Beneficial effect of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber on experimental ulcerative colitis in rats.

Context: The tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson (Araceae), commonly called Suran or Jimmikand, has high medicinal value and is used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of different gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders.

Objective: The present study evaluated the effects of extracts of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tubers on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats.

Bioactive Compounds in Potato Tubers: Effects of Farming System, Cooking Method, and Flesh Color.

We investigated the effect of cultivation system (conventional or organic), cooking method, and flesh color on the contents of ascorbic acid (AA) and total phenolics (TPs), and on total antioxidant activity (Trolox equivalents, TE) in Solanum tuberosum (potato) tubers. The research material, consisting of 4 potato cultivars, was grown in experimental fields, using organic and conventional systems, at the experimental station in 2012 and 2013. The analysis showed that organically grown potatoes with creamy, light yellow, and yellow flesh had significantly higher TPs than did potatoes grown conventionally.

The influence of effective microorganisms (EM) and yeast on the degradation of strobilurins and carboxamides in leafy vegetables monitored by LC-MS/MS and health risk assessment.

The aim of this study was to determine the behaviour of strobilurin and carbocyamides commonly used in chemical protection of lettuce depending on carefully selected effective microorganisms (EM) and yeast (Y). Additionally, the assessment of the chronic health risk during a 2-week experiment was performed. The statistical method for correlation of physico-chemical parameters and time of degradation for pesticides was applied.

Gromochytrium mamkaevae gen. & sp. nov. and two new orders: Gromochytriales and Mesochytriales (Chytridiomycetes).

During the last decade several new orders were established in the class Chytridiomycetes on the basis of zoospore ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny. Here we present the ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny of strain x-51 CALU - a parasite of the alga Tribonema gayanum, originally described as Rhizophydium sp. based on light microscopy.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits entry of hepatitis B virus into hepatocytes.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic HBV infection is currently managed with either nucleoside/nucleotide-based or interferon-based therapies, but fails to clear infection in a substantial proportion of cases, and antiviral strategies targeting the early stages of infection are therefore required for the prevention of HBV infection. In this study, we examined some common phytochemicals and identified epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a new inhibitor of HBV entry.

Lignans from the aerial parts of Saururus chinensis: isolation, structural characterization, and their effects on platelet aggregation.

Five new diaryldimethylbutane lignans, saurulignans A-E (1-5), four new tetrahydrofuran lignans, saurufurins A-D (6-9), and one arylnaphthalene lignan, saurunarin (10), were isolated from Saururus chinensis, along with 18 known compounds. Lignan 5 showed significant inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation with an IC50 value of 9.8 μM and AA-induced aggregation with an IC50 value of 14.

Hyperforin inhibits cell proliferation and differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Objectives: Hyperforin, a phloroglucinol derivative of St. John's Wort, has been identified as the major molecule responsible for this plant's products anti-depressant effects. It can be expected that exposure to St.

Influence of a municipal waste landfill on the spatial distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) in the natural environment.

The paper presents the influence of a municipal waste landfill on the pollution of soil, plants and groundwater by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs). Analysis of their migration in the environment was made in relation to the direction of groundwater flow in the study area. Determination of PCDDs/Fs was performed by isotope dilution high resolution chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-HRGC/MS-MS) on a Thermo Scientific GCQ-1100/Trace2000 system equipped with an Xcalibur data acquisition and analysis software.

Triterpene acids from Euscaphis japonica and assessment of their cytotoxic and anti-NO activities.

Six new triterpenoids, euscaphic acids G-L (1-6), along with nine known triterpene acids, and two known lignans were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the twigs of Euscaphis japonica. This is the first report concerning 1α,3β-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid isolated from a natural source. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis.

A new drug design targeting the adenosinergic system for Huntington's disease.

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion in the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. The expanded CAG repeats are translated into polyglutamine (polyQ), causing aberrant functions as well as aggregate formation of mutant Htt. Effective treatments for HD are yet to be developed.

Stability of Pycnogenol® as an ingredient in fruit juices subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Background: The enrichment of fruit juices with concentrated polyphenolic extracts is an expedient strategy to compensate possible phenolic loss through gastrointestinal processing. Pycnogenol, a standardised procyanidin-rich extract from pine bark, has been proposed as a potential candidate for polyphenol enrichment of foods. In this study the effects of in vitro digestion on the phenolic profile of fruit juices enriched with Pycnogenol were investigated.

Anti-inflammatory ergostanes from the basidiomata of Antrodia salmonea.

Three new anti-oxidative ergostanes, methyl antcinate L (1), antcin M (2), and methyl antcinate K (3), together with nine additional known compounds, 3-ketodehydrosulphurenic acid, sulphurenic acid, dehydrosulphurenic acid, 3beta,15alpha-dihydroxylanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-21-oic acid, zhankuic acid A, zhankuic acid B, zhankuic acid C, antcin C, and antcin K were isolated from the basidiomata of Antrodia salmonea, a newly identified species of Antrodia (Polyporaceae) in Taiwan. These three new compounds were identified as methyl 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-4alpha-methylergosta-8,24(29)-dien-11-on-26-oate (1), 3alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-4alpha-methylergosta-8,24(29)-dien-11-on-26-oic acid (2), and methyl 3alpha,4beta,7beta-trihydroxy-4alpha-methylergosta-8,24(29)-dien-11-on-26-oate (3) by spectroscopic analysis. We studied their antioxidative potential on the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (NO) in neutrophils and microglial cells, respectively.

Neuroprotective principles from Gastrodia elata.

