2α-Hydroxyalantolactone from Pulicaria undulata: activity against multidrug-resistant tumor cells and modes of action.

Background: Sesquiterpene lactones having α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety are promising natural metabolites showing various biological activity. One of the major metabolites isolated from Pulicaria undulata, 2α-hydroxyalantolactone (PU-1), has not been investigated in detail yet. Multidrug resistance (MDR) represents a major obstacle for cancer chemotherapy and the capability of novel natural products to overcoming MDR is of great interest.

Polysulfone Membranes Embedded with Halloysites Nanotubes: Preparation and Properties.

In the present study, nanocomposite ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by incorporating nanotubes clay halloysite (HNTs) into polysulfone (PSF) and PSF/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) dope solutions followed by membrane casting using phase inversion method. Characterization of HNTs were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The pore structure, morphology, hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of the composite membranes were characterized by using SEM, water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and dynamic mechanical analysis.

Biovalorization of friedelane triterpenes derived from cork processing industry byproducts.

Here, we describe the synthesis, bioactivity screening, and structure-activity relationships of various synthetic triterpenoids prepared from the cork processing byproducts friedelin (1) and 3-hydroxyfriedel-3-en-2-one (2) via oxidative procedures. The synthesis of compounds 2alpha-trimethylsiloxyfriedelan-3-one (17), friedelin-2,3-lactone (18), friedelin-3-oxime (19), and friedelin-3,4-lactam (20) is also described. We have studied the insecticidal and phytotoxic potential of these compounds, their selective cytotoxic effects on insect and mammalian cells, and their antiparasitic effects.