Susceptibility of Tetranychus urticae to the Alkaloidal Extract of Zanthoxylum schreberi Bark: Phenotypic and Biochemical Insights for Biotechnological Exploitation

Tetranychus urticae Koch, a phytophagous mite, is one of the most significant crop pests globally. The primary method employed for controlling T. urticae involves chemical means, utilizing synthesized products, posing the risk of developing resistance. The urgency for novel strategies integrated into pest management programs to combat this mite is becoming increasingly imperative. Botanical pesticides emerge as a promising tool to forestall arthropod resistance. Among these, extracts from Rutaceae plants, abundant in bioactive specialized metabolites, have demonstrated potential as insecticides and miticides. In this study, various concentrations of alkaloidal extracts sourced from the bark of Zanthoxylum schreberi J.F.Gmel. (Rutaceae) were evaluated against T. urticae adult females. Furthermore, the extract's combination with three distinct commercial acaricides (i.e., chlorfenapyr, cyflumetofen, and abamectin) was also assessed for this mite. Chemical characterization of the extract via LC-MS allowed for the annotation of various compounds related to ten benzylisoquinoline-derived alkaloids. The extract, both alone and in combination with commercial insecticides, yielded varying responses, inducing over 40% mortality at 2% w/w, demonstrating a 90% repellency rate at the same concentration, and exerting a moderate impact on fecundity. These treatments extended beyond phenotypic responses, delving into the biochemical effects on treated T. urticae females through an exploration of the impact on four enzymes, i.e., acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), esterases (GE), and P450-like monooxygenases (PMO). Employing consensus docking studies and in vitro enzymatic evaluations, it was discovered that the Z. schreberi-derived extract and its constituents significantly affected two key enzymes, AChE and GST (IC50 < 6 µM), which were associated with the phenotypic observations of T. urticae females. The evaluation of alkaloid-rich botanicals showcases promising potential as a relevant biotechnological strategy in addressing mite-related concerns, offering a pathway toward innovative and sustainable pest management solutions.

Targeted Anthocyanin Profiling of Fruits from Three Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Propagated in Colombia

The blueberry, a deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae family, is celebrated for its delightful flavor, sweetness, and abundance of anthocyanins and antioxidants, qualities that have garnered significant attention for their potential health benefits. Blueberries grown in diverse environments and exhibit varied anthocyanin profiles, often influenced by factors such as altitude and climate. Varietal groups worldwide have been bred and categorized based on their growth habits and specific cold requirements, particularly with southern highbush cultivars thriving in temperate climates, demonstrating tolerance to higher altitudes or cooler climates-a result of hybridizations involving various Vaccinium species. In the Colombian Andes, southern highbush blueberries thrive in unique high-altitude conditions, leading to exceptional quality due to the region's cool climate and specific soil characteristics. In this context, this study aimed to chemically characterize and differentiate three southern highbush blueberry cultivars (i.e., 'Biloxi,' 'Legacy' and 'Sharpblue') cultivated in a Colombian Andean plateau and compare them to three commercially available highbush blueberries. This comprehensive evaluation involved examining total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin content, and DPPH· free-radical scavenging capacity, as well as conducting anthocyanin-targeted profiling via HPLC-DAD-HRMS. Through supervised multivariate analyses such as sPLS-DA, this study delved into the pattern recognition of those anthocyanins that could potentially serve as markers for quality and cultivar-related chemical trait determination. These findings locate blueberry-derived anthocyanins in a metabolic context and afford some insights into southern highbush blueberry cultivar differentiation to be used for further purposes.

Down-regulation of human papillomavirus E6 oncogene and antiproliferative effect of Schisandra chinensis and Pueraria lobata natural extracts on Hela cell line

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women that continues to be a public health problem worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely related as the causative agent of almost all cases of cervical cancer. Currently, there is no effective treatment for the persistence of HPV. Although vaccines have shown promising results in recent years, they are still a costly strategy for developing countries and have no therapeutic effect on existing infections, which is why the need arises to search for new strategies that can be used in treatment, suppressing oncogenic HPV and disease progression. Extracts of Schisandra Chinensis and Pueraria lobata have been used in traditional medicine, and it has been shown in recent years that some of their bioactive compounds have pharmacological, antioxidant, antitumor, apoptotic, and proliferation effects in HPV-positive cells. However, its mechanism of action has yet to be fully explored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The following study aimed to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and potential antiproliferative and viral oncogene effects of natural extracts of S. chinensis and P. lobata on HPV-18 positive cervical cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The HPV-18-positive HeLa cells were treated for 24 and 48 h with the ethanolic extracts of S chinensis and P. lobata. Subsequently, cell viability was evaluated using the resazurin method, the effect on the cell cycle of the extracts (1.0, 10, and 100 μg/mL) was measured by flow cytometry, the gene of expression of the E6/E7, P53, BCL-2, and E2F-1 were determined by RT-PCR and the protein expression of p53, Ki-67, x|and Bcl-2 by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the chemical characterization of the two extracts was carried out using LC-MS, and the total phenolics content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity were determined. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis U test with GraphPad Prism 6 software.

RESULTS

The natural extracts of Schisandra chinensis and Pueraria lobata induced down-regulation of E6 HPV oncogene (p<0.05) and a strong up-regulation of P53 (p<0.05), E2F-1 (p<0.05), and Bcl-2 (p<0.05) gene expression. Simultaneously, the natural extracts tend to increase the p53 protein levels and arrest the cell cycle of HeLa in the G1/S phase (p<0.05). Investigated extracts were characterized by the occurrence of bioactive lignans and isoflavones in S. chinensis and P. lobata, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The extracts of S. chinensis and P. lobata within their chemical characterization mainly present lignan and isoflavone-type compounds, which are probably responsible for inhibiting the expression of the HPV E6 oncogene and inducing an increase in the expression of p53, Bcl -2 and E2F-1 producing cell cycle detection in S phase in HeLa cells. Therefore, these extracts are good candidates to continue studying their antiviral and antiproliferative potential in cells transformed by HPV.

Machine-Learning- and Structure-Based Virtual Screening for Selecting Cinnamic Acid Derivatives as Leishmania major DHFR-TS Inhibitors

The critical enzyme dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase in Leishmania major (LmDHFR-TS) serves a dual-purpose role and is essential for DNA synthesis, a cornerstone of the parasite's reproductive processes. Consequently, the development of inhibitors against LmDHFR-TS is crucial for the creation of novel anti-Leishmania chemotherapies. In this study, we employed an in-house database containing 314 secondary metabolites derived from cinnamic acid that occurred in the Asteraceae family. We conducted a combined ligand/structure-based virtual screening to identify potential inhibitors against LmDHFR-TS. Through consensus analysis of both approaches, we identified three compounds, i.e., lithospermic acid (237), diarctigenin (306), and isolappaol A (308), that exhibited a high probability of being inhibitors according to both approaches and were consequently classified as promising hits. Subsequently, we expanded the binding mode examination of these compounds within the active site of the test enzyme through molecular dynamics simulations, revealing a high degree of structural stability and minimal fluctuations in its tertiary structure. The in silico predictions were then validated through in vitro assays to examine the inhibitory capacity of the top-ranked naturally occurring compounds against LmDHFR-TS recombinant protein. The test compounds effectively inhibited the enzyme with IC50 values ranging from 6.1 to 10.1 μM. In contrast, other common cinnamic acid derivatives (i.e., flavonoid glycosides) from the Asteraceae family, such as hesperidin, isovitexin 4'-O-glucoside, and rutin, exhibited low activity against this target. The selective index (SI) for all tested compounds was determined using HsDHFR with moderate inhibitory effect. Among these hits, lignans 306 and 308 demonstrated the highest selectivity, displaying superior SI values compared to methotrexate, the reference inhibitor of DHFR-TS. Therefore, continued research into the anti-leishmanial potential of these C6C3-hybrid butyrolactone lignans may offer a brighter outlook for combating this neglected tropical disease.

