Characterization and biological prospects of various calcined temperature-V2O5 nanoparticles synthesized by Citrus hystrix fruit extract.

In this study, a simple green synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles (VNPs) was prepared by the extract of Kaffir lime fruit (Citrus hystrix) as a green reducing and stabilizing agent, along with the investigation of calcination temperature was carried out at 450 and 550 °C. It was affirmed that, at higher temperature (550 °C), the VNPs possessed a high degree crystalline following the construction of (001) lattice diffraction within an increase in crystalline size from 47.12 to 53.51 nm, although the band gap of the materials at 450 °C was lower than that of the VNPs-550 (2.53 versus 2.66 eV, respectively). Besides, the materials were assessed for the potential bioactivities toward antibacterial, antifungal, DNA cleavage, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic performances. As a result, the antibacterial activity, with minimal inhalation concentration (MIC) < 6.25 µg/mL for both strains, and fungicidal one of the materials depicted the dose-dependent effects. Once, both VNPs exhibited the noticeable efficacy of the DNA microbial damage, meanwhile, the outstanding anti-inflammatory agent was involved with the IC50 of 123.636 and 227.706 µg/mL, accounting for VNPs-450 and VNPs-550, respectively. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated the hemolytic potential of the VNPs materials. These consequences declare the prospects of the VNPs as the smart and alternative material from the green procedure in biomedicine.

Mycosporine-like amino acids, brominated and sulphated phenols: Suitable chemotaxonomic markers for the reassessment of classification of Bostrychia calliptera (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta).

Red algae (Rhodophyta) are primarily found in marine habitats around the world and they have been a prolific source of structurally diverse natural products. Among them the genus Bostrychia (Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae) consists of approximately 40 taxonomically accepted species, and some, e. g., B. tenella, B. radicans, B. moritziana, B. simpliciuscula and B. intricate, include cryptic species. DNA sequence data show three genetic lineages within Bostrychia calliptera, another polyphyletic species requiring further taxonomic investigation. In an attempt to examine whether there are differences in the metabolite pattern that support the re-circumscription of the species and to uncover biogeographic patterns, phytochemical profiling of those samples used for DNA sequencing was conducted. This investigation revealed clearly three different chemotypes, corresponding to the lineages of the published molecular analysis results. The first lineage had a distinct and recognizably different phytochemical profile in contrast to the second and the third lineage which shared some similarities. Still, variations in the pattern of their phenolic compounds allowed a clear discrimination between the second and third lineage, too. The most important marker substances were isolated and their structures elucidated resulting in the characterization of four undescribed phenols. The isolated substances from B. calliptera are considered as suitable chemotaxonomic markers within this polyphyletic group.

Development and Validation of an HPLC Method for the Quantitative Analysis of Bromophenolic Compounds in the Red Alga Vertebrata lanosa.

Bromophenols are a class of compounds occurring in red algae that are thought to play a role in chemical protection; however, their exact function is still not fully known. In order to investigate their occurrence, pure standards of seven bromophenols were isolated from a methanolic extract of the epiphytic red alga Vertebrata lanosa collected in Brittany, France. The structures of all compounds were determined by NMR and MS. Among the isolated substances, one new natural product, namely, 2-amino-5-(3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)ureido)pentanoic acid was identified. An HPLC method for the separation of all isolated substances was developed using a Phenomenex C8(2) Luna column and a mobile phase comprising 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid in water and acetonitrile. Method validation showed that the applied procedure is selective, linear (R2 0.999), precise (intra-day ≤ 6.28%, inter-day ≤ 5.21%), and accurate (with maximum displacement values of 4.93% for the high spikes, 4.80% for the medium spikes, and 4.30% for the low spikes). For all standards limits of detection (LOD) were lower than 0.04 µg/mL and limits of quantification (LOQ) lower than 0.12 µg/mL. Subsequently, the method was applied to determine the bromophenol content in Vertebrata lanosa samples from varying sampling sites and collection years showing values between 0.678 and 0.005 mg/g dry weight for different bromophenols with significant variations between the sampling years. Bioactivity of seven isolated bromophenols was tested in agar diffusion tests against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Three compounds showed a small zone of inhibition against both test organisms at a concentration of 100 µg/mL.

Phenolic compounds from the stems of Fissistigma polyanthoides and their anti-oxidant activities.

The stems of Fissistigma polyanthoides (A.DC.) Merr. are traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatism and for recuperating women after childbirth. In our continuous phytochemical investigation of this plant, four new (1, 2, 5, and 19) and fifteen known (3, 4, and 6-18) phenolic compounds were isolated. The structures of all compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses (1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS), and in comparison with reported literature data. The new natural products showed to be two poly-methoxylated chalcones (1 and 2) and two flavonoid glycosides, with 19 containing an uncommon sugar moiety (quinovose). Compounds with sufficient amount were tested for their anti-oxidant activity in a cell-based assay using the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. The compounds' capacity to inhibit the peroxyl radical triggered formation of dichlorofluorescein (DCF) was investigated in a dose-dependent manner. Both, anti-oxidant (3, 4, 6, 8-12, and 14) and pro-oxidative (5 and 16) properties were found for the investigated substances. The half maximal concentrations (IC50) for the inhibition of ROS formation ranged between 18.8 µM and 63.5 µM. Compounds, which acted protectively in the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay and did not negatively affect cell viability, could be interesting targets for further investigations.

Capillary electrophoresis as a fast and efficient alternative for the analysis of Urceola rosea leaf extracts.

Urceola rosea, a plant whose leaves are used as food and for medical purposes, is a climbing liana found in many south-east Asian countries. Main polar compounds are flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin glycosides) and phenolic acids. As an alternative to the established HPLC method their analysis by capillary electrophoresis is described for the first time. It was possible in <8min with a 25mM sodium tetraborate decahydrate solution with pH8.5, at a capillary temperature of 40°C and an applied voltage of 25kV. Up to five compounds could be quantified in different methanolic U. rosea extracts, which showed to be of variable composition; e.g. the content of total flavonoids ranged from 0.29 to 1.08%. In respect to quantitative results as well as validation parameters (e.g. R2≥0.994, recovery rates from 95.5 to 103.6%, inter-day precision≤4.5%) the CE method was well comparable to HPLC. However, in terms of required analysis time and environmental sustainability capillary electrophoresis is definitely advantageous.