Bioactive alkaloids produced by fungi. I. Updates on alkaloids from the species of the genera Boletus, Fusarium and psilocybe.

Fungi, in particular, are able in common with the higher plants and bacteria, to produce metabolites, including alkaloids. Alkaloids, along with other metabolites are the most important fungal metabolites from pharmaceutical and industrial point of view. Based on this observation, the authors of this review article have tried to provide an information on the alkaloids produced by the species of genera: Boletus, Fusarium and Psilocybef from 1981-2009.

Studies on the chemical composition of kohl stone by X-ray diffractometer.

Use of Kohl (Surma) creates toxicity or protects eye, is one of the most controversial topic of modern medicines. However, modern researches show that kohl forms a thin film on the eye lens thus avoiding the direct contract of harmful UV radiation and glare of sun with lens. Black and shining particles of galena in kohl shield the eyes from glare and reflection of sun and thus protect them from harmful effect of UV radiation emerging from the sun.

Kohl (surma): retrospect and prospect.

Kohl, since antiquity has always been given a prime importance in ophthalmology for the protection and treatment of various eye ailments. However, for decades various conflicting reports in the literature have been published relating to Kohl application to eyes being responsible for causing higher blood lead concentration, which may cause lead poisoning. While at the same time, a number of research studies and reports have also been published negating any such links with increased blood lead level upon Kohl (surma) application.

PBXL-1: a new fluorochrome applied to detection of proteins on membranes.

An easy, sensitive and direct fluorescent immunodetection method for proteins is described using the new fluorochrome PBXL-1 imaged with the FMBIO II Laser Scanning Imaging System. PBXL-1 is derived from a protein supra-molecular complex that contains a large number of chromophores. This complex, the phycobilisome, is extracted from a red alga then chemically stabilized to allow its use in specific binding assays.