Quinolizidine-Type Alkaloids: Chemodiversity, Occurrence, and Bioactivity

Quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) are nitrogen-containing compounds produced naturally as specialized metabolites distributed in plants and animals (e.g., frogs, sponges). The present review compiles the available information on the chemical diversity and biological activity of QAs reported during the last three decades. So far, 397 QAs have been isolated, gathering 20 different representative classes, including the most common such as matrine (13.6%), lupanine (9.8%), anagyrine (4.0%), sparteine (5.3%), cytisine (6.5%), tetrahydrocytisine (4.3%), lupinine (12.1%), macrocyclic bisquinolizidine (9.3%), biphenylquinolizidine lactone (7.1%), dimeric (7.1%), and other less known QAs (20.9%), which include several structural patterns of QAs. A detailed survey of the reported information about the bioactivities of these compounds indicated their potential as cytotoxic, antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and antiacetylcholinesterase compounds, involving favorable putative drug-likeness scores. In this regard, research progress on the structural and biological/pharmacological diversity of QAs requires further studies oriented on expanding the chemical space to find bioactive scaffolds based on QAs for pharmacological and agrochemical applications.

Overview of Updated Control Tactics for Western Flower Thrips

Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), broadly known as Western flower thrips (WFT), are currently one of the most critical pests worldwide in field and greenhouse crops, and their management is full of yet unsolved challenges derived from their high reproductive potential, cryptic habit, and ability to disperse. The control of this pest relies widely on chemical control, despite the propensity of the species to develop resistance. However, significant advances have been produced through biological and ethological control. Although there has recently been a remarkable amount of new information regarding the management of this pest worldwide, there is no critical analysis of recent developments and advances in the attractive control tactics for WFT, constituting the present compilation's aim. Hence, this narrative review provides an overview of effective control strategies for managing thrips populations. By understanding the pest's biology, implementing monitoring techniques, accurately identifying the species, and employing appropriate control measures, farmers and researchers can mitigate the WFT impact on agricultural production and promote sustainable pest management practices.

Isoflavone Content and Nutritional-Related Properties of Debittered Seeds from Two Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) Ecotypes Propagated in Two Soils

Lupinus mutabilis Sweet is a fabaceous plant native to the Andean highlands and produces seeds with valuable nutritional properties. Thus, as part of our research on native emerging food, the present study aimed at determining some nutritional and functional-related features of seeds from two L. mutabilis ecotypes after propagation in two different substrates commonly found in the Bogotá plateau. Propagated plants produced seeds that, after conventional debittering, exhibited attractive contents of soluble protein (24-39 g/100 g dry seed powder (dsp)), phenolic (787-1003 g/100 g dsp), isoflavone (1-104 g/100 g dsp), and iron (5.3-6.4 g/100 g dsp), as well as antioxidant capacity (39-78 µM/100 g dsp). Higher pH, humidity saturation, organic matter, and total nitrogen of silty loam soil promoted isoflavone accumulation and better antioxidant capacity at pH 4-7, and no soil effect was observed for total phenolic and iron contents. The profiles based on isoflavone aglycones were also recorded by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, detecting eleven main compounds with mutabilein as the most abundant isoflavone (38.3-104.3 g/100 g dsp). Finally, a formulation was developed to fabricate an emulsion-type drink based on the debittered, pulverized L. mutabilis seeds, resulting in different emulsifying capacities (19-100%) depending on the biopolymer stabilizer, being xanthan gum the best additive. The findings revealed an attractive Andean lupin profile to be used as a raw food material.

Natural Products for Drug Discovery in the 21st Century: Innovations for Novel Therapeutics

Natural products (NPs) from plants, fungi, animals, and microorganisms have historically played important roles in drug discovery [...].

Bis((5-allyl-2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)benzofuran-7-yl)oxy)methane: An Unusual Nor-Neolignan Dimer from Magnolia grandiflora L

An unreported and unusual nor-neolignan dimer, namely bis((5-allyl-2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)benzofuran-7-yl)oxy)methane (1), was isolated from the bark-derived chloroform extract of Magnolia grandiflora L. Compound 1 was structurally elucidated through the detailed analysis of the spectroscopic data (one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and high-resolution mass spectrometry). The effect of compound 1 on the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum was also determined, affording moderate antifungal activity.

Kaurane-Type Diterpenoids as Potential Inhibitors of Dihydrofolate Reductase-Thymidylate Synthase in New World Leishmania Species

The bifunctional enzyme Dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) plays a crucial role in the survival of the Leishmania parasite, as folates are essential cofactors for purine and pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis. However, DHFR inhibitors are largely ineffective in controlling trypanosomatid infections, largely due to the presence of Pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1). Therefore, the search for structures with dual inhibitory activity against PTR1/DHFR-TS is crucial in the development of new anti-Leishmania chemotherapies. In this research, using the Leishmania major DHFR-TS recombinant protein, enzymatic inhibitory assays were performed on four kauranes and two derivatives that had been previously tested against LmPTR1. The structure 302 (6.3 µM) and its derivative 302a (4.5 µM) showed the lowest IC50 values among the evaluated molecules. To evaluate the mechanism of action of these structures, molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were performed using a DHFR-TS hybrid model. Results showed that hydrogen bond interactions are critical for the inhibitory activity against LmDHFR-TS, as well as the presence of the p-hydroxyl group of the phenylpropanoid moiety of 302a. Finally, additional computational studies were performed on DHFR-TS structures from Leishmania species that cause cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World (L. braziliensis, L. panamensis, and L. amazonensis) to explore the targeting potential of these kauranes in these species. It was demonstrated that structures 302 and 302a are multi-Leishmania species compounds with dual DHFR-TS/PTR1 inhibitory activity.

Antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum of quinolizidines isolated from three controlled-growth Genisteae plants: structure-activity relationship implications

The Genisteae tribe belongs to the Fabaceae family. The wide occurrence of secondary metabolites, explicitly highlighting the quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs), characterizes this tribe. In the present study, twenty QAs (1-20), including lupanine (1-7), sparteine (8-10), lupanine (11), cytisine and tetrahydrocytisine (12-17), and matrine (18-20)-type QAs were extracted and isolated from leaves of three species (i.e., Lupinus polyphyllus ('rusell' hybrid), Lupinus mutabilis, and Genista monspessulana) belonging to the Genisteae tribe. These plant sources were propagated under greenhouse conditions. The isolated compounds were elucidated by analyzing their spectroscopical data (MS, NMR). The antifungal effect on the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum (Fox) of each isolated QA was then evaluated through the amended medium assay. The best antifungal activity was found to be for compounds 8 (IC₅₀ = 16.5 µM), 9 (IC₅₀ = 7.2 µM), 12 (IC₅₀ = 11.3 µM), and 18 (IC₅₀ = 12.3 µM). The inhibitory data suggest that some QAs could efficiently inhibit Fox mycelium growth depending on particular structural requirements deduced from structure-activity relationship scrutinies. The identified quinolizidine-related moieties can be involved in lead structures to develop further antifungal bioactives against Fox.

Semiochemicals Associated with the Western Flower Thrips Attraction: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

The study of the semiochemicals of the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a relevant topic that spans the last two decades. Approximately a hundred articles published on this subject from 2000 to 2022 can be found in academic databases, representing approximately 5% of the research on this important pest. These topics have generated a platform for novel research with a high potential for development. However, to move on to a new research step, an effectiveness evaluation of the compounds discovered so far is necessary. This review conducted a systematic analysis of the research focused on the semiochemicals (kairomones, pheromones, and attractants) for this pest. Papers from the past three decades on WFT attraction to semiochemicals were collected from databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The number of individuals attracted to compounds was extracted from the papers and compiled for analysis. With this information, an attraction ratio was calculated. Forty-one possible attractants were found in the literature, with methyl isonicotinate being the most-studied compound so far, with the third-highest attraction ratio. δ-Decalactone was the compound with the highest attraction ratio, but it was one of the least studied. A meta-analysis of the WFT choosing proportion was performed for the compounds with more trials found in the literature. The predicted mean choice percentages for methyl isonicotinate (MIN) and Lurem-TR, the MIN's commercial product, were 76.6% and 66.6%, respectively. There was a convergence among the analyzed studies showing a high degree of research focus on the same group of nitrogen-containing compounds (mainly the pyridine structure). These findings call for future research to diversify the discovery and evaluation of attractive compounds in this relevant study area.

