In Vitro Antiviral Activity of α-Mangostin against Dengue Virus Serotype-2 (DENV-2)

Dengue virus (DENV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is a threat for global health as it infects more than 100 million people yearly. Approved antiviral therapies or vaccines for the treatment or prevention of DENV infections are not available. In the present study, natural compounds were screened for their antiviral activity against DENV by in vitro cell line-based assay. α-Mangostin, a xanthanoid, was observed to exert antiviral activity against DENV-2 under pre-, co- and post-treatment testing conditions. The antiviral activity was determined by foci forming unit (FFU) assay, quantitative RT-PCR and cell-based immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A complete inhibition of DENV-2 was observed at 8 µM under the co-treatment condition. The possible inhibitory mechanism of α-Mangostin was also determined by docking studies. The molecular docking experiments indicate that α-Mangostin can interact with multiple DENV protein targets such as the NS5 methyltransferase, NS2B-NS3 protease and the glycoprotein E. The in vitro and in silico findings suggest that α-Mangostin possesses the ability to suppress DENV-2 production at different stages of its replication cycle and might act as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent against DENV-2.     

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Magnesium (II) Gluconate Solution

Magnesium gluconate is a classical pharmaceutical compound used as a source of magnesium for the prevention and treatment of hypomagnesemia. To the best of our knowledge, a robust and reliable liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry technique has not yet been reported for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of magnesium gluconate. This study describes the method development for the LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis of magnesium gluconate using three different reversed-phase HPLC conditions (Method I–III) with comprehensive fragmentation pattern and the structural characterization by NMR spectroscopy. The LC–MS and NMR data were found in accordance with the structure of magnesium gluconate. When magnesium gluconate was dissolved in the acetonitrile and water–methanol solutions, it exists in situ in three different forms: magnesium gluconate itself, gluconic acid, and magnesium gluconate chelate with gluconic acid by a coordinate covalent bond. Method I exhibited pseudo-molecular ion peaks with more magnesium gluconate chelates with gluconic acid, while method II showed an adduct of magnesium gluconate with the solvent along with the molecular ion peak. There was no pseudo-molecular ion peaks found in method III. Thus, method III was found to be the more accurate, robust and reliable LC–MS method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis, structural characterization, and could also be suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of magnesium gluconate. The detailed fragmentation analysis might be useful for the structural characterization of unknown divalent organometallics.     

A simple one pot synthesis of novel tricyclic quinazolinones

Synthesis of a series of tricyclic quinazolinones have been accomplished starting from anthranilamide and 1,3-cyclic dione promoted by TsOH·H₂O The protocol presented herein based on retro-Dieckmann type reaction, leading to incorporation of dione as an acyclic unit into the product. Simple reaction conditions, broad scope, excellent yields are the advantages of this protocol. Further, this methodology is extended to the synthesis of pyridopyrimidinones and benzimidazopyridines.     

Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD)-oriented RP-UFLC method for quantification of lansoprazole with superior method robustness

A reversed-phase ultrafast liquid chromatography method was developed for quantification of lansoprazole in pharmaceutical dosage form using analytical quality by design approach. Systematic planning and experimentation using design of experiment approach were used for method development and optimization studies. A central composite design was used for optimizing the chromatography, by choosing organic phase proportion and flow rate as the critical method variables for evaluating their effect on critical analytical attributes like resolution, plate number, and tailing factor. The optimal chromatography was accomplished on a C-18 column (250?×?4.6?mm, 5?µm) using methanol:water (70:30, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0?mL/min. Photo diode array (PDA) detection was performed at 284?nm. Caffeine was used as the internal standard. Method validation studies revealed that the calibration curve was linear over 1.0–300?µg/mL. The method was found accurate with average recovery between 98.99 and 102.87%. The percent relative standard deviation values obtained for precision were as per ICH guideline and within the acceptance limits (<2%). Results of system suitability indicated superior method robustness. In a nutshell, the method was found to be highly suitable for its applicability in the determination of lansoprazole in bulk and tablet dosage form.     

Applications of Monte-Carlo simulation and chemometric techniques for development of bioanalytical liquid chromatography method for estimation of rosuvastatin calcium

In the present work, we investigated the development of a bioanalytical HPLC method of rosuvastatin (RSV) calcium as per the Quality by Design (QbD)-based systematic chemometric tools. At first, the method objectives were framed and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) were chosen. Risk assessment and factor screening was performed using Hybrid Risk Matrix and Plackett–Burman design for identifying vital factors influencing the critical method parameters (CMPs). Monte-Carlo simulation analysis was conducted which confirmed excellent process robustness (Ppk >1.33) for the studied ranges of CMPs. Furthermore, systematic method development was carried out using custom experimental design, where mobile phase ratio, pH, and injection volume were taken as CMPs at three levels. The obtained trials were evaluated for peak area, retention time, theoretical plates, and peak tailing as CAAs. Mathematical response surface modeling was carried out and optimal chromatographic solution was identified using response optimizer plots. Method transfer was made to bioanalytical scale for estimation of the analyte in rat plasma samples. Extensive method validation was performed as per the ICH Q2 guideline, which indicated validation parameters within the acceptable limits. Overall, the studies construed successful development of QbD compliant HPLC method of rosuvastatin with potential utility bioanalytical testing.     

Unique rate expression for glucose production in C(4) plants

A physicochemical interpretation of a recently formulated temperature-dependent, steady-state rate expression for the production of glucose equivalent in C(4) plants is given here. We show that the rate equation is applicable to a wide range of C(4) plants.     

Influence of spin-polarized current on superconductivity and the realization of large magnetoresistance

The superconducting state can be influenced by injecting spin-polarized current in a controlled manner by properly tailoring the interfacial transmittivity between a ferromagnet (F) and a superconductor (S), resulting in a large magnetoresistance of over 1100% for a F/I/S/I/F multilayer system (I insulator). Because of the competition between ferromagnetism and superconductivity, the superconducting transition temperature (T(C)) in the spin-parallel configuration is shifted below that in the spin antiparallel configuration. The T(C) shift is attributed to ferromagnet-induced nonequilibrium spin carriers in the superconductors.     

N-Prolinylanthranilamide pseudopeptides as bifunctional organocatalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions

Proline anthranilamide-based pseudopeptides were shown to be effective organocatalysts for enantioselective direct aldol reactions of a selection of aldehydes with various ketones with excellent yield, enantioselectivity up to 99% and anti to syn diastereoselectivity up to 25:1.     

Regioselective Ring‐Opening of Amino Acid‐Derived Chiral Aziridines: an Easy Access to cis‐2,5‐Disubstituted Chiral Piperazines

An efficient four‐step synthetic strategy for cis‐2,5‐disubstituted chiral piperazines derived from amino‐acid‐based aziridines is described. The key steps in this strategy are the highly regioselective boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BF₃ ⋅ OEt₂)‐mediated ring‐opening of less‐reactive N‐Ts chiral aziridines by α‐amino acid methyl ester hydrochloride followed by Mitsunobu cyclization. This protocol has been used in an attempt to construct the piperazine core framework of natural product (+)‐piperazinomycin.     

Catalytic performances of kaoline and silica alumina in the thermal degradation of polypropylene

Polypropylene was cracked thermally and catalytically in the presence of kaoline and silica alumina in a semi batch reactor in the temperature range 400℃～550℃ in order to obtain suitable liquid fuels.The dependencies between process temperatures,types of catalyst,feed compositions and product yields of the obtained fuel fractions were found.It was observed that up to 450℃ thermal cracking temperature,the major product of pyrolysis was liquid oil and the major product at other higher temperatures(475℃～550℃) ...