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The existing aromatase inhibitors produced unwelcome effects impose the discovery of novel drugs with privileged selectivity, a reduced amount of toxi -city and humanizing potency. In this study, we illuminate the binding mode of polyketide azaphilanoid pigments monascin, ankaflavin, monascorubrin and monascorubramine isolated from Monascus fungus to the aromatase by molecular docking. The 3-dimensional structure of aromatase enzyme (PDB: 4KQ8) was obtained from the Protein Data Bank. PatchDock docking software was used to analyze structural complexes of the aromatase with monascus pigments. Comparatively, the AutoGrid model presented the most briskly constructive binding mode of monascin to aromatase. Docked energies in kcal/mol are: monascin:-13.2; monascorubramine:-12.8, monascorubrin:-12.3; ankaflavin:-10.5. These outcomes exposed these ligands could be potential drugs to treat hormone dependent breast cancer. Article Info

The global presence of arsenic (As) in drinking water has endangered the safety of human health. The present research investigated the removal of As in drinking water using bio-sand filtration (BSF). Various treatments i.e. T1 (Pinus bark), T2 (brick powder), and T3 (mixture of T1 and T2) were used to investigate the As removal from drinking water by batch mode column experiments at room temperature (15-20˚C) for 90 d. Batch experiments were conducted to check the As removal efficiency of Pinus bark and brick powder. Adsorption studies involved changing of the As and adsorbent concentrations. The BSF containing Pinus bark having depth of 5 cm showed the maximum As adsorption i.e. 95% over the time period of 80 d and adsorbed the maximum As concentration of 13.843 mg. The BSF may serve as good option for the treatment of potable water especially in the developing countries.

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In organic and organometallic syntheses where crude solid products usually weigh mg, the problem is to use the minimum amount of this solid while determining an appropriate recrystallization solvent or solvent pair. The following procedure has been adopted in our laboratory for the past year with excellent results. Twelve reagent bottles with different solvents are permanently arranged on the laboratory shelf. Using 12 5-mL beakers, put a 1-2 mg sample in each, and add 1 mL solvent; the solubility may be observed by just shaking the beakers. If a clear solution is obtained then note the solvent, otherwise slightly warm and note the solubility. Adopting this procedure, in a minimum time and with minimum sample one can select the solvent or even solvent pair for recrystallization. The choice of solvents and their arrangement depends on one's own preferences. The set of 12 solvents in our laboratory is: H2O, C2H5OH, CH3OH, CHCI3, CCI4, CH2CI2, acetone, n-pentane, n-hexane, pet. ether, ether, and benzene.