Hamad Z. Alkhathlan

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by Pulicaria glutinosa extract

The green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has attracted tremendous attention in recent years because these protocols are low cost and more environmentally friendly than standard methods of synthesis. In this article, we report a simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver NPs using an aqueous solution of Pulicaria glutinosa plant extract as a bioreductant. The as-prepared silver NPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, the effects of the concentration of the reductant (plant extract) and precursor solution (silver nitrate), the temperature on the morphology, and the kinetics of reaction were investigated. The results indicate that the size of the silver NPs varied as the plant extract concentration increased. The as-synthesized silver NPs were phase pure and well crystalline with a face-centered cubic structure. Further, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the plant extract not only acted as a bioreductant but also functionalized the NPs’ surfaces to act as a capping ligand to stabilize them in the solvent. The developed eco-friendly method for the synthesis of NPs could prove a better substitute for the physical and chemical methods currently used to prepare metallic NPs commonly used in cosmetics, foods, and medicines.

Green Approach for the Effective Reduction of Graphene Oxide Using Salvadora persica L. Root (Miswak) Extract

Recently, green reduction of graphene oxide (GRO) using various natural materials, including plant extracts, has drawn significant attention among the scientific community. These methods are sustainable, low cost, and are more environmentally friendly than other standard methods of reduction. Herein, we report a facile and eco-friendly method for the bioreduction of GRO using Salvadora persica L. (S. persica L.) roots (miswak) extract as a bioreductant. The as-prepared highly reduced graphene oxide (SP-HRG) was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Various results have confirmed that the biomolecules present in the root extract of miswak not only act as a bioreductant but also functionalize the surface of SP-HRG by acting as a capping ligand to stabilize it in water and other solvents. The dispersion quality of SP-HRG in deionized water was investigated in detail by preparing different samples of SP-HRG with increasing concentration of root extract. Furthermore, the dispersibility of SP-HRG was also compared with chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRG). The developed eco-friendly method for the reduction of GRO could provide a better substitute for a large-scale production of dispersant-free graphene and graphene-based materials for various applications in both technological and biological fields such as electronics, nanomedicine, and bionic materials.

Pulicaria glutinosa extract: a toolbox to synthesize highly reduced graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites.

A green, one-step approach for the preparation of graphene/Ag nanocomposites (PE-HRG-Ag) via simultaneous reduction of both graphene oxide (GRO) and silver ions using Pulicaria glutinosa plant extract (PE) as reducing agent is reported. The plant extract functionalizes the surfaces of highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) which helps in conjugating the Ag NPs to HRG. Increasing amounts of Ag precursor enhanced the density of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on HRG. The preparation of PE-HRG-Ag nanocomposite is monitored by using ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The as-prepared PE-HRG-Ag nanocomposities display excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity, and significantly increased the intensities of the Raman signal of graphene.

Antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Pulicaria glutinosa plant extract as a green bioreductant.

The antibacterial properties of nanoparticles (NPs) can be significantly enhanced by increasing the wettability or solubility of NPs in aqueous medium. In this study, we investigated the effects of the stabilizing agent on the solubility of silver NPs and its subsequent effect on their antimicrobial activities. Silver NPs were prepared using an aqueous solution of Pulicaria glutinosa plant extract as bioreductant. The solution also acts as a capping ligand. During this study, the antimicrobial activities of silver NPs, as well as the plant extract alone, were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus luteus. Silver NPs were prepared with various concentrations of the plant extract to study its effect on antimicrobial activity. Interestingly, various concentrations of P. glutinosa extract did not show any effect on the growth of tested bacteria; however, a significant effect on the antimicrobial property of plant extract capped silver NPs (Ag-NPs-PE) was observed. For instance, the half maximal inhibitory concentration values were found to decrease (from 4% to 21%) with the increasing concentrations of plant extract used for the synthesis of Ag-NPs-PE. These results clearly indicate that the addition of P. glutinosa extracts enhances the solubility of Ag-NPs-PE and, hence, increases their toxicity against the tested microorganisms.

Anticorrosive assay-guided isolation of active phytoconstituents from Anthemis pseudocotula extracts and a detailed study of their effects on the corrosion of mild steel in acidic media

In this study, anticorrosive properties of various extracts (methanolic, aqueous methanolic and water extracts) of Anthemis pseudocotula for mild steel in 1.0 M HCl media is screened for the first time. Among the various tested extracts, the methanolic extract of A. pseudocotula shows the highest corrosion inhibition activity. Anticorrosive assay-guided isolation of this methanolic extract results in the isolation of a highly potent anticorrosive compound, APB (luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside). The anticorrosive effects of APB on mild steel in 1.0 M HCl media were evaluated in detail using gravimetric, Tafel plots, linear polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and SEM and EDS techniques. Tafel plots reveal that APB acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. The adsorption behaviour of this green inhibitor on the mild-steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. A surface morphology study through SEM and EDS analysis displays a noteworthy upgraded surface morphology of the mild steel plate in the presence of the green inhibitor in 1.0 M HCl media. The results obtained from electrochemical tests and weight loss measurements are in good agreement which shows excellent inhibition efficiency for the natural compound APB.

