Evaluation of certain pesticides and their alternatives against the black vine thrips, Retithrips syriacus (Mayet) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) infesting grapevine

The black vine thrips, Retithrips syriacus Mayet (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) is considered as pest. Adults and nymphs of this pest causes a serious damage to grapevine leaves. The experiments were carried out to evaluate the toxicity of seven pesticides on nymphs and adults of GVT on Flame seedless and Superior commercial vineyard varieties under laboratory and field conditions during 2016/2017 season. Data clearly indicate that the order of efficiency of the tested compounds were the same at both LC50 and LC90 levels. The tested insecticides could be descendingly arranged as follows: Radient, Pleo, Movento, Nanoparticles Zinc oxide, Marshal, KZ oil and Garlic extract. The corresponding LC50 values were 0.1, 0.24, 0.9, 0.92, 1.33, 1.45 and 1.5 ppm, while the LC90 values were 0.87, 1.07, 5.48, 10.92, 8.67, 6.42 and 11.26 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, χ2 values were 5.77, 2.93, 3.95, 3.08, 6.54, 2.87 and 1.51 respectively. Radient had the steepest toxicity line and Garlic extract had the flattest, however Pleo, Movento, Nanoparticles Zinc oxide, Marshal and KZ oil lie in between. This reflects the superiority of Radient and inferiority of Garlic extract. Radient was the most toxic compound, whereas Garlic extract was the least toxic one. the initial reduction of KZ oil (71.83, 72.80, 71.50 and 70.95) in both varieties and all of them are above 70% reduction. From these results, it should be suggested using of some effective alternatives such as KZ oil for controlling black vine thrips in compatible program with chemical insecticides instead of conventional individuals' insecticides. Keywords: Insecticides; Retithrips syriacus; Thrips; Grapevine</jats:p

Synthesis of <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-bis(1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3-oxopyrazol-4-yl) sebacamide that ameliorate osteoarthritis symptoms and improve bone marrow matrix structure and cartilage alterations induced by monoiodoacetate in the rat model: “Suggested potent anti-inflammatory agent against COVID-19”

To assess the chondroprotective effect and influence of N, N′-bis(1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3-oxopyrazol-4-yl) sebacamide (dpdo) that was synthesized through the reaction of phenazone with sebacoyl chloride and screened for its biological activity especially as anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent in a monoiodoacetate (MA)-induced experimental osteoarthritis (OA) model. Thirty male albino rats weighing “190–200 g” were divided randomly into three groups (10 each): control, MA-induced OA, and MA-induced OA + dpdo. In MA-induced OA rat, the tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factors, reactive oxygen species, as well as all the mitochondrial markers such as mitochondria membrane potential, swelling mitochondria, cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), and serum oxidative/antioxidant status (malondialdehyde level and activities of myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase) are elevated. Also, the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (complex II), levels of ATP, the level of glutathione (GSH), and thiol were markedly diminished in the MA-induced OA group compared to the normal control rats. These findings showed that mitochondrial function is associated with OA pathophysiological alterations and high gene expressions of (IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-1b) and suggests a promising use of dpdo as potential ameliorative agents in the animal model of OA and could act as anti-inflammatory agent in case of severe infection with COVID-19. It is clearly appeared in improving the bone cortex and bone marrow in the treated group with the novel compound in histological and transmission electron microscopic sections which is a very important issue today in fighting severe infections that have significant effects on the blood indices and declining of blood corpuscles like COVID-19, in addition to declining the genotoxicity and inflammation induced by MA in male rats. The novel synthesized compound was highly effective in improving all the above mentioned parameters. </jats:p

Spectroscopic and Molecular Docking Studies of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) Complexes with Anticonvulsant Therapeutic Agent Gabapentin.

New Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) complexes of the gabapentin (Gpn) bidentate drug ligand were synthesized and studied using elemental analyses, melting temperatures, molar conductivity, UV-Vis, magnetic measurements, FTIR, and surface morphology (scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopes).The gabapentin ligand was shown to form monobasic metal:ligand (1:1) stoichiometry complexes with the metal ions Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II). Molar conductance measurements in dimethyl-sulfoxide solvent with a concentration of 10-3 M correlated to a non-electrolytic character for all of the produced complexes. A deformed octahedral environment was proposed for all metal complexes. Through the nitrogen atom of the -NH2 group and the oxygen atom of the carboxylate group, the Gpn drug chelated as a bidentate ligand toward the Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ metal ions. This coordination behavior was validated by spectroscopic, magnetic, and electronic spectra using the formulas of the [M(Gpn)(H2O)3(Cl)]·nH2O complexes (where n = 2-6).Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the nanostructure of the produced gabapentin complexes. Molecular docking was utilized to investigate the comparative interaction between the Gpn drug and its four metal [Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II)] complexes as ligands using serotonin (6BQH) and dopamine (6CM4) receptors. AutoDock Vina results were further refined through molecular dynamics simulation, and molecular processes for receptor-ligand interactions were also studied. The B3LYP level of theory and LanL2DZ basis set was used for DFT (density functional theory) studies. The optimized geometries, along with the MEP map and HOMO → LUMO of the metal complexes, were studied

Thermal, spectroscopic and antimicrobial activity characterization of some norfloxacin complexes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq: 421469/2016-1Coordination compounds of transition metals with norfloxacin (Nor) have potential to improve its effectiveness, as already discussed for some compounds found in the literature. The complexes in the solid state were prepared by precipitation of the respective metal cation (M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) with a norfloxacin sodium salt solution. The thermal behavior under oxidative and pyrolysis conditions was investigated employing thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTG–DTA) and evolved gas analysis (EGA/TG-FTIR), and the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis (EA), EDTA complexometric titration, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). By these results, the minimum formula was established as [M(Nor)2(H2O)2]·nH2O, where n = 3 (Ni), 2.5 (Mn Co, Zn), or 2 (Cu). The evolved gases identified during thermal decomposition of Ni and Cu complexes were ethylene, CO2 and CO for Ni; CO2 and ethane for Cu. Also, antimicrobial activity of the complexes was evaluated by in vitro susceptibility test using the agar diffusion method, and the results were compared with the uncomplexed molecule. It was found that norfloxacin complexation modifies its antibacterial activity. The activity depends on the type of metal ion and microorganism; Mn(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes significantly increased activity against the tested gram-negative bacteria