Second-Generation Enamine-Type Schiff Bases as 2-Amino Acid-Derived Antifungals against Fusarium oxysporum: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis, In Vitro Activity, 3D-QSAR, and In Vivo Effect

In this manuscript, the synthesis of enamine-type Schiff bases 1−48 derived from the amino acids L-Ala, L-Tyr, and L-Phe was carried out. Their in vitro activity and in vivo protective effect against Fusarium oxysporum were also evaluated through mycelial growth inhibition and disease severity reduction under greenhouse conditions. The in vitro activity of test compounds 1−48 showed half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) at different levels below the 40 mM range. Deep analysis of the IC50 variations indicated that the size of the substituent on the acetylacetone derivatives and the electronic character on the cyclohexane-3-one fragment influenced the antifungal effect. 3D-QSAR models based on atoms (atom-based approach) were built to establish the structure−activity relationship of the test Schiff bases, showing a good correlation and predictive consistency (R2 > 0.70 and Q2 > 0.60). The respective contour analysis also provided information about the structural requirements for potentiating their antifungal activity. In particular, the amino acid-related fragment and the alkyl ester residue can favor hydrophobic interactions. In contrast, the nitrogen atoms and enamine substituent are favorable regions as H-donating and electron-withdrawing moieties. The most active compounds (40 and 41) protected cape gooseberry plants against F. oxysporum infection (disease severity index < 2), involving adequate physiological parameters (stomatal conductance > 150 mmol/m2s) after 45 days of inoculation. These promising results will allow the design of novel Schiff base-inspired antifungals using 2-amino acids as precursors.

Chemical Characterization of Quality-Related Compounds in Cocoa Matrices: An Overview of Analytical Methods Applied for Their Analysis

Cocoa currently faces differentiation processes toward niches of specialty products, leading to greater competitiveness for producers who must compete with products differentiated by their integral quality regarding their organoleptic characteristics, such as fine-flavor cocoa and their functional characteristics. Quality is influenced by the genetic variety of the cultivars on the one hand, and the correct postharvest processing operations of cocoa seeds, on the other. During the transformation operations, the native chemical compounds of the seeds, especially proteins, carbohydrates, and polyphenols, are transformed and generate other compounds called flavor precursors, which are responsible for defining the product quality. In this sense, the analysis of the most relevant chemical compounds in cocoa is essential to guarantee higher overall quality. Similarly, understanding the fundamental aspects that affect fine-flavor cocoa production is crucial for improving transformation processes. Therefore, reliable and robust analytical techniques are required to detect and quantify these chemical compounds. This review highlights the main techniques used to analyze essential cocoa metabolites and derived products throughout all postharvest transformation stages: from cocoa seeds to chocolate bar, offering an overview of the sample preparation methods and the analytical and imaging methodologies often employed to characterize qualifying cocoa products.

MolPredictX: Online Biological Activity Predictions by Machine Learning Models

Here we report the development of MolPredictX, an innovate and freely accessible web interface for biological activity predictions of query molecules. MolPredictX utilizes in-house QSAR models to provide 27 qualitative predictions (active or inactive), and quantitative probabilities for bioactivity against parasitic (Trypanosoma and Leishmania), viral (Dengue, Sars-CoV and Hepatitis C), pathogenic yeast (Candida albicans), bacterial (Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli), and Alzheimer disease enzymes. In this article, we introduce the methodology and usability of this webtool, highlighting its potential role in the development of new drugs against a variety of diseases. MolPredictX is undergoing continuous development and is freely available at https://www.molpredictx.ufpb.br/.

Specialized Metabolism of Gordonia Genus: An Integrated Survey on Chemodiversity Combined with a Comparative Genomics-Based Analysis

Members of the phylum Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteria) have historically been the most prolific providers of small bioactive molecules. Although the genus Streptomyces is the best-known member for this issue, other genera, such as Gordonia, have shown interesting potential in their specialized metabolism. Thus, we combined herein the result of a comprehensive literature survey on metabolites derived from Gordonia strains with a comparative genomic analysis to examine the potential of the specialized metabolism of the genus Gordonia. Thirty Gordonia-derived compounds of different classes were gathered (i.e., alkaloids, amides, phenylpropanoids, and terpenoids), exhibiting antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, and several were also isolated from Streptomyces (e.g., actinomycin, nocardamin, diolmycin A1). With the genome data, we estimated an open pan-genome of 57,901 genes, most of them being part of the cloud genome. Regarding the BGCs content, 531 clusters were found, including Terpenes, RiPP-like, and NRPS clusters as the most frequent clusters. Our findings demonstrated that Gordonia is a poorly studied genus in terms of its specialized metabolism production and potential applications. Nevertheless, given their BGCs content, Gordonia spp. are a valuable biological resource that could expand the chemical spectrum of the phylum Actinomycetota, involving novel BGCs for inspiring innovative outlines for synthetic biology and further use in biotechnological initiatives. Therefore, further studies and more efforts should be made to explore different environments and evaluate other bioactivities.

Mono-n-butyl Malate-Derived Compounds from Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) Malic Acid: The Alkyl-Dependent Antihyperglycemic-Related Activity

Malic acid derivatives from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) fruit exhibited a strong in vitro inhibitory activity toward pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. During a bioguided chromatographic fractionation process of the whole fruit (pulp and peelings) polar extract, isomers (S)-4-butoxy-2-hydroxy-4-oxobutanoic acid (1) and (S)-4-butoxy-3-hydroxy-4-oxobutanoic acid (2) (84:16) were isolated and identified as a potent inhibitor of α-amylase (IC₅₀= 11.69 ± 1.75 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 102.69 ± 4.16 μg/mL). The chemical structures were confirmed by HPLC-ESIMS and ¹H and ¹³C NMR (one- and two-dimensional) analyses. The structure-based virtual screening demonstrated that the aliphatic moiety plays a significant role in the binding mode of the test alkyl malate esters. Compound 1 exhibited the best interaction profile to bind both enzymes, having key structural features to form relevant contacts by involving adequate enzyme-ligand complex stabilization and compactness over time.

GC-MS-based Fingerprinting Reveals Two Chemotypes in the Leaf Essential Oils from Magnolia grandiflora Trees within The Urban Forestry of a Colombian Andean Plateau

Magnolia grandiflora is an aromatic plant widely distributed around the world. In Colombia, and more specifically in Bogotá, M. grandiflora has been introduced as part of urban forestry programs, and their specimens are therefore subjected to several environments. Nevertheless, there are no previous studies on the chemical composition of such plants. Hence, the characterization of the essential oil from 20 specimens of M. grandiflora from Bogotá, Colombia, by GC-MS was carried out here. Two different chemotypes were found. While one was characterized by monoterpenes α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene, the other contained mainly sesquiterpenes β-elemene, bicyclogermacrene, and germacrene D. Multivariate statistical analyses confirmed their existence and helped to identify variations within and between chemotypes. Furthermore, differential expression of genes encoding the terpene synthases Mg 25 and Mg 17 could arguably be responsible for the characteristic compositions of both chemotypes, as suggested by rational biosynthetic analysis of the most contrasting metabolites.