Three 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones and two terpenes from agarwood.

A new Chromone, 7,8-dimethoxy-2-[2-(3′-acetoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (1) was isolated from an acetone extract of the Cambodian agarwood along with two known chromones, 6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (2) and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (3). In addition, an abietane ester (4) and the sesquiterpene dehydrofukinone (5) were isolated from the agarwood oil of the same origin. Structural elucidation of all isolated compounds was made based on IR, 1H and 13Cu2009NMR spectroscopic data.

Apoptosis inducing ability of silver decorated highly reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites in A549 lung cancer

Recently, graphene and graphene-based materials have been increasingly used for various biological applications due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties. Here, we demonstrate the anticancer properties and apoptosis-inducing ability of silver doped highly reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites synthesized by employing green approach. These nano composites (PGE-HRG-Ag) were synthesized by using Pulicaria glutinosa extract (PGE) as a reducing agent and were evaluated for their anticancer properties against various human cancer cell lines with tamoxifen as the reference drug. A correlation between the amount of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) and the anticancer activity of nanocomposite was observed, wherein an increase in the concentration of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of HRG led to the enhanced anticancer activity of the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite PGE-HRG-Ag-2 exhibited more potent cytotoxicity than standard drug in A549 cells, a human lung cancer cell line. A detailed investigation was undertaken and Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis demonstrated that the nanocomposite PGE-HRG-Ag-2 showed G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Studies such as, measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Annexin V-FITC staining assay suggested that this compound induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells.

Compositional characteristics of the essential oil of Myrtus communis grown in the central part of Saudi Arabia

The essential oil obtained from aerial parts of Myrtus communis grown in the central part of Saudi Arabia was analyzed by gas chromatography-based techniques (GC–FID, GC–MS, Co–GC, LRI determination, database, and literature search) using polar as well as non-polar columns, which resulted in the identification of a total of sixty-five components accounting for 98.2% of the total oil composition. The oil composition was found to be dominated by monoterpene components accounting for 89.3% of oil composition. Sesquiterpenes (4.8%) and their oxygenated derivatives (3.5%) were present in lesser amounts. The major compounds of the oil were 1,8-cineole (26.5%), linalool (18.0%), α-pinene (11.6%), α-terpineol (8.9%), and limonene (4.0%). Other constituents which were present in appreciable amounts in this oil are trans-geraniol (3.9%), trans-geranyl acetate (3.9%), α-terpenyl acetate (3.3%), linalyl acetate (2.9%), and δ-cadinene (2.7%).

Thymol and carvacrol induce autolysis, stress, growth inhibition and reduce the biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans

Organic compounds from plants are an attractive alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents. Therefore, two compounds namely M-1 and M-2 were purified from Origanum vulgare L. and were identified as carvacrol and thymol, respectively. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of these compounds along with chlorhexidine digluconate using various assays was determined against dental caries causing bacteria Streptococcus mutans. The IC50 values of carvacrol (M-1) and thymol (M-2) against S. mutans were 65 and 54xa0µg/ml, respectively. Live and dead staining and the MTT assays reveal that a concentration of 100xa0µg/ml of these compounds reduced the viability and the metabolic activity of S. mutans by more than 50%. Biofilm formation on the surface of polystyrene plates was significantly reduced by M-1 and M-2 at 100xa0µg/ml as observed under scanning electron microscope and by colorimetric assay. These results were in agreement with RT-PCR studies. Wherein exposure to 25xa0µg/ml of M-1 and M-2 showed a 2.2 and 2.4-fold increase in Autolysin gene (AtlE) expression level, respectively. While an increase of 1.3 and 1.4 fold was observed in the super oxide dismutase gene (sodA) activity with the same concentrations of M-1 and M-2, respectively. An increase in the ymcA gene and a decrease in the gtfB gene expression levels was observed following the treatment with M-1 and M-2. These results strongly suggest that carvacrol and thymol isolated from O. vulgare L. exhibit good bactericidal and antibiofilm activity against S. mutans and can be used as a green alternative to control dental caries.

Cyclization of Hydrazones of 2-Acetyl-1-naphthol and 1-Acetyl-2-naphthol with Triphosgene. Synthesis of Spiro Naphthoxazine Dimers

Cyclization of hydrazones derived from 2-acetyl-1-naphthol and 1-acetyl-2-naphthol with triphosgene gave naphtho[1,2-e]-1,3-oxazines, naphtho[2,1-e]-1,3-oxazines or their spiro dimers depending on the molar ratio of triphosgene used for the cyclization.