Chemical composition,antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oils from different parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphne mucronata</Emphasis> Royle

This research work was executed to determine chemical composition, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial potential of the essential oils extracted from the leaves and stem of Daphne mucronata Royle. From leaves and stem oils fifty-one different constituents were identified through GC/MS examination. The antioxidant potential evaluated through DPPH free radical scavenging activity and %-inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The stem’s essential oil showed the good antioxidant activity as compared to leaves essential oil. Results of Antimicrobial activity revealed that both stem and leaves oils showed strong activity against Candida albicans with large inhibition zone (22.2?±?0.01, 18.9?±?0.20 mm) and lowest MIC values (0.98?±?0.005, 2.44?±?0.002 mg/mL) respectively. Leaves essential was also active against Escherichia coli with inhibition zone of 8.88?±?0.01 mm and MIC values of 11.2?±?0.40 mg/mL. These results suggested that the plant’s essential oils would be a potential cradle for the natural product based antimicrobial as well as antioxidant agents.

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Metal ion-dependent molecular inclusion chemistry: inclusion of aromatic anions by coordinated 1,4,7,10-tetrakis((S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane

The ability of the pendant donor macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7,10-tetrakis((S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraaza- cyclododecane((S)-thphpc12) (or [Cd((S)-thphpc12)](2+)) to act as a metal ion-dependent receptor for aromatic anions has been investigated in solution and in the solid state. [Cd((S)-thphpc12)](2+) adopts a stable conical conformation with a large hydrophobic cavity, which has been shown to contain, via complementary multiple hydrogen bonding, p-nitrophenolate, aromatic carboxylates, p-toluenesulfonate, certain aromatic amino acid anions, phenoxyacetate, and acetate. In the case of p-nitrophenolate only, one or two anions can be contained within the receptor cavity. The crystal structure of [Cd((S)-thphpc12)(p-nitrophenolate)(2)] shows a coplanar arrangement of the p-nitrophenolates, where each is retained in the cavity by a pair of hydrogen bonds to cis hydroxyl groups. The crystal structure of the p-aminobenzoate inclusion complex indicates retention of the guest via a pair of hydrogen bonds to each oxygen atom of the carboxylate moiety. The crystal structure of the (L)-phenylalaninate inclusion complex indicates that the amino acid is retained by five hydrogen bonds, two involving the nitrogen atom and three to the oxygen atoms of the carboxylate moiety. Binding constants (10(3)-10(5) M(-1)) for the inclusion of some of the aforementioned anions in [Cd((S)-thphpc12)](2+) and related receptors were measured by (1)H NMR titration in DMSO-d(6) at 298 K.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetochemical analysis of selected first-row transition-metal anilino- and anisolesquarate compounds

The isomorphous polymeric complexes [M(mu-C(6)H(5)NHC(4)O(3))(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)](n) [M = Mn (1), Co (2), Cu (4), Zn (5)] are produced by reacting the anilinosquarate anion with the appropriate metal nitrates in a methanolic solution. Each of these complexes contains the central metal atom in a slightly distorted octahedral environment, with the coordination polyhedron consisting of four mu-1,2-bridging anilinosquarate ligands and two trans-oriented methanols. The polymer chains propagate to form a two-dimensional net of metal centers, with the conformation of the component sheets in the net being controlled by intramolecular N-H...O and O-H...O hydrogen bonds. Under reaction conditions similar to those used in the synthesis of the polymers 1, 2, 4, and 5, the nickel(II) monomer [Ni(C(6)H(5)NHC(4)O(3))(2)(H(2)O)(4)].2H(2)O (3) is produced in which each nickel center is attached to two cis-coordinated anilinosquarate and four aqua ligands in a distorted octahedral arrangement. The ligand conformation in 3 is stabilized by both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which results in the formation of a sheet polymer having distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Magnetochemical analysis of 1 and 4 reveals normal paramagnetic behavior for 1 and a very weak ferromagnetic interaction in 4; the absence of significant magnetic interactions is attributed to the distortion of the C(4) cycle of the anilinosquarate ligand (lower than C(2)(v) symmetry) in these complexes. Reaction of anisolesquarate with M(NO(3))(2).xH(2)O in acetonitrile produced the set of isomorphous salts [M(H(2)O)(6)][CH(3)OC(6)H(5)C(4)O(3)](2) [M = Mn (6), Co (7), Ni (8), Zn (9)]. The anisolesquarate anions in 6-9 are hydrogen bonded to the [M(H(2)O)(6)](2+) ions to form polymer chains, which are further linked by hydrogen bonds to form complex sheets. Complexation of the anisolesquarate ligand was not observed even when other solvents and reaction conditions were employed.     

