pH-responsive -zinc oxide-protoporphyrin IX nanoconjugates with enhanced cellular uptake for photodynamic therapy towards cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer has been limited by the poor solubility of most photosensitizers, use of high drug dosages, and the pH difference between the tumor tissue microenvironment (slightly acidic) and the bloodstream. These affect cellular uptake, selectivity and singlet oxygen generation. We formulated -green synthesized zinc oxide-protoporphyrin IX (PG-ZnO-PP) nanoconjugates by conjugating the ZnO nanoparticles enriched with amino groups and PP.

Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Sexual Dysfunction, Infertility and Improving Virility in the East African Community: A Systematic Review.

Sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction (ED), sterility, and sexual inappetence represent some of the complex reproductive challenges that require addressing the underlying causes. The aim of this paper was to systematically synthesize literature on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, bioactivities, and safety of plants used as remedies for managing sexual dysfunction and infertility, and improving fertility and virility in the EAC. Through an extensive review conducted in multidisciplinary electronic databases, 171 plant species were identified to have been reported for the management of sexual inappetence (i.

Antibacterial and anticancer activities of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using fruit extract.

We prepared (PG) aqueous fruit extract, utilized it to synthesize silver nanoparticles (PG-Ag NPs) and evaluated the antibacterial and anticancer activities of the nanoparticles (NPs). Silver nitrate aqueous solution was reduced to PG-Ag NPs using aqueous PG fruit extract. NP shape, size, composition and functionalization were determined using transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and x-ray diffraction.

Rotenoids, Flavonoids, and Chalcones from the Root Bark of Millettia usaramensis.

Five new compounds, 4-O-geranylisoliquiritigenin (1), 12-dihydrousararotenoid B (2), 12-dihydrousararotenoid C (3), 4'-O-geranyl-7-hydroxyflavanone (4), and 4'-O-geranyl-7-hydroxydihydroflavanol (5), along with 12 known natural products (6-17) were isolated from the CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of the root bark of Millettia usaramensis ssp. usaramensis by chromatographic separation. The purified metabolites were identified by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses, whereas their absolute configurations were established on the basis of chiroptical data and in some cases also by X-ray crystallography.

Flemingins G-O, cytotoxic and antioxidant constituents of the leaves of Flemingia grahamiana.

The known flemingins A-C (1-3) and nine new chalcones, named flemingins G-O (4-12), along with deoxyhomoflemingin (13) and emodin (14) were isolated from a leaf extract of Flemingia grahamiana. The isolated chalcones were found to have a geranyl substituent modified into a chromene ring possessing a residual chain, as shown by spectroscopic methods. The leaf extract showed an IC50 value of 5.