Nematicidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Seaweeds Extracts Against Meloidogyne Incognita on Tomato Plant

This study aimed to evaluate the nematicidal activity of two marine algae (Colpomenia sinuosa and Corallina mediterranea) extracts and their synthesized silver nanoparticles against the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) infecting tomato plant. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that the obtained nanoparticles were aggregated in anisotropic Ag particles. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), results showed the particles size was less than 40 nm. Whenever, FT-IR analysis spectrum presented sharp absorbance between 440 and 4000 cm-1 for the obtained nanoparticles, with 13 distinct peaks ranged from 3915 − 474.Both of methylene chloride extract and its synthesized green silver nanoparticles were applied against the M. incognita. The results indicated that the synthesized silver nanoparticles of C. sinuosa exhibited the highest nematicidal activity. Besides, they reduced number of nematode galls, number of egg-masses per root and eggs/egg mass, as well as growth parameters of the treated plants with nanoparticles were enhanced comparing with the other treatments. While the methylene chloride extract of C. sinuosa exhibited higher activity than that of C. mediterranea, and the most effective eleuent of this solvent was Hexane: methylene chloride: ethyl acetate (1: 0.5: 0.5, v/v/v). The 3rd fraction of this eluent was the most effective one when it was applied on M. incognita, resulting in 87.5 % mortality after 12 h and 100 % after 24 and 72 h of exposure. The analysis of this fraction revealed the presence of seven bioactive constituents. Conclusively, the synthesized silver nanoparticles of C. sinuosa could be considered as alternative chemical nematicides.

β-Sitosterol Compound from Dichloromethane Extracts of Kalanchoe tomentosa (Crassulacea) Leaves and Inhibition of α-amilase Activity

Kalanchoe tomentosa is one of the plants of the Crassulaceae tribe that can lower blood sugar and contains compounds of terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, fatty acids, steroids, and triterpenoids. This study aims to isolate and identify chemical compounds from dichloromethane extract of Kalanchoe tomentosa leaves, as well as to test the inhibitory activity of the α-amylase enzyme. Extraction was carried out by maceration using dichloromethane as a solvent, then dichloromethane extract was purified using column chromatography, the pure isolate was obtained in the form of white powder, and an inhibition test was carried out against the α-amylase enzyme. The thin layer chromatography data of pure isolates compared to pure β-sitosterol are similar. Based on the research data, it can be concluded that the chemical structure of the pure isolate is β-sitosterol, the methylene chloride extract of K. tomentosa leaves has an inhibitory activity against the α-amylase enzyme with an inhibition value of 65%. This value is greater than the positive control of acarbose which only has 37% inhibition and β-sitosterol compound by 6.7%. This value is smaller when compared to the control of acarbose at the same concentration which obtained 5% inhibition.

Chromatographic Profiles of the main Secondary Metabolites in the Monarda fistulosa L. Aerial Part

Two different methods of chromatographic analysis have been used in this study for the phytochemical evaluation of main secondary metabolites in the aerial part of bee balm (Monarda fistulosa L.) as the non-officinal medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae Martinov family. The high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting method was developed for the qualitative analyses of phenolic and non-polar compounds in the bee balm herb after its maceration in the solvents of different polarity. Such polyphenols as rosmarinic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids were authentically identified in the methanol extract of herb using HPTLC. Aromatic monoterpenoid thymol was identified by the HPTLC method in the extracts obtained with non-polar solvents (toluene, methylene chloride, and chloroform). 38 volatile compounds were determined in the methylene chloride extract of M. fistulosa herb by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS); it was taken into account only components with the content more than 0.2 %. The GC/MS analysis showed that thymol (23.73 %), followed by carvacrol (10.09 %), p-cymene (9.74 %), and thymoquinone (8.52 %) were the major constituent of methylene chloride extract. Used chromatographic techniques may be recommended for the reliable phytochemical authentication of the M. fistulosa herb.

Phytochemical investigation of the antisalmonellal effect of Cyperus sphacelatus Rottb. (Cyperaceae)

Background: Typhoid fever is a major health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional anti-typhoid drugs are becoming more and more unavailable to most patients in Africa due to the increased costs and emerging drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need for discovery of new antimicrobial agents to combat typhoid fever. Objective: This work aimed to investigate the bioactive components in Cyperus sphacelatus Rottb. (Cyperaceae) and test the antisalmonellal activity of the isolated compounds. Methods: Compound purification was done through column chromatography. Structure elucidation was accomplished based on the 1D and 2D NMR, IR and mass spectra. The biological assay was done using five bacterial strains, including Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sérovars Typhi ATCC 6539 (STS), S. enterica subsp. enterica sérovars Typhi (ST), S. enteritidis (STE), S. enterica subsp. enterica sérovars Typhimurim (STM), and a resistant isolate of S. enterica subsp. enterica sérovars Typhi (ST566). Results: Three natural products were isolated from the methylene chloride extract of the rhizomes of C. sphacelatus, including a new furanoquinone, scabequinon-6(14)-ene (1) and two known compounds, cyperotundone (2) and vanillin (3). Compound 1 showed moderate antisalmonellal activity, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 µg/mL against STM and STS. The best inhibitory result was obtained with compound 2 on STM with a MIC of 8 µg/mL. Compound 2 also gave the best minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 32 µg/mL on the STM strain. Conclusion: Discovery of the three antisalmonellal compounds from C. sphacelatus supports the addition of this plant to typhoid fever preparations.

