Cyanobacteria as Natural Therapeutics and Pharmaceutical Potential: Role in Antitumor Activity and as Nanovectors

Cyanobacteria (blue-green microalgae) are ubiquitous, Gram-negative photoautotrophic prokaryotes. They are considered as one of the most efficient sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. More than 50% of cyanobacteria are cultivated on commercial platforms to extract bioactive compounds, which have bene shown to possess anticancer activity. The chemically diverse natural compounds or their analogues induce cytotoxicity and potentially kill a variety of cancer cells via the induction of apoptosis, or altering the activation of cell signaling, involving especially the protein kinase-C family members, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative damage. These therapeutic properties enable their use in the pharma and healthcare sectors for the betterment of future generations. This review provides a baseline overview of the anti-cancerous cyanobacterial bioactive compounds, along with recently introduced nanomaterials that could be used for the development of new anticancer drugs to build a healthy future for mankind.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Heteroleptic Rhodium Complex for C–N Couplings

Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry - We have reported synthesis of complex [Rh(COD)(L{Me})Cl] (III), where L{Me} (II) is N-(1-methylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)benzamide and COD is...     

Linear viscoelasticity of poly(acrylonitrile-co-itaconic acid)/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride extended from dilute to concentrated solutions

The solution rheology of poly(acrylonitrile-co-itaconic acid) (poly(AN-co-IA)) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) spanning dilute, semidilute unentangled and entangled regimes were investigated. The exponents in the specific viscosity η_sp ～ overlap parameter c[η] power law were 1, 2 and 4.7 for dilute, semidilute unentangled and entangled regimes, respectively, which were found to be consistent with the scaling prediction for neutral linear polymers in θ-solvent. For dilute solutions (lower than 0.9 wt.%), the linear viscoelastic responses were observed to be in good agreement with the Zimm model (Flory exponent ν = 0.5). While for semidilute unentangled solutions (between 0.9 and 8 wt.%), results obtained had been found to be consistent with Rouse model. Considering Flory exponent ν = 0.5 and the concentration dependences of the specific viscosity and relaxation time, it had been evaluated that poly(AN-co-IA) in [BMIM]Cl behaves as a neutral polymer in θ-solvent. It had also been suggested that according to the unusual deviation of Cox-Merz rule, poly(AN-co-IA)/[BMIM]Cl solutions are typical neutral polymeric liquids for the concentrated solutions but have shown a more complicated behavior at high deformation rates.     

The influence of wall properties on the MHD peristaltic flow of a Maxwell fluid with heat and mass transfer

This article describes the effects of heat and mass transfer on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) peristaltic flow in a planar channel with compliant walls. An incompressible Maxwell fluid occupies a porous space. The mathematical formulation is based upon the modified Darcy’s law. The analytic treatment of the solution is given by choosing a small wave number. The expressions of stream function, temperature distribution, concentration field and heat coefficient are constructed. The variations of several interesting parameters are discussed by sketching plots.     

High-performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Pioglitazone,Gliquidone,Rosuvastatin and Simvastatin in Formulations and Human Serum

Co‐administration of HMG‐CoA reductase with antidiabetic drugs is most common since antidiabetic drugs are mostly prescribed for long term therapy. In the present paper, we describe the simultaneous determination of antidiabetic (pioglitazone hydrochloride and gliquidone) in presence of statins (rosvastatin and simvastatin) in formulations and in human serum using RP‐HPLC technique. The serum samples were subjected to protein precipitation with acetonitrile prior to an HPLC analysis. At a flow rate of 1 mL·min⁻¹ isocratic elution was employed, using mobile phase consisting of methanol/water (90:10, V:V), pH 3.50 with phosphoric acid and absorbance was recorded at 235 nm. The assay was reproducible, linear (concentration range of 5–50 μg·mL⁻¹) and accurate. The LOD and LOQ values were 1.32, 0.28, 0.05 and 0.57 μg·mL⁻¹ and 4.39, 0.93, 0.16 and 1.90 μg·mL⁻¹ for pioglitazone hydrochloride, gliquidone, rosvastatin and simvastatin, respectively. There were no interfering peaks due to the excipients present in the pharmaceutical tablet and serum. Thus, the proposed method is simple and suitable for the analysis of active ingredient in tablet form and human serum.     