Zum Koordinationsverhalten der Phenylhydrazonpropandinitrile: Darstellung und strukturelle Charakterisierung von Silber(I)‐Komplexen

On the Coordination Behaviour of Phenylhydrazonepropanedinitriles: Preparation and Structural Characterization of Silver(I) Complexes The preparation of novel silver(I) complexes with anions of phenylhydrazonepropanedinitriles [XC₆H₄NNC(CN)₂]^— (X = H or NO₂) is described. The structures of the following complex compounds are determined by X‐ray diffraction on single crystals: [Ag{O₂NC₆H₄NNC(CN)₂}] ( 2 ), [Ag{C₆H₅NNC(CN)₂}(PPh₃)] · CH₂Cl₂ ( 3 · CH₂Cl₂), [Ag{C₆H₅NNC(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂] · 0, 5 CH₂Cl₂ ( 4 · 0, 5 CH₂Cl₂) and [Ag(PPh₃)₄][C₆H₅NNC(CN)₂] ( 5 ). In these complexes a variety of coordination modes of the phenylhydrazonepropanedinitrile anions are observed. In 3 and 4 the phenylhydrazonide anion is coordinated via the hydrazone nitrogen atom N(2). 2 shows the structure of a coordination polymer, where the phenylhydrazone coordinates as a tridentate ligand through both nitrile nitrogen atoms and the hydrazone nitrogen atom N(2). In 5 appears a free, non coordinated phenylhydrazonide anion.     

DNA Sequence and Ancillary Ligand Modulate the Biexponential Emission Decay of Intercalated [Ru(L)2dppz]2+ Enantiomers

The bi‐exponential emission decay of [Ru(L)₂dppz]²⁺ (L=N,N′‐diimine ligand) bound to DNA has been studied as a function of polynucleotide sequence, enantiomer, and nature of L (phenanthroline vs. bipyridine). The lifetimes (τ_i) and pre‐exponential factors (α_i) depend on all three parameters. With [poly(dA‐dT)]₂, the variation of α_i with [Nu]/[Ru] has little dependence on L for Λ‐[Ru(L)₂dppz]²⁺ but a substantial dependence for Δ‐[Ru(L)₂dppz]²⁺. With [poly(dG‐dC)]₂, by contrast, the Λ‐enantiomer α_i values depend strongly on the nature of L, whereas those of the Δ‐enantiomer are relatively unaffected. DNA‐bound linked dimers show similar photophysical behaviour. The lifetimes are identified with two geometries of minor‐groove intercalated [Ru(L)₂dppz]²⁺, resulting in differential water access to the phenazine nitrogen atoms. Interplay of cooperative and anti‐cooperative binding resulting from complex–complex and complex–DNA interactions is responsible for the observed variations of α_i with binding ratio. [Ru(phen)₂dppz]²⁺ emission is quenched by guanosine in DMF, which may further rationalise the shorter lifetimes observed with guanine‐rich DNA.     

On the thinning of films (I)

We investigate, from a mathematical perspective, the problem of a layer of fluid attracted to a horizontal plate when the layer is in equilibrium with a bulk reservoir. It is assumed that as the temperature varies, the bulk undergoes a continuous phase transition. On the basis of free energetics, this initially causes thinning of the layer but, at lower temperatures, the layer recovers and rebuilds. We provide a mathematical framework with which to investigate these problems. As an approximation, we model the layered system by a mean-field Ising magnet. The layered system is first studied in isolation (fixed thickness) and then as a system in contact with the bulk (variable thickness) with general results established. Finally, we investigate the limit of large thickness. Here, a well defined continuum theory emerges which provides an approximation to the discrete systems. In the context of the limiting theory, it is established that discontinuities in the layer thickness (as a function of temperature) or the derivative thereof are inevitable. By comparison with actual data from Garcia and Chan (1998) [1] and Ganshin et al. (2006) [2] the discontinuities may indeed be present but they are not quite in the form predicted by the theory. Finally-still in the context of the limiting theory-it is shown that at low temperatures, the layer may be lost altogether; the nature of the critical binding force is elucidated.     