Biologically Active Aldehydes In Extracts Of Lactarius Pergamenus (Fr.) Fr Fresh Fruiting Bodies

The biologically active aldehydes in extracts of fungi of the genus Lactarius were identified. It’s established that these substances are unstable, they are found in fresh and frozen fungi, but are absent in dried mushrooms and interact with 1,4-phenylenediamine to form a colored compound. Methylene chloride is the best extragent for these substances. TLC on silufol plates showed that there were several substances in Lactarius pergamenus fruiting bodies and they had varying degrees of stability. For selection of these substances, methylene chloride extract was separated on a column of silica gel. Fraction, which gave the most expressive reaction with 1,4-phenylenediamine on thin-layer chromatograms were analyzed by GC-MS both in the absence and in the presence of 1,4-phenylenediamine. As a result, it was found that 1,4-phenylenediamine or other aromatic amines interacted with highly active aldehydes, that were present in fruiting bodies. Among them 2,2-dimethylocta- 3,4-dienal was the most stable and was present in the biggest quantity. This substance very rarely occurs in the vegetable kingdom and in fungi extracts of Lactarius genus wasn’t previously described. Its possible function in fungi is prevention of damage by parasites and eating by animals.

Use of an Argentine Ant, Linepithema humile, Semiochemical to Deliver an Acute Toxicant

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is an invasive nuisance, agricultural, and ecological pest from South America. In the United States, its primary distribution is in California and the Southeast. The structural pest control industry responds to property owner complaints when this ant’s populations become problematic and a persistent nuisance. Actions taken to control Argentine ants in the urban and suburban environment are typically complaint-driven, and often involve the application of insecticide sprays applied to the outdoor environment by professional pest managers. In California, and elsewhere, spray treatments of various residual insecticides by property owners and pest management professionals has resulted in significant runoff and in subsequent surface water contamination. As a result, an immediate need exists to develop alternative methods of ant control targeted at reducing environmental contamination. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for the development of an alternative method of toxicant delivery focused on the Argentine ant’s behavior modifying cuticular chemistry. In short, methanol and hexane washes of Argentine ant pupae applied to paper dummies were handled significantly more by worker ants than the paper dummies that did not contain the solvent extracts. Additionally, paper wicks soaked in a methylene chloride wash from Argentine ant cadavers, air dried, and then treated with fipronil, were removed by worker ants and placed on a midden pile at the same rate (≈86% to 99% removal at 1 h) as untreated and fipronil-treated ant cadavers. The paper wicks that did not contain the methylene chloride extract were ignored by the worker ants. After three days, the mortality of the ants exposed to the fipronil-treated wicks or the ant cadavers were dose-related. In conclusion, our study suggests that there is potential for the use of ant semiochemicals for the delivery of acute toxicants.

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ZILLA SPINOSA EXTRACTS AGAINST PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

Zilla spinosa is one of the most common plant species of family Brassicaceae, due to its important uses in the folk medicinal. The present study was aimed to determine some active constituents and to test antimicrobial activity of different plant extracts against pathogenic microorganisms. Fresh plant was collected randomly from northern sector of Eastern Desert, Egypt (Cairo-Suez desert road) in the month of March 2018. Phytochemical analysis of Z. spinosa showed that, it was rich in saponins and tannins (34.68 and 32.82 mg/g dry weight, respectively). While, phenolics attained values (28.22 mg/g dry weight), alkaloids (17.56 mg/g dry weight) and flavonoids (11.22mg/g dry weight). In the present study, in case of petroleum ether extract the inhibition zone varied according to type of examined bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the most affected bacteria followed by Stroptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia and Bacillus subtilis. Methylene chloride extract does not affect both K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli but prevents others. The ethyl acetate extract inhibit S. aureus, S. pyogenes and B. subtilis. The acetone extract inhibited all the bacteria except E. coli and K. pneumonia. Methyl alcohol extract inhibited all bacteria with different inhibition zones except B. subtilis. On the other hand, Methylene chloride extract has effect on Aspergillus fumigatus. The ethyl acetate and methyl alcohol extract inhibited the growth of all tested fungi except A. niger. Acetone inhibited the growth of Mucor spp. and Candidia albicans.

IIR Spectra of Low-Metamorphosed Barzas Coal Subjected to Thermal Treatment in Carbon Dioxide Medium

Using FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and gas chromatography methods, the temperature effects on the thermal transformations of low-metamorphosed Barzas coal (sapromixite) in carbon dioxide media have been studied. According to the IR spectroscopic data, an increase in the relative content of alkyl groups (-CH3 and >CH2) in the solid residue of sapromixite with a rise in the process temperature up to ~ 475°C was observed, followed by a rapid decrease in their concentration at higher heat treatment temperatures. Such behavior may be associated with an initial accumulation of alkyl fragments, formedfrom the coal matter, and their subsequent transition into the gaseous phase. A close relationship (an antibate dependence) has been discovered between H/C atomic ratios in resin-containing solid products of thermally treated Barzas coal and the yields of gases formed during its pyrolysis. Chromatographic analysis of liquid products formed after Barzas coal heat treatment at 475°C showed that the main organic constituents of liquid phase (about 3-5% by weight) were phenol and its methyl-and dimethyl derivatives (their total content in methylene chloride extract was of > 77% by weight).

Chemical Constituents of the Aerial Parts of Euphorbia Nematocypha

Chemical constituents of the dried aerial parts of Euphorbia nematocypha were investigated. A new oleanane triterpenoid, trans, trans-2′,4′-hexadienedioicacid-1′-β-amyrin ester (1), together with, β-amyrin (2), β-amyrin acetate (3), betulinic acid (4), ellagic acid (5), oleanolic acid (6), β-sitosterol (7), kaempferol (8), quercetin (9), lupeol (10) and pseudo-taraxasterol (11) were isolated from the methylene chloride extract. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (1D- & 2D-NMR) and ESI-MS analysis and comparison with data reported in the literature. The new isolated triterpenoid showed moderate cytotoxic activities against HeLa and MCF-7cell lines.