Temperature-dependent heterojunction ternary nanocomposite: Assessing photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

Heterojunction nanocomposites (ZnO:NiO:CuO) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and annealed at three different temperatures (400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C). The structural, optical, and electrical properties were examined by employing XRD, SEM, UV-Vis, FTIR, and LCR meter techniques to investigate the effects of annealing. Increasing the annealing temperature resulted in the nanocomposites (NCPs) exhibiting enhanced crystallinity, purity, optical properties, and improved electrical and dielectric behavior. The calculated crystalline sizes (Debye-Scherrer method) of the NCPs were determined to be 21, 26 and 34 nm for annealing temperature 400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C, respectively. The calculated bandgaps of synthesized samples were found in the range of 2.92-2.55 eV. This temperature-dependent annealing process notably influenced particle size, morphology, band-gap characteristics, and photocatalytic efficiency. EDX analysis affirmed the sample purity, with elemental peaks of Zn, Cu, Ni, and O. These NCPs demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic activity against various dyes solutions (Methyl orange (MO), Methylene Blue (MB), and mixed solution of dyes) under sunlight and also showed good antibacterial properties assessed by the disc diffusion method. Notably, the nanocomposite annealed at 400 °C exhibited a particularly high degradation efficiency by degrading 96% MB and 91% MO in just 90 min under sunlight.

Revisiting plant stress memory: mechanisms and contribution to stress adaptation

Highly repetitive adverse environmental conditions are encountered by plants multiple times during their lifecycle. These repetitive encounters with stresses provide plants an opportunity to remember and recall the experiences of past stress-associated responses, resulting in better adaptation towards those stresses. In general, this phenomenon is known as plant stress memory. According to our current understanding, epigenetic mechanisms play a major role in plants stress memory through DNA methylation, histone, and chromatin remodeling, and modulating non-coding RNAs. In addition, transcriptional, hormonal, and metabolic-based regulations of stress memory establishment also exist for various biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant memory can also be generated by priming the plants using various stressors that improve plants' tolerance towards unfavorable conditions. Additionally, the application of priming agents has been demonstrated to successfully establish stress memory. However, the interconnection of all aspects of the underlying mechanisms of plant stress memory is not yet fully understood, which limits their proper utilization to improve the stress adaptations in plants. This review summarizes the recent understanding of plant stress memory and its potential applications in improving plant tolerance towards biotic and abiotic stresses.

Hydro-chemical characteristics and groundwater quality evaluation in south-western region of Bangladesh: A GIS-based approach and multivariate analyses

The study focuses on the chemistry of groundwater and if it is suitable for drinking and for use in agriculture using water quality indices, GIS mapping, and multivariate analyses in Sharsa Upazila, Jashore district, Bangladesh. In this study, the concentration of NH4+, K+, Ca2+, EC, Turbidity overstep BDWS drinking standards in 69 %, 14 %, 100 %, 40 % (WHO), 73 % of samples respectively. The value of Water Quality Indices (WQI) results inferred that the maximum specimen was held good quality for drinking uses, and the values distributed central eastern part to the south-eastern part were good quality water in the selected studied area. The study area's PH, EC, SAR, Na (%), TH, and NO3- values were mapped using GIS tools to show their spatial distribution. The cluster and correlation matrix analyses are used to validate for Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The five PCA results exhibited that the presence of EC, turbidity, K+, SO42- and NO3- was significant and was caused by both geogenic (rock weathering and cation exchange) and anthropogenic (agrochemicals, animal feedback) factor. According to the hydro-geochemical data, the maximum number of samples is of the Ca-Mg-HCO3-Cl type and is dominated by rocks. The irrigation water indices like MH, KR, SAR, and %Na indicate show high-quality groundwater for irrigation purposes. Most of the samples were satisfactory and compiled with WHO and Bangladeshi criteria for standard drinking water guideline values.