Synthesis (Z) vs (E) Selectivity, Antifungal Activity against Fusarium oxysporum, and Structure-Based Virtual Screening of Novel Schiff Bases Derived from l-Tryptophan

Schiff bases are widely used molecules due to their potential biological activity. In this manuscript, we presented the synthesis and NMR study of new enamine Schiff bases derived from l-tryptophan, showing that the Z-form of the enamine is the main tautomeric form for aliphatic precursors. The DFT-B3LYP methodology at the 6-311+G**(d,p) level suggested that the tautomeric imine forms are less stable than the corresponding enamine forms. Their isomerism depends on the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and steric factors associated with the starting carbonyl precursors. The in vitro biological activity tests against Fusarium oxysporum revealed that acetylacetone derivatives are the most active agents (IC₅₀ < 0.9 mM); however, the antifungal activity could be disfavored by bulky groups on ester and enamine moieties. Finally, the structure-based virtual screening through molecular docking and MM-GBSA rescoring revealed that Schiff bases 3e, 3g, and 3j behave putatively as binders for target proteins involved in the life processes of F. oxysporum. In this sense, molecular dynamics analysis showed that the ligand-protein complexes have good stability with root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) values within the allowed range. Therefore, the present study paves the way for designing new antifungal compounds based on l-tryptophan-derived Schiff bases.

Identification of Anti-Proliferative Compounds from Genista monspessulana Seeds through Covariate-Based Integration of Chemical Fingerprints and Bioactivity Datasets

Genista monspessulana (L.) L.A.S. Johnson (Fabaceae) is a Mediterranean plant introduced to South America and other regions for ornamental purposes. However, it is considered an invasive shrub due to its reproductive vigor in many areas. Unlike other Genista plants, G. monspessulana has few studies disclosing its biologically active components, particularly cytotoxic agents against cancer cells. Thus, as part of our research on anti-proliferative bioactives, a set of ethanolic seed extracts from ten accessions of G. monspessulana, collected in the Bogotá plateau, were evaluated against four cell lines: PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma), SiHa (cervical carcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma), and L929 (normal mouse fibroblasts). Extracts were also analyzed through liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to record chemical fingerprints and determine the composition and metabolite variability between accessions. Using multiple covariate statistics, chemical and bioactivity datasets were integrated to recognize patterns and identify bioactive compounds among studied extracts. G. monspessulana seed-derived extracts exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferative activity on PC-3 and SiHa cell lines (>500 µg/mL < IC50 < 26.3 µg/mL). Seven compounds (1−7) were inferred as the compounds most likely responsible for the observed anti-proliferative activity and subsequently isolated and identified by spectroscopic techniques. A tricyclic quinolizidine (1) and a pyranoisoflavone (2) were found to be the most active compounds, exhibiting selectivity against PC-3 cell lines (IC50 < 18.6 µM). These compounds were used as precursors to obtain a quinolizidine-pyranoisoflavone adduct via Betti reaction, improving the activity against PC-3 and comparable to curcumin as the positive control. Results indicated that this composition−activity associative approach is advantageous to finding those bioactive principles efficiently within active extracts. This correlative association can be employed in further studies focused on the targeted isolation of anti-proliferative compounds from Genista plants and accessions.

Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of a Phenolic-Rich Extract from Lycium barbarum Fruits on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16-Positive Head Cancer Cell Lines

The in vitro antiproliferative activity of a phenolic-rich extract from Lycium barbarum fruits against head and neck HPV16 squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been demonstrated, indicating for the first time that L. barbarum extract inhibits human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 cell lines. Ethanol extract of L. barbarum was used for cell viability evaluation on SCC090, CAL27, and HGnF cell lines. After 24 and 48 h, the cell cycle effect of L. barbarum extract (at 1.0, 10, and 100 µg/mL) was measured via flow cytometry. In addition, the mRNA expression on E6/E7 and p53 via RT-PCR and the expression of p16, p53, Ki-67, and Bcl-2 via immunohistochemistry were also determined. Untreated cells, 20 µM cisplatin, and a Camellia sinensis-derived extract were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. We demonstrated that the studied L. barbarum extract resulted in G0/G1 arrest and S phase accumulation in SCC090 at 1.0 and 10 μg/mL. A reduction in mRNA levels of E6/E7 oncogenes (p < 0.05) with p53 overexpression was also observed through PCR, while immunohistochemical analyses indicated p16 overexpression (p > 0.05) and a decrease in p53 overexpression. The observed effects were associated with anticancer and immunomodulatory phenolics, such as flavonols/flavan-3-ols and tyramine-conjugated hydroxycinnamic acid amides, identified in the studied extract. These findings revealed that the phenolic-rich extract of L. barbarum fruits has promising properties to be considered further for developing new therapies against oral and oropharyngeal HPV lesions.

Ring Closure Reactions for the Synthesis of Cyclic Imines: An Analysis from the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and Circular Chemistry

Abstract:

Compounds containing a C=N moiety, namely imines, have been widely used for industrial purposes due to their various biological activities. Cyclic imines are an essential class of nitrogen-based heterocycles and valuable scaffolds for designing and obtaining new biologically active compounds. However, the proposal and implementation of synthetic methods for this heterocyclic system are mainly conditioned by different structural and stereoelectronic considerations. Therefore, it can be complex and sometimes limited to a selected group of heterocyclic compounds. The following review paper is structured to search and collect different synthesis methods of cyclic imines and identify the main progress currently achieved. It addresses this topic using structural considerations, physical properties, and reactivity. The synthesis methods described below have implemented strategies based on cyclo-condensation reactions, radical cyclizations, electrocyclic closures, and carbon-carbon coupling by metal-organic catalysis. These methods have significantly contributed significantly to organic chemistry knowledge. In addition, an analysis of such synthesis methods from applying the principles of green and circular chemistry is presented, evaluating the potential application of these methods, limitations, perspectives, and their impact on the environment.

Identification of Antifungal Compounds from Piper Plants Against Fusarium oxysporum: An Untargeted Metabolite Profiling-Based Approach

The phytopathogen Fusarium oxysporum produces considerable losses in economically important crops, making alternative control measures urgently required. Piper plants are widely distributed in tropical regions, and they are also known to produce metabolites with biological activity against infectious agents. As part of our continuous search for antifungals, 18 Piper-derived ethanolic extracts were evaluated by their in vitro effect on F oxysporum mycelial growth inhibition. The total content of phenol and flavonoid measurements and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis served as the chemical characterization of the investigated extracts. Piper pulchrum, Piper barcoense, and Piper tuberculatum exhibited the highest mycelial growth inhibition (>74%). The integration of chemical fingerprints and bioactivity datasets led to recognizing 4 bioactive candidates among extracts through single- Y orthogonal partial least squares regression and univariate statistics. These candidates were 2 amides (1,3), an alkyl lactone (2), and a prenylated benzoquinone (4), subsequently isolated and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These isolated compounds exhibited reasonable antifungal activity (IC50 < 50 µM). The findings indicated that the correlative association is advantageous for identifying bioactive metabolites within active extracts.

Enfermedad del desgaste en praderas de Thalassia testudinum (Hydrocharitaceae) y su relación con el perfil metabólico

Introducción: Los protistas del género Labyrinthula causan la denominada “Enfermedad del desgaste” en el pasto marino, Thalassia testudinum. Desde el 2008 los monitoreos en el Caribe colombiano han mostrado variación espacial y temporal en la incidencia de la enfermedad, pero sin la alta mortalidad observada en otras regiones del mundo. Objetivo: Analizar algunos parámetros epidemiológicos en T. testudinum y comparar metabolitos entre plantas sanas e infectadas. Métodos: Registramos la severidad, incidencia y prevalencia de esta enfermedad en el Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona e Isla de Providencia, y analizamos muestras de agua y sedimentos. Además, aplicamos cromatografía líquida y de gases, junto con espectrometría de masas, a extractos metanólicos de muestras de hojas y rizomas de brotes sanos e infectados. Resultados: Las praderas se encontraban en buen estado, a pesar de la escasez de brotes de fanerógamas marinas en Tayrona y una alta incidencia (15 %) y severidad (355 %) de la enfermedad en Providencia. Las plantas infectadas tenían niveles más bajos de fenoles, flavonoides y azúcares. Las flavonas sulfatadas con aglicona luteolina y diosmetina, los esteroles (sitosterol y estigmasterol) y las oxilipinas volátiles se acumularon en las hojas (3-hidroxi-2-isopentanona) y los ácidos isopentanoico y octadecatrienoico en los rizomas. Conclusiones: Estos pastos marinos colombianos tienen producción diferencial de metabolitos. Probablemente como una defensa exitosa, aún a niveles bajos de severidad (0.1 %) e incidencia (1 %) de la enfermedad.

