Removal of C9-aldehydes and -alcohols from melon juice via cysteine addition.

Background: The aroma of a melon fruit is among the most crucial qualities that influence consumer preferences. However, strong grassy and cucumber-like aromas can prevent consumer acceptance. These grassy and cucumber-like aromas are produced by aldehydes containing nine-carbon chains.

Omphaloprenol A: a new bioactive polyisoprenepolyol isolated from the mycelium of poisonous mushroom Omphalotus japonicus.

Mushrooms of the Omphalotus genus are known to be rich in secondary metabolites. In the quest for new bioactive compounds, we analyzed the compounds isolated from the mycelium of the poisonous mushroom Omphalotus japonicus. As a result, a new polyisoprenepolyol, which was named omphaloprenol A, was identified, along with known substances such as hypsiziprenol A10 and A11, illudin S, and ergosterol.

Isopentylamine is a novel defence compound induced by insect feeding in rice.

Plants produce a broad variety of defensive metabolites to protect themselves against herbivorous insects. Although polyamines have been implicated in various responses to abiotic and biotic stress, there have been no studies focused on amines in response to insect herbivory. By screening for bioactive amines, we identified isopentylamine as a novel type of herbivory-induced compound in rice leaves, which was derived from the amino acid leucine in stable isotope labelling experiments.

Changes of volatile flavor compounds of watermelon juice by heat treatment.

Changes of volatile flavor compounds of watermelon juice by heat treatment were investigated by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry. Although the major volatile compounds in watermelon juice, three aldehydes, three alcohols, and one ketone, did not increase significantly by heat treatment, dimethylsulfide and methional increased in heated juice. These two sulfides were suggested to contribute to the off-flavors in heated watermelon juice.

Constituents of the Fruiting Body of Poisonous Mushroom Omphalotus japonicus.

Six new sesquiterpenes, tsukiyols A-C, neoilludin C, and 4-O-methylneoilludins A and B, were isolated from the fruiting body of Omphalotus japonicus (Kawam.) Kirchm. & O.

A herbivore-induced homoterpene volatile is emitted from leaves.

An irregular C11 homoterpene, ()-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene (DMNT) was identified as a major component of the volatile compounds emitted from leaves induced by herbivore. The terpenes including DMNT were not detected from the leaves infected by . These results suggested that volatile emission from leaves was induced by herbivory but not by a fungal infection.

New isocoumarins, naphthoquinones, and a cleistanthane-type diterpene from Nectria pseudotrichia 120-1NP.

Four new compounds, namely, nectriapyrones A (2) and B (3), nectriaquinone B (5), and zythiostromic acid C (8), were isolated from the brown rice culture of Nectria pseudotrichia 120-1NP together with four known compounds (1, 4, 6, and 7). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of 4 from a natural source. Their structures were determined on the basis of 1D/2D-NMR spectroscopy and HRESITOFMS data.

New Metabolites Produced by Cylindrocarpon sp. SY-39 from a Driftwood.

Four novel compounds, cylindropyrone A (1), 10'-hydroxyilicicolinic acid D (3), cylindrolactones A (4) and B (5), together with known dihydroinfectopyrone (2) were isolated from the culture of Cylindrocarpon sp. SY-39 from a driftwood. Their structures were elucidated using 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.

Flavonoid glycosides in Malabar spinach Basella alba inhibit the growth of Spodoptera litura larvae.

Basella alba is a perennial plant of the Basellaceae and is known by various common names including Malabar spinach. There are few insects that cause damage to B. alba.

New eremophilane and dichlororesorcinol derivatives produced by endophytes isolated from Ficus ampelas.

The novel compound, 11-O-methylpetasitol (1), was isolated from Penicillium sp. N-175-1, and two new compounds, cosmochlorins D (5) and E (6), were isolated from Phomopsis sp. N-125.

Spectroscopic characterisation of two polyketide metabolites from Cylindrocarpon sp. from driftwood.

Two new polyketides, (5R,7R,9R)-7,9-dihydroxy-5-decanolide and (4E,6R,9R)- 6,9-dihydroxydec-4-enoic acid (2), were isolated from rice cultures of Cylindrocarpon sp. SY-39 discovered during screening of driftwood at a Shonai coast area in Yamagata, Japan. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined using a variety of spectroscopic methods.

A phytotoxic bicyclic lactone and other compounds from endophyte Xylaria curta.

A new compound, (3aS,6aR)-4,5-dimethyl-3,3a,6,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta [b]furan-2-one (2), along with two known metabolites, myrotheciumone A (1) and 4-oxo-4H-pyron-3-acetic acid (3) was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of fermentation broth of Xylaria curta 92092022. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, HRESITOFMS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR). Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate antibacterial and phytotoxic activities.

Ethyl acetate fraction of Garcina epunctata induces apoptosis in human promyelocytic cells (HL-60) through the ROS generation and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest: a bioassay-guided approach.

Number of deaths due to cancer diseases is increasing in the world. There is an urgent need to develop alternative therapeutic measures against the disease. Our study reports the cytotoxicity activity of Garcina epunctata (gutifferae) in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) and prostate cancer cells (PC-3) was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT).

