A Schiff base ligand HL, (E)-2-((adamantan-1-ylimino)methyl)-6-allylphenol, was synthesized by condensation of amantadine with 3-allyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, followed by the synthesis of its Zn(II), Co(II), Cr(III), and VO(IV) complexes under reflux conditions. The synthesized compounds were comprehensively elucidated by using different spectroscopic and analytical techniques: UV-Vis, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR, ESI-MS, thermal, and single-crystal XRD analysis. The chemical composition of the synthesized compounds was also verified by molar conductance and elemental analysis. An octahedral geometry for Cr(III) and Co(II) complexes, tetrahedral for Zn(II) complex, and square pyramidal geometry have been proposed for VO(IV) complexes. The antidiabetic activities of the synthesized compounds were also evaluated by performing in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition studies. The Co(II) complex exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, whereas oxovanadium(IV) and zinc(II) complexes were also found to be effective against α-amylase. In alkaline phosphatase (ALP) inhibition studies, the HL was found to be inactive, while the complexes showed remarkable enzyme inhibition in the following order: VO > Zn > Co, in a concentration-dependent manner.

Diabetes mellitus is a significant health issue in Pakistan, with rising prevalence rates posing serious challenges to public health. To tackle this issue, several strategies have been developed recently, among which the controlled conversion of dietary carbohydrates into glucose by inhibition of enzymes is an appropriate strategy. For this purpose, many synthetic drugs have been tried and explored. In this scenario, a new Schiff base ligand, (E)-2-((adamantan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-bromo-4-chlorophenol (AHB), has been synthesized by a reflux reaction of amantadine with 3-bromo-5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The transition metal complexes, [Cr(AHB)₃], [Zn(AHB)₂], [Co(AHB)₂], and [VO(AHB)₂], were also synthesized by reacting AHB with the respective metal salts. Structural elucidation of the prepared compounds was performed comprehensively by various physicochemical methods like UV-visible, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, thermal analysis, and molar conductivity. Structural investigation of crystalline AHB was also performed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Based on the structural analysis, an octahedral geometry for the Cr(III) complex, square planar geometry for the Co(II) complex, tetrahedral geometry for the Zn(II) complex, and square pyramidal geometry for the VO(IV) complex were proposed. The synthesized bidentate ligand was found to be coordinated with the metal ions via nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms. All of the synthesized compounds were found to be non-electrolytic. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the thermally stable nature of complexes, more than the ligand. The hypoglycemic potential of the compounds was estimated by in vitro inhibitory activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The tested ligand-AHB was found to be relatively inactive toward both enzymes, while its metal complexes were found to be good α-glucosidase inhibitors as compared to α-amylase inhibitors. Among all prepared compounds, the Zn(II) complex was found to be a good α-glucosidase inhibitor comparable to the standard (acarbose), while other complexes showed a moderate inhibition of α-glucosidase. Both Cr(III) and Co(II) complexes were found to be effective α-amylase inhibitors. Based on the current findings, it can be anticipated that the synthesized compounds can be tried as effective therapeutic agents to cure diabetes mellitus.

The conversion of CO₂ into CO as a substitute for processing fossil fuels to produce hydrocarbons is a sustainable, carbon neutral energy technology. However, the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into a synthesis gas (CO and H₂) at a commercial scale requires an efficient electrocatalyst. In this perspective, a series of six new palladium complexes with the general formula [Pd(L)(Y)]Y, where L is a donor-flexible PYA, N²,N⁶-bis(1-ethylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, N²,N⁶-bis(1-butylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, or N²,N⁶-bis(1-benzylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, and Y = OAc or Cl⁻, were utilized as active electrocatalysts for the conversion of CO₂ into a synthesis gas. These palladium(II) pincer complexes were synthesized from their respective H-PYA proligands using 1,8-diazobicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or sodium acetate as a base. All the compounds were successfully characterized by various physical methods of analysis, such as proton and carbon NMR, FTIR, CHN, and single-crystal XRD. The redox chemistry of palladium complexes toward carbon dioxide activation suggested an evident CO₂ interaction with each Pd(II) catalyst. [Pd(N²,N⁶-bis(1-ethylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide)(Cl)]Cl showed the best electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction into a synthesis gas under the acidic condition of trifluoracetic acid (TFA) with a minimum overpotential of 0.40 V, a maximum turnover frequency (TOF) of 101 s⁻¹, and 58% FE of CO. This pincer scaffold could be stereochemically tuned with the exploration of earth abundant first row transition metals for further improvements in the CO₂ reduction chemistry.

A combined thermal analysis, variable temperature diffraction analysis, and X-ray charge density analysis of 2 : 2 nicotinic acid : gallic acid (NAGA). 3H₂O co-crystal is reported, which revealed the dynamics of co-crystal growth. The precursor gallic acid monohydrate transforms to gallic acid anhydrate upon heating the co-crystal and as a result, the co-crystal assembly crumbles. To further explore the mechanism of the co-crystal growth, electrostatic and topological analysis of various intermolecular interactions in the co-crystal assembly, an experimental charge density analysis was performed using high-resolution diffraction data collected at 100 K and refined on the basis of Hansen and Coppens multipolar formalism using Mopro software. The results from the experimental refinements were compared with the multipolar refinement using theoretical structure factors obtained from B3LYP-D3 DFT calculations with excellent agreement. The co-crystallization starts with the formation of an NA⋯NA zwitterion backbone to which the hydrated gallic acid coformer binds via the electrostatic interactions. The significance of thermal analysis and in situ diffraction analysis combined with multipolar refinement has been proven to be helpful in understanding co-crystal growth. During in situ thermal diffraction analysis, the hydrated polymorph was transformed into another anhydrate polymorph of GA.

The aim of this study was to determine the attitude of pharmacists and non-pharmacists in Karachi towards the use of non-prescription medicines. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2012 to October 2012 among pharmacist and non-pharmacists. Data was analyzed and results were compared using Chi-square test with the help of statistical software package (SPSS version 19). Overall prevalence of self-medication was found to be 81.28%. Factors like busy life schedule (27.58%), previous experience of medicine (20.68%) and better drug information (20.86%), contributed differently in promoting self medication to pharmacists, whereas busy life schedule (45%), was one of the major factor of self medication among non pharmacist. The major clinical conditions in which self medication was observed in the pharmacists were flu (36.9%), pain (27.59%), fever (25.86%), diarrhea (24.14%) and headache (22.07%), whereas in the non pharmacists, the main conditions were headache (55.71%), diarrhea (53.33%), fever (35.71%) and flu (35.24%). Self-medication was commonly observed both in pharmacist (62.08%) and non pharmacist (71.43%) in Karachi, but there was a significant increase in non pharmacist (c2=4.756, p<0.05). In order to control this prevailing problem, legislation are to be made by the government especially to implement and facilitate the prescription system, conducting awareness programs and restricting drug advertisements for public. Key words: Pharmacist, non-prescription drugs, self medication.