Synthesis of Schiff Bases and Secondary Amines with Indane Skeleton; Evaluation of Their Antioxidant,Antibiotic, and Antifungal Activities

In this study, Schiff bases were synthesized by utilizing the reaction of 4- and 5-aminoindane with substituted benzaldehydes. After the reduction of isolated Schiff bases with NaBH₄, the corresponding secondary amine derivatives were obtained. The structures of all synthesized molecules were confirmed by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR, and ESI-MS. Antioxidant activities of all synthesized molecules were investigated by DPPH method, and IC₅₀ values were calculated. In addition, antibacterial activities of targets were investigated by the well diffusion method, and then MIC99 values were calculated. While only four of the sixteen synthesized molecules showed a high level of antioxidant activity, all of the molecules exhibited biological activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to varying degrees. In addition, all the synthesized molecules showed high antifungal activity. In antioxidant capacity studies, the IC₅₀ values of 2-(((2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)amino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol ( 4 d ) and 2-(((2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)amino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol ( 7 d ) were determined to be 18.1 μg and 35.1 μg, respectively, and these values are much stronger than BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) used as positive controls. The fact that targets have the same core structure with different substituents has revealed a good structure-activity relationship.     

On the production,elemental composition (C,N, P) and distribution of photosynthetic organic matter in the Southern Black Sea

Chemical oceanographic understanding of the southernBlack Sea has been improved by recent measurements ofthe optical transparency, phytoplankton biomass (interms of chlorophyll-a and particulate organic matter)and primary productivity. During the spring-autmunperiod of 1995–1996, light generally penetrated onlyinto the upper 15–40 m, with an attenuation coefficientvarying between 0.125 and 0.350 m^2122;1. The averagechlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations for the euphoticzone ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 μg l^2122;1. Coherentsub-surface Chl-a maxima were formed near the base ofthe euphotic zone only in summer. Production rate variedbetween 247 and 1925 in the spring and between 405 and687 mgC m^2122;2 d^2122;1 in the summer-autumn period.The average POM concentrations in the euphotic zonevaried regionally and seasonally between 3.8 and28.6 μm for POC, 0.5 and 3.1 μm for PON and0.02 and 0.1 μm for PP. Atomic ratios of C/N, C/Pand N/P, derived from the regressions of POM data,ranged between 7.5 and 9.6, 109 and 165, and 11.2 and16.6, respectively. In the suboxic/anoxic interface,the elemental ratios change substantially due to anaccumulation of PP cohering to Fe and Mn oxides. Thechemocline boundaries and the distinct chemicalfeatures of the oxic/anoxic transition layer (the so-called suboxic zone) are all located at specificdensity surfaces; however, they exhibit remarkablespatial and temporal variations both in their positionand in their magnitude, which permit the definition of long-term changes in the biochemical properties of theBlack Sea upper layer. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Recherches Cytotaxonomiques et Cytogéographiques surMinuartia sect.Sabulina en Turquie (Caryophyllaceae)

25 populations from Turkey and one of Syria belonging to theSabulina section of the genusMinuartia have been karyologically examined. New chromosome numbers have been recorded forM. mesogitana andM. hybrida subsp.turcica, and a new variety was found in theM. hybrida complex. The origin of the taxa with n = 23 and n = 35 is discussed.

     

Amino acid sequence and immunological properties of chachalaca egg white lysozyme

Summary The amino acid sequence of lysozyme c from chachalaca egg white was determined. Like other bird lysozymes c, that of the chachalaca has 129 amino acid residues. It differs from other avian lysozymes c by 27 to 31 amino acid substitutions as well as by being devoid of phenylalanine. It contains substitutions at 9 positions which are invariant in the other 7 bird lysozymes of known sequence. Although the chachalaca is classified zoologically in the order Galliformes, which includes chickens and other pheasant-like birds, its lysozyme differs more from those of pheasant-like birds than do the lysozymes c of ducks. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence comparisons confirms that the lineage leading to chachalaca lysozyme c separated from that leading to other galliform lysozymes c before the duck lysozyme c lineage did. This indicates a contrast between protein evolution and evolution at the organismal level. Immunological comparison of chachalacalysozyme c with other lysozymes of known sequence provides further support for the proposal that immunological cross-reactivity is strongly dependent on degree of sequence resemblance among bird lysozymes.103rd communication on lysozymes from the Laboratory of P. Jollès. Supported in part by grants from C.N.R.S. (ER 102), I.N.S.E.R.M. (Groupe de recherche U-116), N.S.F. (GB-42028X), and N.I.H. (GM-21509).     

Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Malagasy radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata)

The radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) is an endangered endemic species from Madagascar that inhabits the semiarid spiny forest of the southern part of the island. Habitat destruction and illegal harvesting greatly threaten this species, as attested by the significant reduction of its distribution area in the past 30 years. In order to undertake appropriate conservation actions, it is essential to acquire a better knowledge of its genetic structure. For this study, 145 blood samples were collected from three populations of radiated tortoises in southwestern Madagascar. Eight microsatellite loci were found to be polymorphic, and allelic diversity and observed heterozygosity were high for all markers.     

Foliar Application of Phosphorus Enhances Photosynthesis and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize under Drought Stress

Water is essential for the growth period of crops; however, water unavailability badly affects the growth and physiological attributes of crops, which considerably reduced the yield and yield components in crops. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar phosphorus (P) on morphological, gas exchange, biochemical traits, and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids grown under normal as well as water deficit situations at the Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan in 2014. Two different treatments (control and P @ 8 kg ha⁻¹ ) and four hybrids (Hycorn, 31P41, 65625, and 32B33) of maize were tested by using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that the water stress caused a remarkable decline in total soluble protein (9.7%), photosynthetic rate (9.4%) and transpiration rate (13.4%), stomatal conductance (10.2%), and internal CO₂ rate (20.4%) comparative to well-watered control. An increase of 37.1%, 36.8%, and 24.5% were recorded for proline, total soluble sugar, and total free amino acid, respectively. However, foliar P application minimized the negative impact of drought by improving plant growth, physio-biochemical attributes, and PUE in maize plants under water stress conditions. Among the hybrids tested, the hybrid 6525 performed better both under stress and non-stress conditions. These outcomes confirmed that the exogenous application of P improved drought stress tolerance by modulating growth, physio-biochemical attributes, and PUE of maize hybrids.     

Resveratrol treatment protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by alleviating oxidative damage

The possible protective effects of resveratrol (RVT) against cardiotoxicity were investigated in Wistar albino rats treated with saline, saline+doxorubicin (DOX; 20 mg/kg) or RVT (10 mg/kg)+DOX. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded on the 1^st week and on the 7^th week, while cardiomyopathy was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography before the rats were decapitated. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity resulted in decreased blood pressure and heart rate, but lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase and 8-OHdG levels were increased in plasma. Moreover, DOX caused a significant decrease in plasma total antioxidant capacity along with a reduction in cardiac superoxide dismutase, catalase and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities and glutathione contents, while malondialdehyde, myelopreoxidase activity and the generation of reactive oxygen species were increased in the cardiac tissue. On the other hand, RVT markedly ameliorated the severity of cardiac dysfunction, while all oxidant responses were prevented; implicating that RVT may be of therapeutic use in preventing oxidative stress due to DOX toxicity.