Bioactive Constituents from the Traditional Kurdish plant Iris persica

In the first phytochemical investigation of non-volatile secondary metabolites from the Kurdish traditional plant Iris persica L, (-)-embinin was isolated from flowers and leaves, isovitexin from flowers, trans-resveratrol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from rhizomes and tectorigenin from bulbs. The complete NMR spectra of embinin are reported for the first time. In an MTT assay, embinin showed an inhibition activity higher than the well-known antitumor drug cisplatin against five of the six tested human tumor cells. Moreover, embinin showed a significant DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 112.16) comparable to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid. The remarkable biological activities exhibited by the extracts of Iris persica and isolated compounds have validated the uses of I. persica in the traditional medicine of Kurdistan

9-Anthraldehyde oxime: a synthetic tool for variable applications

Oximes are one of the most important and prolifc functional groups in organic chemistry; among them, 9-anthraldehyde oxime represents a valuable example both from the preparative side and the synthetic applications. There are many strategies to prepare 9-anthraldehyde oxime from diferent functional groups that were summarized in the present review, focusing on the most recent and innovative. The main synthetic applications of 9-anthraldehyde oxime are presented and thoroughly discussed, focusing on the most recent and innovative synthetic strategies

Phytochemical Investigation and Antioxidant Effects of Different Solvent Extracts of Pterocephalus Nestorianus Nab. Growing in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

The medicinal plants have been used as a herbal tradition in Kurdistan. Most of the medicinal plants are still not investigated from a phytochemical and biological activity. Therefore, different solvent extraction carried out to study phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Pterocephalus nestorianus Nab. Through this research, it is reported for the first time that the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity on P. nestorianus Nab. collected at Safeen Mountain in Erbil-Iraq, which was known as a Lawa in Kurdistan. It is used against inflammation and oral diseases. The phytochemical study of four extracts (Hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and methanol 70%) of P. nestorianus flowers, leaves and roots revealed that it contains rich phytochemical composition. C4H8O2 and CH3OH extracts of P. nestorianus showed a high radical scavenging activity compared with trihydroxy benzoic acid as a standard. The flavonoid and phenolic presence showed strong correlation with the antioxidant activity

Structures and Bioactivities of Steroidal Saponins Isolated from the Genera Dracaena and Sansevieria

The species Dracaena and Sansevieria, that are well-known for different uses in traditional medicines and as indoor ornamental plants with air purifying property, are rich sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. In fact, a wide variety of phytochemical constituents have been isolated so far from about seventeen species. This paper has reviewed the literature of about 180 steroidal saponins, isolated from Dracaena and Sansevieria species, as a basis for further studies. Saponins are among the most characteristic metabolites isolated from the two genera. They show a great variety in structural motifs and a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-proliferative effects and, in most case, remarkable cytotoxic propertie

Prangos platychlaena: State of the Art from Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemical, Toxicological and Pharmacological Perspective

The Mediterranean region is a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals contained in plants and the secret of longevity. Mediterranean region represents an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and it is partially still based upon many wild plants. The use of wild plants possibly emerged in the Neolithic period in the Fertile Crescent and migrated westwards through the Mediterranean area. The genus of Prangos has 30 species distributed from the Mediterranean to central Asia, 14 of them are found in Turkey while 7 of them are found in the different areas of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Prangos platychlaena Boiss. (family: Apiaceae) abundantly found in the mountains of Halgurd. P. platychlaena has been reported as potent antioxidant plant, and traditionally used as carminative, and diuretic. Prangos also traditionally used in the treatment of burning and wounds, kidney, and urinary disorders. P. platychlaena have been reported to cause toxicological effects in animals, and shows potential cytotoxic activities in in-vitro studies. The current review has covered comprehensively habitats, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, toxicological and pharmacological actions of P. platychlaena

Research data sharing: developing a stakeholder-driven model for journal policies

The conclusions of research articles generally depend on bodies of data that cannot be included in the articles themselves. The sharing of this data is important for reasons of both transparency and possible reuse. Science, Technology and Medicine journals have an obvious role in facilitating sharing, but how they might do that is not yet clear. The Journal Research Data (JoRD) Project was a JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) funded feasibility study on the possible shape of a central service on journal research data policies. The objectives of the study included, amongst other considerations: to identify the current state of journal data sharing policies and to investigate the views and practices of stakeholders to data sharing. The project confirmed that a large percentage of journals do not have a policy on data sharing, and that there are inconsistencies between the traceable journal data sharing policies. Such a state leaves authors unsure of whether they should deposit data relating to articles and where and how to share that data. In the absence of a consolidated infrastructure for the easy sharing of data, a journal data sharing model policy was developed. The model policy was developed from comparing the quantitative information gathered from analysing existing journal data policies with qualitative data collected from the stakeholders concerned. This article summarises the information gathered, outlines the process by which the model was developed and presents the model journal data sharing policy in full

Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Iris Species Growing in Iraqi Kurdistan and Phenolic Constituents of the Traditional Plant Iris postii

A dozen Iris species (Iridaceae) are considered traditional remedies in Kurdistan, especially for treating inflammations. Phytochemical studies are still scarce. The information reported in the literature about Iris species growing in Kurdistan has been summarized in the first part of this paper, although, except for Iris persica, investigations have been performed on vegetal samples collected in countries different from Kurdistan. In the second part of the work, we have investigated, for the first time, the contents of the methanolic extracts of Iris postii aerial parts and rhizomes that were collected in Kurdistan. Both extracts exhibited a significant dose-dependent free radical scavenging and total antioxidant activities, comparable to those of ascorbic acid. Medium-pressure liquid chromatographic separations of the two extracts afforded l-tryptophan, androsin, isovitexin, swertisin, and 2″-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl swertisin from the aerial parts, whereas ε-viniferin, trans-resveratrol 3,4′-O-di-β-d-glucopyranoside, and isotectorigenin were isolated from the rhizomes. This is the first finding of the last three metabolites from an Iris species. The various remarkable biological activities of isolated compounds scientifically sustain the traditional use of I. postii as a medicinal plant

Diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE-C): applications in chromatography and organic synthesis

The aim of this review is to point out the attention of the reader to the use of DEAE-C in organic reactions, possibly not only devoted to the preparation of heterocycles but potentially extending to other classes of organic compounds. Being DEAE-C an ammonium salt commonly used in chromatographic applications, it can be considered as a potential mild acid catalyst or a proton donor and these features can in theory catalyze standard acid-catalyzed organic reactions. In addition, the resin nature of DEAE-C could suggest the way to perform organic reactions in the solid stat

Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Some New N, N`-Bis-[(2-hydroxynapthalene-1-yl) Substituted Phenyl-methyl] 4,4`-diaminodiphenylSulphone

An efficient and easy approach to N,N`-Bis-[(2-hydroxy-napthalene-1-yl) substituted phenylmethyl] 4,4`-diamine diphenyl sulphone derivatives is presented in this study. The products can be obtained both through the traditional method and via the microwave assisted protocol from the condensation of 4,4`-diamine diphenyl sulphone, benzaldehydes derivatives and β-naphthol. The characterization of the newly provided compounds elucidated by spectral methods: FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and Mass spectral data. Finally, the bis-Bestti bases have been screened for antimicrobial and antifungal activities