Synthesis of hydroxyethylcellulose phthalate-modified silver nanoparticles and their multifunctional applications as an efficient antibacterial, photocatalytic and mercury-selective sensing agent

Water contamination by several aquatic pollutants such as dyes, heavy metal ions and microbes is a prevalent concern to health and environment. Thus, developing facile, economical, and eco-friendly strategies to tackle this problem have become paramount. Hence, this study reports the synthesis of hydroxyethylcellulose phthalate-capped silver nanoparticles (HEC-PA@AgNPs) using a simple sunlight-assisted route. The multifunctional applications of the synthesized particles as an efficient nanoprobe for the selective sensing of Hg2+ as well as their photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities were demonstrated. HEC-PA@AgNPs were systematically characterized by various advanced analytical techniques such as FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential (ZP) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The successful functionalization of AgNPs with HEC-PA was manifested using FTIR. SEM and XRD revealed the formation of spherical AgNPs with a face centered cubic structure and a crystallite size of 14 nm. The particles demonstrated a hydrodynamic size of 40 nm with a good colloidal stability as evidenced from the ZP value of -35 mV, suggesting the effective role of the negatively charged HEC-PA capping agent in stabilizing the NPs. HEC-PA@AgNPs exhibited fast naked-eye colorimetric detection, high selectivity, and sensitivity to Hg2+ in spiked real water samples over a wide range of pH (3-9) and temperatures (298-328 K), achieving a detection limit of 119 nM. The presence of other diverse metal ions didn't affect the specificity of the particles toward Hg ions. Further, the sensing mechanism is based on a characteristic redox reaction between Hg2+ and AgNPs. Further, HEC-PA@AgNPs showcased a more noxious antimicrobial activity to gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus) than gram-negative bacteria (E. coli). Besides, AgNPs exhibited high photocatalytic potential under sunlight irradiation with a degradation efficiency of 79 % for methylene blue dye in only 80 min following pseudo-1st order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.019 min-1. The photocatalyst exhibited good reusability after five recycling runs. These results render our approach promising multifunctional analytical probe for environmental and biomedical applications.

Waste-derived nanobiochar: A new avenue towards sustainable agriculture, environment, and circular bioeconomy

The greatest challenge for the agriculture sector in the twenty-first century is to increase agricultural production to feed the burgeoning global population while maintaining soil health and the integrity of the agroecosystem. Currently, the application of biochar is widely implemented as an effective means for boosting sustainable agriculture while having a negligible influence on ecosystems and the environment. In comparison to traditional biochar, nano-biochar (nano-BC) boasts enhanced specific surface area, adsorption capacity, and mobility properties within soil, allowing it to promote soil properties, crop growth, and environmental remediation. Additionally, carbon sequestration and reduction of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture can be achieved with nano-BC applications, contributing to climate change mitigation. Nonetheless, due to cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and environmental friendliness, waste-derived nano-BC may emerge as the most viable alternative to conventional waste management strategies, contributing to the circular bioeconomy and the broader goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, it's important to note that research on nano-BC is still in its nascent stages. Potential risks, including toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial environments, necessitate extensive field investigations. This review delineates the potential of waste-derived nano-BC for sustainable agriculture and environmental applications, outlining current advancements, challenges, and possibilities in the realms from a sustainability and circular bioeconomy standpoint.

Nitrogen-functionalized graphene quantum dot incorporated GelMA microgels as fluorescent 3D-tissue Constructs

