Recent progress in synthesis and bioactivity studies of indolizines.

The present review describes the recent progress in synthetic approaches to construct indolizine framework (including partially or wholly reduced ring) and the design of such compounds with potential biological activity. The methods of synthesis are classified as the Tschitschibabin reaction, 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, cyclisation reactions depending on the position of bond formation, and other methods. The biological activities include antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anticonvulsant activity, enzymes inhibition activity and activity as calcium entry blocker.

Identification of major metal complexing compounds in Blepharis aspera.

Verbascoside and isoverbascoside, present at 0.7% and 0.2% (w/w dryweight), were identified to be major compounds that could contribute to the metal complexation in Blepharis aspera collected in Botswana, Africa.