A novel and efficient method for the synthesis of methyl sulfone derivatives via palladium-catalyzed methylsulfonylation of alkyl halides with dimethyl sulfite has been described. A variety of aryl and alkyl iodides underwent the sulfonylation smoothly to furnish methyl sulfites in moderate to excellent yields.

Effects of microwave power on the sensory properties (taste and aroma), chemical composition (catechins, caffeine, crude protein, and amino acid), active composition (flavones, triterpene, polysaccharide, and ergosterol) and antioxidant properties (superoxide free radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging abilities, reducing power) of Ganoderma lucidum fermented sea-buckthorn tea were investigated. G. lucidum fermented sea-buckthorn tea was dehydrated using microwaves at three power settings: 125, 250, and 500. After microwave treatment, a statistically significant difference in the chemical composition, active composition and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05) of teas dried at different power settings was found. These results indicate that 250 W microwave treatments could effectively release and activate active components, improving the antioxidant activity of fermented tea.

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has significantly altered nutrient availability in most terrestrial ecosystems, which may affect plant nutrient resorption and hence change nutrient cycling and community composition. Although studies on the effects of changed soil nutrients on leaf nutrient resorption have been extensively reported in forests and grasslands, much less known about how plants in temperate shrublands respond to nitrogen deposition across the world. A 4-year N addition experiment in Vitex negundo and Spiraea trilobata shrublands was conducted to investigate the potential impacts of N deposition on nutrient resorption in two life forms. The green and senesced leaf N ([N] g and [N] s ) and phosphorus ([P] g and [P] s ) concentrations were measured in four shrubs and two graminoids to calculate N (NRE) and P (PRE) resorption efficiency. We found markedly lower NRE and PRE in shrubs than in graminoids, implying that shrubs probably have a higher capability of acquiring nutrients from soil, whereas graminoids rely on acquiring more nutrients via resorption. N addition increased the [N] g , [N] s , and N:P ratios ([N:P]) and decreased the [P] g of shrubs and all species, whereas it only increased [N] s but had negligible effects on the [N] g , [P] g , and [N:P] of graminoids. The [P] s , NRE, and PRE did not change in either life form or all species combined after N fertilization. Our results suggest that shrubs increase N uptake but do not alter internal N cycling (i.e., nutrient resorption), whereas graminoids do not change N acquisition strategies, in response to increased N supply from the soil. Continuous N addition exacerbated the P limitation of the shrub plants. Both shrubs and graminoids were more likely to adopt nearly complete utilization of P from the soil and senesced leaves under P deficiency, leading to a noneffect of N addition on leaf PRE. Our findings also suggest that the [N] g and [P] g responses to N addition are life-form specific, implying that N addition may affect ecosystem carbon (C) and nutrient cycles by altering the dominance values of the two life forms and community composition.

The present study sought to examine how sea buckthorn (SBT) oil impacts mitochondrial and overall functionality in Aspergillus flavus. In order to assess the effect of SBT oil, it was used to treat mycelia across a range of concentrations, after which mitochondrial structures were imaged via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In order to explore the functional impact of this treatment, we additionally examined reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, enzyme activity, and shifts in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) following treatment. We found that SBT oil induced mitochondrial damage in A. flavus in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in altered succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity, reduced ΔΨm levels, and markedly elevated MDA and ROS levels. Together, these findings suggest that SBT oil can mediate antifungal activity against A. flavus through a mechanism associated with its ability to disrupt the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mitochondrial potential, leading to MDA and ROS accumulation.