Legacy and Emerging Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Regulate Steroidogenesis in the Male Gonad.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in a variety of industrial processes and manufacturing of consumer products. Current efforts by the manufacturing industry will limit use of long-chain or legacy PFAS represented by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and replace with short-chain or emerging PFAS such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). However, there is little to no information on the toxicity of new and emerging PFAS.

Spatial distribution and mass transport of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in surface water: A statewide evaluation of PFAS occurrence and fate in Alabama.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been previously detected near suspected sources in Alabama, but the overall extent of contamination across the state is unknown. This study evaluated the spatial distribution of 17 PFAS within the ten major river basins in Alabama and provided insights into their transport and fate through a mass flux analysis. Six PFAS were identified in 65 out of the 74 riverine samples, with mean ∑PFAS levels of 35.

Co-Delivery of Hispolon and Doxorubicin Liposomes Improves Efficacy Against Melanoma Cells.

Hispolon is a small molecular weight polyphenol that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative activities. Our recent study has demonstrated hispolon as a potent apoptosis inducer in melanoma cell lines. Doxorubicin is a broad spectrum first-line treatment for various kinds of cancers.

Stability-indicating HPLC method for acyclovir and lidocaine in topical formulations.

A simple, rapid and accurate stability-indicating HPLC assay was developed for the determination of acyclovir and lidocaine in topical formulations. Chromatographic separation of acyclovir and lidocaine was achieved using a reversed-phase C column and a gradient mobile phase (20 mm ammonium acetate pH 3.5 in water and acetonitrile).

A rapid UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of phytoestrogens and the distribution of enterolactone in an Alabama estuary.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or synthetic compounds that can interfere with the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. EDCs can pass through wastewater treatment systems, or run off from urban areas or agricultural operations, into natural water bodies, exposing resident and migratory organisms to complex EDC mixtures. Some phytoestrogenic polyphenolics (PEPP) are known or suspected EDCs; however, their contribution to total EDC burden in natural surface water systems is largely unknown.

An ultrahigh-performance chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry quantitative method for trace analysis of potential endocrine disrupting steroid hormones in estuarine sediments.

Rationale: Estuaries are dynamic ecosystems, providing vital habitat for unique organisms of great ecological and commercial importance. The influx of natural and synthetic steroid hormones into estuaries poses risks to these organisms and to broader ecosystem health. However, detecting these trace level pollutants in estuarine water and sediment requires improved analytical techniques.

Blood Glucose-lowering Effect of T. procumbens L.: A Pilot Clinical Study in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes.

Traditional knowledge, in vitro studies, and studies using animal models suggest that Tridax procumbens L. exhibits blood glucose-lowering properties and antiinflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the blood glucose-lowering effect of T.

Design, synthesis and in vitro cell-based evaluation of the anti-cancer activities of hispolon analogs.

Phytochemicals play an important role in cancer therapy. Hispolon and 26 of its analogs (9 known and 17 new) were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities in a panel of six independent human cancer cell lines using the in vitro cell-based MTT assay. Among the hispolon analogs tested, compound VA-2, the most potent overall, produced its most significant effect in the colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 (IC₅₀ 1.

Stability-indicating HPLC assay for lysine-proline-valine (KPV) in aqueous solutions and skin homogenates.

A simple, sensitive and stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay method was developed and validated for a bioactive peptide, lysine-proline-valine (KPV) in aqueous solutions and skin homogenates. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed phase Phenomenex C18 column (4.6 × 250 mm, packed with 5 µm silica particles) with a gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry based fingerprinting analysis and mass profiling of Euterpe oleracea (açaí) dietary supplement raw materials.

Chemical fingerprinting and mass profiling methods to identify biologically active compounds in botanical dietary supplements is gaining much attention in recent years. Euterpe oleracea (açaí) has been reported to be rich in health-beneficial chemical constituents. We have developed LC/MS based fingerprinting and mass profiling methods to identify fatty acids, anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin polyphenols in three processed raw materials; non-organic açaí powder (ADSR-1), raw-organic açaí powder (ADSR-2) and freeze-dried açaí powder (ADSR-3) that are used in the preparation of botanical dietary supplements.

Quantitative analysis of anthocyanins in Euterpe oleracea (açaí) dietary supplement raw materials and capsules by Q-TOF liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Context: Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae) fruits and their dietary supplements are gaining much popularity internationally. Anthocyanins and their aglycons are responsible for the dense color of açaí fruit and are associated with a wide spectrum of health promoting effects.

Stemodin-derived analogues with lipid peroxidation, cyclooxygenase enzymes and human tumour cell proliferation inhibitory activities.

A series of analogues, derived from the antiviral and cytotoxic diterpene stemodin, were prepared and evaluated for their lipid peroxidation (LPO), cyclooxygenase enzyme-1 (COX-1) and -2 (COX-2), and tumour cell proliferation inhibitory activities. Oxidation of stemodin produced stemodinone, which was then converted to stemod-12-en-2-one. Reaction of the latter under Petrow conditions (bromine; silver acetate/pyridine) yielded mainly dibrominated abeo-stachanes.

Identification of oleamide in Guatteria recurvisepala by LC/MS-based Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin reductase ligand binding method.

Our current research on applications of mass spectrometry to natural product drug discovery against malaria aims to screen plant extracts for new ligands to Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin reductase (PfTrxR) followed by their identification and structure elucidation. PfTrxR is involved in the antioxidant defense and redox regulation of the parasite and is validated as a promising target for therapeutic intervention against malaria. In the present study, detannified methanol extracts from Guatteria recurvisepala, Licania kallunkiae, and Topobea watsonii were screened for ligands to PfTrxR using ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based binding experiments.