Decagonal quasicrystal in the Al–Pd–Mn system

Abstract

A stable decagonal quasicrystal in Al₇₀Pd_30?xMn_x alloys (x = 10–20) was examined by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The decagonal quasicrystalline grains are formed with definite crystallographic relationships to adjacent icosahedral and Al₃Mn crystalline grains. The structure of the decagonal phase, which is formed as the main phase at near Al₇₀Pd₁₀Mn₂₀ composition, is a mixture of decagonal quasicrystalline regions with some linear phason strain and microcrystalline regions. The structures of both regions may be interpreted in terms of quasiperiodic and periodic tilings, constructed with two types of bond lengths, S (about 2 nm) and L (= τ · S, where τ is the Golden ratio), of the same atom cluster with decagonal symmetry.     

Invasive weed optimization for model order reduction of linear MIMO systems

In this work, a model order reduction (MOR) technique for a linear multivariable system is proposed using invasive weed optimization (IWO). This technique is applied with the combined advantages of retaining the dominant poles and the error minimization. The state space matrices of the reduced order system are chosen such that the dominant eigenvalues of the full order system are unchanged. The other system parameters are chosen using the invasive weed optimization with objective function to minimize the mean squared errors between the outputs of the full order system and the outputs of the reduced order model when the inputs are unit step. The proposed algorithm has been applied successfully, a 10th order Multiple-Input–Multiple-Output (MIMO) linear model for a practical power system was reduced to a 3rd order and compared with recently published work.     

Impact of soil field water capacity on secondary metabolites, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), maliondialdehyde (MDA) and photosynthetic responses of Malaysian kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila Benth)

A randomized complete block design 2 × 4 experiment was designed and conducted for 15 weeks to characterize the relationships between production of total phenolics, flavonoid, anthocyanin, leaf gas exchange, total chlorophyll, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in two varieties of Labisia pumila Benth, namely the var. alata and pumila, under four levels of evapotranspiration replacement (ER) (100%; well watered), (75%, moderate water stress), (50%; high water stress) and (25%; severe water stress). The production of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanin, soluble sugar and relative leaf water content was affected by the interaction between varieties and SWC. As the ER levels decreased from 100% to 25%, the production of PAL and MDA activity increased steadily. At the highest (100%) ER L. pumila exhibited signi?cantly higher net photosynthesis, apparent quantum yield, maximum efficiency of photosystem II (f(v)/f(m)) and lower dark respiration rates compared to the other treatment. The production of total phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin was also found to be higher under high water stress (50% ER replacement) compared to severe water stress (25% ER). From this study, it was observed that as net photosynthesis, apparent quantum yield and chlorophyll content were downregulated under high water stress the production of total phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin were upregulated implying that the imposition of high water stress can enhance the medicinal properties of L. pumila Benth.     

Increased carbon dioxide concentration improves the antioxidative properties of the Malaysian herb kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume)

A randomized complete randomized design (RCBD) 3 by 3 experiment was designed to investigate and distinguish the relationships among production of secondary metabolites (total phenolics, TP; total flavonoids, TF), gluthatione (GSH), oxidized gluthatione (GSSG), soluble carbohydrate and antioxidant activities of the Malaysian medicinal herb Labisia pumila Blume under three levels of CO? enrichment (400, 800 and 1,200 μmol mol?1) for 15 weeks. It was found that the treatment effects were solely contributed by interaction of CO? levels and secondary metabolites distribution in plant parts, GSH, GSHH and antioxidant activities (peroxyl radicals (ROO), superoxide radicals (O?), hydrogen peroxide (H?O?) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). The records of secondary metabolites, glutahione, oxidized gluthathione and antioxidant activities in a descending manner came from the leaf enriched with 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > leaf 800 μmol/mol CO? > leaf 400 μmol/mol CO? > stem 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > stem 800 μmol/mol CO? > stem 400 μmol/mol CO? > root 1,200 μmol/mol CO? > root 800 μmol/mol CO? > root 400 μmol/mol CO?. Correlation analyses revealed strong significant positive coefficients of antioxidant activities with total phenolics, flavonoids, GSH and GSHH indicating that an increase in antioxidative activity of L. pumila under elevated CO? might be up-regulated by the increase in production of total phenolics, total flavonoids, GSH, GSHH and soluble sugar. This study implied that the medicinal potential of herbal plant such as L. pumila can be enhanced under elevated CO?, which had simultaneously improved the antioxidative activity that indicated by the high oxygen radical absorbance activity against ROO, O?, H?O?, and OH radicals.