Chemistry in Sri Lanka ISSN 1012 - 8999 The Tri-Annual Publication of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Founded in 1971, Incorporated by Act of Parliament No. 15 of 1972 Successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon, founded on 25th January 1941 Vol. 33 No. 2 May 2016 Pages Council 2015/2016 02 Outline of our Institute 02 Chemistry in Sri Lanka 02 Guest Editorial Ethics, Values and Responsibilities of Chemists in National Development 03 Cover Page 03 Forty Fifth Annual Sessions and Seventy Fifth Anniversary Celebrations 2016 04 Theme Seminar on “Ethics, Values and Responsibilities of Chemists in National Development” 06 Technical Sessions 07 Dr. C L de Silva Gold Medal Award 09 Abstract of the Dr. C L De Silva Gold Medal Award 09 Kandiah Memorial Awards - 2016 10 Abstract of Kandiah Memorial Award for Basic Chemistry - 2016 10 Abstract of Kandiah Memorial Graduateship Award - 2016 11 Abstract of Kandiah Memorial Award for Applied Chemistry - 2016 12 Abstracts of Research Papers to be presented at the 45th Annual Sessions 2016 13 Commemoration of the First Death Anniversary of Emeritus Professor JNO Fernando 32 Professor J N O Fernando Memorial Oration 34 Twelfth Convocation of the College of Chemical Sciences Convocation Address 42 Post JNOF at CCS - the period since 2nd March - an overview 45 Student Corner Citations, References, ACS style, and Mendeley Software 51 Publications of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon 53 RSC (SL section) News 54 Theme for the year - Ethics and Responsibilities of Professional Chemists for the National Development Adamantane House, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya Office (�: 2861231, 2861653, 4015230 ���Ê� : 2861231, 2861653 E mail : [email protected] web page : www.ichemc.edu.lk Outline of our Institute Council 2015/2016 The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon is a professional body and a learned society founded in 1971 and incorporated by act of President : Mr. K R Dayananda Parliament No. 15 of 1972. It is the successor to the Chemical President Elect : Mr. M R M Haniffa Society of Ceylon which was founded in 1941. Over 50 years of existence in Sri Lanka makes it the oldest scientific body in the Vice President : Dr. Poshitha Premarathne country. Immediate Past President : Prof. H D Gunawardhana The Institute has been established for the general advancement Hony. Joint Secretaries : Dr. R. Senthilnithy of the science and practice of Chemistry and for the enhancement Dr. A A P Keerthi of the status of the profession of Chemistry in Sri Lanka. The Hony. Treasurer : Prof. M D P De Costa Institute represents all branches of the profession and its Hony. Asst. Treasurer : Mr. N M S Hettigedara membership is accepted by the government of Sri Lanka (by establishment circular 234 of 9-3-77) for purposes of Hony. Editor : Prof. (Ms) Sujatha Hewage recruitment and promotion of chemists. Hony. Asst. Editor : Dr. (Ms) H I C de Silva Secretary for International Corporate Membership Full membership is referred to as corporate membership and Relations : Prof. (Ms) Ramanee Wijesekera consists of two grades: Fellow (F.I.Chem.C.) and Chairman/Academic Board : Prof. S P Deraniyagala Member (M.I.Chem.C.) Hony. Secretary for Application for non-corporate membership is entertained for four Educational Affairs : Dr. C. Udawatte grades: Associate (former Graduate) (A.I.Chem.C.), Chairman, Admission & Ethical Licenciate (L.I.Chem.C.), Technician (Tech.I.Chem.C.) and Practices Committee : Mr. E G Somapala Affiliate Member. Secretary, A & EP Committee : Mrs. D Seneviratne Revision of Membership Regulation Chairman, Board of Trustees : Prof. H D Gunawardhana All Special Degree Chemists can now apply directly to obtain Associate (Graduate) Membership. Three year B. Sc. Elected Members Graduates (with an acceptable standard of Chemistry) can (i) directly become Licentiate Prof. (Ms.)Siromi Samarasinghe Prof. Sudantha Liayanage (ii) obtain corporate membership in a lesser number of years. Prof. (Ms.) J A Liyanage Prof. (Ms.) P A Paranagama Prof. K R R Mahanama Dr. (Ms.) Nandani Ediriweera Tech.I.Chem.C. Those who have passed the DLTC examination or LTCC Dr. (Ms.) L S R Arambawela Ms. M N K de S Goonetilleke examination or have obtained equivalent qualification and are Ms. P M Jayasinha Mr. R M G B Rajanayaka engaged in the practice of Chemistry (or chemical sciences) acceptable to the Council are entitled to the designation Tech.I.Chem.C. Editorial and Publicity Committee Members/Fellows are entitled to the designation of Chartered Prof. (Mrs) S Hewage (Editor) Chemist (C.Chem.) on establishment of a high level of Dr. (Ms) H I C de Silva (Asst. Editor) competence and professionalism in the practice of chemistry and Prof (Ms) Ramanee D Wijesekera showing their commitment to maintain their expertise. Dr. (Mrs) C Udawatte All corporate members (Members / Fellows) are entitled to vote Dr. (Mrs) R Kandiah and become Council/ Committee members whether Chartered Chemists or not. CHEMISTRY IN SRI LANKA Membership Applications Any application for admission to the appropriate class of Chemistry in Sri Lanka is a tri-annual publication of the membership or for transfer should be made on the prescribed form available from the Institute Office. Institute of Chemistry Ceylon and is published in January, May and September of each year. It is circulated among the members of the Current Subscription Rates Fees should be payed on 1st of July every year and will be in Institute of Chemistry and students of the Graduateship/DLTC respect of the year commencing from 1st July to 30th June course and libraries. The publication has a wide circulation and more than 1000 copies are published. Award winning lectures, abstracts Fellow Rs. 1500 of communications to be presented at the annual sessions, review Member Rs. 1500 papers, activities of the institute, membership news are some of the Associate Rs. 1200 Licenciate Rs. 1000 items included in the magazine. Technician Rs. 500 The editor invites from the membership the following items for Affiliate Rs. 1000 publication in the next issue of the Chemistry in Sri Lanka which is Membership for Life Rs. 15000 due to be released in September 2016. Entrance Fee · Personal news of the members All the grades Rs. 1000 · Brief articles of topical interests Processing Fees* Rs. 500 · Forthcoming conferences, seminars and workshops Processing Fee for Chartered Chemist designation Rs. 1000 · Latest text books and monographs of interest to chemists Institutional Members Rs. 2500 All publications will be subjected to approval of the 'Editorial *per application for admission/transfer to any grade and Publicity Committee' and the Council of the Institute of Headquarters Building Chemistry Ceylon. Adamantane House Further, prospective career opportunities for chemists, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya could be advertised in Chemistry in Sri Lanka at a nominal Telephone/Fax : 2861653, 2861231 payment. The editor welcomes from the members suggestions for Telephone: 4015230 e-mail : [email protected] improvement of the publication. web : www.ichemc.edu.lk Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 02 Guest Editorial Ethics, Values and Responsibilities of Chemists in National Development Emeritus Professor Upali Samarajeewa Past President, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Ethics (or morals) in In the practice of chemistry, whether in research or science has become a topic of in other routine applications, there is a moral obligation discussion in the society to generate knowledge honestly, without fabrications, today. This is linked to the falsifying and misrepresenting the data, avoiding errors outcomes of modern and adhering to truth and only truth. Adherence to discoveries in science, and ethical standards in practice of chemistry - whether in concerns on their effects of teaching, research or outreach activities - promoting life and the environment arising from the practice of the values essential for collaboration, trust, mutual science. When we think of ethics, we think of rules that respect, accountability and fairness are key features distinguish between what is right and wrong. The necessary in furthering the subject chemical sciences. concepts of right and wrong are inculcated in to our The ethical standards also address the protection of minds at home when we are in our childhood, and by intellectual property rights, guidelines for authorships, different religions we believe in, as we grow and patenting, data sharing and rules in peer reviewing in become mature. All humans recognize some common practice of science including chemistry. ethical norms, but they tend to interpret, apply, and Chemists also play a major role in building the balance the norms in different ways, in the light of their nation as teachers at all levels. The teacher-student own senses of values, life experiences and personal relationships operate with complete trust and expectations. dependency on the teacher. Ethical lapses by the Chemistry plays a vital role today in applying teachers, which mostly comes as favoritisms with modern technologies in agriculture, medicine expectations in return in whatever forms from both engineering and many other fields, with more and more boys and girls, can do much damage to the dignity of chemicals becoming components in food, medicine the teaching profession and to the individuals. and the environment. This brings in an increased The code of conduct for chemical