Electron-impact-induced fragmentation of morellin and related compounds

The mass spectra of morellin and other related natural products, isolated from the various Garcinia species, have been recorded and the data has been rationalised. The characteristic cleavage is the opening of the bicyclo(2.2.2) octenone ring system by a retro-Diels-Alder reaction. The γ-pyrone ring also undergoes the retro-Diels-Alder fragmentation. These two modes of cleavage indicate the different substituents on the main skeleton of morellin. The hydrogenated derivatives show slight variations in their fragmentation modes. The mass spectral data assists considerably in the structural elucidation of similar complex molecules, if isolated in minute quantities

Brief Communication - EVALUATION OF BIPHASIC CULTURE SYSTEM FOR MYCOBACTERIAL ISOLATION FROM THE SPUTUM OF PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Mycobacterial diseases continue to cause high morbidity and mortality. Isolation, identification and sensitivity testing form the backbone of laboratory investigations. M. tuberculosis isolation needs 6-8 weeks on conventional egg containing media. For rapid isolation various methods have been evaluated. We evaluated biphasic system (Middlebrook 7H11 agar slant + Middlebrook 9H broth) in comparison with Lowenstein - Jensen (LJ) medium. In smear positive cases biphasic system showed the recovery rate of 97.05% as against 79.41% on LJ on incubation for 21± 4.44 and 28±3.76 days respectively. In smear negative and culture positive cases biphasic system and LJ showed isolation rates of 91.66% and 66.6% after 36±3.44 and 41± 4.09 days respectively. Biphasic system showed lower contamination rate (1.33%). Biphasic medium is superior to LJ medium in isolation of M. tuberculosis

A benzophenone and xanthone with unusual hydroxylation patterns from the heartwood of Garcinia pedunculata

From the heartwood of Garcinia pedunculata, 2,4,6,3',5'-pentahydroxybenzophenone; 1,3,5,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone have been isolated

Tamulustoxin: a novel potassium channel blocker from the venom of the Indian red scorpion mesobuthus tamulus

We have characterized tamulustoxin, a novel 35-amino-acid peptide found in the venom of the Indian red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus). Tamulustoxin was identified through a [125I]toxin I screen, designed to identify toxins that block voltage-activated potassium channels. Tamulustoxin has also been cloned by RT-PCR, using RNA extracted from scorpion venom glands. Tamulustoxin shares no homology with other scorpion venom toxins, although the positions of its six cysteine residues would suggest that it shares the same structural scaffold. Tamulustoxin rapidly inhibited both peak and steady-state currents (18.9 +/- 1.0 and 37 +/- 1.1%, respectively) produced by injecting CHO cells with mRNA encoding the hKv1.6 channel.</p