Botanical and Genetic Identification Followed by Investigation of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities on the Scabiosa atropurpurea L. Stem from Tunisian Flora

Scarce information about the phenolic composition of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. is available, and no carotenoid compounds have been reported thus far. In this study the phenolic and carotenoid composition of this plant was both investigated and associated bioactivities were evaluated. Aiming to obtain extracts and volatile fractions of known medicinal plants to valorize them in the pharmaceutical or food industries, two techniques of extraction and five solvents were used to determine the biologically active compounds. Gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization and mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry highlighted the presence of 15 volatiles, 19 phenolic, and 24 natural pigments in Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem samples; among them, the most abundant were 1,8-cineole, chlorogenic acid, cynaroside, and lutein. Bioactivity was assessed by a set of in vitro tests checking for antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and allelopathic (against Brassica oleracea L. and Lens culinaris Medik) effects. Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem extracts presented a considerable antioxidant, antibacterial, and allelopathic potential, with less antifungal effectiveness. These results indicate that the volatile fractions and extracts from S. atropurpurea L. stem could be considered as a good source of bioactive agents, with possible applications in food-related, agriculture, and pharmaceutical fields. Genetic investigations showed 97% of similarity with Scabiosa tschiliensis, also called Japanese Scabiosa

Study on the synthesis, physicochemical, electrochemical properties, molecular structure and antifungal activities of the 4-pyrrolidinopyridine Mg(II) meso-tetratolylporphyrin complex

International audienceA novel magnesium(II) metalloporphyrin namely the bis(4-pyrrolidinopyridine)[meso-tetra(p-tolyl)porphyrinato)]magnesium(II) dichloromethane desolate complex with the formula [Mg(TTP)(4-pypo)2]·CH2Cl2 (I) has been synthetized and fully characterized by UV–Vis, fluorescence, IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The X-ray molecular structure shows that I presents two molecules (1 and 2) [Mg1(TTP)(4-pypo)2] and [Mg2(TTP)(4-pypo)2] in the asymmetric unit while the Hirshfeld surface analysis on this hexacoordinated Mg(II) porphyrin species indicates that the crystal lattice is mainly sustained by C__H…C, C__H…Cg (Cg is the centroid of a phenyl ring) and C__H…Cl intermolecular interactions. The cyclic voltammetry data of I is also reported. The bioactivity of the H2TTP, the [Mg(TTP)] starting material and [Mg(TTP)(4-pypo)2]·CH2Cl2 (I) was evaluated in vitro, by examining their inhibitory effect against three strains of Candida viz. C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis with MIC values in the range 2.5 to 10 µg.mL−1. The screening of the susceptibility of M. canis and T. rubrum clinical strains on the three porphyrinic derivatives is also reported

Structure, thermal and mechanical properties of poly (ε-caprolactone)/organomodified clay bionanocomposites prepared in open air by in situ polymerization

The first example of the usefulness of titanium (IV) butoxide, as initiators for open air in-situ intercalative polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) in the presence of organoclay is herein reported. The bionanocomposites based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared by in-situ Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone in the presence of different organomodified montmorillonite clay (ODA-MMT) loading (1, 3 and wt%). Structural, thermal and mechanical characterizations of the resulting bionanocomposites were investigated. The presence of the nanoclay increased PCL crystallinity, melting temperature and thermal stability, whereas some decrease in T was observed. TEM analyses confirmed the good dispersion of ODA-MMT with 1 and 3 wt% content into the PCL polymer as already asserted by XRD diffraction. Finally, the Young's modulus of the PCL nanocomposites was higher compared to the neat PCL, while a decrease of stress and strain at break for materials with different filler content was observed.Financial support for cooperative research came from the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology of Morocco/CSIC-Spain (Project AH11STC-nano 2011 – 2012 and 2010MA003), the MESRSFC and CNRST of Morocco (PPR program), and the bilateral scientific committee programs of collaboration between Morocco and Tunisia (n 17/TM/20), and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) through the project MAT2016-81138-R