Design and synthesis of ten biphenyl-neolignan derivatives and their in vitro inhibitory potency against cyclooxygenase-1/2 activity and 5-lipoxygenase-mediated LTB4-formation.

A set of ten derivatives of methylhonokiol, an anti-inflammatory active biphenyl-type neolignan from Magnolia grandiflora, has been evaluated for their in vitro cyclooxygenase-1/2 (COX-1/2) inhibitory activity using assays with purified prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS)-1 and PGHS-2 enzymes as well as for their 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) mediated LTB(4) formation inhibitory activity using an assay with activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The derivatization reactions included methylation, acetylation, hydrogenation, epoxydation and isomerization. Five of the derivatives are new to science.

An improved method to discover adulteration of Styrian pumpkin seed oil.

Pumpkin seed oil is rather expensive compared to other vegetable oils. Therefore, it is often adulterated by the addition of cheaper oils. In contrast to other edible oils, the content of Delta 5-sterols is very low, while Delta 7-sterols are dominating.