Volume 65, Issue 11-12

From the cultures of spore-derived mycobionts of the lichen Lecanora leprosa a novel naphtho[1,8-cd]pyran-3-one derivative, lecanopyrone, was isolated. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods. The assembly pattern of acetate units in its biosynthesis was verified using sodium [1- 13 C]-acetate and sodium [1,2- 13 C 2 ]-acetate

Antiproliferative and antifungal activities of essential oils from Erigeron acris root and herb and from Erigeron annuus herb were investigated. The cell viability assay was performed in cultured fi broblasts, cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MBA-231), and endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cells as well as colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The essential oil from E. acris root showed the highest antiproliferative activity in the MCF-7 cell line with an IC 50 value of 14.5 μg/mL. No effect of the essential oil on normal cells at that concentration was found. Antifungal activity against various strains of five Candida species, i.e. C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis, was tested by the microdilution method. It was found that all examined oils can be useful as antifungal agents against the abovementioned species, but the essential oil of E. acris herb was the most active. Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranged from 30 to 0.4 μL/mL. The data presented suggest that essential oils from E. acris and E. annuus possess antifungal activity against Candida spp. and antiproliferative activity against breast cancer MCF-7 cells

1a A number of studies reported Mannich bases to manifest antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anticonvulsant activities. A considerable number of therapeutically important cytotoxic compounds are active on DNA topoisomerases that regulate the DNA topology. In the present study we evaluated the biological activity of mono- Mannich bases, 1-aryl-3-phenethylamino-1-propanone hydrochlorides (- 10a ), and semicyclic mono- Mannich bases, 3-aroyl-4-aryl-1-phenethyl-4-piperidinols ( 1b - 9b ), synthesized in our laboratory. We employed androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) to assess the cytotoxicity of the compounds and extended the biological activity evaluation to cover supercoil relaxation assays of mammalian type I topoisomerases. Our results showed that the compounds had cytotoxicity within the 8.2 - 32.1 μM range, while two compounds gave rise to a comparable average value in topo I interference of 42% and 40% for 10a (with a hydroxy substituent on the phenyl ring from mono-Mannich bases) and 5b (with a fluoro substituent on the phenyl ring from the semicyclic mono-Mannich base series, piperidinols), respectively

The fruits of Heracleum aquilegifolium Wight (Apiaceae) were collected from Western Ghats of the Indian Peninsula. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). β -Pinene (22.3%), 1,8-cineole (20.3%), and β-phellandrene (12.4%) were the main components of H. aquilegifolium fruit oils. The antioxidant properties of essential oils of H. aquilegifolium were examined by different procedures namely reducing power ability, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide anion scavenging activity, and metal chelating activity. The antioxidant activities were compared with those of synthetic antioxidants and standard drugs such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, curcumin, and quercetin. The study confirmed the possible antioxidant potential of essential oils tested with various in vitro antioxidant methods. The presence of monoterpenes in combination with other components in the oils could be responsible for the activity

We examined the composition and antimicrobial activity of two essential oils from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. and Chloranthus multistachys Pei. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses identifi ed 48 and 39 compounds, which represented 95.56% and 94.58%, respectively, of all components in these oils. Of these, 28 compounds were common to both, with a relatively high amount of oxygenated monoterpenes (50.95% and 39.97%). Antimicrobial properties were evaluated in vitro via disc diffusion and microbroth dilution assays. Activities were strong against most tested microorganisms, with inhibition zones ranging from 8.1 to 22.2 mm. For both species, minimum values for inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were 0.39 to 12.50 mg/mL and 0.78 to 50.00 mg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that these essential oils are potent natural sources of antimicrobial agents for the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries

1 The aqueous extract of Verbascum mucronatum Lam. along with its fractions and secondary metabolites were assessed for their antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three methods: as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferrous ion-chelating effect, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. The AChE activity was determined by the Ellman method using an ELISA microplate reader. Phytochemical investigations revealed the presence of four iridoid glucosides, ajugol (), aucubin ( 2 ), lasianthoside I ( 3 ) and catalpol ( 4 ), two saponins, ilwensisaponin A ( 5 ) and C ( 6 ), and a phenylethanoid glycoside, verbascoside ( 7 ), in Verbascum mucronatum. Their structures were elucidated by spectral techniques. The aqueous extract and fractions including the phenylethanoid glycoside 7 showed DPPH scavenger effect and had the best FRAP. Besides these results, one of the phenylethanoid fractions displayed the highest ferrous ion-chelating effect. While only 7 was found to possess moderate AChE inhibition, the extract, fractions, and all other tested compounds did not inhibit AChE and BChE

Previous studies have shown that salicylates can change the ion permeability of root cells. Therefore the possible effects of exogenous salicylate application on lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) accumulation and its protective role against DNA damage due to metal exposure in Lemna gibba were studied. L. gibba was exposed to 5, 10, and 25 μM Pb and Cu for six days in the presence and absence of sodium salicylate (SA) (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM). At all concentrations tested, SA application decreased Pb accumulation. On the other hand, application of 0.5 mM SA increased Cu accumulation. SA did not reduce DNA damage resulting from Pb and Cu toxicity. In summary, SA may be useful for reducing Pb accumulation, and application of SA at 0.5 mM may be useful for the phytoextraction of Cu