Biopolymer microgels present many opportunities in biomedicine and tissue engineering. To understand their in vivo behavior in therapeutic interventions, long-term monitoring is critical, which is usually achieved by incorporating fluorescent materials within the hydrogel matrix. Current research is limited due to issues concerning the biocompatibility and instability of the conventional fluorescent species, which also tend to adversely affect the bio-functionality of the hydrogels. Here, we introduce a microfluidic-based approach to generate nitrogen-functionalized graphene quantum dot (NGQD) incorporated gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel microspheres, capable of long-term monitoring while preserving or enhancing the other favorable features of 3D cell encapsulation. A multilayer droplet-based microfluidic device was designed and fabricated to make monodisperse NGQD-loaded GelMA hydrogel microspheres encapsulating skeletal muscle cells (C2C12). Control over the sizes of microspheres could be achieved by tuning the flow rates in the microfluidic device. Skeletal muscle cells encapsulated in these microgels exhibited high cell viability from day 1 (82.9 ± 6.50%) to day 10 (92.1 ± 3.90%). The NGQD-loaded GelMA microgels encapsulating the cells demonstrated higher metabolic activity compared to the GelMA microgels. Presence of sarcomeric α-actin was verified by immunofluorescence staining on day 10. A fluorescence signal was observed from the NGQD-loaded microgels during the entire period of the study. The investigation reveals the advantages of integrating NGQDs in microgels for non-invasive imaging and monitoring of cell-laden microspheres and presents new opportunities for future therapeutic applications.

Fabrication of ternary metal oxide (ZnO:NiO:CuO) nanocomposite heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

In this article, ZnO:NiO:CuO nanocomposites (NCPs) were synthesized using a hydrothermal method, with different Zn : Ni : Cu molar ratios (1 : 1 : 1, 2 : 1 : 1, 1 : 2 : 1, and 1 : 1 : 1). The PXRD confirmed the formation of a NCP consisting of ZnO (hexagonal), NiO (cubic), and CuO (monoclinic) structures. The crystallite sizes of NCPs were calculated using Debye Scherrer and Williamson-Hall methods. The calculated crystalline sizes (Scherrer method) of the NCPs were determined to be 21, 27, 23, and 20 nm for the molar ratios 1 : 1 : 1, 2 : 1 : 1, 1 : 2 : 1, and 1 : 1 : 2, respectively. FTIR spectra confirmed the successful formation of heterojunction NCPs via the presence of metal-oxygen bonds. The UV-vis spectroscopy was used to calculate the bandgap of synthesized samples and was found in the range of 2.99-2.17 eV. SEM images showed the mixed morphology of NCPs i.e., irregular spherical and rod-like structures. The dielectric properties, including AC conductivity, dielectric constant, impedance, and dielectric loss parameters were measured using an LCR meter. The DC electrical measurements revealed that NCPs have a high electrical conductivity. All the NCPs were evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and a mixture of both of these dyes. The NCPs with a molar ratio 1 : 1 : 2 (Zn : Ni : Cu) displayed outstanding photocatalytic activity under sunlight, achieving the degradation efficiency of 98% for methylene blue (MB), 92% for methyl orange (MO) and more than 87% in the case of a mixture of dyes within just 90 minutes of illumination. The antibacterial activity results showed the more noxious nature of NCPs against Gram-negative bacteria with a maximum zone of inhibition revealed by the NCPs of molar ratio 1 : 2 : 1 (Zn : Ni : Cu). On the basis of these observations, it can be anticipated that the NCPs can be successfully employed for the purification of contaminated water by the degradation of hazardous organic compounds and in antibacterial ointments.

Prevalence of Diarrhea and its Relation with Severity of the Disease among Covid-19 Positive Patient in a Selected Covid Dedicated Hospital

Covid-19 has become a pandemic since its emergence in Wuhan, China. It involves Gastro intestinal (GI) system and diarrhea is recognized as an important symptom. Diarrhea is also associated with disease severity. This study was conducted to see the prevalence of diarrhea in Covid-19 positive patient and its relation with disease severity. Prospective observational study done among consecutive Covid-19 positive patient of both sex admitted in Mugda Medical College Hospital in Dhaka from February 2021 to April 2021. Informations were collected by face to face interview and severity was assessed on bedside. Among 166 Covid-19 positive patient 40.0% developed diarrhea. Mean age of the diarrheal patients was 44.21±14.40. Women affected more than men (51.0% versus 49.0%). In majority patient (62.0%) diarrhea persist for 3-7 days and majority had frequency of bowel movement 3-5 times per day. Regarding Bristol stool type 47.0% had stool type 6 followed by stool type 7(43.0%) and stool type 5(10.0%). Half of the diarrheal patient (48.0%) had severe pneumonia. Severe pneumonia is significantly more common in non-diarrheal patients (65.0%) than in diarrheal patient (35.0%) (p=0.007). This study reflects that a large number of Covid-19 positive patients developed diarrhea. Half of the diarrheal patients had severe pneumonia. But severe pneumonia is significantly common in non-diarrheal patient than diarrheal patients.

