Mohsin Ali

Antimicrobial Activity of Some Schiff Bases Derived from Benzoin, Salicylaldehyde, Aminophenol and 2,4 Dinitrophenyl Hydrazine

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of three schiff bases were evaluated against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Parallel experiments were also carried out with standard drugs (Kanamycin for bacteria and Nystatin for fungi). Two compounds [N-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-2phenylethylidine)-2‘,4’ dinitrophenyl hydrazine, abbreviated as PDH and N-(2-hydroxy benzylidine)-2’-hydroxy imine, abbreviated as HHP] showed significant antimicrobial activities. The rest one [N-(1-phenyl 2-hydroxy-2 phenyl ethylidine) 2’-hydroxy phenyl imine, abbreviated as PHP] showed moderate activity. All these three compounds were found to possess pronounced cytotoxic effect. These compounds can be considered as potent antimicrobial agents.

Overview of microbes based fabricated biogenic nanoparticles for water and wastewater treatment

Treatment of toxic and emerging pollutants (T&EPs) is increasing the threats to the survival of conventional wastewater treatment (WWTs) technologies. The high installation and operational costs of advanced treatment technologies have shifted the research interest to the development of economical and reliable technology for management of T&EPs. Thus, recently biogenic nanoparticles (BNPs) fabricated using microbes/microorganisms are getting tremendous research interest due to their unique properties (i.e. high specific surface area, desired morphology, catalytic reactivity) for the biodegradation and biosorption of T&EPs. In addition, BNPs can be manufactured using metal contaminated water which indicates a hidden potential for resource recovery and utilization. Therefore, the present study discusses the adsorptive and catalytic performance of BNPs in the removal of T&EPs from water (W) and wastewater (WW). In addition, inspired by the superior performance of BNPs in advance WWT, a model of BNPs based WWT resource recovery and utilization process is also proposed. Finally, main issues i.e. mass production, leaching, poisoning/toxicity, regeneration, reusability and fabrication costs and process optimization are discussed which are main hinders in the transfer of BNPs based WWT technologies from laboratory to commercial scale.

In Vivo Antineoplastic Activities of Benzoin Thiosemicarbazone and Para-Anisaldehyde Semicarbazone against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells

Cancer, which is a diverse group of diseases characterized by proliferation and spread of abnormal cells, is a major worldwide concern. Therefore, the discovery and development of new potent and selective anticancer drugs are of high importance in modern cancer research. Schiff bases containing the C=N group play a very important role in many biological activities. They have been found to possess anticancer (1,2), antimicrobial (3), antitubercular (4), antiinflammatory and anlgesic (5), antiviral (6), and pesticidal (7) properties. Not only the Schiff bases, but also Schiff base complexes with transition metals have been investigated for their anticancer activities against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in Swiss albino mice (8,9). Recently, the anticancer activities of some semicarbazones and thiosemicarbazones against EAC cells have been reported (10-12). The aim of the present study was to explore the anticancer properties of two Schiff bases, namely benzoin thiosemicarbazone (BTSC) and para-anisaldehyde semicarbazone (PAS).