Bioactive constituents from Tinospora cordifolia (willd.): Isolation, synthesis and their immunomodulatory activity.

Traditional medicinal plants have been used for centuries for their immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic potentials. The present study aims to investigate the immunomodulatory constituents from traditional medicinal plant, Tinospora cordifolia (willd.). Our study resulted in the isolation of new compound, 27-hydroxy octacosyl ferulate (1) along with eleven known compounds (2-12). The structures of the isolated compounds were characterized by combination of NMR (1D and 2D) and Mass spectroscopic methods. The hemisynthesis of compound 12 (ferulic acid) yielded (12a-12d and 12e-12 m) derivatives. Further, the isolated compounds and synthesized derivatives were assessed for their immunomodulatory potentials by evaluating their cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory effects against macrophage cells (IL-6) and DC activation markers (CD 11c and 86). The biological results indicated that crude extract displayed potent immunomodulatory activity while isolated compounds and synthetic analogues showed moderate activity. Among the tested compounds, new compound (1), quercetin (10) and derivatives 12b, 12c found to be non-cytotoxic and displayed immunomodulatory potentials. Therefore, these compounds can be studied for autoimmunity and other immune suppressing conditions.

Unveiling a novel terpolymer-metal complex: A detailed exploration of synthesis, characterization, and its potential as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.

In an innovative approach to push the boundaries of antimicrobial and antioxidant strategies, we present the synthesis and characterization of a novel terpolymer derived from N-Phenyl-p-phenylenediamine and 2-aminopyrimidine with formaldehyde in the presence of dimethylformamide as a reaction medium through polycondensation technique. Leveraging this terpolymer as a ligand, we introduce an intriguing terpolymer-metal complex, created with Ni (II) metal ion. In our pursuit to validate the structure and properties of these substances, we performed meticulous characterizations using important spectral studies such as FTIR, electronic, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. This provided us with a unique fingerprint for the (N-Phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-2-aminopyrimidine-formaldehyde) terpolymeric ligand (PAF) and its metal complex. In addition, the molecular weights of PAF terpolymer were established using gel permeation chromatography. Upon investigation, PAF terpolymer and PAF-Ni complex exhibited impressive antimicrobial activity, tested by the disc-diffusion technique. Both demonstrated potency against a range of harmful bacterial and fungal strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. In an extension to their biological applications, we evaluated the free radical scavenging activity of PAF terpolymer and PAF-Ni complex using the DPPH assay. The complex PAF-Ni showcased an enhanced scavenging activity 73.94% (IC50 = 17.58) compared to the ligand PAF 63.06% (IC50 = 27.61) at 100 µg/ml indicating its potential role in oxidative stress management.

Synthesis of novel thiazoles bearing lupeol derivatives as potent anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents.

Lupeol is one of the most important metabolite in the class of terpenoids and possess excellent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic activities etc. In the present study, the different thiazoles and oxazoles bearing lupeol derivatives were prepared to enhance their biological activity. Initially, the in vitro cytotoxic activity results showed that the synthesized lupeol derivatives (9a-9j and 10a-10e) showed significant activity against various cancer cells and the compounds 9h and 10b exhibited excellent activity against CAL27 cells. Further, these compounds 9h and 10b arrest the cell cycle at S phase and induce the late apoptosis in CAL27 cells by downregulating the BcL2 and vimentin expression and upregulating the Bax gene expression. Moreover, the lupeol derivatives showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the secretion of IL-6 cytokines in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cells. Together, these results clearly indicated that the thiazoles and oxazoles bearing lupeol derivatives can used as chemotherapeutic drugs against cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activities of novel piscidinol a derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

Piscidinol A (1), a major compound isolated from Aphanamixis polystachya, showed modest anticancer activity against cancer cell lines. Subsequently, a series of analogues were synthesised by modification of the key structural functionalities of this high yield natural product and assessed for their anticancer potential against various cancer cell lines. Among the tested derivatives, the compounds 6e and 6i are significantly reduced the cell viability at 5.38 and 5.02 µM against DU145 prostate cancer cells, respectively. Additionally, both the compounds arrested the cell cycle at S phase and induced the late apoptosis in DU145 cells. Together, the results demonstrated that the compounds 6e and 6i could be a promising lead for the development of anticancer agents against DU145 and well worth further investigation aiming to generate potential anticancer agents.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,2,3-triazole hybrids of 4-methoxy ethyl cinnamate isolated from Hedychium spicatum (Sm) rhizomes: identification of antiproliferative lead actives against prostate cancer.