Serum deprivation-induced neuronal-like PC12 cell apoptosis was used as an ischemic/hypoxic model to screen neuroprotective compounds from the rhizomes of Gastrodia elata, a traditional Chinese medicine. Two active compounds, bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)sulfide (1) and N6-(4-hydroxybenzyl)adenine riboside (2), together with 15 known compounds were obtained from the active fraction. Compound 2 was further elucidated by chemical synthesis.

Anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of the ethanol extract of Evodia rutaecarpa and its bioactive components on neutrophils and microglial cells.

Evodia rutaecarpa is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory drug in traditional Chinese medicine. We previously identified four bioactive compounds (dehydroevodiamine (I), evodiamine (II), rutaecarpine (III), and synephrine (IV)) from the ethanol extract of E. rutaecarpa, but their effects and mechanism(s) of action remain unclear.

Thermal characteristics of lysine tri-isocyanate and its mixture with water.

The thermal reactivity of lysine tri-isocyanate (LTI, 2-isocyanatoethyl-2,6-diisocyanato caproylate) and its mixture with 1% water was investigated after the occurrence of a runaway reaction at a plant. By using a sensitive thermal calorimeter, C80, and an adiabatic calorimeter, ARC, an onset reaction of LTI was observed at 70-100 degrees C and it became vigorous at 175-200 degrees C. The reaction is considered as co-polymerization at this stage, which causes a second decomposition reaction at 200 degrees C if the heat generation is accumulated in the vessel.

The inhibitory effect of phenylpropanoid glycosides and iridoid glucosides on free radical production and beta2 integrin expression in human leucocytes.

Rapid production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulation of beta2 integrin by leucocytes are two important inflammatory responses in human leucocytes. To evaluate whether three phenylpropanoid glycosides (acteoside, crenatoside, and rossicaside B) and two iridoid glucosides (boschnaloside and 8-epideoxyloganic acid) identified from two medicinal plants with similar indications (Orobanche caerulescens and Boschniakia rossica) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, their effects on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-activated peripheral human neutrophils (PMNs) and mononuclear cells were examined. Pretreatment with 1-50 microM phenylpropanoid glycoside concentration-dependently diminished PMA- and fMLP-induced ROS production with IC50 values of approximately 6.

DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, ergosterol peroxide from Penicillium oxalicum.

Recently, we found that the MeOH extract of Penicillium oxalicum showed inhibitory activity towards DNA topoisomerase I. Subsequently, ergosterol peroxide, ergosterol, palmitoleic acid, and linoleic acid were isolated from the cultured mycelia of P. oxalicum.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of zhankuic acids isolated from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata.

We have previously shown that a concentrated ethanol extract of the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata exhibited immunomodulating effects in human leukocytes and fourteen compounds including zhankuic acids A, B, C, and antcin K were identified in the extract. In this study, an acute cellular model in isolated peripheral human neutrophils was established to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and firm adhesion by neutrophils display two important responses during inflammation.

Morphological and chemical analysis of magic mushrooms in Japan.

Morphological and toxicological analyses were performed on hallucinogenic mushrooms that are currently circulated in Japan. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated a three-dimensional microstructures in the mushrooms. The complementary use of SEM with an optical microscope was effective for observing characteristic tissues, such as basidiomycetes, spores, cystidia and basidia.

Screening of 25 compounds isolated from Phyllanthus species for anti-human hepatitis B virus in vitro.

Using an HBV-producing cell line and inhibition of the expression of the HBsAg and HBeAg as antiviral indicators, a study was conducted on 25 compounds isolated from four Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) plants, including P. amarus Schum. & Thonn.

Immunomodulatory proanthocyanidins from Ecdysanthera utilis.

Two new A-type proanthocyanidins have been isolated from Ecdysanthera utilis and identified as epicatechin-(4beta-->8,2beta-->O-->7)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin (5) and epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8,2beta-->O-->7)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin (6), respectively. The structure-related components epicatechin (1), procyanidin B2 (2), proanthocyanidin A1 (3), proanthocyanidin A2 (4), and aesculitannin C (7) were also isolated. All of these compounds were identified and evaluated for immunopharmacological activity.

The alkaloid rutaecarpine is a selective inhibitor of cytochrome P450 1A in mouse and human liver microsomes.

Rutaecarpine, evodiamine, and dehydroevodiamine are quinazolinocarboline alkaloids isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine, Evodia rutaecarpa. The in vitro effects of these alkaloids on cytochrome P450 (P450)-catalyzed oxidations were studied using mouse and human liver microsomes. Among these alkaloids, rutaecarpine showed the most potent and selective inhibitory effect on CYP1A-catalyzed 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) activities in untreated mouse liver microsomes.

Cloning and functional expression of a chitinase cDNA from the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, using a recombinant baculovirus lacking the virus-encoded chitinase gene.

A Chitinase cDNA named Slchi was cloned from the epidermis of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, and the enzymatic properties of its recombinant proteins were characterized. The Slchi cDNA encodes 552 amino-acid residues (aa) including a 19 aa putative signal peptide, with the calculated molecular mass of the putative mature protein 60,152 Da. A major transcript of Slchi about 2.

NMR analytical approach to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the antioxidative and radical-scavenging activities of antioxidants in tea using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

(+)-catechin, ethyl gallate, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol were reacted with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the reaction mixtures were subjected to 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the antioxidative and radical-scavenging activities of each antioxidant. When ascorbic acid was reacted with DPPH, it was oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid by DPPH. When a mixture of ascorbic acid and (+)-catechin was reacted with DPPH, ascorbic acid scavenged DPPH radical faster than (+)-catechin.