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability for seawater intrusion using DRASTIC model in coastal area at Patuakhali District, Bangladesh

Seawater intrusion is a growing concern for coastal regions in Bangladesh. Overexploitation of groundwater, low rainfall, a high rate of evaporation, rising sea level, cyclones, storm surges, and shrimp cultivation are the causes of seawater intrusion that polluted the groundwater near the coastal area. High values of EC, TDS, Na+, and Cl- ions in groundwater indicate the seawater intrusion. Piper's Trilinear and Durov diagrams of groundwater indicated that most gathered groundwater show predominantly Na-Cl-type of water. Based on the USSL diagram, it is observed that the salinity of the study area is medium to high and the alkalinity is medium to very high. Also, in view of the Wilcox outline, most of the samples in the area of interest are permissible to doubtful, and doubtful to unsuitable. Chloride is moderately correlated with Na+ (R2 = 0.590) and poorly correlated with (HCO3-  + CO32-) (R2 = 0.128), which indicates seawater intrusion. According to a comparison of the levels of Fe and Mn in the groundwater of the study area with those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of the Environment (DOE), twenty-two out of thirty-one samples exceed the acceptable limit for Fe and thirty out of thirty-one samples fall within the acceptable limit for Mn. The calculated water quality index reveals that most samples are of low drinking water quality. The research area's poor water type is found in the north-central and southern parts. The WQI geographic variation map reveals that the study's water has a WQI of more than 100, making it unsuitable for consumption. The final seawater intrusion vulnerability map clearly identifies the moderate to highly vulnerable zone of the study area using DRASTIC index parameters. DRASTIC index parameters revealed that some portions of the northwestern part of the sample area show a moderately vulnerable zone. And the rest of the sampling area indicates the highly vulnerable zone.

Physical properties of multifunctional TM-doped ZnO nanorods and their photocatalytic and anti-bacterial activities

Dilute magnetic semiconductor Zn1-xCuxO (x = 0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5%) nanorods were prepared by hydrothermal method. The impact of dopant concentration on the physical properties was investigated along with the anti-bacterial and photocatalytic activities. Synthesis of ZnO nanorods was confirmed by the characteristic band at 380 nm in UV-Visible spectra of the synthesized samples. A red shift in absorbance spectra was observed from 380 to 465 nm with an increase in dopant concentration. The hexagonal wurtzite geometry and rod-like morphology of Cu-doped ZnO nanorods having an average size of 29 nm were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. An increase in the crystallinity of the material was observed with an increase in the dopant (Cu) ratio without any alteration in geometry. EDX analysis was used to confirm the purity of samples. FTIR spectra were recorded to explore the functional group present in samples. The hysteresis loop drawn by a vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) was utilized to analyze the ferromagnetic behavior. As-synthesized pure and Cu-ZnO nanorods were evaluated for their photocatalytic behavior for the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) dye. Zn1 - xCuxO with x = 4.5%, pH 3, and catalyst dosage of 0.5 g has shown the maximum efficiency. Results elucidated > 81% degradation of MO dye with a rate constant (k) value of - 1.930 × 10-2 min-1 in just 90 min of exposure to a visible light source. ZnO nanorods have also exhibited anti-bacterial potential against gram-positive and gram-negative strains of bacteria. However, smaller size nanorods were found more effective to suppress the growth of gram-negative bacteria. A slight decrease (11%) in catalytic potential was observed in the 5th cycle during recycling and reuse experiments.

