Isolation and characterization of novel bisphenol-A--degrading bacteria from soils.

One hundred and seven soil samples were collected from various places in Japan, and their bisphenol-A (BPA, 2,2-bis(4-Hydroxyphenyl) propane) degradative capacities were evaluated. Eighty-five soil samples possessed BPA degradative capacities, and 26 bacterial strains could be isolated as BPA-degrading bacterium. Sequence analysis of their 16S rRNA genes indicated that 22 isolates belonged to proteobacteria groups, and three of four Gram-positive bacterial strains, YA27, NO13, and NO15, were classified as Bacilli.

Isolation and characterization of a novel bacterium, Sphingomonas bisphenolicum strain AO1, that degrades bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A (2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, BPA), which is used as a synthetic resin material or a plasticizer, is a pollutant that possesses endocrine-disrupting activity. Bioremediation of BPA is used to decrease its polluting effects, and here we report a novel bacterial strain AO1, which is able to degrade BPA. This strain was isolated using enrichment cultivation from a soil sample from a vegetable-growing field; the sample was one of 500 soil samples collected across Japan.

Purification of cytochrome P450 and ferredoxin, involved in bisphenol A degradation, from Sphingomonas sp. strain AO1.

In a previous study (M. Sasaki, J. Maki, K.

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by cells and cell lysate from Sphingomonas sp. strain AO1.

The capacity and pathway of bisphenol A [BPA; 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane] degradation in Sphingomonas sp. strain AO1, which was isolated from the soil of a vegetable-growing field in Japan, were investigated. The bacterial strain was able to grow in a basal mineral salt medium containing BPA as the sole carbon source (BSMB medium), and was able to degrade 115 microg ml(-1) BPA in 6 h in L medium.

Suppression of NO production in activated macrophages in vitro and ex vivo by neoandrographolide isolated from Andrographis paniculata.

In this study, we investigated the in vitro and ex vivo suppressive effects of Andrographis paniculata on nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages elicited by bacillus Calmette-Guéin (BCG) and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Incubation of BCG-induced macrophages with the methanol extract of A. paniculata reduced LPS stimulated NO production.

Orally administered beta-1,6-D-polyglucose extracted from Agaricus blazei results in tumor regression in tumor-bearing mice.

There is an increasing demand from both patients and practicing oncologists for orally formulated chemotherapy. The present study focused on the oral formulation for natural products that may be effectively used in oncologic treatment regimens. Tumor-bearing mice treated with intratumoral administration of aqueous ammonium oxalate-soluble and ethanol-insoluble derivatives of Agaricus blazei showed marked tumor regression at doses ranging from 0.