(R)-(-)-Xanthorrhizol Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Suppressing Matrix Metalloproteinases via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

(R)-(-)-xanthorrhizol is a bioactive sesquiterpenoid and major chemical constituent of Curcuma zanthorrhiza rhizomes. It was reported to have many pharmacological activities including nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, antiplatelet, estrogenic, and antiestrogenic properties. (R)-(-)-xanthorrhizol was also investigated for antiproliferative activity against many cancer cells including breast, lung, liver, ovarian, and colon cancer.

Bioactive compounds from and the effect of comosone II on the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Bioassay-guided separation afforded furanodienone 1,10-epoxide () as the new compound, curcolone ( as partially described compound and ten known compounds; germacrone (), furanodienone (, curzerenone ), curcumenol (), zederone (), comosone II (), (1E,4E,8R)-8-hydroxygermacra-1(10),4,7(11)-trieno-12,8-lactone (), 13-hydroxygermacrone (), curcuzederone () and demethoxycurcumin (). The study showed that germacrone, furanodienone, curzerenone, comosone II, 13-hydroxygermacrone, curcuzederone and demethoxycurcumin are the bioactive compounds of rhizomes. Comosone II significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion through the inhibition of MMP-9 enzyme.

Ethnobotanical study and phytochemical profiling of Heptapleurum hypoleucum leaf extract and evaluation of its antimicrobial activities against diarrhea-causing bacteria.

Background: Due to the development of superbugs as a result of unprescribed and frequent use of antibiotics in recent years, an alternate form of medicine had to be introduced. In light of this global threat, researchers all over the world have been gravitating towards herbal medicines. In order to find out new ways of saving the planet using medicinal plants, ethnobotanical studies must be carried out.

Catechinic acid, a natural polyphenol compound, extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans via mitophagy pathways.

Catechinic acid (CA), widely present in tea and fruits, has vital biological and pharmacological properties. CA plays an important role in the regulation of lifespan. However, the mechanism behind its anti-aging properties remains poorly characterized.

Inhibitory Activity of Extract, Fractions, and Compounds from Zingiber montanum Rhizomes on the Migration of Breast Cancer Cells.

rhizomes are traditionally used for the treatment of numerous human ailments. The present study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory activity of the crude extract, chromatographic fractions, and purified compounds from rhizomes on the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. The effect of the extract on cell migration was investigated by a scratch assay, which showed significant inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner.

Bioactive chemical constituents from Roxb. rhizomes and inhibitory effect of curcuzederone on the migration of triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

Rhizomes of are traditionally used to treat cancer in India. The aim is to isolate chemical constituents from rhizomes through bioassay-guided fractionation. The extract, hexanes and chloroform fractions showed effect on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231cells in cell viability assay.

A Strategy toward Icetexane Natural Products.

Icetexane diterpenoids are richly complex polycyclic natural products that have been described with a variety of biological activities. We report here a general synthetic approach toward the 6-7-6 tricyclic core structure of these interesting synthetic targets based on a two-step enolate alkylation and ring-closing metathesis reaction sequence.

Somatically expressed germ-granule components, PGL-1 and PGL-3, repress programmed cell death in C. elegans.

We previously reported that germline apoptosis in C. elegans increased by loss of PGL-1 and PGL-3, members of a family of constitutive germ-granule components, from germ cells in adult hermaphrodite gonads. In this study, we found that somatic apoptosis was reduced in synthetic multivulva class B (synMuv B) mutants due to ectopic expression of PGL-1 and PGL-3 in the soma.

Caffeine Induces the Stress Response and Up-Regulates Heat Shock Proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caffeine has both positive and negative effects on physiological functions in a dose-dependent manner. C. elegans has been used as an animal model to investigate the effects of caffeine on development.

Oxyboration: Synthesis of Borylated Benzofurans.

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Design of Potential RNAi (miRNA and siRNA) Molecules for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Gene Silencing by Computational Method.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus that manifests itself in viral infection with fever, cough, shortness of breath, renal failure and severe acute pneumonia, which often result in a fatal outcome. MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact. Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed and is irredeemable with present technology.

Antinociceptive principle from Curcuma aeruginosa.

Background: The rhizome of Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb (Zingiberaceae) has been used as a traditional folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic disorders in Bangladesh. The aim of the current study was the bioassay-guided isolation and purification of an antinociceptive principle from the methanol extract of C. aeruginosa rhizomes.

Analgesic principle from Curcuma amada.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The rhizome of Curcuma amada has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic disorders in the northern part of Bangladesh and has also used for the treatment of inflammation and fever in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. Aim of the study was to investigate the analgesic principle of the MeOH extract of the rhizome of Curcuma amada by an in vivo bioassay guided chromatographic separation and purification, and the structure elucidation of the purified compound by spectroscopic methods.

Materials And Methods: Dried powder of Curcuma amada rhizomes was extracted with MeOH.

Design of potential RNAi (miRNA and siRNA) molecules for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) gene silencing by computational method.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus that manifests itself in viral infection with fever, cough, shortness of breath, renal failure and severe acute pneumonia, which often result in a fatal outcome. MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact. Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed and is irredeemable with present technology.

Design of potential RNAi (miRNA and siRNA) molecules for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) gene silencing by computational method.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus that manifests itself in viral infection with fever, cough, shortness of breath, renal failure and severe acute pneumonia, which often result in a fatal outcome. MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact. Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed and is irredeemable with present technology.