Cytotoxicity and modes of action of four naturally occuring benzophenones: 2,2',5,6'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, guttiferone E, isogarcinol and isoxanthochymol.

Introduction: The emergence of drug-resistant cancer cells drastically reduces the efficacy of many antineoplasic agents and, consequently, increases the frequency of therapeutic failure. Benzophenones are known to display many pharmacological properties including cytotoxic activities. The present study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity and the modes of action of four naturally occurring benzophenones 2,2',5,6'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (1), isogarcinol (2), isoxanthochymol (3) and guttiferone E (4) on a panel of eleven cancer cell lines including various sensitive and drug-resistant phenotypes.

Polyketide metabolites from the endophytic fungus Microdiplodia sp. KS 75-1.

Through our screening for new natural compounds, four new polyketide metabolites, 7,8-dihydonivefuranone A (1), 6(7)-dehydro-8-hydroxyterrefuranone (2), 8-hydroxyterrefuranone (3), and 6-hydroxyterrefuranone (4) were isolated from the fermentation extract of Microdiplodia sp. KS 75-1, together with the known compounds nivefuranones A (5) and B (6); their structures were determined by spectroscopic (NMR, UV and IR) and MS analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 showed antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus.

Isopimarane diterpene glycosides, isolated from endophytic fungus Paraconiothyrium sp. MY-42.

Six isopimarane diterpenes, compounds 1-6, were isolated from the endophytic fungus Paraconiothyrium sp. MY-42. Compound 1 possesses a 19-glucopyranosyloxy group.

Antifungal abietane-type diterpenes from the cones of Taxodium distichum Rich.

The chemical composition of Taxodium distichum cones and the antifungal activities of twelve diterpenoids against two wood decay fungi, Trametes versicolor (white-rot) and Fomitopsis palustris (brown-rot) were examined. The chemical composition of the major extractive fraction, the n-C(6)H(14) extract, was evaluated and its antifungal properties were identified. Twelve diterpenoids including ten abietane-type components were isolated from the n-C(6)H(14) extract: 6,7-dehydroferruginol (1), ferruginol (2), 6,7-dehydroroyleanone (3), sandaracopimaric acid (4), taxodione (5), taxodal (6), taxodone (7), sugiol (8), xanthoperol (9), salvinolone (10), 5,6-dehydrosugiol (11), and 14-deoxycoleon U (12).

A novel Aspergillus oryzae esterase that hydrolyzes 4-hydroxybenzoic acid esters.

In this study we report the biochemical characterization of a hypothetical protein from Aspergillus oryzae exhibiting sequence identity with feruloyl esterase and tannase from the genus Aspergillus. The purified recombinant protein showed a hydrolytic activity toward the ethyl, propyl, or butyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, but did not show feruloyl esterase or tannase activity. Finally, the enzyme decreased the antimicrobial activity of parabens against A.

Cadinane sesquiterpenoids, strobilols L and M, from Strobilurus ohshimae.

Strobilols L and M, which are cadinane sesquiterpene derivatives, were isolated from the liquid culture of the edible mushroom Strobilurus ohshimae. Their structures have been established on the basis of spectral analyses. Strobilols A-M were examined for their growth inhibition activity against human cancer cell lines YMB and COLO 201.

Characterization of a chimeric enzyme comprising feruloyl esterase and family 42 carbohydrate-binding module.

We engineered a chimeric enzyme (AwFaeA-CBM42) comprising of type-A feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus awamori (AwFaeA) and family 42 carbohydrate-binding module (AkCBM42) from glycoside hydrolase family 54 alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase of Aspergillus kawachii. The chimeric enzyme was successfully produced in Pichia pastoris and accumulated in the culture broth. The purified chimeric enzyme had an apparent relative molecular mass (M(r)) of 53,000.

Bioactivity of latifolin and its derivatives against termites and fungi.

Latifolin (1) and its derivatives were investigated with the aim of confirming the correlation between bioactivity (antitermite and antifungal activity) and chemical structure. Termite mortality in response to the derivatives 2'-O-methyllatifolin (2), latifolin dimethyl ether (4), and latifolin diacetate (5) increased 2-fold compared to compound 1. The mortality rate from 5-O-methyllatifolin (3) was not different from 1.

Antitermitic activities of abietane-type diterpenes from Taxodium distichum cones.

Eight known abietane-type diterpenes were isolated from the weak acidic fraction of the n-hexane extract from cones of Taxodium distichum, one of the extant, living fossil conifers. They were identified as 6,7-dehydroroyleanone (1), taxodal (2), taxodione (3), salvinolone (4), 14-deoxycoleon U (5), 5,6-dehydrosugiol (6), sandaracopimaric acid (7), and xanthoperol (8). The structures of these compounds were determined by comparison of NMR spectral data with published data.

Isopimarane diterpene glycosides, apoptosis inducers, obtained from fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha.

The methanol extract of fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha afforded three isopimarane diterpene glycosides, namely, 16-alpha-D-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (1), 15-hydroxy-16-alpha-D-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (2), and 16-alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. They showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines and exhibited IC50 values ranging from 71 to 607 microM.