Indena S.p.a.

Davide Berlanda

Cesare Ponzone

Fabio Donzelli

Ezio Bombardelli

Paolo Morazzoni

Antonella Riva

Andrea Gambini

Marco Bertani

Marcello Duranti

Andrea Gardi

Alessandro Consonni

Alessandro Andreani

Valeria Longo

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of colchicine 1 from colchicoside 2 which comprises enzymatic conversion of colchicoside 2 to 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3, wherein the enzyme used is a cellulase. According to another aspect of the invention, 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3 can be converted to colchicine 1 using an alkylating agent. The invention also relates to a process for enriching the colchicine 1 content of extracts from plants belonging to the Colchicaceae family containing colchicine 1, colchicoside 2 and 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3, which comprises conversion by means of a colchicoside 2 cellulase to 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3, followed by conversion of 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3 to colchicine 1 using an alkylating agent.

Semisynthetic process for the preparation of colchicine

Extract obtainable by extraction fromsp. with mixtures of ethanol and water, characterised by an &#x3b1;-amylase inhibitor content in between 1,000 and 1,600 USP/mg (HPLC titre between 6 and 14% w/w) and a phytohaemagglutinin content in between 8,000 and 30,000 HAU/g, and a process for its preparation.

Phaseolus vulgaris extracts, their use and formulations containing them

A truncated form of &#x3b1;' chain (e&#x3b1;&#x2032;), the soybean 7S globulin, active in controlling the cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis in in vitro and in vivo models, was cloned and expressed in the yeast. The recombinant polypeptide spanned 142 amino acid residues from the N-terminal side and included the N-terminal extension region of the soybean alpha&#x2032; subunit. The e&#x3b1;&#x2032; polypeptide was purified by conventional biochemical techniques and its potential to modulate the activity of the LDL-receptor was evaluated in a human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2) by monitoring the uptake and degradation of labeled LDL.

Cloning, yeast expression, purification and biological activity of the extension region of the soybean 7S globulin alfa' subunit involved in HEP G2 cell cholesterol homeostasis

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Milan, Italy

Davide Berlanda