Herbal medicines are important for ensuring sustainable development goals (SDGs) in healthcare, particularly in developing countries with high rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and little access to medical facilities. Thymus vulgaris is a widely used herbal medicinal plant known for its secondary metabolites and antimicrobial properties. The present study involved a comprehensive examination of the isolation, characterization, and antibacterial activity of Thymus vulgaris obtained from Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: People with epilepsy (PWE) continue to suffer from discrimination and often bear the negative attitudes surrounding this condition. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of perceived stigma and factors associated with it among PWE in tertiary care centre.
Material And Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using the Kilifi Stigma Scale of Epilepsy (KSSE) to assess the stigma associated with epilepsy and factors related to stigma.
Since the aggregation-based emission (AIE) phenomenon emerged in 2001, numerous chemical designs have been built around the AIE concept, displaying its utility for diverse applications, including optics, electronics, energy, and biosciences. The present review critically evaluates the broad applicability of AIEgen-based chemical models towards sensing small analytes and the structural design strategies adjusting the mode of action reported since the last decade. Various AIEgen models have been discussed, providing qualitative and quantitative estimation of cationic metal ions and anionic species, as well as biomolecular, cellular, and organelle-specific probes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerein, we report a novel flavin analogue as singular chemical component for lysosome bioimaging, and inherited photosensitizer capability of the flavin core was demonstrated as a promising candidate for photodynamic therapy (PDT) application. Fine-tuning the flavin core with the incorporation of methoxy naphthyl appendage provides an appropriate chemical design, thereby offering photostability, selectivity, and lysosomal colocalization, along with the aggregation-induced emissive nature, making it suitable for lysosomal bioimaging applications. Additionally, photosensitization capability of the flavin core with photostable nature of the synthesized analogue has shown remarkable capacity for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells, making it a promising candidate for photodynamic therapy (PDT) application.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA bioinspired design built around a neutral flavin-triphenylamine core has been investigated for selective mitochondrial bioimaging capabilities in different microenvironments. Significant advantages with respect to long-term tracking, faster internalization, penetrability within the spheroid structures, and strong emission signal under induced hypoxia conditions have been observed, which could offer an alternative to the existing mitotrackers for hypoxia-related biological events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerein, we report the design and synthesis of an amphiphilic flavin analogue as a robust low molecular weight gelator involving minimal structural modification. Four flavin analogues were evaluated for their gelation capabilities and the flavin analogue with antipodal positioning of the carboxyl and octyl functionalities was found to be the most efficient gelator with the minimum gelation concentration being as low as 0.03 M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA bioinspired mimic for the stabilization of hydroperoxyflavin intermediate formation was designed and investigated for monooxygenase like catalytic properties. A suitable peptide appendage was covalently linked to the C7-position of the neutral isoalloxazine core to synthesize Fl-G, Fl-F, Fl-P, and Fl-βA analogues. While the presence and identity of the peptide appendage were found to be crucial for catalytic efficiency, corroborative observations were made from theoretical studies as well, supporting the precise conformational and accessibility requirements for the stabilization of the key hydroperoxyflavin intermediate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: status epilepticus (SE) had worse outcome in comparison to the patients with SE who had previous history of epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to identify clinical features of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) and the predictors of in-hospital mortality.
Methods: Seventy-seven elderly (≥60 years of age) hospitalized patients with CSE were evaluated for clinical profile, aetiologies and predictors of in-hospital mortality.
The present manuscript describes the synthesis and the photophysical properties of a pair of novel flavin-pyrene dyads where the donor and the acceptor entities are separated via variable spacer. The dyads were well characterized using standard techniques and investigated for their photophysical and electrochemical nature. The observed absorption spectra of the dyads mainly display peaks corresponding to the individual pyrene and flavin units, with some contribution from the flavin entity in the pyrene region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present manuscript, the luminescence and the self-assembly behaviour of two aromatic dipeptides with a singular structure variable are investigated. The terminally protected dipeptides tryptophan-tyrosine (WY ) and tryptophan-phenylalanine (WF ) were synthesized using a standard solution phase procedure. Significant solvatochromic effect was observed for both the dipeptidyl entities; whilst the influence was more pronounced for the WY entity when compared with WF .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis manuscript describes the synthesis, spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of a cadmium complex of 10-propoylisoalloxazine-7-carboxylic acid (Flc-Cd). Catalytic activity of Flc-Cd towards aerobic sulphoxidation reaction was investigated in the presence of l-ascorbic acid as the reducing agent. Notably the neutral un-metalated flavin analogue did not show any significant catalytic activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe hole transport dynamics of DNA hairpins possessing a stilbene electron acceptor and donor along with a modified guanine (G) nucleobase, specifically 8-(4'-phenylethynyl)deoxyguanosine, or EG, have been investigated. The nearly indistinguishable oxidation potentials of EG and G and unique spectroscopic characteristics of EG make it well-suited for directly observing transient hole occupation during charge transport between a stilbene electron donor and acceptor. In contrast to the cation radical G, EG possesses a strong absorption near 460 nm and has a distinct Raman-active ethynyl stretch.