A series of 1, 2, 3- triazole hybrids (9a-9n) were synthesised from major phenolic constituent, 4-methoxy ethyl cinnamate (5) isolated from rhizomes of Hedychium spicatum (Sm), a traditional medicinal plant used in variety of disease conditions. All the synthesised analogues were tested for their in vitro antiproliferative potential against HCT 116 (colon cancer), A549 (lung cancer), DU-145 (prostate cancer), Hep G2 (hepatoma) and HEK-293 (normal) cell lines. Among the compounds tested, compounds 9i and 9k potently arrested proliferation of DU-145 (prostate cancer) cell line. Compound 9i displayed 20 times better antiproliferative potential than parent compound and almost identical inhibitory activity to that of the standard drug, doxorubicin. The flow cytometric analysis revealed that 9i arrested cells in G2/M phase of cell cycle and induced apoptosis. Overall, the hybrid derivative 9i was found to be a potential antiproliferative lead against prostate cancer.

Nanotechnological synergy of mangiferin and curcumin in modulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway: a novel front in ovarian cancer precision therapeutics.

Background: Ovarian cancer, colloquially termed the "silent killer" among gynecological malignancies, remains elusive due to its often-asymptomatic progression and diagnostic challenges. Central to its pathogenesis is the overactive PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, responsible for various cellular functions, from proliferation to survival. Within this context, the phytochemical compounds mangiferin (derived from Mangifera indica) and curcumin (from Curcuma longa) stand out for their potential modulatory effects. However, their inherent bioavailability challenges necessitate innovative delivery systems to maximize therapeutic benefits. Objective: This study seeks to synergize the merits of nanotechnology with the therapeutic properties of mangiferin and curcumin, aiming to bolster their efficacy against ovarian cancer. Methods: Employing specific nanotechnological principles, we engineered exosomal and liposomal nano-carriers for mangiferin and curcumin, targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Molecular docking techniques mapped the interactions of these phytochemicals with key proteins in the pathway, analyzing their binding efficiencies. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations, spanning 100 nanoseconds, verified these interactions, with additional computational methodologies further validating our findings. The rationale for the 100 nanoseconds time span lies in its sufficiency to observe meaningful protein-ligand interactions and conformational changes. Notably, liposomal technology provided an enhancement in drug delivery by protecting these compounds from degradation, allowing controlled release, and improving cellular uptake. Results: Our computational investigations demonstrated notable binding affinities of mangiferin and curcumin: PI3K at -11.20 kcal/mol, Akt at -15.16 kcal/mol, and mTOR at -10.24 kcal/mol. The adoption of exosome/liposome-mediated delivery significantly amplified the bioavailability and cellular uptake of these nano-formulated compounds, positioning them as potential stalwarts in ovarian cancer intervention. A brief explanation of exosome/liposome-mediated delivery involves the use of these vesicles to encapsulate and transport therapeutic agents directly to the target cells, enhancing drug delivery efficiency and minimizing side effects. Conclusion: Addressing ovarian cancer's intricacies, dominated by the erratic PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, mandates innovative therapeutic strategies. Our pioneering approach converges nanotechnological liposomal delivery with mangiferin and curcumin's natural efficacies. This confluence, validated by computational insights, heralds a paradigm shift in ovarian cancer treatment. As our findings underscore the collaborative potential of these phytochemicals, it beckons further exploration in translational studies and clinical applications, ensuring the best intersection of nature and technology for therapeutic advantage.

Marine Based Natural Products: Exploring the Recent Developments in the Identification of Antimicrobial Agents.

