The antihistamine diphenhydramine is demethylated by anaerobic wastewater microorganisms.

While emerging pharmaceutical contaminants are monitored in wastewater treatment and the environment, there is little information concerning their microbial metabolites. The transformation of diphenhydramine by microorganisms in anaerobic digester sludge was investigated using anaerobic cultures amended with 1 mM diphenhydramine as the sole carbon source. Complete transformation of the parent compound to a persistent metabolite occurred within 191 days.

Rapid screening of toxic glycoalkaloids and micronutrients in edible nightshades (Solanum spp.).

African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) because of their nutrient density have the unique potential to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa, yet some may also contain anti-nutritive compounds. Vegetable nightshades from Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum scabrum and Solanum villosum are among the major AIVs used as a leafy vegetables and consumed regularly in many countries in sub-Sahara Africa. These under-recognized food crops have not been subjected to extensive studies for their nutritional and antinutritive factors.

Optical Projection Tomography with a Tissue Clearing Agent for Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Studies.

Background: Developmental and reproductive toxicology (DART) testing represents an expensive and time-consuming stage in determining the toxicological profile of new chemical entities. Within DART studies, morphological evaluation of fetal skeletons for developmental abnormalities typically requires 7 to 14 days. Current processing techniques involve digestion of soft tissue using a strong base (KOH), followed by qualitative assessment of the remaining skeletal tissue by a fetal morphologist.

Phytochemistry, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and anti-inflammatory activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaves.

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous separation, and determination of natural compounds including phenolic acids and flavonoids in the leaves of Hibiscus sabdariffa. By analyzing the UV and MS data, and comparison with authenticated standards, 10 polyphenols including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and their glycosides were identified together with 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural. Major constituents in the leaves of 25 different populations from worldwide accessions were quantified and compared with each other.

Rapid staining method to detect and identify downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii) in basil.

Premise Of The Study: Demand for fresh-market sweet basil continues to increase, but in 2009 a new pathogen emerged, threatening commercial field/greenhouse production and leading to high crop losses. This study describes a simple and effective staining method for rapid microscopic detection of basil downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii) from leaves of basil (Ocimum basilicum). •

Methods And Results: Fresh leaf sections infected with P.

An improved clearing and mounting solution to replace chloral hydrate in microscopic applications.

Premise Of The Study: This study presents Visikol™, a new proprietary formulation that can be used as an efficient replacement for chloral hydrate as a clearing agent for microscopic examination. In the United States, chloral hydrate is regulated and therefore difficult to acquire. •

Methods And Results: Fresh and dry samples of the following plants: ginger (Zingiber officinale), maté (Ilex paraguariensis), lime basil (Ocimum americanum), oregano (Origanum vulgare), and mouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), were cleared using Visikol or chloral hydrate solution and compared using a light microscope.