Isolation of phytochemical constituents from hunteria umbellata k. Schum

Hunteria umbellata K. Schum has been reported for the treatment of diabetes in Nigeria. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of dried leaves of Hunteria umbellata K. Schum was investigated for the chemical principles. The isolated pure compounds were characterized by NMR, IR and Mass spectral studies. Ursolic acid (1), oleanolic acid (2) and squalene (3) were the main constituents isolated from the extract

Location effect on heritability estimates of yield traits in mungbean derived from F2 populations

Heritability and genetic advance were estimated in four F2 mungbean populations (Ramzan×ML-5, NM- 92×NM-1919, NM-1919×ML-5 and ML-5×NM-51) at two locations (Peshawar and Swat) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, during 2008. Combined analysis exhibited highly significant differences among the genotypes and locations for pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, 1000-seed weight and seed yield. Similarly, genotype-by-location interaction was highly significant for pods plant-1 and 1000-seed weight. Averaged over five parents and four F2 populations, means for clusters plant-1, pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, 1000-seed weight and seed yield plant-1 at Peshawar and Swat were 9.2 vs. 9.8, 28.7 vs. 35.3, 8.5 vs. 8.7 cm, 9.3 vs. 10.0, 50.4 vs. 56.5 g and 7.1 vs. 7.6 g, respectively. Broad-sense heritability estimates in four F2 population of mungbean ranged from 0.22 to 0.70 and 0.34 to 0.58 for clusters plant-1, 0.33 to 0.75 and 0.19 to 0.61 for pods plant-1, 0.19 to 0.74 and 0.45 to 0.68 for pod length, 0.21 to 0.58 and 0.48 to 0.66 for seeds pod-1, 0.34 to 0.63 and 0.58 to 0.89 for 1000-seed weight and 0.15 to 0.64 and 0.45 to 0.61 for seed yield at Peshawar and Swat, respectively. Genetic advance was greater at Swat than at Peshawar. Among the four F2 populations, genetic improvement of yield-associated traits will be more effective in Ramzan×ML-5 and ML-5×NM-51. Moreover, among the parents, ML-5 showed good combination with Ramzan and NM-51

A multifaceted review on dihydromyricetin resources, extraction, bioavailability, biotransformation, bioactivities, and food applications with future perspectives to maximize its value

Natural bioactive compounds present a better alternative to prevent and treat chronic diseases owing to their lower toxicity and abundant resources. (+)-Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a lavanonol, possessing numerous interesting bioactivities with abundant resources. his review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in DMY natural resources, stereoisomerism, physicochemical properties, extraction, biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics, and biotransformation. Stereoisomerism of DMY should be considered for better indication of its eicacy. Biotechnological approach presents a potential tool for the production of DMY using microbial cell factories. DMY high instability is related to its powerful antioxidant capacity due to pyrogallol moiety in ring B, and whether preparation of other analogues could demonstrate improved properties. DMY demonstrates poor bioavailability based on its low solubility and permeability with several attempts to improve its pharmacokinetics and eicacy. DMY possesses various pharmacological efects, which have been proven by many in vitro and in vivo experiments, while clinical trials are rather scarce, with underlying action mechanisms remaining unclear. Consequently, to maximize the usefulness of DMY in nutraceuticals, improvement in bioavailability, and better understanding of its actions mechanisms and drug interactions ought to be examined in the future along with more clinical evidence

Metabolites from the fungus Phoma sp. 7210, associated with Aizoon canariense.

A new metabolite, 3,16-diketoaphidicolan (1), was isolated together with four known compounds: aphidicolin (2), 17-acetyl-aphidicolin (3), (+)-eupenoxide (4), and phomoxanthone A (5) from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. The structure of the new compound 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods (mainly extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments and by mass spectral measurements) and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Its absolute configuration was assigned by means of the solid-state CD/TDDFT approach comparing the solid-state CD spectrum with the TDDFT-calculated one on the X-ray geometry

Antialactone: A New γ-Lactone from Antiaris africana, and its Absolute Configuration Determined from TDDFT CD Calculations

Four compounds were isolated from the stem bark of Antiaris africana. One of them, a γ-lactone named antialactone (1a), is reported for the first time as a natural product. The structures were determined by comprehensive analyses of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and EI MS data. The absolute configuration of antialactone acetate (1b) was established by TDDFT CD calculations and comparison with measured CD spectra. The remaining three known compounds were identified, by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature, as lichenxanthone, β-sitosterol, and betulinic acid

Secondary metabolites from resins of Aloe vera and Commiphora mukul mitigate lipid peroxidation

Oxidative stress is often considered detrimental for cellular processes and damaging for the lipid bi-layer. Counteracting such stresses with the aid of nature-based chemical constituents can be an ideal therapeutic approach. The current study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents of resins derived from the well-known Aloe vera and less known Commiphora mukul trees and their effect in mitigating the lipid peroxidation (LPO) process. The bio-guided isolation of bioactive fractions from both resins afforded 20 chemical constituents (17 from A. vera and 3 from C. mukul). These compounds belonged to anthraquinones, anthraquinone glycosides, quinones, coumarins, polypodane-type terpenoids and benzene derivatives. Major chemical constituents of the resins of A. vera and C. mukul were from the classes of quinones and terpenoids. Feroxidin (4, from A. vera) showed slightly higher inhibition (IC50 = 201.7 ± 0.9 µmol L–1) than myrrhanone C (18, from C. mukul: IC50 = 210.7 ± 0.0 µmol L–1) and methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate from A. vera (13, IC50 = 232.9 ± 0.2 µmol L–1) compared to the other compounds. Structure-activity relationship showed that the existence of hydroxyl, methoxy and ether groups might play a major role in countering oxidative stress. To the best of our knowledge, anti-LPO activities of compounds 1–4, 14, 18 and 20 are reported for the first time. Such chemical constituents with high anti-lipid peroxidation activity could be helpful in synthesizing candidate drugs

Therapeutic potential of Pegnum harmela against Schistosoma bovis in buffaloes

Background: Peganum harmala have many biological and pharmacological activities such as antifungal, antibacterial, analgesic and antiinflammatory. The present study was carried out to evaluate the  antischistosomal activities of Peganum harmala with special reference to bovine schistosomiasis in naturally infected buffaloes.Methods and Materials: A total of 54 naturally infected buffaloes with “Schistosomiasis” of ages around five years were used for anthelmintic studies. All of the buffaloes were properly marked so as to make a distinction from one other. A doctor of veterinary was available for daily checkup. Samples prepared according to the available methods in literature.Results: In the present study, naturally infected buffaloes with Schistosoma bovis were treated with  Peganum harmala (Harmal, seed), with dose 75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 225 mg/kg body weight  respectively, and their impact on various parameters like eggs reduction, milk production, weight gain and feed intake was noted. Furthermore, their efficiency (%) was evaluated with “Praziquantel”  (allopathic drug) at “10mg/Kg body weight” dose level. After first dose of “Praziquantel” hundred percent effectiveness was noted, while the same result obtained for herbal drug after giving second dose of  “225mg/kg body weight”. To evaluate the effect of herbal medicines on protein portions, sera of treated and control buffaloes were also investigated.Conclusion: From present findings, it is concluded that the herb Peganum harmala can easily replace  Praziquantal (PZQ) with almost same efficiency (%). Furthermore, the herb is easily available at cheap price at local market and it will be good for the economy of Pakistan Key words: Pegnum harmela, Schistosoma, infectio