Enzymatic characteristics of quercetinases from some indigenous Aspergillus flavus strains.

Five indigenous Aspergillus flavus strains MTCC-2206, 1884, 1883, 1783 and 2456 were screened for the secretion of quercetinase. Fungal strains MTCC-2206, 1884, 1883, and 1783 were found to secrete the quercetinase in the range of 0.24-0.

Ultimobranchial gland of a freshwater teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis, in response to cadmium treatment.

Heteropneustes fossilis were subjected to 288 mg/L (0.8 of 96 h LC(50)) and 72 mg/L (0.2 of 96 h LC(50)) of cadmium chloride for short-term and long-term experiments, respectively.

Effect of ambient air sulphur dioxide on sulphate accumulation in plants.

Present study deals with the relationship between ambient air sulphurdioxide and sulphate content in leaf of selected tropical plant species, Ficus religiosa. The study reveals a positive correlation between ambient air sulphur dioxide and sulphate in the leaves. Two way ANOVA finds the obtained values to be highly significant (p < 0.

Antimicrobial studies of some novel quinazolinones fused with [1,2,4]-triazole, [1,2,4]-triazine and [1,2,4,5]-tetrazine rings.

Three series of novel and new fused heterocyclic systems, viz. triazolo[4,3-a]-quinazolin-7-ones (4), [1,2,4,5]-tetrazino[4,3-a]-quinazolin-8-ones (6) and indolo[2,3-c][1,2,4]-triazino[4,3-a]-quinazolin-8-ones (8) have been synthesized from the key intermediate 3-(substituted-phenyl)-2-hydrazino-quinazolin-4-ones (3). Thus, condensation of (3) with appropriate aromatic acids in the presence of DCC in dichloromethane afforded the fused system (4), while reaction of (3) with isatin in methanol gave the corresponding Schiff base (7) which on cyclodehydration furnished another fused heterocyclic system (8).

Purification and characterization of laccase secreted by L. lividus.

The culture conditions for maximum secretion of laccase by Loweporus lividus MTCC-1178 have been optimized. The laccase from the culture filtrate of L. lividus MTCC-1178 has been purified to homogeneity.

Synthesis and antimicrobial study of novel 1-aryl-2-oxo-indano[3,2-d]pyrido/pyrimido[1,2-b]pyrimidines.

A series of 2-(arylidene)-indan-1, 3-diones 1 were prepared by Knoevenagel reaction between indane-1,3-dione and the appropriate araldehydes. The alpha,beta-enones 1 have been used as a component of Michael addition with equimolar amounts of 2-aminopyridine/2-aminopyrimidine to give novel heterocyclic systems 4 and 5, respectively. They are reported here for the first time.

Synthesis, spectroscopic and toxicity studies of titanocene chelates of isatin-3-thiosemicarbazones.

The reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) dichloride with a new class of thiosemicarbazone (LH(2)), derived by condensing isatin with different N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazides, have been studied and products of type [Cp(2)Ti(L)] have been isolated. On the basis of various physico-chemical and spectral studies, five coordinate structures have been assigned to these derivatives. Toxicity studies of titanocene complexes at tbur different concentrations have been carried out against snail Lymnaea acuminata.

Synthesis, spectral and antibacterial studies of binuclear titanium(IV) / zirconium(IV) complexes of piperazine dithiosemicarbazones.

The reactions of mono(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) trichloride and bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)/ zirconium(IV) dichloride with a new class of dithiosemicarbazone, derived by condensing piperazine dithiosemicarbazide with benzaldehyde (L(1)H(2)), 2-chlorobenzaldehyde (L(2)H(2)), 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (L(3)H(2)) or salicylaldehyde (L(4)H(4)) have been studied and different types of binuclear products, viz. [{CpTiCl(2)}(2)L], [{Cp(2)MCl}(2)L], ((L=L(1), L(2) or L(3)), [{CpTiCI}(2)L(4)] and [{Cp(2)M}(2)L(4)] (M=Yi or Zr), have been isolated. Tentative structures are proposed for these complexes based upon elemental analyses, electrical conductance, magnetic moment and spectral (electronic, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR) data.

