Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of difluorinated 1,3-propanediones as potential agents in the treatment of breast cancer

A series of difluorinated propanediones were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay against a panel of four human cancer cell lines. Though the compounds showed varying degrees of cytotoxicity in the tested cell lines, most marked effect was observed in breast cancer cell line (MCF7), wherein nine of the ten synthesized chalcones showed good antiproliferative activity.     

Anti-obesity and hypoglycemic effect of ethanolic extract of Murraya koenigii (L) leaves in high fatty diet rats

ObjectiveTo evaluate the hypoglycemic and anti-obesity activities of of Murraya koenigii leaves.MethodThe study was performed in high fatty diet induced obesity rats. After 15 days baseline period the treatments animals were received ethanolic extract of Murraya koenigii leaves (300 and 500 mg/kg) in high fatty diet rats. All the treatments were given for one month. On 30th day all the fasted animals received an intraperitoneal injection of glucose (1 g/kg) for glucose tolerance test. At the end of study body weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose level were measured.ResultsThe results demonstrate clearly that repeated oral administration of Murraya koenigii leaves evoked a potent anti-hyperglycaemic activity in high fat diet obese rats. Postprandial hyperglycaemic peaks were significantly lower in plant-treated experimental groups. In other hand, high fatty diet group increased the both total cholesterol and triglycerides levels as compared to control group. While administration of Murraya koenigii leaves significantly decreased in both cholesterol as well as triglycerides.ConclusionsWe can conclude that Murraya koenigii leaves evokes potent anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-obesity effects. This fact could support their use by the diabetes patient for controlling body weight as well as maintains the glycemic level.     

In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male albino mice

AIM： To study the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male albino mice. METHODS： Aqueous decoction and methanol leaf extracts were tested for their ability to reduce croton oil-induced edema in the mouse ear after topical application. The methanol leaf extract dose-dependently inhibited the croton oil-induced ear edema in mice （ID50 〈500 μg.cm-2）. A bioassay-guided liquid-liquid fractionation of this methanol extract gave four active fractions： water insoluble （F1）, hexane （F2）, ethyl acetate （F3） and water （F4）. RESULTS： The hexane fraction showed a very high activity （42.1% inhibition at 0.7 μg.cm-2） as compared to the control. The other fractions were less active （FI： 56.1% at 506.2 μg.cm-2; F3： 57.3% at 289.3 lag.cm-2; and F4： 31.9% for 203.8 μg.cm-2） while indomethacin gave 48.8% of inhibition at 90 μg-cm-2. The activity of F1 and F3 may be at least in part explained by the presence of anti-inflammatory flavonoids, while the activity was not correlated to the tannin contents. No compounds were detected in the most active F2 fraction. CONCLUSIONS： The results give a rational support to the traditional use of T. divaricata in tropical India as anti-inflammatory agent.