Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurological disease of unknown etiology that is associated with various risk factors. Various pharmacological approaches targeting distinct mechanisms have been investigated; however, they have not yet achieved disease-modifying effects. A series of nine trisubstituted 1,3,5-triazine-based derivatives was investigated as potential inhibitors of the β-secretase enzyme (beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1, BACE1), one of the key enzymes in the pathogenesis of AD. Although triazine-based derivatives were recognized as BACE1 inhibitors, at a concentration of 10 µM the compounds demonstrated completely insignificant activity, only methyl (4-{4-[(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)amino]-6-[(4-sulfamoylbenzyl)amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl}piperazin-1-yl)acetate and 4-({4-chloro-6-[(3-hydroxypropyl)amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl}amino)benzenesulfonamide showed approximately 9% and 2% inhibition of BACE1 activity, respectively.

Parkinson’s disease is an idiopathic neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by the degeneration of the neurons of substantia nigra, a part of the midbrain, regulating the motor movement. It involves a decrease in the levels of dopamine which consequently hampers the movement control. In the literature, natural compounds like flavonoids have been cited to exhibit their potential to terminate the augmentation of such a disorder by penetrating the blood-brain barrier. In this study, ten phytoconstituents were screened using molecular docking against Dopamine D3 receptor to identify potential inhibitors. PDB database was employed to extract the target protein of interest, i.e., Dopamine D3 receptor (PDB ID: 3PBL). Both the test drugs and the standard moiety were obtained in their 3D conformation from the PubChem in .SDF format, while FlexX software was used for docking purpose. The docking scores of the selected photochemical were hence compared with levodopa, which was taken as the positive control. Docking studies revealed that Vasicol has the closest energy value (-19.6871 kcal/mol) to that of Levodopa (-23.1188 kcal/mol), proving that it has the best molecular docking result for Dopamine D3 receptor. Also, the low toxicity profile confirmed by pro Tox-II online server indicated that Vasicol is a potential lead to be drug candidate for Anti Parkinson’s Disease.

Phenolic compounds are extensively studied due to their antioxidant properties. Naturally occurring polyphenols, including flavonoids, are mainly secondary metabolites of plants produced to resist ultraviolet irradiation and pathogenic microorganisms [1]. Moreover, cellular response to oxidative stress in aerobic organisms is mediated by phenolic antioxidants that inactivate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the event of ROS overproduction endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense mechanisms fail to scavenge ROS, so the damage to DNA, protein and lipid molecules may occur as a result of oxidative stress. This poses a risk of the development of cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, type I diabetes [2]. Phenolic antioxidants have been found to exhibit biological activity in their treatment. Synthetic phenolic antioxidants are added to processed foods to preserve their organoleptic properties by preventing lipid peroxidation, whereas sterically hindered phenols are applied for the stabilization of polymers. Investigation of antioxidant activity mechanisms of phenols is a challenging problem for the discovery of novel compounds possessing antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Sterically hindered phenolic Schiff bases were synthesized by the condensation of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde with o-, m-, p-mercaptoanilines and 2,2’-, 4,4’-disulfanediyldianilines. Their antioxidant properties were further evaluated in vitro by studying their ability to scavenge a stable nitrogen-centered radical, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The results obtained are discussed in the context of presumed interrelationship of their antioxidant activity and chemical structure. Bearing hydroxyl and sulfhydryl groups bonded to aromatic rings, these compounds could work as hydrogen donors, singlet oxygen and superoxide radical scavengers, reducing agents, and metal-chelating agents [3].

The present study is a continuation of our work on the complexing properties of supramolecular architectures based on calixarenes and crown ethers. This work discloses the complexing and extraction abilities of calix[4]arene derivatives depending upon the size of the intramolecular cavity formed by different numbers of identical crown ether substituents. The extraction and complexing properties of a series of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives containing N-methoxycarbonylmonoaza-12-crown-4 as substituents were evaluated through liquid-liquid extraction and spectrophotometric titration methods. It has been demonstrated that monosubstituted calixarene is an effective and highly selective extractant towards sodium cations. Calixarene´s derivative comprising two crown ether substituents tend to interact with alkali metal cations with formation of 1:1 complexes. On the contrary, cesium cation forms with the disubstituted calixarene a biligand mononuclear complex. The tetrasubstituted analog is an effective but not selective extractant for both s-element cations and cadmium and iron cations in the d-element series. Both tri- and tetrasubstituted calixarenes form mononuclear complexes with sodium cations in the alkali metal series and calcium ions in the alkaline earth metal series with lgK>5. At the same time, these macrocycles form the complexes of 1:1 and 1:2 compositions (ligand-cation) with barium and strontium cations. The ability of calix[4]arene with four crown ether substituents to form binuclear complexes with cations of transition metals - copper, nickel, cobalt and cadmium - has also been demonstrated.

The beneficial health effects of pomegranate have consistently garnered scientific interest. Pomegranate, including its juice, seeds, and seed oil, has been recognized for its remarkable nutraceutical properties. This study focuses on the investigation of pomegranate seed oil obtained from the Beni-Snouss region in northwest Algeria.

Various Soxhlet extractions were performed to obtain the seed oil, resulting in yields ranging from 11% to 17%, depending on the choice of solvent. The quality of the oil was evaluated using several parameters, including the Iodine index, Acid index, and Saponification index. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GPC-FID) were employed for the identification and quantification of fatty acids and glycerides.

