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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide; therefore, searching for an effective treatment for this illness is of great importance. In the present work, in vitro cytotoxic activity of the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Cynara cardunculus L. against human liver carcinoma cells (Hep G2) was tested. Additionally , the antitumor activity of the extract was confirmed using chemically induced rat liver carcinogenesis with diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Moreover, bioguided fractionation and column chromatographic separation of the active compounds were carried out. The extract of C. cardunculus showed a promising cytotoxic activity according to the protocols of the National Cancer Institute. Bioguided chromatographic separation of the ethanol extract of C. cardunculus led to the isolation of seven secondary metabolites including two sesquiterpene lactones as the principal active components of the methylene chloride soluble fraction, grosheimin (IC 50 = 7.49 µg/mL) and cynaropicrin (IC 50 = 13.9 µg/mL). The compounds were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques such as EI-MS, IR and NMR. Additionally, in silico analysis of the two active compounds revealed their ability to bind with caspase-3 via hydrogen bonds interactions to initiate apoptosis of cancer cells. The results shed the light on the significance of C. cardunculus as a potential source of antitumor agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two novel Cu-complexes (Cu-PSA and Cu-PSL) are synthesized from two Schiff base amino acids derivatives (HPSA and HPSL). • Catalytic efficiency of Cu-PSA and Cu-PSL is studied in the (ep)oxidation of 1,2-cyclooctene and benzyl alcohol. • The biological potentials of the two ligands and their CuII-complexes are studied microbially. • The ct DNA interaction is investigated spectroscopically, and by viscosity-measurements and gel electrophoresis techniques. • The molecular docking studies support the nature of such interactions. Two novel water-soluble Cu(II) complexes (Cu-PSA and Cu-PSL) are synthesized from easily accessible Schiff base amino acid ligands (HPSA and HPS), as sodium sulfonate salts, obtained from D,L-phenylalanine and D,L-leucine, respectively. Their chemical composition is confirmed using various spectroscopic analyses (NMR, UV–vis, IR and mass spectroscopies, CHN micro-analyses, conductivities, TGA, and magnetism). The effect of sodium sulfonate group (Na+ SO 3 − group) on the chemical behavior of both Cu-PSA and Cu-PSL complexes is studied catalytically and biologically. Catalytically, Cu-PSA and Cu-PSL exhibit high reactivity in the (ep)oxidation of 1,2-cyclooctene and benzyl alcohol in polar reaction media, (acetonitrile or water) at 80°C, under homogeneous reaction condition. Biologically, the Cu-complexes and their ligands (HPSA and HPS) are tested for antimicrobial activity against some pathogens strains. Both Cu-complexes reveal higher performance than their corresponding ligands. Cu-PSA and Cu-PSL complexes are also examined for ct DNA-interaction, which studied using various techniques including spectroscopy, viscosity and gel-electrophoresis. Despite, their low lipophilicity due to the sodium sulfonate group (salting group), they show potentially high electrostatic interaction with ct DNA. The binding potential of these compounds is also investigated by molecular docking showing the role of the central metal ion (Cu2+) and the salting group in the ct DNA interaction. For anticancer reactivity, both ligands (HPSA, HPSL), and their complexes (Cu-PSA or Cu-PSL) are examined against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line, breast carcinoma (MCF7) cell line and colon carcinoma (HCT-116) cell line. The obtained results are encouraging and after optimization the Cu-complexes could be potentially anticancer drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two mononuclear M(II) complexes (M = Ni2+ and ZrO2+ cations) of the imino-naphthalenol sodium sulfonate ligand (H 2 Lig) were prepared and characterized via different physicochemical tools and DFT calculations. The interactions of the prepared complexes with DNA were explored. Furthermore, pharmaceutical studies on the prepared compounds were performed. [Display omitted] A green synthetic pathway for two mononuclear M(II)-complexes (M = Ni2+ as a non-oxy-metal ion and ZrO2+ as an oxy-metal ion, NiLig and ZrOLig, respectively) of an imino-naphthalenol sodium sulfonate ligand (H 2 Lig) was followed. Using various physico-chemical tools, their chemical compositions were elucidated. The material-studio package was applied to confirm the structures of NiLig and ZrOLig via the DFT method. The biological potential of the ligand (H 2 Lig) and its NiLig and ZrOLig complexes was investigated for different microbial strains as well as different cancer cell lines. The redox potential of the newly synthesized complexes was evaluated using different biochemical assays, e.g. DPPH and SOD assays. The NiLig and ZrOLig complexes exhibited improved antimicrobial and anticancer activities as compared to the free ligand (H 2 Lig). Accordingly, the ZrOLig complex was the most active biological reagent. The