Publications by authors named "Mohd Ashraf Ashfaq"

Post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS)-mediated gene silencing exploits the cellular mechanism wherein transcripts having sequence similarity to the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules present in the cell will be subjected to degradation. PTGS is closely related to natural processes such as RNA-mediated virus resistance and cross-protection in plants. Gene silencing and the cellular machinery for affecting this phenomenon might have evolved as a natural protective measure against viral infection in plants.

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Lignans are complex diphenolic compounds representing phytoestrogens and occur widely across the plant kingdom. Formed by the coupling of two coniferyl alcohol residues, lignans constitute major plant "specialized metabolites" with exceptional biological attributes that aid in plant defence and provide health benefits in humans by reducing the risk of ailments such as cancer, diabetes etc. Linseed ( L.

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TFA alone was found to be remarkably effective for the intramolecular hydroarylation (IMHA) of alkynes when employed as a solvent in the cyclization of 3-alkynyl substituted 2-(indol-3-yl)quinoxalines. This simple and metal free cyclization method afforded a range of indolophenazines as new and potential cytotoxic agents. The use of excess TFA was found to be crucial for the success of this reaction.

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For the first time TFAA/H3PO4 has facilitated the direct and metal-free N-acylation of carbazoles leading to a number of N-acylated derivatives. Several of these compounds were found to be promising when tested for their anti-proliferative properties against oral cancer cell lines.

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