Rishi
Name: Rishi Vaswani, Ph.D.
Age: 31
Birthday: July 16, 1975
Graduate: University of California, Irvine
Undergrad: University of California, Irvine
Degree: Ph.D. Chemistry, B.S. Chemistry, B.S. Biology
Hobbies: Mountain top yodeling, Robust huzzahing, Movies, Tennis
E-mail: Rishi.Vaswani@colostate.edu
  1.  
Actinophyllic acid Polycyclic natural products containing the indole nucleus, or oxidized variants, are abundant and often possess biological activity. The Wood group has worked with several compounds in this broad class and found success toward their total synthesis. Interest in these structures derives from the challenge they present and unique strategies implemented to complete them. Current group efforts include progress toward the indole alkaloid actinophyllic acid (1), isolated from the leaves of Alstonia actinophylla. Actinophyllic acid was recognized to inhibit the coupled enzyme assay carboxypeptidase U/hippuricase with an IC50 of 0.84 μM. The novel structure, biological activity against a previously untargeted protein, and prior group experience with indole alkaloids has prompted an investigation toward the total synthesis of actinophyllic acid.