X-ray emission from clusters of galaxies and cosmological parameters

Clusters of galaxies are excellent probes of cosmic structure and evolution. X-ray studies of clusters provide some of their key parameters, viz., temperature of the hot intra-cluster gas, its metallicity, X-ray luminosity and surface brightness giving mass distribution and mass-flow rate in the case of cooling flows. X-ray measurements for a large sample of clusters have lead to estimates of the total gravitating mass in them, which can be compared to the virial masses derived from dynamical considerations and gravitational lensing in some of them. X-ray derived total masses are consistent with masses obtained from the other methods after the effects due to the presence of cooling flows are taken into account in the analyses. Estimated virial masses, lack of evolution in X-ray properties, and detection of several very hot clusters at high redshifts indicate a Universe with a low value (≤ 0.3) for the Ω parameter.     

Phenolic compounds from the aerial parts of Diplomorpha canescens

One new C-methyl flavanone glucoside, farrerol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated from the aerial parts of Diplomorpha canescens (MEISN.) C. A. MEYER. Fourteen known phenolic compounds such as farrerol (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether 5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (-)-pinoresinol (4), (-)-lariciresinol (5), (-)-dihydrosesamin (6), (±)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (7), rutarensin (8), umbelliferone (9), coniferyl aldehyde (10), sinapyl aldehyde (11), p-coumaric acid methyl ester (12), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (13), p-hydroxyacetophenone (14) and syringaldehyde (15) were also isolated for the first time from this plant. Structure of 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data including two dimensional (2D)-NMR, circular dichroism (CD) and by the application of Klyne's rule.     

Anti-Obesity Potential of Ponciri Fructus: Effects of Extracts,Fractions and Compounds on Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

Background: Ponciri Fructus, a crude drug consisting of the dried immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., is a popular folk medicine used for the treatment of allergy and gastrointestinal disorders in Korea and China. In this study, the anti-adipogenic activity of extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Dried immature fruits were extracted and fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol and water-soluble fractions. The ethanol extract and fractions were tested for anti-adipogenic activity in the 3T3-L1 cell line. The active fractions (n-hexane and EtOAc fractions) were further subjected to chromatographic techniques to isolate and identify active compounds. Furthermore, the isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-adipogenic activity. Results: Altogether, seven compounds, including two flavonoids, one phytosteroid and four coumarin derivatives, were isolated. Ethanol extract, n-hexane fraction, EtOAc fraction and three isolated compounds (phellopterin, oxypeucedanin and poncirin) showed significant anti-adipogenic activity as observed by reduced lipid deposition in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Further, oxypeucedanin downregulated the key adipogenic markers, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors proteins γ (PPAR-γ), sterol response element binding proteins-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins-α (C/EBP-α), adipocyte-specific lipid binding proteins (FABP-4), adipocyte fatty acid binding proteins (aP2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and leptin. Conclusion: This study indicated that the ethanol extract, hexane fraction and ethyl acetate fraction of P. trifoliata fruits possess strong anti-adipogenic activity, containing the active compounds such as phellopterin, oxypeucedanin and poncirin. Further research is recommended to explore their efficacy and safety in animal and clinical models.     

Structure activity relationship studies on antileishmanial steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca hookeriana

The search for antileishmanial constituents from the medicinal plant Sarcococca hookeriana (Buxaceae) of Nepalese origin has resulted in the isolation of 17 (1-17) active steroidal alkaloids. Compounds 1, 2, and 10 were subjected to derivatization and five chemically derived derivatives (1a, 2a, 10a, 10b, 10c) were also obtained. All these natural compounds and derivatives were found to have potent to mild antileishmanial properties. The IC(50) values were found to be in the range of 0.20-61.44 microg mL(-1) (IC(50) value of standard drug amphotericin B = 0.12 microg mL(-1)). The structure activity relationship indicated that the varieties of functionalities present in ring A of the steroidal alkaloids were found to play a characteristic role to increase the antileishmanial activity.     

Dhasingreoside: new flavonoid from the stems and leaves of Gaultheria fragrantissima

A new flavonoid, dhasingreoside (1) and seven known compounds, quercetin 3-O-β-d-galacturonopyranoside (2), quercetin 3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (4), quercetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (5), (–)-epicatechin (6), salicylic acid (7) and gaultherin (8), have been isolated from the shade-dried stems and leaves of Gaultheria fragrantissima, commonly known as ‘Dhasingre’ in Nepal. The structures were elucidated on the basis of physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods. Among known compounds, five compounds (3–6 and 8) were isolated for the first time from G. fragrantissima. In vitro antioxidant activity of all the isolated compounds was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging assay. Dhasingreoside (1) and other compounds (2–6) showed significant free radical-scavenging activity.     

Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed regioselective direct C4- and C5-diamidation of indoles and mechanistic studies

A ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed regioselective direct diamidation of 3-carbonylindoles at the C4- and C5-positions using various dioxazolones is described. This novel protocol allows for the effective installation of two amide groups on the benzene ring in indole. A remarkably broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, and mild reaction conditions are notable features of this protocol. Further explorations reveal that benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxaldehyde is a viable substrate and affords its corresponding diamidation products. The diamido indoles are further converted into various functionalized products and used as sensors for metal ion detection. Density functional theory studies are also conducted to propose a reaction mechanism and provide a detailed understanding of the regioselectivity observed in the reaction.

Ruthenium(ii)-catalyzed regioselective C4-/C5-diamidation of 3-carbonylindoles is described and a DFT study is conducted to understand the observed regioselectivity and the mechanism.     

Exotic decay in cerium isotopes

Half life for the emission of exotic clusters like ⁸Be, ¹²C, ¹⁶O, ²⁰Ne, ²⁴Mg and ²⁸Si are computed taking Coulomb and proximity potentials as interacting barrier and many of these are found well within the present upper limit of measurement. These results lie very close to those values reported by Shanmugam et al using their cubic plus Yukawa plus exponential model (CYEM). It is found that ¹²C and ¹⁶O emissions from ¹¹⁶Ce and ¹⁶O from ¹¹⁸Ce are most favorable for measurement (T _1/2<10¹⁰ s). Lowest half life time for ¹⁶O emission from ¹¹⁶Ce stress the role of doubly magic ¹⁰⁰Sn daughter in exotic decay. Geiger-Nuttall plots were studied for different clusters and are found to be linear. Inclusion of proximity potential will not produce much deviation to linear nature of Geiger-Nuttall plots. It is observed that neutron excess in the parent nuclei slow down the exotic decay process. These findings support the earlier observations of Gupta and collaborators using their preformed cluster model (PCM).     

Cholinesterase‐Inhibiting New Steroidal Alkaloids from Sarcococca hookeriana of Nepalese Origin

Bioassay‐guided phytochemical investigation of Sarcococca hookeriana has resulted in the isolation and structure elucidation of five new pregnane‐type steroidal alkaloids: (?)‐hookerianamide A (=(2β,3β,4β,20S)‐20‐(dimethylamino)‐3‐[(3‐methylbut‐2‐enoyl)amino]‐5α‐pregn‐16‐ene‐2,4‐diol; 1 ), (+)‐hookerianamide B (=(2α,3β,4β,20S)‐4‐acetoxy‐20‐(dimethylamino)‐3‐[(3‐methylbut‐2‐enoyl)amino]‐5α‐pregnan‐2‐ol; 2 ), (?)‐hookerianamide C (=(2β,3β,20S)‐2‐acetoxy‐20‐(dimethylamino)‐3‐[(3‐methylbut‐2‐enoyl)amino]‐5α‐pregnane; 3 ), (?)‐hookerianamine A (=(3β,20S)‐20‐(dimethylamino)‐3‐(methylamino)‐5α‐pregn‐14‐ene; 4 ), and (+)‐phulchowkiamide A (=(3β,20S)‐20‐(methylamino)‐3‐[(2‐methylbut‐2‐enoyl)amino]‐5α‐pregn‐2‐en‐4‐one; 5 ). These compounds, as well as the two chemically derived acetyl derivatives 6 and 7 , displayed cholinesterase inhibition in a concentration‐dependent manner.     

Terpenoid alkaloids of the Buxaceae family with potential biological importance

The plants of the family Buxaceae are widely used in traditional medicine and constitute rich sources of terpenoidal alkaloids. Compounds of this family have been the subject of numerous chemical and pharmacological studies over past decades because of their interesting biological activities such as cholinesterase inhibition, as well as antibacterial and antileishmanial activities. The chemical and biological properties of these alkaloids, including data relevant to straightforward structure determination and information on biosynthesis, are highlighted in this review, with 144 references being cited.     

Biflavonoids,Lignans, and Related Compounds from the Roots of Diplomorpha canescens

Two new biflavonoids, 14″‐O‐methyldihydrodaphnodorin B ( 1 ) and 14″‐O‐methyldaphnodorin J ( 2 ), along with 16 known compounds, i.e., dihydrodaphnodorin B ( 3 ), daphnodorin J ( 4 ), 3″‐epidihydrodaphnodorin B ( 5 ), daphnodorin B ( 6 ), neochamaejasmin B ( 7 ), sikokianin B ( 8 ), (?)‐syringaresinol ( 9 ), (?)‐syringaresinol 4‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 10 ), (+)‐nortrachelogenin ( 11 ), (?)‐lariciresinol ( 12 ), (?)‐pinoresinol ( 13 ), syringin ( 14 ), syringinoside ( 15 ), daphnoretin ( 16 ), phorbol 13‐acetate ( 17 ), and methyl paraben ( 18 ) were isolated from the roots of Diplomorpha canescens (Meisn.) C.A. Meyer . The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data.