Caerulines A and B, Flavonol Diacylglycosides from Persea caerulea

Two undescribed 4'-O-methylkaempferol-[3″,4″-di-p-coumaroyl]-α-l-rhamnopyranosides, caerulines A and B (1-2), along with three known 4'-O-methylkaempferol diacylrhamnosides isomers (3-5) were isolated from an ethanol extract of the leaves of Persea caerulea, a native plant growing on the Colombian Caribbean coast. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The effect of compounds 1-5 against four pathogenic microorganisms [i.e., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus fumigatus] was tested in vitro. The compounds exhibited no activity against these pathogens except MRSA (MIC 12-48 μg/mL). Caeruline B (2) was found to be the most active compound with a modest anti-MRSA activity (MIC = 12 μg/mL).

Flavonoid biosynthesis in Dianthus caryophyllus L. is early regulated during interaction with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi

Rooted cuttings from two carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivars showing contrasting responses to the vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi (Fod) were inoculated with this phytopathogen, and some of the biochemical responses associated with flavonoid biosynthesis were investigated in the roots. The resistant cultivar ('Golem') showed a significant increase in the levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds at 48-96 h post-inoculation (hpi) (α = 0.05). LC-MS-based analysis indicated that the flavonoids mainly included flavanol-type glycosides, especially quercetin and kaempferol aglycones. Quantification of the mRNA levels of genes encoding CHS (Chalcone Synthase), CHI (Chalcone Isomerase), FLS (Flavonol Synthase), and the transcription factor MYB11 by using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) indicated that the resistant cultivar exhibited higher expression levels of these genes and, therefore, showed more flavonoid accumulation at 96 hpi. The differences in the temporal regulation of the assessed variables during infection support the idea that the early expression of enzymes of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in carnation roots is linked to a resistance response to the hemibiotrophic pathogen Fod race 2. The present experimental approach is the first report describing the molecular mechanisms underlying flavonoid biosynthesis in carnation roots during their interaction with Fod.

Cliona varians-Derived Actinomycetes as Bioresources of Photoprotection-Related Bioactive End-Products

Sunscreen and sunblock are crucial skincare products to prevent photoaging and photocarcinogenesis through the addition of chemical filters to absorb or block ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, several sunscreen and sunblock ingredients, mostly UV filters, have been associated with human and environmental safety concerns. Therefore, the exploration and discovery of promising novel sources of efficient and safer compounds with photoprotection-related activities are currently required. Marine invertebrates, particularly their associated microbiota, are promising providers of specialized metabolites with valuable biotechnological applications. Nevertheless, despite Actinobacteria members being a well-known source of bioactive metabolites, their photoprotective potential has been poorly explored so far. Hence, a set of methanolic extracts obtained from Cliona varians-derived actinomycetes was screened regarding their antioxidant and UV-absorbing capacities (i.e., photoprotection-related activities). The active extract-producing strains were identified and classified within genera Streptomyces, Micrococcus, Gordonia, and Promicromonospora. This is the first report of the isolation of these microorganisms from C. varians (an ecologically important Caribbean coral reef-boring sponge). The in vitro cytotoxicity on dermal fibroblasts of oxybenzone and the selected active extracts revealed that oxybenzone exerted a cytotoxic effect, whereas no cytotoxic effect of test extracts was observed. Accordingly, the most active (SPFi > 5, radical scavenging > 50%) and nontoxic (cell viability > 75%) extracts were obtained from Streptomyces strains. Finally, LC-MS-based characterization suggested a broad chemical space within the test strains and agreed with the reported streptomycetes' chemodiversity. The respective metabolite profiling exposed a strain-specific metabolite occurrence, leading to the recognition of potential hits. These findings suggest that marine Streptomyces produce photoprotectants ought to be further explored in skincare applications.

Antifungal Activity against Fusarium oxysporum of Botanical End-Products: An Integration of Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity Datasets to Identify Antifungal Bioactives

Plants produce various compounds as defensive barriers to naturally control fungal diseases. Among them, vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most destructive diseases in crops, causing relevant economic losses. The application of synthetic fungicides is the most used management for this disease. However, this kind of method also involves adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, alternative methods are continuously being developed as a strategy to be involved in integrated pest management programs. Thus, as part of our research on antifungals of plant origin, a group of botanical extracts was assessed for the respective inhibitory effect on mycelium and conidia of F. oxysporum. Mycelial growth inhibition was measured in 12-well plates containing amended semi-solid medium, whereas conidial susceptibility was determined through microdilution. The identification of the bioactive compounds among test extracts was performed using an indirect approach, consisting of the integration of chemical composition and antifungal activity datasets through single-Y orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) regression. Results showed that Piper aduncum extract was the most potent mycelial growth inhibitor whereas P. elongatum exhibited the best effect on conidia susceptibility. The active compounds identified through statistical integration and subsequent isolation were piperaduncin C, asebogenin and (-)-methyllinderatin. These findings indicated that the integrative, indirect approach is useful for the identification of bioactive metabolites from botanical extracts to be further used as biological protective agents against this phytopathogen.

Korean traditional foods as antiviral and respiratory disease prevention and treatments: A detailed review

BACKGROUND

Korean traditional food (KTF), originated from ancestral agriculture and the nomadic traditions of the Korean peninsula and southern Manchuria, is based on healthy food that balances disease prevention and treatment. Fermented foods that include grains, herbs, fruits, and mushrooms are also an important practice in KTF, providing high levels of Lactobacilli, which confer relevant health benefits, including antiviral properties. Some of these probiotics may also protect against the Influenza virus through the modulation of innate immunity.

SCOPE AND APPROACH

The emerging of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to other diseases of viral origin, and the problems associated with other respiratory disorders, highlight how essential is a healthy eating pattern to strengthen our immune system.Key Findings and Conclusions: The present review covers the information available on edible plants, herbs, mushrooms, and preparations used in KTF to outline their multiple medicinal effects (e.g., antidiabetic, chemopreventive, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial), emphasizing their role and effects on the immune system with an emphasis on modulating properties of the gut microbiota that further support strong respiratory immunity. Potential functional foods commonly used in Korean cuisine such as Kimchi (a mixture of fermented vegetables), Meju, Doenjang, Jeotgal, and Mekgeolli and fermented sauces, among others, are highlighted for their great potential to improve gut-lung immunity. The traditional Korean diet and dietary mechanisms that may target viruses ACE-2 receptors or affect any step of a virus infection pathway that can determine a patient's prognosis are also highlighted. The regular oral intake of bioactive ingredients used in Korean foods can offer protection for some viral diseases, through protective and immunomodulatory effects, as evidenced in pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Machine learning models to select potential inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase activity from SistematX: a natural products database

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, representing 60-70% of dementia cases. The enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) cleaves the ester bonds in acetylcholine and plays an important role in the termination of acetylcholine activity at cholinergic synapses in various regions of the nervous system. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase is frequently used to treat Alzheimer's disease. In this study, a merged BindingDB and ChEMBL dataset containing molecules with reported half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values for AChE (7032 molecules) was used to build machine learning classification models for selecting potential AChE inhibitors from the SistematX dataset (8593 secondary metabolites). A total of seven fivefold models with accuracy above 80% after cross-validation were obtained using three types of molecular descriptors (VolSurf, DRAGON 5.0, and bit-based fingerprints). A total of 521 secondary metabolites (6.1%) were classified as active in this stage. Subsequently, virtual screening was performed, and 25 secondary metabolites were identified as potential inhibitors of AChE. Separately, the crystal structure of AChE in complex with (-)-galantamine was used to perform molecular docking calculations with the entire SistematX dataset. Consensus analysis of both methodologies was performed. Only eight structures achieved combined probability values above 0.5. Finally, two sesquiterpene lactones, structures 15 and 24, were predicted to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which was confirmed in the VolSurf+ quantitative model, revealing these two structures as the most promising secondary metabolites for AChE inhibition among the 8593 molecules tested. A consensus analysis of classification models and molecular docking calculations identified four potential inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase from the SistematX dataset (8593 structures).

