A Multitarget Approach to Evaluate the Efficacy of Aquilaria sinensis Flower Extract against Metabolic Syndrome

Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng is known for its resinous secretion (agarwood), often secreted in defense against injuries. We investigated the effects of A. sinensis flower extract (AF) on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma (PPARα and PPARγ), liver X receptor (LXR), glucose uptake, and lipid accumulation (adipogenesis). Activation of PPARα, PPARγ and LXR was determined in hepatic (HepG2) cells by reporter gene assays. Glucose uptake was determined in differentiated muscle (C2C12) cells using 2-NBDG (2-deoxy-2-[(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]-D-glucose). Adipogenesis was determined in adipocytes (3T3-L1 cells) by Oil red O staining. At a concentration of 50 µg/mL, AF caused 12.2-fold activation of PPARα and 5.7-fold activation of PPARγ, while the activation of LXR was only 1.7-fold. AF inhibited (28%) the adipogenic effect induced by rosiglitazone in adipocytes and increased glucose uptake (32.8%) in muscle cells at 50 μg/mL. It was concluded that AF acted as a PPARα/γ dual agonist without the undesired effect of adipogenesis and exhibited the property of enhancing glucose uptake. This is the first report to reveal the PPARα/γ dual agonistic action and glucose uptake enhancing property of AF along with its antiadipogenic effect, indicating its potential in ameliorating the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.     

Natural and semisynthetic polymers blended orodispersible films of citalopram

Abstract

This study was aimed at developing orodispersible films of citalopram using combination of natural and semisynthetic polymers for patients with swallowing problem. Okra biopolymer and moringa gum were utilized in combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and pullulan. The disintegration time was less than 30?seconds and the drug content uniformity was 97.89–102.05% for all film formulations. Films formulated with HPMC (K15 and K4M) combination (F1) and combination of okra and HPMC K15 (F2) had superior mechanical properties as compared with F3 (okra and pullulan) and F4 (moringa gum and HPMC). Thermal analysis revealed stable formulations over the studied temperature range and the crystalline citalopram was completely or partially transformed into amorphous form as revealed by the differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy images. In conclusion, okra biopolymer could be used in combination with HPMC for the development of orodispersible films.     

Atomic inversion barriers of sulphur and selenium in the dimethylsulphide and dimethylselenide complexes of the halogeno carbonyls of rhenium

We have synthesised four rhenium carbonyl complexes of general formula [ReX(CO)₃(Me₂E)₂] (X  Cl, Br, I, E  S, Se), and studied their temperature variable NMR spectra. All complexes were formed as the fac isomer, with the exception of [ReI(CO)₃(Me₂Se)₂], which was obtained as a mixture of mer and fac forms. In all of these fac complexes pyramidal inversion of sulphur or selenium atoms has been demonstrated, and energy barriers to inversion have been determined either by computer simulation of complete line shapes or by coalescence temperature methods. The value of ΔG^≠ for inversion in this class of complex has been found to be about 17 kJ mol^?1 higher for selenium than for sulphur, and variation of the cis halogen made no pronounced effect.     

Semiquantitative determination of seven amino acids by the nichrome wire ring chamber

Summary A method for microidentification and semiquantitative determination of L-arginine, L-(+) cysteine, L-histidine, DL-methionine, L-proline, DL-tryptophan and L-(–) tyrosine from a single drop of solution using the nichrome wire ring chamber is described. The accuracy is ± 5% and the method is selective and rapid. Other amino acids, vitamins and sugars do not interfere. The application of the method is demonstrated by the determination of amino acids from eggs, meat and Procasenol.

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Zusammenfassung Der Mikronachweis und die semiquantitative Bestimmung von L-Arginin, L-(+)-Cystein, L-Histidin, DL-Methionin, L-Prolin, DL-Tryptophan und L-Tyrosin in einem Tropfen Lösung mit Hilfe der Nichromdrahtringkammer wurde beschrieben. Die Genauigkeit beträgt ± 5%. Die Methode ist selektiv und rasch. Andere Aminosäuren, Vitamine und Zucker stören nicht. Die Anwendung des Verfahrens auf die Analyse von Hühnereiweiß, Fleisch und Procasenol wurde beschrieben.

     

Opto-electronic response of spinels MgAl2O4 and MgGa2O4 through modified Becke-Johnson exchange potential

A first-principles technique capable of describing the state accurately near to excited states of semiconductors and insulators, namely the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential approximation is used to investigate the opto-electronic response of magnesium spinel oxides: MgAl₂O₄ and MgGa₂O₄. The predicted bandgaps using the mBJ exchange approximation show a significant improvement over previous theoretical work using the common LDA and GGA, and are very closer to the experimental results. Band gap dependent optical parameters, like dielectric constant, index of refraction, reflectivity and optical conductivity are calculated and analyzed.     

