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A novel discotic core was constructed by fusing imidazole unit with well-known triphenylene discotic core. Two new imidazole fused unsymmetrically substituted triphenylene derivatives were prepared and characterized. While the molecular structures of the new compounds were verified by 1 H NMR, UV, MS and elemental analysis, their liquid crystalline properties were determined by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies. These triphenylenoimidazole derivatives were found to exhibit hexagonal columnar mesomorphism over a wide temperature range.

In this study, the apoptosis-inducing effect of an alcoholic extract from Erythrina suberosa stem bark (ESB) was investigated using human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. Cell viability was estimated by MTT assay. We found that the ESB inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A series of well-documented morphological changes, such as cell shrinkage, condensation of nuclear chromatin, and nuclear fragmentation, were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The gold standard scanning electron micrographs showed apoptotic bodies and formation of blebs. Cell cycle analysis showed a significant increase in Sub G(0) population of cells above 50 μg/ml. ESB treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase in annexin V positive cells. Increase in intracellular ROS production up to sixfold was detected in ESB-treated HL60 cells by DCFH-DA assay. Dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential of intact cells accompanied by increase in cytosolic cytochrome c was observed, which was followed by activation of caspase-9 and -3 but not caspase-8. DNA fragmentation analysis revealed typical ladders as early as 18 h indicative of caspase-3 role in the apoptotic pathway. The overall results suggest that ESB induces mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway in HL60 cells and might have therapeutic value against human leukemia.

Heterocyclic amidine derivatives of benzothiazole (6a, 6b, 6c), benzimidazole (6d, 6e, 6f), benzoxazole (6g, 6h, 6i), and bis-amidine derivatives of pyrimidine, (7a, 7b) & triazole (7c, 7d, 7e) ring system have been synthesized by nucleophilic addition reaction. All these compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. At a dose of 50 mg/kg p.o., compounds 6c (39%), 6e (39%), and 6f (39%) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity comparable to standard drug ibuprofen, which showed 39% activity and compounds 6b, 6e, 7a, and 7c exhibited moderate anticancer activity against cervix (HELA); neuroblastoma (IMR-32); breast (MCF-7), leukemia (THP-1); and cervix (HELA) human cancer cell lines, respectively. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).

Condensation of various amines (Ia–c) with 4-isothiocyanato-4-methyl-2-pentanone (2a) at room temperature gave tetrahydropyrimidinethiones (3a–c) whereas condensation of 1a–e with 3-isothiocyanatobutanal at room temperature gave tetrahydropyrimidinethiones (4a–e). Amines 1a, d, f–i on condensation with 4-isothiocyanato-4-methyl-2-pentanone (2a) by heating under reflux for 8 h at pH ~4 (for 1a, d) and at RT (for 1f–i) gave dihydropyrimidinethiones 5a–b and 5c–f, respectively. Condensation of 1f with 3-isothiocyanatobutanal gave dihydropyimidinethione 6. When isothiocyanate (2a) and phenylenediamine derivatives 1g, h were heated under reflux at pH ~4, tricyclic compounds 7a, b were obtained in good yields. Condensation of 3-isothiocyanatobutanal with o-phenylenediamines 1h and 1j at pH ~ 5 by refluxing in methanol for 8 h gave products 8 and 9. All these compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 3c, 4c and 7a exhibited anti-inflammatory activity comparable to standard drug ibuprofen.

Six novel gemini imidazolium salts tethered with hexaalkoxytriphenylene moieties were prepared by quaternization of imidazole nitrogen with ω-bromo-substituted triphenylene derivatives. Their chemical structures were examined by 1 H NMR, IR, UV, MS, and elemental analyses. The mesomorphic properties of these discotic dimeric salts were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction studies. These triphenylene-imidazole-based gemini dimers with bromide as counter ion were found to exhibit liquid crystalline behavior over a wide temperature range and display ionic conductivity in the range of 10 −6 to 10 −5 S/m. These materials tend to form monolayer at the air–water interface.

