Shazia Anjum

Broncho-vasodilatory activity of fractions and pure constituents isolated from Bacopa monniera

The present study demonstrates that various fractions and sub-fractions isolated from Bacopa monniera produced significant inhibition of carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction, hypotension and bradycardia in anaesthetized rats. All these showed more potency towards inhibition of tracheal pressure compared to either blood pressure or heart rate. The sub-sub fraction and compound 1 caused greater inhibition of tracheal pressure and heart rate compared to blood pressure. Thus, overall bioassay-directed fractionation of B. monniera improved the bronchodilatory activity in various fractions and compound 1 (2-219x) in anaesthetized rats. In vitro, the KCl-induced contraction was equally inhibited by crude extract, petroleum ether and methanol fractions on trachea suggesting bronchodilatory activity remained the same in fractions. On pulmonary artery petroleum ether, dichloromethane and methanol fractions produced 2-2.6 times more vasodilatation compared to crude extract of B. monniera. Subsequent sub-fractions failed to show the existence of broncho-vasodilatory activity, however, the CHCl(3)/MeOH sub-fraction significantly reduced the acetylcholine-induced contraction on ileum. Both the methanol fraction and CHCl(3)/MeOH sub-fraction caused marked reduction of barium chloride-, potassium chloride- and calcium chloride-induced contraction on guinea-pig ileum, indicating their interference with Ca(2+) ion movement. Thus, it may be concluded that various fractions derived from B. monniera possess broncho-vasodilatory activity, which is attributed mainly to inhibition of calcium ions.

Biotransformation of adrenosterone by filamentous fungus, Cunninghamella elegans

Microbial transformation of adrenosterone (1) by suspended-cell cultures of the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans resulted in the production of five metabolites 2-6, which were identified as 9alpha-hydroxyadrenosterone (2), 11-ketotestosterone (3), 6beta-hydroxyadrenosterone (4), 9alpha-hydroxy-11-ketotestosterone (5), and 6beta-hydroxy-11-ketotestosterone (6). Structures of new metabolites 2, 5, and 6 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Pregnane-Type Steroidal Alkaloids of Sarcococca saligna: a New Class of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Phytochemical investigation of Sarcococca saligna by extensive bioassay-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of the pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids 1–15, i.e. of the five new compounds 1–5 and the ten known alkaloids 6–15. The structures of the new alkaloids salignenamide C (1), salignenamide D (2), 2β-hydroxyepipachysamine D (3), salignenamide E (4), and salignenamide F (5) were elucidated with the help of modern spectroscopic techniques, while the known alkaloids axillarine C (6), axillarine F (7), sarcorine (8), N3-demethylsaracodine (9), saligcinnamide (10), salignenamide A (11), vaganine A (12), axillaridine A (13), sarsalignone (14), and sarsalignenone (15) were identified by comparing their spectral data with those reported earlier. Inhibition of electric-eel acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) and horse-serum butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) by alkaloids 1–15 were investigated. These new cholinesterase inhibitors may act as potential leads in the discovery of clinically useful inhibitors for nervous-system disorders, particularly by reducing memory deficiency in Alzheimers disease patients by potentiating and effecting the cholinergic transmission process. These compounds were found to inhibit both enzymes in a concentration-dependent fashion with the IC50 values ranging from 5.21–227.92 μM against acetylcholinesterase and 2.18–38.36 μM against butyrylcholinesterase.

Recognition of creatinine by weak aromatic acids in solid phase along with their supramolecular network

Aromatic acids and creatinine, an important blood metabolite, form well-defined crystalline ionic complexes. Their supramolecular architecture is formed not only by simple proton transfer and ionic interaction but also by other very important noncovalent interactions, especially the hydrogen bonds. The supramolecular behavior of the complexes is varied with the acidity and structural difference of aromatic acids. Creatinine interestingly generated creatine monohydrate during crystallization of creatinine with glacial acetic acid and the supramolecular array of creatine monohydrate is also reported.

Phytochemical Studies on Steroidal Alkaloids of Sarcococca saligna

Abstract Three new pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids salignenamide-A 1 [(20S, 2′Z) - 20 - (N,N - dimethylamino) - 3β - (3′, 4′ - dimethyl-2-pentenamido)-pregnane], salignenamide-B 2 [(20S,2′Z)-20- (N,N-dimethylamino)-3β-(3′-methyl-2′-butenamido)-pregna-4, 14-diene] and 2,4-diacetoxyepipachysamine-D 3 [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3β-benzamido-2β, 4β-diacetoxypregnane] have been isolated from the ethanolic extracts of the whole plant of Sarcococca saligna. The structures of these steroidal alkaloids were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic studies.

NEW AND KNOWN CONSTITUENTS FROM IRIS UNGUICULARIS AND THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

A new compound, 1,3-O-diferuloylsucrose (1), and a synthetically known compound, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxychromone (2), along with several known natural products, irilone (3), 4�c ,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone (4), tectorigenin (5), kaempferol (6), 4�c ,5,7-trihydroxy-3�c ,8-dimethoxyflavanone (7), 8-methoxyeriodictyol (8), hispidulin (9), and mangiferin (10) were isolated from the rhizomes of Iris unguicularis. Compounds 1, 6, 8 and 10 showed a considerable DPPH radicals scavenging activity. Their structures have been deduced through different spectroscopic techniques. The structure of compound 2 was also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques as well.

