Interference with microtubule polymerization results in cell cycle arrest leading to cell death. Colchicine is a well-known microtubule polymerization inhibitor which does so by binding to a specific site on tubulin. A set of 3', 4'-bis (substituted phenyl)-4'H-spiro [indene-2, 5'-isoxazol]-1(3H)-one derivatives with known antiproliferative activities were evaluated for their tubulin binding mo...

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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are the leading plant toxins associated with disease in humans and animals. Upon ingestion, metabolic activation in liver converts the parent compounds into highly reactive electrophiles capable of reacting with cellular macromolecules forming adducts which may initiate acute or chronic toxicity. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids present a serious health risk to human populati...

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are alkaloids which typically contain a necine (7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolizidine) base unit, and they can be found in one third of the higher plants around the world. They are hepatotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic and pose a threat to human health and safety. A specific, quick and sensitive method is therefore needed to detect and quantify t...

The basic properties of many pyrrolizidine alkaloids are well known l.5, A lthough they have been isolated from representatives of about 13 plant fami lies, they occur most abundantly in the large genera sen~cio (Asteraceae), Crola/aria (Papilionaceae) and in many members of Boraginaceae including Heliotropium and CynoglossUlI1. More recently they have been detected in LepidopheraJ,4 Over 75 sp...

Plant-derived pyrrolizidine alkaloids play an important role in the biology of the salt marsh moth, Estigmene acrea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). They are phagostimulants for larvae and they stimulate the growth and development of adult male androconial organs called coremata. In this study, we have shown that the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline N-oxide (MNO) fed to larvae also affects the cou...

Objectives: To determine the relative quantities of two hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, symphytine and echimidine, in teas prepared from comfrey leaves (Symphytum officinale), and to determine the potential contribution of the Noxide forms of these alkaloids to levels of the parent alkaloids. Design: Comfrey leaves were purchased from three commercial sources and used to prepare tea in a m...

Organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells based on the newly developed nonfullerene electron acceptors have potential for very low-cost energy production. However, to enable large-scale production with common printing techniques, active layer thicknesses need be increased by up an order of magnitude, which is currently not possible without significant loss in performance. Herein, requirements mak...