Neuroprotective Effects of Bikaverin on H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Mediated Neuronal Damage in SH-Sy5y Cell Line

The generation of free radicals and oxidative stress has been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The use of free radical scavenging molecules for the reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species is one of the strategies used in the clinical management of neurodegeneration. Fungal secondary metabolism is a rich source of novel molecules with potential bioactivity. In the current study, bikaverin was extracted from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and its structural characterization was carried out. Further, we explored the protective effects of bikaverin on oxidative stress and its anti-apoptotic mechanism to attenuate H2O2-induced neurotoxicity using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Our results elucidate that pretreatment of neurons with bikaverin attenuates the mitochondrial and plasma membrane damage induced by 100 µM H2O2 to 82 and 26 % as evidenced by MTT and LDH assays. H2O2 induced depletion of antioxidant enzyme status was also replenished by bikaverin which was confirmed by Realtime Quantitative PCR analysis of SOD and CAT genes. Bikaverin pretreatment efficiently potentiated the H2O2-induced neuronal markers, such as BDNF, TH, and AADC expression, which orchestrate the neuronal damage of the cell. The H2O2-induced damage to cells, nuclear, and mitochondrial integrity was also restored by bikaverin. Bikaverin could be developed as a preventive agent against neurodegeneration and as an alternative to some of the toxic synthetic antioxidants

An experimental and computational investigation of structure and magnetism in pyrite Co1−x_{1-x}Fex_xS2_2: Chemical bonding and half-metallicity

Bulk samples of the pyrite chalcogenide solid solutions Co$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$S$_2$ 0 <= x <= 0.5, have been prepared and their crystal structures and magnetic properties studied by X-ray diffraction and SQUID magnetization measurements. Across the solution series, the distance between sulfur atoms in the persulfide (S$_2^{2-}$) unit remains nearly constant. First principles electronic structure calculations using experimental crystal structures as inputs point to the importance of this constant S-S distance, in helping antibonding S-S levels pin the Fermi energy. In contrast hypothetical rock-salt CoS is not a good half metal, despite being nearly isostructural and isoelectronic. We use our understanding of the Co$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$S$_2$ system to make some prescriptions for new ferromagnetic half-metals.Comment: 8 pages including 9 figure

Unconventional magnetism in the 4d4^{4} based (S=1S=1) honeycomb system Ag3_{3}LiRu2_{2}O6_{6}

We have investigated the thermodynamic and local magnetic properties of the Mott insulating system Ag$_{3}$LiRu$_{2}$O$_{6}$ containing Ru$^{4+}$ (4$d$$^{4}$) for novel magnetism. The material crystallizes in a monoclinic $C2/m$ structure with RuO$_{6}$ octahedra forming an edge-shared two-dimensional honeycomb lattice with limited stacking order along the $c$-direction. The large negative Curie-Weiss temperature ($\theta_{CW}$ = -57 K) suggests antiferromagnetic interactions among Ru$^{4+}$ ions though magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity show no indication of magnetic long-range order down to 1.8 K and 0.4 K, respectively. $^{7}$Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shift follows the bulk susceptibility between 120-300 K and levels off below 120 K. Together with a power-law behavior in the temperature dependent spin-lattice relaxation rate between 0.2 and 2 K, it suggest dynamic spin correlations with gapless excitations. Electronic structure calculations suggest an $S = 1$ description of the Ru-moments and the possible importance of further neighbour interactions as also bi-quadratic and ring-exchange terms in determining the magnetic properties. Analysis of our $\mu$SR data indicates spin freezing below 5 K but the spins remain on the borderline between static and dynamic magnetism even at 20 mK.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures. accepted in Phys. Rev.

Evaluation of third order nonlinear optical properties of SiO2/PVA-PEG Nanocomposites by Z-Scan Method

SiO2 nanoparticles was synthesized by sol-gel method and polymer nanocomposites by solvo-casting method. XRD and SEM analysis have revealed the size, morphological structure and formation of SiO2/PVA-PEG polymer nanocomposites. The presence of hydrogen bond between SiO2 and PVA-PEG was proved with the help of Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). Further UV-Vis studies was used to find the optical band gap and linear refractive index. Third order nonlinear optical properties such as two photon absorption, nonlinear refractive index and third order nonlinear susceptibility was evaluated for the title compound using Z-scan method. The estimated nonlinear optical properties of title compound proved the appropriateness of the sample for optical applications

Magnetic and electron transport properties of the rare-earth cobaltates, La0.7-xLnxCa0.3CoO3 (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd and Dy) : A case of phase separation