Selectivity, Compatibility, Downstream Functionalization, and Silver Effect in the Gold and Palladium Dual-Catalytic Synthesis of Lactones.

The chemo- and regioselectivity and functional group compatibility in gold and palladium cooperatively catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were determined in the synthesis of lactones; the selectivity in the gold and palladium dual-metal catalysis system was distinct from that available for the same class of substrates in systems with only gold catalysis or only palladium catalysis rather than dual catalysis. The dual-catalytic rearrangement reaction selectively promoted oxidative addition at the C-O bond over the C-Br bond, providing a useful C-Br bond handle for downstream functionalization showcased via Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira coupling reactions. Product classes were expanded from isocoumarins to three previously unpublished ring classes: pyrone, indolepyrone, and furopyrone.

Palladium-nanoparticle-catalyzed 1,7-palladium migration involving C-H activation, followed by intramolecular amination: regioselective synthesis of N1-arylbenzotriazoles and an evaluation of their inhibitory activity toward indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

A sulfur-modified gold-supported palladium material (SAPd) has been developed bearing palladium nanoparticles on its surface. Herein, we report for the first time the use of SAPd to affect a Pd-nanoparticle-catalyzed 1,7-Pd migration reaction for the synthesis of benzotriazoles via C-H bond activation. The resulting benzotriazoles were evaluated in terms of their inhibitory activity toward indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Mechanistic Studies of Gold and Palladium Cooperative Dual-Catalytic Cross-Coupling Systems.

Double-label crossover, modified-substrate, and catalyst comparison experiments in the gold and palladium dual-catalytic rearrangement/cross-coupling of allenoates were performed in order to probe the mechanism of this reaction. The results are consistent with a cooperative catalysis mechanism whereby 1) gold activates the substrate prior to oxidative addition by palladium, 2) gold acts as a carbophilic rather than oxophilic Lewis acid, 3) competing olefin isomerization is avoided, 4) gold participates beyond the first turnover and therefore does not serve simply to generate the active palladium catalyst, and 5) single-electron transfer is not involved. These experiments further demonstrate that the cooperativity of both gold and palladium in the reaction is essential because significantly lower to zero conversion is achieved with either metal alone in comparison studies that examined multiple potential gold, palladium, and silver catalysts and precatalysts.

Ligand-free Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with sulfur-modified gold-supported palladium in the synthesis of a conformationally-restricted cyclopropane compound library with three-dimensional diversity.

A conformationally restricted privileged structure library with stereochemical diversity for a "fragment growth" methodology comprising 90 compounds was designed and systematically and efficiently synthesized using sulfur-modified Au-supported Pd (SAPd)-catalyzed ligand-free Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of vinyl iodide promoted by microwave and subsequent amidation in liquid-phase combinatorial chemistry as key reactions. Evaluation of the compounds with a 20-kinase panel indicated the usefulness of this "fragment growth" methodology for finding hit library compounds for fragment-based drug discovery.

In Silico Molecular Characterization of Cysteine Protease YopT from Yersinia pestis by Homology Modeling and Binding Site Identification.

Plague is a major health concern and Yersinia pestis plays the central causal role in this disease. Yersinia pestis has developed resistance against the commonly available drugs. So, it is now a key concern to find a new drug target.

Comparative assessment on in vitro antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts of Averrhoa bilimbi, Gymnema sylvestre and Capsicum frutescens.

Background: Averrhoa bilimbi, Gymnema sylvestre and Capsicum frutescens are medicinal plants commonly used as traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of Ethanolic extract of A. bilimbi, G.

An in silico approach to design potential siRNA molecules for ICP22 (US1) gene silencing of different strains of human herpes simplex 1.

Background: The herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is a virus that manifests itself in viral infection with painful, watery blisters in the skin or on the genitals as well as mucous membrane such as the mouth or lips. During an outbreak, the disease is contagious particularly and is irredeemable with present technology. Genetic studies of HSV-1 have shown that ICP22 (US1) gene is an immediate early gene and is responsible for genome replication and also has contribution in viral infection.

Development of second generation gold-supported palladium material with low-leaching and recyclable characteristics in aromatic amination.

An improved process for the preparation of sulfur-modified gold-supported palladium material [SAPd, second generation] is presented. The developed preparation method is safer and generates less heat (aqueous Na2S2O8 and H2SO4) for sulfur fixation on a gold surface, and it is superior to the previous method of preparing SAPd (first generation), which requires the use of the more heat-generating and dangerous piranha solution (concentrated H2SO4 and 35% H2O2) in the sulfur fixation step. This safer and improved preparation method is particularly important for the mass production of SAPd (second generation) for which the catalytic activity was examined in ligand-free Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reactions.

Phloroglucinol protects small intestines of mice from ionizing radiation by regulating apoptosis-related molecules: a comparative immunohistochemical study.

Phloroglucinol (PG) is a phenolic compound isolated from Ecklonia cava, a brown algae abundant on Jeju island, Korea. Previous reports have suggested that PG exerts antioxidative and cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress. In this study, we confirmed that PG protected against small intestinal damage caused by ionizing radiation, and we investigated its protective mechanism in detail.

A Computational analysis on Lectin and Histone H1 protein of different pulse species as well as comparative study with rice for balanced diet.

The issue of balanced nutrition is of great concern to human. Meat and fish are the best sources of protein. The affordability of these resources for people in developing countries is less.