The effect of seed layer cycles on the structural, optical, and morphological properties of ZnO nanorods.

In this study, ZnO seed layers with different cycles were formed on glass substrates by the sol-gel technique, and ZnO nanorods were grown on them by the hydrothermal method. Morphology and the structural characterization of the seed films and the ZnO nanorods are carried out by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray diffraction techniques. In addition, to investigate the effect of seed layer deposition cycles on the optical properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays, UV/visible spectrophotometer and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were performed. The changes in structural and optical parameters such as dislocation density, strain, crystallite size, and optical band gap values on each seed layer deposition cycle were examined. The highest optical band gap and crystallite size were obtained for ZnO nanorods with 4 cycles seed layer as 3.22 eV and 63.6 nm, respectively. Also, in the PL spectrum, the largest ratio of UV-emission region to weak-visible emission region was obtained in ZnO nanorods having 4 cycles. In addition, the glucose detection properties of ZnO nanorods having 4 cycles were investigated using the PL measurements and it was found that UV-emission peak intensity of ZnO nanorods decreased as the glucose concentration increased from 8 to 40 mM. The results show that the number of deposition cycles of the seed layer has a strong influence on the orientation, crystal quality, and optical band gap of the growing ZnO nanorods, as well as significantly affecting their morphological properties. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: High quality ZnO nanorods were grown on glass substrates by hydrothermal method. The effect of ZnO seed layer cycles on the structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of ZnO nanorods grown on were examined. It was found that the number of cycles of the seed layer is a critical parameter for growing quality and well-aligned ZnO nanorods.

The cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity analysis of the isolated constituents and extracts from endemic Centaurea derderiifolia.

It is aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of the various extracts from the leaf and seed of Centaurea derderiifolia on the growth human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells by xCELLigence method and to isolate the cytotoxic constituents. The results showed that subfractions 2 and 3 exhibited remarkable inhibitory effect against HeLa (IC50 < 10 µg/mL). The chloroform extract of leaf displayed the highest cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells (IC50 < 50 µg/mL) and was therefore subjected to a bioassay-guided multistep separation procedure. The pure compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses, including 1 D-, 2 D-NMR. In addition to cytotoxic effects of the isolated constituents, their antioxidant activities were also studied. On the other hand, subfraction 4 exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.76 ± 0.03 mg/mL). ß-sitosterol-3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside was isolated for the first time from this plant and three compounds from the bioactive subfractions were identified.

Phenolic Profile, Essential Oil Composition and Bioactivity of Lasia spinosa (L) Thwaites

Abstract Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites is a widely used ethnomedicinal plant in Bangladesh. In this study, we investigated phenolic contents, volatile compounds and fatty acids, and essential oil components of extracts prepared from aerial parts of the plant. The main volatile compounds were methyl ester of oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid as determined by GC/MS. Phenolic contents of the extracts were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by HPLC/TOF-MS. Six phenolic compounds (syringic acid, morin, gentistic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, and apigenin) were found in the extracts. GC/MS analysis of steam distilled essential oil showed camphor, α-pinene and δ-3-carene as the main constituents. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, the highest free radical scavenging activity was observed for the methanol extract with an IC50 value of 0.48 ± 0.04 mg/mL, whereas, in metal chelating activity on ferrous ions (Fe2+) assay, the highest chelating activity was observed for hexane extract (IC50 = 0.55 ± 0.08 mg/mL). The extracts and essential oil were tested against five severe human pathogenic bacteria using disc diffusion assay and subsequent MIC values were also determined. All the extracts (except methanol extract) and the essential oil were found to possess potential antimicrobial activity with corresponding inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 9-23 mm and 62.5-500 µg/mL. This study has been explored the plant Lasia spinosa can be seen as a potential source of biologically active compounds.

Antioxidant Potential of Herbal Preparations and Components from Galactites elegans (All.) Nyman ex Soldano.

Galactites is a genus of flowering plants belonging to Asteraceae family. This genus is mainly represented by the Galactites elegans (All.) Nyman ex Soldano, the milky thistle, a plant of Mediterranean origin. Galactites elegans is consumed as a monofloral boar thistle honey. Chromatography separation of CHCl3 and n-BuOH extracts of aerial parts of G. elegans led to isolation of 18 pure compounds. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-and 2D-NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis. Sinapic aldehyde, abietin, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 8α-hydroxypinoresinol, 9α-hydroxypinoresinol, pinoresinol, 4-ketopinoresinol, nortrachelogenin, and erythro-guaiacylglycerol-ß-O-4'-dihydroconiferyl alcohol were isolated from CHCl3 extract, while luteolin 4'-O-glucuronide, naringenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, quercitrin, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, ciwujiatone, and nortrachelogenin-4,4'-di-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside were obtained from n-BuOH extract. The majority of isolated compounds displayed a significant antioxidant potential in vitro test (DPPH). The ability of compounds to reduce the level of peroxides in control and BHP-treated Jurkat cells was studied. The lignan derivatives were also able to reduce at 50 µM the basal level of peroxides in Jurkat cells as well as counteract peroxide increase induced by BHP treatment. Particularly 8α-hydroxypinoresinol was the most active showing 70% of peroxide level inhibition.