professionals responsibility in the practice of chemistry for the social established by the American Chemical Society welfare. The chemists as professionals need to strive to identifies the responsibilities of the chemists towards improve their usefulness in issues of social welfare, the public, the science of chemistry, the profession, the through high standards of ethics applied to education, employer, the employee, the students, the colleagues research, social responsibilities as a part of their and the environment as distinct entities. obligations to chemical science, to colleagues and more In the light of the current day approaches to life importantly to the public. The future of chemistry, and with each person interpreting the ethics, values and continued acceptance of it as an important component responsibilities, in their own terms linked with their helping in the development of the mankind becomes personal agenda, it is important for the chemists as a meaningful to public only if chemistry succeeds in group to address the ethic related issues in the national retaining the trust as a social force working towards interest and develop a code of conduct to maintain public good, and a source of reliable information professionalism. generated through honest practices, following the accepted norms and principles. Cover Page The cover page photograph shows the Graduate Chemists after the 12th Convocation of the College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, held at Eagles Lakeside Banquet & Conventional Centre on 27th January 2016. This was the 33rd batch and 98 students were formally awarded Graduate Chemist status and thereby increasing the overall production to a total of 1173. More formal photographs of the Convocation are on inner back cover page. Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 03 Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Forty Fifth Annual Sessions and Seventy Fifth Anniversary Celebrations 2016 Inauguration of the 45th Annual Sessions, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Wednesday, June 15th 2016 Centre for Banking Studies, Rajagiriya 8.00-9.00 am Arrival of Members and Guests (Refreshments will be served) 9.00 am Ceremonial Procession of the Council Members and Past Presidents 9.05 am Inauguration by lighting of the Oil Lamp and playing the National Anthem 9.10 am Welcome Address by Mr. K R Dayananda President, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon 9.15 am Presidential Address 9.45 am Address by the Guest of Honor Mr. D C Dissanayake Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education and Highways 10.00 am Address by the Chief Guest Emeritus Professor E R Jansz Past President, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Former Director, Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research 10.15 am Presentation of Awards, Prizes and Certificates Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Awards § Dr. C L De Silva Gold Medal - Prof. E D de Silva § Professor M U S Sultanbawa Award for Research in Chemistry 2015 - Prof. (Ms.) S Ekanayake § Kandiah Memorial Award for Applied Chemistry - Ms. A G A W Alakolange § Kandiah Memorial Award for Basic Chemistry - Ms. N S Bopage § Kandiah Memorial Graduateship Award - Ms. D Thanabalasingam § Distinguished Service Awards - Prof. Upali Samarajeewa, Prof. Tuley de Silva Graduateship Examination in Chemistry - Scholarships, Prizes and Awards All Island Interschool Chemistry Quiz Prizes Felicitation of Students of College of Chemical Sciences in recognition of outstanding achievements 10.40 am Dr. C L de Silva Gold Medal Award Lecture 11.30 am Vote of Thanks Mr. M R M Haniffa President Elect, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon 11.35 am Close of Ceremony 12.30 pm Annual General Meeting – 2016 at Adamantane House (for Corporate Members only) Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 04 Chief Guest at the 45th Annual Sessions Emeritus Professor E R Jansz, PhD, DSc (Honoris Causa) Professor Errol Radcliffe Jansz, Biochemist and Bio-organic chemist, is a Professor Emeritus of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura. He was awarded the D.Sc. (Honoris Cansa) at the convocation on 7th February 2012. He obtained his B.Sc. Honours degree in Chemistry from the University of Sri Lanka in 1966 and Ph. D. in Biochemistry from the Dalhousie University, Canada in 1972. He served the Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISIR) from 1967 to 1993 where he carried out research in many areas of Biochemistry including enzymology and plant microbial biochemistry. In 1985 he was appointed as the Director (CEO) of the CISIR and had the distinction of being the youngest ever Director to take the office, a post he held until 1990. He