Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Helin Li, Xiaoyu Wu, Xin Li, Xiaobing Cao, Yanjun Li, Huaru Cao, Yongzhi Men
Summary: This study developed a multistage extraction method to extract bioactive compounds from natural plants with high yields and purity, demonstrating potential applications in developing antibacterial agents, natural antioxidants, and anticancer agents. The extractives obtained were identified using various spectroscopic techniques and exhibited strong antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, making them promising resources for pharmaceutical and food industries.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tao Chen, Xiaoming Li, Jiayu Liang, Fatih Evrendilek, Xiaocui Wen, Sen Lin, Jingyong Liu
Summary: The combustion behaviors, performances, ash-to-gas products, reaction mechanisms, and joint optimization of star anise residues were characterized in this study. The main combustion stage of star anise was between 150 and 580 degrees C. The combustion performance indices were higher in N2/O2 than CO2/O2. The estimated activation energy varied between 168.26 and 241.77 kJ/mol. F1, F1.5, A1.5, and A2 well described the most likely reaction mechanisms. The energetically and environmentally multiple objectives were simultaneously optimized using artificial neural networks with the operational inputs of temperature and atmosphere type. The relative importance of the atmosphere type to the gaseous products were thus: aromatics < C-O < C--O < CO < CO2 < H2O < CH4. The combustion gaseous products were the same in both atmospheres. The star anise ash was of K type with a high deposition risk in both atmospheres. Changing N2 to CO2 reduced the tendency of ash scaling and slagging.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qi Sheng, Lingxin Yi, Bin Zhong, Xiaoyu Wu, Liming Liu, Bin Zhang
Summary: This review discusses recent advances in the development of SA-producing strains, including genetic modification strategies, metabolic pathway construction, and biosensor-assisted evolution. The development of SA biosensors and dynamic molecular switches, as well as genetic modification strategies and optimization of the fermentation process based on omics technology, can improve the performance of SA-producing strains.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jian Xiao, Siyu Chen, Yan Sun, Siyu Wu, Wenhui Liang, Shangdong Yang
Summary: Mechanical weeding affects soil fertility and microbial diversity in star anise plantations, with positive effects on phosphatase activity and microbial biomass, but no significant impact on aminopeptidase activity. Mechanical weeding does not significantly alter soil microbial community structures.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Bowen Xu, Bin Sun, Lulu Cui, Jiahao Chen, Xiaomin Chen, Xinyue Li, Zhongcheng Wang, Sheng Han, Yuan Xue
Summary: In this study, trans anethole (TA) was successfully extracted from star anise, a naturally renewable substance, and was polymerized with alkyl methacrylate (C14MC) to prepare a novel kind of natural cold flow improvers (CFIs) called alkyl methacrylate-trans anethole copolymers (C14MC-TA) to enhance the cold flow properties (CFPs) of diesel. The investigation revealed that C14MC-TA exerted positive effects on improving the CFPs of diesel, with the best optimal depressing effect achieved at a 1:1 molar ratio of C14MC and TA and a dosage of 2000 ppm, resulting in reductions of CFPP and SP by 14 degrees C and 22 degrees C, respectively. The depressing mechanism of the natural CFIs was also discussed using various analytical methods.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Priti Ganorkar, G. C. Jadeja, Meghal A. Desai
Summary: Shikimic acid was extracted from water hyacinth using sonication to improve the recovery and antioxidant activity. The study found that parameters such as sonication time, solvent composition, and sonication amplitude had a significant effect on the extraction of shikimic acid.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jia Xu, Dan Chen, Yuan Yang, Hongjian Gong, Wenqi Gao, Han Xiao
Summary: The article presents a method for rapid extraction of genomic DNA using amino-modified magnetic nanoparticles, with optimized variables to improve efficiency. The use of multi-amino modified MNPs allows for efficient extraction within a short time frame, suitable for direct PCR amplification.
Article
Microbiology
Zhong Zhang, Yang Yang, Qun Sun, Weicai Zeng, Yuqing Li
Summary: The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of shikimic acid (SA) on the biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans. SA can reduce the EPS synthesized by this oral pathogen and modulate the transcription of biofilm formation related genes, leading to fewer bacterial cells in its biofilm. SA also interacts with cell membrane and membrane proteins, causing damage to bacterial cells. Moreover, SA exhibits almost no toxicity to human oral cells.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinxia Wei, Xin Shao, Jinbiao Guo, Yanxue Zheng, Yuanyuan Wang, Zhenjie Zhang, Yao Chen, Yubo Li
Summary: In this study, a high-performance separation approach based on ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOFs) was developed for rapid, efficient, and selective removal of toxicants such as aristolochic acid I (AAI). The resulting materials exhibited high adsorption capacities and excellent biocompatibility, paving a new avenue for the removal of toxicants from complex natural systems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lenka Burdejova, Filip Dusa, Dana Strouhalova, Dana Moravcova, Pavel Karasek
Summary: This study presented a PWE protocol for fast and complete isolation of almond proteins, showing similar efficiency to conventional extraction methods but four times faster. The water-based extracts obtained by PWE had low environmental impact.