binding nature of the M2+ complexes to calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) was examined by UV–Vis. spectrophotometry and viscosity measurements. Both the Ni2+ and ZrO2+ complexes interestingly demonstrated anti-proliferative action against the human cancer cell lines. Such ct DNA interactions were examined theoretically by molecular docking. The approaches between the exported in-silico drug-likeness and the considered DNA interaction study were explored. The binding action between the M2+ complex and DNA would be within the electrostatic minor groove, intercalation and replacement binding modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A variety of tri-substituted pyrazole derivatives 3 - 15 were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and ulcerogenic properties. • Some of the tested conjugates showed promising biological observations comparable to standard reference celecoxib, in addition, to their safety margin for gastric mucosa when evaluated for their ulcer-producing activity. • The most potent derivatives 3a, 3b, 6, 8 and 11 were assayed for their COX-2, TNF-α, PGE2 and IL1β levels in rat paws using the carrageenan inflammation model with the ELISA kit. • Compound 8 possesses the best promising anti-inflammatory observations, antipyretic effect and long-lasting analgesic activity without ulcerogenic potential in addition to showing mutual inhibitory effects on all tested enzymes. • A molecular docking study was introduced to recognize the binding interactions of the most potent candidates into active sites of COX-2 and TNF-α. • Compound 8 has the best binding interaction scores with both targeted enzymes that supported its obtained bio-observations and proves that it has the potential to be developed into an anti-inflammatory drug. Starting from the precursors 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (1) and 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-ethyl-1 H -pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (2), a variety of trisubstituted pyrazole derivatives 3 - 15 were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and ulcerogenic properties. Derivatives 3a, 3b, 6, 8 and 11 showed promising anti-inflammatory observations with potencies of 99.5, 100.3, 92.4, 77.1 and 103.1, respectively, compared with celecoxib the used standard reference, they also exhibited a promising onset action of analgesic with efficiency superior to the used reference drug, in addition to their antipyretic effect and safety margin for gastric mucosa compared with the reference drugs. Based on the obtained observations, derivatives 3a, 3b, 6, 8 and 11 were assayed for their COX-2, TNF- α , PGE2 and IL1 β levels in rat paws using the carrageenan inflammation model with the ELISA kit. Compound 8 has the best promising anti-inflammatory observations, antipyretic effect and long-lasting analgesic activity without ulcerogenic potential in addition to showing mutual inhibitory effects on all tested enzymes. Furthermore, a molecular docking study was introduced to recognize the binding interactions of the most potent candidates 3a, 3b, 6, 8 and 11 into the active sites of COX-2 and TNF- α. Compound 8 has the best binding interaction scores with both targeted enzymes that supported its obtained bio-observations and prove that it has the potential to be developed into an anti-inflammatory drug. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Isolation and characterization of eight bioactive compounds from brown alga sargassum platycarpum for the first time. • Evaluation of the in vitro anticancer activity against HepG-2 cell line. • Computations of MEP, EHOMO, ELUMO and global properties by DFT methods. • Molecular docking study. • Bioactivity Score, drug-likeness and ADMET studies. Image, graphical abstract Recently, macroalgae or seaweeds serve as a treasure of potential drugs for cancer therapy. The present study investigated the cytotoxic activity of eight compounds isolated from the brown alga Sargassum platycarpum for the first time. These isolates were identified as hexadecanoic acid (1), oleic acid (2), saringosterol (3 and 4 , 1:1 mixture of C-24epimers), β -sitosterol (5), glycoglycerolipid (6), loliolide (7) and Kjellmanianone (8) by spectroscopic techniques. Two epimers of saringosterol, (24- R)-saringosterol (3) and (24- S)-saringosterol (4), were subsequently separated by HPLC. (24- S)-saringosterol (4) and (24- R)-saringosterol (3) exhibited potent cytotoxicity against HepG-2 cells with IC 50 of 0.10±0.00 and 0.11±0.00 µM, respectively with compared to standard 5-Fluorouracil (IC 50 of 0.63±0.28 µM) and other isolates. MEP, E HOMO , E LUMO and global properties of all isolated compounds are computed by DFT methods. Molecular docking study showed that most of the isolated compounds especially compounds 3 and 4 interact strongly with 4PYP with the highest binding energies maintained that the high cytotoxic activity of these compounds against HepG-2 cells in the experimental part. Bioactivity Score, Drug-Likeness and ADMET studies supported the potential biological activities of most isolated compounds especially compounds 3 and 4 and also created attention for developing them to act as good candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]