Evaluation of terrestrial plants extracts for uranium sorption and characterization of potent phytoconstituents

Sorption capacity of four plants (Funaria hygrometrica, Musa acuminata, Brassica juncea and Helianthus annuus) extracts/fractions for uranium, a radionuclide was investigated by EDXRF and tracer studies. The maximum sorption capacity, i.e., 100% (complete sorption) was observed in case of Musa acuminata extract and fractions. Carbohydrate, proteins, phenolics and flavonoids contents in the active fraction (having maximum sorption capacity) were also determined. Further purification of the most active fraction provided three pure molecules, mannitol, sorbitol and oxo-linked potassium oxalate. The characterization of isolated molecules was achieved by using FTIR, NMR, GC-MS, MS-MS, and by single crystal-XRD analysis. Of three molecules, oxo-linked potassium oxalate was observed to have 100% sorption activity. Possible binding mechanism of active molecule with the uranyl cation has been purposed

Effect of organic manure and plant spacing on biomass and quality of Mentha piperita L. in Himalaya in India

Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) is one of the economically important aromatic–medicinal herbs in India. Cultivation of M. piperita has so far not been attempted under sub-temperate agro-climatic conditions in the mid-hill of Himalaya. A study on rationalization of level of farmyard manure (FYM) and plant spacing for M. piperita crop was conducted during 2007 and 2008 at IHBT (CSIR), Palampur. The treatments consisted of four levels of FYM (0, 15, 30, 45 t/ha), three plant spacing (25 4.х 15, 40 4. х 15 and 50 4.х 15 cm2). Crop yield significantly increased with the level of FYM and was significantly higher at 45 t/ha of FYM. The oil content in the crop ranged from 0.2% to 0.3%; however, it was not affected by FYM application. Menthone content significantly increased with application of FYM and was significantly higher at 45 t/ha of FYM, whereas content of menthyl acetate, neo-menthol and menthofuran significantly decreased with application of FYM. The crop yield, oil content and composition of the oil were not affected by variation in plant spacing. However, planting of M. piperita at 50 4.х 15 cm2 spacing and application of FYM at 45 t/ha was found to be favorable for biomass production and content of menthone

Development of stevioside Pluronic-F-68 copolymer based PLA-nanoparticles as an antidiabetic nanomedicine

Stevioside (FDA approved nontoxic natural non-caloric sweetener) has been reported to have very good antidiabetic potential but its use as therapeutic drug is restricted in human due to its deprived intestinal absorption and poor bioavailability. We have nano-bioconjugated this molecule on biodegradable Pluronic-F-68 copolymer based PLA nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation method (spherical, size range 110–130 nm) to overcome deprived intestinal absorption and to enhance the bioavailability. The drug loading calculated by the standard calibrated HPLC was 16.32 ± 4% (w/w). The in vitro release study showed the initial burst followed by the sustained release. The half release and complete release were observed on 25 ± 4 h and 200 ± 10 h respectively. This newly formulated nanostevioside showed very high potential to be used as antidiabetic nanomedicine for safe and effective use in vivo

Overexpression of CsANR Increased Flavan-3-ols and Decreased Anthocyanins in Transgenic Tobacco

plants and synthesized by a common biosynthetic pathway. Anthocyanin reductase (ANR) represents branching- point enzyme of this pathway converting anthocyanidins to flavan-3-ols. Since tea contains highest amount of flavonoids, a cDNA encoding anthocyanin reductase from tea (CsANR) was overexpressed in transgenic tobacco to check the influence on anthocyanin and flavan-3-ols. The transgenic tobacco was confirmed by genomic PCR and expression of transgene was analyzed through semiquantitative PCR. Interestingly flowers of transgenic tobacco were light pink/white in color instead of dark pink in wild tobacco, documenting the decrease in anthocyanins content. Upon measurement, flower anthocyanin content was found to be lesser. While flavan-3-ols (epicatechin and epigallocatechin) contents were increased in leaf tissue of transgenic lines. The expressions of other endogenous flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes in different floral parts (sepal, petal, stamen, and carpel) of CsANR overexpressing tobacco as well as wild tobacco were analyzed. The transcript levels of PAL and CHI genes were downregulated, while transcript levels of F3H, FLS, CHS, ANR1, and ANR2 genes were upregulated in all floral parts of CsANR transgenic plants compared to wild tobacco. The expressions of DFR and ANS genes were also spatially modulated in different floral parts due to overexpression of CsANR. Thus, CsANR overexpression increased flavan-3-ols and decreased anthocyanin content by modulating the expressions of various flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes in flower of tobacco. These changes might be responsible for the observed pollen tube in the pollens of CsANR overexpressing transgenic tobacco when they were still in the anther before pollination

