Disodium Ascorbyl Phytostanyl Phosphates (FM-VP4) reduces plasma cholesterol concentration, body weight and abdominal fat gain within a dietary-induced obese mouse model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if Disodium Ascorbyl Phytostanol Phosphates (FM-VP4) alters animal body weight and plasma lipid levels in a dietary-induced obese mouse model.

Methods: Twenty-four C57BL6 mice (28 days old) were housed individually and fed a standard mouse diet for 2 weeks upon arrival. After 2 weeks the animals were weighed and divided in 4 groups of similar average weight, and the groups received a low fat (10% kcal from fat) and high fat (45% kcal from fat) diet with or without FM-VP4 (2% w/w) for 12 continuous weeks.

Anti-inflammatory oleanane triterpenes from Tripterygium wilfordii cell suspension cultures by fungal elicitation.

Treatment of cell suspension cultures of Tripterygium wilfordii with an autoclaved Botrytis sp. homogenate rapidly increased the synthesis of a family of oleanane and friedelane triterpenes, including the antiinflammatory oleanane triterpene 3β,22α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid. This compound exceeded 30 mg · l(-1) in 13 day elicitations with 12 l bioreactors, in contrast to control levels of less than 5 mg · l(-1).

Studies on New Components and Stereochemistry of Diterpenoids from Trypterygium wilfordii.

An extensive investigation of the petroleum ether extract of TRIPTERYGIUM WILFORDII plants have revealed the presence of four new compounds, triptonoterpene, neotriptonoterpene, triptonodiol, and neotriptonolide, in addition to the diterpenes isolated and characterized earlier. The structures of these novel natural products have been elucidated.

Biotransformation of Dehydroabietic, Abietic, and Isopimaric Acids by Mortierella isabellina Immobilized in Polyurethane Foam.

Polyurethane foam supports immobilization of Mortierella isabellina ATCC 38063, a zygomycete that hydroxylates and thereby detoxifies resin acids found in certain pulp mill effluents. The fungus becomes entrapped as it threads growing mycelia through the open foam matrix. The tenacity of binding and the amount of biomass bound depend on initial spore numbers and nutrient concentration.