Waist Circumference Measurement by Site,Posture, Respiratory Phase,and Meal Time: Implications for Methodology

Waist circumference (WC) has been advocated as a simple, reliable, and cost‐effective measure to understand an individual's cardio‐metabolic risk. Although several protocols exist for measuring WC, the variation induced by a few factors has not been investigated. We compared several established and experimental WC measurement protocols to identify factors that may cause variations in WC measurement. In this cross‐sectional study, we examined the variations in the measurement of waist circumference (WC) measures carried out in 11 ways differing by anatomical site, posture, respiratory phase, and time since last meal, using repeated measure analysis of variance (using mixed models) after Tukey‐Kramer adjustment. We estimated the proportion of variance in percentage of body fat (%BF) and fat‐free mass (FFM) explained by each of the WC measures. We studied 123 apparently healthy Asian Indians (75 females), with mean (s.d.) age of 34 (8.7) years and BMI of 23.9 (4.8) kg/m². Overall, the mean of WCs measured using the 11 protocols were statistically different. Further, post hoc analysis showed statistically significant, yet mostly small, differences between most of the pairs. No single WC measure explained highest variance in %BF or FFM for both genders. Although, the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA, protocol was convenient and may be less prone to errors, at present it does not control for many variables tested in this study. Measures of WC measured using different protocols were statistically different. We suggest that the site of measurement, posture, phase of respiration, and time since last meal should be standardized for the development of a protocol for measurement of WC for worldwide use.     

Benzimidazol-1-yl-1-phenylpropanone Analogs as Potent Antimicrobial Agents: Rational Design and Synthesis

Designed, synthesized a sequence of novel benzimidazol-1-yl-1-phenylpropanone hybrids and assessed for in vitro antimicrobial potential counter to several bacterial strains. Computational Methodology was carried out for designing of the target molecules and structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis. Amid the 12 integrated derivatives, (3-(2-((3-fluorobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6g ) and 3-(2-((4-fluorobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6k ) were found to acquire excellent antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus), whereas derivative 3-(2-((2-fluorobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6c ), was potent against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and displayed moderate action against P. aeruginosa. Derivatives with NO₂ substituent at 3^rd and 4^th position, 3-(2-((3-nitroobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6h ) and 3-(2-((4-nitroobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6 l ) respectively declared good to moderate results against all bacterial strains. Further, 3-(2-((3-chlorobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6f ) and 3-(2-((4-chlorobenzylidene)amino)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one ( 6j ) were found to be more competent against both fungal strains (C. albicans, A. niger). Serial two-fold dilution method was used for the entire study and standard drugs utilized were ciprofloxacin and clotrimazole. MIC values (μg/ml) of novel synthesized analogs were reported in comparison to standard drugs for antibacterial and antifungal actions. Molecular docking studies showed that designed molecules dynamically bound with effective area of the receptor (DNA gyrase B, Clotrimazole complex of cytochrome P 45046A1) and in vitro results were in accord with in silico studies.     

Lichens as a potential natural source of bioactive compounds: a review

Biological activity of material whether known in folk medicine or observed in planned screening program has been the starting point in the drug research. The general pattern is the isolation of active principles, elucidation their structures, followed by attempts for modulation of its activity potential by chemical modification. Lichens are valuable plant resources and are used as medicine, food, fodder, perfume, spice, dyes and for miscellaneous purposes throughout the world. Lichens are well known for the diversity of secondary metabolites that they produce. Compounds isolated from various lichen species have been reported to display diverse biological activities. Here we review the medicinal efficacy of lichen substances, which intends to explore the pharmaceutical potential of lichen substances.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Peristylus sahanii</Emphasis>, a new species of Orchidaceae from India

Peristylus sahanii (Orchidaceae), a new species from Jharkhand state (Chotanagpur plateau), India is described and illustrated.     

Design,Synthesis, and Docking Study of Quinine-9-Triazolyl Conjugates

To develop a better chemotherapeutically potential candidate for lung cancer treatment and cure with repurposed motifs, quinine has been linked with biocompatible CuAAC-inspired regioselective 1,2,3-triazole linker and a series of ten novel 1,2,3-triazolyl-9-quinine conjugates have been developed by utilizing click conjugation of glycosyl ether alkynes with 9-epi-9-azido-9-deoxy-quinine under standard click conditions. In parallel, the docking study indicated that the resulting conjugates have an overall appreciable interaction with ALK-5 macromolecules. Moreover, the mannose-triazolyl conjugate exhibited the highest binding interactions of −7.6 kcal/mol with H-bond interaction with the targeted macromolecular system and indicate the hope for future trials for anti-lung cancer candidates.     

Comparative Chemical Composition and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitory Potential of Cinnamomum camphora and Cinnamomum tamala

Cinnamomum species have applications in the pharmaceutical and fragrance industry for wide biological and pharmaceutical activities. The present study investigates the chemical composition of the essential oils extracted from two species of Cinnamomum namely C. tamala and C. camphora. Chemical analysis showed E-cinnamyl acetate (56.14 %), E-cinnamaldehyde (20.15 %), and linalool (11.77 %) contributed as the major compounds of the 95.22 % of C. tamala leaves essential oil found rich in phenylpropanoids (76.96 %). C. camphora essential oil accounting for 93.57 % of the total oil composition was rich in 1,8-cineole (55.84 %), sabinene (14.37 %), and α-terpineol (10.49 %) making the oil abundant in oxygenated monoterpenes (70.63 %). Furthermore, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity for both the essential oils was carried out using Ellman's colorimetric method. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential at highest studied concentration of 1 mg/mL was observed to be 46.12±1.52 % for C. tamala and 53.61±2.66 % for C. camphora compared to the standard drug physostigmine (97.53±0.63 %) at 100 ng/ml. These multiple natural aromatic and fragrant characteristics with distinct chemical compositions offered by Cinnamon species provide varied benefits in the development of formulations that could be advantageous for the flavor and fragrance industry.