Dau D. Agarwal

Synthesis and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole, pyrazole and benzylidene derivatives of curcumin

A novel, one-pot, simple, efficient procedure for 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole (4a-h), pyrazole (6a-d) and benzylidene (7a-d) derivatives of curcumin under solvent and solvent free conditions in microwave with good yield is have been synthesized. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Providencia rettgeri and antifungal activity against fungi viz Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus flavus. Detailed mechanistic study shows reaction proceeds through Knoevenagel type intermediate 3a which has been suggested as key intermediate for reaction (Fig. 3).

Antiprotozoal activities of traditional medicinal plants from the Garhwal region of North West Himalaya, India.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In a search for new plant-derived biologically active compounds against protozoan parasites, an ethnopharmacological study was carried out to evaluate extracts from selected 17 traditional medicinal plants which were used by healers from the Garhwal region of North West Himalaya for the treatment of protozoal infections and fever including malaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro activity against erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum was determined using a modified [3H]-hypoxanthine incorporation assay with the chloroquine- and pyrimethamine-resistant K1 strain. Activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense was performed on the STIB 900 strain and activity against Trypanosoma cruzi on infected rat skeletal myoblasts (L6 cells) seeded in 96-well microtitre plates while amastigotes of Leishmania donovani strain MHOM/ET/67/L82 were used to assess activity against Leishmania donovani. Cytotoxicity assays were performed against rat skeletal myoblasts (L6-cells). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Extracts of Artemisia roxburghiana, Roylea cinerea, Leucas cephalotes, Nepeta hindostana and Viola canescens showed good antiplasmodial activity (IC50<5 μg/ml). The chloroform extract of Artemisia roxburghiana was the most active (IC50 value of 0.42 μg/ml) and the most selective (SI=78) extract for Plasmodium falciparum among all plants extracts examined. The chloroform extract of Leucas cephalotes and the petroleum ether extract of Viola canescens exhibited substantial activities against Leishmania donovani with IC50 values of 3.61 μg/ml (SI=8) and 0.40 μg/ml (SI=30), respectively. The petroleum ether extract of Viola canescens exhibited activity against Trypanosoma cruzi with an IC50 value of 1.86 μg/ml (SI=7). Methanol and water extracts from all plants under investigation were found inactive against all parasites tested. These results support investigation of components of traditional medicines as potential new antiprotozoal agents. On the other hand since herbalism has become the main stream throughout the world, investigation demonstrates that these non-polar plant extracts of six of the plants examined in this study could play an important role in herbal formulations for the treatment of vector borne protozoal diseases.

Design, synthesis, synergistic antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of 4-aryl substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones of curcumin.

3,4-Dihydropyrimidinones of curcumin were synthesized in excellent yield by multi-component one-pot condensation of curcumin, substituted aromatic aldehydes and urea/thiourea under solvent free conditions using SnCl(2)·2H(2)O catalyst. All the synthesized compounds have been characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, Mass spectra as well as elemental analyses. The synthesized compounds 4a-n were evaluated for their synergistic antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activity against bacteria and fungi. Zone of inhibition was measured by adopting disc diffusion method. In vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured using broth microdilution and food poisoning method. In addition to this in vitro cytotoxicity of synthesized compounds against three human cancer lines Hep-G2, HCT-116 and QG-56 were also evaluated. Most of the compounds showed interesting antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity as compared to curcumin, that is, the compounds derived from 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde, 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzaldehyde showed the highest biological activity as compared to other compounds.

Anti-malarial activity of Holarrhena antidysenterica and Viola canescens, plants traditionally used against malaria in the Garhwal region of north-west Himalaya

BackgroundThe increasing number of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium strains warrants exploration of new anti-malarials. Medicinal plant research has become more important, particularly after the development of Chinese anti-malarial drug artemisnin from Artemisia annua. The present study shows evaluation of anti-malarial effects of two plants commonly used against malaria in the Garhwal region of north-west Himalaya, in order to discover the herbal-based medicine.MethodsIn vitro anti-plasmodial sensitivity of plant extracts was assessed using schizont maturation and parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxic activities of the examined extracts were determined on L-6 cells of rat skeletal muscle myoblast. The 4-day test for anti-malarial activity against a chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain in Swiss albino mice was used for monitoring in vivo activity of plant extracts.ResultsChloroform extract of H. antidysenterica (HA-2) and petroleum ether extract of V. canescens (VC-1) plants significantly reduced parasitaemia in P. berghei infected mice. The extract HA-2 showed in vitro anti-plasmodial activity with its IC50 value 5.5 μg/ml using pLDH assay and ED50 value 18.29 mg/kg in P. berghei infected Swiss albino mice. Similarly petroleum ether extract of V. canescens (VC-1) showed in vitro anti-plasmodial activity with its IC50 value 2.76 μg/ml using pLDH assay and ED50 15.8 mg/kg in P. berghei infected mice. The extracts coded as HA-2 at 30 mg/kg and VC-1 at 20 mg/kg exhibited parasite inhibition in mice: 73.2% and 63.0% respectively. Of these two plant extracts, petroleum ether extract of V. canescens was found slightly cytotoxic.ConclusionThe present investigation reflects the use of these traditional medicinal plants against malaria and these plants may work as potential source in the development of variety of herbal formulations for the treatment of malaria.

Biological activity, design, synthesis and structure activity relationship of some novel derivatives of curcumin containing sulfonamides.