Phytochemical Screening, Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Properties of Various Extracts from Endemic Origanum acutidens.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietsw. is an endemic and perennial plant grown mainly in East Anatolia. Recently, natural plant products have attracted interest due to their safety and therapeutic effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate phytochemical contents and biological effects of Origanum acutidens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aerial parts of O. acutidens were extracted with water, ethyl acetate, nbutanol, and methanol/chloroform solvents. Phenolic compounds and other constituents of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC/TOF-MS. The Ethyl Acetate extract (EA) was fractionated by flash chromatography. The extracts and fractions were investigated for their antiproliferative activities on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line by using BrdU ELISA assay. Antioxidant activities of the extracts and fractions were evaluated by complementary test systems, namely determination of total phenolic contents, metal chelating ability and DPPH radical scavenging assay. RESULTS: Among the extracts, Ethyl Acetate extract (EA) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 15.71 ± 0.04 µg/mL) on HeLa cells. It was therefore fractionated by flash chromatography to obtain 10 fractions which were investigated for their phenolic compounds and bioactivities. Rosmarinic acid was determined as the major component of EA and its fractions. EA exhibited higher antiproliferative activity against HeLa cell line than its fractions and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. EA and its fractions (F10, F6, F4, F7, F3, and F2) displayed higher radical scavenging activity compared to Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT). These effects may be attributed to the presence of rosmarinic acid in EA and its active fractions. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that O. acutidens is an essential natural source of polyphenols and a potent natural antioxidant and antiproliferative agent for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Phytochemical analysis, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of Chrozophora tinctoria: a natural dye plant.

CONTEXT: Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A. Juss. (Euphorbiaceae) is known as 'dyer's-croton' and used to obtain dye substances. Recently, natural antioxidants and colorants have been of interest because of their safety and therapeutic effects. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of the various extracts and fractions from C. tinctoria and analyzes their phytochemical contents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aerial parts of C. tinctoria were extracted with water, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol/chloroform. Phenolic compounds and other constituents of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC/TOF-MS. The ethyl acetate extract (EA) was fractionated by flash chromatography. The extracts, fractions, and major phenolic compounds were investigated for their antiproliferative activities on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line at the concentrations of 5-100 µg/mL by using BrdU ELISA assay during 24 h of incubation. DPPH radical scavenging activities (5-150 µg/mL) and total phenolic contents of the samples were also evaluated. RESULTS: 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (268.20 mg/kg), apigenin-7-glucoside (133.34 mg/kg), and gallic acid (68.92 mg/kg) were the major components of EA. CT/E-F6 (IC50 = 64.59 ± 0.01 µg/mL) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity. CT/E-F2 (IC50= 14.0 ± 0.0 µg/mL) and some fractions displayed higher radical scavenging activity compared to synthetic antioxidant BHT (IC50 = 23.1 ± 0.0 µg/mL). Among the main phenolics, gallic acid exhibited the highest antiproliferative and radical scavenging abilities (IC50 < 5 µg/mL). CONCLUSION: In this study, we have determined the biologically active fractions and their high effects may be attributed to the presence of gallic acid.

A novel benzimidazole and other constituents with antiproliferative and antioxidant properties from Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur.

A new compound (microphybenzimidazole, 7) along with the six known compounds matairesinol (1), prestegane B (2), umbelliferone (3), daphnoretin (4), microphynolide A (5) and microphynolide B (6) were isolated from Thymelaea microphylla. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HPLC-TOF/MS. Compounds 2 and 4, as well as three fractions (F6, F6-C5, and F6-W42) obtained from a 50% (v:v) CH2Cl2:MeOH extract exhibited a selective activity against rat brain glioma cells (C6). Moreover, compound 1 and other fractions obtained from 50% (v:v) CH2Cl2:MeOH and 70% (v:v) MeOH:H2O extracts exhibited dose- and time-dependent effects on human cervical cancer cell (HeLa), as measured by xCELLigence assay. Compound 2 (IC50 = 14.0 ± 0.2 µg/mL) and fraction F5 (IC50 = 12.4 ± 0.1 µg/mL) showed higher radical scavenging ability than the synthetic agent butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, IC50 = 22.7 ± 0.6 µg/mL).

Real-Time Cell Analysis of the Cytotoxicity of Origanum acutidens Essential Oil on HT-29 and HeLa Cell Lines.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and radical scavenging effects of the essential oil from Origanum acutidens (Hand-Mazz.) Ietswaart and to determine its chemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The cytotoxic effect of the essential oil on the growth of human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell lines was investigated by xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analyzer instrument. Moreover, radical scavenging effect of the oil was determined by using DPPH method. RESULTS: The main constituents of the oil were found to be carvacrol (61.69%), p-cymene (17.32%), γ-terpinene (4.05%), and borneol (3.96%). The essential oil of O. acutidens exhibited significant cytotoxic effect against HeLa and HT-29 cell lines at the tested concentrations. The essential oil had moderate DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). CONCLUSION: The data in the present study clearly demonstrated inhibitory effect of the oil on two human cancer cell lines. According to these results and other reported studies, this observed high effect may be attributed to the presence of the carvacrol component in the oil.