Search Results (6)

Industry currently generates numerous substances, such as food additives, whose environmental impacts, particularly in marine environments, remain inadequately assessed. This study employed Aurelia aurita for the first time as a model organism to evaluate the toxicity of such compounds. The main goal was to evaluate the toxicity of two food additives, 2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-ol (S1) and 1-phenylethan-1-ol (S2), on A. aurita ephyrae, comparing the results with other organisms representing different trophic levels, specifically the alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the crustacean Artemia salina. Acute toxicity tests were conducted on each organism. In A. aurita, S1 exhibited high toxicity (LC₅₀ ≈ 10 mg/L), while S2 had lower toxicity (LC₅₀ ≈ 80 mg/L). The pulsation frequency data for A. aurita revealed that S1 initially increased the pulsation rates at lower concentrations (maximum at 10 mg/L), followed by a significant decrease at higher concentrations. Conversely, S2 showed a steady decrease in pulsation rates up to 10 mg/L, with a slight increase at concentrations of 15, 20, and 25 mg/L. The results demonstrate varying sensitivities to the toxic effects of the two compounds across different trophic levels, with A. aurita ephyrae being the most sensitive. This suggests the potential efficacy of jellyfish as novel ecotoxicological models due to their heightened sensitivity, enabling the detection of lower contaminant concentrations in test samples. Further research is required to enhance the efficiency of ecotoxicological assays using this model. Full article

Enantiomerically pure (S)-1-phenylethan-1-amine has been applied in Mannich-type condensation between formaldehyde and naphthalenediols leading to the synthesis of chiral bis-dihydro[1,3]naphthoxazines in excellent yields. Salen-type structures have been synthesized, applying R,R- or S,S-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines in condensation with formaldehyde and naphthalene-2-ol. The obtained chiral imidazolidine derivatives of the type 1,1′-(((3a,7a)-hexahydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1,3(2H)diyl)bis(methylene))bis(naphthalen-2-ol) were evaluated as pre-catalysts for the addition of diethyl zinc to aldehydes. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated using ¹D and ²D NMR experiments (COSY, HMBC, HSQS), elemental analysis, mass spectrometry (HRMS spectra) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The products were further characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal analysis (DSC). Full article

Many chemically synthesized xenobiotics can significantly inhibit the vitality of parasitic nematodes. However, there is yet too little research on the toxicity of such contaminating compounds toward nematodes. Compounds that are present in plants are able to inhibit the vitality of parasitic organisms as well. According to the results of our laboratory studies of toxicity, the following xenobiotics caused no decrease in the vitality of the larvae of Strongyloides papillosus and Haemonchus contortus: methanol, propan-2-ol, propylene glycol-1,2, octadecanol-1, 4-methyl-2-pen-tanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, butyl glycol, 2-pentanone, cyclopentanol, ortho-dimethylbenzene, dibutyl phthalate, succinic anhydride, 2-methylfuran, 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole. Strong toxicity towards the nematode larvae was exerted by glutaraldehyde, 1,4-diethyl 2-methyl-3-oxobutanedioate, hexylamine, diethyl malonate, allyl acetoacetate, tert butyl carboxylic acid, butyl acrylate, 3-methyl-2-butanone, isobutyraldehyde, methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl pyruvate, 3-methylbutanal, cyclohexanol, cyclooctanone, phenol, pyrocatechin, resorcinol, naphthol-2, phenyl ether, piperonyl alcohol, 3-furoic acid, maleic anhydrid, 5-methylfurfural, thioacetic acid, butan-1-amine, dimethylformamide, 1-phenylethan-1-amine, 3-aminobenzoic acid. Widespread natural compounds (phytol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, maleic acid, oleic acid, hydroquinone, gallic acid-1-hydrate, taurine, 6-aminocaproic acid, glutamic acid, carnitine, ornithine monohydrochloride) had no negative effect on the larvae of S. papillosus and H. contortus. A powerful decrease in the vitality of nematode larvae was produced by 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, isovaleric acid, glycolic acid, 2-oxopentanedioic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, anisole, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol. The results of our studies allow us to consider 28 of the 62 compounds we studied as promising for further research on anti-nematode activity in manufacturing conditions. Full article

Natural sources of flavour and aroma compounds are highly sought by the modern consumer; however, traditional sources are often low-yielding, and global supply is often outstripped by consumer demand. Fermentation is a favourable route by which natural flavours and fragrances can be produced. A non-Saccharomyces yeast, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, was investigated for its fermentative potential for the production of flavour and aroma metabolites from juice industry by-products: apple pomace, carrot pomace, and orange pomace. Submerged solid-substrate fermentations were carried out using sterile by-products without nutrient supplementation. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used for volatile metabolite profiling of fermented substrates. One compound of interest, phenylethyl alcohol (rose fragrance), was extracted and quantified using GC-MS at a yield of 2.68 g/kg wet carrot pomace weight. This represents a novel, natural production strategy for phenylethyl alcohol compared to the traditional steam distillation of Rosa domascus sp. petals. Full article

The β₃ adrenergic receptor is raising as an important drug target for the treatment of pathologies such as diabetes, obesity, depression, and cardiac diseases among others. Several attempts to obtain selective and high affinity ligands have been made. Currently, Mirabegron is the only available drug on the market that targets this receptor approved for the treatment of overactive bladder. However, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in USA and the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) in UK have made reports of potentially life-threatening side effects associated with the administration of Mirabegron, casting doubts on the continuity of this compound. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to gather information for the rational design and synthesis of new β₃ adrenergic ligands. Herein, we present the first combined 2D-QSAR (two-dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) and 3D-QSAR/CoMSIA (three-dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship/Comparative Molecular Similarity Index Analysis) study on a series of potent β₃ adrenergic agonists of indole-alkylamine structure. We found a series of changes that can be made in the steric, hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor, lipophilicity and molar refractivity properties of the compounds to generate new promising molecules. Finally, based on our analysis, a summary and a regiospecific description of the requirements for improving β₃ adrenergic activity is given. Full article

Biotransformation of ten α-haloacetophenones in the growing culture of the strain Rhodotorula rubra KCh 82 has been carried out. Nine of the substrates underwent an effective enantioselective reduction to the respective (R)-alcohols according to Prelog’s rule, with the exception of 2-chloro-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one that was not transformed by this strain. The expected reduction proceeded without dehalogenation, leading to the respective (R)-halohydrins in high yields. The use of this biocatalyst yielded (R)-2-bromo-1-phenyl-ethan-1-ol (enantiomeric excess (ee) = 97%) and its derivatives: 4'-Bromo- (ee = 99%); 4'-Chloro- (ee > 99%); 4'-Methoxy- (ee = 96%); 3'-Methoxy- (ee = 93%); 2'-Methoxy- (ee = 98%). There were also obtained and characterized 2,4'-dichloro-, 2,2',4'-trichloro- and 2-chloro-4'-fluoro-phenyetan-1-ol with >99% of enantiomeric excesses. Full article