Ahmad K. Baloch

Bio-active compounds from Euphorbia cornigera Boiss.

Euphorbia cornigera Boiss. (Euphorbiaceae) roots extracted in various organic solvents were tested against Biomphalaria glabrata snails as molluscicide using Bayluscide as a control. Among these, acetone extract was found to be the most active (LC(50)=17.5 microg L(-1)) as compared to Bayluscide. The application of HPLC fractionation yielded ten (1-10) N-(2-aminobenzoyl)anthraniloy esters. Structure and the relative configuration of all the compounds were established through spectroscopic (UV, IR (1)H, (13)C NMR, 2-D NMR, HSQC, HMQC, HMBC, COSY-45 degrees , TOCSY, HOHAHA, HOESY, ROESY, NOESY, SECSY, NOE and mass measurements) techniques. On these basis the esters are named as: 3-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]-5-O-acetyl-20-O-angelylingenol (1), 3-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-5-O-angelyl-20-O-acetylingenol (2), 3-O-acetyl-5-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-20-O-angelylingenol (3), 3-O-acetyl-5-O-angelyl-20-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloylingenol (4), 3-O-angelyl-5-O-acetyl-20-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]-anthraniloylingenol (5), 3-O-angelyl-5-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-20-O-acetylingenol (6), 3,20-O-diacetyl-5-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloylingenol (7), 5,20-O-diacetyl-3-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloylingenol (8), 3-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-20-O-acetylingenol (9) and 20-O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-3-O-acetylingenol (10). The literature reveals that compounds 1-8 are new from plant kingdom, whereas 9 and 10 are known but not reported from this source earlier. Their molluscicidal activity (in terms of LC(50)) showed that all the compounds were 1.3-2.2 times more toxic than Bayluscide except 5 and 6.

Schistosomiasis suppressing deoxyphorbol esters from Euphorbia cauducifolia L. latex.

The molluscicidal activity of E. Cauducifolia L. latex, extracted in various organic solvents, was tested against Biomphalaria glabrata snails, using Bayluscide as a control. The ethyl acetate extract was found to be the most active and in bioassay guided HPLC fractionation yielded eight ( 1- 8) compounds. The structure and relative configuration of the isolates were established through spectroscopic (UV, IR, (1)H, (13)C NMR, 2D NMR, HSQC, HMQC, HMBC, COSY-45 degrees , TOCSY, HOHAHA, HOESY, ROESY, NOESY, SECSY, and NOE) techniques and mass measurements. These were named as: 13-acetoxy-20- O-angeloyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 1), 13- O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-20-acetoxy-12-deoxyphorbol ( 2), 13,20- O-dibezoyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 3), 13,20- O-diangeloyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 4), 13- O-angeloyl-20- O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 5), 13- O-tigloyl-20- O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 6), 13- O-benzoyl-20- O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 7), and 13- O-hexanoyl-20- O-[N-(2-aminobenzoyl)]anthraniloyl-12-deoxyphorbol ( 8). The literature reveals that all of the isolates were new natural metabolites and active against mollusks. Compounds 1 and 2, which were esterified at C-13 with acetoxy or N-(2-aminobenzoyl) anthraniloyloxy, showed twice the activity of the control while others ( 3- 8) were equipotent.

Productivity-based evaluation of elite sugarcane cultivars for sustainable sugar production

This study was aimed at screening out local and exotic sugarcane clones based on productivity. Twenty-three early sugarcane varieties cultivated at model farms of Sugar Research Institute Shakkarganj (Pakistan) on September 2008 were examined periodically for juice extract, Brix, Pol, purity and sucrose recovery during the October to March crushing season of 2009-2010. A steady rise in quality was seen from the 11-12 month growth period until maturity with a clear decline afterwards to follow a quadratic equation given a strong correlation coefficient r2≈1. A highly significant difference (P<0.01) was observed within varieties and harvest period for all quality parameters. Juice extract (75.60%) and purity (87.65%) were recorded at a maximum in CP-77-400 and CP-80-1827 cultivars, respectively, whereas Brix (20.44%), Pol (17.10%) and sucrose recovery (11.03%) were highest in the CSSG-676 variety. Screening of cultivars was implemented on the basis of a logically developed productivity scale based on high s...