Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Inadequately Dried Leaves of Alstonia scholaris

Six new indole alkaloids,named alstoniascholarines L–Q(1–6),together with nineteen known analogues were isolated from the inadequately dried leaves of Alstonia scholaris.Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data and by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with the literature values.In addition,the new alkaloids were tested for their cytotoxic and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities.

Standardization of DNA Extraction Method from Mature Dried Leaves and ISSR-PCR Conditions for Melia dubia Cav. —A Fast Growing Multipurpose Tree Species

Melia dubia Cav. of family Meliaceae is a fast growing, high value tree species native to India. Isolating DNA from matured dried leaves of M. dubia was difficult due to accumulation of secondary metabolites, majorly polyphenolics, which resulted in dark brown to black colour of the pellet. In this study, a modified STE-(Sucrose, Tris-HCl and Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid) CTAB (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) method was standardized for removal of polyphenolics. The protocol developed yielded 200 - 1000 ng/μl of quality DNA without any impurities as evident by A260/280 ratio ranging from 1.75 - 2.0. It was also suitable for extracting quality DNA from other members of Meliaceae like Azadirachta indica and Melia azedarach. In downstream applications, the extracted DNA was used for PCR amplification by using ISSR and SSR markers. ISSR PCR conditions were optimized in a reaction volume of 25 μl, consisting of 30 ng of template DNA, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 200 μM of each of dNTPs and 2 U of Taq polymerase. The best amplification was observed and the same was applicable for SSR markers.

Synthesis of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets from sugarcane dry leaves by two-stage pyrolysis for antibacterial activity

Oxidative-exfoliation methods were in vogue in the production of rGO from graphite.Processing of such synthetic graphite needs high temperatures(2500℃).Thus,such process is not cost-effective.The present study is made on the dry leaves of sugarcane(Saccharum officinarum)as an alternative raw material so as to be economical and environmentally benign.The dry leaves are subjected to two-step pyrolysis without any catalyst or reducing agent in far divergent temperatures to produce as prepared and acid treated rGOs.They were evaluated by UV–Vis.,FTIR,XRD,Raman spectroscopy,TGA/DTG,BET,FESEM-EDS and TEM.The as prepared rGO has few layers with irregular and folded architecture whereas acid-treated rGO has thinly stacked crumpled sheets with many wrinkles on its surface.The prepared rGOs have multilayered graphitic structure due to the unique ratio between G and D bands.Acid treated rGO has poor thermal stability as compared to that of as-prepared rGO at high temperatures due to the variation in the oxygen-containing functional groups.Acid treated rGO has low antibacterial activity as compared to that of the as-prepared rGO due to the paucity of the functional groups.