Our results revealed the exclusive presence of triglycerides, with the absence of phospholipids. Notably, the fatty acids were predominantly unsaturated (comprising 95% of the total), particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids, accounting for over 89%. Of particular significance, an exceptionally high concentration of punicic acid (83.20%) was detected, establishing our pomegranate seed oil as one of the richest sources of punicic acid worldwide.

This research highlights the potential of pomegranate seed oil from Beni-Snouss as a valuable nutraceutical resource, particularly due to its exceptional punicic acid content.

This study considers the possibility of using thin films of new soluble modified polyaniline derivatives in the creation of chemical sensors. The dependences of the current passing through resistive structures based on thin films of polyanilines on the concentration of ammonia vapors in air are investigated.

The development of enantioselective reactions using water as a reaction medium and small organic molecules as organocatalysts is an important current goal.¹ Proline is a suitable organocatalyst, because its conformational rigidity, its ability to act as a base and as a Brönsted acid, both allowing it to act as an efficient bifunctional catalyst.² Nevertheless, it is not efficient in aqueous media, which require prolines substituted with hydrophobic groups, because most of the reactions take place in the interphase of biphasic systems.³. A representative example is the aldol condensation of p-nitrobenzaldehyde with cyclohexanone, using (2S,4R)-4-((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (proline 1) as the catalyst and water as the solvent, Four stereoisomers resulted, with an overall yield of 86%, an anti/syn diastereomeric ratio of 20:1 and an enantiomeric excess of greater than 99%.

The organocatalytic properties of the similar (2S,3R,4R)-3,4-bis((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (proline 2), with two OH groups protected as OTBS, were now studied for the aldolic condensation of p-nitrobenzaldehyde with cyclohexanone, in the same conditions as for proline 1. The results obtained were almost similar. The enantiomeric yields and the enantiomeric excesses were also 86% and greater than 99%, respectively. But the diastereomeric anti/syn excess was now higher (25:1 versus 20:1)

Phthalate esters are used in colognes and other cosmetics and related products to maintain fragrance. Additionally, phthalates can dissolve and stabilize certain aroma ingredients and essential oils. The results of a five-year study (2016-2020) conducted in a quality control laboratory on the presence of phthalate esters in various cosmetic products are presented. A total of 1147 samples from four cologne categories: eau de toilette, eau de cologne, fragrance, and perfume were analyzed using a powerful analytical technique such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the quantification of the nine different phthalate esters (BBP, DEHP, DNOP, DNPP, DBP, DIPP, DMEP, DMP, PIPP) in each category. The results revealed the absence of phthalates at concentrations above the threshold limit in 95% of the samples analyzed. However, different levels of phthalates were detected in 57 samples, mainly DEHP and DBP. Our findings also demonstrate distinct phthalate profiles according to cologne type, with relevant variations among the four cologne categories analyzed.

Parkinson’s disease is a Neurodegenerative disease which involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain called neurons which produce dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that communicates with the area of the brain responsible for movement and coordination. As Parkinson’s disease progresses, the amount of dopamine production in the brain declines, leaving a person unable to control movement. Typically, Natural compounds such as flavanoids have been cited in the literature for having the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and halt the progression of such disorders. In this study, ten phytoconstituents were screened using molecular docking against adenosine A2A to identify potential inhibitors. Target protein of interest, Adenosine A2A receptor (PDB ID: 3UZA) was extracted from PDB database. Test drugs as well as standard drug were extracted in their 3D conformation from the PubChem in .SDF format and docking was done using FlexX software. The docking scores of the selected photochemical were compared with levodopa as a positive control. Docking studies revealed that Baicaline has best molecular docking result (-21.60 kcal/mol) for Adenosine A2A receptor, with low toxicity as per pro Tox-II online server which indicates that the Baicalein is a potential lead to be drug candidate for Parkinson’s Disease.

The development of new drugs or drug candidates based on the phenothiazine system (10H-dibenzo-[b,e]-1,4-thiazine) is a promising approach in view of the diverse biological activity of this tricyclic system, which is present in traditional drugs (chlorpromazine. thioridazine, trifluoperazine, trifluopromazine) with antipsychotropic, antihistamine and antimuscarinic activities. In practical medicine, these drugs are used as antagonists of dopamine and other neurotransmitter receptors for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Ongoing studies on the synthesis and biological screening of various phenothiazine derivatives in recent years have revealed other important biological effects of these compounds, among which their antitumor effects are of great interest. This work reports the synthesis of a novel N-substituted phenothiazine analog bearing a mitochondria-directed cationic group (E)-4-(1H-indol-3-ylvinyl)-pyridinium (F16) linked to the nitrogen atom of the phenothiazine core by a butane bridge. The lipophilic cationic F16 fragment was used as a means to enhance transmembrane transport and selective delivery of the hybrid molecule into the mitochondria of cancer cells. In tests on the BT474 breast cancer cell line, the phenothiazine-F16 hybrid demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity. The cytotoxic effect of the compound was noticeable at a concentration of 5 μМ and further increased dose-dependently, leading to complete tumor cell death at a concentration of 50 μМ (IC₅₀ 3.3 μM). The F16-derivative of phenotzine showed marked mitochondrial targeting. In experiments on isolated rat liver mitochondria, the tested agent already at a concentration of 5 μМ significantly decreased the membrane potential of succinate-energized organelles. Increasing the concentration of phenothiazine hybrid to 20 μМ resulted in complete dissipation of the potential. The obtained result of antitumor activity against BT-474 cell culture and significant effect on the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential allows us to consider phenothiazine-F16 hybrid as a new promising antitumor drug.