The marine ecosystem is the less explored, biologically diverse, and vastest resource to discover novel antimicrobial agents. In recent decades' antimicrobial drugs are losing their effectiveness due to the growing resistance among pathogens, which causes diseases to have considerable death rates across the globe. Therefore, there is a need for the discovery of new antibacterials that can reach the market. There is a gradual growth of compounds from marine sources which are entering the clinical trials. Thus, the prominence of marine natural products in the field of drug design and discovery across the academia and pharmaceutical industry is gaining attention. Herein, the present review covers nearly 200 marine based antimicrobial agents of 11 structural classes discovered from the year 2010 to 2022. All the discussed compounds have exhibited medium to high antimicrobial activity in inhibiting various microorganisms.

Light Weighted Healthcare CNN Model to Detect Prostate Cancer on Multiparametric MRI.

The SEMRCNN model is proposed for autonomously extracting prostate cancer locations from regions of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI). Feature maps are explored in order to provide fine segmentation based on the candidate regions. Two parallel convolutional networks retrieve these maps of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2W images, which are then integrated to use the complimentary information in MP-MRI. By utilizing extrusion and excitation blocks, it is feasible to automatically increase the number of relevant features in the fusion feature map. The aim of this study is to study the current scenario of the SE Mask-RCNN and deep convolutional network segmentation model that can automatically identify prostate cancer in the MP-MRI prostatic region. Experiments are conducted using 140 instances. SEMRCNN segmentation of prostate cancer lesions has a Dice coefficient of 0.654, a sensitivity of 0.695, a specificity of 0.970, and a positive predictive value of 0.685. SEMRCNN outperforms other models like as V net, Resnet50-U-net, Mask-RCNN, and U network model for prostate cancer MP-MRI segmentation. This approach accomplishes fine segmentation of lesions by recognizing and finding potential locations of prostate cancer lesions, eliminating interference from surrounding areas, and improving the learning of the lesions' features.

Supervised Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) Methods for Classifying Alzheimer's Disease-Based Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Alzheimer's disease is incurable at the moment. If it can be appropriately diagnosed, the correct treatment can postpone the patient's illness. To aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and to minimize the time and expense associated with manual diagnosis, a machine learning technique is employed, and a transfer learning method based on 3D MRI data is proposed. Machine learning algorithms can dramatically reduce the time and effort required for human treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This approach extracts bottleneck features from the M-Net migration network and then adds a top layer to supervised training to further decrease the dimensionality and delete portions. As a consequence, the transfer network presented in this study has several advantages in terms of computational efficiency and training time savings when used as a machine learning approach for AD-assisted diagnosis. Finally, the properties of all subject slices are combined and trained in the classification layer, completing the categorization of Alzheimer's disease symptoms and standard control. The results show that this strategy has a 1.5 percentage point better classification accuracy than the one that relies exclusively on VGG16 to extract bottleneck features. This strategy could cut the time it takes for the network to learn and improve its ability to classify things. The experiment shows that the method works by using data from OASIS. A typical transfer learning network's classification accuracy is about 8% better with this method than with a typical network, and it takes about 1/60 of the time with this method.

Convolutional neural network based CT scan classification method for COVID-19 test validation.

Given the novel corona virus discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, due to the high false-negative rate of RT-PCR and the time-consuming to obtain the results, research has proved that computed tomography (CT) has become an auxiliary One of the essential means of diagnosis and treatment of new corona virus pneumonia. Since few COVID-19 CT datasets are currently available, it is proposed to use conditional generative adversarial networks to enhance data to obtain CT datasets with more samples to reduce the risk of over fitting. In addition, a BIN residual block-based method is proposed. The improved U-Net network is used for image segmentation and then combined with multi-layer perception for classification prediction. By comparing with network models such as AlexNet and GoogleNet, it is concluded that the proposed BUF-Net network model has the best performance, reaching an accuracy rate of 93%. Using Grad-CAM technology to visualize the system's output can more intuitively illustrate the critical role of CT images in diagnosing COVID-19. Applying deep learning using the proposed techniques suggested by the above study in medical imaging can help radiologists achieve more effective diagnoses that is the main objective of the research. On the basis of the foregoing, this study proposes to employ CGAN technology to augment the restricted data set, integrate the residual block into the U-Net network, and combine multi-layer perception in order to construct new network architecture for COVID-19 detection using CT images. -19. Given the scarcity of COVID-19 CT datasets, it is proposed that conditional generative adversarial networks be used to augment data in order to obtain CT datasets with more samples and therefore lower the danger of overfitting.