Novel structure formation at the bottom surface of porous anodic alumina fabricated by single step anodization process

A simple approach for the growth of long-range highly ordered nanoporous anodic alumina film in H₂SO₄ electrolyte through a single step anodization without any additional pre-anodizing procedure is reported. Free-standing porous anodic alumina film of 180 μm thickness with through hole morphology was obtained. A simple and single step process was used for the detachment of alumina from aluminum substrate. The effect of anodizing conditions, such as anodizing voltage and time on the pore diameter and pore ordering is discussed. The metal/oxide and oxide/electrolyte interfaces were examined by high resolution scanning transmission electron microscope. The arrangement of pores on metal/oxide interface was well ordered with smaller diameters than that of the oxide/electrolyte interface. The inter-pore distance was larger in metal/oxide interface as compared to the oxide/electrolyte interface. The size of the ordered domain was found to depend strongly upon anodizing voltage and time.     

Design,synthesis, and anticancer evaluation of acetamide and hydrazine analogues of pyrimidine

A library of acetamide and hydrazine analogues were generated on the pyrimidine ring through a multistep reaction starting from 5-nitro-pyrimidine-4,6-diol and pyrimidine-4,6-diol, respectively. The synthesized analogues were screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity against various human cancer cell lines like HCT-1 and HT-15 (colon), MCF-7(breast), PC-3 (prostrate), SF268 (CNS) using MTT method. From the bioassay results, it was observed that even though many of the synthesized derivatives exhibited a good potency against various screened cancer cell lines, compound 14a from the acetamide series was found to show potent anticancer activity on all the tested cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ value of 0.36μM on CNS cell line and 1.6μM on HT-21 cell line, and compound 19xxi from hydrazine series of pyrimidine showed potent activity against three tested cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ value of 0.76μM on HT-29 cell line, 2.6μM on HCT-15, and 3.2μM on MCF-7 cell line.     

Hall Effect on Falkner-Skan Boundary Layer Flow of FENE-P Fluid over a Stretching Sheet

The Falkner-Skan boundary layer steady flow over a flat stretching sheet is investigated in this paper. The mathematical model consists of continuity and the momentum equations, while a new model is proposed for MHD Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic Peterlin (FENE-P) fluid. The effects of Hall current with the variation of intensity of non-zero pressure gradient are taken into account. The governing partial differential equations are first transformed to ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformation and then solved by Adomian decomposition method (ADM). The obtained results are validated by generalized collocation method (GCM) and found to be in good agreement. Effects of pertinent parameters are discussed through graphs and tables. Comparison with the existing studies is made as a limiting case of the considered problem at the end.     

Micro-separation and identification of forty-six cations by all glass nichrome wire ring chamber

Summary An all glass nichrome wire ring chamber for the separation and identification of 46 metal ions from a single drop of test solution is described. Before analysis, the cations are separated into 6 groups by liquid-liquid extraction. The total analysis takes about 1 hour and the method holds an excellent promise for the identification of airborne particulates and trace elements from blood, bone, tissues, food materials, etc.

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Zusammenfassung Die Trennung und Identifizierung von 46 Metallionen in einem Tropfen Probelösung mit Hilfe eines aus Glas und Nichromdraht gefertigten Gerätes wurde beschrieben. Vor der Analyse werden die Kationen durch flüssig-flüssig-Extraktion in sechs Gruppen aufgeteilt. Die Analyse selbst dauert etwal Stunde und ist besonders geeignet für Luftverunreinigungen und Spurenelemente in Blut, Knochen, Gewebe, Lebensmitteln u. dgl.

     

Transport of Jeffrey fluid in a rectangular slit of the microchannel under the effect of uniform reabsorption and a porous medium

This research explores the transport of a Jeffrey fluid through a permeable slit of microchannel under the effect of a porous medium and constant reabsorption. Physical laws of fluid mechanics are used to study the flow in a cross-sectional area of a narrow slit which generates a highly nonlinear system of partial differential equation with nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. To solve the complex boundary value problem; a recursive (Langlois) approach is used and explicit expressions for velocity, pressure, stream function, flux, shear stress and fractional reabsorption are calculated. It is noticed that the flow rate at the centre line of slit and shear stress on the walls of slit decay due to the presence of porous medium and viscoelastic fluid parameters. It is also quantitatively observed that more pressure is required for the fluid flow when the slit is filled with a porous medium and reabsorption on the walls is constant. The mathematical results of the present research have significant importance in the field of biofluid mechanics and medical industry, therefore the application of a diseased rat kidney is also included in this research: and reabsorption velocities in the case of a diseased and a healthy rat kidney are calculated with the effects of a porous medium and constant re-absorption.