A study of anti-inflammatory activity of the benzofuran compound (3,4-dihydro 4-oxo-benzofuro [3,2-d] pyrimidine-2-propionic acid) in chronic model of inflammation.

Background: Benzofuran compounds are shown to have pharmacological properties such as antiarrhythmic, antidepressant, antifungal, and antibacterial activity. Some studies conducted on them have revealed that they are having anti-inflammatory property also. Hence, we carried out this study to know whether the benzofuran compound 3, 4-dihydro 4-oxo-benzofuro (3, 2-d) pyrimidine-2-propionic acid has got anti-inflammatory activity against chronic inflammation. Methods: Wistar albino rats were treated with benzofuran compound under study and phenylbutazone in the dose of 100 mg\kg, orally with 2% gum acacia as suspending agent and the effects were observed in chronic experimental model of inflammation namely, cotton pellet induced granuloma model. Results: In the present study, it was shown that the benzofuran compound under study has got significant anti-inflammatory activity against the chronic model of inflammation. Conclusion: Our experiment shows that the benzofuran compound under study has got significant anti-inflammatory activity and may, as well become an additional anti-inflammatory drug if further studies are conducted in this direction involving human beings.

Analogue-resistant mutants of Azotobacter chroococcum derepressed for nitrogenase activity and early ammonia excretion having potential as inoculants for cereal crops.

Spontaneous mutants resistant to methionine sulfoximine (Msx), methyl alanine (Mal) and methyl ammonium chloride (Mac) were derived from A. chroococcum strain A103. Msx and Mal-resistant mutants expressed 1.73 to 10.98% of the fully derepressed nitrogenase activity when grown in Burk's medium containing ammonium acetate. Mac-resistant mutants did not express nitrogenase activity in ammonium acetate supplemented medium. The mutants excreted ammonia even after 2 days of growth and some mutants excreted more ammonia as compared to the parent. Selected mutants were inoculated on wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) under field conditions. Majority of the derepressed mutants increased grain yield of wheat and barley varying from 1.2 to 33.3%. However, host-dependent effects on grain yield were observed with different mutants. Two mutants, Mal 27 and Mac 19 showed significant increase in grain yields of both the crops. The results suggest that metabolic analogue-resistant mutants of Azotobacter have potential for use as a biofertilizer for cereal crops.