A comprehensive review on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from marine sources.

The primary purpose of this review is to explore the green synthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) using natural biomolecules derived from marine sources. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of environmentally friendly approaches for synthesizing AgNPs and to examine their potential applications across various fields such as medicine, biotechnology, and environmental remediation. The key research question focuses on understanding how marine biomolecules, including polysaccharides, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, alkaloids, and vitamins, contribute to the formation of AgNPs and how these green-synthesized nanoparticles retain their functional properties.

Furan derivatives impair proliferation and affect ultrastructural organization of Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis.

Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are neglected diseases caused by parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family and together they affect millions of people in the five continents. The treatment of Chagas disease is based on benznidazole, whereas for leishmaniasis few drugs are available, such as amphotericin B and miltefosine. In both cases, the current treatment is not entirely efficient due to toxicity or side effects.

Isobenzofuranone derivative JVPH3, an inhibitor of L. donovani topoisomerase II, disrupts mitochondrial architecture in trypanosomatid parasites.

Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) bearing unusual mitochondrion of trypanosomatid parasites offers a new paradigm in chemotherapy modality. Topoisomerase II of Leishmania donovani (LdTopII), a key enzyme associated with kDNA replication, is emerging as a potential drug target. However, mode of action of LdTopII targeted compounds in the parasites at sub-cellular level remains largely unknown.

Substituted furans as potent lipoxygenase inhibitors: Synthesis, in vitro and molecular docking studies.

A number of 2-methyl-4-(2-oxo-2-phenyl-ethyl)-5-phenyl-furan-3-carboxylic acid alkyl ester derivatives (3a-j) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity on soybean lipoxygenase enzyme. Among the screened compounds, 5-(4-bromo-phenyl)-4-[2-(4-bromo-phenyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-2-methyl-furan-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (3g) has been found to exhibit potent inhibitory activity with IC12.8μM using nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) as standard.

Formation of gold decorated porphyrin nanoparticles and evaluation of their photothermal and photodynamic activity.

A core-shell gold (Au) nanoparticle with improved photosensitization have been successfully fabricated using Au nanoparticles and 5,10,15,20 tetrakis pentafluorophenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (PF6) dye, forming a dyad through molecular self-assembly. Au nanoparticles were decorated on the shell and PF6 was placed in the core of the nanoparticles. Highly stable Au nanoparticles were achieved using PF6 with poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-N-vinylimidazole)-g-poly(D,L-lactide) graft copolymer hybridization.

Isobenzofuranone derivatives exhibit antileishmanial effect by inhibiting type II DNA topoisomerase and inducing host response.

Leishmania, a protozoan parasite, causes a wide range of human diseases ranging from the localized self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral leishmaniasis. Toxicity of traditional first line drugs and emergence of drug-resistant strains have worsened the situation. DNA topoisomerase II in kinetoplastid protozoan parasites are of immense interest as drug target because they take part in replication of unusual kinetoplast DNA network.

ICB3E induces iNOS expression by ROS-dependent JNK and ERK activation for apoptosis of leukemic cells.

The role of c-Jun N terminal Kinase (JNK) has been well documented in various cellular stresses where it leads to cell death. Similarly, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) which was identified as a signalling molecule for survival pathway has been shown recently to be involved in apoptosis also. Recently we reported that ICB3E, a synthetic analogue of Piper betle leaf-derived apoptosis-inducing agent hydroxychavicol (HCH), possesses anti-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) acitivity in vitro and in vivo without insight on mechanism of action.

Hydroxychavicol, a Piper betle leaf component, induces apoptosis of CML cells through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-dependent JNK and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation and overrides imatinib resistance.

Alcoholic extract of Piper betle (Piper betle L.) leaves was recently found to induce apoptosis of CML cells expressing wild type and mutated Bcr-Abl with imatinib resistance phenotype. Hydroxy-chavicol (HCH), a constituent of the alcoholic extract of Piper betle leaves, was evaluated for anti-CML activity.

Eco-friendly synthesis and study of new plant growth promoters: 3,3'-Diindolylmethane and its derivatives.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) derivatives 3a-k, prepared in one-pot from indoles 1a-k and hexamethylenetetramine (2) using ionic liquid [Bmim]BF(4) as eco-friendly recyclable solvent as well as catalyst, showed good plant growth promoting activity on Oryza sativa. Among the DIM derivatives synthesized 3c shows potent auxin like growth promoting activity.