Oxyresveratrol possesses DNA damaging activity

Artocarpus lakoocha Wall. ex Roxb. (family: Moraceae) has been used as a traditional Thai medicine for the treatment of various parasitic diseases. This species has been reported to be the source of phytochemicals, which show potent biological activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile of the extracts of the heartwood of A. lakoocha and their prooxidant activity in vitro. The heartwood was ground, extracted, and then chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses were carried out; oxyresveratrol was identified as the major component in the extracts. The pro-oxidant activity was investigated using DNA-nick, reactive oxygen species and reducing assays. The results showed that oxyresveratrol induced DNA damage dose-dependently in the presence of copper (II) ions. It was also found to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner and reduce copper (II) to copper (I). It is concluded that oxyresveratrol is the most abundant stilbenoid in A. lakoocha heartwood. The compound exhibited pro-oxidant activity in the presence of copper (II) ions, which may be associated with its ability to act as an anticancer compound

Interaction effects at crossings of spin-polarized one-dimensional subbands

We report conductance measurements of ballistic one-dimensional (1D) wires defined in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures in an in-plane magnetic field, B. When the Zeeman energy is equal to the 1D subband energy spacing, the spin-split subband Nup arrow intersects (N+1)down arrow, where N is the index of the spin-degenerate 1D subband. At the crossing of N=1up arrow and N=2down arrow subbands, there is a spontaneous splitting giving rise to an additional conductance structure evolving from the 1.5(2e(2)/h) plateau. With further increase in B, the structure develops into a plateau and lowers to 2e(2)/h. With increasing temperature and magnetic field the structure shows characteristics of the 0.7 structure. Our results suggest that at low densities a spontaneous spin splitting occurs whenever two 1D subbands of opposite spins cross

ent-Clerodane Diterpenes from the Bark of Croton oligandrus Pierre ex. Hutch. and Assessment of their Cytotoxicity Against Human Cancer Cell Lines

New clerodane diterpenes, 12-epi-megalocarpodolide D (2) and an epimeric mixture of crotonolins A (3) and B (4), were isolated from the bark of Croton oligandrus following a bioassay-guided isolation protocol. Known compounds, megalocarpodolide D (1), 12-epi-crotocorylifuran (5), cluytyl-ferulate (6), hexacosanoyl- ferulate (7), vanillin (8), acetyl-aleuritolic acid (9) and lupeol (10), were also isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds (1-10) were elucidated by spectroscopic means. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-10 was assessed against A549, MCF7, PC3 and PNT2 cell lines using the MTT assay. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate level of activity against both A549 and MCF7 cells with 1 being the most active with IC50 values of 63.8±13.8 and 136.2±22.7 µM against A549 and MCF7 cells, respectively. The epimeric mixture of 3 and 4 was moderately active against A549 and PC3 cells (IC50 = 128.6±31.0 and 111.2±2.9 µM, respectively)

Characterisation of spin-incoherent transport in one dimension

Spin-incoherent transport in quantum wires, whereby exchange coupling between neighbouring electrons is overcome by thermal energy, leading to the suppression of spin modes of transport expected in a Luttinger liquid, has been observed in the form of a conductance plateau at e(2)/h in the absence of a magnetic field. We present here further characterisation of this spin-incoherent plateau in a source-drain bias, which causes it to evolves to 0.85 x 2e(2)/h. Laterally shifting the channel and illuminating the sample allows us to verify its origin

Justicialosides A and B, two new flavone glycosides from the leaves of Ruspolia hypocrateriformis (Vahl) Milne-Redh. (Acanthaceae)

Two new flavone glycosides, luteolin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranoside (1) and chrysoeriol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranoside (2), along with five known compounds, luteolin 7-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranoside (3), grandulosides A and B (4 and 5), luteolin 7-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) and 10H-quindoline (7) were isolated from the leaves of Ruspolia hypocrateriformis (Acanthaceae). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means, including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS and by comparison with published data

Zanthoamides G-I: Three new alkamides from Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides

Three new alkamides, zanthoamides G-I (1-3), together with ten known compounds, araliopsine, skimmianine, N-methylplatydesminium cation, isoplatydesmine, myrtopsine, atanine, N-methylatanine, sesamin, hesperetin and hesperidin, were isolated from the fruits of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means. All isolated compounds were assessed for their cytotoxicity against A549, MCF7, PC3 and PNT2 cell lines. Among the alkamides, only zanthoamide G (1) showed low level of cytotoxicity against MCF7 cells

Survey of the Problems of Girl Child in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and knowledge of reproductive health problems among adolescent girls in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted. Using convenient random sampling technique, four local government areas were selected. Eligible participants were both in and out of school children between the ages of 13 -18 years. A hundred respondents were sampled from each selected local government, making a total sample size of 400. Consenting participants were administered questionnaire in their homes by trained LGA enumerators. It elicited information on socio-demographic and reproductive health issues. Data collected were subsequently collated and analyzed.Results: Majority of the girls (78%) were still in-school. All were already menstruating, mostly attaining menarche between the age 15-16years. Only 212 (53%) could remember their last menstrual period. Sexual derby mainly occurred around age 15-16years; 53.3% were already sexually exposed. A quarter of respondents had been pregnant before. Only 187 (46.8%) were aware of modern contraception. The girls had a fair knowledge of implication of early sexual derby and unprotected intercourse, though it did not translate to behavioural change.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of teenage pregnancy and poor reproductive health knowledge among teenagers in Ekiti State. More collective efforts involving parents, community heads, opinion leaders, civil societies and the state are needed to help our girls attain and sustain healthy reproductive behaviours

Four new neo-clerodane diterpenes from the stem bark of Croton oligandrus.

Four new neo-clerodanes, crotonolins C-F (3-6), were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oligandrus together with the known clerodane crotonzambefuran A, the abietanes 7-β-hydroxydehydroabietic acid and 7-oxodehydroabietic acid, and ferulic acid. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS and by comparison with previously reported data. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds against A549, MCF7, PC3 and PNT2 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. Only 7-β-hydroxydehydroabietic acid showed a moderate level of activity against PC3 cells with an IC50 value of 68.9 ± 6.6 μM

Therapeutic potential of Leea indica (Vitaceae)

Background: Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (fam. Vitaceae), commonly known as ‘bandicoot berry’, is a Thai medicinal plant, and distributed widely in the far-east and south-east Asian countries, and in some parts of northern Australia. In Thailand, this plant has traditionally been used for the treatment of diarrhoea, pain, gastric ulcer, viral infections and some forms of cancers. Aims: To review published findings on medicinal properties of L. indica and to critically appraise its therapeutic potential. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed utilizing several databases, notably, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, and other relevant published materials. The keywords used in the search, individually as well as in combinations, were Leea indica, Vitaceae and traditional medicine. Results: In vitro assays and in vivo animal studies displayed efficacy of the extracts and fractions of L. indica as an analgesic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiproliferative agent and indicated their therapeutic potential. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolics and terpenoids as major bioactive components in L. indica. Conclusion: Preliminary bioactivity studies on L. indica provided some scientific basis for its traditional therapeutic applications. The presence of certain bioactive compounds in this plant could further support its therapeutic potential and traditional medicinal uses