Identification of Kaurane-Type Diterpenes as Inhibitors of Leishmania Pteridine Reductase I

The current treatments against Leishmania parasites present high toxicity and multiple side effects, which makes the control and elimination of leishmaniasis challenging. Natural products constitute an interesting and diverse chemical space for the identification of new antileishmanial drugs. To identify new drug options, an in-house database of 360 kauranes (tetracyclic diterpenes) was generated, and a combined ligand- and structure-based virtual screening (VS) approach was performed to select potential inhibitors of Leishmania major (Lm) pteridine reductase I (PTR1). The best-ranked kauranes were employed to verify the validity of the VS approach through LmPTR1 enzyme inhibition assay. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of selected bioactive compounds were examined using the random forest (RF) model (i.e., 2β-hydroxy-menth-6-en-5β-yl ent-kaurenoate (135) and 3α-cinnamoyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (302)) were below 10 μM. A compound similar to 302, 3α-p-coumaroyloxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (302a), was also synthesized and showed the highest activity against LmPTR1. Finally, molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were performed for the VS-selected, most-active kauranes within the active sites of PTR1 hybrid models, generated from three Leishmania species that are known to cause cutaneous leishmaniasis in the new world (i.e., L. braziliensis, L. panamensis, and L. amazonensis) to explore the targeting potential of these kauranes to other species-dependent variants of this enzyme.

Phytotherapy and food applications from Brassica genus

Plants of the genus Brassica occupy the top place among vegetables in the world. This genus, which contains a group of six related species of a global economic significance, three of which are diploid: Brassica nigra (L.) K. Koch, Brassica oleracea L., and Brassica rapa L. and three are amphidiploid species: Brassica carinata A. Braun, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., and Brassica napus L. These varieties are divided into oily, fodder, spice, and vegetable based on their morphological structure, chemical composition, and usefulness of plant organs. The present review provides information about habitat, phytochemical composition, and the bioactive potential of Brassica plants, mainly antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and clinical studies in human. Brassica vegetables are of great economic importance around the world. At present, Brassica plants are grown together with cereals and form the basis of global food supplies. They are distinguished by high nutritional properties from other vegetable plants, such as low fat and protein content and high value of vitamins, fibers along with minerals. In addition, they possess several phenolic compounds and have a unique type of compounds namely glucosinolates that differentiate these crops from other vegetables. These compounds are also responsible for numerous biological activities to the genus Brassica as described in this review.

Colombian Contributions Fighting Leishmaniasis: A Systematic Review on Antileishmanials Combined with Chemoinformatics Analysis

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic morbid/fatal disease caused by Leishmania protozoa. Twelve million people worldwide are appraised to be currently infected, including ca. two million infections each year, and 350 million people in 88 countries are at risk of becoming infected. In Colombia, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a public health problem in some tropical areas. Therapeutics is based on traditional antileishmanial drugs, but this practice has several drawbacks for patients. Thus, the search for new antileishmanial agents is a serious need, but the lack of adequately funded research programs on drug discovery has hampered its progress. Some Colombian researchers have conducted different research projects focused on the assessment of the antileishmanial activity of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds against promastigotes and/or amastigotes. Results of such studies have separately demonstrated important hits and reasonable potential, but a holistic view of them is lacking. Hence, we present the outcome from a systematic review of the literature (under PRISMA guidelines) on those Colombian studies investigating antileishmanials during the last thirty-two years. In order to combine the general efforts aiming at finding a lead against Leishmania panamensis (one of the most studied and incident parasites in Colombia causing CL) and to recognize structural features of representative compounds, fingerprint-based analyses using conventional machine learning algorithms and clustering methods are shown. Abstraction from such a meta-description led to describe some function-determining molecular features and simplify the clustering of plausible isofunctional hits. This systematic review indicated that the Colombian efforts for the antileishmanials discovery are increasingly intensified, though improvements in the followed pathways must be definitively pursued. In this context, a brief discussion about scope, strengths and limitations of such advances and relationships is addressed.

Cactus: Chemical, nutraceutical composition and potential bio-pharmacological properties

Cactus species are plants that grow in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. They have long fascinated the attention of the scientific community due to their unusual biology. Cactus species are used for a variety of purposes, such as food, fodder, ornamental, and as medicinal plants. In the last regard, they have been used in traditional medicine for eras by the ancient people to cure several diseases. Recent scientific investigations suggest that cactus materials may be used as a source of naturally-occurring products, such as mucilage, fiber, pigments, and antioxidants. For this reason, numerous species under this family are becoming endangered and extinct. This review provides an overview of the habitat, classification, phytochemistry, chemical constituents, extraction and isolation of bioactive compounds, nutritional and pharmacological potential with pre-clinical and clinical studies of different Cactus species. Furthermore, conservation strategies for the ornamental and endangered species have also been discussed.

Solvent Free Three-Component Synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted-1H-pyrrol-3-ol-type Compounds from L-tryptophan: DFT-B3LYP Calculations for the Reaction Mechanism and 3H-pyrrol-3-one↔1H-pyrrol-3-ol Tautomeric Equilibrium

In this paper, we describe the solvent-free three-component synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted-1H-pyrrol-3-ol-type compounds from L-tryptophan. The first step of the synthetic methodology involved the esterification of L-tryptophan in excellent yields (93-98%). Equimolar mixtures of alkyl 2-aminoesters, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and potassium hydroxide (0.1 eq.) were heated under solvent-free conditions. The title compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields (45%-81%). Density functional theory using "Becke, 3-parameter, Lee-Yang-Parr" correlational functional (DFT-B3LYP) calculations were performed to understand the molecular stability of the synthesized compounds and the tautomeric equilibrium from 3H-pyrrol-3-one type intermediates to 1H-pyrrol-3-ol type aromatized rings.

Selection of antileishmanial sesquiterpene lactones from SistematX database using a combined ligand-/structure-based virtual screening approach

Leishmaniasis refers to a complex of diseases, caused by the intracellular parasitic protozoans belonging to the genus Leishmania. Among the three types of disease manifestations, the most severe type is visceral leishmaniasis, which is caused by Leishmania donovani, and is diagnosed in more than 20,000 cases annually, worldwide. Because the current therapeutic options for disease treatment are associated with several limitations, the identification of new potential leads/drugs remains necessary. In this study, a combined approach was used, based on two different virtual screening (VS) methods, which were designed to select promising antileishmanial agents from among the entire sesquiterpene lactone (SL) dataset registered in SistematX, a web interface for managing a secondary metabolite database that is accessible by multiple platforms on the Internet. Thus, a ChEMBL dataset, including 3159 and 1569 structures that were previously tested against L. donovani amastigotes and promastigotes in vitro, respectively, was used to develop two random forest models, which performed with greater than 74% accuracy in both the cross-validation and test sets. Subsequently, a ligand-based VS assay was performed against the 1306 SistematX-registered SLs. In parallel, the crystal structures of three L. donovani target proteins, N-myristoyltransferase, ornithine decarboxylase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, and a homology model of pteridine reductase 1 were used to perform a structure-based VS, using molecular docking, of the entire SistematX SL dataset. The consensus analysis of these two VS approaches resulted in the normalization of probability scores and identified 13 promising, enzyme-targeting, antileishmanial SLs from SistematX that may act against L. donovani. A combined approach based on two different virtual screening methods (structure-based and ligand-based) was performed using an in-house dataset composed of 1306 sesquiterpene lactones to identify potential antileishmanial (Leishmania donovani) structures.

