Production of 4-Ipomeanol, an anticancer agent from the root tubers and rhizogenic callus of Ipomoea batatas Lam.: A Comparative study.

A comparative study was done on the production of 4-ipomeanol from root tubers of Ipomoea batatas and its rhizogenic callus. Best callusing response was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 11 µM NAA (α-Naphthaleneacetic acid) and 1 µM KIN (Kinetin). Effect of various elicitors (Fusarium solani, chitin and chitosan) on the production of 4-ipomeanol was studied. Methanol extract of the samples were purified by column chromatography and detected using TLC. Identification of 4-ipomeanol was confirmed using HPLC and quantified spectrophotometrically. A mass spectrum was recorded to confirm the presence of 4-ipomeanol. The calli grown under chitin produced highest (6.61mg g-1) amount of 4-ipomeanol. This is the first report on in vitro production of 4-ipomeanol from I. batatas. Since 4-ipomeanol is reported to be present only in I. batatas, this study would help in standardizing protocols for large scale production without affecting its natural flora.

[Anti-tumer and cytotoxic evaluation of crocus sativus L. Stigma and petal extracts using brine shrimp and potato disc assays]

A growing body of research has confirmed that saffron stigma extract and its main constituents have anticancer properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible cytotoxic and anti-tumor activities of the ethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus stigma and petal using simple brine shrimp and potato disc assays. The MIC of stigma and petal extracts were determined using microplate method. In brine shrimp assay, for each concentration, three wells containing 10 larva were tested. After 24h, the number of dead larva were counted. In potato disc assay, discs were cut of potato with specific diameter and transferred onto 1.5% agar under a laminar air cabinet. 50 micro1 of a mixture containing suspension of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the solution of stigma and petal extracts were inoculated on potato discs in plates. The plates were incubated at 25°C for 21 days, and the tumors were counted. The MIC of stigma extract was 10 mg/ml. The Petal extract did not show any antibacterial activity in the of concentration range 1-16 mg/ml. The IC50 values of stigma and petal extracts against tumor were 5.3 and 10.8 mg/ml, respectively. The LC50 values of stigma and petal extracts against brine shrimp were 1678.7 and 1356.8 ppm, respectively. This study indicated that the ethanolic extracts of saffron stigma and petal have anti-tumor activity and the stigma extract has more potent anti-tumor efects than the petal extract but with less toxicity

Synthesis and biological evaluation of certain new substituted pyrido [2,3-d] pyrimidin- 4[1H] -one and pyrido [2,3-d] Triazolo [3,4-b] pyrimidine analogs

The synthesis of a new series of Pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidine derivatives 8-13 and their corresponding S-methyl analogs 14