Some hundred cells of Chlorella-like green algae are naturally enclosed within the cytoplasm of a single cell of green paramecia (Paramecium bursaria). Therefore, P. bursaria serves as an experimental model for studying the nature of endo-symbiosis made up through chemical communication between the symbiotic partners. For studying the mechanism of symbiotic regulations, the materials showing successful symbiosis are widely used. Apart from such successful model materials, some models for symbiotic distortion would be of great interest in order to understand the nature of successful symbiosis. Here, we describe a case of unsuccessful symbiosis causing unregulated growth of algae inside the hosting ciliates. Recently, we have screened some cell lines, from the mass of P. bursaria cells survived after paraquat treatment. The resultant cell lines (designated as KMZ series) show novel and unusual morphological features with heavily darker green colour distinguishable from the original pale green-coloured paramecia. In this type of isolates, endo-symbiotic algae are restricted within one or two dense spherical structures located at the center of the host cells’ cytoplasm. Interestingly, this isolate maintains the host cells’ circadian mating response which is known as an alga-dependent behaviour in the host cells. In contrast, we discuss that KMZ lacks the host-dependent regulation of algal growth, thus the algal complex often over-grows obviously exceeding the original size of the normal hosting ciliates. Additionally, possible use of this isolate as a novel model for symbiotic cell-to-cell communication is discussed

First steroid biotransformations performed by Aspergillus wentii MRC 200316 are reported. Testosterone (1) yields 6β-hydroxytestosterone (3) and 14α-hydroxytestosterone (4) while progesterone (2) yields 11α-hydroxyprogesterone (5).

The newly isolated strain E1, identified as a Dietzia sp., proved to have an excellent ability to degrade n-C 12 to n-C 38 alkane components of crude oil. The preferred substrate was the very long-chain alkane n-eicosane at an optimal temperature of 37 °C and an optimal pH of 8 under aerobic conditions. The growth and substrate uptake kinetics were monitored during the n-alkane fermentation process, and Dietzia sp. E1 cells were found to possess three distinct levels of cell-surface hydrophobicity. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis revealed that intracellular substrate mineralization occurred through the conversion of n-alkane to the corresponding n-alkanal. The monoterminal oxidation pathway was presumably initiated by AlkB and CYP153 terminal alkane hydroxylases, both of their partial coding sequences were successfully detected in the genome of strain E1, a novel member of the Dietzia genus

The extent of phenotypic variation of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) plants transformed with wild agropine ATCC 15834 Agrobacterium rhizogenes plasmid was evaluated with respect to the number of rol genes integrations. The transfer of T L -DNA to plant explants during each transformation event was incomplete with different rolA, rolB, and rolC copy numbers. Along with typical features representing the hairy root syndrome, an altered size, number and density of dark and translucent glands, changes in ability to synthesize secondary metabolites, and reduced fertility were observed. The highest copy number of transferred rol genes resulted in weak expression of transgenic character and comparable quantitative parameters with the controls. Only 1 out of 11 transgenic clones was able to produce seed progeny and not more than 4 out of its 35 offsprings were positive for rolC gene integration. Sterility of the clones was due to retarded development of both gametophytes

To investigate the mechanism of nucleopolyhedrovirus resistance of silkworm, we bred a near-isogenic silkworm line, designated BC 9 , from the parental resistant strain NB and the susceptible strain 306, that is resistant to infection by nucleopolyhedrovirus. Proteomic techniques were employed to search for candidate genes playing a role in the antivirus response, based on differential protein expression profiles in the fat bodies of these strains. Four proteins were identified, two of which are possibly related to energy metabolism, the third one may have a function similar to integrase, and the fourth one is completely novel. Thus, our strategy of the combined use of near-isogenic silkworm line and proteomic techniques is effective for discovering new genes in the antivirus response of insects

Two cDNAs specific for P450 genes, CYP6AE28 and CYP6AE30, have been isolated from the rice leaf folder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Both cDNApredicted proteins have 504 amino acid residues in length, but with molecular masses of 60177 Dalton for CYP6AE28 and 60020 Dalton for CYP6AE30, and theoretical pI values of 8.49 for CYP6AE28 and 8.56 for CYP6AE30, respectively. Both putative proteins contain the conserved structural and functional domains characteristic of all CYP6 members. CYP6AE28 and CYP6AE30 show 52% amino acid identity to each other; both of them have 49 - 56% identities with CYP6AE1, Cyp6ae12, and CYP6AE14. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two P450s are grouped in the lineage containing some of the CYP6AE members, CYP6B P450s and CYP321A1. The transcripts of CYP6AE28 and CYP6AE30 were found to be induced in response to TKM-6, a rice variety with high resistance to C. medinalis. The results suggest that the two P450s may play important roles in adaptation to the host plant rice. This is the first report of P450 genes cloned in C. medinalis

Daintain/AIF-1 was identified from injured rat carotid arteries and porcine intestine in the mid 1990s. It is involved in autoimmune disorders, chronic rejection of allografts, gliomas, and breast cancer. Since it is convenient and economical to obtain such a peptide biologically, in this study, we describe the expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant human daintain/AIF-1 (rhdaintain/AIF-1). The backbone of vector pET32a, a high-level expression plasmid, was used to construct the pET32a-daintain/AIF-1 plasmid for daintain/AIF-1 expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant daintain/AIF-1 protein was solubly expressed in the BL21 (DE3) strain and was purifi ed by Ni 2+ affinity chromatography. After purification, the recombinant protein showed the expected size of 18 kDa on Tricine-SDS-PAGE gels which was further confirmed by Western blotting. A total of 34.0 mg of high purity (over 98%) rhdaintain/AIF-1 was obtained from 1 L culture. The recombinant peptide was able to increase blood glucose elimination rates and enhance the proliferation of human MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that biological activity of the recombinant peptide was preserved after purification