Screening of natural compounds for ligands to PfTrxR by ultrafiltration and LC-MS based binding assay.

In our study, we have screened 133 structurally diverse natural compounds from the MEGx® collection of AnalytiCon Discovery and three synthetic hispolone analogs for binding affinity to Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin reductase (PfTrxR) using an ultrafiltration (UF) and liquid chromatography (LC/MS) based ligand-binding assay newly developed in our laboratory. PfTrxR catalyzes the reduction of thioredoxin (PfTrx) protein. In reduced form, PfTrx is essentially involved in the antioxidative defense and redox regulation of P.

Development of an ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UF-LC/MS) based ligand-binding assay and an LC/MS based functional assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis shikimate kinase.

Shikimate kinase (SK) and other enzymes in the shikimate pathway are potential targets in the discovery of antimicrobial agents. In the current study, an ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UF-LC/MS) ligand based binding assay and an LC/MS based functional assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis shikimate kinase (MtSK) were developed. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 were tested for MtSK (1 microM) at a concentration of 1 microM.

Development of binding assays to screen ligands for Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin and glutathione reductases by ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

To identify potential lead compounds for malaria drug discovery, ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UF and LC/MS) based binding assays were developed for the first time for Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin (PfTrxR) and glutathione (PfGR) reductases. In the binding assays, curcuminoids (bis-demethoxycurcumin 1, demethoxycurcumin 2, and curcumin 3) were used to study the binding affinity for PfTrxR and PfGR enzymes. The optimum binding was observed when the curcumimoids mixture (1 microM) was incubated with 1 microM PfTrxR and 0.

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation, cyclooxygenase enzyme and human tumor cell proliferation by compounds in herbal water.

A powdered mixture of dried herbs, "Panamrutham", is sold in India for the preparation of "herbal drinking water". The hot water extract of this herbal mixture gave lipid peroxidation (LPO), cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and -2) enzyme and human tumor cell proliferation inhibitory activities between 25 and 250 microg/mL. The bioassay-guided purification of the water extract afforded a novel compound (1), along with phenolics (2, 4, 6, and 7) and sesquiterpenoids (3 and 5).

Health-Beneficial Phenolic Aldehyde in Antigonon leptopus Tea.

Tea prepared from the aerial parts of Antigonon leptopus is used as a remedy for cold and pain relief in many countries. In this study, A. leptopus tea, prepared from the dried aerial parts, was evaluated for lipid peroxidation (LPO) and cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzyme inhibitory activities.

Anthocyanin content, lipid peroxidation and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory activities of sweet and sour cherries.

Cherries contain bioactive anthocyanins that are reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic and antiobese properties. The present study revealed that red sweet cherries contained cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as major anthocyanin (>95%). The sweet cherry cultivar "Kordia" (aka "Attika") showed the highest cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside content, 185 mg/100 g fresh weight.

Withanolide sulfoxide from Aswagandha roots inhibits nuclear transcription factor-kappa-B, cyclooxygenase and tumor cell proliferation.

Investigation of the methanol extract of Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) roots for bioactive constituents yielded a novel withanolide sulfoxide compound (1) along with a known withanolide dimer ashwagandhanolide (2) with an S-linkage. The structure of compound 1 was established by extensive NMR and MS experiments. Compound 1 was highly selective in inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme by 60% at 100 microm with no activity against COX-1 enzyme.

Non-nutritive functional agents in rattan-shoots, a food consumed by native people in the Philippines.

The tender shoots of Calamus ornatus, one of the food items consumed by the native people, Kanawan Aytas, in the Bataan region of the Philippines, have not been studied before. A bioassay-guided investigation of its methanolic extract afforded non-nutritive functional agents (NFAs), steroidal saponins 1-3, along with its aglycone (4). The NFAs 1-4 inhibited cyclooxygenase enzymes, COX-1 and -2, by 47%, 43%, 33%, and 53% and 71%, 75%, 78%, and 73%, respectively, at 28.

Cultivars of apple fruits that are not marketed with potential for anthocyanin production.

The red coloration of apple skin is mainly due to anthocyanins that are reported to possess health benefits. The aim of the present study was to determine the anthocyanin content in three underutilized Malus pumila Mill cultivars, Cranberry, Kerr, and Niedzwetzkyana, and confirm their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Our analysis revealed that the three cultivars studied contained primarily cyanidin-3-O-glucosyl rutinoside (1) at >99%.

Ashwagandhanolide, a bioactive dimeric thiowithanolide isolated from the roots of Withania somnifera.

A new dimeric withanolide, ashwagandhanolide (1), was isolated from the roots of an Ayurvedic medicinal herb, Withania somnifera. A detailed spectroscopic evaluation revealed its identity as a dimer with an unusual thioether linkage. Compound 1 displayed growth inhibition against human gastric (AGS), breast (MCF-7), central nervous system (SF-268), colon (HCT-116), and lung (NCI H460) cancer cell lines, with IC50 values in the range 0.

Impact of alkyl esters of caffeic and ferulic acids on tumor cell proliferation, cyclooxygenase enzyme, and lipid peroxidation.

The antioxidant ferulic and caffeic acid phenolics are ubiquitous in plants and abundant in fruits and vegetables. We have synthesized a series of ferulic and caffeic acid esters and tested for tumor cell proliferation, cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and -2) and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities in vitro. In the tumor cell proliferation assay, some of these esters showed excellent growth inhibition of colon cancer cells.