Improved Capsule Network Optimization Hierarchical Convolution Algorithm for Mental Health Recognition.

To address the shortcomings of standard convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the model structure is complex, the training period is lengthy, and the data processing technique is single. A modified capsule network is presented to optimize hierarchical convolution-the algorithm for identifying mental health conditions. To begin, two types of data processing are performed on the original vibration data: wavelet noise reduction and wavelet packet noise reduction; this retains more valuable information for mental health identification in the original signal; secondly, the CNN employs the concept of hierarchical convolution, and three distinct scaled convolution kernels are utilized to extract features from numerous angles; ultimately, the convolution kernel's extracted features are fed into the pruning strategy's capsule network for mental health diagnosis. The enhanced capsule network has the potential to significantly speed up mental health identification while maintaining accuracy. It is time to address the issue of the CNN structure being too complex and the recognition impact being inadequate. The experimental findings indicate that the suggested algorithm achieves a high level of recognition accuracy while consuming a small amount of time.

Effect of seeds of Entada phaseoloides on chronic restrain stress in mice.

BACKGROUND: Entada phaseoloides is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-stress activity of seeds of E. phaseoloides in endoplasmic reticulum stress during chronic restrain stress in mice, based on our preliminary screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice (n = 6/group) were restrained daily for 6 h in 50 ml polystyrene tubes for 28 days. Methanolic extract of E. phaseoloides (MEEP) (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and standard drug, imipramine (10 mg/kg i.p.) were administered daily 45 min prior to restrain from day 22-28. Then, forced swim test (FST) was performed to assess despair behavior. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzymes Reduced glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in the hippocampus of mice. 78 kDa Glucose-regulated Protein, 94 kDa Glucose-regulated Protein, C/EBP homologous protein, Caspase-12 expression were quantified by Real Time PCR. RESULTS: MEEP significantly reduced the immobility time in FST (P < 0.001). Significant reduction of LPO (P < 0.05) level and restored antioxidant enzymes viz. GSH (P < 0.001) and SOD towards vehicle control group were observed. Down-regulation of genes GRP 78, GRP 94 (P < 0.001), CHOP and Caspase-12 (P < 0.001) as compared to the chronic restrain stress group was evident, which were upregulated following treatment. Isolation of the active components of the seeds revealed the presence of Oleic acid (1), Entadamide A (2), Entadamide A-beta-d-glucopyranoside (3) and 1-O-protocatechuoyl-ß-d-glucose. CONCLUSION: MEEP altered endoplasmic reticulum stress in chronic restrain stressed mice; however, as an antidepressant it showed a weaker response.

Comprehensive Analysis of Secondary Metabolites in Usnea longissima (Lichenized Ascomycetes, Parmeliaceae) Using UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and Pro-Apoptotic Activity of Barbatic Acid.

Considering the importance of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) hyphenated techniques for analysis of secondary metabolites from crude extracts, the present study was aimed at identification of secondary metabolites in acetone extract of the lichen Usnea longissima. From our study, 19 compounds were tentatively identified through comparison of exact molecular masses from their MS/MS spectra, mass fragmentation studies and comparison with literature data. In addition, potent cytotoxic activity of U. longissima extract prompted us to isolate four compounds, 18R-hydroxy-dihydroalloprotolichesterinic acid (19), neuropogolic acid (20), barbatic acid (21), and usnic acid (22) from this extract which were adequately identified through mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. All four compounds displayed cytotoxic activity. Barbatic acid (21) manifested doxorubicin equivalent activity against A549 lung cancer cell line with IC50 of 1.78 µM and strong G0/G1 accumulation of cells. Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage confirmed that it induced cytotoxic activity via apoptosis. Finally, our work has discerned the depside, barbatic acid (21) from crude extract as a candidate anti-cancer molecule, which induces cell death by stepping up apoptosis.

In vitro studies data on anticancer activity of Caesalpinia sappan L. heartwood and leaf extracts on MCF7 and A549 cell lines.