Milder Autumns May Increase Risk for Infection of Crops with Turnip Yellows Virus

Climate change has increased the risk for infection of crops with insect-transmitted viruses. Mild autumns provide prolonged active periods to insects, which may spread viruses to winter crops. In autumn 2018, green peach aphids (Myzus persicae) were found in suction traps in southern Sweden that presented infection risk for winter oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus) with turnip yellows virus (TuYV). A survey was carried out in spring 2019 with random leaf samples from 46 OSR fields in southern and central Sweden using DAS-ELISA, and TuYV was detected in all fields except one. In the counties of Skåne, Kalmar, and Östergötland, the average incidence of TuYV-infected plants was 75%, and the incidence reached 100% for nine fields. Sequence analyses of the coat protein gene revealed a close relationship between TuYV isolates from Sweden and other parts of the world. High-throughput sequencing for one of the OSR samples confirmed the presence of TuYV and revealed coinfection with TuYV-associated RNA. Molecular analyses of seven sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) plants with yellowing, collected in 2019, revealed that two of them were infected by TuYV, together with two other poleroviruses: beet mild yellowing virus and beet chlorosis virus. The presence of TuYV in sugar beet suggests a spillover from other hosts. Poleroviruses are prone to recombination, and mixed infection with three poleroviruses in the same plant poses a risk for the emergence of new polerovirus genotypes. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Phosphorus Plays Key Roles in Regulating Plants' Physiological Responses to Abiotic Stresses

Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient, plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of plants. However, the limited availability of phosphorus in soil presents significant challenges for crop productivity, especially when plants are subjected to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and extreme temperatures. Unraveling the intricate mechanisms through which phosphorus participates in the physiological responses of plants to abiotic stresses is essential to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production systems. This review aims to analyze the influence of phosphorus supply on various aspects of plant growth and plant development under hostile environmental conditions, with a special emphasis on stomatal development and operation. Furthermore, we discuss recently discovered genes associated with P-dependent stress regulation and evaluate the feasibility of implementing P-based agricultural practices to mitigate the adverse effects of abiotic stress. Our objective is to provide molecular and physiological insights into the role of P in regulating plants' tolerance to abiotic stresses, underscoring the significance of efficient P use strategies for agricultural sustainability. The potential benefits and limitations of P-based strategies and future research directions are also discussed.

In Silico and In Vitro Studies of 4-Hydroxycoumarin-Based Heterocyclic Enamines as Potential Anti-Tumor Agents

The present study reports the one-step synthesis of several 3-formyl-4-hydroxycouramin-derived enamines (4a-4i) in good yields (65-94%). The characterization of the synthesized compounds was carried out via advanced analytical and spectroscopic techniques, such as melting point, electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS), 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, elemental analysis, FTIR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The reaction conditions were optimized, and the maximum yield was obtained at 3-4 h of reflux of the reactants, using 2-butanol as a solvent. The potato disc tumor assay was used to assess Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced tumors to evaluate the anti-tumor activities of compounds (4a-4i), using Vinblastine as a standard drug. The compound 4g showed the lowest IC50 value (1.12 ± 0.2), which is even better than standard Vinblastine (IC50 7.5 ± 0.6). For further insight into their drug actions, an in silico docking of the compounds was also carried out against the CDK-8 protein. The binding energy values of compounds were found to agree with the experimental results. The compounds 4g and 4h showed the best affinities toward protein, with a binding energy value of -6.8 kcal/mol.

Correction: Synthesis of an amantadine-based novel Schiff base and its transition metal complexes as potential ALP, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitors

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D2RA07051K.].

Pseurotin A Validation as a Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Recurrence-Suppressing Lead via PCSK9-LDLR Axis Modulation