Reproductive Behavior of Copitarsia uncilata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Copitarsia sp. (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Cuculliinae) is a quarantine pest in different countries and affects diverse crops of economic importance in South America. The development of ethological control strategies is an important issue that requires knowing the reproductive behavior of the species involved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the reproductive behavior of Copitarsia uncilata (Burgos & Leiva) and to evaluate the attractiveness of synthetic pheromone compounds under laboratory conditions. Observations of nocturnal reproductive behavior of males and females were performed for 7 days in order to register the courtship, mating, and oviposition time. Once the period of the highest reproductive activity was identified, flight behavior and attraction of virgin males were evaluated in a wind tunnel towards synthetic compounds previously reported as commercial pheromones for Copitarsia species, namely (Z)-tetradec-9-enyl acetate (Z9-14Ac), (Z)-tetradec-9-enol (Z9-14OH), and their mixture (Z9-14Ac + Z9-14OH at 4:1 ratio), in comparison with virgin females and clean air flow. We observed that reproductive behavior occurs during the first third of the scotophase and begins on the second day after adult emergence. Highest proportion of courtship and mating occurs on days 2 and 3 after emergence, and oviposition starts the night immediately after the first mating. Wind tunnel assessments showed that males were highly attracted to calling females compared with the blend of synthetic pheromone compounds, with 89% and 12% of males landing at the source, respectively. Moreover, males also showed a low response to the isolated compounds (Z9-14Ac 14% and Z9-14OH 4%).

Prostaglandins Isolated from the Octocoral Plexaura homomalla: In Silico and In Vitro Studies Against Different Enzymes of Cancer

Prostaglandin A₂-AcMe (1) and Prostaglandin A₂ (2) were isolated from the octocoral Plexaurahomomalla and three semisynthetic derivatives (3–5) were then obtained using a reduction protocol. All compounds were identified through one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Additionally, evaluation of in vitro cytotoxic activity against the breast (MDA-MB-213) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines, in combination with enzymatic activity and molecular docking studies with the enzymes p38α-kinase, Src-kinase, and topoisomerase IIα, were carried out for compounds 1–5 in order to explore their potential as inhibitors of cancer-related molecular targets. Results showed that prostaglandin A₂ (2) was the most potent compound with an IC₅₀ of 16.46 and 25.20 μg/mL against MDA-MB-213 and A549 cell lines, respectively. In addition, this compound also inhibited p38α-kinase in 49% and Src-kinase in 59% at 2.5 μM, whereas topoisomerase IIα was inhibited in 64% at 10 μM. Enzymatic activity was found to be consistent with molecular docking simulations, since compound 2 also showed the lowest docking scores against the topoisomerase IIα and Src-kinase (−8.7 and −8.9 kcal/mol, respectively). Thus, molecular docking led to establish some insights into the predicted binding modes. Results suggest that prostaglandin 2 can be considered as a potential lead for development inhibitors against some enzymes present in cancer processes.

Interaction with Soil Bacteria Affects the Growth and Amino Acid Content of Piriformospora indica

Exploration of the effect of soil bacteria on growth and metabolism of beneficial root endophytic fungi is relevant to promote favorable associations between microorganisms of the plant rhizosphere. Hence, the interaction between the plant-growth-promoting fungus Piriformospora indica and different soil bacteria was investigated. The parameters studied were fungal growth and its amino acid composition during the interaction. Fungus and bacteria were confronted in dual cultures in Petri dishes, either through agar or separated by a Perspex wall that only allowed the bacterial volatiles to be effective. Fungal growth was stimulated by Azotobacter chroococcum, whereas Streptomyces anulatus AcH 1003 inhibited it and Streptomyces sp. Nov AcH 505 had no effect. To analyze amino acid concentration data, targeted metabolomics was implemented under supervised analysis according to fungal-bacteria interaction and time. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model clearly discriminated P. indica-A. chroococcum and P. indica-S. anulatus interactions, according to the respective score plot in comparison to the control. The most observable responses were in the glutamine and alanine size groups: While Streptomyces AcH 1003 increased the amount of glutamine, A. chroococcum decreased it. The fungal growth and the increase of alanine content might be associated with the assimilation of nitrogen in the presence of glucose as a carbon source. The N-fixing bacterium A. chroococcum should stimulate fungal amino acid metabolism via glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase (GS-GOGAT). The data pointed to a stimulated glycolytic activity in the fungus observed by the accumulation of alanine, possibly via alanine aminotransferase. The responses toward the growth-inhibiting Streptomyces AcH 1003 suggest an (oxidative) stress response of the fungus.

Discrimination of Naturally-Occurring 2-Arylbenzofurans as Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors: Insights into the Binding Mode and Enzymatic Inhibitory Activity

2-arylbenzofuran-containing compounds are chemical entities that can be naturally produced by several organisms. A wide-range of activities is described for several compounds of this kind and they are, therefore, valuable moieties for a lead finding from nature. Although there are in-vitro data about the activity of 2-arylbenzofuran-related compounds against cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, the molecular level of these COX-inhibiting constituents had not been deeply explored. Thus, 58 2-arylbenzofurans were initially screened through molecular docking within the active site of nine COX-2 crystal structures. The resulting docking scores were statistically analyzed and good reproducibility and convergence were found to discriminate the best-docked compounds. Discriminated compounds exhibited the best performance in molecular dynamics simulations as well as the most-favorable binding energies and the lowest in-vitro IC₅₀ values for COX-2 inhibition. A three-dimensional quantitative activity-structure relationship (3D-QSAR) was also demonstrated, which showed some crucial structural requirements for enhanced enzyme inhibition. Therefore, four hits are proposed as lead structures for the development of COX-2 inhibitors based on 2-arylbenzofurans in further studies.

Indole-Containing Phytoalexin-Based Bioisosteres as Antifungals: In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation against Fusarium oxysporum

There is a continuous search for more reliable and effective alternatives to control phytopathogens through different strategies. In this context, indole-containing phytoalexins are stimuli-induced compounds implicated in plant defense against plant pathogens. However, phytoalexins' efficacy have been limited by fungal detoxifying mechanisms, thus, the research on bioisosteres-based analogs can be a friendly alternative regarding the control of Fusarium phytopathogens, but there are currently few studies on it. Thus, as part of our research on antifungal agents, a set of 21 synthetic indole-containing phytoalexin analogs were evaluated as inhibitors against the phyopathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Results indicated that analogs of the N,N-dialkylthiourea, N,S-dialkyldithiocarbamate and substituted-1,3-thiazolidin-5-one groups exhibited the best docking scores and interaction profiles within the active site of Fusarium spp. enzymes. Vina scores exhibited correlation with experimental mycelial growth inhibition using supervised statistics, and this antifungal dataset correlated with molecular interaction fields after CoMFA. Compound 24 (tert-butyl (((3-oxo-1,3-diphenylpropyl)thio)carbonothioyl)-l-tryptophanate), a very active analog against F. oxysporum, exhibited the best interaction with lanosterol 14α-demethylase according to molecular docking, molecular dynamics and molecular mechanic/poisson-boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) binding energy performance. After data analyses, information on mycelial growth inhibitors, structural requirements and putative enzyme targets may be used in further antifungal development based on phytoalexin analogs for controlling phytopathogens.

Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis, Antifungal Activity against Fusarium oxysporum, and Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship of N,S-Dialkyl Dithiocarbamates Derived from 2-Amino Acids

A high-yielding, green, and fast synthesis of alkyl 2-substituted {[(alkylsulfanyl)carbonothioyl]amino}acetate-type compounds is described. The one-pot, three-component condensation of alkyl 2-aminoesters, carbon disulfide, and electron-deficient olefins was the key reaction to be developed. The products were obtained easily and efficiently, with good overall yields after two steps (79-91%), employing short reaction times, without the use of a catalyst, and ultrasonic irradiation in water. This procedure was exploited to produce antifungals against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Some synthesized compounds exhibited good performance as mycelial growth inhibitors (IC₅₀ < 80 μM). Structural and antifungal datasets were integrated to explore the comprehensive three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and explain the observed activity. This integration resulted in an excellent CoMFA model (r ² = 0.812; q ² = 0.771) after substructure-based alignment. According to this model, synthesized compounds possessing steric bulky electron-withdrawing groups in the dithiocarbamate moiety can be considered as promising F. oxysporum inhibitors.