This article contains data on in vitro cytotoxicity activity of chloroform, methanolic and water extracts of leaf and heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. a medicinal plant against Breast cancer (MCF-7) and Lung cancer (A-549) cells. This data shows that Brazilin A, a natural bioactive compound in heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L.induced cell death in breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The therapeutic property was further proved by docking the Brazilin A molecule against BCL-2 protein (an apoptotic inhibitor) using auto dock tools.

UPLC-MS/MS quantitative analysis and structural fragmentation study of five Parmotrema lichens from the Eastern Ghats.

Comparative phytochemical analysis of five lichen species [Parmotrema tinctorum (Delise ex Nyl.) Hale, P. andinum (Mull. Arg.) Hale, P. praesorediosum (Nyl.) Hale, P. grayanum (Hue) Hale, P. austrosinense (Zahlbr.) Hale] of Parmotrema genus were performed using two complementary UPLC-MS systems. The first system consists of high resolution UPLC-QToF-MS/MS spectrometer and the second system consisted of UPLC-MS/MS in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode for quantitative analysis of major constituents in the selected lichen species. The individual compounds (47 compounds) were identified using Q-ToF-MS/MS, via comparison of the exact molecular masses from their MS/MS spectra, the comparison of literature data and retention times to those of standard compounds which were isolated from crude extract of abundant lichen, P. tinctorum. The analysis also allowed us to identify unknown peaks/compounds, which were further characterized by their mass fragmentation studies. The quantitative MRM analysis was useful to have a better discrimination of species according to their chemical profile. Moreover, the determination of antioxidant activities (ABTS+ inhibition) and Advance Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) inhibition carried out for the crude extracts revealed a potential antiglycaemic activity to be confirmed for P. austrosinense.

Structure dependent luminescence, peroxidase mimetic and hydrogen peroxide sensing of samarium doped cerium phosphate nanorods.

Rare earth phosphates have been used extensively in luminescent phosphors, bio-imaging, catalysis, and sensors. However, there is a need to correlate the structural-chemical changes associated with stability and performance. In the present work, hydrothermally synthesized CePO4:Smx (x = 0, 5 and 10 mol%) nanorods were annealed at different temperatures to understand the modulations in structure as well as optical and enzyme mimetic properties. As prepared samarium doped cerium phosphate (SCP) nanorods crystallized in a hydrated hexagonal structure transformed into an anhydrous hexagonal and a monoclinic structure on annealing at 400 °C and 800 °C, respectively. Though temperature did not affect the rod-like morphology of the SCP, the lattice strain changed from compressive to tensile. Monoclinic SCP exhibited excellent emission until 5% Sm3+ doping while the quenching effect dominated at 10% Sm3+. Monoclinic SCP samples demonstrated higher peroxidase-like enzymatic activity in comparison to natural enzyme HRP and hexagonal SCP. A mechanism for the enhanced peroxidase-like activity of the monoclinic structure was proposed based on the fluorescence property of terephthalic acid and the surface peroxo complex using Raman spectroscopy. Fluorimetric detection based on the luminescent quenching effect of the monoclinic SCP nanorods treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide showed a linear response from 0 to150 µM concentration with a detection limit (LOD) of 3.17 µM H2O2. Our results demonstrate the importance of structure for enzyme mimetic activity.

Evaluating the Correlation between Anteroposterior and Mediolateral Compensatory Curves and their Influence on Dentoskeletal Morphology-An In vitro CBCT Study.

INTRODUCTION: To date, many orthodontist corrects malocclusion based on patients aesthetic concern and fails to correct the compensatory curves. This scenario is due to less insight on understanding relationship of compensatory curves and its correlation in treatment prognosis. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the curve of Spee, curve of Monson and curve of Wilson, their influence on dentoskeletal morphology and their contribution to occlusal stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 104 non-orthodontic models. The study casts were subdivided into two groups, Group-I consist 52 non- orthodontic models with Class-I molar relationship and Group-II consist of 52 non- orthodontic models with Class-II molar relationship. Curve of Spee was measured with digital vernier caliper, curve of Monson estimated using specially made sphere (7″inch, 8″ inch and 9″inch) and curve of Wilson was evaluated using Cone Beam Computed Technology (CBCT). RESULTS: Mean value for curve of Spee obtained for Group I and Group II is 1.844 mm and 3.188 mm. For curve of Monson, the mean value obtained for Group I and Group-II is 7.65 inches and 7.40 inches. The mean degree obtained for the curve of Wilson for Group I and Group-II is 12.05 and 16.49. The result showed positive correlation between curve of Spee and curve of Wilson and no correlation between curve of Monson and curve of Wilson and no correlation between curve of Spee and curve of Monson. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis from the study confirmed these results. CONCLUSION: The results showed positive correlation between curve of spee and curve of Wilson. The data found in this study can be applied clinically for Class I and Class II malocclusion patients on diagnosis and treatment planning.

