Chalcones belong to the flavonoid class of phenolic compounds. They form one of the largest groups of bioactive natural products. The potential anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiparasitic properties of naturally occurring chalcones, and their unique chemical structural features inspired the synthesis of numerous chalcone derivatives. In fact, structural features of chalcones are easy to construct from simple aromatic compounds, and it is convenient to perform structural modifications to generate functionalized chalcone derivatives. Many of these synthetic analogs were shown to possess similar bioactivities as their natural counterparts, but often with an enhanced potency and reduced toxicity. This review article aims to demonstrate how bioinspired synthesis of chalcone derivatives can potentially introduce a new chemical space for exploitation for new drug discovery, justifying the title of this article. However, the focus remains on critical appraisal of synthesized chalcones and their derivatives for their bioactivities, linking to their interactions at the biomolecular level where appropriate, and revealing their possible mechanisms of action.

Background: The Liver plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic function and various physiological processes, it participates in the detoxification of medicines and xenobiotics, resulting in heightened susceptibility to the toxicity of these substances. The present study investigated the hepatotoxic effects of oxidative stress by analyzing the expression of the mir210, mir-34a, and mir146a genes in Thirty-four male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8–10 weeks carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatic damage was stimulated in the groups (T1, T2, and T3) using CCL4. Beta aminobutyric acid (BABA) was added for five weeks at two different concentrations. T4, was treated with only CCL4 twice a week for five weeks, T5, which was divided into groups A, B, and C, was given BABA at different concentrations (100, 150, 200). The mean levels of the MIR34 34, MIR210, mIR146a, CD4 and CD 8 genes were evaluated. Results: MIR34, MIR210 and MIR146a presented high mean levels in the T4 group (8.76, 2.67, 1.41), whereas MIR34 presented low levels in the control group (1.28±0.972), MIR210 in the T2 group (0.53) and MIR146a in the T5C group (0.56). CDs 4 and 8 presented high mean levels in the T4 group (11.53, 613.25), whereas CD 8 presented low levels in the control group (342.0), and CD 4 presented high mean levels in the T3 group (2.13). The results of MIR34 gene expression folding were (6.433, 5.282, 5.269, 8.364, 5.365, 2.990, 2.033, and 1.000) in the studied groups (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5A, T5B, T5C, and T6), the results of MIR34 gene expression according to the fold change were (1.613, 0.530, 0.951, 2.513, 1.634, 1.273, 0.549, and 1.004) in the studied groups (T1, T3, T4, T5A, T5B, T5C, and T6), and the results of MIR146a gene expression according to the fold change were (0.992, 0.419, 0.812, 1.807, 0.633, 0.638, 0.694, and 1.004) in the studied groups (T1, T5C, T4, T5A, T5B, T5C, and T6). Conclusions: Compared with the other groups, the group injected with CCL4 presented high means of gene expression and greater fold changes in gene expression, which indicates that CCL4 causes severe damage to the rats.

Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences,IJVS

After perception of specific biotic or abiotic stimuli, such as root colonization by rhizobacteria or selected chemicals, plants are able to enhance their basal resistance against pathogens. Due to its sustainability, such induced resistance is highly valuable for disease management in agriculture. Here we study an example of resistance against wheat-leaf rust induced byPseudomonas protegensCHA0 (CHA0) and β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), respectively. Seed dressing with CHA0 reduced the number of sporulating pustules on the leaves and the expression of resistance was visible as necrotic or chlorotic flecks. Moreover, a beneficial effect of CHA0 on growth was observed in wheat seedlings challenged or not with leaf rust. BABA was tested at 10, 15 and 20 mM and a dose-dependent reduction of leaf rust infection was observed with the highest level of protection at 20 mM. However, BABA treatment repressed plant growth at 20 mM. Balancing between BABA-impact on plant growth and its protective capacity, we selected 15 mM as suitable concentration to protect wheat seedlings against leaf rust with the least impact on vegetative growth. To understand the mechanisms behind the observed resistance, we have studied the histological aspects of the fungal infection process. Our results showed that the p re-entry process was not affected by the two resistance inducers. However, both treatments reduced fungal penetration and haustoria formation. The timing and the amplitude of the resistance reactions was different after bacterial or chemical induction, leading to different levels of resistance to leaf rust. During fungal colonization of the tissues, a high deposition of callose and the accumulation of H₂O₂in both CHA0-and BABA-treated plants pointed to an important contribution to resistance.

Diabetes mellitus, a complex metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of beta-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in male rats, by studying its effect on Malondialdehyde (MDA), and urea. Thirty adult male albino rats models of diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to six groups of five pets each, age of (8-10 weeks). All rats were in good health, with weights ranging from 140 to 160 grams, Positive control groups treated with normal saline, Negative control groups treated only with streptozotocin, Group A treated with 50 mg/kg of STZ then BABA, Group B treated with 100 mg/kg strptozotocin then BABA, Group C treated with 150 mg/kg of strptozotocin then BABA, and Group D treated with 200 mg/kg of strptozotocin then BABA. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to evaluate MDA, and urea levels in serum. The results of the study show MDA levels elevated in the rats studied (Control -,A, B, C, and D) which recorded (4.47 ±1.93 mg/dl), (3.01 ±0.76 mg/dl), (3.07 ±0.41 mg/dl), and (2.04 ±0.22 mg/dl), compared control group(4.61 ±0.15 mg/dl), results indicate high levels of urea in the groups of rats studied (Control -,A, B, C, and D) which recorded (115.33± 39.01) mg/dl, (107.67±22.25)mg/dl, (70.67±22.06)mg/dl, (73.00±13.65)mg/dl, and (57.67±3.71) mg/dl, compared to control+ (44.33±3.48)mg/dl. The results indicated correlation coefficient between weight and sugar Level is 0.027. This indicates a very weak positive correlation between the two variables, that there is no significant linear relationship between weight and sugar level in rats studied. BABA plays an important protective role as an antioxidant against STZ-induced oxidative stress.