Gastroprotective activities of Peperomia pellucida L. and Pachyrhizus erosus L. extracts combination on ethanol-induced rats.

Gastroprotective is an effect caused by the compounds that have the capability of protecting the gastric mucosa. Peperomia pellucida L. plants contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids, while Pachyrhizus erosus L. contains flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins. Peperomia pellucida L. reportedly contains dillapiole compounds with a gastroprotective effect. Moreover, its isolation result from Pachyrhizus erosus L. indicates the presence of dulcitol, gentisic acid, and formononetin, which has antioxidant activity. This study aims to determine the gastroprotective effect of the combination of Peperomia pellucida L. and Pachyrhizus erosus L. extract on rats with gastric ulcer models by looking at the ulcer index, percentage of inhibition, and histopathology. The research method used in this study was by making a combination of Peperomia pellucida L. and Pachyrhizus erosus L. extract. The combined extract was then given to five treatment groups. Group I as a negative control, group II as a positive control was given sucralfate, groups III, IV, and V were given a combination of Peperomia pellucida L. and Pachyrhizus erosus L. extract of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW. The treatment was given orally for 14 days, after 1 h of treatment on the 14th day, 96% ethanol induction was given orally at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW. The animal dissection was performed 24 h after the induction. The results from observations showed an increase in body weight before and after the treatment. The ulcer index produced by negative control, positive control in the treatment with doses of 100, 200, and 400 were 4.18; 2.98; 2.42; 2.04; and 1.07. This study showed that the combination of Peperomia pellucida L. and Pachyrhizus erosus L. extract has a gastroprotective effect.

A SEM study of unexplored wax microtubes produced by caterpillar living on common banana leaves.

The primary concern of this research is to perform a microscopic analysis of the natural wax covering banana skipper caterpillar. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis shows that the wax exhibits an unprecedented microtubular form, consisting of carbon and oxygen as main elements as revealed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis, which reveals the presence of peaks at 2914, 2890, 1469, and 722 cm-1 and the absence of peaks around 1700 cm-1, indicates that the analyzed natural wax is a polyethylene wax without the CO functional group.

Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles: A green approach.

Nanotechnology is an immensely developing field due to its extensive range of applications in different areas of technology and science. Different types of methods are employed for synthesis of nanoparticles due to their wide applications. The conventional chemical methods have certain limitations with them either in the form of chemical contaminations during their syntheses procedures or in later applications and use of higher energy. During the last decade research have been focussed on developing simple, clean, non-toxic, cost effective and eco-friendly protocols for synthesis of nanoparticles. In order to get this objective, biosynthesis methods have been developed in order to fill this gap. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles is simple, single step, eco-friendly and a green approach. The biochemical processes in biological agents reduce the dissolved metal ions into nano metals. The various biological agents like plant tissues, fungi, bacteria, etc. are used for biosynthesis for metal nanoparticles. In this review article, we summarised recent literature on biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles which have revolutionised technique of synthesis for their applications in different fields. Due to biocompatibility of gold nanoparticles, it has find its applications in biomedical applications. The protocol and mechanism of biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles along with various applications have also been discussed.

Antileukemic activity of lignans and phenylpropanoids of Cinnamomum parthenoxylon.

In this study, we evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicity of fractions and isolated constituents from Cinnamomum parthenoxylon woods against human leukemia HL-60 and U937 cells. The n-Hex, EtOAc, and MeOH-H2O fractions of the woods inhibited cell proliferation in both cell lines. Our phytochemical investigation of the n-Hex and EtOAc fractions led to the isolation of lignans and phenylpropanoids, whose chemical structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analyses. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antileukemic activity; especially, hinokinin and cubebin exhibited strong inhibition toward U937 cell proliferation. Morphological observation indicated that these cytotoxic actions were mediated by apoptosis. Our findings suggested that an oxygenated functional group at the C-9 position in dibenzylfuran skeleton contributed their potency. In addition, these results enhanced the ethnopharmacological value of C. parthenoxylon.

Manganese-catalyzed construction of tetrasubstituted benzenes from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and terminal acetylenes.

Treatment of beta-keto esters with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a manganese complex, MnBr(CO)5, and molecular sieves, gave multisubstituted aromatic compounds in good to excellent yields. This reaction employs [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of beta-keto esters and 2 equiv of terminal acetylenes with dehydration. In the case of a 1,3-diketone, the corresponding acetophenone derivative and its deacylated compound can be synthesized selectively.

Rhenium-catalyzed hydroamidation of unactivated terminal alkynes: synthesis of (E)-enamides.

Reactions of cyclic amides with unactivated terminal alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a rhenium complex provided (E)-enamides in high regio- and stereoselectivity (E:Z = >99:<1).

An environmentally friendly synthetic method of 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline frameworks via three-component reaction with o-alkynylbenzaldehydes, primary amines, and pronucleophiles.

Three-component reactions with ortho-alkynylbenzaldehydes, primary amines, and pronucleophiles (Nu-H), such as CHCl3, proceeded to give 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives in good to high yields in the absence of any catalysts under mild reaction conditions.