The invention provides compounds, methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer. In one aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit the activity of protein kinases, such as cell division cycle (Cdc) kinase. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that inhibit Cdc7 and/or Dbf4 activity. In another aspect, the methods comprise compounds that exhibit anti-proliferative properties useful in treating diseases such as cancer. Compounds useful for any of the methods include compounds of the Formula (A) or (B): ##STR00001##
or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Exemplary compounds of Formula (A) or (B) include granaticin A, granaticin B, dihydrogranaticin A, dihydrogranaticin B, medermycin, and actinorhodin.

Methods for obtaining natural colorants from plant material (e.g., tobacco material) and for using such natural colorants to dye various substrates are provided. Natural colorants are obtained using particular enzymes and particular conditions (e.g., time, temperature, and pH profiles). Such colorants can be used to dye substrates, for example, using conventional dyeing techniques or using unique in situ methods.

Methods for obtaining natural colorants from plant material (e.g., tobacco material) and for using such natural colorants to dye various substrates are provided. Natural colorants are obtained using particular enzymes and particular conditions (e.g., time, temperature, and pH profiles). Such colorants can be used to dye substrates, for example, using conventional dyeing techniques or using unique in situ methods.

A method for obtaining cochineal wax is provided which comprises (a) harvesting cochineal insects from an artificial medium inoculated with the insects; (b) extracting cochineal wax from the insects with a liquid medium; and (c) isolating cochineal wax from the liquid medium.

A method for obtaining cochineal wax is provided which comprises (a) harvesting cochineal insects from an artificial medium inoculated with the insects; (b) extracting cochineal wax from the insects with a liquid medium; and (c) isolating cochineal wax from the liquid medium.

A dye-sensitized solar panel includes a titanium nanoparticle layer and a plant-derived photo-sensitizer supported on the titanium nanoparticle layer. The photo-sensitizer can be extracted from chard (the cicla cultivar group of B. vulgaris subsp. cicla), and the titanium nanoparticle layer includes titanium nanoparticles synthesized using henna (Lawsonia inermis). The titanium nanoparticle layer can, in addition to titanium nanoparticles, include zinc oxide nanoparticles.

A dye-sensitized solar panel includes a titanium nanoparticle layer and a plant-derived photo-sensitizer supported on the titanium nanoparticle layer. The photo-sensitizer can be extracted from chard (the cicla cultivar group of B. vulgaris subsp. cicla), and the titanium nanoparticle layer includes titanium nanoparticles synthesized using henna (Lawsonia inermis). The titanium nanoparticle layer can, in addition to titanium nanoparticles, include zinc oxide nanoparticles.

The present invention relates to an inulin-based prebiotic complex enriched with vitamin B12 and selenium, which finds use in the field of food, nutraceutical, herbal, pharmaceutical preparations.

The present invention relates to an inulin-based prebiotic complex enriched with vitamin B12 and selenium, which finds use in the field of food, nutraceutical, herbal, pharmaceutical preparations.

The invention relates to a method for the determination of crocetin and its derivative amounts and the derivative composition from gardenia yellow. The method mainly comprises of following steps: the absorbance measurement of a gardenia yellow aqueous solution at known concentration by UV-VIS, the absorption coefficient measurement of total crocetin derivative, the total crocetin derivative amount calculation according to Lambert-Beer law, the relative amount calculation of each crocetin derivative from its absorption coefficient and peak area on HPLC, the amount calculation of each crocetin derivative from the total amount of crocetin derivative and the relative amount of each crocetin derivative, and finally total crocetin amount calculation. In practice, the absorption coefficient of each crocetin derivative is calculated from that of its root structure, crocetin, based on the negative correlation-ship of absorbance with molecular mass of the molecule while the molecular mass of each crocetin derivative is substituted by the m/z value of its parent ion.