NS3 protease, and six of them were confirmed for their stability with the protease via redocking and molecular dynamics simulations.

Antibacterial effect of copper nanoparticles produced in a Shewanella-supported non-external circuit bioelectrical system on bacterial plant pathogens.

The use of copper nanoparticles for the inhibition of plant pathogens Ralstonia solanacearum, which causes wilt disease, and Xanthomonas axonopodis, which causes citrus canker, was investigated in this study. To avoid the inhibiting effect of Cu2+ ions on the bacterial cells, the copper nanoparticles were synthesized in the cathode chamber of a non-external circuit bioelectrochemical system (nec_BES) inoculated with Shewanella sp. HN-41 at the anode. The electrons produced by the oxidation of lactate by Shewanella sp. HN-41 were directly transferred to the anolyte in the cathode via a graphite electrode connecting the anode and cathode chambers. SEM images of the produced particles revealed that the copper nanoparticles were aggregated into spherical shapes with an average size of 2.9 µm from smaller particles with a size range from 30 nm to approximately 190 nm. X-ray diffraction demonstrated that the copper nanoparticles were mainly in the form of a single-phase crystal mixture of atacamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3) and paracatamite (Cu2Cl(OH)3). Finally, for the application of synthesized nanoparticles, an agar diffusion test was applied to assess the antibacterial activity of the formed copper nanoparticles in propylene glycol solvent against R. solanacearum and X. axonopodis. The results showed that the nanoparticles damaged the cells of R. solanacearum, with a half maximum inhibition (IC50) value of 42 ppm, but did not damage X. axonopodis cells.

Inhibition of α-Glucosidase, Acetylcholinesterase, and Nitric Oxide Production by Phytochemicals Isolated from Millettia speciosa-In Vitro and Molecular Docking Studies.

The phytochemical constituents from the roots of Millettia speciosa were investigated by chromatographic isolation, and their chemical structures were characterized using the MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. A total of 10 compounds, including six triterpenoids, two flavonoids, and two phenolic compounds, were identified from the roots of M. speciosa. Out of the isolated compounds, eight showed inhibitory effects on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 43.9 to 449.5 µg/mL. Ursane-type triterpenes significantly suppressed NO production compared to the remaining compounds. In addition, these compounds also exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase. Among the tested compounds, 4, 5, and 10 exhibited excellent α-glucosidase inhibition, with IC50 values ranging from 1.1 to 2.2 µg/mL. Almost all of the test compounds showed little or no acetylcholinesterase inhibition, except for 5, which showed moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity in vitro. The molecular docking study of α-glucosidase inhibition by 3-5 and 10 was conducted to observe the interactions of these molecules with the enzyme. Compounds 4, 5, and 10 exhibited a better binding affinity toward the targeted receptor and the H-bond interactions located at the entrance of the enzyme active site pocket in comparison to those of 3 and the positive control acarbose. Our findings evidence the pharmacological potential of this species and suggest that the phytochemicals derived from the roots of M. speciosa may be promising lead molecules for further studies on the development of anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetes drugs.

Characterization of Alternaria porri causing onion purple blotch and its antifungal compound magnolol identified from Caryodaphnopsis baviensis.

Alternaria porri (Ellis) Clf. causes purple blotch disease on Allium plants which results in the reduction of crop yields and quality. In this study, to efficiently find natural antifungal compounds against A. porri, we optimized the culture condition for the spore production of A. porri and the disease development condition for an in vivo antifungal assay. From tested plant materials, the methanol extracts derived from ten plant species belonging to the families Cupressaceae, Fabaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Apocynaceae, Lauraceae, and Melastomataceae were selected as potent antifungal agents against A. porri. In particular, the methanol extract of Caryodaphnopsis baviensis (Lec.) A.-Shaw completely inhibited the growth of A. porri at a concentration of 111 µg/ml. Based on chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses, a neolignan compound magnolol was identified as the antifungal compound of the C. baviensis methanol extract. Magnolol showed a significant inhibitory activity against the spore germination and mycelial growth of A. porri with IC50 values of 4.5 and 5.4 µg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, when magnolol was sprayed onto onion plants at a concentration of 500 µg/ml, it showed more than an 80% disease control efficacy for the purple blotch diseases. In terms of the antifungal mechanism of magnolol, we explored the in vitro inhibitory activity on individual oxidative phosphorylation complexes I-V, and the results showed that magnolol acts as multiple inhibitors of complexes I-V. Taken together, our results provide new insight into the potential of magnolol as an active ingredient with antifungal inhibitory action to control purple blotch on onions.

Biogenic synthesis of selenium nanoparticles by Shewanella sp. HN-41 using a modified bioelectrochemical system

BACKGROUND Synthesis of selenium nanoparticles from selenite by Shewanella sp. HN-41 demonstrated that particle size depended on the reaction time and biomass of cells. The slow reaction and low biomass tended to form small particles. In this study, Shewanella sp. HN-41 was introduced into the anode of a nonexternal circuit bioelectrochemical system (nec_BES) to convert chemical energy from lactate to low electron current to the cathode, where selenite was reduced. RESULTS Our experiment with two systems, one bioelectrochemical system with a cathode flushed with nitrogen and the other with a no-nitrogen-flushing cathode, showed that the former could not produce Se nanoparticles after 21 d, but the latter formed them with an average size of 37.7 nm. The SEM and TEM images demonstrated that the particle size of 10 nm occupied over 10% and most of the particles were in the range of 30­60 nm. The XRD result and SAED image demonstrated no clear peaks of crystal and proved that the Se nanoparticles are amorphous. CONCLUSIONS : The clean Se nanoparticles were synthesized and completely separated from bacterial cells in the bioelectrochemical system. This study opened a new approach for the biological synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Finally, the Se products in the range of 30­60 nm can be tested for antimicrobial activities in medical applications

Plant Disease Control Efficacy of Platycladus orientalis and Its Antifungal Compounds.