Botanicals Against Tetranychus urticae Koch Under Laboratory Conditions: A Survey of Alternatives for Controlling Pest Mites

Tetranychus urticae Koch is a phytophagous mite capable of altering the physiological processes of plants, causing damages estimated at USD$ 4500 per hectare, corresponding to approximately 30% of the total cost of pesticides used in some important crops. Several tools are used in the management of this pest, with chemical control being the most frequently exploited. Nevertheless, the use of chemically synthesized acaricides brings a number of disadvantages, such as the development of resistance by the pest, hormolygosis, incompatibility with natural predators, phytotoxicity, environmental pollution, and risks to human health. In that sense, the continuous search for botanical pesticides arises as a complementary alternative in the control of T. urticae Koch. Although a lot of information is unknown about its mechanisms of action and composition, there are multiple experiments in lab conditions that have been performed to determine the toxic effects of botanicals on this mite. Among the most studied botanical families for this purpose are plants from the Lamiaceae, the Asteraceae, the Myrtaceae, and the Apiaceae taxons. These are particularly abundant and exhibit several results at different levels; therefore, many of them can be considered as promising elements to be included into integrated pest management for controlling T. urticae.

Tools in the Investigation of Volatile Semiochemicals on Insects: From Sampling to Statistical Analysis

The recognition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) involved in insect interactions with plants or other organisms is essential for constructing a holistic comprehension of their role in ecology, from which the implementation of new strategies for pest and disease vector control as well as the systematic exploitation of pollinators and natural enemies can be developed. In the present paper, some of the general methods employed in this field are examined, focusing on their available technologies. An important part of the investigations conducted in this context begin with VOC collection directly from host organisms, using classical extraction methods, by the employment of adsorption materials used in solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) and direct-contact sorptive extraction (DCSE) and, subsequently, analysis through instrumental analysis techniques such as gas chromatography (GC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), which provide crucial information for determining the chemical identity of volatile metabolites. Behavioral experiments, electroantennography (EAG), and biosensors are then carried out to define the semiochemicals with the best potential for performing relevant functions in ecological relationships. Chemical synthesis of biologically-active VOCs is alternatively performed to scale up the amount to be used in different purposes such as laboratory or field evaluations. Finally, the application of statistical analysis provides tools for drawing conclusions about the type of correlations existing between the diverse experimental variables and data matrices, thus generating models that simplify the interpretation of the biological roles of VOCs.

Comparative Examination of Antioxidant Capacity and Fingerprinting of Unfractionated Extracts from Different Plant Parts of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Grown under Greenhouse Conditions

Integrated surveys of metabolic profiles and antioxidant capacity from Chenopodium quinoa have been limited and have particularly focused on an examination of seeds and leaves. According to this, the main aim of the present study was to address an evaluation of the antioxidant activity of crude ethanolic extracts from different plant parts (leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds) harvested at different times during growth and processed by two distinct drying methods: Air-drying and freeze-drying. In order to characterize the resulting extracts, the total content of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) was then measured through the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant capacity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) free radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Parallel to this evaluation, extracts were profiled by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Data analysis was supported by statistics. Most of the extracts obtained from freeze-dried samples showed higher TPC values ranging from 6.02 to 43.47 milligram of gallic acid equivalents per gram of plant material and a TFC between 1.30 and 12.26 milligram of quercetin equivalents per gram of plant material. After statistical analysis, a low correlation between TPC and TFC values was observed regarding antioxidant capacity from DPPH and FRAP measurements of both drying methods. A multivariate analysis showed that antioxidant components and antioxidant capacity in C. quinoa changed during growth and between plant parts and drying methods. These changes need to be taken into consideration when comparing the production/accumulation of beneficial bioactive compounds in this pseudocereal.

Targeted Metabolite Profiling-Based Identification of Antifungal 5-n-Alkylresorcinols Occurring in Different Cereals against Fusarium oxysporum

A rapid and convenient biochemometrics-based analysis of several cereal-derived extracts was used to identify n-alkyl(enyl)resorcinols (AR) as antifungals against Fusarium oxysporum. Total AR content and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based profiles were recorded for each extract, in addition to their antifungal activity, to help integrate these chemical and biological datasets by orthogonal partial least squares regression. In this study, we developed and used a micro-scale amended medium (MSAM) assay to evaluate the in vitro mycelial growth inhibition at low amounts of extracts. Triticale husk-derived extracts had the highest AR content (662.1 µg olivetol equivalent/g dry extract), exhibiting >79% inhibition at the highest doses (10.0–1.0 µg/µL). Correlation of the chemical and antifungal datasets using supervised metabolite profiling revealed that 5-n-nonadecanylresorcinol, 5-n-heneicosylresorcinol, and 5-n-tricosyl-resorcinol were the most active ARs occurring in cereal products from Colombia. Hence, we propose the biochemometrics-based approach as a useful tool for identifying AR-like antifungals against F. oxysporum.

Tetrahydrobenzofuran-6(2 H)-one Neolignans from Ocotea heterochroma: Their Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) Antagonistic Activity and in Silico Insights into the PAF Receptor Binding Mode

Three new tetrahydrobenzofuran-6(2 H)-one-type neolignans, heterochromins A-C (1-3), along with a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane neolignan, cinerin C (4), were isolated from an ethanol extract from the leaves of Ocotea heterochroma, a native plant growing in the Colombo-Ecuadorian region of the Andes. The chemical structures of 1-3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonistic activity was tested in vitro for these compounds. Additionally, their binding mode to the PAF receptor was studied by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations in order to rationalize such activity. Heterochromin A (1) was found to be a potent PAF antagonist with a favorable molecular profile for interacting with the PAF receptor binding site.

Curcumin in Liver Diseases: A Systematic Review of the Cellular Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Clinical Perspective

Oxidative stress has been considered a key causing factor of liver damage induced by a variety of agents, including alcohol, drugs, viral infections, environmental pollutants and dietary components, which in turn results in progression of liver injury, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic liver disease, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. During the past 30 years and even after the major progress in the liver disease management, millions of people worldwide still suffer from an acute or chronic liver condition. Curcumin is one of the most commonly used indigenous molecules endowed by various shielding functionalities that protects the liver. The aim of the present study is to comprehensively review pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms, as well as clinical evidence, of curcumin as a lead compound in the prevention and treatment of oxidative associated liver diseases. For this purpose, electronic databases including “Scopus,” “PubMed,” “Science Direct” and “Cochrane library” were extensively searched with the keywords “curcumin or curcuminoids” and “hepatoprotective or hepatotoxicity or liver” along with “oxidative or oxidant.” Results showed that curcumin exerts remarkable protective and therapeutic effects of oxidative associated liver diseases through various cellular and molecular mechanisms. Those mechanisms include suppressing the proinflammatory cytokines, lipid perodixation products, PI3K/Akt and hepatic stellate cells activation, as well as ameliorating cellular responses to oxidative stress such as the expression of Nrf2, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx and GR. Taking together, curcumin itself acts as a free radical scavenger over the activity of different kinds of ROS via its phenolic, β-diketone and methoxy group. Further clinical studies are still needed in order to recognize the structure-activity relationships and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in oxidative associated liver diseases.

Metabolomics as a Functional Tool in Screening Gastro Intestinal Diseases: Where are we in High Throughput Screening?

Identifying novel bio markers in gastro intestinal disease is a promising method where a comprehensive analysis of the metabolome is performed. Metabolomics has evolved enormously in the past decade, paving a path in gastro intestinal disease research, especially diseases which lead to high morbidity and mortality. Metabolomics involves identifying metabolites such as anti-oxidants, and amino acids etc., which are screened in the urine, feces and tissue samples. Certain cases employ advanced tools like GC-MS, 1HNMR and GC-MS/SPME which reveal valuable information concerning disease severity and differentiation. In light of escalating health care costs and risky invasive procedures, metabolomics can be chosen as a safe yet precise method for screening diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohns' disease, celiac disease, and gastro intestinal cancers. The present review focuses on major advancements in gastro intestinal metabolomics, giving attention to which parameters are assessed, and to recent changes in metabolite analysis.