Molecules

Xenon (Xe) is an inert noble gas receiving increasing attention in medical research due to its anesthetic properties, ability to regulate metabolic processes, and broad organoprotective effects. Due to its small size and non-covalent intermolecular interactions, Xe can be encapsulated within α-cyclodextrin (α-CD). In this study, we combine a theoretical study based on molecular mechanics (MM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the synthesis and characterization of the α-CD/Xe inclusion complex. During the MD simulations, surface interactions and the formation of inclusion complexes, with Xe atoms encapsulated within the α-CD cavity, were observed in aqueous solution. As the Xe concentration in water increased, α-CD/Xe inclusion complexes with 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 stoichiometries were formed and remained stable over time, suggesting increasingly effective encapsulation at higher pressures. Following this computational investigation, experimental work was conducted to synthesize and characterize the α-CD/Xe inclusion complex using a liquid-phase encapsulation method. The complexes were prepared at Xe loading pressures of 2, 4, 6, and 8 bar. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed weight loss between 100 and 200 °C. The effective encapsulation of Xe was also confirmed by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS), which detected the characteristic m/z signals of Xe and allowed monitoring of its release over time upon contact with aqueous solution.

The presence of organic pollutants in soil represents one of the main remediation challenges of the 21st century, and in this regard, peroxymonosulfate- (PMS) and persulfate (PS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are among the most promising technologies for in situ contaminant removal. However, the complex and heterogeneous nature of soil strongly influences (positively or negatively) the efficacy of PMS/PS-AOPs, necessitating the development of better-targeted application strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art applications, mechanistic pathways, operational limitations, and future perspectives of PMS/PS-based treatments for soil remediation. Self- and external activation methods of PMS and PS in soil, including thermal activation, microwave field stimulation, ultrasound cavitation, transition metal catalysis, alkaline activation, mechanochemical ball milling, and electrokinetic transport system, are evaluated. A survey of the recent literature reveals laboratory-scale tests to have excellent efficiency in removing various low-molecular-weight organic pollutants, allowing the research to focus toward more complex molecules. However, large-scale application remains constrained by local soil characteristics, high operational costs, and the adverse impacts of such treatments on the soil biotic community and fertility. The synergistic combination of multiple techniques is emerging as an effective strategy to bridge the efficiency gap between liquid and solid matrices. This approach could mitigate adverse environmental side effects and optimize low-invasiveness treatments for large-scale soil remediation.

Ruta chalepensis L. var. angustifolia (Pers.) Willk. (Rutaceae) has been traditionally associated with hypocholesterolemic effects, although the bioactive metabolites responsible for this activity remain largely unknown. This study aimed to fractionate the methanolic extract of R. chalepensis var. angustifolia, identify its major phenolic constituents, and evaluate their inhibitory activity against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. The methanolic extract was fractionated by open column chromatography, and selected fractions were analyzed by thin layer chromatography and HPLC-DAD. Rutin was identified as one of the major flavonoids, while three chromatographically pure fractions corresponded to unidentified phenolic compounds. Their inhibitory activity was assessed using a commercial HMG-CoA reductase assay. Pravastatin showed 87.5% inhibition and served as the positive control. Among the isolated fractions, one unidentified phenolic fraction exhibited the highest inhibitory activity (66.0%), exceeding that of rutin (45.8%), whereas another fraction showed negligible activity (8.3%). These findings indicate that the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory potential of R. chalepensis var. angustifolia cannot be attributed solely to rutin and suggest the presence of additional bioactive phenolic metabolites. Further structural characterization and mechanistic studies are required to identify the active compound and confirm its hypocholesterolemic potential in biological systems.