Cu(OTf)2 catalyzed three component reaction: Efficient synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4′-pyrano[3,2-b]pyran derivatives and their anticancer potency towards A549 human lung cancer cell lines

Cu(OTf)₂ catalyzed efficient synthesis of spiropyrano[3,2-b]pyran-4(8H)-ones is accomplished via one-pot three component reaction between isatin, kojic acid and active methylenes. This synthetic protocol is operationally simple and affords product with good to excellent yields at a short reaction time. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their tumor cell growth inhibitory activity against the human lung cancer cell line (A549) and found that 13 compounds exhibited moderate to good anticancer potency. Molecular docking studies were performed for all the synthesized compounds and the results showed that compound 4e showed greater affinity for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor.     

Isolation and characterization of Anthraquinone from Streptomyces sp. ERINLG-26 with anticancer activity Against adenocarcinoma cell line COLO320

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - Anticancer activity of 9,10-anthraquinone isolated from soil-derived (Doddabetta forest, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India) filamentous bacterium Streptomyces sp....     

Erratum to: Expression of GroES TB antigen in tobacco and potato

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - The lower panel in Fig. 2 of the original publication does not show the gels of the correct experiment. The correct lower panel is printed...     

A novel Steroid from Elephantopus scaber L. an Ethnomedicinal plant with antidiabetic activity

Acetone extract of Elephantopus scaber, an ethnomedicnal plant, reduced the blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats significantly. Acute toxicity studies revealed the non-toxic nature of the crude extract. Fractionation of the acetone extract yielded a new steroid, 28Nor-22(R)Witha 2,6,23-trienolide. Biological testing of the compound demonstrated a significant antidiabetic activity by reducing the elevated blood glucose levels and restoring the insulin levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This compound can be a useful candidate to treat diabetes.     

Herbivore induced plant volatiles: Their role in plant defense for pest management

Plants respond to herbivory through different defensive mechanisms. The induction of volatile emission is one of the important and immediate response of plants to herbivory. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are involved in plant communication with natural enemies of the insect herbivores, neighboring plants, and different parts of the damaged plant. Release of a wide variety of HIPVs in response to herbivore damage and their role in plant-plant, plant-carnivore and intraplant communications represents a new facet of the complex interactions among different trophic levels. HIPVs are released from leaves, flowers, and fruits into the atmosphere or into the soil from roots in response to herbivore attack. Moreover, HIPVs act as feeding and/or oviposition deterrents to insect pests. HIPVs also mediate the interactions between the plants and the microorganisms. This review presents an overview of HIPVs emitted by plants, their role in plant defense against herbivores and their implications for pest management.     

Ribosomal DNA repeat unit polymorphism in some pulses

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) was carried out in some pulse species such as Lablab purpureus, Dolichos tribolus, Vigna bournii, V. grahmiana, V. unguiculata and V. wightii. Restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blot analysis with wheat probe pTa 71 revealed a bewildering diversity. The fragment patterns produced by different enzymes such as Dpn II, Hind III, EcoRI and Bam H1 already illustrate considerable polymorphism.     

Effect of solvent residues of Vitex negundo Linn. and Cassia fistula Linn. on pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. and its larval parasitoid, Dinarmus vagabundus (Timberlake)

Effect of solvent residues of Vitex negundo L. and Cassia fistula L. leaves (0.5 and 1%) was studied on egg laying and adult emergence of Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. and on percentage of larval parasitism by Dinarmus vagabundus (Timberlake). Cowpea seeds treated with methanol and aqueous extract of Vitex, at these concentrations (0.5 and 1%), significantly reduced the number of eggs and emergence of F1 adults of C. maculatus. Both Vitex and Cassia extracts did not affect the percentage of parasitism by D. vagabundus on C. maculatus grubs.     

Vigna radiata var.Sublobata (Fabaceae): Economically useful wild relative of urd and mung beans

Eight natural populations ofVigna radiata var.sublobata— wild relative of cultivated urd (V. mungoj and mung (V. radiata,) beans—were sampled from different ecozones of Palney Hills, an eastward offshoot of Western Ghats of Tamilnadu, India. Photosynthetic efficiency, protein content, seed weight, and amino acid composition were determined for it and the cultigens. Some populations ofV. radiata var.sublobata are as good as or even superior to the cultigens. The wild relative is a potential donor of desirable traits to urd and mung beans.     

Factors affecting regeneration of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp) from mature embryonal axes

Regeneration of viable plants was obtained via organogenesis from mature embryonal axes explants of pigeonpea. Shoots were produced from the apical region of embryonal axes after 20 days of dark incubation on modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium containing 8.86 M benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.07 M -naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). When the explants were cultured under light-dark (16--8 hrs) conditions, shoots were initiated only after 65 days of culture initiation. The explants lost their ability to regenerate plantlets when they were cultured in continuous light. Regenerated shoots elongated either in the same medium or in MS basal medium. About 40% of the elongated shoots sequentially produced simple, bifoliate and finally trifoliate leaves instead of producing trifoliate leaves directly. The elongated shoots were rooted efficiently upon transferring them to half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.41 M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to soil after hardening.     

The role of chemical cues in host finding and acceptance by Callosobruchus chinensis

We studied the response of female Callosobruchus chinensis to chemical cues emitted by cowpea seeds at different stages of bruchid infestation (uninfested, egg carrying, L1-, and L4-infested). Olfactory attractiveness was determined in Y-tube olfactometer assays by testing individual seed categories against either clean air or uninfested seeds. Oviposition preferences between uninfested and infested seeds were determined in petri-dish choice-experiments. The olfactometer assays revealed that weevils discriminate between seeds containing different stages of developing bruchids on the basis of olfactory cues. While odors from uninfested and egg-carrying seeds acted as attractants, odors from L1- and L4-infested seeds failed to induce a positive response by the bruchids. When given a choice between uninfested and infested seeds in the olfactometer, weevils preferred uninfested seeds over L1- and L4-infested seeds, but failed to distinguish between uninfested and egg-carrying seeds. In the oviposition experiment as well, bruchids showed a distinct preference for uninfested seeds when offered in combination with L1- and L4-infested seeds. This experiment further showed a reduced acceptance of egg carrying seeds. Our results indicate that C. chinensis females use chemical information during both host searching and host acceptance. Volatiles from uninfested or egg carrying seeds act as attractants, while deterrence increases as development of bruchid immature stages progresses.