We evaluate the effectiveness of chelating resins (CR) derived from Merrifield resin (MR) and 1,2-phenylenediamine (PDA), 2,2’-dipyridylamine (DPA), and 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (AMP) as adsorbent dosimeters for Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Pb²⁺ cations from water under competitive and noncompetitive conditions. MR-PDA, MR-DPA, and MR-AMP were obtained in a 95–97% yield and characterized by IR, fluorescence, and SEM. The ability of CRs as adsorbents was determined by batch and flow procedures. MR-PDA showed a batch adsorption capacity order of Fe³⁺ (29.8 mg/g) > Ag⁺ (2.7 mg/g) > Pb²⁺ (2.6 mg/g) at pH 3.4. The flow adsorption showed affinity towards the Ag⁺ cation at pH 7 (18.4 mg/g) and a reusability of 10 cycles. In MR-DPA, the batch adsorption capacity order was Ag⁺ (9.1 mg/g) > Pb²⁺ (8.2 mg/g) > Cu²⁺ (3.5 mg/g) at pH 5. The flow adsorption showed affinity to the Cu²⁺ cation at pH 5 (2.2 mg/g) and a reuse of five cycles. In MR-AMP, the batch adsorption capacity was Ag⁺ (17.1 mg/g) at pH 3.4. The flow adsorption showed affinity to the Fe³⁺ cation at pH 2 (4.3 mg/g) and a reuse of three cycles. The three synthesized and reusable CRs have potential as adsorbents for Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Pb²⁺ cations and showed versatility in metal removal for water treatment.

Plant-derived bioactive metabolites have emerged as promising modulators of oxidative stress and inflammation, two interconnected processes involved in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic diseases. Arid ecosystems, particularly the Sonoran Desert, constitute an underexplored source of structurally diverse phytochemicals with significant pharmacological potential. This review provides a comprehensive overview of major classes of plant-derived bioactives, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, with emphasis on their molecular mechanisms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. These compounds exert cytoprotective effects through direct reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and indirect regulation of endogenous defense systems, primarily via activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and suppression of NF-κB signaling. Additional pathways, including MAPK, PI3K/Akt, AMPK, and mitochondrial regulatory networks, are discussed as critical mediators of redox balance and inflammatory control. Particular attention is given to Sonoran Desert plant species such as Bucida buceras, Phoradendron californicum, Larrea tridentata, Opuntia spp., and Agave deserti, all of which demonstrate promising biological activities associated with enhanced adaptation to environmental stress. Experimental approaches used to evaluate phytochemical bioactivity, including chemical assays, cellular models, omics technologies, and translational strategies, are also examined. Furthermore, this review discusses current limitations related to bioavailability, phytochemical variability, and clinical validation, highlighting emerging nanodelivery systems and precision medicine approaches as potential solutions. Collectively, the evidence supports the therapeutic relevance of Sonoran Desert plant bioactives as multi-target agents for modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic disease progression.

Chalcones are versatile α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with tunable electronic properties. In this work, a chalcone (1) and its alkyl analogue (2) were synthesized via Claisen–Schmidt condensation and characterized by FT-IR and 1D/2D NMR techniques. A comparative structure–property analysis revealed differences in electronic distribution, particularly in carbonyl chemical shifts and vinylic environments, reflecting changes in conjugation induced by structural modification. Both compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Moderate activity was observed at relatively high concentrations, indicating limited biological potency. These results highlight how subtle structural variations influence physicochemical properties and biological response, providing a basis for rational optimization of chalcone-derived systems.

Chalcones are versatile α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with tunable electronic properties. In this work, a chalcone (1) and its alkyl analogue (2) were synthesized via Claisen–Schmidt condensation and characterized by FT-IR and 1D/2D NMR techniques. A comparative structure–property analysis revealed differences in electronic distribution, particularly in carbonyl chemical shifts and vinylic environments, reflecting changes in conjugation induced by structural modification. Both compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Moderate activity was observed at relatively high concentrations, indicating limited biological potency. These results highlight how subtle structural variations influence physicochemical properties and biological response, providing a basis for rational optimization of chalcone-derived systems.

Dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD) is a multifactorial retinal disorder involving oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic para-inflammation, complement dysregulation, and progressive retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) failure. This critical review evaluates the published evidence concerning Terminalia buceras (L.) C.Wright (syn. Bucida buceras L.; Combretaceae), hereafter referred to as T. buceras, and its relevance to dry age-related macular degeneration. The evidence is organized into five categories: species-specific chemical evidence, species-specific retinal evidence, species-specific non-retinal biological evidence, external isolated-compound evidence, and hypothesis-generating comparisons with related plants or experimental systems. The evidence base remains preliminary. Species-specific retinal data are restricted to in vitro observations, and there are currently no epidemiological studies linking T. buceras use to AMD outcomes, no validated animal studies demonstrating efficacy in dAMD, and no clinical studies. Moreover, phytochemical standardization, ocular exposure, metabolism, and retinal bioavailability remain insufficiently characterized. Accordingly, this review does not propose T. buceras as a preventive or therapeutic intervention and does not claim superiority over better-characterized medicinal plants. Instead, this review critically synthesizes published species-specific chemical and biological findings and evaluates their methodological limitations. The direct retinal evidence supports partial cytoprotection in an ARPE-19 oxidative-injury model, whereas the non-retinal inflammatory findings concern different preparations and experimental systems. Chemical characterization, cellular responses, and contextual mechanistic evidence are, therefore, considered separately. The available findings do not establish a disease-modifying effect on dAMD, clinically achievable retinal exposure, or chronic ocular safety.