Novel Gomisin B analogues as potential cytotoxic agents: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and docking studies.

As part of pharmacological-phytochemical integrated studies on medicinal flora, Gomisin B (1) was isolated as major phytochemical lead from schisandra grandiflora, a plant traditionally used in different Asian systems of medicine. A series of 1,2,3-triazoles derivatives were synthesized at the C-7' position of the gomisin B core through diastereoselective Michael addition followed by regioselective Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions. All these triazolyl derivatives (5a-5q) were well characterized using modern spectroscopic techniques and evaluated for their anti-cancer activity against a panel of five human cancerous cell-lines. Among them, compound 5b exhibited the best cytotoxicity against SIHA cell (IC50 0.24 µM) which was more than the standard drug doxorubicin, while the other derivatives were exhibited moderate to low activities in tested cell lines. The cell cycle analysis indicated that compound 5b stalled HeLa cells at G2/M phase. 5b promoted tubulin polymerization and this was supported by the docking studies, wherein 5b showed significant binding affinity at the colchicine binding pocket of tubulin. Overall, we identified a novel small molecule that demonstrated anticancer activity by promoting in vitro tubulin assembly.

Tunable transport property of oxygen ion in metal oxide thin film: Impact of electrolyte orientation on conductivity.

Quest for efficient ion conducting electrolyte thin film operating at intermediate temperature (~600 °C) holds promise for the real-world utilization of solid oxide fuel cells. Here, we report the correlation between mixed as well as preferentially oriented samarium doped cerium oxide electrolyte films fabricated by varying the substrate temperatures (100, 300 and 500 °C) over anode/ quartz by electron beam physical vapor deposition. Pole figure analysis of films deposited at 300 °C demonstrated a preferential (111) orientation in out-off plane direction, while a mixed orientation was observed at 100 and 500 °C. As per extended structural zone model, the growth mechanism of film differs with surface mobility of adatom. Preferential orientation resulted in higher ionic conductivity than the films with mixed orientation, demonstrating the role of growth on electrochemical properties. The superior ionic conductivity upon preferential orientation arises from the effective reduction of anisotropic nature and grain boundary density in highly oriented thin films in out-of-plane direction, which facilitates the hopping of oxygen ion at a lower activation energy. This unique feature of growing an oriented electrolyte over the anode material opens a new approach to solving the grain boundary limitation and makes it as a promising solution for efficient power generation.

New cycloartane type-triterpenoids from the areal parts of Caragana sukiensis and their biological activities.

A comprehensive re-investigation of aerial parts of Caragana sukiensis resulted in the isolation of twelve compounds (1-12) including three new cycloartane type triterpenoids (3-5) respectively. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were established by analysis of their IR, HRMSESI, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. In addition, these compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against cancer lines (HeLa, A549, MCF-7, DU-145) and Human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293). The results indicated that compound 8 showed potent cytotoxic activity against A549 with IC50 value of 1.54 µM which is comparable to standard drug, doxorubicin. Further, flow cytometric analysis showed that compound 8 arrested the cell cycle in the Go/G1 phase leading to apoptotic cell death. In addition, Hoechst 33258 staining, Annexin V-FITC assay and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential also suggested that 8 induced cell death by apoptosis. Further, all the isolates were also screened for their antifeedant and insecticidal activity against tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura), using no-choice leaf disk method. Among screened compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 showed potent antifeedancy with ED50 values of 0.59, 1.19, 0.67, and 1.68 µg/cm2. Overall, this study identified a novel class of cycloartane tritepenoids as potent cyotoxic agents as well as antifeedants.