Oligonucleotide Delivery Systems for Camptothecins

Camptothecin drugs are stabilized in their antitumor active lactone form by complexation with an oligonucleotide including RNA or catalytic RNA. The oligonucleotide-camptothecin drug complex may be incorporated within a macromolecular assembly including both viral and non-viral oligonucleotide vectors. The invention allows combination gene and camptothecin drug therapy

Water Soluble Derivatives of Camptothecin/Homocamptothecin

Camptothecin and homocamptothecin analogs and derivatives are provided incorporating alkylamine and polyalkylamine moieties

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Indolyl Bis-chalcones as Anti-Breast Cancer and Antioxidant Agents

A series of novel α-cyano substituted indolyl bis-chalcones (3a−l) has been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antitumor activity against the human breast cancer MCF7 (estrogen receptor-positive) and normal Vero cell lines using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay method. Compounds 3a, 3c and 3d showed potent activity (GI50 = 11.7, 15.3 and 17.9 µM respectively) against the human breast cancer MCF7 cell line, which was almost as good as that of adriamycin (GI50 = < 0.1 µM) whereas, screening against the normal Vero Monkey cell line showed moderate selectivity. Furthermore, all the synthesized compounds screened for their antioxidant potential against DPPH, NO, SOR, and H2O2 radicals. Most of the bis-chalcones exhibited significant DPPH (51.09−12.72 %) and NO (64.11−34.43 %) radical scavenging activity and modest activity against SOR (88.08−43.14 %) and H2O2 (80.13−56.0 %) radicals compared to the reference standard ascorbic acid (40.78 %, 42.63 %, 87.05 %, and 79.42 % respectively). Current study provides impetus for the development of highly potent indolyl bis-chalcone derivatives as anticancer leads. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Delivering bioavailable micronutrients through biofortifying sorghum and seed chain innovations

Micronutrient malnutrition, particularly among women and children, is one of greatest global challenges of our times and the national Governments and international organizations are following various approaches to combat it. Biofortification –increasing the micronutrient density in edible plant parts by genetic means, is one of the cost-effective and sustainable methods to address the micronutrient malnutrition. Sorghum is one of the major staples globally and it meets more than 50% micronutrient requirements of low-income group populations in predominantly sorghum eating areas. We developed biofortified sorghums with elevated levels of grain Fe and Zn combined with higher grain yield possessing farmer-preferred grain and stover traits. The first biofortified sorghum cultivar ‘Parbhani Shakti’ was released in India in 2018, which, besides high Fe and Zn, has higher protein content and lower phytates content. An innovative ‘Seed Consortium’ was built to take this variety to the farmers in shortest possible time to benefit the farmers and consumers. Multi-stakeholder partnership was the key in this endeavour and Indian NARS, farmers, public sector seed organisations, media and Government played a key role along with ICRISAT

Seasonal Variations in Algal Population of Ajanta Water–fall

In order to study the algal population of Ajanta caves water- fall, the visits were made frequently, in different seasons. The algal members were found from different divisions viz. Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta. Cyanophycean members were found in good number as compare to Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. 12 genera found in Mansoon season 14 genera in winter season and 5 species in summer season, among all three seasons Mansoon season found very usefully for algal growth. At Ajanta caves water-fall Spirogyra plena found in maximum growth as compare to others