FLAVONOIDS AND TRITERPENOIDS FROM CALLISTEMON CITRINUS AND THEIR INHIBITORY EFFECT ON NO PRODUCTION IN LPS-STIMULATED RAW264.7 MACROPHAGES

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves and stems of Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels led to the isolation of 12 flavonoid and triterpenoid compounds,  including one new flavonoid, callistine A (1) and six known flavonoids 6,7- dimethyl-5,7-dihydroxy-4’-methoxy flavone (2), astragalin (3), quercetin (4), catechin (5), eucalyptin (6), and 8-demethyleucalyptin (7), along with 5 triterpenoids, 3-β-acetylmorolic acid (8), 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-13(28)-olide (9), betulinic acid (10), diospyrolide (11) and ursolic acid (12). Their chemical structures were determined from the spectroscopic evidences counting 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-MS data. All the isolated compounds were examined for their anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-activated NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Among them, quercetin (4) and 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-13(28)-olide (9) showed potential inhibition activity in nitric oxide (NO)  production in RAW264.7 cells exposed to LPS

The Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane as an In Vivo Assay to Study Antiangiogenesis

Antiangiogenesis, e.g., inhibition of blood vessel growth, is being investigated as a way to prevent the growth of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Pharmacological inhibition interferes with the angiogenic cascade or the immature neovasculature with synthetic or semi-synthetic substances, endogenous inhibitors or biological antagonists.The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is an extraembryonic membrane, which serves as a gas exchange surface and its function is supported by a dense capillary network. Because its extensive vascularization and easy accessibility, CAM has been used to study morphofunctional aspects of the angiogenesis process in vivo and to study the efficacy and mechanism of action of pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules. The fields of application of CAM in the study of antiangiogenesis, including our personal experience, are illustrated in this review article

Intertwining of Internet of Things and consumers’ behaviour science: The future promises for Businesses

Destructive changes and breakthrough innovations are embraced in the development of Internet of Things (IoTs). These network-connected smart devices or machine-learning algorithms transfer information on consumers to the Internet by small sensors and computing processors. Companies thus track consumers' behaviour and offer personalised products and services. However, consumers are still sceptical in using these devices due to privacy risks and a dearth of awareness about the technologies' perceived value. Therefore, to overcome these barriers, the research seeks to measure the relationships among the elements that affect customers' willingness and decisions to use IoTs-based products. On the basis of motivation theories, two categories of motivational factors are individuated: extrinsic factors such as entertainment and social interaction and intrinsic factors such as information acquisition, privacy risk, and technology readiness level. They are analysed using a sample of 782 early-adopter customers in Italy. The aim is to offer an explorative, quantitative study on the IoTs to enhance the existing knowledge and support business in the process of engaging more users and creating new personalised products. In line with this, the study's implications, limits, and recommendations for further research are presented