107 research outputs found
An attempt of biocontrol the tomato-wilt disease caused by Verticillium dahliae using Burkholderia gladioli pv. agaricicola and its bioactive secondary metabolites
There is a great interest in discovering new microbial natural biocides such as microbial secondary metabolites to reduce the environmental pollution due to the excessive use of synthetic pesticides. Verticillium wilt, caused by the soil-borne Verticillium dahliae, is a widespread disease in tomato growing in many parts of the world. Burkholderia gladioli pv. agaricicola produces some antimicrobial substances and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes which exhibited promising antimicrobial activity towards several phytopathogens. The aims of the current research are to assess in vitro fungicidal effect of 4 strains of B. gladioli pv. agaricicola (ICMP11096, 11097, 12220 and 12322) against V. dahliae using culture or cell-free culture filtrate. In situ assay was performed to evaluate the biocontrol effect of the most efficient bacterial strain on wilt disease caused by V. dahliae in tomato plants. Results demonstrated that the studied bacterial strain ICMP12322 exerted the highest in vitro antifungal activity against V. dahliae which correlated with its ability to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Furthermore, in situ results showed that the selected bacterial strain significantly minimized the disease incidence
Cannabis: A Toxin-Producing Plant with Potential Therapeutic Uses
For thousands of years, Cannabis sativa has been utilized as a medicine and for recreational
and spiritual purposes. Phytocannabinoids are a family of compounds that are found in the cannabis
plant, which is known for its psychotogenic and euphoric effects; the main psychotropic constituent
of cannabis is ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC). The pharmacological effects of cannabinoids are a
result of interactions between those compounds and cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, located in
many parts of the human body. Cannabis is used as a therapeutic agent for treating pain and emesis.
Some cannabinoids are clinically applied for treating chronic pain, particularly cancer and multiple
sclerosis-associated pain, for appetite stimulation and anti-emesis in HIV/AIDS and cancer patients,
and for spasticity treatment in multiple sclerosis and epilepsy patients. Medical cannabis varies from
recreational cannabis in the chemical content of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), modes of administration,
and safety. Despite the therapeutic effects of cannabis, exposure to high concentrations of THC,
the main compound that is responsible for most of the intoxicating effects experienced by users,
could lead to psychological events and adverse effects that affect almost all body systems, such as
neurological (dizziness, drowsiness, seizures, coma, and others), ophthalmological (mydriasis and
conjunctival hyperemia), cardiovascular (tachycardia and arterial hypertension), and gastrointestinal
(nausea, vomiting, and thirst), mainly associated with recreational use. Cannabis toxicity in children is
more concerning and can cause serious adverse effects such as acute neurological symptoms (stupor),
lethargy, seizures, and even coma. More countries are legalizing the commercial production and
sale of cannabis for medicinal use, and some for recreational use as well. Liberalization of cannabis
laws has led to increased incidence of toxicity, hyperemesis syndrome, lung disease cardiovascular
disease, reduced fertility, tolerance, and dependence with chronic prolonged use. This review focuses
on the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis and cannabinoids, as well as the acute and chronic
toxic effects of cannabis use on various body systems
Photodegradation using TiO2-activated borosilicate tubes
This study examines the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor supported on borosilicate tubes (cut-off
290 nm) towards removal of a mix of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from water. For this purpose, two widely used
analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen (IBU) and mefenamic acid, along with MCPA sodium
monohydrate, which is a common herbicide frequently used in the agricultural activities, were selected as a case study.