Effect of cycloart-24-en-3beta-ol from Euphorbia royleana latex on neuroenzyme AChE and oxidative metabolism of freshwater fish, Channa punctatus.

Cycloart-24-en-3beta-ol isolated from Euphorbia royleana latex possesses potent piscicidal activity against freshwater predatory fish Channa punctatus. Their short as well as long-term exposure causes significant (P<0.05) time and dose-dependent reversible alteration in the oxidative metabolism of the fish Channa punctatus Cycloart-24-en-3beta-ol also shifts fish respiratory pathway, inhibits energy production and AChE activity reversibly may be advantageous for their use as environmentally safe piscicide for controlling the predatory fish C.

Reactions of Cp2MCl2 (M=Ti or Zr) with imine-oxime ligands. Formation of metallacycles.

The reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)/zirconium(IV) dichloride with a series of imine-oxime ligands (LH2), derived by condensing benzil-alpha-monoxime and 2-phenylenediamine, 4-phenylenediamine, 4-methyl-2-phenylenediamine, 2,6-diamino-pyridine, have been studied in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran in the presence of base and metallocycles of the [Cp2M(L)] (M=Ti or Zr) type have been isolated. Tentative structures have been proposed for the products based on elemental analysis, electrical conductance and spectral (electronic, IR and (1)H-NMR) data. Proton NMR spectra indicate that on the NMR time scale there is rapid rotation of the cyclopentadienyl ring around the metal-ring axis at 25 degrees C.

Pollution tolerance and distribution pattern of plants in surrounding area of coal-fired industries.

Higher concentration of SO2 and particulate matters was reported in surrounding areas of coal-fired industries which influences the distribution pattern of plants. Sensitive plant species are abolished from such areas, however, only pollution tolerant species survive under stress conditions. The present study was designed to investigate the vegetation composition around coal-fired industries i.

Purification of a peroxidase from Solanum melongena fruit juice.

Solanum melongena fruit juice contains peroxidase activity of the order of 0.125 IU/mL. A method for the 11-fold purification of the enzyme was developed.

Theoretical infrared spectra of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Theoretical and experimental spectroscopic studies have underlined the contribution of large PAHs towards the astrophysical mid-infrared emission bands. Quantum chemical study of eight large PAHs using density functional theory approach is reported along with their infrared spectra. Systematic variation of bands with PAH size is noted and a better agreement with the observed astrophysical bands is obtained.

Enzymatic characteristics of ligninperoxidases from Penicillium citrinum, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus terreus using n-propanol as substrate.

The activities of ligninperoxidases from Penicillium citrinum MTCC 3565, Fusarium oxysporum MTCC 3379 and Aspergillus terreus MTCC 3374 have been assayed and the enzymatic characteristics like Km, pH and temperature optima using n-propanol as the substrate have been reported. The results suggest that n-propanol can substitute veratryl alcohol as substrate for assaying ligninperoxidase activities from different fungal strains, without affecting the enzymatic characteristics. The above strains were selected, as they were known to secrete ligninperoxidase in the liquid culture medium.

Synthesis, spectroscopic, thermal and antifungal studies on lanthanum(III) and praseodymium(III) derivatives of 1,1-diacetylferrocenyl hydrazones.

A series of new coordination complexes of La(III) and Pr(III) with hydrazones, derived from 1,1-diacetylferrocene and different aromatic acid hydrazides have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, electrical conductance, magnetic moment, IR, (1)H NMR, UV-vis spectra and molar conductance. The thermal behaviour of the complexes under non-isothermal condition was investigated by TG and DTG techniques. The antifungal activity of hydrazones and their corresponding complexes were also investigated.

Studies on electrochemical characterization and performance prediction of cellulose acetate and Zeocarb-225 composite membranes in aqueous NaCl solutions.