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) cells can de novo biosynthesize their own cholesterol and overexpress proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). PCSK9 proved to contribute to mCRPC cell motility since PCSK9 knockdown (KD) in mCRPC CWR-R1ca cells led to notable reductions in cell migration and colony formation. Human tissue microarray results proved a higher immunohistoscore in patients ≥ 65 years old, and PCSK9 proved to be expressed higher at an early Gleason score of ≤7. The fermentation product pseurotin A (PS) suppressed PCSK9 expression, protein-protein interactions with LDLR, and breast and prostate cancer recurrences. PS suppressed migration and colony formation of the CWR-R1ca cells. The progression and metastasis of the CWR-R1ca-Luc cells subcutaneously (sc) xenografted into male nude mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD, 11% fat content) showed nearly 2-fold tumor volume, metastasis, serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and PCSK9 levels versus mice fed a regular chow diet. Daily oral PS 10 mg/kg treatments prevented the locoregional and distant tumor recurrence of CWR-R1ca-Luc engrafted into nude mice after primary tumor surgical excision. PS-treated mice showed a significant reduction in serum cholesterol, LDL-C, PCSK9, and PSA levels. These results comprehensively validate PS as an mCRPC recurrence-suppressive lead by modulating the PCSK9-LDLR axis.

Synthesis, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial efficacy and molecular docking studies of 4-chloro-2-(1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol and its transition metal complexes

Herein, a one-pot synthesis of tetra-substituted imidazole, 4-chloro-2-(1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol (HL), is reported by the reaction of benzil, 5-bromosalicylaldehyde, ammonium acetate and anisidine. The synthesized imidazole was reacted with salts of 1st row transition metals (Co(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii), Mn(ii) and Zn(ii)) to obtain metal complexes. The structure of the compounds was confirmed using various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. HL, which is crystalline, was characterized by SC-XRD. Subsequently, the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Antimicrobial studies revealed the more noxious nature of metal complexes compared to ligand against various strains of bacteria and fungi. Molecular docking results based on the binding energy values also supported the experimental results of the antioxidant activities of the compounds. HL was found to be a better antioxidant than metal complexes. For a better insight into the structure, computational studies of the compounds were also carried out. A clear intra-molecular charge transfer was perceived in the ligand and its metal complexes. The transfer integral values for holes (36.48 meV) were found to be higher than the electron transfer integrals (24.76 meV), which indicated that the ligand would be a better hole transporter. According to the frontier molecular orbitals of the dimer, the charge transfer within the molecule is found from monomer 1 to 2.

Molecular studies of rust on European aspen suggest an autochthonous relationship shaped by genotype

Forests are at increasing risk from pathogen outbreak. Climate change for example enhance the risk of local disease outbreaks, and naturalization of exotic pathogens may follow human activities, warranting robust pest surveillance routines to support forest management. Melampsora pinitorqua (pine twisting rust) is of concern in Swedish forestry, and here we evaluate the use of visible rust scores (VRS) on its obligate summer host, European aspen (Populus tremula) as a tool for quantification of the pathogen. With use of species-specific primers, we could detect the native rust, but we failed to detect two exotic rusts (M. medusae and M. larici-populina). We found that aspen genotype determined the presence of fungal genetic markers (amplifying the ITS2 region of the fungal rDNA sequence) as well as DNA sequences specific to M. pinitorqua. We correlated VRS with the amount of fungal DNA in the same leaf, and we related the findings to aspen genotype-specific parameters such as the ability to synthesize and store leaf condensed tannins (CT). At the genotype level both positive and negative relationships were observed between CTs, fungal markers, and rust infestations. However, at the population level, foliar CT concentrations correlated negatively with general fungal- and rust-specific marker abundances. Our results, therefore, do not support the use of VRS to assess Melampsora infestation in Aspen. They do, however, suggest that the relationship between European aspen and rust infestation may be characterized as autochthonous in northern Sweden.

Synthesis of an amantadine-based novel Schiff base and its transition metal complexes as potential ALP, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitors

A Schiff base ligand HL, (E)-2-((adamantan-1-ylimino)methyl)-6-allylphenol, was synthesized by condensation of amantadine with 3-allyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, followed by the synthesis of its Zn(ii), Co(ii), Cr(iii), and VO(iv) complexes under reflux conditions. The synthesized compounds were comprehensively elucidated by using different spectroscopic and analytical techniques: UV-Vis, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR, ESI-MS, thermal, and single-crystal XRD analysis. The chemical composition of the synthesized compounds was also verified by molar conductance and elemental analysis. An octahedral geometry for Cr(iii) and Co(ii) complexes, tetrahedral for Zn(ii) complex, and square pyramidal geometry have been proposed for VO(iv) complexes. The antidiabetic activities of the synthesized compounds were also evaluated by performing in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition studies. The Co(ii) complex exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, whereas oxovanadium(iv) and zinc(ii) complexes were also found to be effective against α-amylase. In alkaline phosphatase (ALP) inhibition studies, the HL was found to be inactive, while the complexes showed remarkable enzyme inhibition in the following order: VO > Zn > Co, in a concentration-dependent manner.

