In the present study, different effective parameters (temperature, reaction time, and pH) on the synthesis of quercetin‐assisted silver nanoparticles (QE‐AgNPs) are optimized. These biogenic NPs are characterized by different physico‐chemical analyses, including transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV‐visible spectroscopy. In addition, the biological properties of QE‐AgNPs are evaluated through antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, hemolysis, and coagulation time assays. The formation of QE‐AgNPs is affected by different parameters. The optimum condition for the synthesis of QE‐AgNPs is attained at 70 °C and pH 7. Prepared QE‐AgNPs show a spherical shape with a crystalline nature and an average particle size of 20 ± 3.6 nm. The role of QE as a reducing and capping agent in the preparation process of QE‐AgNPs is demonstrated using FTIR analysis. These NPs with excellent antioxidant activity (82.3% at a concentration of 400 µg mL−1) and anti‐inflammatory properties (82.5% and 100% at concentrations of 37.25 and 500 µg mL−1, respectively), show good antimicrobial effects, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the results of the hemolytic and coagulation assay of QE‐AgNPs indicate their hemo‐compatibility. Therefore, hemo/bio‐compatible QE‐AgNPs with excellent and unique properties can be employed in different medicinal and pharmacological applications.
Phytochemical analysis of the Iranian plant Achillea wilhelmsii led to the isolation of 17 pure secondary metabolites belonging to the classes of sesquiterpenoids and phenolics. Two of these compounds, named wilhemsin (7) and wilhelmsolide (9), are new sesquiterpenoids, and the first shows undescribed structural features. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis, mainly based on 1D and 2D NMR, and chemical derivatization. Starting from plant traditional use and previous reports on the activity of the plant extracts, all the pure compounds were evaluated on endpoints related to the treatment of metabolic syndrome. The sesquiterpene hanphyllin (8) showed a selective cholesterol-lowering activity (−12.7% at 30 µM), santoflavone (13) stimulated glucose uptake via the GLUT transporter (+16.2% at 30 µM), while the trimethoxylated flavone salvigenin (14) showed a dual activity in decreasing lipid levels (−22.5% palmitic acid biosynthesis at 30 µM) and stimulating mitochondrial functionality (+15.4% at 30 µM). This study further confirms that, in addition to the antioxidants vitexin, isovitexin, and isoschaftoside, A. wilhelmsii extracts contain molecules that can act at different levels on the metabolic syndrome symptoms.