5 research outputs found
SOME CHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NITRIC OXIDE: A MINI REVIEW
Nitric oxide (NO) is a simple odd-electron molecule that is a primary pollutant. It transmits signals between neurons; playing a role in blood flow and sexual arousal. In this mini review we try to make accessible the properties and functions of this lipophilic molecule to non-specialists
SOME CHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NITRIC OXIDE: A MINI REVIEW
Nitric oxide (NO) is a simple odd-electron molecule that is a primary pollutant. It transmits signals between neurons; playing a role in blood flow and sexual arousal. In this mini review we try to make accessible the properties and functions of this lipophilic molecule to non-specialists
Antiplasmodial Activity shown by Secondary Metabolites Extracted from the Seeds ofPentaclethramacrophyllaBenth
Oil extracts from the African oil bean seed (PentaclethramacrophyllaBenth.) was
analyzed for its phytochemical and mineral content and proximate, physicochemical and antimicrobial
analyses were also performed. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of
tannins, saponins, quinones, terpenoids, phenols and coumarins in the oil sample. Mineral
determination of the cotyledon showed the presence of iron (Fe) (with the highest
concentration), Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Pb and Cd; while proximate analysis gave the following result:
moisture (14.2%), ash content (1.5%), crude fibre (4.9%), crude proteins (12.8%), oil contents
(4.9%), and carbohydrate (61.8%). GC-MS analysis of the partitioned petroleum ether and
chloroform fractions of the oil revealed the presence of 9-Octadecenoic acid, 9,12-
Octadecadienoic acid and their methyl esters,cis-9-Hexadecenal among the many components
of the oil extract. Physicochemical analysis of the oil indicateda saponification value (148.67
mg KOH/g), peroxide value(8.0 meq/g), iodine value (10.41 mg iodine/g) and free fatty acid
(8.98 mg KOH/g). The need for the development of new drugs for malaria led to our study of
the antiplasmodial activity of the oil from the seeds of Pentaclethramacrophylla. Toxicological
studies were carried out to determine the LD50with chloroquinediphosphate as positive control
and normal saline as negative control. Using the Peter’s 4 day suppressive test a parasite
inhibition rate of 47.72% (25 mg/kg), 63.63% (50 mg/kg) and 61.36% (100 mg/kg) on day 4
after treatment was recorded. A 95.45% chemo-suppression was observed for animals treated
with 10 mg/kg chloroquine. This resultis an indication that the extract had appreciable signs of
chemosuppression
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF MODERATELY VOLATILE COMPONENTS OF THE OIL EXTRACTED FROM THE SEEDS OF DACRYODES EDULIS G. LAM
Objectives: Dacryodes edulis is a versatile plant in many African countries, as its various parts are employed to treat several diseases. Like most
plants used in traditional medicine, the possible mechanism by which D. edulis functions is still unknown. This study was designed to investigate the
components of the plant seed with a view of justifying its use as traditional medicine.
Methods: The seed oil of D. edulis was exhaustively extracted with a Soxhlet extractor from 500 g seeds and 200 g seeds of D. edulis using ethanol and
petroleum ether as solvent, respectively. The extraction solvent was removed to obtain the oil which was then subjected to antimicrobial activity test
to determine its activity against the following clinical isolates namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia
coli using gentamycin as positive control. Phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were carried out
following standard methods
Results: Ethanolic extract resulted in a higher percentage of oil yield (11.6%) than petroleum ether (5.3%). D. edulis seed oil showed remarkable
activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive isolates: E. coli, Bacillus spp, and S. aureus but not against P. aeruginosa. The presence of saponins,
quinones, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, and phenol was confirmed during qualitative phytochemical screening, and the preliminary results from
GC-MS analysis show the presence of terpinen-4-ol, 4,6,6-trimethyl bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-en-2-one, ethyl 14-methyl-hexadecanoate, methyl 19-methyleicosanoate,
squalene, C-14 to C-18 fatty acids, and their esters.
Conclusion: The study, therefore, confirms that the use of D. edulis as component of traditional medicine may be justified
A review on the chemistry and pharmacological properties of benzodiazepine motifs in drug design
Benzodiazepines are an important class of heterocyclic compounds in organic
chemistry. They are known for their diverse physicochemical and biological properties.
Some benzodiazepine derivates are well-known drugs with diverse and strong
pharmacophoric moiety. An immense number of pharmacological research on
benzodiazepine heterocycles and their derivatives have recently been conducted to
explore its numerous pharmacological potentials as better therapeutic candidates for
the treatment of various disorders, benzodiazepines, however, are one of the main
sources of interest for many medicinal chemists. Researchers are drawn to the
benzodiazepine nucleus for the synthesis of new drugs because of its potent
pharmacophoric moiety and ring shape. Due to the emergence of new pathogenic
strains’ resistance to the presently available drugs, there has been a constant demand
for more effective and selective drugs. Benzodiazepine moiety has all the desired
qualities for selective drug candidates used as useful therapeutic agents. Given the importance of benzodiazepine moiety, the current review aims to assess
benzodiazepine syntheses as well as their pharmacological properties for potential
molecular targets in therapeutic development