Biocatalysts for multicomponent Biginelli reaction: bovine serum albumin triggered waste-free synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) promoted simple and efficient one-pot procedure was developed for the direct synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones including potent mitotic kinesin Eg5 inhibitor monastrol under mild reaction conditions. The catalyst recyclability and gram scale synthesis have also been demonstrated to enhance the practical utility of process

A method to overcome the waxy surface, cell wall thickening and polyphenol induced necrosis at wound sites - the major deterrents to Agrobacterium mediated transformation of bamboo, a woody monocot

The method is the first successful report of Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of the commercially important bamboo, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii. It shows how the resistance provided by the somatic embryos of this woody monocot can be overcome using a simple and effective method. The method thus standardized can be also used for the genetic transformation of other important bamboos. Identification of the factors responsible for the resistance of the somatic embryos to Agrobacterium infection was an absolute requirement for devising a successful method. Necrosis due to polyphenol oxidation, lack of differentiation due to cell wall thickening at wound sites, waxy surfaces of somatic embryos with anti-microbial properties were found to prevent Agrobacterium attachment and infection. Therefore, the somatic embryos were transformed with fresh overnight grown Agrobacterium culture containing 500 mg/l polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and 0.01 % Tween- 20 as surfactant followed by co-cultivation on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing the vir gene inducer acetosyringone (100 μM) and 1 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine BAP for 2 days. Persistent GUS expression and strong positive signals in PCR, slot blot and Southern hybridization confirmed successful genetic transformation

Synthesis and anti-angiogenic activity of benzothiazole, benzimidazole containing phthalimide derivatives

Benzothiazole and benzimidazole containing phthalimide derivatives (NK037, NK041, NK042, NK0139A and NK0148) have been synthesized and their anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated using ex vivo egg yolk angiogenesis model. A comparative study with pure thalidomide (NKTA) has also been performed to describe the efficacy of these derivatives in blocking angiogenesis. NK037, NK041 and NK042 were equally potent in blocking egg yolk angiogenesis and the anti-angiogenesis effect was higher than NKTA suggesting the efficacy of these three derivatives in blocking angiogenesis when compare to control. Other two derivatives NK0139A and NK0148 showed effect less than NKTA and stronger than control in ex vivo angiogenesis

Zephgrabetaine: A New Betaine-type Amaryllidaceae Alkaloid from Zephyranthes grandiflora

Zephgrabetaine (1), a new betaine type Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, along with seven known alkaloids, lycorine, galanthine, lycoramine, hamayne, haemanthamine, tortuosine, and ungeremine were isolated from the bulbs of Zephyranthes grandiflora and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. The isolated alkaloids were tested for in vitro cytotoxic activities against two cell lines, C-6 (rat glioma cells) and CHO-K1 (Chinese hamster ovary cells). A dose dependent cytotoxic effect was exhibited by all the alkaloids on these two cancer cell lines with prominent activity of lycorine and haemanthamine

Removal of Pb from Water by Adsorption on Apple Pomace: Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics Studies

The adsorption-influencing factors such as pH, dose, and time were optimized by batch adsorption study. A 0.8 g dose, 4.0 pH, and 80 min of contact time were optimized for maximum adsorption of Pb on AP. e adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were well fitted to the data obtained with values of max (16.39 mg/g; r2 = 0.985) and K (16.14 mg/g; r2 = 0.998), respectively. The kinetics study showed that lead adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics with correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.999 for all of the concentration range. FTIR spectra also showed that the major functional groups like polyphenols (–OH) and carbonyl (–CO) were responsible for Pb binding on AP. The thermodynamic parameters as ΔG, ΔH (33.54 J/mol), and ΔS (1.08 J/mol/K) were also studied and indicate that the reaction is feasible, endothermic, and spontaneous in nature

Synthesis and SAR investigation of natural phenylpropenederived methoxylated cinnamaldehydes and their novel Schiff bases as potent antimicrobial and antioxidant agents

A series of cinnamyl compounds were synthesized from abundantly available methoxylated phenylpropenes and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity by the broth microdilution method against fourteen opportunistic bacterial and fungal human pathogens. Structure–activity relationship studies indicated that methylenedioxy cinnamaldehyde exhibited promising broad-spectrum activity against the tested microorganisms and hence was used as a lead structure to synthesize novel Schiff bases/heterocyclic compounds (23–33) under microwave irradiation. Out of these, thiazole-based Schiff bases have shown promising antibacterial activity against B. subtilis (26; MIC 0.12 mM), M. luteus (27; MIC 0.20 mM), and S. aureus (27; MIC 0.20 mM). Also, the compounds 23–33 were investigated for in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH• assay where compound 28 showed a maximum of 80.71 % inhibition