Biological and Hypoglycemic Effects of a Polyherbal Extract on Alloxanized Diabetic Rats

The current study investigates the antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective potentials of a polyherbal mixture containing the methanolic extracts of seeds from Nigella sativa, Cicer arietinum, Silybum marianum, and Citrullus colocynthis and the rhizome of Zingiber officinale. The polyherbal extract (PHE) showed significant total phenolic contents (187.17 GAE/g), ferric reducing power (28%), and radical-scavenging activity (86.16%). The PHE also showed a substantial hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats by reducing the blood glucose level of the PHE-treated rats (-48.64%) and increasing the insulin level (107.5%) as compared with the diabetic control group. Likewise, an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) contents (22.95%) with an associated decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (-43.93%) was also noted. A significant decrease in serum levels of liver marker enzymes, e.g., SGPT (-36%), SGOT (-31%), and serum ALP (-12%), was also observed as compared with the standard drug-treated group. Based on the findings of the study, it may be suggested that PHE helps ameliorate the severity of diabetes as a herbal remedy and might be employed in nutra-pharmaceuticals, replacing synthetic antidiabetic compounds.

The Relationship between Age and Pulp Cavity Size Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Introduction This study aims to determine the relationship between chronological age and pulp cavity size and determine which type of tooth has a strong relationship between age and pulp cavity size.

Materials and Methods Cone-beam computed tomography images from 200 patients aged between 18 and 55 years were analyzed. The software program (version 2.21) exported the images in the DICOM format, and the MIMICS software program (version 10.01) was used to calculate. The relationship between chronological age and pulp cavity size and determination of which type of tooth strongly relates to age and pulp cavity size were evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient and Linear regression model.

Results A total of 200 patients were included in the study. The minimum age recorded was 18 years, and the maximum period recorded was 55 years. The mean age was 35 years. The relationship between chronological age and pulp cavity size was statistically significant. Maxillary central incisor and mandibular first molar showed a strong relationship between chronological age and pulp cavity size.

Conclusions In this study, the pulp cavity size of both maxillary central incisor and mandibular first molar showed a statistically significant correlation with age. The correlation between right and left is strong. So, maxillary central incisor and mandibular first molar is a valuable index for human age estimation with reasonable precision and accuracy.

Cytogenetics and Consequences of Polyploidization on Different Biotic-Abiotic Stress Tolerance and the Potential Mechanisms Involved

The application of polyploidy in sustainable agriculture has already brought much appreciation among researchers. Polyploidy may occur naturally or can be induced in the laboratory using chemical or gaseous agents and results in complete chromosome nondisjunction. This comprehensive review described the potential of polyploidization on plants, especially its role in crop improvement for enhanced production and host-plant resistance development against pests and diseases. An in-depth investigation on techniques used in the induction of polyploidy, cytogenetic evaluation methods of different ploidy levels, application, and current research trends is also presented. Ongoing research has mainly aimed to bring the recurrence in polyploidy, which is usually detected by flow cytometry, chromosome counting, and cytogenetic techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Polyploidy can bring about positive consequences in the growth and yield attributes of crops, making them more tolerant to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the unexpected change in chromosome set and lack of knowledge on the mechanism of stress alleviation is hindering the application of polyploidy on a large scale. Moreover, a lack of cost-benefit analysis and knowledge gaps on the socio-economic implication are predominant. Further research on polyploidy coupling with modern genomic technologies will help to bring real-world market prospects in the era of changing climate. This review on polyploidy provides a solid foundation to do next-generation research on crop improvement.