A number of imidazole derivatives 3a–f and 4a–f have been synthesized by the condensation of 3-methylthiophen-2-carboxaldehyde 1a, 5-methylthiophen-2-carboxaldehyde 1b, N-methylpyrrol-2-carboxaldehyde 1c, 1-naphthaldehyde 1d, 2-naphthaldehyde 1e, and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde 1f with 1,2-diaminoanthraquinone 2a and 2,3-diaminophenazine 2b, respectively. Condensation of 2-guanidinobenzimidazole with functionalized aldehydes 1a–f leads to the formation of guanidine derivatives 5a–f. Both imidazole (3a–f, 4a–f) and guanidine derivatives (5a–f) were synthesized in good yields using conventional heating and microwave irradiation techniques. Structures assigned to compounds 3a–f, 4a–f and 5a–f are supported by correct spectral and analytic data. On screening for anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, compounds 3e, 4a and 5a exhibited good anti-inflammatory and compounds 3d, 3f, 4d and 4f showed very good anticancer activity.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of extracts of Schleichera oleosa (Sapindaceae) for its cytotoxic and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activities. The bark of the tree was used to prepare extracts with different solvents (i.e., hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water). The extracts were initially assessed for their in vitro cytotoxicity potential in the sulforhodamine B dye assay against cell lines, such as 502713 (colon), SW-620 (colon), HCT-15 (colon), A-549 (lung), HEP-2 (liver), SK-NS-H (central nervous system), and IMR-32 (neuroblastoma). It was observed that the water extract was effective against all the three colon cancer cell lines, while only methanol and water extracts were effective against A-549 (lung) and HEP-2 (liver), respectively. As DNA damage is one of the hallmarks of cell death, so the extracts were assessed for their ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, in the deoxyribose degradation assay (site- and nonsite specific) as well as their protective effect against the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage in the plasmid nicking assay, using pBR322. It was observed that all the extracts, except chloroform and hexane, exhibited relatively greater antioxidant activity in the nonsite-specific than in the site-specific assay. Similarly, the extracts were also found to be effective in inhibiting the hydroxyl radical-induced unwinding of supercoiled DNA, which further confirmed the hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability of the extracts in the deoxyribose degradation method.

A novel lectin having specificity for N-acetyllactosamine was purified from the tubers of Arisaema speciosum Martius (family: Araceae) by affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-linked amino activated silica beads. The lectin have four identical subunits of 13.5 kDa each and native molecular mass of 51.2 kDa. ASL agglutinated rabbit, rat, sheep and guinea pig erythrocytes but human ABO blood group erythrocytes were not even after neuraminidase treatment. ASL gave as single band on native PAGE, pH 4.5 and multiple bands in isoelectric focusing and at PAGE 8.3. ASL is a glycoprotein with 0.7% carbohydrate content, stable up to 50°C and at pH 2 to 10. The lectin had no requirement for divalent cations and was stable up to 4M Urea, 3M thiourea and 3M Guanidine-HCl. ASL was rich in acidic amino acids but cysteine was completely absent. Amino acid modification revealed the involvement of tryptophan and tyrosine residues in lectin sugar interaction. The secondary structure estimated in far UV CD spectrum was 38% α-helix, 27% β-sheet and 35% random contributions. ASL showed mitogenic potential towards human peripheral blood mononuclear cell. ASL produced more that 50% growth inhibition of seven human cancer cell lines viz. SW-620, IMR-32, PC-3, SK-N-SH, Colo-205, HCT-15 and HT-29 at 100 μg/ml out of eleven cell lines used.

Heterocyclic benzimidazole derivatives 3a-h, 5a-c and 7a-d have been synthesized by condensation of succinic acid (1) homophthalic acid (4) and 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxlic acid (6) with various substituted diamines under microwave irradiation in good yields. Structures assigned to 3a-h, 5a-c and 7a-d are fully supported by spectral data. All these compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. At a dose of 50 mg/kg p.o. compounds 3b (39.4%) and 3c (39.2%) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, comparable to standard ibuprofen which showed 39% activity at 50 mg/kg p.o. and compound 7c exhibit good anticancer activity against ovary (IGR-OV-1), breast (MCF-7) and CNS(SF-295) human cancer cell lines.

Heterocyclic amidine derivatives have been synthesized by condensation of 2-cyanopyrazine, 4-cyanopyridine and 2-cyanopyridine with furfurylamine, histamine, 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole, 4-picolylamine, 2-picolylamine, and tryptamine respectively, in the presence of sodium methoxide as well as via microwave irradiation in good yields. All these compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. At a dose of 50 mg/kg p.o. compounds 3a (36.6%), 3d (32%), 4d (31.0%) and 4e (33.8%) exhibited good anti-inflammatory activity, comparable to standard drug ibuprofen which showed 39% activity at 50 mg/kg p.o.

