Identification of cyclopentenyl fatty acids by gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

The straight chain fatty acids and the cyclopentenyl fatty acids present in the lipids of Hydnocarpus wightiana seeds were separated as their pyrrolidides by means of gas chromatography. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system confirmed the complete separation and permitted the identification of the individual components in the sample.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Anticonvulsant Activity of Some Schiff Bases of 7‐Amino‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one

A variety of 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one azomethines and 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one benzamide were prepared, characterized and evaluated for the anticonvulsant activity in the rat using picrotoxin‐induced seizure model. The prepared 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one azomethine derivatives emerged potentially anticonvulsant molecular scaffolds exemplified by compounds, 7‐{(E)‐[(4‐nitrophenyl)methylidene]amino}‐5‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one, 7‐[(E)‐{[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylidene}amino]‐5‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one, 7‐{(E)‐[(4‐bromo‐2,6‐difluorophenyl)methylidene]amino}‐5‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one and 7‐[(E)‐{[3‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl]methylidene}amino]‐5‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one. All these four compounds have shown substantial decrease in the wet dog shake numbers and grade of convulsions with respect to the standard drug diazepam. The most active compound, 7‐[(E)‐{[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylidene}amino]‐5‐phenyl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2‐one, exhibited 74 % protection against convulsion which was higher than the standard drug diazepam. Furthermore, to identify the binding mode of the interaction amongst the target analogs and binding site of the benzodiazepine receptor, molecular docking study and molecular dynamic simulation were carried out. Additionally, in silico pharmacokinetic and toxicity predictions of target compounds were carried out using AdmetSAR tool. Results of ADMET studies suggest that the pharmacokinetic parameters of all the target compounds were within the acceptable range to become a potential drug candidate as antiepileptic agents.     

Chemically characterised Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. essential oil as a safe plant-based preservative and shelf-life enhancer of millets against fungal and aflatoxin contamination and lipid peroxidation

Abstract

The study recommends the Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. essential oil (ANEO) as plant-based shelf-life enhancer of millets against fungal, aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) contamination and lipid peroxidation with favourable safety profile. Chemical characterisation of ANEO through GC-MS, recorded 1,5-heptadiene-4-one,3,3,6-trimethyl (32.72%)as the main compound, followed by Artemisia alcohol (13.40%), alpha lonone (4.55%), benzene, methyl (1-methylethyl) (2.97%) and 1-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde,4-(1-methylethyenyl) (2.23%). The mycoflora analysis of millet samples showed Aspergillus flavus strain[LHP(R)-5] as the most AFB₁ secreting strain. The ANEO inhibited growth and AFB₁ production by the toxigenic strain at 1.4 and 1.0?µL?mL^?1, respectively, and also possess broad fungitoxic spectrum. The decrement in membrane ergosterol content, enhanced leakage of cellular Ca²⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions along with SEM and TEM study of ANEO-treated cell denotes plasma membrane as antifungal site of action. The ANEO also showed strong antioxidant activity as determined by DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ assays having IC₅₀ value 2.51 and 1.07?µL?mL^?1, respectively. More than 70.78% protection of Ragi samples from fungal contamination was observed during in situ trial. The ANEO showed favourable safety profile with high LD₅₀ value (7528.10?µL?kg^?1) for male mice and also exhibited non-phytotoxicity for Ragi seeds germination.     

Conservation,propagation, and redistribution (CPR) of Hill’s thistle: paradigm for plant species at risk

Cryopreservation is a valuable tool that could potentially create an alternate plant preservation strategy for species at risk such as Hill’s thistle. The present study is focused on a successful paradigm involving conservation, propagation and redistribution (CPR), emaphasizing the usefulness of cryopreservation techniques for plant conservation using Hill’s thistle (Cirsium hillii. (Canby) Fernald). A cryopreservation protocol was established using the droplet-vitrification method for 5-week-old shoot tips of in vitro grown cultures. More than 90% of shoot tips showed regrowth and nearly all regenerated plants were able to survive in the greenhouse. The survival, growth, and development of plants from cryopreserved shoot buds and their performance in field conditions were all comparable or better than the plants from non-cryopreserved buds. Reintroduced plants flowered following overwintering and the magnitude of flowering was site dependent with ca. 80% flowering observed in one site. The site dependent flowering patterns were assessed using phytohormone profiling and compared to herbivory, a common biotic stressor of these plants. Lower tryptophan concentrations led to higher flowering except in alvars, where the limestone resisted root penetration resulting in poor flowering. The presence of tryptamine in the greenhouse acclimatized or alvar field leaves suggested the preparedness of the plants for herbivory/grazing. Serotonin and melatonin concentrations were lower in flowering plants and in sites where the biotic/abiotic stress was minimal. This study provides evidence of the effectiveness of the CPR model in species recovery programs for endangered species. Physiological characterization of plants developed from cryopreserved tissues can be useful for fundamental and applied research in stress adaptation and reproductive biology of plants.

     

Correction to: Expression of the entomotoxic Cocculus hirsutus trypsin inhibitor (ChTI) gene in transgenic chickpea enhances its underlying resistance against the infestation of Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-021-02054-x     

Gametic embryogenesis and callogenesis in Isolated microspore culture of Jatropha curcas L. a recalcitrant bioenergy crop

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Jatropha curcas is an undomesticated crop and its plantations did not meet commercial expectation due to absence of high yielding commercial line with...