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSteady state spectroscopy, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fsTA), and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) of DNA mini-hairpins possessing a diphenylacetylenedicarboxamide (DPA) linker and 1-3 adenine-thymine (A-T) or guanine-cytosine (G-C) base pairs have been investigated. Ultraviolet and circular dichroism (UV and CD) spectra are consistent with ground state conformations that are predominantly base-paired and π-stacked for conjugates possessing two or three base pairs; however, they offer no information concerning the conformation of conjugates possessing a single base pair. fsTA spectra are indicative of π-stacked structures excepted in the case of the conjugate possessing a single G-C base pair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe self-assembly behavior of DNA conjugates possessing a perylenediimide (PDI) head group and an N-oligonucleotide tail has been investigated using a combination of optical spectroscopy and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) imaging. To obtain insight into the interplay between PDI hydrophobic interactions and DNA base-pairing we employed systematic variation in the length and composition of the oligo tails. Conjugates with short (TA) or (CG) oligo tails (n≤3) form helical or nonhelical fibers constructed from π-stacked PDI head groups with pendent oligo tails in aqueous solution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe excited state behavior of DNA hairpins possessing a diphenylacetylenedicarboxamide (DPA) linker separated from a single guanine-cytosine (G-C) base pair by zero-to-six adenine-thymine (A-T) base pairs has been investigated. In the case of hairpins with zero or one A-T separating DPA and G, formation of both DPA anion radical (DPA(-•)) and G cation radical (G(+•)) are directly observed and characterized by their transient absorption and stimulated Raman spectra. For hairpins with two or more intervening A-T, the transient absorption spectra of DPA(-•) and the adenine polaron (An(+•)) are observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe mechanism and dynamics of photoinduced electron injection and charge recombination have been investigated for several series of DNA hairpins. The hairpins possess a stilbenediether linker, which serves as an electron donor and base pair stems that possess different pyrimidine bases adjacent to the linker. Hairpins with adjacent thymine-adenine (T-A) base pairs undergo fast electron injection and relatively slow charge recombination with rate constants that are not strongly dependent upon the following base pair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe dynamics of charge separation and charge recombination have been determined for lipid complexes of DNA capped hairpins possessing stilbene electron-acceptor and -donor chromophores separated by base-pair domains that vary in length and base sequence in chloroform solution by means of femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The results obtained for the DNA-lipid complexes are compared with those previously obtained in our laboratories for the same hairpins in aqueous buffer. The charge separation and charge recombination times for the lipid complexes are consistently much shorter than those determined in aqueous solution and are only weakly dependent on the number of base pairs separating the acceptor and donor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis communication explores the effect of varying substituent bulk at the N9 position of the adenine moiety and its effect in dictating the structural aspects of silver-adenine frameworks. While adenine alone or 9-benzyl substituted ligand afforded mono and dinuclear dimeric entities, n-propyl substitution at the N9 position results in the formation of a metallaquartet. Longer n-alkyl chains (hexyl and nonyl) resulted in the formation of linear polymeric chains, via N1 and N7 coordination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis Article describes the synthesis and crystallographic investigation of a silver complex of a modified adenine derivative bearing a nitrile pendant at the N9 position. All three adenine ring nitrogen atoms coordinated to silver ions, while the fourth coordination was achieved at the nitrile functionality, thus resulting in the formation of silver-mediated interconnected trimeric, pentameric, and hexameric metallacyclic rings and helical signatures in two orthogonal directions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis Communication describes the synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a unique decanuclear copper complex of a tripodal adenine ligand built around a phenyl ring core. This complex comprises two mu(4)-oxo tetranuclear copper(II) units of the type Cu(4)OCl(6)L(4), bridged together by two pentacoordinated copper centers. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data reveal the possibility of interaction between copper sites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis Communication describes a novel adenine-pyrene conjugate (1) and its solid-state structure with silver and copper ions. Single-crystal studies of metal complexes of 1 offer insight into molecular interactions and provide a basis to rationalize possible interactions in the solution state, leading to excimer formation. The robust nature of this interaction was further confirmed by deposition of the silver complex on a graphite surface, which exhibited a remarkable resemblance to its solid-state structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCanonical purine-pyrimidine base pairs, the key to the complementary hydrogen bonding in nucleic acids, are fundamental molecular recognition motifs crucial for the formation and stability of double-helical DNA. Consequently, focused study and modeling of nucleobase hydrogen-bonding schemes have spawned a vast array of chemical and biophysical investigations. The Watson-Crick, reverse Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen, and reverse Hoogsteen hydrogen-bonding schemes stabilize various nucleic acid structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis Communication describes structures of a family of silver-adenine (purine) metallaquartets that occur in a four-stranded coordination motif, bearing a close resemblance to nucleic acid quadruplexes. Using modified purine frameworks, it is further demonstrated that subtle variations in nucleobase heterocycle are tolerable and a metallaquartet is obtained irrespective of the substitution, thus suggesting a high-propensity silver-adenine interaction to achieve quartet structures. All of the solid-state structures studied were orthorhombic, belonging to the Fdd2 space group.
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