Lectins are the carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin which have been the subject of intense investigation over the last few decades owing to the variety of interesting biological properties. Most of the lectins which have been purified and characterized from plants have been obtained from dicotyledons. In the present study a lectin was purified from tubers of a monocot plant Arisaema utile (AUL) Schott by affinity chromatography on asialofetuin-linked amino activated silica beads. AUL gave a single band in SDS-PAGE at pH 8.3 corresponding to subunit Mr 13.5 kDa. The native molecular mass of AUL was 54 kDa suggesting a homotetrameric structure. AUL gave multiple bands in isoelectric focusing and in native PAGE at pH 8.3. AUL was inhibited by N-acetyl-D-lactosamine (Lac NAc), a disaccharide and asialofetuin, a complex desialylated serum glycoprotein. When treated with denaturing agents, the lectin was stable in the presence of urea (3 M), thiourea (4 M) and guanidine HCl (4 M). AUL was a glycoprotein with a carbohydrate content of 1.2%. Complete loss of activity was observed upon modification of tryptophan residues of the lectin. The activity was reduced to 25% after modification of tyrosine. Chemical modification of arginine, histidine, serine and cysteine residues of AUL did not affect its activity. Using Far UV CD spectra the estimated secondary structure was 37% α-helix, 25% β-sheet and 38% random contributions. The lectin showed potent mitogenic response towards human lymphocytes. In vitro anti-proliferative assay using 11 human cancer cell lines resulted in 50% inhibition of six cell lines viz. SW-620, HCT-15, SK-N-SH, IMR-32, Colo-205 and HT-29 at 38, 42, 43, 49, 50 and 89 µg/ml, respectively.

A number of N-substituted cyclic imides 3a-e, 5a-e, 7a-d, and 9a-e have been synthesized in very high yields, by condensation of various diacids 2, 4, 6, and 8 with different amines under microwave irradiation. These compounds were screened for anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, and compounds 3c, 3e, 5c, 9c, and 9d exhibited anticancer activity against colon (COLO 205) cancer better than 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C, and compound 9b exhibited anti-inflammatory activity better than standard drug phenyl butazone.

We report the synthesis and characterization of two series of novel triphenylene–anthraquinone-based symmetric discotic liquid crystalline trimers. These triads were prepared using microwave dielectric heating. Conventional heating under similar reaction conditions failed to produce desired products. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first donor–acceptor–donor triads in which all the three components represent discotic mesogenic moieties. Chemical structures of these discotic oligomers have been characterized by spectral techniques and elemental analysis. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of these donor–acceptor–donor triads were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. They exhibit a columnar mesophase over a wide range of temperature. The columnar hexagonal mesophase structure of these discotic oligomers has been elucidated with the help of X-ray diffraction studies.

Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of 5-aryl-7,11,11-trimethyltricyclo[5.4.0.0 3,6 ]-undec-1-en-4-ones 4a – h by H 2 O 2 and formic acid in methanol yields mixtures of 3b,7,7-trimethyl-3-phenyl-3,3a,3b,4,5,6,7,8a-octahydro-1 H -indeno-[1,2-c]furan-1-ones 8a – h and 3b,7,7-trimethyl-3-phenyl-3,3a,3b,4,5,6,7,8a-octahydro-1 H -indeno-[1,2-c]furan-2-ones 9a – h in high yields. The obtained butyrolactones 8a – h display cytotoxic activity against a number of human cancer cells.

This paper gives a general survey on Crop Field Smart Irrigation Mechanization utilizing web from claiming things. The paper covers details regarding the basics of Internet of Things and also the importance of Agriculture in a country like India. Internet of Things is fundamentally those intercontinental for everyone electronic units through Internet. By this interconnection the devices work in a synchronous way to achieve common goals. It is an evolving technology in the areas of trade, industry, medical and many applications. Many applications of IoT make use of sensors for detecting and activating gadgets helping in sharing of data. Agriculture is one such trade on which the entire nation is dependent. We in brief review the various techniques which will allow the farmers to grow more of their crops and reduce wastage of water by using sensors and automation of the irrigation system. The irrigation of crop fields depends on the data collected by the soil moisture sensors. The review can also be extended by understanding the way light intensity is controlled in greenhouses and also that the farmers can be able to monitor the field conditions from anywhere. This system is very useful in areas with scarcity of water. This sys is 92% more efficient than the conventional approach.