FOOD ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Karen Linelle de Oliveira Santos, Isabella Shara Cortez Daccache, Ruann Janser Soares de Castro
Summary: This study investigated the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of banana bracts from different varieties on their antioxidant properties. The results showed that the antioxidant properties and total phenolic compounds (TPC) of extracts increased after enzymatic treatment, with a clear synergistic effect between the enzymes. The ternary mixture of pectinase, protease and cellulase resulted in significant increases in TPC content and antioxidant properties compared to nonhydrolyzed samples. The extracts obtained from the Prata variety showed the highest levels of TPC and antioxidant activity. Phenolic compounds identified in the extracts included rho-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic and vanillic acids and the flavonoid rutin. This study suggests that enzymatic treatment of banana bracts is a promising method to release antioxidant compounds.
Article
Biology
Apinun Kanpiengjai, Pongsakorn Nuntikaew, Jirat Wongsanittayarak, Nalapat Leangnim, Chartchai Khanongnuch
Summary: Naw Mai Dong is a popular fermented bamboo shoot product in northern Thailand, characterized by its acidity and sour taste. It has the potential to be a source of probiotic lactic acid bacteria.
Article
Agronomy
Maria Gerakari, Nikolina Cheimona, Eleni Tani, Ilias Travlos, Demosthenis Chachalis, Donato Loddo, Solvejg Kopp Mathiassen, Thomas K. Gitsopoulos, Laura Scarabel, Silvia Panozzo, Michael Kristensen, Per Kudsk, Maurizio Sattin
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms responsible for conferring glyphosate resistance in some Lolium spp. populations. The results demonstrated that glyphosate resistance is a multifactor phenomenon. The relative transcript levels of ABC-transporter genes can be used as a useful tool to quickly identify Lolium spp. populations resistant to glyphosate.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Guna Sakaine, Anastasija Ture, Julia Pedroni, Gints Smits
Summary: The isolation and evaluation of nearly 60 PBD natural products as potential anticancer agents have led to significant advancements in synthetic studies and total syntheses, culminating in the development of highly potent anticancer agents. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the occurrence and biological activity of PBD natural products, as well as the strategies employed for their total syntheses.
MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sijia Wu, Wenjuan Chen, Sujuan Lu, Hailing Zhang, Lianghong Yin
Summary: The shikimate pathway is essential for synthesizing aromatic compounds and its intermediate products have promising properties in various fields, particularly the pharmaceutical industry. Through metabolic engineering, the shikimate pathway can be modified to accumulate a variety of target products.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Nina Gunawan, Michael J. Nutt, Alex C. Bissember, Jason A. Smith, Scott G. Stewart
Summary: Substituted morpholine derivatives are often found in biologically active compounds, making the development of novel synthetic routes towards such structures highly interesting. This study presents the total syntheses of chelonin A, a morpholine-derived marine natural product known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. A key step in the synthesis involved the rhodium carbenoid 1,3-insertion into a bromohydrin O-H bond, followed by annulation to form a 2,6-disubstituted-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazine core. Furthermore, the study achieved the first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-chelonin A using an enantioenriched bromohydrin, prepared through asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of an α-bromoketone.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lewellwyn J. Coates, Andrew Gooley, Shing Chung Lam, Boyjie Firme, Paul R. Haddad, Hans-Jurgen Wirth, Angel Diaz, Frank Riley, Brett Paull
Summary: Due to their size, conventional high performance liquid chromatographs (HPLCs) are difficult to place close to a reaction vessel within a pharmaceutical manufacturing or development site. However, a compact and modular separation system using capillary HPLC has been developed to enable co-location of an HPLC with a small-scale reactor for reaction monitoring. The compact system showed equivalent quantitative performance to an Agilent 1290 Infinity II HPLC system.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Thinley Gyeltshen, Bianca J. Deans, Curtis C. Ho, Nathan L. Kilah, Jason A. Smith, Alex C. Bissember
Summary: This study isolated two previously unreported furanosesquiterpenes and three unprecedented gamma-lactone-containing analogues from three Myoporum species. Additionally, nine previously reported furanosesquiterpenes and five other natural products were also isolated. Three distinct types of furanosesquiterpene structures were observed in each of these Myoporum species. Four sesquiterpene natural products, including the lactam-containing sesquiterpene myoporumine A, were synthesized from (-)-ngaione in two steps for each case.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Adriana R. Dutra-Nobre, Wesley J. Olivier, Bianca J. Deans, Nathan L. Kilah, Fernando Maya Alejandro, Jason A. Smith, Alex C. Bissember