Abstract 2398: The tobacco cembranoid β-cembrenediol as promising prostate cancer recurrence suppressor lead

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second leading cause of men death in the US, annually killing >34,000 men. Despite progress in early PC diagnosis and treatment, many patients have locally and distant disease recurrence. Therapeutic androgens deprivation have limited curative potential and associated with severe side effects and rapid resistance development justifying the dire need for discovery of novel recurrence inhibitors. (1S,2E,4R,6R,-7E,11E)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (β-CBT) and its 4-epi-analog (α-CBT) are the precursors to key flavor ingredients in leaves of most Nicotiana species. Nearly 40-60% of β- and α-CBT are purposely degraded during the commercial tobacco fermentation. Earlier, we reported the lack of β-CBT cytotoxicity below 50 µM while at 50 nM it reversed the calcitonin-stimulated decrease in transepithelial resistance and increased paracellular permeability in PC-3M PC cells. β-CBT also proven to stimulate tight junction formation between PC-3M cells, producing a tighter intercellular barrier. β-CBT 10-50 nM potently inhibited the calcitonin-stimulated PC-3M cells invasion in Matrigel assay. This study demonstrates the in vitro β-CBT anti-migratory (wound-healing assay) and anti-clonogenicity (colony-formation assay) activities against five PC cell lines, including the metastatic castration-recurrent human prostate cancer (mCRPC) CWR-R1ca. Meanwhile, β-CBT potently suppressed the in vivo locoregional and distant recurrences after the primary tumor surgical excision of the tumor formed by engrafting the human metastatic prostate PC-3M-Luc cells at the suprascupular region in male nude mice model. β-CBT treatments prevented organ and significantly suppressed bone metastasis and lacked any major toxicity over the 60-day study course. Therefore, β-CBT emerges as an effective promising PC recurrence and metastasis suppressive lead appropriate for near future use as a prospective nutraceutical.

Citation Format: Ethar A. Mudhish, Abu Bakar Siddique, Khaldoun S. Abdelwahed, Judy A. King, Khalid A. El Sayed. The tobacco cembranoid β-cembrenediol as promising prostate cancer recurrence suppressor lead [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2398.

The Tobacco β-Cembrenediol: A Prostate Cancer Recurrence Suppressor Lead and Prospective Scaffold via Modulation of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase and Tryptophan Dioxygenase

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second leading cause of death in men in the US. PC has a high recurrence rate, and limited therapeutic options are available to prevent disease recurrence. The tryptophan-degrading enzymes 2,3-indoleamine dioxygenase (IDO1) and tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO2) are upregulated in invasive PC. (1S,2E,4R,6R,7E,11E)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (β-CBT) and its C-4 epimer α-CBT are the precursors to key flavor ingredients in tobacco leaves. Nearly 40-60% of β- and α-CBT are purposely degraded during commercial tobacco fermentation. Earlier, β-CBT inhibited invasion, reversed calcitonin-stimulated transepithelial resistance decrease, and induced tighter intercellular barriers in PC-3M cells. This study demonstrates the in vitro β-CBT anti-migratory (wound-healing assay) and anti-clonogenicity (colony-formation assay) activities against five diverse human PC cell lines, including the androgen-independent PC-3, PC-3M, and DU-145, the castration-recurrent CWR-R1ca, and the androgen-dependent CWR-22rv1. Meanwhile, β-CBT potently suppressed in vivo locoregional and distant recurrences after the primary tumor surgical excision of PC-3M-Luc cell tumor engrafted in male nude mice. β-CBT treatments suppressed organ and bone metastasis and lacked any major toxicity over the 60-day study course. β-CBT treatments significantly suppressed IDO1, TDO2, and their final metabolite kynurenine levels in PC-3M cells. β-CBT treatments significantly suppressed the tumor recurrence marker PSA and kynurenine levels in treated animals' plasma. β-CBT emerges as a promising PC recurrence suppressive lead.