Triterpenoids and steroids of some Sapotaceae and their chemotaxonomic significance

Extraction of the bark and timber of four Madhuca and five Palaquium species has yielded β-amyrin, β-amyrin acetate, β-amyrin cinnamate,     

Quinonoid and other constituents of Aristea ecklonii

Plumbagin, 3,3′-biplumbagin, 8,8′-biplumbagin, neoisoshinanolone and sitosterol were isolated from the leaves and rhizomes of Aristea ecklonii. The rhizomes also contained α-spinasterol. This is the first report of plumbagin, previously found in several dicotyledonous families, in a monocotyledon.     

Quantitative immunoproteomics analysis reveals novel MHC class I presented peptides in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells

Platinum-based chemotherapy is widely used to treat various cancers including ovarian cancer. However, the mortality rate for patients with ovarian cancer is extremely high, largely due to chemo-resistant progression in patients who respond initially to platinum based chemotherapy. Immunotherapy strategies, including antigen specific vaccines, are being tested to treat drug resistant ovarian cancer with variable results. The identification of drug resistant specific tumor antigens would potentially provide significant improvement in effectiveness when combined with current and emerging therapies. In this study, using an immunoproteomics method based on iTRAQ technology and an LC-MS platform, we identified 952 MHC class I presented peptides. Quantitative analysis of the iTRAQ labeled MHC peptides revealed that cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells display increased levels of MHC peptides derived from proteins that are implicated in many important cancer pathways. In addition, selected differentially presented epitope specific CTL recognize cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells significantly better than the sensitive cells. These over-presented, drug resistance specific MHC class I associated peptide antigens could be potential targets for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancer including the drug resistant phenotype.     

2,3-Dimethoxyxanthone from Hypericum mysorense

Different parts of Hypericum mysorense have been examined for the presence of2,3-dimethoxyxanthone which comprised the major constituent of the timber. Presence of simple xanthones in this genus supports the classification of Hypericum in the subfamily Hypericoideae in Guttiferae.     

Triterpenoids and coumarins from the leaves of calophyllum cordato-oblongum

The hot light petrol extractives of the leaves of Calophyllum cordato-oblongum gave D:A-friedo-oleanan-3-one, 28-hydroxy-D:A-friedo-oleanan-3-one (canophyllol) and three new coumarins: cordatolides A and B and oblongulide.     

Allozyme diversity and systematics inAnnonaceae—a pilot project

Five species ofAnnona and one species fromArtabotrys, Cananga, Polyalthia, andRollinia were investigated in regard to 11 different allozyme loci. Preliminary studies on small population samples ofAnnona suggest genetic uniformity in three species and variability within and between populations in two other species. The allotetraploid origin ofA. glabra is clearly shown by its hybrid enzyme bands. The genetic distance between fiveAnnona species partly corresponds with their morphological relationships; onlyA. muricata appears more separated than is suggested by morphology. A comparison of the five genera demonstrates close relationship betweenAnnona andRollinia. Two enzyme loci are identical within all taxa investigated and possibly may serve as a genetic marker for the family.     

Noninvasive in vivo glucose detection in human finger interstitial fluid using wavelength‐modulated differential photothermal radiometry

We present a noninvasive and noncontacting biosensor using Wavelength Modulated Differential Photothermal Radiometry (WM‐DPTR) to monitor blood glucose concentration (BGC) through interstitial fluid (ISF) probing in human middle fingers. WM‐DPTR works in the interference‐free mid‐infrared range with differential wavelengths at the peak and baseline of the fundamental glucose molecule absorption band, giving rise to high glucose sensitivity and specificity. In vivo WM‐DPTR measurements and simultaneous finger pricking BGC reference measurements were performed on diabetic and nondiabetic volunteers during oral glucose tolerance testing. The measurement results demonstrated high resolution and large dynamic range (~80 deg) change in phase signal in the normal‐to‐hyperglycemia BGC range (5 mmol/L to higher than 33.2 mmol/L), which were supported by negative control measurements. The immunity to temperature variation of WM‐DPTR yields precise and accurate noninvasive glucose measurements in the ISF.      

Biological Differences between Brackish and Fresh Water-Derived Aedes aegypti from Two Locations in the Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka and the Implications for Arboviral Disease Transmission

The mainly fresh water arboviral vector Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) can also undergo pre-imaginal development in brackish water of up to 15 ppt (parts per thousand) salt in coastal areas. We investigated differences in salinity tolerance, egg laying preference, egg hatching and larval development times and resistance to common insecticides in Ae. aegypti collected from brackish and fresh water habitats in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Brackish water-derived Ae. aegypti were more tolerant of salinity than fresh water-derived Ae. aegypti and this difference was only partly reduced after their transfer to fresh water for up to five generations. Brackish water-derived Ae. aegypti did not significantly discriminate between 10 ppt salt brackish water and fresh water for oviposition, while fresh water-derived Ae. aegypti preferred fresh water. The hatching of eggs from both brackish and fresh water-derived Ae. aegypti was less efficient and the time taken for larvae to develop into pupae was prolonged in 10 ppt salt brackish water. Ae. aegypti isolated from coastal brackish water were less resistant to the organophosphate insecticide malathion than inland fresh water Ae. aegypti. Brackish and fresh water-derived Ae. aegypti however were able to mate and produce viable offspring in the laboratory. The results suggest that development in brackish water is characterised by pertinent biological changes, and that there is restricted genetic exchange between coastal brackish and inland fresh water Ae. aegypti isolates from sites 5 km apart. The findings highlight the need for monitoring Ae. aegypti developing in coastal brackish waters and extending vector control measures to their habitats.     

Triterpenes of five euphorbiaceae species of Sri Lanka

Five endemic species of Euphorbiaceae have been investigated. Aleuritolic acid and its derivatives were isolated from P. thwaitesii. A. cardiosperma had friedelan derivatives. The Glochidion species contained the same triterpenes, viz. glochidonol, lup-20(29)-ene-3α,23-diol and glochidiol. The bark extractives of a new Glochidion species had, in addition, glochidone and probably lup-20(29)-ene-1α,3α,23-triol. The latter is a new natural product. Glochidone was isolated for the first time outside the genus Glochidion from Bridelia moonii.