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A simple, efficient procedure for the oxidation of alcohols by catalytic 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) was developed using FeCl3·6H2O as the terminal oxidant. The reaction gives high yield of the corresponding aldehydes and ketones with no over oxidation to the acid.Key words: oxidation, TEMPO, FeCl3·6H2O.

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The purpose of this study was to determine energy input, output and energy use efficiency of an acre land based crop-livestock-poultry IFS model, developed at ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna during 2012–16. In the current investigation, total energy input in the experimental one-acre integrated farming model was calculated to be 45.08 GJ and total energy output obtained as 102.54 GJ, and resulted in energy use efficiency ratio as 2.27. Also, it was analysed that total energy input was required utmost for the goat rearing, i.e. 24.84 GJ/20 goats/year followed by field crops, vegetable, green fodders, fruits, poultry and mushroom cultivation. In the current IFS model labour, diesel and electrical energy inputs were required maximum in field crops. The direct and indirect energy sources were calculated and found to be invested utmost in field crops and goat rearing as 2.98 GJ and 24.53 GJ, respectively. Similarly, renewable and non-renewable energy sources were utilized in goat rearing and field crops as 24.39 GJ and 6.99 GJ, respectively. Moreover, energy use efficiency ratio was estimated highest in fodder crops (8.66) and lowest from goat rearing (0.17). It was found that goatry and poultry farming are of least energy efficient agricultural production systems, because they produced negative energy mileage. The energy use efficiency ratio for the main output has shown that green fodders and field crops yielded better energy productivity. The net energy gain was recorded maximum from field crops. The energy profitability analysis revealed that green fodders’ cultivation was most profitable in terms of energy and produced EP ratio as 7.66 followed by field crops and vegetables, respectively.

Many natural products with greater therapeutic efficacy are limited to target several chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Among the natural products from hops, i.e., Xanthohumol (XH), is a prenylated chalcone. The present research work focuses on the enhancement of the poor oral bioavailability and weak pharmacokinetic profile of XH. We exemplified the development of a Xanthohumol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (XH-SLNs) cargo system to overcome the limitations associated with its bioavailability. The XH-SLNs were prepared by a high-shear homogenization/ultrasonication method and graphical, numerical optimization was performed by using Box–Behnken Design. Optimized XH-SLNs showed PS (108.60 nm), PDI (0.22), ZP (−12.70 mV), %EE (80.20%) and an amorphous nature that was confirmed by DSC and PXRD. FE-SEM and HRTEM revealed the spherical morphology of XH-SLNs. The results of release studies were found to be 9.40% in 12 h for naive XH, whereas only 28.42% of XH was released from XH-SLNs. The slow release of drugs may be due to immobilization of XH in the lipid matrix. In vivo pharmacokinetic study was performed for the developed XH-SLNs to verify the enhancement in the bioavailability of XH than naive XH. The enhancement in the bioavailability of the XH was confirmed from an increase in Cmax (1.07-folds), AUC0-t (4.70-folds), t1/2 (6.47-folds) and MRT (6.13-folds) after loading into SLNs. The relative bioavailability of XH loaded in SLNs and naive XH was found to be 4791% and 20.80%, respectively. The cytotoxicity study of naive XH, XH-SLNs were performed using PC-3 cell lines by taking camptothecin as positive control. The results of cytotoxicity study revealed that XH-SLNs showed good cell inhibition in a sustained pattern. This work successfully demonstrated formulation of XH-SLNs with sustained release profile and improved oral bioavailability of XH with good anticancer properties against PC-3 cells.

Fermentation of sitosterol by a Pseudomonas species (SK-25) resulted in the formation of 5-stigmastene-3fJ,7a-diol; 5,6a-epoxy-5a-stigmastan-3f,-ol; 5,6f-epoxy-5/-stigmastan-3f-ol and 5a-stigmastan-3f1,5,6fl-triol. The metabolites were characterized by a variety of conventional chemical and spectrometric techniques.

In Ayurveda, Cissus quadrangularis Linn. is used to treat anorexia, asthma, sickle cell, colds, pain, and malaria. Aqueous C. quadrangularis extract was evaluated in vivo for its antiepileptic activity by using the maximal electroshock and isonicotinic hydrazide acid models, for its analgesic activity by using the hot plate method, and for its smooth muscle relaxant activity by using the rotarod method. Adult male Swiss mice were used for this study and animals were divided into 6 animals per group. Doses of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight protected the mice against maximal electroshock seizure, and delayed the onset time of seizures induced by isonicotinic hydrazide acid. Prominent analgesic activity was observed using the hot plate method. The paw licking time was delayed significantly. The extract also displayed prominent smooth muscle relaxant activity. The results suggest that the aqueous extracts of C. quadrangularis roots possess anticonvulsant, analgesic, and smooth muscle relaxant properties.