Peristaltic motion of Sisko fluid in an inclined asymmetric tapered channel with nonlinear radiation

Peristaltic pumping of Sisko fluid through the non-uniform asymmetric channel is addressed. Main motivations are given to nonlinear radiation and inclined magnetic field. The perturbation technique and lubrication approach are utilized for development of governing problems and solutions. Resulting equations are solved for velocity, temperature, pressure and stream function. Trapping phenomenon is also observed. Variation of pertinent parameters is plotted and illustrated physically. The larger inclination of the magnetic field leads to a rise in velocity. Moreover, the size of trapping bolus tends to reduce and finally disappears for the larger fluid parameter. To our knowledge, such attempt for linear radiation and without inclined magnetic field does not exist even for both symmetric and asymmetric channels. Further it should be noted that problem remains nonlinear even after utilizing long wavelength and low Reynolds number assumptions.

     

Low temperature M?ssbauer and DC magnetization studies in nano-sized Ni substituted Co�CZn ferrites

Studies in the series of nano ferrites pertaining to the stoichiometry Ni_xCo_0.5???xZn_0.5Fe₂O₄, (0?? x ??0.5) show that contrary to the trend in bulk Co?CZn and Ni?CZn ferrites, the observed saturation magnetization of Ni?CZn ferrite (x = 0.5) is larger than Co?CZn ferrite (x = 0) and are due to finite size effects. This is evident from calculations which show that the magnetic particle sizes are 1.6 nm for Co?CZn ferrite and 2.4 nm for Ni?CZn whereas their average crystallite sizes are 5 to 3 nm respectively. Low temperature Mössbauer spectroscopic studies show that this can be attributed to an increase in an ordered core with the increase in Ni content which is reflected as a corresponding increase in the saturation magnetization.     

Understanding the interactions in acrylic copolymer/1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride from solution rheology

The effects of the type and content of comonomers on the rheological properties of acrylic copolymers in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) were explored. According to the de Gennes scaling law for solution, comparison of intrinsic viscosity and scaling analysis of the exponent in the specific viscosity‐ and relaxation time‐concentration power law indicated that solution of both polyacrylonitrile (PAN) homo‐polymer and copolymer poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐methyl acrylate) (poly(AN‐co‐MA)) in [BMIM]Cl behave in the same manner as neutral polymer in a θ‐solvent. However, [BMIM]Cl acts as a more good solvent for poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐acrylamide) (poly(AN‐co‐AM)). The dissolution and unique rheological behavior of such solutions have been attributed to the interactions between copolymer chains and [BMIM]Cl. The interactions between nitrile group (?C≡N) and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium cation ([BMIM]⁺) should interrupt and break the dipolar‐dipolar interactions of PAN resulting in the subsequent dissolution of the polymer in [BMIM]Cl. Such interactions between ?C≡N and [BMIM]⁺ ion are still dominated by the solvating ability of poly(AN‐co‐MA) in [BMIM]Cl, even though carbonyl group (C=O) in MA repeating unit could coordinate to cation of the ionic liquid. The salvation capacity of [BMIM]Cl for poly(AN‐co‐AM) can be evidently improved due to the extra hydrogen bond interactions between ?NH₂ group of AM and anion of [BMIM]Cl. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of Adventitious Root Culture for Production of Biomass and Secondary Metabolites in Prunella vulgaris L.

Adventitious root cultures of Prunella vulgaris L. were established in shaking flask system for the production of biomass and secondary metabolites. Adventitious root cultures were induced from callus cultures obtained from leaf explants on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing combination of 6-benzyladenine (BA; 1.0 mg l^?1) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 1.5 mg l^?1). Thereafter, 0.49 g inoculum was transferred to liquid MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of NAA (0.5–2.0 mg l^?1). Growth kinetics of adventitious roots was recorded with an interval of 7 days for 49 days period. Highest biomass accumulation (2.13 g/l) was observed in liquid medium containing 1.0 mg l^?1 NAA after 21 days of inoculation. However, other concentrations of NAA also showed similar accumulation pattern but the biomass gradually decreases after 49 days of inoculation. Adventitious roots were collected and dried for investigation of total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and antioxidant activities. Higher TPC (0.995 GAE mg/g-DRB) and TFC (6.615 RE mg/g-DRB) were observed in 0.5 mg l^?1 NAA treated cultures. In contrast, higher antioxidant activity (83.53 %) was observed 1.5 mg l^?1 NAA treated cultures. These results are helpful in up scaling of root cultures into bioreactor for secondary metabolites production.