Summary: Natural product isolation studies on Dodonaea viscosa revealed significant intraspecific variation in terpene profiles across this species. A total of 14 ent-labdane diterpenoids (including seven previously unreported compounds), four ent-kauranes (including one previously unreported compound), one rare norhopene, and two previously unreported monoterpenoid wax esters were isolated. The proposed structures were elucidated using various spectroscopic techniques and supported by additional analyses such as mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Thinley Gyeltshen, Wesley J. Olivier, Adriana R. Dutra-Nobre, Nathan L. Kilah, Jason A. Smith, Alex C. Bissember
Summary: Natural products isolation studies on two Dodonaea species led to the discovery of a previously unreported prenylated flavonoid with a malonic acid moiety and several other compounds from the aerial parts of Dodonaea filiformis. In addition, three previously unreported natural products, including another malonic-acid-containing prenylated flavonoid, were found from the flowers of D. viscosa. Furthermore, a revised structure is proposed for a prenylated flavonoid previously isolated from D. viscosa.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel D. Zarfos, Bianca J. Deans, Curtis C. Ho, Gregory J. Jordan, Jason A. Smith, Alex C. Bissember
Summary: This study focused on the isolation of natural products from eight Tasmanian Proteaceae species and three Australian Proteaceae species. Two previously unreported natural products and four rare arbutin esters were identified, supporting the idea that these unique arbutin esters can serve as markers for the chemical evolution of plant species within the Proteaceae family.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yeasmin Nahar, Melissa K. Stanfield, Alex C. Bissember, Stuart C. Thickett
Summary: We successfully prepared poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (pNIPAM-b-pCL) block copolymers through simultaneous RAFT polymerization and anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of NIPAM and CL respectively without traditional solvents. The use of a polymerizable eutectic led to higher reaction rates compared to reactions in typical organic solvents, demonstrating the advantage of this synthetic approach.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Harrison Stevens, Estrella Sanz Rodriguez, Brett Paull, Andrew R. Bowie, Zanna Chase, Leon A. Barmuta, Bernadette C. Proemse
Summary: This study presents a simple extraction method for the rapid and selective determination of monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs) concentrations in sediments. MAs detection was performed using ion chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The method showed good analytical performance with LODs of 0.10, 0.12, and 0.50 mu g L-1 for LEV, MAN, and GAL, respectively. The developed method was validated using reference materials and successfully applied to quantify MAs in lake sediment samples, allowing the reconstruction of recent fire events.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Angus Olding, Curtis C. Ho, Debabrata Maiti, Alex C. Bissember
Summary: This article explores a series of case studies that examine key strategies enabling the structural authentication of important species in palladium- and nickel-catalysed C-C, C-N, and C-O cross-coupling reactions. It focuses on studies confirming the structures of challenging intermediates using X-ray crystallography, while providing mechanistic insights from these reports.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Arushi Manchanda, Vipul Gupta, Liang Wu, Brett Paull
Summary: A new method and platform based on thread-based electrofluidics has been developed for direct transfer, electrophoretic separation, and pre-concentration of swabbed samples. The physicochemical interactions between the analyte, swab, and thread were studied to understand their effect on transfer efficiency. This method has been successfully applied to transfer, separate, and pre-concentrate DNA from blood, as well as directly analyze dried blood samples.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jawairia Umar Khan, Mirbaz Ali Pathan, Sepidar Sayyar, Brett Paull, Peter C. C. Innis
Summary: Electrophoresis on textile fiber substrates allows for the movement, separation, and concentration of charged analytes. Researchers have developed an approach to optimize the experimental conditions affecting the electrophoretic separation on textile-based substrates. By adjusting the electric field magnitude, sample concentration, and sample volume, efficient separation can be achieved without compromising the analysis time on simple and low-cost textile substrates.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Melissa K. Stanfield, Rhiannon S. Terry, Jason A. Smith, Stuart C. Thickett
Summary: This review focuses on the use of levoglucosan (LGA) and levoglucosenone (LGO) obtained from cellulose pyrolysis in materials synthesis. It presents various types of polymers, including polyesters, polysaccharides, metathesis-based polymers, and photopolymerized thermosets. The sustainability and environmental impact of these syntheses are also discussed.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Vahid Jalili, Abdullah Barkhordari, Brett Paull, Alireza Ghiasvand
Summary: PFAS are a group of fluorocarbon compounds with wide-ranging applications, but their persistence and toxic properties make them a concern in the environment. Their strong C-F bonds make it difficult for chemical or biological mechanisms to break them down. Therefore, sensitive and selective analytical methods are needed to detect and trace PFAS in biological and environmental matrices.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