We have mixed cellulose acetate and Zeocarb-225 in different ratios, leading to the preparations of Membrane-1 and Membrane-2. Membrane potential, water content, and conductance measurements have been carried out to estimate and analyze the data in terms of equilibria and important electrochemical parameters. The Donnan equilibrium has been incorporated to estimate the activity coefficient of counterions, y(p)M, and solute, y(+/-)M in the membrane phase along with the parameter, so called varphi expressing non-ideality.

Antioxidant and biocidal activities of Carum nigrum (seed) essential oil, oleoresin, and their selected components.

In the present study, chemical constituents of the essential oil and oleoresin of the seed from Carum nigrum obtained by hydrodistillation and Soxhlet extraction using acetone, respectively, have been studied by GC and GC-MS techniques. The major component was dillapiole (29.9%) followed by germacrene B (21.

Alterations in carbohydrates and the protein metabolism of the harmful freshwater vector snail Lymnaea acuminata induced by the Euphorbia tirucalli latex extract.

To know the short- as well as long-term effect of aqueous latex extracts of Euphorbia tirucalli on carbohydrate and protein metabolism, the snail Lymnaea acuminata was exposed to sublethal doses of 0.37 and 0.55 mg/L for a 24-h and 0.

Electrophoresis of progesterone particles dispersed in carbohydrate and nonelectrolyte solutions.

Electrophoretic mobilities of progesterone particles dispersed in aqueous solutions of D-glucose and urea (concentration range 0.1 to 1 mM) have been measured in order to investigate the electrical properties of the interface. Zeta potentials have been determined for this purpose.

The toxicity of four native Indian plants: effect on AChE and acid/alkaline phosphatase level in fish Channa marulius.

The latex of four plants viz. Euphorbia royleana, Jatropha gossypifolia (Euphorbiaceae), Nerium indicum and Thevetia peruviana (Apocynaceae) caused significant reduction in acid/alkaline phosphatase activity and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity in nervous tissue of freshwater air breathing fish Channa marulius. The reduction in the activity of both phosphatases and AChE were time as well as dose dependent.

Toxic effect of stem bark and leaf of Euphorbia hirta plant against freshwater vector snail Lymnaea acuminata.

The aqueous stem bark and leaf extracts of plant Euphorbia hirta (family-Euphorbiaceae) have potent molluscicidal activity. Sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC50) of aqueous stem bark and leaf extracts of this plant also significantly (P<0.05) alter the levels of total protein, total free amino acid, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and the activity of enzyme protease and acid and alkaline phosphatase in various tissues of the vector snail Lymnaea acuminata in time and dose dependent manner.

Piscicidal and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Euphorbia royleana stem bark extracts against freshwater common predatory fish Channa punctatus.

The present paper deals with the piscicidal activity of different solvent extracts of Euphorbia royleana stem bark against freshwater predatory fish Channa punctatus, which is commonly present in shrimp and carp culture ponds. The rank of order of toxicity of different solvent extract was: diethyl ether (LC(50) (96h) 31.76mg DW/L) > chloroform (LC(50) (96h) 56.

Toxic effects of cypermethrin and alphamethrin on reproduction and oxidative metabolism of the freshwater snail, Lymnaea acuminata.

Effects of sublethal exposure to cypermethrin and alphamethrin on the reproductive physiology and oxidative metabolism of the freshwater snail, Lymnaea acuminata, were studied. Sublethal exposure to both pyrethroids caused increases in the numbers of egg masses and eggs at all concentrations, but the survival rate of the snails was significantly reduced 28 days after of hatching. Both pyrethroids altered the oxidative metabolism in hepatopancreas and ovotestis tissues of the snails.

Toxic and sub-lethal effects of oleandrin on biochemical parameters of fresh water air breathing murrel, Channa punctatus (Bloch.).

Active compound oleandrin extracted from Nerium indicum (Lal Kaner) leaf has potent piscicidal activity. The piscicidal activity of oleandrin on freshwater fish C. punctatus was both time and dose dependent.