Botany, chemistry, and pharmaceutical significance of Sida cordifolia: a traditional medicinal plant

Sida cordifolia Linn. belonging to the family, Malvaceae has been widely employed in traditional medications in many parts of the world including India, Brazil, and other Asian and African countries. The plant is extensively used in the Ayurvedic medicine preparation. There are more than 200 plant species within the genus Sida, which are distributed predominantly in the tropical regions. The correct taxonomic identification is a major concern due to the fact that S. cordifolia looks morphologically similar with its related species. It possesses activity against various human ailments, including cancer, asthma, cough, diarrhea, malaria, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, obesity, ulcer, Parkinson’s disease, urinary infections, and many others. The medical importance of this plant is mainly correlated to the occurrence of diverse biologically active phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. The major compounds include β-phenylamines, 2-carboxylated tryptamines, quinazoline, quinoline, indole, ephedrine, vasicinone, 5-3-isoprenyl flavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-isoprenyl flavone, and 6-(isoprenyl)- 3-methoxy- 8-C-β-D-glucosyl-kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucosyl[1–4]-α-D-glucoside. The literature survey reveals that most of the pharmacological investigations on S. cordifolia are limited to crude plant extracts and few isolated pure compounds. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate many other unexplored bioactive phytoconstituents with evidences so as to justify the traditional usages of S. cordifolia. Furthermore, detailed studies on the action of mechanisms of these isolated compounds supported by clinical research are necessary for validating their application in contemporary medicines. The aim of the present chapter is to provide a detailed information on the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of S. cordifolia

Tuning the tripodal rotational barrier in η⁶- chromiumtricarbonyl heteroarenes – A step towards torsional switches

610-615The current work focuses on manifold magnification of tripodal rotational barrier of Cr(CO)3 which is haptotropically bound to the arene ring with variety of hetero substitution (boron/phosphorus). The study shows that the differential electronegativities of boron and phosphorus can be harnessed to manipulate the torsional barrier, enabling hundred 200-fold enhancement of barrier to nearly free tripodal rotation of Cr(CO)3 in arene moiety. Insights obtained by density functional studies are supported by natural bond orbital analysis

Tuning the tripodal rotational barrier in η⁶- chromiumtricarbonyl heteroarenes – A step towards torsional switches

610-615The current work focuses on manifold magnification of tripodal rotational barrier of Cr(CO)3 which is haptotropically bound to the arene ring with variety of hetero substitution (boron/phosphorus). The study shows that the differential electronegativities of boron and phosphorus can be harnessed to manipulate the torsional barrier, enabling hundred 200-fold enhancement of barrier to nearly free tripodal rotation of Cr(CO)3 in arene moiety. Insights obtained by density functional studies are supported by natural bond orbital analysis

Role of hydrogen bonding in conformational energies of hexachlorophene and its derivatives - A theoretical study

643-648Conformational space around two dihedral angles (viz., θ and φ) in hexachlorophene (HCP), dimethylhexachlorophene (DMHCP) and diphenylhexachlorophene (DPHCP), has been scanned at the AM1 level and further the minima optimized at DFT(B3LYP)/ 6-31G(d) level. All possible hydrogen bonds that may exist in these molecules in different conformations, have been explored. NBO analyses have been carried out to establish the role of hydrogen bonds in resolving the energies of conformers