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Therapeutic management of cancer is a great clinical challenge and alternative medicines are being extensively explored to have integrated approach to cure cancer. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Rutaceae) is known for its hypoglycaemic, radioprotective, antidiarrhoeal and many other pharmacological activities. The present study is designed to carryout pharmacognostic standardisation and evaluation of antiproliferative activity of the leaf extracts Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Rutaceae) and the chromatographic fractions of the most active extract. Hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol extracts of the shade dried leaves were prepared by soxhelation and antiproliferative activity was assessed using human cancer cell lines of lung (A-549), colon (CoLo-05), ovary (IGR-OV-1), prostrate (PC3), leukaemia (THP-1) and breast (MCF-7) cancer. Bioactivity-derived fractionation was carried out for most active extract by column chromatography. The phytochemical studies indicated alkaloids, anthraquinones, terpenoids in the alcohol, chloroform extracts and tannins, terpenoids, reducing sugars in the petroleum ether and hexane extracts. Ethanol extract showed maximum inhibition in colon and breast carcinoma cell lines at a dose of 100 µg/ml. Column chromatography of the ethanol extract yielded five fractions. Out of this, fractions 2, 4 and 5 showed significant inhibition in leukaemia cell line with IC50 of 12.5, 86.2 and >100 µg/ ml for fractions 2, 4 and 5, respectively. High-performance thin layer chromatography of the fraction 2 revealed imperatorin as one of the major phytoconstituents. Among the different extracts investigated, ethanol extract exhibited significant antiproliferative activity and its fraction 2 containing furanocoumarin imperatorin showed antiproliferative activity against leukaemia cell line with IC50 of 12.5 µg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rudrakasha is the dried bead obtained from the ripe fruit of Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. (Family: Elaeocarpaceae). Microscopic studies revealed the presence of a hard endocarp with lignified isodiametric sclereids, seeds with membranous seed coat, which enclosed a dense cellular endosperm comprising of calcium oxalate druses. Physicochemical parameters showed that total ash was 1.36 times and 1.56 times more than the acid insoluble ash and water-soluble ash, respectively. Further, ethanol had a maximum extractable value of 2.4% and moisture content was found to be 9.7%. Different extracts, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and water were prepared. Chemically the extracts showed the presence of phytosterols, fats, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proteins and tannins. The extracts were evaluated for antifungal activity on different fungal strains. Chlorofom and ethanol extracts have high antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Whereas, chloroform, ethanol and water extracts showed moderate inhibition against Aspergillus niger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effect of garlic (Allium sativum) extract on ischemic preconditioning and ischemia-reperfusion induced cardiac injury has been studied. Hearts from adult albino rats of Wistar strain were isolated and immediately mounted on Langendorff's apparatus for retrograde perfusion. After 15 minutes of stabilization, the hearts were subjected to four episodes of 5 min ischemia, interspersed with 5 min reperfusion (to complete the protocol of ischemic preconditioning), 30 min global ischemia, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. In the control and treated groups, respective interventions were given instead of ischemic preconditioning. The magnitude of cardiac injury was quantified by measuring Lactate Dehydrogenase and creatine kinase concentration in the coronary effluent and myocardial infarct size by macroscopic volume method. Our study demonstrates that garlic extract exaggerates the cardio protection offered by ischemic preconditioning and per se treatment with garlic extract also protects the myocardium against ischemia reperfusion induced cardiac injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor by M. P. S. Ishar is presented in response to the discussion by Dr. Heaney and Linda Doyle on the usage of the phrase "Contrary to literature reports" in an article by Ishar and colleagues that was published in volume 83, 2005 issue of the journal.

Photochemistry of o-allyloxy-/crotyloxyacetophenones (6a,b) has been investigated under different conditions. Irradiation of 6a,b in dry benzene, under N2 atmosphere (Pyrex filter), led to the isolation of (syn)-2-ethenyl/propenyl-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans (7a,b∼10%) as the sole product. Irradiation of 6a,b in dry benzene in the presence of 0.1–0.4 mol equiv. of triethylamine resulted in slightly increased formation of 7a,b, besides pinacols (9 and 10) and triethylamine addition products (11 and 12). However, the formation of 7a,b is suppressed with increasing molar ratios of triethylamine, with increased formation of products (9–13). On the other hand, irradiation of 6a,b in dry acetonitrile results in the formation of both syn-(7a,b) as well as anti-isomers of benzodihydrofuranols (8a,b), besides some highly unexpected intramolecular arene-olefin addition products (14–16); formation of these intramolecular arene–olefin addition products is quenched in the presence of 0.1 mol equiv. of triethylamine. With increasing molar ratios of triethylamine, in acetonitrile solvent, the formation of 7, 8 is also suppressed with increased formation of products (9–13) derived from photoreduction of carbonyl function through electron transfer from TEA. No product derived from intramolecular interaction of the ketone derived anion radical/ketyl radical with an olefinic moiety has been detected. A plausible mechanistic rationalization of the results obtained is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]