Plants contain a number of bioactive compounds that exhibit antimicrobial activity, which can be recognized as an important source of agrochemicals for plant disease control. In searching for natural alternatives to synthetic fungicides, we found that a methanol extract of the plant species Platycladus orientalis suppressed the disease development of rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. Through a series of chromatography procedures in combination with activity-guided fractionation, we isolated and identified a total of eleven compounds including four labdane-type diterpenes (1-4), six isopimarane-type diterpenes (5-10), and one sesquiterpene (11). Of the identified compounds, the MIC values of compounds 1, 2, 5 & 6 mixture, 9, and 11 ranged from 100 to 200 µg/mL against M. oryzae, whereas the other compounds were over 200 µg/mL. When rice plants were treated with the antifungal compounds, compounds 1, 2, and 9 effectively suppressed the development of rice blast at all concentrations tested by over 75% compared to the non-treatment control. In addition, a mixture of compounds 5 & 6 that constituted 66% of the P. orientalis ethyl acetate fraction also exhibited a moderate disease control efficacy. Together, our data suggest that the methanol extract of P. orientalis including terpenoid compounds has potential as a crop protection agent.

In vivo assessment of plant extracts for control of plant diseases: A sesquiterpene ketolactone isolated from Curcuma zedoaria suppresses wheat leaf rust.

As an alternative to synthetic pesticides, natural materials such as plant extracts and microbes have been considered to control plant diseases. In this study, methanol extracts of 120 plants were explored for in vivo antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia triticina, and Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Of the 120 plant extracts, eight plant extracts exhibited a disease control efficacy of more than 90% against at least one of five plant diseases. In particular, a methanol extract of Curcuma zedoaria rhizomes exhibited strong activity against wheat leaf rust caused by P. triticina. When the C. zedoaria methanol extracts were partitioned with various solvents, the layers of n-hexane, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate showed disease control values of 100, 80, and 43%, respectively, against wheat leaf rust. From the C. zedoaria rhizome extracts, an antifungal substance was isolated and identified as a sesquiterpene ketolactone based on the mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. The active compound controlled the development of rice sheath blight, wheat leaf rust, and tomato late blight. Considering the in vivo antifungal activities of the sesquiterpene ketolactone and the C. zedoaria extracts, these results suggest that C. zedoaria can be used as a potent fungicide in organic agriculture.

Nematicidal activities of 4-quinolone alkaloids isolated from the aerial part of Triumfetta grandidens against Meloidogyne incognita.

The methanol extract of the aerial part of Triumfetta grandidens (Tiliaceae) was highly active against Meloidogyne incognita, with second-stage juveniles (J2s) mortality of 100% at 500 µg/mL at 48 h post-exposure. Two 4-quinolone alkaloids, waltherione E (1), a new alkaloid, and waltherione A (2), were isolated and identified as nematicidal compounds through bioassay-guided fractionation and instrumental analysis. The nematicidal activities of the isolated compounds against M. incognita were evaluated on the basis of mortality and effect on egg hatching. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited high mortalities against J2s of M. incognita, with EC50 values of 0.09 and 0.27 µg/mL at 48 h, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 also exhibited a considerable inhibitory effect on egg hatching, which inhibited 91.9 and 87.4% of egg hatching, respectively, after 7 days of exposure at a concentration of 1.25 µg/mL. The biological activities of the two 4-quinolone alkaloids were comparable to those of abamectin. In addition, pot experiments using the crude extract of the aerial part of T. grandidens showed that it completely suppressed the formation of gall on roots of plants at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. These results suggest that T. grandidens and its bioactive 4-quinolone alkaloids can be used as a potent botanical nematicide in organic agriculture.

Nematicidal and antifungal activities of annonaceous acetogenins from Annona squamosa against various plant pathogens.

The methanol extract of Annona squamosa seeds was highly active against two phytoparasitic nematodes, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Meloidogyne incognita. It efficiently suppressed plant diseases, caused by Phytophthora infestans and Puccinia recondita. Ten annonaceous acetogenins (AAs) were isolated, and their chemical structures were identified by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. Out of 10 substances, eight displayed strong in vitro nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus with LD(50) values ranging 0.006 to 0.048 µg/mL. Squamocin-G showed potent nematicidal activity against M. incognita. Squamocin, squamocin-G, and squamostatin-A also displayed potent in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities against P. infestans causing tomato late blight. In addition, squamostatin-A effectively controlled the development of wheat leaf rust caused by P. recondita. Our findings suggested that A. squamosa seeds and its bioactive AAs can be an alternative resource of a promising botanical nematicide and fungicide to control various plant diseases.