A comparative ethno-botanical study of Cholistan (an arid area) and Pothwar (a semi-arid area) of Pakistan for traditional medicines

BackgroundThe present study is intended to compare and document the therapeutic flora, their remedial use, and the traditional knowledge used frequently by the residents of the Cholistan desert and Pothwar (Potohar) Plateau of Punjab, Pakistan. The old endemic remedies of these areas are diminishing due to lack of qualitative and quantitative research.MethodsThe data was generated by unstructured-interviews, informal meetings, open-ended conversations and group discussions with local people and traditional health healers of the study area. Reported literature was also utilized.ResultsThe study recorded a list of various medicinal plants used as traditional medicines by local people. Total 86 numbers of plant species belonging to 38 families and 67 plant species belonging to 29 families have been reported in the Pothwar and Cholistan respectively. Only 10.5% of similar plant species were present in the studied areas.ConclusionThe investigation revealed that the local people of study areas inherit a rich traditional knowledge but there is great danger of losing this wealth of knowledge in the near future. Documentation of the knowledge exclusively from desert area of Cholistan, Pakistan is unique information in its nature. The study presents the undocumented knowledge worth recognition that will not only help in conservation of medicinal plant species but will highlight the pharmacological capacity for improved human healthcare regarding many common ailments.

Anti-diabetic and spasmolytic potential of Farsetia hamiltonii Royle from Cholistan desert.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Folk herbal practitioners of the Cholistan desert claim Farsetia hamiltonii Royle (Brassicaceae) to treat diabetes, oxidative damages, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The aim of this study was to scientifically find the potential of Farsetia hamiltonii in treating diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vivo anti-diabetic activity of Farsetia hamiltonii was studied on alloxan induced diabetic rats to justify its traditional use. The in vitro antispasmodic activity on isolated tissues of rabbit jejunum was also evaluated. In addition, several enzyme inhibition studies (lipoxygenase, tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), carbonic II anhydrase and phosphodiesterase I) and antioxidant activity of plant extracts were also conducted. RESULTS In vivo experiments, Farsetia hamiltonii methanol extract (300 mg/kg) significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose (107.6 ± 1.249 mg/dL up to 4th day) comparable to positive control (Glibenclamide) throughout the study period. The in vitro antispasmodic activity on isolated tissues of rabbit jejunum on methanol extract showed concentration dependent (0.01-0.3 mg/ml) relaxation of spontaneous contractions with EC₅₀ value 0.011 µM and high K(+) (80 mM) induced contraction (0.01-0.1 mg/ml) with EC₅₀ value 0.066 mg/ml. Farsetia hamiltonii DCM and methanol extracts exhibited some antilipoxygenase activities while tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), carbonic II anhydrase, phosphodiesterase I, and antioxidant activity of plant extracts were not significant. CONCLUSIONS Our results validate the traditional use of Farsetia hamiltonii for the traditional therapeutic potential in treating diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases.

Erratum to: Cost-effective enhanced iron bioavailability in rice grain grown on calcareous soil by sulfur mediation and its effect on heavy metals mineralization

Calcareous soil, high pH, and low organic matter are the major factors that limit iron (Fe) availability to rice crop. The present study was planned with the aim to biofortified rice grain with Fe, by integrated use of chemical and organic amendments in pH-manipulated calcareous soil. The soil pH was reduced (pHL2) by using elemental sulfur (S) at the rate of 0.25 % (w/w). The organic amendments, biochar (BC) and poultry manure (PM) [1 % (w/w)], along with ferrous sulfate at the rate of 7.5 mg kg−1 soil were used. The incorporation of Fe with BC in soil at pHL2 significantly improved plant biomass, photosynthetic rate, and paddy yield up to 99, 97, and 36 %, respectively, compared to control. A significant increase in grain Fe (190 %), protein (58 %), and ferritin (400 %) contents was observed while anti-nutrients, i.e., polyphenols (37 %) and phytate (21 %) were significantly decreased by the addition of Fe and BC in soil at pHL2 relative to control. Among the organic amendments, PM significantly increased Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr concentrations in rice grain relative to control but their concentration values were below as compared to the toxic limits of hazard quotients and hazard index (HQ and HI). Hence, this study implies that Fe applied with BC in the soil at pHL2 can be considered as an effective strategy to augment Fe bioavailability and to reduce non-essential heavy metal accumulation in rice grain.

20‐N‐Ethyl‐1,8,14‐tri­hydroxy‐16β,18‐di­methoxy­lycoctonine

The title compound, C23H47NO5, has been isolated from Delphinium roylei for the first time. The molecular architechture comprises six fused rings, A–F. The six-membered rings, A and E, are in chair conformations, while ring D is in a distorted boat form. The seven-membered ring B is in a boat form and the remaining two five-membered rings, C and F, are in envelope conformations. The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H⋯O, C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N interactions.