Antimicrobial Coumarins from the Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes), from Kenya.

Pleurotus ostreatus has been widely used as food because of its nutritional and medicinal properties. These have been attributed to the presence of macronutrients, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, among other secondary metabolites. There are, however, few reports on the antimicrobial activities of different classes of purified compounds from P.

Antimicrobial compounds from root, stem bark and seeds of Melia volkensii.

Three compounds, toosendanin (1), kulactone (2) and scopoletin (3), were isolated from either the root bark and/or the stem bark of Melia volkensii. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data generated and by comparison with data from the literature. 1 and 2, isolated for the first time from M.

Micelles of TPGS modified apigenin phospholipid complex for oral administration: preparation, in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Mixed micelles were designed to increase oral bioavailability of Apigenin (Ap). The phospholipid (Ph) complex technology was exploited alongside TPGS' stabilizing effect by PEG chain sterical hindrance of the phase II enzymes. This prevented extensive metabolism of Ap while inhibiting P-glycoprotein's exocytosis.

Cell penetrating peptides in the delivery of biopharmaceuticals.

The cell membrane is a highly selective barrier. This limits the cellular uptake of molecules including DNA, oligonucleotides, peptides and proteins used as therapeutic agents. Different approaches have been employed to increase the membrane permeability and intracellular delivery of these therapeutic molecules.

A new cytotoxic and larvicidal himachalenoid, rosanoids and other constituents of Hugonia busseana.

A new cytotoxic himachalene sesquiterpenoid 4alpha-methoxy-5,9-oxahimachal-9-ene (hugonianene A) which exhibited moderate activity against Anopheles gambiae mosquito larvae after 24 h at a concentration of 0.237 mg mL(-1), and at 48 h and 72 h contact time causing complete larval mortality up to a concentration as low as 0.01369 mg mL(-1), was isolated as the major constituent of the cytotoxic root bark extract of Hugonia busseana.

Antifungal rosane diterpenes and other constituents of Hugonia castaneifolia.

The rosane diterpenoids hugorosenone [3beta-hydroxyrosa-1(10),15-dien-2-one], 18-hydroxyhugorosenone and 18-hydroxy-3-deoxyhugorosenone, and 12-hydroxy-13-methylpodocarpa-8,11,13-trien-3-one were isolated as antifungal constituents of H. castaneifolia Engl. root bark, together with the previously reported di-podocarpanoids hugonone A and hugonone B that were weakly active, and 1(10),15-rosadiene-2beta,3beta-diol (hugorosenol), 4alpha-methoxyhimachal-10-en-5beta-ol (hugonianene B) and 2-hydroxyhenpentacont-2-enal, and the known compounds tetracosyl-(E)-ferrulate and caryophyllene oxide, all of which were inactive.

C18 tetraynoic fatty acids and essential oil composition of Mkilua fragrans.

The fatty acids 17,18-dihydroxyoctadeca-9,11,13,15-tetraynoic acid (mkiluaynoic acid A) and 18-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11,13,15-tetraynoic acid (mkiluaynoic acid B), 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavanol, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and a mixture of stearic and oleic acids were isolated from fruits and stem barks of Mkilua fragrans (Annonaceae). Mkiluaynoic acid A exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans comparable with that of the standard antifungal agent Ketoconazole. Structural determination was achieved by analysis of spectroscopic data.