Five series of curcumin derivatives with sulfonamides 3a-3e, 4a-4e, 5a-5e, 6a-6e and 7a-7e have been synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against selected medically important gram-(+) and gram-(-) bacterial species viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and antifungal activity against few pathogenic fungal species viz. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma viride and Curvularia lunata. The cytotoxicity has been determined by measuring IC50 values against human cell lines HeLa, Hep G-2, QG-56 and HCT-116. Among the compounds screened, 3a-3e showed the most potent biological activity against tested bacteria and fungi. Compounds 3a-3e displayed higher cytotoxicity than curcumin. The curcumin derivatives were also evaluated for in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. In contrast, the compounds 6a-6e and 7a-7e showed dramatically decrease in biological activity.

An instant and facile bromination of industrially-important aromatic compounds in water using recyclable CaBr2–Br2 system

Various industrially-important brominated intermediates have been instantly synthesized using aq. CaBr2–Br2 system as an efficient and recyclable brominating reagent under aqueous conditions at room temperature without the need for metal catalysts or acidic additives. Structurally-diverse phenol and aniline derivatives with strong electron-withdrawing groups such as carboxylic, nitro and formyl show remarkable reactivity to the brominating reagent and brominated in 92–98% yield with high purity (>99%) in a very short reaction time. Organic solvent-free conditions, a feature of the green chemistry, were successively used not only for the reactions but also for the isolation of products at the end of the reaction. The recycling of HBr by its neutralization, thereby generating additional amounts of industrially-important CaBr2 has been designed and developed. The brominating reagent has been recycled and regenerated, and the process was repeated up to 4 cycles after the fresh batch using the regenerated brominating reagent having almost identical selectivity and isolated yields, which seems to be the most promising methodology from the viewpoint of the green approach to organic synthesis.

A facile green synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial activity 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole derivatives using aluminum trichloride under solvent free conditions

Aluminum trichloride acts as readily available, inexpensive, and efficient catalyst for one-pot three-component condensation reaction of aldehydes, dicarbonyl, and 2-amino benzothiazole under the solvent-free conditions to afford the 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole derivatives 4 with good yield. The compounds synthesized in this study were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Providencia rettegeri. Compounds 4c, 4d, 4f, 4g, and 4h showed their good activities against tested bacterial species. Pyrimidine derivatives 4d, 4f, and 4g have shown good antifungal activities against tested fungal strains, such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus flavus, etc.Graphical abstract

Structure activity relationship, cytotoxicity and evaluation of antioxidant activity of curcumin derivatives.

Series of curcumin derivatives/analogues were designed and efficient method for synthesis thereof is described. All the synthesized compounds have been screened for their cytotoxicity and evaluated their antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity effect has been evaluated against three cell lines Hep-G2, HCT-116 and QG-56 by MTT assay method. Structure activity relationship has revealed that particularly, compound 3c, (IC50 value 6.25 μM) has shown better cytotoxicity effect against three cell lines. According to results of SAR study, it was found that 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives (2e and 2f), pyrazoles (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) benzylidenes (4d) exhibited better antioxidant activity than curcumin. A correlation of structure and activities relationship of these compounds with respect to drug score profiles and other physico-chemical properties of drugs are described and verified experimentally.

Hydrotalcite: recyclable, novel heterogeneous catalyst for facile, environmentally benign and high yielding multi-component synthesis and mechanistic study under solvent free conditions

The synthesis of the 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole (1a–1h), 1,2,4-triazoloquinazolines (2a,2b), octahydroquinazolinones (3a,3b) and fused thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolinone (4a,4b) by multicomponent reactions using aldehydes, dicarbonyl and 2-amino benzothiazole/3-amino-1,2,4-triazole/urea/thiorea has been carried out in the presence of Mg–Al–CO3 and Ca–Al–CO3 hydrotalcite as a heterogeneous catalyst. Hydrotalcites need short reaction times, are non-toxic, easy to work up and reusable under solvent free conditions, hence making this process environment friendly. A detailed mechanistic study shows that the reaction using urea proceeds through imine intermediate 6. In addition, we have isolated and characterized the key intermediate of the reaction by using hydrotalcite.

Anti-malarial property of steroidal alkaloid conessine isolated from the bark of Holarrhena antidysenterica

BackgroundIn the face of chronic and emerging resistance of parasites to currently available drugs and constant need for new anti-malarials, natural plant products have been the bastion of anti-malarials for thousands of years. Moreover natural plant products and their derivatives have traditionally been a common source of drugs, and represent more than 30% of the current pharmaceutical market. The present study shows evaluation of anti-malarial effects of compound conessine isolated from plant Holarrhena antidysenterica frequently used against malaria in the Garhwal region of north-west Himalaya.MethodsIn vitro anti-plasmodial activity of compound was assessed using schizont maturation and parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxic activities of the examined compound were determined on L-6 cells of rat skeletal muscle myoblast. The four-day test for anti-malarial activity against a chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain in BALB/c mice was used for monitoring in vivo activity of compound. In liver and kidney function test, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was examined by p-NPP method, bilirubin by Jendrassik and Grof method. The urea percentage was determined by modified Berthelot method and creatinine by alkaline picrate method in serum of mice using ENZOPAK/CHEMPAK reagent kits.ResultsCompound conessine showed in vitro anti-plasmodial activity with its IC50 value 1.9 μg/ml and 1.3 μg/ml using schizont maturation and pLDH assay respectively. The compound showed cytotoxity IC50= 14 μg/ml against L6 cells of rat skeletal muscle myoblast. The isolated compound from plant H. antidysenterica significantly reduced parasitaemia (at 10 mg/kg exhibited 88.95% parasite inhibition) in P. berghei-infected mice. Due to slightly toxic nature (cytotoxicity = 14), biochemical analysis (liver and kidney function test) of the serum from mice after administration of conessine were also observed.ConclusionThe present investigation demonstrates that the compound conessine exhibited substantial anti-malarial property. The isolated compound could be chemically modified to obtain a more potent chemical entity with improved characteristics against malaria.