Borosilicate tubes were coated with titanium oxide through two different approaches: sol-gel dip-coating and a hybrid nanoparticle
dip-coating and plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) process. The photochemical reactor that hosts the
titania-coated tubes was designed to permit continuous throughput of liquid feed stream. The photodegradation experiments were
performed in laboratory conditions under artificial irradiation simulating solar light. The efficiency of direct photolysis and
heterogeneous photocatalysis (TiO2) was investigated, and the performance of each coating method was evaluated. Kinetic
studies for each experiment were accomplished, the overall results showed poor efficiency and insufficient removal for
NSAIDs through direct photolysis, whereas applying heterogeneous photacatalysis with TiO2 coated on borosilicate tubes was
found to accelerate their degradation rate with complete decomposition. Concomitantly, kinetic experimental results showed a
critical difference of performance for the two coating methods used; in particular, the degradation rates of pollutants by the solgel-
coated tubes were much faster than the degradation by the nanoparticle/PECVD-coated tubes. Using TiO2 supported on
borosilicate tubes appears to be a promising alternative to conventional TiO2 suspension and avoid post-separation stages. The
results achieved in this study can be used to optimise large-scale applications, and expanding the study to cover a wide range of
pollutants will lead to achieve more representative results.We are grateful to Eng. Stefano Costacurta from
Symera Srl, Italy, and Eng. Alessandro Patelli from the Department of
Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Italy, for the great efforts that
had exerted in the manufacturing and for the characterisation of the TiO2-
activated borosilicate tubes used in this research work. This work was supported
by the European Commission in the framework of the Project
BDiffusion of nanotechnology based devices for water treatment and
recycling- NANOWAT^ (ENPI CBC MED I.B/2.1/049, Grant No. 7/1997)
Study of the photodegradation of tribenuron-methyl in aqueous solution of two Moroccan soils
Photodegradation of Tribenuron-methyl [methyl 2-(((((4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-
yl)methylamino)carbonyl)amino)sulfonyl)benzoate] was carried out in aqueous solution under UV light.
The research of the structures of the photoproducts highlighted by follow-up CLHP was carried out by
coupling CLHP/SM. The results of this study allowed concluding that the transformation of the
tribenuron-methyl depends on the pH of the medium and the light of irradiation. With this intention, the
study of the retention, the mineralization of the tribenuron-methyl in two Moroccan soils of the area of
Gharb (Northwest of Morocco) called Tirs and Dehs was carried out using the molecule labelled on
carbon ureic and in controlled conditions. The adsorption and desorption of the tribenuron-methyl by the
two grounds were carried out by the method of Batch balancing. The adsorption of the active matter
follows a nonlinear isotherm. The ground Dehs has a more important affinity for the molecule the
tribenuron-methyl than the ground Tirs. The desorption of the tribenuron-methyl is more important
starting from the ground Dehs. The mineralization of the molecule by biological way is more important
starting from the ground Tirs. The contribution of nitrogen seems to inhibit the process of mineralization
starting from this ground
Anti-cancer Prodrugs-Three Decades of Design
The conventional old treatment method for cancer therapy is associated with severe side effects along with several limitations. Therefore, searching and developing new methods for cancer became crucial. This mini review was devoted on the design and synthesis of prodrugs for cancer treatment. The methods discussed include targeted prodrugs which are depending on the presence of unique cellular conditions at the desired target, especially the availability of certain enzymes and transporters at these target sites, antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT), gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) which is considered one of the important strategies for the treatment of cancer and prodrugs based on enzyme models that have been advocated to understand enzyme catalysis. In this approach, a design of prodrugs is accomplished using computational calculations based on molecular orbital and molecular mechanics methods. Correlations between experimental and calculated rate values for some intramolecular processes provided a tool to predict thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for intramolecular processes that can be utilized as prodrugs linkers. This approach does not require any enzyme to catalyze the prodrug interconversion. The interconversion rate is solely dependent on the factors govern the limiting step of the intramolecular process
Antibacterial Predrugs-from 1899 till 2015
The predrug (prodrug) term involves chemically modified inert
compound which upon an administration releases the active parent
drug to elicit its pharmacological response within the body. For many
years, the predrug strategy has been extensively developed to solve