(La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 system has been synthesized via a sol-gel route at different sintering temperatures. Structural, transport and optical measurements have been carried out to investigate (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 nanoparticles. Raman spectra show that Jahn-Teller distortion has been decreased due to the presence of Ca and Pr in A-site. Magnetic measurements provide a Curie temperature around 200 K and saturation magnetization (MS) of about 3.43μB/Mn at 5 K. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy study suggests that Mn exists in a dual oxidation state (Mn(3+) and Mn(4+)). Resistivity measurements suggest that charge-ordered states of Mn(3+) and Mn(4+), which might be influenced by the presence of Pr, have enhanced insulating behavior in (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3. Band gap estimated from UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements comes in the range of wide band gap semiconductors (∼3.5 eV); this makes (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 a potential candidate for device application.

Background: Standard care for the rehabilitation of knee conditions involves exercise program and information provision. Current methods of rehabilitation delivery struggle to keep up with large volumes of patients and the length of treatment required to maximize the recovery. Therefore, the development of novel interventions to support self-management is strongly recommended. Such interventions need to include information provision, goal setting, monitoring, feedback and support groups, but the most effective methods of their delivery are poorly understood. Internet provides a medium for intervention delivery with considerable potential for meeting these needs. \ud \ud Objective: The primary aim of this study was to demonstrate feasibility of a web-based application and to conduct a preliminary review of its practicability as part of a complex medical intervention in the rehabilitation of knee disorders. This paper describes the development, implementation and usability of such an application. \ud \ud Methods: The TRAK application suite was developed by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and researchers, computer scientists and application developers. The key functionality of the application includes information provision, a three-step exercise program based on a standard care for the rehabilitation of knee conditions, self-monitoring with visual feedback and virtual support group. Two types of stakeholders (patients and physiotherapists) were recruited for the usability study. The usability questionnaire was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative information on computer and Internet usage, task completion, and subjective user preferences. \ud \ud Results: A total of 16 patients and 15 physiotherapists participated in the usability study. Based on the System Usability Scale, the TRAK application has higher perceived usability than 70% of systems. Both patients and physiotherapists agreed that the given web-based approach would facilitate communication, provide information, help recall information, improve understanding, enable exercise progression and support self-management in general. The web application was found to be easy to use and user satisfaction was very high. The TRAK application suite can be accessed at http://apps.facebook.com/kneetrak/. \ud \ud Conclusion: The usability study suggests that a web-based intervention is feasible and acceptable in supporting self-management of knee conditions.

The primary aim of present work was to develop effective combination drug therapy for topical treatment of psoriasis.Betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriol loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CT-BD-SLNs) were prepared by hot melt high shear homogenization technique, which were then incorporated in Carbopol gel matrix. The anti-psoriatic potential was tested by sequential in vitro (skin permeation and dermal distribution, anti-proliferative effect in HaCaT cells) and in vivo (Draize patch irritation, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and anti-psoriatic mouse tail studies) experiments.A negligible amount in receptor compartment, yet confined distribution of drugs to epidermal and dermal region of skin was observed in case of SLNs, which is essential for safe and effective anti-psoriatic therapy. Draize patch test and TEWL demonstrated negligible skin irritation and better skin tolerability of SLNs. The in vitro HaCaT cell line study demonstrated that SLNs delayed the abrupt growth of keratinocytes, while in vivo mouse tail model showed that SLNs gel significantly decreased the epidermal thickness and increased melanocyte count in comparison to commercial Daivobet® ointment.The developed SLNs gel is expected to be potential strategies for treatment of psoriasis and other topical diseases.

The synthesis of hitherto unknown pyridyl-substituted benzopyran derivatives is achieved in moderate to high yields involving the introduction of a pyridyl moiety in the benzopyran system as the key step.

Compounds (IIIa) and (IIIb) exhibit anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of ibuprofen, and some of the synthesized compounds, e.g. (VI), show moderate anticancer activity against five human cancer cell lines.

