("auxano" -- "I grow").

uxins derive their name from the Greek word αυξανω ("auxano" -- "I grow"). They were the first of the major plant hormones to be discovered and are a major coordinating signal in plant development. Their pattern of active transport through the plant is complex. They typically act in concert with (or opposition to) other plant hormones. For example, the ratio of auxin to cytokinin in certain plant tissues determines initiation of root versus shoot buds. Thus a plant can (as a whole) react on external conditions and adjust to them, without requiring a nervous system. On a molecular level, auxins have an aromatic ring and a carboxylic acid group (Taiz and Zeiger, 1998).
The most important member of the auxin family is indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). It generates the majority of auxin effects in intact plants, and is the most potent native auxin. However, molecules of IAA are chemically labile in aqueous solution, so IAA is not used commercially as a plant growth regulator.
Naturally-occurring auxins include 4-chloro-indoleacetic acid, phenylacetic acid (PAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).
Synthetic auxin analogs include 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and others

uxins are often used to promote initiation of adventitious roots and are the active ingredient of the commercial preparations used in horticulture to root stem cuttings. They can also be used to promote uniform flowering, to promote fruit set, and to prevent premature fruit drop.
Used in high doses, auxin stimulates the production of ethylene. Excess ethylene can inhibit elongation growth, cause leaves to fall (leaf abscission), and even kill the plant. Some synthetic auxins such as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) have been used as herbicides. Broad-leaf plants (dicots) such as dandelions are much more susceptible to auxins than narrow-leaf plants (monocots) like grass and cereal crops. These synthetic auxins were the active agents in Agent Orange, a defoliant used extensively by American forces in the Vietnam War.

Ashwagandha

Common name: Winter Cherry • Hindi: Ashwagandha अश्वगंधा, Rasbhari • Kannada: Kanchuki • Marathi: Ghoda, Tilli • Gujarati: Ghodaasun • Telugu: Vajigandha • Malayalam: Amukkuram • Tamil: Amukkuram Botanical name: Withania somnifera Family: Solanaceae (Potato family)
Ashwagandha, is native to drier parts of India. It is a perennial herb that reaches about 6 feet in nature. In the greenhouse they flower in the late fall and winter. Orange fruits in persistent papery calyxes follow the small greenish flowers. Ashwagandha is propagated by division, cuttings or seed. Seed is the best way to propagate them. Seed sown on moist sand will germinate in 14-21 days at 20° C. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this flowers. Medicinal uses: Ashwagandha has been a prized top notch adaptogenic tonic in India for 3000 - 4000 years. The plants contain the alkaloids withanine and somniferine, which are used to treat nervous disorders, intestinal infections and leprosy. All plant parts are used including the roots, bark, leaves, fruit and seed.

Bio-reactor”

Description
“Bio-reactor” is a generic term for a system that degrades contaminants in groundwater and soil with microorganisms. The reactors can be open systems, such as a constructed wetland (described as a separate technology), or an enclosed chamber. This description only describes the latter. Unlike natural attenuation and in-situ bioremediation, bioreactors can avoid and control the frequent problems of ineffective indigenous microorganisms and/or low indigenous microbial populations. There are several types of bio-reactors.The most common bioreactor is used in wastewater treatment. Contaminated groundwater is circulated in an aeration basin where microbes degrade organic matter, forming a sludge that is disposed of or recycled. A second type uses a rotating biological matrix. Microorganism populations grow on the matrix, which is rotated in the reactor. Another method uses a packed bed. A tank is filled with a support medium,, which provides a large surface area for microbial growth. Another system uses soil slurry bioreactor technology to degrade soil containing trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Royal Demolition Explosive (RDX).
Bioreactors can also be installed in-situ (i.e., in place). Vertically placed bio-reactors are called bio-plugs. Horizontally placed bio-reactors are called bio-conduits. These techniques enhance degradation as contaminated groundwater passes through the reactor. This technology has been successfully implemented in the remediation of organic compounds at several leaking underground storage tank and industrial sites.
Limitations and Concerns
Contaminated groundwater is often too dilute to support an adequate microbial population. At the other extreme, very high concentrations may be toxic to microorganisms. Also, heavy metals are not treated by this method, and they can be toxic to microorganisms.
Low ambient temperatures can decrease biodegradation rates.
If contaminants tend to volatilize, air pollution controls may be necessary.
With explosive materials or chlorinated solvents, some intermediary degradation products are more toxic than the original contaminants.
Bioreactors are prone to upset. Nuisance microorganisms can predominate and reduce treatment effectiveness.
Residuals may require treatment or disposal.
Applicability
Bio-reactors are used primarily to treat volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fuel hydrocarbons. The process is less effective for pesticides. In one application, the concept was used to treat soil containing TNT and RDX. In the laboratory, it operated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and there was a large decrease in contaminant concentration. Intermediate byproducts were also degraded.
In-situ bioreactors can also be used to provide a cometabolite for degradation of hazardous by-products produced during the degradation process of some of the chlorinated solvents. This type of bioreactor contains adapted microbes that mineralize the organic compounds of interest. The microbes are trapped onto a biological support medium. An in-situ immobilized bioreactor system can be used in conjunction with a vapor extraction system.
Technology Development Status
Basic bio-reactors are a well-developed technology that has been used in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater. Bioreactors are commercially available for treating fuels. Adaptations have been recently evaluated only for treating groundwater and soil containing large concentrations of chemical contaminants. Several successful pilot projects have been completed for chlorinated compounds. Laboratory experiments have been done for explosive compounds. Sequencing anaerobic/aerobic bioreactors is an innovative approach for treating halogenated VOCs, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and ordnance compounds.

Process of drug discovery

Process of drug discovery

Discovery
The first step of drug discovery involves the identification of new active compounds, often called "hits", which are typically found by screening many compounds for the desired biological properties. These hits can come from natural sources, such as plants, animals, or fungi. More often, the hits can come from synthetic sources, such as historical compound collections and combinatorial chemistry.

Optimization
The second step of drug discovery involves the synthetic modification of the hits in order to improve the biological properties of the compound pharmacophore. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of the pharmacophore play an important part in finding lead compounds, which exhibit the most potency, most selectivity, best pharmacokinetics and least toxicity. QSAR involves mainly physical chemistry and molecular docking tools (CoMFA and CoMSIA), that leads to tabulated data and first and second order equations. There are many theories, the most relevant being Hansch's analysis that involves Hammett electronic parameters, steric parameters and logP(lipophilicity) parameters.

Development
The final step involves the rendering the lead compounds suitable for use in clinical trials. This involves the optimization of the synthetic route for bulk production, and the preparation of a suitable drug formulation.

Training in medicinal chemistry
Many workers in the field do not have formal training in medicinal chemistry. Graduate (postgraduate) level programs do exist in medicinal chemistry, but frequently the broader education in a chemistry graduate program can provide many of the skills needed.