many unwanted drug properties. This approach has several advantages
over conventional drug administration and it has the potential to be
quite effective method for the treatment of diseases in the future. In
this mini-review we describe a number of antibacterial agents‘
predrugs, and the ways by which predrug strategy was exploited to
overcome many pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic problems that the
parent active antibacterial drugs suffer from such as, low
bioavailability by increasing or decreasing lipophilicity, site selectivity for higher absorption
and less toxicity, short duration of action to increase patient compliance, rapid metabolism to
increase oral bioavailability and masking bitter sensation which is crucial for geriatric and
pediatric patient compliance
DİAZEPAM DEGRADATİON USİNG SOLAR PHOTOCATALYSİS
Benzodiazepine drugs are used all over the world for anxiety disorders, as anticonvulsants and anti-epileptics, and for terminally ill people as part of essential medicines list from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO list includes diazepam, which is frequently found as residual pollutant in secondary effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Aiming at the complete removing of this substance from the aqueous environments, two experiments were carried out using Advanced Oxidation Process (AOPs) by simulated solar irradiation with or without TiO2 as catalyst. Photocatalysis was much efficient (half-life = 6 hours) than photolysis (half-life = 34 hours) giving a series of byproduct that were identified by an LC system coupled to a hybrid linear quadrupole ion trap (LTQ)-Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectromete
TiO2 and Active Coated Glass Photodegradation of Ibuprofen
Commercial non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered as toxic to the environment since they induce side effects when consumed by humans or aquatic life. Ibuprofen is a member of the NSAID family and is widely used as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller agent. Photolysis is a potentially important method of degradation for several emerging contaminants, and individual compounds can undergo photolysis to various degrees, depending on their chemical structure. The efficiency oftitanium dioxide (TiO2) and photocatalysis was investigated for the removal of ibuprofen from the aquatic environment, and the performance of these different processes was evaluated. In heterogeneous photocatalysis, two experiments were carried out using TiO2 as (i) dispersed powder, and (ii) TiO2 immobilized on the active surface of commercial coated glass. The kinetics of each photoreaction was determined, and the identification of the photoproducts was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (LC-FTICR MS). The overall results suggest that the TiO2 active thin layer immobilized on the glass substrate can avoid recovery problems related to the use of TiO2 powder in heterogeneous photocatalysis and may be a promising tool toward protecting the environment from emerging contaminants such as ibuprofen and its derivativ
TiO2 and Active Coated Glass Photodegradation of Ibuprofen
Commercial non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered as toxic to the
environment since they induce side e ects when consumed by humans or aquatic life. Ibuprofen
is a member of the NSAID family and is widely used as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller agent.
Photolysis is a potentially important method of degradation for several emerging contaminants, and
individual compounds can undergo photolysis to various degrees, depending on their chemical
structure. The e ciency oftitanium dioxide (TiO2) and photocatalysis was investigated for the
removal of ibuprofen from the aquatic environment, and the performance of these di erent processes
was evaluated. In heterogeneous photocatalysis, two experiments were carried out using TiO2 as
(i) dispersed powder, and (ii) TiO2 immobilized on the active surface of commercial coated glass.
The kinetics of each photoreaction was determined, and the identification of the photoproducts was
carried out by liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass
spectrometry (LC-FTICR MS). The overall results suggest that the TiO2 active thin layer immobilized
on the glass substrate can avoid recovery problems related to the use of TiO2 powder in heterogeneous
photocatalysis and may be a promising tool toward protecting the environment from emerging
contaminants such as ibuprofen and its derivatives.Funding: This work was supported by the European Union in the framework of the Project “Di usion of
nanotechnology-based devices for water treatment and recycling; NANOWAT” (ENPI CBC MED I-B/2.1/049,
Grant No. 7/1997).
Acknowledgments: Many thanks to Jawad H. Shoqueir, the head of Soil and hydrology Lab at Al-Quds University,
for his support to partially cover the publication fee from his own budget. Results reported in this article were
partially presented by Samer Khalaf at the Second International Conference on Recycle and Reuse, 4–6 June 2014,
Istanbul, Turkey and published in the book of abstracts
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