In the present study root extracts of Schleichera oleosa were prepared and analysed for hydroxyl radical scavenging potential in different in vitro models, such as deoxyribose degradation (site-specific and non-site specific) and plasmid nicking assays. The extracts were found to have profound effects in both assays by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. The extracts were also assessed for in vitro cytotoxicity in a sulphorhodamine B dye assay against a panel of cell lines representing different types of human cancers and tissues, wherein the methanol, ethyl acetate and water extracts were found to effectively inhibit the growth of selective cell lines. The results of the present study suggests the presence of antioxidant constituents in the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the roots of S. oleosa, results which are in concurrence with preliminary 1H NMR and IR studies that suggest the presence of polyphenolic compounds.

Compounds (IIIa) and (IIIc) exhibit antiinflammatory activity comparable to standard ibuprofen and compound (IX) exhibits good anticancer activity against ovary (IGR-OV-1), breast (MCF-7), and CNS (SF-295) human cancer cell lines.

We report the synthesis and characterization of two series of novel triphenylene-based benzene-bridged symmetric discotic dimers. Two triphenylene discotics have been connected to a rigid benzene ring via flexible methylene spacers. In one series, triphenylene moiety was tethered with benzene via an ester linkage, while in the second series it is via an ether linkage. Within each series, the orientation of the linkage of the triphenylene core around the benzene core has been changed by substituting the benzene ring at o-, m-, and p-positions. These materials have been characterized from their spectral and elemental analysis. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction studies. All the virgin compounds do not display any mesomorphism; however, their charge transfer complexes with trinitrofluorenone, an electron acceptor, exhibited columnar mesophases. The direct current (dc) conductivity of charge transfer complexes at two ratios has been studied at variable temperature. The small conductivity value demonstrates that long spacers as well as connectivity to the rigid benzene ring dilute the column packing, hence making pi-pi interaction less efficient for the entire column length. A hexagonal assembly of triphenylene-benzene dimer 12 on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface has been visualized with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).

A series of 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl] podophyllotoxin congeners have been designed and synthesized with significant regioselectivity by employing Cu(I) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of C4beta-azido podophyllotoxin and C4beta-azido-4'-O-demethyl podophyllotoxin with N-prop-2-yn-1-ylanilines. These compounds were evaluated for anticancer activity against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines. It was interesting to note that all the compounds exhibited promising activity especially against SF-295 (CNS), HCT-15 (colon) and 502713 (colon) cell lines. Compound 11e was found to be the most promising in this study.

Condensation of 9-chloro-2,4-(un)substituted acridines (1a-c) with various amines (2a-e) and 9-isothiocyanato-2,4-(un)substituted acridines (4a,b) with different amines (2a,b,d,e) gave condensed products 3a-o and 5a-g respectively. Compounds 3a-o and 5a-g were screened for anti-inflammatory activity at a dose of 50mg/kg p.o. Compound 3e exhibited 41.17% anti-inflammatory activity which is better than most commonly used standard drug ibuprofen which showed 39% anti-inflammatory (at 50mg/kg p.o.) activity. Anticancer activity evaluation of compounds 3a-o and 5a-g was carried out against a small panel of human cancer cell lines and compounds 3g, 3m and 5g exhibited good anticancer activity against breast (MCF-7), liver (HEP-2), colon (COLO-205, 502713, HCT-15), lung (A-549) and neuroblastoma (IMR-32) cancer cell lines at a concentration of 1 x 10(-5)M.

Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of 5-aryl-7,11,11-trimethyltricyclo[5.4.0.0 3,6 ]-undec-1-en-4-ones 4a – h by H 2 O 2 and formic acid in methanol yields mixtures of 3b,7,7-trimethyl-3-phenyl-3,3a,3b,4,5,6,7,8a-octahydro-1 H -indeno-[1,2-c]furan-1-ones 8a – h and 3b,7,7-trimethyl-3-phenyl-3,3a,3b,4,5,6,7,8a-octahydro-1 H -indeno-[1,2-c]furan-2-ones 9a – h in high yields. The obtained butyrolactones 8a – h display cytotoxic activity against a number of human cancer cells.

Condensation of 3,4-diaryl-2-imino-4-thiazoli-nes 1a-j with methanesulfonyl chloride gave methanesulfonamide derivatives 2a-j. Condensation of 2-cyanopyrazine, 4-cyanopyridine, and 2-cyanopyridine with 3,4-diaryl-2- imino-4-thiazolines 1h-m in the presence of sodium methoxide afforded amidine derivatives 3a-j. Compounds 2a-j and 3a-j were screened against various human cancer cell lines (COLO-205, HEP-2, A-549, IMR-32) and their percentage growth inhibition profile determined at 1 x 10(-5)M. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model. Compound 2i exhibited 34.7% anti-inflammatory activity at 50 mg/kg p.o., which is comparable to standard care drug phenyl butazone (37% activity at 50 mg/kg p.o.).