Magnetic and electrical properties of four series of rare earth cobaltates of the formula La0.7-xLnxCa0.3CoO3 with Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd and Dy have been investigated. Compositions close to x = 0.0 contain large ferromagnetic clusters or domains, and show Brillouin-like behaviour of the field-cooled DC magnetization data with fairly high ferromagnetic Tc values, besides low electrical resistivities with near-zero temperature coefficients. The zero-field-cooled data generally show a non-monotonic behaviour with a peak at a temperatures slightly lower than Tc. The near x = 0.0 compositions show a prominent peak corresponding to the Tc in the AC-susceptibility data. The ferromagnetic Tc varies linearly with x or the average radius of the A-site cations, (rA). With increase in x or decrease in (rA), the magnetization value at any given temperature decreases markedly and the AC-susceptibility measurements show a prominent transition arising from small magnetic clusters with some characteristics of a spin-glass. Electrical resistivity increases with increase in x, showed a significant increase around a critical value of x or (rA), at which composition the small clusters also begin to dominate. These properties can be understood in terms of a phase separation scenario wherein large magnetic clusters give way to smaller ones with increase in x, with both types of clusters being present in certain compositions. The changes in magnetic and electrical properties occur parallely since the large ferromagnetic clusters are hole-rich and the small clusters are hole-poor. Variable-range hopping seems to occur at low temperatures in these cobaltates.Comment: 23 pages including figure

Properties of the ferrimagnetic double-perovskite A_{2}FeReO_{6} (A=Ba and Ca)

Ceramics of A_{2}FeReO_{6} double-perovskite have been prepared and studied for A=Ba and Ca. Ba_{2}FeReO_{6} has a cubic structure (Fm3m) with $a\approx$8.0854(1) \AA whereas Ca_{2}FeReO_{6} has a distorted monoclinic symmetry with $a\approx 5.396(1) \AA, b\approx 5.522(1) \AA, c\approx 7.688(2) \AA$ and $\beta =90.4^{\circ} (P21/n)$. The barium compound is metallic from 5 K to 385 K, i.e. no metal-insulator transition has been seen up to 385 K, and the calcium compound is semiconducting from 5 K to 385 K. Magnetization measurements show a ferrimagnetic behavior for both materials, with T_{c}=315 K for Ba_{2}FeReO_{6} and above 385 K for Ca_{2}FeReO_{6}. A specific heat measurement on the barium compound gave an electron density of states at the Fermi level, N(E_{F}) equal to 6.1$\times 10^{24} eV^{-1}mole^{-1}$. At 5 K, we observed a negative magnetoresistance of 10 % in a magnetic field of 5 T, but only for Ba_{2}FeReO_{6}. Electrical, thermal and magnetic properties are discussed and compared to the analogous compounds Sr_{2}Fe(Mo,Re)O_{6}.Comment: 5 pages REVTeX, 7 figures included, submitted to PR

First principles electronic structure of spinel LiCr2O4: A possible half-metal?

We have employed first-principles electronic structure calculations to examine the hypothetical (but plausible) oxide spinel, LiCr2O4 with the d^{2.5} electronic configuration. The cell (cubic) and internal (oxygen position) structural parameters have been obtained for this compound through structural relaxation in the first-principles framework. Within the one-electron band picture, we find that LiCr2O4 is magnetic, and a candidate half-metal. The electronic structure is substantially different from the closely related and well known rutile half-metal CrO2. In particular, we find a smaller conduction band width in the spinel compound, perhaps as a result of the distinct topology of the spinel crystal structure, and the reduced oxidation state. The magnetism and half-metallicity of LiCr2O4 has been mapped in the parameter space of its cubic crystal structure. Comparisons with superconducting LiTi2O4 (d^{0.5}), heavy-fermion LiV2O4 (d^{1.5}) and charge-ordering LiMn2O4 (d^{3.5}) suggest the effectiveness of a nearly-rigid band picture involving simple shifts of the position of E_F in these very different materials. Comparisons are also made with the electronic structure of ZnV2O4 (d^{2}), a correlated insulator that undergoes a structural and antiferromagnetic phase transition.Comment: 9 pages, 7 Figures, version as published in PR

Characterization of the Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Ketorolac and Its Enantiomers in the Rat

ABSTRACT The marked analgesic efficacy of ketorolac in humans, relative to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has lead to speculation as to whether additional non-NSAID mechanism(s) contribute to its analgesic actions. To evaluate this possibility, we characterized (R,S)-ketorolac&apos;s pharmacological properties in vivo and in vitro using the nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors [indomethacin (INDO) and diclofenac sodium (DS)] as well as the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, as references. The potency of racemic (R,S)-ketorolac was similar in tests of acetic acid-induced writhing, carrageenaninduced paw hyperalgesia, and carrageenan-induced edema formation in rats; ID 50 values ϭ 0.24, 0.29, and 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. (R,S)-ketorolac&apos;s actions were stereospecific, with (S)-ketorolac possessing the biological activity of the racemate in the above tests. The analgesic potencies for (R,S)-, (S)-, and (R)-ketorolac, INDO, and DS were highly correlated with their anti-inflammatory potencies, suggesting a common mechanism. (R,S)-ketorolac was significantly more potent than INDO or DS in vivo. Neither difference in relative potency of COX inhibition for (R,S)-ketorolac over INDO and DS nor activity of (S)-ketorolac at a number of other enzymes, channels, or receptors could account for the differences in observed potency. The distribution coefficient for (R,S)-ketorolac was approximately 30-fold less than for DS or INDO, indicating that (R,S)-ketorolac is much less lipophilic than these NSAIDs. Therefore, the physicochemical and pharmacokinetics properties of (R,S)-ketorolac may optimize the concentrations of (S)-ketorolac at its biological target(s), resulting in greater efficacy and potency in vivo