was the Chief Executive of the CISIR as well. His research effort has yielded 4 Gold medals and many other awards and over 130 publications in peer reviewed journals. He has supervised 30 successful research degrees and trained many others, including technicians, in his fields of Chemistry and Medicine. He was cited by numerous Biographies, notable the “Marquis Who's Who of the World” from 1997 to 2012. He was rated in 2011 as one of the top 10 scientists and top 100 intellectuals globally, and listed for the “Iconic Einstein Award” by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge. He has been a Sri Lankan delegate at many International conferences including UNESCO, UNIDO, ESCAP and APCTT. Emeritus Professor Jansz joined the Chemical Society (predecessor of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon) in 1966. He held several prestigious positions in the Institute. He was one of the Joint Secretaries of the Institute from 1972 to 1974 and the President of the Institute in its Golden Jubilee year (1991). He served the Institute as the Chairman, Admission and Ethical Practices Committee and the Chairman, Education Committee. He has been a Fellow of the Institute since 1977. He also served as the Coordinator of the Laboratory Technicians Training Course (LTTC) (1974-1975) and was a member of the LTTC sub-committee. He was a lecturer for this course for 20 years He was actively involved as a lecturer in the Graduateship Education programme of the Institute from its inception in 1979. Professor Jansz was awarded with the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Institute in 1997. Guest of Honour at the 45th Annual Sessions Mr. D C Dissanayake Mr. D C Dissanayake joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) in 1984 and served as Assistant Controller, Department of Rubber Development (184-1990), Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration and Provincial Councils (1992), Consultant, Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) (1993-1995), Assistant Secretary, Prime Minister's Office (1995-1998), Director (Information Technology), Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) (1998-2002), Senior Assistant Secretary/Director (Policy and Planning), Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (2003-2004), Senior Programme Head (Re-engineering Government Programme and Administration and Operations), Information and Communication Agency of Sri Lanka (2007- to date), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Highways and Investment Promotion (2015), and Ministry of Higher Education and Investment Promotion (2015). He is a Special Grade officer at SLAS and currently he is the Secretary of the Minister of Higher Education and Highways. Mr. Dissanayake graduated with a B.A. Honours degree (Second Class Upper Division) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He has followed a certificate course in Public Administration at the SLIDA in 1985. He obtained MSc from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand in 1991. His MSc research was on “Unemployment problem and employment promotion through self-employment projects”. He has involved in many other research projects including “Information collection and analyses for labour market information bulletin”, “Annual skilled labour requirements of the industries located in BOI areas”, “Vocational education plan for information technology sector” “Evaluation of ADB funded School rehabilitation project”, and “Evaluation of farmer training project”. He is a member of the Computational Society of Sri Lanka. Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 05 Theme Seminar on “ETHICS, VALUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHEMISTS IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT” 16th June 2016 Venue: Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Independence Square, Colombo 07. Programme 09.00 h Registration followed by refreshments 10.00 h Welcome speech Mr. K R Dayananda, FIChemC, CChem, President, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon 10.05 h Keynote address: An overview of ethics and responsibilities of chemists in a rapidly changing world. Mr. Mevan Pieris, FIChemC, CChem, Former President, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Former President, Plastics &Rubber Institute. 10.50 h Ethics, Values and Responsibilities of Chemists: Education. Professor Ajith Abeysekara Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Consultant Link Natural Products Pvt. Ltd. 11.35 h Ethics, Values and Responsibilities of Chemists: Information handling and patenting. Professor Vijaya Kumar, MIChemC, CChem, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Peradeniya. 