Novel macrocyclic Schiff base complexes [[ML]X; where M = Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Mn(II) and VO(IV)^; L = macrocyclic ligand; X = Cl₂ and SO₄ ²⁻] have been synthesized and characterized by microanalytical, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR, Mass, UV–Vis, EPR spectral studies, as well as conductivity data. All the complexes exhibit square-planar geometry except vanadium complex. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and high conductance data reveal the monomeric and electrolytic nature of the complexes. Electronic absorption, cyclic voltammetry, viscosity measurements have been carried out on the interaction of the complexes with DNA. The results suggest that the complexes bind to DNA by intercalation via the aromatic ring of the macrocycle into the base pairs of DNA. Using gel electrophoresis experiment in the presence and absence of oxidant (H₂O₂) the nuclease cleavage activity of the complexes has been performed on plasmid DNA. The results demonstrate that most of the complexes have promising superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic activity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of ligand and its complexes has also been evaluated against human breast and colon carcinoma cells. Binding interactions and energies of ligand and its metal complexes [ML]²⁺ (M = VO(IV), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)) against the receptors EGFR and HER2 are performed using the Auto dock module. Consequently, it is found that the ligand is strong inhibitor for EGFR and HER2 while [VOL]SO₄ is good inhibitor for EGFR and [ZnL]Cl₂ is moderate inhibitor for HER2. The antimicrobial activity of the ligand and its complexes against bacteria Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and fungi Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Candida Albicans and Rhizoctonia bataicola. The complexes have higher activities than the macrocyclic free Schiff base. Interaction of [VOL]SO₄ to the binding sites of target protein EGFR (PDB ID: 4HJ0). Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

The current state of future energy and environmental crises has revitalised the need to find alternative sources of energy due to escalating oil prices and depleting oil reserves. To meet increasing energy requirements, there has been a growing interest in alternative fuels like biodiesel that can become a suitable diesel fuel substitute for compression ignition engine. Biodiesel offers a very promising alternative to diesel fuel, since they are renewable and have similar properties. Calophyllum inophyllum seed oil collected from different restaurants in the Nagapattinam region of South India was converted into methyl esters (biodiesel) by transesterification. Biodiesel produced from C. inophyllum oil was blended with diesel by different volume proportions (25%, 50%, and 75%). Biodiesel and its blends were tested on a direct injection (DI) diesel engine at a constant speed by varying loads from 0% to 100% in steps of 20% to analyse its performance, emission, and combustion characteristics. The results obtained were compared with that of diesel fuel. B25 (27.5%) showed better performance than diesel fuel (26.28%) at full load and B50 showed performances similar to diesel fuel. Smoke density of B25 was slightly (2.6%) higher than that of diesel at full load conditions. At full load, measured carbon monoxide emissions for B25 and B50 were 4% lower than that of diesel. Hydrocarbon emissions for B25 and B100 were 5.37% and 25.8% higher than that of diesel, respectively. Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emission was lower for all biodiesel blends. NO_x emissions of B100 and B75 were lower than that of diesel by 22.16% and 13.29% at full load, respectively. Combustion profile was smoother, and no knocking problem was observed while operating with biodiesel blends. B75 produced peak cylinder pressure.