Investigating the Contribution of Major Drug-Metabolising Enzymes to Possum-Specific Fertility Control.

The potential to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of potential oestrogen-based oral contraceptives (fertility control) for possums was investigated by comparing the inhibitory potential of hepatic CYP3A and UGT2B catalytic activity using a selected compound library (CYP450 inhibitor-based compounds) in possums to that of three other species (mouse, avian, and human). The results showed higher CYP3A protein levels in possum liver microsomes compared to other test species (up to a 4-fold difference). Moreover, possum liver microsomes had significantly higher basal -nitrophenol glucuronidation activity than other test species (up to an 8-fold difference).

Exposure to nitrate from food and drinking-water in New Zealand. Can these be considered separately?

Recent epidemiological studies have reported associations between colorectal cancer incidence and nitrates in drinking-water, but not from the diet. The toxicokinetics of nitrates were reviewed and exposure data from New Zealand were analysed. Dietary (including drinking-water) exposure of New Zealanders to nitrates was found to be very similar to most other countries and within internationally-established acceptable daily intakes.

In Vitro Hepatic Assessment of Cineole and Its Derivatives in Common Brushtail Possums () and Rodents.

Folivore marsupials, such as brushtail possum () and koala (), can metabolise higher levels of dietary terpenes, such as cineole, that are toxic to eutherian mammals. While the highly efficient drug metabolising enzymes, cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) and phase II conjugating enzymes (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, UGT), are involved in the metabolism of high levels of dietary terpenes, evidence for inhibitory actions on these enzymes by these terpenes is scant. Thus, this study investigated the effect of cineole and its derivatives on catalytic activities of hepatic CYP3A and UGT in mice, rats, and possums.

In-vitro degradation and toxicological assessment of pulsed electric fields crosslinked zein-chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol) biopolymeric films.

We investigated the in vitro degradation and cytotoxic effects of edible films developed from pulsed electric fields (PEF) treated zein-chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol) dispersions at specific energy 60-70, 385-400, and 620-650 kJ/kg. The degradation was evaluated using both simulated gastro-intestinal electrolyte solutions (SGES) and enzyme hydrolysis. The results of ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) test indicated that the chemical breakdown of the films in SGES and enzyme increased with degradation time, but the product's features were unmodified.

Psychoactive Substances Bill and Act of New Zealand: A Chance to Engage Undergraduate Scientists with Society using a Transfer Learning Paradigm.

Our aim was to develop a teaching paradigm that connected undergraduate's neuropharmacological/toxicological knowledge to that of government policy. One goal of undergraduate education should be to help develop scientists that can use their scientific knowledge to critique government policy. There is little research, however, on whether democratization of science occurs: nor how to achieve this.

Critical appraisal of the potential use of cannabinoids in cancer management.

Cannabinoids have been attracting a great deal of interest as potential anticancer agents. Originally derived from the plant Cannabis sativa, there are now a number of endo-, phyto- and synthetic cannabinoids available. This review summarizes the key literature to date around the actions, antitumor activity, and mechanisms of action for this broad range of compounds.