12.20 h Lunch 13.30 h Ethics, Values and Responsibilities of Chemists: Research. Professor Veranja Karunaratne, FIChemC, CChem. FRSC, FNASSL, Senior Professor of Chemistry, University of Peradeniya Associate Director, Science & Strategic Relations(SLINTEC). 14.15 h Ethics, Values & Responsibilities of Chemists: Social Conduct. Mr. Rizvi Zaheed Managing Director, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings 15.00 h Panel discussion 15.45 h Vote of Thanks 16.00 h Tea Sponsored by Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 06 Technical Sessions Venue: P P G L Siriwardene Auditorium, Adamantane House, Rajagiriya Time : 2.00 p.m. – 4.50 p.m. Date: 15th June 2016 Time Title Authors Kandiah Memorial Award for Basic Chemistry 2.00 -2.30 pm Investigation on wound healing activity of bark of Ficus N S Bopage racemosa and “Seetodaka” oil using Scratch Wound Assay (SWA) Kandiah Memorial Graduateship Award 2.30-3.00 pm Chemistry and bioactivity of secondary metabolites D Thanabalasingam produced by an endophytic fungus Nigrospora oryzae from a popular medicine plant Coccinia grandis Kandiah Memorial Award for Applied Chemistry 3.00-3.30 pm Chemistry and bioactivity of Flacourtia inermis fruits A G A W Alakolanga Prof. M U S Sultanbawa Award for Research 3.30-3.50 pm Determination of essential heavy metal levels of Fe, Zn and N D Kumarage, N S Cu in hair samples of anemic patients due to iron deficiency Amarasinghe, C D Jayaweera, and chronic disorders H J M B R Jayaratne, M M Gunathilaka, L S Liyanage, P T Wijesena and M H J D Ariyaratne 3.50 - 4.10 pm In vitro antioxidant, antiglycation and α-glucosidase K S S P Fernando, A M inhibitory activities of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction Abeysekera, M I Choudhary, of water extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. leaves A K E Goonathilake, C Padumadasa, V M Thadani and U G Chandrika 4.10 – 4.30 pm Megastigmanes from Leaves of Artocar pusheterophyllus Lam. K S S P Fernando, A M Abeysekera, M I Choudhary, A K E Goonathilake, C Padumadasa, V M Thadani, A Adhikari, M Rehman and U G Chandrika Technical Sessions Day 2: 17th June (Friday) 2016 (8.30 am onwards) Chairperson: Mr. M R M Haniffa, Dean, College of Chemical Sciences, Time Title Authors 8.30 – 8.50 am Isolation of compounds with radical scavenging activity M A T P Manthrirathna, R from Daldinia eschscholzii inhabiting the lichen Kandiah, D S Gunasekara and Parmotrema sp. in Sri Lanka P A Paranagama 8.50-9.10 am Preliminary study on development of herbal mosquito M S N Ranasinghe, L S R repellent formulations Arambewela and S Samarasinghe 9.10-9.30 am Antioxidant status and breast cancer H M K Akalanka, K G Amarathunga and S Ekanayake 9.30-9.50 am In-vitro inhibition of polyphenol oxidase in Annona M B S Weerawardana, P A muricata and Musa acuminate by ginger and cinnamon oil Paranagama and T Gobika Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 07 Time Title Authors 9.50-10.10 am Evaluation of In-Vitro anti-inflammatory activities of A Kuganesan, T Gobika, Mangifera indica extracts of flesh, peel and seed in Sri Lanka A N Navaratne and P A Paranagama 10.10-10.40 am Tea break Chairperson: Professor Sagarika Ekanayake, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura 10.40-11.10 am Molecular docking studies of human K- RAS protein U L A S Perera and C S coumarin derivatives Udawatte 11.10-11.30 am Study of binding of coumarins to DNA gyrase S M Abdullah and C S Udawatte 11.30-11.50 am Adsorptive removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous S Hasanthika and A Perera solutions using bael (Aeglemarmelos) Flowers 11.50-12.10 pm Synthesis, characterization and DNA intercalation studies C Padumadasa, K L N Perera of a novel plumbagin-based copper (II) metal complex and E M N Sankalpanie 12.10-12.30 pm Study of fluorescence quenching properties of M D P De Costa and W A C P 5-hydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline in the presence of heavy Wansapperuma metal ions in acetonitrile 12.30-12.50 pm Traditional poly herbal formula inhibits AGE formation M G D T Karunaratne, P K and scavenges nitric oxide in vitro Perera, C S Udwatte and S C D Fernando 12.30-1.30 pm Lunch Chairperson: Mr. E G Somapala, Past President, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Retired Government Analyst 1.30- 1.50 pm Synthesis, characterization and BSA binding studies of N Abeydeera, S Rasakulendran, novel zinc ferene complexes T Abeywikrama, C Nanayakkara, I C Perera and T Perera 1.50- 2.10 pm Contents of heavy metals; cadmium, chromium and N M C M Navarathna, R lead in selected rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) grown Parthipan, K A S Pathiratne, under different agricultural management systems D S M De Silva and W M D A B in Sri Lanka Wickramasinghe 2.10-2.30 pm A computational