Debmalya Mitra

Synthesis, characterization, X-ray crystallography, and antimicrobial activities of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with a salicylaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazone ligand

A new salicylaldehyde-based ‘ONS’ tridentate salicylaldehyde-N(4)-diethylthiosemicarbazone (H2SANEt2) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, mass, IR, and 1H NMR spectral parameters. The coordination mode of the synthesized ligand is reported by solid state isolation and physico-chemical identification of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes, [Ni(SANEt2)]2 (1) and [Cu(SANEt2)]2 (2). Both complexes are neutral and oxygen-bridged dinuclear species. The ligand is bideprotonated ‘ONS’ tridentate in both complexes. IR spectral data indicate that coordination of each metal of the two complexes occurs through phenolic oxygen, azomethine nitrogen, and thiolato sulfur. X-ray crystallographic data of 1 and 2 (both monoclinic, P21/c) show a MONSO (where M=Ni and Cu) square-planar coordination around each metal. Magnetic studies of 2 show that the two Cu(II) centers are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled via the bridging phenoxo O. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacteria. The inhibition power of the complexes was greater than the parent ligand.

ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF LEUCAS INDICA (LINN.) AGAINST EHRLICH ASCITES CARCINOMA CELLS ON SWISS ALBINO MICE

T he present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo anticancer activity of methanolic and aqueous extract of Leucas indica Linn. ( Aerial parts) against Eh rlich’s Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) on Swiss albino mice . The anticancer activity was done by intra peritoneal transplantation of EAC cells into mice and subsequently analysis of asci tic fluid, haematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters along with body weight and percentage of life span . The animals were treated with the extracts a t the dose level of 200 and 400 mg/kg , intra peritoneally and compared to the refer ence drug vinblastine . Both t he extract s showed significant dose dependent reduction of viable cells (cancer cells ) , increased non - viable cells (dead cells) , decreased in body weight and increased the duration of life span . In case of hematological study t he extracts showed increased hemoglobin level and RBC count but decreased W BC count . The certain important serum enzymes like glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase level s were also decreased in treate d group of animals. Finally, in case of histopathologica l investigation of livers showed a significant protection and regeneration of EAC induced oxidative stress and cellular damage . The preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the pre sence of flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, saponin and tannin. However t he aqueous fraction of the Leucas indica possesses more potential anticancer property compared to methanolic fraction . The anticancer property of this plant was considered due to t he presence of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds.

Gum odina: an emerging gut modulating approach in colorectal cancer prevention

It is well established that prebiotics have a profound influence on colonic microbiota which in turn play an essential role in ameliorating the host’s health. This study is focused on Gum Odina (GO), a reported prebiotic in our earlier work, and its impact on colorectal cancer (CRC). GO, upon utilization by probiotics, liberates short-chain fatty acids, acetic acid (0.864 ± 0.050 mg ml−1) and butyric acid (2.303 ± 0.083 mg ml−1) predominantly and increases colonization of Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. in a gut simulator. The in vivo preventive study of CRC was conducted on Swiss albino mice using 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) along with inulin and GO as the standard and test prebiotic, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of the colon depict that the severity of mucosal dysplasia, flat lesions and loss of goblet cells was quite low in the GO group compared to the DMH alone treated group. The same was noticed in the histomicrograph in terms of alteration of the colonic architecture and abnormalities in the submucosa. Administration of DMH also caused oxidative burst as the levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation significantly increased (p < 0.05) but reduced by 29.35% and 27.65%, respectively, in the GO group. Moreover, the levels of glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the colonic tissues significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 31.26%, 10.96%, 12.4% and 6.37%, respectively, when compared to IN, a standard prebiotic. Thus, GO possesses CRC-preventing along with antioxidant properties and slows the overall tumor genesis process.