Physicochemical properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of coumarin-carbonodithioate hybrids

Objective: To study physicochemical properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of coumarin-carbonodithioate hybrids. Methods: The substituted 4-bromomethyl coumarins were synthesized in first step by the cyclization. Then the reaction of substituted coumarins (a-e) with potassium O-ethyl/methyl carbonodithioate (1) by using absolute ethanol as solvent,afforded coumarin-carbonodithioate (1a-1j) derivatives under microwave irradiation and the conventional method. The spectroscopic analysis was used for the characterization of coumarin derivatives. The title (1a-1j) compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic methods.Antioxidant property was evaluated by using DPPH free radical-scavenging ability assay method and anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by protein denaturation procedure using diclofenac sodium as a standard. Drug-likeness. In-silico toxicity was predicted with LD50 value and bioactivity score was also calculated for all the compounds. Results: All coumarin (1a-1j) compounds exhibited promising in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in comparison to standard drugs. All tested compounds were used for evaluating their physicochemical properties as set by Lipinski rule. It was observed that the synthesized compounds followed rule of five, indicating more 'drug-like' nature. Conclusions: All the screened coumarin-carbonodithioates display promising in vitro antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. From the physicochemical properties of coumarin derivatives, it is found that none of the compounds violate the Lipinski rule and they fall well in the range of rule of five. It is concluded that the coumarin-carbonodithioate hybrids act with more 'drug-like' nature.

Trend of human brucellosis over a decade at tertiary care centre in North Karnataka.

Background: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease. India having a major agrarian population is expected to have a higher prevalence. However, due to lack of laboratory facility or awareness among clinicians, the disease is largely underreported. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence and trend of human brucellosis over a decade, in patients attending a teaching hospital in North Karnataka, and to understand their geographical distribution. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from January 2006 to December 2015 at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North Karnataka. A total of 3610 serum samples were evaluated from suspected cases of brucellosis. All serum samples were initially screened by Rose Bengal plate test, and positive samples were further analysed by Serum agglutination test (SAT) using standard Brucella abortus antigen from Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. A titre above or equal to 1:80 IU/ml was considered as positive. Demographic data such as age, sex and native place of these patients were also analysed. Results: We observed that human brucellosis is present in North Karnataka. The overall seropositivity of brucellosis in suspected cases was 5.1%. The positive titres ranged from 1:80 to 163,840 IU/ml. The majority of the patients were from Gadag, Koppal and Haveri districts of North Karnataka. Conclusion: Our study confirms the presence of human brucellosis in the northern part of Karnataka. Further studies to understand the prevalence of animal brucellosis in these areas will help in implementing prevention measures.

Cell culture adapted sheeppox virus as a challenge virus for potency testing of sheeppox vaccine.

Sheeppox virus from an outbreak of sheeppox that occurred in Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir, India) in 2000 was isolated by inoculation of susceptible sheep and further re-isolated in cell culture. The field virus, adapted to grow in lamb testes culture, was evaluated for its potential use as challenge virus in potency testing of sheeppox vaccine currently in use. The virus (passage 6) produced severe disease in susceptible sheep when inoculated subcutaneously with a dose of 106.2 TCID50. The virus identity was confirmed by PCR, sequencing of P32 gene and species-specific signature residues identified in deduced aa sequence of the gene. The virus was successfully evaluated for its virulence using two batches of sheep pox vaccines. Use of this field virus enables consistent potency experiments of sheeppox vaccines avoiding use of animals for its propagation and titration.

In vitro antiviral activity of plant extracts on goatpox virus replication.

Four plants having known medicinal properties were screened for inhibition of goatpox virus (GTPV) replication in vitro. Of the 4 plants, extract of Acacia arabica (Babul) and Eugenia jambolana (Jamun) leaves had inhibition (%) 99.70 and 99.92 at their maximum non toxic concentrations, 99.93 +/- 0.38 and 1999.73 +/- 0.50 microg/ml, respectively in all cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assays. Inhibition of GTPV virus replication was further confirmed by PCR and SYBR Green based quantitative real-time QPCR assays specific for GTPV. Results indicated that the extract of Acacia arabica and Eugenia jambolana leaves inhibited GTPV replication in vitro.