study of coumarin derived inhibitors A G Guruge, C S Udawatte for Human Topoisomerase I and S Weerasinghe 2.30– 2.50 pm Experimental and theoretical investigation of Cu(I) K N D Seneviratne, D P catalyzed reaction between bromobenzene and benzylamine Dissanayake and DTU Abeytunga 2.50-3.10 pm Sawdust as a low-cost natural adsorbent for removal of A Balachandran and C S Cd (II) from aqueous solutions Udawatte 3.10-3.30 pm Comparison of binding of sphingosine derivatives to D M S P Disanayake, D P sphingosine kinase 1 using molecular docking Dissanyake and D T U Abeytunga Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 08 Dr. C L de Silva Gold Medal - Prof E D de Silva, C.Chem., F.I.Chem.C. Professor E Dilip de Silva is a Senior Professor and Chair in Organic Chemistry at the University of Colombo. He received his BSc Special Degree in Chemistry with Honours from the University of Colombo in 1975. He earned his PhD degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA in 1982. He won awards for Excellence in Research and as an Outstanding Teaching Assistant at the Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA from 1979- 1980. Professor de Silva has been a Senior Lecturer in the University of Colombo and later an Associate Professor in the Open University of Sri Lanka until he was appointed to the Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Colombo in 1997. Prof. de Silva has also served as a visiting Assistant professor in Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Canada, visiting Scholar, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA and visiting Academic, Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He was awarded the “Professor P P G L Siriwardene Memorial Gold Medal” by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon in 2007. Professor de Silva has also been the recipient of the GRC Research Award from the SLAAS. He also spent his sabbatical leave at the College of Chemical Sciences as a Visiting Professor in Chemistry. Abstract of the Dr. C L De Silva Gold Medal Award Exploring plant associated fungi of Sri Lanka for biologically active metabolites Professor E D de Silva Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, Colombo 03 Fungi are a fascinating group of eukaryotic a vulnerable aquatic plant native to Sri Lanka organisms and are known to be prolific producers of collected from the Gampaha District. numerous biologically active secondary metabolites. · The mangrove-associate plant Premna Until, recent times, the fungi of Sri Lanka have serratifolia collected from 'Kadol kale' remained almost completely uninvestigated in this mangrove forest in Negambo respect. We have recently initiated a program to · The medicinal weed plant Cyperus rotundus investigate plant-associated fungi, both mutualistic and collected from the Colombo District. parasitic, for the presence of biologically active natural products that may prove to be useful as medicinal and Our investigations included the isolation of the agricultural agents. endophytic fungi associated with each plant and the
Endophytic fungi reside in the internal tissues of determination of their antimicrobial producing ability. healthy plants and are widespread in nature inhabiting Next the fungus with the most promising activity from almost all plants. In our program to investigate each plant was grown on large scale and bioassay endophytic fungi for their antimicrobial producing guided chromatographic separations were done to capacity, we have selected host plants occupying varied isolate the compounds responsible for the bioactivity. ecological niches of Sri Lanka. These plant include In all 8 antimicrobial compounds were isolated and endemic and endangered plants and are listed below. their structures were elucidated. Seven of them proved · Anoectochilus setaceus (Vernacular name: to be known compounds with the eighth, solanioic acid, Wanaraja) collected from a tropical rain forest isolated from Cyperus rotundus having a novel setting in the Kanneliya Forest Reserve. structure exhibiting a new carbon skeleton and potent · The cactus Opuntia dilleni an invasive plant antimicrobial activities. Our work on the pathogenic thriving in the environmentally harsh South- fungal species, Penicillium purpurogenum, isolated Eastern arid zone of Sri Lanka. from the infected fruits of Averrhoa bilimbi led to the · Calamus thwaitesii Becc. (Veval in Sinhalese) isolation and characterization of 14 highly a rattan, belonging to the family Palmae functionalized novel natural products which among (Arecaceae) collected from Udugampola. them exhibited 04 new carbon skeletons. We have · Nymphaea nouchali (Nil Manel in Sinhalese) named these metabolites which belong to a novel class Chemistry in Sri Lanka, Vol. 33 No. 2 09