A series of novel 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]podophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized by employing Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry and evaluated for their anticancer activity against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines (HT-29, HCT-15, 502713, HOP-62, A-549, MCF-7, and SF-295). The compounds 9b, 9c, 9e, 9f, and 9h showed significant cytotoxic activities especially against HT-29, HCT-15, 502713 cell lines.

A series of 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]podophyllotoxin analogues have been synthesized with high regio-selectivity by employing copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 1-O-propargyl monosaccharides with C4beta-azido podophyllotoxin and C4beta-azido-4'-O-demethyl podophyllotoxin. All the compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity against a panel of six human cancer cell lines. Among these, 4'-O-demethyl podophyllotoxin congeners are showing promising anticancer activity mainly against HCT-15 (colon) and DU-145 (prostate) cells.

A series of 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]podophyllotoxin analogues have been synthesized with high regio-selectivity by employing copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 1-O-propargyl monosaccharides with C4beta-azido podophyllotoxin and C4beta-azido-4'-O-demethyl podophyllotoxin. All the compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity against a panel of six human cancer cell lines. Among these, 4'-O-demethyl podophyllotoxin congeners are showing promising anticancer activity mainly against HCT-15 (colon) and DU-145 (prostate) cells.

The role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in a nation's economy has been widely emphasised in past studies, these MSMEs have been able to cope with global competition through proper quality management. But Indian MSMEs have been lacking in quality management initiatives. Using the critical factors of TQM questionnaire based on Likert-scale, the thinking of the firm owner is taken in use. Various statistical tools are used to interpret the numerical data received. The result shows that there are various tasks or process to be improved including top management's role, work place environment, employee relation, etc. A gap between modern trade and traditional retail sectors are analysed using self-assessment evaluation. In this research, the critical factors are perceived, introduced and analysed using statistical tools. This will help in establishing the fact that TQM cannot be ignored for development of manufacturing sector and hence overall development of Indian economy.

In the present investigation, the cytotoxic, hydroxyl radical scavenging and topoisomerase inhibition activities of Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae) were evaluated. The extracts from leaves of the plant were prepared with different solvents viz. chloroform, methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane. In, in vitro cytotoxicity assay, with cell lines viz HCT-15 (Colon), HT-29 (Colon), 502713 (Colon), MCF-7 (Breast), PC- 3 (Prostrate), it was observed that the ethyl acetate extract was effective against only one colon cell line (502713) at the lowest dose i.e. 10 micro g/ml, whereas the chloroform extract was effective against all the three colon cancer cell lines, at 30 microg/ ml. In order to evaluate the mechanism of cytotoxicity of these extracts, they were assessed for their ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals in plasmid nicking assay with pBR322. It was observed that all the extracts effectively inhibited the unwinding of supercoiled DNA except hexane extract, which showed the least effect. Since the expression of topo enzymes is linked with cell proliferation so the extracts were also checked for topo I and topo II inhibitory activities. It was noticed that ethyl acetate extract selectively showed inhibition of topo II in topoisomerase II relaxation assay.

A series of 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl] podophyllotoxin congeners have been designed and synthesized with significant regioselectivity by employing Cu(I) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of C4beta-azido podophyllotoxin and C4beta-azido-4'-O-demethyl podophyllotoxin with N-prop-2-yn-1-ylanilines. These compounds were evaluated for anticancer activity against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines. It was interesting to note that all the compounds exhibited promising activity especially against SF-295 (CNS), HCT-15 (colon) and 502713 (colon) cell lines. Compound 11e was found to be the most promising in this study.

The synthesis, optical properties and thermal behaviour of three novel non-conventional 3,4,9,10-tetrasubstituted perylene-based discotic oligomers are reported for the first time consisting of a perylene core attached to which are four 4-cyanobiphenyl, triphenylene and cholesteryl units via flexible alkyl spacers. All the oligomers self-assemble into a mesophase and exhibit excellent fluorescence emission properties making them suitable for various opto-electronic applications.